Herald of Shalia 4

by Tamryn Tamer

“You used me,” Frost said bitterly. “You think…”

  “I’m sorry handsome,” Brynn said, looking at him remorsefully. “I really am. If you knew what I was doing there was a chance you would have tried to stop me or he might have noticed that something wasn’t right and…”

  “So what?” Frost asked, looking down at the petite princess. “You think that makes it okay? What if I would have died here? What if he decided to punish Renna, Ena, or Fayeth? You decided to just gamble everybody’s lives for your petty fucking revenge?”

  “I’ve worked my entire life for this!” Brynn snapped as tears filled her eyes. “Why do you think I wanted to be Queen of Zira? Do you think I care about that stupid crown? The ruler of Zira can have a herald executed! Every day from the moment I found out he killed my parents I’ve been planning my revenge! I had the opportunity to finish everything now and I took it!”

  “But you still can’t kill me,” Herald Law said, laughing quietly. “You said it yourself…”

  “I said Herald Frost can’t kill you!” Brynn said kicking Herald Law in the face, knocking him back down. She kicked him several more times, targeting the open wound in his shoulder and his head. “But I can!”

  “You?” Herald Law shook his head. “You think your father would let you…”

  “My father already approved it!” Brynn said, ripping the axe from Herald Frost. “You should have come with me when I made my call Magnus! Then you would know that I told him about how erratic you were behaving. How you were obsessed with Herald Frost. How I was concerned that you were going to try to march your army up to his border because you were furious about some demihuman courtesans. How you were going to jeopardize Fiora’s marriage and the alliance with Rilia while potentially starting a war!”

  “What?” Herald Law said, trembling as he stared up at Brynn. “You mean…”

  “You never had permission to be here Magnus,” Brynn said, laughing as she grinned malevolently, looking down on him. “You violated a direct order from the king when you marched the royal guards over here and threatened Herald Frost. As far as my father is concerned, Herald Frost defeated you on this battlefield and showed you mercy out of respect for King Leaucault, his father-in-law. But you see Herald Law, I asked my father what I should do if you violate his order…”

  “N-no,” Herald Law said, attempting to crawl away from her.

  “He said that if you were to violate his order then as a Princess of Zira I have permission to find you guilty of treason in his name,” Brynn said. “So that’s what I’m doing. Herald Magnus Law, in the name of King Valagnar Leaucault, I hereby find you guilty of treason and sentence you to death. Queen Valencia will serve as a witness.”

  “Looks like I bet on the right Herald,” Queen Valencia said as he looked up at her in horror. “So much for ruining my family…”

  “Brynn, please,” Herald Law looked up at the black-haired princess as she gripped his axe. “We were supposed to be together…”

  “I would sooner die,” Brynn said as she lifted the axe. “Fortunately, I don’t have to.”

  Brynn brought the axe down on Herald Law’s head, killing him instantly as the blade cleaved his skull. The blood and debris splattered on her white dress as she lifted the axe and cleaved him again, and continued cleaving him until his head was nothing but a pile of blood and chunks. Even after that she continued to chop away, tears dripping down her face as she moved onto his chest, intent on turning him into mush.

  “That’s enough,” Frost said, grabbing her arm. “He’s not getting any deader.”

  “I hate him so much,” Brynn said. “You don’t understand. All the years he spent looking at me. All the years I spent smiling and fawning over him while knowing that he killed my father and raped my mother.”

  “I might not understand,” Frost said calmly. “But he’s dead. You got your revenge. All you had to do was betray everybody that cared about you.”

  “I know,” Brynn said, tears flowing down her cheek. “I knew when I did this that everybody would hate me.”

  “Was it worth it?” Frost asked.

  “Yes,” she said, smiling up at him with tears in her eyes. “Even if everybody hates me. Even if you hate me and never forgive me. I finally killed him. Herald Magnus Law is dead by my hand.”

  “Honestly wasn’t expecting that answer,” Frost groaned.

  “But I don’t want to lose you,” Brynn said with tears streaming down her face. “I know everybody hates me right now but I had to do it. I was never really against you and…”

  “Renna wants you dead,” Frost said, shaking his head. “If I bring you back the elves…”

  “Please don’t leave me,” Brynn begged, wrapping her arms around him as she cried into his chest. “I know you’re mad! But I really do love you and the villagers and I don’t want to go! I don’t need the stupid crown of Zira anymore! I just need you and them! If you forgive me, I’ll spend every day…”

  “You nearly had me killed,” Frost said.

  “I know,” she said as tears streamed down her face. “But I knew you would beat him.”

  “The elves hate you,” Frost said. “They don’t trust you.”

  “I’ll make it up to them too,” Brynn said continuing to beg. “I’ll do anything. I just want to stay with you.”

  “Princess Brynn Hilde,” Queen Valencia said, looking down on Brynn with scorn. “Your behavior is not befitting a princess.”

  “I don’t care!” Brynn said, shaking her head. “I don’t care about being a princess anymore! The only reason I wanted to be the Queen of Zira was so I could kill Herald Law and now he’s dead! Now I just want to live with my husband!”

  “I can’t have people thinking that there aren’t consequences for betraying me,” Frost said, looking down at Brynn as she dropped to her knees and wrapped her arms around his leg. “Stop it.”

  “Handsome,” Brynn said, sniffling. “I saved your life. You’re supposed to be mine forever.”

  “Really?” Frost said in disbelief. “You’re going to play that card?”

  “It’s the only one I have,” Brynn said quietly. “I’ll do anything you want. Just please, don’t send me away. I don’t want to live alone in an estate like my mother…”

  “You need to be punished,” Frost said, wanting to forgive her but not wanting to make it easy. “I don’t care if you tried to have me killed. I’m not really mad about that. But you put everybody else in danger Brynn.”

  “I’ll do anything,” Brynn whimpered.

  “Okay,” Frost said, looking around the battlefield at the nervous soldiers trying to figure out what to do. Frost got down on one knee in Front of Brynn and stared at the weeping princess. He let out a sigh and tapped his knee. “Bend over it.”

  “What?” Brynn asked.

  “What?” Queen Valencia said simultaneously.

  “What?” Sir Isaac and Sir Adamus who’d been standing quietly behind everybody said in unison.

  “It’s like I said,” Frost said. “You need to be punished.”

  “That’s all you want?” Brynn asked hopefully. “Really?”

  “It’ll be a start,” Frost answered sternly. He couldn’t really imagine how she felt pretending to care about Herald Law for so many years. It must have been horrible for her and he couldn’t really be upset since things worked out, relatively speaking. But he couldn’t let her walk away without a scratch. “Bend over.”

  “You don’t intend to do this here,” Queen Valencia said. “I understand she’s your wife but she’s still a princess of Zira.”

  “Okay,” Brynn nodded, bending over his knee in her dress as two thousand soldiers looked on, unsure of what to make of the scene. “I love you handsome.”

  “I know,” Frost said as he lifted up her skirt, exposing her white lacy panties to half the soldiers on the battlefield. He gave her a powerful smack on the ass causing her to yelp. It wasn’t a playful or cute smack, but a punishing one as he pulled his arm
back and administered another. She whimpered as he continued smacking her ass, humiliating her in front of two thousand soldiers.

  He hated to admit it but he was somewhat relieved that Brynn had orchestrated everything the way she did. The alternative was that she actually hated him and the fact was, he loved her. Even if she put him in an absolutely idiotic situation for her own revenge, he loved her and dreaded the thought of letting her go.

  “Isn’t that enough?” Queen Valencia said, wincing as Frost continued spanking Brynn’s nearly-bare ass.

  “Not by a longshot,” Frost said, continuing to spank her. “And after I’m finished, I’m sure the elves are going to want to administer some punishments of their own. So, you better be ready for it Brynn.”

  “I know…” she said, whimpering as Frost continued to smack her welted ass.

  CHAPTER 27

  “Such a good husband,” Lishri whispered in his ear while squeezing him, her large chest pressing against his back as he hung from her web. “I love you so much my dearest. You can stay here as long as you want.”

  “Uh huh,” Frost yawned as Lishri continued to spoil him.

  After the battle it took all of his energy to maintain the appearance of strength. Mentally he was completely exhausted and if not for adrenaline he probably would have passed out.

  Queen Valencia and Fiora took command of the royal knights and returned with them to Blackwater, assuring Frost that they would accurately report the situation on Brynn’s behalf. Valencia also noted her intention of returning to Zira’s capital within the week and bid Frost farewell, noting that she would prefer if he avoided Blackwater until she was gone.

  One he arrived back in the village Frost just wanted to sleep. To make sure he was able to get that sleep he climbed up to Lishri’s house in the treetops. The crimson Arachne was perfectly content spending hours cuddling with him and her web was remarkably comfortable. Although he’d occasionally wake up for find the topless redhead kissing and licking him.

  Hanging from Lishri’s web was like hanging from a cloud and Frost imagined there were few things as comfortable than hanging from a cloud. Lishri could sense exactly how much tension there was in each string of her web and tied every soft silken piece in all of the right places. The stress just melted away.

  “So kind, so handsome, so strong,” Lishri whispered, her twin hearts rhythmically beating, soothing him. The redhaired Arachne’s long tongue slid across his neck to his ear, finishing at his earlobe as her lips closed on it. “I love you so much my darling consort.”

  “I love you too,” Frost said, finally starting to feel like himself. “How long have I been sleeping?”

  “Two and a half days,” Lishri answered. “But you can sleep as long as you want. I have taken measure to ensure that nobody bothers you. If you would like some more food…”

  “I’m fine,” Frost said, turning his head to kiss Lishri’s glossy red lips. “You’ve been amazing.”

  “Does that mean you’re going to leave?” Lishri asked, the disappointment apparent in her eyes. “I promise that everything is taken care of. Desdemona sent her brother away and…”

  “It’s not that,” Frost yawned again. “I’m just feeling better. I’m not one hundred percent but I’m good enough to check on the villagers.”

  “Okay,” Lishri said sullenly as she started untying his bindings. “But if you feel tired or dizzy you should come right back and rest for a few more days.”

  “I might anyway,” Frost said as she carried him from her massive web and placed him on the ground.

  “Oh, you can’t wear those anymore,” Lishri said, blocking him as he started walking toward his tattered clothing. The large Arachne grabbed a pair of black pants and a white shirt from one of her clothing piles. “If you’d like something nicer, I can whip something up for you real quick.”

  “I’m fine,” Frost said, gently sliding his hand up her naked stomach toward her voluptuous chest. He could have rested his head on those pale breasts for days but he knew if he stayed with her any longer the villagers would begin to worry. “Thank you.”

  “I worry that you’re pushing yourself too hard my lovely consort,” Lishri said, running her hands through his hair as he got dressed. She grabbed one of her brushes from her makeup table along with a spray bottle and began trying to force his unruly hair into submission. “You should just let me take care of you. There’s so much I’m willing to do for you.”

  “I know,” Frost smirked as he finished getting dressed. “But feeding me was really unnecessary.”

  “But I wanted to,” Lishri said, her face turning pink with embarrassment. “It was nice. It felt like you really needed me.”

  “Maybe I’ll let you do it again then,” Frost winked as he headed for the exit, avoiding the piles of colorful textiles and racks of clothing. “Or maybe next time we can do something even more fun.”

  “I would love that,” Lishri smiled while holding her arms together, making her already large chest look even more massive. “You do owe me a date night.”

  “I do, don’t I?” Frost said as Lishri nodded excitedly. “I suppose I’ll have to do something special to thank you then.”

  “I’m looking forward to it my love!” Lishri said cheerfully as Frost opened the door and stepped out onto her large wooden porch.

  The massive platform had several small garden boxes of various sizes and heights set up, each filled with colorful plants and flowers. If he stepped near the edge he could lean over the railings and look down on the entire village or just stare off in the distance to enjoy the sight of Pluma Forest. Lishri’s house had the best view in the entire village. Although the six Arachne sentries standing on the platform made enjoying that view difficult.

  “Lishri,” Frost said, poking his head back inside her home. “Mind explaining what’s going on out here?”

  “Oh!” Lishri said, rushing to the door. She stepped outside topless and waived at the women. “Thank you so much for helping these last couple days but your assistance is no longer necessary. You can let the others at the bottom know as well.”

  “Yes Queen Lishri,” one of the black-haired Arachne women said, nodding at the others. The women quickly dispersed, one going down the stairway while others rushed along the strands of web that connected Lishri’s home to the other platforms that made up the Arachne canopy village, a series of platforms in the treetops connected by webbed bridges.

  “Others?” Frost asked, walking to the edge of the platform and glancing down. A dozen Arachne surrounded the platform. Although they were unarmed it was clear that attempting to break through the makeshift barrier wouldn’t be easy. “Lishri?”

  “You said you didn’t want to be bothered,” Lishri said bashfully. “So, I asked some of the Arachne to make sure we weren’t disturbed.”

  “And everybody’s been okay with this?” Frost asked.

  “Oh,” Lishri rapidly shook her head. “No, not at all. They’ve said quite a few mean things to me about it.”

  “Thank you,” Frost said, kissing Lishri on the cheek while running his fingers through her silky red hair. “I appreciate you making sure I got rest. In the future, you don’t need to prevent people from seeing me though.”

  “Okay,” Lishri said disappointedly as Frost headed down the stairs.

  Once he was in the village, he was mobbed by concerned elves and other demihumans that wanted to check on him. Word had spread about him nearly collapsing from exhaustion and the Arachne wouldn’t tell them much. They ended up far more worried than they should have been.

  “I was just tired,” Frost said reassuringly as he lifted his shirt to show his abdomen. “See, no deadly wounds.”

  “What’s that?” a blue-haired elf asked, pointing at various small lightning burns. “You still look hurt.”

  “Oh,” Frost said, realizing it would probably be a few days before they faded away entirely. “That’ll be gone in a few days. Don’t worry.”

  He ma
de his way to the temple while reassuring any demihumans he came across. All he could really think about was how starved he was. Although Lishri was feeding him, she primarily fed him fruit and what he really wanted was some protein. He wanted to gorge himself on bacon, steaks, and pretty much any other meat they had available.

  He stepped inside of the temple and almost immediately he was swarmed by excited elves, some of whom he didn’t recognize.

  The temple’s layout was such that the entire first floor was more like a guild banquet hall with a stage than a religious structure. A stairway leading upstairs was on the left wall and a bar was on the right. In the back was a doorway that led to a few storage rooms, offices, and a large conference room.

  “Ladies,” Lysandra pushed her way through the swarm of newcomers while making her way to him. The women rapidly introduced themselves while several others found themselves unable to get a word in edgewise. “Please give the herald some room. He’ll make time to meet all of you at some point.”

  “Lysandra,” Frost said, smiling as the white-haired priestess arrived in front of him. He leaned down and kissed her, eliciting an excited gasp from the elves. “You look absolutely gorgeous.”

  “I look how I always look,” she said, blushing as she moved a strand of ivory hair from her face.

  “You always look absolutely gorgeous,” Frost said, patting her head as several of the elves squealed like teenage girls. “How about I get some food and we retire to your room.”

  “Goddess,” Lysandra giggled while playfully pushing him away. “Don’t tempt me like that. I’m still checking in the new arrivals. They just came in this morning and without Brynn…”

  “Without Brynn?” Frost asked concernedly.

  “Oh!” Lysandra shook her head. “Nothing like that. She’s just on house arrest for a month.”

  “Oh,” Frost said. “House arrest?”

  “Yes,” Lysandra said, rolling her eyes. “I didn’t think it was necessary given the circumstances. I mean, it was already rather harsh to do that to her in front of thousands of soldiers. But, Renna, Ena, and Fayeth insisted that she be placed under arrest for thirty days along with some other things?”