Friday, August 31, 2012

Twin Desires Pt 4

Ever wonder about Justin's past?  We get a little taste of it today: Justin will have to set aside his personal grudges and learn to trust.



Chapter Four

 

                When you hear that a kingdom is neighboring another, you assume they are close. You would be wrong. It turns out that, even though Saludyn is a neighboring kingdom to Tantin, my father’s kingdom, it is extremely far away. And the easiest path from Tantin to Saludyn, is not easy at all. Woods stretched from the edge of our palace to the mountain range serving as the border to our kingdom. If you attempted to go around the mountain range, you would find yourself in King’s bay. So named for the first king who founded the two kingdoms, which, ironically, used to be one kingdom. So we were forced to travel through the woods, to the mountain range, to a tiny path through the Icy mountains, creatively called the Icy path. The plan seemed simple enough, until you took into factor the many creatures within the woods, much less later on. The creatures ranged from the mildest mannered of chipmunks to the deadly bear or mountain lion, yet it did not stop there. Rumors, mostly from drunkards in taverns, told tales of fantastical magical creatures such as the beautiful unicorns, powerful phoenixes were often tried to help travelers.   But there were also tales of the cunning intellect within the minds of creatures such as centaurs of sphinxes, who were just as likely to help a traveler as they were to hinder them. Most frightening of all however, were the dragons.  Dragons were said to be naturally violent, and to detest humans, knights and kings mostly. It was said that this hatred spawned from when a decree was made declaring dragons too dangerous, and thus ordered their existence terminated. The dragon’s treasures were stolen, their eggs were smashed, and hatchlings slaughtered. Supposedly, some kings kept hatchlings as pets, believing that by having such a majestic, deadly creature in their households their family and kingdom were a force to be reckoned with.

                What utter rubbish, I think as Justin continues to tell me about magical creatures and the dangers that we may or may not encounter. Though, What if it’s true? What if the Saludynian king has a couple dragons in his hold? What if the drunken rumors weren’t just rumors? If  they were true, and Adrinna didn’t comply with her captor’s demands, as she surely wouldn’t, would they feed her to the dragons? Suddenly even more frightened for Adrinna’s safety, I turn in the saddle to face Justin.

                “Justin!” I cry fear for Adrinna bubbling up in my chest.

                Justin snaps his mouth shut in frustration. I blush deeply, realizing that Justin had still been talking, and that I just revealed that I hadn’t been paying any attention to him. “What Katrinna?” Justin asks gritting his teeth in frustration as he pulled Flinn to a stop by Zypher.

                “Is it true that-” I start to ask, unaware of the volume of my voice. But before I can get the rest of my question out, Justin quickly slap his hand over my mouth, effectively silencing me. I glare viciously at him, as a slow blush rises in my cheeks. I push impossible thoughts away and try to talk around Justin’s hand, but all I can get out is a few muffled sounds.

                “Shh,” Justin whispers in my ear. I shiver as his breath tickles my earlobe and the impossibilities start pushing their way to the surface. Then I notice the look on Justin’s face. He was tense and unmoving as his eyes darted around, frantically searching the woods around us. Realizing that something was very wrong I pull at Justin’s hand until he moves it away from my mouth reluctantly.

                “What’s-” Justin’s hand flies to my mouth again and he glares down at me as he places a finger to his lips, silently telling me to shut the hell up.

                I huff angrily to let him know how unhappy I was about being silenced. Justin’s lime green eyes intently search the trees around us, flicking nervously from left to right and back again. The woods are entirely silent however, not even animal noises escaped the forest. I don’t pay much attention as I suddenly find myself entranced by Justin. The last rays of dying sunlight were illuminating the left side of his face, making his eyes sparkle.  I picture those eyes staring into mine, raw with desire as I run my fingers through his wavy blonde hair, gently brushing it away from his eyes.

                Just as my imagination takes a turn towards a more physical connection, a twig snaps, and Justin tenses as his eyes focus on a single spot in the trees as I practically leap out of my saddle in surprise. Justin slowly moves his hand from my mouth and grips the hilt of his sword in one hand, and Flinn’s reigns in the other.  I reluctantly drag my eyes to the same point in the shadows, and force my mind to the present, away from the interesting turn my wild imagination had taken. The shadows shift and swirl until they finally spit out a cloaked figure. Then another. The first was a black horse and its rider. The rider was wearing a black cloak with the hood pulled up to hide his face.

                “State your business here!” Justin bellows, gripping his sword handle tightly as I try to push back the fear tingling up my spine.

                The mystery rider smirks. “Why should I state my business to you? These are not your woods. I do not live on your king’s land, for I am not his property.  Pardon me,” the rider states sarcastically. “I meant that I am not his subject. Knight,” The rider spits the last two words like poison.

                Anger flares in Justin’s eyes and he opens his mouth to retort, but the rider beats him to the proverbial punch.

                “Silence yourself knave. We must be onto business,” The dark rider smirks. “You look as if you have considerable amounts of wealthy goods on your persons. Do yourself a favor and remove them.”

                Anger flares hot in my chest, quickly replacing the fear that had been crawling up my spine as Justin stares at the rider furiously.

                “Who do you think you are?! He-” I cry, gesturing to Justin. “-is the best knight in the entire kingdom! Show some respect!” I scream, trying to fry the rider with a single look.

                The rider smirks and lifts his left hand, leaving his right hand to rest on the saddle horn. He makes a complex hand gesture before whistling shrilly. I frown as my ears ring, unsure of what te rider was doing, until I hear Justin take a sudden, short breath.

                All around us, gypsies start appearing from the woods. I look around frantically, as hundreds of knife-wielding, bloodletting, sticky fingered gypsies and bandits appear out of nowhere. I literally stop breathing, before shrinking down into my saddle as much as humanly possible.

                “Since you have played hard to get, we will simply have to kill you. Knights these days,” the rider sighs, shaking his head. “No respect for us honest thieves.”

                “Too true Volos,” the gypsy to the right of the rider says. His hand immediately flies to cover his mouth as he shoots a fearful look towards the rider.

                “Your name is Volos?” Justin asks, his voice sounding strained.

                The rider, Volos sighs. “Yes, my name is Volos. As this slippery tongued idiot let slip. You might also know me by my cheesier nickname, The Rebel. Whoever gave me that nickname deserves to be drawn and quartered.” Volos growls, dismounting his black steed.

                “It’s quite cute,” I say coyly, fluttering my eyelashes. Adrinna had always believed a woman could charm her way out of anything, while I had never believed that myself, it was never too late to try. Some of the bandits snicker as Justin turns and glare viciously at me. Volos pulls his hood back to reveal a ruggedly handsome face surrounded by black, shoulder length hair, his stormy grey eyes stood in stark contrast to his dark hair and I noticed a slight hook to his nose, as if it had been broken and never properly set. He is also well built, muscular, and probably around six feet tall, overall a very intimidating person. I would guess him to be in his early thirties.

                Justin’s back stiffens at the sight of him as his grip tightens around his sword hilt, turning his knuckles white.

                “Silence!” Volos yells at the gypsies around him. The surrounding gypsies fall into a fearful silence as Volos turns his attention back to me and Justin. “Now, we must start working on your demise, so that we may steal your valuables,” Volos growls, he gestures to the gypsies behind him and they start marching towards us.

                “Katrinna,” Justin whispers to me, as Zypher steps back nervously. “When I count to three, you run.”

                “No,” I retort, surprised that he thought I would just run away.  “I’m staying here.”

                The bandits’ approach us, grotesque grins on their faces as they draw their swords. Justin pulls his long broadsword out of its scabbard and holds it in front of him as he pulls on Flinn’s reigns to force her back a step.

                “No, Katrinna, you don’t understand. You need to run. Run as far as you can.” Justin says, continuing to back Flinn up slowly, forcing me to back Zypher up. Justin remains facing the bandits as I reach towards my swords, before realizing they would do me more harm than good.  I reach to the sheath around my waist and draw my knife instead. I hold the knife if front of myself forcing my hand to stop shaking as I was still clutching Zypher’s reigns in my left hand and I needed to at least appear confident.

                “I will not run. We have to save Adrinna, and I certainly can’t do it by myself,” I whisper to Justin furiously, an angry blush rising in my cheeks at admitting my own incompetence.

                Justin glances back at me, and he looks furious, though there seemed to be some desperation in his eyes. “Stop arguing with me Katrinna, just do as I say!”

                “Why should I?” I scream, tightening the grip on my knife.

                “Hey!” Volos yells.

                “What?!” both Justin and I yell to Volos at the same time, both of us glaring at him furiously.

                “If you two lovebirds are done bickering, we are about to kill you here. You’re supposed to be terrified and attempting to run,” Volos growls.

                “Told you, you should have run,” Justin whispers angrily to me. “Even he thinks so.”

                Approximately thirty of the gypsies sprint towards us, quickly covering the last few feet that had been separating us. Justin yanks on his reigns and jerks Flinn to the left, quickly positioning himself between me and the gypsies. Suddenly, I hear a big clashing sound, and peer over Justin’s shoulder just in time to see all the gypsies disappear into the ground.

                “What….. just happened?” I ask softly, trying to look over Justin’s shoulder.

                “I- I don’t know, they just, fell.” Justin mutters, clearly shocked.

                “What do you mean they just fell? Where did they-” I start to ask before Volos cuts me off, again.

                “What is this! Where did this hole come from?” Volos yells to his men, stomping over to the edge of said hole. I get Zypher to move so that I am able to clearly see around Justin.

                “Sir, this is the hole you had us dig this morn’. Was to trap trav’lers you said. And to steal their goods af’er” One of the gypsies shouts out to Volos.

                “What? I ordered no such thing!” Volos yells angrily before pausing and peering down into the hole. “But hey, it worked, see? Easy prey.”

                “Sir, it did work indeed, and they would be very easy prey, only, those are our men in the hole,” another gypsy says.

                “Ugh, my head hurts,” Volos says, clutching his forehead between his fingertips.

                I start giggling at the absurdity of the situation as the adrenaline that had been pumping through my veins dissipated, leaving me on a high of sorts.

                “Katrinna, stop laughing. Now is our chance to escape,” Justin says, turning Flinn around and running off. I back Zypher up before yanking on the reins and running after Justin. But the sudden movement draws Volos’s attention and he shouts.

                “Oye! After them you idiots! They’re escaping!” Volos screams. I glance over my shoulder to see Volos and the rest of his men running after us on foot, before they are engulfed by the earth. I pull Zypher to a quick stop and turn back. Justin notices and follows suit, albeit reluctantly. I stop Zypher at the edge of the new hole and dismount before peering into the mass of angry, confused gypsies at the bottom of the new hole.

                “What’s this hole now?” Volos shouts in a gypsies face.

                I giggle as Volos knocks the man upside the head.

                “Ouch! Sir, you also ordered us to dig this hole to catch pass’rbys,” the gypsy says, rubbing his temple here Volos had hit him.  

                I glance at Justin as he stands by my side, peering down into the hole, silent anger burning in his eyes.

                “Why on earth would I order two holes dug?” Volos bellows.

                “You had us dig this hole las’ night sir!” One of the gypsies shouts. “And this mornin’ you forgot where it was, and ordered another dug!”

                “Ugh, my poundin’ head,” Volos moans, rubbing his temples while the gypsies around him began bickering.

                I start laughing again and Justin looks at me disbelievingly.

                “What, pray tell, is so funny?” Justin asks incredulously.

                “They- He…..Hole…..Forgot- Fell,” I giggle, unable to grasp the absurdity of the situation. Deep in my mind I knew I was making a fool of myself, but the leftover adrenaline didn’t care.

                “Well of course he forgot Katrinna, he was clearly drunk,” Justin says sternly, pulling me away from the edge of the hole.

                I stop laughing and cock my head to the side, confused. “Drunk?”

                “Obviously,” Justin says his jaw tight.

                I glance back into the hole. From what I knew, gypsies couldn’t afford the luxury of alcohol strong enough to get drunk on. Which meant they could only get it for special occasions, or when something terrible had happened. And since the gypsies seemed to be a little worse for the wear, I seriously doubted that Volos had drank to celebrate. I suddenly felt a pang of pity for the gypsy leader.

                “Come on Katrinna, let’s go,” Justin says as he grabs my arm and tries to gently pull me back to the horses.

                “Wait,” I say softly. “We can’t just leave them.”

                “Yes, we can just leave them!” Justin yells, face deep red with barely restrained fury.

                I tug my arm free. “No, we have to help them. Maybe they’ll be willing to help us in return.”

                “They were going to kill us!” Justin screams, staring at me like I was crazy. Quite honestly, I was starting to wonder that myself, but I decided to follow my guts.

                “They just wanted money Justin; they’re probably just hungry, and tired. We can help them, and maybe prevent them from killing anyone else,” I plead, looking towards the bickering gypsies desperately.

                “You don’t even know them!” Justin yells.

                “Oh and you do?!” I scream back.

                Justin snaps his mouth shut and glowers at me, working his jaw in frustration.

                “Justin,” I ask hesitantly. “You don’t know these people do you?”

                “I did,” Justin answers shortly. “ Once.”

                “What?”

                “I knew Volos.”

                I glance towards the hole full of gypsies, who had become strangely silent. “What do you mean, you knew Volos?”

                “We grew up together.”

                “You‘re a gypsy?” I ask incredulously.

                He corner of his mouth hitches up in amusement before he answers firmly. “No. Volos is a knight.”

 

o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o

 

“Volos is a knight?!” I scream, head spinning with confusion.

                “Well, he was,” Justin says, rubbing the back of his head angrily, clearly at a loss of what to do with his hands, now that he no longer needed to hold his sword. “Volos was my role model when I was younger. I looked up to him. Then after… after the accident he lost it. He rebelled against everything to do with the king, and left. Nobody has heard from him since. He’s a murderer Katrinna, he killed my brother.” Justin says softly.

                I open my mouth to speak, but close it again without saying a thing. I hadn’t known Justin when he was young. Only Adrinna. The two of us were raised alone; every day had been filled with lessons on becoming a princess. Ballet, so we could be graceful dancers at balls, horseback riding, for ceremonies, and the never ending etiquette lessons that I so despised. I’d never thought of Justin’s childhood, never even knew he’d had a brother. As well as I thought I knew Justin, as much as I secretly loved him, I realized I really didn’t know a thing about Justin, other than his time in knighthood. The last thing I wanted to do was rip open some deep, emotional scar by rescuing the man who murdered his brother. Yet… I couldn’t bring myself to leave those men in those pits to die, whether they were murderers or not.

                “I know you want to help them Katrinna, but you have to listen to me when I tell you, that man is dangerous,” Justin says softly, reaching for my arm as his eyes silently plead with me.

                “I’m- I’m sorry Justin,” I say, shaking my arm loose and backing up towards the hole. “I have to help them.” I turn and run to the edge of the hole with Volos in it, ignoring Justin’s frustrated grunts. I stop at the edge of the hole and glance over my shoulder to see Justin decimating a tree with his sword, blinking the images away, I look down and find Volos in the mass of gypsies. He was scowling up at the sky, seemingly lost in thought, while his men mumbled quietly to each other.

                “Hey! Volos!” I yell, crouching down. Volos focuses his gaze on me in confusion.

“Haven’t you ran away yet girl?” he asks in disbelief.

I shake my head, grinning. “No, I’m going to help you out.”

                Volos scowls, “Why on earth would you help us?”

                I smile gently, “Because I cannot just leave you here to die. My morals are higher than that.”

                Volos’s eyes narrow skeptically, but I ignore him and run to Zypher’s saddlebags. I root around until I find some rope which I tie to Zypher’s saddle, ignoring Justin destroying another tree nearby. I double check the knot, then unwrap the rope and start to run back to Volos with the end, only to find Justin blocking my path.

                “Katrinna I can’t let you do this,” Justin whispers, voice strained with emotion, eyes filled with hurt as his chest heaves in exertion and small beads of sweat run down the side of his face.

                I meet Justin’s gaze, carefully avoiding looking at the sword in his right hand. “I have to. You may be willing to leave them, but I’m not. I was taught to have mercy for everyone Justin, and give them a just punishment. Most of them are nothing more than common thieves. I will not let them suffer this death. I am truly sorry for what happened to your brother, and you’ll have to tell me the story sometime, but I must help them Justin. Please.”

                Justin glares down at me before his eyes soften. “Very well. But do not let your guard down. And I will be watching both of our backs extra closely.”

                I smile and jog around Justin to the edge of the hole.

                “Here!” I shout, tossing the end of the rope into the hole. “Climb on up!”

                One by one Volos and his men climb out of the hole. As they climb up I lead Flinn to the other hole and repeat the process. Once all the gypsies are out, Volos turns to me.

                “Why did you help us?” he asks hesitantly.

                I smile gently, “Because I could not leave you to die.”

                “But we tried to kill you.”

                “I don’t think it was against me personally. Besides, you all must  just be desperate,” I say softly.

                Volos goes silent for a few moments before speaking again, “Let me repay your kindness. I overheard you say you were on a quest, to save someone. Let us come, we can help.”

                I turn to look at Justin and see his jaw hanging open in shock.

                “That is a very generous offer, kind sir, but I don’t think we require any assistance.” I reply, forcing back a grin at Justin’s expression as I turn back to Volos.

                “No? You were just overcome by a simple band of gypsies. If it weren’t for my….” Volos clears his throat loudly. “We would have killed you,” Volos finishes, placing his hand on his sword hilt. “I always repay my debts madam, this is no exception.”

                I look back to Justin and he shakes his head slowly. I turn back to Volos. “Give me a minute,” I say, smiling in apology before walking over to Justin.

                “You can’t let them come,” Justin whispers furiously.

                “And why on earth not?” I protest. “We could use the help, because he’s right you know.”

                “He tried to kill us Katrinna!” Justin cries.

                “Excuse me,” Volos says, stepping in next to me and Justin. “But we can be of assistance. You’ve saved every single one of our miserable lives, dear maiden, and we will repay you.”

                I look at Justin pleadingly.

                “Who is this knave that challenges your decisions?” Volos asks, glaring at Justin.

                “He’s my, ah, guard,” I say, glancing at Justin.

                “My perception may be skewed, but I believe guards are to remain silent as they do their duty.”

                “You-” Justin growls, stepping forward angrily.

                I throw myself between the two of them. “Stop it Justin, he just wants to help.”

                “We don’t need help from people like him,” Justin spits.

                “Don’t talk that way to me boy,” Volos growls. “I merely wish to repay my debt to the kind lady.”

                “Then leave us to be on our way and consider it repaid,” Justin growls.

                “I cannot, mine honour would never allow it,” Volos says.

                “Honour indeed,” Justin says furiously. “Where was your honour when-”

                “Enough Justin!” I cry. I turn to Volos. “We appreciate your offer, but cannot accept such a large favor. What I did was a trifle, no more.”

                “I beg to differ madam,” Volos says softly. “It was an enormous act of kindness, to brutes that deserve naught but anger from you.”

                “None the less,” I say, as I start to steer Justin towards our horses to keep him from punching Volos in the face. “We cannot accept your offer.”

                Volos is silent, and only speaks up once Justin and I reach the horses.

                “Did you say he was your guard, fair maiden?” Volos asks slowly.

                I turn to look at Volos and see the gears turning in his head. “Yes…” I answer hesitantly.

                “Then you must be a lady of great riches, to have such an important man as your guard.”

                “Indeed my father is rich, but what does it matter to you? Do you plan to rob us, since we will not accept your offer?” I ask nervously.

                “No, of course not! Perish the very thought!” Volos cries out. “I merely had a thought.”

                “You wouldn’t dare,” Justin growls from behind me.

                “We can escort you on your voyage. We know how to survive in the wild.” Volos says.

                “I already told you-” I sigh.

                “And in return, you can pay us for our efforts,” Volos finishes with a flourish. “Quite brilliant if I do say so. It solves both our problems quite nicely.”

                I remain silent as I ponder his offer. Justin grips my shoulder and spins me around to face him.

                “You can’t honestly be considering this!” he whispers furiously.

                I remain silent.

                “Katrinna, you cannot spend your Father’s money! Besides that, he would never approve of giving it to gypsies, much less letting them join you in a journey across the kingdom!”

                I meet Justin in the eye, having decided. “I’ve made up my mind. You can’t change it.” I spin on my heels and stomp back to Volos, ignoring Justin’s protests.

                “Volos, I will accept your offer. If you help us save my sister, and bring us back to my Father safely, every one of your men will be paid one hundred crowns.”

                The gypsies mutter to each other anxiously.

                “One hundred crowns each?” Volos sputters. “That is way too much, only the king has that kind of money!”

                “I assure you, my Father has enough. My only other requirement is that none of you ever steal, or kill again. Now will you accept my offer?”

                Volos nods.

                “Good,” I smile, and glance over my shoulder looking for Justin, only to see him step in front of me.

                “What are you thinking Katrinna?” Justin mumbles angrily. “You can’t do this.”

                “I have it under control Justin. Besides, if Father finds out, you will lay claim to the idea, no?” I whisper, well aware that Justin would indeed take the blame, if only to keep me from being punished.

                “No, I will not lay claim to this madness,” Justin growls, crossing his arms over his chest.

                I smile, knowing that if push came to shove he would lighten my punishment. As would I lighten his if our positions were switched. “Very well Justin, I will take full responsibility for this ‘madness’ as you say. After all, it will either work wonderfully, or we will all end up dead. And if we end up dead it really doesn’t matter whose idea it was.” I grin, turning back to Volos, leaving Justin dumbfounded at my back.

                “So who are we rescuing?” Volos asks.

                “My twin sister,” I say, distracted by Justin’s smoldering glare aimed at the back of my head.

                Volos raises an eyebrow, “Not many twins ‘round here,” he says. “Mostly just the princesses.”

                I shake my head and look at Volos. “Well, we don’t really look much alike,” I chuckle nervously, glancing over my shoulder to tell Justin to stop glaring at me.

                “What do you want?” I whisper to him.

                “Nothing, my lady,” Justin chuckles.

                “Augh! Don’t start with that again!” I cry, stomping over to Zypher to get a drink of water.

                Justin chuckles before firmly addressing Volos. “Okay Volos. So are you going to help us?”

                “Aye,” Volos answers gruffly. “Me and all my men.”

                “That won’t work,” Justin grunts. I turn from Zypher’s saddlebags and glare at Justin.

                “What are you doing?” I cry.

                Justin ignores me and speaks to Volos as I roll my eyes and tilt the water canteen up to drink. “We cannot afford to take thirty men with us,”

                “A hundred and thirty-seven,” Volos interrupts.

                I splutter and spit out the drink of water I had just about inhaled before I fall into a coughing fit, causing many of the gypsies to stare at me.

                “Fine,” Justin says, clearly irritated at being interrupted, though shock briefly appeared in his eyes at the large number. “We cannot take a hundred and thirty-seven men with us. We would move slowly and be seen quickly.”

                “My men are swift and silent,” Volos growls, clutching the hilt of his sword.

                “Be that as it may, we will be riding on horses. This is a matter of extreme importance. We cannot afford to waste any more time,” Justin snarls.

                Volos and Justin glare at each other as I recover from my shock, and subsequent coughing fit. I quickly replace my canteen and run over to place myself between them. “What Justin means, is that we are in a very big hurry, and cannot afford to have a large troop that can be easily tracked down. Not even men as wonderful as yours Volos.”

                Justin snorts and I glare at him. “We can only have a few of your best men with us, yourself included of course.”

                “You tryin’ to cheat my men out of their pay?” Volos growls angrily.

                “No! Of course not! All of you will be paid the specified amount. But we can only take a few men with us.” I say calmly.

                “Three men, including you, would be perfect,” Justin cuts in.

                “Three of your best men,” I say, fluttering my eyelashes flirtatiously.

                “Fine,” Volos says gruffly as Justin glares at me. “Ajax, Conroy, and Raldyn.”Three men emerge from the mob as he speaks, and gestures to each in turn. “And myself, of course.”

                I look at the four men, ignoring Justin’s sharp intake of breath beside me. The youngest, Ajax, was probably a little younger than Volos, in his late twenties. He had a strong build, and was rippling with muscles. He was a bit shorter than Volos, but more than made up with it in muscles. He had short medium-brown hair, very tan skin, and dark blue eyes. The man next to him, who Volos had said was Conroy, was probably around 35. He had an average build, and was about the same height as Justin, who was 5’ 8”. Conroy had jaw length coppery hair, russet skin, and bright green eyes. The last man, Raldyn, seemed ageless. He could have been anywhere between twenty and forty. He was thin, and almost as tall as Volos. He had blonde hair, that looked almost white, which he wore in a long ponytail. His eyes were endless pools of darkness, black as the shadows lurking in the night. I shudder, Raldyn officially creeped me out.

                “Will these men please you?” Volos asks sarcastically to Justin.

                “These men will be fine,” Justin says, his voice strained. I frown at him, wondering what was wrong with him.

                Volos walks over and talks to another gypsy, who seems to be second in charge. Soon after, the rest of the gypsies melt back into the shadows, leaving us with Volos, Ajax, Conroy, and Raldyn.

                “We need to go,” Justin says. “It’s getting dark, but we can still travel a bit before nightfall. Then we will make camp, and continue in the morning.”

                Volos scowls, but listens. We all mount our horses and ride deeper into the forest.

 

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Acceptance

Siam and Laura are getting on, and their relationship is blossoming.  Siam obviously feels comfortable with her boss to progress to a more intimate relationship, confiding in her of her past bad experiences.  Where do you think  things will go from here?  Let's join in and find out!


Acceptance
 
by
Ben Hannigan
 
 

Dear Diary,

This morning we headed into work, Laura had to meet with suppliers and handle invoices and cash checks,  so I would be left to face the tender mercies of the rest of the team. We stopped in at the local glazed goods pusher and picked up a box of twenty four and a round of coffees in apology for them having to pick up our slack yesterday. When we got to the office, Laura entered first while I locked my truck.

The team could tell that something had happened even before we said anything because I walked into the office in fitted tiger stripe combats with a tan vest, a borrowed Sig Sauer SP2022 on my hip. Not only that, but it was obvious from the way that I dropped the mag, racked the slide and presented the weapon at the clearing, barrel showing clear that I knew how to handle the gun.  When I finished the drill and placed the weapon in the box on my assigned desk that up until now had remained empty, the room was silent.  I tied my hair back casually stretching, moving my arms straight in the air linking my fingers together.  This movement lifting me onto my tiptoes and causing my shirt to rise and showing  bare tummy and the piercing I had got as my first act of rebellion after moving to this southern town;  a small delicate representation of a rose in aluminum on my belly button.

As I did this, Laura left her office with her Bluetooth headset in and walked over to me, whispering  loud enough for the whole office to hear, “Evil girl, I will be thinking of that bare tummy all day now and I have to go speak to the city council. ” She leaned over, kissing me soundly, leaving me blinking, slightly dazed for the two minutes it took me to process that she had left.

As I came down to earth, I realized that the office had exploded with questions.  The how’s ,the why’s, the when’s;  all the questions that the gossips would want. We worked through the day and I was bombarded with questions between phone calls.  After about an hour of constant pestering I agreed to tell them at lunch. We finally got to lunch after a really hectic day that for me was mainly fielding phone calls, preparing for the big trade show in Nevada. We arranged to go to the little Mexican place around the corner. Since it was a nice day we decided to walk. The moment after we all logged out of our computers and turned the phones onto our out-to -lunch auto-message systems was one of the moments that reminded me I work in the weapons industry. The sound of slides being racked as magazines are slammed home and the click of the safety. They all watched me, amazed that after a single day of range time I was confident enough with a weapon to carry it openly  and was careful enough to once racking the slide and chambering a round, to top up the magazine to give me that one extra round just in case.

We walked to the restaurant and ordered drinks.  We passed the bar, sitting together at a single large table. I was placed in the center, so the interrogation could begin in earnest. They asked about the shooting and who pursued who and how it happened. I told them about the touches, Laura’s adjustments of my techniques and the way she gently held me. I talked about the confusion that I felt and the desire, the lust, my eyes glazed over as they saw the “me”  I had been so scared of for so long come out. The “me” who masturbated in the shower over my boss.  I described the act of touching myself, losing myself in the moment.  The girls nodded knowingly as I replayed the image of slowly rolling my nail over my dripping lips.  The guys watched hungrily as I sucked the lip of the coke bottle, licking my lips. My cunt ached with desire as I lost myself in the memories.

I told the story of being turned down gently as I offered myself  to my new partner.  I teared up and again the guys and girls had two completely different reactions.  The girls thought it was sweet and amazing that Laura had that level of self-control and the guys  understood, but reacted with anger at the boy who believed that he had the right to dominate me.

Right from the start, working at HDI I was protected by this family environment. I was the youngest and was very much supported by what seemed to be a whole army of new brothers and sisters.  My first week they basically showed me the entire town, stocked my larder and fridge, and just generally pulled me close to them.  I had standing offers for dinner with all of them and was introduced to their children. I was “Aunty Siam” to a small horde of children and the family weekend events with the company were living proof of the party as hard as you work ethos.

The girls were having to break up plots by the guys to fly to Chicago to beat this boy and my father, to the point where they were confiscating phones to prevent flights being arranged. I knew they were protective, but this show of support reduced me to tears for the second time in as many days.  They paid the bill before I could blink and walked me to the office.  We sat in the break room together and I basically asked my “brothers” and “sisters” for advice, I didn’t know what I was feeling didn’t understand this lust and desire. They talked to me, explained a lot of the sexual stuff that most of them had learned through open and honest conversations with parents and beyond that just supported me and let me ask at my own pace.

They were wonderful and throughout the afternoon of support, they managed to make me giggle and help me plan something.  More than that they convinced me to do something I was kinda wanting to for a long time.  By three PM I found myself lying in a tattooists chair in my t shirt and knickers as he inked a snow leopard on my left  thigh just under my bottom, it wasn’t pouncing or lunging or snarling it was what the rest of my work colleagues described as Me, curled up with a sketch pad, a sketch of a sketching snow leopard.

So diary, in three day’s I had learned to shoot, learned I am at the very least bisexual and have gotten a tattoo.  I was loved and welcomed into the family at work and I had never been happier. At four thirty the boss turned up and walked into her office, I waited five minutes and stood to go see her, as I walked over most of the team gave me high fives or whispered good luck messages.

Lucy and Sophie who as well as picking me up and driving me down for this job ended up working there, hugged me and whispered. “When you are confident with Laura come talk to us together” as they sandwiched me between them.

I was confused but rolled with it and after being given permission to enter I took a deep breath and pushed open the door. Laura was sitting, lounging in the beanbag chair rather than being at her desk which was perfect for what I was planning. I nudged the door with my foot, the bang causing her to look up from the email she was writing. I walked over to what she called the chill out zone of her office, where she was based . I dropped to crawling and slowly moved towards her. When I reached her beanbag I slithered up her body catching her lips in mine, pressing her body against mine as I launched a passionate demanding kiss, grinding my sex on her thigh her leg between mine as my tongue pushed into her mouth deep and fast.

This was the new, confident me in control and it felt fucking fantastic Diary. I kissed my way down her body, sucking her throat enjoying her moans and gasped words. I unbuttoned her blouse hurriedly still grinding into her knee. My eyes were wide and my breathing heavy as I tried to focus on those buttons and kiss and lick my way down this breathtaking freshly bared line of skin. Her bra undone with my left hand as I slid the straps down her arms with my teeth, I stroked her nipples with my lips and tongue grinning widely at the mumbled moans for more that each movement elicited from my love.

I undid her jeans, pushing  them down her legs thankful that she habitually walked around the office barefoot.  I ducked under her legs and found myself staring lustfully at the small patch of neatly trimmed hair surrounding her slit. I didn’t know that she didn’t wear underwear under her jeans but I was very glad of that. I dove into her, passionately remembering the suggestions from my adopted family. I started with slow, soft, gentle, caressing licks, flicking my tongue across her lips and gently brushing her mound with kisses, I moved slowly from there, searching for her clit with the tip of my tongue and rolled it in my mouth, stroking and suckling on it gently. My hands undoing my combats and sliding them off my body leaving me grinding against her wearing white panties so soaked with arousal they were appearing clear. My tongue boldly now flicking into her sex, parting her lips and thrusting, rolling around the walls of her inner sanctum, matching my thrusts with the grinding movement of my hips. I got faster, deeper and more confident as I felt my own orgasm building. She was going with it now, not worrying about what inspired this act.  Her hands fisted in my hair as she pressed me deeper into her cunt. Rubbing my nose into her slit, fucking her with my nose as I licked her eagerly, she was so wet and tasted so, so good.  I pushed a finger into her as I slid up her body, my panties sliding down my legs as I moved because they were stuck to her knee. I kissed her hard and fast again, she could taste her own juices on me.  I fingered her fast my thumb on her clit as I offered my throat to her, she bit my neck and I writhed, her hands cupping my arse and I wriggled causing her to penetrate me deeply with two fingers, I yowled as I felt it.

“So fucking good, please gods more!” I rocked into her fingers as I fingered her, she was coming fast and hard and I was very close.

“Fuck me Laura, make me your fucking whore.” I screamed as she hit my clit and my g-spot at the same time.  I was seeing stars it was so intense. Before I registered what had happened ,I was on my back on the bean-bag with my girlfriend, half naked, stripping quickly and ripping my vest in the rush to get me naked.  Well, I say naked but she left me in my socks with my knickers round one ankle.  My white anklet socks with pink bows and the knickers that my mother used to buy for me; white with lace trim and a pink bow above my slit. I with my hair in plaits must have looked like a slutty schoolgirl as I begged for her to carry on touching my wet cunt. She was as rough and fast as I had been to her. She had me begging, mewling in minutes as I spasmed and shook, coming so hard I squirted.  She licked me clean after each orgasm, fast and insistent, driving me to the next.  She even with me on my back, legs over her shoulders tongue-fucked my arse as I whimpered from the intensity. I was hers.  Putty in her hands and melting.  She kissed me hard, fast, biting my neck, fingering my cunt and my arse at the same time. Then she laid down with me, entwining her legs with mine, pressed her cunt against mine and kissed my  boobs, reaching into a bag hidden behind the bean-bag.

 She withdrew a sex toy, a double tipped dildo and murmured, “Bought this a few years ago but got dumped for a younger, prettier model and never got a chance to use it, so it stayed in this bag behind the chair ever since, can I Siam? Can I fuck your virgin cunt, can I have you?”

I mewled gasping, writhing trying to answer by grinding against her. “Yes, yes, god please baby pleaaase.” I whimpered. I almost tore it out of her hand in my desire to get it and her into me.

She giggled, “Patience sweetie, patience.”

I was forced to watch as she slid the toy into herself sighing gently in pleasure as it entered her cunt.  She then slipped on what looked like a shoulder rig strap set but was fastened around the dildo and her pelvis holding the purple toy inside her.  It looked perfect on her; this amazon of a woman with eight inches in her and another eight ready to ravish me.

I knelt and told her I wanted to do something that I had only ever heard of, something dirty that I had been told I would have to do for my husband. I am not being forced, I told her I want this. I took the glans of my lover into my mouth and sucked her penis eagerly, fast and long, bobbing up and down her cock. I amazed myself and amazed her by taking all of her down my throat easily.  She moaned with pleasure looking down, her hands in my hair as I sucked her. I was moaning onto her cock begging for more as she began to fuck my throat and I came hard. She lay me down on the bag and told me she wanted me. I spread my legs wantonly begging as she stood over me ready to pound me.

I loved every second of being fucked diary.  My ma would call me a scarlet woman as I begged for it. I wanted it so much.  Wanted her so much!  I won’t  ever stop lusting for her.  The way that she pounds me, makes me come so fucking hard, wow!  I was pounded in the office; screaming not caring that they all heard me lose my virginity as they worked. I loved it!  Clenching against her cock feeling her thrusting faster and faster, her angling towards my g spot me screaming, “Fuck I want you Laura, I want you to come in me.” I moaned.

She giggled at that “I can try to make it feel like it baby.”

I shook as she pounded me faster as I begged for it “Fuck Laura, your cock is so good so big it’s perfect.  I want you in me.  I need you to fill me, make me yours!  I want you to come in my pussy Laura. Make me your spoiled used woman, make me yours.”

I didn’t know diary, but it appears I get off on being submissive and talking dirty, being told I am a slut, a whore, being told I am everything my parent’s raised me to believe was evil. I moaned and I looked up to see Laura gripping a small pump bulb that led to a tube that ran all the way into the dildo. “You thought the japsai in the dildo was just for effect didn’t you Siam?”

 All I could do was nod weakly as she grinned and squeezed it, I felt my lover come hard and fast into me, squirting lube into me to feel like she had released her seed into me. It was so wonderful this high pressure warm load of lube coating my insides, my tummy feeling bloated and full, like she really was my boy as well as my girl.

I purred with delight, my tummy full and the feeling of a slight soreness as she had torn my hymen and taken me for the first time.  Her pussy splattered with a mix of both her and my juices, her “come” and the blood from the barrier. She was amazing, curled up with me stroking my tummy as I snuggled into her. 

I must have drifted off because I woke later yawning, having lost an hour and had been washed of the mess and dressed in a set of light cotton pj’s that I recognized as Laura’s spare set from her cot in the break room that she used when she was working late enough that she couldn’t be bothered to go home, the same cot that I had been resting on.

 I walked into the office and it was seven thirty yet the office was still full of people.  As I walked in there was a round of applause, cheers and a large amount of good natured ribbing about the sounds I was making and how loud the stereo had to be turned up to drown the screams. The team teasing both me and Laura until my calm collected unflappable boss blushed as brightly red as I did.  They were all lovely diary, and in my next letter to you I will talk more about the evening and the first night at my place. But for now I need a break to collect my thoughts and deal with a small “problem” that has “come” up.

 

XSiamX

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Swingers: The Red Queen

 Who's the king of the swingers? Judge for yourself. We know the Grande Dame...She is The Red Queen.
 
The Red Queen
 
 
by Abyrne Mostyn
 
 
They called her the Red Queen...the Grand Mistress. Friends called her Margaret, but most who got close to her called her Master. A dominatrix, she was the master of all that happened around her at all times. Her chambers were a playground for the things that weren’t talked about in proper circles, but perhaps in hushed whispers. Men and women alike who wanted the exquisite, disparate ecstasy-torture of riding the edge to submission came to her in droves hoping she would dominate them. She took them to that place that you couldn’t define. A place that one could only recreate in the sweet dream fantasy land that existed between asleep and awake. Spent and craving another time with a consummate Dom, she was that kind of master. Consuming, total surrender or nothing at all.
She was accomplished at all the forms of domination. A BDSM master, she was in demand by those who lived the lifestyle, though few knew who she was behind her guise. An hourglass in red leather, she never revealed her identity and that seemed to heighten the fantasy. A flame red wig to hide the blonde showed underneath the matching red leather full head mask that hid all but ruby lips and emerald green contact disguised eyes. She could play tic-tac-toe on her subs arse from twenty paces with a flick of the wrist and her long tail whip, making them sing for her to win her game. A showgirl gone deep into the life, she traded in her pink feather boa, diamond tiara, and vaudeville act for the business end of a cat-o-nine tails and needle point stilettos. Blood red nail polish on fingers and toes to complete the ensemble, no one who saw her had a doubt about her ability to play a person to the edge and take them over or keep them from their release as she chose.
To her friends, she was just another person in their circle of friends. To those swingers who entered her party house every three months, she was the sweet hostess, the emcee of the evening. None seemed to recognize her, or if they did, they were wise enough to keep her identity to themselves. She would bet on the former, as she had gone to great lengths to keep her anonymity as the Red Queen to herself, and few who were her subs were invited here. What none in or out of her circles knew was that she, like so many strong Dominants required the powerful practiced hand of another to gain her release. True submission to a proficient, talented master, the skillful application of a riding crop, or to dance at the end of someone else’s whip. The dichotomy of hot wax and ice cubes, the pleasurable pain that would take her higher than many of this world knew they could rise. To float above herself in sweet ecstasy and weep her surrender or release when it was earned, but not a minute before.
When Aaron and Sharilynne had inquired about taking a party, they had no way of knowing the gift they were giving her. Sure, others had hosted at different times through the years, but seldom had any taken the whole night over, or done so with such complete and thorough attention that she was deemed redundant and unnecessary. Tonight, she would get to join the fun and taste the favors. Find and follow through with another of the guests and hope that what she believed was true, instead of being left to vicariously enjoy through the one way glass. Years ago, a safety measure that was insisted upon and agreed to in the early days of the swingers parties to see than none were victimized.
It is one thing to say you want the open rules of anything goes; and another thing entirely to experience it as she had learned long ago. She knew first hand that safe words could be ignored. To reinforce the party rules, one way glass mirrors were installed in each of the rooms with surveillance so that although those inside could have their privacy, or at least the semblance of such, there was someone who could watch at any time and step in. She would often stop by and review the monitors, and would accompany anytime there was a need to escort someone out. In the last decade it had happened maybe twice, but twice was enough to continue the practice. Everyone who came to the party knew that they could be watched and removed; it had been enough for most.
From her post as hostess and later in the evenings as watcher, she knew without a doubt who she wanted to entertain this night as she slipped on her accoutrements for the evening. Aaron and Sharilynne having decked the party goers out with little more than just enough, she hoped that things would go in her favor. She knew what she wanted, and she knew who she wanted to deliver it. Colb Mitras was definitely her first choice. Perhaps six foot tall he had the build of someone who paid attention without the vulgar notion of needing to be bulked out and ridiculous. He was solid without being too much. Sandy brown, disheveled hair and dark coffee eyes, he was tasty to look at. Watching him over the past few years, she knew he could deliver what she craved. He was one to try it all and then go for a little more. She wanted his sense of adventure and freedom, but as his submissive she wanted him to take it. Control it. Make it elusive and force her to reach for it.
Holden Henner with his brooding looks and wicked smile would do, but she hoped for Colb. Knowing the details of the differently themed rooms, she knew she was going into Mardi gras. If both of the men she wanted were odd numbers and sent to Carnival she would settle for finding a soft female to waste the night with, but she was hopeful to get one or the other, or perhaps both to the west room and the North American festival. Time would tell her fortune. Slipping on a feathered G-string, so reminiscent of where she had come from, strings of beads that weren’t enough to cover a woman with far less cleavage, and her mask she slipped the elastic band with the key around her wrist and entered Bourbon Street. Humming to the jazz trumpet wailing, looking for Mr. Mitras she made her way to the table and grabbed a hurricane. Sipping her drink thinking to herself wryly, one to drink now, and maybe another one to rage later and take away her choices. ‘Come on New Orleans, give me a storm.’



Part IV: Another Swing

Part III: Tangyr

Part II: Swingers

Part I:  Swingers