Shevak sat, thoroughly miserable, tied to a tree. When he’d fought the invaders at the West Gate, he assumed that he would die in the fighting. He’d thought himself very fortunate to have loved someone as lovely as Tara, He missed her bitterly, all this thoughts about the future had had Tara in them, and now that future was empty.
Then he’d been astounded by Barbaria’s attention, delighted by it, and, yes, he loved her too – who wouldn’t? But she was Hengentre’s wife. Part of the excitement was in the danger and he’d known it could not be a long term relationship. So he’d thought it a good time to go out in a blaze of glory.
But Barbaria had ignored his command to stay safe, and then, when it was too late, she had said it. “My place is by your side!” She wanted to be with him, not Hengentre – she really did love him! Or so he’d thought, for about five minutes, until he’d watched her and the Dark Princess cooing away like lovebirds.
Shevak would never understand women.
Of one thing he was certain. He was no more capable of crucifying Barbaria than he was of flying to the moon. He would not do it. Period.
And so much for ‘blaze of glory’. He’d been humiliated by his father and by his father's girlfriend.
To complete his misery, Barbaria and he had now been separated. He had no idea where she was.
Brangwen had said, “If she’s to be crucified, we need to get her ready.” She’d clapped her hands, and her maid had rushed in, and bowed. “Your Royal Highness?”
“Tanda, take Queen Barbaria to my quarters, and prepare her for me! Don’t worry, the guards will be outside, she won’t try anything!”
Tanda bowed. “Yes, Highness!” She turned to Barbaria. “Please follow me, Your majesty!”
She’d led the way out. Barbaria, flanked by two guards, had followed. Sciuridan had had other plans for Barbaria, and he looked disappointed to have been so outflanked by Brangwen, but he kept quiet.
Tanda led the way to a large black tent. The guards took up their station outside. Within, necessarily, the furnishings were simple, but still comfortable, a large bed, and a separate area in which stood a decent sized bath. The whole tent was suffused with the scent of incense.
Tanda bowed again. “If your Majesty would care to disrobe, I will prepare your bath for you! Here is a towel in which to wrap yourself while you wait.
Barbaria was stunned! Tanda was a delightful young woman, and, with the exception of the threat of crucifixion, Barbaria was enjoying herself. With enemies like the Dark Princess, who needed friends?
She did as she was told, stripped, and wrapped herself, while Tanda rushed to and fro with pitchers of hot and cold water, and soon the bath was ready. Tanda looked expectantly at Barbaria. “Ma’am?’
“You can call me ‘Barb’ if you like,” smiled Barb, as she slipped out of her towel.
“That would displease my Mistress, Ma’am.”
The water was delightful, after Barb’s early start and her exertions in battle, the scented water, and the bath salts relaxed her tired muscles. She sighed, as Tanda began to wash her hair, then washed and massaged her neck and shoulders.
Soon Brangwen entered. Tanda bowed low. Brangwen eyed Barbaria’s nude body appreciatively. “Not good news, I’m afraid, Sweet One. King Sciuridan has had a reply from your dear husband. Let us just say that tongs were required to handle it.”
Barbaria rolled her eyes. She’d known that he’d never give up Ystragarth to save her.
“So, Sweet One, it’s the cross for you!”
Barbaria felt a knot in the base of her abdomen, a mixture of dread and erotic tension.
Brangwen said “Tanda! Dry her!”
With some reluctance, Barbaria emerged from the bath and Tanda dried her, taking especial care around her breasts and crotch, gently caressing the nipples with the soft towel.
Then Tanda dressed Barbaria in a simple white robe.
Brangwen casually asked “Have you considered what crucifixion involves?”
“I….I am familiar with the rudiments of it, yes.”
“You realise that you will be naked?”
Barbaria looked at her. “I had thought…as I am a queen….”
“As you are a queen,” interjected Brangwen, smoothly, ”we will permit you to wear that robe to where your cross awaits. However, when you reach your final destination…” she nodded to Tanda, who expertly pulled the robe backwards from Barbaria’s shoulders and arms, “you will be stripped.”
Brangwen continued, “being naked is not so bad. You have a lovely body, Barbaria, let us all admire it as you die.”
Barbaria gazed, wide-eyed at her, as Brangwen herself stripped. Barbaria stammered, “I – I’m not the only one with a nice body!”
“You haven’t seen anything yet,” commented the Dark Princess. “Tanda, you are looking a little overdressed.”
“Yes, Highness!” said Tanda meekly, and slipped out of her simple shift, beneath which she was completely nude.
Barbaria had never seen a girl that looked as utterly lovely as Tanda. She’d previously admired the classical proportions of her face, but now her eyes travelled, with lingering delight, over lovely arms and shoulders, following the curve of perfect breasts crowned with tumescent nipples down to a slim waist, umbilicus surrounded by soft, firm musculature. The curve of her hips promised similar delights if she should turn so that her buttocks came into view.
Barbaria’s mind whirled in confusion, the threat of crucifixion set against the promise suggested by the proximity of these two lovely women was almost overwhelming. She felt a drop of moisture running down her thigh.
Brangwen continued, “crucifixion can be…difficult to endure.” She spoke as if she’d had experience. “But I find a little rehearsal can help.”
“Once you are nude, standing before your cross, you will no longer have control. You will be turned around, so that your back is to the cross. For just a moment, the instrument of your final torture will be out of sight.” She nodded to Tanda, who turned Barbaria around, her back to the bed.
“Then they will pull you over backwards, forcing you to lay upon your cross.”
Tanda had climbed onto the bed. Now she pulled Barbaria over backwards, and held her down to the bed by her shoulders.
“Next, they open out your arms, spreading them wide, and they will tie your wrists down firmly, so that you can’t pull away from the nails..”
Brangwen rapidly and efficiently drew her arms up and out, and tied them in place to the bedframe.
“They will usually keep you there for a while, dragging out the time until you feel the tip of a nail against the flesh of your wrist.” Tanda gently touched Barbs wrist with the edge of her fingernail.
“Close your eyes at this point, do not watch. The pain is much, much worse if you watch.”
Barbaria closed her eyes.
“Imagine, instead, that someone is stroking your clitoris with their tongue…” Barbaria’s clit zinged into life, as she felt a tongue gently caressing it. Barb’s eyes opened wide in delighted surprise – Tanda had moved round , and her tongue was very expertly in action.
Tanda clearly knew exactly what she was doing, in moments Barbaria was writhing and groaning helplessly. Brangwen joined in by caressing Barb’s nipple with her tongue, until Barb was on the point of a magnificent climax, at which point she drove her fingernail down hard into Barb’s wrist.
“AAARGH! OHHHHHH! OHHHHHHHHHHH! YES!!!!!!”
As her orgasm subsided, Barbaria began to sob deeply, tears pouring down her face. Brangwen released her wrists, and hugged her tightly.
“See, Sweet One, it’s just a case of mind over matter!”
“Oh, Brangwen, that was lovely, thank you, and thank you too, Tanda – but I’m SO frightened, I don’t want to die, and I’m really frightened of the cross!”
“Shhhhhhh.” Brangwen stroked her hair.”Shhhhh, be brave, Sweet One, and Tanda and I will be there with you, to give you strength….”
Her words were soothing, but the look she gave Tanda over Barbaria's shoulder was of pure, devilish delight.
For some time they remained like that, then a man’s voice called from outside. “Bring the prisoner out. It is time for her crucifixion!”
Seems like Shevak is finally getting the blowback from his philandering ways...
This Dark Princess doesn't mess around! Like Barb said....MORE!!!
Oh jeez I just got yelled by the team director that it's lights out. This whole bike racing thing is cramping my crux time!
Only one more stage....
) means you basically sign a slave contract saying you give up your freedom in order to achieve the fitness necessary to compete,
