(Continued from Ch 35, Trolling)

The Chronicles of Rapina
Chapter 36, Daelrath


At dusk four days later, Rapina rode towards the gate of Keep Rath while the others snuck to its graveyard under cover of magical darkness. She opened her mage-light pendant, took a deep breath and walked her horse forward. The wheel-less wagon dragged behind her, opening furrows in the muddy road. 

"Ho! Who goes there, man or spirit!?"

Valkura, servitor of the deceased necromancer, Kroz!

There was a pause. "State your business!" The gatekeeper called.

"I wish to reap the baron's bounty on the heads of his enemies!" Rapina called back.

"Approach the gate," the keeper answered.

Rapina approached the gate. It was barely wide enough to admit a single wagon. It was made of stout timbers and the heads of many trolls decorated its upper edge. As she drew closer, she could see it was scarred in many places as if trolls had scaled it. The men on the cat walk pointed lanterns at her and squinted, but they needn't have. Rapina's mage light illuminated her much better than their feeble lanterns.

She could hear the gate guards talking to one another as soon as she came close enough for them to realize that her horse was not a living creature.

"Your horse is undead, how do we know you are not here to slay us all?" The gatekeeper said.

"My master was a necromancer, I have little to say about his choice of mounts. He preferred these skeletal draft horses. They are large yet need neither eat nor drink. I could not slay you nor would I try. Kroz had no quarrel with you, nor do I. Sir Coshus allowed my master to take a troll from the mountains for his laboratory. I am here to collect some bounty and to show you that we struck at your enemy as promised. Kroz understood that even one as despised as a necromancer could receive some small degree of tolerance if he were to assist Lord Daelrath against the trolls. Kroz has not yet returned from the land of the dead, but we had planned to come for the bounty before we left, and I may need the money if he does not return," Rapina shouted up to the ramparts. 

"One moment!" The gatekeeper said.

After a few minutes, the gate opened. It looked as if the entire garrison was there to check her and her skeletal horse out. Lust tickled her nose as she dismounted and led her horse into the keep. The keep was actually a very small walled town; there were shops on either side of the narrow streets. The soldiers led her to a shop near the actual keep, a large stone tower-like structure. A breezeway led from the keep to a long building just across the street. The sign on it read, "Mead Hall of Rath." Rapina realized that the town had probably been added on in stages around the keep. 

"I am Sir Mongrail, Valkura. Sir Coshus is out on patrol. We hope he is along shortly to explain."

"It is a pleasure to meet you Sir Mongrail, Rapina bowed."

"You may bring your sack of heads into the counting house here and receive the bounty."

Rapina looked into the counting house. "May a lady have your assistance, Sir Mongrail?"

Mongrail blinked. He was unused to courtly manners at Keep Daelrath, and although he had been obliged to learn them, it had not been so many years ago that he was a simple adventurer, and a member of Daelrath's group of cronies. "What does the lady wish me to do?"

"My sack is too large for the door. I wish you to catch the heads I toss and set them on the counter to be tallied." Rapina pulled back the tarp from the makeshift wagon and tossed the first head to Mongrail.

Mongrail caught the head and examined it. It had been severed cleanly and the flesh was firm indicating the woman had not simply tried to get a troll body to regenerate several new heads. On occasion a bounty hunter would attempt to pass off such heads and receive more than his due, but the knights of Daelrath knew how to spot a cheater. The head was a large appendage, and the troll's body lacked for the substance to make one as good as the first. Given time and nourishment, a weak, spongy head would no doubt firm up, but Mongrail had never seen a bounty hunter with patience or resources enough to farm trolls. It was probably easier just to kill new ones.

"A valid number one," Mongrail said.

Head after head passed through Sir Mongrail's hands. The dark lady rose many notches in his estimation. She went from dangerous vampire, to despicable rogue, to citizen, to warrior, to martial artist, to hero of the realm. Many of the heads were cut cleanly, some had obviously taken several hacks. Some were badly burned, a couple looked to have been cooked from the inside, and the necks of all had been cauterized by an exceptionally hot brand. 

Rapina fetched the last head from her saddlebags and walked into the counting house. She noticed a few of the heads were still on the countertop.

"Pray tell what happened to these trolls?" Mongrail asked.

"These I sprayed turpentine on and torched. Kroz had a special horse I rode at first. In it was a tank of turps and a foot pump. Trolls flail around aimlessly when torched and it's not too hard to cut their heads off when thusly occupied, even if a halberd is a little too heavy for me to wield effectively." 

"What of this one?" Mongrail asked.

"That one was done with a magic arrow. Rapina reached into her quiver and handed the knight one of her two remaining glyphed arrows. I have only two of those left. The glyph bursts into flame, normally in a five foot radius. In order to accomplish that, I had to fire the arrow through the troll's eye or mouth. A stronger archer using armor-piercing arrows could probably hit the skull anywhere and get the same effect. The glyph must be inside the brain case when it goes off. If it is, the troll dies instantly.

"A fine weapon, may I show this to the baron?" Sir Derek Mongrail asked.

"Surely. They can be made by some priests, and most mages," Rapina said.

The knight nodded.

This last one is special. Rapina set the head on the counter. One night we had a very bad battle, and that was the last to fall. I was out of turps, and was trying to save a couple magic arrows in case I encountered trolls on the way back here. 

Mongrail inspected the neck. "It took you many hacks to remove this one."

Rapina nodded, "I killed it with my rapier."

The knight's eyebrows raised. "How old are you, m'lady?" the knight asked.

"Sixteen and a half," Rapina said.

"Astonishing! How was it you wound up serving a necromancer?" Mongrail asked. 

"A mutual friend introduced us. I desperately wanted to learn magic but had no funds. Kroz has a horrible time recruiting living servitors, so we struck up a deal."

"No funds, but what of your manners?" The knight asked.

"Kroz felt I should learn deportment," Rapina said.

"You learned deportment from a necromancer?" Mongrail asked.

Rapina smiled and nodded, "Dead or not, he's very well educated." Rapina smirked.

"How do you stand working with corpses?" the knight asked.

"It takes some getting used to. Once you're used to it, it's not so bad, but it can get lonely," Rapina said.

"Then this Kroz lives in an isolated location?" Sir Mongrail asked.

"Very isolated. Necromancers are not popular men," Rapina said.

"How did he get here?" the knight asked.

"He brought us here with magic," Rapina said.

"I see. Are those all the heads your group took?" Mongrail asked.

"There was one more, but I left it, since Kroz may want it as a trophy. It was the head of the troll shaman that sent my master on his latest journey to the land of the dead," Rapina said.

"Well I'll be damned!" Mongrail grabbed Rapina's hand and nearly pulled her off her feet. "Come, we must tell the baron! We have been trying to kill that bastard shaman for years!" Mongrail said.

Rapina was hussled into the keep.

"Baron Daelrath! Valkura and her master have killed the troll shaman!"

A tall, dark, battle-hardened, middle-aged man rushed down a staircase.

"No!? Really?" Baron Daelrath asked.

"Yes, if this young lady is to be believed, the fifty-fourth troll her party killed was the shaman, but her people kept his head for he was the one who killed her master. Take a look at this one. She killed it with her rapier. Mongrail tossed the head to baron Daelrath."

"That bastard shaman was responsible for the deaths of more of my friends than any troll in the realm." Dealrath looked at Rapina as if stunned. She was the vision of a Valkyrie; her blonde hair brought out the mettle in her emerald green eyes, and her shape was something men only dreamed of. "How old are you girl?"

"Sixteen and a half," Rapina said.

"Great Virtusar's ghost! Bruhnhilda come look at this!" Daelrath said.

A girl Rapina's age wearing a cumbersome long dress came rushing down the stairs. Brunhilda stared down in wonder at the Valkyrie who stood at the foot of the stair. Her hair was blonde, and she wore a black bearskin cloak that was held open by the Valkyrie's capable hands resting on her hips. She wore a black tailored breastplate and black silk clothing. Around her neck was a jeweled silver choker and a fine silver chain that held a rod of crystal that glowed with strong light, and on her wide black belt she wore weapons just like a man!

"This is a story for the mead hall! Gather up the knights!" Dealrath ordered.

"But daddy!" Bruhnhilda protested.

"Just this once you can come along, Bruhnhilda, but only until your bedtime. Tell Bruhny's governess she is over at Sir Coshus' with me. I don't want to have to argue over this for the next three days with that nag," Dealrath said.

Food and drink were passed among the knights and fighting men of Daelrath. The baron had called for a hero's feast and most of the warriors in town attended. Rapina told the story of the adventures she had with Kroz and his servitors, including the battle with the troll shaman. She changed the details slightly to have Kroz struck down by the troll shaman's flailing claws as he drained the life out of the troll's neck wound. Thus he paralyzed it permanently as sure as a firebrand in the same place might have done.

"What happened to the Norseman?" Coshus asked as he strolled into the mead hall and took a long, deep pull on a flagon.


Rapina smiled at him. "I'm really not sure. Karmoz paid him. He might have left, or he might have staid with Karmoz waiting for his leg to heal and for Kroz to come back from the land of the dead and give him a lift South. Kroz claims to have died several times, so he should be back," Rapina shrugged. If not I'll have to make a fresh start," she grinned and felt the weight Sir Mongrail had added to her purse shortly after she had been escorted to the mead hall. 

"Fifty three fucking confirmed trolls and the shaman! We need ourselves a mage!" Sir Coshus blurted.

Rapina smirked at Cosh; he was slightly gassed on mead already.

The Baron glared at Coshus, "Bruhnhilda, time for bed."

"But daaady! I'm older than she is!" Bruhnhilda protested.

"She is not a baron's daughter. She is an adventurer who has had to grow up fast. She might as well be twenty-five. Come on now."

"Goodnight Bruhnhilda, it was nice meeting you." Rapina waved

"Goodnight Valkura." Bruhnhilda grumbled as her father escorted her out.

Baron Daelrath returned a few minutes later. "All right men, I know you've been holding back, and I appreciate it, now relax and lets celebrate the death of the rattler!"

"Rapina, I know you're only sixteen. Can you tolerate drunken warriors, and how late are you used to being up?

Rapina grinned, "Kroz was nocturnal, so I usually cooked dinner for Karmoz and I just before dawn. "As for drunken warriors," she grinned, "I am always glad to be around other living people, although it's a shame when a living man is so drunk it is as though he were dead."

"Don't worry about the lady, Rathy, she's a fireball. Her dead master even warned us about her. He said if ya dally with her, expect to be worthless the next day." 

The warriors raised their cups, "I'll drink ta that!"

Rapina blushed.

"The old corpse said she could tire the lot of us out if she had a mind to. If you ask me, she's hotter than a troll brand. I know she works for a necromancer, but she makes every women I've ever slept with seem dead by comparison. She's a natural, a real man's woman, a hero's girl, none of this chaste vindicator bullshit! She's like a concubine of Virtusar, so wanton and tireless, it takes a god or a hoard of heroes to satisfy her!

The warriors all looked at her and cheered.

Rapina smiled brightly as the men bathed her body in lust. Rapina fanned her nose, "I'd say the temperature just went up a few degrees in here." She stood up and reached between her legs.

The warriors gaped.

"Settle down, that's where the strap for my breastplate is." she grinned as she unbuckled herself and then craned her neck to the side and began unbuttoning her armor beneath her left arm. There, that's much better. This armor fits nice, but it's still armor. "Are there rooms in town I can rent?"

"The Mead Hall has three guest rooms, milady. The things you had stowed in the undead steed's chest are in the room in the back to your left, and you've got your own door to the outside as well as one that opens into the hall. The men didn't trust that undead horse, so it's parked just outside the gate."

"My thanks for your hospitality, Baron Daelrath; those arrangements sound just fine. I'll be right back, I just want to put my armor in my room." Rapina tossed her armor into her room next to the pack and saddlebags from the horse. As an afterthought she loosened her belt and hung her rapier and main gauche on the bedpost, and then walked back into the mead hall.

"Hold up, lady. Me name's Knar Gutsplatter. I been wantin' ta ask you about yer blades and now ye left 'em in your room. 

Rapina took Knar's hand and led him to her room. He looked over his shoulder grinned and shrugged at the other men.

Rapina closed the door behind them. She sat on the bed and drew her rapier. "They're made in Montfort."

"Wow, now that's a beautiful blade, the kind a real pro carries. I see it's new, but not totally, Knar said looking at the sheath. You really know how to swordfight for real?"

Rapina tossed her cloak on the bed, took the blade and demonstrated a few standard moves and positions, naming each one as she did so. "I've only been at it not quite a year, but I have a good teacher, and he drills me everyday for two hours."

"He does?" Knar looked surprised.

Rapina giggled, "Yes." She sheathed her sword and showed him her main gauche.

"Nice, matching blade," Gnar said. "The armor's pretty too. Is that breastplate, ah I mean some of the guys were saying its stuffed with padding."

Rapina picked her breastplate up and showed him it was just leather with a cloth backing.

"Well I thought maybe ya had the padding on you or something, like layers."

Rapina smirked and pulled her tunic over her head, "I do wear a layer of wool underwear."

"Is there padding under that? You don't uh move natural," Knar said.

"Oh, I see what you mean. Rapina pulled her long undershirt off down to her green silk bustier. It was a severe garment, not very sexy, really; it was form fitting with laces in the back. She couldn't even put it on herself.

"Padding in there?" Knar asked.

Rapina giggled, only what nature provided. She put her cloak back on but left it open like a cape, then took her blades and put them back on her belt, and lead Knar back out into the mead hall.

"Looks like you got half way there, Knar." Bledsoe grinned.

The warriors laughed.

"Bledsoe Trolltripper, I just wanted to see her blades, an' this thing she's got on was under her black tunic and long underwear, an' that's why she doesn't move; it's not because she's all padding."

"A green silk bustier? May I? I have not seen one in years."

Rapina tossed her cloak onto a chair. 

The baron examined her undergarment. "The stitching is magnificent, where was this made? Baron Daelrath asked.

"Argos," Rapina said.

Daelrath shook his head. "That master of yours spares no expense equipping his servitors. I have seen only a few garments like this, and that was during my days as an adventurer. Are your swords as fine?"

"Clear." Rapina drew her blades and handed them to the baron.

"Montfort forge? I am not familar with the smith, but I know of a town called Montfort," Daelrath said.

"It's a new weapons house located in Montfort," Rapina said.

"Their workmanship is very impressive. Do you really know how to use these, a woman of your tender age?" Daelrath asked.

"Do you fence?" Rapina asked.

"Of course," Baron Daelrath affirmed.

"Then let's spar. I'm sure you are more experienced, but I enjoy exposure to the styles of different people. It helps my defense," Rapina said.

"I have a pair of practice swords; no need to spar with live steel. One moment, I will have them fetched."

"Men, move some of these tables back, I'm going to find out whether or not the lady could really slay a troll."

The warrior's cheered.

Soon a servant arrived with a pair of blunt rapiers and two masks.

Rapina limbered up and took a mask and sword.

"The trees help a lot for trolls, but I'll show you what I can do toe to toe," Rapina said.

"Good enough. You are not the only one who uses the trees against those beasts, we understand the technique," Baron Daelrath said.

The two contestants crossed blades.

Rapina could tell that the Baron had a great deal of experience with blades, but she doubted that he specialized in the Rapier. She suspected he used a heavier blade. His technique was good; the first few minutes went buy as her noble sparring partner and she took each other's measure, strike, parry, parry, lunge, parry, strike and score, Rapina won the first point. 

The men cheered respectfully

In the second round the baron tried much harder, but Rapina just managed to best him and score a second point. Rapina smiled, she was still going strong but the older warrior was a little winded from the sheer speed of the exchange. He had tried to overwhelm her, but he had failed. The next round she scored easily. Finally on the forth round he scored a hit.

The warriors clapped loudly.

"That's it! You said it yourself, what could a woman do with a sword? Wipe the floor with you I think! Hahahaha!" Cosh hollered drunkenly.

The baron scowled at the half drunken knight but he was not about to give up the bout in order to discipline his unruly old friend.

Round followed round, but Rapina was obviously in her element. The baron was an experienced warrior, but the rapier was not his weapon of choice. She scored four out of every five hits, until the baron was drenched in sweat.

"The lady scores again," Daelrath thought to himself. He was receiving a drubbing and the best he seemed to be able to do was win about one in five rounds. 

"The lady wins, damn it!" He threw down his sword and stormed out of the hall.

Rapina grimaced. After the baron left she sat quietly and listened to stories of troll hunts, attacks on the fort, and the glory days of adventuring before Daelrath decided to build a keep and fight the trolls. His dedication had won him a title, but Rapina could not help but wonder what he had given up to stay and fight for his besieged chunk of land.

An hour passed, and then another. After three hours a servant bent to Rapina's ear. 

"The baron would like to talk with you. Please slip out when you can."

Rapina bid the men goodnight, then slipped out of her room and around back of the mead hall. A single knock and the servant who had whispered to her opened the door to the keep. She was led up the stairs and let into the baron's chambers.

"I am sorry I... made such a fool of myself," Daelrath said.

"Rapina looked into the Baron's eyes. She saw pain there, not the pain of a single night, but years and years of pain."

"It's okay, it wasn't me was it? It was something deeper," Rapina asked.

The baron nodded, "There was a woman, an adventurer, headstrong, vivacious, she was magnificent. You remind me of her, although she had darker hair; your free spirit runs with hers. We were lovers but not for long. The baron pointed to the sword and helmet that rested on his mantle piece, "The troll shaman killed her. What you see on the mantle is all I have left to remember her by." She was the reason I staid here. Now I like to think I stay for the sake of the people, but I could never be certain until you brought me this news, and granted me the revenge that I prayed to every god and demon for. What fell god sent you anyway?"

"Mortaebius," Rapina said.

The baron took a breath, "The god of the dead? Are you a real living woman?"

Rapina nodded. "I am the servitor of a necromancer with plenty of flaws and skeletons in my closet. The troll shaman attacked us; otherwise we would never have known there were troll spell-casters. It was purely coincidence, or providence if you like," Rapina shrugged.

"Then why are you here?" Baron Daelrath asked.

"I am a spy, of course," Rapina said.

The baron laughed. "Of course, but for whom?"

"Mortaebius," Rapina said.

"But why?" Baron Daelrath asked.

"He wishes to know if you intend on helping Avengene burn his temples in the south of your territory, and if you intend on turning your daughter into a nag as unnatural and guilt-ridden as her governess," Rapina said.

Daelrath scowled, then looked at the helmet on the mantelpiece, "Mortaebius? Is the church of the god of the dead full of necromancers?"

Rapina giggled, "oh sure." She turned to look at the woman's helmet as well. "Actually most of them would scream and run if they could see what Kroz can do. Most are simply high quality morticians with some catchy prayers; a few others can cast some useful spells and consecrations. Very few could make the dead rise, and those who could probably don't know it is possible. Kroz's art is not accepted within the church but there are plenty of rumors of its existence. Morticians are not soldiers, and they are helpless against the depredations of certain gods whose 'honest', 'natural' and 'forthright' servitors dress as bandits to burn and sack and desecrate the house of the dead without so much as a pang of the guilt they seem to be constantly serving up to others," Rapina said.

Rapina felt the laces of her bustier being undone. When she heard the laces drop to the floor she turned.

The baron looked at her face and then his eyes dropped to her mouth, his expression was a combination of lust and trepidation.

Rapina opened her mouth. She took the baron's arm and bit on it softly, over and over. "Oh please, do you think I'm a vampire?" She said looking up. She bit some more, and then she bit his neck and his cheek, soon he started laughing uncontrollably.

"I did," Baron Daelrath admitted.

Rapina rolled her eyes, "I get that all the time. I do not suck blood. I suck other things. I'm just on loan to Mortaebius from the goddess of lust."

"Oh you are, are you?" Daelrath asked.

"I think so, but neither of them consulted with me. I guess it's on a need to know basis," Rapina said.

The baron pulled Rapina's bustier forward off her chest and set it aside. Her nipples rose in unison. Daelrath inhaled deeply as he saw her breasts. He lifted her off her feet and carried her to his bedchamber, kissing her nipples as he went. He set her on the bed and began to undo her belt.

Rapina breathed heavily, she quickly undid the baron's belt and deftly buttoned down his breeches.

"You've done this before, haven't you, milady?"

Rapina grinned lustfully, "Once or twice." Rapina stood and wriggled out of her pants and long underwear.

The baron bent and pulled her silk panties down. He felt her belly and then reached around and squeezed her full rump. His breath caressed her nether lips, and then his tongue licked them. "You are so wet." The baron stood, took hold of Rapina's butt, and lifted her wetness onto his erection. He laid her on the bed and pumped rhythmically, gasping as clutching waves caressed up his shaft finishing when the base of his cock kissed her vulva and then starting all over again with each and every thrust. Daelrath knew he would never hold up to this, he was going to come; he was going to come hard. He withdrew and kissed his way down her body. He grasped her butt squeezing and massaging as he began to eat her.

Rapina moaned and spread her long legs wide. He teased her with his tongue and played in her well with slippery fingers until she was practically screaming, and then with his fingers still playing he entered her once again with a powerful thrust. Rapina squealed in ecstasy as orgasm blasted through her brain. As she began to come down from her peak, she touched his mind with lusty affection. He continued thrusting and thrusting as Rapina's inner muscles pulled at his seed.

Baron Daelrath's moan stuck in his throat as his eyes opened and he poured his seed into the goddess beneath him.

"You don't know how long it has been since I've done that," Daelrath panted.

Rapina smiled. "Was there anyone after the adventurer?" Rapina asked.

Daelrath rolled under Rapina without pulling out. She sat atop his softening erection and smiled down at him."

"My wife, of course. It was not the same though. The fire was not there. She was a good woman, an impoverished noblewoman. I was a baron by then, but only by title and not by blood, so the pedigree of my children became important. She was not suited for life in a battle zone. She made trips south, and about two years ago the... trolls got her.

"You sound unsure," Rapina said.

"It was probably nothing, but I have been a troll hunter many years. There were some tracks I was unsure of." Baron Daelrath said. 

"Then it could have been a political killing?" Rapina asked.

"It is possible, one made to look like a troll attack," Daelrath said.

"Did a woman from Avengene come courting shortly after?" Rapina asked.

"Avengene came to the funeral with three of his granddaughters. One staid for a time, but I could not stomach it. Something just didn't feel right," Daelrath said.

"Then it probably wasn't. From what I can tell, the Avengenes are lions in sheep's clothing who hide behind a just and pious god who nevertheless lacks the common decency to leave the churches of other deities alone." Rapina clutched the baron's half-softened erection inside her. She smiled down at him as he reached up to play with her breasts."

"You are such a sexy young woman," the Baron said.

Rapina giggled, her breasts bobbing slightly. "Men do seem to appreciate my body, and I certainly appreciate men. My master always warns them, 'Don't fall in love with Valkura; the best you can hope for is to be her friend.'"

"Why is that? Because you're a spy for Mortaebius?"

Rapina smiled, "No, it's because I can't resist a good man. If you want a faithful woman, you'd better look elsewhere. Sometimes when I get started, I just can't stop, and it doesn't matter how many men I go through, I just want more. It would break the heart of a man who wanted me for himself," Rapina sighed; "but I am the way I am."

"A real fireball." Daelrath grinned.

"Hey, that's what Cosh said."

"Sir Coshus is a spy for me." Daelrath said.

Rapina giggled. "He is quite thorough in his reports."

"Only because you are so unusual. Necromancers are a rarity. Cosh may not have let his bravado slip, but he saw the armed skeletons, the dead horses and the four mysteriously smoldering fire pits and he became nervous as he should have. He also spent a great deal of time watching you wash yourself. You had been sleeping with the Norseman," Daelrath said.

Rapina smiled and looked at the ceiling, "Eric is so big."

"I hope that is not all you see in a man, the size of his cock?" Baron Daelrath asked. 

Rapina looked at the baron's hands playing with her breasts and smirked, "Actually, Rapina clutched the baron's softened erection, size can be impressive, but any man is snug when I squeeze him."

"Yes, I could not help but noticing. Coshus was not lying about your interior," Baron Daelrath observed.

"Didn't he leave anything to the imagination?" Rapina smiled lustfully as she felt the baron's erection growing inside her. She moved her hips slightly forward and back, adding fuel to his fire. 

"No, he was quite fascinated by your brief encounter, and I'm sure he will be knocking at your door again. Quite sure," The baron panted.

Soon Rapina was going full stroke moaning as she rode him.

---


It was well after midnight when Rapina let herself out of the baron's chambers. She had not pulled an appreciable amount of energy from the nobleman. He had simply fallen asleep after his third orgasm. She had taken her clothes and dressed in the sitting room. There she loosely re-laced her bustier and put it on like a pullover shirt. Then she opened the door. A guard there looked at Rapina inquiringly as she came out.

"Where did you come from, miss?" the guard asked.

Rapina looked confused, "The baron's chambers. Does that door go somewhere else too?"

The guard cleared his throat, "Ah, no. That'd be the only place that door leads. What were you doing in there?"

"I was, um, the baron was entertaining me," Rapina said.

"Or was it you who were entertaining the baron?" the guard asked.

"Um, yes, could be. Do you want to check on him or something to make sure he's just tired from entertaining? I am used to sleeping during the day. Otherwise I'd stay with him," Rapina said. 

"Oh, okay, c'mon in the sitting room. I'll take a peek. The guard went in and bent over the baron, then came back out. He seems okay. He's breathin' good anyway. C'mon I'll get you back to the mead hall. There might be a few drunkards still up. Most of the men take their day off tomorrow," the guard said.

As she entered the mead hall, she saw that there were still six men remaining. Rapina recognized Sir Coshus and two of his men sitting around watching three other men play knucklebones.

"Welll ha-hellow therrre Valllkura," Coshus slurred.

"Good eve, Sir Coshus. It sounds like you've been drinking," Rapina said.

"Dammmn right. Ids my day offf tomorrrow. The knight seemed to waver even though sitting. Hey, I waadded up fer ya, wanna goo," Coshus pointed towards Rapina's room.

Rapina sat in the knight's lap. He clumsily cupped one of her breasts through her bustier with one hand hand. He held a mug of mead in his other hand.

"Who's winning?" Rapina asked the other men

"Balard is cleaning up right now, but I was ahead earlier," Sir Markus Stallart said.

"Hey, wanna goo in da uddeerrooom?" Coshus ineffectually nibbled at Rapina's earlobe.

"Why?" Rapina asked.

"Ta Fuck!" Coshus said.

Rapina wrinkled her nose as the other men looked. Rapina turned her head and spoke to the drunken knight in a low voice, "Coshus, how long have I been sitting in your lap moving my rump back and forth to get comfortable?"

Coshus blinked, "A few minuds, why?"

"Cosh!" Rapina whispered, "You've already been fucked tonight. Her name was Almeada, and she must have rode you hard because nothing's happening down there."

"Ohh Shhhit," Coshus said.

Stallart and the other men laughed. They had obviously been listening. "What's the matter, Almeada put the kibosh on the Cosh?"

Balard refilled Cosh's cup, "If you got no signs of life with Valkura movin' her ass in your lap, Cosh, you're as good as passed out now. Here, finish the job."

"Oooooo," Coshus moaned. "Ids dead."

Rapina giggled, "Sorry Cosh, I may be a fireball, but I'm not a miracle-worker."

Stallart chuckled, "can't you cast a rez-erection spell on the poor drunken knight?

"He's beyond my help. Only Mortaebius can help him now," Rapina said.

"Hahaha, Mortaebius, god of the dead! I think you need Valkura's boss to come back and cast animate bone on you!" Stallart laughed.

Everyone at the table laughed.

"Common over here, lass, sit on a real man's lap. Leave that pickled pickle out to dry," Stallart said.

Rapina got up, smiled seductively and snuggled her rump into the knight's lap. 

Oooo, I'mmm useless. I gonnna go ta bed. Ssee you tomorrow, Cushus half bowed, half staggered before the men, and then tippled his way out of the room.

Two other men said their good-byes shortly after the drunken knight left. They too were too deep in their cups to be able to stay awake much longer. 

"Hey Stall-heart, for the next throw, I'll wager a silver against havin' th' wench in my lap," Balard said. 

"You're on, Ball-hard," Stallart said.

"I'm in," Melden said.

"Only one problem with that," Rapina said.

"What?" Balard asked.

"I own my rump, not Stallart. If you want me in your lap you'll not get me by betting him," Rapina said.

"Oh." Balard looked crestfallen. "Hold on." He dug in his pocket and came out with a small smooth white stone. I'll tell ya what. Lets say the holder of this here stone holds the rights of you sitting in his lap fer a quarter hour." He handed the stone to Rapina.

"Okay," Rapina said.

"Now I'll bet you a silver against the stone for the next toss," Balard said.

"I'm in," Stallart said tossing a coin next to Balard's.

"I'll see that silver," Melden said. 

"Oh all right," Rapina smiled and placed the stone down next to the coins, then she picked up the dice and rolled a five and a one for a total of six.

Everyone else rolled but Melden beat the pack with a ten.

Rapina grinned and sat down in Melden's lap. His lust tingled pleasantly up her spine, as she got comfortable. She could feel his erection growing beneath her and could not help tugging on his lust each time she moved her rump to get more comfortable.

She switched laps several times in the midst of furious betting, and raging hard-ons.

"Could we bet for a token that would get us into your bed?" Stallart asked. 

"No, that wouldn't be right. I'm a warrior, not a harlot," Rapina said.

The men looked crestfallen.

"...But I am going to my room, so when I'm gone there is nothing preventing you from dicing with each other to see who's gets to come to my door first, and who has to wait till he leaves." 

The three men's mouths dropped open and then blossomed with smiles.

---

Rapina opened her eyes. She could see daylight streaming in through both of the high, narrow windows of her room. There was a light knock on the door to the outside. "Who is it?" Rapina called.

"It's Bruhnhilda."

Rapina grabbed her bearskin cloak from the chair, put it around her, then padded to the door, and unbolted it. 

Bruhnhilda stepped in and the Valkyrie she had met last night closed and re-bolted the door behind her.

Rapina went back to the bed, swung her legs up and sat with her back against the headboard, "Hi, Bruhnhilda, I thought you would be Cosh or someone, Rapina blinked. Aren't they keeping you away from me?"

"Well not exactly, but they would if they knew. My governess makes me go to the vindicator's service. It starts early, but if I can't get out of it, there is Sunday school after. The service to Virtusar starts later so the hung-over knights can get to it. Daddy sometimes goes to both services, but today he got up late and only went to hear the chaplain of Virtusar speak. I told reverend Vindictine that I had homework to finish to get out of Sunday school, but my governess thinks I am in Sunday school.

Rapina grinned, "The shell game. Pull the chair up if you want."

Bruhnhilda smiled and pulled the chair from under a small table in the corner of the room and brought it near the bed. She sniffed the air, "What's that smell?"

"What smell?" Rapina asked.

"It's hard to describe," Bruhnhilda said.

Rapina stretched a long bare leg out of the bed and picked a crumpled handkerchief off the floor with her toes. "Is that it?"

Bruhnhilda took the handkerchief and practically jumped when she put it near her nose, "Yes, that's the smell."

Rapina giggled, "That's the smell of men."

Bruhnhilda un-crumpled the handkerchief and looked at the white slime inside it, "This is men? What were you doing?"

Something very fun and natural that your governess has been working very hard to make seem bad and unnatural to you from the day you were born. Someone already worked very hard on her and the priest when they were kids, and now they honestly believe it, hook, line and sinker," Rapina said.

"What is it?" Bruhnhilda asked.

"Sex, of course. It's what men and women do for fun," Rapina said.

"Is it hard?" Bruhnhilda asked.

Rapina giggled, "No but it's like anything. You don't enjoy it as much until you get the hang of it."

"But doesn't it make you pregnant?" Bruhnhilda asked.

Rapina got up from the bed; her cloak hung open as she dug around in her pack. She tossed a small sealed paper bag to Bruhnhilda, "Only if you're stupid and ignorant, but that's how they like their women, dumb and helpless. They can't swing a blade, they can't hold a job of any importance, and all they can take pride in is having child after child to swell the ranks of the church. Either that or they can work for the church to create more people just like them through instruction."

Bruhnhilda looked confused, and a little angry, but not at Rapina.

"I'm sorry, I really shouldn't be telling you any of this. If you even mention one thing I just told you, they'll lecture you until they're red in the face and then cook up all kinds of merciless little punishments to make you wish you had never gotten out of line. Does that sound familar?"

Bruhnhilda looked crestfallen, "Yes, it does. I know just what you mean."

"According to the vindicator's church, girls mustn't think. There's no sense arguing with them anyway. You know exactly what they'll do and say already."

"I know, It's terrible." Bruhnhilda held up the packet, "what is this stuff?"

Rapina went back to her pack and got another packet, this one had already been opened. She took a half-generous pinch of the herb it contained and dropped it in her mouth. Everyday when I get up, I take that much. You can't count on it for the first two or three weeks, but once you have taken it that long and you don't miss more than a day, you can count on it. You won't get pregnant no matter how much fun you have."

Bruhnhilda put the sealed packet in her belt purse and then dipped her fingers into the packet Rapina held and took a good pinch. Is that right?"

Rapina nodded. "Nothing to it really. It's a common herb. If you know the taste and smell, you can harvest it yourself if you can find where it grows. Some apothecaries stock it too."

Bruhnhilda smelled the herb then dropped it into her mouth and chewed it. "It tastes funny."

Rapina giggled, "Well it's not supposed to be food, it's an herb."

"You're naked," Bruhnhilda said.

Rapina looked down at the fullness of her breasts. She shrugged. "I don't have anything you haven't seen before." Rapina opened her cloak wider and looked at herself, "All women come with the same basic equipment; there are just variations of shape." Rapina felt a slight tickle of lust on her nose. It wasn't strong, but it was noticeable, something like she might expect from Brackston or Slice whose reactions to handsome men were much more palpable.

"Do you have a boyfriend?"

"Not really," Bruhnhilda said.

"Do any of the men look at you like, you know, like they're interested?" Rapina asked.

"Sometimes, but the one who looks the most I can't stand," Bruhnhilda said.

"Oh you mean the reverend?" Rapina asked.

"Yes, he's so disgusting," Bruhnhilda said.

"Lots of vindicator people have their lust all twisted in knots; It's not clean like a real man's." Rapina said. "I've noticed almost the same thing from other men who, for one reason or another, have never gotten enough attention or feel bad about themselves or their bodies. If you have anything sexy to wear, or if you can just move right, most men will take notice, and you can usually get the gist of their lust."

"Reverend Vindictine's is so disgusting it's easy to sense. Sometimes he touches me and I nearly gag," Bruhnhilda said.

Rapina smirked, "If he is really icky you could give him enough rope to hang himself with, but it might be dangerous. It's certainly not the ideal first encounter with a man. I'm so glad I had some nice boyfriends before I met my first case of twisted lust."

Bruhnhilda giggled, "Reverend twisted lust, that's who he is. How do you mean hang himself?" Bruhnhilda asked.

"It's a little tricky because you can't be wanton or ask him or even be too much the perfect vindicator girl, but if he's pushy, you just get into a situation where he knows you're going to be alone with no one nearby to see him, and maybe you swallow some of his excuses if he bothers to make any, but if he forces you, and you have someone you trust standing by to get someone who is big, tough and mean who's word is his bond... Well if reverend Yuck gets caught forcing the baron's daughter he will get thrown out of this keep so fast it will make his head spin. Not to mention what your father might do to him on the way out. It's a poor excuse for having power, but it could work," Rapina said.

Bruhnhilda sighed, "Being a commoner would be so much simpler, and I would have more freedom."

Rapina shrugged, her breasts bounced resiliently. Yes, I could just beat him up if he tried anything, but your situation is a little more complex. Someone would have to catch him doing the deed while you pleaded for him to stop. Then he would be cooked, and his lechery would come to a quick finish. "Being a commoner can get quickly difficult too though, especially if you're a little too pretty."

"You must have to pry the men off you." Bruhnhilda giggled.

Rapina grinned, "It's the really icky ones, no, the really icky ones with lots of power. Those are the biggest horrors of my life. I don't have a problem with the nice ones; spreading for them is so much fun."

"How do you do it?" Bruhnhilda asked.

Rapina grimaced, "You really don't know?"

Bruhnhilda shook her head.

"Haven't you played with yourself?" Rapina asked.

"A little, but they said it was bad," Bruhnhilda said.

"Gods I hate what they do to girls! You probably don't have a live muscle in your tunnel either. It's like your legs would be if you had not been allowed to walk for the first seventeen years of your life," Rapina sighed. "They'd probably cut my head off for showing you. Have you ever even seen a man naked?"

"Once, but not for very long. I walked into a privy I thought would be empty," Bruhnhilda said. 

"Have you even seen a stallion?" Rapina asked.

Bruhnhilda nodded.

Men are a lot like stallions only their pipe has no sheath like a stallion's. It just hangs. Women are sort of like mares too, only mares get interested once a month, and a natural woman can be interested just about all the time. Men get hard when they are excited and it goes up. Rapina made a fist by her crotch then slowly extended her index finger.

Bruhnhilda giggled and did the same.

Rapina smiled and took Bruhnhilda's finger and pulled her towards the bed. "I'll show you kind of how it works if you want. You can pretend to be the man for the moment."

Bruhnhilda came over to the bed with Rapina, who laid down and pulled her on top.

I'll hold your left shoulder up so you can be a man with your left finger. Hold your left hand down where your crotch is. And hold yourself up with your right arm. Rapina held Bruhnhilda's left shoulder up. While the other woman kept her right arm straight and braced on the bed beside Rapina. With her left hand, Rapina guided Bruhnhilda's finger to her entrance. "Okay, that's about right, now if you were a man you would just thrust your hips forward. Of course you would be naked too, but this'll do for a demonstration.

Bruhnhilda thrust her hips forward and her finger went right into Rapina. She was warm and wet inside.

"Okay now thrust your hips back then forward and back and forward with some kind of rhythm. Not too fast. If you're not a dead woman like your governess probably is, you might thrust your hips in counterpoint to the man, like so and you would squeeze him with your interior muscles if you have got any strength in them after what they've done to you," Rapina said.

"Oh goodness," Bruhnhilda said as a wave of muscular pressure squeezed up the length of her finger.

"Do that for a while and the man will squirt white slimy seed up inside you just like is on the the handkerchief, and when he shoots, it feels so good he can hardly believe it. Women build up to the same kind of release, but we don't shoot anything, at least not so obviously. It still feels really great. Most men have to rest after they shoot. A well-practiced woman can come to a peak and then build right back up for another, so if you're good at it and you have a good partner, you can have more fun even then your man does." Rapina grinned.

If he shoots it up inside, how did it get on the handkerchief? Bruhnhilda asked.

"just lay down beside me if your arm's getting tired," Rapina said.

"Bruhnhilda laid down on the bed beside her semi-naked new friend, "But why is it on the handkerchief?"

Rapina giggled, "It's a thick liquid, so it will slowly run out of you, especially if you've got a lot in you and you stand up. A little always stays in, plenty enough to get you pregnant if you are stupid and have not been taking the herb. If you have the herb but haven't been taking it, take five doses the day after you have a man. It will make you a little sick, but you won't get pregnant. I'm what Sir Coshus refers to as, 'a real fireball,' which means I like sex a lot, and I have a big appetite for it."

"How many men did you have in here?" Bruhnhilda asked.

"Three, but one at a time. It's less confusing that way. Most women are content with one man. I'm a very greedy girl, more so than most other natural women, and far more so than a woman who's lust is all tied in knots like your governess'."

"My governess said she was sure you were not a natural woman, but some sort of an undead, a ghoul or a vampire," Bruhnhilda said.

Rapina groaned, "I get that all the time from working for Kroz. He's an unsavory character; I will freely admit that, and I'm not exactly unstained myself, but I'm trying to make something out of myself, and free magic apprenticeships are just about impossible to get. Rapina got up and put some socks on, then pulled her boots on but did not tie the laces. Time to show you I'm not undead, not that you shouldn't have figured that out with where you had your finger. Undeads are cold corpses."

"Peek out the door." Rapina stepped out the door; the noonday sun was bright on the small stoop outside. Rapina turned and faced the door then opened up her cloak. The sun beat down on her naked skin. She stood there for quite a while then came back in and re-bolted the door. There, I'm not a vampire, or I would just have been cooked. I could get a suntan if I staid out long enough, but Kroz is nocturnal so in winter I get little sun. We all go to bed around dawn and get up in the late afternoon.

Bruhnhilda smiled, "I didn't think you were one, but its good to know. I thought maybe you would suck my blood."

"Rapina giggled, "I'll suck your clit if you like, but not your blood."

"My what?" Bruhnhilda asked.

Rapina rolled her eyes. You honestly don't know?

Bruhnhilda slowly shook her head.

"Okay, I'll show you, it's the main female pleasure center." Rapina sat on the bed with her legs spread and showed Bruhnhilda the nub she was referring to, and several ways to play with it. "Just don't bother trying it when there's any chance of the guilt patrol showing up. You know you'll never hear the end of it. It's probably better if you figure out how it works yourself, anyway. They'd crack my skull if they knew I tongued you to a climax. The only reason I even offered is because you probably have never even had a climax, and that is really sad," Rapina said.

Bruhnhilda shook her head.

"Unless you can get rid of those vindicator types, it's best just to act like they want you to act, but like an actor in a theatre company playing a part," Rapina grinned as she put on some panties and a chemise. "The funny thing is that if you really overdo it, some of them won't even notice," Rapina giggled. "I might as well do my exercises while we talk." Rapina began to do stretches.

"You exercise like the men?" Bruhnhilda asked.

"All good warriors exercise. It makes you strong, and it gives you confidence and stamina," Rapina said.

Bruhnhilda gaped as she saw Rapina doing pushups on the floor and then pull-ups to the lintel above the door. She could not do one pull-up, and could only do a pushup with her knees on the floor. Rapina made them all look so easy. After she did a bunch of exercises, Bruhnhilda held out her sheaths and Rapina drew her weapons and did some moves with Bruhnhilda out of the way on the bed.

Footsteps sounded outside then there was a heavy knock at the door.

Rapina motioned Bruhnhilda to open the door, and then went into a handstand on her knuckles, blades in hand.

Bruhnhilda, kicked the slimy handkerchief under the bed and then opened the door wide standing near the open edge of it so that the person on the other side would get an unobstructed view of Rapina, standing on her hands with her chemise riding up nearly to her navel .

Rapina lowered her head to the floor and then pushed slowly back up to a handstand.

For a moment the baron was too surprised to say anything. He grimaced as he saw Rapina doing a push-up to a handstand. He obviously knew how difficult that was.

Rapina felt a surge of lust when the baron first looked through the doorway, but he was obviously surprised as well. "Hi Baron, Rapina said almost casually in spite of the exertion of her exercise.

The baron looked at Rapina, and then at Bruhnhilda. "Bruhnhilda?"

Rapina lowered the top of her head to the floor slowly, "She came by to say hello on her way back from church and we got to talking. It was really very sweet of her."

"Daddy, I am the daughter of a war lord and I can't do one pull-up or even one push-up. I feel like such a waif."

"Nonsense, you are a noble lady," Daelrath said.

"I am an ignorant girl who knows how to read poetry, and prayers to the vindicator, and dress in courtly clothes and act with manners. I live in an oft embattled keep in the middle of troll country with my warlord father and I cannot even lift a sword. Please don't start in on Valkura because she's just been exercising and listening to my woes, not telling me what my woes are," Bruhnhilda said.

"I have felt so worthless for so long, and now I meet a girl my age and she is some of the things I should be. Strong, self assured, able to defend herself at least long enough for assistance to arrive. Daddy I am a dead piece of skin. I can't even step one foot outside this keep. I cannot do a single pushup, I cannot shoot a bow, I do not know how to use a spear from the wall, or dump boiling oil from the cauldrons, or fire a ballistae. I cannot ride a horse nor can I cannot drive a wagon. If I traveled south and trolls attacked me, I couldn't even ride away. I am a helpless, worthless sitting duck! My mother is dead. I am your daughter, why can't I be a Daelrath!?"

For a brief, shining moment the baron hesitated. It appeared almost as though some of his daughter's outburst had struck a chord. "Enough of this insolence! Go to your room, child!" The baron ordered.

Bruhnhilda looked at Rapina.

"It was so nice of you to stop in, farewell Bruhnhilda," Rapina dipped and pushed up a bit as if to curtsy upside down.

Bruhnhilda curtseyed and ran off.

Daelrath looked a little dangerous as he closed the door. "Just what do you think you are you doing practicing with live steel in the presence of my daughter?"

"She was perfectly safe sitting over on the bed. The poor girl just wanted to talk to someone her own age." Rapina could almost hear Daelrath's anger battling with his lust for supremacy. She started doing a leg exercise that was basically the splits upside down. Her legs and body became a "T" and then she straightened her legs again and repeated.

"Damn it you're distracting," the baron snapped.

Rapina smiled and gave the baron's lust a subtle tug.

"What's this I hear about you and a few of the men late last night," Daelrath asked.

"Hmm? Did I forget to tell you I was insatiable?" Rapina asked.

"Well, you did mention it but..." Daelrath said.

"You are a very fine lover, baron, but for me it was in the middle of the day when we made love, and you know what Sir Coshus said last night was true. I am the way I am. If it helps you to think of me as a cheap tavern wench then go right ahead, but I'm really very much like your warriors of Virtusar in matters of affection, I just happen also to be female. I love men and I get what I can get when I can get it," Rapina said matter-of-factly.

The baron nodded.

"Unfortunately, I normally live with a bunch of walking corpses." Rapina wrinkled her nose.

"Clear," Rapina fliped up onto her feet with her blades tucked. Her nipples traced ephemeral designs in the fabric of her chemise as they bobbed. Rapina sheathed her weapons and stood before the baron.

"I am still not sure what to make of you, other than that you are gifted between the sheets, and a real fireball. I suppose if you were here to charm me you would not have bedded those three last night, especially since one was a knight, and sure to report directly to me," Baron Daelrath observed.

"Charm is overrated. I am here to find out what is going on, and to see if there might something we can do for each other," Rapina said.

"Well there is one thing you can do for me," Daelrath grinned.

Rapina smiled, it was obvious that this time lust had prevailed over anger. Daelrath lifted her chemise off over her head and tossed it on the floor. Her panties found the floor at his hands only a split second later.

Daelrath shook his head, "Your body is positively unreal. He touched his palm to her vulva and came away with a spot of moisture, and you're willing and able to settle any man's desires."

"Well, not any man's," Rapina said.

"Then how do you decide who is left out in the cold?" Daelrath asked.

"I take exception to men who maliciously try to torture and rape me, and to men whose lust is so twisted and tinged with guilt and insanity that it is dangerous or revolting. Plus I don't always have time," Rapina said.

"Have you got time now?" Daelrath asked. 

Rapina nodded lustily as she made quick work of the baron's belt and his trouser buttons. Soon she was wetly moaning over his throbbing erection.

When they were finished, Rapina took some fresh clothes from her pack and began to walk to the keep with the baron who had promised to have a bath drawn for her there.

As they headed down the street, a man dressed in the black robes of a priest turned a corner in front of them.

"Good day, Baron Daelrath," the reverend said.

"Good day reverend Vindictine. This is our visiting hero, Valkura," Daelrath said.

The reverend looked up at the sun and then back at Rapina, "Good day Valkura," the reverend said.

Rapina rolled her eyes, "Good day, Reverend Vindictine." She looked up at the sun for nearly half a minute and then looked back at the Reverend.

Daelrath chuckled. She lacks the light sensitivity of a vampire or the scent of a ghoul, and in any case her body temperature is quite normal. Daelrath grinned salily.

Vindictine nearly scowled but caught himself. "It is well you are not undead then, Valkura. Such creatures are beyond hope."

Rapina nodded.

"Carry on, reverend. I shall see you later," Daelrath said.

"Goodbye reverend," Rapina curtseyed slightly.

"Sometimes I wonder why that man bothers to stay here. He can only count on the governess and a few others to come to his services. The men are constantly joking about his lack of masculinity, and yet they expect him to heal their hurts, a task which he is easily exhausted at," Daelrath observed.

"As long as he can remake Bruhnhilda in his image, he has mission," Rapina said.

Daelrath scowled. "It is easy to see there is no love lost between the servants of Mortaebius and those of the vindicator."

"None at all," Rapina grinned.

Rapina's bath was long and luxurious, and when she got out of the tub, she found her blades and mage light missing. She dressed and stepped into the next room. Six armed knights with swords bared awaited her. With them were the baron and the Reverend. The baron held her mage light with the clear crystal bared.

"Valkura, we must examine your hair," Baron Daelrath said.

"Ah, you see, the roots are black, and look at the likeness of the face," Reverend Vindictine observed.

The baron compared a poster held up by the reverend to Rapina's face and sighed. "Yes, and the description of her body fits her as well. Valkura, or Brianna, as the case may be, you are under a rest for the murder of Reverend Evangeline Avengene. You will be held in my dungeon until an armed party from Avengene can come to fetch you. I would deliver you myself, but I cannot spare the men."
-------

This ends, Daelrath, chapter 36 of The Chronicles of Rapina.
The story continues in chapter 37, The Dungeons of Daelrath.

Copyright 2001 by Rapina