Chapter 123: The Honey Trap
The late night brought a dense silence over the mountain fortress. Kellar had retired to the main cabin, a stone chamber with a blazing fireplace that kept the space warm against the freezing outdoor air.
While he organized maps and blueprints on the table for his return journey, the wooden door opened softly without a sound.
Three young women from Mark’s faction crossed the threshold. They were the daughters of the former nobles, clad in thin linen robes that slid to the floor with their very first steps. Their young, naked bodies glistened under the embers’ golden light, revealing soft curves and warm skin.
"Great Shaman..." said the eldest, approaching with feline steps while a seductive smile curved on her lips. "Our father and the faction’s people wanted to ensure you enjoyed a night worthy of your greatness."
Before Kellar could respond, the three women drew close to the table. One leaned over him, resting her hands on his shoulders while brushing her lips against his neck, letting out a warm sigh. Another glided between his legs, stroking his thighs with soft, delicate hands, while the third took his face gently to seek his lips in a deep, moist kiss.
The warmth of their bodies, the scent of wild flowers on their skin, and the passionate kisses wrapped around Kellar for a few moments. His hands traced the women’s soft waists as desire began to ignite within his chest.
However, amidst the intoxicating atmosphere, Kellar’s tactical mind remained cold.
Accepting that "offering" meant falling directly into Mark’s political trap. If he yielded to his daughters, the former nobles’ faction would gain favoritism over the tribe, completely undermining Krag’s authority and leadership that he had worked so hard to establish.
With a firm yet controlled movement, Kellar gently pushed them back, softly grasping the young women’s wrists to halt their caresses.
"You may put your clothes back on," said Kellar, his voice calm and composed yet laden with unquestionable weight.
The three women froze in place, staring at him with wide, blushing eyes.
"Are we not to your liking, Great Shaman?" said the youngest, her voice trembling as she attempted to step closer once more.
"You are beautiful," said Kellar, standing up and retrieving the linen robes from the floor to hand to them. "But I know your father’s game. Tell Mark that his loyalty to the Overlord Tribe is not proven in my bed, but through hard work and strict obedience to Krag’s orders."
The young women understood that their seduction had failed against the leader’s iron willpower. They quickly covered themselves with the linen, bowing their heads with deep respect before retiring silently into the night.
Kellar let out a long sigh once the door closed. His member was rock hard and his body was burning with raw desire from the young women’s caresses and kisses. Unable to remain shut inside the cabin in that state, he decided to step out into the freezing night, seeking the snow’s cold wind to cool his arousal.
He walked at a brisk pace up to the highest point of the fortress, where the mountain crags overlooked the entire valley. As he breathed in the icy air to regain control, he spotted a silhouette sitting on the rock off in the distance.
It was an emaciated young woman. Though her physical wounds showed signs of slowly healing, it was clear she was one of the most severely abused captives they had rescued from the Black Skull Tribe’s cells.
"I’m sorry, I didn’t know anyone was up here," said Kellar, taking a gentle step forward.
Upon suddenly sensing the shadow and movement behind her, the young woman jumped in absolute terror. She tried to scramble to her feet to flee, but slipped clumsily on the ice and fell flat on her rear onto the frozen snow.
Kellar reacted on instinct and tried to leap forward to catch her, but the slippery ground betrayed him, and he landed flat on his back in the snow beside her.
A soft chuckle escaped Kellar as he realized how comical and ridiculous the situation was. The young woman, embarrassed and terrified out of her mind, blushed intensely. She turned over on the snow and pressed her forehead against the icy ground, trembling uncontrollably in a posture of absolute submission.
"Easy, I won’t hurt you," said Kellar, sitting up slowly and brushing the snow off his tunic. "I am not that kind of person."
However, the young woman did not move or respond to his words; she simply kept shivering with her head glued to the earth. Kellar knelt beside her and tried to calm her gently, but the girl remained completely frozen, as if petrified by the shaman’s presence.
At that moment, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed up the stone trail. An equally emaciated young man covered in bandages came sprinting up and threw himself onto his knees directly between Kellar and the girl, spreading his arms to protect her while pleading with a broken voice.
"Mercy, Great Shaman!" shouted the youth, trembling from head to toe. "Please, have mercy on her! She didn’t mean any harm!"
"No one is punishing her," said Kellar, raising his hands calmly to soothe him. "I told her everything was fine and that I wouldn’t hurt her, but she isn’t moving or answering me."
The boy looked at Kellar with tear-filled eyes and pulled the young woman tight against his chest.
"She cannot answer you, Great Shaman..." said the youth, his voice laden with profound grief. "My sister was cursed by the gods. She cannot hear a thing."
Kellar blinked, feeling a sharp blow pierce his chest. The young woman’s fear and submission no longer seemed like an exaggeration; suddenly, he understood everything. A pang of profound pity washed over him, bringing back the distant memory of his own sister in his previous world, who had also been born deaf and had to fight against everyone’s misunderstanding. He knew perfectly well how difficult it was to survive in a world that never took the time to listen to those who couldn’t hear.