At least I have a clearer idea of what happened to Cordelia now. I'm not actually sure which of us has suffered the most during the past few weeks. Whilst I was physically violated by the Unicorn, I have at least moved on and worked a number of the more immediate demons out of my system, although it may be years before I completely come to terms with that particular set of events. Whilst the presence of the Unicorn is something I currently have to bear , I can effectively shut him out , but to have had him physically resident in my psyche I'm not sure I could cope with that. I'm also not sure I could have stepped into the energy stream, although if I'd known in advance what was going to happen in the grove I doubt if I'd have gone through with it.
What ever effect the ritual had on her it doesn't look like its going to be quick to heal. Jexz's observations detected no significant change in her condition . If there is no change tomorrow then she has said she will need to fit an intravenous drip to keep her body fluid levels up and a cathita to remove waste fluids.
On other fronts their attempt to retrieve the book of Selheim failed miserably and according to Alfred at breakfast this morning resulted in Allagahn's death. Whilst not dead he did look in a bad way at dinner this evening, and wouldn't stop wining about his damned armour.
Isla was back, and showing a feint sliver of concern over Cordelia - what ever their issues I don't think she actually wants her dead. Benedict also joined us, the first time I've seen him since the boat trip out of Amber. Now I think of it, we haven't seen Cordelia's dog for some time now - has something happened to it? Anyway Benedict was acting as if he owned the place - something which seems to irk me no end. Am I coming to think of this as home, I can't answer that fully yet, but the ties to my former realm seam to be weakening the longer I'm away.
With Allagahn back they're going to attempt to retrieve the book again, probably in the morning. Whilst for me the day was quiet, they've all been off having fun repelling an attack on Ygg by Rodian's forces. From the retelling of the story it would appear that without Corwin's intervention they would have been overrun and killed. Still it has served as a means for them to get a better measure of what we're up against - the question is have we seen everything that they can do?
It seems Rodian has decided that we're to be eliminated and has spent the day maneuvering his troops into a position to assault the city. He started early by raising a mist and rolling it out across the valley. Alfred tried to use magic to dispel it but it seems their mages were able to counter his efforts. Charity eventually solved the problem by turning magic off in this shadow which has put us on a more even footing. Once the mist started to clear we were able to observe the vast number of wagon trains rolling across the valley, taking up positions in a semi-circle about 500yds out from the base of the bluff. What they're actually up to we'll have to wait till morning to determine, but by late this evening the consensus appeared to be that this was some form of elaborate bluff to cover up some other action they're planning.
The others have been running about all over the place doing things none of which seemed to have any purpose other than to tire them out. By dinner they had all gone off somewhere leaving me to eat on my own. I think that if this occurs in future I shal eat in the Officers Mess.
Where to start with today is the question. It really has been that exasperating and if I could have castrated the Unicorn without him bleeding to death I would have. I had awoken about my usual time to find myself uncomfortable, but had thought little of it - I know I hadn't had any of the dreams I'd suffered with previously and once conscious could block the Unicorns suggestive influences.
I'd bathed and dressed and was making my way towards the Officers Mess when I met Allagahn in the Longhall. He looked severely beaten up and was obviously in pain - he was looking for Isla. I told him I hadn't seen her but her room was on the second floor along from mine.
I'd been returning from breakfast when I'd run into him again. He looked healthier so Isla must have healed him. Apparently the raid on the Keep had been a bit of a disaster. There were more and larger guards than they were expecting and Corwin had bugged out leaving them on their own. He wasn't sure of exactly what happened next as he'd been attacked by 3 of them and gone down. As he was about to leave he asked me I I knew why there were 4 apparently in use campbeds in the stables. I said I didn't. he said it was strange as they all appeared to belong to female soldiers. Seething I thanked him for his information and stalked off in the direction of the stables.
I'd stormed into the stables and he'd given me his "what brings you here speech" coupled with his smug grin. He'd also, as appeared to be his way started replaying a set of images from, most likely, last night. Before I knew it my sword was in my hand and I was moving purposefully towards him. I'm not exactly sure of what happened next but a large man, strangely dressed, with a collar of spectacularly coloured feathers had appeared in front of me , grabbed my sword out of my hand and wrapped a well muscled arm about my waist, thereby restraining me.
"I'm afraid I can't let you do that, although he more than deserves it. Use the sword on him and he'll bleed to death and we'd be in serious trouble as the fabric of Shadow would start to unravel. "
I'd tried to struggle and free myself but his grip was secure , although he wasn't applying any pressure I could feel. I tried to shape shift but found I couldn't do that either. I was about to ask who he was when I had a sudden flash of revalation and realized that the figure was the Serpent. This just served to make me more angry. It took nearly a hour for me to calm down properly and for him to release me, although I did try faking it twice and nearly succeeded on reaching the Unicorn but he was always just that little bit too quick. This of course amused the Unicorn no end and wound me up even further.
My reward for finally behaving was to be given a goad. As I twirled it in my hand, the smug grin disappeared from the Unicorns face and it watched me intently. It also hissed at the Serpent, "Where did you get that, brother". "Does it work" , I asked. The serpent just smiled , said I think I'll leave you two alone for a while and was gone. The Unicorn backed into it's stall.
Now the interesting thing about the gaod is it appears to temporarily numb or stun the area of the body hit. So hitting the Unicorn on the head with it disorientates it , whilst hitting it on the legs, means I can get close to it without getting impaled by the horn, bitten by its teeth, of stood on. The effect on its genetils is most interesting. Hitting it on the sheath causes it to extend its penis. Hitting it on the penis causes it pain. Hitting it in the right place several times causes it to ejeculate Depending on who is doing the looking the three hours it took me to find all this out defines whether the experience was pleasurable or excrutiating. I also have the feeling it won't be interested in females of any description for several days, as I can still feel its discomfort some 10 hours later. Perhaps I over did things a bit.
After yesterday it's been very quite. Nobody knows whether Rodian's General's have twigged that we know what is going on , but we must assume they have due to the inability for them to use magic. This aside its something of a standoff, without their magic they no longer have the superiority they need for an assault, and we haven't the numbers of means for a decisive attack to break the siege. In the current climate the cliff and the ravine works both for and against us. If I do decide to call this home after the current crisis is over then a decent body of aerial troops will be needed for this place. But that is of course speculation for the future.
I did wake this morning feeling a little guilty over my treatment of the Unicorn, but I resisted the urge to go and visit it and apologize. I am beginning to think that there are depths to this bond between myself and the Unicorn than I have yet discovered, and I'm intrigued as to what it will try next. It is too early for me to reach a definitive conclusion but I am beginning to think that my bodily desires are being influenced by the Unicorn's activities, despite my conscious efforts to block its emotions and thoughts..
There has been no sign of improvement in Cordelia's condition, so Jexz has put facilities in place to ensure her fluid and nutrient levels are maintained..
According to Jexz reached the equivalent of 208 days of pregnancy tonight, despite having only been carrying this baby for 25 days. I find myself wondering as the baby grows whether I would have the capacity to endure a normal pregnancy - 280 days seems a very long time.
With the others not around I have decided that my base of operations will be the Officers Mess rather than the Great Hall. If this were a functioning court and the Kitchens were operational then things would be different, but currently I shall have to put up with things as they are. With little else to do I have been spending more time with Jexz learning about her people and world. It seems her race are not native to the world she comes from but crossed there from their homeworld nearly two centuries ago. What is more interesting is that since then more of her race have arrived both from the galaxy her people came from and from their original home world. Whilst those from her galaxy have developed technologies similar to or in advance of the worlds where Allagahn and Cordelia come from, those from their original home world have not and are persecuted because they are different. In fact it seems the technology level of these Wolfen may be less than those of my own people on Phemoney. She too has had thoughts about remaining here, but her parents and betrothed are all on Earth and at the moment her choice would be to return home.
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