Exalted: Orgiastic Triumph of the Chosen

[HookerBoots]

The next morning, Ivory Dawn woke feeling strangely refreshed, and extremely relaxed. She didn't bother sitting up at first, just luxuriating in the feeling of not having a dew-covered bedroll, or a rock pressing into the small of her back, or feeling the morning chill in her toes. Said toes were currently entangled, along with the rest of her feet, with Gunesh's legs, and what felt like Tri's left arm. The copper-haired Northerner smiled blissfully, then looked at them thoughtfully.

It would be good to have companions. People to share camp chores with, to talk with, to train with . . . and do other things with. It hadn't really been a choice she needed to make, really, but as she watched Tri's lips part, and a near-earth-rattling snore pour out, Ivory Dawn made up her mind. She would travel with them, snoring and all, for the sake of having people who were like her, even though they were unlike her, around, if nothing else.

She sighed happily, and snuggled closer to the tangle of limbs that was the center of their sleeping area. "I think I'll let you keep me," she murmured, and closed her eyes again.

From the other side came a small, happy voice. "Good, I'm glad you made that decision," Tri murmured, then went back to snoring.

~ ~ ~ ~​

As Tor starting to pull out the makings of a fast, cold breakfast, Cunning Starfire sat up and looked at him, watching him move. He felt her eyes on him, and flushed brightly. It seemed terribly strange that she could like looking at him, as though he were some sight to be cherished. It made him feel both proud and uncomfortable, and he finally decided to ask some of the questions that had been tickling the back of his mind for a while. "So, um, Cunning Starfire, if I could ask . . . how do you know me?"

She twisted around in the furs so that she was lying on her stomach facing him, her dark eyes unreadable in the early morning light. "We have been linked, Tor," she said simply. "We are two halves of a whole."

"Well, okay. But that doesn't explain . . . how are we linked?" He pulled out a loaf of brown bread from the things he'd taken from the last town.

Cunning Starfire sighed. "You know what you are, yes?" He nodded, and started to slice the bread. "I . . . am similar." He blinked, and she sighed again. There was a brief moment of concentration on her face, and in the middle of her forehead, a silvery crescent moon began to glow. "Do you see? Like you are the Chosen of the Sun, I am a Daughter of Luna."

Tor almost cut himself, his eyes wide. "You're . . . I thought that your kind were myths."

A smug smile passed over her lips. "As are you, Prince of Earth. But here we are, having breakfast and talking." Cunning Starfire sat up, giving Tor a perfect view of her naked form. "But the point remains that you were, in another life, my lifemate. We were - are - soulbound." She reached into nothing, and pulled out something small and glimmering silver-gold. "I found you using this." She pitched one to him, and he caught it out of the air.

"Huh." He looked at it, and tilted his head. This looked familiar, even though he knew he'd never even seen something so valuable before - orichalcum and moonsilver were too rare for even the richest people in his village to have done more than looked at. He looked at her, and saw that she'd slid the other one onto her hand. "Should I . . . ?" She nodded, and he slipped the band onto his finger. And suddenly, he could feel his hand being almost tugged in her direction, his head turning to her. "You . . . we wore these, once?"

It was more statement than question, but she nodded anyway, her eyes glowing mysteriously. "Yes. And it will let us find each other, no matter how far apart we are, or what skin we wear." Her face turned very serious. "I do not want you to take that off, Tor. As long as they are linked, we can find each other, and that could save one or both of our lives someday."

 

[Armphid]

Tor fidgeted a moment, looking at the ring. It was...he couldn't wear something so expensive! Everyone would stare at it all the time, and he'd surely be accused of stealing it...but he felt sure that Cunning Starfire meant what she'd said about him not taking it off. And besides, it felt...proper to have it on, somehow. The peasant looked up at her shyly, "If this shows our bond, then, I, I'd wear it even if it wasn't magic."

Her smile was all feline satisfaction and amusement, "Good boy, you do learn fast." She crawled out from under the brush they'd used as cover last night, pausing a moment to pull the furs after her, and the stood up and stretched. He stared for a moment and then looked away. Her grin widened a hair, "Why do you look away? Don't you like what you see?"

Tor's cheeks were red and he glanced back at her but quickly looked away again. "It's not that. I...I really like what I see, but, I just...it's...I shouldn't look for one thing, because it's not, well, respectful. But it's also if I looked too long, I'd...well,I'd-"

She was behind him then, pressing against him, her arms reaching about his body to stroke his chest. His words died in his throat, his eyes going distant. "I know what you'd do," she grinned, "and I'd love it." He shivered and stiffened, in more than one way, in her arms. "But, you feel this is time for travel, so...I'll be a good girl. For now."

He let out a breath he hadn't known he was holding as she stepped away from him. "Gods," he muttered. That was...he didn't even know how to frame his thoughts right now. He could hear her moving behind him and then something rustling. A moment later there was a soft thump as his trousers and rope belt landed at his feet.

When he turned Cunning Starfire was seated cross legged on the ground. She had pulled on his tunic, the garment looking almost a bit comical. It was old for him and a bit tight, but on her smaller frame was baggy and loose. It only came to mid-thigh on her. Her long, supple legs were exposed and the silvery tattoos on her dark skin seemed to shine brighter than they had at night. She'd spread preserved on the slices of bread he'd cut and pulled out a bit of cheese she tore in two, and then a pair of dried apples. She tilted her head at it, her mane of red locks flame bright in the morning light. "...No wonder you're so thin, youngling. This food..." She wrinkled her nose but then began to chomp into it. "I will have to hunt for you," she said between bites, "until you are filled out, at least."

Tor bit into the dried apple. This was a pretty big meal for him, well, for what he was used to. He swallowed and nodded, "That's kind of you, but I don't need a lot."

She gave him a frank look, her gaze moving up and down his bare body. Tor felt his cheeks heating again. "I will have to hunt for you," she said firmly.

"Uh, of course," he mumbled. "Thank you."

Tor pulled his trousers on and secured them with the rope, the two new lovers eating in silence for a time. After he'd finished, the young man rose and tidied up, resecuring the bags he'd lashed together. Certain that they would hold, he looked over at the curvy redhead. "So...what now?"

She stood and approached him. "Now? We go where you were going. And we will talk and learn about one another. And then...then we will see."

~~~~~~~~~​

By the time most travelers were just beginning to set out from their lodgings, the trio of Solars were already on the road. They kept a brisk pace at first, Ivory Dawn counseling that they be well away from the town when the merchant's body and trashed household was discovered.

They rode abreast, Triumphat Mantis between her taller companions. At their first break to rest the horses, she looked up at Ivory Dawn as the pale dancer stroked her horse's name. "Ivory Dawn, if you don't mind, I'd like to ask you about what happened when you, well, when he chose you."

The northerner smirked, "You mean the fat merchant? Or another? A lot of "he's" have chose me, you know." Then she laughed, "I'm sorry, Tri. I know what you mean." She pursed her lips. "I don't particularly mind...but why?"

The blond sighed and leaned against the flank of her steed. "It might sound arrogant but I get the feeling that...I'm supposed to be directing our efforts, that I...speak for the Sun more than Gunesh or you. That I am his priestess. But I don't really know anything about him or what it is we're supposed to be doing." She ran a hand over the ornate golden collar at her throat idly, "When he chose me, I heard him speak. I thought if I knew the words he'd said to other, then maybe I can figure out what I should be doing."

 

[HookerBoots]

They started walking shortly afterward, and Tor kept stealing glances at the beautiful woman walking easily next to him. "So, um, what should we talk about?" He swallowed hard as a long stride made her slender legs more visible.

Cunning Starfire smiled at him, clasping her hands behind her back. "Well, I know what you have been doing recently, obviously. But tell me, my Tor, where you come from and what sort of life you've had." She looked ahead, towards where they were going, and kicked at a rock in the road absently. "When you are done, perhaps I shall tell you my story as well." She paused for a second. "If the people chasing you haven't caught up to us by then, of course."

He blinked. "What? There are people following us?"

She shook her head. "Of course there are, silly boy. The monks from the abbey near the village you helped last night. They were waiting for dawn - foolish of them, they should know better than to try to attack you in the light of the Sun." Cunning Starfire rolled her shoulders in a shrug. "But it is all right. They won't catch up to us until midday, at the earliest. So. Tell me, Tor, of your past."

~ ~ ~ ~​

Ivory Dawn looked down, her fingers tangled in the horse's mane. "I don't really know," she said softly. It was surprising how much it stung to have to admit this, when she hadn't even known that it was something she'd missed. "I didn't hear . . . anything. No one spoke to me when I . . . all right, here, let me tell you what happened."

Tri nodded eagerly, her eyes searching.

"My family is - was, I should say, quite rich." Ivory Dawn shrugged. "My father was never very good with money, and when mother passed away, it got worse." She smiled as her horse pressed his nose against her hand, trying to get her to pet it. "I was about ten when he decided we needed more money - or, rather, his creditors became too insistent to ignore. So, rather than sell the house, he sold something else of value." The smile became hard-edged. "My oldest sister was married off to the man who owned my father's biggest debt. After that, the whole pattern sort of seemed obvious to me."

Triumphant Mantis nodded again, her face hard. "Of course. How many siblings did you have?"

"Three older, but one was a boy." The copper-haired dancer shrugged. "He could only marry some wealthy girl, and try and feed more money to the hemorrhaging beast that was the debt. And he did, but it wasn't enough. Of course it wasn't enough. So I started dancing, in secret, and told my father I was selling my tapestry-weaving skills."

The blond snorted, and Ivory Dawn shrugged again. "I know! I've never even been able to make stripes! But he believed me, so I kept doing what I was doing. Until he sold me to a man who, as it turned out, had seen me dancing and threatened to blackmail my father with the information." Her face darkened. "It was . . . very bad, and when he was done, he told me that he would sell me to the Fair Folk, and let my father think I'd run away, to make him pay again."

 

[Armphid]

Tor frowned and looked ahead at the trail they were following. It was thin but visible, probably used by local hunters as well as the wildlife. “My life isn’t much of a story,” he said. His voice was soft and cool, unlike any time she’d heard him speak before. “I don’t think it’s worth telling.”

Cunning Starfire made a soft almost growl in the back of her throat. “You will be sleeping with a porcupine tonight if I have to ask again.”

He looked over at her for a few moments, his eyes narrowed as he tried to weigh if she’d actually follow through on that or not. She didn’t seem like the kind to lie about that and he still really didn’t know her. “All right.” He thought for a few moments, “I’m not sure where to begin. I’ve never talked about my life before. Until now, everyone knew everything about everyone where I was from.”

He was quiet for another few minutes and just as Cunning Starfire was about to deliver an encouraging kick to his rear, the youth spoke again, “I’m from the kingdom of Tolone, the barony of Antor. I was a serf.” Tor looked ahead as he spoke and his eyes were full of remembered hardship. “My family was large, at first. Nine children, though two of the babies died, and my parents. We worked the land we lived on for Baron Antor. He owned the land and the house and all the animals, but we did actually own our tools and our clothes, which was more than serfs in some other baronies. We kept a tenth of whatever we grew and husbanded from the forest and the rest went to our lord in exchange for his protection and as rent for living on his land.”

He shook his head, “A lot of years our tenth seemed smaller than others. There was never a lot, and often not enough. We were hungry and there was always more work to do but we didn’t complain. You would lose food if the reeve or his men heard you complaining, and that’s if you were lucky. If someone got sick, or hurt, or died, we had to pay more taxes because the lord was losing their labor. But at least we weren’t slaves, we should be thankful, the old folks said.”

“We fought too, when our lord went to war with one of his neighbors.” Tor almost smiled, “They’d gather up all the men and boys and we’d put on some stitched cloth armor and they’d give us spears and put us in front of the lord’s soldiers.” He shook his head, “Unless you were too young or too small, then you’d run messages or hold in the men’s guts while they were sewed closed or moved bodies. That’s what I did the first time our lord called us to war; I was eight and couldn’t spear anyone very well.” His voice had changed again, becoming vacant and detached. “I was lucky, I guess. I might not have known what happened to my brothers except I was the one to move and bury them. That was worth something. Mother and Father wouldn’t have liked not knowing.” He shifted the harness strapped about his shoulders. “I was thirteen the next time we were called up, and I fought that time. I killed a lot of that other lord’s serfs and even a few soldiers. I was good at it. I thought for a while that I might get to become one of our lord’s men-at-arms but they’re all freemen. They’d never have let a serf be one of them.”

Tor plodded on for a few more paces before speaking again. “But you know, it wasn’t like we were innocents. Peasants are cowards, thieves, and murderers. If one of the soldiers got lost in the woods, or injured, the men would all use slings and kill him from a distance, then hide the body and sell his gear to the next Guild merchant that came through. And a lot of people told lies to the reeve or to soldiers, hoping to get a reward or something taken from their neighbors, or just out of spite. Anyway.”

He was silent again for the space of fifty yards and then spoke up once more, “Mother died while I was away fighting that time. And the twins ran off with some performers that came through. I don’t know what happened to them; we never got word or a letter, not that any of us could have read one. That left me, and my sister Rona, and my father. We were all that was left.” He wasn’t aware of how long they’d been walking for now, or how long it was talking him to say all this. “Father died a few years ago. I told Rona he’d been cutting wood and a deadfall broke his neck but he hung himself. A lot of folks did that. But Rona and I worked as best we could for a few more years…and then,” his left hand went to his forehead and touched the place where the sunburst had appeared the night before, “it happened.”

“Ravagers came. They’d made a deal with the lord, more money than the serfs in our part of his lands could have made him in our lives, and all it cost him was our souls.” He shivered, but not from fear or sorrow. His hand was clenching the haft of the scythe harder and his voice had changed again, a current of raw, red anger beneath it.

“They came for us and the others all started praying to the Dragons and begging for mercy, to be spared, ratting out folk that were hiding in the hopes of saving themselves, and I just couldn’t…couldn’t do it anymore. When one of them reached for Rona, I took his hand with this,” he raised the scythe, “and I yelled something, I don’t even remember what. Then…I felt strong, and there was light all around, and I saw everyone looking at me, and they were all afraid, and it felt good. And I killed. I killed all of the Ravagers. I killed the men who’d tried to sell out their families and their neighbors. I killed the lord’s soldiers who’d come to watch and tried to kill me as Anathema. Rona ran away from me. I didn’t follow her. I went home and I took my tools and I burned everything else down. The house. The barn. I threw my torch into the fields as I left.”

Tor closed his eyes for a moment. “Never ask me about it again.” That might be too far. It might be insulting. He didn’t care. His strides lengthened deliberately, "We should walk faster for a while. Put some more miles behind us so we can find some good ground if we have to fight."

 

[HookerBoots]

Triumphant Mantis tilted her head. "Did you kill him?"

"Not then." They were mounting back up, Gunesh having been caught up as quickly as possible. "I was . . . almost defeated, you know the feeling?" Ivory Dawn shook her head. "It was the feeling you get when you're holding on to the edge of a cliff, and you know your hand will give out, but there's nothing you can do to stop it."

The other two with her nodded shortly. Gunesh sighed, his hands holding his reins expertly. "I know the feeling well. Go on."

The copper-haired woman looked into the distance as they started their horses down the road again. "He did exactly what he said; the Fair Folk got me, and the man took his 'grievance' to my father, who had to pay him double - as if he could." Her voice seemed to follow her eyes into the far distance, and they both had to strain to hear her over the sound of their travel. "I don't remember a lot of what happened - I know I was raped, multiple times, I could see things that . . . couldn't, shouldn't exist. It felt like . . . it was pain. That's all I can say. It hurt, I hurt, all over, even in places that don't feel. My soul hurt."

The others were silent, the only sounds the sounds of the road. Finally, Ivory Dawn shook her head. "But before they could break my mind, I . . . cried out. My mind, my heart, wanted vengeance, the ability to make the people who did things like this pay. And then . . . ." She held one hand out in front of her, looking at her fingers in the sunlight. "I . . . killed them all. It was as if my hands were cold steel, cutting through the Fair Folk like a blade. And then I went back to town, still blind with rage and naked."

She turned to look at them with a small smile. "The man who'd sold me to the Fair Folk died at my hand, almost before he knew what had killed him. Almost. I made sure he saw my face before he died, and knew what I was." Ivory Dawn looked back forward. "I didn't see my father before I left; that was my gift to him."

Silence again, and then Triumphant Mantis said softly, "Oh."

"So, I'm sorry I can't help more, but He didn't speak to me." With that, Ivory Dawn smiled, her demeanor back to the way it had been. "Don't worry about it, I'm fine. I've become more than a machine for vengeance, and I like it. I'm glad that something good could come from it."

 

[Armphid]

"Something good," Triumphant Mantis said after a moment, "for now. In time, you will become something great." Her eyes were sympathetic but with no pity; admiration and certainty shining in its stead.

Gunesh quirked his eyebrows, "After last night, I'm willing to say she's great right now."

Ivory Dawn laughed. It helped do to that. If anything, her past had taught her to value laughter and good times. And good people. Tri's belief in her was surprising; both in its intensity and its sincerity. It was possible the other woman was faking it but she was pretty good at spotting an act. Part of the benefit of lying so much of the time, really.

The northern beauty smiled at the Dynast, "That was after a fairly long day, you know, Gunesh." She half-lidded her eyes and her lips shifted into a very different kind of smile, "Wait until tonight."

The big man's horse fell back a pace or two. He stared at her back a moment and then shook his head, "Dragons," he muttered, "that removes any doubt that the Gods are unhappy with me."

~~~~~~~~~​

Tor came to a halt and blinked as Cunning Starfire stepped in front of him. He tensed; perhaps he'd been too brusque with his last words after all. Her cat's eyes regarded him and whatever her thoughts were, he could not tell. Then she stepped forward and embraced him. Her body was warm and sweet to touch and he felt the tension that had entered him from thinking about his old life ebb somewhat.

She leaned back and stroked his hair. "Hold onto this for me." Before he could speak, she'd slipped out of his tunic and pushed it into his hands. The dark skinned beauty smiled at his stunned expression and winked, "I think we may not want to meet our followers today after all. Go on, my Tor. I'll give them something else to follow and hide our trail."

He grimaced, "If they catch up to you, or-"

"They won't." She brushed her nude form against his bare chest for a moment and then slid away. "I'll find you," she whispered. Then she moved out of his field of vision.

It was only for a moment but even as he turned his head, she was gone. There was a rustle in the underbrush and he caught sight of the tip of a cat's tail as the animal stalked away into the greenery.

Tor let out a breath and lifted his right hand to look at the ring she'd given him. "She will. I know she will." Then he nodded and squared his shoulders, picking up his pace down the thin beaten trail.

~~~~~~~~~​

The midday sun beat down on a trio of figures standing along a broad, clear path that cut northward through the scrub. Two wore robes of simple linen, the third's robes were blended with silk and edged here and there with simple but elegant designs representing the Five Dragons. The better robes belonged to a man with a shaved head and a carefully manicured beard. He was on one knee, studying a print in the earth.

One of the men in the plain robes looked up the trail, "Sifu, should we go on? The trail is clear."

"Yes, it is." The older man stood slowly. His skin had an odd greyness to it and his features were sharp and rigid; as if carved from stone. "Too clear." The two other monks exchanged a glance. "This is a false trail, we have been lead astray."

The man who had not yet spoken pursed his lips. His face was thin and his voice somewhat reedy, "Then we must hurry back to the other trail we left earlier. Surely the Anathema is on that track then."

"Then who laid this one?" The other plain robed man frowned, "Sifu, what does it mean?"

"It means that we are not chasing one Amathema." The older monk frowned. "He has help. Help that is skilled in woodcraft and cunning." The Anathema as the villagers had described him had no such skills and took a direct approach. The craggy face grew grimmer as the monk pondered.

The two younger Immaculates looked at one another and then nodded. The thin faced one spoke up, "Sifu, let us continue. Now that we know-"

"Everything is different," the monk interrupted. "Two, at least." He lowered his head in thought. "We must assume the worst; that the Anathema has found others of his kind. And I must now do something I have dreaded for forty years." He closed his eyes. "Both of you, return to the abbey. Tell the villagers that they are not to be afraid."

"Sifu, where will you go?"

"...I must speak to the satrap." His tone was that of a man walking to a certain and horrible death; resolute but despairing. "She must call up a Hunt."

"But, Sifu, the satrap...do you think she will? She's not the most, ah, devout of her House."

The older man sighed, "And given her House, that is quite disturbing. You are right but this is her sacred duty and this time...there will be no refusing us." Although in truth, he was most worried about being able to refuse her.

~~~~~~~~~​

Gunesh lay back on the mingled bedrolls on the tent floor. It fell dark as Tri blew out the last lamp. But even in the dark of the tent, the smile on the big man's face was plain to see.

He moaned softly as plush softness curled up against his right side, and then on his left. Ivory Dawn smirked at the stunned and satiated look on his face. "Didn't I tell you?"

"You did at that." He put an arm around the redhead, the other about Tri's shoulders, "And you were right." He sighed, "Now I finally feel like a Dynast."

~~~~~~~~~​

He didn't know what the building had been for and it had clearly seen better days. It sagged more than stood, more than a few timbers had been hewn and splintered, and there were scorch marks that said it had once been on fire. But it was shelter, enough for tonight at least.

Tor's supplies were in one corner and a small fire burned in the small stone fireplace. Part of him was worried about that. It was after dark and Cunning Starfire wasn't back. If the monks were more than she thought, and they'd kept on his trail, the light of the fire could lead them right to him. The walls blocked much of the light but not all. On the other hand, he had a chance to be warm, and if Cunning Starfire was near, the light would guide her as well.

He should be relaxing but he couldn't. She wasn't back yet. What did that mean? Did it mean anything? Tor paced back and forth in the ruined waystation, fingering the hilt of his knife.

Something fell from the low beams of the ceiling, right in front of him. A small animal of some kind lay on the ground, some kind of sheep or goat thing, and it was dead. His eyes jerked up to the rafters and caught sight of a sleek, powerful, furry shape before it leaped for him.

Tor threw himself backwards to take the brutal impact of the hit away, tucking his legs up beneath him as he did so and kicking as hard as he could with both legs. The beast flew from him and struck the far wall, making the entire structure shudder and groan.

As he stood, Tor pulled his knife from his belt and hurled it towards his attacker. The panther blurred and melted into Cunning Starfire, her head jerking to the side just enough to avoid the blade. A lock of red hair fell from her head, cut clean by the knife that was now sticking out of the wall.

She stared at him for a few moments and Tor felt a sudden concern that he might have overreacted. Then a feral grin split her face and she reached back to tug the tool out of the wall, "Good reflexes."

~~~~~~~~~​

Four days later, the pair was within a few hours journey of the city of Cayir. They had reached the towering tone carvings that indicated its borders a few hours ago.

Travel had been easier since they'd returned to the roads. Cunning Starfire was sure they'd left their pursuers behind. She seemed confident that they'd reach the end of their journey safely. Although Tor still didn't know where the end of their journey was.

They had angled north in their travel and the temperature had grown noticeably cooler. There were still forests here but fewer of them and the trees were mostly evergreens, and the land was more rolling. When the wind blew from the west, it carried the faint scent of the sea.

Tor looked westward as they paused atop a short rise. He had never seen the sea but that smell...he somehow knew what it was. "It's all so strange here..."

Cunning Starfire laughed. She was wearing a motley collection of skins that were stretched dangerously over her lush curves, giving her some modesty but also being almost indecent still. "Wait, my Tor. You haven't seen the sea or the city yet." She reached over to run a hand through his hair as she walked past, "Then you will see. Land is always the same, but the sea and city, they are strange. Always changing."

"Always changing," Tor murmured. He shivered and ran over the belt pouch where he kept an iron nail.

Her eyes followed the motion. "Like them. They like the sea and love the city, when they can get in. We should be watchful."

~~~~~~~~~​

Only a few miles from where Tor and Cunning Starfire were walking northwards; the road split off into a wide drive framed on either side by evergreen trees. A splendid manor house stood at the end, a tall wall encircling the carefully landscaped grounds and richly appointed mansion.

Tables were decorated with statuettes and candelabras whose candles burned with flames of many colors, even though it was day. Servants passed about with trays of food and drinks; and a massive banquet table near the house groaned under the weight of the rich delicacies and delightful mind altering potables and substances available. Here and there on the grassy lawn there were divans covered with simple but soft carpeting and piled with cushions. The assembled nobles and merchants eyed them speculatively; eagerly thinking about what entertainments their host had in mind.

"My friends," came a clear, clarion voice. The speaker was a young man with a quick, charming chin and a cunning face. His hands had never seen hard use and his raiment was fine and elaborate. He had long hair the color of autumn barley that had been curled into ringlets flowing down his back and his eyes were quick and sharp. "I welcome all of you, and though I know many have not yet arrived, let us begin our merriment!"

The great doors to the house burst open and out came the performers; dancers, musicians, jugglers, and last of all came the first of the evenings most attractive distractions. He had other groups that he would have brought out as the party went on, until there would be as many of them as guests. Young men and women, some attractive, others less so, all given simple, sheer tunics that hid little. "Take your fill, my friends," the young host went on, "Of food, or drink, of music, and especially of our delicious and filthy little whores!"

The Potentate of Cayir smiled as the party began, stepping down from where he had been speaking. It would be a fun few hours until sunset, when the real guests would arrive and the real party would begin. Until then, best to enjoy all of the girls that he could. Once the real guests arrived; they'd soon not be good for much at all.

 

[RenataRose]

The Violet Princess, in her guise as Silken petal, stepped lightly through the party, leaving a wake of social devastation behind her with a touch here, a smile there, and the occasional knowing look. Soon, she had a large part of the guests, both men and women, staring after her as she glides amongst the revelers. While she enjoys the attention, she isn't drawing it just for fun.

One of her few remaining connections in the Bureau of Destiny had communicated to her that fate strands were going missing in Cayir. It wasn't that people were dying suddenly, because even that would leave its traces in the loom of fate. Instead, mortals were apparently coming in contact with a force that could act outside of the realm of fate, but no one could ascertain exactly what, and sidereals were too dear to spare for a fact-finding venture for what was essentially a small incident. Violet Princess, however, as a censured sidereal was expendable, and it had been intimated to her that figuring out what was going on might be helpful in getting back into the bureaucracy's good graces, and so she had infiltrated the party as a pleasure girl, forging a resplendent destiny of the lover to change her appearance and cause fate to aid her in her task. Now, she wore the guise of a beautiful but somehow still-cheapened prostitute, and she trod amongst the guests, seeking answers.

Violet Princess frowned inwardly, but kept the expression off of her face as she touched, either by apparent accident or design, nearly every important guest at the party and found all of them to be inside the purview of fate. Her idea had been that were she to meet a being outside fate, it would shatter her resplendent destiny and thus expose the culprit. So far, however, she had come up with nothing. Still, the guests didn't seem to mind as long except that she kept moving on. With her dark hair and eyes and pale skin, coupled with long legs and lush, opulent curves, she left quite the impression, and several guests were becoming impatient with her.

As she moved past a wealthy merchant, a hand shot out to grab her wrist, and it took all of her self control not to pull a weapon from Elsewhere and send the man into his next incarnation. She restrained herself and looked up, seeing a huge man with the tanned, leathery skin and peculiarly green eyes of a Lintha pirate grinning down at her. Two more men identical in coloration stood behind him. All three wore clothes much finer than an average pirate would wear, which meant they were probably slave traders and ship captains, here to deal with the Potentate.

The man holding her arm, presumably the leader to judge by his dress and the quality of his blade and firewand, tugged on her arm, pulling Violet Princess close and reached under her shift, clutching at the soft, round globe of her ass with a large, rough hand. He smiled wider and said something in Lintha. His companions laughed, eyeing her form appreciatively, and the Lintha began dragging her to one of the mounds of cushions not yet taken by other partiers. As they moved, Violet Princess could see at least three other Lintha moving towards them from various parts of the pavilion.

Suddenly, another pair of hands grabbed her ankles, causing her to start, but before she can fall, she is hoisted by wrist and ankle and thrown onto the cushions. Landing heavily, Violet Princess quickly repositioned herself into a seductive pose, her hair fanned out above her, ankle crossed and arms framing her head. The leader licked his lips appreciatively, and Violet Princess had to fight to keep from beating her forehead with her hand, because the leader had a forked tongue.

True Lintha. Demonbloods.

 

[Armphid]

The large, tanned leader of the pirates licked his forken tongue over his lips again and leaned down over Violet Princess. He chuckled low in his throat and then that long, oddly cool tongue slid up along her neck to her chin. He said something to his companions, who laughed again, their hands already working at their belts and trousers.

"Off," the leader said in thickly accented, rough Skytongue as he rose from tasting her skin. There was now a small gang of Lintha gathered about the luscious whore; nine counting the leader.

The young Potentate frowned a moment, watching the scene. Watching that pretty piece getting fucked by the pirates en masse would be very enjoyable, they got carried away sometimes. And that particular whore was the cream of this crop; how such a gorgeous creature was a cheap harlot and hadn't yet been scarred or diseased was beyond him, but she'd be worth a fortune once 'treated' properly. He stepped up into the circle of Lintha before they started in, "Captain," he murmured in a firm tone, "enjoy yourself fully with this little prize. But remember her purpose."

The pirate snorted and nodded, "You'll lose no money on her."

The nominal leader of Cayir and its people nodded, "Good." He glanced down at Silken Petal and grinned before clapping the pirate on the shoulder, "You'll have her screaming pretty soon, friend." Then They would arrive and all the screams would be pretty.

As the nobleman walked away, the pirates began to play. Their hands moved to the lush body before them; groping, caressing, pinching her rounded flesh. A hand took firm hold of her hair and pulled her head to one side, a leering pirate with a shark-toothed grin stroking himself as he slapped her cheek with his member before rubbing it over her lips.

A lean and scarred Lintha woman took hold of one of her hands and pressed it into her sex. She let out a soft snarl, "Get busy, slut."

 

[HookerBoots]

"You don't say." Ivory Dawn looked at her companions, then back at the friendly, garrulous old man that was chatting with her from his wagon seat. "Just vanishing?"

"Ayuh." He nodded, his face set in an expression of serious concern. "You all look like you can take care of yerselves, but I figured as it would be only right ta let you all know." He scrubbed a hand through his hair. "So, if someone comes along askin' if you wanna earn a few extra bits, I'd say you tell 'em where they kin put their jade."

Triumphant Mantis smiled. "Thank you, sir. We appreciate your advice, and your warning." She slipped two fingers into her belt pouch and pulled out an obol. "As thanks."

The old man shook his head. "No'm. I can't be takin' money from pretty lasses just for givin' 'em a friendly warning." He bowed his head a little. "I just hope you can keep yerselves safe, is all."

She smiled more warmly, and pressed the jade round into his hand. "It's more for that hope than the warning." The blond danced her horse away before the man could give her the obol back. "Where did you say these parties were being held? So we can stay far away from it, of course."

Gunesh gave her a look, and the old man laughed as the jade vanished into his own pouch. "Well, ma'am, as I said, I don't know for certain, but I can say that there's been a lot more activity around the Potentate's manor just outside of town of late." He pointed towards the city, off to one side. "We'll be passin' the road up to it shortly, off that way. But Himself doesn't like uninvited visitors, if you get my drift."

Tri fingered her blade as she looked in the direction the man had indicated. "I get your drift just fine, sir."

Ivory Dawn looked at the blond, and her face slipped into a small, predatory smile.

~ ~ ~ ~​

The roads around the city were packed, and at Cunning Starfire's urging, Tor had left the road behind for the solitude of cross-country travel. Not that he was really alone, he thought wryly, as the panther slunk back up to him, her body moving smoothly through the grass.

She was almost on top of him when he realized this wasn't her usual, showing-up-with-a-dead-gopher approach. There was something wrong. Her tail was down, low to the ground, and her ears were back almost as though they'd been pinned to her head.

The panther pounced on him, pinning him to the ground with her weight as she transformed, pressing one paw-hand to his mouth to silence his cry of alarm. "Be silent, my Tor," she breathed. "Something comes."

He nodded, and Cunning Starfire rolled off of him, her body nude and lithe as she crouched in the grass. They both looked back in the direction she had come from, silent as the wind. From that direction, came the sound that had alarmed the Lunar, and it was clear what had been so concerning. There was the sound of hooves, but there was also the sound of livery that tinkled like bells, the sound of fine metals rattling against other fine metals. And the sounds of beasts that weren't natural, gurgling, grunting, musical sounds that never were meant to be in Creation.

And then the riders came into sight, and Tor's breath caught in his throat. They were, even at this distance, they were stunning, beautiful and terrible and unnatural. Fair Folk. At least a half-score, five of them mounted on fantastical beasts, bedecked in gleaming gems and metals.

From next to him, Tor could hear Cunning Starfire growling deep in her throat, her eyes fixed on the traveling Fair Folk with burning hatred. He put a hand on her arm, and she looked at him, her face fierce in a way he hadn't seen. "We will follow them," she hissed, her eyes alight. "And we will kill them."

He nodded, his hands going to the gloves he'd managed to sneak from the stores of the town he'd saved those young people in - they were good, leather gloves, and had a good grip on them. From the look on her face, he'd need that grip when they spilled blood today.

 

[Armphid]

"I don't like this plan. The old man said that the Potentate doesn't like uninvited guests." Gunesh frowned as he looked down at his clothes. The tall, broad shouldered man wasn't in his usual armor and travel clothes but instead in finery that was more splendid and rich than anything most people would have ever seen. "I should have gotten rid of these rags," he growled.

"But you didn't and it's a good thing," Triumphant Mantis countered. The blond's outfit had changed as well. It was far skimpier for one thing; the luscious holy woman now wearing one of Ivory Dawn's dancing costumes; a scandalously low cut top that snugged her breasts together and left her arms and taut stomach bare, baggy diaphanous trousers, and flexible cloth slippers, with a similarly translucent shawl/sash that went about her shoulders loosely. It was all in shades of blue. In a few less noticeable places fresh stitching could be seen where it had been needed to be taken in or let out a bit. She'd also been familiarized with the places where knives could be hidden in the garments.

Ivory Dawn nodded, "She's right. I've done things like this before and it's always better to sneak in the front door." The luscious redhead was wearing an outfit similar to Triumphant Mantis' but even more skimpy in places, exposing greater swaths of pale, smooth skin. "Trust me, Gunesh, this will work. He might not like it but you're obviously a Dynast. Even people who've never seen one before can tell from your features. Which will make you far too important to turn away or just call his guards on you." She winked, "We'll also be making sure he's not fully focusing on you."

"That part I don't doubt," he said. The inventor sighed. "I thought one of the bonuses of being an Anathema would be no more damn social events and parties."

Tri laughed, running a comb through her hair as she pulled it out of it's usual braid, "Poor boy. Don't worry, Gunesh, if we find out what's going on and make it out alive, we'll make it up to you."

He considered that. "I may have specific demands, you know."

Ivory Dawn leaned over and kissed his cheek, pressing herself against him. "I hope so."

Tri slid one of Ivory Dawn's circlets into her hair, adjusting a few locks as she looked into the little mirror the dancer had in her possessions. "All right then. Let's go to a party."

~~~~~~~~~​

The band of Fair Folk had pulled far ahead of Tor and Cunning Starfire, though he was sure that his new...companion could have kept up with them if she'd wanted to. He could tell part of her did from the way she was moving, her tail lashing, impatience all but written on her bristling fur. Not that he could have read it.

They also left a trail that was easy to follow. Not only were they taking no pains to hide their travel but the way was marked with the occasional oddity. A flower that swayed and sang to itself or a cluster of leaves that were made of razor edged glass.

Along the route, houses and farms were dark. The inhabitants had either fled or gone inside and put out all the lamps, hiding in the hopes of avoiding notice, iron bars and horseshoes places near doors and windows. If they were lucky enough to have them.

But there were no digressions, which surprised Tor. The armed group kept going, almost in a straight line, towards what looked like a lord's summer house or something like it. "They're moving so...purposefully." He grimaced, "And they're armed but there are so few and they're not ready for a fight," the youth was squinting at the distant figures. He could see them surprisingly well.

The panther regarded him a moment. She could tell him, of course, but would he work it out himself?

"Which means...they feel safe. Or welcomed." Tor's hands tightened on the haft of his scythe. The lord here had given these monsters safe passage. But why? And why weren't they attacking the farms? Was he strong enough that they feared him? That didn't seem likely.

The panther brushed against him and then trotted forward. "Right, we can figure it out later." The peasant turned hero picked up his pace after her.

He only hoped they weren't going to that big house. Lords had lots of guards and he wasn't looking forward to the idea of fighting an army.

 

[HookerBoots]

There was a hurried scuttling of feet as the trio waited outside the large, carved door to the manor house. Gunesh was standing casually at ease, a mask of boredom on his face that seemed almost untouchable. The two girls were standing behind him and slightly to either side, their eyes fixed, seemingly, on him, but with their hands clasped together. One of the servants opened the door, his lips curved in a smile of terrified greeting . . . which turned into a more terrified almost-grimace. "I-I bid you g-g-good day, N-n-noble one. What might the house of Potentate Aberat of Cayir do for you t-t-today?"

Gunesh raised one eyebrow at the man, and motioned to Ivory Dawn. She stepped forward and addressed the man. "My lord Prince Tepet Eromon, Lord of the Isle of Hesperia, seeks lodging and entertainment. Your Potentate, as the leader of his people, shall provide it." Her tone was as bored as Gunesh's face was, and she kept her face bland as she looked at the terrified servant.

The man's face had only turned paler when she spoke her command. "I b-b-beg your pardon, oh most n-n-noble one, but the P-p-otentate has guests this evening. I d-don't believe that he can g-g-give you . . . ."

There was a small sound of irritation from Gunesh's throat, and Ivory Dawn and Triumphant Mantis both blanched artfully. Ivory Dawn stepped closer to the other servant, her eyes hard now. "Listen to me now, little man. Your master will have to explain to my lord - in person - why he has decided to forgo the most basic courtesies to one of the Keepers of the Realm. Or perhaps, he would like to explain later, to the Empress Herself, may she live forever."

There was a heartbeat of silence, and the servant at the door sighed heavily. "Please, enter and be welcome. If it is suitable, I will show you to a sitting room and let the Potentate know you are here. I am certain," he said, stepping aside to let them pass, "that he will be most delighted at a chance to be of service to a personage of such august descent."

"Yes," murmured Triumphant Mantis as she passed the servant, the door clicking shut behind her, "I'm certain he will be."

 

[Armphid]

Tor was learning a lot about his lover as they chased after the now well ahead Fair Folk. He knew enough about the body language of animals to recognize frustration, impatience, and anger. Her fur was rising and bristling; her back slightly arched as she jogged ahead of him, bottle brush tail lashing more and more furiously. She hated the raksha, hated them with an intensity that was almost overtaking her.

Several times she would race out ahead and away from him only to circle back with a mix of chagrin and urgent aggravation in her body language. Tor wanted to say something to assuage her but he wouldn't have even known where to start. That and he needed the breath for movement; ever since he'd made his guesses about what the Fair Ones were doing here, Cunning Starfire had swiped at him to pick up his pace. He was running, the makeshift pack of supplies still strapped to him, doing his best to follow her course as she darted from cover to cover in case their inhuman quarry looked back. It was hard, and as hard as it was, he could tell she was not happy with his pace.

Finally, he sighed. The supplies wouldn't do him any good in a fight, and if he died, he'd hardly need them. He was carrying more food and goods than he ever thought he would personally own in his life right now...and he was about to do the unthinkable. He pulled his iron knife from his belt; his mind flashing to hunger, to all those times when he would have done anything to have a morsel of what he was about to...

The knife strained against the straps holding the goods to him for a few moments and then they gave. There was a clattering, clacking rumble and series of thumps and muffled crashes as the wrapped bundle came undone and all that was within it tumbled out. He kept cutting, shearing away the large tarp that had been folded and tied into a contained free as well. Gods, he was mad. All that food. It wrenched at his heart; he should never have taken it. Some of those villagers would go hungry for a time for want of what he'd claimed, and now it was just left for the beasts or to rot.

Maybe he was an Anathema after all.

Cunning Starfire had actually pulled up short ahead of him; the panther's head staring back at him incredulously. He just gestured for her to go on, "It's okay," his voice was stricken and belied his words, "I knew we need to catch them. You can go ahead and watch them." He held up his right hand, the ridiculously valuable ring glinting on it. "I'll find you."

She stared for a few moments more and then turned to sprint ahead in an all out dash before she jumped into the air and shrank in a swirl of silvery Essence into a dark feathered raiton, rising with beating wings into the sky.

~~~~~~~~~​

Gunesh was glaring out of one of the windows in the sitting room. His hands were folded behind his back and his posture was ramrod stiff and straight. He was the very picture of contained anger and frustration. Ivory Dawn quirked an eyebrow and smiled, "He'll fall all over himself once he sees you." The northerner crossed her arms under her magnificent and ample breasts, "You're a better actor than I expected."

Triumphant Mantis shook her head a moment too late as Gunesh growled deep in his throat. "I'm not acting. I hate this. I hate even pretending to be this...this person." His voice was full of scorn and revulsion. "I never wanted to be in this kind of situation, exposed to these...people again. Socialites and fops, all casual monsters, and I'm thrust in with them all. Again." He made a sound in his throat as though he wished to spit but took a deep breath instead. "Worthless, parasitic schemers and dream killers and I'll have to smile and glad hand them. Again."

Ivory Dawn shot a quick glance at the other woman. They'd only been traveling together a few days but this...was not a side of Gunesh she'd thought existed, much less that she'd see. Triumphant Mantis rose from the seat she'd taken and glided to the big man's side, looping at arm through one of his and lightly pressing herself to him. "It's all right. We know that this isn't you. And that;s not why you're here, or what you're doing. You're taking a risk to find out if people are being hurt and betrayed by someone pledged to protect them." She slipped forward a bit more so she could look up into his scowling visage, "That's worth it." Then she gave him a coy smirk, "And you got to see me in an outfit like this."

He tried to snort and look displeased but was somehow unable to. Instead he sighed, "That...is something, I suppose. As long as we all live to see you out of it again. Both of you."

There was a tap on the door to the sitting room and after a few moment's pause it opened. That itself was enough to show that their story had at least been partly believed. No one but a fool just barged in on possible Dragon Blood of the Scarlet Dynasty when they might not be in a good mood. "Most noble guest," said a young man in resplendent garb, entering and bowing low. Behind him were a dozen of his most well groomed, liveried, and attractive servants. "I am Potentate Aberat of Cayir, and I welcome you to my little home." The man straightened, "I must apologize that you were not ushered to me immediately, Lord Eromon. The servant at the door will be sorely punished for his foolish behavior." He smiled and gestured, the servants coming into the room with wine and a chilled goblet, as well as a tray of food. "Please, refresh yourself. While I do not mean to pry into the affairs of my betters, Lord, may I deign ask what brings you to Cayir?"

Ivory Dawn lounged exquisitely, her eyes dull and wanton, her gaze fawning and afraid as it moved to Gunesh, and then ever so curious as it shifted to the Potentate. He was hiding it decently but he was very nervous. His face and voice were clear of it, mostly, but eyes kept shifting and his lift hand kept fingering the bracelet on the same wrist.

Gunesh took the offered goblet and took a long drink then gave an irritated snort, "Bah, Threshold swill! But still the best I've had since leaving the Blessed Isle, Potentate. A high compliment." He gestured expansively, "I am touring the lands of my family, you see, on something of a holiday."

"Your family? My Lord, you are House Tepet, correct? This satrap-"

"Yes, the satrap is my cousin, you know, by marriage and twice removed." Gunesh shrugged, "I thought I'd come see how she's surviving in this backwater. But then I heard that you had a home here and were throwing a party of special magnificence." He smiled then, "I do like a good party. Was I incorrect? I suppose if so, I could just speed on to my cousin's manse now..."

 

[HookerBoots]

The hopeful look in the Potentate's eyes was almost enough to make Triumphant Mantis laugh out loud, as disastrous as that would be in this situation. Gunesh merely shook his head. "It is already getting dark, and the girls do love a party."

Ivory Dawn stood then, her whole body moving with a fluid grace that made the men in the room swallow hard. She knelt smoothly next to Gunesh and pressed one of his hands to her cheek. "Please, my lord. We haven't had any fun in such a long time, it would make Litara and I so happy." She pouted up at him, her eyes wide and wet.

Gunesh sighed as he looked at her. "There, you see, Potentate? Even one such as I am at the whim of the heartless creature that is woman." He patted Ivory Dawn's cheek fondly. "We will stay, lovely one, you can stop pouting now."

The Potentate's face had gone white as a sheet, and he swallowed a few times, seeming to almost be choking on nothing. His mouth opened, and he managed to say shakily, "Excellent, my Lord. It will be my greatest honor to have you at my small gathering this evening. Please, excuse me so I can make the arrangements for your quarters and such."

"Of course, of course." Gunesh's tone was dripped condescension, and he smiled a little as he watched the man bow out of the room and shut the door behind him. Until the door was shut, of course. Then the mask fell, and his face was filled with disgust again. "That toad better be hiding something here other than wine so bad it would make V'Neef cry."

Ivory Dawn stood up, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. "Oh, he is. Could you see what his bracelet was set with?"

Triumphant Mantis shook her head. "His fingers were always in the way from my angle. He just kept fiddling with the damned thing."

The red-haired vixen's smile turned sharp. "I've seen them once before, so it's lucky I was about to tell what they were. Our esteemed host has a piece of jewelry set with living rubies."

A sharp intake of breath told her that the others knew what that meant, and she nodded. Gunesh's face was lost for a moment in thought and worry. "That means this was a very worthwhile side-trip," he murmured, "as well as a terribly dangerous one. What do you expect will happen?"

Slipping a knife from one of the well-hidden sheaths on the costume she wore, Triumphant Mantis grinned. "He'll do his best to keep us from seeing his real guests, and try to usher us upstairs to bed before they get here if possible. The plan changes depending on how many he expects to show up, but if it's less than a dozen, I say we fight." She checked the edge of the blade and tucked it away again. "We're far enough away from the Bordermarches, I can't imagine they'd move too many."

"Depends on what they're getting from being here," Ivory Dawn said softly, looking out the window now. One hand twirled and twisted a piece of coppery hair over and over again. "But we need to stay away from them until we know what we're doing, as well. Let him keep us apart from them a bit. It will be easier to sneak a look at them that way."

~ ~ ~ ~​

Crawling through tall grass like this, with no idea what you were crawling towards, was possibly one of the worst things ever. Tor kept going, his arms and legs moving in sync to keep his progress steady and quick without causing too much movement in the grass above him. Grass, everywhere nothing but grass, and terrible danger ahead. The ring on his hand glinted in the fading light, and he watched it for a moment, the gorgeous trinket than had changed everything for him.

Not just a terrible danger ahead, but also hope. Cunning Starfire was an amazing fighter, and she would be waiting as well. That was something.

It felt like he'd been crawling for hours, pulling himself forward through the grass without end. He was almost certain that he'd actually died at some point, and this was hell for him. But then a ghostly black shape came out from between the blades of grass and stopped directly in front of him. His breath caught, and the panther nodded once, then turned, its tail waving through the grass.

They paced a few yard forward, until they were just in sight of a large manor house. The panther sat up, her eyes gleaming. Tor lifted his head slightly, and sighed. He whispered, "They're headed there."

Cunning Starfire nodded.

"Damn."

Another nod.

He paused for a moment, thinking. "We'll die doing this."

She paused a similar length of time before nodding again.

"Then we'll take as many of them with us as we can," Tor said, lowering himself and starting to crawl again.

 

[Armphid]

If the guests at the Potentate's party noticed that the servants were gathering up the best of the trays of food, several bottles of wine, and the choicest of the drugs from the tables, few noted it as anything more than simple table clearing or re-stocking. A few of the less addled eyes did follow the motion however; particular among them was the towering form of the head Lintha captain.

His dark, solid color eyes narrowed thoughtfully in his leathery face. His companions were lost in the pretty whore he'd pulled aside; the girl drawing them into lust and loss of sense quickly. The Potentate was moving through the guests again, stopping now and then with a few to speak in low tones easily drowned out by the steady, pounding rhythm of the musicians performance.

As the ruler of Cayir passed, the big Demon Blood stepped alongside him, "Honored Potentate, is something wrong?"

The nobleman shook one of his wrists to jangle a rich silver and golden bracelet set with brilliant red stones that seemed to move and writhe in their settings. "An unexpected visitor, Captain. One of the satrap's hangers-on."

"Ah." The big man smiled, his mouth full of shark's teeth, "Be bad for him to see us here."

The Potentate smiled slightly, though not at what the Captain may have thought, and nodded. "I'll set him and his girls up on the other side of the house, so there's nothing to worry about. Please, continue to enjoy yourselves."

The big Lintha laughed then, "Yes, this is a little tame by our standards but very pretty sluts and good food." The sailor then leaned in and spoke lower, "If this hanger-on becomes too much of a problem...we could always enjoy things another way."

For a moment, the Potentate said nothing. But then he smiled slowly, "That is a gracious offer, Captain. If his presence threatens our deal, I may have to take you up on it."

~~~~~~~~~​

Tor could hear music and laughter and the sounds of voices raised in amusement, shock, and certain other passionate moments that made his cheeks redden. What was going on in there? Maybe the stories he'd heard about what lords did in their manors were true, after all...

The peasant boy was creeping along through the drainage ditch that ran from the manor and down to the rolling meads beyond. The water within the ditch was foul and full of refuse and he did not enter it; but the tall plants that grew off of it provided good cover as he crept closer to the walls of the estate.

He had been watching as he moved; slowly and patiently, having learned how to stalk and hunt years ago. The walls were manned, it seemed, but sparsely. And the men on them looked in far more than they looked out. He'd seen servants come up and bring the soldiers drinks as well, the men seeming merrier and less watchful after. Letting your guards get drunk on watch? Stupid and careless for a lord. What if a rival came along and saw that?

Of course, this lord might not have any rivals. He felt safe...why else would this wall be so low, and with no moat or pallisade, so few guards on the wall. He felt safe...what made him feel that way?

The culvert had been damaged already; one side of the metal bars torn free of the masonry and bent outward a bit. Enough for him, or for a large animal like a panther, to wiggle through. He could feel Cunning Starfire ahead of him through the ring, down into the dark of the culvert.

Tor wriggled through the bent bars, feeling them scratch and scrape his skin every through his tunic, pressing hard against him until he was past them suddenly. He took in a deep breath of fetid air and then shook himself, crawling onward.

~~~~~~~~~​

Gunesh lounged indolently on a chair of richly polished dark wood, set among piles of cushions over a spread sheet of fine white linen. Triumphant Mantis and Ivory Dawn lunged on the cushions. There was a table to food and exotic desserts, several wines and spirits of local and foreign vintages, and even a select array of other entertainment drugs set out. Two groups of guests were about, talking and watching Gunesh in awe and excitement. Music came over the nearby garden wall, a few dancers twirling and gyrating to the earthy rhythm and melody.

Ivory Dawn covered her mouth with one hand, "He thinks you'll think this is the main event?"

Gunesh smirked, "Or he thinks I'll feel better being separated from the rabble and thus be pampered enough not to fuss." He raised a goblet to his mouth and tipped it but let the wine within splash against his lips rather than drink it. "I'd be wary of the wine. He wants us to leave early and go to bed; he'll have had it spiked with drugs to make us do just that, or make us insensible before his patrons arrive."

Then he cleared his throat, "Fine enough for the Threshold, but let me show you how to set the blood afire on the Blessed Isle!" He gestured to Ivory Dawn, "Dance, girl, show them how it's really done." He winked at her. No reason he shouldn't get some enjoyment out of having to dress and act like a fool.

 

[HookerBoots]

She smiled at him, and only a careful observer would have seen the hard edge to it. Ivory Dawn leaned forward, pressing her lips to his ear lightly. "Smart. I'm going to steal some of the drugs, just for future use," she whispered before stepping back and bowing. "As my lord wishes," she said in her performance voice. It was husky and low, but pitched loud enough that the others could hear without having to strain.

Ivory Dawn moved sinuously to where one of the servants was standing and slid up close to him to whisper in his ear. The young man seemed startled by both her nearness and her request, but nodded slightly and headed off to the other side of the garden wall.

The copper-haired dancer came over and bowed before Gunesh. "My sincerest apologies, my most gracious lord, but I must wait for the musicians." Her eyes smoldered as she looked at him, and her lips curved in a small smile. "But I do hope my dance, humble as it might be, will set your blood afire as well, no matter how many times you have seen it."

The dynast nodded once, and said, "I'm certain it will. You always seem to find new ways to surprise me."

Suddenly, the music that had been drifting over the wall stopped and changed. It had been a fairly languid piece, the woman who were dancing easily able to keep up with it even in the drug-addled state they were clearly in. Now, it was a high-energy, almost throbbing tempo, and the horns that were playing along with it seemed to wail in joy and longing with the beat.

Ivory Dawn stood and posed for a moment, one hand on either side of her face like a frame, her body poised with one leg in front of the other, her chest leaned back slightly. The drums changed tempo slightly, and she started move, her body undulating to the beat of the music in a way that every male eye - and most female eyes - seemed drawn to. The river of coppery hair fell down to brush the ground as she bent almost double backwards, her generous breasts seeming about to burst the top she was wearing.

As the Potentate came hurrying in to check on his esteemed guest, the pale-skinned Northerner turned her backbend into a backflip, pausing for a moment on her hands before pushing herself up and twisting to land sinuously. The lord of the house stopped, watching with wide eyes and his mouth hanging open. Ivory Dawn's arms and legs moved with a grace that seemed impossible in a human being, her eyes and lips bright with desire - feigned or real, it was hard to tell, but the performance was very compelling either way.

The room was silent, save for the sound of the music and the soft sound of Ivory Dawn's footfalls as she shimmied and slithered her way across the room, occasionally touching one of the party-goers on the cheek or shoulder. Everyone she touched shivered in pleasure, and followed her with their eyes even more intently after her touch brushed across them. Even the Potentate, who she slipped behind and stroked a finger down the back of his neck, seemed to forget about the rest of the night as she danced.

As the music wound up to a frenzy, she worked her way to Gunesh and Triumphant Mantis, finishing the dance on her knees in front of the inventor, arms spread and head thrown back. There was silence, and then applause started from Gunesh. His eyes were afire as he looked at her, pale skin shining with the sweat of exertion, breasts heaving with her breath. Triumphant Mantis followed quickly, her eyes alight with pride and hunger. The rest of the guests began to applaud as though they were waking from a dream, even the Potentate, who watched as Ivory Dawn stood with a wild look in his eyes.

"That," Gunesh said as she took her place on the cushions next to him, "was quite stirring, girl." He let a small smile pass over his lips. "I knew I got the better of the merchant I bought you from."

Her answering grin was demure, but held the promise of daggers. "Indeed you did, my Lord."

~ ~ ~ ~​

The jangling sound of livery brought the stable-hands out from where they had been lounging, trying to keep fear from showing on their faces. It wouldn't do for their guests to feel slighted - it hadn't taken much time at all for them to learn that lesson.

They took the leads of the creatures that the Fair Folk had ridden in gingerly, unsure if it would be all right for them to handle things made of gossamer like these. There was a sound of silvered glass tinkling as the Raksha laughed. "Just tie them somewhere, peasant. Don't worry about hurting it."

The stablehands nodded nervously, staying at a distance from the beasts on the other side of the tether. They watched fearfully as the Fair Folk made their way towards the manor house, seeming to float over the ground rather than walk on it.

"Busy night," said one of them, trying to act like he wasn't holding the lead rope to what appeared to a unicorn with lion paws and a fish tail.

"Aye," one of the others agreed, as nonplussed as he could be. "Busy as I've seen." He glanced at the manor, then at the beasts they held. "What d'ya say we tie these . . . lads up and take the rest of the night off?"

There was a moment where the others considered that, then they all nodded as one. "That sounds like the best idea I've heard in months," the first one said.

 

[Armphid]

The revelers at the main party did not notice when the guards discreetly slipped off of the nearby walls and moved inside of their posts. Nor did the fact that as servants were sent to get one thing or another that they did not return, slowly leaving until none remained in the courtyard. This still did not seem to get through the haze of wine, drugs, and whores. Not even when the music suddenly cut off, only to be immediately replaced with music of infinitely superior and alluringly alien tones did any of them truly seem to notice or care.

It was not until one of them rose from a freshly used, pink cheeked slut and let out a startled oath that any of the party noticed that anything was unusual at all. "Empress' heaving tits!" The man scrambled back from the pile of cushions and the freshly used whore, trying to pull his trousers back up and move at the same time, with little success at either. "Raksha!"

At his cry, other heads lifted and other oaths were shouted. "Calm now, calm," said an angelic voice that seemed to be threaded together from several lovely voices all speaking at once. "Gentles," the tone shifted to elegant mockery on that word, "we are guests here, just as you are. And here to partake in what our host has assembled." The speaker was an androgynous fae being, about seven feet tall but slender and long, with graceful and appealing but strange elongated limbs and features. It smiled without feeling and spread six fingered hands wide, "and what a feast he has provided."

Another figure, clearly female, her features a blend of human, feline, and something else altogether reached out to cup her hand under the chin of the first man to cry out, tilting his head up to look into her upside-down eyes. "You admire your lost Empress' breasts? Mine are better, pretty man, and it'll cost you far less to see and touch them." She leaned down, "She'd take your life. All I want is a few pieces of your soul."

The four other fae fanned out to start moving through the revelers and the impassioned cries resumed, joined by others of fear, of pain, and of helpless rage.

~~~~~~~~~​

"Dragons bless an' save us," murmured a white haired matron in the manor's kitchen. As much of the cooking staff as could be were crammed into the large set of chambers. Several of them were holding iron pots, pot lids, ladles, or other implements tightly.

There was a sudden squeal from a group of younger serving girls who'd been sitting together over near the dump for the water and refuse. They bolted and ran into the others, one of them babbling, "There's a monster down there!"

The bars bent with a wrenching squeal and then the hinges burst. A moment later the gate was heaved aside. The servants all pulled back, staring in fear and shock at the sight. Then a small black cat hopped up out of the drain. It shook itself and let out a soft "mrow" before darting out of the kitchen and down one of the corridors.

The assembled peasants watched it go. "What...was that?"

"Not a Fair one, them's iron bars."

"What else could it be?"

The staff of the manor had turned away from the drain, clustered together as best they could, gabbering and gossiping and wondering aloud about what they had just seen. So much so that none noted as a grubby young man pulled himself up out of the drain as well. His garments were simple linen and had seen far better days, now likely fully ruined by his time in the culvert and the drain. An iron knife was in his belt, alongside a small grain flail.

Tor looked at the clustered group and then shook his head. He ducked out the same passage he'd seen Cunning Starfire...at least he thought the cat was Cunning Starfire go.

~~~~~~~~~​

"He's smarter than I thought," Gunesh opined as he strode through the hallways of the manor. He was still wearing the silks and rich garb but now his armor was in place over it and he bore the flame piece in his hands. The maker shook his head, "He's played a very clever game."

"How so?" Triumphant Mantis had her daiklaive, golden collar, and the cunningly thin mail on again as well. Besides that she was still wearing the skimpy dancer's outfit, looking more than a little sexy, dangerous, and vaguely ridiculous. Ivory Dawn didn't ask but her eyes did; the dancer bearing her own weapon, and she'd kept her magical bracelets and anklets on the whole time.

"He's not just getting soul dead slaves," Gunesh explained. "I'd bet he's having the Fair Folk do the same thing, not as deeply, to his other guests. Merchants, politicians, local power brokers, that kind of thing. Making them all weaker and easy to agree to his proposals."

Triumphant Mantis opened her mouth to speak but from a corridor up ahead and to the right there came a shout, "Hold, you! You're not a servant! Stand and deliver or-"

They didn't hear what the consequence would be as there was the sound of a struggle, smashing crockery and then a heavy thud of something large and solid being slammed several times against a wall.

Ivory Dawn darted past the others before they could react, dipping into a hiding place in her scandalous outfit and producing a throwing knife before she rounded the corner and then stopped dead; her gorgeous eyes confused.

In front of her was a young man, almost a boy really, in worn, dirty, and terrible looking peasants' garments. She idly noted they were not the clothes the peasants wore locally, but her attention was more focused on the armored guard that the youth had just been smashing against the wall and now let fall to the floor. His eyes were wide as he looked back at her and she thought she could see a blush on his cheeks underneath all the grime.

Then his eyes moved to her weapons and the eyes hardened at once. The boy picked up the fallen soldier's sword in his right hand, and his shield in the left. He stood with them and did not speak at first. Ivory Dawn felt the others coming around behind her.

"You're not guards," the grubby figure said. His voice confirmed his youth but it was also far stronger than any of them had anticipated. "Mercenaries to this lord, maybe. You're not being paid enough to fight me. Clear my path. I don't want to kill you." But there was a certainty in his tone that clearly said that he would.

 

[HookerBoots]

Ivory Dawn tilted her head to one side. "I'm not being paid enough to fight you? I'm not being paid at all." She looked down at the guard, who was unconscious, but not dead, then over his shoulder at the sounds of pleasure and pain in the garden. A hungry expression came over her face, and Tor almost shivered. "Except in vengeance." She tucked the knife back up her sleeve and looked at him seriously, assessing what she saw.

The youth could tell he was being measured, and wasn't entirely sure why. She wasn't one of the Fair Folk - gorgeous, but not in their unearthly way - so why did she care what he was capable of? After a few moments, he blushed and shifted a little. "What?"

A small smile passed over her lips, and the copper-haired dancer nodded slightly. "Listen. You're here against His Odious Excellency for his deal with the Fair Ones, right?" At his own slight nod, she grinned. "So are we." Even as she spoke, Gunesh and Triumphant Mantis stepped around the corner. "Friends, this young man is here for the same reason we are."

Tri's daiklave wavered slightly. "Really." Her eyes traveled over the slender young man quickly. "Very well. If you wish, you can join with us. Having another set of hands and eyes would be good."

Tor's eyes were fixed on Gunesh in near-horror - it was clear the man was a Dynast, and the fighting would most likely make Tor's own nature apparent. A loud, female wail rose up in the air, and then cut off. "I would be glad to have help." What happened to him didn't matter - besides, he was pretty sure he could at least escape the other man, depending on what his aspect was. And Cunning Starfire was with him as well. "I do have a companion with me, in disguise."

"We'll promise to try not to skewer them, then," said Gunesh, his eyes scanning the corridor. "In the meantime, we've spent more than enough minutes here. Tri, lead the way, please."

The blonde nodded sharply. "Right. This way, eyes and blades at the ready." She pushed past Tor and down the adjacent corridor, moving swiftly towards the sounds of terror and delight.

As they fell into step, he glanced at Ivory Dawn, who hadn't pulled out another knife. "Don't you want to . . . ?"

She held up one hand, and he caught the glint of a ring around her finger and a needle-sharp point on it. "I've got what I need, for now." Her eyes twinkled merrily, and she winked at him. "It's sweet that you were worried, though. Very chivalrous."

 

[Armphid]

Tor didn't know what "chivalrous" meant but it seemed to be a positive thing. Or she was making fun of him, which was likely. But that smile and wink seemed...it reminded him of Cunning Starfire and the way she would look at him. There were other reasons she reminded him of the lush bodied shape shifter; even though she was dressed, barely, she made him feel as though they were both nude together. Not even Cunning Starfire could use her...whatever it was so well and make him feel so...like that so easily.

He blushed again and shook his head, dragging his eyes away after they dipped low to the clinging, low-cut top she was wearing. "I, uh, just thought that...you might need a bigger, um, better weapon."

"Oh, my. I know it's hard to resist a line like that, but be good," Tri said with an almost laugh in her voice. The gorgeous blonde looked back at the dancer and the filthy young peasant boy with a smile. It was strange. They were walking towards one hell of a fight, probably the worst any of them had seen until now, and she didn't feel like she'd expected. And the boy, he looked like he'd be a pretty young thing under all that much, they'd only just met him but his presence felt right. As if he had been missing from their group all along. "But we all need to focus."

"And figure out exactly how to proceed," Gunesh commented. The group had reached the end of the hallway and the sounds outside were all much louder. There were mingled moans and screams as well as laughs and the distinct bell-like chimes of swordplay. "I can see...three Fair Folk nobles at least, but there must be more."

"There were six," Tor provided. "Six riding horses and six little twisted things running along with them." The peasant walked past the others as they were peering out to see the situation.

Ivory Dawn grimaced, "That many...we'll need to strike carefully if we-"

Her words cut off as the door opened and Tor stepped out into the courtyard, "Talking. It's time to fight."

Gunesh blinked, "He's...direct."

~~~~~~~~~~​

In one corner of the courtyard, what was left of the Lintha pirates backed against the outer wall. The captain bled from a few minor wounds but his own dagger was slick with rainbow hued blood. "Wyld bitches," he spat, "My aunts and uncles will pay you for this. Not even you can cross the Lintha."

A tall, lean faerie cataphract laughed, his armor rustling as he did so, seeming to made of nothing more than bundled leaves yet strong as fine steel while being light as cotton. "Little demon blood, all your numbers are as nothing to us. Your bound masters can't do anything to save or avenge you." He lifted his blade, a saber made of glass and spun daylight.

Then there was a shriek as the busty feline featured raksha flew back from the young man she was ravishing, iridescent blood spurting from her body and smoke and steam rising from her shoulder around an ugly, dull knife blade of iron.

Tor let his arm fall from the throw he'd just made, pulling his stolen sword out of the turf where he's stuck it. "Fair Ones. Leave now or die; this is the only chance you'll get."

 

[Kinkerhell]

Enter the Abyssal

Flashes. Images. Fragments of broken dreams and nightmares, things that could not possibly be real and yet somehow...were.

The woman calling herself The Scarlet Star flew northeast. Her sanguine-colored wings were spread, catching thermals and only beating enough to keep her in the sky. Occasionally she would dive, catching speed before riding another updraft. Below her, the edge of the Marin Bay glittered, a pool of liquid silver running up against the forests and grasslands of the northeast.

As she flew, her crimson hair and black spidersilk armor fluttering in her wake, The Scarlet Star considered what had brought her to this. Just a month ago, she had been the minor daughter of a minor house, being groomed to be married off to some fat nobleman for an increase in her family's prestige or wealth. She'd been a quiet sort, pretty but not beautiful, with features that, while pleasing, would not linger in the mind's eye.

She also had no special skills. She was pleasant enough, but not siren or kingmaker. She was lean and quick, but had never excelled at martial arts or archery as so many other girls her age had. She wasn't even particularly smart. Her only talent had been singing, and while her voice was pleasant, it was by no means glorious. Still, her singing and musicianship had been her only real talents. Knowing that the date of her marriage was fast approaching, she had decided to take a trip to Deren's Ford, west of the Marukan Mountains, where her family had a small holding, specifically a salt mine. The pretext of checking her family's assets had really just been an excuse to go to the music festival at Deren's Ford, to listen and perhaps to play, before being married off to a degenerate of house Cynis.

She'd arrived in Deren's Ford, her eyes wide and her heart soaring, and for a few days, she'd found a peace and happiness she'd not known. It was nice, not having to play politics, and with her mousy brown hair, dark green eyes, sharp features, and sallow skin, she wasn't the subject of too much attention. She thought she'd found something she truly enjoyed for once.

Unfortunately, destiny had other plans.

On the eve of the last night of the festival there was to be a concert featuring several musicians of great skill, and to her delight, she'd been asked to play the Cithara for one set of songs, taking the stage with Tepet Ikoma, a Dynast, powerful Dragon-blood, and renowned singer. She'd mounted that stage filled with excitement, for it was a dream coming true to her.

Then the Raksha came, and the dream turned to nightmare.

They had been there the whole time, but no one had known, for they disguised themselves with illusions and costumes, only unveiling themselves when the entire town's passion for music was at its height, in the middle of Ikoma's performance. Then, they became the terrible, beautiful Fair Folk once more. The crowd tried to fight, but to no avail. Tepet Ikoma fared better, grievously injuring two of the vile creatures, but in the end he died with nearly everyone else. When the Raksha came for Nevenka Tisendra, now The Scarlet Star, she had been too paralyzed to even flee. She knew she was about to die.

She was wrong. It was far, far worse than that.

The Raksha took her with them, to a redoubt in the Eastern Marukan mountains. There, they "played" with her, subjecting her to all manner of physical, mental, and sexual torments. Her memory of the time is fragmented and will likely never return, muddled as it has been by shock, pain, and the mind-altering ways of the Fae. It could have been seconds or hours before she regained her senses enough to try and escape her torment. Desperate, Tisendra seized the chance when it came. From her small, bare room she ran to the edge of the tower, intending to throw herself off and at least escape the torments heaped upon her, but the glass would not break. She hammered at it, wailing, but made no progress.

The commotion brought the Fair Folk upon her, and they laughed and called her pet, and made ready to continue their systematic violation of her mind, body, and soul, but Tisendra had had enough. She threw herself at the closest Fae, hoping that she could at least hurt him before they killed her, but quicker than lightning, he had drawn his blade, a beautiful, elegant thing spun of moth wings and folded moonbeams, and smoothly run her through.

As then, as she lay dying, surrounded by laughing monsters and with her life's blood pouring onto the floor, she felt something else come over her. It offered her power, skill, the ability to avenge herself upon these smiling devils. There were no words, on dark promises. Only the feeling of an offer.

Tisendra took it. She died on that floor. Then the Scarlet Star was born, and even the Raksha knew fear.

With a speed unrivalled in nature, she came up off the floor and seized the only weapon available to her, the sword through her stomach. She tore it out and took it up. Then she was among them, and her fury was an elemental force. For half an hour she stood and fought as the Raksha tried to bring her down, and they died and they died and they died. In the end, the few survivors fled, leaving The Scarlet Star knee deep in gem-colored blood and mistress of the tower.

Once she had recovered, The Scarlet Star went about learning the extent of her own capabilities, as well as her limitations. The first time she'd looked in a mirror, she'd been astonished. Whatever change had made her into an elemental force of destruction had styled her appearance to hide her nature. Her formerly sallow skin had gone the creamy color of polished alabaster, and her hair was the color of a ruby in the sun. Her eyes, too, had changed, but that was a parting gift from the Fae, and they now shone with a glinting yellow light, as though her irises had been cut from topaz. Her body, once lean but not pretty, had become infused with an effortless, liquid grace, and she was small of waist and hip, and long of leg, with high, firm breasts that, while not the massive, jutting things of a Cynis whore, were still perfect and enticing.

There were other changes, as well. She found tattoos on her back, and was infinitely surprised to find that she could form wings from them with an expenditure of effort. Another tattoo sat lower, just above her hips, and seemed to be worked out of black metal that was ingrained into her skin. It held a small space in the middle, and it wouldn't be until she learned the nature of her tower that she would realize the thing to be a hearthstone socket.

It was two weeks in the massive library of the tower before she realized what she was.

Anathema.

But not a golden demon or a silver one either. She didn't know exactly what she was. One day, perhaps she would find out, but first, there was vengeance to be had amongst the fled Raksha. Arming herself with the twin blades she found locked in an ivory case in the main foyer of the Abode of Ravens and garbing herself in the incredibly tough silk garments she'd found in the closet of the tower's master Bedroom, she went to the top of the Abode of Ravens, sitting atop its own sheer tower of stone, and threw herself off, spreading her wings and taking flight north.

Now, with the wind whipping at her garb, The Scarlet Star Smiles. She'd accounted for three of them, and found that she could drink of their vital essence. They were delicious, exquisite flavors for which she knew no name, and she was looking forward to taking the fourth. She was getting close now.

Beating her wings then folding them back, The Scarlet Star shot forward, racing the setting sun, and her wings blazed with red light, transforming her into a ruby dart, sped forth by an unknown benefactor to smite the unclean.

 

[Armphid]

Triumphant Mantis shook her head, "He is but he's also giving us time to get into position." Whether he knew it or not. Gunesh could fight all right face to face, but against raksha he was better off with his flame piece from a distance. And Ivory Dawn would probably prefer a sneak attack herself. "Let's use it. The second floor, we can come in from above and put Gunesh in place to shoot. Quick!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~​

There were a few moments of utter, stunned silence in the courtyard, save for the whimpers of the raksha woman as she pulled the iron knife from her sublimating flesh and frantic movement as some of the people still able to act tried to scramble away from the Fair Ones and their twisted hobgoblin lackeys.

Then one of the other raksha started to laugh; a beautiful and terrible sound of hopes shattering like crystal bells against silvered swords. The others, save for the one wounded by iron around whom the hobgoblins had clustered, joined in. The sound was unlike anything Tor had ever heard and it sent a shiver down his back and made part of him want to curl up and wish for such mind aching beauty to go away and never trouble him again.

The rest of him wanted them dead even more.

Most of the raksha continued to titter, rising up from the humans they'd been raping in so many ways, but one ceased and shook his head. "So bold, Sun Child. But you're young, aren't you? Not even a shred of fine armor or a weapon worthy of you to be seen. I remember when your glory was such that it made even we tremble in awe...and now you stand here covered in filth with a dead mortal's sword in your hands."

He, if it was a he, Tor couldn't quite tell, pursed his lips and smiled. "No, sun Child, we will not give up our toys. So, come and make us stop." He offered a deep, mocking bow and smirked, "You, all alone, with that...vast and mighty panopoly you have could not stand against one of us. Let alone six?"

"But I respect your memory far too much to tell you to give up. No, no. Come and fight and lose, Sun Child." A long tongue the color of tundra moss licked over his lips, "You will feel you tried your all and I promise, we won't kill you. Oh, no. Not when you've so generously given yourself into our hands. We will make you ours, Sun Child. And after the first time...you will beg us for more." He beamed now, "And we'll give it, until you need us using you to live, and then you'll earn all we've given you. Our own little pet Solar. Won't that be fun?"

Tor didn't answer right away. He felt again that sense of unease, of vague dread anticipation that had seemingly replaced fear in his heart since his Second Breath. The young warrior didn't know where those others had gone, or Cunning Starfire, it was possible they had fled. And if so...then he was sure that the raksha was right. He couldn't defeat them all.

The youth rolled his shoulders and then set them squarely. "Let's find out together."

 

[Kinkerhell]

The Scarlet Star crossed over Cayir as the sun neared the horizon line. She knew the Raksha she was chasing had come this way, she'd heard the creature's plan to be here when it was talking with its comrades in between visiting horrors on Scarlet's mind and body.

Scarlet flew a long, low circle around the area as she looked for likely spots to contain a Raksha. This satrapy was no gleaming constellation of glass and gems and precious metals, and a noble Fair One wouldn't be caught dead amongst the peasants, but she saw nothing that would catch her eye. Che continued her circuit, but to no avail. There was just nothing that leaped out at her, and she was no tracker. She began swearing to herself in Low Realm, but cut off suddenly as she caught sight of a manor, somewhat removed from the rest of civilization. The place was large, well-built, and fine. It was the house of a Potentate or a Dynast.

In short, it was exactly where one would expect to see a degenerate, horrid creature that cared little for human decency.

Scarlet spread her wings and rose further into the sky, then began a leisurely glide toward the manor. Looking down, she could see people, decorations, pavilions. It appeared that the master of the house was throwing a party. A collection of mortals was probably not the place that six Raksha with assumed, unearthly forms would try to hide...

...or maybe it was, for Scarlet could see now that something was amiss, but she couldn't see well enough to make out what. It looked like there was a confrontation going on, a single figure facing down a group of others, wearing something shiny, probably armor. Desiring a better viewpoint, Scarlet turned and flew away from the manor, then dropped low and came back at an angle that shielded the garden from view, due to the manor being in the way. Less than a hundred feet off the ground now, Scarlet flew in close and alighted on the roof of the manor. She'd feared that a stablehand would see her and raise the alarm, since she had to come over the corrals, but it seemed that they had all gone elsewhere for the day. Folding her wings back, Scarlet walked quietly to the edge of the manor and looked down, then drew back at what she saw.

Well, she thought wryly, I guess I've found the Raksha. Along with all of her friends. Six cataphractoi, plus her own quarry if the bitch was down there at all. Scarlet was a killer and she knew it, but those were long and grim odds, even for her. She looked at the rest of the assembled people, all of whom were riveted on the confrontation playing out in front of them. With all eyes upon the Fae, no one was looking up, and Scarlet ran little risk of being accidentally seen. Her eyes darted about, assessing and plotting.

Mostly, the others were just normal mortals, seemingly. They were in various states of intoxication and undress and much, much fear, pressed up against one another or huddling against the walls. They were no threat and no worry to Scarlet. There were the pirates to one side, who, if Scarlet was judging correctly, were Lintha, a race of demon-blooded scum who preyed on the mortals in the west. It would be an interesting question to ask why they were all the way out here. They were known to be savage and brutal, but not particularly skilled fighters.

They would die first.

Scarlet turned her eyes on the cataphractoi for a brief moment. All of them were unearthly and beautiful, extremely pale with hair of unnatural hues, wearing light, articulated plate that seemed to be forged from light and glass and color. They carried, to a being, rapiers with delicate, ornate golden hilts, their blades concealed in sheathes of the same material as their armor. Scarlet stared at them, and the hatred of their entire race bubbled up inside her. She could feel her canines begin to elongate, and knew that her eyes would be shining even more brightly now.

The Raksha would die next.

Scarlet looked about for the Potentate or Dynast who owned this manor, who had presumably thrown this party to sell off the guests to the Raksha. If she found him, the garden would run red with his blood.

Looking at the man was facing down the Raksha, Scarlet arched one delicate eyebrow. He was a peasant! Strong, but young, scarcely older than her own eighteen years, and covered in dirt and grime and what might be blood, holding a sword in his hands. She shook her head sadly. What did he plan to do against the fair folk? Scarlet snorted and shook her head again.

If she had any say, he wouldn't die at all.

Scarlet had been on the roof for less than a minute, and realized that the scene hadn't changed at all while she'd been making her quick observations. It appeared that everyone was waiting for...what? Whatever it was, it held the crowd spellbound with anticipation, silent and fearful.

It was too good an opportunity to waste, and Scarlet could never resist a show.

She closed her eyes for a moment and concentrated, calling up her darker nature. Her fangs grew longer and sharper still, more than twice the length of the teeth to either side. Her eyes, first bright, then glittering, were now luminescent. In a dark room, they would emit a harsh yellow, pale light, a cruel parody of the sun's soft golden glow. Drawing Lament and Requiem, Scarlet dropped low and spread her wings, then jumped, beating her wings powerfully at the same time and surging upward like she'd been shot from a bow. She rose quickly, and as she looked outward, she saw the sun just...about...to...touch. Dusk was truly upon Cayir now.

Scarlet heeled over and came down in a savage, killing dive. The Lintha had just enough time to look up and see her coming toward them. Then The Scarlet Star was amongst the demon-blooded pirates, and the air ran thick and hot with tainted blood.

The Scarlet Star's wings vanished, leaving her hair and eyes as the only spots of color on her body, and she moved like a shadow racing the light, almost too quick to follow. Her long black blades flickered once, twice, a third time, each elegant, graceful movement leaving hideous, grievous wounds in its wake.

The first two Lintha didn't even realize she was there and were felled in a heartbeat, by mirrored strokes of her blades across their backs. They fell bonelessly, their spines severed.

The next one sprung at her with arms akimbo, only to meet her right-hand blade, Lament, as it cut across his path. The stroke sheared both arms off at the elbow. An instant later, Lament's path was reversed, cutting the pirate's throat. Crippled and gurgling, he staggered once before a delicate, slender leg snapped out and slammed a foot outward in a savage kick, knocking the pirate to the floor. The sound of his ribs breaking could be heard even over the exclamations of the crowd as the chiaroscuran glass platform of the high-heeled shoe took him in the chest.

Another pirate came at The Scarlet Star, this one holding a long dagger. In a whirl of black silk and red hair, Scarlet turned to her right, thrusting her left arm into the pirate before her with the dagger, and her right arm sped Lament in the other direction. It took another Lintha, this one with a belaying pin, in the stomach. There was no way she could have heard or seen him, and yet she knew he was there, and killed him with cold, brutal efficiency.

And with each kill, she grew stronger. She fed upon the essence of the Lintha as she cut them down, her soulsteel blades tearing it from their souls and delivering it to the empty void that was The Scarlet Star. These were not True Lintha, but merely their mortal servants, and were a pale feast indeed, but it was enough to replenish what she had expended flying here. There were undoubtedly True Lintha here, but they weren't within sword's reach and were thus irrelevant.

Scarlet tore her blades free of the last two mortal Lintha and straightened, turning toward the fair folk. The bodies toppled, less than a second after the first two had crumpled. She raised her blades in a mocking salute to the Raksha cataphract who stood in front of the rest, and offered a small curtsy.

The garden, for the second time in less than a minute, went silent.

 

[Armphid]

Gunesh let out a low whistle, "That's the kid's friend? There's some hope for him after all." The tall artificer was on one knee behind one of the open windows on the first floor, his flame piece out and resting on the sill as he hefted it to his shoulder and sighted down the barrel. The dying light of the sun seemed to dance alone the brass and bronze filigree of the weapon.

Tri shook his head, "Only if he makes it out alive, take the shot, Gunesh. Before they-"

There was a faint click and a sudden roar as the flame piece bellowed and a jet of flame as wide as a man's waist lanced out of the window and rocketed towards the lead raksha that had turned away from Tor and towards the scarlet winged murderess who had fallen from above. Blue, indigo, and violet swirl around the column of flame; symbols and words forming indicating it's temperature, velocity, and other data. The blast washed over the startled Fair Folk noble, a broken kaleidoscope scream ripping through the sundered air.

Tri barreled out of the door in the same moment, golden light erupting from her body, the lovely blond crying out, "You're taking no one today!" Her voice rang with enraged compassion, and her eyes were fierce as she dove past the startled Tor and came up in a low roll, her perfect gleaming blade swinging on a path to take the same Fair One off at the knees.

The scream of broken colored glass rose to brilliant heights and, accompanied by the cracking of armored plates crafted from the defeat that haunted captured soldiers as they sundered beneath the blade of Triumphant Mantis. Her lustrous daiklaive severed sinew, muscle, and bones of whispers and dreams, the burned mass of the being who had been so impossibly beautiful a moment ago crashing to the grass of the courtyard; his armor ringing like a thousand struck shields. Tri rose to her feet, coming up on the balls of them, her mighty blade held in both hands and her gaze wary. A golden disc glittered on her forehead, reflecting the fading sunlight as if it were the magnificence of noon.

Behind the commotion, a plain black house cat darted towards the back of a cataphract who had just begun to draw his blade. It jumped at him, changing in mid-air into a massive fusion of panther and woman, gleaming silver designs shining through her sleek, dark fur. Shining claws of silver clutched at him and she wrenched him down and back, seeking to bite the life from him. Blood that sang fell from his wounds as he wrenched himself away from her, turning to face the monstrous beast.

 

[HookerBoots]

Ivory Dawn smiled in the shadows of the passage they'd come out of. The new boy was definitely ballsy, and it was excellent that he was willing to make himself a target for the sake of the rest of them.

She slid out of the entryway, loosening Surprising Reach of Justice from where it was concealed. The short blade glinted in the faint light, and with a quick twist, the dancer-assassin loosened the blade from its hilt, the chain dangling free between her hands. Twirling the chain around her body, creating a blurring spiral of iron and gold around her.

Expending a portion of her power, she swung the blade in a half-moon arc over her head, aiming for the nearest shining Raksha. The ethereal being wasn't expecting an attack from that angle, but the attack which might have cleaved a lesser being in two barely scratched the Wyld creature's back, a thin trickle of pale, inhuman blood marring the delicate confection of his costume.

 

[Kinkerhell]

The Raksha shot by Gunesh and Tri barely has time to scream, before blowing apart in a glittering spray of gemstone fragments, which turn to particolored sparks in the mid-air and vanish. The cataphract struck from behind by Cunning Starfire staggers and nearly falls, but catches itself with inhuman grace and whirls, casting her aside. The Fae hit by Ivory Dawn snarls in pain and anger and turns, reaching for his sword, intending to cleave in twain the presumptuous mortal who would dare raise a hand against the Fair Folk. Everyone is screaming or shouting or reaching for their blades when a voice like the peal of brass bells snaps out a peremptory command.

"Stop!" cries a voice like the pealing of brass bells. A wave of power accompanies the cry, and spectators all fall quiet, many freezing in place. For a moment, even the exalted cannot move, save Scarlet who's body is proof against shaping, but who is too shocked to take advantage of her immunity. The response from the Cataphractoi is instantaneous. As one, they back up, still facing their enemies, still baying for blood, but no longer willing, or able, to act. Suddenly, the garden is silent. From within the crowd of terrified spectators comes a lone figure in a robe and cowl, walking slowly. Even with the heavy, feature-obscuring attire on, the figure moves with a sinuous grace. It steps past the stunned onlookers as though it had all the time in the world. Striding up beside the Cataphractoi, the figure raises long, slim hands with skin the color of new shoots and pushes back its cowl.

It is a woman, clearly inhuman and yet perfect. Her beauty knows no bounds, and no language can adequately convey it. Her skin is a pale green, framing large eyes with irises that appear opalescent, their color shifting. Her long hair is pale, the color of aspen heartwood, and her lush, sensuous lips are the color of ripe raspberries. Her features are angular, and on a lesser woman might appear too defined for beauty, but somehow they only add to her allure, as befits the Raksha noble that she must be. She smiles, a slow, predatory grin, as she surveys the Solars and the Deathknight.

"Well, well, well. This is an unexpected surprise. A group of tender little lawgivers, come straight to the lion's den. Mmmmm, how delicious." She licks her lips slowly, the small, simple action enough to make onlookers weak in the knees. She turns her head to look at Scarlet directly. "And you, my pet. I thought I'd lost you. Come back to your mistress, have you?"

Scarlet shakes her head, but cannot find the courage to speak. Seeing that no other response is forthcoming, the Raksha smiles wider, then turns back to the Solars and puts a finger to her lips, appearing deep in thought.

"Well now, you have us at an impasse. We could certainly kill you and proceed as we would have before your arrival, but that would deprive us of such succulent morsels, and my pet is so much more interesting now that she's gone and grown a bit. Still, you'd never let us take you alive. So, what are we to do?" The fae taps her teeth with a fingernail, and the sound is like someone striking two crystal goblets together. She turns back to the solars.

"I have it now!" She exclaims, seemingly giddy with childlike delight. "We'll play a little game. My champions here will duel you, until all of you or all of them are fallen. If you win, I shall grant you each a favor and then leave this place, never to return, nor ever send my freemen to harry this place. You may keep your flock," she gestures to the onlookers, "and go about your way. If we win, we get to keep you for a year and a day, and take or tithe of dreamers as we had planned. How does that sound?"

Suddenly, the exalts find that they can move and speak freely once more.

 

[HookerBoots]

Ivory Dawn's initial response to the woman who was standing in front of them was a blend of cowering fear and a hatred so intense it was almost tangible. After that wave of emotion had passed, she started to mentally chew her lip. The being seemed to know what they were, and to know the other woman that was there, the one with the wings. That . . . was perhaps troubling. But the offer she made . . . .

They couldn't take this group with just them, even with the additions they seemed to have. Not even before the statuesque woman had drawn their eyes. Maybe this was a better chance than she'd thought. As the stasis broke, she shook her head, snapping the chain of Surprising Reach of Justice to bring the blade back to her. "If I may ask, My Lady," it took a lot of effort to keep the bitterness from her voice, "will we be able to rest between duels, or will they all occur at once?"

She smiled a little, trying to put as much self-deprecation into it as she could - not that it mattered, the woman could read her more easily than she could read a line on a page. "Not all of us have the multifaceted awareness of the Fair Ones."