Chapter 8: Deadly Rath
From the words of Karyn,
We have been wandering aimlessly for days, my amulet providing nothing but a vague direction that we hope will lead us to the discovery of our next altar. It is extremely frustrating to see the spirits of my party falter while I seem to be unwavering in my quest. These fools.
No. Why did I write that? Why do I write these thoughts down? I fear I may be losing my mind. At times I do not know what to think anymore. Sometimes I blame my master for not training me properly in intellectual matters. Did he wish me to be nothing but a brainless female brute?
No. I am sure he did not intend that. It is not a fault of his. Oh Great Gods. I have heard reports, earthquakes are devastating the eastern side, and apparently the Mountain of Velios has erupted for the first time in centuries. My quest is certainly dragging on too long.
And yet, while the world depends on the success of my quest. Other factors are making this a truly taxing ordeal. My heart is feeling conflicted. Lynthia. I wish I could have treated her better. I know now that what I did to her earlier was cruel. I wish I knew affairs of the heart better. My master did not seem willing to teach me such things. Could it be a painful matter for himself?
Last night, Flinton and I made love as we often do. Yet as I felt him spend inside me, there was something... different about the sensation. Physically it felt similar, but there was something emotionally inconsistent. I cannot place it yet. It is strange that the sensations of the pleasures of the flesh are changing, just as the sensations when activating the beacons are also changing, and becoming even greater than the mere pleasures the flesh can offer.
Oh gods, I just thought again of poor Lynthia. And yet I can only blame myself. I think back to my actions, my choice to couple with Slithe. Why was I so willing to do so? Is my quest to seek the restless gods so driven I would whore myself to anyone in the chance of reaching the next beacon? I have been raised with the belief that my body is beautiful, and thus, can be used as an advantage. I have seduced men quite easily in the past when rescuing captives or finding information, but to willfully allow a Lizaroid to fuck inside me again while I lay bound in chains?
Something about Slithe's beliefs eat at my soul. His people believe in only one God. And I know there are other religions that believe such things as well. My quest would have some believe that there are many Gods anf Goddesses. It is frightening to believe that once this quest is finished, I may know the truth. And yet, who will believe me? And were we ever meant to know? Only one thing is certain to me, and that something is beyond us.
Each time I activate a new beacon, the sensation changes. At first it was nothing, just a brilliant light. But lately it is as if the light has been touching me. Caressing me. Gods help me I think it is becoming arousing. When the light illuminates my body, I am overcome with this incredible heat. It ignites my skin, my nipples, and dare I say it, my womanhood.
And yet, something else is strange. I cannot begin to describe it in words... however a modest definition could be that everything around me appears with a different sort of clarity.
"Karyn. We are ready to embark now." said Jatz as he walked up from behind the warrior. The thief had the appearance of a ragged homeless man. Days of wandering in the outdoors for the city raised rogue were not beneficial to his hygiene. His hair had grown out and his stubble looked like carpet across his face.
"Oh, then follow me." Karyn said as she packed her journal and quill into the satchel on her mustel.
"What were you writing?" the thief inquired.
"Just expressing my thoughts." Karyn replied as she mounted her beast.
"Ah yes." Jatz acknowledged. "I sometimes find that the best way to understand yourself."
"I could use any understanding I can attain." Karyn muttered under her breath.
The party crossed an enormous valley that spread barren land across their vision as far as they could see. The path they traveled on was nothing but dusty line that crossed the grass. Years of heavy travel had packed the soil so tight even nature could not break through it. Eventually an enormous gathering of buildings was visible over the horizon. The party continued to approach, and found themselves in awe as they comprehended the sheer size of the structures before them. Crowds of people scattered through the city like ants, paying the newcomers little to no attention as they rode in on their beasts. Slithe the Lozaroid wore an extra baggy hood and cloak, so that no part of his reptilian skin was displayed. He walked by the side of Lynthia's Mustel, and depended on her guidance to navigate through the crowds.
"What city is this?" Karyn asked, her head continually turning and scanning the gigantic stone buildings.
"I am not sure." said Jatz. "Certainly is enormous."
Karyn suddenly stiffened as she felt the amulet vibrate against her bosom. She smiled with great relief as the next beacon was finally within reach, and began following its direction without a word to her party. She dismounted her Mustel and guided it by the reins as the congestion of people became too heavy for riding. The main street led them to a massive coliseum. It was as if a giant had left an ornate bowl in the middle of the city, the site was breathtaking and nothing like Karyn had ever seen, even in books. For a moment she merely stared in awe at the size and beautiful architecture, when the amulet's vibration grabbed her attention again.
"Karyn! Karyn!" Flinton called out as he dove through the crowd, pushing and shoving aside people that were in his way. "Ah! There you are!" he jovially cried out as he saw Karyn facing a barred door.
"What are you doing?" the archer asked his lover, embracing her waist from behind.
"I must get in here." Karyn replied, running her hands over the smooth cold metal.
"I do not think it would be wise to break in." Flinton advised. "A city this large probably has a very efficient law enforcement system. And we are outsiders. No doubt we are being watched as we speak by city ruler."
"Then I shall be happy to personally answer any questions he may have about us." Karyn said as she walked away from Flinton's embrace and marched towards an enormous castle looming on the far end of town.
The castle in this city was quite different from the Castle Delak where Karyn had met Lynthia. This one seemed to be more of a complex, made of multiple buildings rather than the single structure. An open-aired building stood in the centre, with a roof supported by many marble pillars and flanked by still water pools on each side.
As Karyn walked down the path marked by long rows of flower bushes, she was noticed by two guards who stood vigil in front of the central structure. Both of them raised their spears and pointed them at Karyn, who raised her hands in a peaceful gesture.
"State your business or begone!" the guard on Karyn's right barked at her.
"I am Karyn." she introduced. "I seek an audience with the ruler of this city."
"And the purpose? King Tartaff is a busy man."
Karyn rolled her eyes and sighed. "I have heard that excuse many times, and usually such rulers are stuffing their faces with fine cuisine or fucking their harem girls."
The guard on the left frowned and swung his spear at Karyn's torso. She sidestepped out of the way and performed a roundhouse kick, sending the guard into the shallow pool on her left. The other guard swiped at Karyn with his spear, but Karyn grabbed thespear and used it to push him into the pool on her right.
Karyn then drew her sword out and showed the long blade to the guards, who knelt in the shallow water with no weapons in hand. "Do not worry, I do not wish to harm your king. I just wish his audience." Karyn seethed as she walked up the steps of the structure.
Karyn saw the king immediately. He lounged on an ornate couch, surrounded by several beautiful young women. Two lounged against him or and others stood beside holding food trays. They were all almost naked, wearing nothing more than wisps of sheer fabric wrapped over their breasts and hips. One of them watched Karyn as she approached and brought it to the king's attention.
"Who are you?" the king asked between bites of a large piece of meat.
"I am Karyn." she replied, trying her best to not scowl at the sight of the king. An obese old man with a receding hairline, he chewed on the meat without manners. His mouth opened during chewing to reveal the partially eaten food in his mouth, and grease dripped down his chin to add to the large stain on his red tunic.
The king gazed at Karyn from head to toe, his mouth curving in a covetous smile. "You will be another pleasure item for my harem."
"I assure you I will not." Karyn contradicted. "I am here because I wish to gain access to your arena."
"The arena? You?!" the king laughed. "If you wish to see our arena, you must fight my champion in combat." the fat king replied with a hearty laugh.
"What is it you find so amusing?" Karyn asked coldly.
"The idea of a woman beating Rath is simply unfathomable!" the king replied, breaking into a long guffaw afterwards.
"Karyn , what will you do?" Teneila asked.
"Train." Karyn replied. "The king has given us accommodations. There is a training room included so I will take advantage of it."
Karyn led her party to the accommodations the king had provided for them. It was a spacious, lavishly decorated single story building made out of marble. Dark red drapes hung by the large windows while paintings and rugs provided decoration, almost covering the walls completely. The main room led to several small hallways where bedrooms laid for each of the party members, as well as a large set of double doors off to one side.
"You may all rest. The king has said that each of the rooms has a private bath, bed, and stocked with fine fruit." Karyn said.
"Oh yes!" Jatz cheered as he bounded to the nearest bedroom, slamming the door behind him enthusiastically.
"Filthy thief." Flinton muttered as the scent of Jatz's body odor faded from the air.
"I will train, and will enter the next event in one week. You will not see me very much." Karyn explained as she opened the double doors, revealing a large room full of mannequins, weights, targets, and other various items to improve a warrior's skill.
"I thinksss it bestsss if yousss had a sparring partnersss." Slithe suggested, the Lizaroid was suddenly behind Karyn.
Karyn turned with slight surprise and nodded in agreement. "I shall begin with hand to hand combat." she said, entered the training room and dropped her cloak.
Slithe followed and removed his cloak and struck his body into a fighting pose, one that looked bizarre by human standards. It resembled a pouncing stance for a small cat. Karyn on the other hand, merely bent her knees and relaxed her hands into fists, letting them settle at each side of her torso.
Slithe and Karyn stared at each other for a moment, before exchanging slight nods to each other as a signal to begin. Slithe hissed loudly and ran at Karyn, his arms upraised with his claws extended. Karyn leaped backwards with a series of agile leaps as Slithe raked at her with his fingers, hitting nothing but the air. Slithe then altered his attack by performing a series of roundhouse kicks, the Lizaroid spinning like a tornado. This required a different set of countermeasures form Karyn, who performed a single low sweep with her leg. Her move caught the foot of the Lizaroid before he could leap. Slithe lost his balance and nearly came down, but was able to regain enough of his footing that he paused for only a second. He performed one more roundhouse, this time connecting Karyn in the shoulder.
The warrior fell backward, but used her hands to spring herself sideways as she fell, narrow dodging another attack by Slithe who expected to hit her as she landed. Karyn nailed Slithe on his sternum with her clenched fist, sending him staggering backward. Karyn followed up with a strong roundhouse of her own, hitting Slithe in the head. The Lizaroid staggered backward a few more steps, as Karyn prepared for another blow. Slithe had feigned weakness however, and dropped to the ground quickly as Karyn jump kicked the air where his head was a moment before. Slithe gripped Karyn's ankle and pulled her to the ground, and she landed flat on her back with a loud thud.
Karyn wheezed as the air was knocked out of her, the Lizaroid's strength and skill in that takedown was commendable.
"Shall we continue?" Slithe asked, his breath heavy.
"Yes." Karyn replied as she got to her feet.
Lynthia peeked into the fighting room and watched with awe as they fought. To her, she was watching an elegant dance, a display of power instead of grace. Karyn dodged and took Slithe's blows while returning blows of equal power back at the Lizaroid. Lynthia could only watch them with a sense of longing.
"From what I have heard, absolutely everyone from the castle will be at the fight." said a shifty-eyed card player over the noise that permeated the tavern air.
Flinton looked up from his hand, his eyes piqued with interest. "Everyone?"
"Slithe?" Lynthia asked the lizaroid as he hovered over a bowl of food. Karyn was in the training room by herself while Slithe took a break.
"Yesss Lynthia?" he greeted.
"I am...wondering..." she hesitated.
"Lynthiasss. Mating seasonsss is over, andsss I wouldsss never harmsss you. Your fearsss may gosss."
"Oh, Slithe I wish for you to train me in the use of this blade you gifted me." Lynthia sputtered out quickly.
"Yesss." Slithe said without pause. "A simple requestsss."
"Oh? Thank you Slithe!" Lynthia exclaimed.
"I thinksss it wouldsss be bestsss to do thisss after we leavesss here." Slithe said. "Iss am Karynsss sparring partnersss for tournamentsss, and wesss must keepsss my lizaroidsss a secretsss. Humansss would besss afraid of messss or worsesss."
"I understand. I look forward to the training." Lynthia said excitedly.
"Whysss do yousss wish to usesss the knifesss?"
Lynthia paused awkwardly after the Lizaroid's question. "Slithe, this journey has exposed me to a darker world than I was used to. For my weakness, it took my virginity and my innocence." she explained. "I swore I would no longer be a victim. I want to be strong, like...like..."
"Karynsss?" Slithe asked, finishing Lynthia's sentence.
"Yes." she replied before walking away.
'Awesome,' was a word Karyn rarely used, but it was the only word she could think of to describe the sights that came into her view. She just emerged from the tunnel at the arena, the sun glared in her eyes for a moment, only to reveal an endless sea of people surrounding her on all sides. She spun around to survey the structure and see people cheering from every direction she looked.
"RATH! RATH! RATH!!" the crowd chanted repeatedly.
Trumpets blared beneath the crowd's adulations and the masses screamed as heavy gates opened at the far end of the arena. Karyn could see a large man emerge from the shadows. His skin was oiled and glistened bronze in the sunlight. Every step seemed to flex his many muscles. A mane of long dark hair adorned his head, and a confident look was across his face. He gazed briefly at Karyn and his eyes betrayed a glare of lust, to which Karyn merely scoffed.
Rath stepped up to Karyn and walked around her, admiring her curvy figure. "You are an extremely beautiful combatant." he remarked. "If you lose and survive, you may still have the honor of being my slave."
Without a word, she grabbed a shield from a nearby weapons rack and replied, "Then if I lose, I hope you kill me."
Karyn picked up a pair of metal gauntlets that covered her forearms, and a metal breastplate. She tied her long auburn locks back in a ponytail with a black cord.
Rath walked over back his end of the arena where he picked up a heavy battle axe. A pair of handlers offered him pieces of body armor but he refused them. He confidently strode to the center of the stadium where Karyn awaited. The king made a long speech, announcing the purpose of this battle but neither of the combatants were listening to him. Their eyes remained locked in a glare and their bodies tensed and ready for action in a split second. Finally, the king ended boasting about his power and leadership before yelling, "BEGIN!"
Rath growled as he swung his ax at Karyn. Karyn was amazed at the speed the large man had, and was barely able to raise her shield in time to block him. Karyn staggered backward from the mighty force and nearly fell to the ground. Rath grunted as he swung again, his blade once again meeting her shield with a loud clang and a flurry of sparks. Already Karyn's arm began to feel heavy from shock of two heavy blows, and her balance was compromised. As Rath swung a third time, Karyn rolled to the side, letting the barbarian smack his ax into the ground. Karyn turned and swiped at him with her sword, but Rath had raised his ax in time and blocked her swing, sparks flying as the two weapons collided. She swung three more times in quick succession, but Rath skillfully blocked each one. The clangs of the weapon's collisions were like taunts to the young warrior, causing her to growl angrily with each successive attack. Rath smiled somewhat at the warrior's emotions and began his offensive.
'This brute has strength as well as speed.' Karyn realized to herself. She stepped backward, parrying Rath's blows with her sword. The barbarian had Karyn on the defensive, causing the crowd to roar with triumph for their champion.
The royal treasure room was empty as most of the guards had secretly abandoned their posts to see the fight. A lone guard stared longingly through the window at the nearby arena, the crowd cheers were calling him, beckoning him to come see the fight. A noise from the exit however, was able to grab his attention. He turned and saw a silouhette of a man carrying a heavy sack and exiting the treasure room.
"Cease your actions thief!" the guard yelled out. The figure's response was a pinging sound. A split second later, the guard felt a sharp, sharp pain in his torso. He wheezed and fell to the ground, which was when he saw it was an arrow. He tried to call out for help, but the necessary energy had already left him.
Karyn rolled sway from Rath's latest attack. She turned back to see the barbarian's ax coming down at her head. The warrior dodged the nearly fatal blow, but the sharp edge of the ax managed to scratch her elbow. She gasped in pain and in a reflex action of anger, swung her sword towards Rath. Rath moved out of the way but her blade sliced into the wooden handle of his ax, causing just enough damage that the heavy head broke off, leaving Rath holding a bare handle.
The crowd roared with excitement as Rath stood dumbfounded, holding a useless weapon in his hand. Karyn stepped away from the barbarian, her elbow bleeding while her other arm held her sword ready. She waited as Rath threw away his worthless handle and charged at Karyn. The warrior ducked under Rath's first strike, a high punch; followed by a lower one with his other hand. Karyn catapulted herself into Rath's stomach, knocking the barbarian off balance. Karyn swung with her shield, hitting the barbarian in the side and eliciting a grunt of pain from him. She took one swing with her sword but Rath had enough energy to dodge it. As Karyn recovered from the last sword swipe, Rath attempted to grab Karyn's arm and wrestle her sword away. Karyn saw it coming however, and jumped up in the air, kicking at Rath's head with her right foot. Her toes connected with Rath's chin, sending spittle and a tooth flying to the sand, as well as the barbarian himself.
A servant ran up to the king and whispered into his ear. The king's expression of jubilation from watching Rath fight was suddenly drained from his face as the servant told him the news.
"Cease the fight!!" he screamed hoarsely, his cheeks flushed red as he yelled.
Everyone in the stands became hushed, the look on their king furious and terrifying. Veins popped from his face and his breathing was heavy and harsh. "Contain the bitch!" he commanded. Immediately a battalion of guards burst into the arena, their shields and swords drawn and ready. Rath backed away as they encircled Karyn, who stared back at the king with confusion.
"I see now your trick! Your intended to distract us while a member of your party loot our treasure room!" the king shouted.
"What?! That is not true!!" Karyn countered.
"I have a dead guard that proves otherwise!" the king replied venomously. "You will be punished, you treacherous bitch! You are to be executed by Rath in front of the arena audience tomorrow."
Karyn merely glared back at him, her stare as icy as the shade of her eyes.
As the guards guided Karyn to the far gates, the king told his assistant, "Go to the guest rooms and arrest her party."
"Go to the guest rooms and arrest her party." Teneila said as she echoed the king's statement. From the far side of the arena, her magic senses allowed her to hear the king.
"Then I think we should camp outside town for now." Jatz suggested hastily as he nervously scanned the arena for approaching guards.
"Theysss do notsss know whatsss we look likesss." said Slithe, his face bowed down and hidden by a thick hood. "Wesss can sleepsss in a tavernsss on the other endsss of townsss."
"You seem to be forgetting Karyn?!" Lynthia snapped at them.
"We cannot break into the dungeon, it is impossible. Security for their damned will no doubt be extremely heavy. All we can do is wait until tomorrow." Jatz said regrettably. "At least then, there may be an opportunity."
"Where is Flinton?" Teneila asked when she noticed the archer was not sitting with them anymore.
"Did you hear? The woman that fought Rath today will be executed tomorrow." the card player smirked as he dealt.
Flinton let his cards collected in a pile, not bothering to pick them up. "Really?" he responded nonchalantly, although a tinge of concern was evident.
The following day the crowd was as enormous as it was for yesterday's fight, but their rowdiness was far greater. The arena was an explosion of hollering and barking as Karyn was taken out, marched along by soldiers surrounding her on all sides. Her hands were in heavy manacles in front of her while her neck was adorned with a thick metal collar. Each of the guards around her held a chain that was attached to the collar, making escape in any direction impossible. In the center of the arena Karyn could see Rath grinning excitedly, while in the distance she could see a rack being wheeled in.
The seconds seemed to pass like hours for Karyn. She saw the rack get set up, it was essentially a low dais with two narrow stone pillars on each side and an equally thin stone piece balancing on top. Her mind was so detached from her body due to the fuzziness in her head that she attributed to her minor injuries from yesterdays battle and to sleep, or lack thereof, in the cold dungeon. So distant was her thoughts that she didn't feel the amulet vibrate against her bosom until she stood directly on top of the dais. As the amulet's vibrations became stronger, Karyn scanned the area while Rath took Karyn's manacled arms and looped the chains through a hook on the top of the rack. As she felt her arms support her weight, she found it; there was a small round indentation on the rack's stone platform, right below her feet. The warrior tried to free herself but the chains were unyielding. Even after Rath removed the heavy collar she found her arms were completely bonded and her toes barely touched the ground.
Rath accepted a knife from a nearby soldier and strode casually up to Karyn, brandishing the blade proudly. "I think I shall start by cutting away a piece of your lovely face."
Flinton positioned himself on the highest level of the arena, where nothing but backsides faced him. He raised his bow, loaded it with a wide headed arrow, and took his aim carefully, knowing a slip-up would be fatal. He aimed for the chains that bound Karyn's wrists above her head. He waited a few moments, perfectly still; even as the crowd roared around him. Nothing in the world existed but him and his target. For Flinton, the right moment came, and he let go of his drawstring.
Karyn heard a sound of metal clashing with metal above her head, and suddenly she fell to her feet, her wrists no longer bound with chain. Before Rath had a chance to react, Karyn punched the barbarian in the mouth and followed with a swift kick to his midsection. She quickly turned back to the altar, took off her amulet and placed it in the small hole and turned it, and the ground shook as light burst from between the grooves in the platform.
The cheers of the crowd turned silent as the entire arena was consumed with a massive pillar of light, blinding everyone. Karyn fell to her hands and knees in the centre of the light, panting as sensations of pleasure ran up her body. Just as she had felt them before, they seemed to touch and fondle her soft flesh. The bruises and cuts on her body made her writhe with pain as they were relentlessly handled by unseen forces. Her loins throbbed with lust. Karyn undulated erotically, slipping her hands inside her pants and clutching her mound out of carnal desire. She strummed her clit with two fingers and wailed like a banshee as she orgasmed, cum splattering her palm and creating a wet spot within the crotch of her pants.
The light diminished before the pleasure subsided. The silent crowd saw Karyn lying on the platform, her body panting and one hand still thrust within her pants.
"Unbelievable! You have humiliated my champion!" the fat king exclaimed.
Karyn inhaled with exhaustion and stared up at him, a burning glare of anger in her icy blue eyes.
The fat king was flustered, and yelled out, "Subjects! My champion Rath has been defeated! Due this embarrassment at the hands of this woman, is to hereby to serve her!"
"I do not need this brute as a servant!" Karyn yelled.
"It is our tradition! That a humiliated warrior must serve the one who defeated him. Would you deny Rath the honor of this tradition?"
"And how would a pleasure item such as myself allow Rath to maintain his honor?" Karyn snapped.
The emperor paused, a look of confusion on his fat face.
Karyn could only smile and laugh slightly. "So, the mighty emperor is silenced by rules of tradition?"
"I...I am not!" the emperor hastily replied. "It is my decision that you will be free to go, and that Rath accompany you until such time as you feel he has fulfilled his honor."
Karyn scowled and turned towards the barbarian on the ground. She shouted, "I can think of one way he can fulfill his honor!"
Karyn quickly snatched Rath's dagger that lay in the sand. The auburn warrior stabbed Rath in his right shoulder, pushing the blade to the hilt.
Rath's scream echoed through the arena, silencing the crowd. The emperor stood with his mouth slack in surprise, the barbarian's scream continued as Karyn twisted the knife into his shoulder. Finally, after his scream was reduced to moaning, Karyn pulled out the blade and pushed the barbarian down with her foot.
"I think any man who is willing to face a woman's scorn has a degree of honor. That your defeated champion did not resist his new master shows some honor."
"This is outrageous!" the emperor gasped. He quickly turned to several men that flanked him on each side. "What do you say my advisors?"
"Accept Karyn's terms of honor. Rath could have attempted to push Karyn away, or avoid her blade. Instead he took it."
"I concur." said another man. "If he resisted, it would have been arrogance rather than honor. Honesty, is integral to honor."
Emperor Tartaff scowled, but the looks of agreement on the faces of his advisors convinced him otherwise. "Then, it is settled!" he yelled. "You and your entourage may leave unharmed!"
Karyn nodded with agreement and turned back to the platform. She quickly retrieved the amulet and saw to her satisfaction, a new jewel had been fused into the back. This one glowed slightly for a moment like the ember in a dying fire.
Karyn and her party entered their guest rooms after the battle. Karyn staggered inside, supported by Jatz and Teneila on each side.
"You fought magnificently." Flinton complimented from the center of the room.
Everyone looked up and saw the archer smiling at them.
He walked up to Karyn and took her into his arms, shooing Teneila and Jatz away. "Karyn, join me for a victory bath." said Flinton as he clutched Karyn by the small of her back.
Karyn stiffened as she suddenly felt a small vibration from the amulet on her bosom. One of sparkling gems reacted to Flinton's request, and his true intentions were telepathed to her mind.
Karyn stared blankly at Flinton for a moment before pushing the archer away. "Flinton, I would rather not."
"What? But..." Flinton stuttered with surprise.
"No." Karyn dismissed. "In fact, I think it would be best if we separated."
Flinton was dumbfounded, his mouth open slightly with shock. "What...what has prompted this Karyn?" he stuttered.
"You do not love me." Karyn replied coldly.
"What? That is a lie." Flinton responded, his heart racing as he spoke.
Another tingle went off in the warrior's brain. "No. What you have just said. That is a lie!" Karyn snapped. "Do not deny it. All this time I allowed you my body, but you cared nothing about me. I was just a sheath for your cock!"
"That...that is absurd..." Flinton stammered, beginning to lose his composure.
Her mind tingled yet again. "Stop it!" Karyn screamed. "Tell the truth Flinton! Do you love me or do you love my flesh?!"
Flinton looked down shamefully and sighed before replying, "No."
Karyn glared at him silently, her anger fuming. But the shame on his face and his lack of reaction prevented her wrath from boiling to the surface. "All this time..." she muttered. "I only see it now." She angrily stomped away, leaving Flinton alone in the room.
"I finally perform a heroic deed, and now I lose the maiden." he said to himself.
Teneila sat on the bed of her room, her eyes closed and her arms and legs folded. She chanted something. The words were incomprehensible to a non-mystic, as she tried to enter a deep meditative state once again. The memories of her last encounter in the etheric realm, when she was raped by the tentacled creature, burned in her mind. She had to know what or who it was. Part of her, even thrilled to experience the orgasm again.
Teneila once again floated as a naked spectre in a realm beyond sensory comprehension. She flew freely, unsure of where to search but frantic and impatient in her quest.
"You have denied your womanhood by taking up the mystic arts." a voice whispered. Its echo reverberating throughout the empty space.
"No...that...that is not true..." Teneila stuttered as she frantically looked around, trying to find the source of the voice.
Her body suddenly stopped, unable to move. Teneila grunted with effort as she tried to free herself from whatever confined her, but to no avail. Her arms and legs were slightly spread apart as she floated unmoving in the air.
"When was the last time you experienced pleasure?" the voice asked, its source now closer.
"I...I..." Teneila could feel an answer beginning to leave her lips but she fought to not divulge it.
"When was the last time you felt another touch you? A warm mouth kissing your lips?"
"Stop...stop it!" Teneila telled to the invisible force.
"When was the last time your womahood tightened around a man, begging him for more?"
"Stop!"
"When was the last time you screamed out with passion?"
The questions peppered her thoughts over and over, slowly filling her mind with desire.
Invisible probes suddenly touched Teneila, soft and gentle caressing. Her body was still unable to move. She felt these unseen force become hands running over her shoulders, breasts, stomach, and finally reaching between her legs to clutch her mound.
The magician moaned from the sensual caresses of the invisible tormentor. She felt her labia spread, yielding to unseen fingers. From behind, she felt another force touch her naked ass. This felt like a shaft shaped like a man's erect cock. It moved down and underneath, against her pussy, splayed open by the invisible fingers. The magician groaned with pleasure from the sensations; a heat radiated from her pelvis, a fire of lust that she felt in her chest.
Teneila could feel some of her control beginning to return, but she chose to remain within the clutches of the invisible hands. One of her nipples was pinched, and she watched the nub fondled and hardened. She bit her lip and moaned. She felt her legs regain some control once again, and she spread them apart farther, allowing the unseen hands full access to probe her womanhood.
Teneila arched her back and she found rested against the invisible form of a bulky man. She shivered as she felt the invisible cock sliding along her open labia and her clitoris swelled with arousal. The magician gasped as her torso convulsed and she felt herself orgasm. Etheric cum dribbled from her sex and coated the invisible fingers and shaft.
"Please...put it inside me..." Teneila begged. "...it has been too long."
She felt more invisible hands rove over her hips and belly, cupping her soft breasts and stroking her stiff nipples. She felt the unseen cock moving against her open sex. Teneila felt the hands on her breasts move down, over her hips and grab the insides of her thighs, pulling them further apart. Then the phantom cock pulled back and tilted before sliding up into her entrance.
Teneila gasped, her vaginal muscles wrapping the unseen member as she felt the phantom withdraw slightly and then thrust vigorously into her again. She rocked her hips backwards in tandem with the invisible thrusts. She grunted as she felt the etheric cock penetrate her to depths she had not been touched in years.
Teneila felt her body surrender to the pleasure. Her invisible lover supported her body, his cock continued thrusting in and out, and out and in. She felt the pressure on her back grow to envelope her neck, like a strong torso leaning against her. She could feel an invisible chin caress the side of her neck.
Tears of joy ran down her cheeks as she smiled and gasped. Teneila thrust her pelvis backwards harder and harder. The magician was grinding herself against the phantom. Her eyes were shut tightly but her vision filled with vibrant colors. Her fists clenched, and she groaned deeply as she climaxed, her hips quivered and ethereal cum trickled down her thighs.
While she was still in the throes of her own orgasm, the phantom stiffened and erupted inside her. Teneila's pussy filled with obscene heat. Her inner muscles contracted around the harden invisible cock inside her, milking it of its cream.
Her body shook again with intense pleasure waves and her mouth gaped with a long moan. "Gooooods!"
Teneila felt the invisible hands loosen and she floated alone, exhausted from the exertion and her body shuddered again with pleasure.
"Surrender to me..." the voice whispered while her mind was distracted with a sensual fog.
Teneila came so close to whispering yes, but her mind remembered she was in the etheric realm and the invisible lover was an unknown force. Something dark, something only her magic senses comprehended.
"No...nooo...NOOOOO!!!!" Teneila screamed defiance, shattering the ether around her.
She opened her eyes in reality and sensed the ether dissipating like smoke. She rubbed herself with one hand, clamping it between her thighs and she panted heavily. The tormentor was gone, but deep down, Teneila's lust was ignited.
"She has proven stronger than I anticipated." Xarthul admitted as Karna dabbed sweat off his forehead. "That can only be a good thing in the end. It only means for now, this will require personal participation."
The night sky had finally emerged, ending the turbulent day in the kingdom. Karyn strolled casually through the darkened streets, and ate generous bites out of the piece of meat she clutched in one hand. One of the local taverns had given it to her as a sort of tribute, but Karyn only took it to satisfy her hunger rather than an ego fortification. As she came close to finishing, a voice spoke out to her:
"Should you not eat more slowly?"
The warrior turned and saw Teneila moving up beside her. Karyn smiled slightly as she chewed, swallowing her mouthful before asking, "Why are you out? I thought you were asleep?"
"I could not sleep." Teneila admitted. "I had a strange dream."
"About what?" Karyn asked as she bit into the last piece of meat on the bone.
"Nothing I wish to share, just... questios about myself."
"Ahh...self-doubt." Karyn muttered. "No one is immune to that."
"I just feel that I may be denying myself aspects of life by focusing solely on my magician studies."
"Teneila, sometimes, it can be beneficial to be a human being." Karyn said as she swallowed with a loud gulp.
Teneila turned and smiled, and wiped a stain of grease off Karyn's cheek. "Thank you Karyn. I..." Teneila said warmly before a large, dark arm grabbed her from behind.
"Karyn!" Rath growled as he pressed a blade against Teneila's pale throat. The magician stiffened with fear as Rath held the knife's edge against her skin.
"What do you want Rath?!" Karyn demanded as she drew her sword and stood ready for battle.
"You have cost me dearly. Your idea of honor may be accepted by the king and his advisors, but not by me! Now I am seen as a defeated mockery given mercy from a woman!" The large barbarian spat his every word with intense anger and his muscles flexed noticeably.
Teneila flinched slightly as the barbarian's expressive body language caused the tip of the knife to press and create a very slight scratch on her neck. The magician gritted her teeth and closed her eyes, concentrating to ignore the spike of fear.
"I want you at my side as the whore you are. Do it, and I spare this wench's life." Rath stated with a malicious grin.
"Alright." Karyn replied as she resheathed her sword.
The barbarian's eyes widened with surprise at her sudden surrender.
"Let Teneila go, and your lusts will become my sole purpose in life."
Rath pushed Teneila away from himself. She stumbled and fell to one knee in the dusty street.
Karyn walked past her to join Rath. He reached out and pulled her hand. The pair turned and walked around the corner.
"Exactly what just happened?" Karyn asked as she helped Teneila stand, and watched Rath walk away but clutching what appeared to be an invisible hand beside him.
"Illusion." Teneila explained as she stood, rubbing her neck and looking at her fingers to see if there was blood. "A very, very taxing and difficult illusion. I can only fool one person at a time, which is why you could not see what I projected for him."
"Ok...then...why did the words, 'your lusts will become my sole purpose in life', echo through my head just before he dropped you." asked Karyn.
Teneila stared back at Karyn. "You...you heard that?!"
"I...I am not sure, as I said those words were inside my head."
"Karyn, this is quite serious,. First that incident with the men chasing us in the ballroom and your projection of force. Now this. Could it be you are learning magic each time you activate a beacon?"
"How could that be? I do not know any magic."
"Magic is believed to be a connection between yourself and higher powers. Perhaps you are developing a connection with the gods."
Karyn paused as she contemplated Teneila's words, and the memories of elevating pleasure from each becaon activation sprung to mind. "Perhaps more than just a connection." she replied.
"The emperor is asleep now." a guard announced as he peered his head into a door. Several men inside nodded with compliance before the guard slipped out and closed the door behind him.
"That fat rat, I question why we put him on the throne." muttered one of the advisors, who sat among his colleagues.
"Would you rather be in the public eye, and a target the instant someone dislikes our decisions?" another advisor asked.
"Enough my brothers. It was important we allow that woman to continue her quest. We have all heard the rumors. I did not believe it, but she seems to be making contact with the gods. If anyone can convince the deities to cease their campaign against us, it could be her."
The door to the meeting chamber suddenly opened again.
A guard peeked inside. "There has been a report, an earthquake has struck Kavada."
Everyone at the table lowered their shook their heads. "I only hope she succeeds quickly." one of them said.
Continued in Chapter 9
The Restless Gods - Chapter 8
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