Disclaimer:

To the uninitiated, I say that this story contains descriptions of adult situations that should not be read by children.

To the initiated, I say that his story may be may be more tame than what you might expect. It does contain bondage and non-consensual sex, but there is no villain, no malevolent force (at least not in this story), only a clash of circumstances that cause these characters to struggle against each other.

In writing this, I have become quite fond of these characters, and may write other adventures that take place in this universe.

Forcing His Hand

by DashRendarOne

Chapter 1 - Attack

They were very beautifull. He had heard as much, but it was another thing entirely to see them for himself. He had to keep reminding himself that they were a pack of dangerous criminals.

Freya: The elf was a redhead. Petite, lithe, and playful. She was obviously a trickster and the thief of the group. She wore a green tunic that hugged her slim form and reached half way down to her knees. She was barefoot. She had a quiver of arrows on her back, a bow in hand, and a dagger strapped to her left calf.

What he knew about elves is that their skin is impenetrable and that they were very quick. The price of that invulnerability and speed is strength. The strongest elves could barely match a man-child in strength.

Chuva: The amazon was a blond. Tall, tone, and statuesque. She was the strongest of them. She wore brown leather armor in two pieces; a scaled leather skirt and a leather shirt, with a generous window for her heaving cleavage. She wore heavy boots, a short sword on her hip and a wooden spear in her hand.

What he knew about amazons is that they are powerful warriors and skilled trackers. They can be very kind, but they are also easily offended to disastrous results.

Safira: The witch was a brunette. Dark and full of curves. She would be the craftiest of them. The witch wore a hooded black cloak that reached to the floor. She held a staff in her hand.

He has heard several rumours about witches but he could never be sure about any of them.

He had all his usual tools and his usual plan, but no plan survives first contact with the enemy; or so they say. ~Are we enemies?~, he asked himself. He has brought in other bounties before, but never women, never three at once, and few as dangerous as these three.

He watched them through his spyglass most of the day. If they split up, he might move in, but they never did. They decided to pitch camp by a lake and by tomorrow afternoon they would likely reach the next elf village. The elder would likely protect them from bounty hunters like himself.

~This is stupid~, he thought to himself. Each of them would be formidable and he was running out of time. He had a little more than an hour of sunshine left. The only thing going for him was the element of surprise, and even that was little comfort.

Even if he managed to incapacitate one of them instantly, the other two would know right away. He has to stay upwind of the amazon, the elf’s night vision is much better than his, and he has no idea what the witch is capable of.

He didn’t see an opening, and he was about to quit, but then he stayed for a different reason entirely.

The witch approached the lake shore. With a flick of her wrist, her cloak fell to the sand at her feet. She wore nothing underneath except an ornate pair of golden sandals. For a moment she was motionless. Her raven hair wafted in the breeze past her shoulders. The light of the setting sun bathing her in a brilliant orange light.

After that moment she stepped out of the sandals and made her way to the lake. She went in as far as her knees, knelt in the water and began to bathe herself. The water cycled lovingly from her hands to her hair, down her neck, over her breasts and back into the pool.

A warning fired in his head. He moved his spyglass to find the other two. The amazon was making a fire, but the elf was gone. All three horses were still tied to a tree near the camp, but he didn’t see her quiver of arrows. She was likely gone into the woods to hunt.

But he could not ignore the tug of paranoia telling him something else was going on. Could they have noticed him? Maybe they caught the glint of his spyglass in the sun. Could they be trying to turn the tables? It makes sense. The witch acts as a distraction, and the elf hunts him down as he peeps. If this was true, then their partial success is frightening. He is aware of the trap, but he didn’t notice the elf slip away. He has no idea which direction she took. Is she heading straight for him? Or would she go around to flank him?

He looked at the witch again. She was still bathing. If she is meant to be a distraction, then she won’t go any deeper in the water. If she is the bait, she would need to remain in full view until the elf signals the all clear. Also, most (if not, all) her enchanted items were in her cloak. She would not go too far from them, in case things went wrong.

This uncertainty is forcing his hand. If he was being hunted by an elf, he had no hope of outrunning her. They have separated to draw him out. He might be able to take advantage of this, but he needs to act, and soon.

Their camp was to the south of the lake. He had been observing them from a tree southeast of the lake. He pulled a signal mirror from his pack, tied some string around it and hung it from a branch. Then he hurried down the tree and proceeded southwest, away from the lake. If they did see his spyglass and the elf was heading for him, she might see the mirror and conclude that what she saw was the mirror and sound the all clear. He could observe this from a new position with the sun at his back. He could keep using the spyglass without the risk of being spotted again.

He reached his new perch without incident. The amazon was busy pitching a large tent. The witch was no longer at the shore. Maybe he was being paranoid. Maybe there was no trap. Or maybe the witch has joined the hunt. No. Her cloak was still on the shore. She probably went for a swim.

Suddenly, he saw movement at the base of his former tree. It was the elf. She had an arrow loaded in her bow.

He had seen the power of elven weapons. These were more than rumours. He had never seen them in combat, but people have shown him thick armour pierced or sliced, with almost no sign of blunt force. To overcome their meager strength, elves had somehow crafted impossible weapons. Arrows that fly for miles. Daggers that split armor. This elf was armed with both and if she didn’t already know he was around, she was about to find out.

He approached her from behind as quietly as he could manage. When he was twenty feet away, she looked up at the mirror. A confused look on her face. He was about to blow a knock out dart, when he suddenly remembered her skin was impenetrable. He immediately threw the blow gun far to her left. When she heard the collision, she turned her body and aimed her bow at the sound. Since she drew the bow with her right hand, as she aimed to her left, she still showed her back to him. He smacked her in the back of the head, as hard has he could, with the only thing he had in his hands.

She gave off a quick sigh and crumpled to the floor. The broken pieces of the spyglass fell all around her. Her arrow went through one tree and buried itself in another. He waited several seconds to hear if her comrades had heard. He knelt by her and removed her quiver of arrows and the dagger from the sheath on her calf. He picked up her bow with his left hand and was about to string it, but he immediately stopped when he felt the bowstring biting into his skin. A line of blood appeared on his index and middle fingers where he touched the bowstring. The cuts were tiny. They would seal before sundown. The elf’s skin is impenetrable, his was not. His carelessness has cost him his spyglass and almost the proper use of his dominant hand with two foes to go.

He carefully put the bow down and returned the dagger to its sheath on the elf’s calf. Then he unfastened the buckles that held the sheath to her calf and fastened it to his own left boot.

He reached into his pack for some rope and tied her hands behind her back. He tied her ankles together. He considered taking the elf, collect her bounty, and leave the other two, but it won’t take long for the others to realize their friend didn't return from the hunt and the amazon can probably track him down before he could get back, especially if he was dragging an unwilling elf. Again, he needs to act and soon.

He searched the elf for hidden weapons. He opened her tunic. He ran his hands over every inch of her body. She wore nothing underneath but a gold necklace with an jewel pendant. She seemed so peaceful. Her open tunic revealing the soft curves of her small form. Rushing rivers of brilliant white with islands of crimson above and below. As powerless as she was, she has cast a spell on him. He ran a hand to her cheek and considered leaning in for a kiss.

He shook himself free of that thought. He was running out of time. He closed the tunic around her. He wanted to use more rope to gag her but he had just enough to tie the others.

He picked up the bow, the arrows, his blowgun and headed for the camp, hoping he can catch the other two before the elf rang the alarm.

He reached the camp with less than half an hour before sundown. The amazon had finished pitching the tent and had begun some sort of battle exercise. She was thrusting and swinging her spear at imaginary attackers. She was not wearing her sword; it was just outside the tent. Her techniques seemed random and unpredictable. Her heavy boots stomped the ground with each movement. She moved in all directions. He would not be able to approach from behind. He stayed in the woods and circled to where the horses were. They would obscure his approach.

He put down his pack and chose his weapons. His blow gun could probably take them both out. He might need two darts to knock out the amazon. If that failed, he would have to go hand to hand. His weapon of choice was a batton. It is a cubit-long wooden staff. A humble enough weapon, but he has become very skilled with it. This one in particular is enchanted. It cannot be broken, and it flexes just enough to direct the maximum amount of pain on impact. The impact translates to the opponent regardless of the thickness of their armor.

Armed and ready, he peeked over the horses to plan his approach against the amazon. He ducked just in time to avoid her spear. It flew just above his head and impaled the tree that held the horses. He could hear heavy and rapid footsteps approaching from the other side of the horses.

He peeked again, but this time he fired a blow dart at the charging amazon. It caught her in the neck. She pulled out the dart and threw it back without even breaking rhythm. As he feared, one dart was not enough.

Knowing better than to stand in her way, the horses bounded to the other side of the tree. She would be on him in 2 seconds. He waited. If she would tackle him, he will dodge. If she punched or kicked, he would counter with the batton. He waited. Knowing that the batton gave him a reach advantage, but realizing this was the tallest woman he had ever encountered. His reach “advantage” was only a few inches. He waited. He was definitely faster than her, but if she got in one good hit, she would flatten him.

She planted her left foot and leaned back slightly. She will kick with her right foot. That much anger, strength and momentum would be devastating, but such a direct attack can be avoided. He took one step to his left. Her boot smashed into the tree behind where he was, shattering the tree bark. With her right foot on the tree and after he moved to his left, she now showed her back. He was “outside” of her (anywhere but in front). And he needed to remain outside until the amazon was down.

Before she could recover her leg, he struck her four times with the staff. Each strike was followed by one step that took him from her right side to her back. The first blow was to her right leg (still on the tree) just below the knee. He immediately followed with another strike to her stomach. He followed that with a chopping blow to the base of her neck. Lastly a flat strike to the base of her skull.

She fell to her left and rolled back to her feet facing him. He would have prefered if she had simply passed out (as all others have), but he took some comfort in knowing he had surprised her.

“You have hurt me, little man.” She said. “Show me how.” She did not seem affected by the dart, but she also briefly rubbed the base of her skull. There was hope.

“Attack me again and I will.” He replied. His plan was the same. She will attack and he will react. If he can stay outside of her and move fast enough then he could still take her down.

His heart sank when she took her spear in one hand and freed it from the tree with one smooth motion of her arm. He tried to imagine the strength it would take to impale a tree with a spear thrown from twenty paces. He tried to imagine the strength it would take to free a spear so thoroughly embedded in a tree; the barbs would no doubt catch on the way back. The fact was he had to imagine her strength because he didn’t see it. She showed no strain, no effort in removing that spear from that tree.

Her reach has just tripled and it also cut his options in half. To stay outside of her, he could go left or right when she attacked and work his way behind her to safety. But after she thrusts the spear, he is trapped on one side of her. His options are to attack head on (NO!) or evade, but now he could only evade in one direction. She is slower, but now he will be more predictable.

He gambled. He circled to his left and pressed his back against the side of one of the horses. She thrust the spear at his head. He was right, she would not kill one of their horses, and that forced her to aim high. He ducked under the spear, and approached her from outside, striking her thigh, right side, forearm and again concluding at the base of her skull.

She staggered forward and leaned on the horse. He was about to strike again when he felt the wind pickup suddenly and severely. He turned around and saw that he was out of time.

The witch was chanting something, blue whisps of smoke swirled around her dripping wet nudity. Her raven hair undulating upward. Her hands thrust out toward him and lightning arched from her fingers. He quickly rolled to his left and avoided the attack. He got to his feet and blew a dart into the witch’s left breast.

She ignored the dart. She brought her hands to her mouth, revealing she was shocked about something.

He remembered the amazon and turned to face her, but she was on the ground, face down. He thought he saw smoke coming up from her. He smiled, the witch just did him a favor.

He turned around again to face the witch. She was on her back in the sand. One dart was enough for her.

Chapter 2 - Humbling

He let out a sigh of relief. He was skilled and very lucky. Now all he has to be is careful. He took a moment to look himself over. He would be sore in the morning from the strain of fighting the amazon and avoiding the witch, but he was not hurt.

He went to his pack and got the rest of his ropes. He walked over to the witch. The only thing holding her down was one sleeping dart. She should be out for at least half an hour, but with a witch, few things were certain. The amazon will likely be out much longer. She had one dart, a beating and a lightning strike holding her down. Even if she woke before the he had secured the witch, she would be in no condition to fight.

He knelt by the witch and tied her like he did the elf, heels together and hands behind her back. He jogged over to her cloak. Used the elf’s dagger to cut a 2 inch thick strip from the bottom of the witch’s cloak. He brought the cloak to the horses and stored the it in one of the saddlebags.

He returned to the witch and used the strip he cut from the cloak to gag her. She had the power to summon lightning without the use of her staff or any of the items in her cloak, but she had to chant an incantation to do it. So the rules are simple: keep her gagged, keep her away for her cloak and staff, and pray that she had no other tricks.

This is the second woman who lay before him, bound and naked. Again he fell under a spell. Now that he was no longer gripped with gut-wrenching fear, he could not help but admire the sight of her nudity. He rested a hand on her hip. He knew what he wanted to do, but there was still the amazon to deal with. He will have to find something for her to wear or the spell of her body might be enough for him to make a stupid mistake.

He jogged to the amazon and tied her wrists behind her back. He was about to use his last rope to tie her ankles, but he feared the amazon was strong enough to tear his ropes. He used his last rope to tie her elbows together. Now she would not have the leverage to break free.

With considerable effort, he heaved her onto his shoulder and carried her close to the campfire. He removed the amazon’s boots and used the boot straps from one boot to bind her ankles together.

“You’re stronger than you look, little man,” the amazon said, startling him.

“I assumed you’d be out until sunup,” he said.

“I am a very strong woman,” she said as she began testing her bonds. “I am not easily bested, or kept.” She strained to break free of his ropes. Her cleavage heaved in the window of her leather armor. After a few moments, she abandoned her struggle. “The goddess favors you.”

“Stay put,” he said. “I have to collect the witch.”

She followed his gaze and said “You overpowered her too? Good. She will not interrupt us. But you must take me before you take her.”

“What?” he asked, genuinely confused.

“Don’t be coy,” she said “You have bested me. I am your prisoner. You must take me. Take me now!”

“That’s not why I’m here,” he said. He rose to collect the witch. Would she wake as soon as the amazon?

“Are you a man?” she mocked. “It must be done. And if you dare take the witch first, you will offend me.” She glared at him, dripping with menace.

“I should have gagged you,” he said over his shoulder. He walked to the witch and carried her back to the campfire. He put her down gently.

Suddenly he lost his footing. The amazon had kicked his shins and he fell to his left side and landed on the amazon. Immediately her legs were wrapped around him. She crossed her ankles on the other side of him and squeezed.

“Aaahhh!” he screamed, pressing his palms against the tree trunks of the amazon’s thighs, trying to escape her grip.

The amazons arms were still secured behind her back, but her legs were free and squeezing the life out of him. Either she broke the boot straps or untied them while he wasn’t looking, either way her legs were free and they were enough to give him hell.

“You have dared to offend me. I should kill you now,” she said with surprising calm, given her efforts. “But your face pleases me, and you seem the type to learn from his mistakes. You shall have another chance.”

With every passing second his struggles diminished. He couldn’t breath and he could not escape.

“Do you regret offending me?” She asked.

In response, he nodded frantically.

“Stop struggling,” she commanded and squeezed a little tighter.

He felt the difference, and abandoned all hope. He knew to stay “outside” in a fight with her. His mistake was assuming the fight was over. Now he was in her grip and he must obey. He stopped struggling.

She immediately eased the pressure, but still held him with her legs. It was almost pleasant.

“Place your hands lovingly upon my breasts, and beg my forgiveness.”, she said.

He was out of ideas. Slowly he placed his hands on the leather mounds of armor that held her breasts and pleaded for his life. “Please … forgive my ignorance. Please. If you spare me, I swear I will release you. Aaahhh!”

She squeezed again. “I accept your apology. But I do not need you to release me. You are here,” she squeezed harder, “to bring me to the goddess.”

He was not sure what that meant, but he would do anything she asked of him.

He considered reaching for the dagger at his boot, but decided it would only make things worse. The amazon’s thighs were so large and muscular, that he couldn’t even see his boots. He would have to reach around her massive leg for a dagger he could not see. He might make it, but even if he did, he did not believe the amazon would back down. Also, he noticed that the amazon’s voice was not strained at all, even after all her efforts to hold him. She was not out of breath. He was powerless and she was using less than half her strength. If he provoked her, he was sure she could crush his ribs and snap his spine.

“Chuva! Safira!” shouted a distant voice.

The amazon rolled her eyes in frustration. “I had hoped we would not be interrupted.”

It was the elf. She was running toward them. She came closer and suddenly stopped. She took a moment, trying to understand what she was seeing. Safira was naked and unconscious, bound and gagged. Chuva’s hands were tied behind her back and she was using her legs to squeeze the life out of a man that lay atop her. The man wore her dagger on his boot. This must be the one who attacked her from behind, tied her up and took her weapons.

The man did his best to look pitiful. He succeeded splendidly.

“Let him go!” The elf shouted. She tried to pry open the amazon’s legs. ”You’re killing him!” Her voice showing deep concern.

The amazon gave a strong squeezed to hurt and distract the man, while she loosed her grip, kicked the elf in the face, and resumed her grip.

The elf fell to the floor. When she stood again the amazon squeezed again.

“Aaahhh!” He prayed for another opportunity.

“Not one more step, or I’ll kill him right now!”, the amazon threatened. “You know that I can.”

The elf stood still.

“Strip off that tunic,” ordered the amazon. The elf obeyed without a word or the slightest hesitation. The tunic fell to the floor. The elf stood before him. A familiar nude. Made more lovely because her eyes were open this time.

“Strip him,” said the amazon. The man renewed his efforts to escape. The amazon squeezed again.

“Stop it!”, the elf pleaded.

“Convince him.” The amazon’s order dripped with menace; a dagger waiting to fall.

The elf knelt before him and brought her hands to his cheeks. “I’m sorry. I am not strong enough to free you. Please, please you have to do as she says.”

He nodded. He let the elf strip his shirt, undo his belt, and lower his trousers to his boots. His member was undecided about the situation.

“Now relieve me of this hateful armo,” said the amazon. The elf obeyed, slowly unclasping the amazon’s armor and revealing her rugged body. They were all naked now.

The tall warrior lay there, her hands tightly bound behind her back. The beats of sweat which were under her armor now pooled on her exposed skin, chilling in the night air. There was nothing soft about her body. Even her breasts were perfectly round and firm, like so much fruit. She seemed as if chiseled from stone. And yet, she was very feminine and desirable.

“Does my body please you, little man?”, the amazon said. Somehow the man knew that this was not a question. He looked to the elf, who nodded uncontrollably.

“Y-yes”, he said. “Very much so.” He tried to sound like a sincere lover.

Both women smiled.

“Then taste of the fruit of your labour,” she said. “Take me as a conqueror. Humble me with your power and bring me before the goddess, bound and on my knees.”

He swallowed hard. There was no getting around his answer, and he was desperate not to offend her further. “I … I can’t,” he said finally.

Suddenly the amazon twisted her hips and tilted herself, and the man in her grip, to lay on their sides.

“Prepare him for me,” the amazon said over her shoulder. The elf crawled to where the amazon and the man met. She laid on her back and gripped the man’s member with one hand. This evening’s ordeal has confused his member. The elf focused him on the task. The elf slipped the fingers of her other hand into the amazon.

“What are you doing?” the amazon asked with alarm.

“I am preparing you for him,” the elf said. She was obviously in a playful mood.

“You bitch! Don’t you dare!“ The amazon struggled to free her arms for the first time since she awoke. “No! Don’t! Stop it!” She tried to ignore the flames the elf was fanning in her. “Get out! I command you! Get out!”

He said nothing. There was nothing for him to say. He understood now that the only way out, was through, and even that was a long shot. His confusion was mounting. Why was the amazon doing this? At first he thought it was her ploy to distract him until they could turn the tables on him. But that didn’t make sense anymore. He was powerless before the amazon and the elf was now free. There was no reason to keep him alive if the elf could untie them both. He was forced to conclude that the amazon was serious in her ritual and that he would have to play his part.

How did the elf free herself? Why does she taunt the amazon? Was she doing it as a favor to him? Why does she show any concern for him? She is no fool. She must know he was the one to attack her in the trees and tied them all up.

He looked at the witch. He had nothing better to do. She was awake. She did not seem pleased with what was happening. She hasn’t made a sound. Her shoulders were making tiny and slow movements up and down. She was trying to undo the knots that held her. Again, time was against him.

The amazon seemed pleased to be bound so long as he played his part. The elf showed him no ill will and seems to be concerned for him. He has nothing to fear from her. But again, he knew nothing about the witch. What would happen to him if the witch managed to chant a single incantation? They were forcing his hand.

The amazon grunted with frustration as the elf continued her sexual assault, but she was nearly powerless. Her hands were still bound and her legs held the man. If she tried to punish the elf, she risked losing the man. The amazon risked it before because it was unexpected, but she would not make that gamble again and the elf knew it.

“I’m ready,” he said. He lightly kicked the elf with his knees. The elf understood his signal and stopped teasing them. She rolled away from them. The man pushed against the ground to right himself. The attached amazon rolled with him. He was now on his knees, the amazon’s butocks resting on his thighs, her legs still wrapped tight around them.

“Thank you,” he said to the elf.

“I am pleased to serve you,” she said with a smile and kissed him in the cheek. It seemed like an unusual response, but he has no time to ponder it now.

“Back off bitch!”, said the amazon. “I will not have you ...”

The man suddenly slapped her across the face. He wrapped his fingers around the amazon’s neck. He began to strangle her and raise her off the ground. In response she tightened her grip on him, but only slightly.

He brought her face close to his. “Be quiet!” He yelled, and he licked the right side of her face. “You are a powerful woman,” he said as he slid one hand to her breasts. “But tonight,” he squeezed one of her breasts. “You shall taste my steel.” He wasn't sure if there was a script to this ritual, but it seemed like the right thing to say.

In response, she bare her teeth and made as if she would bite him. He threw her back to the ground. Her blond hair falling in a halo behind her face. She slacked her grip slightly. It was enough. He grabbed her by the hips and entered her. She feigned a struggle against her bonds. She feigned her disapproval.

He played his part. He pumped into her slow and deep. He assumed she expected a progression.

He stole a look at the witch; still testing her bonds. His plan was unchanged: please the amazon, escape her grip, incapacitate the elf and collect the bounty.

“Mmmmhhhggg.” The amazon moaned under him. Still struggling against her bonds. Occasionally, she would rise and menace him with her teeth. He threw her down again.

He gradually quickened his pace. She closed her eyes and abandoned her biting attacks. Her movements were less a struggle to escape and more the licking flames of her own lust. He stoked her fires. She accepted her fate.

He gradually quickened his pace. The strange reversal occurred. She opened her mouth to let out silent exhales. She closed her mouth and emitted loud, long, wanton moans. “Nnnggghhh. Mmmphfff.” She arched her back higher and higher.

The amazon rocked her head from side to side. He kneaded her breasts; roughly, then tenderly. He continued his rising pace into her nether lips. She curled her toes and abandoned her grip on him. His lungs were free to fill to a capacity he had forgotten. This was a relief.

Then he felt a new pain. Without her grip on him he now had to hold himself up. The muscles in his core had been strained, crushed, deprived of blood, and now they were called upon to please an amazon with a sexual feat of unknown height.

He considered throwing her off him and making his escape. He had no idea how this ritual ends. He had no idea how much longer he needed to go. He had no idea if he could make it that long. He had no idea if the witch was making progress on her knots.

He was about to attempt his escape, but the elf approached him from behind. As if she had read his mind, she knelt behind him. She ran her hands along his arms. She stopped at his forearms; the extent of her reach.

The amazon’s eyes were still closed, her head still swaying side to side, lost in the throws of passion. He looked over his shoulder, to the elf. She silently mouths the words ~If you stop now, she will kill us all. Please, let me help you.~ She reached under his arms and wrapped her arms around him. She pressed her palms against his sides. Her fingers were a new set of ribs holding him up. She pressed her body against his back. She thrusted with him and acted like a brace. He still felt the pain. He will still bruse. But he could still perform.

He looked over his shoulder and mouthed a silent ~thank you.~

She smiled, kissed his cheek and mouthed a silent ~I am pleased to serve you.~ There it was again. What was this? Why was she helping him?

He didn’t ponder it too long. He still had a job to do. He still has to finish before the witch slips her bonds. And he did like the feeling of the elf pressed against his back. Occasionally, the elf would kiss his neck.

He gradually quickened his pace. The amazon began taking short breaths, letting out a small whimper with each exhale. Her abdomen swelled and contracted spasmodically. Streams of sweat ran from the valleys of her abdomen, into the canyon between her breasts and dividing at her neck. The streams clung to her neck, against gravity, and met in the spot at the base of her skull, where he had hit her twice during their fight. From here the streams dripped to the ground.

The amazon’s eyes slammed open. She twisted her hips violently as if she was trying to escape him again. Her moans gave way to cries. “Agghhh. Aaggghhhh! Aaagggghhhhh!”

“Now,” the elf whispered in his ear.

He went into flank speed. The amazon writhed under him, waves of pleasure rushing through her.

The amazon panted in a loud voice. “I am, mhp, Chuva! Agghhh. Proud warrior of, aggghhhh, the Blood Moon Tribe. This man has bested my steel and humbled my flesh! Agghhh. Aaggghhhh! Aaagggghhhhh!” She shook as the orgasm rocked her body. She went rigid. She collapsed.

The man collapsed after her; exhausted and in pain. He crawled away from the amazon, afraid of what might come next.

Chapter 3 - Confessions

“Is that it?” he asked. “Did I bring her to the goddess?”

“No,” replied the elf. “But you were very close.”

“Will she kill us when she wakes?” He started pulling up his trousers.

“Oh, no. You pleased her well. She seemed very satisfied. She might even kiss you. I think she’s two thirds the way there if you want to try again.”

He stood up slowly, unsure of his footing. “Absolutely not! THAT” he pointed at the amazon “is not how I do things.”

“How do you do things?” The elf pressed her naked self against him. “Shall you take me next? Or do we rape the witch?”

He felt another trap coming, held her by the shoulders and pushed her back. “One thing at a time.”

He walked toward the witch and inspected her bonds. She had made no progress. For all her silent efforts she is still secured.

“How did you get loose? Did you figure out my knots?”

“Yes, but it didn’t help.” said the elf. “My fingers can usually find the weakness in anything, but I am not strong enough to loosen you knots. I used the little shards of glass that were all around me to cut myself free.”

His confusion grew. He felt stupid for not recovering the remnants of his spyglass, but if he had, the elf would not have escaped and helped him.

“I broke my spyglass over your head, ” he said.

“Ohhhh.” she said. “Are you a sailor? Or maybe a pirate?”

“I sailed with merchants until a few years ago. How did you know?”

“The spyglass. Only sailors and army scouts carry those. And your knots can hold Chuva. I have seen her stretched chains. You are proud of your knots, your life depends on them.”

“You are very clever,” he said. She smiled at him.

The amazon stered. After a knock out dart, a beating, a lightning strike and wild sex, this woman is awake again. What does it take to put her down?

“Why did you help me?”, he asked the elf.

“I am yours. I am pleased to serve you.”

“You said that before. What does it mean?” He sat down near the fire. “Why are you mine? Is it like the amazon? I kick her ass and she wants to bang?”

“I am yours because you took me.” she said plainly. She saw her answer was not enough, so she clarified. ”In the forest.”

“How? How did I take you?”

She knelt before him. “You took me,” she said as she reached for the dagger strapped to his boot.

He slapped her hand away. Was that it? Was that her trap? She played along, knowing the amazon must be served and after that get her dagger back and cut his throat? He was careless with the amazon. He would not repeat his mistake.

“I’m sorry,” the elf shrank and cowered away from him. “I have offended you. I’m sorry.” She was afraid of him, as if he would strike her.

“One thing at a time,” he told himself. “Bring me some rope,” he told the elf.

Swift and silent, the elf darted into the darkness, away from the campfire. Would she betray him now? Would she fetch another weapon and kill him? He had left her arrows by the horses.

“Thank you.” A soft voice of sincere gratitude was directed at him. He didn’t recognize it. In a panic he turned to the witch, but she was still gagged. He turned to the amazon as she said “It has been so long since I was bested by a man in single combat. I fell helpless before you after only nine blows. I was sure I dreamed you up. When I woke, I was tied up, and there you were, too good to be true.” She would not meet his gaze. She was confessing her own shame. ”I was afraid that if I did not force your hand, you would take the witch and forget me. I know she is more a woman than I am.”

~You raped me,~ he didn’t say. The words came to him, but once he understood them, he would not say them. He hid his insecurity, but he acknowledged hers. She had just revealed herself to him. She made herself vulnerable before him. He would be kind. “I will never forget you, Chuva, daughter of the Blood Moon.” Chuva’s chest filled with amazon pride. The elf was at his side with another rope.

“You have my body,” the amazon said. This statement was redundant, but she said it with such force. He knew it meant something but he didn’t know what. The amazon crossed her ankles and offered them to the man. He tied her ankles together and set them down gently.

“Even as you are,” he said. “I fear you.”

“Oh, my love,” she said. “Oh, my love. I am powerless and you flatter me. See how you make me burn for you. Oh, my love, make me your slave in the morning, restrain me once more with the sunrise, but tonight loose me from these ropes. I beg you. Let me worship you in my arms.”

The witch yelped into her gag. He turned to look at her, to see what it was about.

“By the elders,” the elf said. She held her hands to her mouth in shock. She turned to him. “Amazons do not beg, my lord. They ask for things to purchase. They claim things they have earned. They take that which they desire, sometimes by force, sometimes undeserved. But they do not beg. She is sincere. If you loose her, she would not dare harm you.”

“I dare not betray you, my love. The goddess will never forgive me,” the amazon said. “She is likely ashamed of me for begging you.”

“You stay as you are,” he said.

“You are cruel, my love. But you are wise to be cautious.” She gave an accepting smile. “You have no more to fear from me, my love. You have bested me. You have bested us. Your bondage is strong enough to hold me and the witch. And the elf is yours. We have no other comrades to rescue us. Your victory is complete. Please, tell me. Why have you taken us? What will you do to us? You seem too skilled to be a slaver.”

“One thing at a time,” he said to Chuva. “Kneel”, he ordered the elf. She knelt beside him. “I am not a slaver.” he said to Chuva. “But why does the elf obey me as a slave?”

Her expression implied that his question was ridiculous, but then Chuva became very serious. “I am your prisoner”, she said. “Kill me or set me free.” Her bound ankles rose and she pressed her toes lovingly into his crotch. “… or take me again. Only be gentle this time. I am a soft and delicate flower.”

He stood up. “Ok. The amazon won’t talk, and the elf speaks in riddles. I’d love to talk to the witch, but she’ll fry me if I remove her gag.”

“There is a way,” Chuva said. She nodded to the elf, who darted into the darkness again.

The witch’s eyes opened wide. Her efforts to free herself were no longer subtle. Before this moment, the witch had said nothing, and her posture was always one of a Lady. The elf returned with a metallic collar and she offered it to the man. The witch abandoned all dignity and lost all self control. She was panicked. She thrashed on the ground, desperate to free herself.

The man sat on her stomach, pinning her to one spot. The elf opened the collar and handed it to the man.

Muffled pleads came from the witch “Nnngggghhhhh! Dddnnnnttttt! Llltttt, ggg, fff, mmm.” She struggled under him. Her breasts oscillating chaotically with her efforts. Her hair was everywhere. The man closed the collar around her neck and the witch immediately stopped struggling, as if she was sapped of all strength.

“Is it enchanted?” he asked.

“No.” Chuva said.

“Then it is dangerous to remove her gag.” He said this knowing he would be corrected. The witch was genuinely afraid of this collar for reasons he did not understand.

“Magic can be contained by well defined circles.” the elf said. “If you believe the collar can contain her magic, then her magic is trapped inside her body.”

“She can still cast spells?” he asked.

“She can,” Chuva said. “But they can only reach as far as the collar. The distance between the collar and her skin.”

The man reached for the gag. The elf placed her hand over his as a warning. “We have never tried this. She could still be dangerous.”

By now the witch had streams of tears rushing down her face. She seemed convinced enough in the collar’s power. He undid the gag.

“How could you?” she cried. “How could you?” Her voice was coarse and dry. “How dare you make me powerless before this slaver?”

“Give her some water,” he ordered the elf. “And I am not a slaver.”

“You ARE a slaver!” accused the witch. “You are a bastard! And you are a filthy rapist!”

“Hey! The only one who’s been raped here is ME!” He immediately regretted that outburst. Chuva parted her knees and let out a beaconing moan. The elf held a water canteen for the witch. She took several gulps.

The witch was not swayed. “You have attacked and stripped three innocent women. Are you a thief? Is that it?”

“You were already naked,” Chuva reminded her.

“And Chuva ordered me to strip her” said the elf. “I am the only one he ever stripped naked.”

“What?” asked Chuva and the witch in unison.

“One thing at a time!” yelled the man, eager to change the subject. Although he was curious how the elf knew about that. “I removed your gag so you could answer some questions. If you refuse, I’ll just gag you again.”

“Why do you even have a collar like this?” the witch asked.

“I bought it a month ago,” Chuva answered. “It’s my insurance policy if you get possessed by another demon.”

“That only happened once! Besides you seemed to be enjoying yourself!”

“One time too many! And that’s not the point!”

“Enough!” the man interrupted. “Why does the elf serve me?”

“Your question is ridiculous.” said the witch. “You took her. And she has served you faithfully. You have no right to complain.” He picked up the gag from where it lay. “Wait!” she begged. “You leave me no choice. I’ll answer your questions. But not in front of them. Undo my bonds. We can go to the lake and discuss it privately. ”

“You will answer my questions in private?”

“Yes.”

“That’s fair enough.”

“Before you go,” interrupted Chuva. “Please tell us, why are we your captives? If you are not a slaver, a serial rapist, or a thief, what are you?”

“Just a humble bounty hunter, ma’am.” he said. “You two are worth 500 gold pieces each. The elf is worth 800.”

“Who would post a bounty on us?” asked Chuva. The others were mute.

“A judge in Bonkar. You’re wanted for murder, destruction of property and theft.”

Their distress was immediate. The memory of Bonkar landed on them like a ton of bricks. The bounty was not without merit. Chuva and the witch exchanged glances. They would try to escape, but they suffered no illusions. Their captor, while certainly interested in women, he was no fool. Their womanly charms had less weight and their other talents were held in check.

“He warned us,” the witch said. Her voice was small and broken. “Before he died, he swore his family would avenge him. Your sense of justice will deliver us into the hands of filthy pigs.”

“Do you deny the charges?” he asked.

“I killed Lord Miko.” Chuva confessed. “I tore his heart from his chest. I drank his blood and rubbed it on my breasts.”

“I destroyed his home.” the witch confessed.

“What did you steal?” he asked. ”The post didn’t say, and no one would tell me.”

“Me.” was the answer. It was uttered by a small, naked, redheaded elf that knelt by his side. “Lord Miko took me for himself. I served him for two months before my friends … rescued me from him.” She took her time with the word “rescued” as if it was the first time she had ever pronounced it.

“Let’s go to the lake now.” said the witch. “I will answer your questions and we can get on with this.” She was obviously changing the subject, but he didn’t like where the conversation was going anyway.

The man stood and carried the witch toward the lake. “You said you would untie me.”

“I said we would speak privately.”

“Oh, lover?” called Chuva. He turned to face her. “While you two are having your private chat, why don’t you … sick the elf on me.” She parted her knees. She lifted her hips off the ground. She clutched her buttocks with her bound hands. He couldn’t tell if the amazon was that horny, or if she wanted to give the elf something to do to get her mind off Lord Miko. He looked to the elf. She smiled and nodded enthusiastically. He couldn’t tell if the elf was that horny, or if she was just eager to obey his next command, no matter what it was.

He turned to the elf. “Force her to please you. Only after you are satisfied, may you please her. And even then, you may only tease her. Allow her no release until she begs you for it.” The elf gave a fiendish smile. The man continued walking toward the lake.

The elf crawled to the bound amazon like a predator. “You heard him.” she said.

“Don’t gloat, you pixie bitch.” Chuva replied.

“They have played before,” the witch said. She bounced in his arms as he walked to the lake shore. “Freya never gets to be in charge. Freya is very skilled in pleasing women. Before tonight I would have told you Chuva would never beg Freya for anything. But you have disarmed her completely. Now you force her desire against her pride.”

Chapter 4 - Memories

“How did I take Freya? And how can I free her?” He asked her.

“You are direct. No small talk?”

He carefully put her feet down on the wet sand. With her feet tied so close together, she needed him to hold her up.

“I have many questions,” he said. “Every time I ask a question, we take a step into the lake. I’ll bring you back to the campfire when I am satisfied with all your answers or when you have no answers to give me.” He turned her to face him. He made it very clear. “I am taller than you are.”

“You wouldn’t dare. I am worth 500 gold to you.”

“That’s 500 gold I would happily give up to be rid of your mischief. I am not a fool, witch. Even without your mystic arts, you ripped an embarrassing confession from me within seconds of the gag coming off. You knew what buttons to push to manipulate it out of me. I’m onto you. Everyone seems to know why the elf serves me, it is no secret. There is no need for you to tell me privately. You wanted us to be alone, because you didn’t want the elf to rescue me from whatever you have planned. Here we are, in your court, but we play by my rules.”

“You do not play fair. You could ask a thousand questions. I cannot save myself.”

“My questions will only be about the three of you and what happened in Bonkar. You are a smart woman. You can anticipate my next question and answer it before I ask. If you give complete answers to my questions, there will be no need for follow up questions and you will save yourself several steps. Does that seem fair?”

“Do I have a choice?”

“The choice is always yours. I offer you this advice. My business is to deliver the three of you to Bonkar, nothing more. I am not a slaver or a thief. I promise to dress you as soon as we return to the camp. Trust me with the plainest truth knowing that I will not abuse any of you with what I know.”

“You pretend to be righteous, but then why threaten to drown me?”

“My business is to deliver the three of you to Bonkar, nothing more. You have convinced me that even as powerless as you are, you are dangerous cargo.”

“You’ve got some nerve,” she said. “You come here and take us as captives to deliver us into the hands of corrupt, lecherous, and cruel men, and you will drown me because I want to escape you?”

He turned her around to face the water. “I will drown you because you have managed to interrogate me, more than I have interrogated you. The rules are simple. Tell me what I need to know and live, keep it from me and die, or use that talented tongue of yours to talk your way out of it, if you think you have enough time. Now, why does the elf serve me?” One step on the sand.

“She is bound to the dagger on your boot. She became yours when you took it from her. She will do anything you ask, no matter how disagreeable. If asked to do something she desperately does not want to do she may beg you once, but only once. After that she must obey. It is a ritual of some elves to be bound to an item. I don’t know why. My working theory is that it is done as a punishment. Like a prison for the mind. I don’t know how you can free her. Chuva killed Miko two months ago. Her former master was dead and her dagger was recovered, but even now she will not speak ill of him. I was pleased to hear her say that we rescued her. She knows we are her friends, but she always referred to the incident as murder.”

“I heard her hesitate to call it a rescue. Could she have progressed? Or could she say it because I was her master now?” One step, the water reached her toes.

“This is impossible! I could not have anticipate those questions. The answer is that I don’t know. That‘s the problem. We never know. Is her affection genuine? Or is her mind trapped with what she assumes would please you? If the dagger is taken from you, she will serve them. If you give the dagger back to her, she accepts because you commanded her to take it. As the last holder of the dagger, she will still obey you. We just came from an elf village and they would not tell us anything. They were offended that we would ask about freeing a bound elf. Listen, no spell is absolute. Any lock can be picked but this one is beyond my power.”

“You’re lying. You’ve seen the clues. You’ve got a theory. Spit it out!” One step, her ankles are underwater.

“No!” One step, the water was halfway up her calf.

”You bastard! It could kill her. I won’t tell you.” One step, the water was to her knees.

“Fuck you! Drown me! I won’t tell you! I’ll die first!” One step, the water was halfway up her thighs.

“You dickless fuck!” She struggled hard against her ropes. ”The amazon surprised and humbled you and now you take it out on me! But you will regret forcing me this way. You will pray for death! When I’m done with you I’ll … I’ll ...” She trailed off, as her struggles became more subdued. One step, the cold water licked at her wamn nether lips.

“Spirits,” she prayed, broken, barely audible. “Please hear me. Please loose this collar. Please ... please let me save my friends.” She fell to her knees and cried. He knelt behind her and held her above the waves. The waves licked at her nipples.

He waited several seconds. “What happened in Bonkar?” he asked.

“What? … You bastard. You moved me this deep for an answer you have abandoned.”

“You will never tell me. I know that now. The power that might free her frightens you. It would be foolish to ignore your judgement.” He held her shoulders tenderly. “Trust me with the plainest truth knowing that I will not abuse any of you with what I know.” he reminded her. “Please tell me what happened in Bonkar?”

He felt her brace herself. “Chuva and I were passing through. We were in a crowded tavern. Suddenly the tavern was empty. They all left at the same time. They gathered in the town square. When we left the tavern we saw Miko concluding an auction. Freya was on the stage completely naked. She was sold to a disgusting pig. She was smiling the whole time. As if she was looking forward to what came next. Auctioning slaves is a revolting business but it was common enough in Bonkar. We assumed Freya fetched a high price because she is very beautiful. Early that morning we were woken by loud screaming. We left the inn to see what was happening. Freya was in the public square again. She was still naked, but now she was bolted to a cross. The pig had broken the bones in her arms and legs with a mace. Turns out, men came from all over and paid large sums to experience something they could experience nowhere else. A lovely dinner with a beautiful and agreeable woman. A night of passionate sex. And in the morning, they got to use their preferred weapon on her. It is sick what people will do when they realize that they can. Her skin is invulnerable, and she would heal from most injuries within hours, but she could still be hurt. She still cried out in pain. They would break every bone in her body. Blood would ooze from her eyes, nose and mouth.. They were careful not to kill her, but that was all. They would leave her bolted to the cross while she healed. They would take her down from the cross, clean her up and get her ready for the next auction. After all that, Miko tells her to smile and she did, every night. Mind you, we got these details afterward. But on that morning, Chuva and I rushed the stage. Chuva downed several guards. I flung a few fireballs, turned the pig into a mouse and everyone else fled the square. Miko was quick to confess, he explained his power over Freya. He surrendered her dagger to us. He hoped to save himself. But with every word he was only sealing his fate. Chuva took her time killing him. I rained lava on his house until it was perfectly flat. I would leave nothing for his heirs. We carried Freya out of the town. On our way out of town, a young woman met us with tears in her eyes, she gave us the green tunic Freya wares. She was a tailor. She was scared and disgusted of what Miko was doing to Freya. For two months she made her the tunic and prayed for a miracle that would allow her to wear it. She said we were the miracle. She thanked us and blessed us as we left.”

“The pendant she wears around her neck, where did that come from?”

She waited. He did not push her.

“My interrogation is over.” he said. “I will not drown you. I was only curious. You don’t have to answer that question if you don’t want to. I’ll take you back to the camp now.” He began to rise.

“Wait”, she said. “I’ll tell you.” He knelt behind her again. The memory made her smile. “Chuva and I would trade the dagger to each other to try to free Freya’s mind, but it was useless. If I had the dagger and we walked into a shop and I asked Freya to comment on a certain item for myself, she would give it careful thought and offer her opinion. But if I asked her about an item for herself, she would always defer to my opinion. The next day, I would give the dagger to Chuva and Freya would then defer to Chuva. Maybe three weeks after we left Bonkar, we walked into a shop. They had elven weapons. Chuva helped her choose a proper bow for her size. We bought a quiver of arrows to match the bow. Suddenly Freya picked out the pendant and put it around her neck. She considered herself in the mirror. And begged us to buy it for her. We were overjoyed. From that day she has been expressing her own preferences. She became one of us. I thank the spirits we ran into each other. She was cunning enough to save us from a demon that possessed my body and used my powers to capture and rape Chuva.”

She pressed her back into his chest. “I’m cold,” she said. “Hold me.” He reached around her, pressing his biceps to hers and crossed his arms at her stomach. She pressed her fingers to the front of his pants and probed for his member. ”Touch me.” He considered the potential dangers. They heard passionate groans coming from the campfire. “Please me,” she begged. He relented. He cupped a breast with one hand and reached her nether lips with the other. She coiled her arms upward. She slipped her fingers passed his belt and into his trousers. She gripped his member. He was half woken by her motions. Her fingers roused him to full awareness.

The man tried to show no weakness, but her ministrations coaxed a “Ahh!” from him. It was low and short, but it would not be alone for long. She would coax more from him.

The man knew this was a trap. But the witch was not invulnerable in this exchange. His limbs were free, and the witch would not risk incapacitating him this deep in the water. Bound as she was, she would likely drown before she reached the shore. Or would she?

By now, the witch was letting out short and low moans. The man withdrew his hands. “No!” she beckoned. “Don’t stop.”

The man loosened his belt. This made it easier for her hands to reach him. “That’s much better.” She continued working him. He looped the belt around her neck and tightened it behind his. They were bound to each other at the neck. “What are you doing?” She asked, sounding less playful than she prefered.

“I am your anchor, my lady. I will hold you up as long as I am able. May we proceed?” His hands returned to her body, to tease and to please her, but there was no going back. He has effectively killed the mood.

She forcefully gripped his sack. Pain shot through him. “If we drown, they will be free.” The wind picked up. Red wisps of smoke swirled around them. Her fingers grew unnaturally warm around his sack. “Fuef ...” Her chant was interrupted by his hand over her mouth.

With his other hand he brandished the dagger and brought it to her neck. “If you die, they remain as they are.” The heat from her fingers died down.

He released her mouth. “Release us, and I will give you a night of passion you will never forget.”

“You were about to burn my balls off, lady. I can’t trust anything you say. Even now, you are manipulating me. Besides, your offer is not enough.”

“Not enough?”, she squeezed his sack. “I am worth more than your 1,800 gold bounty. You will regret offending me this way!”

He rested the blade on her neck. She released him, defeated. “Let them go. Take me to the top of the mountain. I can conjure the gold from the rock. It will take me a month to collect enough for 1,800 pieces. I shall be your slave until I can pay the full amount.”

“I can’t trust you for one night. What makes you think I would suffer you for a month?”

”Please,” she begged. ”Deliver me to Bonkar, but let them go. Give this dagger to Chuva and let them live their lives. Say they died, or escaped. I will fetch you 500 gold, as you said. More if you are skilled at haggling. Please be satisfied with that.”

“I am not unswayed by your story. If it is true ...”

“It’s true! I did not lie about that! You must believe me.”

He loosed the belt from around their necks and returned it to his trousers. “I believe you are very beautiful.” He started fondling her breasts. “I believe you are very dangerous.” He kissed her neck above the collar. “And I believe we’re done here. Am I right?”

“Yes,” she said flatly. “We’re done here. Unhand me.” She twisted her torso and he released her breasts. He hooked his right arm behind her back and his left arm behind her knees and lifted her out of the water. She bounced in his arms as he walked back to the camp, her head on his shoulder.

When they were out of the water she said “Tell me one thing.” He stopped walking and turned his head toward her. “Verimense,” said as she and kissed the him full on the lips.

He froze. Partly because he was out of ideas, but mainly because the spell had paralyzed him. He fell backwards and hit the ground flat. She feel with hm. His head was still pointed toward her. He saw her roll away from him. Saw the look on her face go from determined, to shocked, to a deep sadness. He saw fresh tears come from her eyes. She mouthed the words ~I’m so sorry.~ That’s when he noticed he could no longer hear the wind, or the crackle of the fire, or the howls of ecstasy between the elf and amazon. He was deaf. He waited for his other senses to blink out. Trapped inside his own body, he prayed the spell killed him quickly. His vision blurred and slowly turned red.

Suddenly he sat up and violently inhaled air, as if waking from a nightmare. He could hear sounds. He could move again. Now that he was breathing, his vision cleared.

“Forgive me,” the witch said. “I immediately regret doing that.”

He held his head as he felt a headache growing. “What happens now? Will my head explode. How will your spell kill me?”

“As long as I live,” she said threw hot tears. “I can never cast a spell on you ever again.” There was so much weight in her words. They held a significance he did not understand.

“How will your spell kill me?” he repeated.

“It won’t,” she assured him. “It’s over.”

“What was it?”

“You deserve the truth, but I beg you to let me keep that secret. You could force it from me, but I promise, it has not harmed you and it cannot harm you. Please, let that be enough.”

“It gave me a headache.”

“You hit your head in the fall.”

“Then why do it?”

“I was so afraid of you,” she sobbed. She rolled until she was faceup. She would not look him in the eye. “When you brought me to the lake, I was so sure you would rape me. I would wait until you were distracted with pleasure, and I would cast my spell. This collar contains my powers, but with you inside me, we are one flesh, you would have no defense. But instead you threatened to drown me. I believed you. You forced the answers from me and I hated you. I hated myself for yielding to you. I am not as strong as Chuva, she would never yield to your threats. I was running out of time and so I openly seduced you. Again, I expected you to enter me, again you only probed me with your hands. Your fingers were skilled, and I knew I would lose this battle. I used my hands to please you as best I could, hoping to coax you to enter me. Even then, you saw my trap.”

“And now, here we are,” he interrupted. He was growing angry. “Answer my question. Why did you cast that spell?”

“I was so afraid of you,” she faced him now. “I knew almost nothing about you. I could not predict you. You have stumbled unto all of our weaknesses and made us your prisoners. The amazon has forced herself on you but you have not punished her. The elf is your slave, and you have not abused her. I almost incinerate your purse, and you have spared me. How could you be so considerate and yet keep us against our will?”

His anger was about to demand she answer his question. He held his anger in check. He pondered her confession and said “Your spell has assuaged your fears about me.”

Her eyes darted in every direction. She was considering a thousand answers. His anger was growing with every passing second of silence. Her eyes pleaded with him, hoping to soften the blow. “We,” she finally said. “We are not your enemies.” It seemed like a benign enough answer, but something about it was familiar; a spider scratching in his mind. ”You see us as criminals,” she continued. “But you are a better man than that. Freya will corroborate what I have told you. You will believe her and you will release us. We will thank you for releasing us. You need not fear our revenge. I promise you, we are very powerful, but we are not cruel. You have performed no evil deeds before us and we will not hold your good ones against you. Fate, chance and fear, have pitted us against each other, but a little trust can resolve this for all of us. Please believe me.”

He was relieved. He was planning to do just that. And if the elf corroborated the story, he did not have the heart to deliver them into the hands of such men. Knowing he could release them without retaliation was a risk he would take. To know there would be no retaliation, to know that they might part as friends was a greatrelief.

Then he was gripped with fear and rage. “You read my mind!” He slapped her face roughly. She retreated from him as best she could. “That was your spell. You couldn’t predict me, so you took my thoughts. ‘You are a better man than that.’ I said that to my friend before he joined a pirate crew. Before I engaged you, I asked myself if we were enemies, and you try to answer me now to lull me to trust you.”

“I shouldn’t have done it. I should have trusted you. You said you were moved by the story. I should have believed you. Soon enough, you would release us of your own accord.”

“I … I have to kill you.” He said after some thought. She understood his reasoning. He didn’t necessarily want to kill her but he had concluded there was no other solution.

“Please, don’t.” She pleaded.

“You know where all my stashes are.”

“As long as I live, I shall not steal from you.”

“You know where my loved ones live.”

“As long as I live, I cannot hurt your loved ones.”

“My knots can’t hold you.”

“As long as I live, I am powerless if tied by your ropes.”

“I can’t trust you!” He shouted. He approached her and grabbed her roughly by the shoulders. “Your words are meaningless.”

“My words are everything!” she shouted back. “I am a witch. My words alter reality. My words move the spirits of life to manifest as I will. But on the other side there is a mind, a conversation, an agreement. If the conversation is abused, the spirits may ignore me. If they ignore me then I am powerless for however long they decide. Days, weeks or a thousand years. I dare not offend them because they do not feel time, as we do. They will return to me whenever they feel like it. Even then, they may not favor me all at once. Some spells will work and others will not. Gagged, I am powerless, but I am also safe from binding myself. With this collar, my magic is trapped inside me, but my mouth is free. You could force me to say anything, and after I have said it, I must obey, or I offend the spirits. My words are stronger than these ropes that hold me. Since I have kissed you, I have bound myself four times. As long as I live, I cannot cast a spell against you, I cannot steal from you, I cannot hurt your loved ones, and I cannot escape your knots.” He considered her words. “I have bound myself to assuage your fears. You have nothing to fear from us, and now I know we have nothing to fear from you. Fate, chance and fear, have pitted us against each other, but a little trust can resolve this for all of us. Please, please believe me.”

He considered her words. “You have my thoughts. So you know that I know that what you say could be an elaborate lie. You know I know little about witches, so you made up this business about binding yourself. You know I hope to release you and you’re trying to trick me into releasing you now, before I speak to the elf, because the story you told me was a lie. You know my knots can’t hold you for long and I know how powerful you are. So you see, I have to kill you.”

“No you don’t,” she reasoned. “Your power over me is limitless.”

“How can I free the elf?”

“No! If I tell you, you will do it. I have no doubts about that. And if you try it, it could kill her. I can’t tell you,” she cried. “Please don’t make me.”

“You take my secrets, but you keep your own, and you want me to trust you?”

“Please,” she appealed. “She is my friend. I don’t want her to die.”

“She is your slave. You don’t want her to live, and you want me to trust you?”

“Please,” she appealed. “Weigh your fears against your hopes and see if they don’t ...” she stopped herself abruptly. If her hands were free, she would have cupped them over her mouth.

She did not stop in time. Her words had an instant reaction. His face was twisted with anger. He shoved her flat against the ground. He sat on her stomach with his legs on either side of her. “You use her words against me? ”He slapped her again. “Do not speak of her. Do not think of her.”

“I’m sorry!” she pleaded. “I’m sorry! I’m sorry! Your thoughts are mixed with mine. I’m so confused. I’m scared. Please, pleeease, calm yourself.”

He pulled the dagger from his boot and brought it to her throat. “Give me one good reason, why I shouldn’t slit your throat.”

“I can’t!” she cried. “You’re right. I am dangerous and there is nothing I could ever say to convince you. You’re right. … You can’t trust me. … You … you have to kill me. … But let them go. I can forgive you for killing me but, please let Freya confirm my story and let them go.” If this was a trick, it was her last, and it was not enough. She turned her head. She would not face him. ”Do it quickly”, she said, her voice trembling. “I beg you. Don’t … don’t make me suffer.”

He felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked and saw the elf. She knelt beside him. She smiled but she had tears running down her face. No doubt, she heard their conversation. She put her hand on the witch’s cheek. “I will miss you, Safira.”

Safira turned her head and saw the elf. “Oh, Freya!” she cried. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. We failed you. I...”

“Utter another syllable and I will crucify the three of you.” He said. The witch clamped her jaw shut. He meant it, and she knew it.

“Weigh your fears against your hopes and see if they don’t lead you to do what’s right.” His mother would often tell him. “You will know when to be bold and when to wait; when to be stern and when to be kind. Fear will always sway you. But remember my son, that there is always, always hope. Let her have her say and let her make you the better man.” her words stayed with him long after she was killed.

The witch had his memories. She grieved for the loving mother who was thrust into her mind and just as suddenly torn out of her arms. Dragged away in tears to her certain death. They felt the same grief, born from the same strong love, dashed by the same deep pain. On top of that grief was her genuine regret of using his mother's words, of taking his memories. She hated herself. She wanted to die. And for the sake of her friends, she must suffer silently.

Chapter 5 - Dagger

“Stay here,” he spat at the elf. She shrank from him.

He stood up, grabbed the witch by the neck and dragged her back to the camp. He left her fall to the ground. She coughed. She gasped for air. He picked up the gag from where it lay on the floor and he gagged the witch once more. He tugged roughly and tied it tightly in the back of her head. She sobbed uncontrollably into the cloth.

“What did you do to her?” Chuva demanded. Her naked body glistened in the fire light. The elf had apparently rubbed her body with oil. “Answer me.”

He went to the amazon, rested the blade of the dagger on her nether lips. Her eyes went wide with disbelief and genuine fear.

“Tell me how to free the elf.” he ordered her.

Chuva looked to Safira who frantically shook her head no. Chuva turned back to him and said ”I am your prisoner. Kill me, or set me free, or take me again.” He stood and walked away. He heard Chuva start to crawl her way to Safira. They will work to free each other. He kept walking. It will all be over soon, one way or another.

“Why did they bind you to the dagger?” He asked as he approached the elf.

“I stole several jewels from a powerful elf lord. My father turned me in, and the elder bound me to the dagger and gave it to my father.” She was still on her knees, where he had told her to stay. He was still angry with the witch. Freya was obviously afraid of him. She braced herself, but she didn’t dare move. He tried to calm himself. He breathed. He counted.

He knelt in front of her and took her hands in his. “Freya, I have to ask you some hard questions. But it’s important that you answer me.”

“I will answer anything you ask, my lord.”

“Please don’t call me that. Call me Tom.”

“Ok … Tom.” She sounded it out, like an unfamiliar word.

“Freya, I have never owned a slave, and I didn’t mean to take you as mine.”

“I do not please you?”

“Freya,” he brushed her cheek. “You saved my life. I owe you everything. And if I manage to free you from the dagger, I can give you everything. I can give you your life back.”

“I was a thief.”

“Thieves go to prison, or they pay back what they stole. They don’t get robbed of their will. You deserve better.”

“It’s hopeless!” she said with relief. “Chuva and Safira tried already.“

“Safira thinks she figured it out, but she was afraid to try it. Did she ever tell you what it was?”

“No, Tom.” She said. He realized that she was simply replacing ‘Tom’ for ‘my lord’ and she was lending his name the same reverence. It was a blow against his hope of success.

“How did you end up with Lord Miko?” He changed the subject.

“My father sold me to him to satisfy a large debt.”

“What did Lord Miko have you do?”

“He would show me to his friends, he would choose one of them and I would please them.” Her tone changed to admit her shame. ”But I was never good enough. I would always get something wrong and they would punish me in the morning.”

“Your skin is invulnerable. Do you feel pain when you are beaten?”

“I feel everything,” she said with obvious regret. Then she brightened. She took his hands in hers and pressed them to her pert breasts. “I felt your hands on my body in the forest. Your hand on my cheek. You were going to kiss me.”

“You were unconscious. How did you know about that?”

“I dreamed it. We elves dream with the things that touch us. Usually just insects, but sometimes a lover. Why didn’t you kiss me? Do you find me ugly?”

He was about to reassure her of her unnatural beauty, but he decided to take another approach. “You are a very beautiful woman, Freya. But what I find most attractive is a free mind.”

“A free mind?”

“If I went back to the camp and I kissed Safira. She is powerless against me. She can’t stop me from kissing her. Now imagine she escaped my knots and removed her collar. She would be very powerful and dangerous to me. But if she would let me kiss her. I would be more attracted to her as free than as bound.”

“What’s the difference? She would look the same either way. It is safer to keep her tied up. Safira’s breasts are larger than mine, but I know how to touch a man. Let my fingers convince you.” She reached for him.

He caught her wrists to stop her. “The different is me, Freya. If she is tied, what I see is a beautiful woman who can’t stop me from kissing her. To me the kiss is empty. If she is free, what I see is a woman who wanted to kiss me back. Knowing that the kiss is mutual, makes her attractive to me. Do you understand?”

“I’m ugly to you because I won’t say no to you. You want to free me from the dagger to make me more attractive to you.”

He hesitated. “Yes.” he said finally. This is not what he had in mind but he was making progress. “When Miko punished you, did they bolt you to a cross? Did they break your bones?”

“Yes. They punished me most mornings. They had to make sure I didn’t repeat my mistakes.”

“Did you?”

“Oh no,” she said proudly. “I never repeated my mistakes.” Then, not so proudly, “I always made different mistakes. In the morning he would tell me what I got wrong. Never kiss a dark haired man in the right cheek. Always swallow a fair haired man’s seed when it poured in my mouth. For dark haired men, I must spit it out. There were so many rules.”

“He was lying to you Freya. You made no mistakes. He made up excuses to punish you because his friends were sadists.” He handed her the dagger. “Go to the horses and fetch Safira’s cloak from one of the saddlebags, and bring it to her. Use the dagger to cut them free. Tell Safira that I’m sorry. That I should have trusted her. Recover your tunic and put it on. Then come back here. Lastly, and this is very important, you are not to defend me against Chuva or Safira if they decide to hurt me.”

“But, Tom ...”

“But nothing! If you defy me on this last order, you will offend me.”

“I am pleased to serve you.” She left him.

Chapter 6 - Paradox

He considered escaping. He was a strong swimmer. He could possibly cross the lake before they realized he was gone. But he could not leave. He has one more thing to do. If Chuva and Safira forgive him their captivity, he may live to accomplish his mission. If they took their revenge on him, he had no defence against them.

Fear had him on the other side of the world. Hope kept him planted right where he was.

“Fate, chance and fear, have pitted us against each other,” he heard over his shoulder. He turned to see Safira, on her knees, a respectful distance away. She was clad in her cloak again and still as lovely. Chuva stood behind her, but she was still naked, ever the proud warrior. “Thank you for freeing us. We are truly grateful.” Safira said. “Can you forgive me for what I have stolen?”

He smiled at her. Tears came to his eyes, he would no longer restrain them. “You were afraid of me and with good reason. I will not hold that against you. Can you forgive me for attacking you.”

“You were deceived in Bonkar, and when you knew the truth, you released us. I do not hold that against you.”

“I do not forgive you.” Chuva said suddenly. He approached him. He stood up, expecting the worst, but he had accepted his fate. She grabbed his wrists and bent his arms behind his back. He tried to free himself but there was no resisting her incredible strength. She exchanged wrists behind his back so that as she retracted her arms, his arms crossed and tightened behind his back and pressed him flat against her naked form. “You bested me in combat. You tied me in knots that made my great strength count for nothing. You took my weapons. You stripped off my armor. I lay naked and powerless before you. You fondled my breasts, parted my knees and entered me. You ravaged me like a beast. You made me fear you. You made me love you. You forced me to extacy. The world has heard the cries of passion forced from my throat. Then, when you were done having your way with me, you sicked your slave on me. Her skilled fingers found and pressed all of my weaknesses. She violated my body in every intimate way she knew how. She made me beg her for release. I, a powerful amazon, begging like a common whore. And worse than all this,” she said as she released his wrists, put her hands on his hips and pressed them tight against hers. She was grinding against him. “I am still your prisoner. I have escaped your bonds but your power over me is just as strong. You have my body. I will not forgive you because my body yearns to be taken by you once more. Take me now.”

He considered what response he could possibly make that would (1) not offend her, and (2) not immediately commit him to another sexual ritual. The amazon nearly tore his arms out of their sockets and she was in a playful mood. He was desperate not to offend her again. “On a day of my own choosing.” he said.

She wrapped her hands at the base of his skull and pulled his face to hers. She kissed him passionately. His instinct to push her away landed his hands on her breasts. She ended the kiss but pressed her chest deeper into his hands. “Until that day, my love,” she said stepping back, out of his reach. “We burn together in my dreams.” At this, she walked back to the camp and entered the tent.

Freya knelt beside him. She wore her tunic, but she didn’t bother closing it. He realized he didn’t specifically order her to close it. No doubt she prefered to show him her body. She offered the knife back to him. He took it and put it back in the sheath strapped to his boot.

“Chuva exaggerated what happened between us.” he said. “I was as much her prisoner as she was mine.”

“You were wise to say nothing.” Safira said. “She is very proud of the story she has just told you. She may add other embellishments when she tells it to others.”

“She will tell others what happened?”

“She will tell anyone who will listen. She will proudly announce her defeat and rape by ‘Thomas the beast of the lake’. She will no doubt create a name for you.”

“I’d rather not be thought of as a rapist.”

“You will have a tough time at that!” Safira laughed. “You had three naked women at your mercy. You are welcome to explain the situation to her. As for myself, I will try to convince her not to publish how I can be contained by a gag or a collar. You must understand, amazons have many laws and traditions. They vary between tribes, but they are all very proud of their fighting skill. If they are defeated in battle by a single opponent, the victor may claim her body. Many amazons fantasize about just that. Chuva has been raped before, but it was always by squads of attackers. As far as I know, you are the only one to best her all on your own.”

“Even that part is ...” he started saying.

“All on your own.” Safira insisted. He realized, Chuva’s back was turned when Safira’s lightning took her down. She may not know how she was finally dispatched. The elf was tied up in the woods when this happened, so she doesn't know either. He met Safira’s eyes and nodded his understanding. This secret is too dangerous to be uttered.

“It was not easy to do.” he said.

“Meanwhile I fell victim to your needles. I was easily subdued. I may tell my own story of how you raped me too.”

“Please don’t.”

“I jest, of course. Chuva is very strong. Raping her is a feat and an epic struggle. She is proud of them. I am only as strong as any other woman. Raping me may be more dangerous, but I am much easier prey. I am ashamed at them.”

“Will you rape me next, Tom?” Freya asked.

“No, Freya. I mean to free you from the dagger.”

“I know that. Obviously you cannot rape me if you are still my lord. Will you free me so you can rape me?”

He slapped his own forehead. “Please tell me how to free her” he said to Safira.

“Even after everything that has happened, you would risk her life?”Safira ask.

“You have my memories. You know why I must.”

“Your mother was a slave.” she said. “She was a very good and kind woman. She died for her master and she was forgotten before the second day. You used to tell her that one day you would grow up, find your fortune and buy her freedom.”

“I never got that chance. She deserved to be free. And so does Freya. “

”I understand you, I grieve for you, but I do not agree with you. Give me the dagger and release her to me.”

“No.”

“Will you ignite our quarrel once more.”

“No,” he said. “I will not fight you. But I will not give her to you either. If she leaves here a slave it is because she is yours, and because you have killed me.”

She stood. “I have sworn that I cannot cast a spell against you, but I will risk the loss of my powers to save my friend from certain death.”

“Possible death,” he clarified. “She is not your child. She is a grown woman. She has thoughts and feelings which we have both seen. She has preferences trapped in her mind, which she will only express if they will please her master. That is no way to live. She must be more than your pet.”

“How dare you?” Safira said. “You have no right to ...”

“I want to be beautiful.” Freya said suddenly. “I want to be like you Safira. I want him to kiss me knowing I don’t have to kiss him back. Until I can do that, I am ugly to him.”

“You are not ugly to me, Freya.”

“But I am. You want what he wants. You have tried things. You traded the dagger back and forth with Chuva. You asked me questions about myself and I was confused because I didn’t know which answer would please you. You made me drunk and strapped the knife to my leg as I slept. You tried to confuse me, but I knew it was you that did it. I saw you in my dreams. And it was you I served until he took me from you. I want to be beautiful for my lord. I want to be free of the dagger. He cannot rape me until that is done first.”

Safira said nothing. She made as if she was going to speak but held it back. What Freya said was ridiculous, of course, but it also made sense.

“Your counterargument is obvious,” he said. “She only wants to be free because I want to free her. Why didn’t you say it?”

“Why should I point out the obvious?” Safira said.

“That’s not it.” he said. “You have other reasons not to … Freya, fetch your arrows, your bow, my pack and bring me fruit from the trees.”

“What are you doing?” Safira asked.

“Something obvious.” He answered. ”I think you just gave me what I needed.”

“You bastard.” she cursed. “Don’t do this to her. Give her back to us. We will take care of her.”

“Let me free her, or kill me and take her for yourself. The choice is yours.”

“You will force me to kill you and risk losing my powers to save her from you.”

“If you can convince Chuva to flatten me, you risk nothing.”

She scoffed at him. “She worships you now. She will no doubt carve your likeness in wood and add you among her goddesses.”

He took the dagger in his hand and offered it to her. “You can take this and order the elf to kill me. Keep your slave. Keep your powers.”

She extended her arm and chanted “Ali.” Her staff flew to her hand. She menaced him with the staff. “Put the dagger down and walk away.”

“No. You have my thoughts. You know I fear you. You also know I hope to free Freya. You know my fear and my hope. Weigh them. Know that you will not convince me. Know that you must kill me.”

“There are other ways” she said. “There are several ways I could hypnotize you, make you my slave.”

An arrow cut the air between them, and knocked the staff from the witch’s hand.

“On your knees witch!” Freya shouted. She aimed her arrow at the witch’s throat. “Strip off that cloak and throw it to Tom. No tricks.”

The witch obeyed quickly. Her fear was obvious.

“Freya,” he said. “I told you not to interfere.”

“You told me to let them hurt you.” she said. “But what she wanted to do was sway you. I will not allow this. Your mind must be your own.” Freya pressed two fingers to Safira’s neck. Safira fell to her side and rolled to her back.

“Freya please,” Safira pleaded. “Please don’t do this.” She could speak and turn her head, but she could not move anything lower than where Freya had touched her. She could still breath. Her naked breasts rose and fell with each breath.

“She will be paralyzed for less than half an hour.” Freya said. “We should flee and leave her here.”

“I can free you in less time than that.” he said. “After that, you may do what you wish.”

“I will kiss you and you must rape me.”

“You have confused her.” Safira said. “You show your ignorance.”

“No.” he said. “I have discovered the blade that will break the spell.”

“Don’t! Please!” Safira pleaded.

“A moment ago, you would make me your slave. Now you beg me to keep one for yourself. I have nothing more to say to you.” He turned to Freya. “Give me the pack, the fruit, and walk 20 paces in the direction. Oh, and please close your tunic.” Freya obeyed each of his commands in that order; covering her nudity last. “You will prove your skill to me by hitting the fruit before they hit the ground. ”

Freya loaded an arrow. He tossed three fruits all at once. He watch the elf aim, fire, draw another arrow, aim and fire. Then she lowered her bow.

“You couldn’t make the third shot?” he asked as he picked up the fruit from the ground.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “I didn’t know you wanted me to fire three times. Please let me try again. I will not fail you again.”

All three of the orbs had holes running through the middle where the arrows passed through them. It meant she had shot an arrow through two of them, at night, from a distance of 20 paces, and still had time to fire a second shot; a shot which found its mark. Or was it the second shot that scored two? “No, Freya, that won’t be necessary. You have proved your worth to me.”

“I am pleased to serve you.” Freya smiled.

“Stop it!” Sefira shouted from where she lay. “Stop this madness!”

“My next order will free you, but it may also kill you.” He said. “Do you want to say goodbye to Chuva?”

“I do,” Freya said. “But she might hold me to stop you. I cannot escape her strength.”

“Who can? Explain the situation to her, but keep your distance.”

Freya darted for the tent.

“If you kill her,” Sarifa threatened. “I will never forgive you. I will not rest until I have ended you.”

“What you’re saying is that I should kill you now. As you are. Paralyzed and nude.”

“Relampafo!” she shouted and lightning shot from her fingers. It happened that her fingers were facing the lake. The lightning bounces across the ground, losing strength with each bounce, and terminating on the surface of the lake. He went to her and took her wrists. “Don’t touch me you pig!” He turned her hands so that they rested on her neck.

“I understand your motives, “ he said. “but I disagree with you. You love Freya, but you may not keep her; not like this. You have no right. Your next spell could be your last.”

She said nothing. Did he convince her? Or was she considering her next move? Chuva approached them. She was still naked and her hands were in the air. Freya followed behind her several paces away.

“On your knees.” Freya demanded.

Chuva knelt next to the witch. “Freya said you can free her. Is there anything I can do to help?”

“Yes, Chuva. I’m glad you’re here. Safira is paralyzed, and the spell I am about to cast on Freya may go wrong. You may have to care for the three of us. Please bring Safira to the tent and secure her. She must not interrupt us. After she is secure, come back here. We may need your help.”

Chuva considered his words for a moment. She stood suddenly. Her muscular femininity in full display. She struck some sort of pose. Her feet were apart, slightly more than shoulder length. Her knees were slightly bent. Her hands were closed fists. Her arms at her sides but bent slightly backwards. “You have my body.” There was so much strength to her words. He knew it meant something, but he still didn’t know what. He was afraid there would be another part. ~But not my mind...~ Chuva reached one arms under Safira’s knees and another around her back and lifted her off the ground.

“Stop him!” Safira demanded. “He is no sourcerer.”

Chuva responded, “He was decent enough to free us when he understood the evil that set him against us. He desires to free the mind of our friend. He bested me in single combat, and he has bested you twice.” Chuva reached around and cupped one of Safira’s breasts. “I will quell and redirect your foolish passions. When the sun rises, you will apologize.”

“Freya,” Safira cried from Chuva’s arms. “Please remember us. Remember that we love you. Please find your way back to us.”

“She’s right, Freya,” Chuva said. “Remember your strength. Fight your way back to us.” Chuva walked away with Safira in her arms.

“Are you ready for my final order?” He said to Freya.

“Yes, Tom. I am ready.”

“I have one more target for you. But I warn you, if you miss, there will be no end to my disappointment and my disgust. I will punish you worse than Miko did, and then I will bring all of you back to Bonkar to stand trial for your crimes.”

“I will not miss, Tom.”

“Good,” he said. He planted his feet, locked his knees and tried his best not to move. “Put your next arrow through my right eye. This eye.” He pointed, to remove any confusion. He would not risk it.

Freya’s tears were instant. She inhaled sharply. “Please!” she cried. “You will die! Please don’t make me kill you.”

~...she may beg you once,~ the witch had said. ~but only once. After that she must obey.~

Freya fell to her knees. “I can’t do it! Please punish me!”

“You will not suffer alone!” he yelled at her. “Your friends will suffer with you. They will suffer because you are a poor slave. You say you are pleased to serve me but you are good for nothing. Prove yourself to me! Shoot!”

She rose to her feet, loaded her arrow, aimed and fired.

The man raised his short staff when he saw the arrow fly. He brought the staff up to his eye to block the arrow. He knew the enchanted wood would not break, but beyond that it was all guesswork.

With his left eye, he saw the arrow strike the staff. The force of the arrow bent the staff toward his skull. It struck hard and he fell to the ground.

Chapter 7 - Fire

Freya flew to him. She lifted off the ground and floated to him. Her tunic fell from her as she reached him. She wrapped her arms and legs around him and he fell with her to the ground. She kissed him. She rubbed herself against him. She nibbled his earlobes. Her finger crawled to his trousers and freed his member. She licked his purse. She wrapped her lips around his shaft and drained every ounce of his seed. She gripped his head in her hands and slammed it hard against the ground.

* * *

“Ah!” He woke as his seed left him. He was on his back. Chuva was on her knees; her legs on either side of him. He was inside her. He was about to express his displeasure at this latest violation, but then he remembered that offending Chuva is a very bad idea.

He struggled to remind himself of what else was going on. His head throbbed with pain. He was in a tent. He is naked. A very powerful amazon was fondling herself and pumping herself up and down on his member. He cannot escape her. He dares not offend her. He cannot see out of his right eye. Sunlight was visible through the fabric of the tent. Across from him, Safira was on her side. Her hands were bound behind her back. Her ankles were tied together. She was gagged. She was naked. He did not see the elf.

“Freya,” he said. “Is she alright?”

“You are in my bed, my love.” Chuva said. “You dare mention another woman to me?”

“Chuva, please ...”

She pressed her fingers into his neck. “Do not beg!” she shouted at him. “Not in my bed! Do not ask. Take. Command what you will. Do what you can. I may obey you. I may allow you. Or I may ignore you. I may deny you. Now, speak.” She released the pressure on his throat.

He coughed and rasped. “Freya is your friend. You will tell me what happened to her, or you will regret it.”

She brought his hands to her hips. He gripped her tightly. She let out a satisfied “Mmmppphhhh.” She smiled at him. “I am tempted to face your wrath. But you have given me your seed. A warrior shall come from me. You are powerful, kind, and generous.” She got off him and laid down next to him. “You cut her deep, my love.” He brought his hands to his head and felt the bandages wrapped around his head. “Your eye is not damaged, but it is swollen shut for now. You should be dead, my love. Freya does not miss and her arrows can pierce stone walls. I saw the arrow bounce from your stick. Is it enchanted? Is that how you bested me?”

“Your bed,” he said flatly. “No questions.”

“You are quick,” she said. “And you are cruel.” She gazed to the tent door, replaying the memory. “Your stick saved you from the arrow’s bite, but not its force. The impact knocked you on your ass and bruised your pretty face.” She turned to him. She placed her hand on his cheek. “Scars will only make you prettier to me, my love.”

“You said I cut her deep. Tell me what happened!”

“I was nearly on you when you gave the order to fire. She fell as you did. She cried in pain. She was uninjured. Her pain was in her heart and it was deep. Her tears were endless.” Chuva rolled to Safira, used her elbow and her knee to hop over Safira and land on the other side of her. Chuva removed Safira’s gag, so that she could join the conversation.

“Untie me you bitch”, Safira struggled.

Chuva reached around and fondled Safira’s breasts with one hand, and fingered her with the other. ”You will tell my love what you know about the spell, or I will gag you again and tell him the few things I know. But nothing will stop me from taking you now.”

“Damn you, Chuva!” She struggled harder. “Haven't you had enough? Don’t do this to me. Not now. Don’t rape me in front of him.” Her trembling voice made it clear that Chuva was very effective at pleasing her. She would not last long. She made one more frustrated spasm to escape, and surrendered to her fate. She spoke quickly now. “You discovered the paradox. As your bound slave, Freya would obey any order you gave her, no matter how much she might disagree with it. She would also do anything to save you. She saved you from Chuva and from me. You obviously understood this much, as your order for her to kill you, forced the spell against itself. The war raged in Freya’s heart. I knew this would happen. That’s why … ahh … that’s why we never tried it. Mmmppphhh. Chuva, please, aahhh. I told him everything I know. Ohhh. Please, let me go.”

“Chuva, please stop molesting her.” He said.

“Not yet, my love.” Chuva said. She gagged Safira again. Safira offered no resistance. “This is her reward for daring to harm you after you set us free. Besides, she does enjoy it when I please her, she just doesn’t want you to see her when she surrenders.” Safira struggled once more and protested into her gag, but it was short lived. The witch panted and writhed helplessly in Chuva’s arms. “See how her body betrays her. See how hard her nipples have become. See how wet she has is. She is ashamed of her own desire. But I will disabuse her of this confusion. Soon enough, she will beg your forgiveness. Then, when she confesses her lust, you will take her.”

“Chuva, I don’t want her.”

“You may lie to me, my love,” Chuva said. “But your little man seems very interested.” He used his hands to hide his erection. “I am preparing her for you. Unworthy as she is, you will ravage her as you have ravaged me. Then she will understand that you are not an enemy. She desires you, but she will not offer herself to you. She must be taken.” Safira moaned into her gag. “Ahh! Now she returns the favor. Her bound hands have found my trap. Her fingers are plunged inside me. Ahh! I must be careful from now on, or she may manage to overpower me.”

They were both quiet in their concentration.

The bound witch breathed slowly and moved methodically. Her skilled fingers leveraging all of the amazon’s weaknesses.

The amazon’s hands were free, but she didn’t seem to know what to do anymore. She would roughly try one technique, and then another. She was losing this battle. Of course, she was free to push the witch away, tie her hands another way, make it impossible for her to fight back. But the proud amazon would see even that as a defeat, or an empty victory. This bound witch has issued a challenge, and the amazon will not back down.

With some effort, Safira reached back with her bound feet and found the amazon’s legs. Slowly, she ran the nail of her big toe up and down the front of the amazon’s lower legs

“Leave us!” Chuva shouted suddenly. He was surprised. He had expected she would make him watch the end of this ritual. “Go see to the elf. I left Freya in the trees. She will be happy to see. Go now.”

At this he stood up, located his trousers, and fell to the ground when he tried to put them on. His head was spinning.

“Get out!” Chuva shouted desperately.

He crawled out of the tent. He got into his trousers, stood slowly, and left the tent. Finding Freya was easy, but he was displeased with what he saw. Freya was still dressed in her green tunic. A rope was spiked into the ground, ran up over a tall branch and ended around Freya’s wrists. She hung in the air. Her legs were free but they dangled helplessly, her toes inches off the ground.

He walked toward her slowly. His head with still dizzy. At his back were the forced passionate cries of an amazon succumbing to her prisoner.

Freya looked up at him and brightened immediately. “You’re alive!” She cried. “Oh, thank the elders. I was so afraid I had killed you. Have I blinded you? I am so sorry.”

“It’s just swollen,” he said. “My eye will be fine.“

”Chuva was right. You are very powerful.”

“All I am,” he said, “is very lucky. Are you free from the dagger?”

In response, she swung her leg and kicked him in the arm. The impact was weak, but he still struggled to keep his feet under him.

“I’m sorry,” she said quickly. “Most people I kick just laugh at me.”

“It’s fine,” he said. “I am pleased you are no longer my slave.”

“Now I am merely your prisoner,” she joked.

“I’ll get you down in a minute,” he said.

“Don’t!” she said. “Chuva will get mad.”

“Chuva is … busy. I can let you down, you could steal your weapons and be in the woods before she knows you’ve escaped.”

“She’ll know you let me down.” she said. “I can’t carry you and you are in no condition to run. I’m not sure what she will do to you.”

“I won’t let you suffer like this.”

“It’s not as bad as it looks. I’m an elf. I am very light and the rope cannot bruise my skin. I’m not in pain. I’m just immobilized.”

“Why?” he asked. “Why did Chuva do this to you?”

“I’m not sure.” she said. “After I saw you fall, I was crying and I blacked out. When I awoke, I was like this. Maybe she doesn't trust me. I told them I was a thief before I was bound to the dagger. Now that I am free of it, she might not trust me. Maybe she’s being careful.”

“I thought you could find the weaknesses in any knot.”

“I can,” she said. “This knot is very easy to untie. Chuva knows I can easily escape her knots, so she was careful to keep them out of reach.” She raised one leg and pointed to the spike in the ground. Her tunic parted at the waste and revealed her mound and burning bush. She noticed him noticing her exposure. “Will you rape me now?”

“What!?” he was shocked.

“Please do,” she said. “I know you want me. I saw you in my dreams. You ran your hands over my body. I shot an arrow at you. You risked your life to loose me from slavery. I am eternally grateful to you. I am desperate to thank you with my fingers. I would please you as no woman could. But I can do nothing bound this way.” She swung herself toward him and wrapped her legs around him with an ease and speed that surprised him. Her naked mound pressed against his naked abdomen. Her tunic parted, exposing her mound and her stomach. He could now see only the very top of the tunic was fastened, the rest of it hung loosely at her sides. He instinctively placed his hands on her hips. Her lithe muscles contracted as she tried to pull him closer. “Maybe Chuva hung me here for you. But I am not strong enough to keep you in my grip. Please do not escape me.”

“Not like this,” he said. “It’s not right. Let me talk to Chuva. She will let me take you down.”

“You don’t know that,” she said. “She might crush you for even suggesting it.”

“I have her body,” he quoted.

“You don’t even know what that means,” she said.

“What does it mean?” he asked.

“Who knows?” she said. “Amazon rituals are weird, and sometimes I think she makes them up as she goes. Forget about her. You desire me. You have me. Please take me. If I were as cunning as Safira, I would seduce you. If I were as strong as Chuva, I would force you. Know that my mind is free to refuse you, but I desire you.”

“After everything that has happened to you, I can’t believe you would want me to take you like this.” he said. She released him and let her legs dangle. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring up those memories.”

“My father made me a slave and sold me to pay back a debt,” she said. She met his eyes. “My master abused my body by offering me to lecherous filth. Most of them were sadists who bolted me to a cross and crushed my bones. For two months, I screamed every morning and I smiled every night. Chuva and Safira rescued me from those bastards. They immediately tried to free me from the dagger. I am grateful for what they did. I would stay with them, if they will let me. I am grateful to you for what you did. But you will leave us as soon as I am down from this tree. So take me now.” He was speechless with internal conflict. She gripped him again with her legs. “The memories of how I was abused, will haunt me for a long time. My shame is endless. But you could give me the memory of a tender lover. A sailor who risked his life to free my soul and let me repay him before he left me forever.”

He came closer to her and brought a hand to her cheek. “I am pleased to serve you,” he said. She grinned. He kissed her. Her knees gripped him under his arms and her toes loosed his belt and his trousers fell to his heels. He was shocked at her skill and speed. He unfastened the top of her tunic and it fell, hanging loosely at her sides. A familiar nude revealed, made lovelier by her open eyes and genuine desire.

He gripped her hips and entered her. “Ah!” escaped her lips, like a painful hiccup. Her knees gripped his sides. She bounced herself against him. She was not subtle. There was no buildup. She attacked him at high speed. “Mmmh, mmmh, mmmh, mmmh.” Even tied as she was, she was in charge. He did little more than stand there and hold her in place. She bit her lower lip and closed her eyes.

He reached around her and pulled her hair, forcing her head back. “Eeeck!” She was stunned, surprised, and pleased. He pulled harder. She arched her back to an impossible angle to ease the pressure on her neck. He kissed the nipples of her upturned breasts. “Ah! Oh, elders!“

He let her go and let her hang. “No!” she screamed. “Why did you stop?” He turned her around. “What are you doing?” He entered her again. “Ah!” escaped her lips, like a painful hiccup. He attacked her again, only slower and deeper. She was still pleased, but with her hands tied above her head, facing away from him and her legs dangling uselessly underneath her, she had no control. Since his angle of approach was mostly from underneath and since she was suspended above, he no longer needed to hold her up. His hands were free to explore her body. He pinched her nipples. “This isn’t fair. Turn me around again.” she commanded. He slapped her ass. “Ah! How dare you?” He said nothing. He slapped her ass again. “Ah! Stop that!” He slapped her ass again. “Oh, please stop.” He continued pumping into her, at his slower pace. She began to twitch uncontrollably. Her head bobbed violently, like it wanted to escape her shoulders. “Oh, oh, ah, ah. Please turn me around again.” He did so. Only this time he gripped one of her legs and rolled her in place, never breaking his pace. She faced him again but could barely see him passed her own hair, which covered her face as she rolled. Her knees could grip him once more, but her spasms allowed her little purchase. He held her up again. He squeezed her butocks as he lifted her against himself. She pressed her face against one of her up-stretched arms. He quickened his pace. Her spasms grew more violent. She almost shook herself free from him. He tightened his grip on her. She cried into her arm and bit her bicep several times. “Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah! Aaagggghhhhh!” She became limp and slumped in his arms.

“Freya?” He he parted the hair that covered her face. Her eyes were closed. She was breathing lightly. “Freya?!” He was worried now.

“She’ll be fine.” Safira said from behind him. “She will wake in a few minutes.” The witch had donned her cloak again and she held her staff.

“What did you do to her?”

“Nothing.” she said. “You have climaxed her. Was that not what you wanted?”

“So soon?” he said. “We barely started.”

“She is an elf,” she said. “Her fingers could tantalize you for hours, but her sensitivity also means she has low sexual resistance.”

“May I let her down, please?”

“Will you leave us now?”

“She wishes to stay with you. Will you allow this?” He loosed the rope holding Freya up. He lowered her to the ground slowly.

“She is our friend. She is so much fun. We owe our lives to her. And now she is free. I would be glad if she would stay with us.”

“Then I do believe it is time for me to leave.” He closed the tunic over Freya.

“Will you return to Bonkar?”

“Yes, if I can convince them that I killed you, I might be able to collect some bounty and it would get them off your back.”

“You make me so wet.”

“What?!” He pulled his trousers back up and tightened his belt.

“You are driven by a sense of honor and service that I thought had long left this world. It turns me on.”

“Safira, I am desperate not to offend you again, but I should really be going now.”

“My name is Safira Isma Nogeholm. Can you pronounce it?”

He hesitated. “Safira Isma Nogeholm.”

She shuttered as the last syllable escaped his lips. “That’s right. Please do not repeat it to anyone else, or they will have power over me. I haven’t even told Freya or Chuva. ”

“Why tell me?”

“I have your memories. I know the kind of man you are. You have my name. I am spiritually naked before you. I am vulnerable to any suggestion you would make, and defenceless if you cast a spell against me.” She approached him and placed a hand on his cheek. “I know you would never abuse me. I know your path. You’ve been alone a long time. I know that one day you will need us desperately. Remember my name. Whisper it in your prayers and I will hear you.”

He was speechless as he pondered the weight of what she just said. The infinite trust she just showed him.

“Safira Isma Nogeholm,” he said. She shuddered again. “Last night you bound yourself to convince me that we are not enemies. Your trust was not misplaced. I release you from all obligations said last night.”

“You are no sorcerer,” she said. “What makes you think you can take back my words?”

“Nothing, but it was worth a shot. I know you won’t hurt me or my loved ones. But I would rather you be limited by your own sense of decency than by your obligations.”

“I was a coward to try and keep Freya as our slave. You were right. I was wrong to try and stop you. Chuva was right to help you.”

“We got lucky. If Freya died in the paradox, you would be right and we would all be sorry. Where is Chuva? Why didn’t she come with you?”

“I am taking my revenge on her.” Safira walked back to the camp. “Come and see.”

He followed after her. “How did you escape her?”

“I knew I could escape her ropes right away, but what would I do once I was free? My magic items were several paces away and Chuva would have me in seconds. I needed to wait for an opportunity. When she pleasured me before you, she gave me the opportunity I needed. I knew she would not back down once I started pleasuring her. I pleased her with my fingers until I was convinced she no longer cared to escape my touch. Slowly I loosed the knots that held my wrists. I removed my gag and pleased her with my tongue while I loosed my heels. I escaped her ropes and trapped her in my own bonds.”

They reached the camp. Chuva was on the ground, still naked. Her wrists and ankles were wrapped with roots and she was pulled taut at all four corners. She grunted and struggled but the roots were strong and deep. A thick branch reached inside her. It was not moving, but it seemed to reach deep inside. Every time she moved, she was arousing herself.

“Witch! I will avenge myself on you for daring to defile me this way! Release me!”

“Safira, please stop molesting her.” He said.

“Not yet, sir.” Safira said. A new set of roots sprang from the ground and gagged the amazon. Her head was pulled back against the ground. Chuva offered no resistance. “This is her reward for daring to shame me before you. Besides, she does enjoy it when I stretch her like this.” Chuva struggled once more and protested into her wooden gag, but it was short lived. The amazon panted and writhed helplessly against the roots that held her. “See how her body betrays her. See how hard her nipples have become. See how wet she is become. She is proud of her own desire. But she may not offer herself to you. She must be taken.”

“She has taken me twice already.” he said. “Safira, please release her.”

“Your kindness is your undoing, sir.” Safira waved her staff and the roots released the captive amazon and retreated underground.

Chuva, now free, reached for her breasts and between her legs. Her fingers working frantically to finish what the branch had started. Even now her passions were not sated. She was unaware or unconcerned that she had an audience.

Freya walked passed them, collected her bow and arrows, and started for the trees.

“Freya?” Safira called after her.

“Where are you going?” he asked.

“Breakfast!” she shouted over her shoulder. “Aren’t you people starving? I was on my way to get dinner when I was attacked and forced to rape my friends before I was raped myself.”

His face showed his despair. “She’s teasing you,” Safira said to him. “You are so bothered by it and she knows it. We all know it.” She laughed softly. “She’s free. She’s really free. The spirits were kind. You were so kind. How can I repay you?”

He thought about it. “I need you to give me something I can bring back to Bonkar. Something that will help me prove you are all dead.”

She removed her sandals and offered them to him. “Several of the men complemented these when they approached me. I’m sure they sought to gain my company, but they will remember me and these.”

“These are perfect,” he said. “I may need a token from each of -ahhh!...” A powerful arm gripped him by the stomach. Another arm wrapped around his chest. Chuva’s nails cut into his flesh and she drew back her arm. Four even cuts appeared on his chest.

“I will not have it known that I was killed by such a little man, and that all I could manage was to bruise his eye.” She turned him around and licked his wound. “There will be no doubt of my mark, and our epic struggle before you managed to subdue me. Tell them how my great strength could not escape your bondage. Tell them how you ravaged my body before you slit my throat.”

“I’ll … I’ll think of a convincing story.”

“Stay,” Chuva said. “Stay for breakfast, at leaste. Please let us feed you.” She strutted toward the woods after the elf.

“She’s right,” Safira said. “That mark will prove you encountered her. If you survived, it will leave little doubt that she is dead.” She embraced him from behind and whispered in his ear “Sama.” Her unnaturally warm hands pressed against his wounds in his chest and head. The swelling around his eye shrank. The cuts in his chest were sealed. She withdrew her hands. “I’m afraid I must leave you with these scars. If I heal you completely, there will be no proof left.”

“It’s perfect.” he said. “Thank you.” He undid the bandage around his head and blinked as the bright morning colors entered his right eye. He became dizzy.

“Easy,” Safira steadied him. “Losing an eye is easy, regaining one is instantly confusing. It will pass before long.”

He sat down. “I guess I will stay for breakfast.”

Safira started the fire and boiled some eggs.

Freya downed a deer with her arrows. She picked fruit and went back to the camp.

Chuva carried back the deer and prepared the meet.

They feasted and laughed and told each other stories of their other adventures.