by Cat Wilder
"Tahki never said anything to me."
"She loves you too much to correct you," the elfmaid said.
"You never have a problem correcting me."
"I guess she loves you more," Meike said, and all three women giggled. I'm not sure, but Tahki might've giggled, too. She made an odd sound, at any rate. "She'll get over it in time."
Put some clothes on, Tahki said. Your women can't think straight with you in that condition.
I checked my inventory, deciding on a black tunic over plain undyed leather pants and boots. My weapons remained inventoried, but I pulled up my HUD map. Using it, I zoomed in on the abbey. A large village lay outside the gatehouse, mostly consisting of conical thatch huts and truck gardens. The mountain itself took my breath away.
"How did they cut the top off of it?"
No one knew, not even Tahki. But basically, the top half of the mountain had been removed to create a level plateau of sorts. The abbey squatted on the southern edge, atop sheer cliffs. Otherwise, the side of the mountain was sheathed in countless terraces of crops. In the semi-darkness the mountainside looked striped.
Rivers raged below and between the mountains. A foggy haze rose up in the deep gorges, but below the cliffs, there was a considerable forest that continued down the canyon. Tahki said it was the Order's hunting grounds.
When we arrived a few hours back, it was just a black shape in the moonless night. Now that I could see it, I felt intimidated. How could we sneak into that? But Tahki said only fifty-six women remained inside. I couldn't imagine more than ten standing guard at any given time, since the dragon claimed most of them held leadership positions. All of the good little assassins were out in the field looking for me.
Sunrise happened fast in the mountains. I watched the sunrise, while studying the situation. Villagers could be seen out and about even before the sun, many working their way down into the terrace plots. I noticed a little activity in the abbey.
I zoomed my map in on the abbey, and names began appearing above its structures.
The Abbey of Vyx Triumphant stood tall and proud. Its curtain walls were roughly D-shaped, with the flat side facing the village and the other walls perched atop sheer cliffs. So they only had to guard the village wall. All of the shops a castle, or abbey, needed nestled against the walls inside, with three prominent structures taking up most of the inner wards. Two halls dominated the lower ward, one to each side, labeled Red Hall and Black Hall. Above them stood an even larger one, labeled "Great Hall." Attached to the back of the Great Hall loomed the Tower Keep. It was massive. So large, in fact, Tahki could land upon its roof.
The map wouldn't show the inside of structures, unless I was actually inside the building, so I couldn't learn any more. Tahki said the Abbess and her staff lived in the Tower Keep, as well as all of the recruits and trainees. The Red and Black Priories lived in their respective halls, as well as their Prioresses.
"You were wrong," Elky said, startling me out of my reverie.
"How so?"
"I see twelve standing guard. You missed it by two. That's like twenty percent off."
I didn't like her math. Two might be twenty percent of ten, but when comparing ten and twelve, was it a twenty percent difference? Yeah, I never was that good with math, despite my real world chosen career as an electronic technician.
"Shouldn't you be cooking breakfast?" I asked.
She laughed. "That's Kahlan's job. She's such a good wife."
"I heard that!" Kahlan said.
While the healer cooked, the sorceress stood face-to-face with the dragon. Those two spoke alone a lot. Really, constantly. I was pretty sure Tahki actually liked Meike more than she liked me. I suspected it revolved around the elfmaid's love of dragons.
"Something's happening," Elky said, leaning forward.
It took a second, but I found it. The abbey's gate had opened, and I saw lots of people and horses in the lower ward. They didn't appear to be Sacred Death assassins, since none of them wore black leather. Visitors? Traders?
We watched a dozen people mount up and ride out of the abbey in a double column. The riders kicked their horses into a fast trot. The villagers quickly got out of their way, bowing as they passed. Soon, they reached the road winding down the mountainside.
"We have to find this world's equivalent to binoculars," I said. "They're all smaller than ants to me."
Who? Tahki asked. The dragon walked over to us. I can see an ant from miles away. Dragon vision is much better than human.
I relayed the dragon's words to the Amazon.
"Dragon humility, not so acute," Elky said.
She's got a smart mouth, Tahki said. I'm starting to like her, but don't tell her.
I pointed out the riders, who'd turned into a single column on the winding road down. Tahki looked. Her head jerked back, and she looked at me quickly, before turning back to the column of riders.
"Well?"
That is Abbess Veronica leading Prioress Jamara, Prioress Hakira, and other senior staff out to hunt.
I just stared at her. "The Abbess and both Prioresses? Hell, the entire leadership of the Order is virtually defenseless before us?"
No, Abbess Veronica is a cleric, so a caster of sorts. They have weapons, and are quite capable of defending themselves, Tahki said. They are far from defenseless, but they are at their most vulnerable right now.
I looked at Elky. She looked eager.
"Tahki says they are well-armed, and there are a dozen of them," I said. "But we have a fire breathing dragon."
Dragons don't actually breathe fire. We breathe air just like you.
"Ha ha, you so funny," I said, standing to face the dragon. "Do you think they will surrender if faced with fighting you?"
No. Sacred Death nuns never surrender. They will fight to the death, Tahki said. But don't underestimate Abbess Veronica.
"Is Veronica as powerful as Meike?"
I don't know.
"So, ladies," I said, gaining everyone's undivided attention. "We have an opportunity to end this quickly. The Abbess and both Prioresses are on a hunting trip, outside the abbey, and I think we have an advantage in strength thanks to Tahki. But the Abbess is a cleric-caster of unknown ability."
"I vote we go for it," Elky said.
Meike nodded. "Go for it."
Kahlan gave me a wary look. "I don't like making rash decisions, but I'm already outvoted."
"Yes!" I cried. The thrill of the fight already filling my soul. "Mount up. Let's kick their evil assassin asses!"
Chapter 28
Cormac
We mounted the dragon, with me in the saddle, Meike next, then Kahlan, and Elky last. I needed the sorceress up front to help with the fight since Veronica was a cleric, channeling her goddess's magic. So she might not need mana.
I really needed to learn more about how magic worked.
Tahki launched herself off the side of the mountain. I expected her to fly out across the deep gorge, and straight as an arrow. Instead, she went down just above the treetops, flying nape of the earth down a goddamn mountain! I almost pissed myself. Kahlan screamed.
Plunging into the gorge terrified me, so I turned my attention to the column of assassins. We made it halfway down the side of our mountain before I saw the column stop and devolve into chaos.
"They've spotted us!" I shouted.
As if to confirm my assessment of the situation, a bolt of blue-white lightning streaked across the gorge at us.
Shhhzzzzk-BOOM!
Barely missed us, thanks to Tahki's evasive maneuvers. The sudden twists and turns came close to dislodging Kahlan and Elky. Meike could use magic to keep herself glued to the dragon.
Don't worry. I won't allow them to fall off, Tahki said.
Shhhzzzzk-BOOM!
That bolt hit the mountain ahead of us, sending up a million little sharp stones to pelt us. One of them caught me right above the left eye.
"Son of a bitch!" I cried, rubbing at it furiously. M
y hand came away bloody.
Yeah, that was going to leave a knot. It throbbed like crazy, making my left eye water. I found it hard enough to see in that fierce wind. That's when the dragon veered hard right, and even I strained at my saddle strap.
"Land on that terrace above them," I shouted over the wind. "Pretend to flame them with suppressive fire, while we dismount."
I sent a visual of what I wanted her to do. Tahki nodded understanding.
Our plan didn't change just because they came out to hunt. The objective remained the same: Capture the Abbess. Really, I just needed to get eye contact, lay hands on her, and hopefully make her fall in love with me. If we could hold her down long enough, I'd kiss and caress her until the Heart of Aphrodite converted her to one of my ladies. At that time, we hoped she'd order all of her assassins to stop hunting us.
The dragon dropped out of Veronica's line of sight, which meant I couldn't see the assassins either. Tahki flew deep into the gorge, followed the river around, before flying up the other side of the mountain. At no time did she fly more than a hundred feet above the trees or water. When she came back around to their side, I spotted the assassins all still mounted, in a long line around the road, and staring down into the gorge.
"We caught them by surprise!" I cried as Tahki came to a splash landing on the flooded terrace just twenty feet above them. "Blast them to ashes!"
Women and horses screamed when dragonfire erupted. She whipped her head back and forth, spewing insanely hot fire all around. A few of the outriders and their mounts got caught in the flames, and were incinerated in seconds flat.
Elky slipped off first, rushing up to the stone wall containing the terrace. She immediately began raining arrows down on the assassins, and she aimed to kill. I didn't care if they killed assassins, as long as Veronica was spared. Our plans revolved around the Abbess.
While Kahlan and Meike dismounted, I took the time to study our adversaries. I spotted the Abbess right away.
The gorgeous, busty brunette had Human cleric-assassin (Level 51) above her head.
"Level 51? Shit, it's going to take all of us to take her down."
I wasn't sure we could take her down. Unfortunately, Tahki had little interaction with the Abbess and Prioresses. She never mentioned all three were players. None of the other Sacred Death assassins were players, so they would stay dead.
A blonde threw a dagger at me. I batted it aside with my sword. She had Half-elf assassin (Level 47) over her head. Half-elf meant it was Prioress Jamara, head of the Black Priory. The dark, Arabic looking chick with the long black braid had to be Hakira, Prioress of the Red Priory. She and Elky were trading arrows, neither able to kill the other. She was level 48.
"Wow," I muttered. "We might've bitten off more than we can chew."
Shhhzzzzk-BOOM!
The wall before us exploded, and dirty brown water began flowing out in a wild waterfall that splattered in every direction on its rocky decent. I wasn't sure dragonfire would still threaten the assassins, so dismounted right onto the retaining wall.
"Follow me!"
I jumped over the side, more sliding down on my butt than running. Elky didn't hesitate, following me over the side. I spotted Hakira come out from behind cover and aim at Elky, but the Amazon proved faster. Even sliding down a mountain on her butt, Elky sent an arrow straight into the Prioress' black heart.
Meike remained atop the terracing, raining fireballs down on the assassins. Kahlan followed me over the side, which kind of surprised me. I thought she'd hang back until needed.
"Kill them all!" I shouted.
I didn't want them rallying around Veronica. But at that time, we'd already killed half of them. Hakira would respawn, but that left her up in the abbey and no threat to us.
Shhhzzzzk-BOOM!
"Die healer!" Jamara shouted.
She had a crossbow out, aimed at Kahlan. I didn't even think before I threw my sword at the Prioress. My throw proved true, and pierced her heart. Her shot went astray, and she crumbled to the ground.
I raced over to retrieve my sword as the Prioress faded away.
"I'll kill you a thousand times for that, barbarian!" Abbess Veronica shouted to my left.
I willed my sword back into inventory, and called up the Sword of Kiantor. If I couldn't capture the Abbess, then I could at least slay her back into a level 1 noob.
I swung my enchanted blade around just in time to parry another lightning bolt. Until that moment, I didn't know the sword would block lightning. Her strike fizzled out, no boom. Veronica looked stunned.
I caught Veronica's eyes. She froze, jaw dropping. Yeah, she felt that!
Still, the Abbess broke eye contact and charged me with a curved sword in each hand. We traded blows a few seconds. She was faster than me, and definitely more talented. I gave ground as fast as I could, praying Elky put an arrow into her or Meike stunned her with magic, before she slew me back to my respawning site across the gorge.
She suddenly stopped, staring incredulously. "Barbarian player. Amazon player. Healer and sorceress. Cormac, Elky, Kahlan, and Meike!"
"That's right, we've decided to hunt you!" I said. "How does it feel to be the prey, bitch?"
I charged the Abbess. At the same time, Meike threw a fireball, forcing her to retreat a few steps, and Elky sent arrow after arrow at her. Her cleric magic proved more than adequate, with fireballs and arrows blocked aside by a bubble of energy. My sword wouldn't pierce her shield, either.
Take care of her fast, Tahki shouted into my head. That made it ten times louder. Villagers and more women from the abbey are heading this way. The Abbess is very popular among the villagers, too.
"Villagers coming," I shouted to the others.
"That sucks," Elky said. "Kill her!"
I think the Amazon meant it that time.
I started to ask how much time we had, but then arrows and rocks started raining down upon us. Meike took an arrow in her thigh, taking her out of the fight. Kahlan wanted to go to her, but the climb proved too steep. And then Veronica rallied her remaining assassins around her.
"Dammit," I growled. "We failed."
Tahki landed on the road behind me. Get on! Now!
"Mount up!" I shouted.
As we raced toward the dragon, Veronica and the assassins attacked. Tahki saved us by sweeping her tail around, taking out three more assassins. That forced the remainder to the ground, allowing us time to mount. Meike already sat in the saddle, an arrow embedded high in her left thigh. I climbed up behind her, taking her last spot.
Tahki leapt off, plunging down into the gorge again, seconds before another lightning bolt thundered through the air.
Chapter 29
Cormac
We had to fly three hours away. I couldn't even imagine how far that was in miles, but only someone on a dragon could find us. Tahki said they had two other dragons, and she didn't know if they were out on a mission or not. Better safe than sorry.
Tahki took us to an old dragon's lair high atop a mountain. From that perch she'd be able to see any dragon-borne pursuit with plenty of time to escape. Meanwhile, we could go into the vast complex of caverns and lick our wounds.
None of us escaped the clash without injury. Kahlan healed herself immediately, and then she effortlessly healed mine and Elky's minor scrapes and bruises. Meike proved another matter. The arrow hit bone, shattering it. That required a lot more mana than flesh wounds. So she healed the elfmaid as much as possible, with the mana she had, and then we all went to work.
Okay, we got naked and went at each other like sex-crazed rabbits.
Meike had it made. She lay on her back, pure bliss on her beautiful face. Kahlan kept one hand over her wound, while she buried her face in the elfmaid's sex. With the healer on all fours above the patient, I moved up behind her and thrust deep into her welcoming pussy.
"I love sexual healing," I gasped out, thrusting with all I had.
"You are such a pigboy," Elky said, moving up n
ext to the healer.
The Amazon reached back to rub circles around Kahlan's sensitive nub, while I continued to pound away like a madman. The beautiful blonde alternated between kissing me, and kissing and nibbling Kahlan's shoulder and neck. I leaned forward to reach around, palming both of the beautiful brunette's boobs. The more sexual pleasure we gave Kahlan, the more mana she generated for healing.
It didn't take long before I felt that surge to release start. I became more frantic, and finally shot my load deep inside her. I smiled, knowing that her body absorbed my seed and converted it to mana. She couldn't get pregnant for that reason. Elky and Meike had to take potions. Kahlan also took potions out of an abundance of caution.
I felt Kahlan climax. Something about me releasing my seed always pushed her over the top. Maybe it was her magic. Didn't matter, I loved it when my lovers came.
I gave her sweet round butt a few playful slaps while I waited the long seconds to recover. I recovered before I went limp, and then a wicked grin spread across my face. Yeah, I had evil thoughts as I pressed my erection up against her anus.
"No!" Kahlan snapped.
"Aw, baby…"
"Don't aww baby me."
I glanced at Elky, who looked consumed with passion. She bit her lip, gave a little nod, and turned back to Kahlan. Yeah, later the Amazon would take care of my darker desires. She always wanted it very rough after a defeat.
"Get off," Kahlan said. "She's healed. I need a little rest."
Good. You people drive me crazy with all your insane passions and needs, Tahki grumbled. Besides, we can't stay here long. The Order knows about this abandoned lair. Decide if you want to run or go back.
"She's got a point," Elky said. Then eyes widened. "I heard her! In my head."
"Me, too," Kahlan said.
Both women stared at the dragon, who shrugged. It's easier if I speak to you all at once.
I thought about how badly our last dustup went. We could take most of them out with ranged weapons and magic if given time, but not the Abbess. Mundane weapons wouldn't win the day.