Chapter III - Audaces Fortuna luvat

Militat Omnis Amans (Every Lover is a Warrior)

By Kevin Beckett

(Fortune Helps the Bold)

I have touched that face a dozen times before. And I have let my pencil run.

Laid down washes on a foreign shore, under a hot and foreign sun.

My best sable brushes drift the soft inside of her arm.

Her chin I tilt, her breasts I lift. I mean no harm.

I close the door. She is no more until the next appointed hour.

Northeastern light, push back the night: painted promises in store.

The Little Flower Girl

Ian Anderson, The Secret Language of Birds

o far the day was going into the crapper, thought the one-meter high green-scaled demon that had the rather un-descriptive name of Kratel. First, there was the rushed forced march by the six of them through the night to get to the city. Then the wasted time trying to figure out how to get into the damned castle without anyone noticing. They had then stumbled around through the various buildings and rooms of the castle complex trying to find a group of people that they could one, overpower and two, kidnap without too much trouble. Finally stopping at one of an endless number of doors on what he figured was the second or third floor of the complex, he had heard a number of voices and thought, "this is it, it only sounds like three or four people are in this room." Gesturing to his companions to take up positions on either side of the door, Kratel kicked the door open and leapt into the room screaming, "ok - scum, now we are going to get some answers!"

However, instead of the three or four people he was expecting to see in the room there was at least twenty, and they were in no way intimidated by his entrance.

"Oh-Oh," he thought as battle was joined, "this might have been a mistake."

Buffy and Willow had been forewarned by Buffy's slayer senses that someone or something bad was about to happen, so when the six demons burst through the door they were already moving into defensive postures. Buffy, being without a weapon, had turned to the table and had grabbed a candlestick to use in her defence while Willow had begun to think about any spells she could use.

"Willow, get behind the table," Buffy yelled as she turned towards the leader of the demons that had burst into the meeting room.

"No problem," replied the redhead as she leaped onto the table and then jumped on the other side, "hey, Amana, Grael and the rest of you, get back here. We have to give Buffy room to work," she continued, gesturing to the other mages to join her on the far side of the table, away from the direct action.

Buffy rapidly thought to herself, "six on one, with some magic help from Will and the others - if they get their act together, not bad odds." She launched into a flying leap, which resulted in shortening the distance between her and the green demon that was in the lead.

"Prepare for pain, greeny," she yelled as she did a sweep kick on the demon and sent him flying backwards into one of his mates who was dyed a nauseating shade of purple.

"Oooof," went Kratel as he thought, "gods, this one is fast."

"Two out temporarily," thought the Slayer, as she twirled towards a third demon, this a blue-green humanoid roughly two meters in height, and proceeded to give him a quick series of left-handed punches to his chest which left him gasping for air, she then knocked the demon tumbling to the floor with a swift bash over his head, using the candlestick that she was still holding in her right hand.

"Three down, three to go," Buffy thought to herself, time to get some help, "will, I need a distraction or two," Buffy yelled out as she roundhouse kicked a fourth, red skinned, demon back through the door, in the process knocking down a charging Daithi, who had been coming to investigate the cause of the turmoil.

"What the heck," thought Daithi, as he was knocked to the ground with a big, red, unconscious, demon on top of him.

"Distraction coming up," thought Willow as she proceeded to levitate a chair and send it towards a blue skinned demon that had until that point been sneaking up behind Buffy.

"Buffy behind you," Willow yelled, as the chair broke apart over the demons back.

Buffy turned around saying, "thanks love," and proceeded to grab one of the distracted demon's arms and swung him around to pile into the remaining yellow skinned demon, who was in the process of trying to get out of the door, having quickly decided that things were not going their way.

"Driaghtit chent!" Exclaimed Amana as a bolt of light left her hands and impacted on the green demon that had been the first target of Buffy's attack. Kratel, who had been just getting up from the floor, was hit with enough force from the spell to knock him clear across the room to impact heavily against the wall.

"Ouch," he yelled, thinking, "this is crazy, I'm in over my head, and we have to get out of here." He looked around the room and saw that there was a window on the same wall as he had been thrown into, "that's it," he thought, "out the window we go."

"Men - to me," Kratel yelled out, "we are over matched with magic, we have to get out and back to our master," he continued as he made his way over to the window.

"Not so fast blue boy," called out Buffy as she the grabbed a blue skinned demon, which she had previous used as a battering toy, who was getting up and trying to reach his leader and hurled him to the floor again.

"I think that we are going to want to ask you guys a few questions," she continued, as she sat on the demon's back and carefully bashed the demon's head into the stone floor a few times just to make sure that this time it stayed down.

At this point the dyed purple demon, who had just gotten up from the floor, kicked Buffy in the side, which had the two fold effect of one, knocking her off the demon she was in the process of pummelling and two, making her very annoyed.

"That's it, you revolting excuse of a fashion statement," Buffy yelled, rolling on the floor and springing up onto her feet. "Now I'm really mad, and you are going to pay."

She proceeded to attack the purple demon with a combination of kicks and punches, and was quickly able to grab one of his arms and twist it behind him.

"You going to act nicely now, scumbag," she asked with mock sweetness, applying just enough force to make the demon feel genuine pain.

"Not on your life little girl," the demon replied grimacing in pain, "when I get free, I'm going to tear your arms off and eat them," he added.

"Now that's not very nice," Buffy replied, "since I have you like this, but just to make sure, if you get free that is, I'll take care of any impending problems now." Buffy then proceeded to coolly fracture both of the demon's arms before hurling him with enough force into the yellow demon to propel both of them into the wall.

Kratel seeing that he was the only one of his group still standing thought, "screw this, I'm for the window," and proceeded to make a break for the window.

"Gleiy teaddey!" Yelled Grael, having seen the demon breaking for the window, and from his hands sprung a long rope like object. Unfortunately, the demon had also seen the spell and was able to duck the rope heading towards him. Before anyone else was able to act, he leaped through the window, breaking it in the process, and escaped to freedom.

"Damn," he thought, "the boss is going to be really pissed about this." He then proceeded to leave the castle neighbourhood and make his way out of the city.

"Well," deadpanned an irritated slayer, "that was certainly a good way to work off breakfast."

The entire encounter had taken less than five minutes from the time the door had been burst open to the time the green demon leapt out of the window. The remaining demons in the study were quickly pined down and tied up. They were to be held for questioning by Daithi and his guardsmen later in the day.

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About an hour later Buffy, Willow, Daithi and some of the mages re-convened in the study. In the interim, it had been tidied and the window had been replaced.

Willow turned to the others and said, "I guess we should finish off the schedules for Buffy and me now."

"I agree," replied Amana, "however, in setting those schedules we must take into consideration this mornings activities. The attack on the castle today can only mean the opposition is stepping up their efforts, just as Daithi indicated last night."

"I only think that this was a feint," replied Daithi, "they were too few in number to be a real attack. I'll know for certain once we finish questioning them, but my gut feeling is that they were only looking for information, and just happened to stumble into the wrong room, at the wrong time. I'll continue to investigate, but I believe that we still have some time before the demons gather for a major strike at us."

"I'm much more confident about our chances, however," replied Frankel, "I'm still stunned by the speed and strength of Buffy."

"I'm the Slayer," Buffy replied, "It's what I've been born to do."

"I know," replied the sage, "you told us, but seeing you in action put it into a whole different framework."

"I just wish that I had been able to see more," said Daithi, "however, it was kind of hard, what with an unconscious demon on top of me."

"Sorry about that," replied Buffy, "but I didn't really have time to place where I was throwing them."

"It's ok," the commander answered, "however, I think that I'll be seeing lots of you in action before this is all finished."

"All right then," Grael said taking up the conversation, "before we were so rudely interrupted, we were just setting down the schedule for the next few days. I think that we should continue those discussions."

"The morning is mostly gone," Amana continued, "however, I think that we have time left to assess both of your magical potentials before lunch."

"Then after lunch, we will have the two of you down in the training halls for some physical assessments," said Daithi finishing the opening remarks of the group.

"Sounds peachy to me," Willow replied, "what's involved in assessing our magic potential?"

"What potential?" asked Buffy semi-seriously, "I probably have the magic power of a gnat."

"Don't sell yourself short," replied Amana, "we believe that you have some significant talent, and when it will be combined with Willow's it will be awesome," she continued.

Buffy looked slightly sceptical, but was willing to be convinced otherwise.

"Now," continued Grael, "we will adjourn to one of our work areas, and begin the testing."

With that Buffy, Willow, Grael and Amana left the study and headed to Amana's workroom, which was located two floors above.

The room was about twice the size of the study below. It had several large worktables in the middle of the room, floor to ceiling bookshelves were on three walls and large windows were on the fourth. Two large desks were located under the windows. The tables were covered in flasks, beakers and other paraphernalia. In addition to countless books, the bookshelves also held numerous objects such as skulls, candles, stuffed animals and other curiosities. The desks were covered in parchments, note-pads and other items. Two fireplaces and several large lanterns provided illumination for the room.

"Well, here we are," said Amana, "this is my workroom, and we will begin the process of accessing both your potential, and your existing level of training here."

"Take a seat," she continued, pointing to several chairs that had been pulled up in front of one of the fireplaces.

"We will begin with an overview of magic and how people who are properly trained are able to use it," continued Grael as he handed the two women glasses filled with a red drink.

Both Willow and Buffy looked at the drinks suspiciously, "what in this?" asked Buffy.

"Just something to help you relax and allow us to begin the process of assessing your magical abilities," replied Grael, “it will not have any long-term effects on you and we ask that you drink it in order for us to properly assess you.”

With that assurance, both women drank the cool, sweet and slightly alcoholic beverage. Almost immediately, they both began to feel their muscles relax.

"Great stuff," Willow said, "we should bottle this and take it back - it would be a great hit in the dorms."

"Willow," Grael said after a few minutes, "we know that you have been somewhat successful in using magic, both in your own reality and, as you demonstrated this morning, here. However, how much do you know about what you do? How you do it? And why things you try sometimes both work and don't work?"

"Well, I've been using a combination of books that I've been able to find, and I've also been able to receive assistance from other witches that I've run into," Willow said, beginning to wonder where the conversation was going.

"Go on," prompted Amana.

"And, I don't really know much else," continued Willow, "I mean sometimes I need circles and rituals and other items to do some of the simplest things, and other times major things happen just because I want them to," she added shaking her head, "it just confuses me, most of the time," she concluded looking hopefully at the two mages.

"About what we thought Amana," said Grael who then turned towards the slayer asking, "Buffy, why do you think that you have the abilities and powers that you do?"

"Never really thought about it," answered the Slayer, "I've just always been told that I was born to it, and somehow it was in me."

"Do either of your parents show any sign of the abilities that you do?" asked Amana.

"No, not really," replied the slayer, "I mean, my dad is a klutz, and my mom is not much better."

"Then why do you think that your powers come from genetics?" asked Amana.

When both Buffy and Willow looked confused at this questioning of one of the basic doctrines of slaying, she continued, "trick question, it is genetic, but not in the manner you are thinking of."

"What do you mean, my parents are not my parents? That I was adopted or something?"

"No, they are your parents, however, it would appear that 'help' was provided in the construction your genetic makeup. Most likely while you were still in your mother's womb," Grael said.

"How?" asked Buffy and Willow simultaneously, both stunned at the words of the mage.

"Glad you asked that question," replied Grael with a twinkle in his eye, "for it goes to the core of what magic is, and how it can be manipulated and or controlled."

"Okay, I'll bite," answered Willow, "what is magic?"

"Magic, to put it simply is everything," answered Amana, "it is the energy that joins all of life together, it is the building block of our existence."

"Luke, use the force," Buffy whispered to Willow.

"What's the force," asked Amana.

“Nothing," replied a smiling Willow, "just a line from a movie."

"So at its essence, magic is the energy that joins molecules together then," said Willow.

"And it explains, in part the Slayer question," continued Amana.

"What Slayer question," Buffy asked.

"Simply how you are able to do what you do," answered Grael, "tell me, does this 'watcher' you told us about use magic?"

"Yes," answered Willow.

"Well then," continued Grael, "I think that he, or someone working with him, manipulated Buffy's genetic make-up while she was in the womb."

"I'm a lab experiment," shrieked Buffy.

"Well, not an experiment, since they appear to have been doing this for centuries," answered an equally outraged Willow.

"Definitely unethical," said Amana.

"How's that?" Willow asked, still stunned by the idea that watchers, and the watcher council, could be so manipulative.

"Using your powers and abilities on another human," said Grael, "without their permission, is evil and may never be forgiven."

"We have a word for this type of person," continued Amana.

"Yes," asked the Slayer.

"Warlock," answered Amana.

"But we will have time later to fully discus magic and the ethics surrounding its use," Amana said as she stood up and added more wood to the fire. "Willow you had asked if magical energy was akin to the energy which holds molecules together."

"And yes, to a certain extent it is," continued Grael, "however, what turns a normal into a mage is the ability to shape and use this energy."

"Normal," said Buffy, wondering once again about groups and their insistence on weird labels for everything.

"The vast majority of the population who do not have the innate talent to perform magic," answered Grael.

"Only one in ten million people has more than rudimentary talent to use magic," Amana continued, "fewer than one in fifty million have the talent that Grael and I have, you appear to be at this level Buffy."

"And fewer than one in a billion have your apparent talent Willow," concluded Grael.

"Oh," replied a suddenly very quiet Willow, "how can you tell?"

"First of all, both Grael and I have taught for more than twenty years," Amana answered, "and second, since we sat down to talk we have been measuring the two of you."

"The drink I gave you has the relaxation properties that I mentioned," continued Grael, "it also has one other property."

"What's that,” asked the Slayer.

"It allows someone, who has been trained, to measure the amount of energy that is attracted to person who drank the mixture," Amana concluded.

"Great," said Willow, "I'm a big magnet."

"Willow," asked Grael, "when you performed your spells, and rituals, didn't you feel energy being attracted to you?"

"Yes, but I thought...," said Willow quietly, "well, I didn't really know what to think," conceded Willow.

"Well I do," Amana replied, "and it was your ability to use magics that was attracting the energy although you didn't know that at the time.

"What gives then with spells, and tools," asked Willow.

"They are used as focuses," replied Amana, "in the working of some magic it is useful to use a device or object or 'spell' to help you focus the magical energy and then to release it as you wished it to be used."

"Some specific items," she continued, "such as those based on iron, can be either useful or disruptive."

"Iron, in particular works in this way," continued the older woman, "when it is used in a sword a mage can focus the energy raised into it and then use that magical energy very effectively. However, it is also a magic attractor, so it may also disrupt the mage when they are trying to use magic."

"There is a price for each benefit," added Grael.

"Okay," replied Willow, "what about rituals and circles then."

"They are used for a slightly different purpose," replied Grael, "we use them to focus, and transfer the energy from a number of people, not all have to be mages by the way, and send it to a mage for use in great magics."

"That's what I thought," Willow said, "however, it's never been so clearly explained to me before."

"Now, we will spend some time working with the two of you to measure more accurately your abilities, and to judge the level of your training," injected Amana.

"Well, I'm easy," said Buffy, "I've got no training."

"That's true," replied Grael, "however, we will have to determine which area or areas your abilities are focused in."

"What do you mean areas," asked Willow.

"You are aware that we divide the essence into five areas," replied Amana.

"Yes," answered the redhead, "Earth, Fire, Water, Air and Self."

"Exactly," said Grael, "and it turns out that each mage is best suited to one, sometimes two of these areas."

"They then concentrate on the manipulation of that type of essence, and develop their capabilities there," continued Amana.

“In fact,” added Grael, “you can tell the capabilities of a mage by the colour or colours of the rope they use to secure their robes.”

“Huh,” asked Buffy, still not one hundred percent on the information she had been receiving.

“Red for fire,” he replied, “blue for water, grey for air, green for earth and silver for self.”

“And if a mage has talent in more than one area,” added Amana, “the rope is in both colours.”

“Oh boy,” said Willow softly to her lover, “a magical dress code, what will they think of next.”

"Now, what she and I are going to do is test you in these areas and figure out where your 'inclinations' lay so that we will then be able to concentrate your training there," concluded Grael.

For the next two hours, the women were tested using a variety of techniques. Some like levitation were familiar to them; others such as matter manipulation were not. Finally, Grael brought the testing to a conclusion and had everyone sit down once again by the fire.

"That was certainly interesting," said a very excited Willow. For in the last two hours she had been exposed to more magic than she had in her life to that point.

"Different," was the only response from the exhausted Slayer. She was as tired as if she had battled dozens of vampires and demons.

"Well, ladies," said Amana, "this has been one of the most exciting days in my life."

"I have to agree," said Grael, "the two of you have certainly met, and exceeded our hopes."

"Why am I exhausted and witch girl here is bouncing off the ceiling," asked Buffy.

"Mainly because she has so much more ability," answered Grael, "and because we put the two of you through an exhausting mental workout which you are not used to. This type of activity is very strenuous and exhausting."

"The two of you are probably very hungry," continued Amana.

"Details, need to know details, food can wait, what can I, no we, do," bubbled Willow.

"Let's start with Buffy first," replied Amana, "as expected she has significant potential, but is totally un-trained."

"No surprises there," replied the Slayer.

"None at all," agreed Grael, "however, we were able to determine that your particular areas of strength lie in the manipulation of self and air."

"Which means," asked Buffy.

"Principally that you will be able to control your body and the essences of air," answered Amana, "in fact, we now believe that your 'superior' healing and some of your reflexes and speed are merely an offshoot of your magic. In other words, you heal faster and react faster, because you are able to magically repair and boost the energy output of your muscles and tendons."

"Say what?" asked Buffy.

"It's just that you have been doing this unconsciously until now," replied Grael, "we will endeavour to train you so that you can do it consciously, which should significantly improve your abilities and extend the range of what you will be able to do."

"Such as," asked Buffy's lover and friend.

"Such as repairing bone, replacing blood loss, curing viral and other illnesses and the ability to regenerate lost organs and limbs," he replied to a stunned Willow.

"Oh," said Buffy in the sudden silence, "what does the manipulation of air allow me to do, fly?"

"In the short term we will be able to train you to build shield and other things like vacuums where you wish, in addition to skills such as levitation," answered Amana, secretly pleased that the two young women were still able to keep their sense of humour though all that had happened.

"And in the long term," asked an excited Willow, she was beginning to see incredible potential options in fighting what until then had seemed an endless, and ultimately hopeless, fight against the forces of evil, not only on this world but also back home.

"Massive wind movements - tornadoes, hurricanes and other wind storms," replied Amana.

"But it will take time to train you to use your abilities at this level," continued Grael, "and I don't know how much time we will have to do this training."

"Okay, you have gutted and filleted me," said the slayer, "now what about my lover?"

"Willow," answered Grael, "Willow is a once in several lifetimes find."

"Eh," replied the redhead.

"Your abilities are overwhelming," he continued, "and with training you will most likely be the most powerful person on either world."

"Not only that," said Amana, "but with this training you will be able to control the essence in all five areas."

"Right now, your have self trained yourself in the disciplines of Earth, Air and Self magic, however, neither Grael or myself were able to detect any weak points in your ability to manipulate either Water or Fire magic."

"You are," said Grael, "what has been until now a legend."

"Say what," asked the confused witch.

"An Arch-Mage," replied Grael, "someone who is able to manipulate any form of energy and essence."

"That's enough for now," said Amana, "why don't the two of you go down to lunch, after all you are expected in the training halls as soon as you finish eating. We will continue our talk tonight after dinner in our study," she concluded, as she led the two contemplative women out to the hall where they were met by Aiofe, Bridie and a cat.

"Meeow," said Shadow-Cat who continued plaintively, "Meeoooow!"

"She's been in such a state madam," said Aiofe, "trying to get in to see you, and I think looking for lunch."

"Okay, then" said the Arch-Mage smiling even with the importance of the morning's revelations still fresh in her mind, "food it is." The four humans and one feline then headed down to the dining hall for lunch. Amana turned back into her workroom and retuned to sit by the fire with Grael after stopping by a bookshelf to collect a bottle and two glasses.

"Will you tell them," asked Grael, as his long time friend and lover sat down and poured each of them large glasses of mead.

"Not yet," she replied thoughtfully, as she watched the mead in her glass reflect the firelight, "I think that we can wait a few days for the two of them to get comfortable with their abilities and the new surroundings."

"We have been very daring in setting out on this course of action," she continued, "and it's going to take time for the two of them to get up to speed and to trust us fully."

"True enough," he said sipping his drink and stretching out his long, tired, legs before the fire, "for all of their casualness, I think that they are still in a bit of shock."

"I agree, and if we let them know what the potential of the two of them working together is, we might lose them altogether," she said, as she too stretched out before the fire, "besides, knowing those two, even as little as we do, they just might figure it out for themselves."

"That would make everything much easier," Grael replied, as the two of them fell silent in companionship and contemplation.

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Later in the day, two sweaty women, one in much worse shape than the other, were heading back to their chambers after participating in an extremely intense three-hour workout. They were trailed by a cat and preceded by their two servants.

"Not much further love," the blond said as she partially held up the other woman, "we'll get you into the bath soon." Buffy was both amused and pleased. She had just finished a great workout where she had sparred with Daithi and several of his guardsmen, often two or three at a time. After some initial doubts by the guardsmen about her talents, Daithi had decided not to reveal to them any details about Buffy or about the morning's activities, they quickly realised that she was more than capable of holding her own against fully trained troops. She was amused by her lover's experience; Willow had not fared as well as Buffy since she was unused to the strenuous exercises she had been put through. Buffy was convinced that every muscle in Willow's body was screaming.

"It'll be ok," she said to her friend, "Daithi has given me some ointment, and after your bath I'll massage your sore muscles," she continued smiling at her.

"You laugh at me," Willow said grimacing in pain, "and as soon as I can lift my arms I'll turn you into a frog."

"No laughing, promise" said Buffy, "besides, if you turn me into a frog, who will you have to massage sore body parts?"

When they entered the room Buffy turned to Aiofe and Bridie and said, "that's enough for know, come back just before dinner."

As soon as the two other women had left Buffy turned towards Willow and said, "okay now, lets see about getting you into the bath."

"Hurt, pain, much soreness," complained a tired Willow as Buffy went over and directed her towards the bathroom.

"I hurt in places I never even new existed," she continued, as her lover slowly began to peel the stiff armour that they both had been issued off of her.

"Shush, now, love, let me get these clothes off of you." Buffy said as she continued to slowly undress Willow, noticing that she was swollen in several places and that bruises were beginning to develop all over her body. Willow was a mess, and Buffy quickly figured out that she was going to need her help to even get into the bath.

"Will, love, sit down on the edge of the bath for a second while I get out of these clothes," Buffy said, as she rapidly stripped off her own clothing. Willow was too tired to move, and instead of sitting on the edge of the bath, had simply collapsed onto the floor, Buffy went over to Willow, and picking her up in her arms, carried her into the bathtub.

"Now love," she said softly, "lets let the hot water sooth those aching muscles of yours." Buffy carefully placed Willow on one of the benches inside of the bathtub, and picking up soap and a washcloth, began to softly wash the other woman.

"Nice, very nice, don't stop," Willow said gently as her muscles began to relax and she began to feel almost human, "if you keep this up, I just might be normal in two or three days."

"Normal is good," replied Buffy, "however, I'm looking to get you back in shape sooner than that. After all, I need my snuggle monster for tonight."

"Nuzzle good, cuddle better," said the redhead, "but I can think of other things to do."

"Here I thought you were dysfunctional," retorted Buffy.

"Sore yes, dysfunctional no," replied Willow as she turned towards her soul mate and drew her lips towards her own for a long, lingering kiss.

"That was very nice," said the slayer a few minutes later, "however, I've got even a better idea."

"What's that," asked Willow, as she tried to nuzzle the other without getting a mouthful of water in the process.

"Why don't we finish getting clean, then I'll massage your sore parts," replied the blond woman, "then we can see about getting sticky and dirty before dinner."

"Goody, I'm up for sticky stuff," replied Willow, "that's a great plan."

They quickly finished their bath and after towelling off, proceeded naked into the bedroom.

"Quick girl up on the bed," ordered Buffy, "and present me back," she continued with mock gravity.

"Yes boss," replied Willow, "but don't you want to massage me first?"

"Enough lip," retorted the other, "I am going to start with massaging you."

Buffy got up on top of the other woman and began to work the ointment she had been given into the stiff and sore muscles of her lover. It started to have an immediate effect on her as Buffy could visibly see some of the bruising and swelling leave Willow's back.

"Damn, this is good stuff," thought the Slayer, "these people has some impressive medical knowledge."

Buffy turned around on Willow's back and began to rub and massage the ointment into her legs, taking care to ensure that she worked all of the soreness out of the muscles, she knew from experience that if she didn't it would be difficult the following day for the other woman to get up and walk.

"Feels, nice" murmured Willow, "don't stop."

Buffy had no intention of stopping, given that she was becoming very stimulated by what she was doing. Here she was, buck naked sitting on top of her equally naked lover's back massaging her legs. In fact, Buffy began to feel a familiar wetness between her legs.

The massage was having a similar effect on Willow. She was feeling safe, and secure, knowing that there was nothing to fear from the woman who was on top of her. "Humm," she thought, "I was just thinking."

"Dangerous habit," replied Buffy, "could lead to unknown situations."

"No, its just that it's been one hell of a day," said Willow.

"How's that."

"Its just that its been less than a day since you left on patrol and I began to get ready for the Imbolg ritual."

"You're right," the Slayer continued as she gently, but firmly, turned her lover over so that she could continue working on her muscles, "so much has happened it feels like weeks."

Willow was presented with a vision from her dreams; sitting on top of her belly was her lover. Willow could see the strong muscles in Buffy's back and shoulder ripple as Buffy continued to work on her legs. It was a stimulating experience, and Willow could feel, and see her nipples harden. It was time for some direct action. She slowly began to trace her fingers over the slayer's muscles, and was pleased to see the small hairs on her lover's back stiffen. Carefully sitting up, she began to nuzzle Buffy's neck and continued with soft kisses and gentle licks to her neck and ears.

"Mumm, you taste and smell wonderful," she said as she slowly moved her hands around the other woman's side to cup her breasts.

"Someone is excited," she commented softly.

"You should talk," Buffy replied huskily, "since I can feel your nipples pressing into my back."

Buffy bent forward and began to kiss Willow's feet and ankles. Willow continued moving her hands forward and down towards the cleft between her lover's legs. The slayer cooperated by moving her kisses up Willow's legs, which had the simultaneous result of moving her sex towards Willow's willing lips.

Willow was shortly presented with the object of her desire, and was pleased to notice that her soul-mates clitoris and labia were swollen with desire.

"Yummy," the Arch-Mage thought as she proceeded to gently kiss and lick her lover's sex, eliciting a sharp intake of breath form the Slayer.

"Damn it girl," she said, "you know I love it when you do that."

"I know," Willow replied, taking a quick break from her activities, "I notice that you are practically dripping, was that my doing?"

"Less talk, more action," Buffy replied, as she bent down between Willow's legs and gently blew on her swollen clitoris, Willow moaned deep into Buffy groin, since she had been licking and kissing Buffy's labia and clitoris at the time.

The two women fell into mutual pleasure, mostly out of their love for each other but also, in no small measure, as a release from the tensions that they had been under for the last day. The two women became covered in sweat and other bodily fluids as their lovemaking continued into the afternoon, as promised by Buffy.

"I just love it when your plans work," murmured Willow to a sleeping Slayer, just before she too fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.

Later that evening there was a discrete knock of the suits door. Hearing no response from within the rooms Aiofe softly opened the door calling out, "Buffy, Willow, time to get ready for dinner."

Aiofe and Bridie entered the rooms and went over to the bedroom where they saw the two travellers entangled together on the rumpled bedclothes.

"Buffy," Bridie called again, "time to get up for dinner."

"Shush," said Aiofe, "let them sleep. We will go and tell Amana that they are deep in sleep, and that we will bring up some food later for them."

The two young women then left the room and carefully closed the door behind them.

"Today was hard enough on them," commented Bridie, "and the next few are not going to get any better. They will need all of the rest

they can get."

-----------------------------------

Far away, in the demon's stronghold, a pensive master demon sat in his office. Scattered at his feet were the remains of a green imp like demon, and the remains of Kratel's boss.

"Told them to get answers," the demon thought, "what do they bring back, but fantastic stories of a girl with super speed and strength, incompetents, they deserved my wrath."

"But," he continued, "what if they were right?"

"Answers," he continued aloud, "I need answers. All of the plans we have worked on for millennia are focused at this point in time, I can't have unknown variables in play now."

He stood up and began to pace, "Humm, got to get this mess cleaned up." Stopping suddenly the demon thought, "bold action was not the answer, and I've still got a little time. I will just have to wait to see what my human servants come up with." The demon strode out of his office screaming for his servants to attend him.

Continued in Chapter IV

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