Izdreth stood in the murky shadows of the battlechamber, still and silent as death. Every sense was sharply focused on finding and vanquishing his foe. He dimly heard his opponent's near-silent footfalls, the almost imperceptible clank of his chainmail tunic. Izdreth wore an identical tunic of finely crafted mithral. He stood absolutely still, not quite daring to breathe. His adversary was close, so close, but to react too soon would be as bad as not reacting at all.

'He could be *anywhere*...this place is enormous! And even with my night vision, the shadows and the black stone walls make it all the more challenging,' Izdreth mused.

A soft scraping sound nearly set his teeth on edge. It sounded even closer than before--it was time. Izdreth adjusted his position ever so slightly, cursing mentally as his armour rattled the tiniest bit. His opponent's senses were even more keen than his own. There! The fool's back was turned. Izdreth's smile was nothing short of predatory as he swiftly called to mind a spell of binding.

No sooner had the first syllables of the incantation left his lips than the young arachin felt the cold touch of steel against his throat. He swallowed hard as his 'target' vanished into thin air. Talryn's breath tickled his ear as he spoke. "Fortunately for *you*, apprentice, this was merely an exercise." He pulled the dagger away from Izdreth's throat and sheathed it. Feeling a tad sheepish, Izdreth turned to face his teacher. "Most fortunate, yes." Suddenly the basalt floor of the battlechamber became of great interest to him.

Unseen by his apprentice, Talryn allowed himself a small smile. "You *are* improving all the same. Do you know where you went wrong this time?"

Izdreth pondered a moment before looking back up. "I believe so. I would say I relied more on my senses than on my intuitions."

Talryn nodded. "Both are important, Izdreth. But a mage should rely first and foremost on intuition and instinct. Especially when one is fighting another mage." A slow smile crept across the Archmage's handsome face. "Now, my apprentice, let us see what else you have learned." His voice a rich purr, he continued, "I would claim my prize as we agreed, Izdreth."

Izdreth smiled knowingly as he lowered himself to the floor before him. The stone was cool and smooth beneath him. Without another word, Talryn unfastened his tunic and removed his loincloth. The young arachin gazed with admiring eyes at his Master's cock, which even now anticipated the feel of his mouth. Talryn had taught him the ways of oral pleasure only a few days before, giving him a personal--and very delicious--demonstration. Smiling, Izdreth caressed Talryn's growing member with one slender finger. Long, slow strokes up to the head and down again before leaning close to to dart his pointed tongue in the glistening drop of cream there.

Talryn bit back a groan. Izdreth had lost their wager, but it was obvious he intended to lose on his own terms. Very well--let him try! Izdreth flicked his wet tongue lewdly over the head then slowly licked his way back down. Up. Down. Up. Down. At his leisure he worked his way around the stiffened organ, his tongue caressing every inch, wetting Talryn thoroughly. "Take--take me inside!" Talryn groaned. Izdreth wasn't so much torturing his cock as he was *worshipping* it with slithering flicks of his tongue, the barest touch of his lips.

Izdreth glanced up at him, his eyes dark with mischief. "You always tell me, Master--" He paused to circle his teacher's cock with kisses. "--that to a job well, one must not rush, no." Talryn's fingers tightened on his apprentice's shoulders. "A fine time to apply what I tell you!" he ground out between gritted teeth.

Izdreth suppressed a chuckle. Taking hold of the organ before him, he planted heated kisses up and down the rigid ebony length, finishing this particular torment with a lascivious kiss before drawing him in.

Talryn bit hard at his lip as Izdreth drew him slowly in. He'd taught his apprentice well, perhaps too well. He clenched his teeth against the groan welling in his throat as Izdreth pleasured him, lips and tongue working together as he went down on his Master. Faster, deeper, a little more of both as Izdreth worked him into a frenzy. Talryn groaned as he moved to meet the young arachin's mouth, all pretense of holding back gone, hands tangling in his silky raven hair. For all his efforts, Izdreth still held back. He wanted to prolong this, to please his Master well. He teased Talryn for the longest time, having learned very quickly when the Archmage was close to orgasm. He'd also learned when Talryn's patience was at an end. So when his Master's groans took on a dire, growling note, Izdreth ceased teasing and devoured him in earnest.

Talryn shuddered, groaning long and loudly when his climax struck. He cried out in a strangled gasp when Izdreth thrust two long fingers deep inside him, making him come again almost before the spasms from the first climax had passed. Smiling, Izdreth milked the last drops from Talryn's cock before licking his lips contentedly. He himself was painfully aroused, but such had been the terms of the wager. He would sublimate his desires for now.

Talryn's hands gently stroked his student's raven hair before helping him to stand. "You did well, Izdreth," he murmured. "I am *very* well pleased."

Izdreth smiled back, a little shyly. "I am glad, yes."

Talryn embraced him fiercely. "Help me tend to my attire, Apprentice, and we will see to your studies. Today we'll resume our discussions on alchemy."

That had been several days ago.

Izdreth sighed deeply, the book on geometric incantations long-forgotten on his desk. Talryn had wanted him to read it in his absence and, if he felt he could do so, to practise the simple beginner's spells.

"I would be lucky to concentrate enough for a dusting cantrip!" Izdreth grumbled. He missed Talryn terribly. His Master had been called away on important business. "You will remain here, Izdreth," Talryn had told him. "It is an item of concern for Archmages, and I may not bring you. I will return in one week's time." Then he had given Izdreth a warm embrace and a slow lingering kiss. A promise of things to come upon his return. Izdreth sighed again. It had only been a few days, but already he was bored...lonely...

Horny.

The young arachin sighed deeply. He'd been trying for days to push those thoughts aside, to concentrate on his magick. He was much more disciplined than many of his kind. Even so, this was causing him great difficulty. He was simply too restless to continue his studies. Talryn had left him a lest of tasks to be completed. Izdreth had done them all but for the shopping.

"Getting out for a while will do me good, yes." He closed the book, them returned it to the shelf. Then he perused the shopping list. Even powerful mages such as Talryn could not simply fabricate what they needed out of thin air. Izdreth smiled. This was no mundane list, it was a list for various magickal materials. This would keep him busy most of the day.

He tucked the list into his belt pouch, then picked up his cloak. It was still settling over his shoulders as he vanished from the study.

The morning breeze had a crisp edge to it, making Izdreth glad he'd brought his cloak. He stood in the tower courtyard a moment, admiring the flowers growing all around. A black rose drew his attention: Izdreth leaned in close to inhale the sweet scent before drawing up the hood of his cloak.

A short time later, Izdreth arrived at the city marketplace. As ever, the sprawl of stores and booths and carts laden with goods never ceased to amaze him. He passed a small cart selling a selection of the finest silks he'd ever seen. Scarves and shawls and bolts of fabric floated from display hangers like giant butterflies, tempting him with their beauty. Izdreth shook his head. First things first.

The apothecary he needed to visit was just down the block, then through a narrow alley. Izdreth smiled. 'I'm glad that I decided to do this,' he thought. 'My attempts at studying were of no avail.' He moved cautiously into the alley. It had a reputation for being frequented by thieves and muggers, or worse. Izdreth wasn't concerned--only a great fool would attack a mage, even an apprentice.

A cry of terror pierced the air suddenly. It came from somewhere up ahead, beyond a large heap of rubble and refuse. Izdreth wasted no time in moving to investigate. A young woman struggled madly in the arms of her attacker, a burly human male. From the way he tore at her skirts, it was obvious he intended to force himself on her.

"Trollop! You think ya can tease a man, act all coy, and not be expected to give it up? You'll learn, and I'll teach you!" The girl shrieked again as the man leaned in to force a brutal kiss on her.

His lips never even so much as touched her. He found himself hurled savagely to the ground. When he'd recovered from the bone-jarring thud, he found himself staring up at an angry arachin. "I believe the lady told you no," Izdreth growled down at him. "And I'll give you until the count of five to be gone." He punctuated his words by conjuring a ball of white light, sizzling and sparking. It was merely a harmless glowball, made more impressive with a little illusion. But most common folk new little of magick, only that it could be deadly.

The lout wasn't going to argue. He leapt to his feet and ran off as fast as his legs would take him without looking back once.

A muffled sob drew Izdreth's attention to the girl. She wore the long skirt and cinched blouse of a tavern maid. She regarded him with wide, terrified grey eyes.

"Fear not," Izdreth soothed her. "I will cause you no harm."

The girl only stared, wide-eyed and trembling. She was quite plain, with a wide, freckled face. Still, her eyes were quite lovely, even brimming with tears. Suddenly she hurled herself into his arms, weeping. Startled, Izdreth wrapped his arms tightly about her. He held her close as she sobbed, stroking her lustrous brown hair, speaking gentle words of comfort.

"Fear not, child," he murmured. "You're safe now. I will not harm you."

She nodded against his chest. "I know." She stroked his night-black hair, pushing it aside.

Something in her voice startled Izdreth. He tried to pull back to look at her, but she held him with surprising strength. Something cold and sharp pricked the back of his neck. Izdreth tried to pull away from the girl, but a curious langour stole through his bones. Then he was falling, falling into an endless, velvet darkness.

"Wakey wakey, Sleeping Beauty."

The voice pulled Izdreth from sleep as surely as if he'd been doused with ice-cold water. He blinked, gasping as he came to.

"Welcome to my web, sweet Izdreth."

Izdreth's eyes went wide with shock. "*You*!"

Ashryn laughed throatily. "Yes. And this time, your master isn't here to save you. What a pity."

End Part One