A Paladin's Repose

2447 words

Adelaide applies a healing salve for a returning client. The process is more intimate than River expected.

Contains: a fantasy setting, magic users, trans female & nonbinary characters, dwarven gender concepts, body worship, and mild exhibitionism/voyeurism.

When I start clearing away our afternoon tea, Miss Adelaide pulls me aside.

“Is the spellcasting room ready?” Adelaide says. Her tone of voice doesn’t waver, but I can tell she’s nervous by the way she’s fiddling with her necklace.

“Yes, ma’am.” I respond, trying to be reassuring.

Honestly, I’m nervous too, albeit for different reasons. This is the first time since I’ve started working under Miss Adelaide that we’ve booked a spellworking session for a client.

Usually, our day-to-day business involves potions or other enchanted artifacts. I’ve never had to look a customer in the face while spellcasting.  

It doesn’t help that Adelaide has told me very little about our afternoon appointment. Despite the lack of information on my part, I’ve been preparing for this mysterious visitor over the course of the last couple of days.

Adelaide has been paying more attention to the cleanliness of the house than usual. This morning, I was told to perfume the entire house with fresh flowers and cleansing wards.

Whoever this client is, I feel like they must be some combination of very loyal and very rich.  

There’s a firm knock at the door. Both Miss Adelaide and I jump.

“Oh, ah, River, you get that. I’ll be in the spellcasting room.” Adelaide ducks out of the kitchen, while I head to the entranceway.

The person at the door has a light beard and nicely toned arms. They are also, by a rough estimate, about two feet shorter than me.

This in of itself isn’t surprising. Adelaide told me our client was dwarven, at least. I might not be particularly well-traveled, but I have an understanding of common racial trends. A single elven language can have around 200 dialects, gnomes have a ridiculously high alcohol tolerance for their size, and dwarves are generally hairy and muscular.

That is to say, pan-humanoid ideas of gender and sex don’t really line up with dwarven standards. As a result, all of the dwarves I’ve interacted with approach gender with formal and deliberate presentation- particular styles of braids, clothes, etc.

However, this individual’s presentation doesn’t include any of the indicators I’m familiar with. Best not to use gendered titles, then.

I bow, then move out of the way so they can come inside. “Good afternoon, welcome! Please come in. The honorable Mavra, I assume?”

The dwarf dips their head in acknowledgement. “Yes. You’re Adelaide’s new assistant?”

I smile and close the door behind them. “That I am. A pleasure to meet you.”

Mavra grunts. “You’re a lucky one. I’ve been coming to Adelaide for over 25 years now. Can’t get better magic work anywhere else.”

I nod politely. “I feel honored to work under her. Would you follow me?”

Once we arrive at the spellcasting room, Adelaide beckons us in. “Welcome, my friend.”

Her neck glitters, and my eyebrows go up. In the short time we’ve been apart, she’s managed to add two more necklaces layered atop her original one. All of them clink together as she moves to take Mavra’s arm. Adelaide’s own arm now has a trail of bracelets extending up her forearm.

“Mavra, your letter said you wanted a healing application? Not potion, yes?” Adelaide says.

Mavra nods. “Aye. If you still do them.”

“I don’t really do them anymore, no.” Adelaide’s fingers ghost over Mavra’s wrist. I think she leans in, but it’s hard to tell from where I’m standing. “But, for you, I can make an exception.”

Mavra chuckles. “I appreciate it.”

Adelaide steps back. Adjusts her bracelets. She slides a finger around the rim of the lowest bangle. “You remember the application process?”

“Of course.” Mavra starts getting undressed without hesitation.

 As soon as I realize, I avert my eyes in an effort to retain politeness. From my side, I can hear the clink of armor being removed, then the rustling of fabric.

“This should do it, yes?” Mavra says.

I turn to their voice by instinct. As I register the scene in front of me, my cheeks grow hot.

Mavra has stripped to their undershorts. A line of body hair bisects their front - it grows more prominently at their chest and under the curve of their belly. Compact, broad arms and legs suggest strength beyond anything I could imagine for myself. Scars criss-cross their skin.

Miss Adelaide snaps her fingers in front of me. I realize I’ve been staring.

“Yes, thank you.” Adelaide smiles at Mavra, then turns to me. “River, you’re fine to leave.”

I cock my head to the side, confused. “I assumed I would be assisting with the procedure…?”

Adelaide glares at me. “River. Could you give our guest and I some privacy?”  

I bow, trying to conceal my embarrassment. “Ah, yes. I understand.” Heat rises from my cheeks. I turn around to open the door, but Mavra puts a hand on my shoulder.

“Wait. Adelaide, are you sending your apprentice on my behalf?”

Miss Adelaide blinks. “Well. Honestly, yes.”  

Mavra shakes their head. “Don’t worry about me. The lad can stay.” The dwarf clears their throat. “That is, if you’d like to.”

If I was blushing before, I must be completely red now. “Um. Yes, thank you.”

“Very well.” Adelaide shakes her head, but she looks relieved. “Mavra, if you would like to lay down on the massage table, then we can begin.”

The ‘massage table’ consists of many layers of towels and blankets over a raised wooden slab in the middle of the room. I used nearly all of our nice linens to pile it up higher. This was, of course, before I knew our client was going to be as tall as they are.

Mavra doesn’t seem to mind, as they lay down on their front without question.  

Adelaide and I take position to the side of the table. Even with my piling of linens, it still doesn’t clear waist-height for Adelaide. She pours the prepared mixture of specialized extracts into the bowl of water-based cream.

The darker, reddish-honey oils swirl into the lighter colored base. Adelaide’s fingers mix them together while she mutters an incantation. I’m transfixed by the glint of her jewelry against her skin as the mixture at her fingertips glows.

“I’m going to touch you, now.” Adelaide says.

Mavra grunts an affirmative. They rest their head on their crossed arms, shutting their eyes.

The salve is first applied at the base of the neck. Adelaide moves Mavra’s braids to the side and presses the flat of her palm against their skin. She continues the verbal incantation, spreading the balm along the length of their spine.

I begin preparing the additional oils for the next step.

Dragging her thumbs lightly across the expanse of their skin, Adelaide covers Mavra’s entire back with the salve. She continues to rub it in as she finishes the incantation.

The scars that litter Mavra’s body begin to lighten.

“Ah. That’s what I needed.” Mavra says, slightly muffled.

“River.” Adelaide directs me to hand her the oil, and she pours a bit into her hand. It warms in her palm for a moment, then is spread over the base of Mavra’s spine.

Adelaide’s hands travel up Mavra’s shoulder blades. Her thumbs press into thick muscle with gentle force. I try to note where she applies pressure and where she eases up.

Adelaide kneads between Mavra’s shoulder blades with more pressure, putting her weight into the motion. Her arms flex with the exertion. Mavra shudders, letting out a full groan.

Even though it’s no secret that I’m in the room, I feel like a voyeur.

I avert my gaze. This isn’t the right place to be having those thoughts. I busy myself with keeping my breath even, and don’t notice Adelaide is done until she bumps me with her elbow.

“River, if you wouldn’t mind helping me clean up.” Adelaide nods in the direction of the water pitcher on the side table.

I gather the pitcher and bowl, setting them down on the table and beside Adelaide. I pour water over her hands, taking care not to splash it over the sides of the bowl underneath. A sliver of soap lathers in her hands, and I pour water again.

Miss Adelaide dries her hands on the towel hanging from my other arm. “Thank you, pet.” She turns to the dwarf still laying on their front. “Mavra, dear, can you turn over?”

Mavra grunts. “Aye.” Our client flips over onto their back with surprising grace. “Anything else?”

“Oh, I can think of a few things.” Adelaide purrs, slipping into a lower tone.

Mavra leans up on their forearms. The sheen of oil is less obvious on their skin, now, but it still accentuates the definition of their toned arms. Their entire body ripples with muscle. That is, where hair doesn’t conceal it.

My gaze travels from their biceps to their neck. Sweat beads at the hollow of their throat.

Adelaide undoes the top button of her blouse. Then the next one, and the one after that. Her cleavage turns into a fully-bare chest - underdress conspicuously missing.

“Is this still part of the spell?” I ask. Both of them ignore me.

“What a sight you make.” Mavra’s voice is husky.

Adelaide smiles at them. “It’s been too long since I’ve seen you, dear. Let me give you the relaxation you deserve.” Adelaide cups their face, and Mavra leans into the touch.

“Kiss me.” Mavra murmurs. It barely registers to me as a request until Adelaide closes the distance between them.

The kiss is slow, but deep. I can see flashes of tongue as they crush their faces together.

I clear my throat. “Am I, um-”

Adelaide breaks out of the kiss. “Yes, River, you’re allowed to jerk off.”

Mavra chuckles again. It rumbles low in their gut. I imagine I can feel the resonance.

“I was going to ask if I was allowed to still be here!” My voice squeaks with indignation. I take a moment to swallow my pride. “But, uh. Good to know.”

Adelaide’s hand delves between Mavra’s thighs and the dwarf shivers.

“I love getting to touch your body.” Adelaide whispers into Mavra’s skin. I wonder how much of it is a performance.

“Mhm. I can tell.” Mavra says, hand on the back of Adelaide’s neck. Adelaide nips at their throat in response.

“Don’t get too cocky.” Miss Adelaide turns her attention to Mavra’s chest. She teases a nipple with one hand, while the other works Mavra through their undershorts. Mavra bucks off of the table and swears.

“I want you to remember my hands. My mouth.” Adelaide is a whirl of movement, caressing and licking and kissing. “Can’t have you forgetting to come back, now can I?”

“I don’t see that happening.” I mumble.

Whether consciously ignoring me or lost in the press of their bodies together, neither of them respond. Miss Adelaide continues to move lower and lower, down the trail of hair dusting Mavra’s torso.

Adelaide hooks her thumbs in the waistband of Mavra’s undershorts. “Can I take these off?” She asks. “I want to use my mouth on you.”

“Please do.” Mavra lifts their hips in invitation.

The shorts get tossed to me. I suppress an urge to throw them back.

“I know I usually don’t allow it, but you can put your hands in my hair.” Adelaide says.

Mavra laughs. “Oh, you know me too well.” They take advantage of Adelaide’s invitation, threading thick fingers through her hair.

Adelaide shoots me a look as if to say, ‘look at what you can’t get’. It makes my cock ache.  

“You’re so good to me, Addie.” Mavra says as Adelaide kisses their inner thigh.

The pet name sends a thrill up my spine. Fuck, just how close are these two? How much does Mavra know about Adelaide and me?

The last question gets answered quickly. Mavra calls out to me. “River. You like what you see, kid?”

I open my mouth, then close it, unsure if that’s a rhetorical question. Mavra pulls Adelaide off of them by her hair.

“What?” Adelaide says, absently licking her lips.

Mavra gestures to me. “You’ve got a real pervert apprenticing under you, Adelaide. They look like they might ruin their slacks at any moment now.”  

I hear myself whimper. Oh, gods, that’s pathetic.

“Aw, I know. Isn’t he cute?”  

“Maybe I can use him in the future.” Mavra grunts as Adelaide starts stroking their clit with the pad of her thumb. “Would you like that, lad?”

I swallow, my throat dry. “Y-yes. I’d like that.”  

“I like that idea, too.” Adelaide hums. “But… he still has a lot to learn before he’s ready to service one of my most, ah, loyal clients.”

Adelaide parts Mavra’s outer lips with her thumbs, then licks up the length of their cunt.

“Good gods, I’ve missed your mouth.” Mavra says. Their breathing is heavy. I wonder how close they are to orgasm.

Adelaide looks up, mouth open and reddened. Her nose nuzzles into dark curls as she swirls her tongue around Mavra’s clit. Mavra and I groan in unison.

Miss Adelaide sucks gently at their clit a few times, then leans back.

“Do you want…?” Adelaide trails off. Considers her words. “Something inside?”  

Mavra growls. “Fuck, yes. Use your fingers in my cunt, sweet one.”

I watch the slender fingers of my mistress pump in and out of Mavra. They curve up, searching for the spot that Adelaide wants to target. All the while, she continues to flick her tongue over their clit.

“Gods, that’s it.” Mavra grinds up against Adelaide’s face. I can see their body tense as Adelaide guides them through the waves of pleasure. They come with a groan, back arching off of the massage table.

The room is quiet for several moments while everyone tries to catch their breath.

Once Mavra has come down from their orgasm, they slide off the table and stretch. Adelaide places a hand on their shoulder.

“Bathing won’t affect the longevity of the healing spell, if you’re interested.” Adelaide motions to me. “River can wait on you, if you’d like.”

“A bath sounds good. I think I can make do by myself, though.” Mavra gathers their clothes, then heads toward the bathroom. They make eye contact with me on their way out. “I’ll let you know if I change my mind.”  

I swallow. I can’t tell if it’s flirtatious or if they’re just fucking with me.

Once Mavra is down the hallway and out of earshot, I turn to Adelaide. “Okay, just to make sure. Everything after the salve wasn’t a spell component, right?”  

Adelaide laughs. “The last part is optional. Though, I haven’t heard a complaint yet.”