Karina's Quest

by John Evans

  "Good?" stated Tenan incredulously. "Sex like that is going to put me in an early grave. I was worried about you."

  "I'm fine," reiterated Karina. "In fact, I'm more than fine. That was terrific."

  Tenan's face beamed. "I think it is time for some shuteye," he said, snuggling down in the bed.

  "Go to sleep, honey," Karina said softly, gently touching his cheek. "I'm going to go get cleaned up. Tomorrow's going to be a long day."

  * * * * *

  Sunrise the next morning broke bright and clear. As everyone gathered for breakfast, Karina was relieved that no one, by word or action, indicated that they had heard her throes of passion last night. Of course, she noticed that Dorthea had the same satisfied smile on her face that Karina knew was reflected on her own. Conversation was subdued, probably because everyone was listening for Gar.

  "I think we'll have to go to the clearing," said Tenan as breakfast wound down. "I didn't think he would come here."

  "Is there anything we should know about Gar before we go there?" asked Octavia.

  Tenan looked over at Karina, who nodded to him. "Yes," he continued. "Only Karina and I can greet him initially. Ogre greetings are a little rough, so don't interfere or do anything threatening. Don't, I repeat, don't draw your weapons. That will change everything from rough to violent."

  "Can we get on with this before I change my mind?" asked Gedda grimly.

  "Rolph and I are staying behind," said Dagmar as everyone stood up. "This is nervous business and too large a group might push things in the wrong direction. We're not directly involved and you can give us the details later."

  "Okay, let's go," said Tenan.

  They walked out of the house and headed towards the clearing. Not a word was spoken as the walked. When they hit the treeline at the clearing, Tenan told the other women to remain there, while he and Karina walked out into the center of the clearing.

  A dark shadow moved on the opposite side of the glen and Gar stepped out into the light. Karina heard the girls behind her gasp at the sight of him. Karina had to admit that at nine feet tall, Gar looked formidable. As they approached one another, Tenan took off his sword and dagger and tossed them aside. Gar dropped his club on the ground and moved away from it.

  greeted Tenan.

 

  Time stood still in the clearing as they faced one another. Not a sound was to be heard. Karina was wound tight as a drum, but was shocked when she heard the familiar rumble of Gar's laughter.

  said Gar.

  commented Tenan.

  Gar reached out with his hands and tapped Tenan and Karina on the chin. Karina's head jerked back from the force of the tap, but she knew it was not meant to hurt her. Gar lowered his head and stuck out his chin. Tenan stepped forward and punched Gar. To Karina, it seemed that his fist bounced off Gar's chin. The ogre's head did not even move. Tenan stepped back and nodded to Karina to go ahead. Karina stepped forward and placed both hands on Gar's cheeks. While looking up into his violet eyes, she swept her foot up in a swift kick to Gar's knee. He howled and danced backward.

  "Why'd you do that?" asked Tenan angrily. "You..."

  commanded Gar, clutching his knee, but with laughter rumbling in his chest.

  Tenan sighed deeply, then bowed to them in turn. he said.

  Gar stopped hopping around and sat down, cross-legged, facing Tenan and Karina. The two of them then sat down on the ground.

  asked Gar, pointing at the other women standing back by the treeline.

  answered Karina.

  said Gar.

  Tenan looked over his shoulder. "Drop your weapons and come here slowly."

  Octavia and Cendri looked at each other apprehensively before unbuckling their belts and leaning their swords against a tree. Gedda dropped her weapons and began striding forward until a word from Melinar stopped her. Gedda grimaced and pulled a dagger out from underneath her tunic, which she then added to her pile. Melinar pulled two knives out of her dress, which she laid next to Gedda's weapons. What was surprising was when Helga, Dorthea and Nyrandurril all produced various weapons to be placed on the ground.

  said Gar, chuckling.

  commented Karina with a sideways glance.

  The other women came forward and sat down behind Karina and Tenan, facing Gar.

  Karina said to Gar.

  Gar nodded his assent. Karina then quickly filled him in on what she had found out. Gar interrupted her every now and then to clarify what she was saying. A couple of times she had to answer him in ogre. Gar remained silent when she had finished.

  "You right. Queen Shara be in ritual," he stated finally in his gravelly voice. "For the two and ghost, they be in also. The others you find for yourself."

  asked Karina.

  said Gar.

  "Let's eat," said Karina aloud. "We can begin again after we eat."

  Everyone, except Gar, stood up and stretched their legs. Dorthea, Helga and Nyrandurril went over to the packs they had brought and began pulling out the bread, cheese and meat they had brought for lunch. Nyrandurril pulled out a cooked leg of lamb and picked up a wineskin. She carried these over to Gar, who still sitting, could look the half elf in the eye without having to look up

  "Eat," she said, handing the items over to him. Nyrandurril then sat down facing him. "Tell me of Per."

  Gar, chomping on a large mouthful of meat, looked down at the girl and his eyes gleamed. "I was in woods when four goblins and human girl come towards me," he began.

  Across the clearing, Karina saw Nyrandurril's face go white and her eyes widen. She could not hear what Gar was telling her, but she knew that it was not something that the young girl should be hearing. She was about to go and see what they were discussing when Gedda stopped her.

  "I gather from Gar's comments that Cendri and I have to take part in the ritual," she said to Karina.

  "What? Oh, yes, according to Gar, the body and soul are inseparable. It does not matter that the ghost inhabited your minds. Your bodies made love to Per and that is why he included you and Cendri," said Karina, looking over Gedda's shoulder at Gar and Nyrandurril. The half-elf's face was no longer white, but bright red and her mouth was open in shock.

  "Why include the ghost then? She had no body."

  "But she has a soul," said Karina. "As I said, inseparable. Excuse me."

  Karina walked over to where Gar and Nyrandurril were sitting. The face was still red and she had trouble meeting Karina's eye.

  "What?" demanded Karina.

  "I asked Gar to tell me of Per," said Nyrandurril quietly.

  "And?" Karina asked.

  said Gar matter-of-factly.

  "Oh," said Karina understanding. "Come, Nyrandurril, time for lunch."

  Nyrandurril stood up and the two women walked slowly back to where the packs were. "I'm sorry," apologized Nyrandurril. "I should not have pried."

  "You knew Gar and I mated. Otherwise, how would Per have come to be?"

  Nyrandurril's face screwed up in a grimace. "It is just that he was so...so..."

  "Graphic," supplied Karina.

  Nyrandurril looked at her in brief astonishment and then smiled. "Yes, graphic."

  "As I said, don't worry about it. Remember, Gar thinks differently than you or I. You probably impressed him by remaining there and listening to him."

  "Thank you," said Nyrandurril. She then went over to the packs and took out some food for herself.
Karina turned around and glared at Gar. Gar smiled at her, raised his hands and shrugged his shoulders.

  Everyone seemed a little more relaxed after lunch as they all sat back down again. "Our main concern is to find the missing people," said Karina. "We are also operating within a specific time frame."

  "I probably have the best chance of finding the nomads and talking to Morning Mist and Golden Sunlight," said Tenan. "It will take some time to track them down. I can leave tomorrow, if that is what you want."

  "Octavia, could Alana still be in Cific?" asked Karina. "If she is, I'll go there to find her."

  "She may be," said Octavia. "It would probably be best if Cendri, Gedda and I went with you. I know what she looks like and we might also run across Nesbra and Iona."

  "No offense, dear, but I'd feel better if they were with you," added Tenan.

  "Dorthea, most of our messages will be going to Melinar and Nyrandurril in the Capitol, but they can keep you informed as to what is going on," said Karina. "I think the best place to hold the ritual is right here. There's nothing here that can get damaged and we won't scare anyone when a bunch of ogres show up for the party."

  "I have couriers at the castle," said Tenan. "I will have them stop by here and at the Capitol regularly so you can exchange messages."

  "Melinar and I will coordinate things with Karlto, Pawl and Dareen. If you need to reach me, I am usually at the Academy," said Nyrandurril.

  "Per is chasing the kidnappers of Queen Shara," said Melinar. "I'm pretty sure he will try to contact either Nyran or me at the Capitol, since he didn't know where his companions are and he'd feel it was too dangerous to contact Karina and Tenan."

  Karina turned to Helga and looked at her questioningly. "I go where you go," she said.

  "I go with Tenan," announced Gar, startling everyone. "Then I go find orc-woman, Oraag."

  said Karina, both apprehensive and glad that Gar would be accompanying Tenan. A quick look at Tenan showed the same conflicting emotions playing across his face.

  said Tenan, standing up. "Come, we all have tasks to do."

  Chapter 5: The Temple Of Lust

  They had been riding for three days and Karina was starting to get annoyed. It seemed that they had broken into two cliques, with her and Helga in one group and the other three in another. It was not that the others were disrespectful. In fact, they were overly polite, but they kept their distance from Karina and Helga.

  "No, not between both of us," thought Karina. "There've been times when I've seen them laugh and joke with Helga. Why do they dislike me?"

  On top of that, Karina chafed and sweated under the padded cloth armor Tenan had stuffed her into when they had returned to the castle from the farm. The short sword he had forced her to wear banged against her thigh and Karina flushed with embarrassment as she remembered going with Tenan to see the castle's armorer.

  "Milord, I've got nothing that'll fit over those..." The armorer's voice trailed off as he gestured vaguely at Karina's chest.

  "Well, there has to be something," remarked Tenan coolly. There had, but the only thing the armorer could modify in time for her departure was the padded armor. Even so, Karina had serious problems the next morning when she tried it on.

  "Tenan, you can't be serious!" she gasped. "It doesn't fit. I'm squeezed into it and I can't breathe!"

  "Lift your arms," commanded Tenan, standing beside the armorer. "Lower them; behind your back. Bring them out front. Swing your arms from side to side and twist at the waist. Excellent! A perfect fit. Now, we need greaves, bracers and a sword."

  "What do you mean a perfect fit?" growled Karina. "My breasts are squeezed so tight in this, I can hardly breathe. A sword! I'll be lucky if I don't stab myself with it!"

  Tenan stopped in the courtyard and sighed. "It's the best protection I can give you in the limited time we have. If I could, I'd have a platoon of soldiers going with you. I know it's uncomfortable, all armor is. I'll trade you my plate, which I will wear, for what you have on now."

  Karina thought of the massive suit of steel that Tenan habitually wore. She mentally compared it to what she had on and shuddered. "Is it as bad as I think it is?" she asked him.

  "Probably worse," answered Tenan with a straight face, "but after the first dozen or so times it saves your life, you feel naked without it. As for the sword, it's for appearances. People intent on trouble tend to shy away from other people who carry weapons. It's called increased life expectancy. Have Octavia teach you how to use it, if you want to learn."

  Karina brought her thoughts back to the present. She looked ahead at Octavia, riding out front, and studied her. After a few moments, she realized that the other woman's relaxed attitude was a sham. Her head turned nonchalantly to the left and right surveying the area. Her left hand controlled the reins to her horse, while her right hand lay close to her weapons. Without appearing to, Octavia was ready for anything that may happen.

  Later that evening, Karina approached Octavia as she was unsaddling the horses. "I need your help," she said, removing the bit and bridle from the horse Octavia had taken the saddle off of.

  "My help?" queried Octavia. Karina could still sense the gulf between them in those two words.

  "Yes, but first I need to know, have I done something to insult or offend you, Gedda and Cendri? If I have, I'd like to know what it is so I can correct it."

  Octavia stood still for a moment and then sat down on a log. "You haven't done anything wrong," she said as Karina joined her. "I've been with Per, I guess, ever since shortly after his exile. Cendri, Gedda and I have all shared adventures with him. If anything, we're scared of you."

  "Scared of me?" repeated Karina incredulously.

  Octavia smiled. "Each of us cares for Per. You're his mother. We've been walking on eggshells for fear of offending you. Plus, you're not exactly the image we all had of you."

  "And what image did you have of me?" asked Karina with a smile. "Don't worry. I won't get offended."

  "Someone older and not so pretty,' stated Octavia. "Per's not exactly handsome and Gar is, well."

  "Ugly to the bone?" supplied Karina laughingly.

  "Yes," laughed Octavia. "It's hard reconciling the image I had created to the real person."

  "Which do you prefer?"

  "The real person," answered Octavia. "But what was the thing you need help with?"

  "This damned sword my husband wanted me to wear!" cursed Karina. "I've no skill with it, but he thought it would help me avoid confrontations."

  "Only with amateurs," said Octavia. "We noticed immediately that you didn't know how to use it."

  "How did you know?" asked Karina curiously.

  "The way it hangs. It's too low and the way you move when you are wearing it. You're also unused to the armor you're wearing."

  "My breasts feel like they're being flattened into pancakes," admitted Karina. "I'm all sweaty and I itch!"

  "As for your breasts, that's good. They won't move on you when you swing a weapon. As for uncomfortable, you should try mine," said Octavia, rapping on her molded steel breastplate. "Not only are my tits squeezed in tight, but there's that lovely cold, clammy sensation that only steel can produce on skin on the dank morning. Top it off with the necessary padding underneath and it produces a wonderful smell of iron, sweat and oil."

  Karina laughed out loud.

  "C'mon," said Octavia, standing up. "Gedda's better with a short sword than I am. She also cheats, so be warned."

  "Anything else I should know about her?" asked Karina.

  "Yes," said Octavia, looking Karina dead in the eye. "Don't let her anywhere near the cooking pot."

  "I think I can help out in that department," said Karina.

  The fencing lessons broke the ice and everyone became more at ease with each other. Karina had always thought of Gedda as a shy, demure girl, but reclassified that when they started sword training.

  "Sloppy! Pathetic! My great-great grandmo
ther could do better and she's dead!" That was about the mildest remarks Karina received.

  "Gods!" gasped Karina as she slumped to the ground after a long series of exercises and fencing. "I thought you were such a sweet girl."

  "It's an act to put the rubes at ease," commented Gedda, who squatted down beside her. "It's easier to stick a knife into them if they are not defending themselves. Do the unexpected, like when you kicked Gar in the knee. He wasn't expecting it and it put him at a disadvantage."

  "I only did it because I would have broken my hand on his jaw," said Karina, still gulping for air.

  "Okay, rest period's over," ordered Gedda, standing up. "On your feet!"

  Over the next ten days, Karina's proficiency with the short sword improved and Octavia threw in some axe drills too. At the end of that time, they were on a hill looking down on the city of Tectin as the sun sank below the horizon.

  "This is the place!" announced Octavia excitedly in the fading sunlight. Everyone turned to stare at her. "I thought it was the next town over, but this is the place."

  "What place?" asked Karina.

  "Where the four priestesses of Adelpha are," said Octavia. "Should we see if they're still here?"

  "That makes sense," said Karina. "It'll keep us from having to backtrack later."

  The five of them rode down the hill and into the city. Octavia led the way through the narrow streets towards the Temple of Adelpha. They were traversing a long courtyard with building on both sides when Octavia suddenly reined in and held up her hand for them to stop. The courtyard was barely lit by torchlight and no one was around. Karina tried to peer through the dark to see what Octavia had stopped for, but could not spot anything. It was then that a man dressed in black stepped out from his hiding place behind a fountain at the far end.

  "Acute perceptions, I see," he said.

  "If you're here to rob us, we don't have much and what we do have wouldn't be worth the price you'd have to pay for it," said Octavia, drawing her sword.

  Karina heard the rasp of ropes behind them and turned to see that a large net had been dragged across the street to block their retreat. Octavia did not take her eyes off the man.