Testing Braeth'el

*The border of Faetheril and the former kingdom of Althera, midday.*

Sunlight sparkled on the surface of the gently bubbling pool, the spray of water falling from a creek over the edge of the rocks and down into the water below, creating a fine mist in the air. Within the waist-deep water, Braeth’el moved further into the waterfall, letting the cool liquid wash over him and chase away the heat of the day. Clad in nothing more than a pair of short swimming trunks, beads of water glistened on his skin, clinging to his sculpted muscles as his tanned flesh soaked in the sunlight. He paused, his hands coming up to rub the water through his short blonde hair, feeling the refreshing sensation of being cooled by the falling water. Like all Faeril elves, or High Elves as the humans called them, Braeth’el was lithe and graceful with slightly tapered ears that were an inch or two longer than one of the mortal races might have.

Although he appeared to be alone, Braeth’el was quietly being observed from the nearby shore of the small pool, deep brown eyes drinking in his form as he continued to relax in the water. Hidden in the foliage, Rosellina Cooke watched her target carefully, studying him both to check for hidden threats and because she was appreciating his form. The human spy from the city of Ektberg had been busy over the past few days, her mission from the Royal Intelligence Service of her nation sending her far into former Altheran lands to further the goals of her King.

She had begun her assignment using magic to infiltrate one of the Faeril garrisons located in Althera, targeting one known to be under the control of House Sunfire. Using a spell scroll given to her by one of King Griswald’s magi, she had altered her appearance to resemble the Faeril elf Kyliska Sunfire. Slipping into the encampment, she had first delivered several forged letters, and then sought out an apprentice by the name of Rayleth Firelight, using her disguised form to get him into a compromising position at just the right moment to create some issues with Kyliska’s sister, Biara.

The second stage of Rosellina’s plan was now unfolding as she watched Braeth’el in the pool beyond. She’d ensured that two letters had been delivered while in her disguise. The first had been to Braeth’el, an invitation seemingly from Kyliska to meet her at this very pool. The second had been slipped to Kyliska herself, appearing to be a letter from one of Kyliska’s spies discussing ‘concerns’ the spy had relating to the Master at Arms of House Sunfire. The fake letter had indicated that Kyliska should also come to this location, but a few minutes from the current time.

With a smile, Rosellina arose from her hiding spot, stepping towards the edge of the pool with her gaze affixed on Braeth’el. Clad in only a white towel that stopped at her upper thigh and gave a generous view of her cleavage, she paused on the bank of the pool, standing in a pose until Braeth’el glanced over and noticed her. When his faintly glowing green eyes met her gaze, she nodded at him, a handing coming up and letting the towel fall away.

While Rosellina was from the city of Ektberg, she had a more exotic look reminiscent of the people of the Great Southern Desert and those of the realm of Karisberg. With dusky skin and gorgeous black hair that flowed down to the middle of her back, Rosellina could best be described as voluptuous. The RIS of Ektberg knew the young woman would turn heads, and they had trained her well to take full advantage of it. She offered Braeth’el a dazzling smile, her hands coming up as she slowly and deliberately turned in place to show the elf that she was completely unarmed and allowing him to get a good look of her entirely nude and beautiful body.

“As you can see, I carry no weapons on me,” Rosellina said with a smile, slowly stepping into the water of the pool and sending ripples out where her feet met the water’s surface.

Braeth’el smirked, his eyes roaming over the human woman as she slowly waded into the water, an arm covering her breasts as if she were now concerned with modesty as she moved towards him, “Yes, I can see that, but why are you here? Be warned that I am not entirely unarmed should you be here for mischief.”

Rosellina smirked, her voice a throaty purr as she came closer, “Perhaps I came here for ‘mischief’ as you put it. As you’ve guessed, it was me who sent the invitation to you. I wished to speak with you.”

Braeth’el nodded, watching as she came even closer, her form sinking into the water and the cool, clear liquid flowing over her dark skin, the sunlight glittering over the broken image of her nude body within the pool, “Then speak your peace. When last we parted, you and Kyliska were attempting to tear each other apart. If this is about that incident…”

Rosellina gave off a small laugh, coming to within a foot of where Braeth’el now stood motionless in the water. Her tone was soft as she replied, her gaze never leaving his, “It is not about that incident, but rather about our meeting in the desert and our unfinished business there.”

Braeth’el’s head tilted as he studied the human, recalling the incident that she was discussing. The two had first met in the Great Southern Desert while on a mission to discover who was behind some illicit weapons trading that was occurring between the Kingdom of Faetheril, rebels in Althera, and some sponsor within the city of Ektberg itself. Their meeting had been fortunate for both of their missions, and had required that they work closely together. He grinned at her, his reply full of mirth, “I had thought that business over and done with given that the source of the weapons ended up with a rapier through his heart, or did you miss your mark?”

Rosellina smirked, one of her hands coming up and running up Braeth’el’s chest. She slowly rose from the water, the liquid sparkling in the sunlight as it ran from her naked breasts, her body moving closer to Braeth’el as she pressed herself against his bare chest. Her hand caressed the side of Braeth’el’s face as she gently moved closer to him, her lips inches from his, “I never miss my mark…” Her lips met his, her kiss sensual and passionate, her other hand roaming down his body, finding the laces to his swimming trunks.

For a moment, Braeth’el hesitated, the woman’s mouth pressed against his, her tongue meeting his as she deepened the kiss. He returned the kiss, his hand coming up to grasp her shoulder before he slowly but gently pushed her back and away, his other hand coming up to wrap his arms around her but keep her a few inches from his face, “You know that my heart belongs to Kyliska. This cannot happen.”

Rosellina gazed up into Braeth’el’s eyes, seemingly staring only at him but noting with satisfaction some movement in the bushes along the edge of the pool; her plan had succeeded and she was quite sure that the person she wished to witness this scene had seen all that she’d intended her to. Even so, there was unfinished tension before her and she frowned slightly, her hands roaming in Braeth’el’s swimming trunks, “Your words say no, but that is not how you feel. You want to, I know you do and I can feel it. In our line of work, our lives can be cut short in a heartbeat. Don’t deny yourself what you can have in the here and now.”

Braeth’el sighed heavily, a hand coming down and grasping Rosellina’s wrist, gently removing her hand from beneath his swimming trunks and then releasing it. He held her in his arms, her mouth open slightly in surprise and her heart racing as she felt his strength holding her in place. When he spoke, his voice was soft but his words stern, his eyes never leaving hers, “There will come a time when you will tire of this type of life. When you will tire of the lies, the constant deception and the stress of danger. When your old wounds ache in the cold, and the memories of the faces of those who worked beside you and fell will haunt your sleep. When that time comes, when your body is cold and numb from it, you will wish for a fire to keep it warm and drive away that cold. It is only then that you will understand why I’m turning you away now. Why I can tell you with all honesty that I have all I need already, and that this would be nothing but a passing moment traded for a lifetime of better moments.”

Rosellina sighed, feeling a mixture of desire and envy rage through her as she trembled in his arms. In the back of her mind, she realized she had violated one of the primary rules that a spy lived and died by, especially when engaged in the type of mission she was currently in; she’d let herself become too deeply involved. Her mouth opened and closed, struggling to find the words to say to change his mind, knowing that her touch, her body would not be the answer.

Braeth’el smiled at her, a finger coming up and pressed to her lips, “Shhh, there is no more to be said about it. Turn and go back to Ektberg. Live your life and learn the lesson that I’ve just given you. Our…business arrangements can continue as needed for the better of both our agendas.”

Rosellina nodded silently, stepping back and away as Braeth’el released her. Her arm came up, covering her naked breasts and restoring some sense of decency even though she desperately longed to fling herself at his chiseled chest again. She sighed a second time, offering him a half-smile, “You can’t blame a girl for trying. If you change your mind…”

Braeth’el barked out a laugh, playfully splashing water at the human woman, “Get out of here already would you! If I ever change my mind, you’ll find me in your bed when you awake in the morning.”

Rosellina smiled, appreciating that he’d made the rejection less harsh. She nodded, turning to go before pausing, looking back and offering him a wink, “And it would be you who’d need to get some rest after. Good hunting to you, Braeth’el. I’m sure we will meet again.”

“I’m sure we will. Good hunting to you, Rosellina,” Braeth’el said cordially.  He watched as she turned and walked away, smirking as he noted that she purposely swayed her hips to give him a good view before she climbed out of the water and retrieved her towel. A moment later she’d slipped from sight into the bushes, disappearing into the wilderness.

Braeth’el sighed, re-lacing his swimming trunks and relaxing for a moment in the water, taking a deep breath as he calmed himself. He closed his eyes for a moment, only to have them pop open as the sound of water splashing caught his attention. He looked over to see a blonde, male Faeril jumping into the pool, a horse tied to a nearby tree and a magically cooled container set on the shore of the pool.

Ketheron Syl’danas nodded at Braeth’el as he waded into the water, gesturing back at the shore of the pool, “So where’s this Kyliska of yours? Thought I was gonna meet her today. Brought some ale for everyone.”

Braeth’el smirked, watching as his friend waded into the water, noting the many scars that the marred the muscled flesh of his red-haired friend. He shook his head, laughing after a moment, leaving Ketheron standing in the middle of the water with a quizzical look on his face.

“What?” Ketheron said. When Braeth’el only laughed harder, Ketheron shook his head, “What’s gotten into you, Brae? Eaten some bad meat again or something?”

Braeth’el managed to still his laughter long enough to get a few words out, “My friend, if you only knew what you just missed…”

Ketheron sighed and shook his head, “Based on the way you’re laughing, I’m going to bet it was something good.”

Braeth’el burst into laughter again, wading towards the shore of the pool and the cold ale waiting for him there, smirking at his friend as he got himself a drink and related the tale of the naked woman that had only departed a moment earlier. The look of disappointment on Ketheron’s face was enough to keep Braeth’el amused for the rest of the day.