The Feast
Page 96
Right now you are squished against the side of the cage while an imp takes its leisurely fill of you. Your body is already sticky with the cum of other creatures, ones less gentle than the imp. Over your shoulder you watch Vale as he reads the most recent letters from the heads of the Order in each city. The takeover was fast. Most nobles bowed to their new leader without question.
The imp keeps to its sluggish pace, its cock sliding in and out, in and out, occasionally breaking rhythm as it changes holes.
Vale throws down the letters and sighs dramatically. “I’m bored.” He snaps his fingers for a servant to attend him. “Bring kitten something new to play with. Surprise me.”
You break out in a cold sweat, fear making you tremble. No matter how many times it happens you are still unable to numb yourself to the horror of a new monster. Sometimes you are used so roughly that you are unable to move for days afterwards. Other times your mind is shattered and you lose yourself to madness. You beg and beg for depraved things to be done to you, listening in horror to the words coming out of your mouth. But the Order’s mages are master healers and always bring you back to sanity. It’s worse that way. Madness is kinder.
One of Vale’s attendants comes to take the imp from your cage. You back into the far corner and feel a crumple underfoot. It is a small scroll lying on the floor of your cage amongst the filth. You turn your back to Vale on his throne and unfurl it. The script is compact but flawless.
Wait for the one with a key in its mouth. When the castle sleeps, we will come.
- J
You tear the parchment into minute scraps and scatter them among the debris on the floor of your cage.
Jasper is coming for you. You will soon be free.
THE END
Back to the start.
—
Daylight streams in from the end of the hall. You shield your eyes and stagger forward. A pair of orcs in armor move towards you. Their arms held out to steady you feel solid, human, real. You sob from relief. You’ve made it to the end of the passage.
The orcs ask you if you are okay, but your throat is bone dry and you can’t make a sound. They help you to the door and you take your first steps out into the sunlight. You lean against a wall while the orcs talk quietly to each other.
“How long has she been down here?” one of them asks.
“She hasn’t starved so can’t be long.”
“Why didn’t she just leave? The door was unlocked.”
“Did you see that back there? The floor. It looks like she’s been pacing back and forth for gods know how long.”
“She must have gone mad. You saw the state of her. The monsters must have gotten her the night of the feast.”
Cold dread fills you. Could it be possible? Were you pacing back and forth along the same stretch of hallway the whole time you were down there? Have the monsters driven you mad?
“But she’s the one we’re looking for?”
“It has to be. I swear I saw her once at the hideout.”
The orcs take you away from the castle and toss you into the back of a covered wagon. You ask them where you’re going.
“We’re taking you somewhere safe. Jasper wanted to make sure you weren’t left behind.”
Just hearing the rogue’s name fills you with butterflies. He sent people to look for you.
“What happened at the feast?” you ask.
“Vale’s dead,” one of them replies. “But that hasn’t stopped the Order from taking over the capital. We’ll need all the help we can get fighting them.”
You wonder how long it’s been since the feast, but you’re too scared to ask. You hope that your time trapped in the bowels of the castle haven’t driven you mad. You feel fine for now, though a nagging feeling tells you that you aren’t quite the same as you once were. No one could have survived what you did in the dark and stayed entirely sane.
THE END
Back to the start.
—
“News from Tyven,” Eli says. He is holding up a bruised, bloody man in a hooded robe. You can barely see his face through the scraggle of white hair covering it.
“You didn’t need to hurt him,” Jasper says.
Eli frowns. “He tried to get away. And it wasn’t me. It was Toren.”
“So what’s the news?” you ask.
Eli elbows the man in the ribs. He groans.
“Tell her what you told me,” he says.
The man says little of interest, starting with the usual threats and then repeating the same rumors you’ve been hearing about the capital. Ever since you fled Tyven you’ve been moving from place to place, meeting with groups like Jasper’s across the kingdom who have been fighting the Order. Most of Jasper’s friends from Tyven have joined you, including the darkwood elf Eli. And you need all the help you can get. Even with Vale dead, the demonic creatures have ensured the Order’s hold over the kingdom. Often it feels like a losing battle, but you do what you can.
“Are you even listening, kitten?”
The silvery voice pulls you out of your thoughts.
“What did you say?” A cold chill runs up your spine.
The prisoner coughs out a few choice words regarding your bosom, his rough voice nothing like the one you thought you’d imagined. Eli chuckles.
“Take him away,” you say in disgust.
As Eli drags the prisoner away you think you see a glint of red in the man’s eyes. The chill returns and you feel sweaty all over.
Jasper puts a hand on your back.
“You saw it too,” he whispers.
Jasper rubs your back reassuringly, his hand warming away the chills. He has become a good friend during your time with him, a confidante and brother in arms.
Jasper smiles. “We’ve stopped him once. We can do it again.”
THE END
Back to the start.
—
You came from Doria. At least that’s what Jasper tells you. You watched as the Order took over your home and Vale made plans to spread their influence to the rest of the kingdom. You decided you needed to do something about it, and went to warn the capital of the coming threat.
Along the way you were caught by Dorian guards. They put you on a prison convoy to be tried for treason back home. But the Dorians weren’t the only ones out looking for you. Jasper’s group was too. Like you, they had been fighting to stop the growing influence of the Order. They thought you would be a good addition to their team having watched the Order up close.
They tried to rescue you from the Dorian prison convoy, but the attempt went south and they were forced to flee. In the fighting you fell of the back of your wagon and hit your head. By the time Jasper returned to find you, you had already gone. It was then he met Vale and everything changed.
Vale forced Jasper to promise he wouldn’t tell you who you were. He wanted to let fate decide which side you would choose having no former knowledge of who you were. You were a blank slate. You could go either way. Vale thought it would be amusing to watch you pledge your life to the very cause you vowed to fight. And he succeeded, for a while.
But why did Jasper agree? Because he too used to work for the Order. Vale promised to keep his past a secret in exchange for participating in the game. Jasper thought he could keep you safe and sway you to his side as long as you trusted him. What he didn’t count on was Vale getting to you sooner.
But all that is in the past now, and what lies ahead is the long fight against the Order. Even with Vale dead, the Order has remained strong. The world can never go back to what it was before you opened the portal to the Old Ones, but you still fight with the hopes that not everything is lost.
THE END
Back to the start.
—
A dark shape flies above you across the red sky. You lie on your back, chained down to a stone slab in the wastelands of the netherworld. You tried pleading with the demons who torture you, telling them who y
ou are and what you did for the Old Ones. But they don’t understand you, or perhaps they simply don’t care.
You have been here since the flames consumed you and Vale You have no idea how long you have been dead. Time doesn’t seem to pass down here. It is hot and dry in the wasteland, and deathly still. You don’t know what happened to Vale, but you are far from alone in this desert hell. The demons and monsters like to use you as they please. Their nightmare shapes fill your imagination during the quiet moments. Every passing shadow makes you wish there was no afterlife.
You feel a disturbance in the air. Something big is approaching. You squeeze your eyes shut and lie still hoping whatever it is somehow misses you. A tentacle brushes your leg, its smooth surface sliding across your skin. Tendrils wriggle up your legs and arms feeling their way towards your more sensitive parts. Then you feel a dry, bony hand grasp one of your breasts. A rattling breath passes close to your ear. You wonder how long an eternity really is.
THE END
Back to the start.
—
You come to find that the town has no name. It has never needed a name, being so disconnected from the business of the rest of the kingdom. The orc-lizard-cat folk let you stay in their town and work odd jobs in exchange for food and lodging at the inn. You find plenty to keep you busy between the work and the late nights at the bar with the town’s men. You are somewhat of a novelty as the only human woman within miles.
Slowly your memories have started coming back to you, with the help of the alchemist whose potions have done much to heal the damage done to your head. So far you remember growing up in Doria then fleeing suddenly. You were headed to the capital to start a new life it seems. And that’s what you did, for the most part. You suppose this unnamed forest town is the farthest you’ll get from your eastern homeland. Every day you are thankful you escaped Tyven.
THE END
Back to the start.
—
You come to find that the town indeed has no name. It has never needed a name, being so disconnected from the business of the rest of the kingdom. The orc-lizard-cat folk let you stay in their town and work odd jobs in exchange for food and lodging at the inn. You find plenty to keep you busy between the work and the late nights at the bar with the town’s men. You are somewhat of a novelty as the only human woman within miles.
Slowly your memories have started coming back to you, with the help of the alchemist whose potions have done much to heal the damage done to your head. So far you remember growing up in Doria then fleeing suddenly. You were headed to the capital to start a new life it seems. And that’s what you did, for the most part. You suppose this unnamed forest town is the farthest you’ll get from your eastern homeland. Every day you are thankful you escaped Tyven.
Eventually it is time to give birth to the forest god’s offspring. The alchemist does what he can to help, but it is still a trial you must endure alone. You lie in bed, exhausted but relieved. In your arms are two bundles. Your faunlike children mewl, their features more human than deer. But the boy already has little buds on his head that will become full antlers like his father’s. You hope the town’s people will accept them.
The stairs creak as heavy hoof steps approach. You remember the deer in the woods, Cernunnos. The one who gave you these children. The door opens slowly. You feel your breath catch in your throat.
A man stands at the door, naked but for a pelt around his waist. His head is crowned with antlers. You recognize him as one of the many forms of the forest god.
He tells you to come with him. You bundle up your children and follow him out into the forest.
THE END
Back to the start.
—
Since your arrival in Black Hollow you have grown quite close to the town’s keeper, telling him almost everything about your journey from the forest to the capital. He is easy to confide in and has never once betrayed your confidence. He is also easy on the eyes, and good in bed. He makes sure you are comfortable in the town and treated well. In exchange you help him look after town and do odd jobs as needed for its residents. You have mostly been able to forget the nightmare you left behind in Tyven.
In exchange, your memories from before the forest are starting to return. Your mind must have just needed time to heal. You remember growing up in Doria then fleeing suddenly. You were headed to the capital to start a new life it seems. And that’s what you did, for the most part. You suppose Black Hollow is the farthest you’ll get from your eastern homeland. Every day you are thankful you escaped Tyven.
THE END
Back to the start.
—
A driving rain beats across the island, making even the ancient pine trees bend and sway. Hawke sits across from you in front of the tavern’s fire. You are waiting for Hawke’s scouts to return from the mainland.
It has been almost a week since you fled Tyven. In that time there has been no word from the capital. For all you know everyone could be dead. Hawke sent a small fishing vessel to see if they could gather any information. They were due back this morning.
The people of the small island town have been more than welcoming. You’ve been staying with Hawke at the inn above the tavern, the sea around here too rocky to comfortably stay on his ship. It’s nice to be on solid land, but it has its downsides. The main one being how thin the pine walls are. You have to bite into a pillow every time Hawke makes love to you. And he does so more nights than not.
The tavern door slams open letting in a cold gust of wind. One of Hawke’s men stomps in, his oiled sealskins dripping all over the wooden floor. He appears to be alone.
Hawke gets up with a start. “What did you find?” he asks.
The man pushes back his hood. His eyes look hollow, like he’s having trouble focusing on Hawke’s face. “The city’s gone,” he says. “Overrun with monsters. We couldn’t even get close to shore, but it was obvious enough from where we were.”
“And the others?” Hawke asks.
The man shakes his head. “We were attacked and they were pulled overboard. I’d say it was a mermaid but I’ve never seen one so foul. She looked like she was part eel, part demon. That’s when I fled for home. I didn’t want you to lose more men sending a search party after us.”
Hawke takes a deep breath as he contemplates this information. He tells the man to warm himself up and take some food. Then he goes back to you by the fire.
You ask him what he’s going to do.
“Warn the rest of the sea tribes,” he says. “It sounds like we’re preparing for war. I don’t know against who, or what, but it’s coming. And we’ll have to defend our people.”
He pulls you into a hug. You feel safe in his arms. No matter what’s coming you know he is strong enough to win.
THE END
Back to the start.
—
A driving rain beats across the island, making even the ancient pine trees bend and sway. Hawke sits across from you in front of the tavern’s fire. You are waiting for Hawke’s scouts to return from the mainland.
It has been almost a week since you fled Tyven. In that time there has been no word from the capital. For all you know everyone could be dead. Hawke sent a small fishing vessel to see if they could gather any information. They were due back this morning.
The people of the small island town have been more than welcoming. You’ve been staying with Hawke at the inn above the tavern, the sea around here too rocky to comfortably stay on his ship. It’s nice to be on solid land, but it has its downsides. The main one being how thin the pine walls are. You have to bite into a pillow whenever you have someone over so that Hawke doesn’t hear your moans through the shared wall. And you find yourself busy more nights than not.
The tavern door slams open letting in a cold gust of wind. One of Hawke’s men stomps in, his oiled sealskins dripping all over the wooden floor. He appears to be alone.
Hawke gets up with a start. �
��What did you find?” he asks.
The man pushes back his hood. His eyes look hollow, like he’s having trouble focusing on Hawke’s face. “The city’s gone,” he says. “Overrun with monsters. We couldn’t even get close to shore, but it was obvious enough from where we were.”
“And the others?” Hawke asks.
The man shakes his head. “We were attacked and they were pulled overboard. I’d say it was a mermaid but I’ve never seen one so foul. She looked like she was part eel, part demon. That’s when I fled for home. I didn’t want you to lose more men sending a search party after us.”
Hawke takes a deep breath as he contemplates this information. He tells the man to warm himself up and take some food. Then he goes back to you by the fire.
You ask him what he’s going to do.
“Warn the rest of the sea tribes,” he says. “It sounds like we’re preparing for war. I don’t know against who, or what, but it’s coming. And we’ll have to defend our people.”
You regard the sea chief, his proud face and strong body. No matter what’s coming you know he is strong enough to win.
THE END