The Restless Gods - Chapter 3

Chapter 3: To Take and Give

"Why do they call this the Nightwood Forest?" asked Lynthia as she scanned the endless rows of trees. She rode behind Karyn and in front of Jatz, feeling a tinge of fear, but the presence of her lover and protector helped to calm her.  Karyn occasionally looked back to make sure Lynthia was alright, and the expression of concern in the warrior's icy blue eyes could only make Lynthia smile. 

The forest was eerily quiet; with only the footsteps of the party's beasts preventing total silence.

In response to her inquiry, Jatz reached out and snapped a twig from a nearby sapling and showed it to Lynthia. "Look at the wood." he instructed. 

Lynthia took the twig and examined it carefully.  She saw the wood was a dark black color throughout. "How can this be?" she asked.

Jatz shrugged his shoulders.  "I don't know." he admitted.  "But Nightwood is called Nightwood also because of its thick groves of trees.  In some places, the trees grow so tall and so thick, that it appears to be night even when the sun blazes overhead."

"I've already noticed that." said Lynthia warily. The shadows becoming deeper as they ventured farther into the forest.  "Are there any dangerous creatures in the Nightwood?"

"As far as I know, none." replied Jatz.  "But, there are stories."

"Such as?"

"Well, they say wild men roam the darkest corners of the forest, and there is only one path through the entire wood."

"You mean, no one has ever built another path?"

"No.  They say the workers lost half their workforce to build this one. People are afraid to travel it.  It's why your kingdom's growth is stunted.  No offense your highness." he apologized.

"None taken. And it's just Lynthia now." she corrected.

"Sorry... Lynthia.  But don't worry, those are merely stories.  Perhaps it was just the worker's fear of the dark that spawned such tales."

"Yes.  Maybe." she muttered nervously, her eyes peering warily at the darkness between the trees.

"Stay calm Lynthia." Karyn said in a soothing voice.  "I will protect you, no matter wha..."  Karyn suddenly paused and her gaze quickly diverted to the woods on the right.

"What is it Karyn?" Lynthia whispered, noticing her lover's sudden alertness.

"Something over there." whispered Karyn, nodding her head towards the woods while her hand slowly crept towards her sword.  Her blue eyes turned to watch the periphery, before she rotated her head to the right and gazed into the thick forest.  Lynthia and Jatz stood perfectly still, the sounds of their beating hearts and their mounts the only noise.

The twang of a bow and swish of an arrow shot from the thick trees, rushing at Karyn's head.  The warrior instinctively drew her sword and rose the blade, deflecting the arrow harmlessly.  She jumped from her mount and assumed a fighting stance with her sword held diagonally. 

Another arrow shot towards her, this time Karyn knocked it from the air with a quick swipe, A third arrow emerged from the trees and allowed Karyn to confirm the exact location of the attacks.  She dodged and flicked her sword, slicing the third arrow.

Using the reload delay, she quickly ran to a large tree in front of her.  Karyn vaulted when she came within a few feet of the tree, raised her blade above her head, and came down swiftly with the strength of both her arms. Karyn kicked the tree in mid-air to vault backwards, allowing her to land gracefully on her feet a short distance away.  She paused for a moment, her body quickly assuming a fighting stance. 

The sound of wood splintering and cracking filled the forest, escalating in volume until it became a loud breaking sound, and a large branch fell out of the tree.  A hooded man, who had been perched on that branch, fell with it.  The quiver of arrows on his back and the bow in his hand revealed his identity as their attacker.  The man cursed and pulled his hood back, revealing a thick head of straw-colored hair.

"Who are you?" Karyn demanded as she aimed her blade toward the man's throat.

"I am Flinton." the man introduced in a whisper, cautious not to strain his neck against the sharp sword.

"Who are you Flinton?  Why did you attack us?"

"I am merely a thief."

"Thieves. Can't trust them." Jatz said sarcastically.

"I am not a normal thief." Flinton retorted.  "I steal from only those who are greedy and rich, to give those who are less fortunate."

"Noble cause, but your methods are wrong." said Karyn.  "You are wasting your time anyway. We are not rich, nor greedy."

"Isn't that the Queen?" Flinton asked, pointing at Lynthia.

"Formerly." Lynthia corrected.  "I am a commoner now."

"Oh, then, you can understand my motivation.  I apologize severely.  I would never have done so had I known."

Karyn paused for a moment, pondering her next move.  Without a word, she quickly sheathed her blade and turned her back on the archer before walking to her waiting Mustel.

"You know, it is getting dark.  You really should camp for tonight." said Flinton.

"I can't tell, the forest has been dark since we entered." said Karyn as she grabbed her mount's reins.

"Believe me, I've been in this forest a long time.  At night, beasts come out."

Karyn turned around slowly.  "What kind of beasts?"

"I've never seen them, only heard them. And I feel their presence." said Flinton.  "You should camp and build a fire immediately. They loathe fire. They wouldn't get within a hundred feet of one."

Karyn looked up, and tried to look for any sign of the sky between the thick branches.  Not a trace of light was visible.

"based on long we've been riding, it must be getting dark." she admitted.  "I am tired as well.  Perhaps we should camp."

---

The four huddled around a blazing camp fire.  Flinton had proven himself to be quite a survivalist, and shared many useful tips with the others.  Lynthia found it fascinating, and admired how the fire made Flinton's straw-colored hair look golden.

"The fire is dying." Flinton noticed.  "Jatz, Lynthia, perhaps you two should go togther to gather more wood."

"Why should we?  What about the beasts out there?" Jatz complained.

"The beasts will not come near the fire. Just stay fairly close. If you can see the fire's glow, you are close enough."

Jatz sighed and reluctantly agreed, "Very well.  Come on Lynthia."  Jatz guided the queen-commoner into the forest.

"Here Karyn, drink this." Flinton offered, extending his flask to the warrior.

"Thank you." she accepted, and took a swig from the container.  The warm liquid washed down her throat, leaving a burning sensation.  She closed her eyes as she swallowed the last of it, the burning continued down to her belly.

"Karyn, are you alright?" Flinton asked with concern in his voice.

"I'm fine." she stuttered.  "I'm...just a little cold and tired."

"Oh, come closer to the fire then?"

"Very well." Karyn agreed, shuffling closer to the blaze and extending her hands to warm them. 

Flinton slowly inched closer towards Karyn and stared at her discretely. He admired the orange glow of the fire on her skin, giving her a radiance that he was arousing.

"Karyn.  Why are you traveling with a thief and a former queen?" Flinton asked.

"Jatz is only with us because we tolerate his presence.  Lynthia is with me."

Flinton paused for a moment, then raised his eyes as he realized what Karyn meant.  "You mean, you two lay together?"

"Yes. Is there an objection to that?" Karyn asked.

"Oh no.  Not at all. I'm just surprised. If I'm not crossing my bounds, have you ever had a male lover?"

"Flinton, you are crossing your bounds. Say no more of this."

"I can't help it Karyn. I want to at least tell you that... you're beautiful."

"Flinton, that's enough."

"Have you ever had a male lover before? Surely the answer is yes, or the world is blind." Flinton whispered, as he reached to her shoulder and slowly pulled aside her cloak.

"Don't touch me Flinton." Karyn demanded and shrugged her shoulder to remove his fingers.

"Please answer my question then."  Flinton slowly lowered his hand.

Karyn sighed.  "I've never had a real lover. My life has been devoted to training."

"You're a virgin then?"

"No. There was once a man. It was nothing. I was young, and he was handsome to me. I gave myself to him, but he left me and died in the war several years ago. Since then I poured my heart into my training."

"That man you mention, he was the most foolish man in existence." Flinton said, continuing to gaze lustfully at Karyn. "If I were he, I would never leave such an angelic beauty such as yours." The archer tentatively put a hand on Karyn's shoulder.

Karyn did not respond, and in did not flinch or shrug, allowing it to remain there.

"You're so beautiful Karyn, it's overwhelming." Flinton had moved closer and now whispered gently into Karyn's ear.

Karyn shuddered, the words rich and slow and thick and hypnotic and arousing to her brain. 

"I must see more of you. Please, don't deny me the rapture," Flinton pleaded slowly, his breath hot against Karyn's neck.

As Flinton began to pull aside her cloak, he did so in a gentle, caring way that comforted Karyn and she allowed him to continue. Flinton sucked in a breath as he saw the revealing leather corset around Karyn's torso, and the eagerness by which Karyn began to untie it.

"You have stolen my heart, thief." Karyn whispered, turning her lips to Flinton's jaw.  "No man has ever treated me with such affection. Every man I meet is after my body, and not my consent."

"Do I have your consent my lady?" Flinton whispered, inching his lips towards Karyn.

"Yes. I give myself to you." she replied before kissing him.

She pulled the leather laces that held the corset together and the top loosened enough for her to take it off.  Her round, full breasts glowed in the light of the fire, nipples erect from the cool air and the arousal she felt in her loins. 

The two joined in a slow, passionate kiss while they embraced each other tightly. Karyn's tongue snaked within Flinton's mouth while he caressed her bare back. Flinton's gasped for a breath then his tongue darted and collided with the warrior's tongue. The their tongues danced as their moans and gasps grew louder and more sensual.

Karyn slid out of her boots, trousers and loincloth.  Flinton removed his tunic and boots, along with the various pieces of armor he wore on his body.  Karyn knelt between Flinton's spread legs and took his cock in both her hands, rubbing it gently before licking the bulbous head.  Flinton leaned back and groaned with arousal, placing his hands on Karyn's head and stroking her auburn hair. The naked warrior took the tip of his hardened cock between her lips and hungrily began sucking, causing Flinton to groan louder and clench her hair tightly.

Karyn moaned around the hard cock in her lips. Her tongue embraced the long shaft inside her hot mouth while she caressed Flinton's ballsack with her right hand. With a groan of release, Flinton's cock pulsed with climax, filling Karyn's mouth with his hot cream.  She swallowed hungrily, then greedily sucked as she felt his cock throb a second and third time to deposit another mouthful of cum. Excess cum dripped from her lips and dotted her heaving breasts, where she rubbed it into her skin and pinched her tight nipple.

Her crotch was already moist and hot with arousal. The warrior woman silently freed his wet cock from her mouth and pulled his hips to urge him to sit. She straddled Flinton's crotch, then took his engorged cock into her right hand.  Karyn guided the hot head of his manhood into her moist purse, then lowered her ass, swallowing the shaft deep into her tunnel. Flinton and Karyn groaned softly, their hips beginning to pump in unison.  Flinton reached up to squeeze Karyn's breasts.  Karyn smiled and closed her eyes in pleasure, placing her hands over Flinton's as he pinched her erect nipples. The naked warrior groaned deeply as she began rocking her hips faster and harder, feeling Flinton's shaft filling her.

"Harder! Damn you harder!!!" demanded Karyn while her ass cheeks clenched.

Flinton increased the strength of his thrusts, shoving his cock as deeply as he could into Karyn's pussy. She gasped for air, her body felt on fire as perspiration greased her bouncing breasts in his hands. Her erotic undulations matched the random, intense movements of the nearby fire.  Flinton pulled and sucked wantonly on her heaving breasts, licking the sweat from her flesh.  Karyn writhed against Flinton, her ass grinding erotically while she felt his tool further probing her depths.  Flinton ran his hands over Karyn's arching back and then clutched her tight buttocks, squeezing and pulling her hips against his pumping crotch, grinding her mound of pubic hair against his pelvis.

The lovers writhed together, their minds lost in a sea of bliss, until Flinton grunted and his cock throbbed and erupted within Karyn. She felt his cock throb, followed by the wet lubrication of his cum within and she immediately felt her own climax. She shuddered and screamed softly and the muscles in her vagina clamped around his shaft as warm honey dribbled from their union. 

She pressed her palms against Flinton's chest for support as she shuddered with ecstasy, letting the pleasure flow through every muscle.  Karyn slowly lowered herself against Flinton as her orgasm began to ebb, panting with her sweaty breasts against Flinton's sweaty chest.

---

Jatz grumbled as he picked up another loose branch and added it to the growing pile he held under his arm.  Lynthia was several yards away and carried a bushel in her fist, her eyes scanning the dark forest floor for more.

"Don't venture too far from me Lynthia." Jatz called out.

"What do you care Jatz?  As I recall just yesterday you were merely after my money." Lynthia spat as she scooped up another branch.

Jatz sighed.  "I apologized and returned the money.  Isn't that enough for redemption?"

"I simply don't trust thieves Jatz.  Never have. My parents were poor and we lived in constant fear of thieves in our town.  Much of my childhood I spent trembling in fear, too scared to go outside even in daylight."

"Well, I don't steal for pleasure if that means anything to you.  I view it as a job.  Nothing more.  Stealing is just a way of procuring income for myself."

"I've always been taught to have at least a decent set of morals Jatz.  Even if I needed income so badly I would not stoop so low as to steal."

"I have decent enough morals." quipped Jatz as he turned towards a large branch on the ground.

Lynthia scoffed at Jatz's remark and paid him no more attention.  She bent down to pick up another branch when a pair of strong hands grabbed her from behind.  One scooped her up by the waist while another covered her mouth.  Lynthia flailed within her captor's grip, and tried to scream, only to be muffled from the hand over her lips. 

Jatz turned and saw Lynthia in the grasp of a large man.  He dropped his sticks and quickly drew his knife to charge. Then he felt an immense force against the back of his head. He quickly spun and the darkness of the forest intensified, as if swallowing his body.  He saw a few other shadowy figures standing around him, their features indistinguishable from each other.  He spun in a desperate attempt to find Lynthia, but his knees buckled and the last thing he saw was the blunt end of a long pole being swung in his direction.

---

Karyn moaned as she laid on top of Flinton, running her hand over his bare arm.  She listened to the gentle silence that soothed her ears and the warmth that came from both the fire and Flinton's body.

Suddenly the forest's serenity was shattered as loud footsteps and screams echoed through the air.  Karyn sat up and reached for her sword. Three black Mustels burst from the thick forest and quickly dashed past the campfire.  In the darkness, Karyn could not see the riders, but noticed one of them carried a body strung over the saddle.

"HELP!!  KARYN!!  JATZ!!" Lynthia screamed as she was held tightly by the rider.

"LYNTHIA!!" Karyn screamed as she began to run after the Mustels.  But the animals were far too swift, and Karyn was barefoot and no match for their speed. They faded into the darkness.

Karyn swung her sword angrily at a nearby tree, screaming in frustration.  The blade dug deeply into the wood and Karyn kicked the tree with her bare foot, causing the tree to fall over.  She hacked several more trees in anger, until finally her rage began to subside and she walked back to camp.

---

Jatz staggered out of the dark forest, grabbing onto trees to keep his balance and to guide him back to the camp.  He saw Karyn refastened her cloak when she spotted Jatz and ran up to him, accosting him immediately.  "What happened?!  Who were those people?!!"

"They looked like desert bandits to me." said Jatz, rubbing the lump on the back of his head.  "The Nibi desert isn't far from here.  And there is a fairly large city in the center.  So, I would guess she is being taken there."

"For what?!"

Jatz paused, unsure if it was wise to divulge his suspicion.  Karyn's piercing stare convinced him to speak.  "I would suspect that a young, pretty girl like her, would be sold into a harem."

Karyn did not reply immediately, but Jatz deduced her feelings as he saw her fist clench with restrained anger.  "I'm going to rescue her." Karyn pledged.

"Where's Flinton?" asked Jatz as he noticed the blond archer was missing.

"He went to answer the call of nature." Karyn replied through gritted teeth.  "Jatz, light a torch.  We move out immediately."

"But sunrise is hours away!  We would be wandering in darkness!"

"Then in darkness we shall wander." Karyn replied with spite in her voice.

---

Deep within the forest, two men argued between themselves.  They kept their voices low to avoid being overheard, but they were still able to convey the full strength of their emotions.

"Why did you strike?" Flinton asked the man in long robes.

"Why were you seducing the woman?" sneered the man.

"I was merely gaining her trust!" replied Flinton defensively.  "I was going to check their bags while they slept in case they were hiding coin!"

"They have no coin to steal, I can tell." the man replied.  "I decided the blond girl will be bounty enough."

"Marthal!  We only steal coin!" Flinton snapped, gripping the man's arm.

"The girl is worth coin." Marthal sneered, his face completely vacant of fear.

"Are you going to ransom her?  Is that it?!"

"Ransom?  No.  The Nibi town harems pay much higher."

Flinton paused, his fists clenching tighter around Marthal's robes, making the thief nervous.  Flinton let go and casually turned around, only to quickly pivot and punch Marthal in the face.

"You would sell innocent young women to be defiled in a desert whorehouse?!" spat Flinton as he watched Marthal roll on the ground.  Flinton noticed the a coinc pouch hanging off the man's belt.  He snatched it in a furious swipe and kicked Marthal once in the stomach before he announced, "I quit."

---

"Flinton!" Karyn exclaimed as the archer came out of the darkness.  "We are departing now."

"The Nibi desert right?"

"Yes, how did you..."

"I recognize the bandits attire." Flinton quickly replied.  "I'm coming with you."

"I was hoping you would."  Karyn smiled.  "We could use all the help we can get.  Thank you Flinton, you're a noble individual."

"Thank you Karyn." Flinton said, accepting her compliment warily.

Flinton mounted Lynthia's Mustel and the trio were off.  As the three ventured quickly into the darkness, Jatz rode his Run Lizard alongside Flinton.

"Flinton?  May I ask you something?" Jatz asked.

"Yes.  Go ahead."

"I have ears, and I have eyes.  Were you and Karyn doing what I think you were doing?"

Flinton glared at him quickly before forcing his Mustel to run faster, causing Jatz to lag behind him slightly.  Jatz chose not to repeat his inquiry, satisfied that Flinton's rebuff confirmed his suspicions.  Further conversation between the trio was nonexistent throughout the ride through the Nightwood forest.

---

A few hours later

"Master Xarthul!" a soldier called out, his voice echoing through Nightwood's dense trees.

Xarthul turned in the direction of the voice and saw a soldier emerge from a thick underbrush, towing a gawky man in robes.

"Tell him what you know." the soldier demanded, pointing his sword at the man, who trembled heavily with fear.

"The Nibi desert!" he yelped quickly.  "That's all I know I swear!  We kidnapped the girl and they are taking her to Nibi!"

"When was this?" Xarthul asked calmly, staring pointedly at the man.

"A few hours ago!" he blurted, his terror increasing as he caught sight of Xarthul's fearsome appearance and expression.

Xarthul's frown almost turned into a smirk, and then he turned away.  He calmly raised his right hand and the soldier slit the sniveling man's throat without hesitation.  Xarthul pointed in a commanding gesture and two other soldiers carried the body in that direction, deeper into the darkness.

"Karna." Xarthul said.

Upon hearing her name, a dark-haired woman with skin as pale as Xarthul stepped forward alongside him and placed her slender arms around his broad shoulders.  Black leather tightly hugged her body, adorned with buckles and sheathed daggers, making her look as dangerous as she was alluring. 

She licked her red lips and purred as she rubbed Xarthul's chest through his armor. "Yes my lord?"

"Prepare to cross the desert." Xarthul said before kissing her gently on the lips.  "I'll have my revenge soon."

Suddenly the trees began to part with a loud cracking, and leaves flew through the air like snow.  Xarthul and Karna looked up from their kiss and saw a massive, dark beast several feet in front of them.  The creature's eyes glowed with an eerie yellow light that glinted off its drool-covered fangs. 

Xarthul's soldiers stared at it silently, their weapons slack and their bodies frozen with fear.  Xarthul and Karna stood unfazed by the beast's intimidating presence.  Xarthul gently stepped away from Karna and walked a few steps closer to the monster. The monster snarled at Xarthul as he came closer.  Xarthul continued to advance on it.  The monster then struck, lashing out with his massive jaws over Xarthul's head.  Xarthul quickly reached up and grabbed the monster by its two largest canine teeth, nullifying the force of the monster's attack.  Xarthul grunted slightly, his feet digging into the ground to resist the monster's strength. 

Finally, with a loud crack, Xarthul snapped the monster's teeth off, leaving his once prominent canines nothing but stumps.  The monster howled in pain, reeling back with agony, which was when Xarthul took the sharp end of one of the broken teeth and jabbed it into the monster's leg.  The monster howled again, this time sounding more like a whimpering dog rather than the ferocious monster it was.  It quickly turned around and ran back into the darkness.

Xarthul sighed and tossed away the remaining fang.  Karna slid up from behind Xarthul and embraced him by the waist.

"You were magnificent my lord." Karna purred, placing a hand on Xarthul's cheek.

Xarthul kissed Karna gently on the hand and turned slightly to face her.  "No more than usual." he said.

Continued in Chapter 4

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