Sunshine and Shadow

See earlier chapters for full disclaimer...and don’t forget to feed the starving author...even if it’s just a small morsel...


Sunshine and Shadow
Chapter Four

........Air flowed around my naked skin, and I reveled in the sensation, enjoying just being. Shi'Ri'An wrapped herself around me, nibbling gently upon my ear. "Mmm," I answered her, pulling around to kiss her full in the lips. "I love your taste, too."

Her laugh was deep and rumbling, a growl as if she were the dragon she was named after. "Prove it," she challenged, her eyes dancing with flame and delight.

My laugh was tinkling and light, as though it were the very wind itself. "I shall," I teased, bringing my lips to hers, then upon her neck. I worked my way down her smooth copper skin. I stopped in the hollow between her breasts and worked my way across each one, being sure to miss the nipple.

Smooth hands grasped my head and moved my mouth to the pink tips. I laughed again, and teased, tracing my tongue around, but never quite suckling. "If you do not . . . I shall . . . " The threat was never voiced as I began to suck and nip gently, all the while feeling within and bringing my life force to match hers.

She moaned slightly as I placed my smooth fingers inside of her. My hand glided in smoothly amongst her wetness, feeling for that place deep inside of her. I meshed my inside with hers, and our outsides, gasping as her fingers entered me. Simultaneously we erupted in a flow of love, excitement, and laughter........


Cruel laughter and a kick to my side roused me from my dreams. The bindings had begun to cut off the circulation in my hands and feet and I was barely able to stumble to a standing position.

"I did not tell you to stand," the silky one said. "But I will allow it to pass since we are so close to my Mistress now. She will deal with you properly."

I said nothing and remained standing. I could not tell if the sun was shining or not. I could not tell if it would rain soon. I could not feel any life beyond myself.

As a cruel trick of nature, the day was as beautiful as the one before. The sun shown so brightly as to cause me to see spots as I emerged from the shelter. Birds flew around the woods singing merrily to each other, and I longed to greet them. The wind was warmer, caressing me with the promise of summer. I shed tears at the cruelty of it, and at the beauty of it.

Shi was led from another shelter by Allan. She walked docilely in front of him, and stared at me, seemingly awestruck. I remembered the beating I had taken and wondered what I must look like. Her eyes seemed almost to take on some of their old fire at the sight, but went dull again as Silky laughed.

"A beautiful day, for a beautiful journey. Mistress will be pleased." Shi looked at me hopelessly and began to walk, following the men who were going. The rest seemed to be busy taking down the shelters. I walked towards her, then beside her. Perhaps she took some vague comfort in my presence. But I took very little in hers.


The City loomed at the end of a dirt path, leading away from the forest. Buildings, tall, short, fat, skinny all seemed to be thrust together in no order. Some were crafted of stone, others of various metals. A large wall of wood that smelled like pine surrounded the City. And a gate, crafted entirely of gold and silver sat proudly in the middle of the farthest wall.

"The City of my people, barbarian." Allan growled at me. "Here we have gold and silver, and things of culture. Things that you lack."

I stared in wonder. I had heard tales of the human City, from the time of my youth. Not only did they cut themselves from the world, but all that dwelt within the walls. I stared, and Allan must have mistaken my stare for wonder.

"It is the grandest it has ever been. The Silver Gate is new. Our Lady had it crafted in her honor. And she is one worthy of such honor. The gold is for her heir that wasn bun but last year. Queen Silver will pass her crown onto the Golden Infant in little less than 20 years."

I continued to stare as we approached the gate. A large arch of silver stood at a spot in the wall, adorned with leaves made of gold. Bars of silver ran from the arch to a thick piece of wood, to create a door that would swing open. The wood was a rich, dark brown carved with unfamiliar symbols.

A woman stood behind the gate, the first I had seen, for the women tended to stay within their city, governing and ruling, sending the men out to explore and pillage. She wore a black robe that seemed extraordinarily official, with the same symbols from the wood embroidered upon it. "Halt!" she shouted in a deep rich voice. "State your business."

"Lord Edison, with gifts for the Silver Queen," the silky one answered her.

"And Allan and Companions, who work for our Lord," Allan added hastily, as though afraid to be forgotten.

The Gate swung inward with a large clatter, and Edison pushed me and Shi forward. I stumbled, unable to feel my feet, or my calves. Shi was not bound and walked forward gracefully, almost as though she were happy to arrive in this place. The gatekeeper leaned downed at cut the ropes from my legs with a large sword. I flinched as she brought the sword to my hands, removing those bindings as well.

"You will not give them any trouble, will you?" she asked, talking slowly to me as though I were a disobedient child. For a moment, I felt as though I were the child she was addressing and suppressed the urge to say 'No ma'am.'

"I cannot give them trouble," I answered, looking towards Shi. Shi was looking the direction of the largest building, seemingly oblivious to the rest of the city.

The gatekeeper laughed, and patted my head. I pulled away, earning a slap from Edison. "Oh, no, it is okay Lord Edison. She amuses me. Let her have her defiance while she still can." The gatekeeper’s voice was rich with laughter. I kept my eyes on Shi, staring at the curve of her back. I could ignore the others if she could.

"As you wish Lady Ella, but we must not keep the Queen waiting."

Ella laughed and pulled my face to look at hers. "Be wary, child." She smiled at me.

"Come, Sunshine," Edison pulled me away towards the building Shi had been staring at.

"Sunshine!" I heard Ella exclaim. "How marvelous." Her laughing seemed to follow me through all of the streets of the City. As we got further in, the noise of so many humans in one place was grating on my ears. The smell was tainting the air. Dirt, grime and food littered the roads and marketplaces. Shouts and songs littered the air. I tried to block it away, if I could just /listen/ I might hear the singing of a bird, the song of the wind, the buzz of an insect. Anything natural.