The Ritual Of Neccar (The Adventures Of Pervikar Book 4)

by John Evans

  Ashtar leaned back, pulling her tit away from Karina, even though Karina tried to stay with it to suck out a couple more drops. Ashtar's milk was sweet and more delicious than anything Karina had tasted before. She let go of the nipple with reluctance and was surprised to find that she was completely healed. Ashtar leaned her bosom on her arms in the clouds as she looked down at Karina.

  "As much as I hate to lose this, I need the ring more," said Karina standing up and undoing Adelpha's pendant from around her neck. "I give it to you in exchange for your ring."

  "I accept," replied Ashtar. She held out a hand and the pendant disappeared from Karina's hand to reappear in Ashtar's. Ashtar made a slight gesture. The sultan's finger disappeared along with all the blood that was on the ring. Karina felt something on her and jumped when she looked down to see that she was dressed in loose-fitting linen clothes. "You had better put it on. It would be a shame to lose such a hard-won item."

  "Can you help me out of the desert?" asked Karina as she slipped the ring on a finger.

  "Where would you like to go?" asked Ashtar.

  "I would like to go to Woodhall to give the ring to Erobs, but that would leave Lorilei and Phartom alone," said Karina. "I guess it would be best to catch up with them and make sure Phartom gets to the ritual. Besides, all my gear is with them."

  Ashtar laughed and waved a hand. The entire landscape changed around Karina to be an oasis with a large tent pitched in the shade of the palm trees. The tent floor was covered with rugs and pillows. All sorts of food and drink were placed on low tables inside.

  "I wish for you to abide here," said Ashtar. "I have something I must do before you rejoin your friends."

  Karina went inside the tent. After eating and drinking, she laid down on a rug to rest. A great weariness came over her and she fell asleep. She dreamed she was standing behind Ashtar, who was now human size and in front of Sultan Bashir's palace. Ashtar was only wearing the strands of jewelry and bikini panties. Golden bell bracelets adorned her ankles and wrists. Four guards stood in her way with anger and disgust on their faces.

  "I decided to meddle in your dreams because you deserve to see this," heard Karina. She knew the message came from Ashtar, even though the woman in her dream did not speak.

  " Blasphemy!" shouted one of the guards. "How dare you show yourself with such indecency!"

  "Indecent?" snorted Ashtar to the guards. "I can read your thoughts. A lowly whore is more pure than you. Begone!" Ashtar waved her hands and all four guards flew backwards through the air before crashing hard into the wall behind them. "I waste no time with you!"

  Ashtar strode purposefully down the hallway with Karina's dream following behind her. Several other guards tried to stop her, but were batted aside to the left and right by invisible forces that smashed them up against the walls. As she approached the throne room doors, the servant who had admitted Karina into the room when she had arrived there came out of an antechamber to see what the noise was about.

  When he caught sight of Ashtar coming towards him, his face went chalk white. Trembling, he clutched at his chest and fell to his knees. His turban flew off his head as he hastily prostrated himself on the floor before her.

  "Finally, someone who recognizes me," muttered Ashtar ominously. "I am not pleased with my reception so far."

  "Great Mother, they could not know," stammered the servant in fright.

  "Could not know?" asked Ashtar. "Stay as you are, worm, and do not move until I tell you to."

  "Yes, Great Mother."

  "Great Mother?" asked Karina of the term in her dream.

  "I am the Goddess of unwed maidens, pregnant women, and general fertility throughout the land. He speaks of but one aspect of my being. Come."

  Ashtar stood in front of the doors, which opened slowly by themselves. She then strode into the room. Sultan Bashir was there crying over Ahmed's body, which had been laid out on a bier in front of the throne. Karina could hear women crying from a room off to one side. Sultan Bashir looked up as Ashtar walked forward.

  "Divine One, you have heard my prayers," cried out Sultan Bashir. "A thief came here to steal your ring and when we chastised her, she cut off my fingers with a hidden weapon and stole it." He held up his hand and Karina was surprised to see that his fingers had been reattached and healed, except for his ring finger. "She killed Ahmed, the fruit of my loins and part of your divine will. You must help me recover the ring and wreak vengeance on the thief."

  "I must, must I?" asked Ashtar with a sneer. "Your guards did not recognize me. I wonder why? This false sniveling and sobbing is grating on my nerves. Tell the women to be silent."

  Sultan Bashir rushed over to the side room and yelled at the women to stop their crying. The lamentations ceased immediately. The sultan then moved slowly with some trepidation back to his throne. It was just then that Hassan walked into the chamber. He was reading a book, but looked up suddenly when he realized that there was another person in the room. He looked Ashtar up and down critically.

  "No, father, this one won't do at all," said Hassan. "The teat size is right, but she's not a Northerner. She is obviously one of our own, but defective because of her shape."

  "Defective?" exclaimed Ashtar, insulted and outrage.

  "Hassan, shut up!" shouted Sultan Bashir, his eyes bugging out and spittle flying from his mouth. Hassan looked at his father in astonishment. "Leave at once!"

  "Why, father?" asked Hassan. "She is a female and of no importance."

  "And if I came with the will of Ashtar?" asked Ashtar softly. Sultan Bashir blanched in fright at her words. A quick gesture from Ashtar seemed to pin him back onto his throne.

  "My father is the favored of Ashtar," said Hassan contemptuously. "What you say is heresy. How can you, a woman, know the will of Ashtar?"

  "Because I am her," said Ashtar ominously.

  Hassan looked to his father for confirmation. Sultan Bashir, white-faced and pinned to his throne, nodded. Hassan's face looked troubled for a second and then he bowed his head in thought. Ashtar watched him in amusement as he paced back and forth.

  "The fact that you are here must be because my father has had your ring stolen," said Hassan. "You are upset over its loss since that would reflect badly upon your image."

  "Ah, logic," mused Ashtar.

  "Yes, logic," replied Hassan absentmindedly. "You have not rushed out to apprehend the thief, which indicated you already have her and the ring. Logic dictates that your presence here is to restore the life to our brother, Ahmed, and return the ring to its rightful owner. Do so immediately."

  "Where is your respect and reverence?" asked Ashtar. "Have not my priests and priestesses taught you anything?"

  "Since my father speaks for you, there was no need for them anymore," replied Hassan.

  "Where are they?" asked Ashtar.

  "Most would not subject themselves to your will," said Hassan. "They defied my father and had to be killed. I believe there was a novice who was taken into our family."

  "Summon her. Wait! Summon all of your family," ordered Ashtar. Hassan looked over to his father, who could only sit open-mouthed on his throne. "You look to your father when a goddess has given you an order?"

  "You are a goddess, but also a female. The fact that you gave your ring to my father proves that a male is superior to any female. A male god would be your better."

  "I gave my ring to an idealistic boy who wanted only the good of his people," said Ashtar. "I guess absolute power does corrupt absolutely. Summon your family and we shall put your logic to the test."

  Hassan left, but soon returned. Woman, heavily cowled, crept into the throne room and stayed close to the walls. Hassan's brothers walked in and stood defiantly in front of the throne. The young brother who had been cut down by Karina was brought in on a litter.

  "Hassan has told us that you are the Goddess Ashtar," said the eldest brother. "What have you done to our father?"

  "He knows who I am and is still of a mind to
run," stated Ashtar. "I wish for him to remain. Where is the novice? The one who used to be in my temple?"

  A cloaked figure hesitantly stepped forward from the wall. Ashtar signaled her to come forward, which she did under the glaring eyes of Sultan Bashir's sons. The figure stood trembling in front of Ashtar, who waved a hand to make her heavy cloth fly off her.

  "Blasphemy!" cried of several of the sons.

  "I guess now would be the time to call on a male god to chastise me," said Ashtar to the sons before turning back to the girl.

  The novice appeared to be about twenty years old with dark hair and eyes, and dressed in a halter-top and matching shorts. She was obviously pregnant from the size of her swollen belly. That she had been ill-used was evident from the bruises and scars visible on her body.

  "Tell me, little mother, whose child do you carry?" asked Ashtar gently.

  "I do not know, Great Mother," stammered the girl in fright. "There were too many to keep track of."

  "Any luck, Hassan?" asked Ashtar. Hassan had been mumbling prayers under his breath. "How about if I give it a try? Anu!"

  A huge golden beam of light stabbed into the room onto the throne. Sultan Bashir was thrown off the throne to sprawl out full on the floor. A large muscular man with golden skin and a white nimbus surrounding him now sat on the throne.

  "How do you expect me to get anything done with everyone yelling for me, Ashtar?" asked Anu in a deep penetrating voice.

  "Your pardon, but I have a human here who needs to speak to you about me," said Ashtar, indicating Hassan.

  Anu's eyebrows rose. "Speak, my time is short."

  "My Lord Anu, Ashtar is a goddess, but also a female," said Hassan. "She gave my father her ring to do her will among our people since she knew that only a male could do so. The ring was stolen by a thief. Ashtar returned here and heaped scorn upon the males of our household. She also uncovered a female, the property of our family. We respectfully request that you take her to task for the things she has done."

  Anu looked at Ashtar, who looked back at him. Karina dreamt that they were communicating, but at levels beyond her comprehension. Anu looked away to stare at Hassan. "Let us see what had happened to the thief."

  Anu raised his hand in front of him and a sheet of multi-colored light sprang forth. Karina saw herself portrayed on the sheet going down the gangplank of the sloop. The image moved on to her meeting Sultan Bashir, being staked out in the courtyard, and her anal rape by his sons. Anu dissolved the sheet of light with a wave of his hands.

  "She came to request the ring and you subjected her to that," said Anu in disgust. "If I had my way, I would bring her here in her armor and with her weapons, but that is not my decision to make." Anu stood up as if to leave.

  "Wait!" shouted Hassan. "You would take her side against that of a man?"

  "Your logic is flawed," said Anu. "Males are not superior to females just because they are males. Your father misused his position and authority to consolidate his power."

  "No, that can not be! I have proven the superiority of males over females!" yelled Hassan.

  "I have seen how you proved it," said Anu with distain. "It is not superiority to use superior numbers, pain, humiliation, threats, or blackmail to subjugate a particular person or group. I tire of this. His mind is closed. What do you wish of me, Ashtar?"

  "Can you heal the wounded one and breathe life back into the other?"

  "You could do that yourself," said Anu. "Are you sure for this to be done? I do not feel this family is worth the effort."

  "Yes," replied Ashtar. She turned to look at Hassan. "You see? Anu could have commanded me, but instead he asks me. He treats me as an equal, even though he is a male."

  Hassan fell to his knees shaking in shock. Anu walked down off the throne and placed his hand on the wounded son. The son's breathing eased and the look of pain faded from his face. Anu then went to Ahmed. He held up his hand and a small, almost minuscule, prick of light appeared in his palm. He turned his hand over and the light floated down gently to land on Ahmed. Ahmed inhaled sharply and opened his eyes. He immediately clutched his groin and groaned in pain.

  "He'll die again if he is not healed," said Anu.

  "I'll take care of that," said Ashtar as her eyes became bright orange.

  "Ah, I see now," said Anu in understanding. "I will leave you to your instruction of these humans."

  Anu disappeared in a flash of light. Ashtar strode over to Ahmed and easily pulled his arms free of his genitals. Everyone shouted and moved backwards in fear as twin beams of orange light shot from her eyes to Ahmed's loins. A rank smell of burning flesh filled the air. Ahmed screamed and then passed out.

  "A perfect job of cauterization if I say so myself," muttered Ashtar to herself. She looked at the pregnant novice. "There should be a man prostrate in the foyer. If he is still there, bring him here."

  The novice bowed and went out the doors. She quickly returned with the servant in tow.

  "I see you can follow my instructions," said Ashtar to him. "Are you married?" The servant nodded. "You will be the sultan and your wife the sultana. You two will rule together. Any disagreements between you and your wife, which can not be settled, will be brought before my priestess here. She will make the final decision. You, priestess, will go and reopen my temple."

  "No! You can't do this! We are the favored ones!" shouted out Bashir's sons all at once to her announcement.

  The twin beams of orange energy lanced out from Ashtar's eyes, striking one son after another. Screams, curses, and the smell of burnt flesh filled the air. Ashtar stalked one man down after the other, frying their genitals with her eyes. Several of Bashir's sons had tried to escape, but found their way blocked by the cloth curtains that had turned as hard as iron. In a terrible finale, Ashtar burned the cocks off the last three sons as they pleaded with her for mercy. She walked over to Bashir, still pinned to the floor, released his restraints, and kicked him over onto his back.

  "Your sons were disrespectful and ill-mannered," said Ashtar as she stood over the trembling Bashir. "Your line will not continue past them. I gave you the power to rule and you misused it." Bashir covered his groin with his hands. "Do not worry. I do not intend to do anything to your precious manhood. As a matter of fact, since you like your pleasure so much."

  Ashtar held out her hand. Smoke billowed up from the floor and the dissipated to reveal three absolutely stunning women. One had flaming red hair, another whitish-blond, and the third had coal-black hair. Their hourglass, voluptuous bodies were almost unnatural in the sensual, seductive shapes. Their beautiful faces were only marred by their look of uncontrollable lust.

  "These are Hoori," explained Ashtar to Bashir. "I think the room at the top of the Great Tower would be perfect for the four of you to get acquainted. Enjoy the pleasure, Bashir. It will be never-ending until the day you die. Take him to the room."

  The Hoori sprang forward and quickly dragged Bashir out of the throne room. He struggled ineffectually against them, screaming and shouting until his voice disappeared from hearing. Ashtar turned to face the servant.

  "What is your name?" she asked him.

  "Abdul, Great Mother."

  "Bashir is to be locked into that room with the Hoori. You will provide meals and anything else they need. Bashir will go insane after awhile. The Hoori will keep him alive and on the day he dies, they will disappear. Do not attempt to entice the Hoori away from Bashir or you will suffer his fate."

  "Great Mother, what of my baby?" asked the novice. "It is of Bashir's line."

  "Since there was no marriage, your daughter is of your line alone," said Ashtar. "If your baby was a male, I would have torn it from your womb."

  "Great Mother, I will watch over the women of Bashir's house," said Abdul. "My wife and I will treat them well."

  "Be sure that you do," warned Ashtar. She then projected a thought to Karina. "Karina, it is time for us to part. Wake and continue your journey."

  Ch
apter 15: Exploring A New Body

  Karina woke up and was surprised by the coolness of the air. She sat up quickly to find herself under an oak tree. Sleeping on the ground close by was Lorilei and Phartom. All of their gear was carefully piled up nearby. Karina stood up and saw a city about two miles away. With a shock, she realized that the city was Woodhall.

  "Greeting, milady, I've been waiting for you."

  Karina spun around to find a matronly woman in brown robes standing behind her. "Who are you?" she asked.

  "I have been sent by one who does not wish the Ring of Ashtar to, well, let's just say fall into the wrong hands," said the woman.

  Karina was still a little disoriented by being transported thousands of miles from Al-Haminin to Woodhall. Lorilei and Phartom both sighed and started to wake up. The only thing Karina could think on was that since they were there with her, it had to be Ashtar's doing. She shook her head to get her thoughts straightened out.

  "I'm sorry," apologized Karina, stalling for time. "I'm a little out of it. I was a long way from here just minutes ago."

  "That's quite alright," said the woman, not moving from her position. "Check on your friends. I'm in no hurry."

  "Lorilei! Phartom! Wake up!" said Karina gently, but insistently.

  "Huh? What?" exclaimed Lorilei as she awoke. She then recognized who was standing over her. "Karina, how did you get here? Er, and where is here?"

  "We're a couple of miles outside Woodhall," said Karina, indicating the city in the distance. "The Goddess Ashtar must have transported us here and we have company."

  Lorilei and Phartom sprang to their feet. Lorilei was dressed only in her nightshift, while Phartom was not wearing anything at all. Karina was a little surprised to see that Phartom could maintain her disguise even while asleep.

  "If Ashtar transported us here, how did you get here?" asked Phartom of the woman, without even trying to cover her nakedness.

  "I knew you were going to have to see Erobs," replied the woman. "A little divination gave me this time and place."