by Faith Eden
'I've only just received word, as the men concerned tried to run for it and it was mere chance that my fellow stumbled across them. Even then they had the effrontery to try to fob him off with some cock and bull story that the pair had managed to escape them, but they confessed the truth before they died.'
'So nobody else is aware that the unfortunate lady is no more, eh?' Gorvan chuckled. 'And by the time they realise...'
'It will be too late, yes,' Fulgrim finished for him. 'By now the people at Garassotta will know they are long overdue, but not what has happened to them, so when I inform them that I have their mistress, they will doubtless agree to my terms without much argument. No Illean officer would want to be remembered as the man responsible for the death of the Protector's daughter, I think.'
'Nor to her prolonged suffering?' Gorvan added, smiling.
'Quite,' Fulgrim smirked. 'We'll mount our decoy girl in full view of the battlements and give her a sound whipping every hour until they surrender the castle. We shan't put her close enough to be recognised - or should I say, not recognised? - but they'll hear her screams clearly enough.
'Now,' he continued, holding out his hand to take back the little portrait, 'do you think you can find me something suitable from among your vast stables?'
The third day of Corinna's training was progressing exactly the same as the first two, except that now Attak'u drove her in company with other trainers and their novice girls, pitting them against each other to gauge relative merits and progress.
'You not bad,' Attak'u said with grudging admiration, during a rare halt for rest. 'You be first class pony soon. Got good legs, good flanks.' He ran one hand appreciatively down Corinna's hip and thigh, his fingers slipping on the sheen of perspiration. Breathing hard from her exertions, Corinna kept her gaze fixed immediately ahead, for she had early on learned the penalty for poor stance and deportment and her shoulders and buttocks were already stinging from Attak'u's efforts to encourage her to even greater efforts during her first two runs.
Worse even than the whip now were the jeers and crude remarks the pony girls drew from the growing number of Vorsan soldiers, who had taken to coming out of their encampments to watch the training sessions, and several tried to offer bribes to the trainers to change places with them.
To Corinna's immense relief, Attak'u was scornful of their actions, but only, she discovered, because he preferred not to share the favours of his charges.
For the first time outside her stall, he removed her bit and offered a water bottle to her lips. Corinna gulped the tepid liquid gratefully, oblivious to the way in which the spillage ran down her chin and splashed onto her sweat-glossed breasts.
'Easy, Flix,' Attak'u warned, pulling the bottle away from her. 'Drink slow, or you get stomach cramps. Not want pony hurting like that.' He held up the bottle once more and this time, her initial thirst slaked, Corinna sipped more conservatively.
'You going to be special pony soon,' he said, as she finished drinking and he re-corked the bottle. 'How you like being pony, Flix?' he asked, as companionably as if asking her how, perhaps, she might like a new dress. 'Go on, you speak now.'
'It is very tiring, master,' Corinna replied cautiously, wondering what on earth he expected her to say.
'You get stronger with training,' he assured her. Corinna shifted her weight in the heavy boots and was rewarded with the gentle tinkling symphony that now accompanied her every slightest move. 'You soon run all day, no worries.'
'And then will I be sold, master?' Corinna ventured tentatively.
Attak'u shrugged and pulled a curious face. 'Maybe,' he said. 'Maybe not. Chief maybe keep you. Fastest ponies always stay some. Chief likes to go east for races every season, win big prizes sometime, make him very happy. Make me very happy, too. Good for Attak'u when his girls win, so you work hard, yes?'
'I'll do my best,' Corinna said, 'but then I don't have much choice, do I?' he looked at her and she could see the genuine puzzlement in his eyes.
'Ponies not have choice!' he exclaimed. 'Ponies train, work, run, race. You pony girl now, Flix!'
'Yes,' she sighed. 'I'm a pony girl now and it would be hard for me to forget that, but what I'm suggesting is that I might just run a bit better if you weren't treating me so harshly.' Now his eyes were huge, the whites almost blinding against his black skin.
'Harshly?' he echoed. Too late, Corinna realised her mistake. 'You not seen harsh!' He flexed the long crop menacingly and swished it through the air, the tip passing less than an inch from Corinna's face, arcing down and out so that it all but brushed the tips of her nipples and making her jump backwards in the shafts, bells once again jangling, this time almost as an alarm.
'You stupid, Flix,' he said, shaking his head.
'I'm sorry, master.' Corinna closed her eyes, certain he was about to start thrashing her for daring to speak out of turn. However, just as suddenly his mood changed back again and he opened his mouth and roared with laughter.
'You learn,' he said eventually, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand. 'You very stupid, but you got nice big flix, so Attak'u not whip you this time. Got better things for you, anyway.' He clipped the whip onto his belt and began unfastening the buckles that held Corinna between the shafts of the buggy.
'You also very pretty,' he murmured. 'Not like most big girls from south and east lands. They got rough hides mostly and sound like nanny goats. You got music voice.' He smiled and moved around to deal with the second coupling. 'I ask chief if I keep you as my pony, at least for little while,' he said. 'Then Flix have warmest stable, best straw, extra food.'
'Thank you, master,' Corinna whispered, forcing the words out with great difficulty, but knowing that she had to do everything possible to humour this monster, who really thought a fellow human-being should be grateful for something that any civilised person would give to their four-legged creatures as a matter of course.
Beneath the shade of the trees, Attak'u produced the small key and removed the padlock from the end of the curved bar between Corinna's legs and drew the rod back through the labial rings. Laying it carefully down on the grass, he tugged at the laces that held his rough breeches together and opened them to reveal a member that, even in its dormant state, looked fearsome. Even Sprig, Corinna thought, staring fixedly at the slowly swelling shaft, would be hard pressed to compete with such a weapon, and Attak'u's feral grin showed that he was only too well aware of how well nature had endowed him.
'This for special ponies only,' he growled, but somehow Corinna did not believe him. His sort, she knew, would settle for any conveniently warm sheath, potential champion or not. 'Now,' he said, stepping towards her, 'we better have bit back in. Proper pony always have bit in mouth, otherwise not sound right.'
In a way, Corinna felt relieved as he thrust the leather bar back between her teeth and reattached it to the ring at the other side of her mouth. At least, she told herself, she wouldn't now be expected to use her mouth for anything, but then perhaps Attak'u was only looking out for his own interests. After all, she reasoned, one snap of a set of sharp teeth and all the retributory whippings in the world would do him no good.
'Now,' he said, walking around behind her and grasping her hips, 'we do this pony style. You bend.' He raised one hand and pressed it between Corinna's shoulder blades, indicating what he expected of her. Shuffling her heavy shod feet, she leaned slightly forward from the waist, but this did not satisfy him.
'Head right over,' he commanded. 'Let flix hang good, so bells ring.' With a sigh of surrender, Corinna bent further still, her breasts swinging forward to the music of their accompanying bells, and immediately he slipped his thumb through the right nipple ring, hooking it so that she could not straighten herself again.
His other hand slipped around in front also, sliding down over her belly beneath the tight leather girth, slipping between her thighs and probing between the beringed lips. She heard his sharp intake of breath and felt the air warm on her back as he let i
t out again, two fingers prising her entrance apart and exploring the already moist tunnel, ensuring it was ready to receive him.
Corinna shut her eyes tightly and drove her teeth into the bit in desperation, knowing that yet again her body was betraying her, even at the prospect of this savage despoiling it. Yes, she thought, as she felt his hardness pressing against her, she really had to be the most sinfully wicked creature, for why else should her pulses be pounding in her temples and her heart beating a brazen tattoo against her ribs.
He slid easily into her and she pushed back instinctively, contracting her muscles to grip him tightly, her eyes opening again and sharply focused. All about her the colours seemed sharper, more intense, the sounds of the birds in the trees above joining with the music her captive body played as it surrendered to its innermost lusts.
Corinna groaned, but it was not from pain. She snorted and grimaced around her bit, conscious of the saliva that now dripped from her helpless lips.
What would the court of Illeum say if they could see her now, wriggling on the end of a black savage's cock and squealing like a bitch in heat?
And then her thoughts became lost in the maelstrom and all she could think of was the instant itself, as she ground her hips and bucked desperately to give herself the release that she knew was her only hope of a return to sanity.
'I think I've managed to identify Corinna,' Jekka announced, slumping down onto the grass. They had established a camp among the trees below the rise, well away from the slave farm and the area where the Vorsan soldiers were gathering. Four of the remaining ten Illean troops - two having been dispatched back to Illeum City with news of the impending Vorsan action - were acting as pickets, to give early warning of any unwanted approaches, but so far they had been totally undisturbed.
For three days and nights Alanna and Jekka had used all their skills to get as close to the slave farm as possible, watching, listening and noting everything. But as Alanna had earlier pointed out, by daylight it was too dangerous to venture too close and after dark all the pony slaves were locked away safely in their stalls.
On this evening, however, Jekka returned looking unusually pleased with herself and Savatch knew, even before she spoke, that she had something positive to tell.
'Even you would have trouble recognising her,' Jekka told him. 'Most of the women have dark hair, the same colour as she dyed hers, give or take a shade, and those damned blinker masks don't make it any easier. However, I'd recognise her voice anywhere.'
'You were close enough to hear her?' Savatch cried, leaning forward eagerly. 'How did she sound? Where was this?'
'Yes, I was close enough,' Jekka replied, 'and she certainly sounded healthy enough from where I was.' She managed not to smile, but it was an effort of willpower. 'I managed to circle around among the trees on the far slopes,' she continued. 'There were several of these pony girls being exercised just along the foot of the hill, and I guessed they were probably all fairly new arrivals, judging by the amount of work they were being put through.
'As I said, they all look so damnably alike, but there were two that were of the right build, so I remained hidden and kept watching. Then, while most of them were kept hard at it, one was driven up close to where I was. The driver unhitched her and led her out of the sun.'
'Don't tell me,' Savatch groaned, 'I can guess the rest.'
'Yes, well,' Jekka agreed, 'I'll spare you the details, but for a few minutes the fellow removed that bit thing from her mouth and I heard her speaking. It was Corinna all right, I'm certain of that.'
'Was there no way you could have freed her then?' Savatch demanded. Jekka gave him a look of total disdain.
'If there had been,' she said coldly, 'I should hardly have returned here without her, should I? They were still in full view of the people on the lower slopes, even if they probably weren't taking much notice of them, so I could hardly confront the fellow. My intention was to wait until the last possible moment and see if I could shoot him, then call Corinna to come over to me and stay hidden with her until after dark.
'Unfortunately,' she continued, 'just as he was preparing to leave and I had a clear shot at him, a squadron of damned Vorsans rode up and began taking a close interest in Corinna. They obviously had no intention of leaving before the fellow started back with her and I wasn't about to try to take on twenty of the swine single-handed.'
'No, of course not,' Savatch said. 'Forgive me, Jekka, you did everything you could under the circumstances. Far more, in fact.'
'At least,' Jekka said, 'we now know how to identify Corinna. She was drawing a cart with red painted trims and wheel spokes and I'd recognise the man again, ugly great brute that he is. Mind you,' she grimaced, 'none of them are exactly paintings, I can tell you.'
'But what if she has different drivers on different days?' Alanna pointed out. Jekka pulled a wry face, shaking her head.
'I don't think so,' she replied quietly. 'Maybe I could be wrong, but I formed the distinct impression that this particular driver is fairly senior and is quite prepared to exercise the privilege of his rank, among other things.' She looked meaningfully at Alanna and then turned away, trying to ignore the warning expression she received in return.
'So,' Savatch said levelly, 'you now know which of those poor creatures is Corinna, but how do we go about getting her out of there? Did you see which block she was taken back to?'
'I did,' Jekka said, 'but that won't help us at all. Too many people in too confined an area and we'd never get her clear without risking getting ourselves killed or captured. And I for one,' she added, 'don't fancy ending up between the shafts, nor any of the other things that seem to be part of the daily routine down there!'
'But we can't just keep sitting here,' Savatch protested. 'Apart from anything else, the longer we remain here, the more chance there is of someone blundering across us.'
'I know,' Jekka said, 'but we must be patient. From what I've seen these past days, once they think they have the girls suitably under control, they start exercising them even further afield, usually in groups of five or six at a time.
'There are trails beyond that far hillside, all of which are in daily use and eventually, I think, Corinna will be taken there. That is when we must be ready to strike, but we must prepare well, for we'll have but one chance and one chance only.' She drew the close-fitting cowl back from her head and shook her red tresses.
'We are but thirteen and you, my lord, are not yet anywhere near recovered, and they are many, even without the Vorsans to consider. Therefore, we must do everything we can to tip the odds in our favour.' She rose, without any apparent effort and stretched, catlike.
'I have an idea or two,' she said. 'While I was waiting for darkness, I had time to think of some possibilities. I have something in my saddle pack to show you and then you must despatch some men, out of uniform, to Erisroth. I will change into something suitable and they can pretend to be my retainers. The town is busy enough for no one to give us more than a passing glance, and hopefully I should be able to find somewhere to purchase the items I need.'
Attak'u seemed very pleased with Corinna's progress and, in particular, with his own part in it.
'Best trainer gets best ponies,' he said smugly, fingering one of her nipple rings as she stood looking out over the stall door. 'See chief and ask to keep you.' He grinned. 'Flix will be true champion one day, and now we go out for nice long drive.'
As usual, he led her towards the lightweight cart and guided her back between the shafts, coupling the links to her girth and laying the reins back towards the seat. This morning, however, instead of climbing aboard immediately, he turned back towards the buildings and disappeared inside the one the grooms used as their quarters, re-emerging after several minutes with a small bundle under his arm.
'Long day today, Flix,' he said, dropping his burden into the wooden box behind the driver's seat. 'Plenty good sights to see, far away from here. We maybe stay the night somewhere and come back tomorrow
.'
Corinna stared at him, but would not have known what to say, even if the bit had allowed her the opportunity. She shook her head slightly, the bells on her ears tinkling. Amazing, she thought, he truly expected her to be pleased at his announcement. A day out and away from the slave farm, but who, she reflected ruefully, would be doing all the work?
And she knew exactly what reward would be coming at the end of the day.
'Everything will depend upon which route they use,' Jekka explained. Apart from the four sentries, the entire camp was gathered around in a circle, at the centre of which was a patch of bare, dusty earth. Drawing her short knife, Jekka drew an irregular line on the ground.
'That's the course of the river,' she said, and quickly added another two lines at slight angles to the first and to each other. She stabbed the point down and scratched a small cross. 'Up to this point is common,' she said. 'Once they've trained the girls initially, using the long field, this is the route they use, presumably to get them used to rough tracks and longer distances.
'However, this first part of the track is no good to us. There are stable buildings here and here, and the main Vorsan encampment starts here.' She added more symbols to her makeshift map and looked up. 'If we try to grab Corinna anywhere along here, we're bound to be seen and we'd also be cut off from three sides, probably four, as they could move men in behind us before we had time to retreat.
'The same applies to this branch of the track,' she added, indicating one half of the fork she had drawn. 'In fact, if anything, this is worse, as we'd be putting ourselves further away from any practical escape route. On the other hand,' she continued, tracing the second line again, 'this trail swings up and around and passes very close to the river.
'It actually runs along the bank at this stage,' she added, 'but just by there is a small Vorsan camp, so that's not much good to us. The best place is here, just further upstream.'
