Tales of Thuria 2: The Return of Bêlit - Chapter 6

Chapter 6: Damsels in Distress

"Tell me again why did we came to this place?" Lupara asked, adjusting the wolf's head headdress that was a permanent part of her attire.

"Stop asking that question," Soraya replied. "I'm no more comfortable with this climate than you are, but we need the money." Honey-blonde Soraya was also wearing a hooded robe to protect her northern white skin. In fact all of the party of five women was wearing robes; to protect them from prying eyes if nothing else. Southern Stygia was not known for its tolerant attitudes toward foreigners or women.

They were an astonishingly diverse lot with a wide range of backgrounds and appearances. As previously stated there was blonde-haired, fair-skinned Soraya, who fancied herself the leader of the group. She was a warrior bred and born from far-off Vanaheim in the northern reaches of Thuria. The woman she had been speaking to was Lupara, a dark-haired Hyrkanian who had held a sword since she was a child. She habitually dressed herself in furs that reminded her of her homeland, although in the heat of Stygia she had given up on most of them in favour of sun-sheltering robes.

Next to Soraya rode Persephone. Exquisitely beautiful, the raven-haired Nemedian had once served as a concubine in a king's harem. She now rode free and was feared for her deadly prowess with a dagger.

At the rear rode two of the most interesting members of the quintet, Marika, a Brythunian warrior who dwarfed most men. Standing over six-and-a-half feet tall and wielding a massive steel-headed mace as her preferred weapon she was a formidable warrior. Alone of the five women she wore her tousled hair short, keeping it neck-length and bound in place with a bandana.

And finally there was Kira. The daughter of a Turanian prince, she had been forced into exile when her father had been overthrown. Dark-skinned, with thick curly hair, she emulated Lupara in that she customarily wore clothing to remind her of her homeland; in her case the skin of a leopard she had killed when still a girl.

"Well," Persephone said. "If that herdsman we talked to this morning was right we should almost be to Rahal."

"Hope so," Soraya responded. "And I'm hoping there's a decent inn. I'm looking forward to a little ale to wash away some of this desert dust."

"That's what you said last time and you got so drunk that you ended up trying to bed those three Asgardian mercenaries at the same time," Persephone laughed.

"I wasn't drunk and I didn't want all three. I was just trying to decide which one I liked best."

"So you weren't so much drunk as being a licentious slut," Lupara commented.

"Don't condemn what you've never tried, you prudish virgin," Soraya retorted.

"I'm not a prude," Lupara returned. "I just don't spread my legs for the first cock I see."

"Actually you don't spread your legs for any cock," Persephone corrected. "Both you and Kira should stop being so stand-offish and try to have more fun."

"How did I get drawn into this?" Kira asked. "I'll thank you to remember that I am royalty and don't consort with common tavern trash."

"You were royalty," Soraya jibed. "And in any case, that shouldn't stop you from enjoying yourself."

"I hate to interrupt the cascade of insults," Marika broke in. "But I think that is our welcoming party just ahead."

---

The five women had just topped a rise and spread out below them was a small town centred on a patch of greenery. Through rows of cultivated palms and still other trees planted for fruit and shade they could glimpse a small patch of blue.

Soraya threw back her hood to get a better look. "Yes, that is Majer Samad. He's someone who is not easy to forget."

Their first impression of the man walking to greet them wasn't particularly favourable. His face was badly scarred. Apparently someone had taken out his eye with a sword or knife and had sliced his face open from the eye to his chin. It had healed raggedly, leaving a deep weal across the left side of his face. His right arm also ended six inches short of where it should have and his hand had been replaced by a pointed hook. However, despite his villainous appearance he was just what the five women were looking for, or at least what one of them was looking for.

"Majer Samad," Soraya said. "We're here as you requested."

"The Iron Damsels," Samad replied, curving his mouth in a yellow-toothed grin. "I thought perhaps you wouldn't come."

"Let's just say we were drawn to this place by the sweet smell of gold," Soraya replied.

"I didn't know gold had a smell," Kira observed.

"It's a figure of speech," Soraya impatiently explained. "Where did you think I got the coin to outfit us for our journey here?"

"You needn't have bothered on my account," Lupara chimed in. "Leading us across leagues of desert was hardly something I was looking forward to."

"And who gave you're the right to make such an agreement on our behalf?" Persephone added. "Especially since you told us that we were coming here to pick up a mercenary contract."

"And I told the truth. Samad has the contract."

"Samad," muttered Lupara. "I'd as soon trust a scorpion."

"I heard that," Soraya said out of the side of her mouth. "Hold your tongue. We need the money."

Lupara grunted, but said nothing while Soraya slid off her camel and walked toward Samad. A moment later she and the other women copied Soraya.

"The Iron Damsels," Samad repeated as they walked up to him. You will be perfect for my little scheme."

"And exactly what is your little scheme, scarface?" Persephone asked.

"I'm insulted, Soraya," Samad frowned. "Do you allow your subordinates to speak like this?"

"Subordinates?" Persephone shouted as she drew her dagger. "I'll show you who is subordinate. I'll give you a matching scar on the other side of your face."

Lupara and Kira also drew their swords while Marika hefted her massive mace. The actions caused Samad to back toward his men and Soraya to spread her arms as if attempting to hold back her companions.

"Apologies, ladies. Apologies." Samad said, continuing to back away. "I meant no disrespect to any of you."

"Stop, you fools," Soraya shouted. "We need this contract. I've no desire to ride across leagues of desert without something to show for it."

Samad's words and Soraya's seemed to diffuse the situation. The Damsels lowered their weapons and waited to see what was going to happen next. "Wisely spoken," Samad said. "Please, Damsels, let us sit in the shade and drink wine while I lay out my plan."

Both offers, especially the latter, were agreeable to the five women and they followed Samad to where the other members of his party were gathered. "Make way," he ordered waving his hook. "Allow our esteemed beauties a place to sit."

Several men vacated a few campstools, while Marika, Kira, and Lupara frowned as his description of them as "beauties." But they said nothing and took their places around a low table set in the middle of the stools. There was a crude map set out on it, and the five women studied it, while ignoring the fact that they were in the midst of about as villainous a bunch of men as probably existed anywhere in Stygia.

They were a diverse group with Stygians in the majority; but there were also Hyrkanians, Khitaians, Shemites, Kushites, and a few that none of them recognized. The Damsels sat among them as easily as if they did not exist; although not of them allowed their hands to stray far from their weapons.

Samad had one of the men pour wine into copper cups from a pottery jug and then gestured toward the map. "Now we are ready for our little council of war. The map is the layout of Rahal. As you can see there is not much to it. The town is spread out around the oasis and has only one or two buildings of interest."

"Is one of them an inn?" Persephone asked. "I'm tired of sleeping on the ground."

"Regrettably no." Samad replied. "But this is what we are interested in." He pointed to a place on the map. "That is where we will find the bandit chief who kidnapped the daughter of the wealthiest merchant in Sekhmet. With you added to my party we should be able to rescue her in one piece, especially if you agree to my plan."

"Why do I think I'm not going to like this?" Lupara asked.

"Shush," Soraya said. "Let's hear what he has to say."

"The girl is being held in a fortified house," Samad said. "There is not much to it, but it has only one entrance and it has an interior well so laying siege to it might prove to be a long wait. However, it could be taken fairly easily if someone inside the building was to open the gates, and that is where you come in."

"And how are we to get in when you can't?" Soraya asked.

"I've come up with a plan," Samad said. "And it is a plan only you can carry out."

"What?" Persephone interrupted. "You expect us to force open the gates when you can't?"

"It's simpler than that," Samad said patiently. "All of you are very beautiful and at least two of you are skilled in the art of dance. I could get you in as entertainers and once in you could overpower the guards at the gate and open them to us."

Soraya and Persephone knew that they were the skilled dancers to which Samad. However, the others were not so taken with his offer. "You expect me to dance around in front of a bunch of leering bandits?" Lupara objected.

"And me?" Kira snarled. "I am a warrior, not some gaudy slut."

"And what of me," Marika said. "I am hardly the dancing girl type."

"I've thought of that," Samad replied. "You could be an escort. The protector of the dancers' virtue."

"Ha!" Lupara cried. "Soraya and Persephone have no virtue to protect."

"In any case," Samad continued, ignoring the interruption. "There is to be no dancing. Once the bandits have opened the doors we will rush right in."

"All right," Marika agreed, reluctantly. "But if we agree to this plan, what do we get out of it?"

"Well," Samad answered. "With you added to my party there are fifteen of us, so you get a one-fifteenth share."

"Wait a moment," Persephone said. "Just how many bandits are in the house?"

"Umm," Samad muttered. "I'm not exactly sure."

"That's a load of camel dung," Persephone spat. "How many bandits are there?"

"Maybe a dozen," Samad admitted. "Certainly not more than a score."

"So you want the five of us to walk up to the bandit's lair under the pretense that we are dancers and convince them to open the gates. You do realize that we will still be outnumbered even if we do manage to open the gates?"

"Well," Samad said. "You Iron Damsels have a formidable reputation. We should have no problem forcing our way in once the doors are opened. Also we will have the advantage of surprise. Bandits are a notoriously slack lot."

"Yes they are," Persephone agreed, eyeing Samad's band of cutthroats. "I'll tell you what. Since we are to be leading the charge and have to take the greatest risks we should get a double share each."

"A double share?" repeated Samad, as he did a quick mental calculation. "But that would give leave only one-half for me and my men."

"We're taking all the risk," Persephone pointed out. We want a double share or we head back the way we came, and you can dress some of your men up as dancing girls."

"Ha!" Lupara said. "I'd like to see that."

"I wouldn't," Persephone shuddered. She looked at Samad. "So what's your response?"

Samad nodded. "I told my men you'd not agree to a single share each. Very well. It seems I have no other choice. A double share for each of you it is." He motioned to one of the tents. "Spend the night here. There is a tent waiting for you. We will put the plan into action tomorrow at mid-morning. In the meantime I will send word to the bandits that a dancing troupe has entered the oasis so that they will be expecting you."

None of the Damsels was inclined to disagree with the plan. They had travelled all day and all they wanted to do was head down to the oasis, wash themselves off, have a decent meal, and then get a good night's sleep. They were not so foolish as to completely trust Samad, however. One of them kept watch while the others bathed and they also took turns on watch during the night to make sure nothing happened.

---

As it transpired, nothing did happen. And after breakfasting they set off with one of Samad's men, a Stygian called Mehy, acting as their agent, and headed for the far side of the oasis. The travelled in a cart drawn by two camels. It was a most uncomfortable conveyance, but it allowed the Damsels to stow their weapons out of sight.

The house was as Samad had described it. It was three stories tall and had once probably been quite a magnificent mansion, but the bandits who now controlled it had turned it into a fortress by bricking up all of the windows, leaving just narrow vertical cracks suitable for using as arrow slits.

Samad and his villains followed them, keeping out of sight by moving through the palm groves and fruit orchards. The Damsels had taken the main road drawing the attention of the residents of the fortified house. "Who are you?" someone shouted through one of the arrow slits.

"We are the Flowers of Khadesh, exotic dancers for your entertainment," Mehy shouted.

"Flowers of Khadesh? Who came up with that name?" Soraya muttered.

"Ah yes," the voice from inside the house replied. "We were told of you. But we want proof. Show us the dancers."

It was fortunate that two of the Damsels had prepared for this eventuality. Lupara and Kira had refused, but Soraya and Persephone had stripped down to some filmy garments that revealed a good deal of their supple bodies. They climbed down from the cart and gyrated their bodies seductively.

There was a moment of silence and then the voice spoke again. "I see your beauty was not understated. But we were told that there were four of you."

"You will see the other two as soon as we are admitted," Mehy said.

"Very well," came the answer. There was more silence and then the heavy door to the house was thrown open.

"Now!" Mehy shouted. Drawing his sword he rushed into the dark passage that was revealed beyond the door. The Damsels followed, Soraya darting a quick glance over her shoulder to see if Samad and his men were following. She saw them burst from the row of palms lining the road, and then turned her attention back to the assault.

She found herself in a dark passageway two yards across. Kira, Persephone, and Lupara were right ahead of her with Marika leading the way with her massive mace. Strangely enough Mehy seemed to have completely disappeared, but at the end of the passage she could see an open doorway leading to the interior of the house and she and her companions rushed toward it.

Suddenly from just in front of Marika a heavy iron grating thundered down, just missing the Brythunian warrior. She was so close that she slammed into it with the rest of the Maidens piling into her. "Arallu's curse," she shouted, backing away. "It's a trap."

"Mitra," shouted Soraya. At the back of the Damsels she turned toward the doorway just in time to see a second grating slam down. She suddenly had a hollow feeling in her stomach, a feeling that was justified when Samad's sneering face appeared outside the grating. "Samad, you bastard. What have you done?"

"Trapped you and your companions," Samad sneered.

"You son-of-a-bitch. Why would you do this?" Soraya raged, grabbing the bars of the grating.

"For the same reason that you came here." Samad chuckled. "Money. I have the Iron Damsels in my grasp. You will fetch a very high price in the slave market in Sukhmet."

"You cannot do this," Soraya shouted. "What of the girl we were supposed to rescue?"

"She never existed. You were always my target. Now lay down your weapons and surrender."

Clang! From the other end of the passage came Marika's answer to the demand as she slammed her mace into the grating. Surprisingly the bars actually bent and she drew back her mace for another blow.

"Enough of that," Samad shouted. An archer appeared at each end of the corridor. "Do as I say or we'll fill you full of arrows."

"We wouldn't be of much use to you in the slave market then would we? Soraya retorted. "You want us you're going to have to come and get us." Even as she spoke she knew that her position and that of her and her companions was desperate. They were trapped without food or water and if they did not manage to break out they would soon be desperately thirsty; especially in the desert heat. She looked at Marika as the huge Brythunian slammed her mace into the grating. It bent a bit more, but sweat was already trickling down Marika's massive frame. It seemed obvious that she would be exhausted long before she managed to smash through the iron bars. However, surrendering to a brute like Samad was unthinkable. It was better to die rather than surrender.

However, that last option was something that was quickly taken away from them. "Stupid," Samad said. "If you won't surrender we'll do things the hard way."

He disappeared, leaving Soraya and the others to wonder what he was going to do. They got their answer a short time later when a sound occurred just above their heads. A small opening suddenly appeared and Samad's voice came through the hole. "Last chance. Surrender now."

"Arallu take you," Persephone shouted, a sentiment echoed by the other Damsels. Samad did not reply, but his answer was brutally painful. Through the opening above their heads dozens of wriggling multi-limbed creatures dropped.

"What in Mitra's na..., Scorpions!" Soraya cried. Her next sound was a cry of pain as the first stinger pierced her flesh and she was quickly joined by her companions. "Kill them she shrieked and then screamed again as a dozen more stingers injected their venom into her.

Her cries of agony were echoed by the other Damsels. She struck at the creatures, smashing many of them to the floor and then crushing them with her heel. But the damage was done. Her body was on fire from the pain of the stings and then her fingers and toes began to go numb. "Nooo...," she moaned as she slowly sank toward the floor.

---

"Could have saved yourself a lot of pain, if you'd just done what I asked."

Soraya moaned. Who had just spoken? Where was she? And then she remembered. Her eyes snapped open and she tried to sit up. What? Her wrists were tightly bound behind her and her ankles were lashed together. Not only that, but her body hurt like the fires of Arallu in more than a dozen places. She gasped in pain.

"Don't worry, the swelling will go down in a few days."

She managed to turn her head and saw Samad sitting just yards from her. She saw something else as well; every one of the Damsels trussed hand and foot. Several of them were moaning, but apparently still unconscious. "Fire scorpions," Samad said. "Very painful but not usually fatal as long as you're not stung too many times. The poison does have a paralysing effect that can lead to unconsciousness, as you've just experienced."

"Untie me," Soraya demanded, straining against her bonds.

"Not just yet," Samad replied. "Later on you'll need to walk, but for now you just lay still until the others wake up."

"You're mad," Soraya said. "You know I'll kill you for this."

"Your killing days are over. Your next destination is the slave block in Sukhmet. After that who knows where you'll end up?"

Soraya struggled furiously to break free of the ropes binding her, but finally gave up and fell back exhausted. She lay there listening first to the moans and groans of her companions and then their cursing as one after the other they awakened.

"Very good," Samad said. "First some food and water and then on your feet."

Several of Samad's men helped each of the Damsels into a sitting position; ignoring their curses and threats. And then without being untied they were given food and water.

It was utterly humiliating being fed like children, but they ate and drank what they were given and then Samad untied Soraya's feet. "The ropes have to go," he explained. "They'll cut off the circulation eventually, and while you were sleeping we got these from the town blacksmith." He held up a set of chains and shackles. "These should keep you from wandering off."

He shackled her neck; locking a leather collar about it and then attaching a five-foot chain. He then linked her collar to Persephone's who was similarly shackled. One after the other each of the Damsels was secured in the same manner; each except for Marika. With her extra precautions were taken; her arms being shackled just above her elbows and across her back. Then she was placed at the head of the column of captured women and their hands were finally untied.

"Now move," Samad ordered. "It's a long walk to Sukhmet and I want to get there as soon as possible."

Furious, but helpless the Iron Damsels shuffled forward, Samad's men riding on either side of them. "It's an easy walk today," Samad said. "Just to the next waterhole." He laughed. "There's something special waiting for you there."

"You're in such a hurry to get to Sukhmet why don't you let us ride, you bastard?" Soraya demanded.

"What, and give you a chance to ride off into the desert? I'm not a fool. Besides I like the view from up here. Now get moving before I use my whip on you."

It was a long wearying day. The desert sun beat down mercilessly and many stretches of the route consisted of tracts of sand which made walking difficult. It was especially bad for Marika whose arms were pinioned behind her back, making normal walking difficult. But eventually they got to Wadi Mutaffa, a dry stream bed that retained water in shaded areas. They camped near one of these; a deep pool overhung by a rocky cliff.

"Make sure the slaves are properly watered, fed, and allowed to attend to their bodily functions," Samad ordered. "But make sure that their restraints remain in place."

---

His orders were carried out and it was with some relief that the Damsels were able finally rest after their exhausting trek. But they were also filled with trepidation. Through the march to the oasis Samad's men had made constant comments about what they were going to do with their captives once they reached their destination. As veterans of many a battle the Damsels were more than familiar with what happened to women captured by a victorious army. Not in their most frightening nightmares had they ever imagined that they would ever find themselves in that position. However, there was nothing they could do but wait at the mercy of their captors. They did not have to wait long to discover what their fate would be.

"Bring the blonde one forward," he ordered.

Soraya was immediately seized and brought before Samad where she was forced to her knees. Triumphantly he looked down at her. "I have been dreaming of this ever since I first laid eyes on you in the siege of Khrosha. Now I have you and you are mine to do with as I wish."

"Go to the devil," Soraya replied. "You'll get nothing from me."

"I think I will," Samad replied. He motioned toward Lupara. "Bring me the wolf-girl."

Lupara was dragged forth, cursing and struggling to break away. "Mitra take you," she raged. "Take you hands off me."

"A spirited one," Samad commented. "Let's have a better look at her." He yanked off Lupara's wolf's-head headdress and to Lupara's dismay tossed it into the fire. "You won't be needing this," he sneered.

"You filth," Lupara cried. "I'll kill you for that."

"I don't think so," Samad replied. He grabbed Luapra's hair and held her despite her struggles as he cut through the laces of her jerkin. "Lovely," he commented as he pulled the garment from her body, exposing her beautifully rounded breasts. "Very pretty." He held the point of his hook to Lupara's left nipple. "What do you think, Soraya? Do you think this virginal little minx would please me?"

"Let her go," Soraya replied. "I'll do what you want."

"I thought you would," Samada jeered. "Now open that pretty mouth."

Fighting back her revulsion Soraya did as Samad ordered. On her knees before her captor she took his burgeoning manhood into between her lips. He grunted in pleasure as he grabbed her hair and forced her to take him deeper. "Work it, damsel," he oredered. "Work it well or I'll let my men have their way with the wolf-girl."

Soraya gulped as Samad held her head and thrust his swollen phallus into her throat. She could barely breathe, but forced herself to continue with the disgusting task, eventually bringing Samad to a climax. "Well done. Now you know what you were made for."

During her forced service, Samad's men had gathered to watch. Now they wanted their turn, but Samad had other ideas. "I want this one to arrive in Sukhmet in good condition. But there is one you can have. The big Brythunian will be strong enough to serve all of you."

"What about the Nemedian cunt," one of the men asked. "She's surely no virgin."

"I'll decide who you can have," Samad replied. "Argue with me and you'll go without. Now take her, the Brythunian is yours."

Samad's men stifled their grumbling. No doubt they had been expecting to be be allowed free rein with the Damsels, but Marika was still very much a prize worth having and they made the most of their opportunity.

It took six men to drag Marika to the campfire and a couple more to strip her while the others held her. They started with her boots, and then jerked down her breeches before unlacing her vest and exposing her breasts. The were full and round, with uptilted copper-Pink nipples that begged to be sucked. A dozen hands immediately reached for her body, touching, pinching, and squeezing every part they could reach. Then they pulled her legs apart. It took four men to do it, but eventually they had her where they wanted her.

Through it all Marika fought like a demon, but her struggles had served only to make her more desirable to to captors. But there was nothing desirable about the first man who took her. He was the largest of Samad's men, a Kushite who matched Marika in height, and she grunted in pain as he man thrust into her. "Take it like a Brythunian whore," he jeered as he first shoved his thick shaft as far into her as it would go, and then began to drive in an out of her.

Marika bit back her cries of pain as he ravaged her. Sweat streamed down her body as she bucked and heaved under the onslaught, but there was nothing she could do to stop what was being done to her or to stop the next man or the next, until every man had taken her.

By then the campfire had almost burned out. "Time to call it a night," Samad said. "But don't fret. It will take us at least five days to reach Sukhmet, and you'll get another turn every night."

"From out of the darkness five pairs of eyes glared hatred at Samad and his men. They had been defeated and brutalized, but they were far from broken. One day each of them vowed they would regain their freedom and when they did they would find Samad and each of his men. It would take a long time for each of them to die.

Continued in Chapter 7 (coming soon)...

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