The Perils Of The Princesses

[Wragg]

Being the seventh part of the Chronicles of the Silver River

Continuing the story from 'Prince Shevak and the Dark Princess' http://www.cruxforums.com/xf/threads/prince-shevak-and-the-dark-princess.3746/page-8#post-118202

Early the next morning Eulalia stood on the ramparts of Ystragarth and gazed anxiously over to the crosses.

Were Barbaria and Erin still alive?

It was hard to be sure at this distance. They both looked horribly still. Then she saw a gull land on Barbaria’s cross, investigating whether there was an easy meal to be had. She saw Barbaria jerk her head round, and the bird flew off.

This had obviously disturbed Erin, too, who she then saw pushing herself up for a breath. The sound of her anguish was carried on the gentle morning breeze.

'At least they are still alive at the moment,’ thought Eulalia, at the same time aware of the living hell they were going through.

Barbaria would have agreed with her. The seagull had really frightened her, being eaten alive by gulls did not appeal much; even though her standard of living hadn’t got far to fall seagulls were definitely not a welcome development. She was pleased that she’d been able to scare it off, but the effort had cost her dear.

At first, as the sun had set, she’d been glad, he coolness of the evening and early night had been welcome. But, as Pegasus had chased Cygnus the swan across the cloudless sky, she had begun to shiver in the cold. When you are suspended from a wooden cross on spikes, shivering is not pleasant.

Later, the stars had disappeared behind a high overcast, which had also stabilised the temperature, and, an eternity later, the eastern sky had begun to glimmer with light.

But now, with the sun out of sight, there was nothing to tell her of the passage of time.

She looked at Erin by the dawn’s early light. She was breathing, thank God! Though she was very still. Barbaria herself had reached a stage where she wouldn’t move unless she had to – it just cost too much in pain. Erin still looked beautiful, even on a cross, even bloodied and sunburned as she was. The crucifixion position showed Erin’s body off to great advantage, her breasts in particular looked beautiful in the dawn light, tautened as they were by her outstretched arms. Barbaria had spent hours just gazing at Erin, loving her for what she’d tried to do for her, wishing that she wasn’t suffering as she was, and it was impossible to describe how comforting it was, just having her there with her.

Then the seagull had come. She had disturbed Erin, who’d had to push up for air. Barbaria had heard and done plenty of screaming over the past fifteen hours, but Erin’s cries of anguish in the gentle morning air had really upset Barbaria. She wondered how many more terrors they would have to endure on these crosses before they could be released by death.

Death. The thought of death made her think of Penelope. Siss was the one person she really longed to see.

She’d missed her for every hour they’d had to spend apart in their separate cities, they’d both taken every opportunity to be together. The depth of their relationship was something that no-one else could ever understand, they had a perfect understanding of each other spiritually, physically, sexually, mentally, and, well, utterly.

Now she would never see her again. Did Siss even know she was here? Did she realise that her own twin sister was hanging here in naked agony? Tears rolled down Barbaria’s cheeks. “Oh, Siss……please….come!” Perhaps if she thought hard enough, Siss would sense that she needed her?

Erin looked at her, and understood.

Eulalia, still watching, and understanding the relationship between them, was thinking exactly the same thing. ‘Poor Barbaria, even with Erin there, part of her distress will be that Siss isn’t with her.’

She was overwhelmed by frustration. Sciuridan and Brangwen were having all the luck. How could she, Eulalia, have imagined that Barbaria and Shevak would get trapped outside the gate like that? She’d sent a pigeon to Erin, hoping she’d bring an army, but Erin had come alone, and now look at her!

The Heidraen carpenters were going great guns, it looked as though the trebuchets and siege engines would soon be ready. Time was running out, Paul was God knows where with Roxie, and hopefully Blaire and Siss by now. She couldn’t send him a pigeon….

Perhaps she could make mental contact, though. She’d done it before, her mind and his entwined, just as their bodies had been just a few nights ago…

She closed her eyes, relaxed her shoulders, she thought of him, and sent out a thought like a bolt.

“Merlin! Merlin! I need you!”

 

[Wragg]

“Merlin! Merlin! I need you!”

Paul jumped as he almost physically heard Eulalia’s voice. He was stood outside the Rattington Arms once again, having set out early with Messa and Penelope, but when they’d arrived at the pub Roxie and Blaire were still in bed. In the same bed, apparently. He’d grinned, and gone to stand and look at the view, leaving Penny to turf the girls out of bed.

“Eulalia! Is everything all right?”

“No! Everything is not all right! Everything is all wrong!” She told him of the attack on the West Gate, and of Sciuridan’s ultimatum. “Believe it or not Sciuridan has crucified Barbaria, I can see her cross from here. She’s alive still, but I don’t know for how much longer!”

“Good God!”

“It gets worse. I sent a message to Erin when Barb was captured. She arrived in double quick time, but alone! I thought she’d call up the Elfen Army! She tried hard, but now she’s on a cross too, right in front of Barbaria!”

“Never!”

“Whether she’s got the army coming, I don’t know….I can’t exactly go and ask her, in any case I’d be crucified if I tried. Anyway, there’s more! Shevak was knocked unconscious, last I saw of him he was on a cart loaded with yet another cross heading up the Aestral pass. The Dark Princess and her maid followed them, so they are coming your way, but I shudder to think what she’s planning!”

“Oh, no!”

“Finally, I reckon Sciuridan and Xsordon will be ready to attack Ystragarth properly within a day, judging by how quickly they’re getting on with their woodwork”

“Sounds like they’ve been doing far too much woodwork already!”

“Aye, that’s true. Now listen. This is what I think we should do. It’ll be painful and risky, but it might just work.”

A country yokel, eating some bread and cheese for his breakfast, watched Paul with concern, as he nodded and grunted to himself. With the countryman’s fear of insanity, he edged quietly back into the safety of the pub.

When Paul returned to the pub, the four women were seated around a table, eating breakfast. Roxie and Blaire showed every appearance of having had a busy night.

There was a plate of scrambled eggs in front of an empty seat. Messa said “We got you some eggs, come and eat them, before they get cold!”

Paul was hungry. Haste was required, but so was food, so he sat and ate his breakfast. Roxie was making a great play out of calling him ‘Grandad’, which neither he nor Penny particularly saw the funny side of.

Soon enough, he finished his meal. He took a deep breath. “I’ve heard from Eulalia.”

Four pairs of eyes fixed on him. Blaire said, “How?”

“Never mind how. Suffice to say that Eulalia is a very clever woman, and always finds a way. But I’m very sorry, she did not give me good news.”

He had their full attention. Even Roxie was silent.

“There was some action near the West Gate soon after Roxie and I left yesterday. Queen Barbaria – your mother – your sister - and Shevak were in the fighting, and I’m afraid they were captured.”

Penelope immediately rose to her feet, hand on her sword. “What are we waiting for? We must rescue her!”

“We will indeed set out in just a moment, your Majesty, but I’m afraid there’s more, and it’s worse.”

“How can it be worse?” Penny sat, on the edge of her seat.

“Sciuridan attempted to hold Barbaria hostage to force Hengentre to surrender Ystragarth. When Hengentre refused, Sciurdan had Barbaria crucified.”

“OH MY GOD! NO!!!” Penelope ran out of the pub, and then there was the sound of her horse departing at high speed.

Roxie, too was on her feet, “We must go, Paul – tell us the rest on the way.”

“Roxie, I’m sorry, I don’t want you riding into Sciuridan’s army….your Aunt is married to Sciuridan’s ally, she should be all right….”

“She’s my mother, Damn you! I’m not sitting here drinking lemonade while she’s dying! I don’t have a horse! I need a horse!”

Blaire said, “Don’t worry, Mistral can take us both! Come on!”

“I’m coming too, then” said Messaline, “Maybe I can talk some sense into that stupid husband of mine!”

And then they were gone. Paul sighed. The impetuousness of youth. Eulalia would kill him if they all end up on crosses alongside Barbaria.

He went and paid the bill, then fetched his own horse that he’d borrowed from Aestrador Castle, activated his Tulloth stone, and set out.

 

[Wragg]

Paul quickly passed Messa, Roxie, and Blaire, though they were going at a pretty good speed. As he got into the pass proper, he began to go more carefully, looking around for any sign of an ambush. He knew where the trouble was likely to be, but didn’t dare assume that the rest of the pass was safe. As his father used to tell him, centuries ago, ‘assumption is the mother of all cock-ups’

It was quite a lot later that he passed Penny, thrashing her poor horse up that steep hill. ‘She’ll kill the poor thing!’ he thought to himself.

Eventually, he reached the summit of the pass, and turned into the Defile. Expecting trouble though he was, even he recoiled in horror upon seeing Shevak nude, nailed, knees apart, genitalia exposed to all who passed. He’d lived with Shevak for many years, and grown very fond of him. This was not good.

With the Tulloth stone working, he could only go by Shevak’s colour as to whether he was alive or not. He could not even touch him to see whether he was cold. He was slumped down to the full stretch of his arms. Paul concluded that, although he was very pale, he probably was alive.

But that most startling crux position was designed to have an impact, and to make anyone passing stop and look.
He took the horse slightly off the road. There must be an ambush here! Sure enough, amongst the bushes, there they were. Not even human! Small but wiry, armed to the teeth, greenish with large ears terminating in a sharp point. Goblins!

And Goblins meant that the Dark Princess was nearby.

He returned to the road. What to do? Well, clearly, the plan was that whoever was passing should stop at Shevak’s cross.

If he could just warn them that, not matter what they saw, just keep going through the Defile at top speed, and they should be safe.

So he returned about half a mile along the road towards Aestrador, tied up his horse where there was grass to eat and even a pool of water to drink, deactivated his stone, and sat and waited for Penny.

She arrived quite soon, though she, too, had realised that her horse couldn’t take the whole pass at a full gallop, and her pace was a good deal more sedate. He waved her down. She stared at him in confusion. “How in God’s name did you get here?”

“Never mind that, my job is to keep you safe, and that’s what I’m trying to do. Now listen, let your horse have a rest while I talk to you.” Her delighted horse drank greedily from the pool.

“I don’t know how well you know the pass, but in about another half a mile you’ll come to a kind of a ravine.”

“Yes, I know. The Defile.”

“That’s it. Don’t be shocked, but they’ve crucified Shevak there. The important thing is that you get through the Defile as fast as you can, do not stop under any circumstances. I will be watching, but there are forty or fifty goblins waiting there and I can’t guarantee your safety if it comes to a fight.”

She looked at him. “Paul…..I don’t know how you do it….but thank you. I couldn’t bear it if anything stopped me getting to Barb!”

She gave him a big hug, and kissed him full on the lips. Then she climbed back onto her refreshed horse, and departed.

Once Paul had recovered from being kissed, he activated his stone, leaving his horse where it was, and went up to the Defile.

He found a bush behind Shevak’s cross which was ungoblined, hid there, switched off his stone, and waited. The first thing he noticed was that Shevak was alive, because at the sound of Penny’s approaching horse, he began to push himself upright, the walls of the Defile echoing to his agony as his did so.

Then they echoed to the sound of Penny’s horse. She was crouched low over his neck, beating him with her crop. His nostrils were flared, his hooves thundered, and the dust rose behind him in clouds. Shevak called “It’s…a TRAP!” but he could have saved his precious breath, she couldn’t have heard him over the sound of the horse, and she was stopping for no-one. In seconds she was through, a few goblins standing forlornly in the cloud of settling dust, watching her go.

Brangwen emerged from cover. Paul held his breath. There was a crack and a howl of pain from Shevak as her whip struck his groin. Paul fought to control himself.

“That’s for trying to warn her! Not that it made any difference….I can’t imagine why she didn’t even break stride when she saw you. Bugger. I was really looking forward to getting my hands on her!”

“Highness!” said Tanda, “The princesses can’t be far behind!”

“No, Tanda, you’re right. best get hidden again.” She glared at the goblins. “No fuck-ups this time!”

 

[Barbaria1]

Being the seventh part of the Chronicles of the Silver River

Continuing the story from 'Prince Shevak and the Dark Princess' http://www.cruxforums.com/xf/threads/prince-shevak-and-the-dark-princess.3746/page-8#post-118202

Early the next morning Eulalia stood on the ramparts of Ystragarth and gazed anxiously over to the crosses.

Were Barbaria and Erin still alive?

It was hard to be sure at this distance. They both looked horribly still. Then she saw a gull land on Barbaria’s cross, investigating whether there was an easy meal to be had. She saw Barbaria jerk her head round, and the bird flew off.

This had obviously disturbed Erin, too, who she then saw pushing herself up for a breath. The sound of her anguish was carried on the gentle morning breeze.

'At least they are still alive at the moment,’ thought Eulalia, at the same time aware of the living hell they were going through.

Barbaria would have agreed with her. The seagull had really frightened her, being eaten alive by gulls did not appeal much; even though her standard of living hadn’t got far to fall seagulls were definitely not a welcome development. She was pleased that she’d been able to scare it off, but the effort had cost her dear.

At first, as the sun had set, she’d been glad, he coolness of the evening and early night had been welcome. But, as Pegasus had chased Cygnus the swan across the cloudless sky, she had begun to shiver in the cold. When you are suspended from a wooden cross on spikes, shivering is not pleasant.

Later, the stars had disappeared behind a high overcast, which had also stabilised the temperature, and, an eternity later, the eastern sky had begun to glimmer with light.

But now, with the sun out of sight, there was nothing to tell her of the passage of time.

She looked at Erin by the dawn’s early light. She was breathing, thank God! Though she was very still. Barbaria herself had reached a stage where she wouldn’t move unless she had to – it just cost too much in pain. Erin still looked beautiful, even on a cross, even bloodied and sunburned as she was. The crucifixion position showed Erin’s body off to great advantage, her breasts in particular looked beautiful in the dawn light, tautened as they were by her outstretched arms. Barbaria had spent hours just gazing at Erin, loving her for what she’d tried to do for her, wishing that she wasn’t suffering as she was, and it was impossible to describe how comforting it was, just having her there with her.

Then the seagull had come. She had disturbed Erin, who’d had to push up for air. Barbaria had heard and done plenty of screaming over the past fifteen hours, but Erin’s cries of anguish in the gentle morning air had really upset Barbaria. She wondered how many more terrors they would have to endure on these crosses before they could be released by death.

Death. The thought of death made her think of Penelope. Siss was the one person she really longed to see.

She’d missed her for every hour they’d had to spend apart in their separate cities, they’d both taken every opportunity to be together. The depth of their relationship was something that no-one else could ever understand, they had a perfect understanding of each other spiritually, physically, sexually, mentally, and, well, utterly.

Now she would never see her again. Did Siss even know she was here? Did she realise that her own twin sister was hanging here in naked agony? Tears rolled down Barbaria’s cheeks. “Oh, Siss……please….come!” Perhaps if she thought hard enough, Siss would sense that she needed her?

Erin looked at her, and understood.

Eulalia, still watching, and understanding the relationship between them, was thinking exactly the same thing. ‘Poor Barbaria, even with Erin there, part of her distress will be that Siss isn’t with her.’

She was overwhelmed by frustration. Sciuridan and Brangwen were having all the luck. How could she, Eulalia, have imagined that Barbaria and Shevak would get trapped outside the gate like that? She’d sent a pigeon to Erin, hoping she’d bring an army, but Erin had come alone, and now look at her!

The Heidraen carpenters were going great guns, it looked as though the trebuchets and siege engines would soon be ready. Time was running out, Paul was God knows where with Roxie, and hopefully Blaire and Siss by now. She couldn’t send him a pigeon….

Perhaps she could make mental contact, though. She’d done it before, her mind and his entwined, just as their bodies had been just a few nights ago…

She closed her eyes, relaxed her shoulders, she thought of him, and sent out a thought like a bolt.

“Merlin! Merlin! I need you!”

Bloody damn seagulls! Siss, where are you? Get the hell over here NOW!

 

[Barbaria1]

Paul quickly passed Messa, Roxie, and Blaire, though they were going at a pretty good speed. As he got into the pass proper, he began to go more carefully, looking around for any sign of an ambush. He knew where the trouble was likely to be, but didn’t dare assume that the rest of the pass was safe. As his father used to tell him, centuries ago, ‘assumption is the mother of all cock-ups’

It was quite a lot later that he passed Penny, thrashing her poor horse up that steep hill. ‘She’ll kill the poor thing!’ he thought to himself.

Eventually, he reached the summit of the pass, and turned into the Defile. Expecting trouble though he was, even he recoiled in horror upon seeing Shevak nude, nailed, knees apart, genitalia exposed to all who passed. He’d lived with Shevak for many years, and grown very fond of him. This was not good.

With the Tulloth stone working, he could only go by Shevak’s colour as to whether he was alive or not. He could not even touch him to see whether he was cold. He was slumped down to the full stretch of his arms. Paul concluded that, although he was very pale, he probably was alive.

But that most startling crux position was designed to have an impact, and to make anyone passing stop and look.
He took the horse slightly off the road. There must be an ambush here! Sure enough, amongst the bushes, there they were. Not even human! Small but wiry, armed to the teeth, greenish with large ears terminating in a sharp point. Goblins!

And Goblins meant that the Dark Princess was nearby.

He returned to the road. What to do? Well, clearly, the plan was that whoever was passing should stop at Shevak’s cross.

If he could just warn them that, not matter what they saw, just keep going through the Defile at top speed, and they should be safe.

So he returned about half a mile along the road towards Aestrador, tied up his horse where there was grass to eat and even a pool of water to drink, deactivated his stone, and sat and waited for Penny.

She arrived quite soon, though she, too, had realised that her horse couldn’t take the whole pass at a full gallop, and her pace was a good deal more sedate. He waved her down. She stared at him in confusion. “How in God’s name did you get here?”

“Never mind that, my job is to keep you safe, and that’s what I’m trying to do. Now listen, let your horse have a rest while I talk to you.” Her delighted horse drank greedily from the pool.

“I don’t know how well you know the pass, but in about another half a mile you’ll come to a kind of a ravine.”

“Yes, I know. The Defile.”

“That’s it. Don’t be shocked, but they’ve crucified Shevak there. The important thing is that you get through the Defile as fast as you can, do not stop under any circumstances. I will be watching, but there are forty or fifty goblins waiting there and I can’t guarantee your safety if it comes to a fight.”

She looked at him. “Paul…..I don’t know how you do it….but thank you. I couldn’t bear it if anything stopped me getting to Barb!”

She gave him a big hug, and kissed him full on the lips. Then she climbed back onto her refreshed horse, and departed.

Once Paul had recovered from being kissed, he activated his stone, leaving his horse where it was, and went up to the Defile.

He found a bush behind Shevak’s cross which was ungoblined, hid there, switched off his stone, and waited. The first thing he noticed was that Shevak was alive, because at the sound of Penny’s approaching horse, he began to push himself upright, the walls of the Defile echoing to his agony as his did so.

Then they echoed to the sound of Penny’s horse. She was crouched low over his neck, beating him with her crop. His nostrils were flared, his hooves thundered, and the dust rose behind him in clouds. Shevak called “It’s…a TRAP!” but he could have saved his precious breath, she couldn’t have heard him over the sound of the horse, and she was stopping for no-one. In seconds she was through, a few goblins standing forlornly in the cloud of settling dust, watching her go.

Brangwen emerged from cover. Paul held his breath. There was a crack and a howl of pain from Shevak as her whip struck his groin. Paul fought to control himself.

“That’s for trying to warn her! Not that it made any difference….I can’t imagine why she didn’t even break stride when she saw you. Bugger. I was really looking forward to getting my hands on her!”

“Highness!” said Tanda, “The princesses can’t be far behind!”

“No, Tanda, you’re right. best get hidden again.” She glared at the goblins. “No fuck-ups this time!”

Oh, the defile....I seem to recall a legend about a Roman woman who was ambushed there...and oh, poor Shevak....I bet that last one really hurt.

 

[Wragg]

Oh, the defile....I seem to recall a legend about a Roman woman who was ambushed there...and oh, poor Shevak....I bet that last one really hurt.

Always my inspiration, Barb

You should be there, maybe, but even you can't be everywhere!

 

[Barbaria1]

Always my inspiration, Barb

You should be there, maybe, but even you can't be everywhere!

The seagull-Erin-nighttime sequence is really good...but its all good Wragg...wonderful writing...comes alive and excites in every sense of the word.

 

[Barbaria1]

I love how Erin charged off without bothering to bring the army....so brave and clueless....nice touch!

 

[cxslave]

So fantastic Wragg!!! Yet again I am drawn so deeply into the story! I sure don't have good feelings for the princesses going through the defile though! Though I don't think Blaire will need to be warned about stopping to care about Shevak...

 

[Wragg]

Paul reactivated his stone. That had gone well. Dare he try the same trick with the others? He cursed himself. He should have got Penny to wait, so they could go through in one group. Now he’d lost the element of surprise. He looked at a frozen goblin. He wished he could just go round now and decapitate the lot of them, and the Dark Princess too.

Now there was a thought. He could go and decapitate her. It would be certain death for him, but was it worth it?

He stood and seriously considered the option. If she and Sciuridan had been side by side, and he could have got them both with one stroke, it would be almost worth such a suicide mission. Then he recalled that if another active Tulloth stone came within about ten feet of him, he automatically went into Tulloth time himself. He didn’t know if she had a stone or not, but he daren’t risk it.

He walked back down to where his horse was, returned to normal time. No sign of Roxie and Blaire yet. Might as well use the time profitably.

“Eulalia!”

“Yes, Merlin?”

“The Dark Princess has crucified Shevak in the Defile. She’s done it so that he is an ‘arresting’ sight as you come through from Aestrador. The dark Princess and about forty goblins are waiting there. I’ve warned Siss and she was brilliant, she went through there like a bat out of hell. But Roxie, Messa, and Blaire are well behind her, I’m just not sure if I can pull the same stunt twice!”

“You should have made her wait!”

“I know I should. I’m kicking myself. But you know what she’s like where Barbaria is concerned… and, in any case, can you see Messaline just galloping past Shevak without stopping? She dotes on him.”

“Is there any way round, so you don’t have to go through?”

He looked. “I don’t think so, it’s steep rock up to the summit of Mount Jedakk, on the right it rises and then drops steeply down. If they had mountain goats instead of horses, then maybe. I wouldn’t like to attempt it, even on foot. We’d all break our necks.”

“Can’t you take them through on your Tulloth Stone?”

“Maybe that is the lowest risk….it’s the horses - my horse has been fine with it, but I’ve been actually sat on it. The safe radius is only ten feet or so, can I really keep three horses and four people within ten feet of me? And guarantee that none of them will touch a mortal in normal space-time? Could Messaline really do that – ride past her own crucified son?”

“Oh, Lord…but if Brangwen catches her it’ll not be pretty…make sure Messa understands that Brangwen’s involved, and, if in doubt, you may have to leave her behind to make her own luck. She probably won’t want to leave him….”

“Poor Messaline. I’m sure she won’t. How can we keep her from the Dark Princess?”

“She’s not stupid, Merlin.”

“Tell me, does the Dark Princess have a Tulloth stone? If she’s got one, and she’s figured out that I’m about with one, I’m sunk.”

Eulalia thought. “It’s still our best chance. Go for it. And don’t forget, when you get down here, for God’s sake keep them with you. I don’t want them near the Heidraenese until we’re good and ready!”

“I think they’re coming, Eul – I’ll let you know what happens!”

 

[Wragg]

It had been a hard, fast climb up the Aestral Pass, but they were now nearing the summit. Roxie was desperate to get back to Ystragarth, but Mistral was carrying two of them up the steepest road in Aestria, and there was a limit to what even she could manage.

Roxie was in despair. First her sister, now her mother…the country, and her family, were in the hands of a maniac! She had no clear idea what she’d do when she got there – perhaps she was rushing towards her own cross – but all she knew was that she hadn’t been there for Tara, and, whatever the cost, she was going to be there for Barbaria!

She felt as if the bottom had fallen out of her world. Last night, she’d enjoyed such bliss in Blaire’s arms! She’d been laying there, with nothing more to concern her other than whether she and Blaire could managed one more orgasm before they slept, but all the time her mother had been hanging in agony on another of Sciuridan’s god-awful crosses!

They rounded a corner, and there was Paul, waving them to stop. For a moment, she thought ‘How the hell..?’ but then she remembered that this was in fact Merlin, and strange things happened where he was concerned.

“Stop and let your horses rest for a moment,” he said, “There’s a trap ahead, and I need to help you get through it!”
The pair of them, and Messaline, dismounted. Mistral saw the pool of water and made a bee-line for it; Messaline’s horse close behind.

“Now, listen carefully,” Paul was saying, “In about half a mile there’s a ravine, called ‘The Defile” and…….”

A look of shocked surprise was in his face, he looked down at the business end of a sword sticking out of his chest, and then he buckled to the ground. A black-clad woman was holding a bloodied sword, a look of sheer triumph on her face.

Messa appeared to know her. “Brangwen, you COW!” she shouted, whipping out her sword and rushing over to her. Soon, the two women’s swords were clashing in a fight to the death.

What seemed like hordes of goblins poured into the clearing, so Roxie and Blaire had no time to watch Messa. Though terrified at this sudden development, fighting goblins was quite rewarding, their heads made a satisfying ‘clunk’ as they hit the ground.

Then Roxie was fighting a young woman, about her own age, and she was made of sterner stuff. Sparks flew as their swords clashed.

Messaline was forcing the Dark Princess back towards the road, and Brangwen was bleeding from several superficial wounds. Like everyone in Heidraen, Messaline was a practised swordswoman, and clearly had the advantage, until..

Brangwen did have a Tulloth. She used it, as Messa’s sword slashed through the place where Brangwen had been,

Brangwen was suddenly behind her, and drove her sword into her back.

Messa fell to the ground, and lay there, looking at Paul’s body, as the light faded from her eyes.

In a moment, Brangwen had her sword at Blaire’s throat. She yelled “STOP FIGHTING OR I’LL KILL HER!”

Roxie dropped her sword, defeated. A cry of despair escaped her lips as she saw Paul and Messa laying dead.

“Sensible girl, Roxie,” said Brangwen, “Bloody shame about Queen Messaline. I was hoping to take my time over killing her. Come on, let’s get these two into the Defile, we mustn’t keep Prince Shevak hanging around for too long!”

 

[Barbaria1]

It had been a hard, fast climb up the Aestral Pass, but they were now nearing the summit. Roxie was desperate to get back to Ystragarth, but Mistral was carrying two of them up the steepest road in Aestria, and there was a limit to what even she could manage.

Roxie was in despair. First her sister, now her mother…the country, and her family, were in the hands of a maniac! She had no clear idea what she’d do when she got there – perhaps she was rushing towards her own cross – but all she knew was that she hadn’t been there for Tara, and, whatever the cost, she was going to be there for Barbaria!

She felt as if the bottom had fallen out of her world. Last night, she’d enjoyed such bliss in Blaire’s arms! She’d been laying there, with nothing more to concern her other than whether she and Blaire could managed one more orgasm before they slept, but all the time her mother had been hanging in agony on another of Sciuridan’s god-awful crosses!

They rounded a corner, and there was Paul, waving them to stop. For a moment, she thought ‘How the hell..?’ but then she remembered that this was in fact Merlin, and strange things happened where he was concerned.

“Stop and let your horses rest for a moment,” he said, “There’s a trap ahead, and I need to help you get through it!”
The pair of them, and Messaline, dismounted. Mistral saw the pool of water and made a bee-line for it; Messaline’s horse close behind.

“Now, listen carefully,” Paul was saying, “In about half a mile there’s a ravine, called ‘The Defile” and…….”

A look of shocked surprise was in his face, he looked down at the business end of a sword sticking out of his chest, and then he buckled to the ground. A black-clad woman was holding a bloodied sword, a look of sheer triumph on her face.

Messa appeared to know her. “Brangwen, you COW!” she shouted, whipping out her sword and rushing over to her. Soon, the two women’s swords were clashing in a fight to the death.

What seemed like hordes of goblins poured into the clearing, so Roxie and Blaire had no time to watch Messa. Though terrified at this sudden development, fighting goblins was quite rewarding, their heads made a satisfying ‘clunk’ as they hit the ground.

Then Roxie was fighting a young woman, about her own age, and she was made of sterner stuff. Sparks flew as their swords clashed.

Messaline was forcing the Dark Princess back towards the road, and Brangwen was bleeding from several superficial wounds. Like everyone in Heidraen, Messaline was a practised swordswoman, and clearly had the advantage, until..

Brangwen did have a Tulloth. She used it, as Messa’s sword slashed through the place where Brangwen had been,

Brangwen was suddenly behind her, and drove her sword into her back.

Messa fell to the ground, and lay there, looking at Paul’s body, as the light faded from her eyes.

In a moment, Brangwen had her sword at Blaire’s throat. She yelled “STOP FIGHTING OR I’LL KILL HER!”

Roxie dropped her sword, defeated. A cry of despair escaped her lips as she saw Paul and Messa laying dead.

“Sensible girl, Roxie,” said Brangwen, “Bloody shame about Queen Messaline. I was hoping to take my time over killing her. Come on, let’s get these two into the Defile, we mustn’t keep Prince Shevak hanging around for too long!”

Well.....the body count ....

is definitely rising here............

 

[RacingRodent]

Am a bit shocked but am clinging to this piece of lore from an untravelled future

"Do not count a human dead until you've seen his body. And even then you can make a mistake" Lady Margot Fenring, Dune

 

[Barbaria1]

Am a bit shocked but am clinging to this piece of lore from an untravelled future

"Do not count a human dead until you've seen his body. And even then you can make a mistake" Lady Margot Fenring, Dune

Hope you are right about this...Mr. "just because I said it, does not make it right". That would be good!

 

[Wragg]

Am a bit shocked but am clinging to this piece of lore from an untravelled future

"Do not count a human dead until you've seen his body. And even then you can make a mistake" Lady Margot Fenring, Dune

Sorry about the shock, sometimes I even shock myself

Spare a thought for Shevak.....it's not going to improve his day, and you wouldn't have thought it could get much worse....

 

[Quiet Paul]

It had been a hard, fast climb up the Aestral Pass, but they were now nearing the summit. Roxie was desperate to get back to Ystragarth, but Mistral was carrying two of them up the steepest road in Aestria, and there was a limit to what even she could manage.

Roxie was in despair. First her sister, now her mother…the country, and her family, were in the hands of a maniac! She had no clear idea what she’d do when she got there – perhaps she was rushing towards her own cross – but all she knew was that she hadn’t been there for Tara, and, whatever the cost, she was going to be there for Barbaria!

She felt as if the bottom had fallen out of her world. Last night, she’d enjoyed such bliss in Blaire’s arms! She’d been laying there, with nothing more to concern her other than whether she and Blaire could managed one more orgasm before they slept, but all the time her mother had been hanging in agony on another of Sciuridan’s god-awful crosses!

They rounded a corner, and there was Paul, waving them to stop. For a moment, she thought ‘How the hell..?’ but then she remembered that this was in fact Merlin, and strange things happened where he was concerned.

“Stop and let your horses rest for a moment,” he said, “There’s a trap ahead, and I need to help you get through it!”
The pair of them, and Messaline, dismounted. Mistral saw the pool of water and made a bee-line for it; Messaline’s horse close behind.

“Now, listen carefully,” Paul was saying, “In about half a mile there’s a ravine, called ‘The Defile” and…….”

A look of shocked surprise was in his face, he looked down at the business end of a sword sticking out of his chest, and then he buckled to the ground. A black-clad woman was holding a bloodied sword, a look of sheer triumph on her face.

Messa appeared to know her. “Brangwen, you COW!” she shouted, whipping out her sword and rushing over to her. Soon, the two women’s swords were clashing in a fight to the death.

What seemed like hordes of goblins poured into the clearing, so Roxie and Blaire had no time to watch Messa. Though terrified at this sudden development, fighting goblins was quite rewarding, their heads made a satisfying ‘clunk’ as they hit the ground.

Then Roxie was fighting a young woman, about her own age, and she was made of sterner stuff. Sparks flew as their swords clashed.

Messaline was forcing the Dark Princess back towards the road, and Brangwen was bleeding from several superficial wounds. Like everyone in Heidraen, Messaline was a practised swordswoman, and clearly had the advantage, until..

Brangwen did have a Tulloth. She used it, as Messa’s sword slashed through the place where Brangwen had been,

Brangwen was suddenly behind her, and drove her sword into her back.

Messa fell to the ground, and lay there, looking at Paul’s body, as the light faded from her eyes.

In a moment, Brangwen had her sword at Blaire’s throat. She yelled “STOP FIGHTING OR I’LL KILL HER!”

Roxie dropped her sword, defeated. A cry of despair escaped her lips as she saw Paul and Messa laying dead.

“Sensible girl, Roxie,” said Brangwen, “Bloody shame about Queen Messaline. I was hoping to take my time over killing her. Come on, let’s get these two into the Defile, we mustn’t keep Prince Shevak hanging around for too long!”

Great. You go off on holiday and get killed off round here. Thanks a lot Wragg! Great series of posts in this fantastic continuing epic, however

 

[Wragg]

Great. You go off on holiday and get killed off round here. Thanks a lot Wragg! Great series of posts in this fantastic continuing epic, however

Sorry....

 

[cxslave]

It had been a hard, fast climb up the Aestral Pass, but they were now nearing the summit. Roxie was desperate to get back to Ystragarth, but Mistral was carrying two of them up the steepest road in Aestria, and there was a limit to what even she could manage.

Roxie was in despair. First her sister, now her mother…the country, and her family, were in the hands of a maniac! She had no clear idea what she’d do when she got there – perhaps she was rushing towards her own cross – but all she knew was that she hadn’t been there for Tara, and, whatever the cost, she was going to be there for Barbaria!

She felt as if the bottom had fallen out of her world. Last night, she’d enjoyed such bliss in Blaire’s arms! She’d been laying there, with nothing more to concern her other than whether she and Blaire could managed one more orgasm before they slept, but all the time her mother had been hanging in agony on another of Sciuridan’s god-awful crosses!

They rounded a corner, and there was Paul, waving them to stop. For a moment, she thought ‘How the hell..?’ but then she remembered that this was in fact Merlin, and strange things happened where he was concerned.

“Stop and let your horses rest for a moment,” he said, “There’s a trap ahead, and I need to help you get through it!”
The pair of them, and Messaline, dismounted. Mistral saw the pool of water and made a bee-line for it; Messaline’s horse close behind.

“Now, listen carefully,” Paul was saying, “In about half a mile there’s a ravine, called ‘The Defile” and…….”

A look of shocked surprise was in his face, he looked down at the business end of a sword sticking out of his chest, and then he buckled to the ground. A black-clad woman was holding a bloodied sword, a look of sheer triumph on her face.

Messa appeared to know her. “Brangwen, you COW!” she shouted, whipping out her sword and rushing over to her. Soon, the two women’s swords were clashing in a fight to the death.

What seemed like hordes of goblins poured into the clearing, so Roxie and Blaire had no time to watch Messa. Though terrified at this sudden development, fighting goblins was quite rewarding, their heads made a satisfying ‘clunk’ as they hit the ground.

Then Roxie was fighting a young woman, about her own age, and she was made of sterner stuff. Sparks flew as their swords clashed.

Messaline was forcing the Dark Princess back towards the road, and Brangwen was bleeding from several superficial wounds. Like everyone in Heidraen, Messaline was a practised swordswoman, and clearly had the advantage, until..

Brangwen did have a Tulloth. She used it, as Messa’s sword slashed through the place where Brangwen had been,

Brangwen was suddenly behind her, and drove her sword into her back.

Messa fell to the ground, and lay there, looking at Paul’s body, as the light faded from her eyes.

In a moment, Brangwen had her sword at Blaire’s throat. She yelled “STOP FIGHTING OR I’LL KILL HER!”

Roxie dropped her sword, defeated. A cry of despair escaped her lips as she saw Paul and Messa laying dead.

“Sensible girl, Roxie,” said Brangwen, “Bloody shame about Queen Messaline. I was hoping to take my time over killing her. Come on, let’s get these two into the Defile, we mustn’t keep Prince Shevak hanging around for too long!”

What??!!! No!!!!!!! I am literally sitting here with mouth open in shock!!!! Oh Wragg you have torn my heart out with your plot twists!! And Blair and Roxie in the hands of the apparently all powerful Dark Princess!!! Ahhhhh!!! You leave me hanging so badly! I must know more!!!

Am a bit shocked but am clinging to this piece of lore from an untravelled future

"Do not count a human dead until you've seen his body. And even then you can make a mistake" Lady Margot Fenring, Dune

And then RR makes me feel better with a very appropriate quote from my very favorite book! Like I have my own Gurney Halleck!

 

[Wragg]

Like Barbaria, Shevak knew the terrors of the cross. Like her, he knew the shame of nudity, and the trials of exposure - he’d burned in the sun and shivered in the night. Like her, he knew the terror of death and the longing for it. He knew that no movement of position brought comfort, only pain. He knew that the pain never got better, only that shredded nerves jangled slightly less as time wore on. He knew the boredom, but his loneliness was worse; he did not have Erin to keep him company, only the Dark Princess and Tanda who constantly mocked his exposed manhood.

The knowledge that he was being used by the Dark Princess as some kind of grisly trap for Blaire and Roxie was utterly terrible. Thus the terror of total helplessness when people were in danger also bore heavily upon him.

The psychological torture of crucifixion is nearly as dreadful as the physical torture.

As Penelope had thundered through the defile, escaping the trap by sheer power and riding skill, he’d had the first positive feeling since the first prick of the nail. Even though he’d felt Brangwen’s whip he was pleased she’d got through.

As they’d all taken cover, he’d dared to hope that Blaire and Roxie might get through as well. But then the Dark Princess had broken cover again.

“There is no way that Penelope would have ridden through like that if she hadn’t already known Shevak was here! Mark my words, somebody is warning them just along the road. Come on!”

So Shevak had hung there, alone, for a while. Then, in the distance, shouting, screaming, the sound of swords clashing, then……silence.

The terror of helplessness grew worse. What had happened?

Then, movement at the far end of the defile. SHIT! The Dark Princess still in charge – he could hear her shouting orders.

Then Roxie’s voice:

“SHEVAK!!! Fuck --- Oh FUCK!! Blaire, LOOK!!”

Blaire and Roxie! Oh, God in Heaven, she’s caught them both! He glanced up at the nail in his left wrist, as he had a thousand times already, but this time he loathed it not just because it hurt, but because it held him on this fucking cross!

He just wanted to tear himself off the cross and rip the Dark Princess’ throat out!

The two princesses were pushed in front of Shevak.

Brangwen shoved Blaire. “Go on – tell him!”

Blaire looked up at Shevak. He’d never harmed a hair of her head, he didn’t deserve this. Tears streamed down her face. “Shevak – I – I - "

“Oh for God’s sake, woman, spit it out!” Brangwen was impatient.

Blaire thought, ‘best say it, quickly’.

“I’m sorry, Shevak. She’s killed Paul. And there’s worse. She’s killed your mother.”

Shevak stared at her, his tortured mind failing to grasp what Blaire had told him. He fought for breath “Lies!
My….mother…is…in….Heidraen!”

“I’m so sorry, Shevak,” sobbed Blaire, “she left your father….she was coming with us!”

Shevak’s chest rose and fell, rose and fell, then he tipped his head back

“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!”

He couldn’t keep that up for long. Not in his weakened state. As soon as his anguish had subsided into sobs, Brangwen grinned at him malevolently.

“Oh, yes I did, I skewered your servant, then I skewered your mother, like pigs! And now I’m going to kill these two, nice and slowly, and then you can have what your father promised. Remember? Bollocks and guts?”

She turned to Tanda. “Strip them!”

 

[Barbaria1]

Like Barbaria, Shevak knew the terrors of the cross. Like her, he knew the shame of nudity, and the trials of exposure - he’d burned in the sun and shivered in the night. Like her, he knew the terror of death and the longing for it. He knew that no movement of position brought comfort, only pain. He knew that the pain never got better, only that shredded nerves jangled slightly less as time wore on. He knew the boredom, but his loneliness was worse; he did not have Erin to keep him company, only the Dark Princess and Tanda who constantly mocked his exposed manhood.

The knowledge that he was being used by the Dark Princess as some kind of grisly trap for Blaire and Roxie was utterly terrible. Thus the terror of total helplessness when people were in danger also bore heavily upon him.

The psychological torture of crucifixion is nearly as dreadful as the physical torture.

As Penelope had thundered through the defile, escaping the trap by sheer power and riding skill, he’d had the first positive feeling since the first prick of the nail. Even though he’d felt Brangwen’s whip he was pleased she’d got through.

As they’d all taken cover, he’d dared to hope that Blaire and Roxie might get through as well. But then the Dark Princess had broken cover again.

“There is no way that Penelope would have ridden through like that if she hadn’t already known Shevak was here! Mark my words, somebody is warning them just along the road. Come on!”

So Shevak had hung there, alone, for a while. Then, in the distance, shouting, screaming, the sound of swords clashing, then……silence.

The terror of helplessness grew worse. What had happened?

Then, movement at the far end of the defile. SHIT! The Dark Princess still in charge – he could hear her shouting orders.

Then Roxie’s voice:

“SHEVAK!!! Fuck --- Oh FUCK!! Blaire, LOOK!!”

Blaire and Roxie! Oh, God in Heaven, she’s caught them both! He glanced up at the nail in his left wrist, as he had a thousand times already, but this time he loathed it not just because it hurt, but because it held him on this fucking cross!

He just wanted to tear himself off the cross and rip the Dark Princess’ throat out!

The two princesses were pushed in front of Shevak.

Brangwen shoved Blaire. “Go on – tell him!”

Blaire looked up at Shevak. He’d never harmed a hair of her head, he didn’t deserve this. Tears streamed down her face. “Shevak – I – I - "

“Oh for God’s sake, woman, spit it out!” Brangwen was impatient.

Blaire thought, ‘best say it, quickly’.

“I’m sorry, Shevak. She’s killed Paul. And there’s worse. She’s killed your mother.”

Shevak stared at her, his tortured mind failing to grasp what Blaire had told him. He fought for breath “Lies!
My….mother…is…in….Heidraen!”

“I’m so sorry, Shevak,” sobbed Blaire, “she left your father….she was coming with us!”

Shevak’s chest rose and fell, rose and fell, then he tipped his head back

“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!”

He couldn’t keep that up for long. Not in his weakened state. As soon as his anguish had subsided into sobs, Brangwen grinned at him malevolently.

“Oh, yes I did, I skewered your servant, then I skewered your mother, like pigs! And now I’m going to kill these two, nice and slowly, and then you can have what your father promised. Remember? Bollocks and guts?”

She turned to Tanda. “Strip them!”

oh that Brangwen is an evil one....don't we just hate her!!!!