Damor closed his eyes as the two female elves massaged his legs and arms under the orders of Maysant's mother, Ambrielle, the Queen of Gailwyn. It had been so long since anyone had touched him in such a gentle way. Pleasure was something he'd denied himself for so many years in the pursuit of magic.
Once, long ago, he'd been a whole man. He'd desired women. But in time, he'd recognized females for what they were: a distraction, keeping him from attaining the darkest, most arcane knowledge. To delve deeper into the mysteries, he'd had to purge those carnal desires from his body—to make room for the darkest magic he could handle.
"How does that feel?" asked the brunette elf named Twylin, a smile on her delicate face.
"Much better, thank you." The last two words burned on Damor's tongue. Normally he thanked no one. But the elves didn't know his true power yet, and until then, he would have to play the role he had taken on: Benin, the grateful, injured man Maysant had rescued in Tingale Forest after the orc shaman's magic had burned him alive.
"We're so pleased our salves have healed your skin, Benin," said Katra, the other elf. Her smile was as bright as her sparkling blond hair.
Damor remembered another woman with long, blond hair—his beloved Queen Lissa. Eventually he would find his way back to her, and she would pay for the way she'd treated him when she thought he'd perished. Every time he thought of her cruel words, they stoked the anger deep in his belly. He would have his revenge.
A knock sounded at the door. "Can I come in?" Maysant called.
"One moment, milady," Twylin replied.
Katra brought Damor a silken robe and helped him cover his naked body.
"You can come in now," Damor called out with false cheer. It sickened him to act this way, but if Maysant knew his true intentions, she would have him drowned in the Orianna Sea before he could escape. Until Damor had regained all of his power, he would have to continue to play the game.
The door burst open, and Maysant skipped in. That lumbering fool, Ghrol, followed behind her, drool escaping his lips. Damor forced himself to smile instead of recoiling.
"Benin!" Maysant stopped short of throwing herself at him. "I'm sorry. I keep forgetting you're not ready for hugging yet."
Damor would never be ready for hugging. Ever.
"Bnin," Ghrol said, his giant teeth flashing.
"Hello, my friends." Damor reached out with one deliberately trembling hand. Though he had become stronger, he needed Maysant to believe he remained weak.
Maysant took his hand in hers and patted it gently. If he were a better man, he might have been swayed by her genuine concern. Lucky for him, his near-death experience had only hardened his black heart.
"Are Twylin and Katra helping?" Maysant looked nervously at the two elves, who were now cleaning up their ointments and salves. She leaned into Damor and whispered, "They aren't hurting you, are they?"
"Oh, no. Quite the contrary." Damor glanced after the two elves as they left the room. "Their ministrations are doing me a lot of good. I'm only sorry I don't seem to be healing faster. I would so love to get off the boat and run around on the land."
Maysant opened the porthole at one side of the room, letting in a spray of salty sea air. "I know you would, Benin. Soon. I promise! You'll be better in no time. Together, we'll walk to Agitar from the port."
"Me!" Ghrol yelled.
"Of course, you too, Ghrol. We would never leave you behind." As Maysant hugged the brute, he clapped her on the back. She gasped, the wind knocked out of her. "Gentle, Ghrol. Remember, I'm much smaller than the humans you're accustomed to."
"Sry," Ghrol said, his lower lip trembling and his eyes glistening.
"Oh, Ghrol!" Maysant grabbed his giant hand with both of hers. "Now don't cry. We both have a lot to learn about each other. Benin, too. We'll make this work."
Damor coughed, hiding his disgust behind a fisted hand.
Maysant was instantly back at his side. "Are you okay?"
"Yes, I'm fine. Just a tickle in my throat. There was something I wanted to ask you, though."
"Yes?"
"When will I meet your mother?" Though Queen Ambrielle had had them brought aboard her ship, Damor had yet to meet the ruler of the elves. He was desperate to gain her ear. Without that, all of his plans were for naught.
"That's what I came here to tell you." Maysant clapped her hands with glee. "My mother said she wanted us to dine with her tonight." A moment later, her face fell. "My brother, Kazrack, will be joining us, too."
Kazrack. Maysant had mentioned him once or twice. Damor wondered if her brother was as foppish as his sister was silly. He hoped Queen Ambrielle wasn't. If she was, and Damor was stuck with this band of foolish elves, he would throw himself off the ship.
"I'm thrilled I'll finally get the chance to thank her properly." Damor sat up, struggling more than was necessary. "I'll need some help getting to her, though."
"Of course. I will see to all of your needs. You can count on me!" Maysant grabbed one of Ghrol's hands. "We'll let you rest now. I'll send someone to tend to you soon."
"Thank you, Maysant." Damor forced another smile. "Where would I be without you?"
Maysant's face went still, her smile inverted. "Don't say that, Benin. Don't you dare think so morbidly."
The sad part was, his gratitude, though false, was warranted. Without her, Damor would have died in the forest, starving to death, if not eaten by wild animals.
"Now take a nap," Maysant said. "We'll see you this evening." She left, tugging Ghrol behind her.
When the door closed, Damor relaxed back on the pillows, his arms folded behind his head. He would finally meet the queen of the elves after days of living on her ship. If he could charm her and gain her trust, he would be back in a position of power. He could use the elves to get back at Queen Lissa for her betrayal. She would feel his wrath. She would fall to her knees, begging his forgiveness.