NTR Quest - Odyssey 19 - Garm (Patreon)

“I kind of want to demand it, since you're saying you can't.” You teased. Djir's hands tightened around the reins. He leans his head over your shoulder. After a few seconds of him just breathing without saying anything you asked.
“Well?”

“If you were a bit more certain about it I'd pull us over to that Oasis and do what you're asking, and more. For now I'll keep your desires in mind for later. But-” He exhaled through his snout.
“That being said, are you getting off on teasing me? Everything I say, do the opposite? It's actually very infuriating.”

“Then why do you sound so pleased?” You smiled, because in the way he spoke, even though the muzzle of his was terrifying to see when the lips curled up into a grin, you could hear him smiling in the way that he talked and it was far less threatening than if you had seen it and heard it at the same time.

“I feel like it's the beginning of something promising.”

“How do you figure?”

“If you're willing to play with me like this, it means you aren't afraid of what I might do. I feel like you trust me in some strange way.”

“In some strange way.” You repeated, since it was accurate.

“I'm interested in your thought process. Your mind is unique.” He curled his large arm around you tightly while keeping one hand in control of the beast. His head remained over your shoulder. It was intimate. Incredibly so.

“Maybe it's just because I'm the first human you saw? My mind isn't all that unique.”

“You aren't the first human I saw.” He mentioned offhandedly.

Your eyes widened. “Did he have dark hair?”

“Mhmm. I feel like I stumbled on something you want without expecting it, Hero. Hehe.”

“Are you actually going to barter over this?”

Djir thought for a moment. “No... I don't.” He sighed.
“What can I do against you at this point? You've shattered all my expectations and then some. I feel like I've almost reached what my soul has been crying out for for so long.” He sounded like he was smiling as he spoke again. You just listened and waited, allowing him to talk at his own pace since he did not seem intent on keeping anything from you.
“To answer your question, there was a many many years ago that came through Aniyub. Then through Garm. He was just a bit taller than you with dark hair like yours and eyes like yours. Older.”

“Sounds like your type. Did you chase him like you chased me?”

“Oddly... No. There was nothing in him I felt I wanted.”

“But he looked exactly like me because...” You did not finish that thought. Your face felt a bit warm.
“You're basically saying that he wasn't me, so you didn't have any desire to go after him.” It was flattering.

“Correct.” He continued his story.
“My father was his host for the time he stayed. They exchanged information. Him about his homeland and the surrounding Kingdoms. My father shared with him our customs and the way in which we governed our land.” Something struck you right away. Your people and your armies and you in particular were not actually new to him, if what he said was true. Depending on the information your father gave, which could be quite a bit, it was even quite probably that he had been preparing ever since. Your Fathers notes spoke in generalities like a diary. Face to face, far more important details could have been dug out of him over the course of his stay. It had already been a minute or so with you pondering those facts when Djir added.
“You should be telling me what you think after you go quiet.”

“Why?” You shift uncomfortably in front of him.

“I'm on your side. I can refine your thoughts. You're smart and you have good ideas but a good idea is the next best thing before brilliance.”

“Oh? And you're brilliant.”

“You're misinterpreting what I mean.”

“What do you mean?”

“I think 'we' are brilliant. You will make me better and I will make you better.”

You sighed deeply. “I have no idea what I did to deserve this type of faith and obsession you have in me.”

“Me neither.” He cackled.

“Also, there's ways you make me worse.” You glanced back, urging him with a look to finish the thought. You flinched as he licked your cheek.
“I'm still thinking of you begging me to pull us over. You got me in a state.”

“Sorry.”

“Don't say sorry. Just take care of it.” He asked. You reached back subtly and placed a hand around his member. Slowly you began stroking it with your back turned. Djir sighed happily.
“You can tell me now.”

“You've prepared of this invasion from my continent.”

Another short cackle escaped his lips. “Well, yeah. Not this exact one, but anything like it. Happy you noticed.” You released his cock. It pressed against your back insistently and throbbed with need.
“Teasing me again?”

You considered denying him, but relented. It was not something you did not want. You reached back and rubbed him again. He tried to act normal so the ones behind you would not notice, but he was grunting and huffing.
“You know... It's actually not as flattering as you think.”

“What?”

“That you're making it seem like I'm good at this.”

“You are. Something about training with a blade. The grip... The precision and the strength.” He said into your ear. It was exactly what you needed to hear to keep going, faster and harder. You could feel his chest vibrate on his back as he came all over yours. He was gracious enough to wipe it up attentively.

“What's more important. Me or your goals?” You were curious. Djir talked a big game but he never seemed to lie.

“Ask me when it matters. I'd like to know as well.”

-

That line stuck in your mind throughout the whole trip across the desert and the plains and finally through dense woods that felt close to home. You were not sure when it would become important, or why he deflected in such a way. He was not denying an answer, he was simply delaying it to an unknown point. You stared up at the sky. Since you would sometimes move through the night when Djir got a strange 'feeling' you were resting in the back of the bumpy cart. He had a lot of those feelings over the course of the trip.

“We're here!” He shouted.

You sat up in the middle of Teuta and Jeane and Amun and Cyyani sitting on either side of the cart. Ahead you could see white walls and white buildings rolling up the hills within. There seemed to be a river that ran through, with more walls on the other bank and some other structures on small islands within the river itself. While you were admiring the view Djir fell back to the side of the cart and held his hand out for you.
“Come, Fin.” You looked at it. Jeane and Teuta were indifferent. Amun seemed to be staring at you quite intently. Cyyani winked at you. With all those reactions you simply shrugged and jumped over to his mount.
He rode ahead once you were on. Unlike before a few of his elite troops that were in the back rode up to flank him on either side. There was a tense air, but he was still smiling as he said.

“I want you up front with me for the most exciting part. We're going to see if they open the gate for me or not.”

“What'll you do if you don't?”

“I've got some ideas.” Djir had with him a sizable force of Gnoll. A 'personal guard' as he called it, though it was about a hundred men. He rode right up to the gate and waited. After a short pause the large steel bars lifted while the wooden portcullis behind slid aside, revealing the bustling metropolis within.

“Looks like they've got some sense.”

“Oh, I don't know about that.” He smirked at you as he rode through the entrance. The others soon followed. Several Gnolls in heavy armor with rectangular shields flanked the inside. They continued to wave everyone through. Aside from the finely dressed Gnolls that were on the side of the street watching with some interest, there were Beastfolk as well. Some Aniyub, but they were in the minority. There were others with paler skin and shorter ears. Djir whispered in your ear.
“It's not presented like it, because no one would understand, but this is the finest triumph I've ever come through with.”

“You some I'm your conquest?”

“Not everything is taken. Some things are gifts.”

“I see.” After riding a few more yards more of a crowd started to form.

“Djir!” Someone in the crowd shouted. Then another and another. Cries of 'he's back' along with clapping and cheering.

“Popular. You were worried they wouldn't let you in?”

He nodded. “Because popular opinion isn't something you win, it's something you control.”

“Who are the other Species?”

“Some of them are citizens. Many of them are slaves.”

“What decides which is which?”

“Time. Those that lost wars long ago became a part of us. Those who are new are still earning their place.”

“Do any of them sit in your Senate?”

“Some.”

“Are they on your side?”

“They happen to be.”

“You're going to have to explain all this to me.”

Djir nodded his large head. “ Senators are not elected by vote but by influence. You command wealth, you command an area or a province in the empire you can be a Senator. There is nothing that says you can't. Functionally, it will be a Gnoll. The influence of conquered provinces is handed to those that had a hand in conquering them. My people place ourselves above others. We consider our civilization to be better, so it's just natural that we would rule others.”

“For Aniyufar?” You asked.

“For Aniyufar there is none. For the record, my influence is also greatest in several other provinces on the frontier, as well. I occupy influence and have wealth to account for that of half a much of the Senate.”

You looked around and noticed that the cheering of the crowd was still as loud, but seemed dull compared to the talk you two were sharing.
“Where are we going?”

“I have an estate here. My lands are actually another couple days away, but I retain a residence for the sake of my duties.”

“As-”

“Dictator!” It was spoken warmly by a graying Gnoll standing in the center of the road.
“I'm so glad you returned. Your carts look empty, aside from a few slaves. Where are the taxes that should have been collected from the territories.” He asked loudly. You could see that it was not a mere question but a confrontation. The older Gnoll was intentionally asking in front of the crowd, in a voice loud enough that most could hear and relay what he was saying to others.

Djir stopped his mount and turned it so that he was looking down at the man directly, and not through you.
“Pomdi. The funds I gathered were returned to the state in the form of support for the army.”

“Hehe... Your army, you mean?” It was not a real question, but an imposition.

Djir placed a hand over his muzzle to stifle a cackle of his own. “To which Senate do you think my forces belong? Who's territories do they administer other than Garm's. All of the ledgers for the spending should be in order. My priest has them. But, setting business aside, you wound me. I thought that you'd visit your own army upon the remains of Aniyufar so that all of these people could share in the spoils, but it seems as though they have remained stationed outside the city instead.” He claimed. The old Gnoll looked shocked. He narrowed his eyes on Djir. The crowd was not turning. You thought it was done, but Djir pushed the momentum further.
“However, you are correct. It isn't fair to these people that our Legions are so hungry and so necessary in our border provinces. Since our borders are guarded well by them there will be absolutely no need to consider releasing a ration of grain from the stores to all of the people in Garm. Why don't you handle the distribution, Pomdi. You show a lot of concern, which is admirable.”

You heard out of the corner of your ear from the crowd, Amun's voice speaking in a whisper that carried just far enough.
“Djir is not even allowing himself to take credit for the distribution. It seems like he's even giving it to his political rival in good faith.” That seed was planted and  grew throughout the crowd quickly. On the other side of the street, just a second apart from the last whisper you heard Amun's voice again, speaking in range of Pomdi.
“Who is that person on Djir's mount?” Djir did not seem to notice and you only heard it because you listening for it carefully.

Pomdi pointed up. “Who is this? Why is that odd boy seated at the front of your mount? What position could he hold, unless...” He grinned.
“It's simply a-”

Djir grumbled uncomfortably. “I'll let him speak for himself.” He was placing his trust in you, but also seemed to be measuring your response as if it was a test.