Warrior Demoness - TI6

by Heckrotte, Fran

  Lynara hesitated before answering. Were she to tell Constance the truth, it would sound too incredible to believe. Still, it would be fun to watch her expression. The woman was too...

  Too what? she asked herself. Self-assured? Confident?

  "I have been around for a few decades." She prevaricated after deciding Constance would be an interesting challenge.

  Constance didn't miss the subtleness of the answer but decided not to press Lynara further. She had two weeks to unravel the mystery. Instead she focused on her original goal.

  "Well, how about telling me how this war started?"

  "Didn't Boudicea tell you?"

  "Yes, but I want to know what others believe. One person's story isn't entirely dependable."

  "If Boudicea told you, then it is. She always speaks the truth."

  "Then she's rare indeed. My experience has shown few people always speak the truth."

  Lynara shrugged. She couldn't argue that point.

  "Where do you want me to begin?"

  "Perhaps you can tell me what happened to Prasutagus?"

  "The king? He was a great warrior. The Romans were wise to keep him on the throne. It's a shame they showed less wisdom with Boudicea."

  Constance nodded her head sagely.

  "Yes. She would have been better as an ally than an enemy."

  "Had they not tried to humiliate her or raped her daughters, she would have been less of a threat."

  "No one should endure that. Nero's generals gave him poor advice. He should have known better."

  Taking her knife from her sheath, Lynara examined the edge carefully, testing its razor sharp edge with her thumb. It was more a habit than a necessity.

  "Rome's generals are known for their greed — not their intelligence. The only thing they know is power and money," Lynara said, not looking up. "The Iceni were forced from their lands and then tortured because they couldn't pay the ridiculous assessments with which Rome burdened them."

  "It's a common mistake that humans make," Constance replied.

  Her use of the word humans caught Lynara's attention and she glanced toward the entrance curtain to see if any of the guards were within hearing distance. All officers had at least two guards stationed at the openings to prevent unauthorized entry. Seeing they were talking quietly amongst themselves, she turned to the historian.

  "Who are you?"

  Realizing her mistake, Constance made eye contact and held the officer's gaze for several seconds. Finally deciding not to challenge the lieutenant, she lowered her eyes.

  "A historian. Nothing more."

  "I find that hard to believe," Lynara retorted.

  Constance shrugged.

  "Believe what you will. We're wasting time. Tell me what else you know."

  Lynara suspected there was more to the historian than she was saying, but decided not to press her further. Her instincts told her she was dealing with someone quite capable of holding her own in a verbal duel.

  "Like I said, the Romans tried to humiliate our queen. They stripped her naked and tortured her while her people were made to watch. Then the soldiers took her two daughters and raped them in front of Boudicea, hoping to break her will. Obviously they miscalculated her inner strength."

  "Obviously. What was her crime that they were so brutal?"

  "Her crime?"

  Lynara snorted and threw the knife at a nearby wooden chest. Sticking in the wood, it vibrated back and forth.

  "Her crime was being loved. Her husband left her as partial heir to his estate instead of leaving everything to Nero. Roman law requires all possessions of the dead pass to the Emperor. Prasutagus thought he would insure their safety by naming Boudicea and his daughters as co-heirs to his estate."

  "That wasn't very smart considering the Roman obsession for obedience."

  "I believe his mind was damaged by all of the battles he had fought and then the embarrassment of having to bow to Roman law. During his last years, he acted strangely. His servants said he would wake up screaming in the night. He rarely spoke and at times suddenly burst into tears. Everyone was afraid he had gone insane. Perhaps that's why he defied Roman law."

  "It's a common problem amongst warriors. I've seen many who act that way. I do believe their experiences unbalance the mind, much like a hard blow to the head."

  Lynara nodded. She too had seen it happen many times.

  "Yes."

  "How did Boudicea escape?"

  "The Romans, in their arrogance, released her. After all, she was only a woman. She rescued her daughters and fled to the hills. Her people rallied around her, one-hundred thousand strong, and she has made her torturers pay dearly for their atrocities. She put fear in the hearts of her enemies when she destroyed Londinium. There wasn't a Roman left alive when we left."

  Standing, Constance walked over to pull the knife from the chest. Returning it to Lynara, she sat back down.

  "I have heard she is heartless and takes no prisoners."

  "She fights a just cause. Sometimes it takes cruelty to achieve that goal."

  "The end justifying the means."

  "The means justifying the end," Lynara said. An ancient exhaustion overwhelmed her.

  Humans waste so much of their lives. I fear they will never grow beyond their petty squabbles.

  "We should continue this tomorrow," she said. "It's late and I have an early meeting with my men. You can sleep on the bed."

  "Where will you sleep?"

  "On a blanket, on the ground. I'm a warrior. It won't kill me."

  Knowing it was useless to argue, Constance stood and removed her outer layer of clothing, aware that the lieutenant watched her every move.

  "Do you like women, Lieutenant?" she asked boldly, giving Lynara an impish grin.

  "I've had my share," Lynara answered, not intimidated by the question or the woman. Indeed, Constance was extremely attractive and well-endowed. "And you?"

  "I've had my share," the historian replied in a teasing tone. "But not tonight. I'm too tired."

  Lynara laughed. Their time together was going to be very interesting.

  CHAPTER 4

  FOR THE NEXT two weeks, Lynara and Constance were inseparable. The lieutenant escorted her around the camp, introducing her to others who were more familiar with the events leading up to Boudicea's incarceration and torture. She wanted to make sure that Constance had as much information as possible for her records.

  "Do you always take this much interest in your charges?" Constance.

  "Not always — but then I don't always have such interesting assignments. I'll have to thank My Queen when I see her."

  Constance smiled, her cheeks dimpling.

  "Me too."

  * * *

  Neither was sure at what point their relationship shifted from professional to personal. One moment they were talking quietly in Lynara's tent about Roman policies, and the next, they were in each other's arms, kissing as if it would be their last. When they pulled apart, they stared into each other's eyes and smiled almost shyly. It was then they realized something had been missing from their lives. That night, they made love. Afterward, they spent hours talking about almost everything, but themselves. Neither of them wanted to ruin the intimate moment by revealing their darkest secrets. The two weeks passed quickly; too quickly.

  * * *

  Lying beneath the furs, Lynara held Constance firmly against her breasts. Neither spoke. Hours of lovemaking had left them exhausted but contented. Only the specter of tomorrow's battle haunted their happiness.

  "You're thinking about tomorrow," Constance whispered.

  "You've known me only two weeks and already you read my mind?"

  "I've known you a lifetime."

  "A short one, then," Lynara teased.

  "True."

  "Well, you're right. The Romans are camped a half-day's march from here. We leave at dawn."

  "Then we have only a few hours left. Let's use them wisely."

  Lynara need
ed no further encouragement. Rolling Constance on her back, she leaned down and stared longingly into the black eyes of her lover.

  "What took you so long to come into my life?" Her voice was husky with emotion.

  "I've been around forever. Where have you been?" Constance whispered back, reaching up to stroke the suntanned cheek of her warrior.

  "It appears we've wasted a lot of time then."

  Leaning down, Lynara kissed Constance, letting her lips move tenderly against Constance's. The contact was gentle, almost tentative as if asking for permission to continue. Constance felt like she was being branded. Her lips were on fire when Lynara touched them with the tip of her tongue. Lynara moved her hands across Constance's breasts and then down to her stomach.

  "You're hands are always so hot," Constance said and groaned.

  "Only when I'm with you. You make me burn with desire."

  Reaching down, Lynara caressed the dark curly hair covering Constance's mound. Fingers moved playfully through the hair causing the historian to shift restlessly. Fluid flowed freely, but couldn't cool the hot fingers sliding between the lips to sample the soft, velvety warmth hiding just beneath the soft curls. Running her tongue down Constance's cheek, she stopped at her throat and nipped the tender skin at the base of her neck.

  "I feel like devouring you." Pulling slightly away, Lynara's hot gaze met her lover's. It was the first time Constance had really looked deeply into her warrior's eyes. The passion blazed so brightly, she swore she saw flames dancing in the dark brown pupils. Blinking, she realized she had never really noticed the unusual color before and couldn't imagine why she had thought Lynara had green eyes.

  "Something bothers you, my love?" Lynara asked, frowning slightly.

  "You bother me," Constance gasped, "but in a good way."

  Lynara grinned.

  "Good. Shall I continue?"

  "Oh yes. By all means."

  Lowering her head, she again nipped the sensitive area on the neck.

  "You taste... salty."

  "I've noticed you like salt," Constance said, enjoying the heated lips.

  "Uh huh. Now hush. You're distracting me."

  Constance would have replied if she hadn't felt a strange heat between her legs. Fingers played erratically between her warm, slick lips, first moving slowly and then speeding up. When they began to dip gently into her vulva, she felt as if her whole body was burning up and wasn't sure if she was experiencing pleasure or pain.

  "Pleasure," Lynara whispered against her ear. "There is never pain in true lovemaking."

  Constance could feel her eyes rolling back in her head. Gasping, she was barely aware of her hips thrusting upward to the beat of the fingers driving in and out. Lynara's other hand caressed and massaged her breasts. Then it shifted to her ribs and stomach, rubbing them in a slow, circular motion before moving back to the breasts. Lips nibbled on earlobes and neck and then down to hardened nipples. Lynara took one between her teeth and tugged on it before swirling her tongue around the areola. Constance could barely control the urge to scream, but knowing two guards stood outside the tent gave her strength to suppress it. Biting her lower lip, she moaned, her head moving back and forth.

  Lynara could feel Constance stiffen as wave after wave of pleasure coursed through the warm body beneath her. Finally, Constance arched her back, groaned loudly and then collapsed, sweating pouring down her body and dripping onto the cot.

  "Are you alright?" Lynara asked, resting her cheek on the heaving breasts.

  "Barely," Constance groaned, trying to catch her breath.

  Smiling, the warrior let her entire weight settle on her lover and wrapped her arms around the slender body beneath her. Snuggling in, she sighed and relaxed as a hand began gently stroking her hair.

  "When do you have to go?"

  Eyes closed, Lynara didn't want to think about it.

  "Soon," she whispered against the bare skin beneath her lips.

  Frowning, Constance suddenly felt uneasy.

  "This is it, isn't it? This is all we will have."

  Raising her head, Lynara stared into the black eyes of the first woman she had ever loved. Constance met the gaze and frowned. Green eyes, the color of sea-foam, stared back.

  I must be imagining things, she thought.

  "Can you tell the future?" Lynara teased. In her heart she knew Constance was right. Their time together was over.

  "No, it's just a feeling. Am I wrong?"

  She hoped Lynara would say yes, but all she did was shrug.

  "Who can say? I'm no more a seer than you. What happens, happens," Lynara said philosophically.

  Not wanting to ruin the moment, Constance nodded and pulled Lynara close. There was only a little time left. Exhausted, they fell asleep, their bodies interlocked in a warm but gentle embrace.

  A candlemark later, one of the guards awoke the lieutenant and motioned toward the tent entrance. The first rays of sunlight peeked over the horizon, turning the sky a deep orange. The color reminded Lynara of her homeland. Rising quietly, she stared at the sleeping figure and smiled sadly. She kissed Constance on the lips, grabbed her clothes and left, unable to look back for fear of giving in to her desire to stay.

  * * *

  Constance was cold and shifted slightly. Her body missed the familiar warmth that had shielded her from the cool night air. Opening her eyes slowly, she saw her warrior walking away. Wanting to call out, she smothered the urge with her right fist and settled back down, hoping Lynara wouldn't turn and see her misery. She knew it would make the parting more difficult. Her heart felt on fire, the pain so real she thought she was dying.

  I could make you stay, she thought, but knew it would bring a worse death than dying. It would kill their love. I never said I love you.

  * * *

  The lieutenant stopped outside the tent and quickly put on her clothes. She knew the moment Constance woke up. Her body was so in tune with the human that she even felt the same pain. Placing her hand over her chest, she closed her eyes, tipped her head back and gritted her teeth. Her two guards looked nervously at each other.

  "Are you not well?" one dared to ask.

  "I'm fine, Faolin. Come, our queen awaits us."

  Trotting toward the distant hillside, her thoughts were torn between the approaching battle and the woman she had left behind.

  CHAPTER 5

  CONSTANCE FELT the fatal blow as if she were the one stabbed. Rushing from the tent she ran toward the distant battlefield. It took over two candlemarks, but she never slowed her pace. Time was of the essence if she was to be with Lynara during her last moments. The moans of the dying could be heard long before she saw the carnage from atop a small hillock. Constance stared at the devastation before her. Tens of thousands of men, women and children lay dead or dying. Roman or Celt, it made no difference. Death didn't care. It welcomed all gladly. Rushing down the hill, she saw a familiar form staggering toward her.

  "Faolin!" she cried, catching the wounded man as he collapsed. "Where is Lieutenant Lynara?"

  Eyes glazed with pain, Faolin focused on the woman holding him up.

  "Historian?" he asked, his eyes barely able to make out her face.

  "Yes, it's me, Constance. Where is Lynara?"

  Moving his arm painfully, he pointed to a stack of bodies several hundred paces away. Constance lowered him to the ground.

  "Be still, Faolin. I'll be back soon."

  The Celt could only nod.

  Running toward the pile of bodies, she was appalled at the mutilation around her. Severed arms and legs lay everywhere. Bodiless heads stared at her accusingly. Headless bodies lay crumpled, their arms outstretched as if searching for something that wasn't there. Trying not to step on any of the remains, she hunted frantically until she spotted the blood-stained body of her lover. Constance fell to her knees and gently gathered Lynara into her arms, holding her tightly against her breast. The bright red hair flowed across her arms like rivers of blood.

&nbs
p; "Lynara? It's me. Come back to me, my love," she pleaded, tears flowing down her cheeks. Dark clouds moved across the sky and thunder rolled ominously.

  The gods are angry, she thought.

  Lynara heard the call and felt torn between the vow she had made thousands of years before and the need to be with the one person who had shown her true love. Opening her eyes, she stared into tear-filled eyes and smiled painfully.