* * * * *
With Danica laying unconscious at her feet, Alexandra turned on Cat and grinned wide. "Now, my ebon beauty, it's your turn."
Cat looked first at Alexandra, then Danica stretched out at her feet, and finally back at the gloating witch. As her back goose-fleshed, she tightened her grip on the chuckling Duchess and then suddenly ran her head long into the wall. As Natasha collapsed in a heap, Cat turned back on the raging warrior-witch as she charged in screaming blasphemies.
Cat pulled her sword and ran to meet Dame Alexandra halfway. Ducking under a fireball, Cat dropped to the floor and rolled through Alexandra's legs. She had seen Danica do it in a barroom brawl in Allaria, and take out three Tyrians in the process. The Vikon was taken unaware and fell hard, driving most of her wind out. Jumping to her feet, Cat seized the witch's long chestnut hair and hauled her to her feet, before running her headlong into a table and chair set.
Cat walked slowly, cautiously, up to where the Vikon was laying moaning softly in a tangle of smashed table and chairs. She looked barely coherent, but Cat didn't care to take chances with a witch. She cocked a foot back to kick Alexandra in the chin, but the witch's eyes popped open and she snarled a Word of Power. A eldritch bolt shot out of Alexandra's fist and hit Cat full in the chest. Cat collapsed with a wail.
Alexandra slowly, painfully, untangled herself from the chairs and checked on Cat's condition. She was unconscious. After a quick glance at Danica to ensure she wasn't stirring yet, the Vikon made for her moaning mistress. Natasha was just sitting up when she knelt beside her.
"Are you injured, my Lady?" Alexandra said, starting to run knowing hands over Duchess Natasha's limbs. Nothing broken. But she had a nasty looking knot high on her forehead. Then closing her eyes, she began a short chant. "I find no serious injuries, my Lady."
"That's good to hear, but not how I feel," she grumbled hoarsely. She quickly checked to ensure her golden Signet Ring, bearing the official Coat of Arms of Taanur, was still on her left middle finger, then ensured she had her silver Peeress Ring on her right index finger. Both were priceless. They told the world who she was, and warned them she was not someone to trifle with. Then she eyed the two unconscious women balefully. "Are they dead?"
"No, my Lady," Alexandra said as she helped Natasha to her feet. Draping a robe over her bare shoulders, "They are just unconscious. I thought you might prefer their deaths to be a little more painful."
Natasha's scowl twisted into a grim smile. "Is there anything you know — Magically, that is — to prolong and intensify their agony?"
Matching her grim smile, "I think I can come up with something suitable, my Lady."
At that point the door finally gave and Amazons poured in. They split into two groups and went to Danica and Cat. Several swift kicks thudded home into unresponsive bodies when the frustrated and embarrassed guards reached them. Both women were quickly bound.
"Dame Agatha," Natasha called to the glowering knight as she looked the two bound intruders over.
Castle Taanur's Chatelaine was still in her bedclothes, with only a sword in hand. Her eyes were red from too much strong wine, but still alert. Natasha noticed a hint of apprehension in her face and bearing. Dame Agatha was in charge of castle security.
"My Lady," Dame Agatha said, bowing deeply. "I take complete responsibility for this breach of security. But I assure you, it will not happen again."
"Let's hope not," Natasha said, raising one eyebrow imperiously. "But in the meantime, remove this rabble to the dungeon. Dame Alexandra and I will be down shortly to question them."
Bowing, "By your leave, my Lady."
A quick signal sent soldiers scurrying to grab hold of the unconscious prisoners. The remaining soldiers began straightening up the chamber as Danica and Cat were carried away.
* * * * *
High Mage Ayesha knelt in the center of the double-ringed pentacle, freshly drawn on the cold stone floor of her conjuring chamber. She carefully smoothed and arraigned the silk folds of her crimson gown while she soothed her racing emotions. She had a black rose pinned to her gown, her Goddess's symbol. Forcing herself to stop stalling, she took a deep steadying breath. Meeting with the Gods, especially such an evil and volatile Goddess, was not something she relished.
Resting her hands palm up on her thighs, she closed her eyes and allowed her mind to go blank. Once her breathing was slow and even, she began a low chant in a language dead long before humanity reared up on two legs. She concentrated on the objective, carefully keeping all stray thoughts out of her mind.
"Much better, Ayesha," Dirusa's rich voice said. "Only a month ago it would have taken you half an hour to complete the spell."
Ayesha opened her eyes to behold the Goddess of Hate and Vengeance smiling at her. The Goddess’s crimson lips were garishly bright on her ghoulishly white face. The raven-haired Goddess sat upon a throne of flowing blood in a midnight black gown, looking calmer and more relaxed than Ayesha ever remembered seeing her.
"You are generous, my Goddess," Ayesha said, bowing her head and waiting a bid to rise and attend.
Dirusa seemed to be content with the sorceress's submissive position. Ayesha was careful not to allow herself any hint of anger or annoyance. She was in Dirusa's realm. Dirusa was omnipotent here. More powerful than even the other Gods, but only within her own realm.
Ayesha had little to fear as she had given her soul to Dirusa in payment for magical assistance. There was nowhere Ayesha could hide from the Goddess, not even in the deepest pits of Hel. Not even another God could protect her from the Goddess if she wanted anything from the sorceress. Ayesha could be forced effortlessly to perform any deed, say anything to anyone, even die instantly, with just the merest thought of Dirusa. It was a bargain she never dared to openly question, but often did so deep down. Now, her every breath was a boon of the Goddess. Ayesha dared not anger her.
"Too generous, it would seem," Dirusa said, a hint of annoyance tainting her voice. Ayesha cringed inwardly. "I give you so much, and what do you do with it? Nothing! Nothing but plot in shadows, and fight that other wizard. Where are the temples you promised to build? My power and influence will not grow without them."
"Taara foils my plans — our plans — my Goddess. When I conceive a plot, she destroys it! She is crafty, even going so far as to switch out bodies with some Jarland knight to camouflage her activities," Ayesha said, watching Dirusa's face carefully. The Goddess was prone to violent mood swings. Her anger was frequently fatal. "Perhaps if you personally took care of her..."
"I cannot," Dirusa spat out, leaning forward out of her throne of blood. Ayesha's whole body cringed at the implied threat. "Your clumsy activities have attracted the attention of other Gods. Gods who like the status quo." Dirusa stood, fists clenched at her sides, face working in impotent fury. "I have been warned. Arrogant pigs! They'll all pay dearly when I become Queen of the Arisen! I will have vengeance!"
She glared at Ayesha, as if to dare her to question her pronouncements.
"I...I don't understand..."
"Of course you don't, mortal. The ways of the Gods are beyond your meager comprehension. But know this, I cannot fight them all. Most are more powerful than me, due to their popularity among your pathetic kind," she said, black eyes locked threateningly on Ayesha. "If you don't fail me, then soon all that will change. First we'll destroy all their temples and priesthoods, their power, then I'll enslave the other Gods." She suddenly let out a long musical laugh of sheer delight. "I will make those haughty bitches — Laures, Omah, and Maag — wait on me hand and foot. For my dear, dear sister, Lyss, Goddess of Love, I will make her the love toy of my priesthood. As for those arrogant...pompous…" She started to sputter in her intense, all-consuming hatred — "Baldr, Tarhun, Bandu, and Ashtar, and all their ilk, will know my wrath. I'll have them lick my Palace of Blood clean, night and day for all eternity."
Dirusa plopped back onto her throne, staring off into space with her sinisterly beautiful fa
ce screwed up in darkest hatred. Terrified of her Goddess, Ayesha felt nauseous. Never had she dreamed a Goddess could be totally mad.
"You think me mad?" Dirusa said, staring at her.
Ayesha almost swooned in mortal terror. She let her emotions loose during Dirusa's tirade, betraying herself. She knew better and worked hard to keep her mind blank.
"Forgive me, my Goddess!" Ayesha said. With just a thought Dirusa could kill her and send her damned soul into the most horrendous eternity imaginable. "It is nothing but a stupid mortal's mind racing in terror at the magnificence of her Goddess!"
"You lie pretty, Ayesha," Dirusa laughed. "And you think fast, which is why I accepted your offer of help to begin with. You may live."
"Thank you, my Goddess," she said with feeling. "I live only to serve you."
"You live to serve yourself. We both know it, so don't anger me with your pathetic lies. I can still use you, so you will continue to live for now," Dirusa said with a haughty wave of the hand. "Just don't fail me again."
"I won't, my Goddess," Ayesha said. Heart beginning to race, she gnawed at her upper lip nervously. "My Goddess...I beg a boon."
"A boon? I would hear it first," she said, suspicious.
"My enemies are very powerful, magically speaking. I would ask for the right, the privilege, of wielding your magic. With God Magic I would have no peers."
"You are not a member of my priesthood," Dirusa said as if that said everything. At Ayesha's confused look, "Since what you call the Temple Wars, the Gods are forbidden to give their magic to anyone outside their own priesthood. Even that is carefully rationed. Maag, as Goddess of Magic, would detect such powerful magicks immediately. And trace it back to me."
"Surely there must be ways around this rule, or some way to trick or confuse the other Gods," Ayesha said. "Perhaps, during magical combat, you could restore my energy reserves to propel my magic. That in itself would be devastating to my opponents."
"Hmm..." Dirusa was thoughtful. "There may be ways to circumvent the rule, such as talismans, just as long as you yourself aren't wielding God Magic. And there are no rules specifically forbidding providing you with magical energy at opportune moments..."
They shared a sinister smile.
"If caught, then you could reasonably argue that the point wasn't clear," Ayesha said.
"Yes. I think I might be able to offer some help in disposing of our mutual problems."
Ayesha smiled evilly, already beginning to relish the look in Talar's eyes when he was finished off with God Magic. That alone would make her eternal damnation worthwhile. That, and world domination. Empress Ayesha, she liked the sound of it.
Chapter 5
Danica regained consciousness as they carried her out of the bedchamber. Four guards held her face up, one on each arm and leg. Once her head stopped swimming and the high ceiling came into focus, she took stock of her situation. To her disappointment, both her ankles and wrists were tightly bound. Cat was being lugged ahead of her by six more guards. Danica couldn't tell if Cat was conscious, but assumed she wasn't since she wasn't putting up any fight.
As the guards struggled under their loads, they speculated on what torments she and Cat would endure before the Duchess was satisfied. She found it increasingly difficult to remain calm, and control her racing heart as they recalled past atrocities Natasha used on her prisoners. None of the previous victims had physically assaulted her.
When they started down the stairs, Danica found she couldn't stand it anymore, and decided she had nothing to lose. Up to that point, she’d forced her body to remain limp, but now she snapped her legs out of the guards' grasp and pulled them up to her chest. Before any of them could respond, she drove her bound feet into the guard beside the rail and catapulted her over. The guard screamed, which ended abruptly with a thud. All the guards froze as realization of what had happened struck home.
With an enraged scream, Danica twisted loose and drove her feet into another guard's lower belly. Danica and the guard hit the stairs and began rolling down. They bowled over the other two guards. The group carrying Cat was then engulfed in the human avalanche and borne down the stairs. They tumbled in a clatter of steel armor and arms, and the grunts and cries of women.
Once they reached the foot of the stairs, Danica found herself at the base of the pile. As the Amazons untangled themselves, they angrily kicked and punched her, cursing her all the while. When they finally stopped beating them, the guards stood in a circle huffing and puffing, glaring down murderously.
"Great going, Danica," Cat said in a croaking voice. "Just can't bear the idea of them killing me before you can, huh?"
Danica winced from the jab.
"Sorry, but I don't like the idea of dying without a fight," Danica said.
"Aren't you the one who goes with the current?" Cat said.
"In case you haven't noticed, they're not exacting taking us on holiday," she said.
"So you give them reason to beat on us some more?"
Danica snorted, "Like they really need a reason."
"Don't give them any more reasons!"
"Whose side are you on?"
"My side! Gods! Think of me for once, will you please?"
"I am," Danica said, shocked by the accusation. "I'm trying to escape — with you!"
"Shut up!" an Amazon yelled, kicking Danica in the side of the face.
"Hey, you craven pig!" Cat cried. "Leave my friend alone!"
That outburst only earned Cat a boot in the face. Danica responded by driving her feet into the guard's shin. Cat then kicked the feet out from under another guard, who was about to attack Danica in retaliation.
"So nice of you to join me," Danica said, watching a couple of guards moving in to subdue the pair.
"I have nothing to lose anymore," Cat said, guarding their rear. "Thanks to you."
"You're welcome," she said.
"What in Ashtar's name is going on down there?" Dame Agatha said from above.
The guards all stepped back, much to Danica's and Cat's relief. Danica noted, with satisfaction, the sheepish, though still hostile, look most of the Amazon guards now wore. The Chatelaine's expression could only be describe as incredulous as she surveyed the scene from the top of the stairs.
"I see you're having trouble finding good help, Chatelaine," Danica taunted the red-faced knight. "Makes me wonder why Duchess Natasha even keeps such incompetents around." She glanced around with satisfaction, "But after tonight, well..."
Controlling her temper with effort, Dame Agatha said, "Sergeant Ingrid, you will deliver the prisoners to the dungeon without any further disturbance or I will have the lot of you tied to posts and horse-whipped. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, my Lady," Sergeant Ingrid said, saluting.
Dame Agatha gave Danica and Cat one last look and stomped away. Danica smiled grimly. I hope the old bag gets an ulcer. Then she turned her attention back to Sergeant Ingrid. The burly Amazon looked competent enough. Indeed, everything about her screamed regular army. Up till Dame Agatha's last order, she kept up the relatively detached demeanor of a professional soldier. By her graying hair and thickening waist, Danica guessed she was a retired soldier who thought she'd found a nice easy position in which to live out her remaining years.
"Well, Sergeant," Danica sneered. "What are you and your misbegotten irregulars going to do now? Surely you can't think me and Cat will cooperate after all this?"
"If you know what's good for you, you will," she said, but Danica noted a hint of fear in her eyes. Her confidence was shaken. Noticing Danica's malicious smile, "Don't even think of trying to resist. It'll just make it worse on you."
"Of that, I have no doubt," Danica said. Then letting a sneer twist her pretty face, "There isn't a professional bone in any of your bodies. At least male soldiers conduct themselves professionally. They have the good sense and professional discipline to control their raging emotions and get the job done." She gave them all a contemptuous look. "You wom
en make me ashamed to be a woman. No wonder men look down on you!"
"We're just as good as any man! Better!" Sergeant Ingrid said, red-faced. "Grab them!"
The Amazons as one jumped atop the two prone women. Taking by surprise, Danica and Cat were easily subdued and hoisted back up into the guards' arms. They both kicked, bucked, and cursed to no avail. The guards held on with grim determination.
They soon found themselves in Castle Taanur's torture chamber deep beneath the main keep. Dropped unceremoniously at the back wall, the guards snapped their wrists into shackles before cutting away their bindings. Then they left, casting dark looks at Cat and, especially, Danica.
"Nice going," Cat said, glowering at Danica.
"What now?"
"Why did you have to insult that Sergeant? Gods, woman! We're all but helpless to defend ourselves! She could've beaten the bloody snot out of us," Cat cried. "Do you have a death wish? Are you some kind of raging masochist?"
Danica rolled her eyes and sighed.
"Some gratitude," she said, giving Cat a hard look. "Did they beat us afterwards?"
"Well...no," Cat admitted.
"Have you given any thought as to why? No you haven't. It's because I said those things about them being unprofessional that saved us a beating." Danica smiled. "They are trying to prove to us that they are just as professional as any man."
"But men would've beaten us," Cat argued with a shudder. "And done a lot more, too."
"At least," Danica said, then grinned again. "But they don't know that. See what isolation does to you."
Into Lands Forbidden (The Elfmaid Trilogy Book 2) Page 7