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Cybele was distraught, and paced anxiously around her hut. Attis had been trying to calm her all day, but with little success. He sat at the table casually stabbing into a piece of cheese with a small sharp knife. 'I should never have sent her there,' she fretted. 'So you've said threescore times and five. How were we to know that they would kidnap the child? I expected that Annia might fail to lure Kelle to us, but I did not believe for one heartbeat that she would be in danger herself,' Attis answered. 'But they are ruthless and would stop at nothing.' 'We know that they cannot kill, that is something.' ''Then do we need another wandering dolt? Are two of our friends turned into mindless fools not enough for you?' Cybele complained. ''I think you are a little overgenerous in one regard. Kelle was never our friend. Do not alter past fact out of sympathy for her. She may have been agent for Jenna before all of this, and only be in her current state from the adder striking its own,' Attis warned. 'Or she may have been an innocent victim like Cabirius, and her connection with Thomias and Jenna, no more than coincidence,' Cybele countered. 'Well, whichever is the case, she was friend by no mea...' Attis was interrupted by the flinging open of the outer door of the hut. The very object of their conversation fell sprawled at Attis's feet. Kelle looked up at him, trembling like a small frightened bird, then picked herself up and ran to Cybele. She threw herself into the Chosen One's arms and a stunned Cybele returned the childlike embrace. All three stood mute, until Kelle broke into silent shuddering sobs of relief. 'What is the matter, Kelle?' Cybele asked gently. Kelle clutched her all the closer. 'Did Annia reach you?' Attis asked practically, picking a piece of cheese from the knife. 'Attis, leave her alone. You can see she is frightened by something, and look, she has been struck.' There was a trickle of blood oozing down the nape of Kelle's neck. 'Perhaps she fell and hit her head on a rock,' he suggested without sympathy. 'You can be such a stoat, Attis,' Cybele observed. 'You can see as plainly as I that she has been attacked.' She held Kelle at arm's length and addressed her gently. 'Was it Jenna?' she asked. The girl shook her head. A one-armed woman was an unlikely attacker, anyways. 'Thomias?' Cybele guessed, but Kelle shrugged. 'You did not see your attacker, then?' Kelle shook her head regretfully. 'I think she lies,' Attis said coldly. 'Oh, and you are such a judge of character. What would you do? Beat her until she speaks? Think you she pretends to be mute?' Cybele hissed. 'You know me so little, Cybele. I have never struck another.' 'You have no need, when you can cripple so with your tongue.' 'Ask her. Just ask her if she saw Annia,' he insisted. Cybele glared at him without response, but Kelle slowly nodded. 'You did see her?' Cybele asked softly. Kelle nodded again, more firmly. 'Was she with you when you were attacked?' Another nod. 'Where? Can you take us there?' To this, Kelle shook her head violently, and pulled away from Cybele to take firm hold of the table, making it clear that she had no intention to leave the hut. 'Then show us,' Attis demanded, and sketched a rough map of the Isle in the fine dirt beside the fire. Kelle looked over and without releasing her hold, pointed at the map. 'You'll need to come closer,' Attis said impatiently. She shook her head again. Cybele helpfully handed Kelle a long staff with which to point. Kelle confidently thrust the staff into the map. 'The forest,' Attis stated, and Kelle nodded in confirmation. 'We must go there at once,' Cybele insisted. Still Kelle clutched onto the table, though. 'We cannot leave her here,' said Attis. 'Her attacker may be looking for her still.' 'She could lock herself in,' Cybele suggested. Kelle shook her head desperately and took hold of Cybele's sleeve. 'It seems you are wanted here,' observed Attis. 'I will go alone to see what I can find in the forest.' 'That is not safe,' Cybele said with concern. 'Who do you suggest I ask to come with me, Cybele? Our allies are few and falling.' 'That is true enough,' she agreed. 'Well then, take care. It seems we have underestimated our opponent. I cannot afford to lose you as well, Attis.' He gave an ironic smile. 'Because I am the last? That is small compliment, Cybele.' 'No, Attis. Not because you are the last, but because you are closest to myself. I loved Cabirius well, but he was too much a creature of the light to be my true match.' 'Then I am?' he asked, staring at her with a burning intensity. 'More than I care to admit. I know we were born for each other, Attis, and the pain we cause each other is because we are so similar. Without you, I am only half the person the Goddess sent as Chosen One. So take care, Attis. Take care.' Attis approached her and kissed her lightly on the cheek. He picked up the knife from the table and left without further word. 'May the Goddess protect you,' she whispered after him. Kelle sat at the table watching Cybele. She seemed far more alert than the other times Cybele had seen her, but she was still much different from Cybele's rosy-cheeked buoyant former classmate. Kelle's skin now had a waxy translucency, and her pupils were tiny as though the sun were in her eyes, even in this darkened hut. At least she was not staring mindlessly into space, or wandering like one in sleep. She seemed aware of what was going on around her. 'Would you like a cup of tea, Kelle?' Cybele asked. She nodded, and the Chosen One set about making them the drink. There was a kettle of simmering water always hanging over the fire, and it was from this that Cybele poured water into a large spouted bowl. She then added a handful of dried leaves, flowers and fruits from an open stoneware jar. As she left the decoction to brew, Kelle arose and came close to embrace her again. Cybele gently pushed her away. 'I must find those cups. Can you see them? There should be some stoneware ones around this hut somewhere. Attis has no regard for tidiness. He sends me quite mad at times,' she said, as much to herself as Kelle. Kelle still pursued her with a quiet determination, and Cybele skirted the hut, picking up a cup from the floor and another from the ledge beside the bed. At that point, Kelle insistently threw her arms around Cybele, pushing her back onto the bed. Cybele dropped the cups and writhed beneath trying to free her arms and push Kelle off her. 'Whatever are you doing, child?' she asked in flushed confusion. Kelle kissed her on the lips, and Cybele's mouth slackened in unconscious response. 'What...' she started, to be silenced by more feverish kisses. Kelle pulled at Cybele's gown, and smothered kisses all over her throat and soft round shoulder. Cybele was stunned, but seemed unable to move, as though transfixed by the girl's soft lips. Cybele found that her hands had been released as Kelle's own explored her body. Instead of taking the opportunity to struggle free from the embrace, though, she found herself slipping her arms around Kelle's waist. Kelle's breasts hung toward Cybele, the nipples jutting through the fabric of her gown. Cybele reached up and pulled open the bow that held the neck of the gown, and then slipped her hand inside to cup one soft firm breast. Kelle kissed her again on the lips. Her mouth was even softer than Attis's, and tasted sweet with honey. Such delicious creamy softness, so pliant and eager. Their breathing was steady and deep. Cybele pulled her own gown open to the waist, exposing her firm breasts. Her chest seemed almost as flat as a boys when she lay on her back like this, but Kelle fell upon her hungrily, licking and rubbing the erect nipples. Cybele moaned in pleasure as Kelle flicked her tongue around one woad-stained nipple. Without warning, the door swung open again. Cybele half-expected it to be Attis, as he never called or knocked at the door, but it was the Healer. Jenna had clearly burst in for effect, but had not expected to find this scene and now stood staring and dumb. Kelle smiled - her familiar cat's smile of old - and reached down to suckle Cybele's breast with a slow relish. Cybele was as stunned as Jenna, but did not move. 'What is the meaning....of.. this?' Jenna stammered, boiling with anger and jealous rage. Cybele suddenly understood. 'I am Chosen One. I can take whomever I wish to my bed, so long as they are willing,' Cybele announced. Kelle leaned forward and kissed her tenderly to demonstrate her willingness. Jenna writhed in fury. 'Kelle is mine. Come now, child!' Jenna ordered, holding forward her one functional hand. Kelle ignored her, and returned to kissing Cybele's chest and throat. Cybele's whole body thrilled to the sensation, and her back arched slowly in surging pleasure. 'Well, if you do not return to me by nightfall, there will be a heavy price to it,' Jenna threatened. To this, Cybele responded. 'You have Annia?' she asked. Jenna realised the value of following such a bluff, but Kelle shook her head firmly. 'Then try what you will, Jenna. Kelle can remain in my hut for as long as she chooses. It is the Chosen One's prerogative to choose her bedfellows, and none shall support you to take her from me,' Cybele said confidently. Jenna knew this was a defeat, and realised that her best chance was to withdraw and prepare for the next battle. The war had not yet been decided. She stormed from the hut and left the door ajar. Kelle kissed her again, gratitude mixing with the warmth of passion. Cybele felt a little uneasy after the interruption, and gently pushed Kelle aside. She collected the cups and crossed the room to rinse and fill them with the fruited tea. As she dipped the paddle into the pot of honey, Kelle slipped off her gown and approached her from behind. Cybele turned to face her. Her naked body was far more womanly than Cybele's own, despite the fact that she was a year younger. Her breasts were large and well-formed, and she had not a single woad-stain on her body. Cybele remembered that Kelle had never passed beyond Noviciate before this had all happened, and so was a stranger to most ceremony. Kelle took the honey-pot from Cybele's hands and placed it on the table, then slipped Cybele's own gown to the floor. Cybele felt a little self-conscious of her angular, athletic body. She was taller than many men, with wide shoulders and downy blond hair. Her waist was slim, but so too were her hips, so her appearance was somewhat androgenous. Kelle sank to her knees and buried her face in Cybele's warm mound. She pushed Cybele back to rest against the heavy table, then gently prised apart her legs until one slipped over her shoulder. Her tongue expertly darted over Cybele's swollen parts, and Cybele clutched the edge of the table in dizzy pleasure. Kelle reached up beside her and took the honey-pot, then smeared the sticky paddle over Cybele's swelling, and inside her. Cybele gasped and writhed as Kelle's eager tongue then sought the sweet stuff. She felt she would surely faint. Kelle pushed her back to lie on the table, and picked up a cup of hot tea. She sipped from the cup, then kneeled back beside the table and latched her mouth back onto Cybele. Cybele was overwhelmed as she felt the hot tea swilling against her in Kelle's mouth. She felt Kelle sucking and swallowing and let out a deep moan. She did not want to peak without giving the other girl some pleasure in return, so she pulled Kelle up and led her back to the bed. Kelle fell back onto the thick woollen mattress and smiled trustingly at Cybele. Cybele's body surged with passion, and she pulled apart Kelle's soft thighs and buried her face between them. There was the sweet taste again of honey, and a warm burning sensation spread over her tongue. Cybele had never before tasted another woman, but knew even from her own juices on Attis's lips that this was some foreign substance. Her very breath seemed to increase the warmth generated by whatever salve was within. Kelle rubbed both her hands through Cybele's fine blond hair, encouraging her to continue in her exploration of Kelle's most private places. It was early evening now, and the warm Summer breeze licked in gently through the half-open door which faced the sea. The fire fluttered and cast flickering shadows over the two writhing bodies. As Cybele nipped at Kelle's thighs and sucked on her tender swelling, she felt a light brush on her back. Kelle still held her head with both hands, so it was clearly another's touch. Soft fingers stroked her back, familiar and easy. Attis. He had entered the room silently through the open door, and now joined their coupling unobtrusively. He made no move to introduce his jutting phallus to their womanly pleasures, but kissed and stroked Cybele's neck and back as she licked Kelle. He then moved up the bed to suckle on Kelle's breasts. Kelle drew breath sharply, and sank her nails into Cybele's scalp. Cybele bit firmly into Kelle's mount, then slid her tongue deep within. Kelle's back arched upward, and Attis kissed her on the mouth as she peaked. She gasped and then melted into limp passivity. Attis continued to kiss her lips, with tenderness and affection. Kelle then pulled Cybele upward, and leaned forward to kiss her. Cybele ached with the need to peak herself, and reached down to take hold of Attis's erection which bulged clearly beneath his gown. 'No,' he whispered. 'Let Kelle finish what she has started.' Cybele was stunned at Attis's sensitivity. He wanted only to be a part of their coupling, not to dominate it. He kissed and stroked them both, and suckled their breasts, but that was as far as he went. Kelle climbed off the bed, and Cybele could not at first make out what she was doing. She had something by the fire. Ah, the Herm. Kelle dipped it into the pot of simmering water, then tested its heat with her wrist. Yes, warmed and then smeared with honey from the table.... Kelle slipped back down to lick between her legs before sliding the Herm deep inside her. The heat, more intense than a living phallus. Attis kissed her deeply, sliding his tongue into her mouth in the same rhythm as Kelle sliding the Herm. Delicious. If only she could stop thinking about taking his erection in her mouth, and enjoy these pleasures for what they were. But his perfect Herm-hard phallus was so close, almost within her reach. She knew that they both wished for her to peak, so she imagined herself sucking him. She remembered the time he had spilt into her mouth with a tortured moan. The time he had gushed onto her breasts, the time he had rubbed himself until he peaked while she watched. She could not peak herself without at least the thought of him spilling. Finally, she felt the familiar surge through her body. She sucked hard on Attis's tongue as the blood rushed through her veins in ecstasy. Her muscles tightened, then relaxed and quivered. A few final spasms shot through her, then she lay spent and glowing. Kelle slid up and lay beside her in a tender embrace, and Attis curled on her other side, his arm around them both protectively. 'You did not find Annia, then?' she asked him quietly. 'No. There was no trace,' he answered. The three of them then slipped into an exhausted slumber in the gathering darkness.
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