The Dreams: Tower - Part 2

Part 2

Elizabeth didn't watch the hanging. The boys struggled as the adventurers bound them. After the nooses were tightened, they sat meekly on the horses. Jack had presided over enough executions to tie the knots right, and boys' necks snapped as soon as the horses bolted away.

"We leave them up there?" Marcus asked.

Jack nodded. "Tha's the tradition. Warnin' the other outlaws and such."

Toila frowned. "Waste of good rope."

"You're free to climb up thar and git it."

"We should gather the horses." Jamie reminded them.

As they traveled away Marcus looked back at man Elizabeth had bewitched. He stood as stiff as a statue, weapon still in hand.

He looked back at the witch. "Will he-"

"I don't know." Her voice broke as she replied.

---

They might have reached the tower by noon if Jack hadn't insisted on stopping to eat in a sunny meadow next to a brook. "We ain't gonna eat in the shadow of that tower. 'Sides eating's the best thing, after a thang like that."

Marcus watched as Jamie washed her face and hands. It was strange to see her unselfconsciously cleaning herself in the cold stream water like some farmer's wife. He wondered if he was seeing her the way she was at home, the same way her children and husband saw her. Thinking of her husband brought forth a pang of guilt. Donald was a good man, as far as Marcus knew; on the only occasion that they'd met he'd seemed earnest and honest. Before Marcus had met Jamie, her husband had caught the sweating sickness. Though she'd managed to shield herself and children from the plague, the disease had taken all of Donald's strength. Even sitting up was a strain, and he'd needed hours of sleep to recover from Marcus's brief visit.

Marcus imagined there could be no real intimacy between Jamie and her husband. Perhaps that was part of why they had lain together. There had been no sense to it really. On cold nights Marcus and Jamie had shared a bedroll again and again without any real hint of anything more. As they grew more at ease around the other, sometimes she rested her head on his shoulder or he wrapped an arm around her, but there had never been anything romantic about it.

But one night something had hunted them in the darkness. They had never known for sure who or what the horsemen were, only that they had rode forth from the Fallen Woods and nothing human ever came from the Fallen Woods. They'd spent hours running, abandoning all of their equipment and running through the trees to escape their pursuers. They'd hid in icy water under a bridge for Goddess knew how long before dawn came. With the rising sun, the horsemen were gone.

They embraced each other as relief flooded through them. They'd found one of their mules, stripping off their wet clothes and drying themselves with a blanket as best they could. Marcus had been rummaging through the pack for clothes when he finally felt her eyes upon him. He looked up at her and saw the desire in her eyes. She walked toward him and pressed her warm body against his as their lips met.

He was suddenly aware of her; the softness of her breasts, the long, muscular legs, and the firmness of her ass. He could still remember the taste of her mouth and the smell of her hair months later. She ran her hands down the front of his body, fingertips gliding down the hard planes of his torso before coming around to grab his ass. He grunted in surprise.

"Sorry, I just had to know what it felt like." She explained.

"Do you know how hard it is to behave myself with your body against me night after night?" he asked.

She kissed his chest. "I think I do."

Her hand grabbed his cock and stroked him with a light, teasing touch.

"Consarn it, woman, you're gonna kill me."

She smirked. "Not before I'm done with you."

They climbed inside of a bedroll and she pulled him on top of her. He kissed along her collarbone until he reached her breast, cupping it in one hand before leaning down to kiss her nipple. Then he took it in his mouth, sucking on it gently while he ran his hand down her body. She reached down and continue to stroke him, rubbing her thumb in tiny circles on the underside of his cock. He shivered. She moaned when his fingers touched her, gliding up and down her lips before sliding between them. His fingers circled her entrance then moved higher, gently rubbing her button between his fingertips. She inhaled deeply as he touched her, tightening her grip on his cock as she slowly stroked him harder.

"I need to be inside of you," he gasped.

"Hurry!"

He positioned the head of his cock between her lips and slowly pushed inside of her. She closed her eyes and wrapped her legs around him. She moaned as he thrust into her, his cock slowly working deeper.

"Harder," she moaned, urging him on with her legs.

He grabbed her hips and fucked her harder, feeling her squeeze around him as he sped up.

"Touch yourself." He ordered suddenly. She opened her eyes and looked at him. "I want to watch you play with yourself."

She licked her fingers and reached down between them. She moaned and shut her eyes, rubbing herself as he continued to thrust into her. She began to tense up, then her mouth opened in a soundless moan as she came. He sped up as she climaxed, her pussy milking him. He moaned as he felt himself getting close. She quickly pushed him off of her and took him into her mouth, bobbing her head up and down quickly until he erupted in her mouth. She stroked and licked his cock until he finished cumming, then turned to spit on ground away from them.

They'd been too tired to do anything after that except sleep.

"You're gonna bore a hole straight through her at that rate." Jack said, bringing Marcus back to the present.

"Yeah, I was just... woolgathering, I guess."

"Thinkin' about gatherin' her wool, eh?" Jack chuckled. Marcus shot him a look. "Sorry. In any case, don' spend too much time on that one, she's married, don' be forgettin.'"

"Yeah, you're right. You're absolutely right."

Jack gave him a pat on the back. "Don' be worryin' bout it, I'll take ya to the best little whorehouse in Eronfold as soon as we get back."

Marcus laughed. "Spending money before you make it?"

Jack grinned. "Can' take it with ya, ya know."

---

They reached the tower just after noon. It was an old guard tower that had been set up on a high hill beside a lake. Marcus supposed that it might have been strategically significant in the old days, but now it was just a way point for tax collectors. The tower was shaped like a torch with a somewhat narrow shaft widening into a large room at the top. He glanced at the arrow slits nervously as they crossed the uncovered ground to the entrance.

Elizabeth maneuvered her horse next to Marcus. "So, what's our plan?"

He shrugged. "Not much to plan, really. We're going to look around outside and then search the tower."

"Can you bewitch the tower?" asked Toila.

Elizabeth arched an eyebrow. "In what way?"

"Look upon it magically."

"You want me to descry the tower from 50 paces?" She waved her hand over a puddle, an image of the tower appearing. "I believe I can get a more detailed view of the moss if it please you."

"Look inside of it."

She rolled her eyes. "It doesn't work like that. I might be able to divine something through necromancy, but that would require fresh grave-dirt... and a dead man's hand... and dung. Plus some really nasty things..."

"A simple 'nay' would have sufficed."

Elizabeth turned back to Marcus. "Do you think there will be a fight?"

"Only if there's someone in there who doesn't want to give up the gold." He gave a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, we'll protect you if it comes to that."

Her blue-green eyes looked at him curiously. "Do you enjoy fighting?"

"Well, I mean-" he looked down at the ground, then back up. "I know I'm supposed to say that I don't, especially after we've just killed some men, but I do. I like fighting. I don't enjoy hurting people, I just like knowing who's better."

"But part of fighting is hurting people."

"Yeah, I know." He frowned.

She nodded, then smiled at him. "I think I like you when you're honest, you should do it more often."

The sandy ground around the tower was devoid of any tracks except their own. No one had been to the tower in months.

"'less they flew." noted Jack.

"Don't jest about that." Toila said nervously. "Shall we not put on our heavier armor before we enter the tower?"

Jamie nodded. "No reason in having our beasts carry them if we're never going to armor ourselves."

Marcus removed his sword belt and Jamie assisted him in putting on the long mail shirt he had with him. With some adjusting it was comfortable enough with all the padding from the gambeson. He, in turn, helped Jamie while Jack tightened the straps on Toila's cuirass. Jack, unaccustomed to heavy armor, was too stubborn to wear anything other than his gambeson. Marcus had convinced him to adopt a helmet like the other three wore, but he still wondered if Jack's stubbornness would prove fatal.

Thus clad, they approached the heavy oaken door to the tower. Marcus gave the door an experimental push but wasn't surprised to find the door wouldn't budge.

"Let's check to see if it's stuck before we try anything more strenuous." Toila counseled.

The two large men strained with effort before the door even budged an inch. Jamie crammed herself between the two of them and they were finally able to push it open enough that an armored person could squeeze through.

The pungent stink of fungus filled the lowest level of the tower. Inside Marcus found a pair of stone blocks had been pushed against the door to function as a crude lock. Although there were fittings for one, he didn't see a bar for the door anywhere. A battered stone staircase spiraled up and a door was fitted into the wall opposite of them.

Elizabeth shivered.

"Something amiss, witch?" Toila asked.

She nodded. "There's something here. Something scares even the gods of this tower."

There was silence, then Jamie spoke. "Should we just leave?"

"Probably," said Marcus, "but I doubt man's natural curiosity will let us."

"Let's try the door." Jack laughed. He walked through the door and found a storeroom. But among the crates and barrels of spoiled food and drink was a skeleton, its clothing tattered and its skull smashed in.

"A guardsman?" asked Marcus.

"That's what his garments would indicate. It appears someone buried a hammer into his head." Toila observed, fingering the hammer head on the reverse side of his poleaxe. "Fortify yourself, witch, it appears our villain is very human indeed."

"We'll see." murmured Elizabeth, following the rest of the group up the stairs.

The next floor up was a barracks. Dust and dirt covered everything but it was relatively free of fungus. There was a table and benches on the opposite side of the room and lockers at the foot of six beds. Two of the beds were unmade, while the remaining four had skeletons resting inside of them.

Toila walked to each of the beds and examined the bones that lay in them. "Their skulls are intact."

"Two murderers," declared Jamie.

"Or two weapons," added Jack.

Jamie nodded in agreement. "We're also missing one guardsman."

"Yup. Six beds, four piles of bones here, and only one downstairs."

Toila snickered. "Well done on those sums, Jack. That must have taken the fingers of both hands."

"Sura did, I used these ones." Jack grinned, thrusting his fingers into an obscene gesture.

A creak sounded from the top of the stairs. The group looked at each other and then readied their weapons.

The group crept slowly up the stairs, Jamie leading with Elizabeth pushed to the back. The barracks room was a double story so they seemed to inch up the winding stairs for hours. Every creak and heavy footfall echoed loudly as they walked toward the large trapdoor at the top of the stairs. They gathered close to it as best they could, then Toila threw it open before leaping away.

A puff of dust rose into the sunlight streaming through the windows of the top level. They heard no sound other than their own breathing. Finally Jamie crept high enough up the stairs to peak out into the room. She scanned from side to side, then relaxed.

"Nobody up here." She climbed into the open air.

Toila followed her and gasped. "Come quickly, all of you."

The last three scurried up the final stairs and found themselves in large circular room that topped the tower. Their heavy oak covers propped up, the large windows offered a view of the countryside for miles around. Birds flew over the trees and past the lake that lay beneath them. But none of them enjoyed the vista, for all around them was a magnificent hoard of golden treasure.

In the middle of it all was a life-sized statue of a twisted grotesque, its hideous features carefully detailed in the brilliant metal. The horns of a ram twisted forth from the head of creature that was half man and half beast. Around the statue, coins were piled in sturdy looking lock boxes. Necklaces and bracelets had spilled out onto golden plates and inside jewel-studded cups.

"You wench, you couldn't even say, 'nothing up here except a magnificent treasure?!'" sputtered Toila.

Jamie smiled wryly.

"Struth," breathed Jack, "do y'all have any idea how much a fortune like this is worth?"

"Where did all come from?" Marcus wondered aloud, removing his helmet and quenching his thirst from a waterskin.

"Must date back to the hoard of the High King hisself." Jack answered. "Only who's been holdin' onto it until now?"

Elizabeth's face suddenly twisted into a mask of fear. "No..."

Marcus's eyes followed her gaze to the grotesque, which had begun to glow with a reddish light, the air around it shimmering with heat.

"What the blazes?!" cried Jack.

"A demon..." Elizabeth said, her voice barely above a whisper.

The statue, its features an ugly mockery of mankind, began to move as its skin had taken the appearance of molten gold. Wrath was plain across its face, its goat-like mouth moving as if to shout but nothing escaped but thin steam.

Marcus hurled the waterskin at the creature as he readied his weapons. The skin burst into flame as it impacted with the torso, the gold appearing to cool for a moment before burning red hot again.

"Go!" Marcus shouted, grabbing Elizabeth and hurling her toward the trapdoor.

Jack fired his crossbow at the demon but the bolt had no effect on the roiling liquid gold.

"Just go!" Marcus called again, rushing past the demon with his sword. He nearly stumbled over the treasure but managed to keep his footing just enough to make an attacking pass with his blade. The sword was blackened but if it hurt the grotesque figure it didn't express it in any way. Marcus watched as the rest of the group rushed down the stairs.

"You and me, demon." Marcus said as he backed slowly away until he felt his foot hit the wall.

It advanced towards him but Marcus hacked with his sword and danced away. In spite of his size, Marcus was extremely quick and he knew he could keep the creature occupied until the others escaped.

Suddenly the living statue charged on its cloven feet and nearly crashed into Marcus before he dodged out of the way. The statue clipped him and sent him rolling across the ground, scattering gold coins about him. Marcus didn't know how much the gold statue weighed, but just getting clipped by it was like the time he had been knocked over by a horse.

Marcus struggled to stand in spite of the danger and again the demon advanced slowly on him. He tried to circle around it but it hemmed him it, keeping itself between Marcus and the exit. Marcus made another attacking pass but a golden arm slapped the sword aside with such ferocity that the weapon was knocked from his grip. He drew his belt dagger as he retreated but quickly found himself against the wall again. The demon was so close now that Marcus could feel its heat, as if he were standing too close to a bonfire.

Then the ground shook and the tower creaked. The tremor grew worse and Marcus was knocked off his feet. His eyes drawn out the window. He looked out and saw the lake. Even as the tower quaked beneath them, the statue reached a glowing hand toward Marcus. The tremor slacked for a moment and he rolled to the window. Then he jumped.

The air streamed past his face as sailed over the shore before plunging into the water. He shot down through the water until his foot hit the bottom and pain shot through his ankle. He tried to swim up to the surface but he was too heavy. Marcus was still wearing the mail hauberk. He desperately grabbed at it even as a something slammed into him, sending him rolling through the water. He pushed and kicked at a demon who wasn't there. He struggled, his lungs burning as he pulled at the mail. Finally he felt it slip over his head and he kicked up off the bottom and through the murky water until his head broke the surface.

He gasped and air filled his lunges. He tread water woozily as black flies seemed to buzz around his eyes for several seconds. Then his sight cleared and he saw the tower lying in ruins. A small base still stood and there was quite a bit littering the shore but the top was clearly now underwater. He swam weakly toward the shore until he could stand, then hobbled as Toila and Jamie rushed out to help him onto dry land.

Marcus lay on his back panting for several moments before he looked up at Elizabeth. "You did that?"

"Yes, our fine witch here brought the tower down with her sorcery." Toila grinned broadly at Elizabeth, who turned her head so he wouldn't see her smile.

Marcus nodded. "And you figured if I fell into the water I just might survive?"

Elizabeth looked at him sharply. "No, when I saw you hit the demon with the waterskin I noticed it cooled the gold for a moment. That wasn't your plan?"

Marcus frowned. "Well..."

"Please tell me your plan was for us to figure out a way to get that demon in the water and not to sacrifice yourself like an idiot."

Marcus shrugged. "I really hadn't thought that far in advance."

"Marcus..." Jamie sounded frustrated.

"Aw, would you two quick pecking at a man who saved your life like you was his own wife and mother. Man's a hero!"

Toila frowned. "I stand with the women on this one, that was pretty foolish..."

Jamie patted Marcus on the shoulder. "Well, in any case it worked out."

Toila frowned. "Although we seem to have lost the treasure."

"Nah, just gotta hunt for it." Jack picked up a pair of coins from the mud next to the ruined stone of the tower. "Just a sackful of these coins would make us rich for years!"

"It's probably cursed." opined Elizabeth, but Toila shook his head. "The only curse is on that creature; it was the sixth guardsman."

"That demon?" Marcus asked, bewildered.

"He murdered five men with whom he'd lived like brothers. His avarice cursed him to live like that for the rest of his days. That is why greed is one of the chiefest sins named by the Goddess's prophets. It is not because money is bad, but because it causes men to behave like monsters."

They were silent for a moment.

"Shit Toila," began Jack, "tha's the only damn thing you've said all trip that made sense."

---

Marcus lay on the ground, watching his companions search for golden baubles in the water like children collecting shells at the beach. Everything hurt, especially his ribs and ankle, but he supposed the grace of Goddess that he was even alive.

As the sunlight began to fade Jamie walked out of the water, setting a small sack down next to Marcus that jingled with gold.

"That's your share."

He looked from his bag to hers. "How come yours is smaller?"

"Expenses." She said quickly. "You're going to have to replace your arms."

"Jamie, your family-"

"Has a king's ransom in this sack, so no worries. Besides, I'm going to keep working after this but I suspect you might need to convalesce for a while."

"Care to help with that?"

She shook her head. "I have to get back to my husband."

He looked away. "I know, but I wanted to ask anyway."

"You should rest, I'll let you know when we've got food ready."

---

They each came away with a small but valuable share of treasure, although Jack noted with the right tools they might be able to dig up some more. Elizabeth insisted that Marcus ride her horse while she led his mule, although she complained loudly about the indignity of walking.

They said their goodbyes to Jamie at the crossroads, Marcus offering a platonic clasp of the forearm to her. She smiled at that, then traveled west toward her rural home as the rest of them marched down to Eronfold.

The city seemed huge and noisy after weeks in the countryside. It was lonely in that peculiar way a city full of strangers can be. The four of them left their treasure with a goldsmith for appraisal while they found an inn at which to sleep.

It was just after dinner that Elizabeth sat down next to Marcus. "Going whoring with the other boys?"

Marcus blushed. "Probably not."

"Still in love with Mrs. Farmer?"

He sighed. "Does everybody know?"

"Everybody with eyes. You spent the entire trip mooning after her, you know." She took a sip of her berry wine. "I'm surprised you didn't try to kiss her when she left."

He made a sound of annoyance. "She's married, I'm trying to let her go."

"Good. You should."

He downed what was left of his beer and stood to leave. "And you should probably stay out of my love life."

"And what if I have a stake in it?"

He sat back down. "What do you mean?"

"Don't look at me like that; I'm definitely not the settle down and have a bunch of babies type. Listen, I believe in being completely honest, especially in situations like this. I'm not sure what feelings you really have for Mrs. Farmer and that kind of makes me angry. But we saved each others' lives back there, you're really handsome and nobody's ever kicked me out of bed for well, any reason." She paused. "Do I really have to keep talking here?"

Marcus looked at her for a long moment, then shook his head. Without a word, he pulled her against his body and kissed her.

"Good choice," she said, wrapping her arms around his neck. "I was going to do something really mean if you hadn't agreed."

He lifted her in his arms and carried her up to his room. "What, were you gonna bewitch me or something?"

"What makes you think I haven't already?"

"I put a penny in my left boot."

She laughed. "That doesn't protect against witchcraft, that just causes blisters."

"Must be why my foot hurts."

He closed the door behind them and pushed her against the wall, kissing her deeply. Their hand roamed each others bodies until she pushed him onto the bed.

"Just watch," she commanded as she slipped out of her shoes. He pulled off his boots and stockings then leaned back on the bed.

She unfastened the belt that was tied around her waist, giving it a playful snap before discarding it. She untied the front of her dress, her heavy breasts threatening to spill out the top. She walked seductively to the bed and placed one foot between his legs. She pulled the skirt of her dress up until the top of her stocking was exposed at the thigh, then slowly pulled it down and off her foot. She let him look at the long, shapely leg before repeating the action with the other leg, her foot nearly close enough to brush his cock through his pants. Elizabeth gave a growl and then walked slowly away, peeking at him from over her shoulder before slipping out of her dress and petticoat.

Elizabeth held the dress against the front of her body as she turned around, folding it with agonizing care before placing it on top of his traveling pack. She stood before him completely naked. Her beautiful pale skin was framed by her dark hair and seemed to glow in the lamplight. Her large chest was balanced out by the incredible curves of her hourglass figure.

"Well?" She asked expectantly, her hips cocked to one side. "Do you like?"

"Fuck." was all Marcus could give in answer.

"Looks like I'm going into danger bare." She winked at him as she undid his belt and untied his pants. She pulled out his hard cock and pushed it flat against his stomach, looking into his eyes as she licked him slowly from base to head. She did it once more, this time taking his cockhead into her mouth when she reached it. She slowly bobbed her head up and down, her tongue stroking him as she did. Her blue-green eyes were locked on his as she sucked him, bewitching him in a way he didn't think was sorcerous.

She took his cock out of her with a pop and pulled his pants completely off of him. He peeled his shirt off as she climbed his body. She straddled his waist as she kissed him. He reached up to cup her full breasts with both hands.

"A man who likes big tits, what a surprise!" She said playfully.

"I don't see a chest this nice very often." He admitted sheepishly.

"We might change that." She was grinding herself against his cock as she spoke.

He moaned. "I want to taste you."

"So who's stopping you?"

He quickly flipped her onto her back, leaning down to kiss her breasts before trailing kisses down her stomach until he was between her legs. He spread her thighs gently apart, kissing both of them before licking slowly between her lips from bottom to top.

She groaned. "You're such a tease, give it to me already!"

He spread her lips with his fingers and began to lick her more earnestly. When his tongue reached her clit he began to circle it. She moaned and grabbed his hair with both hands, pulling his mouth against her. He took her clit into his mouth and rubbed his tongue back and forth over it.

"Mmm, just like that," she breathed, spreading her legs wider.

He continued to lick her as her breathing quickened. She began to buck her hips against his mouth, her moans becoming screams as she stiffened in orgasm.

She released hold of his hair and let her head fall back on the pillow. "Good boy."

He climbed on top of her and placed his cock at her entrance. She pulled his chin up until he was looking at her eyes.

"I want you to look at me when you put it in."

He grinned and slowly pushed forward, watching her mouth move as he entered her. He squeezed her hips with both hands and began to thrust into her hard. She moaned appreciatively and ran her hands over his muscles. He began to push his cock deeper, burying himself into her pussy with each push.

"Mmm, there you go. I'm not a doll, you can be a little rough with me."

He looked at her. She raised her eyebrows.

He turned her over and pushed her face roughly into the bed, taking her from behind fast and hard. She thrust back into him, her hips meeting his again and again. He pulled one hand back and smacked her ass.

"Harder!" She ordered, trying to lift her head but no match for his strength.

He brought his hand down again, a red hand print beginning to form on the pale skin of her ass.

"Is that all?" She moaned, grabbing the blanket with her hands.

He spanked her hard every few thrusts, alternating cheeks as they reddened. She moaned again.

"Take it!" He shouted.

"Fuck me, you son of a bitch!"

He grabbed a fistful of her hair and pulled her up until her back was pressed against his chest. He kissed and she bit his lip hard. He grimaced and she smiled at him triumphantly. He reached around to rub her clit and she closed her eyes and screamed.

"Cum on my dick, witch!"

She thrust back into him hard then convulsed, waves of orgasm washing over her body. She leaned back against him as she continued to pound into her, moaning with every thrust. He sped up, thrusting rapidly before pulling out, ropes of cum covering the round globes of her ass.

They both sank exhausted on the bed.

She leaned over and kissed him. "If I knew you could fuck like that, I would have seduced you a while ago."

He laughed. "Just like that?"

She smiled and rolled her eyes. "Oh yeah, because you put up such a fight."

He grabbed a handkerchief and cleaned her off.

"Thank you."

"Of course." He wrapped his arm around her and pulled her back against his chest.

"You'd better be getting ready to take me from behind again," she grumbled. "I don't cuddle."

"Don't fight it," he said, burying his face in her hair and resting a hand on her breast.

"Bastard." She mumbled, but held his hand in both of hers. "By the way, you have very large hands. I like that in a man."

"Thank you." He paused.

"You can't think of anything except that I have big tits, can you?"

"Nope." They both laughed.

"You could tell me I'm beautiful."

"You are beautiful."

"Thank you."

He pulled the blanket over both of them and they drifted off to sleep.

---

Don blinked sleepily as his wife shook him awake. "I've had the strangest dream."

"You should get ready." She leaned over and kissed him. "Love you, Don."

"Love you, Jamie."

The End

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