By Bernie

"Why do they call this the Nightwood Forest?" asked Lynthia as she scanned the endless rows of trees.  Lynthia, riding behind Karyn and in front of Jatz, felt a tinge of fear slowly pounding at her bosom; but the presence of her lover and protector Karyn helped ease it to a gentle, constant thud.  Karyn occasionally looked behind her to make sure Lynthia was alright, and the genuine expression of concern in the warrior's icy blue eyes could only make Lynthia smile.  The forest was eerily quiet; only the footsteps of the party's beasts of burden prevented total silence.

In a delayed response to her inquiry, Jatz reached out and snapped a twig off a nearby sapling and showed it to Lynthia.

"Look at the wood." he instructed.  Lynthia took the twig and examined it carefully.  She saw the wood was a dark black color.

"How can this be?" she asked.

Jatz shrugged his shoulders.  "I don't know." he admitted.  "But Nightwood is called Nightwood also because of its thick groves of trees.  At some points, the trees grow so tall and so thick, that it appears to be night even when the sun blazes above you."

"I've already noticed that." said Lynthia warily, the shadows becoming deeper as they ventured farther into the forest.  "Are there any dangerous creatures here?"

"As far as I know, none." replied Jatz.  "But, there are stories."

"Such as?"

"Well, they say wild men roam the darkest corners of the forest, which is why only one path exists through the entire wood."

"You mean, no one has ever built another path?"

"No.  They say the workers lost half their workforce trying to build this one.  Even now, people are afraid to travel down it.  It's why your kingdom's growth is stunted.  No offense your highness." he apologized.

"None taken.  And it's Lynthia now." she corrected.

"Sorry, Lynthia.  But don't worry, those are merely stories.  Perhaps it was just the worker's fear of the dark that spawned such outrageous tales."

"Yes.  Maybe." she muttered nervously, her eyes peering warily at the darkness between the trees.

"Stay calm Lynthia." Karyn said in a soothing voice.  "I will protect you, no matter wha..."  Karyn suddenly paused and her eyes quickly diverted to the woods on her right.

"What is it Karyn?" Lynthia asked, noticing her lover's sudden alertness.

"Something is over there." whispered Karyn, nodding her head towards the woods while her hand slowly crept towards her sword.  Her icy blue eyes crept steadily to the corners of her sockets, while she rotated her head to the right in order to gaze into the thick forest.  Lynthia and Jatz stood perfectly still, the sounds of their beating hearts pounded through the quiet forest.

An arrow shot from the thick trees, rushing at Karyn's head.  The warrior's motions were invisible to the eye as she quickly brought out her blade and held the flat edge outward, letting the arrow hit her sword harmlessly.  She jumped off her mustel and assumed a fighting stance with her sword drawn outward.  Another arrow shot towards her, this time Karyn sliced it in half with a quick swipe, letting the two pieces sail past her.  A third arrow that emerged from the trees allowed Karyn to confirm the exact source of the attacks.  She performed a quick upward swipe, slicing the third arrow, and then quickly ran up to a large tree in front of her.  Karyn vaulted when she came within a few feet of the tree, raised her blade above her head, and came down swiftly with the strength of both her arms.

Karyn kicked the tree in mid-air to fly backwards a bit, allowing her to land gracefully on her feet a short distance away.  She paused for a moment, her body quickly assuming a fighting stance.  The sound of wood splintering and cracking filled the forest, escalating in volume until it became a loud breaking sound, and a large branch fell out of the tree.  A hooded man, who had been perched on the branch, fell with it.  The arrows slung over his back and the bow in his hand revealed his identity as their attacker.  The man cursed and pulled his hood off, revealing a thick head of dark gold hair.

"Who are you?" Karyn demanded as she pressed her blade firmly against the man's throat.

"I am Flinton." the man introduced in a soft voice, cautious not to strain his neck against the sharp sword.

"Who are you Flinton?  Why did you attack us?"

"I, I am merely a thief."

"Thieves.  Can never trust them." Jatz said sarcastically.

"No.  I am not a normal thief." Flinton retorted.  "I steal from only those who are greedy and rich, to give those who are less fortunate."

"Noble cause, but your methods are still wrong." said Karyn.  "You were wasting your time anyway.  We are not rich, nor greedy."

"Isn't that the queen?" Flinton asked, pointing at Lynthia.

"Formerly." Lynthia corrected.  "I am a civilian now."

"Oh, then, you understand my motivations.  I apologize severely.  I would never have done so had I known."

Karyn paused for a moment, pondering her next move.  Without a word, she quickly sheathed her blade and turned her back on the archer before walking back to her waiting mustel.

"You know, it is getting dark.  You really should camp for tonight." said Flinton.

"I can't tell, the forest has been dark for hours." said Karyn as she grabbed her mustel's reins.

"Believe me, I've been in this forest for a long time.  At night, the beasts come out."

Karyn turned around slowly.  "What kind of beasts?"

"I've never seen them.  I've heard them, and I feel their presence." said Flinton.  "You should camp and build a fire.  They loathe fire.  They wouldn't get within a hundred feet of one."

Karyn looked up, and tried to look for any sign of the sky between the thick branches.  Not a trace of light was visible.

"It does appear to be getting dark." she admitted.  "I am rather tired as well.  Perhaps we should camp."

***

Within moments, the four were huddled around a blazing campfire.  Flinton had proven himself to be quite a survivalist, and shared many useful hints and secrets with the others.  Lynthia found it fascinating, and admired how the fire shimmered off Flinton's dark gold hair.

"The fire is dying a bit." Flinton noticed.  "Jatz, Lynthia, perhaps you two should go gather some firewood."

"Why should we?  What about the beasts?" Jatz complained.

"The beasts will not come near the fire.  Just stay fairly close.  Not too close, but fairly close.  If you can see the fire's glow, you are close enough."

Jatz sighed and reluctantly agreed, "Very well.  Come on Lynthia."  Jatz guided the girl into the forest.

"Here Karyn, drink some of this." Flinton offered, extending his flask to the auburn warrior.

"Thank you." she accepted, taking a swig from the container.  The warm liquid washed down her throat, leaving a burning sensation on her nerves.  She closed her eyes as she swallowed the last of it, the burning continued down her esophagus.

"Karyn, are you alright?" Flinton asked with concern in his voice.

"I'm fine." she stuttered.  "I'm...just a little cold and tired."

"Oh, why not come closer to the fire?"

"Very well." Karyn agreed, shuffling closer to the blaze and extending her hands to warm them.  Flinton slowly inched closer towards Karyn and stared at her discretely.  He admired the orange glow of the fire off her skin, giving her beauty a radiance that he could only describe as ravishing.

"Karyn.  Why are you traveling with a thief and an ex-queen?" Flinton asked.

"Jatz is only with us because we can tolerate his presence and he wished to come.  Lynthia on the other hand, is with me."

Flinton paused for a moment, then raised his eyes as he realized what Karyn had meant.  "You mean, you two lay together?"

"Yes.  Is there an objection to that?" Karyn asked.

"Oh no.  Not at all.  I'm just surprised.  Karyn, if I'm not crossing my bounds, have you ever had a male lover?"

"Flinton, you are crossing your bounds.  Say no more to me."

"I can't help it Karyn.  I want to at least tell you that...you're so beautiful."

"Flinton, that's enough."

"Have you ever had a male lover before?  Surely the answer is yes, or the world has gone blind." Flinton whispered, as he began to gently stroke Karyn's left shoulder, slowly pulling away her cloak.

"Don't touch me Flinton." Karyn demanded pointedly.

"Please answer my question then."  Flinton slowly removed his hand off Karyn's shoulder.

Karyn sighed before answering.  "I've never had a real lover before Flinton.  All my life has been devoted to training."

"You're a virgin then?"

"No.  There was once a man.  It was nothing.  I was young, and he was so handsome to me.  I gave myself to him, but he left me and died in the war several years ago.  Since then I poured my heart into my training."

"That man you mention, he was the most foolish man in existence." Flinton said, continuing to bathe in Karyn's radiant features.  "If I were he, I would never leave such an angelic beauty such as yours."  The archer tentatively put a hand on Karyn's shoulder, and Karyn did not respond, and in fact allowed it to remain there.

"You're so beautiful Karyn, it's overwhelming." Flinton whispered gently into Karyn's ear.  Karyn shuddered, the words hypnotic and arousing to her brain.  "I must see more of you.  Please, don't deny me the rapture," Flinton pleaded slowly, his breath hot against Karyn's neck.

As Flinton began to pull away her cloak, he did it in such a gentle, caring way that prompted Karyn to help him.  Flinton almost gasped as he saw the revealing leather corset around Karyn's torso, and the eagerness by which Karyn began to pull it apart.

"You have stolen my heart, thief." Karyn whispered, moving her lips closer to Flinton.  "No one has ever treated me like this, with such affection.  Every man I meet is after my body, and not my consent."

"Do I have your consent my lady?" Flinton whispered, inching his lips towards Karyn.

"Yes.  I give myself to you." she replied before kissing him.

She pulled the threads that held the garment together and the leather corset loosened enough for her to take it off.  Her round, luscious breasts glowed in the light of the fire, her nipples erect from the cool air and the arousal she felt in her loins.  The two joined in a slow, passionate kiss while they embraced each other tightly.  Karyn's tongue snaked towards Flinton's mouth while Flinton caressed the smooth flesh of her back.  Flinton's tongue darted and collided with the warrior's tongue just at the outside of his lips.  The two lovers entwined their tongues as their moans and gasps grew louder and more sensual.

Karyn stood up and slid out of her boots, trousers and panties.  Flinton removed his tunic and boots, along with the various pieces of armor he wore on his body.  Karyn knelt between Flinton's spread legs and took his penis in both her hands, rubbing it gently before licking the length of the meat pole.  Flinton leaned back and groaned with arousal, placing his hands on Karyn's head and stroking her soft auburn hair.  The naked warrior took the tip of his hardened cock into her sensual lips and hungrily began sucking, causing Flinton to groan louder and clench her hair tightly.

Karyn moaned around the hard cock in her lips, her tongue embracing the long shaft inside her hot mouth while she caressed Flinton's testicles with her right hand.  With a groan of release, Flinton's cock exploded with climax, filling Karyn's mouth with his hot cream.  She drank it hungrily, greedily milking his pole dry as she swallowed mouthful after mouthful of his seed.  Excess jism dripped off her full lips and down to her heaving tits, where she rubbed it into her smooth skin and caressed her burning nipples.

Her crotch already moist and hot with pleasure, the warrior woman straddled Flinton's crotch, then took his engorged cock into her right hand.  Karyn guided the long member into her moist pussy, then lowered her ass down, forcing the shaft deep into her quivering vagina.  Flinton and Karyn groaned softly, their hips already beginning to pump in unison.  Flinton reached up to squeeze Karyn's tits.  Karyn smiled and closed her eyes in pleasure, placing her hands over Flinton's as he pinched her erect nipples.  The naked woman groaned deeply as she began pumping faster and harder onto Flinton's meat.

"Harder!  Damn you Flinton harder!!!" demanded Karyn while her firm ass cheeks slapped against Flinton's strong legs.

Flinton increased the strength of his thrusts, shoving his cock deeper into Karyn's cunt.  Karyn gasped desperately for air, her body ablaze as perspiration slid down her bouncing tits to fall from her hard nipples.  Her erotic undulations matched the random, intense movements of the nearby fire.  Flinton pulled Karyn against his chest, licking and sucking wantonly on her heaving breasts, drinking the sweat from her sensual orbs.  Karyn writhed against Flinton, her ass bouncing erotically while she felt his tool further probe her womb.  Flinton ran his hands over Karyn's arching back and lowered them to her tight buttocks, squeezing and pushing them down against his pumping crotch until her snatch of pubic hair pressed against him.

The lovers writhed together for what seemed like eternity, their minds lost in a sea of endless bliss, until Flinton grunted and shot his load into Karyn's cavernous cunt.  Karyn immediately felt her own climax, screaming softly and shuddering as warm honey poured from her vagina.  Her back arched and she leaned her palms against Flinton's chest for support as she stiffened with rapture, letting the pleasure flow into her every muscle.  Karyn slowly lowered herself against Flinton as her ecstasy began to ebb, panting with her tits against Flinton's chest while sweat continued to bead on both their forms.

***

Jatz grumbled as he picked up another loose branch and added it to the growing pile he held under his arm.  Lynthia was several yards away and carried a bushel in her fist, her eyes scanning the dark forest floor for more.

"Don't venture too far from me Lynthia." Jatz called out.

"What do you care Jatz?  As I recall just yesterday you were merely after my money." Lynthia spat as she scooped up another branch.

Jatz sighed.  "I apologized and returned the money.  Isn't that enough for redemption?"

"I simply don't trust thieves Jatz.  Never have.  My parents were poor and we lived in constant fear of thieves in our town.  Much of my childhood I spent trembling in fear, too scared to go outside even in daylight."

"Well, I don't steal for pleasure if that means anything to you.  I view it as a job.  Nothing more.  Stealing is just a way of procuring income for myself."

"I've always been taught to have at least a decent set of morals Jatz.  Even if I needed income so badly I would not stoop so low as to steal."

"I have decent enough morals." quipped Jatz as he turned away, towards a large branch on the ground.

Lynthia scoffed at Jatz's remark and paid him no more attention.  She bent down to pick up another branch when a pair of strong hands grabbed her from behind.  One scooped her up by the waist while another went over her mouth.  Lynthia flailed within her captor's grip, and tried to scream, only to have them come out muffled from beneath the hand over her lips.  Jatz turned and saw Lynthia in the grasp of a large man.  He quickly drew his knife and began to charge only to feel an immense force on the back of his head before he could reach her.  He quickly spun and immediately the darkness of the forest began to intensify, as if encompassing his body.  He saw a few other shadowy figures standing around him, their features indistinguishable from each other.  He spun around in a desperate attempt to find Lynthia, but soon his knees began to buckle and his eyes saw the blunt end of a long, thick object being swung in his direction.

***

Karyn moaned as she laid on top of Flinton, running her hand across his chest.  She listened to the gentle silence that soothed her ears and the warmth that came from both the fire and from Flinton's body.

Suddenly the forest's serenity was shattered as loud footsteps and screams echoed through the air.  Karyn turned around and reached for her sword.  Three black mustels burst from the thick forest and quickly dashed past her.  In the darkness, Karyn could not see the riders, but noticed one of them carried someone over his shoulder.

"HELP!!  KARYN!!  JATZ!!  HELP!!!" Lynthia screamed as she was held tightly by the rider.

"Lynthia!!" Karyn screamed as she began to run after the mustels.  But the animals were far too swift, and despite Karyn's persistence, they faded into the night.

Karyn swung her sword angrily at a nearby tree, screaming in frustration.  The blade dug deeply into the wood and Karyn kicked the tree with her bare foot, causing the tree to fall over.  Karyn hacked several more trees in anger, until finally her rage began to subside and she walked back to camp.

***

Jatz staggered out of the dark forest, grabbing onto trees to keep his balance and to guide him back to the camp.  He saw Karyn had just refastened her cloak when she spotted Jatz and ran up to him, accosting him immediately.  "What happened?!  Who were those people?!!"

"They look like desert bandits to me." said Jatz, rubbing the lump on the back of his head.  "The Nibi desert isn't far from here.  And there is a fairly large city in the center.  So, I would guess she is being taken there."

"For what?!"

Jatz paused, unsure if it was wise to divulge his suspicion.  Karyn's piercing stare convinced him to speak.  "I would suspect that a young, pretty girl like her, would be sold into a harem."

Karyn did not reply immediately, but Jatz deduced her feelings as he saw her fist clench with restrained anger.  "I'm going to rescue her." Karyn pledged.

"Where's Flinton?" asked Jatz as he noticed the blond archer was missing.

"He went to answer the call of nature." Karyn replied through gritted teeth.  "Jatz, light a torch.  We move out immediately."

"But sunrise is hours away!  We would be wandering in darkness!"

"Then in darkness we shall wander." Karyn replied with spite in her voice.

***

Deep within the forest, two men argued amongst themselves.  They kept their voices low to avoid being overheard, but they were still able to convey the full strength of their emotions.

"Why did you strike?" Flinton asked the man in long robes.
.
"Why were you seducing the girl?" sneered the man.

"I was merely gaining her trust!" replied Flinton defensively.  "I was going to check their bags while they slept in case they were hiding their money!"

"They have no money to steal, I can tell." the man replied.  "I decided that the blond girl will be bounty enough."

"Marthal!  We only steal money!" Flinton snapped, gripping the man by his clothing.

"The girl is money." Marthal sneered, his face completely vacant of fear.

"Are you going to ransom her?  Is that it?!"

"Ransom?  No.  The Nibi town harems pay much higher."

Flinton paused, his fists clenching tighter around Marthal's robes, making the thief nervous.  Flinton let go and casually turned around, only to quickly pivot and punch Marthal in the face.

"You would sell innocent young women to be defiled in a desert whorehouse?!" spat Flinton as he watched Marthal roll on the ground.  Flinton noticed the currency sack hanging off the man's belt.  He snatched it in a furious swipe and kicked Marthal once in the stomach before he announced, "I quit."

***

"Flinton!" Karyn exclaimed as the archer came out of the darkness.  "We are departing now."

"The Nibi desert right?"

"Yes, how did you..."

"I recognize the bandits attire." Flinton quickly replied.  "I'm coming with you."

"I was hoping you would thief."  Karyn smiled.  "We could use all the help we can get.  Thank you Flinton, you're a most noble individual."

"Thank you Karyn." Flinton said, accepting her compliment warily.

Flinton mounted Lynthia's mustel and the trio were off.  As the three ventured quickly into the darkness, Jatz rode alongside Flinton's mustel with his run lizard.

"Flinton?  May I ask you something?" Jatz asked.

"Yes.  Go ahead."

"I have ears archer, and I have eyes.  Were you and Karyn doing what I think you were doing?"

Flinton glared at him quickly before forcing his mustel to run faster, causing Jatz to lag behind him slightly.  Jatz chose not to repeat his inquiry, the thief satisfied that Flinton's attitude confirmed his suspicions.  Further conversation between the party was nonexistent throughout the ride through the Nightwood forest.

***

A few hours later

"Master Xarthul!" a soldier called out, his voice echoing through Nightwood's dense trees.

Xarthul turned in the direction of the voice and saw a soldier emerge from a thick underbrush to bring out a gawky man in robes.

"Tell him what you know dog." the soldier demanded, pointing his sword at the man, who trembled heavily with fear.

"The Nibi desert!" he yelped quickly.  "That's all I know I swear!  We kidnapped the girl and some of us are taking her to Nibi!"

"When was this?" Xarthul asked calmly, staring pointedly at the man with his dark eyes.

"A few hours ago!" he blurted, his terror increasing as he caught sight of Xarthul's fearsome appearance and expression.

Xarthul's frown almost turned into a smirk, and then he turned away.  He calmly raised his right hand and the soldier slit the sniveling man's throat without hesitation.  Xarthul pointed in a commanding gesture and a few other soldiers took the body away in that direction, deeper into the darkness.

"Karna." Xarthul said.

Upon hearing her name, a dark haired woman with skin as pale as Xarthul's came up alongside him and placed her slender arms around his broad shoulders.  Black leather hugged her body, wrapped with belts and daggers, making her look as dangerous as she was alluring.  She licked her red lips sensually and purred as she rubbed Xarthul's chest through his armor.  "Yes my lord?"

"Prepare to cross the desert." Xarthul said before kissing her gently on the lips.  "I'll have my revenge soon."

Suddenly the trees began to part with a loud cracking and leaves flew through the air like snow.  Xarthul and Karna looked up from their kiss and saw a massive, dark beast several feet in front of them.  The creature's eyes glowed with an eerie yellow light that glinted off its drool-covered fangs.  Xarthul's soldiers stared at it with their jaws hung limply within their helmets, their weapons slack and their bodies frozen with fear.  Xarthul and Karna were the only two figures that stood unfazed by the beast's intimidating presence.  Xarthul gently stepped away from Karna and walked a few steps closer to the monster.  The monster snarled at Xarthul as he came closer.  Xarthul continued to advance on it.  The monster then struck, lashing out with his massive jaws over Xarthul's head.  Xarthul quickly reached up and grabbed the monster by his two main canines, nullifying the force of the monster's attack.  Xarthul grunted slightly, his feet digging into the ground from the monster's strength.  Finally, with a loud crack, Xarthul snapped the monster's teeth off, leaving his once prominent canines nothing but stumps.  The monster howled in pain, reeling with agony, which was when Xarthul took the sharp end of one of the broken teeth and jabbed it into the monster's leg.  The monster howled again, this time sounding more like a whimpering dog rather than the ferocious monster it was.  It quickly turned around and ran back into the darkness.

Xarthul sighed and tossed away the remaining tooth he had in his hands.  Karna slinked up from behind Xarthul and embraced him by the waist.

"You were magnificent my lord." Karna purred, placing a hand on Xarthul's cheek.

Xarthul kissed Karna gently on the hand and turned slightly to face her.  "No more than usual." he said.

THE END