by John Evans
"Well, Per, it's been a fun chase, but now it's over," said Nico, getting off his horse. The third man who had his shield on and sword out followed him. "Stand still," Nico told Per. "I'll make it painless."
Per quickly leaned into the barn and grabbed his sword and shield. He swung around just in time to catch Nico's sword on the face of his shield. Per backed up inside the barn, shaking the scabbard off his sword, so he would not have the two men coming at him from opposite directions.
"Strong and quick," commented Nico following Per into the barn. The other man also entered the barn and moved to Nico's left. As they sized each other up, they all heard someone banging against a door outside.
"Poor Beorn. I'm going to have to chastise him severely about his performance," said Nico.
"Don't bother," replied Per, getting his shield onto his arm. "I'll do it for you as soon as I'm done here."
Nico made a mock bow. "I would almost forgo killing you to see that, but, unfortunately, I can't. It would set a bad precedent. I also made a mistake. I did not expect you to stop." With that, he swung at Per.
Per caught the sword on his shield and blocked the third man's sword with his own. From that moment on, Per was on the defensive. Thrusts, slashes and feints came at him from all angles. Luckily, the third man was not experienced enough to time his attacks with Nico's. This was enough to allow Per to block their swords, but not enough for him to take the offensive.
Nico and the third man withdrew several paces. To Per, it seemed that they had been fighting for an hour, even though he knew it had only been a minute or so. All three were breathing heavily.
"Well, I must say that you have been trained well," said Nico. "Although, I expected that since you killed the man who was sent to the farm."
"That's two mistakes," said Per, smiling. "I didn't kill him. My father did."
"Tenan? He does not use a mace or club."
"I didn't say my stepfather," countered Per. "I said my father, the ogre Gar."
There was a loud shattering of glass from outside. Nico did not even look. He kept his eyes on Per.
"It seems that Beorn has finally found a window. I am sorry about the woman, but we can't have witnesses."
Per roared and stamped at the third man like he was going to charge him. The man flinched and raised his shield up to ward off Per's blow. Per turned on the balls of his feet and crashed into Nico, shield to shield. He felt a nick to his shield arm, but his weight and strength bashed Nico backwards, head over heels into a pile of farm implements.
Per didn't waste a moment. He turned back towards the third man, who was coming at him. He blocked the man's sword thrust with his shield and swung at his legs. A meaty ka-chunk and the impact transmitted through his sword told Per that his blow had landed solidly. The man screamed and fell to the ground, his hands trying to cover the huge, bleeding gash in his upper leg. Per swung around away from the man in time to see Nico spring back up to his feet.
"Very good," said Nico, with a menacing chill to his words. "It won't affect the outcome, though."
"You've made two mistakes so far," snarled Per. "Your third was coming after me!"
Their swords met in a series of strokes and counter-strokes. Nico was faster, but Per had learned to use his strength and reach. The bastard sword that Per swung with one hand was longer than Nico's own sword and Per used his strength to bash his sword against Nico's shield, knocking the other man a little off-balance each time. It pushed Nico out of position for follow-up swings and parries.
Per backed up against a stall, preparing for another round when a dart smacked into the wood not more than an inch from his head. He spun away just before another dart landed right where his head had been. Per blocked Nico's sword and looked over to see that the third man had tied a bandage to his leg and had pulled several darts out of his belt. Per moved around quickly to keep Nico between the third man and himself.
Pinned down, Per was now getting the worst from the swordfight. His shield arm was cut again and then his left leg. Per's helm rang as Nico's sword bounced off the side. He charged forward, but Nico moved back, unwilling to try to match his strength against Per's. Per kept up the offensive, swinging to keep Nico moving back. Another dart went whistling by his head and Per charged again.
Nico moved quickly to the side, but soon realized he was not Per's target. Instead, Per rushed by him, blocking Nico's sword with his shield, and heading straight at the third man. The man's eyes bulged as he realized that Per was looming right over him. Clutching a dart in his hand, the man could only stare straight up as Per's sword swung down and split the man's skull in two. Per spun around and quickly jumped back just in time to prevent Nico's sword from disemboweled him.
"I guess it's just you and me," said Nico.
"C'mon, then," Per told him.
They began their duel again. All thought was gone except the desire to kill the other. The din was tremendous as they slashed and cut at each other. Neither could get an advantage over the other. Each wounded the other, but only slightly. Then Per noticed that Nico was not holding his shield as high as he had at the beginning. Per had unmercifully punished that arm by using all his strength to knock Nico out of position. Now he blocked a slash from Nico on his own shield and made a feint at the other man's legs. Nico dropped his shield down, but Per changed the angle of his thrust, sending the sword upwards. Nico tried to bring his shield back up, but his arm could not move fast enough. Per's sword punched through the leather breastplate into the center of Nico's chest.
Nico sagged and dropped his sword, coughing and choking. Per ripped out his sword and blood gushed from the wound. Per backed away quickly, never taking his eyes off of Nico's fallen body until he was outside the barn. Then turned and ran towards the farmhouse.
A window on the side of the farmhouse facing the barn was broken and he could see the Beorn's legs sticking out. Rushing up, Per grabbed the man's belt and yanked him back out of the window. He was shocked to see a butcher knife sticking completely through Beorn's throat.
"Dorthea!" cried Per. "Dorthea! Where are you?"
"Per? Per!" he heard her cry from inside.
The front door crashed open and Dorthea ran out to hug Per tightly. He dropped his bloody sword and embraced her as she sobbed uncontrollably. Per helped her sit down and waited for her crying to stop.
"I... I... barred the door, but I heard him moving around outside," she gasped. "Then he broke the window. I had grabbed the... the... the knife. When he stuck his head in, I... I... I... just stabbed."
"Shh. Shh," cooed Per softly. "It's alright. He was trying to kill you."
Dorthea looked up at Per. "You weren't lying about the assassins. What you said was the truth."
"Yes, I was and now it is even more important that you leave here," he told her. "Will you be alright? I have to check on the men in the barn."
"Go ahead," Dorthea said. "I'll be fine."
Per picked up his sword and went cautiously back to the barn. He knew the third man was dead, but he was not sure about Nico. To his relief, both bodies were still there. Then he heard a wet hacking cough come from Nico's body. Per went over to him and knelt behind him, putting his shield between the two of them.
"Your third mistake," Per said to him.
"You did well," gasped Nico. "I should have let you go and caught you later when we had the element of surprise. I can't breathe. Please help me roll on my back." Per reached over and pulled on Nico's shoulder. As he rolled onto his back, Nico's hand, which was underneath him, flashed towards Per's chest. The thin stiletto skittered on Per's shield, leaving an oily stain across it. Per jumped back as Nico, his energy now spent, slumped down on the barn floor.
"Smart, too," Nico managed. "You may be able to avoid us, but I doubt it." Then he sliced his arm with the blade. His body began to shake and convulse. After a couple of seconds, Nico went stiff. This time there was no doubt that the man was dead. Per wiped the poison off his shield, buried both the ra
g and the stiletto, and then dragged both men out of the barn.
"What will we do with them?" Dorthea asked Per.
"You finish packing. I'm going to bury them," he told her.
By evening, almost everything that could be packed had been loaded on the wagon and Per had buried all three men in a single grave. The only thing left to be packed on the wagon was Dorthea's bed. Per planned on loading it in the morning.
"Go get some sleep," Per said to her. "You"ve had a long day and a long way to go come morning."
Per went into the barn and climbed up to the hayloft. As he prepared for bed, he saw Dorthea enter the barn and climb up the ladder to him.
"Dorthea, I...," he started to say.
"Hush," she said quietly, removing her clothes. "I know. Last night was an attempt to make you stay. Tonight, I want it to be for no other reason than you and me."
She reached up and pulled Per's head down to give him a soul-searing kiss. Per wrapped his arms around her and returned the kiss with feeling. Eventually Per broke their kiss to move around to nibble on her earlobe. Dorthea gasped as his tongue traced around her ear. Per felt her reach down and unbuckled his trousers, allowing them to fall to the floor. He stepped back out of his pants and pulled off his tunic, the pair of them now naked.
Dorthea immediately moved forward and grasped Per's hard cock with both hands. With her nostrils flared, Dorthea stared at his cock as her hands squeezed and caressed it. A large drop of pre-cum oozed out the tip and Dorthea leaned over to lick it. She continued to lave the tip of Per's prick with her tongue, sending shivers up his spine.
"Not yet," said Per, moving Dorthea away from his cock when he felt the tension begin to build in his balls. "Lie down."
Dorthea did as she was bid and Per settled down beside her. He nuzzled her neck as his hand began to caress and fondle her breasts. Dorthea's hands moved to stroke Per's arms and head. Per slid down to lick and suck her hard nipples as his hand moved lower to part her legs. Dorthea moaned in anticipation as his hand slid over her dark pubic hair. There his fingers found her pussy hot and wet. Dorthea gripped Per tightly as he stroked her clitoris and sank a finger into her cunt. Her breathing became heavier and faster as Per continued to suck her breasts and finger-fuck her.
"Oh, yes," she panted. "Just like that. Oh, your finger feels sooooo good! Mmm, yes. I... I... I... aiieeeeeeeeeeeee!"
Dorthea screamed out her orgasm as Per felt her juices gush over his fingers. She bucked and arched as her orgasm reached down to her very depths. Finally she flopped back down, gasping for air.
She then looked over at Per and said, "Come here and fill me with that hard cock of yours."
Per didn't need to be told twice and moved between her legs. He entered her with just the tip of his cock, her wet cunt stretching wide to accommodate his size. Slowly, Per slid half of his cock into Dorthea as she squirmed under him in passion. Then he began to fuck his hard rod in and out of her steaming cunt.
"Mmmm," Dorthea moaned. "It's so big and wonderful. Oh, yes. Fuck it into me. Make me cum again."
Per looked down at her as her hips arched up to meet his thrusts. He increased the speed of his thrusts, but then stopped, eliciting a moan of disappointment from Dorthea. That moan was changed to a gasp as Per gently slid his cock as far as it would go into her. Dorthea's eyes flew open as eight inches of thick cock slid inside her. Per resumed his fucking and Dorthea quivered underneath him.
He felt the familiar tension build in his balls, but it peaked quickly and the crest caught Per by surprise. He shoved his cock into Dorthea to release a torrent of cum into her womb.
"Oh, I can feel you spurting into me," panted Dorthea. "It's hot and... and ... Oh, yes... Yes!"
He felt Dorthea's pussy clamp down on his spurting cock as her fingers dug into his forearm. His cock fired off its final spurt of hot jism as Dorthea sighed in happiness. Per rolled off her, not wanting to crush her under his weight. His cock was still rock-hard and he felt the fire begin to burn in his groin. Dorthea rolled over and snuggled closer. She opened her eyes and found herself staring at his hard cock.
"Um, Per? Do you get this urge every time after you cum?" she asked him, still staring at his prick.
"Yes," he said between tightly clenched teeth.
"Oh. Well, we better do something about that," she said, kissing him tenderly on the cheek.
Dorthea threw a leg over his hips. The fire in Per's groin was building, but not with the same intensity as the day before. Kneeling over him, Dorthea reached down between them to position his cock at the opening of her pussy. Sliding backwards, she slowly impaled herself on his prick. Per's breathing became heavier as he felt his passion begin to build. His cock slid in and out of Dorthea's cunt as she bounced up and down. Dorthea bit her lower lip as her passion also built. As Per hit his peak, he grabbed Dorthea's hips and held her down on his cock as it exploded, shooting another load of cum into her.
His climax seemed to last forever as his cock spurted wad after wad of hot sperm into Dorthea's vagina. She smiled and closed her eyes to savor the sensations of Per spurting into her. His second load overfilled her and she felt his cum dribbling down her legs. At last, Per's climax diminished and Dorthea collapsed on his massive chest, his cock still nestled inside her.
"Thank you," Dorthea said to Per. "It's strange. I feel like I've been freed after being imprisoned. I think this place had a hold on me that I created for myself."
"You're welcome," answered Per. "Now, we had better get some rest. We both have a long way to go in the morning."
Chapter 6: A Fellow Adventurer
Per had left Dorthea’s farm several days ago and, by now, he hoped she had made it to his mother's farm. He was well past the borders of the Overlord’s kingdom and had not seen any sign of civilization for the past two days as he walked through the rolling hills, leading his mule loaded with his supplies.
This tranquility ended abruptly when he caught sight of four orcs about eighty yards away. Unfortunately, they caught sight of him at the same time. It was at times like this that Per wished he wasn't over seven feet tall. With a yell, all four raised their weapons and charged straight at him.
Although the journey had been quiet, Per was still prepared. He fired off a quick bolt from the crossbow he had been holding, before dropping it and pulling his sword free. As the orcs ran closer, Per hurriedly pulled his shield onto his arm. He looked up to see that only three orcs were charging towards him. The fourth rolled on the ground clutching his knee, which was pierced by the crossbow bolt. Then the other three were upon him.
Per moved quickly to the right, so that the orcs blocked one another and parried the first axe stroke on his shield. The orc, his lips drawn back in a grimace, was not so lucky as Per return thrust and cleaved right through the orc’s studded armor. The orc stared down at the foot or so of sword sticking out of his chest and crumpled to the side as Per yanked his sword free, splattering blood everywhere.
The two remaining orcs, now wary, backed up and approached him in a pincer movement. Per backed up himself, not wanting them to come at him from two sides. The orcs grinned wickedly and continued to circle around. Per suddenly dashed at the orc on his left. His shield met the orc’s shield with a resounding clang, but Per’s sword swing missed as the orc backed up. His movements had caught the other orc out of place ands as he ran to catch up, Per charged towards him. The second orc’s spear skittered off Per’s shield as he crashed into him. The orc stumbled backwards and was knocked off his feet. Per swung around to face the first orc, but could not bring his shield up in time to deflect the axe.
The axe cut into Per’s upper arm, but, luckily, Tanen's chainmail shirt prevented the axe from cutting too deeply. Per batted the orc’s arm away with his shield and swung at the orc’s knee. The orc, savoring his hit, did not see Per’s stroke until it took off his leg. He fell to the ground, desperately trying to stem the flow of blood from his stump.
With his arm stinging fr
om the cut, Per quickly stepped around the fallen orc to the orc who had lost his spear and was currently scrambling to get it. Just as his hand grasped it, Per lopped off his arm above the elbow. Before the orc could even scream, Per swung again, cleaving the orc’s skull in two.
Breathing hard, Per wiped his sword clean of the gore and blood before sheathing it. He walked over the orc holding his leg stump and, kneeling down on the orc’s chest, pulled out his dagger and quickly slit the orc’s throat. Holding the bloody, dripping dagger at his side, Per got up and went over to where the last living orc was laying. The crossbow bolt had gone in just under the knee and by the way the foot was twisted, Per knew that the bones were broken.
(Who are you?) asked Per in ogre.
(Rashtak Platt!) spat the orc.
Per reached down and jerked the crossbow bolt slightly. The orc screamed in pain.
(I know orc and insults about my parents are no good,) said Per, standing back up. (Who are you?)
The orc looked at him with venom-filled eyes. (We are scouts for the Stahpel Lon Tribe. You are dead. The army follows us. One village has already surrendered. They are now our slaves. Nothing can stop us!)
Per crashed his knee down on the orc’s chest as his dagger punched into the orc’s throat. The orc grabbed Per’s hand as he gurgled and then died. Per wiped his dagger clean on the orc’s tunic and then put it away. He quickly collected the orc’s gear and weapons, but left their unappetizing food behind.
“I’d better find this army,” he thought as he collected their items. “I can’t go backwards, but I may be able to go around the army.” He chuckled to himself. “Maybe the assassins will run into this army.”
After packing the orcs’ gear, Per began to backtrack along their trail, moving cautiously in case he ran into another patrol. He followed their trail until dusk when he set up a cold camp, afraid that the campfire might be seen.
Per lost the orcs’ trail the next day. Since the trail headed northeast, he continued on that way. By nightfall, with no army in sight, Per did not know what to think. He finally decided to head northeast one more day. The next day he became more relaxed and, in the late afternoon, decided to climb a ridge to look for a spot to make camp. As he crested the top, Per was shocked to look down into a valley on the other side and see a village.