Elf Maidens of Thurn

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Chapter 61: The storm

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Hinano needs to obtain the support of Akamu, Taito, and Teuila for the plan we discussed on board the Esmeralda last night. Only then can we start attending to the details. A trip to Bardos will be necessary to establish how much money the Tomyris have deposited with the port guild ... that's assuming the money still exists from a century ago. We also need to establish whether the Aegle Potiora is able to send and receive Arona's proposed messages with her sister in Thur.

"Our forebears intended for the Tomyris to be independent of the other Potiora races," says Hinano. "That's why our Potiora is located so far away from the others. While Aegle can exchange a limited amount of information with other Potiora, it has always been done in secret without alerting those monitoring the other Potiora."

"Is that why Aegle asked for my permission before contacting Lampetia and Dioxippe?" I ask.

"Possibly," replies Hinano. "I don't understand all the inner workings of how the Potiora communicate with each other, but Aegle has always been protective of the Tomyris."

Arona, Nyra, Maia and I return to the island with Hinano immediately after an early breakfast. We spend over an hour discussing the plan with Teuila, Akamu and Taito. As soon as we reach a consensus to a slightly modified plan, I return to the Esme' with Nyra, Hinano and Akamu. Arona and Maia stay with Taito and Teuila to forage for food and to prepare the upper levels of the tower to accommodate everyone one those in hibernation are roused.

Arona will also investigate whether Aegle is able to send and receive messages to and from Arona's sister, without the Lampetia Potiora alerting the scientists monitoring the Potiora. Our discussion this morning identified a possible flaw in our plan. The message Arona sends to the Lampetia Potiora will alert those in Thurn of the discovery of the Aegle Potiora, and its ability to communicate with the other Potiora. That may become inevitable once my research paper is published, and I suppose I need to consider the consequences. However, for now, we need time to rouse the hibernating Tomyris and establish a community before any influx of opportunistic visitors arrive from the east.

We depart for Bardos as soon as we're back on board the Esme'. The weather remains fine, so we make good time. Our route to Bardos takes us past the south end of Madiana. We can see the river estuary where Gregori is believed to have moored his ships over a hundred years ago. The estuary and surrounding flora fit the brief description contained in Gregori's memoires, but there's no sign of any former habitation.

"Are there likely to be any remains of a Tomyris settlement near the estuary?" I ask Hinano and Akamu as we watch the receding coastline from the side rail.

"Unlikely," replies Hinano. "Our old settlement will have been reclaimed by nature by now. We stored anything salvageable in one of the original hibernation chambers. We have tools and equipment to rebuild our community, but we need to awaken more people to make that possible."

As Hinano predicted, Teuila was adamant that we awaken those still in hibernation within the next few weeks. Teuila accepts that we need to establish a food supply and accommodation for everyone, but she voted against waiting until any Elf Maiden volunteers arrived from Thurn. None of the three men chose to argue against Teuila's view.

"Why is Teuila so eager to awaken everyone in hibernation sooner rather than later?" I ask Akamu and Hinano, as the island of Madiana disappears over the horizon behind us.

"Teuila and her supporters don't want our new society to be dominated by men as it was before the volcanic eruption two hundred years ago," says Akamu. "She believes that the longer we delay awakening the others, the more likely a male-oriented governance will be established."

"Are her concerns valid?" I ask, mindful that before the Thurn civil war, a male dominated rule was established in Thurn.

"Possibly ... probably ... I don't know," prevaricates Akamu. "Without an influx of women to boost our population, around two thirds of our population are male. If you count adults and older children alone, then our male population is around eighty percent of the total. Even if everyone has an equal say in our governance, the outcome will almost certainly be biased towards males. I don't see what is wrong with that."

I consider what Akamu says. I've come across the same male-centric attitude in Thurn and I think Teuila is right to challenge it. The Tomyris gender imbalance should correct itself within a couple of generations as the oldest male-dominated generation dies out. However, a heavy male bias could do severe harm to the future of the Tomyris if they don't establish a society that benefits everyone. It will be many decades before the Tomyris have a large enough population to enable them to form multiple communities with different societal rules in the same way as the Atenex and Thurnians have done.

The journey to Bardos will take about six hours, so we should arrive by early evening. With Arona and Maia back in Madiana I need to help cover for their absence from the ship. A two hour turn on watch in the crow's nest is an easy enough task, and it still leaves plenty of time for me to have sex with Akamu and Hinano. I'll only be in heat for a few more days, so I should make the most of the opportunity. TM will undoubtedly be wanting his share of time between my legs. However, he's currently nursing an injury after coming into contact with a hot piece of machinery in the engine room earlier this morning. Gaelan says that the injury isn't serious, although TM is milking every ounce of sympathy from the younger members of the crew.

When it comes to sex, Akamu and Hinano have no qualms about having a threesome. As this isn't the first time I've had sex with the pair, I've gained an understanding of their preferences. Akamu likes to fuck my arse, while Hinano is more traditional in his choice of holes. Consequently we soon find ourselves having sex in a standing position with me squashed between the two men. It isn't the most comfortable position for sex, but none of us seem to mind.

While both men are eager to satisfy their own carnal desires, I find Hinano more considerate of my own needs. Although I need very little help in working myself into a highly charged arousal, Hinano ensures that I achieve an orgasm before he shoots his load. Akamu isn't so thoughtful, and he falls into the category of men who simply regard women as receptacles for his own sexual pleasure. That said, Akamu isn't unduly rough or unkind ... just domineering and thoughtless. As soon as both men have come, we bring a halt to our game.

"I hope you intend to stay with us and not return to Thurn," says Akamu, once we finish our session.

Akamu's comments take me completely by surprise. Although Jaro made a similar comment to me yesterday, I'd put the subject to the back of my mind for the moment.

"I wasn't aware you thought so much of me?" I reply.

"There aren't many women who can take a good arse reaming like you," replies Akamu. "And I don't mean that simply because we lost so many women when those pirates kidnapped them. Even before then, there were few who could satisfy my desires."

While I've never regarded myself as any different from other Elf Maidens when it comes to sex, Akamu clearly thinks so. Perhaps it's a skill successive generations of Elf Maidens have collectively acquired during our captivity in Thurn.

"I'm not sure that the offer of a regular arse reaming is going to convince me to stay," I reply. "There are men back in Thurn willing to do the same."

"Then I need to be more persuasive in keeping you here," replies Akamu.

"And how do you propose to do that?" I ask. "Do you intend to keep me on a leash?"

"Well that's certainly one option you could employ," says Hinano to Akamu, joining in our conversation.

I think the two Tomyris men are joking, but a moment of doubt flashes through my mind. I've never been an enthusiast for the more kinky forms of sex, but I've participated in several light bondage and role-play games before now. Few adolescents mature into an Elf Maiden without having been taught the rudiments of bondage and sexual submission games.

"You think that buying me a collar will encourage me to stay in Madiana?" I reply, challenging Akamu and Hinano to reveal their bluff.

"Hmm ... Well I'm happy to put it to the test," replies Akamu with a smile.

Yeah ... he's joking ... I think.

The navigator's table is tucked into an alcove at the back of the wheelhouse. Nuncio is busy examining his chart as we near the island of Bardos. Meanwhile, Jaro is teaching Roland how to steer the ship. Consequently my presence makes it quite crowded in the small wheelhouse.

"We should reach the harbour in just over an hour," says Nuncio, responding to a question Jaro must have asked before I arrived.

"We'll need to be in the shelter of the harbour inside forty minutes. There's an ugly storm brewing to the east. It's likely to hit Bardos within the hour," says Jaro, picking up the speaking tube to the engine room. "Engine room! Full speed! As quick as you can!"

Gaelan acknowledges the order and I can hear the two stokers shovelling more coal into the furnaces. I go out onto the port side observation wing of the wheelhouse to look at the menacing clouds on the eastern horizon. They look every bit as dark as the storm clouds I saw north of us on our journey from Verda. I can understand why Jaro wants to hurry.

The Esme' picks up speed and Jaro steers a direct course for the southern tip of the island ahead. I've experienced enough time at sea to appreciate that reaching the harbour before the storm arrives is going to be a close-run race.

Then disaster strikes. Despite the loving care Jaro has heaped on his ship, the Esme's engine is long past it's prime. The extra pressure through the steam pipes is too much for the valves and gaskets. A sudden whooshing sound followed by clouds of hot steam bursting through the port side vents signals major trouble. The ship's speed reduces quickly as Jaro and Nuncio leave the wheelhouse to investigate. Roland is left in charge of the wheel. To his credit he keeps the Esme' on a steady course despite the ship continuing to lose speed.

I recall from my earlier induction into the workings of the Esme' that we are at the mercy of the sea if the ship is left to drift. That would be fatal in a storm.

"The engine has lost power," I call to Harry and Arikiwi when they appear on the deck below me. "I think we need to hoist the sail."

Normally I wouldn't dream of issuing such an order, but Jaro, Nuncio and Gaelan are otherwise occupied. Besides, we have plenty of sea around us, so I can't imagine we can do any harm by raising the sail. I'm not sure what seamanship experience Harry and Arikiwi have, but they don't disagree with my suggestion-order. The two of them go to the mast and unfurl the large triangular shaped sail.

"We'll need to change course," says Roland as soon as the sail is hoisted into position. "We're sailing too close into the wind."

"Yeah ... Okay ... Do what you think is right," I reply, having exhausted my knowledge of seamanship.

I breathe a sigh of relief when Jaro returns to the wheelhouse. Harry and Arikiwi join us to receive orders from Jaro.

"Is everyone alright in the engine room?" I ask, as soon as Jaro is satisfied with the actions we have taken in his absence.

"I've left Yesha in charge of the engine room. She and Mahuika are okay, but Gaelan has been scalded by escaping steam. Nuncio and Valeria are tending to his wounds. Arikiwi, go and help Yesha and Mahuika dampen the furnace so Yesha can begin repairs."

Our chances of reaching Bardos before the storm hits are now zero. Apart from being unable to steer directly for the harbour, our speed under sail is only a fraction of what we were doing under steam power. We are going to need to weather the storm while still at sea.

The wind soon increases in intensity, and the waves become larger. Fortunately I've spent long enough aboard the Esme' not to feel seasick. Akamu and Hinano aren't so lucky, and they soon turn a shade of green. It doesn't look like they are going to be much help in operating the ship during the storm. I soon begin to appreciate Jaro's wisdom in insisting that TM, Arona and I learn some aspects of running the ship. TM and I are now called on to demonstrate the value of that training.

TM is sent to secure the hatch covers over the cargo hold to prevent water from entering into the hold. I'm directed to the engine room to operate the pump. With the engine stopped, and the boiler pressure reduced, the steam operated pump isn't working. Expelling seawater that enters through the air vents into the engine room now requires the use of the manually operated pump. Any seawater that reaches this far is channelled into a sump at the back of the engine room. From there it's a matter of pumping the collected water outside through the discharge pipe. It sounds easy enough in theory, but before long I realise that it is going to be arduous work.

For the next hour Akamu and I take turns operating the pump. Fortunately, Akamu has overcome his seasickness and he's been sent to help me. I suspect his recovery is due to the sheer terror we are both feeling. I briefly take a look at the storm outside before promptly deciding not to watch the huge waves crashing over the ship's deck. I return to the engine room where Yesha is repairing a broken pipe in seemingly impossible conditions. At one stage Akamu and I are waist deep in water as we battle to eject the seawater that seems to drain in here from all over the ship.

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Chapter 62: Bardos

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The fierce storm seems to go on forever. The dark clouds make it appear that night has arrived two hours early. Fortunately the storm lanterns mean we aren't thrown into complete darkness down on the bowels of the engine room. Nyra briefly joins us, but she is soon called away to help TM in another part of the ship. Akamu and I are tiring and I doubt either of us can keep working the manual pump for more than another hour. Nevertheless, we have kept to our task and have managed to reduce the level of water in the sump to knee depth. Fortunately the water is warm or we would be too chilled to work efficiently.

"The engine is repaired," calls Yesha to Akamu and me. "Can one of you come and help Mahuika and me get the boiler up to pressure."

Akuma looks at me in bafflement as he has no idea what she means. Fortunately I understand that Yesha is asking for help feeding coal into the furnace.

"You work the pump and I'll go and help Yesha," I say, not sure which of the two tasks is going to be less tiring.

I join Yesha and Mahuika as they prepare to increase pressure in the boiler in order to test the engine repairs. Fortunately Mahuika has kept the furnace going at a low level. It takes us fifteen minutes to get the boiler to a high enough pressure for the Yesha to test that her repairs to the engine are going to hold. As soon as she's satisfied the gaskets and valves are sealed, she tells Jaro that the engine is ready to begin duty. We all feel the sudden difference the extra propulsion makes to the ship.

Akamu is relieved when the steam pump takes over evacuating the seawater from the sump. In my absence, Akamu has been fighting a steadily losing battle against the rising water. Now the steam pump makes short work of clearing the remaining water.

The storm abates around ten o'clock that night. Jaro has us take turns in getting something to eat and taking a short nap. I've no idea how far we've travelled off course, but I have confidence that Nuncio will be able to find our way to Bardos in the morning. Gaelan's injuries aren't life threatening, but Valeria says that he'll need medical treatment in Bardos.

I wake the next morning to find Hinano lying naked next to me in my bunk. I don't recall us having sex last night, but I was so tired that anything is possible. His huge erection is pushing against my leg and my own sexual urges kick into action. Hinano is still asleep as I roll over so that his cock is pressing against my crotch. I have previously been in this situation with Tamaz, and I again wonder whether it's possible to have sex with a man while he sleeps. I'm determined to find out.

I ease myself into a position where I can gently push his cock into my now wet cunt. His cock slides easily into my eager hole and I feel my own arousal mounting as I gently rock back and forth. Normally I try and control the timing of my orgasms so as to match the needs of my partner, but I see no reason to deny myself fulfilment in this situation. I'm slightly surprised that my pleasant orgasm seems to trigger Hinano's own orgasm. I can sense his cum filling my insides. As soon as my orgasm passes I look to see if Hinano is awake. He's in a half-doze; not entirely asleep, but not fully awake either. Hinano wakes with a start when he realises his erotic dream was not a dream at all.

"Good morning, Hinano," I say. "I presume this is what you had in mind when you entered my bed last night?"

"Not exactly, but this is a nice way to wake in the morning," smiles Hinano. "I'm sorry to be the one to break the news to you, but this isn't your bed ... it's mine. I found you in my bed when I finally turned in last night."

I sit up with a jolt and look around me. Shit! He's right! My bed is over there. I must have been really tired last night to make such a simple mistake. This is the spare bed in Arona's and my cabin. It's the one Hinano was allocated when he first arrived, after Arona and I consented to allowing our cabin to be mixed-gender sharing. Akamu is fast asleep in what is usually Arona's bed. Did Akamu notice I was in the wrong bed when he came to bed last night?

"Oh! Sorry! I was really tired last night," I say, easing my way out of Hinano's bed.

"There's no need to apologise," smiles Hinano. "You're welcome to share my bed at any time."

I'm quietly pleased that I satisfied my curiosity about having sex with a sleeping ... or at least, dozing ... man. I quickly get dressed and go up on deck. The storm has long gone and the Esme's engines are back in full working order. Jaro will probably go easy with the engine for a while, but that shouldn't be a problem. I can see an island ahead of us, which Jaro tells me is Bardos.

We dock in Bardos harbour around nine o'clock in the morning. Yesterday's storm has left some visible damage around the port and town, and there's a flurry of activity towards cleaning it up. As soon as Jaro sorts out the docking fees and paperwork with the harbour master, most of us disembark the Esme for a few hours in town. Jaro wants to depart shortly after midday so that we can reach Madiana by evening.

Valeria and Nuncio take Gaelan to what passes for the local hospital. Jaro and TM accompany Akamu and Hinano to the local port guild offices to inquire about the Tomyris money deposited with the guild over a century ago. I take Arikiwi and Mahuika with me as we explore the town, and purchase some items we've been asked to acquire. Harry, Roland and Nyra watch over the ship while Yesha catches up on some much needed sleep.

My mission ashore isn't entirely about retail therapy. Bardos was suggested as a possible location for the Tomyris to establish themselves while they recover from the devastating losses from both the volcanic eruption, and then the impact of Gregori's visit. It doesn't take me long to concur with Jaro's assessment of the town ... it isn't the sort of community that would be suitable for the Tomyris survivors.