Chapter 34: The Runes That Were Not

I attempted my writing for several minutes, just growing increasingly frustrated but refusing to give up. Eventually, Six wandered over and looked over my shoulder.

"Why are you doing that?" she asked.

I looked over at her and frowned, trying to parse out what she was genuinely asking based on her expression. However, I couldn't really read anything from her controlled face. Did she mean why I was trying to write them down when I couldn't? Why was I trying to write them down at all? 

Something I appreciated about my uncertainty in answering questions was that it always made me stop and think before speaking. I had a knee-jerk instinct to blurt out the first thing in my mouth, but my predicament had forced me to slow down and overcome it. So it was with thought that I gave my vague answer.

"I don't think I understand it at the level I would like to," I replied.

Six nodded. "Interesting. Yeah, well, no one's ever been able to trace them, but I don't know why."

I nodded. "I was hoping that trying it myself might give me some insight, but apparently not."

"Have you ever read The Runes that Were Not?" Six asked.

I shook my head. "I don't think so."

She tapped her lips thoughtfully. "Well, perhaps I'll dig up a copy for you if you're interested in them. It goes over some of the leading theories."

I thought for a moment before feeling comfortable asking my follow-up question. "Is the book more about the ruins themselves or the purpose of them?"

Six gave me a surprised look. "The purpose? I don't think anyone has any ideas about those, at least not that I've heard of."

I nodded thoughtfully, not saying anything, but Six wasn't about to leave it alone.

"You have some hint, don't you?" she asked.

I nodded yes. "I think I have an inkling of what these specifically do," I said, tracing the portal. "But nothing I can confirm yet, and I have no idea how to interact with them."

Six nodded but didn't press any further. I attempted to take a rubbing of one of the runes, but it succeeded no more than it did previously. Frustrated, I packed up my stuff, and we all piled back into the carriage and continued on.

I had noticed the entire time we were out and about that Five had never gone more than a few feet from me. She was remarkably good at staying unnoticed, even more so than Nine was. But I could always sense her a few feet behind me and to my left, staying out of the way, not necessarily paying attention to what I was doing but watching over me carefully. And this didn't stop when we were in the carriage.

Five returned to her spot, nestling into my leg. One leaned against me, nuzzled her head into my neck, and started dozing. I just leaned against the wall and pulled her onto me a little bit more thoroughly, cuddled from both above and below. I also decided it was time to take a nap.

Four and Six held a whisper conversation, low enough that I couldn't make out the words and not so loud as to disturb us. As we had a leisurely ride the rest of the way, I couldn't entirely fall asleep, my mind too busy running over the possibilities of the portal and all the challenges that were to come.

When we finally made it to the north and dinner came around, One was barely able to wake up, but I was ready to stretch my legs. Five never left my side as I walked around our wagons as the food cooked. The other Numbered simply congregated around a fire, peering off into the murky woods. I couldn't help but be a little amused at the instinctual fear I felt in the dark woods, even though I could feel where everything was with my shadow affinities. I still couldn't help but feel the hairs on the back of my neck rise up in the darkness of the unknown, even 200 feet away.

A bear lumbered with two small cubs, and I shrugged. It's good that it was farther away. Hopefully, they wouldn't be attracted to our camp. I pointed it out to Five. "Do you see that?" 

She peered off in the distance and shook her head. "No, it's too dark, Master."

"There is a bear and two cubs," I said, and Five reached for her knife. 

"Would you like me to drive them off?"

I looked at her askance. Could she really fight two bears with just a dagger or a bear with just the dagger? A mama bear protecting her cubs? Maybe. I didn't want to see it, though. I shook my head.

"No. If they come closer, but... The forest sure is something..."

Five nodded. "Yes. It's dangerous. The bears are lucky. This far in, I would have thought that they would have been driven out or been eaten by now."

I considered her carefully, picking my words. "What's your threat assessment level for the camp?"

Five tilted her head thoughtfully. "Hmm. Relatively low. I don't think any of the true monsters will come near us. The fire is a good warning, and with... you here, I'm sure that they will second-guess anything."

That only piqued my curiosity more. Was it because they knew me, because of some sort of magical aura, or suppression I gave off by my very presence? I didn't ask and just nodded.

Strangely, I didn't feel intimidated by the forest and the thought of monsters that ate bears. It was more the unknown that set me on edge rather than the thought of some monster attacking. I felt that I could hold my own, and all of my Numbered could as well.

When we finally settled down for the night, they pulled out the four bunks in the carriage, and there was a slight bit of tension as Five was lowering them down for us. One crawled in next to me on the bottom one. That was the first one. Five and One stood eyeing each other warily before Four came in to make peace. She touched Five's arm and said, "It is One's turn, you know." 

Five flinched and looked up at Four before nodding sullenly, but One motioned Five closer and gestured to my other side.

"Just for tonight," she said, and Five shot her a grateful smile. I looked between them, slightly miffed that I hadn't been consulted on this at all, but didn't object as she climbed in next to me.

~~~

I did object, though, when Five reached down to cup my genitals under the blanket, pulling One's hand down to also fondle me. I looked around as Four and Six prepared for bed, mixed in the bunks next to us, and shot Five a warning glance. As much as I'm sure no one would say anything, it still made me uncomfortable. 

I was looking into Five's face, still trying to get her to stop, when One leaned over and kissed the side of my neck before nibbling on my earlobe as she, too, joined in the stroking.

"Just let us take care of you," she whispered, reaching over to run her fingers into Five's hair. The redhead nearly purred under the touch.

Then One's hand fisted, grabbing tightening close to Five's scalp. She used the newfound leverage to shove Five's head under the covers. 

It seemed that One knew what Five liked even more than I did. It was not unexpected, but I couldn't help but wonder if this was because of practice or her ability. 

I gulped, feeling Five's head being thrust down my stomach by One's insistent pushing. I blinked as my eyes went dark into the shadowy vision as Four snuffed out the lamp. The distraction left me completely unprepared as Five's tongue met my tip.

Four and Six quickly drifted off to sleep as Five began to work her tongue along the sides of my manhood. One reached down to fondle my balls as she kept nibbling on my ear, occasionally whispering caring phrases into it. 

I was starting to get lost in the sensation when they both decided to kick it up a notch. Five slowly bobbed her head up and down, lavishing me as One turned my head with her free hand to take my mouth in a deep kiss. I felt a little bad, as I wasn't giving any pleasure, but they seemed to enjoy just taking care of me. 

Reaching over, I cupped One's face, pulling her deeper into the kiss as my hand intertwined with One's in Five's hair, forcing her down till she was swallowing my cock every time I thrust up into her mouth. My tongue danced with One's, and I could feel Five shaking as she struggled to get in breaths in between each one of my thrusts. But even as I attempted to let her up slightly, One kept her forced down as far as she could possibly go.

We stayed like that for minutes, Five choking while One delicately caressed my face as she kissed me. She was reading my desires perfectly, switching between shoving One's head down ferociously and stroking the base of my shaft. 

I couldn't maintain myself under such attention for very long before I started to empty myself down Five's throat. One felt my spasms and forced Five down even farther. Five's only response was moaning slightly, vibrating the tip deep in her throat until I was done.

After I relaxed, One pulled Five off my shaft by her hair. Five fought back, though, resisting as long as she could and licking the tip as she was forced off. Slowly sliding back up the covers, she exchanged a deep kiss with One.

It wasn't until One visibly swallowed that I realized what had happened. I was shocked but not entirely displeased. As each one of them nestled into the nook of my arm and shoulder, I couldn't help but smile as I drifted off to sleep.

~~~