"Good morning, Danica," she finally said, startling her. "A bit cool to bath, don't you think?"
"I like cold baths," Danica said, watching her warily.
Cat knew that was a lie. If there was one thing Danica was adamant about, it was avoiding the cold. She hated being cold more than anything in the world.
In the early morning light Cat could just make out a myriad of angry red welts. Danica seemed intent on hiding them, even stepping back when Cat made to move closer.
"What happened to you?" Cat said, trying not to laugh.
"Nothing."
"Where did you get all those welts?"
Danica was stumped for an answer. Cat could see the desperation in her eyes.
"They're not welts," she said quietly, eyes downcast. "Helene scratched me in her passion. She has wickedly long nails. And sharp, too."
"I've noticed. But those don't look like nail scratches to me. Did she whip you? Were you a bad girl last night?" Cat broke up laughing.
Flushing crimson, "No! It was passion, I tell you. Flaming passion the likes of which you've never known."
"And I suppose you were supremely grateful," she said, a glint in her now blue eyes.
"Yes," Danica said warily.
"Then that explains what I saw last night."
Danica's eyes grew wide. "What?"
"You were prostrating yourself before her, licking her boots and — "
"No! You couldn't have seen that!"
"I watched for a good three-quarters of an hour. You'd make a great Silk Slave. I've never seen anyone suck on a spike heel so well."
"Stop! You couldn't have...How could you!"
"Oh, I heard rumors about Helene, and wanted to ensure you weren't being taken against your will. But after I saw how you reacted to her innovative dildo work..."
"Great Gods! Is there nothing you didn't witness?"
"Nothing after the first couple screaming orgasms."
Danica's shoulders slumped. "I'm marked now."
"All over," Cat laughed. "I'll bet those pretty little welts are going to be pleasant under armor."
"I'll bet you can't wait to tell Carl and all my friends about this," Danica said bitterly.
The bitterness was not lost on Cat, who sobered up.
"I suppose it could be our little secret."
Danica suddenly turned hostile, her sapphire eyes flashing in such rage as to make Cat step back a step.
"Like my stint with the Jordani? You take great delight in throwing that in my face, and telling everyone we meet."
Cat inwardly cringed. It was true. But she didn't think the thick-skinned Danica could be hurt by anything she said. She seemed able to adapt to any situation or adversity with remarkable ease. Cat truly envied her that ability. And the mere thought of hurting one of her friends shook Cat.
"I'm sorry, Danica. I didn't realize you were so distraught by that. I thought...I mean, I won't tell anymore," Cat said.
Danica stared into the gurgling brook for long minutes, not acknowledging her. She gave every impression of a child that had just been reprimanded before her best friends. Cat couldn't remember feeling so small. When Danica finally looked up, she forced a smile and nodded. She silently finished her bath, then let Cat help her dress.
"I'm sorry I snapped at you," Danica said, still unable to look her in the eyes. She sighed gustily. "I'm just a little embarrassed that Helene could make me do those things."
"Did she use magic on you?"
"I've been thinking about that all morning, but I don't think so. Only how would I know? Are there any ways to find out?"
"I know less about magic than you," Cat said. "But if you want, I'll try to find out from Claudia without giving away the reason."
Danica looked stricken again.
"No. I'd rather not take any chance that any of the other Vikon find out about the nature of my encounter with Helene last night," Danica said.
Cat decided not to tell her that everyone in the group knew exactly what Helene did with her lovers or how far her screaming traveled.
"Maybe we should go ahead and part company with them now," Cat said.
"No. They're useful at the moment. Alone and together, we'd stand out. Out here near the frontier with Maeve and Dame Falen scouring the countryside is not a good place to leave. Helene is convinced Maeve can't tell us apart from the Vikon, since all their wards and auras will confuse or distract her from looking too hard. Alone, we would tend to stand out to a sorceress with our glamour spells," she said. "She has also told me enough about the layout of the Empire to see our best bet is to stay with them for the remainder of the week, and then head out to Dahlys when we reach Glysa."
"The Tyborian Way," Cat said, nodding. Claudia had told her of the great paved road running along the Tybor River and bisecting the Empire. "We can lose ourselves in the crowds and make good time, too."
"Maybe even hire on with some caravan to help hide our identities."
Chapter 9
From the surrounding hills Glysa looked very similar to a small whitewashed desert city. A multitude of spiky spires and towers jutted dramatically above the massive defensive walls. Dozens of polished copper and bronze domes glittered in the early morning sun. The terra cotta roofs of great temples, palaces, and government buildings were also visible. The Amazon Empire inherited a love of massive public structures from its predecessor the Galletine Empire.
Glysa sat majestically upon a gentle hill overlooking the wide Tybor River. Danica surmised it was a thriving trading center from the number of square-rigged ships coming and going. The thick swarms of travelers, merchant caravans, and farm carts loaded with produce on the many roads converging on the city told a similar story.
But the city barely held her attention. The Tyborian Way was the single most impressive feat of engineering Danica could remember seeing. It was a thing of legend. Only in the Empire were roads outside of cities regularly paved, and the greatest of them all was the Tyborian Way. Even from a distance Danica could see that it was easily wide enough to allow four Vikon wagons to travel abreast. With room to spare!
"Great Gods Almighty," Danica whispered, reining in as they broke the cover of thick forests. She could see for miles in both directions from the crest of the high hillock. The Tyborian Way was a shimmering white ribbon stretching out between farmlands as far as she could see, roughly paralleling the river. "Nothing built by the hand of man could ever top that. Surely the Gods are pleased."
"Most likely," Helene said, shrugging. She barely gave it a glance, preferring to pick out the dust and grim lodged in the round crest of her Peeress Ring with one long fingernail. As her own wagon rumbled by, she paused to intently scrutinize the team of draft horses. The wagon was being driven by one of the women that boarded with her, everyone taking their turn at it in payment for staying there. Everyone but Helene, of course. Her wagon past, she turned back and glanced at the distant Tyborian Way. "Roads are roads as far as I'm concerned."
"You're not impressed?"
"Paved roads aren't good for horses," she said and spurred her mount on.
"Maybe not, but they're great for armies and trade," Danica said, staying put beside the road.
"I only like paved roads when it rains," Claudia said, starting after Helene. "Our heavy wagons get stuck easily."
"Nomads care little for those things," Cat said, staying to admire the view with Danica. "All they care about are horses and good graze." Glancing at the Vikon stoically passing by ahorse or on their creaking, rumbling wagons, "Or pockets to pick, and lonely old men and women to swindle out of their life savings."
"I'm surprised at you, Cat," Danica said. "After living among them you still hold to those old prejudices."
"I've seen nothing to change my mind," she said, shifting uncomfortably in the saddle. "If you want, we can stick around with them in Glysa long enough for them to prove me wrong."
Smiling, Danica thought, Not even a week and she's already saddle sore.
Too long living the soft life of a bouncer. But outwardly Danica pretended not to notice her friend's discomfort. She thought she noted a note of hopefulness in Cat's tone. The thought of the month of hard riding to reach Dahlys didn't excite Danica either. Dahlys was still a good thousand miles to the south. On average, and especially on pavement, horses would rarely be ridden more than twenty miles a day. Most roadhouses and caravansaries were spaced twenty miles apart. But Danica planned on a more grueling pace — at least thirty miles a day. It would mean sleeping out in the elements more often than not, but creature comforts were the last thing on her mind right now.
For a moment the scale of the Amazon Empire overwhelmed her as she tried to comprehend it true size. In the Jarlands and Tyrians small kingdoms, really just city-states, were the rule. Dahlys lay near to the center of the Amazon Empire, the only real empire still known to exist, ruling all the lands for over a thousand miles in all directions. She knew something of the problems suffered by most Jarland Kingdoms ruling over their single city and outlying fiefs and villages, so found just the logistics of communications seemed daunting. How the Empress maintained control of her bureaucracy and nobles and common people was quite beyond Danica.
"It's not necessary, Cat. I can live with your beliefs." She glanced down at herself. "But not in this body. We'll leave as soon as it's convenient." Casting her a crooked grin, "And damn your saddle sores."
"Speaking of sores," Cat said. "Do you think it wise to let Mistress Helene and Chatterbox Claudia ride with us to Dahlys?"
Danica winced. But took it in good humor. She prided herself in her ability to survive anything. And in her adventures others had done far worse things than whipping her and making her lick their boots.
"You're just upset because you have to listen to Claudia cheerfully chatting away the miles for another couple weeks," Danica laughed. Cat scowled. "But to answer your question — Yes. They both have lived most of their lives in the Empire. Helene is part Amazon through her maternal grandmother, and a Peeress no less. And despite appearances and her pleasant nature, Claudia is said to be one of their best fighters. And both are accomplished witches, well spoken of within the group."
Despite her casual demeanor, Danica liked the idea of riding with Helene even less than Cat. The thought of that night of kinky sex still bothered her. Helene, thank the Gods, hasn't tried to repeat their encounter and seemed to understand Danica's unease at being alone with her. They had publicly remained friendly, but didn't associate much otherwise. Danica had taken to riding with Cat and Claudia on most days.
Danica watched as most of the Vikon outriders, Helene and Claudia included, rode ahead. She had learned that they wouldn't be taking the wagons into the city, but camping outside the walls instead. Something about the city gates being too low. The outriders would secure them a good campsite with plenty of water and graze for their livestock. The Vikon were planning a protracted stay.
"What about selling the horses and taking passage on a ship? Isn't a dragonship faster than horseback?" Cat said at length.
Danica considered that a moment, but had to reluctantly reject it. A dragonship could attain speeds of up to ten knots under ideal conditions, but only in short spurts. On average, and if the winds were good to them, they usually traveled at about four or five knots, but only about half that under oar power. But they could travel all day and night; whereas, horseback riders would have to stop for the night after twenty or thirty miles. The month long hard ride could be done by a dragonship in about twelve to fifteen days, but only if the ship was in a hurry and they kept port calls brief. But then she had to consider the possibility of finding a ship going all the way to Dahlys, and possibly having to change ships several times. The lag time between ships could easily eat up the saved time. And it could cost them far more for passage than they had.
"Yes, if they're in a hurry. But few dragonship Captains take passengers, and the ones that do can't be trusted not to slit our throats and dump us overboard after robbing us."
"A merchantman then?"
"Way too slow."
"How about — "
"There's no other way, Cat. We lost our warhawks and our coin, so we must ride horses," Danica said. "And be grateful we don't have to walk."
Before Cat could say more, Danica spurred her mount and started down the hill. She intended to part company with the Vikon as soon as they were settled. But first, she wanted a quick look at the city. She figured if she rode hard she could get about an hour of sightseeing before the wagons reached the campsite. Cat tagged along unhappily.
* * * * *
Maeve ducked low as she rode through Glysa's north gate, pressing herself as close to the horse's neck as possible. Her head missed hitting the raised portcullis by half an inch. The inner courtyard leading to another gate into the city was shadowy and cool, with easily a score of bored looking soldiers high in the battlements above. Maeve cursed them all, and their damnable Empire. Then cursed Ayesha for making her come here. And finally cursed the day she ever met Danic, and silently prayed she did catch the little elf bitch.
Damn her to Hel! That bitch will get me killed. Maeve fumed, hands clenching the reins tightly. When I get my hands on her, Danica will regret it for as long as she lives, which won't be too long.
"Maeve, we will billet with the local army garrison tonight," Dame Falen said. "If you wish, we can probably arrange private quarters for you as well, or you can join up with us tomorrow at dawn at the south gate."
Maeve considered that a moment. She was well aware that the mercenaries wanted nothing to do with her. It was becoming harder and harder to ignore their wary looks when they didn't think she would notice. It might be best to part company with them for the night, if not permanently. After all, they were proving less than useful at the moment.
"I will make my own arrangements, Captain," she said. Everyone visibly relaxed, bringing a scowl to Maeve's face. "I have yet to decide if it is worthwhile to continue riding with the Pumas."
Dame Falen's face lit up at that. "Then you won't be leaving with us in the morning?"
Scowling more fiercely, Maeve jerked her reins to the left and headed away down a side street. "You will know in the morning, Captain. If I'm not waiting for you at the gate, leave without me."
"As you will, Sorceress Maeve."
As she slowly worked her way through the thick crowd, Maeve heard cheerful conversation start up within the Puma Troop ranks. A cheerfulness that hadn't been present when she rode with them. Sometimes being a powerful sorceress had its drawbacks. She could have used their support, their friendship and comradery.
Finding a stables, she brusquely rejected the stablehand's offer to take her mount. Stripping the sorrel gelding, she lost herself in the mindless routine of tending the horse. Once the sorrel's coat gleamed in the bright sunlight, she led him to a stall and gave her instructions on feeding and watering.
Maeve stepped out with her saddlebags draped over her left shoulder and headed east, toward the river. If Danica had come this way, she would have visited the dockside taverns. There was something about ships that called to Danic, so she had to assume Danica would feel the same. Danica might even consider booking passage on a dragonship to throw off the pursuit. Maeve knew her to be crafty, so couldn't overlook any possibility.
As she pushed through the crowds of a market street, Maeve's alert eyes sought out all blonde and tall black-haired warriors. Though there were some few blondes who could be mistaken for Danica from the rear, she saw none who came even close to Cat's towering height and enhanced stature.
Rounding a corner, she found herself before the Temple of Dirusa. It stood out from the surrounding whitewashed buildings like a wart on a nose. Surrounded by a low wall, the temple proper was of blackest basalt with blood red serpents seeming to slither up and around the columns in bas-relief. The dome far to the rear and over the High Altar was constructed in the likeness of an open black rose. The Black Rose of Dirusa, her holy symbol.
Maeve marveled at the number of people coming and going, mostly in concealing cloaks. Few openly worshipped that Goddess. Mostly, they only ventured to her unholy House when wanting a curse upon the head of an enemy or rival. But the Goddess, like all Gods, only granted wishes after a terrible price was paid for said service. Even the thought of what Dirusa would ask for made Maeve queasy. There was no place Maeve hated more than a Temple of Dirusa, and now she was serving the foul Goddess.
She stepped toward the nearby gate, muttering, "Gods, how I hate to go in there."
Maeve had little choice in the matter. Dirusa was in league with Ayesha, so her temples were the safest way for Ayesha's agents to report to her. Even the non-magical agents could communicate with their mistress with the help of Dirusa's priesthood. As much as Maeve hated wasting her own horded life energies on communication spells to Ayesha, she hated using the temples even more. But her geas forced her to use them, saving her life energies for furthering her mistress's cause.
As she laid hand to gate to enter, a flash of blue and gold down the street caught her eye. A mounted golden-haired Vikon warrior in blue-lacquered armor was gesturing at the local City Guard tower. Then a raven-tressed warrior of Cat's stature, and in red Vikon clothes and armor, reined up to stare at whatever the other was remarking on. Together, they looked remarkably like Cat and Danica, save the alabaster complexion of the tall one. But she did have Cat's muscularity, and they were wearing Vikon armor...so maybe...
Maeve forgot about the temple, taking a step toward the two "Vikon" warriors. Shifting to mage sight, she studied them a second. The blonde was sheathed in wards tightly woven by witchcraft standards, and had a glamour spell wrapped about her head. The other was totally sheathed in a glamour spell...to hide her dark skin? Pulse quickening, Maeve dropped her saddlebags and moved to close the distance between them. Up close, she could better see what, and who, lay beneath those glamour spells.
Into Lands Forbidden (The Elfmaid Trilogy Book 2) Page 14