Red Sonja: The 13th Sign of the Zodiac Part Ten -Sagitarius By DeannaTroi This is a work of fiction. It contains adult material of a sexual nature and should not be read by anyone under the age of18. All characters depicted in sexual situations are 18 or older. Red Sonja does not belong to me especially since I could never defeat her in battle. I think Marvel is under the mistaken impression they own her. All other characters in this story are my own creation and please feel free to make use of them in your own stories. You can send all feedback to: troi@hotmail.com [Author's Note: Plotting this chapter gave me some problems. I ended up doing a few odd things that I hope worked.] Red Sonja had never given much thought, in fact none, to what it would be like to be a spring of water, but she decided it was rather pleasant and refreshing. It was also very confusing. She had come through the portal and found herself bubbling gently out of the ground, rolling over some moss covered rocks into a small pool and slowly draining away through cracks in the rock. She considered the possibility that she was drunk, but other than that one sip of the weak crap Zeus and Poseidon had been drinking, she hadn't had any alcohol in longer than she wanted to remember. Sonja recalled that time in Quirm when she had stumbled into a dark room where men sat around smoking something in long pipes and had hurriedly left when she noticed herself growing a third boob, but this experience was nothing like that. "Who are you?" asked a soft female voice. Sonja tried to look around for the source of the voice and felt herself going cross eyed despite apparently not having any eyes. She couldn't see anyone which was hardly surprising considering the aforementioned lack of eyes, though some new sense was feeding her information about her surroundings. "Er, my name is Red Sonja," she finally ventured, though to anyone nearby, it came out only as a gentle tinkling of water on rock. "Who are you and where am I, or you for that matter?" There was a pause as if the other person was considering this and thinking. Finally, the voice spoke again. "I am Philyra, the nymph of this spring. I do not understand, but somehow you are here in the water with me. How is this possible Red Sonja?" "You got me," admitted Sonja. "I am travelling through worlds on a quest. Every time I enter one of the Zodiac realms, I end up in some kind of a vision. I think they are supposed to teach me something, but I am damned if I know what." "That is passing strange," replied Philyra and Sonja realized they were conversing with thoughts rather than voices, though their thoughts caused subtle changes in the noise of the flowing water. "I know nothing of this Zodiac or of visions. I merely provide water to the tired and thirsty humans and animals who come this way." Sonja shrugged and bubbles rose to the surface of the spring and popped. "I have no control over these visions as I call them. I can only wait it seems and see what happens." "Well, maybe this is part of your vision," replied Philyra as they both saw a large black stallion coming up the hill towards them. "Damn, I have a bad feeling about this," muttered Sonja as she eyed the horse suspiciously. The horse pranced up to the edge of the pool and bent its head to take a drink which caused a tickling sensation in Sonja's mind. When the beast had drunk its fill, it stepped back a pace and regarded the spring for a moment before speaking. "Fair Philyra, I am Cronus, King of the gods and I call you forth in thy human form to present yourself to your rightful lord." There was a moment of hesitation and then the air around the spring shimmered and the form of a nude, blonde girl appeared beside the pool. Her long hair was plaited in two long braids while there was only a neatly trimmed patch of fine blonde hair between her legs. She had large, round breasts that easily matched Sonja's own impressive orbs when she was in her own body. The warrior woman found herself still sharing the mind of the nymph in her human body, though oddly enough it felt like part of her was still residing in the spring. "What is the wish of my lord?" asked Philyra with downcast eyes. "I don't think he has come to play cards," muttered Sonja. "I was feeling restless," replied Cronus, "so I decided to seek out the company of one as fair as you." "In other words, he is horny," commented Sonja in her mental voice that only Philyra could hear. "I, I am not worthy my lord," protested Philyra with a note of alarm creeping into her voice and causing her to stutter. "You appear very worthy to me," replied Cronus and did a remarkably good job of leering considering his equine form as he looked over the nymph's naked body. "I, I dont know what to say my lord," replied the flustered Philyra. "Words are not required, only your obedience," replied Cronus. "Now bend over that rock by the pool and spread those pretty legs of yours." Well, if there was any doubt about him being a god, his arrogant attitude has clearly dispelled that, thought Sonja. "As, as you command my lord," replied Philyra, "but surely you would be more comfortable in a human form?" The panic was clearly rising in the nymphs voice. "No, I am quite content with this form," replied Cronus. "Its large endowment is quite pleasurable." "For him anyway," thought Sonja as she saw a huge, grayish cock start to protrude from under the horse. "I will also wager, the bastard is trying to hide his debauchery from his wife." Philyra hesitated, now trembling visibly at the prospect in front of her. "Get a move on girl," snapped Cronus as he nuzzled the nymph towards the rock. Philyra nodded and blinked back tears. "Can't you tell this asshole to go jump off a cliff or something?" Sonja asked the nymph. "He is the King of the gods and as a lowly nymph, I must obey his commands," replied Philyra. "I thought Zeus was the King of the gods around here," said Sonja with a frown. "Oh no," responded Philyra. "Zeus is the youngest of the children of Cronus. I have heard that he devoured all of his children, so the prophecy that one of them will one day replace him as King of the gods cannot come to pass." Sonja gave her disembodied head a shake. She had no clue how someone could swallow their own children. She could only hope it wasn't the gruesome method that had briefly played across her thoughts. "Well if you can't refuse his orders then don't panic." I will help you get through this. Unfortunately, I have had some recent experience with this kind of thing." "Oh thank you Red Sonja," gasped Philyra as she shakily moved over to the rock and leaned down, pressing her hands flat on the surface and spreading her legs apart in tacit acceptance of what was to happen. The horse followed the nymph quickly and then reared up, planting its large hooves on the rock on either side of the frightened girl's head. Its large cock rubbed over Philyra's lower back and ass as it tried to position itself to enter her. "Use your hands girl and guide my member to your hole," ordered Cronus briskly. Philyra gulped and then with Sonja's mental voice soothing her fears, reached back and grasped the huge pulsating horse cock in one small hand and positioned it at her opening. "I thought you would soon get into this," snickered Cronus and then he thrust forward and impaled Philyra, shoving a full eight inches into her at one go. Philyra gasped in pain as she was penetrated and stretched wide. "It's ok," Sonja tried to reassure her through her own shared pain. "Just try and relax. As hard as it is to believe, it will soon feel much better. Don't think about the nature of the cock, just pretend it is a human male inside of you. It is a lot less stressful that way. Trust me, I have been through this a few times. "If, if you say so Red Sonja," gasped Philyra. "But how is it that you have so much experience with this unnatural form of mating?" Sonja sighed. "My lover Killia is the avatar for Clitoria, the goddess of whores and well sometimes I have sort of filled in for her on occaision, like when she needs a holiday." "You are a lover of women then as well as a whore?" ventured Philyra who forgot for a moment about what was happening to her, though she gasped again when Cronus drove several more inches into her, forcing his way into her womb. "Well, I am also the best swordswoman in the world," replied Sonja who also now grunted as Cronus began to thrust in and out of them at a steadily increasing pace. "I just don't seem to have my sword in this vision or I would give this fucker a lesson he wouldn't soon forget." Philyra actually tittered at this. "I dont think Lord Cronus or any of the gods have ever beentaught how to behave," moaned Philyra as despite her humiliation she felt her body begin to respond to the pounding she was getting. "Pity," gasped Sonja who shared in the pleasure building up in Philyra's body. She could feel the horse's hot breath on the back of her head as the beast thrust in and out. "I, I am cumming Red Sonja," gasped Philyra and Sonja could only nod her virtual head in agreement as she felt herself squirting juices all over the horse cock inside her pussy. That was enough to trigger Cronus to cum as well and a huge seemingly endless stream of warm horse cum blasted into Philyra and Sonja. "Oh fuck, I needed that," cried Cronus as he slowly pulled his cock from Philyra and when it finally slipped out of her with a wet slurping sound, he continued to cum and the warm goo fell in a warm rain on the nymph's back and ass. ""I am certain you shall bear me a child from this night's activity." "A, a child?" wailed a once more terrified Philyra. "Yes, a most interesting child," confirmed Cronus and then he frowned. "Now that I have slaked my desire, I sense something strange here. There seems to be two minds in your body. I command the other inside you to speak and answer me." "I am Red Sonja," replied Sonja, suddenly finding herself able to speak through Philyra's body. "Ah, perhaps I have heard of you," mused Cronus. "It is hard to keep your mortal concept of linear time in mind when dealing with humans. Perhaps it would be best if I killed you now so you can not interfere in my affairs in the future, but the constraints of this vision restrain even the King of the gods." "I don't think you will retain that lofty crown forever," countered Sonja as she stood now facing the horse with its cum gushing from her pussy and dribbling down her legs. Remembering some scraps she had picked up on her quest, she decided to try and stick a pin in this over inflated bastard. "Just as you deposed your father Uranus, so it will happen to you." "I have taken steps to see it won't," returned Cronus. "Yet, even if that does come to pass, I have taken steps to redress that possibility." Unable to help herself, Sonja had to ask. "Philyra said you devoured your children including Zeus to prevent them from threatening your reighn. How is such a thing possible?" Cronus laughed. "Rest assured, it was not with a knife and fork, though there are some I know who would do such a deed. Mortals often confuse me with that smug asshole Chronos, who fancies himself the embodiement of time itself. Because of that, I am granted a measure of control over time. When each of my children were born, I placed them into a temporal stasis. In that state, they can present no threat to me." Sonja very much wanted to tel this moron that something was going to go wrong with his plan and that Zeus would have the last laugh, but better to let him find out about it in a hopefully painful way. "What about Serpentarius? How does he fit into all of this?" she asked instead. "Serpentarius?" laughed Cronus again. "That simpleton? He is but a pawn, though he knows it not. Now, I am tired of your foollish mortal questions. Return to inside the nymph and you can give what comfort you can to her as she gives birth to my son." Sonja opened her mouth to reply, but found she was unable to as she once more settled into the back of Philyra's mind. The girl's mind was racing a million miles an hour as it contemplated the coming birth of the child conceived this day. * * * Push!" cried a voice in Sonja's ear. "I am!" sobbed Philyra and Sonja realized she had been skipped forward in time, still trapped in the mind of the nymph and apparently about to give birth. Not again, she almost wailed remembering her front row seat for the two eggs and the two sets of twins in the Gemini vision. [Author's Note: See Red Sonja: The 13th Sign of the Zodiac Part 4: Gemini for details.] Due to her pregnancy, Sonja gathered from Philyra's mind, the girl had been unable to fully return to her spring form and had been forced to seek shelter in one of the neighboring villages. "I see a head!" shouted the midwife who was crouched between Philyra's legs. "Push again Philyra, it is almost over." Philyra grunted and then she and Sonja both felt another tremendous stab of pain. "Here it comes," cried the midwife and then the tremendous pressure was gone and Sonja breathed a sigh of relief along with the nymph then waited for the first cry of the newborn babe, but all she heard was a startled gasp from the midwife. "What is it?" panted Philyra. "Is it ok?" "I, I don't know," stammered the midwife and then her long years of experience reasserted themself and there was the sound of a gentle slap that was followed by the wail of the infant. "Is it a boy or a girl?" demanded Philyra. "I, I am not sure," replied the midwife as she cleaned off the baby with a cloth. "What? How can you not know?" asked Philyra. "I have delivered hundreds of babies," responded the midwife slowly, "but never one like this. Who did you say was the father?" "What are you babbling about?" cried Philyra. "Please, let me see my baby." There was obvious reluctance on the part of the midwife as she handed the bundled child to its mother. Philyra took the baby in her arms and began to examine it. A moment later she started to scream. * * * "You must think I am a terrible person and mother," said Philyra. "You had a tremendous shock," replied Sonja who found herself in an unfamiliar position of trying to give comfort to another person. Her experience on battlefields and sacking cities hadn't prepared her for the role very well. They had jumped forward in time and they were now back in the spring, or more accurately, Sonja was back in the spring. As for the nymph, there was now a young linden tree growing next to the spring and that was where Philyra now resided. "It was seeing the hooves that got to me," said Philyra and her branches moved as she gave out a sigh. "That's totally understandable," soothed Sonja. "It isn't everyday you give birth to a centaur." "I just couldn't stay in the village," went on Philyra. "The way the people looked at me with such disgust. I could hear them whispering, speculating on what I had done. They were all talking about me and how I had sex with a horse as they knew I must have to produce such a child. It was so humiliating and even worse was the curiosity I saw in some eyes. They wanted to ask me what it was like to be mounted by a beast." I had to get away from there, from their pity and their laughter." "I can understand that," replied Sonja. "I'm not so sure about the treething though." "It seemed like a good idea," responded Philyra. "There are all kinds of nymphs you know. I was a sea nymph which meant I got a nice little spring of my own. The male nymphs getsstreams and rivers which get to travel which doesn't seem fair. I felt I needed a change after what happened and trees are pretty common for nymphs." "And how do you feel about your son now?" asked Sonja as she gazed down the hill where the young centaur galloped on the green grass. "Better," replied Philyra after a few moments of thought. "It isn't his fault for what Cronus did to me. I just find it hard though to truly love him as a mother should." "This whole being a tree thing has its drawbacks," said Sonja thoughtfully as she looked at the centaur. "With no mouth, it's hard to tell him not to talk to strangers." This comment was prompted by the fact that there was a handsome, young blonde man currently talking to the young centaur. "Oh, Chiron should be ok," replied Philyra as she too looked at the pair. "That is Apollo. He is one of the better gods and well known for his knowledge and kindness." "So that means he doesn't rape as many women as the others?" asked Sonja suspiciously. * * * "Ah, you must be Red Sonja! My mother has told me about you," said a cultured sounding male voice. Sonja blinked in the bright sunshine and looked around. She then looked and saw she was in her own body again, complete with her turquoise blue bikini armour. Looking up, she saw an adult centaur smiling patiently at her while she got things sorted out. "Chiron?" she asked. "At your service," confirmed the centaur. "I seem to have time jumped again, but at least I have my own body back," said Sonja and stretched her arms over her head, almost popping her breasts out of her top. "Being a spring was a novel experience, but not something I ever want to do permanently." "I can well imagine that to be true," agreed Chiron. "You mentioned your mother," said Sonja. "Does that mean the two of you have talked? The last thing I remember was her being a tree and watching you talk to Apollo. How did that work out?" "Mother is stil a tree," replied Chiron sadly, "but we talk now and then I try not to blame her for her reaction to my birth and appearance though that is still hard some days even after all these years. It helped that Apollo more or less adopted me and taught me many things about herbs and medicine. He and his sister Artemis taught me how to play the lyre and how to shoot a bow.". It sounds like things have worked out fairly well for you then," said Sonja. "I am glad since I sort of feel like your foster mom since I was kind of there for your conception and birth. I didn't think I had a motherly bone in my body to be honest." "Mother did say you were a great help to her," agreed Chiron. "I don't suppose you know what is going on now?" asked Sonja. "I mean, why am I back in my own body and yet this vision thing is still going on." Chiron sighed. "I am afraid I do have some ideas on that subject. Lord Apollo has also taught me something of prophecy. At this moment, an old acquaintance of yours, Heracles is visiting his friend and mine Pholus in his cave on the mountain." "Heracles?" broke in Sonja. "Do you mean that over muscled oaf Hercules?" "The very same," agreed Chiron. "Different people have given him different names over the centuries." Sonja snorted. "I bet that strokes his ego which for him is almost as good as getting something else stroked. So, what is up with him?" "I am afraid he is about to be attacked by a group of centaurs," responded Chiron looking worried. "I don't understand," replied Sonja. "You are a centaur, so why would your people attack Hercules? He is a big boy and can take care of himself and why warn me about an attack by your own people?" "Ah, but they are not my people as you put it," replied Chiron, "as you can surely see from my appearance." "Er,not so much," replied Sonja studying the being with the head and torso of a man and the body of a horse. Chiron looked down at himself and gave a crooked smile. "Ah, my apologies." He seemed to concentrate and his front legs turned from those of a horse into human looking legs, though the rest of his horse body and rear legs remained unchanged. "This is my natural appearance, but frankly running with two human legs and two horse legs is a real bitch. One of the gifts of my birth is to be able to shift my appearance this much." "The other centaurs can't I take it?" asked Sonja. "No, it is only something Pholus and I can do," agreed Chiron. "Our parentage is quite different from those of the other centaurs who are descended from Centaurius, whose father was Ixian and he the son of Aries." "Aries? I know that asshole," replied Sonja, "so I can readily believe ill of anyone descended from him. I have never heard of Ixian though." "That is a bit of a long story," answered Chiron. "The short version is he was invited to dinner with Zeus and started making eyes at Hera. To test him, Zeus turned a cloud into a duplicate of Hera that Ixian promptly bedded and from that union came Centaurius and all the common centaurs." "Not a nice bunch huh?" asked Sonja. "They are wild and lusty creatures," confirmed Chiron. "They are only interested in drinking and carousing." "And just how does that differ from most males?" asked Sonja who then waved away her question. "Forget it, that was rhetorical and there was a time in the not too distant past when I didn't know what that meant. This Ixian though, what happened to him?" "He is currently tied to a flaming wheel in Tartarus," answered Chiron. "Lord Zeus is rather fond of his creative ways to punish those who displease him." "Zeus makes a lot of enemies at any rate," replied Sonja. "I wonder if that isn't part of the current problem" "That could very well be the case," agreed Chiron, "which brings me back to the upcoming attack on Hercules who is a favourite of Lord Zeus." "Hercules is anoaf, but he can takecare of himself," replied Sonja. "Even hismuscles have muscles." "Normally I would agree," answered Chiron with a worried look. "The problem is that someone seems to have imported many more centaurs from far and wide. There should not be so many and there are more than even Hercules can withstand. He is not fated to die this day, but someone is attempting to change fate." "Well then, maybe I will have to give him a hand," replied Sonja and her hand went to the hilt of her sword. "That, I am afraid you cannot do," said Chiron. "I doubt not your prowess with your blade, but there are other factors that must be considered. The wild centaurs are led by Nessus. I am not allowed to reveal everything, but Nessus has an important role to play in some future events. If you were to accidently kill him today, it could change the future in ways that none can foresee and which would likely be to the benefit of our enemies." [Author's Note: The attack by the centaurs led by Nessus on Hercules happened at the time of his fourth of twelve labours. At some future date, Nessus is involved in the death of Hercules. Nessus attempts to rape Hercules's wife after carrying her across a river. Hercules shoots him from across the river with one of the arrows with the poison from the Hydra on it. Nessus plays a dying trick by convincing Hercules's wife that his blood will act as a potion to keep Hercules faithful to her. Later, when she is worried about Hercules being unfaithful while away at a celebration, she smears some of the blood of Nessus that she kept on the lion skin cape of Hercules and sends it to him. The poison causes Hercules great pain and he builds himself a huge funeral pyre and throws himself on it. Zeus then brings him up to Mount Olympus to become a demi god and live there.] "Then how am I supposed to help?" asked Sonja with a puzzled frown. "That I do not know,"admitted Chiron. * * * "I must have some wine to go with this meal," declared Hercules as he coughed and clutched at his dry throat theatrically. " "I am afraid that the only wine I have is a special bottle," began Pholus with a worried look, but was interrupted by his guest. "I don't care how special it is," cried Hercules. "I am inmortalneed of wine." "Well, I suppose," said Pholus retrieving the bottle given to him by Dionysus, the god of wine himself. "It is just that this wine is very potent and ..." and again he was interrupted as Hercules siezed the bottle, broke it open and guzzled half the contents in one go. Outside the cave, the scent of the heady wine came to the wild centaurs and they began to move as a pack towards it, stopping to pick up stones and branches to act as clubs on the way. * * * "Yoo hoo, Mr. centaurs, over here," yelled a naked Red Sonja from the top of a rise near the cave mouth. They all paused to stare at the large breasted human who was squeezing her boobs and rubbing her large erect nipples as she swayed back and forth enticeingly. About half of them continued on, drawn by the scent of the wine, while the other half turned and loped after Sonja who ran down the other side of the rise, leading them away from the cave. "I have to be fucking insane," muttered the red haired swordswoman to herself as she led the creatures into a copse of trees and then stopped in the middle of a small clearing. A couple of dozen centaurs galloped into the clearing and surrounded Sonja. She had obviously had the desired effect on them as she could see their large grayish cocks protruding proudly from under their horse bodies. You are going to owe me big time for this Hercules thought Sonja, even if you don't know it. Sonja was also vain enough to be a little proud of her beauty which had swayed so many from a bottle of wine made by the god of wine himself. "Why did you call to us and then run away pretty one?" asked a dark haired centaur who took a step closer to Sonja from the surrounding ring of creatures. "I just wanted a more private location for our business," replied Sonja thrusting out her breasts towards him. And what would that business be?" teased the centaur who couldn't take his eyes off Sonja's large jugs. "Why, fucking my brains out of course," replied Sonja with a bawdy wink. Unless, you prefer to satisfy yourselfs by thrusting your dicks in the holes of some rotting log. "No, your cunt looks much more inviting than any log could ever be," said the spokesman as he took another step forward and was now close enough to reach down and run his hand over Sonja's pussy. "Mmm and you are already wet in anticipation of the joy to come I see." Sonja made herself giggle like some of the air headed princesses she had met in the past. "Well then, let's not stand here talking all night and get down to the fun," replied Sonja. She turned around, gave her soft, round ass a wiggle and leaned against a large tree at the edge of the clearing. "Ready whenever you are,"she said over her shoulder, giggled again and spread herlegs wider apart. The centaur didn't need a second invitation as he moved quickly to stand behind Sonja and then reared up to rest his front hooves on the tree trunk while his cock slid over her back and ass before he managed to point it at her pussy opening. "We normally have to get a human wench drunk or force her to take us," laughed the centaur, "but you are such a slut you came seeking us out. I shall greatly enjoy demolishing your human pussy." With that, he thrust forward and rammed as much of his thick cock into Sonja as he could get in one go. "My name is Crcix girl, I always like the slut I am fucking to know my name. That's good to know thought Sonja, it will make compiling my list of assholes to kill much easier. She opened her mouth to reply something sweeter aloud, but Crucix cut her off by reaching around to grab one of her breasts in each hand and squeeze them roughly. "Don't talk girl. I really don't care what your name is or what you think or feel. All I want from you is to feel your warm pussy wrapped around my cock while I fuck you." Sonja snapped her mouth shut and just tried to let herself relax and go with the centaur's savage thrusting. Centaurs were half man and half horse and there wasn't much doubt as to which species the cock driving into her was from. A few minutes later, if there had been any doubt, this was dispelled when Crucix gave a loud cry and began to pump his massive load of cum into her. There was certainly no human who could produce so much warm spunk as Sonja felt emptying into her. After a while, it filled her up and began to trickle out around the massive cock still filling her up and run down her legs. "My name is Terrox," said the second centaur when he mounted her a few minutes later when Crucix had finally pulled out. "I think you should know I am even bigger than my brother. Human females often don't survive the punishment I can deal out." Ok, add his name to the list thought Sonja as he penetrated her and smashed his cock through her cervix into her womb. Glancing over her shoulder, she saw the rest of the centaurs awaiting their turn with her. Damn, whose bright idea was this plan anyway? Oh right, it was mine and I sometimes think Conan is addlewitted. * * * It was dawn when Sonja crept away from the clearing, leaving all the satiated centars sound asleep. She now had two dozen names on her "to kil" list and a few of them were on it twice. She just needed to figure out a way to kill them a second time. While the centaurs had been fucking her, she thought she had heard the sounds of fighting from up the mountain, but her half equine lovers had been too preoccupied to notice it. Sonja found a stream and despite the chillness of the water, bathed and rinsed all the cum from her hair and body. When she first caught sight of her reflection in the water, she had barely recognized herself as she was so covered in cum. Her normally bright red hair was half white and it had taken seemingly forever to get it clean. She retrieved her sword, armour and cloak from where she had hidden them and then set out in search of Chiron. She had half expected him to find her by now, but perhaps he was just being polite and letting her bathe in privacy. When Sonja drew closer to the cave where Hercules had been visiting his friend, Sonja saw the over muscled man standing over an indistinct form on the ground. He heard her coming and turned to greet her. "Hail Red Sonja. I wish I could say that my heart is gladdened at the sight of your lovlyness once more, but there is no room in it now because of the grievous losses of this night." It was then that Sonja saw that the form on the ground was Chiron and he was writhing in agony. "What the hell did you do?" cried an angry Sonja as she rushed up to kneel beside the centaur. "He would never attack you!" "That much I know," replied Hercules in a surprisingly quiet voice. "I was not aware of his presence and one of my arrows went astray and struck him during the fight. It was a horrible accident and only one of two for in examining one of my arrows, my friend Pholus also poisoned himself. Unlike Pholus, who was mortal, poor Chiron, my great and noble teacher, cannot die, but only suffer in great agony." "Surely there is something you can do to heal thyself," said Sonja, cradling Chiron's head in her lap. "You told me of your ability with herbs and healing and of all that Apollo taught you on that subject." "I have tried," gasped Chiron, "but the venom of the Hydra is beyond even my skill to heal." "We have to do something," cried Sonja looking up at Hercules, refusing the tears that tried to make their most unwarrior like way from her eyes. The large man just shrugged helplessly. "There is one thing," whispered Chiron as a wave of pain washed through his body and he shuddered. "I must give up my immortality and die. Please Hercules, petition your father for me. Ask Lord Zeus to give my immortality to someone worthy. Even now great Prometheus lies on the rocks suffering endless torment. Ask Zeus to free him with the gift of my immortality and then I can die and know peace." Hercules looked like he wanted to refuse this request, but then he nodded and closed his eyes. After a while, he opened them and nodded his head again. "Mighty Zeus has granted my petition. Try and rest and I shall return shortly. I must dispose of the eagle for this to work." With that, Hercules took his bow in hand and then vanished. "Promise me something beautiful one," requested Chiron between moans as they waited for Hercules to accomplish his task and return. "Whatever you want," promised Sonja fiercely. "Please talk to my mother and tell her how much I loved her," said Chiron. "I have always felt her grief and self condemnation for not being able to love me, but I want her to know that I never held that against her." "I promise," replied Sonja and thought it passing strange that she the mightiest swordswoman in the world, the mightiest that had ever been was expected to convey a message of love and forgiveness. "Ah, I believe Hercules has succeeded," gasped Chiron and he smiled. "I taught him archery you know, so that stupid bugger of an eagle never had a chance." With that, Chiron, closed his eyes and was gone. * * * When Hercules returned, he was accompanied by another man. He was taller than Hercules, though not as heavily muscled. His hair was chesnut brown and there seemed to be flecks of red or orange in his intelligent black eyes. "Red Sonja, this is Prometheus," intoned Hercules who glanced down at the unmoving form of Chiron and then looked away. "Prometheus, this is Red Sonja,. She is not bad with a sword for a woman." Anger briefly flared in Sonja as she glared at Hercules. "Not bad with a sword? Who the fuck do you think kept the other half of the centaurs off your back last night?" "With your sword?" asked Hercules with a glint in his eyes. "Fuck you," snarled Sonja and then nodded to Prometheus. "If Chiron thought you were worthy of his life then I will have to trust his judgement." "I will endeavor to live up to his wisdom," replied Prometheus with a bow. "I sense a great battle coming in the near future. Perhaps, I will be able to aid you in that struggle and earn your respect." * * * Sonja left the men to bury the two centaurs and went to Philyra's spring. She had buried more friends than she cared to remember on the battlefield and had long ago decided that the dead were only empty husks and those friends still lived in her heart. As long as she remembered them, they were not truly dead and many a lonely night at a campfire they had kept her company. She sometimes wondered if it was her fate to be the only one left alive of those she knew and loved and if there would be anyone to remember her when she was gone. Damn, it is trying to rain, she grumbled as she wiped moisture from her face and wound her way along the trail to the spring. "Philyra," called Sonja as she stood next to the tree. "Can you hear me?" There was no reply and Sonja tried to consider what to do or say. She remembered then what it was like to be the spring and then wondered if she could use that knowledge to manipulate this vision. She touched the silver necklace Gemini had givenher for strength and then concentrated. The world dissolved around her and once more she felt herself transformed, bubbling and running lightly over the rocks. "Philyra, please listen to me," called Sonja, but still there was no reply from the nymph. While Philyra now dwelt in the tree beside the pool, she was a sea nymph at heart and a small part of her still resided in the water. It was like a thread that Sonja could follow and despite being untutored in the ways of magic, the necessity taught her what to do and she followed that thread until she found herself standing in a totally white room. The walls, the ceiling, the floor were all a perfect white and there curled up on the floor and sobbing was Philyra. The warrior woman quickly knelt beside the nymph and stroked her long blonde hair that was coming undone from its normal tight braids. "Please don't cry Philyra," she whispered. "I came to bring you a message from your son." Philyra looked up at Sonja, tears cascading down her face. "Oh Sonja, he must surely have hated me for my lack of love and neglect." Sonja gathered the blonde nymph into her arms, barely noticing the girl was naked and held her tightly against her own body. "That isn't true Philyra," soothed Sonja. "He wanted you to know he loved you and bore you no malice whatsoever. He wanted you to not grieve and to start living again." "Really?" asked Philyra in a plaintive whisper. "He really said that?" "I swear on my honour as a warrior," insisted Sonja. "Now dry those eyes and give me a smile." Philyra looked deep into Sonja's blue eyes for a moment and then dashed the last tears from her face before giving a tentative smile. "Thank-you Red Sonja. Thank-you." Sonja knelt there feeling awkward in her new role as counsellor, not sure what to do next when she felt Philyra wrap her arms around her and hug her hard, pressing her naked body into her own. After a minute, Philyra loosened her hold and once more looked into Sonja's eyes. "I sense that you must go soon Sonja, and I need to express my thanks before you do." "You already thanked me," protested Sonja and then her words were cut off as Philyra's lips pressed into her own. Not certain if this was an appropriate time or place, Sonja didn't respond at first, but Philyra continued to press herself tighter against her and finally Sonja relented and began to return the kiss. She sensed that this was the catharthic release the nymph required and who was she to deny it? The kiss lasted for some time before Philyra broke it and she sat back a bit, her fingers finding the catch of Sonja's top and releasing it to let Sonja's breasts tumble out and rub lightly against her own soft globes. "So beautiful," mouthed Philyra and then she bent her head and her mouth engulfed one of Sonja's hard nipples and began to suck on it. After a while, she transferred her attention to the other nipple. "Are you sure about this?" asked Sonja softly, trying to stifle a moan of pleasure as the nymph pleasured her breasts with her lips and tongue. "Very certain" gasped Philyra as she removed her mouth from Sonja's boobs and pushed the redhead onto her back on the white floor. She then grasped hold of Sonja's bottoms and slowly pulled them down and off, savouring the sight of Sonja's pussy as it emerged into view, topped by its neatly trimmed red bush. "Well as long as you are certain," whispered Sonja as she spread her legs wide in invitation. Philyra didn't say anything more, but just smiled and lowered her mouth onto Sonja's pussy which neither woman was terribly surprised to find quite wet. Sonja gasped and arched her back when she felt Philyra's tongue slide over her clit a few times before pushing its way into her slit. "Oh fuck, oh fuck, oh fuck," moaned Sonja as she felt the nymph's tongue probe her pussy and then connect with her g spot. She clutched the blonde head tight against her groin and began to grind her pussy into Philyra's face. "Oh goddess, that feels so good!" Philyra broke off her licking and looked up from between Sonja's thighs at the warrior woman. "You do realize that the root of nymphomaniac is nymph don't you?" she asked teasingly and then buried her face in Sonja's cunt again. "I do now!" cried Sonja and just laid back to enjoy the sensations coursing hrough her body. Pleasure built and built until she couldn't hold it back any longer and she exploded in an orgasm, drenching Philyra's face with her juices. "I think we just have enough time for you to return the favour," said Philyra with a giggle as she ran her tongue over her lips to collect more of Sonja's honey. "The damn gods better not interrupt us until I have returned the favour," affirmed Sonja as she moved between Philyra's legs and stuck out her tongue. The gods apparently decided there were just some things even they didn't dare interfere with and the pair was allowed more than enough time for Sonja to finish her carnal work. * * * Sonja looked around as she arrived in the realm of Sagitarius and the vision faded away to both sad and pleasant memories. She was fully dressed again as was always the case when the visions ended, but she was surprised to find herself in a warmly lit cave instead of some grand castle as some of the Zodiac such as Aries and Scorpio favoured. "It suits me better ," said a familiar voice. Sonja spun around to see Chiron smiling gently at her. "Chiron!" she cried in delight. "But you are dead, you gave up your immortality. I was there and met Prometheus." Chiron shrugged. "I gave up the immortality I was born with to Prometheus, but it seems I was granted a new immortality when I was selected for the Zodiac order." "Well,it couldn't happen to a nicer centaur," replied Sonja with a grin. She then sobered a bit and looked Chiron in the eye. "I never expected to be able to tell you this unless we met in the underworld, but I did deliver your message to your mother and she seemed relieved of her burden of grief at receiving it." "Ah, was it only my message that relieved her grief?" asked Chiron with a knowing twinkle in his eyes. Sonja felt herself blushing hotly which she reflected was rather an odd reaction considering everything that she had done recently. Maybe it just proved she was still human? "Perhaps there were other factors involved," she finally admitted aloud. "Well it couldn't happen to a nicer human," replied Chiron and then it was his turn to look sober. "Prometheus was right. There is a battle coming and all must choose sides. I fear my dear father is on the other side and Mount Olympus might be shaken to its foundations before the matter is decided one way or the other. You have already gained me and others as allies and some of our enemies, but not all are known." Sonja nodded. "I think the end is drawing closer now. I must continue on to the remaining realms of the Zodiac to find other allies and discover other enemies." "I think you are right," agreed Chiron. "Good luck to you Red Sonja and we shall meet again before this is done." "More prophecy?" asked Sonja as she touched her necklace to open another portal. "No, just common sense," replied Chiron. Sonja nodded again and started to step through the portal then stopped. "Hey,remember to call your mother. She thinks you are dead you know!" Now it was the centaur's turn to nod and then Sonja was gone. End of Part Ten [Author's Note: Other than Red Sonja's involvement, the above story follows the myth of Chiron and the Sagitarius constellation pretty closely. Most of you have probably heard the story of Prometheus. He was the one who stole fire from the gods and gave it to humans. Zeus punished him for this by chaining him to a rock and having an eagle eat his liver every day. During the night, the liver would grow back and the cycle start over. Again this story follows true to the myth that unable to heal himself from the pain of the Hydra's poison, Chiron gave up his immortality to free Prometheus.]