FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Sharak stood at the door, blazing with a smile on his face. It did not bode well for anyone, that smile.

"So, what is your intention here?"

"Sharak, all we intend to do is find the creatures that live here, atmospheric conditions how technologically advance said cultures are.The building blocks." I said smoothly.

Oops, I had said his name.He darkened.

"How do you know my name?"

"I am a spirit, Sharak, I am in fact dead."

Meaning that dead people were know all. Sharak scowled, and the corridor suddenly illuminated. Sharak gestured us to walk with him, and he walked slowly and reverently down the corridor, Casdey behind him. Simba asked the questions, while the others listened. I brooded on Casdey's earlier comments about me, and resolved to have a little chat back on Central. Nothing physical or magical, just some words.

Sharak was willing to answer most of the questions about his world, possibly in the hope that we'd leave sooner, and let him run his place. But Casdey kept unfortunately close to the demon, and I expected they had something up their sleeves. I whispered in Draconic to Salbar and Draco.

"I don't trust this genial fellow at all. Weapons at hand."

There was a general reshuffling of careful movements. Salbar silently took both swords in hands, and Javid whistled while he loaded and fiddled with his rifle. Simba did not do anything of the sort, and Draco already had his sword out.

We came after a short period of time to the large chamber, and there was an outbreak of shrieking and cowering imps as they saw Sharak enter.

"You seem to scare them, Sharak." I said off hand to the demon.

"They are my servants, I am their master, they will do as I say or they will be punished." Sharak replied with equal non commitance.

"It works well." I said, walking across the frothing pool in the centre, as the rest detoured along the safe path.

Simba got through his official list of questions, and left it at that as we headed to the exit. Sharak stayed behind, and spoke.

"I have your word, Alduin, one week."

"I shouldn't panic, Sharak. I am full of surprises."

The demon stopped his casual smile, and I vanished. His face rearranged into slightly scared but unsurprised, or a combination of both, and he turned and stalked back down the chamber. I turned to Casdey.

"Well Casdey, do you like him?"

"You're an interfering busy body.It's none of your business." she turned roughly towards where my invisible self was.

"O.K., less personal question, can I come in for the teleport?"

"If you insist." she said, and I entered her.

The teleport went smoothly, and I walked out of Casdey immediately on arrival. Draco led the pair of us back to her room, and as he locked the door, I got onto the bunk and rested on my arms, as Casdey paced the room.

"Gosh Casdey, it pains me to see you so cooped up." I said, looking at the roof.

Her head shot up like a bullet, looking at me.

"What did you say?"

"Surely we must terrify you, with our moralistic ways, despite the fact I saved your life." I said with a shrug, still not making eye contact.

The words had a tiny mocking tone on the edge, and Casdey looked fearful.

"You..."

"I? Hah, I am a noble and so called reputable human, one feels I would never do anything so evil as back stab anyone. Of course I would worm out of it by saying I didn't know someone else had killed you, but that would just be neat, wouldn't it?"

The squirrel backed into the table, hands gripping the wood so hard her knuckles were turning white.

"How?"

"And of course we'd be so protective of any natives who were sick to the teeth of Sharak's reign over the world, even if they are half orcs who are no better than you are."

She flinched, and looked away.The tears were forming in her eyes.

"Of course, you must have realised I am not nice. There's nothing I enjoy more than watching someone break, piece by piece."

I still hadn't looked at her eye to eye, but she sunk to the floor.She had spoken the words herself, hearing me repeat them was the tolling of doom.

"You were there?" she whispered.

"I was, wood is not an effective barrier to me. You imagine yourself as the queen of all you survey, with Sharak as your king, and a whole army of slave implings to govern, and should anyone complain, you tear them to shreds. You forget, I am not as stupid as most people think. Hah, noble my foot!" I laughed out loud, and Casdey wrapped her arms around her knees. There was no way she could avoid this conversation, no way she could stop me speaking.

"Oh, sure he's got it all, an empire, food, money, a really nice cock, even if he is quite dominant some of the times, the perfect gentleman. I'm just wondering why you felt it necessary to go to those lengths."

"You...saw...him...fuck me?" Casdey whispered.

"Oh come on, this is me we're talking about." I laughed, looking at Casdey for the first time. She was still in her ball, and was folding up in defence at the fact I had listened to them.

"Kill me, I don't want have to go through another week." Casdey rocked back and forth, crying silently. I shook my head in amusement.

"Casdey, I don't know how many times I'm going to have to say this. As soon as I get my body back, you are free, end of argument. You can go home, or you can go to your demonic friend, I don't care which. Out of interest, why was he grinning?"

"You saw the spell, Alduin, you were watching!" she snarled." If I am killed, everything around me dies as well."

"Two things, I wouldn't know a spell if it was cast, and secondly, I had left, but thanks for telling me that, it makes things much easier."

Casdey burst into tears, she had fallen for it again.

"I hate you." she moaned.

"I hate me, Casdey, I have a lot more things to worry about then you."I replied, looking back at the air vent on the roof,"And yes, I found out you had a surefire way of getting your revenge should you be killed, except you refuse to believe that I won't."

"Of course I don't." she said equally softly."Look what you did to the others. You blasted away half of us without a second thought."

"And how many of them did something nice for me, however grudgingly?" I suggested.

"But.."

"Answer the question, Casdey. You have a mind, let's see you use it."

"None."

"Precisely. You on the other hand have put up with me for three weeks so far, unwillingly but never the less, and I return favours. The fact Mendra wanted to kill you was immaterial,it was after I had wanted to borrow you.You are under my protection, and I would name half a dozen hells I could come up with for anyone who tried to go against me. I am protective, as you quite rightly pointed out to Sharak, but that applies to friend and captured foe alike."

How many body blows had I given her.First the chance lines, than the reveal I was there, than the tricking into knowing she had that spell set on her, was it entirely necessary to be this cruel to her?She stared at the ground, but then crawled towards her bunk, not making eye contact with me, and curled up underneath the sheets. I got off the bunk, and left the room noiselessly.

I found Draco in the food store.

"Hey guys, it's gotten even stranger." Draco looked at me.

"Why, what passed between Sharak and Casdey?"

"Apart from the sex?Well, she's got a curse on her, everything around her dies if she does."

There was a laugh around the room.Silverine looked staggered.

"But we told her she could go free?"

"She doesn't seem to think it's possible. I don't know whether it's her evilness or just plain stupidity, but there we have it."

"And so she's got a revenge planned in case we do." Draco completed, shaking his head.

"I tricked it out of her, I told her I had been watching."

"Not for all of it."

"Yeah, but she assumed I had."

The day passed quietly, and I went back to Casdey's room for the night. She was awake, thinking about my presence in the hall.

"Alduin." she said softly, as I switched off the light.

"Yes?"

"Why did we have to visit there?"

"It's our job, we randomly choose planets that can support life."

"But I love Sharak so much."

"Count the days in a week, Casdey, you'll see him by the end of it. I just hope Mendra's got a move on with that potion."

"So when you get resurrected, do I have to come?"

"Do you want to talk politely with Mendra?" I suggested.

"No!" she said firmly, repulsed by the idea.

"Then no you don't." I said, matter of factly,"Now, I need my sleep, as do you. We can't have your demonic friend claiming that you look like you haven't slept for a week."

"Stop giving me that, Alduin."

"Casdey, am I allowed to say one thing?I know you're a good match."

"And what are the chances that I will..."

"Casdey, if by some miracle you do not see Sharak again, I will do myself in, short of you committing suicide, that doesn't count."I added hastily,"Now, let me in, or I'll tell Sharak you spent the week pining."

This jocular remark might have actually instilled some belief into the squirrel.That I had such a sense of humour of her boyfriend's state of mind was finally overcoming her initial suspicions, thank the blasted god.

"He is a very nice person, Sharak." she said.

"You two will get on famously, I'm not so sure about me and him. I heard some fairly definite ideas that I would not agree to."

"Why must you bring that up?" Casdey sounded pained.

"What, I'm saying that you two think along the same lines, you like what the other likes, and you both hate me. How much easier can it be?"

I moved into her body, and she sighed.

"I still hate you, even if you are telling the truth."

"Coming from you, I consider that a great compliment.Tell you what, tomorrow I shall show you a clip of something I once did on another planet, you'll see just how well placed that hatred is."

I was having to think like her to get her round me, damn this was hard.She sighed and let me possess her for the night.We both slept well, and we woke up at about seven in the morning.

"This is your fault, I prefer to lie in until eight." she hissed, as I left her.

"We always get early starts as scouts." I said in defence. I followed her to the shower room. While she would not admit it to any of us, she enjoyed the sensation of running hot water, and she would spend a long time in the shower, although not as much as me when I was in the mood. Once, and I'm not joking, I spent three hours in the shower, refusing to get out.

She stripped down, I turned around for decency's sake, and she stepped into the shower. I turned back as steam obliterated the view of her naked body.

"So what do you think of Sharak, Casdey? Honest answer if possible."

"I love him. He's cunning, despicable, and is really good in bed." she said.

"That's strange, that's everything I am too."I laughed, and then added,"But on the other hand, I'm not likely to rule an empire, am I?"

"Oh, you just look at how much power he commands.Typical male.My rock's bigger than yours, nope, I'm looking at him, and I like what he is."

"I agree. He is the perfect suitor to an evil sorceress."

"That's the first time in four weeks we've ever agreed with something properly, are you unwell?" Casdey asked and poked her head out of the shower to look at me.

"Being dead counts as being very unwell, Casdey."I laughed."But love works whether you're good or evil.You know Time Dancer?"

"I do."

"Your opinion of her?"

"She's hideously intelligent, good looking, smart dresser, and she's moral as the next person.I hate her immensely."

"Exactly. You would agree then, that she would be a good suitor for, say, Takori Tano, correct?" I was trying hard not to laugh at this squirrel's description.

"I would."

"See?You just admitted that you can think about matching up even people who you despise. I do the same."

"It sounds too easy, saying it that way."

"So? It is easy. I know some people are good together, and it doesn't matter what I think of them, it's what I think they are both like."

"Are you trying to confuse me?" the squirrel asked, reaching for her staff, but flailing short. I levitated it to her.

"Oh, don't worry, Casdey. The bottom line is this. I would be best man if it got you two romantically involved.You like him, he likes you.Five cents please. Now, I'm going for a walk, I'll be back in a while."

Casdey was already soaking her staff, for obvious reasons.

"What about this clip you were talking about?"

"Good point.I forgot. O.K., when you've finished your shower, I'll take you to the main hall."

She was already running the tip of the staff against her self, and I casually slipped out into the main room. I hadn't been involved in that much sexual activity, and most of it was Casdey allowing me to possess her and use her staff.My opinion? Woman can have it. I was too much of a male to get used to being in a female's body. I had also possessed Draco once or twice to have it off with Simba, I swear it's a bloody wonder I haven't stayed in him, I am so envious of his abilities.

Speak of the devil, the dragon came in.

"Morning Alduin, how's it going?"

"Casdey's having a shower, but I'm to take her to the great hall later. I wish to show her the recording of my speech with the harpy elves. She hates me, she has said so several times, and I told her that that hatred was well placed.That clip will show her why."

Draco laughed, as Alecto entered, he had caught this.

"Do you want me to play the clips for you while you explain to her, or will you possess her?" the fox asked.

"I think Casdey can walk unhindered, I think I've convinced her we don't intend to kill her." I suggested.

"I'll get the magic restraint." Draco began to leave.

"I said unhindered, Draco. I don't want to have to force her into it again."

"Oh well, your funeral." Draco shrugged.

"Not funny.Really not funny.But Casdey's too devoted to Sharak, she'll want to see him again. Trying to hurt one of us will only result in that not happening, she knows that."

"Besides, we have three amply powerful magicians in the great hall playing a game. Sun, Runo and Hinori are playing cards." Alecto added. Draco nodded, and left. Alecto talked to me about various things, for ten minutes, and then Casdey came out. She was only wearing her lower half of her, well, I'D call it a bikini, and all her ornaments, her necklace, rings, bracelets. Casdey dressed to look like a sorceress, clothes were only part of that.make up. Her bone staff was polished and clean, and her bones in her necklace clicked as she dried her hair.

Alecto stared at the half naked squirrel. Casdey seemed oblivious of the fox's attention, even though the fox was being very blatant about it, staring at her physique as if seeing it for the first time.I whispered in the fox's ear.

"Central to Alecto, come in."

"Wow, I haven't seen her in less than her ragged robes and sensible clothes."

This was true. She had an artfully torn and ripped witch's robe that looked astonishing, and she wore it every time she left her room.

Casdey heard this.

"Alecto,if you don't stop perving at me I will be forced to jinx you."

"That's hardly fair,"the fox objected,"I was talking to Alduin and you walk out half naked, it's not exactly easy to miss it."

Casdey smiled as she reached for a top we had supplied her and she had artfully ripped. This covered all of her top half, except for the patches of skin through the rips. Then she put on a set of tight fitting trousers, again with noticeable rips, and then came up to me. Both top and bottoms were as tight on her as my cat suit was from Central New Year, and she looked very sexy.

"So what's the story?"

"If you will follow us, we are going to the Great Hall." Alecto replied.

"Right, Alduin, I'm ready." she stood prepared, and I smiled.

"Not this time, Casdey.A chance to prove yourself.Follow Alecto." she looked most surprised, but followed the fox.

"You're not putting that restraint on me either?" she asked, suspicious of the idea.

"Casdey, given it's six days until you can go see Sharak, would you attack anyone and ruin that chance?"

"Of course not."

"Right, we'll play ball with you if you do with us." Alecto turned and walked out, Casdey looking at me shrewdly. Then she followed Alecto, looking thoughtful. I followed, shaking my head and smiling.We didn't meet anyone til we got to the great hall.

Silverine had a projector and a couple of cubes in his hands. Draco was talking in his ear. Winslo was chanting in a corner, and dozens of others were milling around. Casdey spotted Winslo, and the evil she radiated stopped Winslo in mid chant.

He looked at her, shrugged, and started chanting again.Casdey rolled her eyes. Now those two, they were direct opposites. Inherently good, friendly ice magician, and inherently evil, vicious fire sorceress. There was a space ten yards from Hinori and Runo's game with Sunrise, and Silverine took us over there, explaining to Casdey.

"The first cube contains the harpies we faced, the second contains his fight with first the humans of one planet and then the wizards of another.Which will you watch first?"

Casdey thought on this as she sat down on a bench and Alecto took the projector.

"I have heard something of these harpies, I want to see them." she said, and Silverine left us to our little corner. Alecto got the projector running, and Alecto fast forwarded through all the sex scenes to the revealing moment, when I looked through the doors into the arena. Casdey immediately became engrossed in the scene. She was quite interested in these harpies, and she liked them, as you would expect.

"Ladies and Gentlemen!The Circus de Internationale would like you to forget this clean, wholesome harpy fun, and join with me in a round of complete and utter chaos!If we can pay attention to the man making this announcement, he is a human, the fifth member you were not told about. The devilishly intelligent one who worked out the entire riddle." my voice boomed out, and Runo and Hinori looked up. They had not seen this, neither had Sunrise.

The drama unfolded, and I watched Casdey face carefully.My blasting of the glass box was greeted with a slight nod of acceptance, and then she heard first hand my threat with a thermo nuclear warhead.

"I don't like you at all." she commented as I finished my speech.

"It was a matter of acting. That wasn't the nuclear bomb itself, but I tend to scare people exceedingly well into thinking what I want them too."

"That was most nasty. Not evil, but cunning." she admitted.

Then we turned to the canine world. Casdey looked at the proceedings with an air of one who has seen it before, and she said so out loud, albeit from the men's perspective. The battle in the arena and even the fight with me she showed little emotion, it was only when Draco got hurt that she actually showed emotion. I noticed a shiver of apprehension, she seemed scared by my recording as my face glazed over. Then she saw the nuclear explosion.

"O.K.,"she said slowly," You are definitely noble to your friends, you did that in retribution, so definitely cunning, but still not evil."

"Then keep watching."

She watched the entirety of the adventures with Enoright and Sullust.Her initial reaction was that of indifference to either wizards or dragons, but then I lost my cool, and she watched with almost appreciation as I began setting up my plan.

Then she watched the day as I began attacking the wizards. Her eyes raised as she listened to the conversation, and after we left, we were treated to my overly dramatic pause before blowing the place to smithereens.

"O.K., retribution served, correct?" she said slowly, although she was smiling.

"Once. I told you you were right to hate me."

"That was never in doubt. I am impressed though."

"Keep watching." Alecto continued playing it. The further three explosions caused a grin on Casdey's countenance, and the next day's debate was played. As we finished the debate and I flew away in the chopper, Casdey stood, and walked out, without saying a word.

I looked at Alecto, and then ran after her. She got out the door, and then burst out laughing.

"Alduin, how do they accept you to live here?" she said through her laughter. I looked a little pained at this implication,"That was the most hilarious thing I ever saw. You being a vicious monster, even some of my friends have never done anything like that!"

She had to lean on her staff to keep upright. Draco came out and saw Casdey's mirth.

"I take it she understands?"

"You could say that." I shrugged.

Casdey settled down, and we took her back to the room. As Draco looked us in, Casdey lay on the bunk.

"O.K., Alduin. I under estimated you." she said with a beaming grin.

"Really, in what way?"

"I thought you a clever, good thinking bastard, but you're as throat cutting and vicious as I am! I feel much better about my prospects. I could never trust Draco or Simba, no matter how many times they said they would not hurt me, but you. I can't trust you to the ends of the world, and so I believe you."

"So you believe me that we are taking you back to Sharak now?" I suggested.

"Of course, only a fool or a bastard would say so,and your the second biggest bastard I know."

Coming from, Casdey.I might need to think on that one.

She continued."I can see why you think your word won't be disobeyed now.They've all seen those demonstrations, correct?"

"Indeed." I nodded.

"They're all scared to suggest otherwise!" she laughed again. "I thought Silverine was in charge here!"

"He is."

"No he isn't. With your merest word, they will do whatever you say."

"I would doubt that, but I take my oaths seriously, and they know that. Besides, the glowers really run this place."

She lost her smile."Ah," she said dryly,"the glowers, yes. You are aware of the term 'spitting at a thunder storm'?"

"I do."

"That is my magic, Mendra and Eviloths all put together, against one of them. I am not surprised they don't have a corporeal body, the amount of power they have would burn right through flesh within a short time." she shivered.

"Some thing else we agree on, then.They scare everyone, sort of like Sharak and the imps, except the glowers would never vaporise one of us."

"They would with me."

"If you tried to attack us, yes. I am not fortunate enough to know how many there are, except it's more than six."

"So what are they, exactly?"

"I don't know and I don't want to ask."

"Alduin, do you think they would mind if I did?"

"That would not pose a problem at all.It's getting an answer that would." a glower reappeared in the spectrum right next to me.

Even death hadn't stopped me feeling scared of them, and I physically leapt two metres onto the top of the bunk, landing facing the glower in terror. Casdey dived sideways out the end of the bunk bed and hid behind the frame.

"Alduin, stop him!"

"How?" I retaliated, and the glower laughed.

"I have been following you around all day, when I heard Casdey was walking around loose, I just thought it might be wise to keep an eye on her."

"Everyone answers to a glower, Casdey, I had no idea about this." I looked down at the squirrel.

"Of course you didn't, they answer to no one." the squirrel kept behind the metal frame.

"Casdey, Alduin wishes you be kept alive, and while I do not like you at all," there was a single pulse of irritation at being so near her," I respect him, and I also know about Sharak. I have found lust can be a very strong force."

"Did you tell everyone, Alduin?" Casdey said, she did not like the glower's tone.

"He didn't need to, we have the ability to listen very long range. Now given that I don't intend to hurt you, do you want to ask that question?"

Casdey stood up cautiously. She gently placed her staff on the bed, and looked nervously at the glowing energy creature.

"I would, except I guess you wouldn't tell me."

"That is correct, Casdey, you are sharper than you think. The glowers mind our own business most of the time,but only a select few of the scouts know things about us. Only one knows a lot about us, but he what he does does not even scratch the surface. And if you will excuse the term, an evil sorceress whom we have no trust in will not find out anything about glowers except what others tell her."

The glower seemed slightly, angry. Casdey shuffled sideways, and then ran for the bathroom door, grabbing her staff. She got to the door, and then stopped, immobile. She twisted around in mid air, and fired a fireball at the glower. I winced, I would prefer to have Casdey with her life attached. The fireball encircled the glower, and then burst out in a small wave of energy. The glower went a darker shade of red.Casdey flinched in pain.

"Stop!" I shouted, leaping down,"And you accuse me of having a short temper!"

"Ah yes." the glower stopped pulsing, and resumed his normal yellow.There was a long gentle pulse, almost of embarassment.

"What?" Casdey sounded fearful. The glower pulsed with annoyance and barked a harsh laugh. I shifted slightly away.

"When a glower turns dark red, it's normally fatal." I suggested, keeping my distance.

"I get overly angry, Alduin.I am Keen remember, or as you insist on calling me."

"I did remember the tones, Keen.Just if we can let her down...I don't want to have to tell Sharak that she committed suicide."

"I never would commit suicide!" the squirrel howled in indignation.

"Attacking a glower with a fireball, sounds like suicide to me." I suggested, and the glower laughed. I breathed loudly, the glower was chuckling, it must be in a better mood. Glowers had emotion like us, but Keen was as variable as a girl with PMT sometimes.

Casdey landed hard on the floor as she was released, and the glower wafted out through the door.

"When anyone encounters a glower, it is best you don't make sudden moves, you do exactly as they say, and you don't pick up a weapon." I breathed, leaning against the wall.

"But, his voice sounded so, intimidating." Casdey picked herself up, shaking like a leaf.

"I did say no one would kill you. The glowers have a moral code like us."

"You did say six more days, can't you just borrow one of your friends for six days?" Casdey suggested, pleading."If you are a man of your word, send me to Sharak now, because one of them will get rid of me."

"I'm tempted, Casdey. Just do as I say and you might spend this last week in a state of perfectly happy behaviour. None of us react well to an evil magician, Keen can smell your aura, so if you act meek and submissive, everything will go just fine." I whispered this last bit.

"Submissive?" Casdey flared up.

"Not sex, just don't get worked up." I remedied. Casdey fell back onto her bed. She was in a cold sweat, I would have been too. Draco turned up.

"Why does everyone look so scared?"

"Casdey wanted to ask about a glower, and a glower was in the room."

"Oh dragon lord, Casdey, advice? We don't talk about the glowers, end of advice."

"Yeah, almost given too late." the squirrel muttered.

"You threw a fireball at him!" I replied,"What did you expect? You threw one at me when I first met and I almost fried you for it."

Draco looked in bafflement.

"She attacked a glower?" his reptilian voice hoarse with disbelief.

"Yes."

"Why isn't she a collection of radioactive molecules on the wind?You remember what happened to Drason's cronies."

"I told him not to, and he remembered in time about my vow to Sharak."

"Just shows how much the glowers respect you, Alduin." Draco rolled his eyes,"I was going to ask about dinner, but I don't suppose she'd care for it." his voice lowered to a mutter as he walked out."Jeez, attack a glower, what a stupid thing to try and..." the door slammed.

Casdey huddled up on the bed.

"Alduin, I'm sorry. I don't believe you stood up to that, thing, for me."

"I don't believe I did it either." I replied.

"Of course, I still hate you, entirely, but that was stupidly brave and caring." she whispered.

"Just don't try it again."

"Is it still six days?"

"Five and a half."

"Why can't I leave?" she asked again.

I was having more trouble than ever tying to come up to an answer for that one.