The Scarlet Paladin

Ursa found it hard to look at the others the next day. She was feeling uncharacteristically embarrassed as she sat across Jasmine. The two of them stole glances at one another while Lily and Ana did one of their lessons. Ursa was thinking about the sounds Jasmine had made the night before while Jasmine was watching her with equal parts curiosity and caution.

Jasmine was concerned about the northern woman’s intentions but also why she was so far away from home. The warriors of the north don’t typically hunt or explore in this region. She had met a few while with her previous party, but those had become citizens of Riefleheim. She finally decided to break the tension building between them.

“So… what are you doing so far south?” She asked, her grey eyes focused on the warrior. Ursa took a deep breath, taking a moment to sort herself.

“I can’t say… it’s a private mission…” She finally said.

“So you are on a mission,” Jasmine responded quickly, perking up upon the word.. 

Ursa widened her eyes slightly, letting that slip. She was able to recover and just nod. “Yes. One private to my tribe. I would rather keep it a secret.”

Jasmine nodded. She was tempted to push the topic as she had easily gotten the woman to admit to being on a mission. But, for the sake of keeping peace, she moved on. “What about your axe? From what I’ve heard, northern tribes aren’t the best with magic.”

Ursa pursed her lips as she decided what to say. She looked to the floorboard where her axe was stored and let out a sigh. “That… is true. Our smiths don’t compare to this country’s. But, there are a few that forsake strength for knowledge...”

“So it was made by your people?” Jasmine asked. She noticed both Ana and Lily were listening in. They were both curious about the axe.

Ursa nodded. “Yes and no. The axe was made by my people…”

“And the enchantment?” Jasmine asked, she leaned in slightly. Her curiosity was fully piqued.

“It’s… complicated,” Ursa said, squirming slightly. “And private.”

Jasmine leaned back slightly, she had gotten quite a few pieces of info out of the woman already. She had a better idea of her intentions. She wasn’t here for any coming-of-age quests or for fun. She had a reason for being in this area.

“Can I ask questions now?” Ursa said, she eyed the two listening in. She was pissed at herself for letting things slip out of her so easily. She was even more mad that the other two had heard.

Jasmine crossed her legs and leaned back. “Depends on the questions…”

Ursa took a moment and asked her most pressing question. “H-how does the gift work?” She said with a sheepishness that was foreign to her. “Does it replace-”

Jasmine interrupted her by letting out a laugh. She was expecting a different question from the warrior. She was not expecting a northern warrior like Ursa to be sexually curious. “Sorry, sorry… It, uh, doesn’t replace the feminine parts… gets added on.” She said between laughs. 

Ursa nodded. Her tanned skin was hiding the blush she had. She could feel her chest start to burn as her sexual desire ignited at the thought. She glanced down at the assassin’s lap, her legs covered the area Ursa wanted to see. Jasmine bit back a smile as she readjusted.

“Interesting… and what benefits to the gift…?” She asked tentatively as she stared at Jasmine’s lap.

“In combat? Well, Claire’s class gives us unique skills. I’m sure you saw that when looking at her class. We are the Bestowed Lovers, so we get benefits from her aura and skills unique to us. For example, I have a skill that strikes harder against an enemy that hits one of us.” Jasmine explained. She knew what Ursa was hinting at, but it was quite fun to tease her. Also, letting her know about her Bestowed Vengeful Lover skill was more of a subtle warning to her.

Ursa gulped and looked up to meet Jasmine’s eyes. She noticed the partial smile on the woman and felt her chest ignite. “I-I mean…”

“Sexually?” Jasmine said softly. The warrior nodded, losing all the strength and confidence she previously had. It was weird to see. This battle hardened warrior with scars littering her body and muscles from years of training, yet the woman looked so meek before her. It was cute. “Hm, well, it changes the dynamic entirely.”

Ursa nodded. “Ho-how?”

Jasmine glanced at the other two listening in. She bit her lip before beckoning them over. “Would you like a demonstration?”

Ursa’s eyes widened as the redness of her face finally broke through her tanned skin. She was stumbling over her words and shaking her head. Jasmine broke out laughing as Ursa recovered slightly. “Sorry… I was kidding… “ She said, wiping away tears. It was her own way of getting payback for their earlier grievances.

Jasmine took a deep breath and got a bit more serious. “It opens up a lot of things… Having both allows us to be both the man and the woman...” She said, uncrossing and recrossing her legs. She watched as Ursa’s eyes darted to her lap as she did. “Join us and find out.”

Ursa took a long, pregnant moment to stare blankly at the ground. She was thinking about the temptation before her and her own goals. Every fiber of her being begged her to join them. But she hesitated due to her own goals. The fog of arousal lifted slightly as she focused on her mission.

“I… want to. I really do…” She took a deep breath, regaining her confidence as she spoke. “I have my own mission that I need to accomplish first.”

“W-we could help…” Ana said, jumping into the conversation. She flinched slightly as the woman turned to look at her. Her red eyes still caused her to feel a bit of fear.

“Yeah, I mean, obviously we’ll help you if you join us,” Lily added. She gripped Ana in a backwards hug as the two looked at Ursa. She contemplated their words for a moment as her eyes zoned out. It was a tempting offer.

“Claire would also agree to help you, but we’ll need to know what we’ll be doing,” Jasmine added. She lost her playful tone as she glanced towards the drivers. Ursa pursed her lips in contemplation before looking at the driver’s window as well.

“I… think I will,” Ursa said, letting out a sigh. She knew these were the people that she was told to find. It was just so hard to accept that her people’s saviors would be so sexually deviant. It makes sense now why her tribe’s prophet seemed to be uncomfortable about his prediction.

“Claire will be glad to hear that,” Jasmine said, nodding to Ana. Ana relayed the message to her sister. “We’ll welcome you with open arms, whether or not you accept the gift.”

Ursa nodded back to her. She felt the temptation take over as she thought about the gift and its benefits. Her chest burned thinking about it as she glanced at Ana. The girl was her biggest temptation so far. While she shared the annoying one’s face, her personality fit Ursa’s preferences far more. Then, she glanced at the two older women before her. Both equally tempting her to accept the gift.

“That… I have to think about it.” She finally said. She dipped her head down as she resisted her temptation. She needed a clear head to accomplish her mission. “Maybe after we deal with my mission.”

Jasmine giggled at Ursa as she squirmed. She was far more amusing than she had expected. She was expecting a bloodthirsty killer or an adrenaline junky. But Ursa did seem to be cool-headed outside of combat. Though, she did seem to be repressed and a little loose-lipped. 

“Not a problem. We’ll just need to know what you wish to accomplish.” Jasmine said, pressing for more info.

“Yeah… it’s my tribe's blessing.” Ursa said with a more serious tone. She met Jasmine’s eyes with a fiery red glow like before. “It’s been corrupted and spread again.”

“Lycanthropy?” Lily asked, chiming in. 

“Like can…? What?” Ursa asked, confused. 

“Lycanthropy,” Lily said slower. “It’s the werewolf curse.”

“Ahh, yeah. Is that what you call it here? We just call it the moon goddess’s blessing.” Ursa said. She was referring to Rava the huntress. Her people’s patron goddess. “Or Rava’s Blessing.”

All three nodded before Ursa continued. “Somehow, those women got ahold of the blessing and are using it. It’s angering the moon goddess… so I was sent out.”

Jasmine furrowed her brow. “Why just send one? Why not send a whole party?”

Ursa nodded. “Good question. I was told by our revered prophet to venture out alone. That I’d find the allies I needed while in this… fief? Is that what they are called?” She asked.

Jasmine nodded and let her continue. “Rava told him I’d find a paladin… that I’d know who I was looking for after meeting them. He was… uncomfortable when he spoke about it. I guess it was due to your gifts.”

Jasmine rubbed her chin as she looked at the woman before her. Another goddess adding to the mix. Did Rava know about their Goddess? Could she help? “So… we need to eradicate the werewolves around here?”

Ursa nodded. “Specifically the bandits. Rava’s blessing should not be used by such vile women.”

“Okay. We already have contracts for some bandits… we can make it work.” Jasmine said, leaning back. She looked up to the ceiling as she thought about what Ursa said.

“I-is Rava why you’re wolf form was so… docile?” Ana asked. She didn’t flinch this time when Ursa looked her way. Ursa replied with a nod and a smile.

“We are taught how to control our other selves from a very early age.” Ursa said, before widening her eyes again. She spoke too much. “Ahh! Shit… whatever. We usually get skills to better control them too.”

“Interesting…” Ana said. She took in the woman’s appearance for a bit too long. Her wandering eyes found themselves ogling her exposed midriff.

‘Damn Ana… calm down before I crawl back there and take you.’ Her sister said within her mind. Ana’s face reddened as she looked away. ‘Making it hard to sit still…’