 
                               CHAPTER 6
 
Chapter 6
 
 
 
            When Don awoke, he found his sister was curiously missing
from their bed.  She was not usually an early riser, and he wondered if
something had troubled her.  He rolled over and looked to the other
bed, to see that Annie was fast asleep, still.  He moved quietly out of
bed, for once he was awake, he wasn’t going back to sleep, and padded
to the bathroom.
 
            As he took care of his morning needs, Don thought that
things were going to be a little dicey now.  Certainly he could not
have sex with his sister while Annie was in the room, and he was sure
that Annie had no interest in having sex with him, whether or not Kate
was in the room.  He figured there would be some kind of solution to
this problem, somehow.  What it was, he didn’t have a clue.
 
            It occurred to Don that he hadn’t brought his robe in with
him to change, and so he had to go back out to the room.  He looked
over at Annie, and he figured she was still asleep.  He quickly took
off the pajamas he had “requisitioned” from the castle wardrobe, and
then slipped on his magician’s robe.  He heard a slight giggle as he
finished fastening his garment, and he knew it was Annie.
 
            Without turning around, because he didn’t want her to see
how badly he was blushing, he said, “I thought you were asleep.”
 Finally, getting himself under control, he turned around, and she was
smiling at him, sitting up in bed.  She stretched, and Don tried
unsuccessfully not to stare at her.  Annie didn’t have large breasts,
but they still showed, and when she stretched her body, they showed
enough that he was embarrassed that he was looking at her that way.
 
            She got out of bed, and headed for the bathroom.  She
didn’t take *her* clothes with her, either.  Don didn’t plan to stand
and watch her dress, though he wondered if she’d let him.  Still, he
wasn’t ready to meet the world yet, so he walked out to the balcony. 
The sun was already over the horizon, or at least the trees said so,
since his room faced to the west.  He watched a fox chasing down
breakfast, or would it be dinner?  Foxes were mostly nocturnal animals,
so this would be its final catch, if not its only one, of the night. 
He was fascinated by the way the rabbit twisted and turned in its
effort to avoid its eventual captor.  It was a strange thing to wake up
to.
 
            He heard Annie come out of the bathroom, but he wasn’t
about to turn around anytime soon.  He learned that it didn’t matter
when he felt her hand press softly against his back.
 
            “Oh, that’s gross,” she said, when she saw where he was
looking.  She averted her eyes, and, just to appease her, he looked
away as well.  That, of course, left him with her to look at, and that
still embarrassed him.  He looked kind of over her shoulder, at the two
ladies who were in the field, collecting flowers.
 
            “Good morning,” Annie said, trying to get him to look at
her.  She moved slightly, forcing herself into his field a view.  This
was only possible because he was looking down; he was a half-foot
taller than her.  She hoped he wouldn’t decide to look at the sky
instead of looking at her.
 
            He didn’t.  “Hi,” he said, his voice still uncomfortable
talking to her, even after they’d talked last night.  She knew she’d
embarrassed him earlier.  She hadn’t meant to make him uncomfortable,
but she’d had a horrid attack of the giggles watching him when he
thought she wasn’t looking.
 
            “Did you sleep well?” she asked, her deep voice soft and
coaxing.
 
            “Not really.  I’m not used to pajamas.”
 
            “Oh.  Well, you didn’t *have* to wear them, you know.”
 
            She watched in amazement as his face turned a color to
rival a bad sunburn.  He turned his head away rather than say
anything.  Annie wasn’t really very good at being around men, and she
knew she’d just stepped on a landmine.  She wasn’t sure how to fix it,
so she did the only thing she knew he would let her get away with.
 
            Stepping closer, Annie wrapped her arms around him, and
hugged him.  Don instantly hugged back, and for just that moment, with
the two of them standing like that, the world was right.  Don wasn’t
blushing, or at least she didn’t feel any heat from his face, and she
wasn’t scared out of her wits.  That was as close to perfection as she
figured she was going to get right now, and she took it for as long as
it lasted.
 
 
 
            After a couple of minutes, Don pulled away, but she seemed
to sense that he really didn’t want to.  She smiled up at him in a way
that she hoped was telling him she liked having him touch her.  She
couldn’t read his look, though, and she was terribly unsure of what he
was thinking about her.
 
            “We’d better get down to breakfast,” he said softly. 
“Before Gill eats it all.”  The last was said with a smirk, and she
knew he was joking, and that, she thought, was good.  At least he felt
comfortable enough with her to take a pot-shot at his friend.
 
            He took her hand as the went into the hallway.  It just
seemed to fit so naturally there.  She stepped close to him as they
walked, her body brushing against his with each step.  Even Don wasn’t
so dense that he didn’t take that for what it was.  But how far did she
want him to go?  He hated this little game of cat and mouse that men
and women played.  He just wished he could understand them and be done
with it.
 
            His mind settled as they entered the dining room.  Gill and
Julie looked up to see who it was, but the others were engaged in other
things.  There was an obvious wall of silence between Julie and Paul,
and Don knew that he was going to have to find out what that was about
sooner or later.  Perhaps he could get Kate to ask for him; the girls
always felt better talking among themselves than to him.
 
            Don guided Annie to her seat, and then he joined her,
leaning over to kiss his sister good-morning.  “I missed you this
morning.”
 
            “Well, I wanted to help Yarice.  She’s teaching me to
bake.  And besides, you had someone to keep you company.”  Her words
were not said with dismay, but with a hint of encouragement to him.  He
looked her in the eye, but she simply stared at him.  What was going on?
 
            As Don began his breakfast, the silence descended back upon
the room.  About halfway through breakfast, Paul finally turned to
Julie and said, “So, where were you last night, anyway?”
 
            Julie looked at him without saying anything for several
moments.  Finally, she said, “Do you really care?”
 
            “What the hell kind of question is that?”  Paul leaned
toward her, his face angry.  Julie slid as far away from him as she
could.  She had seen Paul’s temper flare before, but not at her.  She
also knew he was more powerful here, while she was merely more
frightened.
 
            “Hey, back off, slick, it was just a question,” Gill said,
trying to keep it light, but there was a hint of a challenge in his
voice.
 
            “Mind your own goddamn business!”  Paul fired back.
 
            “This is my business,” Gill retorted.
 
            “Oh, and how the fuck is that?”
 
            “Your sister spent the night in our room,” Gill said. 
“Because she couldn’t handle you ignoring her anymore.”
 
            “And who the fuck made you the camp fucking counselor?”
 
            “*You* did!  When you made it necessary for her to find
someone to talk to!”  That was as far as Gill was going, and no further.
 
            “I think you need to learn to mind your fucking place!”
 
            Don had watched this whole exchange with rising anger.  He
watched as Paul paced toward Gill, who was still standing next to his
chair.  Paul was obviously irate, but he had no place to get this upset
over something he was clearly as much at fault for as Gill was.  He
wasn’t about to let his two friends go at it.
 
            Standing up, he felt both of the girls beside him shiver. 
He didn’t know what that was from.  He raised his hands and said three
words, which were immediately blotted out by the loudest damned clap of
thunder any of them had ever heard.  Contained in the dining hall, it
echoed and reverberated, and all of the girls put their hands over
their ears.
 
            Gill looked as if the thunder had shoved him back down into
his seat, as he sat there, almost trembling.  None of them had ever
seen Don truly mad before, and they were wondering just how far he’d
go.  Paul just looked pissed, like he didn’t feel like having yet
someone else challenge him today.
 
            “SHUT THE FUCK UP!” Don screamed.  He’d noted the sound of
crashing dishes earlier, and he was even more pissed that he’d
frightened poor Yarice.  “I’ve had all of your bullshit I’m going to
take!  Get out of here, both of you!  NOW!”
 
            Gill stood immediately, and moved to the door, but Paul was
far less inclined to obey.  Only a look, and apparently a thought, from
Carysta, persuaded him to leave.
 
            Don turned his eyes to Julie.  “If you move, I’ll find
you.  Right now, I have to go apologize to the poor lady who probably
just had a heart attack from my little outburst.  *Don’t go anywhere.*”
 
            Julie was so terrified at this point, if the castle had
started burning down around her, she wouldn’t have moved.  Kate and
Annie shared a look, but no one spoke.  The other members of the
breakfast group were silent, trying to pretend the kids didn’t exist.
 
 
 
            In the kitchen, Don stepped up to Yarice, who did appear to
be shaking.  “I’m sorry, Yarice,” he said very softly.  “I let my
temper go too far.  I didn’t mean to scare *you* like that.”
 
            Yarice smiled at him, and slowly, her shaking stopped. 
“It’s been a while since Iamor taunted me with his spells.  I’d
forgotten how terrifying they can be.”
 
            “I’m really sorry.  Let me help you clean this up.”
 
            “Oh, no, no.  Master Don, you go take care of yourself and
your friends.  I’ve cleaned up far worse messes than this in this
kitchen.”
 
            “Maybe, but those weren’t my fault.”
 
            She looked at him for a minute with a peculiar expression. 
“Very few players are like you.  Don’t waste that generosity or caring
on an old woman.  There are others who need you more.”
 
            “Generosity is never wasted, ma’am,” he said, repeating
something his mother had drilled into him since he was five.  “And
caring is free.”
 
            She smiled at him.  “True enough, but you’ll be in my way. 
Now shoo!”
 
            Don consented, only because she seemed as if she would be
more annoyed if he stayed.  He walked back into the dining room, and
sat down.  He nibbled at his breakfast, and then looked across at the
table.  He noticed that Susan was holding Julie’s hand, as if to give
her courage for the storm ahead.
 
            Don’s voice was soft, but stern.  “Someone had better tell
me what’s going on.”
 
            Julie tried three times to speak, and couldn’t get anything
to come out.
 
            “Sir?” Susan said, and got a nod to continue.  “Julie and
Paul have been slipping further apart since we got here.  She finally
needed some companionship, and so she turned to Gill.”
 
            “By ‘companionship,’ I assume you mean...”  Susan nodded
before he could say it.  “Does Paul know?”
 
            “I don’t think so.”
 
            “Last night?”
 
            “We just slept!” Julie finally cried out.
 
            Don had to take a deep breath.  He hadn’t really intended
to scare Julie, either, but he most obviously had.  He looked into her
teary eyes.  “I’m sorry, Julie.  I’m not mad at you.  I’m mad at *those
two* for allowing this to blow up like this.”  Just then, Don noted
Carysta still sitting at the table.  He wasn’t sure what Paul’s powers
were, but he suddenly didn’t trust her.  He sat back.
 
            “We’ll discuss this later.  Right now, we need to take care
of other things.”  He turned to Iamor, who hadn’t said a word this
morning.  “Iamor, Annie is also a magician, well, a sorceress, and she
needs to be trained, as well.”
 
            “Nonononono, not me, nono.  Not her, no.”  His tone was
very final and would brook no further argument.
 
            “She’s got to be trained!”  Don knew he was pushing his
luck, but that was the way his day was going.  “And you’re the only one
here to train her!”
 
            “I said NO!” Iamor cried, his hand outstretched, a bowl of
fruit exploding halfway down the table with his spell.
 
            “Oh, that was beautiful!” Don said, looking at him with
challenge and fury in his eyes.  “I stopped breaking things in my
temper tantrums when I was six!”
 
            “Do not challenge me, NO!  NONONO!  Don’t do it, NO!  She
will not be trained by me, NO!  That is the end of it, now GO!”
 
            Don didn’t know whether the man meant leave the room or the
castle, or his country, but he did get up from the table.
 
            “I can see that you’re as useless as most of the other
things I’ve run into in this goddamn place.”
 
            Don walked out of the room, his back ramrod straight.  If
Iamor wanted to blast him into dust, he could, but he’d be damned to
hell if he was going to slink away before the miniature martinet.
 
            All four of the girls swiftly followed him.  The rest of
the diners just looked on in bemused silence.
 
 
 
===<<<+>>>===
 
 
 
            Annie watched from the lounge as Kate came out of their
room and walked down the hall toward her.  Even from a distance, she
could tell that Kate was not happy.  She had her head down and was
shaking it from side to side, a look of consternation on her face. 
When she reached the lounge, Kate slumped down into a chair across from
Annie.  Finally, she looked up.
 
            “You wanna give it a try?  He won’t even talk to me.”
 
            “Is he angry at you, too?  For what?”
 
            “No.  It’s just when Donny gets mad, he tends to seal
himself up and not let any of it out.  I don’t know if he just likes
being angry, or if he’s afraid of upsetting someone else, or just what,
but he doesn’t talk.”
 
            “So, he’s not likely to talk to me then.”
 
            “Probably not, but it couldn’t hurt.  It certainly won’t
make him any angrier.  Maybe someone he doesn’t know so well would have
a better shot at getting through to him.”  Kate leaned forward,
pleading with her eyes for Annie to understand.  “Anne, I love my
brother.  I’d be dead by now without him.  I can’t survive here alone. 
I don’t think *any* of us can make it out of here without him.  But if
he keeps up like this, it’s going to tear him apart inside.  I can’t
let that happen to him.  If there’s any chance, *any chance at all*,
that you can get through to him, please...”  Kate couldn’t finish her
statement.
 
            Annie leaned over and put her hand on Kate’s.  “Okay, Kate,
I’ll try.  But don’t expect miracles.”
 
            “It’s a miracle I made it this far.  What’s one more?” she
said, her eyes a little teary.  Annie nodded, and got up.
 
            Walking down the hallway, she pondered Kate’s words.  She’d
been shook a little by someone calling her *Anne*.  No one had done
that in a long time.  Ever since her Dad had called her Annie, it had
stuck.  Only teachers had tried to call her Anne, and that never worked
out.  But Kate had been making a point: girls are called Annie; she
wanted to convey the message that what was needed now was a woman, not
a girl.
 
            Then there was what she had to do: get through to a guy she
didn’t really know, but she’d had an almost-instant crush on.  She
didn’t bother to knock, since it was her bedroom, too, but she walked
in slowly.  She saw him staring out the balcony doors, but he was still
inside the room.
 
            Summoning up her courage, what little wisdom she had, and
all the femininity she could muster, she walked over to him.  She
stepped beside him, and then put her hand on his arm.  For quite a few
minutes, he didn’t move, and neither did she.  She had this sense that
something was building inside of him, and he was... what?  Waiting for
it to explode?  Waiting for it to go away?  She knew it wasn’t going
away, and she hoped the explosion didn’t take him with it.
 
            Suddenly, before she could really react, he turned to her. 
The pain in his eyes almost made her take a step back, but she held
herself right there, at arm’s length, trying to do whatever she could.
 
            Don stepped to her, wrapped his arms around her, and
literally lifted her off the ground.  She was shocked both at his
strength, and at the ferocity of his hug.  Then she realized that she
felt a wetness against her cheek.  He was crying.  He was treating her
like a teddy bear; she was just something to hold onto to let the
emotions pour out.  She didn’t take offense, though she’d hoped for a
more personal encounter.
 
            He wept silently, unmoving, for several minutes.  She
thought his arms *had* to get tired eventually, but perhaps he was too
far gone to notice.  After a while, his tears stopped, and he let her
back down to the floor.  She stayed with him, though his arms were
loose enough for her to step away now.  He still wasn’t speaking, but
that was okay; words would come soon enough.
 
            When Don turned back to the balcony, his one arm stayed
loosely around Annie.  She walked with him out onto the balcony, but
neither of them paid much attention to the surroundings.  Don was lost
in his world of anger, and Annie was trying to pull him back into the
world of friendship.  She couldn’t know how well she’d done on that.
 
            “Gill and Paul are pretty much the only two friends I’ve
got,” Don said, startling Annie with his sudden words.  “We’ve been
together for a long time.  I can’t imagine not having either of them
around.  I’m worried that we’re breaking apart, that we can’t function
as a team.  We got into this together, we should only leave
*together*.  And what about the others?  Kate, and Susan, and
especially Julie?  We’re supposed to be worried about them!”
 
            “And me?” she said, just to throw herself back into his
thinking.
 
            “You’re... um....” Don faltered with what he was going to
say.
 
            “I’m what?” she asked, puzzled by his hesitation.  Did he
expect that if he said she was a different matter, that would offend
her?  She *was* a different matter.
 
            “I can’t say it... I don’t have the right to say what was
about to come out.”
 
            That *really* confused Annie.  *Doesn’t have the right to
say what?*
 
            “Go ahead, and I promise I won’t bite your head off.”
 
            He looked at her very skeptically for a full minute before
he said, “You’re *my* responsibility, not theirs.”
 
            At that moment, Annie thought she’d just fallen in love. 
She turned to fully face him, and put her hands on his chest.  She
leaned up, and thankfully, he figured out what she wanted, and leaned
down.  Their lips touched, very, very gently, and they kissed.  Don’s
hands came up to her hips, to hold her softly, and her hands slipped
around his neck.  It seemed as if the world stopped for them, as their
bodies touched very softly, their lips making warm, sensuous contact.
 
            Eventually, they had to break the kiss, and Annie was the
one who let go first.  She kept her hands behind his neck as she looked
up into his eyes, and she said, just above a whisper, “Thanks.”
 
            Don didn’t say anything at all.  The only other girl he’d
kissed was his sister, and the sparks between them had never rivaled
*this*.  He held on to this lovely girl for quite some time, not saying
anything, trying to sort out what was in his head.
 
            Finally, giving it up for a later time, he looked back into
her eyes and said, “Thank me when we get out of here.”
 
            Annie leaned up and kissed him again, this one briefer, and
more of a promise of something for the future than it was for the now. 
“Oh, I will.  Count on it.”  She let her hands drop, but she didn’t
move away from him.  The two had been through too many emotions in the
last day, and neither knew what to do with them.  They knew they
enjoyed each other’s company, though, and so they stood, together, in
silence.
 
 
 
===<<<+>>>===
 
 
 
            On the other side of the castle,  Paul was pacing back and
forth in Carysta’s room.  She had found him in his own room, and
brought him here.  She didn’t think any of his friends would come to
look for him in this part of the keep, and she wanted him to cool down,
to settle his mind, so that he could focus.
 
            *<I can’t believe the nerve of those two!  Telling me what
to do and think and... SHIT!  And what the hell is up with Julie, going
to *him* to talk?*>
 
            Carysta breathed softly.  She had purposely not told Paul
what she had heard after he’d left.  It would only make him angrier,
and that wasn’t what she wanted.  Also, she knew that, right now, a
confrontation between the boys would not turn out the way Paul wanted
it to.  Magic was easier to master than psionic power, though psionics
were usually stronger in the end.  *Not always, Carysta.  Remember
that.*
 
            *<Paul, I know that you’re upset, but try not to let it get
to you.  They have their way of thinking, and it just isn’t in sync
with your way, with our way.  You and I both know that you will be a
powerful Master Psionic.  Maybe they’re afraid of that.  Or, maybe they
just don’t like the idea of you taking the lead.  Maybe Don has grown
used to bossing you around.>*
 
            Under other circumstances, Paul would have immediately
defended Don.  They had, after all, essentially forced him to lead. 
These were not, however, other circumstances, and he looked at her for
a long moment, without saying anything.  She tried to read his face,
but couldn’t get past the anger still etched across his features.
 
            *<That little shit.  You might be right.  Hell, maybe he’s
afraid of me now.  Gill had damned well better be afraid of me.  If he
touches Julie, I’ll kill him.>*
 
            It was at that moment that Carysta was glad she hadn’t yet
told him of Julie and Gill’s little affair.  She was sure it would
continue, and that was okay with her.  It was Paul she wanted.  Julie
could fuck everyone else in the castle, for all she cared.
 
            *<Paul, you mustn’t let this affect your training.  If
you’re going to be leaving the castle in a few days, and I don’t think
Iamor is going to let Don stay much longer than that, then you must
learn all that I can teach you as quickly as possible.  Let this go for
now.  Bring it up later, when you might be able to do something about
it.>*
 
            Paul sat down on the edge of her bed.  He left a good foot
of separation between them, but she immediately moved closer.  The two
had spent a great deal of time together, and she felt she knew him well
enough to know he wouldn’t object.  He didn’t.
 
            *<I guess you’re right.  You know, Don has been a good
friend in the past, but ever since we got here, he seems to think he
knows everything.>*  Paul turned to look at Carysta, who smiled softly
at him.  *<Thank you.  You’ve been a better friend to me than any of
them has in the last few days.>*
 
            Paul wasn’t entirely sure if the look in her eyes was an
invitation or not, but he decided to take the risk.  He leaned in, and
she did not back away.  He closed his eyes as their lips touched.  Her
lips were soft, and moist, and warm, and he wanted to kiss them all day
long.
 
            *<You’re beautiful, Carysta.  I’ve been trying not to stare
at you since we got here.  I hate to admit this, but ever since I got
here, when I talk to you in my mind, I picture you naked.  I’d like to
see you that way with my real eyes.>*
 
            Paul hadn’t really meant to say that, but it had slipped
into his thought pattern, and of course, he couldn’t take it back.  His
body tensed for a moment, until he noticed that Carysta wasn’t pulling
away.  In fact, her hand came up to the back of his head to hold their
mouths together.  Her lips parted, and her tongue pressed its way into
Paul’s mouth.  Soon their tongues were dancing against each other
softly, as each moaned in pleasure.
 
            Meanwhile, Carysta took Paul’s hand in her free one, and
brought it up to her tit.  She pressed his hand firmly against her
breast, holding it there until he started to softly squeeze.  She said
to him, *<If my body is one of the things you want from me, you’re
welcome to it.  It’s been a while since anyone has taken an interest in
me, Paul.  I’m yours for the asking.>*
 
            Paul hesitated, though his hand didn’t waver in its groping
of her tit.  *<I’m... not very experienced.>*  In fact, Paul had had
sex exactly once in his life, and that girl had made him feel like a
fool.
 
            *<I understand,>* she said, as she pulled him backward with
her onto the bed.  He was on top of her now, his hand groping her tit
more firmly.  He pulled her peasant shirt down, exposing her breast. 
Now his hand caressed far more gently.  He was touching her bare skin,
his fingers dancing over the surface of her tit, occasionally flitting
over her nipple before moving on.  Carysta moaned into his mouth.
 
            She broke their kiss and pushed him slightly to the side. 
Her smile prevented this from being a wounding action.  She sat up and
pulled off her shirt, for it had become uncomfortable, and it was hard
for her to move her arms that way.  She turned to him and noticed how
he took in her breasts, how his eyes followed her curves.  She ignored
his tunic, and went straight for his pants.
 
            Paul’s pants were held up by a simple drawstring and, after
undoing that, Carysta had no trouble pulling his pants and underwear
down past his hips.  She saw his cock, erect and waiting for her
attention.  She forgot his pants, and gently grasped his cock.  Paul
shuddered as her dainty fingers encircled his prick, and he groaned as
her tongue danced across the head of his shaft. 

            He needed no prep, and so Carysta sank her mouth down onto
his shaft, her lips sliding softly along the skin, her tongue swishing
back and forth to excite him further.  She felt his cock reach the back
of her mouth, but she kept going, until he was fully inside her mouth. 
She held him there for a moment, her lips and tongue working to keep
him fully aroused.  Then, her one hand slipping down to fondle his
balls, she began to move her mouth on him, her lips keeping up an
incredible suction on his dick.
 
            Paul was lost in a world of pure pleasure.  He couldn’t
have participated in this act if he’d wanted to.  His eyes were rolled
back in his head, and his hands continued to clench and unclench as
Carysta’s talented mouth moved on him.  He was well past the point of
no return, and he didn’t know what was holding back his orgasm.
 
            Carysta, however, did know.  And when she felt the time was
right, she released him, and his cum exploded from the head of  his
dick.  She continued to bob her head and suck as he came, and she
swallowed every drop of his cum.  Her fingers continued to work at his
balls, coaxing every drop of his spunk out of them.
 
            Paul’s body lurched through its most intense orgasm ever,
until he was finally spent.  He figured that they were through, and
certainly it had been a wonderful experience, but Carysta didn’t stop
sucking on him.  Paul was amazed to find that he was soon hard again,
and as he looked down at her bobbing head, her blonde hair bouncing
with her moves, he found he did, indeed, want more of her.
 
            Carysta knew this, and as soon as he was hard, she removed
her mouth from him.  She stood up momentarily, and pulled off her
panties.  She still wore her skirt, and she left it on as she knelt on
the bed again, this time straddling his hips.  She lifted the front of
her skirt as she moved forward, and Paul could see her neatly shaved
bush.  He noted something about it, but now was not the time to ask.
 
            As Carysta reached her goal, one of her hands reached down
to hold Paul’s dick in place.  Then, with an audible sigh, she sank
down onto him in one smooth motion.
 
            *<Oh, god, that feels so good!>* she cried out in her
thoughts to him.
 
            *Oh, fuck is she tight! *he thought to himself.
 
            As soon as she was fully impaled, Carysta dropped her
skirt, covering their joining, and then she leaned forward.  Supporting
herself on stiff arms, she began to move on Paul’s cock.  Paul
immediately started thrusting up with his hips to meet her movements. 
His hands, almost of their own accord, sought out her tits, and fondled
them.  Carysta began to pant and groan with her movements.
 
            *<Oh, Paul, this is so good!  It’s been so long.  Fuck me,
baby!>* she told him.
 
            Emboldened by her encouragement, Paul took matters into his
own mind.  He used his telekinetic power to lift them off the bed, and
then flip them over before setting them back down.  He didn’t want to
risk dropping her, or he’d have stayed in the air.  Now, he was on top,
and he put his hands on either side of her shoulders, and began rutting
into her as hard and as fast as he could.  They were both grunting and
moaning and crying out in passion as their pleasures built to a fever
pitch.
 
            Paul kept up his furious pace as he leaned down to her, and
their lips locked.  He was thrusting into her at a different angle now,
and that was just more than he could take.  Paul came again, blasting
his load deep into her cunt.  Carysta, feeling his jism pulse into her,
spilled over the edge of her own climax, and her pussy rippled around
his cock, trying to pull all of his spunk from him.
 
            The two writhed for a very long time, breaking their kiss
and grunting out loud as their passions washed over them.  When they
finally came down, Paul was completely spent.  He rolled to the side,
pulling out of Carysta’s warm, wet twat as he slumped onto the bed.  He
was able to give her one last kiss before he passed out from pleasure
overload.  Carysta smiled down at her lover, but the smile was not one
of satiation.
 
            It was one of victory.
 
 
 
===<<<+>>>===
 
 
 
            Don and Annie had spent some time together, trying to come
to grips with things.  Not only was the newly-formed rift in Don’s
stable friendship upsetting, but now he had to find someone to teach
Annie what she needed to know.  He hadn’t come up with a plan before
lunch, and so they went down to eat in the smaller dining area.  Lunch
wasn’t usually a big affair at the castle, and so they ate alone,
chatting with Yarice and trying to ignore their problems.
 
            “Yarice... you know what went on this morning, right?” Don
asked the cook.  She nodded, but didn’t speak.  “What’s the deal with
Iamor?  Why won’t he train Annie?”
 
            “The Elves.”
 
            “What about them?  I mean, he wouldn’t speak to them when
they came to the castle, yesterday, either.”
 
            “I’m not allowed to talk about it.  If you want a history
lesson, you need to go speak with Bob.” 

            It was clear that this avenue was closed to them, unless
they wanted to go speak with the librarian.  They finished their lunch,
and did precisely that.
 
 
 
===<<<+>>>===
 
 
 
            The pair walked into the library, but they did not see
Bob.  The library was a dark and dusty room, and the only light was the
one they’d carried in with them.  Of course, what need would a blind
man have for a light?
 
            “Bob?” Don called out loudly.
 
            “Be with you in a minute!” they heard from well back in the
room.  They sat down on the bench near Bob’s desk, and waited.  It
didn’t take long before they heard his footsteps on the stone floor.
 
            Bob came into their circle of light carrying three heavy
books.  “Well, what can I do for you two?”
 
            “Uh,” Don said, his curiosity peaked, “How do you know
there are two of us here?”
 
            “Don,” Bob said with good-natured exasperation, “unless
you’ve taken to wearing feminine body powders here in Zemlia Nov, I
would guess that it is Miss Annie with you, since Kate prefers a
different scent.”
 
            Annie giggled at Don’s discomfiture.  “Oh.  Well, okay. 
You’re right.”
 
            “So,” Bob said, sitting down in the chair behind his desk
and placing the heavy tomes to the side, “what can I do for you?”
 
            “We’d like a history lesson.”
 
            “Oh?  Dealing with?”
 
            “Iamor.  And the Elves.”
 
            “Ah,” Bob said, in a drawn-out syllable.  “You’re wondering
why he doesn’t like Miss Annie.”
 
            “I’m *wondering* why I don’t clock him upside the head.  I
would like to know why he won’t train her.”
 
            Bob chuckled.  “You’re going to do well here, young man. 
But try to keep your temper in check; facing off against Iamor isn’t as
easy as you may think.”  Bob settled himself back into his chair, and
turned his head, almost as if he were looking at something.  Then he
began to speak.
 
            “Three hundred years ago, Iamor was a young wizard.  His
father ran Castle Ballor then.  Zemlia Nov hadn’t yet seen its first
outsiders, Dan-Eger was the strongest dragon in the land by far, and
both Denonia and Gaphnia were still children.
 
            “Back then, there was no one ruling Zemlia Nov.  Each small
village made its own rules, and provided its own security.  However,
Dan-Eger did not have control of the other dragons, and trouble broke
out.
 
            “When the dragons started terrorizing the communities, the
Elves were the first to step forward with a proposal to band together
to fight off the new threat.  The other communities, caught unprepared
for this, readily agreed.  The Elves have always been good fighters,
and they were ready to lead.
 
            “Well, Iamor and his father, Randor, disagreed.  They said
that Castle Ballor could stand on its own quite well, thank you, and
that the Elves should not consider them to be part of their plan.
 
            “Eventually, Dan-Gelmer and his clan came here.  Yes, it
was Dan-Gelmer leading the fight back then, too.  Well, to make a long
story short, there was a massive battle between Randor and Iamor on one
side, and the dragons on the other.  They managed to repel the dragons,
but Randor was killed in the fight.
 
            “Iamor blamed the Elves for not being there.  It’s
irrational, but he does.  He and his father were very close.  Ever
since then, Iamor has been, well... a little eccentric.
 
            “When the Elves formed the kingdom of Zemlia Nov, Iamor
loudly proclaimed his independence from it.  The Elves didn’t bother to
wage war against him; instead, they used some of their magic to raise
the hills you see around this valley.  It took them fifty years, but
eventually, they walled Iamor off from the rest of the land.  Oh, he
can get out easy enough, but he never does.  And no one comes in, with
rare exceptions.  Most of the travelers like you seem to end up here,
though.”
 
            Bob paused in his speech, and turned his head back to the
couple.  “Iamor hates anything that has to do with the Elves.  Annie,
I’m sorry, but since you were rescued and brought here by the Elves,
he’s not going to train you.  Ever.  I know it makes no sense, but
that’s Iamor for you.”
 
            “Why couldn’t Yarice tell us all this?” Annie asked.
 
            “Yarice used to be very outspoken.  Iamor spent a great
deal of energy ‘bringing her into line,’ as he puts it.  She doesn’t
want to go through that again.”
 
            Don’s expression darkened.  “Bastard,” he muttered.
 
            “Most of the time, Iamor is happy and laid back.  Only when
someone challenges his authority does he grow angry.”
 
            “Bully,” Annie said.  Don nodded in agreement.
 
            “Bob,” Don asked, before that would go further, “Is there
no one here who can train Annie?  I sure as hell can’t do it... my
training isn’t even complete... well, actually, I’m probably done
learning from Iamor, after this morning...”
 
            “Did you not know?” Bob asked incredulously.  Both of the
others answered negatively.  “Gaphnia is at least as much a wizard as
Iamor ever was.”
 
 
 
===<<<+>>>===
 
 
 
            It took some doing to find Gaphnia, who, it turned out, was
out in the garden, rather than in the castle.  The couple approached
her quietly, not wanting to disturb whatever peace she’d come here to
find.
 
            “Good afternoon, ma’am,” Don said, sitting on the bench
across from her.  Annie remained standing behind him.  He could tell
she was nervous, but didn’t know what to do about it.
 
            Gaphnia turned to face them.  “Do you know how long it has
been since anyone in this castle has wished me a pleasant day?”
 
            “Too long?” Don asked.
 
            She smiled at him.  “Yes.  Much too long.  Thank you.  But
I assume you didn’t come all the way out here *just* to wish me a good
afternoon.”
 
            “No, ma’am.”
 
            “So, what can I do for you?”
 
            Don thought of many different ways he could approach this,
but he thought that maybe the direct way was best.  “Teach us.”
 
            “What?”
 
            “Iamor won’t teach Annie because of her association with
the Elves.  He’s probably not going to teach *me* anymore because I
challenged him this morning.  Neither of us is ready to face what’s out
there.”
 
            Gaphnia turned her head to look out, past the moat, and
into the far field.  “Do you know how long it’s been since I’ve used
magic?  I gave up magic when I saw what it did to Iamor.  You’re asking
me to return to something that has consumed those who have used it.”
 
            “Used it excessively, ma’am.  Iamor’s problem isn’t magic,
it’s his ego.”
 
            She turned back with a smile on her face.  “Yes, there is
that.”
 
            “Please.  I wouldn’t ask you to do something you didn’t
want to do, but this could very well mean our lives.”
 
            She gazed into his eyes, gauging his sincerity and his
convictions.  What she saw there decided the situation for her.  “Very
well.  But I prefer mornings for magic, so it will have to wait until
tomorrow.  For today, savor the sunshine.”
 
            Don nodded his head in thanks, and then Gaphnia turned in
her wheelchair, and rolled off, leaving the two to themselves.  Annie
finally sat down next to Don.
 
            “I’m sorry I couldn’t be much help, I...”
 
            Don cut her off with a gentle touch on her fidgeting
hands.  “It’s okay, Annie.  I need her help as much as you do, now.”
 
            “But I should have at least thanked her...”
 
            “She knows.  Besides, you’ll have time to thank her later.”
 
            Annie leaned against him, and he put his arm around her
shoulders.  Across the yard, he saw Kate picking flowers.  She looked
over at him, smiled, and waved before returning to her task.  He
smiled, realizing that he had the most wonderful sister on the planet. 
Whichever planet that was.
 
 
 
===<<<+>>>===
 
 
 
            At dinner, the absence of Paul and Carysta was quickly
noted.  Julie looked at the two empty seats with an expression of
despair.  Gill immediately switched seats with his sister, and then
took Julie’s hand.  She looked at him with tears in her eyes, but
smiled.
 
            “Well, I guess we know why he’s had no interest in Julie,”
Don muttered to Kate, quietly enough that Julie did not hear him.  Kate
merely nodded.
 
            Iamor was not present at dinner, and that was just fine
with everybody.  The meal went along more or less peacefully, and by
the end something approaching a normal conversation had been achieved. 
Still, the strain in the room was obvious, and upsetting.
 
 
 
            Just before bedtime, the boys had decided they needed to
have a talk.  They met in the lounge area to do so.  Kate and Susan sat
close to the fire, having a chat.  Julie was staring out the crystal
doors at the sky, and Annie was sitting alone, thinking.
 
            “All right, Gill, you want to tell me what happened with
you and Julie?”  They were keeping their voices low enough so as not to
be heard by anyone else.
 
            “Shit, man, I don’t know what was with her yesterday!  It
was just after you guys brought Annie up here.  Darnell didn’t feel
like practicing anymore, so I was on my way to change.  Julie stuck her
head out – honest, man, that’s all I could see – and asked me to come
in, ‘cause she needed help.  Well, you know, I’m not one to be rude or
anything, so... but when I get inside, I see she’s got no damn clothes
on!
 
            “Well, okay, I admit, I didn’t really try real hard to
fight her or anything...” Gill looked down, shame-faced.
 
            “Would it be more like, didn’t do a damn thing?” Don asked
with a grin.  Gill nodded, embarrassed.  “So, this whole thing is
because the horny little wench couldn’t stand being ignored anymore.”
 
            “Yeah, I guess.”
 
            “You’re going to have to work this out with Paul, somehow. 
If he doesn’t want to pay attention to his sister, that’s his fault,
but this fighting is going to tear us apart, you know?”
 
            “Yeah.  I’m sorry, man, I just never-“
 
            “It’s okay, I mean, I probably would have went along with
her, too.”  *And wouldn’t that have made life overly complicated?*
 
            “What do you want me to do about Paul?”
 
            “Hell if I know.  I’ve got enough trouble of my own...
what’s that about?”  Don had noticed Annie walk over and talk to Julie,
but had ignored it.  Now the two were heading down the hallway.
 
            Don watched as the pair stopped at Paul’s room, and then,
to Don’s surprise, they knocked.  He couldn’t tell if they got an
answer or not, but they both went into the room and closed the door.
 
 
 
            Julie was only a little surprised to find her room empty. 
It was obvious what Paul was doing.  Annie could see the look of hurt
that crossed her face, but it was soon replaced by a look of
acceptance.  Finally, Julie turned to her.
 
            “So, what’s up?”
 
            Annie felt a little uncomfortable.  “Look, you don’t know
me, I realize, and I’ve got no place to tell you what to do, but I’d
like to make a suggestion.”
 
            “Shoot.”
 
            “Well, since Paul’s not in here... um, why don’t you and I
sleep in here tonight?  I know that Don and Kate need some time
together alone... I don’t know about Gill and Susan, but...”
 
            Annie saw the look in Julie’s eyes even before she spoke. 
“Yeah, I know what you’re saying.”
 
            “I mean, there are two beds here, unused, so...”
 
            “Yeah, okay.  Good idea.  I don’t want Susan to start
hating me or something.”  She gave Annie a hug.  “Good plan.”
 
            “Thanks.”
 
 
 
            Don watched as the two came back out of the room after
being inside for brief moments.  They walked back to the lounge, and it
was obvious that Annie was waiting for the opportunity to say something
to him.  He motioned to her with his eyes, and she came over and sat
beside him.
 
            “Hey, guys.  I was just talking to Julie about something.”
 
            “What’s that?” Gill asked.
 
            “Since Paul seems to be... somewhere other than his room,”
Annie said diplomatically, “Julie and I will sleep in there tonight. 
That’ll give you two some privacy to be alone with your sisters, okay?”
 
            A slow smile crept across Gill’s face.  “Okay.  Thanks for
thinking of Susan.”
 
            *I was thinking more of Kate*, Annie didn’t say.  She felt
a hand brush softly across her back, and she admitted that the owner of
the hand was who she was *really* thinking about.
 
            “You don’t have to do this, Annie,” Don said.  She could
see the sincerity in his eyes.  “But thank you.”
 
            “You’re welcome.”  She leaned in and gave him a hug and, in
consideration for present company, a very small kiss on the cheek. 
Then she got up.  “I’m going to turn in, if you don’t mind.  I have a
feeling tomorrow is going to be a long day.”
 
            Don watched her walk off, and Julie followed closely behind
her.
 
            “Nice girl,” Gill said, just to have something to say.
 
            “Yeah.  Uh, look, I don’t want to cut into your time with
Darnell, but someone’s got to teach her to fight.”
 
            “No problem.  You know our routine.  Bring her down in the
late morning, and I’m sure Darnell won’t have any problem with teaching
her.”
 
            “Great.  Now,” Don said, stifling a bit of a yawn, “What
say we follow the girls’ example, and go get some... uh, ‘sleep’?”
 
            Gill chuckled as he glanced over at Susan.  “Sleep is...
not what’s on my mind.  But okay, I’ll see you in the morning.”
 
            Don just shook his head as he went to collect his sister.
 
 
 
            In Julie’s room, the two were already disrobed, and were
about to settle into bed.  Julie paused, and turned to look at Annie.
 
            “Annie?  Maybe we should both use one bed.  Just in case
Paul comes back.”
 
            Annie stopped to consider.  If he went to the *wrong* bed
under those circumstances...  “Okay, that sounds like a good idea.”
 
            Julie walked over and got into Annie’s bed as Annie was
settling down to rest.  Annie closed her eyes and was just getting
comfortable, when she was startled to feel a pair of warm, moist lips
touching her own.  She opened her eyes as Julie broke the brief kiss.
 
            “Thanks again,” Julie said, before turning over and blowing
out the candle on the nightstand.  She settled immediately onto her
side, and no more was said.
 
            Annie, however, had to figure out the warm tingle in her
belly.
 
 
 
===<<<+>>>===
 
 
 
            Annie’s dreams were troubling.  They bothered her not
because they caused her fear, because they didn’t, but because of what
they did cause her: arousal.  When she woke in the morning, she found
that her aroused state was not entirely a dream.  She found herself
holding Julie, who was in turn holding her, sound asleep.  She couldn’t
move; it would certainly wake Julie if she did.  She felt dampness on
her thigh; Julie was as aroused as she was.
 
            *My God, what did we do in our sleep?*
 
            At that moment, Julie began to stir.  Annie froze,
uncertain of what to do.  She was sure Julie would freak.  She stared
at the face of the girl, waiting for her eyes to open.
 
            Julie awoke slowly, and when she felt arms around her in a
soft grip, she snuggled against it.  When she felt her tits rub against
other tits, a soft smile came to her face.  She never opened her eyes,
but leaned forward.  When her lips touched Annie’s, she could feel the
other girl hesitate.  Julie slipped her tongue out, pressing it gently
against Annie’s lips.  Annie opened her mouth very slowly, and then
Julie’s tongue was in, caressing the inside of Annie’s mouth, and
playing against her tongue.
 
            The two kissed for quite some time, and Julie began to
slide her pussy along Annie’s leg.  It felt so good she moaned against
Annie’s mouth.  She was so close to coming.  She felt sure that Annie
would try to break their embrace, and she *needed* this right now.
 
            It wasn’t long before Julie came, her orgasm short, but
powerful.  Her body rippled and writhed in pleasure.  She broke their
kiss and cried out, her head thrown back and her eyes squeezed tightly
shut.
 
            Annie held the girl until she came down from her high.  She
did so more out of uncertainty as to what to do than anything else. 
When Julie finally came to her senses, she looked into Annie’s eyes,
and it was clear that she regretted what she’d done.
 
            “Geez, Annie, I’m sorry.  I don’t know what came over me. 
See, um... I guess I should have told you this, but I’m bisexual.  I
didn’t mean for this to happen, honest, but, well, when I woke up and
felt you, and...”
 
            Annie looked into the girl’s blushing face, and knew she
was sincere.  Really, it was kind of amusing, and Annie chuckled.  “We
must have done *something* last night in our sleep, because this is how
we were when I woke up.  Don’t worry too much about it, Julie.  I’ve
never done anything with a girl before, but...” Annie blushed herself
before going on.  “I kind of liked it.”  Annie leaned in and kissed
Julie again, more softly this time.  She wasn’t ready to do any more
than this, and Julie understood.  Their tongues slipped out to play
against each other, and for several minutes, they continued to kiss.
 
            Finally, they broke their embrace.  Annie slowly climbed
out of the bed, shivering.  “Damn, it’s cold in here!”
 
            “Annie?”  Julie asked.  Annie turned to her with an
expectant look on her face.  She knew what was coming.  “If you ever
want to... you know, go further...”
 
            “I’ll let you know.  And... I probably will.”  Annie turned
before she blushed at the admission, but not before she saw Julie
smile.  “I’ve got to hurry.  I’m supposed to meet Gaphnia for magic
lessons today, and I’ve got to get in some breakfast.”
 
            “You take the tub first, then,” Julie said.  “I’ll wait
here.”  Julie’s voice sounded dreamy enough that Annie figured she was
going to go back to sleep.  She hurried for the tub.
 
            Julie lay in bed with a smile on her face.  She *hadn’t*
meant for it to happen, but damn had it felt good.  She knew better
than to approach Susan about girl-girl, and she didn’t know how Kate
would react.  She hadn’t even thought of asking Annie last night, and
it was obvious that her answer would have been no.  Still, now that she
had a taste of it... and she seemed to enjoy it...
 
            *I hope she’ll play with me soon...*
 
 
 
===<<<+>>>===
 
 
 
            Annie had rushed through a bath, and met Don and Kate
downstairs for breakfast.  She explained that Julie was still sleeping,
and would be late.  The three of them went to breakfast alone.  Don and
Annie had to keep an appointment with Gaphnia, but Kate simply refused
to eat without her brother.
 
            The trio chatted happily through their breakfast.  None of
the others in the castle, except for Yarice, of course, were even up
yet.  They expected to see Gaphnia come in while they ate, but she
didn’t.  They didn’t know what that meant, but she’d told them where to
be and when to be there, so there was little else they needed to figure
out.
 
            Once they were through breakfast, they went out into the
field behind the castle.  They were still inside the moat, but there
were no walls surrounding them.  They saw Gaphnia waiting for them. 
Kate kissed her brother, and flew off to fly with an eagle she had
spotted yesterday.  The bird seemed to enjoy her presence, and Don
wondered if that affinity spread to all birds, or just this one bird.
 
            Don turned his thoughts back to Gaphnia as they approached.
 
            “Good morning, you two,” the sorceress said to them.  She
was staring into the sky, apparently looking at a certain cloud.  She
pointed to it.  “What do you see?”
 
            They looked up.  Don immediately said, “A violin.”
 
            Annie responded, “I see an hourglass.”
 
            “So who is correct?” Gaphnia asked.
 
            The pair looked at her in dismay.  “We both are, aren’t
we?  I mean, you asked us what *we* see,” Don answered.
 
            “Very good.  This is about *perception*.  That’s important,
because magic is also about perception.  How you perceive yourself to
be is, in fact, how you are likely to turn out.  Confidence,
conviction, clarity.  You need these things as a magician.  Come, you
have very much to learn, and probably not a lot of time in which to
learn it.”
 
 
 
===<<<+>>>===
 
 
 
 
 
            It was after lunch by the time Don brought Annie down to
the practice yard where Darnell was teaching Gill.  The two stood and
watched as Gill fought Darnell expertly, wielding his sword as if it
were an extension of his own body.
 
            “I’ll never be that good,” Annie moaned.
 
            Gaphnia, who had come up behind them very quietly, startled
them by saying, “This, too, is a matter of perception.  Gill is as good
as he believes himself to be.  Certainly training and practice are
important, but his mental image of his skill is far more so.  Remember,
Annabelle: confidence, conviction, clarity.”
 
            “Yes, ma’am,” she said.
 
            Just then, the two noticed their audience.  Darnell broke
off the fight, and the two saluted each other before sheathing their
weapons.  Don and Annie walked onto the combat field then.
 
            “Darnell, I was hoping that perhaps you would teach Annie
how to use her sword.  You’ve taught Gill so much...”
 
            “Let me see your weapon,” Darnell ordered.  Annie withdrew
it and, as carefully as she had with Don, handed it over to Darnell.
 
            “The scroll said it was unbreakable.  I don’t know about
that, but I do know I need to learn how to use it.”
 
            “Gill, bring me the mace off the shed wall.”  Gill ran to
the weapons shed and returned with a nasty looking studded ball on a
thick wooden handle.
 
            “The most important thing, young lady, is that you trust
your weapon completely.  Come with me.”  The group followed as Darnell
walked over to an anvil.  “Gill, hand me that practice sword.”  Taking
the sword from Gill, Darnell used a clamp on the anvil to hold it in
place.
 
            Turning to Annie, he said, “Although this is a practice
sword, which means it doesn’t have a sharp edge, it is otherwise
exactly the same as any other sword.  It is just as strong.  I want to
prove a point.”
 
            Darnell took the mace from Gill and, raising it high over
his head, brought it down squarely onto the blade of the sword clamped
onto the anvil.  The blade shattered under the impact, and the group
jumped at the loud crack of the blade.
 
            “That is what will happen to a standard blade when hit by
such a heavy object as a mace.  Now, your sword...”  Annie was about to
protest as he clamped her sword onto the anvil, but Don placed his hand
on her arm.  He trusted Darnell to know what he was doing.
 
            “Your sword is special.  It is magically impregnated to be
completely unbreakable.  It is known as the Sword of Hollie, for a
young woman named Dina Hollie was the first person to wield it.”
 
            Darnell raised the mace again, and again brought it down,
hard, onto the blade of the sword.  Again, there was a loud crack of
metal breaking.  This time, however, it was the mace which had split in
half, its two pieces lying on the ground.
 
            Darnell removed the blade and carefully handed it back to
Annie.  “As you can see, this sword will not break.  You must trust
your weapon, and know its limitation.  Yours does not have one. 
Anything you have enough strength to cut through, it will cut through. 
It will remain sharp forever.  Now that you *know* this is true, you
can trust your life to the blade.”
 
            “Thank you,” she said, “but I still don’t know how to *use*
it.  Will you teach me?”
 
            “No.”
            The group stared at him.
 
            “No?” Gill said in shock.  “Why the hell not?”
 
            Darnell turned to him and said, “Because you are going to
teach her.”  Before Gill could object, Darnell continued.  “There is no
better way to ingrain in your mind the lessons of sword fighting than
to teach them to someone else.  I will watch you, and I will correct
you, but you are going to teach the young lady how to defend herself. 
Her life is now in *your* hands.”
 
            “Oh, shit,” Gill said under his breath, but everybody heard
him.
 
 
 
===<<<+>>>===
 
 
 
            Gill was in the middle of teaching Annie several different
ways to parry when Paul strode onto the field.  The look in his face
was one of pure menace and hatred.  Annie broke off the fight before he
got to her, and he gestured her off the field.  After some reassurance
from Gill, she went quickly to Don’s side.
 
            “You mother-fucking cocksucker!  How dare you touch my
sister!” Paul bellowed.
 
            “I don’t recall you ruling her life, Paul,” Gill replied
with as much calm as he could manage.
 
            Suddenly, Gill was flying backward toward the weapons
shed.  Don acted quickly, beckoning a spell that stopped Gill’s
flight.  He fell to the ground, but was unhurt.
 
            Paul whirled and faced Don, who stepped away from his
friends to keep them out of the line of fire.
 
            “Mind your own fucking business!” Paul raged at him.
 
            “Anything that happens between my friends *is* my
business,” Don replied determinedly.  He had chanted a short spell, and
he could feel the psionic energy building up around him.  Before Paul
let loose, Don cast his own spell, and a fireball shot out at Paul. 
Paul’s concentration was broken as he dodged the fireball.
 
            Paul screamed in fury, and let loose an energy ball of his
own, directed at Don’s head.  Don waited until it was close enough, and
another spell made short work of the energy, dispelling it harmlessly.
 
            Another spell, and Paul was thrown five feet, dropping to
the ground.  He rolled and was back on his feet in an instant, but Don
was ready with another spell.  This fight was going much too easily,
and that worried Don.  What was Paul saving?  Certainly this wasn’t all
a psionic had.
 
            He felt a tug at his mind, an attempt at confusion. 
Although he was able to cast a ward-off spell, that distracted his
attention, and he was soon flying through the air.  He was about to hit
a tree, rather hard, when his sister swooped down and nudged him far
enough to miss the tree.  She was quickly back up in the sky, out of
reach of the enraged teen.
 
            Don knew he owed his sister for that one, and he stopped
his flight with another spell.  Now he was angry.  He’d hoped to stop
this without anyone getting hurt, but Paul’s goal was obviously
vengeance.  Don couldn’t believe they’d come so far as this, but he
would do what had to be done.
 
            Returning to the field of the fight, Don powered up a
massive fireball.  He let it loose at Paul, and it surrounded the
psionic.  Paul was using a lot of energy up to fight off the spell, but
he was finally able to throw the fireball off, setting small fires
everywhere.  It was easy to see the strain on Paul’s face; this fight
was taking a lot out of him.
 
            In one last, desperate attempt, Paul lunged at Don.  Don
made ready to fight off the physical attack before he realized that the
attacker was an illusion.  Paul had not moved, but instead had used the
time wisely.
 
            Behind him, a fuzzy area in space had formed, and in the
center of that fuzzy area was clearly not the weapons shed, which
should have been behind Paul.  Instead, it looked like it was inside
the castle somewhere.
 
            “I will never forgive either of you for this,” Paul warned,
and then stepped through the portal.  When it was gone, so was he.
 
            Don turned to Gaphnia, who was right beside him now, in her
chair.  “Now, *that*,” he said, awe in his voice, “was a cool trick.”
 
 
 
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