The Skin Game - Chapter 10

Chapter 10 - High Adventure

The next day dawned cloudy and cool. The cool breeze from the North had turned into a chill wind and dark gray clouds were forming overhead. By the time breakfast was done distant thunder could be heard. As the wagons were forming up, Kaessi's wagon was again in back.

Vrendan stood at the back of the wagon to speak with the the half-elves once they had gotten aboard. "It's best you stay in the wagon today little slave, and perhaps you too your ladyship. This weather doesn't look good."

Jesera nodded, "I think your words are well spoken. We'll stay in the shelter of the wagon this day."

Vrendan nodded and walked away. The two girls curled up under a blanket and were soon fitfully dozing. It was a good day to sleep, and if the road had been smoother or the wagon suspension better, they would have. As it was, they drowsed, rarely speaking, or even moving from the their little nest of blankets among the boxes.

At lunch time they came out of the wagon just long enough to get some food and empty their bladders. A light rain was falling adding to the chill of the day. By the time they got back into the wagon Kaessi was shivering, and Jesera not far behind. Her sheer gown soaked through. She undressed and they began to casually kiss and caress. The wagons bumped along and their passion slowly began to build, until suddenly a roar of many voices and the thunk of crossbows firing interrupted their afternoon revere. The wagon jerked to a halt and the oxen began to bellow in pain. The both sprang to their feet at the rear of the wagon.

Rushing the small caravan from the North were dozens of orcs. Almost lost in their roar they could hear Vrendan, William and Hern shouting. Jesera jumped from the back of the wagon. She stood as a proud golden goddess in the wan grey light of the rainy day and began to chant. A crossbow bolt sizzled past her and she didn't even flinch. She flung her hands up and outward and a large golden ball of light shot outward.

When it met the onrushing orcs it exploded in a blast like the end of the world. Half a dozen orcs were incinerated, or tossed into the air to land roughly and lay unmoving.

As Jesera began another chant, Kaessi scrambled to the back of the wagon to look out. She could see that Jesera's spell had skewed the line. The orcs nearest them were down and few others were eager to rush their wagon. Vrendan and  the teamster twins, Hern, William and Izhak formed a pitiful line of defense as about forty orcs were rushing at the caravan.

The next to attack was Izhak. He hissed out one of his peculiar songs and gestured with an outstretched claw. She saw a pale smoky image of a snake fly from him and strike an onrushing orc. It struck him and wrapped around him. He fell to the ground and began to scream as the ghost snake began to squeeze the life from his body.

Then as one, both Hern and William darted forward to meet the charging orcs. They were like harvesters of death. William's great two handed sword swept out and split one orc in half at the waist, then with the blade still moving, barely slowed by passing through a body. He continued the stroke to plunge it point first into a second orc. He yanked it free and used the motion to sweep the blade to the side, beheading a third orc.

Hern's mighty ax was hewing legs, arms and heads from the orcs around him in a spray of gore. In moments, the ground around Hern and William became a mire of mud made from dirt, rain and the blood of their foes.

Odan joined the fray, dodging weaving and striking like lightening. His hands and feet lethal weapons rupturing organs, breaking bones. If the orcs had been bowling pins, he would have been a sixteen-pound ball thrown down lane by a champion bowler.

Kaessi was impressed. This was the first time that she had really seen her companions in action, and it was apparent that they did indeed posses the power and skill of twenty-first level characters. The battle had been going on for less than a two minutes and already at least of dozen of their attackers were down.

But something wasn't right. The hairs at the nape of her neck seemed to stand on end. She turned and glanced to the South, the side of the road opposite the onrushing attackers. She alone saw a dozen orcs slinking slowly toward the wagons. A large half-orc festooned with gold and carrying a sword walked slowly behind them. Kaessi knew he was a leader, if not the leader of this entire band. He wouldn't be a pushover. Orcs ruled by force of arms. Half-breeds that rose to rank were especially vicious and skilled.

Kaessi glanced back at her companions. The orcs had closed and Jesera could no longer use fireballs without frying herself or allies. She was now hurling smaller bolts of death magic, slaying single orcs. William and Hern fought back to back in a sea of flashing blades and gory mud. Izhak stood with Teamsters, creating dozens of ghost snakes that slithered over the wet ground, keeping the orcs at bay. Odan had actually punched through the oncoming line and was now attacking them from the rear. She was the only one not engaged.

Kaessi shouted a warning, "Ware to the rear!" Then dropped back into the wagon and snatched her magic pouch. Slinging it over her shoulder, she plunged her hand inside. It was the nature of the bag that whatever item the wearer desired came easily to their hand. So as she jumped from the wagon her hand emerged from the pouch with a brace of throwing daggers. She hit the ground and dropped into a forward roll. At the end of the roll she snapped to her feet using her entire body like a spring to throw both knives with all her might. They flew true and struck the two foremost orcs in their throats dropping them in their tracks.

Still running toward the orcs, again her hand plunged into the pouch. Her hand came out holding a bolo. She tossed it into her left hand and began to swing it as she ran. Her right hand went again into the bag and came out with her staff.

The orcs were no longer slinking. Knowing they had been spotted they were now running toward her. This caused them to spread out a bit. She angled her route to engage them in smaller groups. The nearest cluster consisted of a single orc about a stride in front of two others running side by side. She threw the bolo low at the legs of the orc in front. It saw the weapon coming and jumped over it. But the two orcs behind him did not know it was coming and it hit both, causing them to stumble and fall. The orc in front bore down on Kaessi with a battle axe raised for a strike. She again thanked the gods for the magic of her staff as she swung up to take the blow from the axe.

The staff caught the axe and the blade deflected to the side. Kaessi snapped the staff over, adding her own force to the down stroke of the axe, and forced it into the ground. Before the orc could react, Kaessi snapped her left hand forward to chop his throat with the side of her hand. He let go of the axe and dropped to his knees.

The next group of orcs detoured around the two she had knocked to the ground with the bolo, and were coming at her from both sides. She fainted left, then dodged right, extending the staff like a spear she smashed the nose of one orc who had been fooled and was not prepared for a blow. His companion stabbed at her viciously with a curved sword. She sidestepped, spun and did a back handed punch to his jaw dropping him in his tracks.

She turned and slammed the tip of the staff down into one of the orcs on the ground. Then using the motion like a pole vaulter she threw herself into a side kick, striking another of the oncoming orcs. He went down, the wind knocked out him.

Kaessi had a couple of seconds before the remaining five orcs were on her. She snapped a blow over head and down at the only remaining orc in the second wave of attackers. He blocked the blow with his sword. Unfortunately that left him open for the snap kick to his balls, causing him to spasm forward. Her kick was followed by a vicious knee to the face that flipped him backwards.

Kaessi then threw herself into another forward roll, the staff held crosswise and managed to knock three more of the orcs to the ground in various states of disorientation. Bouncing to her feet, she followed up with a swift over hand circular blow to the back of the neck on the orc to her right. He fell, his neck bludgeoned. She dropped to a crouch, causing the sweep of the last upright orc's sword to pass over her head. She dropped her staff and drew two more daggers from her pouch. She did a backwards flip away from the attacking orc and, then threw the daggers. One pierced his left eye, the other sliced into his check. He screamed and dropped to the ground.

Kaessi turned, arms akimbo to face the half-orc who had simply continued to walk slowly forward. She kept the other orcs in her peripheral vision. Four or five looked like they would be on their feet in a few moments. As they got up the leader drew a bright bladed broadsword. He snarled an order in the tongue of the orcs and pointed at her. Kaessi turned, expecting the survivors of her counter attack to rush her. Instead they turned and began to shamble toward the wagons.

The half-orc smiled around his tusks and said in the trade tongue, "It 'ull be uh pity t'split you open wiff me swurd. You look'ike you might'ave made good spoort. Even if you'rra skinny litt'al elff."

Kaessi suddenly became acutely aware of the fact she was facing this warrior nude, save for her magic shoulder pouch, and empty handed. Her staff lay on the ground a few feet away and she was out of daggers. She was a trained martial artist, like Odan. But she was not in Odan's league. He was a twenty-first level Jiro Shan Warrior Monk. She was only fourth level in that class. Combined with her thief skills, she was no pushover, as she had just proven. But she was not well-skilled, equipped or prepared for a stand toe-to-toe against a skilled, armed and armored warrior.

He paused and let her come to these realizations, then he began to cautiously advance. He did not rush forward, giving her an opening, as had his minions. He knew what he was doing. She backed up, keeping an eye on him. She only had to last until help arrived, if it arrived. The others had been fighting odds nearly as bad as she had. But she hoped help came soon, or she might find out what happened if you died in the game.

She decided to open out the space between them. So she dropped backwards did a back flip. Unfortunately the half-orc was much quicker than she expected and he rushed forward to close the distance. She landed and tried to dodge around him, but he seemed to guess her intent and slashed sideways. She had to abort her action and drop to the ground to avoid his cut. After that she found herself rolling in the mud trying to avoid rapid stabs and quick slashes. She was tiring and he had the advantage. It was time for a desperation move.

When he stabbed downward, she rolled into the blade instead of away from it. The flat was toward her and she knocked his arm wide. Giving her an opening. She flung herself upward, realizing too late that it had been a trap. He had palmed a dagger in his other hand as they fought.

Her motion upward could not be checked in time and the dagger slammed into her stomach, impaling her deeply. She screamed in pain and grabbed the half-orc's wrist with both her hands.

He smiled and leaned forward, "Give uh kiss afore I kill you an' I'll make it quick."

Kaessi was in excruciating pain. She was fighting to keep him from twisting the blade in her belly. And at any moment he could bring the sword up and finish her. It was at that moment she saw her last chance.

She let go of his wrist and he twisted the dagger. She screamed, blood mixed with spittle spraying into the half-orcs face. Then she made a quick upward strike with the heal of her palm into his nose. First in, breaking the cartilage, then upward, thrusting the jagged gristle into his brain. He had just enough time to register surprise, then they were both falling.

Kaessi lay in the soft rain atop her dead opponent. Her wounds were serious, even fatal, if not attended to soon. But she was at the end of her endurance. Her world faded slowly to black and she knew no more.

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"Kaessi! Kaessi!" Kaessi was aware of someone calling her name. She openned her eyes and looked up at Jesera. She became aware of things slowly. The pain was fading and she looked downward. Izhak knelt, holding his hand over her stomach and singing. Soft rain continued to fall, so her body had streaks of clean skin among the mud and gore covering her. She looked back up at Jesera. Her Mistress was also still nude, her hair and skin wet from the rain. She seemed to have some blood on her as well. Kaessi hoped it was from their foes. Finally it occurred to her to speak.

"Yes Mistress?"

"Are you okay?"

"I'm feeling better."

"Izhak? Will she be okay?"

Izhak finished his song and looked up. "Ssshe wasss gravely wounded. I have healed much. But ssshe should take it easssy for two or three daysss at leassst. Ssshe should give time for internal healing to complete the work of the magic."

"Thank you. Oh gods, you have no idea how grateful I am."

Izhak tilted his head, the motion was very reptilian. Then he said, "I am sssure Kaessi also isss happy, yesss?"

Kaessi tried to nod, but the fact her head was in Jesera's lap made that difficult. So she said, "Yes Master. It makes me very happy."

Izhak said, "Good. There are other wounded, I will attend to them." He stood and moved away.

Kaessi saw Vrendan and William walk into her field of vision. Vrendan rubbed his chin and said, "I've never heard of such a thing."

William said, "What thing?"

"From the looks of it, little Kaessi here killed seven, maybe eight orcs. More'n any of my men. You all fought like very devils. If you had not come with us, we would surely have ended up in the orc's stew pots."

Jesera said, "Yes, she killed eight I think. I killed perhaps twenty. I think your men in total killed four or five. Hern, William, Izhak and Odan killed the rest."

"How is it that a slave, a trained pleasure slave, could do this?"

"It is a long story Vrendan of Clan Widehorn. And one I am not sure it would be wise for you to know. But she was badly hurt. I think our defense has bought us our passage without her needing to service any more of your men."

"Aye, I'll agree to that. Hell, I'm not sure any of the men would have the courage to fuck her knowing she can kill 'em bare handed and naked."

"That she can." Jesera looked up at Vrendan and said, "It would be best if you did not discuss this with others, and if you encouraged your men to likewise forget."

"Hmmm. Oh, aye. There's summat mighty strange about all of you, probably to do with Dominion security. Nothing I'd want to get crosswise of. I'll pass the word along."

Jesera nodded. "You do that."

Vrendan turned and walked away.

William made to follow when Jesera called him back. "William, can you carry Kaessi to the wagon. It would be best if we got her out of this cold rain."

"Sure." William bent and easily picked up Kaessi, cradling her in his arms. He smiled gently down at her as he walked back to the wagon and sat her inside.

He turned to go and again Jesera stopped him. "William, tonight was to be your turn. Do you mind if she takes a vacation for a night or two?"

William turned a face of surprise on them. "After all she's been through. Certainly not. And frankly, no offense, but I think I would pass anyway."

Kaessi and Jesera exchanged looks. Kaessi said weakly, "Master, don't you find me attractive?"

"Certainly I do. You are both very pretty. But this is wrong. All of this. I just don't feel right with the whole slavery thing. I wasn't brought up that way. I don't see how you can have any respect for yourself, and behave like this. I hope you come to your senses. Now that the teamsters are willing to leave you alone, maybe you'll rethink things."

Jesera said, "Well, you still have a turn coming when she's healed up."

William shook his head, "No I don't. That's what I'm saying. I want no part in this slave trade you are playing." He gave Kaessi a long searching look, "And I wish you would tell her where to shove it as well."

Both women just looked at him, somewhat bitter, somewhat offended.

Eventually he shrugged. "Do what you will. But I will have no part of it." He turned to walk away, then stopped. He turned back and said, "You both fought well. Kaessi, you were the hero of the day. I am proud of you both, and very happy neither of you died. I just wanted you to know that." He turned to walk away again, this time he was neither called back, nor turned back on his own, and was soon out of sight around the wagons.

Jesera looked down at Kaessi, "He's weird. If I had a penis, I'd want to fuck you. But I do agree with him on one thing, I'm proud of you. That was some feat for a twenty-first level thief."

"Mistress I'm actually level twenty-five. I have four levels of martial artist."

Jesera raised an eyebrow. "I think that makes you the highest level of all of us." She chuckled. "And you're the slave." She looked out at the rain for a moment, it was getting stronger. Then she looked down at her hands. "Have you ever killed before?"

Kaessi paused and said, "In this world, yes. On Earth, no."

"Me too. It makes me sick, but it also makes me feel... Triumphant? Something?"

"I understand Mistress."

"Well I don't." Jesera yawned. "I'm exhausted. What about you?"

"I too feel tired."

Jesera looked down at herself, then at Kaessi. "We're both a mess. But I don't feel like going back out in that cold rain just now."

"Me too."

Jesera curled up next to Kaessi on the floor of the wagon and put her head on her shoulder. "What a day."

"That is was Mistress. A day full of adventure."

"Adventure? I once heard that described as a story in which other people suffer terribly, or something similar."

"True. But do you remember Henry the Fifth's St. Crispan's Day speech?"

"We few, we happy few. We band of brothers."

"Yes Mistress, that's the one. I feel like that."

"Hmmm. I never cared too much for Shakespeare."

"Well, I guess no Mistress can be perfect."

"Are you saying my lack of appreciation for the Bard, makes me less than perfect?"

"Yes Mistress."

"Remind me to punish you later."

"Yes Mistress."

"Now Let's sleep."

"Yes Mistress."

Continued in Chapter 11

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