Note: This story was dynamically reformatted for online reading convenience.
 
 Author: Inanna Callan

   Valkyrie Princess Cynthia Book One
code: g, bd, humil, exhib, va, nosex.

   -- Chapter One: Tribunal, first Act

   The Kingdom of the Aevia could not believe the words of their own
herald. The Valkyrie Princess; Lady Cynthia Aevia was to be
court-martialled and extradited to the Empire of the Azure Dragon.  Heralds
brought the shocking news to the public markets and taverns.  Despite the
warmth of the early morning a chill had entered the mind of everyone.  How
could their finest warrior have fallen from grace?  How could she, the
Invincible Sword Maiden, always at the fore of the charge of any war
suddenly be exiled from their kingdom to some other country?

   Disbelief spread throughout the streets as they openly expressed their
dismay at the decision of their King to take away Aevia's finest warrior.
There was almost a stampede to the castle's gates.  Watchful peasants noted
the bitter looks from their soldiers, who couldn't help but feel
demoralized learning that their greatest warrior had fallen, not from a
mortal wound but by the decision of some mealy-mouthed magistrate?

   Guards with Quarterstaves pushed the crowd back to make room for the
soldiers marching in from all barracks in the Kingdom.  As soon as they saw
her their eyes widened in shock of the sight as they cried out in disdain
and outrage at the proceedings.

   There was no mistaking The Princess Cynthia Aevia, she was short and
slim, the figure of a lovely girl only eleven years old.  Despite her
Unmarred white skin, her long golden locks of hair and jade-colored eyes
she was always known as the fiercest warrior that could make an enemy army
turn around and flee in fear.  It was no secret everyone carried a degree
of lustful desire for the princess as she was infamous for her "battle
armor" that covered naught but her private parts and leaving everything
else open to see.

   But today she appeared before the great crowds as a blessing and a
curse, completely different from the one they knew.  Gone was her proud
posture of walking upright despite the rampant show of flesh her scant
armor afforded her, she now bent under the weight of the Rod, an instrument
of punishment crafted for those who were to be courtmartialled.  The Rod
was a heavy crossbeam that chained her arms away from her body and to the
ends of the beam, forcing her to wobble with each step lest she fall.  Her
white flesh, once the dream of many who's desires now answered them.  Her
nubile breasts were unadorned by her usual breast plate and bounced with
each step she made from the ponderous beam.  The sweat from her back flowed
to her hips bereft of her thong panties, revealing the pubis of a girl no
more than eleven years old.

   More than once did she stop, and the horseback guards holding the chains
that came from each end of the crossbeam pulled her up slightly,
straighening up her body as she caught her breath and gave everyone a good
view of her naked body.  Her face was flushed with embarassment as she
silently endured her indignity, the only sound she made was her gasping for
breath and a small sigh of relief as the guards momentarily relieved her of
the enormous weight off her shoulders.  She didn't look at anyone, avoiding
eye contact and just letting them look wherever they wished to; from her
heaving breasts to her flat belly or her hairless feminity.  She took
another step and the guards released the weight, she groaned a little from
her abused shoulders and resumed her disgraceful journey, pacing herself
the military drums that spelled the end of her career.

   They led her to the prisoner's platform, which allowed everyone to get a
good view of her.  As she stepped up the platform she saw on the opposite
side her King and his officials watching the proceedings.  The soldiers
bringing up the rear of the parade circled around to march in front of
their king and salute him and their generals, before coming around back
again to their predetermined place.

   --

   She was the Princess Cynthia Aevia.  Heiress to King Radom Aevia and
Queen Malath Aevia.  At a young age.  She was driven by a desire to fight
for her family's honor when she witnessed at the age of seven, the death of
her older brother at the hands of assassins.  By the age of nine she was at
the fore of every war her Kingdom would wage, killing wave after wave of
soldiers opposed to her.

   Returning from a campaign one day.  She went to the tent of her general
and saw him in the passionate embrace of an adult woman.  She executed her
soldiers who ridiculed her about her being a child to know such things and
changed her appearance.

   She ordered her mages to craft her a personal protection ward,
enveloping her in a swirling shroud of force that repelled any form of
attack against her.  With that, she began to appear in public wearing a
scant mockery of armor; besides her regal winged helmet, short metal boots,
and black leggings that covered all the way above her knees, all she wore
was a tiny thong that did not in any way cover her shapely buttocks, a
breastplate that did not cover her front except for her chest, leaving her
body otherwise uncovered.  In this erotic visage she resumed her charges
into battle as a fatal distraction.

   And so, none would ever take the Warrior Princess Cynthia lightly ever
again, even as a child yet to grow into a woman.  Her Jade-Green eyes were
lit with a ferocity none could muster and her bronzed, golden hair that
fell just short of the small of her back lit her up in the fog of war.  Her
lithe, shapely legs carried her far and fast in the battlefield, slewing
one dissident warrior after another, her small frame accentuated by her
slim waist and hips that were beginning to shape under puberty allowed her
to evade one stunning blow after another.  Many a ogre of a man tried to
smash her under his ponderous mace or battle-axe, only to have her step
aside and use it as a platform to launch a fatal stab to the head.  The
last vision before her blade ran through their heads was her parted legs,
her luscious hips thrust forward as she snapped her body back like a spring
to deliver the coup de grace, the whiteness her nubile flesh interruped by
the stylized codpiece between her legs that hid her delicate girlhood from
view.  The luckier ones found their faces buried between her legs, inhaling
her arousing scent only to have their senses abruptly cut off as she
twisted her whole body, snapping their necks as she used that to bend back
and slice adjacent enemies in a full circle around her, and many who died
that way died with smiles on their faces.

   And not only enemies could get a good look at the princess, for she
frequently rode ahead.  Those brave enough to ride with her to the fore of
a charge were rewarded by her jiggling buttocks as she bounced up and down
the saddle, twin swords or lance drawn at the ready.  The sheer number of
men who followed her as she ran up the ladders to scale walls during a
siege, or up the stairs as she stormed a castle.  The Princess slept in the
nude alone in her tent.  And those lucky enough on guard duty would see her
silhoutte as she undressed and sponged herself off.

   As she grew to her eleventh year, the Princes had won her kingdom one
victory after another.  Whether it was defend her homeland or to quell a
rebellion from a far off colony she rode at the head of the charge.  Her
unmarred, flawless body becoming from an object of desire to a fearful
tribute to her invincibility.

   And so it was when the Azure Dragon Empire made an alliance with her
kingdom.  Like her homeland the Azure Dragon was equally successful in it's
exploits.  Word of comparison of her kingdom to the empire was a sure way
to rouse her ire.  Without a word, the princess ordered a mass execution
under the crime of sedition while visiting a colony that rested between the
two factions.

   None would question the decision of the princess.  Ere her judgement was
rash, and perhaps immature, the military saw it as a decisive act against
any rebellion.  But her later actions would not be passed off so lightly.

   -- Emissaries from the Azure Dragon invited the Royal family for a state
visit, to discuss the possibility of a union between the two houses.  The
Princess abstained from taking place in her family's royal carriage and
rode at the head of the convoy, garbed in her familiar military dress.

   Despite word of her exploits, the people of the Azure Dragon were
shocked at her appearance.  She carried herself proudly, her reputation for
being quick to anger kept the foreigners silent even in their own soil. 
Several of the more conservative people retreated from the spectacle and
lamented the decision of their emperor to merge with a kingdom who's
prominent official carried herself in the most vulgar fashion.

   The welcoming committee, consisting of robed officials averted their
eyes and tried to ignore the princess, preferring to address her parents
instead.  So discomfitting was the princess' appearance before them that
one minister, apologetically bowing before the King asked if his entourage
could excuse the princess from the meeting and to at least have her wear
something more modest.

   Princess Cynthia, who's ears were sharpened from years in the battle was
no stranger to the slight sounds of assassins making their way to end her
life.  It was but a slight feat for her to overhear the conversation. 
Without warning she unsheathed her sword and held the point of it to the
offending courtier in a fraction of a second.

   "I am the Sword Princess Cynthia, Might of the Aevia Kingdom.  You do
not dare question my appearance worm, for to belittle me is to belittle my
Kingdom!"

   The scene fell into shocked silence.  The official, who's heart nearly
leapt out of his chest stumbled for excuses, not wanting his actions to
bring war to a saturnine figure before him.  He also knew that, by the time
this debacle was over with, he would be belittled for cowering under the
threat of a half-naked little girl.

   Satisfied at his apology, she smugly sheathed her sword, turning to lead
the procession of her party.  The rest of the Azure Dragon's courtiers
wisely hid their anger at the trespass committed in their own soil,
contenting themselves to watching the princess's butto sway with each strut
as she sauntered ahead of them, treating the tour as as if she had just
conquered another kingdom.

   The meeting with Emperor Radomich Ladja was terse.  But as it progressed
she began to realize that he was using the fiasco to this favor by
threatening to sour relations with her family and kingdom if she did not
make amends.

   Wanting to dissolve a war quickly, she offered her service to the Azure
Dragon Empire in order to alleviate her tresspass.

   "If you think I belittle your military exploits Princess Cynthia, you
are mistaken." The Emperor replied "your brash actions are the core of our
now-growing tension.  Mass executions in the town of Coriander to silence
them for speaking freely, drawing your sword and threatening a member of
the court for merely following his duty to maintain decorum which you have
so blatantly disregarded.  I understand that your desire to appear so
comely before all men is to silence any dissent towards your competence,
that, I do not question.  But this is not merely an act of flagrantly
breaking rules by choosing to appear in your...military...attire but also
an affront to peaceful negotiations by choosing to appear in it."

   Though it was words fueled by a juvenile's mind who was quick to offend,
she began to realize later, that she brought grave dishonor to her family
by her outburst.

   "I accept your offer to be of service to us, but as of today, I vote no
confidence in your presence while your King and I try to salvage what
little negotiations we might have."

   The Princess slid her boots off the table and stood, she paused as she
passed behind her father, who merely nodded and then she left.

   "I could see why your knights prefer to follow your daughter's desire to
lead" the Emperor muttered as he watched her shapely behind sway around as
she walked away.  He cleared his throat and resume negotiations with the
King.

   -- "Princess Cynthia!" A boy called out to her.  He was about her age,
dressed in flowing robes with the colors of royalty she presumed him to be
the among Emperor's sons.

   "I am Kaelthas, crown prince of the Empire" he bowed slightly, he
blushed, nervously drinking at the sight of her body.  "Word of victories
have spread far and wide...but I have never dreamt of meeting you in the
flesh.." he swallowed, working his throat as he vainly tried to conceal his
embarassement despite being the one covered in voluminous cloth.  "...it
would appear the legends speak true and highly about your beauty." he
struggled to keep up with her fast pace, more of avoid looking at her
nearly uncovered rear and to show respect to a fellow member of royalty.

   Cynthia ignored him, her temper still cooling down from the previous
outburst and the refusal of her family to speak on her behalf.  She chose
wisely to not say anything and leave and planned to return home
unaccompanied.  She would later want to speak with her father later on to
discuss the terms of her service to the empire that she gave unthinkingly.

   -- Act Two: Alea Iacta Est

   "It cannot do, we cannot accept such a demand from Azure Dragon!"
dissented one of the king's ministers.

   King Aevia leaned back from his seat.  It was expected of course that
they would be initially shocked at the demands of reparations asked for by
their would-be ally.

   "Such a demand not only brings shame to our country but to also your own
royal blood, your highness!" added another one "Even if you were to disown
her, your majesty, the fact is everyone will consider this a great shame to
the Kingdom if we were to agree with such a sentence."

   "Please consider, your majesty.  Sooth, Lady Cynthia's...actions...may
not exactly be fitting of regal stature, but to submit to these such
demands only serve to make the princess even appear far more disgraceful."

   "Your Highness..." the venerable Minister Frollo De Shaun stood, earning
silence from every other dissenting official "...in every practical sense
of the term, this is just not acceptable.  I understand that you are
supportive of Cynthia's objectives to save face and stand trial before the
Azure Dragon's Tribune.  But I am not only confident that the princess will
heartily object once she sees the terms and conditions..." he paused,
adjusting his glasses as he finished reading the rest of the outrageous
terms "but I also believe it is of no good reason at all, to give to the
hands of the country we are now in tension with, our finest soldier.  We
are not only giving them our dignities but also a valuable military asset.
It just will not do my lord."

   King Radom Aevia listened to their objections and nodded at each turn.
They were right, In a military sense, Cynthia was the finest warrior in all
the kingdom.  To surrender her to the custody of even a prospective ally in
order to maintain relations was indeed absurd.  And for her to come there
as a prisoner would only cause much dissent and lack of faith on part of
his kingdom's word.

   The King of Aevia believed in an egalitarian system of justice.  Much of
the success in their military endeavors came from the fact of that they
selected and maintained only the ones worthy of the role, most of the
ministers and generals came from humble beginnings.  Just as they came from
sons and daughters of farmers albeit talented and sagacious enough to merit
the post, his own daughter Cynthia, despite her young age and regardless of
her scandalous actions, earned the grace to be a general due to military
skill and aptitude.  Now, to ensure peaceful negotiations and a solid
alliance to form between his kingdom and the empire of the Azure Dragon,
the latter demanded the extradition of his own daughter on grounds of
serious breach to the peace talks.

   A young man in long flowing hair, cleared his throat and stood.  He was
present with the King during the negotiations with the Azure Dragon, and
for a terse two hours, he and his liege worked together with the Emperor to
address what could be done about Cynthia.

   Famujou De Kojiwar, despite his birth as a foreigner was raised and
educated among his native peers without prejudice, he felt no tinge of
racial animosity when they levelled their gaze at him with disdain, like
him they all worried about the status of their kingdom and their princess
once they decided to accept.

   At this point, Princess Cynthia entered the meeting room.  She was
dressed in her royal gown; a simple flowing dress that was common sight to
everyone in the palace as she only wore her "battle dress" when she went
about in official duty.  She took her seat beside her father who merely
nodded at her and held her hand.

   "I understand that Emperor Ragnomich Ladja has no intention to harm or
execute our princess upon extradition.  I have also come to learn that
drawing one's sword within the confines of the Imperial Palace is a grave
infraction of the law as the Emperor values negotiation over armed
conflict...at least within the quarters of whatever building he resides in.
In addition, our Princess has threatened bodily harm to one of his advisers
and of course her actions are being interpreted by the Azure Dragon as a
threat to the peace talks we have, which in turn they point out undermines
our sincerity in our desire to make a peaceful merger between our
kingdoms."

   Minister De Kojiwar cast another sidealong glace to his King before
resuming "Documentation as you are reading right now, says that normally
this would be a death sentence for her highness.  However as Royalty, she
is exempt from such a penalty and would be dethroned.  Fortunately for us,
she is our Princess and therefore such a penalty would mean nothing..."

   "...therefore lord Ladja's entourage presented another solution to the
breach of protocol in their own grounds.  Extradition, she would then be
imprisoned and sentenced to serve as a warning to all colonies of their
Empire who intend to foment discontent.  The sentence will last three
years..." He cleared his throat and looked askingly at his princess, who
merely nodded with her mask-like impression.

   Despite his lieges' lack of reaction he himself hesitated before
deciding to word out the rest of the sentences.  True enough the room broke
into a revolt until the King himself let out one terse syllable and they
all apologetically sank back to their seats, staring at their papers in
white-knuckled contempt at the Azure Dragon.

   Cynthia took off her royal ring and cast it on the table.  Just as the
Azure Dragon wanted to reenact a judicial decision hundreds of years ago
against an enemy they could not normally handle, she too reacted in the
form of their history's rubicon.  The metallic thud as her ring hit the
table signalled her silent assent.  She stood and walked away.

   The rest of the assembly watched her walk a doomed general's walk to a
suicidal last stand to protect his kingdom.  Everyone knew that event in
their history well, about a reckless general who's exploits earned him many
enemies.  In order to solve the conflict he vowed to meet his enemies,
gathering one army of loyal followers he met them head on in a battle that
was no war between the aggrieved nations but as a simple, large scale
vendetta.

   "Guards." King Radom Aevia called.  "Arrest the Princess."

   Despite their order, they could only awkwardly keep in pace with her as
made her way to the dungeons herself in her brisk military pace.

   -- Part Three: Dissent in the Dungeon

   Lieutenant Rosenthal emerged from the Dungeon's stores bearing the
softest length of rope he could muster, as he could not find any manacles
that would be snug against her petite body.  From there he heard his
superior utter his contempt at the visiting dignitary after she left the
room.

   "Let's just fucking kill them" Captain Skemmanos De Iyza plunged his
dagger between the bricks of the dungeon wall.  Upon the Princess' arrival
in the dungeon the Emissary has been inside, seeing that the princess made
her appearance, she was now convinced of the Aevia Kingdom relenting to her
liege's demands.  She whispered what would be done to Captain Skemmanos,
who's jolly face hardened into an expression of silent anger.  She took two
steps back, indicating her intention to leave the room as soon as possible.


   The princess entered the room without giving the emissary a glance, she
just walked to the center of the Dungeon's foyer and folded her arms.  She
looked more like a general about to lead a raid into the dungeons rather
than a prisoner.

   "Lady Cynthia," Emissary Ranpha Sparks called out, her hand on the door
"I have presented instructions for your incarceration to captain Iyza, I
imagine you must have some inkling as to what it would be and I wish to
help you preserve as much of your former self as I can without shirking my
duty.  Therefore I shall take my leave." With that she slid the door shut
behind her, stepping aside to bow before the King of Aevia as he sauntered
past with his own entourage.

   It was a long moment of silence in the dungeon and no one made a move.
The guards looked to their captain wondering at the instructions of the
Emissary while captain Iyza continued to scrape his dagger against the
walls.  For fifteen years he was master of keeping in maximum security the
greatest threats against his country here.  And now the culmination of his
career was to scrape the dungeon walls with a sharp object like all his
prisoners, held captive in walls made not of stone and iron but bricks of
politics held by mortar of honor.

   The Dungeon door opened again, this time with King Radom and Queen
Malath.  Cynthia continued to stare at the wall with her back to them,
wondering if she was still worthy to speak with her parents.

   "Mother and Father, my actions have led to nearly a decade of your most
humble negotiations with the Azure Dragon toppling over with my
recklessness..."

   "Recklessness indeed..." Lord Aevia replied.  Cynthia felt a slight rush
of happiness hearing her father finally speak with her.  "...maintaining
honor while I was prepared to barter it for your defence." He motioned to
the captain of the guard to carry on with his duty.

   "L-lady Cynthia, tonight your ordeal begins." Captain Skemmanos caught
himself stammering, he belatedly snapped a salute to his King to buy him
time before briskly snapping back to her direction.  He didn't want to
appear weak before his princess.

   "...extradited royalty in the Azure Dragon have the priviledge of
carrying their entourage while they serve their sentence.  It is the Law."
Ranpha Sparks told him earlier.  "it really is no different from House
Arrest except it takes place in our land...but for your Lady's case..."

   Recklessness met with Recklessness.  Both sides silently exchanging
tokens of defiance to their own laws to appear larger not before the
opposing side but before their own proud people.  Skemmanos shut the
remaining words of the Emissary and resumed his duty.  He would speak with
his king later.

   "...Tonight your Ordeal begins" he said once more, his tone solid with
the authority befitting his position "I suggest you acclimatise yourself
without dissent."

   He guessed that she already had an idea what he was about to say but
waited for his orders.  He felt very uncomfortable giving orders to a
member of royalty, especially with his own King and Queen watching the
proceedings along with his men.  The tension was crushing him as if he was
tossed to the bottom of the sea.

   "...Lieutenant Rosenthal, bind the the princess' hands away from her. 
She will hang here until the morning."

   The Lieutenant snapped into a salute, first to his king, then his queen
then his captain.  Then in a symbol of dissent he snapped a salute to his
General.  Princess Cynthia snapped into attention.  The Lieutenant stood
straighter and held his salute for a while before the Captain cleared his
throat, he didn't release his salute until the princess did the same.

   The King smiled.  He was glad that his soldiers continued to look after
his daughter.  He squeezed his Queen's hand as they watched their Princess
suffer her ordeal with dignity.  Watching his soldiers act with defiance
pleased him, and the irony of the situation brought a small smile to his
lips.  He would extract a heavy payment from the Azure Empire one day and
his daughter will collect that.

   Lieutenant Rosenthal dropped to one knee and began to tie the princess'
wrists in repeating loops, the thick bind would ensure that the stress of
carrying the weight of her body would not damage them despite being hanged
for long hours.  Tying the knots tight.  He lowered a pair of chains from
the ceiling then turned the princess around.

   Her eyes shifted only between her King and Queen.  They watched as the
lieutenant tied the ends of each rope to a hook on the end of the chains,
bringing the princess' arms high above her head.  The long, loose sleeves
fell back to reveal her slim arms, toned from cutting down her enemies and
holding her sheild from the fiercest blows against barbarian warlords.  Her
irises didn't waver as Lieutenant Rosenthal started to crank the both of
the chains upward.

   Captain Skemmanos saluted to his king once more before taking another
length of rope.  "The instructions for her punishment tonight are clear."
He whispered in the ear of the King, who simply nodded.

   Princess Cynthia's jaw tightened as she tried to figure what was the
exchange between the two.  Captain Skemmanos knelt before her, saying "a
thousand apologies my liege." Her eyes narrowed at his open
insubordination; she was trying to be very formal about her ordeal and here
her men were rampantly breaking protocol.  She didn't want that spirit of
defiance to affect her morale, now that she was hanging a foot off the
ground with uncomfortable pressure squeezing on her wrists and pulling her
arms up and away from her.

   The Captain took each ankle and quickly knotted a few loops around each.
She looked up to her King who slowly nodded.  She didn't need to hear a
word from her parents, their presence was a mix of discomfort and morale.
She preferred to chose the latter.

   With the ropes on her ankles secured to cleats on the floor.  Captain
Skemmanos stepped behind the princess and took out his dagger.  Cynthia
winced at the familiar sound of an assassin drawing his weapon.  Her father
nodded once more in silent assent.  If she was to be executed right now,
then she would be very happy, what better way to die than...

   She gasped as she felt the Captain slice her gown open at the middle
from behind her.  Working quickly he ran the blade against the sleeves of
her gown as well until it fell to the floor.  Cynthia bit her lip in
mortification as the captain lifted her underlying shift to cut away at her
short underpants.  While cognizant of the exposure of the female anatomy as
evidenced by her usual battle attire, she carried it proudly and
intentionally on the caveat that the personal barrier created by her mages
prevented anyone from landing a single blow as well as any unwanted contact
from any her men.  But now, bound and under arrest, the increasing show of
skin was completely different.  Albeit she appeared scandalous in battle
she had the opportunity to order the glances of those she did not
appreciate to have their eyes put out and keeping their lascivious thoughts
to themselves.

   The princess' cheeks burned bright red while the guards averted their
gaze.  She hoped that captain Skemmanos would be professional enough to not
turn his sight from her while he worked a blade close to her skin.

   The princess' underpants fell to the floor on top her ruined gown, and
seconds later her chemise, undone by simply untying the knots that held
itself on her shoulders.  Captain Skemmanos regretfully sheathed his dagger
as her ordered to Lieutenant to resume pulling the princess up.  As she was
pulled up, the chains tightened, pulling her arms and legs away from her
body in the form of a cross.

   Cynthia stared at the floor, her face burning bright red in shame as she
hung spread-eagled and nude before the gathered guards and her parents. 
Her petite chest once covered in a thin band of armor with stylized breasts
was now revealed.  Nubile as they are, they swelled to desireable mounds
topped with a delicate pink rossette of a nipple hardening in the chill of
the room.

   Cynthia's gaze looked up seeing her men reluctantly casting a glance at
the body of the princess fully uncovered.  Her days of being empowered by
her rising feminity have now backfired on her.  As her prominently exposed
breasts heaved with her tensed breath she was also aware of the gazes aimed
at her exposed womanhood, all the time strutting around in her skimpy
"armor" to the sway of her hips and jiggle of buttocks for the intent of
raising morale in her men and distraction to her enemies, have been
protected by a flimsy G-string that covered her girlhood and anus.  Now
they were exposed to everyone's view; back then she could seductively
saunter across in victory parades, kick high after sliding under an enemy's
sword, climb ladders with a troop behind her and stand with limbs akimbo
atop a high platform to muster her troops.  Instead, her girlhood was open
to view, kept in everyone' view by her legs tied wide apart.  She
consciously tensed her legs in a vain attempt to cover them but only
succeeded in sligthly turning her thighs inward and pulling her hips back,
giving anyone behind her a good view of her exposed nethers.

   Lieutenant Rosenthal turned away from the delicious sight of her the
princess pointing her rear in his direction while the rest, becoming
conscious of how they looked at the princess in the prescence of their king
averted their eyes to the walls or floors.

   "Every guard in attendance will be her personal entourage during her
stay in the walls of Lavitiana." The King spoke as he watched his Queen
embrace her bound child tightly.  He turned to Captain Skemmanos who bowed
first and saluted "You will also be responsible to enumerate any and all
occurences committed to her person.  and report to me on a daily basis."

   King Radom watched his young daughter suffer her first step in public
indignity.  She was very young, a few more years and she would be openly
accepting suitors from various kingdoms for her hand.  Already various
nobles; duke, princes, and even kings offered their sons or themselves for
the hand of their princess once she ripened of age.  Would they no longer
desire the sullied princess, or would they clamor for her hand even more
now they get to see even more of her, he wondered.

   Princess Cynthia Aevia is a warrior before a woman.  Before she was
allowed to even hold a sword she toiled in the muck along with the men who
would become her subordinates.  The long hours practicing swordsmanship in
heavy, suffocating armor, the brutal training that held her in constant
disadvantage due to her small figure, she surmounted them all and rose to
become general.

   He was confident that she would soldier on in the hardest campaign in
her life and succeed.

   "Beginning tonight, you are all relieved of your duty as jailers and
appointed as royal ambassador guards." The King continued, after pausing to
address every guard in attendance with a nod "You're one charge is Cynthia
Aevia.  You report to only me and the Emperor.  But to me above all."

   "Yes, my lord!" Everyone one replied in assent.

   "Cynthia, as you can tell, your sentence to serve under the Azure Dragon
is like no other mission you have been sent to.  You will cooperate without
question to your jailers and to the Emperor's demands, however.  Your
precedence of orders will be to the ambassadorial guard in the utmost."

   Queen Malath, released her embrace with her child as she stoicly nodded,
she planted one final kiss on her forehead and Cynthia held back her tears,
realizing that would be the final time she would be in touch with her
mother for a long time.

   "She will not leave your sight!" With that the King of Aevia turned and
stormed out the door.  There was a slight commotion outside and after a few
minutes, more armored guards came in, their faces smoldering in contempt
for the Azure Dragon.

   "General Izya, we are the Praetorian Guard reporting for duty." replied
the famous bodyguard of the king.

   -- Part Four: the Long Night

   With fifty men watching her, Cynthia felt extremely mortified in her
exposed position.  An uncomfortable silence hung in the air as everyone
averted their gaze, contenting themselves to just stealing a sideways look.

   "Lord Kurt, you needn't feel ashamed looking at a prisoner like me."

   The guards glanced at the direction of the person she was speaking to.
The shorter guard hesitated, before doffing his helmet in a belated show of
respect a man would afford a lady.

   "I would kill them." Prince Kurt Aevia replied "If only Father would
permit me."

   Cynthia rolled her eyes despite herself.  Great, she thought, what we
need is more people to be a total rebel while I'm trying to save face here.


   "You will not waste my sacrifice here, Lord Kurt.  I am suffering in it
quite enough and it is too late to salvage that." She leaned forward as far
as she could muster, everyone saw in their mind's eye the vestiges of the
princess' habitual lecturing pose against her older brother slated to
follow in his father's footsteps as king.  A sigh of relief issued at the
lips of many, happy to see their princess retaining her regal ire.

   "...and you will not express any ire at them for doing so since my
safety lies in their hands, they are on the same side as you and I." she
stressed her syllables, each was like a hard slap to his face as she spoke.
He winced, reeling from the talk down coming from a naked prisoner.

   "And what am I supposed to do?" Prince Kurt yelled "ogle at you like
some piece of meat?"

   Princess Cynthia turned away from his gaze as he did the same, realizing
he was looking at her budding breasts.

   "Better to have my own people see me first than a crowd of unruly,
unwashed masses of foreigners."

   The Ambassador Guard looked at each other, wondering if it's a cue from
their princess telling them not to shirk from their duty in keeping watch
of her.

   She looked around the room, seeing ill-concealed expressions of distate
against themselves and at each other.

   "Please don't let them see you being ordered around by me." The Princess
spoke, her harsh tone softening up.  "...just think of this as a reward."

   "Reward alright..." General Skemmons replied, she felt a twinge of
relief when she found his tone bereft of any respect in it "...what kind of
reward is a first look at the princess when everyone will see her
tomorrow?" his attempt at humor brought about nervous snickers from his
company.  "I mean..." he stood, twirling his dagger in his hands, a known
behavior when he is pressured.  "...We've all seen the princess' swing her
shapely behind, or maybe the Azure Dragon blokes don't have any real
women?"

   That brought about a hearty round of laughter with everyone.  The
Princess snickered besides herself, for once feeling a little proud about
herself.

   "They're just a bunch hooligans trying to look up a girl's dress and
hiding behind their little crowns!" Major Rosenthal chimed in, he put on
his helmet in the mockery of the Azure Dragon's Emperor and strutted
around.

   "Ye Gods, Lady Cynthia!  Whatever is that thing?  I've never seen a
woman!  I've always thought little boys bore my children for me!" Everyone
erupted into bawdy laughter as they mocked the Azure Dragon.

   "So why am I in chains your lordship?  I won't bite!" Cynthia replied,
snapping her jaws at the mock emperor who went into histrionic fright.

   Prince Kurt folded his arms as he watched the bizaare proceedings with
disdain.  The princess' cheeks that were once flushed in shame were red
with merriment as they joked around in mockery of her captors.  But like
every other man in the room, he couldn't help but feel desire creeping up
to him as he stared at her nude body stretched to display all her charms,
Perhaps, he thought, that she was merely finding a distraction from the
distress she was recieving and was glad his men was there to provide her a
farce to laugh at.  But behind those fake smiles and forced laughter they
were drinking in the sight of her young breasts bounced in abandon as her
chest rose and fell with laughter as they looked at her from the side, her
shapely butt clenching and relaxing as she joked with them and her
undeveloped genitalia betrayed by her spread legs.  She was after all, a
beautiful young girl.

   half an hour later, the Ambassadorial Guard broke into two groups; one
maintaining their watch on the princess, while the rest took their rationed
sleep, dreaming of nude princess prancing about with swords drawn and heads
rolling to gouts of blood from distracted foes.

   As awkwardly sudden the joking came around, so did it end.  A heavy pall
of silence imposed itself among them.  Three years, Princess Cynthia
thought.  Three years of having to endure something like this.  She wasn't
sure how her mind could take it, would she end up doing something she would
regret later?  She didn't know.  All she knew was that her request for
death was impossible.  Too young, they said.  Her crime was harsh but the
Azure Dragon could not find it in themselves to kill her.  They sought to
punish her soul rather than her body, she reasoned.

   She caught herself thinking about whatever it was that she did wrong and
a flare of anger registered in her eyes.  She shut the thoughts out and
switched to more practical plans.  With a deep breath, she relaxed herself,
ignoring at those looking at her, they were just as uncomfortable as she is
and she needn't say anything or look at them.

   Several minutes passed, it was almost like a game of dodging glances
from people.  She knew where they would be looking and tried to guess what
part of her pleased them the most.  She knew they probably might be looking
down there, since it was the most exposed part of her privates given her
flimsy thong and codpiece, but it was rather difficult to twist around to
see how many were enjoying the view of her backside.  She had a slight rush
of goosebumps thinking about it, as if she could feel their eyes like
fingers probing tentative touches behind her.

   Much to her surprise, most of those looking at her from the side or
front were equally paying attention to her chest as well.  She knew the
charms of an older woman.  She had seen women much older than her free of
their garments, whether it was the attire of barbarian entertainers or
spoils of war from fair cities, she had felt a twinge of jealousy when she
once witnessed the charms of a dancing girl entertaining her men.  The
sensuous globes of that girl's breasts as she stomped, skipped, and prance
to the staccato of drums and flutes.  She didn't abstain from such
entertainment, knowing how important it was for their commander to be
present to bond with them.

   Nor was her treatment the first time she'd ever heard of it.  Enemies of
the kingdom who earned her ire also earned the lust of her men; after
sacking one of their cities, they took the fairest women and hanged them on
frames to display their womanly charms before the soldiers while they took
their pick of those who captured their desires the most and had their way
with them on the spot.  She sighed and wondered if the gods were punishing
her for allowing her soldiers to pursue such lustful activities and herself
for inciting them.  But she wasn't superstitious, she was a pragmatic
general who knew that the gods rewarded those who actually took up their
sword to meet the enemy head-on.  She didn't believe in charms or rituals,
every priest from every conquered country prayed that they would defend her
invasions.

   --

   Part Five: the Tribunal

   Her legs buckled as she stood with parted legs trying to keep herself
balanced.  Sweat dripped off her chin and pooled to her legs as the judges
took their time to make their appearance.  She stood their for three hours,
her legs already beginning to shake from the heavy crossbeam.  The guards,
especially those who fought with her on the field could only look on with
pity as the proud child who only wanted to bring honor to her family and
banish any belittlement to her person has been sentenced by the very
kingdom she fought for.

   Cynthia bit her lip as she glared back at them.  She wanted to drop to
her knees but the hooded torturer would flog her if she disobeyed.  The
most she could do to salvage her dignity was to not succumb to fatigue too
soon.  She tried to glare back at her own people staring at her.  But it
was not long before she could not longer take the multitude of curious eyes
and avert her gaze to the floor.

   "Lower!" The torturer commanded.  Recognizing the form of punishment she
was made to endure, she obeyed, she parted her legs further and raised her
toes, then lowered her squatting position.  As a result her upturned bottom
took a more rounded shape and lewdly presented itself to the people, some
of whom nervously laughed and others to avert their gaze and move on with
their business.  With her heavy burden now shouldered in a more painful and
humiliating way she grit her teeth and tried to breathe steadily.

   By half an hour the princess was at her limits, her face was locked in a
grimace, her face crimson from both the humiliation and the strain of
carrying her load.  The people closest behind her were transfixed at her
hips involuntarily spasming from her shaking legs.  The Torturer cracked
his whip as a warning, the punished were to endure this position for two
hours or face flogging.

   At an hour, the princess was about ready to give up when the trumpets
blared signalling the arrival of the Tribune.  She maintained her position,
breathing deeply in gasps.  Sweat stung her eyes and she shook her head. 
Damn it, she thought.  Filthy politicians and their habitual tardiness, I
should have killed them first.  Her venomous thoughts were interrupted when
the Tribune made their appearance.

   Leading the procession was Judge Frederick de Guane, head of the
Tribunal who presided over trials of high treason.  He came in from the
gates behind Cynthia, looking impassively at her obscenely presented bottom
as he made his way past the gathered crowd.  Beside him, Emissary Golgan,
messenger to Azure Dragon Empire, made little attempt to hide his pleasure
at the sight of the proud princess bearing her punishment in front of her
own people.

   "So the noble princess Cynthia, standing in public like a sweating pig!"
He sneered, more to himself than to the entourage following them.  "With an
ass like this, our emperor will make good use of her wringing out his
pleasures deeply."

   Judge De Guane cleared his throat.  Golgan, realizing his faux pas,
imitated his cough.  Until the trial was concluded he decided that any
further abuse was unwarranted and moved on.  He contented himself to
drinking in her sweat-drenched body as they walked along.

   Among the royal entourage was Prince Kaelthas, crown prince of the Azure
Dragon and youngest son of the Emperor.  His face wore an unimpressed mask
as he cast a sidealong glace at the princess suffering on the condemned's
platform.  He took his seat among the gathered dignitaries, looking at her
without a hint of emotion as she glared back at the assembly of nobles she
no longer belonged to.

   "Cynthia Aevia, you have been found guilty of grave misconduct in the
line of duty with an important ally of the Kingdom." The obese judge
intoned from his shaded perch.  "You are found guilty of indecent conduct,
and inciting unnecessary war and bloodshed with an established political
ally.  Your sentence of death however..." he paused as he let the people's
anxiety sweep across the walls of the castle.

   K-kill me now she thought.  Hoping to end her disgrace.

   "...has been, commuted to indefinite servitude to the Emperor of the
Azure Dragon Empire, as per your request." Cynthia let out an audible sigh
as her legs threatened to give out.

   "Cynthia Aevia, you are now stripped of your rank and power as an
officer of the Kingdom and disowned by the Royal Family."

   Cynthia's heart sank.  Her body continued to bear her horrible burden as
silent protest to her dignity appealing to them.

   "...you have been sentenced to a life of disgrace, under the hand of the
Azure Dragon Empire.  You will serve as a warning to all who oppose the
ideals of peace..."

   "...at the leisure of the Azure Dragon Empire, you will be publicly
displayed without any respect and dignity.  Punished for the entertainment
of the public on a daily basis..."

   The former princess screwed her eyes shut as tears burned behind her eye
lids, mingling with her sweat.

   "...you will, without question, obey all commands from your jailers, and
accept all the humiliation and hardships that you deserve."

   "...failure to perform satisfactorily to the demands of your jailors, is
grounds for immediate termination of your eligibility for a pardon, and
execution."

   Without a word, the Tribune made their exit, ignoring Cynthia's collapse
to the ground.
   ---