Dagger of the Assassins

by Cat Wilder

  "What? No! I'm hornier than you," Meike cried. "I'm next."

  "You can have Kahlan," the blonde Amazon said.

  "Okay," I said, still gasping for breath. "There's plenty of me for all of you, as often as you want me. Let's go upstairs and play king of the bed."

  The Heart of Aphrodite did provide me one awesome ability. My refractory period maybe lasted ten seconds. I could keep it up all night. I'd worn all three of them out more than once, and I stood ready to do it again anytime they dared to challenge.

  "Challenge accepted," Elky laughed.

  We helped each other dry off. Okay, I helped them dry off. Hey, I'm a red-blooded American man, so horny. Once dry, our clothes reappeared on our bodies with just a thought. Then we headed to the common room.

  "We should have a beer before going up," I suggested. "To help loosen the goosen."

  Meike and Kahlan looked at me, and then Elky. The Amazon shrugged.

  "He made that last part up. That didn't make any more sense in our world as it does in yours."

  "You say that, but you all know exactly what it means," I replied.

  Meike smiled. "He just wants another beer to stiffen his resolve."

  The three pigman brothers remained at their table. That kind of killed my thirst, but Elky ordered four mugs, while I led them to a table as far from the troublemakers as possible. When our mugs arrived, I urged them to drink as quickly as possible. Partly because the faster Meike drank, the drunker she got. And that elfmaid went crazy in bed when drunk.

  She had sex magic. Just saying.

  My mind began to wander. Visions of Elky, Kahlan, and Meike danced in my head. All the sexy things we'd done before, and might do again shortly, had my heart racing and insides tingling. And then silence fell in the common room.

  We looked around as one, spotting a massive human standing in the doorway and scanning the room. His dark eyes stopped on us. Well, a single eye. A black leather patch covered his left eye. Odd, since a player and could get that fixed easily enough. Did he design his avatar like that?

  My breath caught when I saw the script above his head. Human bounty hunter (Lvl 47). So I checked him out closer. Six and a half feet tall, covered in scars, he oozed hostility and pure meanness. His dark hair looked dirty, pulled back in a ponytail. He wore a black leather vest, red pants, and scuffed up boots. When he moved inside, I discovered he wasn't alone.

  A catman followed him inside. At six feet, he stood half a head shorter than the first man, but looked just as dangerous. His bright green eyes popped against his sleek black fur. He carried a pair of samurai swords on his back, and only wore a black loincloth. Catman warrior (Lvl 33) hovered over his head.

  Next came a female catman with smoky grey fur. Catgirl bounty hunter. So just a mob, but still deadly. She moved like sex on parade, sensuously and ready. She wore a black leather midriff top, low-riding black leather pants, and thigh boots. Boots with sky-high heels. I noticed Elky scowled down at them. I didn't see any weapons on her, but the silver cat's head hanging off her leather choker looked magical to me.

  A half-goblin warrior mob entered next. He appeared only a little taller than the catgirl, looking ragged and spoiling for a fight. A pair of curved swords were crossed on his back.

  "What's your name?" the human demanded, looking me straight in the eyes.

  Yeah, it was a challenge.

  "Puddintang, ask me again and I'll tell you the same," I said.

  "Well, that was just childish," Elky said, though Meike and Kahlan snickered.

  "Leave them alone, Yank," the catgirl said, sauntering past us. Every man in there watched her breathlessly. Catgirls had that affect on men. "I need a couple beers before we start a fight."

  The half-goblin and catman followed her past our table, while Yank and I continued our staring contest. After an uncomfortably long time, he leaned over and sneered at me.

  "This isn't over."

  I shook my head as he joined his friends across the room. I looked at Meike and wagged my brows.

  "Can you curse him with hives?"

  She laughed, but didn't answer. Kahlan shook her head in disapproval, while Elky looked at the elfmaid sorceress waiting for an answer. Yeah, Elky and I were on the same wavelength.

  "Let's go upstairs so Elky and I can fight over you," the redheaded sorceress purred.

  "As long as you are both actually on top of me while you fight," I said.

  "We can make that happen," Elky said, taking me by the hand and heading for the stairs.

  Kahlan followed, giggling, while Meike lingered behind. At the base of the stairs, the elfmaid turned to the common room with a mischievous look.

  "You guys hold it down, okay? We’re going to be upstairs making sweet love to Cormac, and each other," she taunted. "All. Night. Long."

  Elky and Kahlan squealed as if scandalized. I grabbed the Amazon's sweet round butt, and hurried her up the stairs. Nothing improved my outlook on life more than playtime with the ladies.

  "You better not ignore me like last night," Kahlan said. "Mana."

  "Don't you play the mana card," Elky chided. She inventoried her leather armor, weapons, and tunic as we walked down the corridor to the room at the end. My breath rushed out at the sight of her spectacular body. "Amazons need loving too."

  "And I'm just the man to do it."

  "I was joking downstairs," Meike laughed. "But we might not get any sleep tonight."

  "In my dreams," I said, voice low and husky as my arousal spiked.

  Despite the tiny size of the room, the bed proved epic in size. Biggest bed I'd ever seen, in the game and IRL. It wasn't a California king, but a Texas-sized king. And I planned to be king of that bed. Meike then closed the door, and drew a mystic symbol on it with her chalk, while chanting a spell.

  I willed my clothes and weapons into inventory, swept Elky up, and charged toward the bed. I jumped halfway to it, and Elky twisted into position in midair. We landed, and started kissing without missing a beat. Meike rushed the bed, naked by the time she reached it. Before I knew it two gorgeous, horny as hell women began climbing all over me.

  Sprawling out in the middle of the bed, I maneuvered Elky over to my waist, and Meike to my face. Kahlan crawled up opposite Elky, and they took turns going down on me. I kissed Meike, while fondling her boobs. The three of them took me to the brink super fast.

  "Let me have it," Kahlan cried.

  "No," Elky said, pushing her away as she straddled my waist. I watched breathlessly as the beautiful blonde slowly impaled herself on my erection. As she got into riding me, Kahlan straddled my chest, facing Elky, and they began to make out hot and heavy. Yeah, I almost shot my load right then and there. Fortunately, Meike distracted me by straddling my face.

  That's how a boss takes care of all his ladies at once. I felt like I ruled the world! Elky bounced faster and faster up and down my shaft, while I ate the elfmaid out. And rubbed circles around the healers slick sex.

  It proved too much for me, so I came first, followed by Kahlan, Meike, and then Elky.

  "Okay, girls, let's rotate," Elky said, still huffing and puffing.

  BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

  I jumped straight up, throwing the women off the bed. We all stared at the door, vibrating under that terrible assault. What the hell were they hitting it with? A tank!

  BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

  Meike spoke first. "They're using magic. My ward won't hold them for long."

  "Out the window!" I cried. "We'll make our stand outside."

  Everyone rushed to the window as the door began to disintegrate.

  BOOM! BOOM!

  Elky went out first, pausing to look down warily. "I can't see anything down there."

  "It's better than what's up here," I shouted. "Jump!"

  She cried out in anger and fear, and dropped out of view. I pulled my loincloth and sword out of inventory, taking up a defensive stance between the door and window as Kahlan crawled into the window, looked down with
worried eyes, and jumped.

  "I should go last since they are using magic," Meike said.

  "No," I said, shoving her at the window. "Go. Now!"

  The door exploded into the room. BOOM!

  The sorceress cried out as she dropped to the ground. I started backing toward the window as Yank rushed in through the still flying debris.

  "I knew that fucking bounty hunter was after me," I growled, and attacked him.

  Yeah, it wasn't my brightest move ever. My level 33 Barbarian warrior had no chance against that level 47 Bounty hunter. We circled each other, our blades clashing loudly as we sought the other's weakness. And then the other three stormed in and cut me off from the window.

  I expected to discover the catgirl was the mage, but it was the half-goblin. Red tendrils of magic erupted from his chest as he turned on me. At the same time, the catman and catgirl leapt up high and straight at me.

  "Take him down," Yank cried, lowered his shoulder, and charged me.

  Magic tendrils, and three fierce fighters hit me at the same time. I fought my best, but winning stopped being my objective. I wanted to force them into killing me, so I'd respawn outside of town.

  As tough as the bounty hunters were, it was the caster who took me down. I had no defense against magic, and he wrapped me up like a Thanksgiving turkey. Yank grinned down at me as I struggled, and then snapped a collar around my neck.

  Magic flowed into me, and my body froze. Hell, my mind went blank.

  "Got him," Yank said. "Are you Cormac mac Brocc? The man who attacked Lord Quinton and the Red Knights, ordered their Guild House burned down, and took three of their slaves: Kahlan, Elky, and Meike?"

  I didn't want to answer, to confirm, but I did. "I am."

  "Empty your inventory," he commanded.

  Everything came out onto the floor. Weapons. Coin purses. Everything. And I watched emotionlessly as their mage, Jrac, placed my weapons into inventory. That included the Sword Ring of Kiantor, my prized Epic weapon. Then Yank divided up all my money between the four of them. And I said nothing. I just waited for their commands.

  Chapter 10

  Meike

  I dropped into the pitch black shadows below. Rolling to my feet, I saw the pale nude forms of Elky and Kahlan, before Elky's clothes, armor, and weapons appeared on her out of nowhere. That jolted me back to reality, and I called up my elven leathers. The Amazon nudged the healer, who nodded before her white priestess dress appeared on her.

  All that took less than ten heartbeats.

  "Why isn't Cormac coming down?" Kahlan asked.

  "It sounds like the fight has moved to the other side of the room," Elky said. "We have to go back in and save him."

  I looked around. It really couldn't be that late, yet the streets were empty. My thoughts jumbled together, so I didn't know which way the inn's door lay. I could see the uncertainty in my friends, too. Elky got her bearings first, and then pointed to my left.

  "That way."

  I took off running. The street completely surrounded the inn. It didn't really matter which way we went. But when I rounded the corner, I ran headlong into a large, very solid man. Kahlan and Elky crashed into me, and we bounced off. We found ourselves sitting on the ground and confused.

  "It's them," a rough male voice said.

  "Shit," Elky cried, leaping to her feet before Kahlan and I sorted ourselves out.

  The crash of steel jolted me to my senses, so I grabbed the healer and dragged her away from the fight. The moon hadn't risen yet, and panic seized me, so I couldn't tell who Elky fought. But they looked tall and stout.

  I called up my sword to my right hand, and a fireball to my left. Kahlan crouched behind me, eyes huge. Elky fought three men.

  "Break off, Elky!" I shouted.

  She ducked and raced our way, giving me the opening to throw my fireball. I threw the weakest of fireballs, not wanting to kill if it was just a misunderstanding. Though, I was certain those men knew who we were and wanted us.

  "Are they the bounty hunters?" Kahlan asked, voicing my thoughts.

  "I think so," I said. "That big human called Yank led the charge into our room."

  Elky cursed under her breath. I started to shout a warning at the men, two of which moved toward us with swords in hand. What little light remained gleamed off armor.

  "They're not Watchmen, are they?" I asked under my breath.

  "If they are, we're in a helluva lot more trouble than I thought," Elky replied. "And it won't get better, because I'm not going to surrender."

  "Well, that's helpful," Kahlan said.

  I noticed an oddly familiar movement by the one man not coming at us. As soon as I realized what he was doing, I dropped my sword, pulling up super hot fireballs to both hands, and shouted.

  "Beware the slingshot!"

  He released before I threw my fireballs. His shot proved off target, but still grazed my shoulder. The pain lanced down into my core, but I didn't think anything broken. I would have a nasty bruise. Unfortunately, it broke my concentration and I lost the fireballs.

  "Run!" I shouted.

  Kahlan took off running one way, and I went another. Elky charged the men with a wild battle cry. Why couldn't they understand we had to stick together?

  Stopping in the middle of the street, I tried to pull my sword out of inventory. No sword. Where was my sword? Then I remembered dropping it to use fireballs. I had enough mana to burn all three of them to a crisp, but couldn't attack with Elky battling them toe-to-toe. And she more than held her own. Impressive.

  "Oh!" I cried out, when the slinger ducked his head and tackled the Amazon around the waist. He bore the blonde straight back to the ground, and the other two jumped on top. My jaw dropped when the toughest one of us went down like that. It only took seconds for them to beat her unconscious.

  "Elky!" Kahlan cried, and ran toward them.

  "No," I said, and started cursing. Stupid healers always running the wrong way.

  An uppercut to the chin put the healer down and out. Two of them began binding their captive's, while the third came after me. I threw fireball after fireball at him, but his shield shrugged them off. It had to be enchanted. Dammit.

  Light flickered to life in many of the surrounding structures. If we made enough noise to wake them why haven't the city's guardsmen showed up? Unless we were fighting them. I looked more closely, and our foes were definitely pigmen.

  "I should've never left the Elvenwood," I muttered, and called up lightning. That hit the pigman's shield with a thunderclap, and splintered it.

  Ka-boom!

  That sent him flying back, but his other two friends charged me. I could take out one, but not the other, so I turned and ran. Using my head, I ran the opposite way around the inn to come back to my friends. Only the third pigman stood guard over them.

  "Don't make me kill you!" I cried.

  In answer, he yanked Kahlan's head up by her hair, and pressed a knife to her throat. I froze.

  "Don't make me kill your friends, sorceress," he snarled. "Surrender, or she dies."

  I didn't have time to decide anything. Hell, one of my pursuers crashed into my back, pulled my arms back, and held tight. His companion came around front and smirked down at me. My face twisted with rage, and I spat on him.

  His brutal backhand left me limp and dazed. And then I felt a metal collar encircle my neck, clicking shut. The magic within flowed straight into my head. I wanted to fight, but even I couldn't fight off a slave collar.

  "Thanks for joining us, elfmaid," a rough voice said behind me. "We got what we want. Let's go."

  He released my arms, grabbed a fistful of hair, and forced me to start walking. The other two pigmen picked my friends up and followed. We didn't go far, just one street over to a single story home.

  "Inside," my handler commanded. He released my hair, and I walked through the door. "Kneel."

  I obeyed, kneeling in the middle of a small, very shabby room. Their home proved to be a si
ngle room affair, with three straw pallets along the back wall. I didn't see any furniture. I saw trunks, and piles of cheap looking stuff. Treasure? If so, not much of a treasure.

  While my handler turned up oil lamps to provide light, his brothers forced Elky and Kahlan inside. Then they were commanded to kneel beside me. Gleaming bronze collars encircled their necks.

  They captured me with a cheap obedience collar?

  Embarrassing, but still effective.

  With light came confirmation. The three pigman brothers that Cormac threatened were our captors. They looked quite pleased with themselves, too. When we went upstairs to frolic in bed, they must've gone home and armed up.

  How disappointed they must've been to find another group attacking us.

  It still worked out for them. They captured the three of us. Though the reward for Cormac was the highest, all three of us together would still earn them fifteen gold crowns.

  "We did good, right, Daccor?" the youngest looking pigman asked.

  "Damned good, Uath," Daccor said. He lifted Elky's chin to admire her beauty. "The blonde is the prettiest, I think, but won't bring as much coin as the healer and sorceress. I bet the Cathouse will give us ten silver crowns for her."

  Groak spoke up. "Are you crazy? I agree the Cathouse will pay ten crowns, but I think we'll get more for all of them if you auction them off."

  "I like it," Daccor said at length. "You got a good head for business."

  I almost blurted out that each of us had a five gold crown bounty on our heads, but why should I help them get even richer? Besides, they didn't ask. The collar forced me to obey their every whim, and answer all questions truthfully, but it didn't make me take the initiative or help them without orders.

  "What's your name, sorceress?" Groak asked.

  "Meike," I replied.

  "And yours," Uath asked the healer.

  "Sister Kahlan of the Pure Heart."

  Now that got the brothers excited. Every man loved the Sisters of the Pure Heart. Though, their excitement wasn't for the bedroom delights she would grant them. No. The three pigmen knew someone would pay out the nose to own her. And they were correct, at auction Kahlan could demand five times what Elky and I combined would earn them.