XV

Adrian was the first one to throw dirt into the hole. He watched as the semi-wet clumps of earth tumbled down off the blade of his shovel and landed with a wet thump against the top of the simple pine coffin. Twenty-six, that was all the men he had left that he could use in battle, of the fifty he had started out with he had lost almost half. Only 26 men fit enough for active duty, and another twelve wounded, four of which it was unlikely would see another sunrise. As he stepped back others moved forward to take his place, he handed the shovel off, and another clump of dirt was thrown into the hole. There was no sound, not a single utterance, and it would seem that even the world held its piece, the swamp allowing a reprieve for them to bury their dead.

Twenty-six men.

It had been easier when he had been the commander of the fort of Helomar on the Helheim Kurtz border, back then he had so many men under his command that when the list of casualties came it was just that, a list. There were no men there, just names, here, however. He closed his eyes and then forced them back open and looked down at the final grave that was being dug, the man inside was one he had known, an officer that he and Torin had shared a drink with and a story or two, Mallin was his name, and Adrain knew he had a wife and four daughters that would never see that crooked smile again. He sighed as he watched the men fill in the mound of dirt for their fallen comrades before everyone turned towards him. The faces of the men were not downcast, yes, but not beaten.

“I am no priest, in fact, I cannot tell you if I even believe in the gods above, I cannot quote any solms or passages to commemorate the fallen, our fallen. All I can do is tell you that I will remember them, and I beg you to do the same, know that they fought and fell at your sides and that those they leave behind will be well cared for,” They all nodded some men saluting others bowing their heads in prayer for the departed. “They fought beside you, and they died beside you, and I don't know about them, but I personally could think of little that could be better.” He saluted his men then, the open palm of his hand slapping against the black iron breastplate creating a loud sound that seemed to echo around the clearing. Every soldier standing and a few of the ones held up by their peers snapped to attention, their right hand splayed over their heart in salute back at him. “Dismissed.” and slowly, mindful of his still sore and weak leg he turned around on his heels and walked back towards the tent they had made into his mobile command center. He looked over the map and shook his head at the sight of it once again. If he got out of this damned war then he vowed to himself that he would get a better map done of these cursed swamps, even if he had to pay a cartographer himself.

“Kura talin martise,” Isi walked up behind him, hooking her small arm around his waist and pulling him closer.

“Not right now Isi, I have to get work done-” she pulled him away, using her body weight as a counterbalance to turn him to look at her and pressed herself against his front.

“Nashoba, kura talin martise,” she practically purred the words and despite himself, he felt a smile grow on his lips.

“Sir ther-” Torin stopped what he was saying as he saw the way the to of them were embracing each other. “Ah, I see it is time for a muster and roll call, I shall see to it, should take some time, what with getting this lot in order and making sure everyone is kitted out-” And with that he was back out of the tent, closing the flap behind him and barking orders to the men to muster a good distance away.

Isi looked at the tent flap, a smirk on her lips as she attempted to hide her chuckle. “Goodman,” Adrian said with a smile. The tent they were in was a stark thing, spartan in its comforts, it had a table, and not much else, in fact, the floor was grass trampled flat and muddy from the passing of boots. Adrian swept the table clear of the map and the small markers they used to show their forces locations as well as the enemy locations. Easily lifting Isi up and setting her on the table, before getting to work undressing, after all the Sargeant hadn't really given them all that much time.

Seeing what he was doing she decided to help, her hands went around his waist and undid the belt that was holding up the sword and the half greave that covered the left leg. It all fell to the ground with a thud that was extremely noisy, he toed the pile away as she undid the clasp at the side of the cuirass and went to pull it off only to find the armor wouldn't come off. With a short laugh he removed her hands and brought his own fingers to the straps on the gussius and gorget, removing the neck armor, this was followed by the boots and gloves and now he was standing before her in only his cavalry pants.

She rested her forehead against his and stared into his eyes until he opened them.“tomin ish torisa,” she said softly as her lips brushed his, and she could feel the tension flood out of his body as he relaxed at her words, his lips drawing up into a smile, she was right, he was wound up too tight. Without warning, he slammed his mouth over her own in a fierce kiss that all but melted the bones in Isi’s body. His hands wandered down to her breast, as he lightly passed a hand over them he felt her shiver. His hands found what he was looking for just under her small bust, there was a cord of leather tied in a neat bow. With a single tug on the right loop, the cord came free of its knot and allowed him to unwind it.

The cord was the tie binding the sides of the corset closed at the front, it hung from the bottom of the right hem of the corset’s bottom and allowed the wearer to lace up the front using the raised buttons to wind around and draw together, making it almost like a leather jerkin. As the cord unwound he placed the flat of his hand on her stomach, only separated from her bare skin by a white wool tunic that she wore underneath. His hand slid up her stomach and around her arms, sliding back and slipping the leather corset off of her frame, with quick hands she gripped the hem of her shirt holding it there, down, but only for a second before she quickly pulled the tunic off and tossed it away. Her upper body was now only covered with a neck strap bra, a style of brassiere that was formed with a neck strap that widened into wide shoulder covers that covered from neck to shoulder, it then when down and cupped the breasts, covering and supporting them and was held in place by a string that came off of the side and tied in the back.

Thinking that she had disrobed enough for the moment he moved to take off his boots, he unlaced the ironclad leather boots and pulled them off one at a time, tossing them aside to gather with the other armor and clothing he was discarded without a care. He went to remove his pants but she stayed his hand and simply leaned back taking him in with a smile on her lips. She decided she rather liked how his pants were hanging off his hips in a dangerous way, and as he took a step forward they slid even lower only really being held in place by his erection as he pressed into her. Grabbing her hands in his own he led them down between the two of them, her breath racing, and as he placed her hands on his hips he felt her breath catch. He removed his hands from hers, sliding them up her back along the ridge her spine made and pulled the small string holding the bra off while slipping it up and over her head, exposing the smooth skin and dusky areolas hidden underneath.

He felt his manhood go painfully hard as he twitched slightly and that was all the fabric needed to slip off of his hips and out of her hands, allowing him to stand straight, his tip brushing a small line of seed on her warm lower abdomen. Her breathing increased as she caught sight of it, the smile replaced by a look of hunger and want. She pulled in a sharp breath as he lowered his head and placed a kiss on the side of her neck. He kissed a trail of fire down her neck and towards her breasts, which were now crowned with hard tips, his right hand pulled and rolled one lightly, and his mouth kissed the other. He kissed away the gooseflesh that was on her areolas, and his warm breath playing over the sensitive tips made her whimper slightly.

Still sucking and nipping her slightly he let go of her left breast and grabbed her hand and placed it on his manhood. Gods it was so warm, it pulsed with the beat of his heart and she could feel his shudder as he started rubbing against her palm, the tip poking at her abdomen. His palm slid down her belly, down her abdomen, and the tips of his fingers slowly found their way under the lip of her cavalry pants, and under the panties’ edge as well.

Down.

Down.

Down.

Deep into her core where his fingertips slid over the smooth skin, he pulled back his hand just a millimeter and placed his fingers atop her mound and started stroking her there like he wAs messaging a sore muscle, he held there, stroking as she felt him grinding into her palm, when she reached up with her other hand to cup him however his hand responded by diving lower. He slid his fingertips over the plump hills of her lower lips, feeling the dampness and heat emanating from her, trapped in the tight triangle formed by her legs and pelvis. His finger slid over the mound and found a small nub of flesh hidden in the upper folds of her lower lips he stoked it and she gasped, her hands involuntarily curling around his length and squeezing, which caused him to pull in a shuddering breath. “Gods,” he moaned into her mouth, a small bead of seed forming on his tip. Not waiting anymore he slipped a finger inside, but it felt like that was her limit, she squeezed down on him, sucking his finger deeper as her body made natural lubrication. Curling his finger he started rubbing and caressing the walls of her core until he found what he was looking for. About two inches in on the topside of her wall there was a circle that had swollen and was throbbing, as his fingers slid over it gently he felt her shudder and her knees go weak.

“Ahhhh,” she moaned into his mouth as he swallowed her whimpers. He carefully laid her down on the robe he had placed by the fire and set about using one hand to remove her pants as he continued thrusting in her grip.

It took more effort than it should have but seeing as his finger was swallowed up to the knuckle in her lower lips and he had no wish to remove it and that he was moving in her hands he only had one hand to do what needed to be done. In a few seconds, her pants were down around her ankles, tangling her feet, as he pulled his finger out with a wet ‘schhlick,’ and didn't even bother removing her panties, simply shoving the offending cloth aside and going back to work on her, this time with two fingers.

“Ahh, Nashoba, ahhhh!” she moaned against his mouth as her body became more taught than a bow, a quiver running through her as a gush of warm liquid pulsed around his fingers, her arched back thrusting her against his body as he hovered over her, her whimpers muffled by his lips over her own. She fell back onto the table, her eyes glazed over and her body still quivering from the torrent of pleasure that had passed through her.

He leaned back and let his fingers fall from inside of her, he ran his drenched hand over his length using her liquid to lubricate himself, breathing in the musky aroma of her scent. When he felt he was lubricated enough he pulled her pants and panties off of her limp legs and cast them aside. Leaning over her he placed his hands on either side of her head. “Guide me in.” he practically growled.

Isi’s glassy eyes looked up at the man leaning over her uncomprehendingly, but it would seem that her body knew what to do, her hands gripped his slick length and guided him to a place no man beside him would ever be allowed. She felt the heat of his tip against her entrance and bit her lip in hunger and anticipation.

“Look at me,” he growled, and she tried, but she was too out of it, too unfocused. “Look at me Isi,” he said, his voice practically dripping with need. This time she did, her eyes finally focusing on his, his big green deep eyes. her legs came up on either side of his hips, and she locked her ankles around him and using the muscles of her legs she pushed him inside.

They both sucked in a breath as he entered her, the slickness in her lower lips allowing him to slide slowly in, stretching her as he did, oh gods she might just unravel at that ache, so deep in her core, and she held him there, planted up to his base in her.

Sheathed in her.

Then she removed her tight hold by unlocking her ankles. “Ishmana Nashoba,” she moaned, and he didn't need asking twice. He began with slow and deliberate movements, each stroke driving her mad, each sensation causing her brain to overload with all the information. Slowly he began moving faster and as he did she started moving her hips with his to sink him in deeper.

This was not lovemaking, this was a wild need, insatiable, carnal. He began moving faster and faster, each thrust deeper and deeper into her core. He pumped inside her, the warm liquid of her inner walls running down the both of their legs as he ground against her. “Do you want me to pull out before I finish?” he ground out between clenched teeth. “I’m close Isi, so damned close.”

Yes he had to pull out, she couldn't get pregnant, she was not ready for that she had been so careful before, not initiating things when she was at risk, making sure he understood that there was a time every month that she couldn't risk it, and he had been accommodating, never complaining it was one of the many things she loved about him. But when she opened her mouth the wrong word came out. “Nisha!” she gasped, and he grunted, his arms wrapping around her and up behind her shoulders where his fingers curled, using the strength of his arms he pulled her down hard, planting himself inside her deeply and let loose a torrent of warmth inside her.

It felt like fire pouring into her belly, molten lava that burned away all thought and protest as it washed over her, she let loose a flood of her own, but it did nothing to disperse the fire now in her womb.

Gods she was so warm.

They fell back panting, Adrian on top of her still sheathed inside her twitching lower lips. The contented look on his face drew a lazy smile from her as she gazed into his eyes. It didn't sink in what she had said and what had happened until a few moments later when her head had cleared, and as it did she felt a knot forming in her stomach. She had been so careful up to this point, so careful over the past two years…

That was when the tent flap flew open and a woman with curly blond hair walked in wearing a rather to clean mage uniform. Emilia’s mouth hung open at the sight of the two of them, her cheeks darkening as she realized what she was seeing, quickly she turned around and looked away, giving the two of them a modicum of privacy. “I see, that was why that Sargent was so adamant about me waiting to enter,” she coughed slightly, and moved to walk outside, “I will be waiting for you-” she paused, “Somewhere else in this camp.” she quickly departed the tent, almost tripping over herself as she exited ...