by John Evans
At the same time that the second set of white shafts was striking the archer, a jagged, sparkling, blue ball of light flashed over from the sloop. It struck one of the brig's mainsails and blew the entire sail into tatters. Karina watched in horror as two sailors up in the rigging were knocked off. One fell screaming into the sea as the other crashed onto the deck with a thud. Blood immediately began to pool underneath his body.
Karina heard Lorilei's voice take on an angry tone as she began muttering incantations and weaving her fingers in intricate patterns. Spells and counter spells flew back and forth between the two ships. Some Karina could see, others she could only sense.
"Stand by to repel boarders!" bellowed the captain.
Karina left the wounded sailor where he was and stood up. The sloop was now closing in fast to the brig. At least sixty men were lined up along the sloop's railing and several had grappling hooks in their hands.
"Surrender!"
Karina looked over at the quarterdeck of the sloop. An athletic man in his mid-thirties had jumped up onto the rail and was holding onto the rigging by one hand. He had dark hair and a trimmed goatee. He clothing was black pants and boots with a maroon-colored shirt. A rapier hung by his side.
"Surrender and I'll spare your crew!" he yelled.
"Passengers?" yelled back the captain.
The man made a face and an exaggerated shrug. "Ransomed if they're worth it."
"Go to hell," shouted the captain.
The pirate captain shrugged as if the answer was expected and inevitable. He pulled out his rapier to wave it over his head.
"Grapples away!" he commanded.
A dozen grapples flew from the sloop to the brig. One missed, but the other eleven thudded onto the deck. They were quickly pulled back to catch on the brig's rigging or railing. Karina quickly glanced at Lorilei, but saw that she was still engaged in her battle with the enemy magician. Karina felt the hard haft of Remarg in her hand and she stepped forward towards the nearest grapple.
The sloop's crew was hauling in on the heavy ropes attached to the grapples, drawing the two ships closer together. Karina flipped back her cloak, revealing her unique armor. She missed the look of astonishment on the pirate captain's face when he caught sight of her silvery, form-fitting armor. Karina ran down the quarterdeck rail swinging Remarg. Four thick ropes parted easily under the sharp axe blade.
Karina jumped down the steps to the main deck and cut four more ropes before she was hit from behind. She sprawled to the deck and rolled over a couple of times before she could look up to see what hit her.
"Sorry to knock you down, lass, but you were going to keep us from our prize," said the pirate captain, grinning at her and holding onto the line which he had used to swing over from the other ship.
The brig and the sloop were barely twenty feet apart when the brig's captain yelled for his crew to repel boarders. Karina swung at the pirate captain, who somersaulted backwards away from her whistling axe. Pandemonium broke out as the brig's crew boiled up from below and twenty pirates swung over from the sloop.
Karina and the pirate captain became separated as fighting flared all over the brig's deck. She clambered to her feet and managed to cut two more grappling ropes before she was brought up short by a boarding pike whizzing by her head. She turned to find herself facing a scruffy-looking pirate wielding a cutlass.
"Don' be doin' that, girl," he sneered. "If ye be as stacked as your armor suggests, me mates will be wantin' to meet you. I bet you'll be as juicy as a lobster, once we shuck you outta that shell."
Karina swung at him and missed. She caught his counter-stroke on her shield. The pirate's complacent look turned to one of concentration as he tried to get through Karina's defenses. Karina quickly ended the fight when she cut him deep across the thigh. The pirate cried out in pain and dropped his cutlass to use both hand to staunch the flow of blood.
"I guess you forgot about the lobster's claws," said Karina as he hobbled back away from her.
Karina raced up to the foredeck to cut the two lines that were up there, but other grapples had been thrown to catch the brig. Karina turned around to cut those ropes, but was confronted by the pirate captain.
"Now, lass, I asked you not to be doing that," he said, blocking her way. "You're only delaying the inevitable."
Karina pondered for a second on how to get past him to the three ropes bringing the two ships together. She inhaled sharply as she felt Remarg reshape itself and its lanyard disappeared from around her wrist. Karina then received a firm suggestion for her to throw her axe. Without thinking, she swung back with it and let it fly.
Remarg had gone from being a single-edged battle axe to a double-bladed throwing axe. As it spun down the side of the ship, it cut through the three ropes and then, to everyone's surprise, circled up in an arc back towards Karina. Karina's eyes opened wide in horror as the spinning axe was coming back straight towards Lorilei. Karina took in a breath to yell a warning, but never shouted as the axe's flight veered slightly missing Lorilei by a scant inch. Karina barely had time to raise her hand to catch Remarg out of the air.
"By Hakki's mischief!" swore the pirate captain softly. He then physically shook off his amazement. "Back to the ship! Back to the ship!"
The pirates who had swung over to the brig backed away from their adversaries. The brig's crew also backed up creating a gap between the two forces. The pirates then swung back to their sloop or dived overboard to swim back. The pirate captain unhitched a line as he jumped up to the railing.
"Guess it wasn't so inevitable after all," he said to Karina. "I'll be seeing you, lass."
With that, he kicked back and swung over to his sloop. His crew had thrown out lines and fished the swimmers out of the ocean. The pirate captain turned, smiled and waved to Karina before bellowing out orders to set sail. The canvas sails on the sloop boomed as the ship changed its tack and headed west towards the horizon.
Lorilei walked over to Karina. Her hair was plastered to her forehead and her clothes were rent and torn in various places. Karina was again struck by how much Lorilei looked like her twin sister, Ivin, except for the smoldering anger in her eyes.
"What were you trying to do?" snapped Lorilei between clenched teeth. "Get me killed? Luckily, I had just finished off their magician or your little trick with that axe would have broken my concentration and would have gotten me fried."
"No, I don't want you killed," replied Karina, "but I think Remarg did."
"That was Remarg?" gasped Lorilei as her face went white as a ghost.
Karina jumped forward and caught Lorilei before she swooned to the deck. Remarg had shrunk back to its charm bracelet size. Karina lowered Lorilei to a sitting position with her back against the railing. Lorilei shuddered and shook as she placed her head in her hands.
"I'm a dead woman," she moaned, slowly shaking her head back and forth. "I'm a dead woman."
"No, you're not," argued Karina. "You would have been if you had left me, remember?"
"So you are my guardian angel," Lorilei sneered, her fear forgotten.
"I need you too much to let anything happen to you."
Chapter 2: Offering Relief
"Miladys, I need some help."
Karina looked over her shoulder and jumped back at what she saw. Genese was standing by the gangway entrance and, to Karina's horror, she had blood all over both of her arms. Both Karina and Lorilei sprang to their feet and rushed over to Genese.
"It's not mine," added Genese hastily, holding up her stained hands. "One of the pirates got down below. A sailor tried to protect me, but he's hurt real bad."
Karina looked around quickly. Half a dozen of the brig's crew had some degree of injury, but all of them were being helped. She saw only two bodies being left alone and surmised that they had been killed. Karina looked at Lorilei, who nodded back at her, and they both followed Genese below.
Outside of their cabin was a young boy around sixteen years old. He was lying curle
d up in a puddle of blood. Karina rolled him over gently onto his back. The boy cried out in pain with his hands clutching his stomach. She managed to pull his hands aside to reveal a gruesome, long, deep cut across his abdomen. A sharp, foul-smelling reek assailed Karina's nose just as she released his hands. She shot a look at Lorilei who gave her back the same knowing stare.
"Genese, go into my brown case and bring me the golden candle," ordered Lorilei. "It's wrapped in parchment, about an inch in diameter and twelve inches long."
"Yes, milady," responded Genese, who left and soon returned with the candle.
Lorilei unwrapped the candle and held it in her left hand. "Illuminari!" The wick glowed briefly and then put forth a flame. Lorilei dripped some wax onto the floor boards before setting the candle down to keep it in place.
"Will it help?" asked Karina.
"It'll ease his pain," said Lorilei, not looking up.
"Genese, you had better go up top," advised Karina.
"You mean, he's..." gasped Genese horrified.
"Go on up, dearie," ordered Lorilei in a tone that brooked no discussion.
Genese curtsied quickly and ran up the steps. Karina was about to ask Lorilei if that was necessary, but was stopped by a loud sigh from the boy. She looked down to see the pain ease in his face and to watch the terrible wound close. His body was still covered in sweat and when Karina felt his forehead, it felt like he was burning up.
"Ah, all the pain is gone," said the young man lazily. "Where did the girl go? She promised to stay with me."
"She'll be back soon," said Karina softly. She turned to Lorilei. "Does he have a chance?"
"No," whispered Lorilei. "Too much blood lost and his insides were slashed opened. The candle will ease his pain and close the wound, but it can't stop the corruption already loose in his body."
"Where's the girl?" repeated the boy. "She, ugh, promised."
"Hold on," Lorilei told him and went into their cabin.
She was in there for a minute or so before the door opened again and Genese walked out. Karina knew that the real Genese had gone up on deck so this had to be Lorilei using one of her spells. A sly wink and a leering smile from 'Genese' left her with no doubt.
"It's me, Genese," said Lorilei in Genese's voice as she knelt down beside the boy. Karina backed away. "I'm here now."
"I thought you had left me," he said, licking his dry lips. "You promised to stay."
"I had to leave for only a second," said Lorilei softly.
"I was wondering if we could go out together when we hit port."
"Well," hemmed Lorilei.
"Oh, nothing you have to worry about," panted the boy, his eyes becoming feverishly bright. "I've... I've never been with a woman before."
Her eyebrows rose in disbelief. "You've never had sex with a woman?" Karina saw several emotions flash briefly across 'Genese's' face before it softened into smile. "I swore to save myself for my wedding day, but I do owe you my life. I think I know a way to solve your problem without breaking my oath."
Lorilei stroked her hand right up his thigh and placed it directly on his crotch. The boy gasped as her fingers squeezed and fondled his cock through his trousers. Karina was shocked by Lorilei's actions, but did not move for fear of disturbing the boy's final minutes. She felt her body begin to heat up and she fished Adelpha's pendant from underneath her armor to clasp it in her hand.
"It's getting so hard," cooed 'Genese' as she continued to massage the rapidly growing prick. "I hope I'm doing this right. Maybe it'd be better if I pulled it out, dearie."
Karina saw Lorilei reach up and untie the rope belt to the boy's pants. She then grabbed the top of his pants and managed to get them down to his knees. Karina inhaled sharply as the boy's cock popped into view. She felt the fires of her lust begin to rise and she fought to control them.
"Oh, it's so big!" gushed 'Genese' as she grasped the six-inch long cock. "Do you think it would be alright if I tasted it?"
The boy's eyes had lost focus and sweat dripped off his body. There was however no mistaking his moan of ecstasy when Lorilei leaned over and laved her tongue around the head of his cock. She looked up to smile wickedly when she felt him arch his hips upward. Holding the base of his shaft with one hand, she opened her mouth and leaned down.
Visions of cocks danced in Karina's mind. Her armor suddenly became very hot and constricting as she fought to maintain control. Lorilei, looking exactly like Genese, sucked on the boy's cock with loud slurping sounds. One finger and her thumb encircled the base of the boy's hard cock to hold it upright as her other hand cupped and gently played with his testicles.
Karina was shaking as she barely managed to keep a hold on herself. She could feel her labia engorge and become slick from her own juices. The boy was moaning constantly from the exquisite sensations 'Genese's' mouth was producing on his organ. His feverish head rocked back and forth in his delirium as his passionate tension soared.
Suddenly, the boy's hips arched upward and Lorilei grunted in surprise as he shot his milky seed into her mouth. Karina, her body hot and trembling in suppressed desire, watched as the boy's body shuddered each time he spurted.
Lorilei slurped her mouth off his cock, keeping her lips closed tightly. To Karina's surprise, she pulled a small glass bottle out of one of her pockets. Lorilei pulled the cork out and then, holding her lips over the opening, dribbled the thick, white sperm into the bottle. Replacing the cork, she reached over to touch the boy's sweaty cheek.
"I've never sucked a cock before," said 'Genese'. "Was I good?"
"It was fantastic," gasped the boy before he went limp and life left him.
It was all too much for Karina. "Tenan," she gasped, feeling her last bit of control slip away. Her armor and weapons disappeared as she found herself floating among pale, pink clouds. Tenan appeared in front of her, his considerably bigger cock jutting out in front of him.
"Don't say a word," she said huskily. "Just make love to me."
Tenan immediately understood her need. He smiled and floated over to give her a rich, passionate kiss. Karina moaned as she returned his kiss with equal fervor and felt his hands glide softly over her hips and waist. Tenan's hard prick slipped in between her slightly parted legs and grazed across her wet outer pussy lips. Karina's last ounce of control evaporated with that touch and she pushed Tenan back onto a cloud.
Tenan felt the cloud firm up under him like a mattress. Karina, her legs separated on either side of his hips, reached down to grasp his hard cock. Aligning it upward, she slid the tip up and down over her cunt before rocking backwards to sink all eight inches into her hot, waiting cunt.
Her vaginal muscles adjusted to his size and gripped the shaft tightly. Karina eyes were closed and her mouth opened as she savored the full feeling inside her. Her expression of ecstasy did not change as she began to hump back and forth on Tenan's cock.
Tenan eased his hands down to Karina's churning hips. Her huge, heavy tits rubbed back and forth over his chest. With the cloud firmly supporting him, Tenan began to thrust upward to meet Karina's downward plunge. Karina gasped in lustful delight as their hips smacked together and his cock drove forcefully into her vagina.
Faster and faster their hips met again and again in a fucking frenzy. Karina panted and moaned in her passion as her ash-blond hair whipped around her face. Tenan's face was screwed up in a grimace as he gritted his teeth in a losing battle to keep from cumming too soon.
Karina's wet pussy gripped Tenan's cock like a glove. Jolts of pleasure seemed to zap down his hard shaft from his glans down to his balls. Tenan quivered as each jolt increased the tension pent up inside his body and threatened to send him over the edge.
Lost in her lust, Karina ground herself down onto Tenan's prick and began to shake in a series of small tremors as she orgasmed. Her pussy gripped and squeezed his hard shaft finally sending Tenan over the top. With a low guttural roar, his hands tightened on her thighs and his hips arched upward. Tenan held him
self there for a split-second before his thick hot cum blasted out into Karina's waiting vagina.
Karina sighed in contentment, her lust leaving her as she felt Tenan's warm liquid filling her up. With his cock still inside her, Karina laid down on top of Tenan, her large breasts mashing up against his muscular chest.
"Oh, Gods, I needed that!" she crooned in his ear.
"So did I," responded Tenan. "I just hope Golden Sunlight doesn't kill me when I get back."
"Why would she do that?" asked Karina, a little startled by his statement.
"She's as nervous as a cat on a hot tin roof," replied Tenan. "She's terrified of the swamp, not that I can blame her. It's malignant and foul. We've come across signs of lizard people, kobolds, some oozes and jellies, plus a couple of things I couldn't even name. Luckily, we've managed to bypass all of them. I just wish I could get rid of the feeling that the swamp is alive and watching us."
"I think I'd rather have you a little nervous and on your guard," said Karina worriedly. "Are you sure that Morning Mist is in there?"
"No, but it is the only place she could be," said Tenan with a sigh. "Trust me, I have no desire to remain here permanently. I'm not going to lower my guard until I'm out of the swamp with a lot of miles between it and us. How are things with your group?"
Karina grimaced in anticipation to his response. "It depends upon which group you mean?"
She told him everything - why she had to leave everyone behind, how Lorilei and Genese came on the ship, and the fight with the pirates. At the conclusion, Tenan just laid there open-mouthed. His face betrayed all his emotions of anger, fear and anxiety. It also showed his admiration and pride for Karina.
"Honey, I don't know what to say," he admitted with a quick shake of his head. "To say I'm not worried about you being with a girl you don't know and an evil witch would be a lie. I wish Shades would have allowed you to take one friend with you, but that can't be changed now. We have searched about one-third of the swamp. Contact me in about ten days."
