The Chronicles of Rapina, Chapters 27-31 The Touch of Darkness Back to, The Jolly Roger, page [Rapina]027 In The Eyes of a Sword [Rapina]028 The Touch of Darkness *[Rapina]029 Spies and Assasins [Rapina]030 Seeping Toxins [Rapina]031 The Shadows of Wizardry [Rapina]027 In The Eyes of a Sword Once Jack Had shaken on the deal, he asked about the particulars. "Now when will ye be puttin' up yer protections again' other mages an' how?" "Have you buried any recruits or spies near the camp?" Roger asked. "Aye, we've got a small collection o' graves o'er yonder," Jack said. "Good, Rapina and I will consecrate the graveyard to Mortaebius yet tonight, and Kroz will come tomorrow night to get a closer look at the area and place the wards for the camp. Even now you are not totally without protection. I have within my skull an enchanted item that wards an area the radius of the length of a longship around me. If I am aboard a vessel it will be protected from faraway remote viewing by a special enchantment that influences remote viewing to be unable to see people and their constructions. Terrain will otherwise appear as it really does. For closer-in viewing, such as when an enemy mage knows or stumbles on the exact location of a ship or the camp, enemy mages will see natural-looking magical static that obscures vision. In addition, teleportation magic will not function normally within the confines of the ward. Those teleporting in will be killed or severely wounded when their materialization is scrambled somewhat, and those trying to teleport out will fail to dematerialize. In addition, I should be able to detect remote viewing when it is attempted within the ward. Enemy mages will be dealt with as Kroz sees fit," Roger said. "Kroz will be in tomorrow night? Then I'd like ta invite Rapina ta stay here tanight, would that be aright?" Roger paused a moment. "Kroz says She may stay now and leave with him tomorrow night if she wishes," Roger said. "Aye then will ye stay girl?" Jack asked. Rapina nodded. "Sure, but I'm not used to sleeping at night. Kroz keeps a nocturnal schedule." "That'll be fine, ye can do yer consecratin' and catch up w' the night watch once I'm sleepin' if ye like. I think Rage is on one o' th' posts tanight. Meantime, I'd like ta hog ye fer a bit soon as I get Roger situated to 'is night's work," Jack said. Rapina nodded and smiled. "Roger, I'd have ye work here in me tent if it weren't fer th' fact that I'd feel silly tryin' ta romance me wench with a walkin' bag o' bones in th' room. On th' other hand I got a heap o' book work for ye. We got so much new goin' on, and wi' only six o' me old men here I've been putin off th' book work somthin' fierce. What little 'as been done, 'as been done by me an' Drake, an' he's somewhat new at 'is letters so 'e ain't near as fast as ye are. I'll fix ye up with a table in th' supply tent right next ta this tent," Jack said. "Rapina, this'll take me a bit as I'll 'ave ta explain ta Roger what's happenin'. Why don't ye go back ta th' fire an' catch up with what men are still up 'an around while ye wait," Jack said. "Okay, I'll go scare Brackston." Rapina smirked. The captain laughed as they exited the tent. Rapina went back to the camp's central fire. There were several men sitting around the fire, including Pike who was there with some bandages. He was talking to Brackston and Skitch. Rapina sat down next to Pike. Brackston looked uneasily at Rapina. "I'm sorry I couldn't do any better for him, Brackston, but I got the distinct feeling it was this, another execution, or Jack and the rest of you loosing as much weight as Roger. Rapina took Pike's hand and started bandaging it properly. "You don't have any herbs, do you?" Rapina asked. Pike shook his head. We don't have a leech, and even if we did, it was already getting cold before we got the camp built. Otherwise maybe Arzeal could have come up with something. Doanthalas is around here too, but only since yesterday. He and his woman Elizabetta, Rage, and the Li'Yeiraun pair, Mansun the pathfinder and Adriana Li'Yeiraun. It turns out Adrianna is really Captain Red Jack's daughter on account of some foolin' around he did with Heinrich Li'Yeiraun's wife years back." "Jack has a daughter? I'd like to meet her," Rapina said. "She's bedded down for the night, but I expect you'll be meeting her in the morning," Pike said. Rapina nodded. "Sorry about the hand." Pike grinned, "That was my fault. After all those arrows bounced off you and Roger, I should have had more sense than to try something. No hard feelings though, I know you're doing the best you can for Jack." Rapina nodded. "So what's that necromancer like. I mean as a man?" Pike asked. "Kroz is intense, a bit scary, very intelligent and, as long as he respects you, he's a fair man," Rapina said. "Are you his mistress?" a young pirate named Zit asked. Rapina smiled at the armed youth who stood nearby. Blemishes scarred and speckled his face. "I'm an apprentice to Kroz actually. I clean the house, make the meals, tend the garden and study every spare minute I can find. Lately I study more because there's no garden in the winter." "Rapina here used ta be a crewman," Skitch said. "I helped ta train her up meself. 'Best ruttin' student I ever had." Skitch chuckled. Rapina blushed. "Basic was tough for me. Thankfully, I had a number of friends and benefactors here. If I didn't enjoy, ah, dealing with men, I probably would not have made it. Watch out for Skitch though, he drives a hard bargain," Rapina smiled. The men laughed. "Rapina, yew warr good as any I raised up, but yew didn't fit. Yew were always too damn smart, an' too pretty a pussy. Yew put a cramp in me style. All th' boys were too busy ogglin' yew ta get in trouble so's I could pump some brains up their ass. That 'an I had ta make sure none o' them boys done nothin' again' yer will an' th' cap'n's orders. Right taxin' yew were," Brackston said. "You did good though, Brackston, never gave me any trouble as long as I behaved. I think the captain put me in your barracks because he knew you'd be more tempted by the boys." Rapina smiled. "No secret I like th' boys. That's what keeps 'em in line. What kind o' spooks do yew have ta put up wif over wif Kroz?" "Mostly walking skeletons, but I don't mind them so much anymore because they help me with the housework," Rapina said. "Help yew with the housework?!" Brackston cringed. "Yew mean yew spend yer days in th' company of a bunch o' dead men?" "Kroz is a necromancer, I don't have a lot of say about his taste in servants. Kroz procured Kent and Edgar while we were lifting the rest of the pirate bodies. He is doing some sort of project on Kent. I see them both on occasion, though I don't like to deal with them. I think the skeletons are more trustworthy," Rapina said. Brackston shivered, "Ghouls! I don't know why yew aren't a jibberin' crazy mess, Rapina." Rapina took a moment to think about what she had been through. "Me neither," she said. The pirates laughed heartily. "I guess I'm too interested in the magic lessons to worry too much about the creepiness of it all. I can't say much more, you know how sorcerers are about their secrets." Brackston nodded gravely, and there was a brief silence around the fire. "Aright wench, I got me skinny assistant puttin' me sorry books back in order. Hey, ye know, I'll bet he never has ta take a pee break th' whole night," Red Jack chuckled as Brackston grimaced. Back in the old days Jack had enjoyed having Doanthalas in the cage just because having something the men were scared of made it easier to keep them in line. Although working with the necromancer might be dangerous in the long run, depending on how long the holy war lasted, the captain knew that having the spooks around would make his job a whole lot easier. Jack took Rapina's hand and the two of them started towards his tent as the captain spoke over his shoulder," Rapina's nocturnal as a minx, er lynx these days, men, so she'll be out here again whilst I'm sawing wood. I'll catch ye in th' mornin. I got some speechifyin' ta do afore th' men soon as they get up. I want 'em up a few minutes early tamarra, so wake 'em when the birds start a chirpin' heraldin' dawn but before th' rosy hues start brighten' up th' sky. It's got ta still be dark. That's important." "There now girl," Jack smiled as he let Rapina into his tent. We got a lot o' catchin' up ta do, but I 'spect we can do some 'o that tamarra. How's that old spook been treatin' ye?" Jack asked. "He's stern, but fair," Rapina said. "I work hard and study hard, but the fact that the priest who made me an outlaw in the first place was of the vindicator makes me something of a heroine with the priests of Mortaebius. That certainly hasn't hurt me." Rapina smiled. "I'm glad someone got a lucky break out o' that isle o' th' dead. Pickin' that rock fer a base almost made me a shadow o' me former self. Then it nearly cost me my head. It would 'ave if some o' me good men hadna escaped ta rescue me. I jus' recently got Doanthalas an' Rage back, but they came wi' baggage. Doanthalas' toatin' a woman I got ta remember ta have Roger check out. She walks too much like a feline fer me tastes, an' Rage brought me daughter and a condemned Li'Yeiraun pathfinder with 'im. I don't trust him neither. It's been a real zoo since ye left me. I got way too many green recruits an' not nearly enough veterans." Jack grimaced. "I'm glad you're making the best of it, Jack," Rapina smirked as she hung her cloak on a peg on Jack's tent pole while the pirate captain stoked up his tiny pot- bellied stove. Red Jack chuckled, "Aye, that I am. It reminds me o' th' old days when I first started out as a pirate. It's full circle, I guess. Enough o' business, I been eyein' that scarlet dress o' yours an' it's drivin' me up a wall. As ye might 'ave guessed I once 'ad a taste fer noblewenches. I've feasted me eyes on plenty o' finery in me day, but I can't say as though I can remember a single one o' them noblewenches who could fill th' finery like ye can, up down, all aroun'." Rapina smiled and blushed. Ye've been growin' up while ye've been gone girl. Ye carry yerself different too, like a gentlewoman. Ye're gettin' class. Is that spook a nobleman? Rapina hung her rapier and weapons belt on the headboard of Jack's bed, then sat down next to him. "Kroz did have some contact with the upper crust and he thought it would be wise for someone with my particular magical talent and specialty to know deportment, so he has been drilling me on it." "Drillin ye?" Jack chuckled. Well, whatever else 'e may be, 'e's taught ye a useful thing er two. What o' this magical specialty? Can ye do any tricks?" Rapina grinned, "Well, I have a talent, but outside of that I can't do so much as a cantrip. Even doing those simple feats of magic requires several years of practice to develop the necessary underlying ability, even if the aptitude is there." "Ye got a talent at least, is that a common thing for an apprentice?" Jack asked. "No, I don't think so, but it's certainly more common for a magic apprentice to have one than just anyone, I suppose," Rapina said. "What is yer talent if ye don't mind me askin', girl?" Jack asked. "Rapina smirked. I think you could answer that one for yourself, Jack," Rapina stroked her hands down Jack's chest, pulling at his lust all the way down to his belly. "Damn yer good at that!" Jack exclaimed. Rapina smiled as she started to undo Jack's shirt. "Talented?" Rapina asked. "Aye, so that's it. Ye've a magic snatch," Jack said. Rapina giggled, then caressed the inside of the Captain's thigh and watched his skin take on a ruddy hue as his manhood strained to leap out of his pants. "I suppose you could put it that way," Rapina said. "Ye do have knack fer th' bedroom; is that yer magic?" Jack asked. Rapina noded. "What can ye do with that besides make a man fall all over 'imself? Jack said breathing heavily as he worked to undo Rapina's bodice." "With sex magic? Theoretically quite a bit, but I need to develop my talent." Rapina unbuckled Jack's belt. "I think I can help ye with that," Jack took a deep breath as he pulled Rapina's dress down and looked at her scarlet bustier. "I like this one even better than th' one I first saw ye in," Jack said. "This one fits." Rapina smiled. "Aye, th' design looks ta be made fer yer figure, an there's even more fillin' th' cups than there was when ye were younger. Ye always did have nice tits, girl, an they just keep gettin' better. Rapina smiled, stepped out of her dress and folded it over Jack's chair while the Captain removed his trousers. The captain's erection stood at attention. "Ye're still in better shape than any noblewench I've seen. 'as ol' spooky been makin' ye carry water aroun' 'is 'aunted castle?" Jack asked. Rapina giggled, "No, actually I have been training with an assistant of his," Rapina said. "At arms?" Jack asked. Rapina nodded. "Spooky must trust ye quite a bit," Jack said. "Yes, that and he's a necromancer, so I'd still be in trouble even if I successfully killed him," Rapina said. Jack chuckled, "I see yer point. I notice ye carry a rapier, but it ain't that nice one I got ye. Is that what ye've been trainin' at?" "Yes, I miss that blade. I'm hoping I can convince Kroz to buy me another from the Montfort forge. I've continued to train in rapier, plus unarmed, and a little bow work so I don't get rusty," Rapina said. Jack caressed Rapina's sides and back through her bustier. "Aye, yer in great shape. Do ye eat bettern' ye did as a pirate?" Jack asked. Rapina grinned, "Yes, Kroz is a wealthy man, his table is well stocked. Sometimes I'm the one who stocks it. We apprentices have to work for a living too, you know," Rapina said. "Aye," Jack chuckled as he cupped Rapina's breasts beneath her bustier then grasped her sides and moved her onto his lap. I can see how havin' a woman like you aroun' would make 'im feel especially wealthy. 'e sure does dress ye nice. Where did these under things come from?" Jack asked. "Argos, Kroz really gets around." Rapina could feel Jack's hardness against her cheeks. His lust burned through her silken panties and coursed up her spine. The captain chuckled and turned. He rose slightly so that Rapina's rump slid off his lap and then he gently pushed her down on the bed. Jack unclipped her silk stockings then reached under her bustier and pealed the scarlet panties from her body as she lifted her long legs. "I'm just glad he ain't th' jealous type. Ye know I found ye that isle jus' so ye could get inta the company of them mage types," Jack winked as he stroked Rapina's smooth inner thighs. Rapina smiled up at the captain, her legs bent at the knees and slightly apart as she lay on the bed. "I should have known you had the whole thing planned. That was quite a sacrifice to make for my education. How will I ever repay you?" Rapina asked. Jack chuckled lustily as he caressed Rapina's nether lips, already quite wet with lubrication. "I'm sure we can work somethin' out. Besides, I couldn't cheat th' world out o' a magic snatch. It would be against me religion. It would 'ave been down right sacrilegious o' me even ta think about it. Jack's nimble fingers worked over Rapina's slippery labia, dipping into her honey and using it to lubricate her swollen clit. It's a work o' art, an it's got plenty o' zip an' slip to it. A woman with sex drive like ye've got is a rare jewel. I'll bet ye could take th' whole camp on an' never go dry," Jack marveled. "Sometime I'll have to find out," Rapina said half seriously. "Sometimes I think ye already have," Jack said. Rapina giggled. She did recall certain very busy evenings during basic. "Well, not everyone." "Jfft abot," The captain's voice was muffled between Rapina's velvety thighs. Rapina moaned between deep breaths, and before long, lights filled her mind as she came. She could touch Jack's mind from her peak as she might have touched a gray cloud from a mountaintop. She resisted the urge to reinforce the captain's lust and let the cloud go by, gathering only a hint of her affection as it passed. Captain Red Jack brought her to climax numerous times in the next couple of hours. Rapina let him take her twice before sending a sleepy, calming mood to his mind during her final orgasm. She took it easy on him, but not quite as easy as she once had, for she felt he now trusted her enough that she might let him learn the truth. After Jack fell asleep, Rapina cleaned up as best she could at Jack's basin, then gathered up her clothes, dressed and headed back through the cold winter's night towards the camp's central fires. The wind was chill, but she hardly felt it through the glow Red Jack had left within her. The vindicator's teachings admonished her to feel triply guilty about her tryst with Jack. It was sex before marriage, sex with a second partner, and sex in the face of being involved with Rames, currently her primary lover. Honest lust, the vindicator could not stand it, so he could not stand her either. Now that she was back in the pirate camp, she would do what came naturally if she felt like it. Rapina shook her head, the vindicator that had been revealed to her by reverend Evangeline was a sham. Jack, Thane and Rames were evil men, but they were not deceivers as Evangeline had been. She did not know what goddess of lust might control her fait. For now, she was fairly sure she had been loaned to Mortaebius, the god of the dead. She was content to be of use in his struggle against the vindicator's "pious" followers who preached honesty and justice while they dressed as bandits, killed priests and burned the temples of other gods. "Hail Mortaebius, guardian of the dead. A creature of life and lust am I, glad in thy just service to draw nigh, lust, and life, and death - one cycle, life goes by. Death is fact and a god I will not deny, and as lust I shall serve thee to kill the lie." "Well met Rapina," Roger said. Startled, Rapina lurched to a halt. She looked up just in time not to run right into Roger. What was even more startling than the appearance of the skeleton was the fact that Rapina could swear she had seen him smiling when she first looked up. "How can a skeleton be smiling without lips?" Rapina rationalized to herself. "The graveyard is this way. Shall we consecrate it before you begin socializing?" Roger asked. "Uh, sure, that way I can have the rest of the night with the men." Rapina smiled. "Indeed." Roger silently led the way through the snow, his boney feet hardly leaving a trail. "The graves are here." "They are?" Rapina asked, for she could see only snow. "Yes, I will show you. Roger walked elongated ovals marking four graves. Mortaebius knows where the dead lie. What we will do here tonight is merely a formality. It works a magic sympathetic to Kroz's spell and will allow him to come to this graveyard more easily. What he attempts tomorrow night is a new feat for him. In the past he has come to graveyards he has been to that are familiar to him. This one is different. He has viewed it only through his pool, and he will be counting on us to mark it, to add something familiar to it to make his spell surer. It is good we are both present. If this first attempt is successful, he will have greater confidence, confidence that could be very important in the months to come. This will be a simple ritual. Roger walked a rectangle around the four graves. I will walk along the lines of this rectangle, as I move you will move, always in the same direction, but you will remain always be on a diagonal corner from from me. I will say a prayer, and you will repeat it or say another if you cannot remember it. Any questions?" "none." Rapina smiled. "Good, I will stand on the Northeast corner and you on the Southwest to start," Roger said. "Hail Mortaebius guardian of the dead, we the dead who lie here entreat thee, hallow this ground that we might rest," Roger intoned. "Hail Mortaebius, keeper of the deceased, we the living entreat thee, hallow this ground that the dead be held in thy embrace, to rise only in the direst need," Rapina incanted. Roger walked clockwise around the periphery to the next corner, and intoned another prayer. Rapina moved as Roger did, arriving to pray first in the Northwest, then in the Northeast where Roger started. "...and thus we close the circle, life and death, the cycle is complete." "Excellent, Rapina. I had no idea you knew the prayers of consecration and in your first prayer you added, "to rise only in the direst need," a line that is most often left off these days. I expected a much less proper ritual. Your performance was as flawless as a priest's. Tell me, why do you know such things?" Roger asked. Rapina blushed, "I don't think I am meant to be a priestess of Mortaebius. I'm just not into the dead like Kroz, but Mortaebius has been a good patron to me, and I am honored to be his ally. I studied one of Guardian Rames' books that he had from being a chaplain before he actually became a priest. It's a handbook for church deacons. The line I added was mentioned in the footnote as the historical form, but given the situation, I thought it would be appropriate," Rapina said. "Yes, I remember your uncommon sharp wit," Roger said. "You know the rituals and serve my master well. There are things best done by the living. Your aptitudes are a fine complement to our own. Thank you Rapina. You may return to the warmth of the fire, and rest assured, Mortaebius recognizes a good servant, even if she is an ally not natural to his service." "Thank you Roger," Rapina said as she waved and left death to contemplate the graves in the biting winter wind. --- The central campfire shone like a beacon guiding Rage towards the cluster of tents in the distance. The young pirate finished strapping on his sword as he walked. He had been cleaning it when one of the new pirates had brought news of Rapina's arrival. It could only be Rapina judging by the man's description. Few women could rival her beauty. Rage wasn't sure he believed that she had stepped out of the fire with a demon in tow. That was a lot of superstitious nonsense most likely fueled by the return of Doanthalas. The old crewmembers knew he wasn't a demon spawn, but the new crew had yet to come to that conclusion. "It will be good to see Rapina again," Rage thought as he felt a swelling in his pants. "For more than a few reasons..." He smiled as he looked down at the stone set in the hilt of his sword. Things were looking up. Soon what was left of the old crew would be back together again. They would once again be strong and feared. Rage loved being a pirate. All the action, women, and booty a man could want...and then some. His smile widened as he approached the camp. --- The mage Nordula watched intently as Rage returned to the camp from guard duty. "The only thing more boring than being on guard duty is watching someone who is on guard duty," he mused. As much as Nordual hated babysitting this young pirate he hated the thought of Lord Li'Yeiraun's wrath even more. At least the magical stone set in the sword hilt was doing its job... and remarkably well. It had been a good plan to leave the sword where Rage was sure to pick it up. Now with the sword and stone strapped to the young pirate's hip the images were coming through crystal clear. The image in the center of the kettle shifted and seemed to shimmer for a moment. It began to jump and coalesce into a whirlpool of color. Something was interfering with Nordula's scrying. It appeared as though it were some natural disturbance, an upwelling of earth energy, or some such; it might also have been a clever ward, but where would a simple pirate captain have come upon such a thing? In any case, it was not a good sign. He did not think that Jack had any mages to detect let alone deal with his magical workings. No, if it was countermagic, some magical device plundered from one of Red Jack's victims more likely caused it. It had not been in effect at the guard post. Therefore, it likely had a range. If that was so then the stone in the sword could still be of use when Rage was away from the center of the camp. Still Nordula would have to inform Henrich of this development. Something would have to be done to ensure that their prey did not escape. The mage wrapped his robes around him and stepped outside to summon one of his apprentices. He found a candidate studying in his library. "Kall! Come and watch over the scrying kettle! The image has faded, but let me know the moment it reappears. I must find Lord Li'Yeiraun." He waved a hand at the boy as he disappeared in a cloud of colored smoke. --- It had been a few days since Doantalis had lain with Elisabetta. He had not spoken to her either. She had made her choice. Her loyalty to Paolo had been stronger than her feelings for Doanthalas. It hurt...a lot! But, then again, the elf's life had been nothing but pain for the last fifty years or so. He was becoming jaded...numb to the whole experience. Once again everything was happening at once; Elisabetta was plotting to assassinate Red Jack, Rapina had returned, and Jack's daughter had come looking for Drake. Nothing was ever easy. Doanthalas had to decide what to do about Elisabetta. He felt no loyalty towards Jack, but he had also seen quite enough killing for one lifetime. Almost without thinking the elf pulled the locket out of his pocket and held it in his hand. Inside was the picture of the guard he had slain and his family. Of all the lives he had taken over the past fifty years this one affected him the most. Doanthalas had been able to justify the other killings. It was justice pure and simple. But this was different. The only thing the guard had been guilty of was doing his job. Then there was Rapina. Where had she been and why had she returned? He was not going to get an answer while he sat there and brooded so he pocketed the locket and made his way towards the center of camp. --- Mansun Dido sat around the large central fire watching the pirates with mild interest. They still regarded him as an outsider so he sat alone. In fact, the only person in the camp who seemed to show him any amount of respect at all had been the tattooed elf. He was sure the elf did not trust him yet, but that would come in time. The pirates had been content to sneer at him or ignore him depending on their moods. Sitting amongst the pirates chatting away like an old comrade-in-arms was the woman Rapina. She was a difficult one to figure out. He detected strength in her that was intriguing and frightening at the same time. All the more terrifying because her beauty seemed to distract, the men at least, from it. At the moment he wasn't worried about her though. Elisabetta had him worried. For the past few days she had cut herself off from the elf. Something had happened to push them apart. When he had first met them they seemed to almost dote on one another...almost. Now she avoided him whenever possible. What's more she had taken on a subtle, but dangerous edge. Once again she was nowhere to be found. Neither was the elf for that matter. But Doanthalas didn't worry Mansun. He was dangerous, no doubt, but the pathfinder felt secure in the feeling that he had nothing to fear from him. There was an infinite sadness to the elf that seemed to permeate everything he did and said. Something horrible must have happened to him in the past. The pathfinder's thoughts were interrupted by the appearance of the young pirate Rage. Apparently, he was returning from guard duty. --- Rage finished his business and exited the latrine. For some reason he felt uneasy. He looked around. He guessed it was nothing. In any case he needed sleep. He walked briskly back towards the barracks tent. Nordula's chambers dissolved and were replaced by an outdoor scene. Deitrich froze in place and held his breath a moment. A young pirate wearing a nice sword left the outhouse beside him and seemed to look right through him before he walked up the path back towards the pirate camp. Nordula had not explained why he had to teleport Deitrich so close to the camp, but he was glad the cloaking spell had lasted through the transfer. Looking around, the spy quickly got his bearings and made his way to a thick cluster of bushes. Traveling via Nordula's magic had not been nearly as disconcerting as he thought it might be. He actually thought he could get used to it. It sure beat riding weeks through rugged terrain to reach his destination. He stealthily put a little distance between the pirate camp and himself before the invisibility wore off. If he could find out where the watch posts were while still cloaked, it would make his job much easier. "I've arrived," he said into the magic stone hanging from his neck. The stone seemed to pulse with light as Nordula's voice emanated from it, "Excellent! Keep us informed of any developments." The light from the stone faded as the spy nodded and stealthily made his way around the periphery of the pirate camp. ----------------------- Adriana was beautiful lying there beside him. She was asleep. Drake hadn't known her long at all, but already his heart belonged to her. That was precisely the reason Drake was lying there seriously considering Jack's request. He had given up a lot to become a pirate and had lost just as much during the course of becoming one. Drake leaned over and kissed her on the lips. She stirred and rolled to her side draping an arm over his chest. Losing Adriana was not a thought he could stand. That was why he had decided to do as Jack requested and take her away from the pirates. They would start a new life elsewhere. Jack had a friend who knew important people in foreign lands who could help them get a start. Drake Stretched and yawned. Pulling the covers up he nestled in close to Adriana and draped his arm around her. In minutes he, too, was asleep. ------- [Rapina]028 The Touch of Darkness Rapina looked up from her conversation with a few of the recruits as Rage approached wearing a new sword. Pike had gone to bed a few minutes before, looking a little more tired and worn than she had ever seen him. She could tell that the turn of events, the magic, Jack's capture and so many new and potentially untrustworthy faces had taken their toll on the Norseman, though he tried not to show it. The new recruits were typical of the young men Jack attracted, full of bravado, bloodthirstiness and often fleeing a harsh or boring lifestyle for the even harsher lifestyle of Red Jack's pirate camp. Rapina smiled to herself, and then greeted Rage who had just come in from guard duty. "Rage! It's good to see you, not many of the faces around here look familiar," Rapina said. "Aye, It's good seeing' ya too," Rage said. "Not many of us survived the isle o' the dead. Just me an' Pike, Brackston, Arzeal, Skitch, an' the elf, made off without gettin' nabbed. We got Jack back, 'an I guess that necromancer's still got 'is claws in ye from what I hear. He hasn't turned ye inta something like Kent, has 'ee? Rapina smiled, "Actually, I'm with a more experienced necromancer now. The guardian of the isle sometimes buys spells and things from Kroz, my master. They both worship the same god. Of course you'd kind of expect most necromancers to worship a god of the dead." She could tell Rage had reservations about her relationship with the necromancer. She could not really blame him. Thane had frightened the wits out of the pirates. In spite of their combat experience, they were a superstitious lot with no understanding of the principles of magic. What he had experienced on the isle of the dead would probably haunt Rage's dreams for years to come. "No, no, he has not turned me into something like Kent, I'd be of less use to him as a dead-brain," Rapina said. "Kroz is frightening, but to tell you the truth, I've kind of gotten used to him, as much as that's possible. He is a fair master, though not particularly kindly. Although he lacks Jack's flair and deadly humor, he does have a razor wit and he can be quite engaging to listen to, especially if you have an interest in magic," Rapina said. "Magic! Huh I'd steer clear o' that nonsense if I were you. It's dangerous," Rage said with conviction. "Yes, it is, but that's where my talents are, but you already knew that, didn't you?" Rapina said. "Rage smiled crookedly. "Yeah, I could tell. I guess you won't be such a bad sorceress, but damn, why did you pick a necromancer for a teacher?" Rage asked. "I didn't, really, life just happened that way," Rapina said. Rage's mood softened. He guessed Rapina always was cut out for sorcery. Red Jack had seen it in her and encouraged her magical studies. Earlier Rage had been all set to see if he could spirit Rapina off to bed, but the memories had come back. She was with a necromancer, a man who created and ruled the walking dead, a man like the man who had turned Kent into a clawed cadaver. Rage shivered involuntarily. He wondered if she slept with the necromancer, wondered if his blue dead hands caressed her shapely rump, or if his purple lips had suckled at her breasts. Rage had never seen Kroz. Yet, he could imagine the necromancer and how frightening he must be in person. It all made the young pirate nervous, so he put on his toughest face. "I'll see you later, Rapina, I need to get something to eat here." Rage busied himself getting food. Rapina smirked. It was obvious it would take the young pirate a while to get used to her again. She was sure he would be okay given time. At the moment she noticed someone who looked distinctly out of place, for her emerald eyes had lit on the pathfinder. She knew little of him, only that the men seemed not to trust him, yet she could not help but get the feeling that he was a good man in a bad situation. This resonated with her own reason for getting involved with the pirates. Sometimes life took some unexpected turns. Since Rage's soliloquy had cooled the pirates on her for the moment, she took the opportunity to sit near the pathfinder. His story might be interesting. Rapina's eyes caressed over the man's form, assessing him. He was obviously a warrior of some sort, though not particularly overbuilt. His stature was average, his dark hair was cut short and his features were fairly plain, but handsome in their own way. "You look as out of place as I feel," Rapina said softly as she sat down beside him. Mansun Dido was startled out of his thoughts by the woman's comment. Looking up from the ground he saw a beautiful woman with the most engaging emerald eyes. Her smile seemed friendly, but underneath it all she seemed to be sizing him up for something. The pathfinder recovered quickly. "I could say the same of you milady," Mansun articulated. He was definitely familiar with the ways of the nobility as evidenced by his etiquette. A sigh escaped his lips as he closed his eyes for a moment. "Not so long ago I was a pathfinder in the service of Lord Henrich Li'Yeiraun." Seeing Rapina's questioning look he replied, "That is correct. I used to be a loyal servant of the man who tried to kill Red Jack for sleeping with his wife. But that was when I thought loyalty and honor counted for something." Mansun massaged his temples and took a deep breath. "I was in charge of the pathfinders that were tracking Rage. Lord Li'Yeiraun wanted us to find Red Jack's new camp and figured this to be the best way. Unfortunately, we lost Rage's trail a few days after his escape. I didn't know it then, but this was due to the help of the elf Doanthalas. To make a long story short; Lord Li'Yeiraun was so upset that we lost the pirate's trail that he decided to make an example of me and have me executed in his place." The pathfinder shook his head and snorted, "A lifetime of loyal service...gone." Mansun shook the depressing thought from his mind and faced Rapina. "My name is Mansun Dido. What name do you go by?" "I go by Rapina." Rapina extended her hand. "I'm sorry to hear a man who should have been noble betrayed you. My reasons for originally joining Jack's men were similar to yours. When men of power behave in ways that are criminal, good people are forced to flee the justice that should be protecting them. It's sad that Lord Li' Yeiraun is not more loyal to those that serve him. I will stop feeling sorry for him that Jack diverted his wife's attentions. Is Lord Li'Yeiraun a religious man? "As much as any lord is I suppose," Mansun replied. "That was to say that as religious as he had to seem to his subjects and still keep his good name. I too have stopped feeling sorry for him about Jack and his wife. It's ironic that Red Jack would turn out to be the honorable one and Lord Li'Yeiraun the bloodthirsty tyrant." He shook his head and laughed. "I owe my life to Red Jack's daughter you know? She is the one who saved me the trouble of swinging from the leafless tree...if you take my meaning." The pathfinder sighed and ran his fingers through his short hair. "Now I have to begin my life anew. By now Lord Li'Yeiraun has tainted my good name amongst the folks I once knew. I wish I knew what to do. You seem to have adapted to life on the run fairly easily, milady. Any pointers for a recently unemployed pathfinder?" This last comment was said with a wry smile. Apparently, the man did have a sense of humor. "Sometimes the currents of life are impossible to swim against. The best I've been able to do is keep afloat. In my case I've been swept to the opposite shore, to help the enemies of the man who betrayed me. At first I was just trying to get away, and since the law was after me, I took shelter with Jack, an outlaw, but being a pirate turned out to be a between-stage. I'm not sure if it's truly good luck or ill, but I now work for an enemy of the man who betrayed me. That's why I ask what religion Lord Li'Yeiraun pays homage too. There are many issues that divide powerful nobles and religion is one of them. It's an important question in these times. It might be possible that Lord Li'Yeiraun has enemies who are more legitimate to the law of Clairmont than Jack is." "I'm not a religious man myself so I do have to confess a sort of ignorance to the religion of the land." A wry smile crossed his lips, "The only god I pay homage to is mother earth and the only service I attend is that of the local tavern. And speaking of drink I could really go for one right about now. Would milady Rapina care to join me for a little of the holy spirits?" Rapina smiled, "I have a great deal of respect for anyone who can scare up a drink in a pirate camp, so of course I would be glad to join you." Mansun proved to be an interesting conversationalist, but Rapina felt he was not the kind of fish who enjoyed being reeled in right away. She did not need to be in a hurry, at least that's what she told herself. In truth the exposure to so many men, even in spite of the wintry conditions, was deepening her hunger. It was as if she had been on a stringent program of rationing drawing only from Rames, and now that she was surrounded by food, she felt hungrier than she had previously realized. It had not been long before Mansun's life of early to bed, early to rise had forced him to retreat to his bedroll. Rapina returned to the campfire, but the early morning hours were not kind. Only a few men remained on sentry duty. Since many of the youths did not know her, Rapina thought it unwise to go around talking to the sentries. It was ironic that Rapina wound up in the supply tent with Roger. The death of Mortaebius said nothing as she entered, and continued to work on Jack's books as if conversation and breaks were luxuries reserved for the living. For her part, Rapina decided there were mental exercises pertaining to her magical studies to be done. It was a pity she had not brought a book with her, but everything had happened so rapidly from her entry into the inner sanctum of the mortancers to her reunion with captain Jack. One thing had stuck in her mind, however. In the negotiations, Roger had mentioned there were necromantic spells that could be used to drain the life force from another, and transfer it to the necromancer in order to heal him. Rapina thought to herself as she cupped the fullness of her breasts within her cloak, "Isn't that exactly what I do with men? Only it feels good when I do it to them and I can store the energy." As Rapina was musing, there came a scratching at the tent flap. Roger seemed unmoved. Rapina slipped out to see whom it might be. "Zit? What are you doing out at this hour?" Rapina asked. "I, I wanted to ask you something," Zit said. "What?" Rapina asked. The young man looked down at Rapina's feet. "Is it true?" "What?" Rapina asked. "We were talkin' and... Are ye a vampire?" Zit asked. "Zit, are you still in basic, because if you are, and Brackston finds out you snuck out of the barracks, he's going to pump some sense up your butt, like he always threatens." Zit's mouth formed an "O" as his back stiffened. "But I have ta know," Zit whispered. "I'll run back so it seems I just went ta the latrine." Rapina smirked. "If I were a vampire, don't you think I'd have fangs?" "Well, yeah, but ye might have an illusion that covers 'em up," Zit said. Rapina rolled her eyes. "Was Brackston in on this little discussion in the barracks?" "Uh, I'd rather not say," Zit said. "I'll take that as a yes." Rapina grinned. "So you want to know if I'm a vampire. Shall we find out?" Rapina grabbed the boy and bit his neck playfully, sucking some skin into her mouth. Zit froze and screamed soundlessly... "Hey, you didn't even break the skin," Zit said. "You sound disappointed. Were you hoping I'd suck your blood and turn you into my sex slave?" Zit blushed. Rapina giggled softly, "Sorry Zit, I just don't have the teeth for the first part, and you don't have the time for the second part. Because if you don't get back to the barracks, you're going to be Brackston's sex slave." Zit's lips formed the familiar "O" once again. "Okay bye," He said flailing a hand and running off. Rapina shook her head and smiled as she reentered the tent. Roger was as she had left him. She wondered if there wasn't a certain urgency in the way the death of Mortaebius applied himself. It stood to reason, the holy war between Mortaebius and the Vindicator was heating up rapidly. The mortancers had been deadly serious. During the winter months when the orcs made little attempt to retake the lands Lord Avengene had wrested from them, his most loyal forces were marauding the temples of Mortaebius posing as bandits. Originally, it was hoped that Avengene's religious fervor would halt at the borders of his own lands, but it now seemed obvious that the Vindicator's forces had larger plans in mind. To these plans the Church of Moraebius must react swiftly, for they did not have a standing army like Avengene's on which to draw. The Order of the Shroud would likely bloom afresh, and Rapina intended to ingratiate herself to that organization to the best of her ability. For in this game of chess, her only prospect of finding friends was to seek out the enemies of her enemy. ------------------ "Captain, time to wake up for your speech, Sir," Arzeal said. "Aye I was jus' gonna... Wha oi, oh it's mornin'. Jack sat up and massaged his face. Damn ye'd think I'd pulled an all-nighter last night th' way I feel. Now I grant ye I wasn't ta bed early, an me wench were in rare form, put me practically on the moon, she did, but it weren't like I staid up th' whole night boffin 'er brains out. I sure feel like it though. Damn, well get me some strong tea. Th' men need a speech about are new deal with th' spooks, an' it's a speech they'll get." The captain roused himself and began dressing and preparing for his speech. By the time he emerged from his tent and went to the central fires, Brackston had the men assembled for the speech. "Aye there now, me mates, I'll bet ye're wonderin why yer up a bit early this mornin', why I'm disturbin' yer beauty rest," Captain Red Jack said. "Well some of ye know we 'ad some visitors last night. Seems me new fame that's been drawin' recruits 'as also drawn some other attention, sorcerous attention. I'm sure the tails o' spooks an' sorcery 'ave already made th' rounds. Now I'm going ta give ye th' skinny. Seems I'm in a bit o' a spot. Me fame is invitin' th' attentions o' morn' jus' th' law. Now I got mages ta contend with. Luckily th' first of 'em ain't lookin' ta cash in are chips jus' yet. I'm not sayin' I trust 'im completely, but we 'ave somethin 'e needs, and 'e 'as somethin' we need. Now where I come from, that's the grounds fer a deal. I found me a necromancer. His name is Kroz, and 'e's going ta put up some protections against sorcerous spyin' an th' like. In return, come raidin' season we're going ta supply 'im with cadavers from are raids ta keep 'is laboratory hummin'. As ye know, I'm a little short on experienced help after that damned illusionist broke up me former men. I'm tired o' fightin' sorcery with spar varnish, so now we got us a magician on are side!" The pirates cheered. "Bein' that 'e 'as ta spend most 'o 'is time in some musty laboratory, Kroz 'as left a pair 'o hands an eyes with me ta help us out, an bein' as how are new 'elper looks like th' pirate flag, we'll be callin 'im Roger. All ye need ta know about Roger is that 'e's a skinny officer with a rank same as Drake's, an' with th' weight of bein' th' stiff that keeps th' books for me an' at times carries me orders. Other than that, th' less ye know about Kroz an' are new helper, th' longer ye're likely ta live. If ye hear any wild stories about 'is past or anything ye didn't hear from me, ye better come straight ta Red Jack an' let me know who's tellin' tall tales. I'll not be havin' me camp turned upside down by wild rumors, an' any man who disobeys that order's going ta be sleepin' with Roger." "Fer those of ye who don't know what in hell a necromancer is, I'll tell ye. A necromancer is a magician who specializes in magic concernin th' dead. Spells that allow a magican ta speak wi' th' dead, make th' dead rise up an' dance and such like dark sorceries are what necromancers are best at. Necromancers are generally considered ta be th' most evil o' mages, so a necromancer is just th' kind o' critter who would 'ave no trouble workin' with rapin', pilligin', murderin', bloodthirsty pirates like areselves. Now Roger, I want ye ta say a few words intraducin' yerself ta th' men, so as they can recognize yer face an voice." A figure cowled in heavy black robes came before the men and stripped back his hood. A gasp ran through the crowd, and the eyes of many of the men opened wide with terror. "I am death, but you may call me Roger if you wish. I will see that bodies from the raids are harvested for Kroz, and I will serve Captain Red Jack," Roger said in an emotionless tone. There was a persistent murmuring in the crowd that would not seem to die down. "I know what ye're thinkin'," Red Jack said. "Half o' ye can't believe sorcery like this exists and ye're sayin ta yerself, 'e's just a collection o' bones wired tagether an' there's a pirate hidin' behind Jack makin' 'is voice, an' th' others a ye are worryin' about yer immortal soul on account o' workin' wit' spooks. Roger go 'round th' crowd and shake th' 'ands o' th men that're man enough ta shake. That should 'elp ye all ta see Roger ain't some prop I put tagether fer yer entertainment. 'An if ye're so convinced 'e ain't nothin, ye can 'ave a little sword play with 'im, long as ye don't mind 'im relivin' ye o' yer 'ead. Fer ye that's fearin' fer yer souls, ye should 'o thought 'o that before ye joined a gang 'o bloodthirsty pirates, now shouldn't ye? If yer religious types 'er right then we'll all meet in hell anyhow." Captain Red Jack watched as Roger made his way through the men. Most shrunk away from the boney appendage, too terrified to shake. Others practically scoffed, thinking Roger was a trick. They shook, and many came away with a look of horror. Two of the scoffers were big, tough boys from the slums of Turnmoor. Wedge was respected for his strength and skill at arms, and Blunt was the black sheep of weapons practice who didn't give a damn who got hurt, as long as he got to laugh at them. They looked at each other, they looked at Roger and they grinned. Just after the death had passed them, they drew their cutlasses in unison. The death of Mortaebius carried his scythe in his left han. As the men drew, he spun three hundred sixty degrees in that direction to shake the next recruit's hand only a fraction of a second after he would originally have done so. The fact that Wedge's cutlass, along with his right hand, fell to the ground at about the same time as Blunt's head, did not seem to concern Roger in the least. He was following orders. The two recruits would serve as an example. Open-mouthed, the pirates saw the one recruit fall in a fountain of blood and the other grab his own handless forearm. Had it not been for the movement of his thick black robes, and the glint of his scythe, the men might have believed Roger had not moved at all. Yet, the death and disfigurement he had left in his wake made his actions unmistakable. "Brackston, get a tourniquet on Wedge's stump, and pick up that 'and. Maybe we can sew it back on," Jack chuckled. Zit's hands were shaking even more than they had been. The shower of blood and the scent of death hadn't helped any. As the skeletal figure approached, Zit steeled himself. He had to know. As the young recruit reached out and shook Roger's hand he moved closer to where he thought the skeleton's ear would be, if he really had one, and whispered, "G-good morning sir, could you tell me, Is Rapina a-a vampire?" Roger brought his teeth near the young man's ear and whispered, "Rapina is a creature of lust. She offers pleasure for what she takes from a man; a vampire takes blood, and offers death." ---------- After Jack's bloody speech, the pirate captain offered Rapina his bed and she slept there until late afternoon. A few hours later, just after dusk, she and Roger waited in the graveyard for Kroz, the necromancer who would be played by Thane. When he arrived, he was in high spirits, his confidence in his own ability to use the graveyard mists spell for transportation having been bolstered. With him, he had brought his personal guards a group of double-animated skeletons dressed in new blackened plate armor. Behind them, in addition to the fading magical mists, a cloud of steam rose into the air. Rapina recognized six of the flaming skeletons that were used to heat Thane's abode. Many of the more ordinary armored skeletons carried litters filled with supplies. The most notable of these being a very large roll of oiled canvas. Thane himself was dressed in his mortancer robes and looked much like Roger. For the illusion of a skeletal face obscured his real face, and his voice was also modified by magic to sound like the voice of a dead man. "Roger, Rapina, it is so nice to see you. I trust things are not moving too rapidly for you?" Kroz said. "Things are going as planned here, Kroz. Your arrival is a welcome development. I believe your ease of transport has been facilitated by the fine job your apprentice, Rapina, did in assisting me with the consecration of this graveyard. She has the skills of a deaconess, and my master views her deeds of service favorably." Kroz raised his chin. "Excellent, Rapina, as your service gradually outweighs your sins, I shall make sure that you do not go unrewarded. Our master appreciates service, especially in times of conflict when it is so desperately needed." Rapina nodded. "Now we have much work to do, "Kroz said. "I must meet with the captain. Another house of our master was sacked early this morning, the last and strongest in the enemy's territory. We had largely been abandoning the others but this one had been serving as a base from which we were conducting our strategic withdrawal. Once the enemy saw how easy it was to take those houses that were largely abandoned, he acted swiftly, but I'm afraid we lost more than a few brothers in that last battle. Word is that those with sentiments that do not agree with the enemy's are being disappeared rapidly as he consolidates his power. My associates and I have decided to give this pirate project a little boost. We need Jack's ship harvesting the dead as early in the spring as possible. Winter is more than half over. We hope our enemy will be too busy consolidating the power of his church within his own lands to have any time to launch attacks outside them before the orcs on his Northern border tie up his forces again this spring. We will provide Jack the supplies he needs to enclose the skeleton of the ship he is building within a tent, and get the temperature within high enough to do the wood-working now, rather than waiting for spring thaws. Come, after I speak to the captain, we must plant the warding devices in the camp. Kroz bustled towards the captain's tent. It was obvious he had somehow studied the layout of the camp. When the trio arrived they were allowed into the captain's tent where he was waiting for them." Jack looked up from some record books. "Looks like ye've been on th' same diet as Roger there, Kroz. Jack chuckled. Good ta meet ye. I am Captain Red Jack." The captain shook hands with the new corpse. What be the news? I see ye've brought more of ye're boney buddies with ye tanight, an' a few torches as well." "I will bestow upon you a small boon for your organization in wake of another sacking of my lord Mortaebius' properties. Lives have been lost, and time is of the essence. I want you to have the necessities with which to continue work on the building of your ship during the winter months. I need you operational as early as possible. Here is a modest gift towards necessaries for the ship. Thane handed Jack a small but heavy sack. Jack peered inside. "Aye, mixed circulated gold from a hundred towns by th' looks of it, untraceable," Jack smiled. "That'll come in handy." An th' skeleton torches, ye brought them ta heat th' tent we build around th' ship in so the wood will not be brittle?" "Indeed," Kroz replied. "Your creations?" Jack asked. "Let us say that I was able to glean the remains of your men from a colleague, and that certain of your men were well suited for that particular animation," Thane whispered to Jack. "If ye're tryin ta make up fer th' drubbin ol' Thane gave me by bringin' me men's walkin' corpses back ta me, it ain't ganna work, they're all dead," Red Jack snapped in a vehement whisper. "I will not try to make anything up to you. I serve Mortaebius in this. I respect your ability or I would not have proposed this deal. You must admit, however that the dead can be useful." "I'd take issue with ye on that if it weren't fer Roger's work on me books. He 'asn't lost 'is touch, and 'e's got a load 'o work done fer me already." Kroz nodded. "What about me arms master's wounded hand. I'm dead in th' water without 'im, and I'm spread thin enough as it is," Jack asked. "We have been most fortunate in that regard. I was able to locate the two necessary incantations," Kroz said. The two men discussed arrangements for the healing work that needed to be done. The work on Pike would be straightforward, but Rapina was sent with Arzeal and a couple of burly recruits to prepare the stump of the unwise recruit for the remedy Kroz had recommended. After he saw the captain, Rapina had helped Kroz bury ward-bearing skulls in the ground three paces from skull-bearing pike markers that gave a clue as to the direction and location of the actual buried wards. Subsequently Rapina had been sent to supervise the preparation for Thane's debut as a healer. A tourniquet had been applied not far above Wedge, the unwise recruit's stump, and the small sword Rapina was handed glowed cherry red from the heat of a stone forge. "This is going to hurt, Wedge. If you move, you might loose more flesh than you need to. Hold still." Wedge nodded drunkenly. The rum he had been given had dulled his senses, but the agony he suffered as the hot blade sliced his flesh made him scream in torment. AAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIIHHHH!!! Rapina grimaced as she sliced the flesh away. Being the closest thing Jack had to a leech was not proving to be enjoyable. In spite of the man's arm being pinned by two burly recruits and Arzeal, it was moving, and Rapina had to compensate in order not to take more flesh than was necessary, and to make the cuts straight. "Flip him over, I need to do the other side." Wedge roared with pain as blood rendered to steam billowed from the stump of his severed limb. Rapina worked as rapidly as she could, handing her blade to a recruit in exchange for a glowing hot replacement whenever it grew too cool. "Okay, it's finished. Pike, you're next. Take the bandages off and Kroz will repair your hand." Pike brooded just across the room of the shack that served as the camp's smithy. He stood next to the prone form of a feverish recruit. A stench hung about the man from a brawl's sword wound that had gone bad. It was gangrene. Pike knew the man didn't have a chance, so why had Jack had him brought near, and why were Rapina and Arzeal exposing some of the bone of Wedge's arm behind his severed wrist? Wasn't a smooth stump preferable? The armsmaster unwrapped the bandages from his mangled right hand as he had been bidden. Pike grimaced as several skeletons entered the room. Two were armed and armored; the other two were robed. One of the robed figures Pike recognized as Roger. The other had to be Kroz, a necromancer of Mortaebius. Was he too a skeleton? He certainly looked it. A shiver ran up Pike's spine. He didn't like the smell of sorcery. "Splendid, that should do fine. Armsmaster Pike, hold out your wounded hand." Pike complied, glowering at the skeletal figure that made arcane gestures and utterences, grabbed Pike's wounded hand and shook in agony. A scream of pain involuntarily escaped the necromancer's throat as life force was ripped from him by the power of his own spell. Pike gasped as a surge of energy pulsed through his hand. The tingling was intense, and he could feel the flesh knitting as he inhaled. The necromancer seemed to waver for a second before his discipline returned. His scream was rapidly replaced by further arcane utterances and gestures as his skeletal left hand plunged down to touch the naked chest of the feverish recruit who then yelled and convulsed. "Mmm, very good, very good. The life force I gave the armsmaster has been restored from this unfortunate victim of disease. I believe we can continue," Kroz said. More utterances issued from the throat of the necromancer, then he was again wracked with pain, but did not scream. This time he held Blade's stump, which began to heal instantly, leaving the stub of bone Rapina had exposed. Without even a moment's hesitation the necromancer cast the second spell, turned and grasped the skull of the gangrenous victim. A silent scream was all that marked the man's passing. A gray handprint colored the skin of the dead victim's forehead where Thane's skeletal hand had touched it. A faint, but similar mark could be seen on his chest where Thane's first drain of life force had struck him. "That went very well, very well indeed. Painful at the outset, to be sure, but our victim has made up for that." The necromancer almost chuckled. "Rapina, our work here is done for now. Captain Red Jack, I will work on the hand of this recruit. In two days time, I will return with something that I believe he will find more useful than a hook. Come, we must return to the abode." Rapina nodded as she turned from inspecting Wedge's healed stump. Her job exposing a bit of the bone would be quite adequate for what Thane had in mind for a later visit. She turned to Pike. "Can you grasp my hand?" she asked pike. Pike reached out and gave her hand a squeeze. His hand was whole again. Rapina smiled. A few minutes later she, her master and their entourage disappeared into the mists that rose to obscure the pirate's graveyard. ----------- [Rapina]029 Spies and Assasins The next day the pirate camp buzzed with activity as the men erected a tent around the skeleton of their ship. When night fell ending the men's intense effort, the pirates were glad to finally rest. Not long before the first light of dawn, a lithe figure stealthily moved through the shadows. The guard stationed outside of Red Jack's tent did not see it approach. And no one else was about to see the garrote slip around his neck. Neither did anyone see the shadow drag off the guard's body and slip into Jack's tent without a sound. --------------------------------------------------- Outside of the pirate camp another figure moved stealthily through the darkness. Deitrich had spent most of the previous day scouting the camp's perimeter and, after a shortened night's rest, was finally ready to report his findings. Unfortunately for him, some sort of interference was prohibiting him from using his magical pendant to contact his master. He moved silently away from the pirate camp trusting his master's words that the pendant would function if he got sufficiently far from the abode of the pirates. The interference had been less pronounced or widespread until the previous night when it its influence around the pirate camp had grown. Unbeknownst to the spy Deitrich, someone had noticed his presence. Doanthalas' feral eyes seemed to glow in the darkness as he watched the figure move away. This man was good, but he was no elf. He was probably a human. Even the best humans could not sneak past an elf in the woods. Elves had a sort of magical affinity with nature that humans could never hope to understand or achieve ...at least most of them. Deitrich finally found a spot where the magic seemed to work again. He pulled out the glowing pendant and shielded the magic stone with his body so he would not be spotted. He incanted the magic words and a swirling image began to appear in the stone set in the pendant. Suddenly it was struck by something hard that sent it spinning from his grasp. The man rolled to the side and came up with sword drawn and eyes searching. Most likely a lone sentry had spotted him, since he had not heard an alarm sound. If he could dispatch this sentry quickly and quietly then his lord's plan could still be carried out. The elf watched the man's back for a few minutes as he looked around for his assailant. This human was certainly a warrior of great skill, but it was obvious that his eyes were not very helpful in these darkened conditions. The man seemed to finally sense the elf's presence behind him and slowly turned around. He almost jumped out of his boots when he heard Doanthalas' guttural growl and saw his emerald eyes reflecting the moonlight. Doanthalas had his own sword drawn as he leapt through the high grass straight at the man. Although the man was scared Doanthalas had to give him credit for holding his ground. In a flurry of motion man and elf were upon each other with swords flying. The clash of metal against metal rang through the night. ---------------------------- Back at the camp Drake and Adriana were enjoying a private walk. They had made up their minds to leave everything behind and go to another place and start over. Their spirits were flying high with newfound hope as they meandered around the camp. Suddenly the sounds of fighting erupted from the stillness around them. Drake pulled Adriana close and drew his sword protectively. "Drake! What is that? What's happening?" she asked as she strained to see through the darkness. "I'm not sure my love, but I'm going to check it out." he turned to face her, "Find a sentry and warn him that there is trouble afoot." He saw the worried look on her face and pulled her close. "Don't worry Lady Adriana. I will be careful." That said he kissed her passionately on the lips. "Now go!" he said as he headed off towards the sounds. He had barely made it two steps when the sounds stopped. Drake looked back to see that Adriana had noticed it too. Adriana was about to say something when a dark shape erupted from the darkness heading straight for Drake. A terrified scream escaped her lips as the shadow descended upon him. Adriana's scream had scared the wits out of him, but had also alerted him to the presence of someone behind him. Drake swung his sword with all the strength and precision he could muster hoping to connect before the assailant ran him through. A familiar voice rang out mere moments before his sword connected with the assailant's. Metal against metal rang out through the darkness as Drake composed himself and said somewhat befuddled, "Doanthalas?" "Yes." was the reply as the elf grabbed Drake and then Adriana by the arms. "Come. There is danger afoot. We must warn Red Jack." Drake and Adriana looked at Doanthalas' blood soaked form and then to each other. They weren't sure what was going on, but the blood and serious look on the elf's face made them quicken their step. -------------------------------------- Inside the tent Red Jack slept soundly. It had been a long day of planning, and giving orders concerning the ship's tent, and he had retired early. That was just fine for the assassin who crept silently towards the pirate's sleeping form. Slowly the assassin drew a knife. A few more steps and Jack would be no more. The elf stopped dead in his tracks as he rounded a cluster of tents and saw no guard in front of Jack's tent. He held up a finger to silence Drake and Adriana. They complied as Doanthalas indicated the dead guard's feet in some nearby bushes and motioned for them to get help. They quickly departed as the elf crept forward. He glanced at the guard to see if it was anyone he knew. It wasn't. Most likely it was one of the new recruits. The elf didn't give the body a second glance as he slipped into the tent. His eyes adjusted quickly to the darkness of the tent's interior. It was quick enough for him to see the figure standing above Jack ready to strike. Doanthalas let out a feral scream as he leapt for the assassin. The assassin brought the knife down in its killing arc. She had been trained too well to be distracted by the elf's scream. However, this must not have been the first attempt on the captain's life, for he rolled frantically away from the assassin in spite of having been deeply asleep a second before Doanthalis' scream. The knife opened Jack's side rather than piercing the pirate's heart. Elizabetta did not have time to consider her options as Doanthalas was upon her. With a deft move she ducked under his attack and drove her foot into his back. He crashed to the ground, rolled, and came up in a fighting stance. Jack was now awake. He had grabbed his blade and then rolled off the side of the bed opposite the assassin. As he rolled he bellowed, "Roger! Guards! Assasin!" Red light from the magelight pendant Roger had given the captain suddenly illumined the room. Elizabetta took a gamble and jumped the bed to get behind the pirate. She held her knife against his neck. "Move and you die!" she hissed. Doanthalas knew that Elizabetta might try something like this. He hadn't anticipated that it would be so soon though. But none of that mattered now. He had tried his best to talk her out of it, but as the days went by she never wavered in her decision. She had been given a choice of living the life of an assassin and killing Red Jack or living the life that she and Doanthalas could carve out together. She had made her choice and she was about to carry out her mission. If he did not think fast, Jack was surely dead. He only hoped that she would keep him alive as a hostage long enough for him to form a plan. "So it comes to this," he said as he moved to block the tent's entrance. "It was always heading in this direction Doanthalas," she said with a bit of regret in her voice. "Perhaps in another life things could have been different... but not in this one. Don't think that I wasn't tempted by your offer." Elizabetta sighed as she pressed the knife firmly against Jack's neck. "I can think of nothing I would like more than a life with you, but you have to understand... it's not my life anymore. If I betray him he will send his best assassins after me. We would both be in danger." "Then let us face that danger together. Neither of us are strangers to danger. We can fight them." "Quite a romantic picture you paint...my love. But unfortunately the end result will be the same for me. Either way I die... with or without you." A tear rolled down her cheek as she glanced over Doanthalas' shoulder. My death is a given, but I could not bear to have your blood on my hands as well. Sure we could survive for a while, but sooner or later they would find us and kill us both." "Trust me. My way is better. I know the way he works and he would not stop until we were both dead. I do this because I have to...because I love you." A dark shape rose behind Doanthalas. Doanthalas felt cold steel across his throat as a boney hand grasped him from behind. "Your way will have the same result as you believed his would," The Death of Mortaebius rasped. "The penalty for bringing an assassin into this camp is death. Elizabetta, you are correct, either way you die. In your foolishness you have brought death down upon Doanthalas. Pirates, some of whom are as lethal with a bow as the best assassins, will soon surround this tent. You will not escape this place alive, nor will your lover." "Roger, get away from Doanthalas or the captain dies." "Do you take me for a fool? In life I was a pirate. You will kill the captain regardless of whether or not I release Doanthalas. If you wish me to release him, you must move away from the captain so that there is a real chance that I can rescue him. You must make yourself a more attractive target than the elf. Right now, he is a sure thing. You make the mistake of believing that death will stop Red Jack. I assure you, his grave would hardly have a chance to grow cold before he rose from it as I have." Elizabetta swallowed. Death was no fool. Slowly she moved back from the pirate captain. If she were just fast enough, she could still pull it off. She held her dagger to Jack's back, drew another and used it to slice an opening in the tent behind her. She did not like the way Roger moved Doanthalas to the side to allow him to get at her more quickly should the opportunity present itself. It was almost as though Roger had done this before. Suddenly Jack dove forward and rolled. Run! The assassin screamed to Doanthalas as Death left the elf behind and jumped towards her. Roger did not take the split second of extra time it would have taken to kill the elf, for Elizabetta was already sending a deadly blade Jack's way with a snap of her wrist. The elf dove out the tent flap the way he had come in. He rolled between two approaching pirates and into the bushes near the dead guard's body before the men could catch him to gut him with their swords. The sound of metal against metal rang briefly through the tent as death's scythe picked her thrown dagger from the air. Elizabetta would not have thought it possible to deflect one of her throws had she not seen it with her own eyes. It was too late to throw another. The shadow of death was upon her. She turned a back flip and was through the opening, outside and on her feet in an instant. Roger removed a small, spike-bladed dagger with a large bone handle from within his robes. "kill," he said as he threw the blade through the breach Elizabetta had opened. Once through the opening Elizabetta jumped to the side to avoid the knife death threw at her. She drew a small crossbow, already cocked and loaded with a poisoned bolt. Although she could not see him through the tent, She knew where Jack was; it didn't really matter where she hit him. The poison was most virulent. Elizabetta took aim. Uh!? She dodged backwards as she fired. Death's knife had veered in mid flight! "Poison!" Jack bellowed from within the tent. Elizabetta allowed herself a half smile on a job well done. Now she must escape Death who, despite his robes and scythe, was out of the tent. Elizabetta sprinted and jumped. The flying bone-handled dagger buried itself in a pirate's chest as she narrowly got past his swinging sword and behind him. Would the dagger be satisfied with the death of another? Elizabetta did not plan to wait around to find out. Neither did she wish to wait around while archers arrived. That Death was right behind her was enough. Elizabetta pushed deftly through some bushes knowing that the skeleton's lighter weight would make bushes more impenetrable to him than they were to her. She headed for an area of the forest near the camp where she knew the bushes, brush and undergrowth would slow death to a crawl. She heard pirates behind her, but she did not run straight. She put the darkness of the pre-dawn night and obstacles between herself and her pursuers and stuck to shadowy areas of the camp as she fled, not letting them get a clear shot at her back. At last she made it into the forest. The darkness would hide her from all but death, and the thick foliage ought to hide her from the dangerous skeleton even if the darkness would not. If she could evade him long enough, she believed dawn's light would fight him for her. Doanthalas heard Elizabetta making her way through the forest. She was far behind him. Humans were not fleet of foot in the undergrowth. For a human, her passage was quiet, but to him distinctive. Like him she had chosen the thickest woods to cover her escape. He was about to go to her... The assassin broke through the bushes and jumped the narrow path. Elizabetta stopped abruptly on the far side of the path. She stared at the end of the handle of a scythe against her breast. She knew the blade must have passed through her, but it had been so fast, so fast she had hardly felt it. Already blood was soaking her shirt. Where had it come from? "How," she gasped. Roger stepped from behind a tree. The darkness made all but the skull within his black hood invisible. "Your life force is as a beacon to me, assassin. It is true you pass through this foliage more easily than I, but did you honestly think it would hide you from death? I simply took the path and intercepted you. Even you are relatively blind in this darkness, but I am not. In life, I served an unscrupulous master with unswerving loyalty. You have done the same. Now you will join my master, Mortaebius. He will set a new task for you." As if to punctuate Death's words, the blade he had thrown through the hole in the tent transfixed her from behind, but she was already dead. A single tear rolled down the elf's cheek as he hastened away through the forest. He had caught the faint sound of the death skeleton's voice on the wind. He turned east and hurried towards the rosy glimmerings of dawn. He would miss her; he would miss them all. [Rapina]030 Seeping Toxins "Aiii! That'll do it, Drake, I don't want th' tourniquet so tight as to kill me leg completely. Damn poison 'as been seepin' up, fer hours. I can't feel a thing from me toes ta th' middle of me thigh." "But sir, the wound is just a scratch," Drake said. "Aye, a scratch on me ankle, and I washed it out with brandy only seconds after that blasted bolt creased through me jammies. I screamed bloody murder like I'd been hit for real, an I think I fooled that wench assassin. She didn't know I shimmed up towards me bed a bit while she warr occupied with Roger an 'is knife. Otherwise the wench would 'ave hit me square in th' chest. A real pro that one warr, but no one escapes death," Jack chuckled. How is th' sun doin'? Drake exited the captain's tent and then came back inside. "It's not quite down to the tree-line sir, but it's getting there." "Good, I'll never admit ta bein' grateful to that ol' warlock after what 'is collegue did ta me men, but he brought Roger, an Roger just saved me life, an I hope ol' Kroz can make that savin' permanent. This pois/g seon's tryin' ta undo what Roger did. Any news on th' trackers?" Jack asked. "None Sir, they've been at it since dawn, and dusk will be here soon," Drake said. "No one in camp could identify th' man Doanthalas killed afore comin' ta confront me assassin, so he could be a local, but 'e's too well equipped ta be a farmer, " Jack said. "He's got the weapons and th' look of a tracker. As soon as our mage gets here 'e can sniff th' place o' death fer magic. Damn! I hate bein' so dependent on a bunch 'o spooks! Gettin' famous has ruined th' piratin' business!" Anyways, Arzeal, Dido and a few men are out lookin' for th' dead man's base camp. Could be tharr's more than one spy out tharr." "Arzeal, reporting Sir," Arzeal said as he scratched at the captain's tent flap. "Aye, come in Arzeal. Did ye find a camp or a new spy?" "We found one of his traps, sir." "Who did ye loose?" Jack asked. "The recruit named Binge we took as a flanker is down and dieing, sir; we had to carry him back. A spiked snare trap hit him. We are not sure if the trap was set by the dead man or someone else, but it was getting to be too dark to track anyway, so we all returned." "Damn spies and assassins seem ta be comin' out o' th' woodwork since Doanthalas and Rage got back here with you an' me daughter. Heinie Li'Yeiraun never did have a mage worth squat. Seems to me all 'e used to have was a family line o' second rate tea leaf readers ta help 'im with his investments. I'd 'ave been dead ta rights years ago if that ass had had a real mage. Any change in that department Dido? Who's th' Li'Yeiraun mage at the moment? "Nordula, sir," Dido said. "Has he got any talent?" Jack asked. Mansun Dido squeezed his chin between his thumb and forefinger. "It is true Lord Li'Yeiraun's mages never could seem to give him a straight answer as to where you were, Captain. Their hope was in Nordula, he had more talent than either of his forebears on account of the peasant wise woman his father's tea leaves pointed at to be the boy's future mother. When he had grown some, they used up a great deal of the money their line had siphoned off the Li' Yeirauns and a sizable contribution from their lord to send Nordula for outside training. When he returned from his schooling he was able to do a few notable spells, creating sounds, flashes of light, balls of blue magic that could inflict wounds, that sort of thing." "Aye, true sorcery, but nothing compared to teleporting a man's body," Jack said. "Yes, I see what you mean, but it is possible Nordula has improved and I may be, in part, responsible," Dido said. "An' how might that be?" Jack asked. "There was an old mage who lived in a deep forest to the East of the Lord's lands. We were sent to find and bring him in for questioning. Lord Li' Yeiraun said the man was implicated for harboring a fugitive. I now have my doubts. The mage fought us and we lost many men to his spells, but he was old and frail. After a few volleys that decimated our ranks and sent us running, Nordula noticed the old man was using spells of lesser potency. We regrouped from what should have been a route, doubled back, and ambushed him just outside his abode. Nordula was able to wound him with a spell from behind while his magical shield was directed towards fending off the swords of my men. Once wounded, the mage lost his concentration, his shield dropped for a moment, and we cut him down right on the doorstep to his abode. Two more steps and he would have been inside. I was not involved after the initial mission, but from what I heard, Lord Li' Yeiraun hired a group of mercenaries to clean the mage's abode. His books now sit on Nordula's shelves. "Aye, so it could be tharr was somethin' to those volumes an' Nordula has become more'n a second rate tea leaf reader," Red Jack nodded, and then knocked on the large chest at the foot of his bed. "Are ye awake yet Roger?" "I never really sleep sir, but the sun makes me... drowsy." "Well, it ain't quite down yet, but I need ye ta get hold o' Kroz as soon as ye can. Doanthalas killed a spy before he came ta stop th' assassin wench last night, and there may be other spies at large as well. We already lost one man to a trap. "I will relay the news to Kroz, Captain. I do not know if he would wish to become embroiled in such mundane matters, but I am sure he will come for the assassin's body if you wish to sell it to him. I believe Elizabetta is the perfect subject for an advanced animation." "Aye, I'll trade 'er cadaver for a cure ta this poison if he can get me one." --- "Captain Jack, Kroz is here with Rapina and he brought some ghouls, but he left them at the graveyard. He is willing to infuse you with life force to heal the damage done by the poison if you have a donor," Arzeal said. Okay men take me out ta th' infirmary, thar's not a moment ta loose, damn poison's up to me hip." Within the ship's tent, the pirates were eating dinner. Fist one, then another blood-chilling scream interrupted the men's meal. "Damn sorcery! It's gonna to give us all a belly ache fer sure." Back at the infirmary tent Kroz entered and addressed the captain, "How is the leg, Captain?" "It's still tinglin,' thanks ta Binge, here. The captain patted Binge's freshly dead corpse. Heh heh, we were both dead men 'fore long. His dyin' sooner is goin' ta buy 'is captain some time." "Without another donor, that is as much as I can do for you. If you have the bolt, I may be able to determine what sort of poison was used. There may be an antidote." "Ye mean ye don't think Binge's whole life is going ta be enough ta quench this damn poison?" "Your body will have much more energy with which to fight the toxin and the damage it has already done will be healed, however my spell does not neutralize the poison. The poison will begin to do damage once again," Kroz said. "Damn! Will we 'ave to take me leg off?" Jack asked. "It would stop the poison, however you would then be minus a leg," Kroz said. "Aye, and what kind o' leader would I be without even enough leg fer a peg?" Jack scowled. "We could remove the flesh and leave the bone. I have Wedge's hand for him. I will put it on as soon as he is brought here. If you find its functionality to your liking, we could prepare your leg similarly." "Here sir," Wedge said. "Recruit, Kroz 'as got yer hand for ye." "Splendid, you have arrived, Wedge. You have a decision to make. Let me see your wrist. Wedge held out his stump. Kroz carefully fitted Wedge's cleaned up skeletal hand to the bone of his stump and made a few incantations. Wedge inhaled involuntarily. "You have a decision to make, young man. Your skeleton is now whole, but you cannot move the bones of your dead hand, can you?" Wedge grimaced, "No sir." "With magic I can give you that power and you will be able to use it. It will not, however be any stronger than the hand of a pampered woman. If you wish to serve the god of the dead, I can ask him for his blessing and additional divine magic. Your hand will become formidable in its strength. You will have no trouble wielding an axe or a heavy blade, but you will also wield that blade in the name of the god of the dead, for you will have a connection to him. Do you understand?" Wedge nodded gravely, "Like Roger?" "Yes," the necromancer affirmed. Wedge grinned evilly. "What do I have to do?" The necromancer's rasping laugh filled the night. ----- As quietly as a man could, Gariot Hansfeldt made his way through the woods. He held the glowing red bit of glass aloft and smiled. One of his traps had been sprung. He could see the spikes were deep in the body. One protruded from the chest of the corpse. He shook his head as he thought to himself, "I should have known they would be looking for me. Well it's too late, they had their chance to find my base camp, and now I don't have the magic pendant anymore, and I will not know where the new camp is even if they catch me. Gariot bent down to examine his handywork." "Agh!" Gariot's eyes bulged as the corpse stuck to the spikes grabbed his face. The smell of rot seemed to thicken. How could the corpse be moving? Edgar the ghoul jumped from the bushes and clawed rapidly yet savagely at the side of the tracker's head. He would not let up while he had the advantage. "Kkhahah," he signaled. The stench in the area soon grew in magnitude as Kent sunk his claws into the man's back and neck. The victim froze. Kent removed the tracker's weapons and chittered happily as Edgar and the newly created zombie of the pirate named Binge carried their paralyzed victim back to Red Jack's camp. --- Brackston blanched. Wedge opened and closed his skeletal hand so that all the men within the ship's tent could see it. A great vat of stew simmered over the foot of a seated flaming skeleton. Bedrolls were spread all around the ship, for the men had moved out of their chill barracks tents to where the heat was. Wedge grabbed a heavy axe and swung it, "Ahahahah, it's strong, see, I can wield the best weapons again! Pitty me now, Slice. Ahahaha! The power of the god of the dead is in my hand." "Oooiiiiakakakahhh!" Kent screamed. "Thane looked up from an engaging magical conversation he was having with Rapina under what would soon be the ship's bow. "Arzeal, I believe Kent has found some measure of success. He is calling us from the graveyard. Rapina, carry on." --- "It is not a man I know whispered Mansun Dido from the bushes. If he is working for Lord Li' Yeiraun then he would have to be new." "No doubt," Kroz rasped. "How did yew find are camp?" Brackston questioned. "I just stumbled upon it. I had no idea what it was," Gariot Hansfeldt said. Kroz softly imitated the caw of a crow. Brackston caught the sound of the raspy crow and knew the tracker was lying, "Yew think I believe that? Bloody Brackston pulled the man's shirt off. Gariot Handsfeld was chained in an upright position between two stout posts. His legs and arms were spread and the lash had already torn his shirt to shreds." Brackston reached around front and undid the man's belt, and then he walked around front and unbuttoned Hansfeldt's pants. The tracker looked at the pirate incredulously. "Yew better start tellin' th' truth. How did ye find us, how did ye get here?" "I told you, I rode," Hansfeldt said. Brackston jerked the man's pants down and pulled his sheath knife. He played the tip over the man's balls. Yew think yew're really tight lyin' ta ol' Brackston. I'll bet yer tight," Brackston shoved his middle finger up the man's butt. "Hhhh! Don't you dare sodomize me!" Handfeldt hollered. "Heh, heh, if yew insist, but I was going ta use the branding irons an' save that for latter, Heh heh..." Hours of pain passed. "This man is surprisingly resistant to torture," Kroz said in a bored tone. "I believe he lasted something over three hours in Brackston's capable hands." Mansun was sitting on the cold ground, his back to the scene. It was something he had long ago decided he would rather not see. He was here as a second opinion to the magic of Kroz, to help give Brackston an idea of whether or not the man was telling the truth if the man were working for Lord Li'Yieraun. It almost didn't see fair. Whenever the tracker lied Brackston knew, and the tracker suffered for it. "I was teleported by a mage, damn it!" the prisoner, Gariot Hansfeldt, finally admitted. "Where were yew, who done it, and how was it done?" Brackston asked. Gariot cried, "I was hired out from Turnmoor and paid in gold. The mage, Nordula. told me to hold my breath and he started casting some kind of spell, and then I, I just appeared." The prisoner said. "Where did yew report to this mage ta be teleported?" Brackston asked. "In Turnmoor," Hansfeldt said. Brackston heard the crow and grabbed ahold of a branding iron. AAAIIIIII! Castle Yieraun. It was at Castle Yieraun!" Hansfeldt admitted. "... That's better, now where did yew appear and what were yewr orders?" Brackston asked. "Ouu! Please, I was put in a handstand before Nordula cast the spell. He told me when I arrived I was to pick up the pendant dropped by the other man, and that it would be right under my head, and then I was to set up a temporary camp. I left the pendant there." Brackston heard the caw of a crow, smiled and went behind the man. Gariot stiffened as the pirate drove his fleshy rod into the raw pain of his bowels. "Ahhhii! You already know when I'm lying, why do you even ask?" "Because I like ta fuck yew, yew ass! Now yew tell de whole truth or it'll be back ta the brandin' iron." Hansfeldt shuddered, "All right, all right, the mage sent two more men earlier tonight. I was to keep watch on the pirate camp and go to a specified location two days every week to pick up the pendent and make my report," Handsfedt said. "Why don't they just leave the pendant with you? If they ain't watchin' our camp, how come they need it?" Brackston asked. "I don't know! Aaaiii!" Hansfeld said. "Why do you think?" Brackston asked. "I, I think the mage needs the pendant to teleport men to. I was teleported to the pendant, and so were the other two. I held it up and each appeared under it in turn," Hansfeld admitted. "So while yew watch our camp, Nordula fills another camp with soldiers, is that right?" Brackston asked. "Yes, I think that's the plan. The river is too choked with ice, I don't think they can send a ship, so they are sending us with magic," Hansfeld admitted. "Why don't they send yew overland?" Brackston asked. "The Lord here doesn't like Lord Li' Yeiraun. Isn't that why Red Jack holed up here?.. Aaaouuch!" Hansfeldt asked. "Yew got to remember who asks and who answers..." Brackston said. --- "Aln I see yourrr rum and raise you ahhrum," Dodge slurred. "Yourr on," Pike blinked. The two men slammed back still another round of rum. Rapina raised her eyebrows. Pike had come over just after Kroz had left and the pirate named Dodge had complained about Pike trying to keep the "wench" for himself. Things had escalated from there, but not exactly the way she would have thought. Dodge maintained that a contest of arms between he and Pike would be unfair, instead, he had challenged Pike to a contest of cups. "Yooouulll never oud dlink me, Piike, I've been annn alcoholic since birff, I suck-kled ale ad mmy mmother's tteat, hic," Dodge slurred. "Tthen why are you wavering aaand I'm ssstill sssteady as a rrock?" Pike asked. Dodge tittered, "Yyew, sssteady? Yyewer jusst a-about ta falll. One morrre rrround ought ta havvve it, hic," Dodge said. Another round was poured and the two men tossed it back. Rapina wrinkled her nose, both men were astoundingly drunk, how Dodge figured he was going to make use of her company if he did win the drinking bout was beyond her. The cook raised his eyebrows, already the men had drunk their way through Dodge's stash of rum, "One of you better fall now, we're out of rum." Ssusorry, me dliink all yer rum, but meee nod fallin' Whho gott's more?" Dodge asked. "Llookss a draw," Pike said drunkenly. "Stoker, you got some rum, give it up," Creaser said. "Should I sir?" Stoker asked. "Ooonly iff hee's mmman ennnough," Dodge slurred. Pike slapped the table, "Hhaull id oud." "Yes sir," Stoker grinned evilly and retrieved a bottle from his sea chest. "It's strong stuff Sir." "Dodge tittered." "Yyou thththink weee carrre?" Pike asked. "I see your point sir." Stoker filled both cups near to the brim. The two men slammed back their drinks, and Stoker immediately filled them up again from his bottle. "Doouble err nothin'," Dodge said slamming back his cup. Pike downed his drink a second later. Stoker swiftly refilled them. "Gggive it ttime ttoo settle, Pike wavered." Dodge tittered, "Eee's fllagin'." "Bbbbahh, bbrink id on," Pike said. The two men slammed back four more drinks in rapid succession. "Uhhhooooo" Dodge said as he kept going backwards after lifting the next cup. Pike finished the fifth drink in the set, and began to stand up. "Baa, liddlelightwade." For an instant, Pike looked a little surprised, "Oooooooo" Stoker and Greasy barely managed to catch the Norse giant's body. Once caught they pulled him to his bed roll. Rapina looked at the lust written all over the faces of pirates dragging Pike to his rest, and then suddenly realized what was going on. Jack was in his bed nursing his leg, Arzeal was far away in the night with Kent and the ghouls, attempting to find the spy's base camp to see if he had left any evidence of a plan there. Brackston, Thane, and Mansun Dido were interrogating the captured spy. Rage and Skitch were on night guard duty. Pike had been the only officer present, and the only man likely to protect her "virtue." Dodge was likely a dupe of an alcoholic given free booze in exchange for attempting to drink Pike under the table, but Pike was a huge man, and known to drink a bit himself. From Dodge's slipped remark, the original owner of the first bottles of rum had probably been Greasy, and the last cups poured by Stoker had come fast and furious, and the rum? Rapina snatched the bottle from the low table in front of her and tipped the bottle way back, concealing the fact that she took only a tiny swig. "Haahhh," she rasped. Tears came to her eyes as liquid fire burned down her throat. The pirates laughed as the spellbinding wench clutched her throat from the heat of the rum she had just downed. The rum was nearly one hundred percent alcohol. It all made sense now, Stoker knew the contestants were too drunk to taste just how strong the new rum was, and he knew if he got enough of it into them fast enough, it would not mater who fell first, both were sure to go down. Rapina realized she had about one second to put her own spin on things before the raging river of the pirates' lust chose a channel other than the one she would try to send it down. "No officers?" Rapina asked in mock innocence. Then in a husky, conspiratorial tone, "Want to have some fun?" A hearty roar rose up from the pirates. Rapina smiled provocatively, "Okay, I'm going to need a little music, something slow and sultry, and something to dance on. How about that scaffold? Some of the men looked a bit disappointed. The river was trying to escape Rapina's channel. And Zit, could you be a dear and collect my clothes when they fall?" Rapina asked as she diverted the lust back to her channel. The Pirates grinned lustily, "Oh Yah!," they cheered. Men hastened to move a section of scaffold to the central location Rapina had indicated. "My good things are all gifts from Kroz to beautify his household, and I'm not sure what kind of sorcerous experiments he would perform on someone who damaged them. Rapina glanced at one of the flaming skeletons. Just be a dear and put them in your sea chest. Zit nodded gravely. "Cmon! Wench, get it on! Chops began to play his bongos as a pirate next to him fingered chords on a lute. Rapina tossed her cloak to Zit and mounted up on the stage. She was suddenly the soul focus of fifty lusty pirates. Lust tingled up and down her spine; she practically vibrated with it as it raced up her legs and down her arms. Almost in spite of herself, she began to tug at it as she danced, with every sway of her hips, every stretch of her long legs she grabbed and tugged. In the past, she had always pulled on the lust of a single man, now she found groups were a little different, but came just as naturally. The music helped, but the tugging did nothing to slow the men's appetite for more skin. She was her own worst enemy. She had thought that if she kept them entertained for long enough, surely one of the officers would happen by. Now it was impossible to say what she wanted. Their lust was so thick she could almost touch it, and it was making her so hungry, so wet, she was embarrassed and yet intrigued all at once. For so long she had made due with just one man, now she was looking at a multitude. Involuntarily, she licked her lips like the vampire Zit had taken her for. Rapina's breathing increased as she stepped out of her dress and kicked it into Zit's waiting arms. Lust nearly overwhelmed her as the pirates' eyes caressed her scarlet lingerie, her involuntary moan was swallowed by the music and a thousand lusty comments about her curves. Her, long legs, her high, round butt, her rich, round breasts, everything she showed them brought a rush that overwhelmed her reason. Her bustier came down, her breasts jiggled freely, Her garters were unclipped as she passed the groping fingers of the pirates at the edges of the makeshift stage. When they tugged down her panties she had fallen back into a roll and when she rolled up on her feet again as Rames had drilled into her in his classes on unarmed defense, she had her own panties in her hands, dangling from her long delicate fingers, taunting the men, tugging at their lust. "Woooo-hu, now thar's a real wench! Blackjack reached out and wiped his fingers over the inside of Rapina's leg, just above the knee. Then he thrust his fingers into his mouth. Mmm-mm, that ain't sweat, mates! "Oou, that's a PIRATE WENCH!" Glinter hollered. One of Rapina's silk stockings fell off, a casualty of the sock-pulling and rolling game the reaching pirates had come up with on their own. Her bustier was open to her navel and sliding down over her hips, but none of that seemed to matter because she was trying very hard, very hard to keep from shaking. She felt like her eyes should be glowing or something, she felt so much fire in her body. Her other sock was pulled from her foot as she stepped up, and then as she swung from a cross beam, her bustier fell to the stage. Other than the choker Kroz always made her wear when she came to the pirate camp, there was nothing left to take off, and as far as she knew, the choker could only be removed by magical means. Rage stomped a bit to remove the snow from his boots and then re-secured the exit flap. "Wow, it sure was warmer in the ship's tent than it was outside," he thought. As he turned, he realized the music and cheers had stopped, and fifty pirates were looking at him. But when the fifty-first looked at him he gasped for breath. His cold, tight balls fell nearly as rapidly as his shaft rose. "Aaagh." For a second he was going to ask Rapina why she was standing naked on the scaffold, he was going to scold the men, but his breathing was way too heavy as he walked to her. She was perfect, she smelled like lust, and he had her undivided attention. He should have told her off for inciting the men. He should have done a lot of things, but something was wrong with his head and he could only think about one thing, getting it into her, getting it into her now. Rapina idly wondered why her fingers were unbuttoning Rage's pants, and why she was breathing like a winded horse. Someone threw a bedroll over the planking behind her. Rapina pulled down his breeches and she brought him down. Rage kicked off his pants and thrust like a stallion, again and again. Rapina was so wet there would have been no friction at all had it not been for the muscles within her, stronger and more facile than those of any woman he had ever known. She squeezed him, she pulled at his seed, she called to it from her wet depths like a sea of sirens. The pirates cheered. Rapina felt as though she had nearly broken something inside of her holding back her need so as not to consume Rage as he came violently, fountaining his lust into her bottomless hunger. EEEEYAAAAAAAH! His orgasm seemed to last forever. When it finally ended he went limp. "Stoker!" Rapina rolled the pirate officer off her and smiled her hunger at the instigator of the drinking contest. Had Stoker paused to wonder why the pirate wench had rolled a limp, exhausted Rage off her body, he might have hesitated to bed her. However, he had been plotting all night, and he was not the kind of man who easily let the spoils of victory go free. He was on her in an instant. Rapina wrapped her legs around him and bucked like a mule, she had nothing left in her to hold back with, she pulled at his seed like a crazed animal. Had it not been for the cheers of the pirates, she felt certain Stoker would have lost his nerve. Perhaps he would have been better off if he had. Stoker's eyes rolled back in his head, he had bedded more women than he could count, and he had never cared much whether or not they were willing. The wench beneath him now was a wildcat, a hellion, a succubus, and every stroke pulled him down to hell and then shot him straight to heaven, he moaned, heaved, pumped, and gasped. This was extreme, something felt wrong, but he could not stop, he just couldnot stop. It felt so good, he had to spend, his thrusting was compulsion and she squeezed him, clutched him, pulled at his lust with a force he could not comprehend. Gaaaaaaaaaaah! Stoker's eyes nearly popped out of his skull. Had any pirate been in the right position to see Stoker's eyes, he would have screamed in terror. Fortunately, no one saw it, no one but Rapina. Rage got unsteadily to his feet. Damn!" The pirates laughed. After several minutes of Stoker's gasping orgasm and spewing seed, Rapina's hunger was blunted and she relented. Rapina rolled Stoker off her body and tried not to notice how limp he had gone. "Greasy!" she chimed, almost cheerfully. The cook lasted only a few minutes before he joined his deathly comrade with a long, eye-popping orgasm. Rapina rolled him aside and was about to speak, but another pirate jumped between her thighs before she could say a word. With Stoker and Greasy Rapina had lost control -lost it utterly; but she felt much better now, a little more herself. Her clutching wetness was just a joy, and if she just relaxed and let the men fill her mind and body with power and pleasure, she would not draw dangerously on any one of them. Stoker and Greasy had paid for their perfidy, but the rest would be just fine. She whispered comments, sometimes requests or even orders to change positions and sometimes endearments as each pirate bedded her. Her lively cunny supped gluttonously as each pirate came powerfully, spewing seed and energy into her hungry depths. Few lasted more than five minutes, but hardly a second would pass between the time one man drenched the warmth of her clutching vagina and another entered. It was almost as though one tireless pirate was bedding her, and because of that she began to come, and come, over and over. She was so sensitized by all the lust and life force being pumped into her that very nearly everything drove her to orgasm. She would peak, then after a few minutes peak again, and for whatever perverse reason, vanity, or perhaps revenge, whenever she did, she filled each man's mind with fealty, utter, unabashed obedience and worship for their goddess of lust. If these pirates thought with the brain between their legs, then she would command their minds. Zit realized he was the low man on the totem pole because everyone had gone up on the makeshift stage, and several had been on the platform twice, yet he had not been given a chance at all. Rapina closed her thighs and turned after sending Blackjack to the platform. "I've seen you others before, let Zit up first, it's not fair keeping him a virgin forever." The pirates laughed. Several in the crowd piped up, "Get Zit up there, no pirate should be a virgin, it aren't right." Zit crawled up onto the platform at last. He lifted his palm, the bedroll was afloat in goo. Rapina giggled. Zit smiled, and then his mouth fell open as he saw Rapia's breasts jiggle. They were so full and pert, and her nipples were standing up like little pink towers. He couldn't quite imagine how she had fit her breasts into her bodice. Rapina saw what he was looking at and pulled him to her breast with a finger under his chin. He suckled her, and then she grabbed him around back. She put her hand between his buns, found the base of his penis and pulled him to her. Zit moaned as Rapina guided him into her and caressed him inside her. He hardly noticed the rasping laughter from across the tent. He just coursed in and out of Rapina's captivating cleft. Hearing the laughter she clasped her palms over his ears and pumped harder against him. He moaned and thrust a while longer then started coming grandly. Rapina released one of Zit's ears and pulled him into her with her right hand between the cheeks of his behind. Feeling the delicious pulsing at the base of his cock with her wrapped fingertips as he came long and hard. She bucked against him cried out as she too began to come. As her mind touched his, she became his princess, his sovereign, his queen, and yet one who held him with great affection. Kroz chuckled and it amused him all the more that it came out as a wicked rasping, for his death robes made his voice sound so very undead. "Well now, while the cats are away, it appears the mice will play." Rapina massaged the base of Zit's waning cock and looked up at the approaching death mask of Kroz. She felt far too good to be embarrassed. "Rauw," she mewed. Zit's organ began to re-engorge. Rapina grinned like the cat who had just swallowed the cannary. "They started it," She said. Kroz laughed so hard his death robes could hardly cope with it. He pounded his knee as he looked at the many sleeping pirates and the gaggle still waiting around the stage. "Did you want to see if you could take on the entire camp?" Kroz asked. "No, I'm just having fun," Rapina smiled. Her hand caressed Zit's behind as her loins moved gently around his hardening rod. "Besides, there had to be a few on guard duty, so it's not quite the whole camp. Zit was the last of them, and I had to complain to get him a spot. Those others are greedy; they're here for seconds. Rapina suckled playfully at Zit's neck. Kroz raised his eyebrows beneath the death mask. There was a man lying near the edge of the stage. Kroz rolled him over. He looked dead, but he was erect, and the very tip of his cock was gray. Thane took a tiny hand mirror from within his robe and held it near the man's nose. It steamed up, but barely. "Mmm, he seems... exhausted. Was he the first? Rapina blinked, but did not pause in the slow thrusting of her hips. "The second actually. Rage was the first, but he just walked in after I danced for them. I thought I was stalling until an officer came and I succeeded. An officer did come, just before they started in, but there was so much lust, I was... "Primed?" Kroz asked. "I was um, Stoked," Rapina grinned. "Rage, well he could tell I was ready. He didn't say anything, he just came up, and, I couldn't keep my hands out of his pants. I didn't tire him out too badly. This whole thing, it wasn't his fault, he just walked into it." Kroz chuckled, "Your sense of justice never ceases to amaze me Rapina. And this..." Kroz indicated the comatose man on the edge of the stage. "Stoker," Rapina sighed and smiled dreamily as she continued to pump Zit's erection into her wanton cunt. "Stoker was the instigator?" Kroz asked. Rapina nodded, "I think so. He and Greasy supplied the rum for a drinking contest between Dodge and Pike, the only officer here." "Kroz laughed. "And you saw the whole thing coming?" "Not as soon as I should have. Pike won the contest, but the last bottle of rum, the one Stoker supplied, was extremely strong. I tasted it after Dodge went down, it nearly burned my throat out, and Stoker had been pouring them fast and furious at the end of the contest. Pike had enough in his stomach to make him pass out, he just didn't know it until about two minutes after he had won." Kroze smiled beneath the death mask, "So the contest was just a way to neutralize the officer protecting your virtue. It really didn't matter who won, both lost." Rapina moaned with pleasure, then nodded, "It was very clever, actually. Stoker would have taken advantage as soon as they laid Pike down, but I offered to dance for everyone before he had the chance." Rapina giggled, "At the time I thought I was stalling for time, but oh did that backfire on me. I should have known better, so many men, so much lust, how could I resist?" "Indeed." Kroz stepped up onto the stage and stepped over Rapina and Zit to examine something hanging from one of the posts of the scaffolding. It was a pair of trousers with sheathed weapons still attached. Kroz seemed most interested in an impressive-looking sword. He went around behind it and mumbled a few incantations. "Well, I hate to break up your little party, my dear, but it is nearly dawn and we must get back to the abode. We have some urgent business to take care of in the laboratory." Kroz said. "Okay, I'll get cleaned up," Rapina smiled as she continued her wanton rutting. "Splendid. Tell me, to whom does this weapon belong?" Kroz asked. Zit grunted, "Those are Rage's things, sir, I hung them up for him while he was busy." "Ah, that makes sense, I must consult with Red Jack a moment, so I believe you two will have time to finish up after all, not that you really appeared to be stopping," Kroz chuckled. ---- While Thane slept, Rapina retired to her room, but she could not sleep. She was simply buzzing with energy. She took a catnap, but otherwise read for the entire time she would have slept. After he had arisen, Thane ate a rushed breakfast, and then went down to the laboratory to try to discover what kind of poison Elizabetta had used on Jack. Sometime after nightfall, Rapina set "lunch" out for the two priests of Mortaebius. "Here you are Guardians. Any luck on the poison?" "Yes, the toxin used comes from a tiny insect. It takes a great deal of trouble to make, but it is one of the most deadly toxins known, which explains why the scratch on Jack's leg was enough to sicken him so. Ordinarily the toxin kills in a matter of seconds, but if the dose is exceptionally small, it works more slowly. The poison could still be fatal. Once introduced it works on the nerves, including the brain and the nerves that control the heart. I must return to the pirate camp yet tonight. I contacted Roger just after dark, and Jack is already in dire need of another infusion of life force to regenerate his body. Short of a magical potion or the spell of a priest of a god of healing, the poison cannot be neutralized. We shall have to hope he can find a continuous supply of victims, or Jack may not make it. Thankfully, the nobles of Turnmoor have provided us with at least one. ----------------- It had been several days since she had seen the pirates and Rapina was in Thane's magical library with five books open on the floor. A single flaming skeleton stood in an alcove near the door. Ordinarily she might have taken the books to her room, but she did not see the point. Neither Thane nor Rames was home to scold her, and the book she was reading required many references just to understand. No sooner would she close one reference, than she needed another from the shelf. The book she was trying to understand was the book on magical theory that Red Jack had allowed her to read when she was a pirate. Thane owned all of Jack's old books now. She had picked up the book just after returning from the tryst with the pirates because she needed a challenge. The energy from the pirates was keeping her quite alert, and she saw no reason not to use it. Rapina fingered the choker around her neck. Thane made her wear it whenever she was away from the abode, and now it appeared she must also wear it whenever both priests were out. It was little more than a slave collar, she supposed. It was odd that Thane had not put it on her when she made her mock escape from him in Granville. No doubt, he had been testing her. A few days ago, Thane, or Kroz as he now liked to be called sent Rames on some sort of assignment. He was still gone, and Thane had gone to infuse Red Jack with another nightly dose of life force to keep him alive. Rapina knew he would also check on the results of Kent's ghoulish scouting efforts. "Rapina!?" Thane called out. "In the Library!" Rapina answered. "Ah, I should have known. Thane frowned at all the books scattered across the floor. For an apprentice who does the bulk of the cleaning around here, you seem to be quite at home with slovenly habits. I see you did not even button your bodice this morning." Rapina giggled, "I can't, Guardian." "No?" "I gained a cup size from bedding the pirates. Actually, I'm not as big as I was a few days ago. I could probably button at least one or two buttons now, Rapina said." "Mmm?" Thane asked. Rapina stood, took Thane's skeletal left hand and pushed it down the front of her dress. Thane's jaw dropped. Astonishing! As you know, I can feel life force with that hand. Rapina nodded, "Yes, that's why I took your left hand and not the other. I'm sure the right would have been more pleasant, but I don't think you would have gotten the point. The other point is, I'm really just reading the book in my hands, the other five are references, and I keep having to pull more down from the shelves. This is a very hard book. I think you might have kept it on the shelf in your room had it not been for the fact that you knew I had already seen it. It was Jack's." "Ah, yes, I know the volume. It is a difficult work, not the sort of thing an apprentice would normally try to tackle. Why are you locking horns with it?" "I was so charged up from the pirates, I needed the challenge. I am nearly done, I've been at it for several days." Hard at it too, I believe your standards for the cleanliness of the Kitchen have slipped. "Oooo," Rapina put her hand to her lips. "I forgot to tidy up after lunch." Thane chuckled. I see you are not far from the end. Do not break your chain of thought now. You can attend to the kitchen at dinner, which can be simple fare since I will be busy and Rames is not due back until tomorrow after dusk. "Thank you Guardian Thane. I could really use the time. I do believe I finally know enough, and have a big enough library at my disposal to be getting somewhere." "Indeed, I will discuss the work with you when you have finished. I read it myself shortly after it came into my possession. It is a valuable though confusing treatise. One more thing, Rapina." "Hmm?" "How did you fair when the shadows drained you when you foiled that little assassination attempt I cooked up for Red Jack not long after you all arrived on Graveston isle? "They seemed to tap my reserves before they started to hurt me. Are you out of victims for healing Jack?" Rapina asked. Thane chuckled and shook his head, "My dear, you are far too familiar with the way I think. Yes, the spy lasted through four drains in two days before death claimed him. Since then the Captain's more loyal officers have donated life force of one drain apiece. More would be too dangerous. Red Jack is still by no means well, indeed, his straights seem more dire each time I see him. I am healing some of the damage, but I cannot touch the poison itself. He needs more just to keep him alive. Yet, I do not believe he wants to start using crewmen to keep himself among the living. Given that one powerful but remote group already appears to know the location of his camp, I do not think he wishes to betray his location to other groups by locating local men and having me drain the life out of them. The life force you store appears to be of a somewhat different character than what I am used to draining, but as long as it is drainable, it is worth a try. You will come with me to help Jack tomorrow then?" Rapina nodded, "Yes Guardian. I wonder, why are you helping him so much? You have been there every night since he was poisoned. It is not in the contract." Thane chuckled, "There would be no contract without Red Jack, that and he has already made his payment. He gave me the fresh corpse of Elizabetta, a highly trained assassin, a rare gem, and I have been working on her and the enchantments I must learn to complete her every available hour since I got her back. I have had to purchase the corpses of two lesser assassins at great personal expense just to practice on. Moreover, I have had to appeal to our cause and ask favors of several Mortancers of Mortaebius so that I can learn the process aright and make no mistakes on her enchantments when she is ready. I will see you at dinner. I still have much to do. If I am successful in these next few days, I will have learned a second of Mortaebius' advanced animations." --------------------- The next evening at Dusk Thane, as Kroz, used the graveyard mists spell to transport Rapina and his guards to the pirate camp. "I will consult with Kent. Mayhap you would like to try to glean some more energy before we try this. I see you were able to button your bodice this morning, though the fit of your dress is too tight," Kroz said. Rapina nodded and hustled towards the camp with a couple of guards Thane had assigned to her. Their mailed feet crunched the packed snow on the path as they followed her. When she entered the ship's tent, she saw that things had changed somewhat. The ship was both more and less built, and a body of a recruit hung from one of the posts. It appeared that the men were making the ship, but also disassembling and packing its parts for transport by sled. Red Jack was probably getting ready to run, but he was probably too sick to do it just yet. Rapina rubbed her tingling nose as she looked around and then realized that a number of the pirates were already lustfully looking at her, tickling her senses. "Lust on deck! Phhhweeetphweew!" Blackjack bellowed. Rapina blushed and felt her nipples erect as a great deal of lustful attention had its effect on her. The men had adopted a horse whistle instead of the usual naval whistle they sometimes used before formal speeches of the captain. It appeared she had taken on new rank, although the rank seemed pregnant with humor. Rapina covered the "Oh" written on her lips as she realized the suggestion her mind had cooked up to give the pirates when she had slipped into their clutches a few days ago. She would just have to do it again, maybe the pirates would become a little more serious. "Hi men, it looks like you've been hard at work." "Not as hard as we'd like ta be!" Glinter blurted. "Oh yea!" The pirates hollered as they gave Glinter the thumbs up. Just then Brackston came into the tent, "Captain says 'e's not feelin' up ta satisfyin' de red hot wench tanight. Yew men think ye can fill 'is shoes?" "Aye!" The pirates hollered. "Damn right we can!" Stoker said with fanatic zeal. Rapina raised her eyebrows. After the way she had abused Stoker the last time she had seen him, she was surprised he had any interest. Yet it was apparent from his eyes that he was obsessed, like an addict who had been debilitated by opium, yet craved more. Brackston whispered in Rapina's ear, "Captain Jack says yew're th' last person 'e wants ta steal life force from. Only reason 'e's willin' ta try this is Kroz says yew got a little natural talent fer sex magic. Th' Captain will give it a try, but only if yew can charge yerself way up with yer magic snatch. Red Jack don't want yew hurt from Kroz's deadly hand. Yew fuck them men, and yew fuck them good, understand?" "Yes sir," Rapina blushed. A section of scaffolding was already being moved to the center of the tent, and a few bed rolls and blankets were being tossed on top of it. Rapina jumped up on the scaffold. "You sure you can fill Jack's shoes guys? Jack's got a wicked tongue and he is awfully long-winded." "We'll do it 'er die tryin!" Greasy shouted. Rapina felt a familar touch on her back and then a man's fingers began unlacing her bodice. Rapina looked over her shoulder. Arzeal? "Not the circumstances I would have chosen, but these men can be rough, best to start well-warmed with a man who will treat you right." Arzeal did treat her right. He undressed her and caressed her in front of the men like a master showman. When it was time, he kissed her everywhere, then knelt to drink the juices from her wanton cleft until she was writhing over him like a wildcat. She came powerfully and touched his mind with affection and only then did he enter her. Being half elven, he was slightly shorter than she, but it worked beautifully for the standing positions. By the time he was finished with her she was sopping with lubrication, and the men were cheering and lusting so palpably that Rapina's whole body seemed to vibrate with their sentiment. After Arzeal broke the ice, pirate after pirate mounted her, each pumping the power of his loins into her body. Man after man took her, some she recognized, Stoker, Greasy, Rage, Skitch and others. She had seen many of the remaining pirates but she hardly knew them. The entire camp seemed to be participating. The guards even changed while she was moaning on her back. Rough hands grabbed her ankles and pulled her nether lips even with the edge of the scaffold. At the same time, Slice stepped over her, straddled her chest, knelt down and played with her breasts. Rapina's mouth opened as she realized what was happening. Brackston's rough hand reached around and grasped Slice's throbbing organ, but instead of entering the boy, he entered Rapina. "Slice leaned forward and whispered to Rapina. Take as much as ye can from him, Wench. He was the only officer who would not give Kroz a jolt. He doesn't trust the old warlock, but he trusts you. You take him hard." Rapina nodded, she clutched and pulled at Brackston's seed with all her strength, holding nothing back. She could hear him grunting behind Slice, and when she did catch a glimpse of him, his eyes were rolled up in his head, and his mouth was open and drooling. UuuaaaaAAAAIIIIIeeeeu-u-u... Brackston came for what seemed an eternity. Rapina used nearly all of her strength, pulling nearly as hard as she had on Stoker the other night. Brackston tried to stand, but fell forward and collapsed on the platform next to Rapina. "Was that hard enough Brackston, she whispered?" For several minutes her only answer was a glassy-eyed stare. "Aye, close enough. Yew take it easy on Slice." Rapina nodded. "You can bet on it, because I'm sorely winded from tugging your guts out," Rapina giggled. "Wench!" Brackston groaned. "Some guys like it rough, and some like it nice and easy," Rapina said pushing Slice down her body and engulfing his erection. She pulled Brackston's hip towards her and put Slice's hand on the side of his exhausted lover's rump. She could tell these men's lusts did not run strongly for women, but their efforts on behalf of their captain were touching. As he peaked, Slice's eyes opened and then popped wide in a look that communicated both intense ecstasy and surprise that he could be having it at the hands of a woman. Man followed man until Rapina affectionately embraced Zit and nuzzled his earlobe. He looked overjoyed to see her and she could not help dallying with him a little longer than she needed to. He was a perceptive boy. Somehow, he had known there was something about her that was unusual, and now he seemed to understand that she was not a vampire in the usual sense, but that he had not been entirely wrong about her either. When Zit rolled off her with a contented sigh, Arzeal was there to clean her up, get her dressed quickly and whisk her off to the captain's tent where Kroz was conferring with Jack and Roger. "Tharr's me wench," the captain said feebly. Rapina bent and kissed Jack's lips. Jack spoke so softly Rapina could barely hear him. "Aye, lets get on with this afore I can't keep me brain workin' namore. Th' poison's reavin' me soul. These treatments 'er pullin me back from th' brink o' death, but it seems like they're pullin' me back less far each time." "This may not work, but if it does not, perhaps we can find a volunteer among the men for a second drain. Kroz removed the gloves from his hands and began to cast the first spell. Unlike Rapina, he had no means to store life force in his body for any length of time, thus the first spell drained Kroz's own life force and bestowed it on the Captain. Kroz placed his hand on Jack's head and grimaced as his energy flowed into the ailing pirate. "Aye, some better, some better, I can feel th' damage healin' an me headache, dullin' down towards bearable." The second spell would draw life force from Rapina to replace Kroz's loss. Kroz droned the incantation. Rapina loosened her bodice and pulled it out so that Kroz could reach in at the right moment. When he did, she was not entirely ready for the squeal of surprise that came from Thane's lips as he drained a goodly amount of her reserves. "How are your reserves?" Kroz asked. "I've enough for another," Rapina said. Thane hurriedly cast the draining spell again and grabbed Rapina's other breast, then before the drain was even complete he began hurriedly casting the energy bestowing spell. This time he placed his hand on Jack's solar plexus, and poured Rapina's energy into the dieing pirate. "Balls o' fire, this'd be th' first time I ever got a ragin' instant hard-on from the touch of a skeleton. What was in that? I'd like that spell again," Jack chuckled. "I ain't just tinglin, I feel warm all over too. Will you kiss me Kroz? Jack laughed uncontrollably." Kroz cleared his throat. There is a peculiar property to the energy. I noticed that right off. By replacing what I had lost and then draining a second time immediately followed by the bestowal spell, I have attempted to give you a dose of Rapina's energy in a purer form, more directly from her. I have no ability to store energy, but I attempted to transfer it before it had a chance to dissipate. I am curious to see if it is as effective as the life force I wrench from myself and others." "Tharr's no contest on that score, Kroz. I've been through this enough ta know what one o' yer energy transfers is supposed ta do an' how much. Whatever Rapina's got, it trounces ye in th' healin' department. All along there's been a dull fire in me nerves, 'an even when th' life force ye give me healed th' damage, th' fire's been still there, eatin' away at me. All around me chest an' upper legs, I'm feelin' that fire goin' out. Maybe it's just the hellish hard, hard-on I got that I'm not feelin' things aright, but I think I got 'em square. Leave me be fer a bit and I'll let ye know how things come out. "What happened to the recruit hanging from the pole of the ship's tent?" "Roger, Brackston and I have spent a great deal of time over the past few nights searching for additional spies," Kroz said. "After all, there were two outside spies; it stood to reason there might be an inside spy as well. I have a plan to deal with this sorcerer of Li'Yieraun's, but it would not do if he had a spy in our camp. After questioning everyone but the old officers, we found that we indeed had a spy. He was working for an assassin in Turnmoor, possibly Elizabetta's boss Palo, though he did not use that name when he hired the boy. We made use of his life force, and then hung him up as an example." Rapina grimaced at the fate of the boy but smirked in spite of herself. Kroz was being much more helpful than the contract Roger had hammered out with Red Jack said he had to be. Surely, he was insuring the future of his contract, but Rapina felt that there must be something else. Perhaps Kroz saw some gain for the church of Mortaebius or himself. --- [Rapina]031 The Shadows of Wizardry "You look stunning poured into black silk, my dear, does she not?" Thane asked. Rames rubbed his hands together and held them near Rapina's loins as if by a fire. Rapina giggled. "I see only one problem with your outfit," Thane said. "Hmm?" Rapina asked. "This is a night operation, and your blades are silvery, far too reflective. If you should find yourself in battle, your blades would betray your position. Try these instead." Thane held up a pair of black leather sheathes. The hilts of the weapons they contained were also black leather; the metal of the pommels and hilt guards were dull black as well. Rapina loosened her belt and replaced her weapons with the ones Thane had given her. She drew the rapier part way and saw that the metal of the blades was the same dull black color as the hilt guard. She squinted at the tang mark, it was the mark of The Montfort Forge. "Oh thank you! Thank you Guardian Thane, I love these Montfort blades. I really missed the one I had." Thane chuckled, "Yes, Guardian Rames said that was painfully obvious. Now that you will be helping us handle the clandestine affairs of the Church, you shall not lack for quality equipment. I have a darkwood bow for you as well. It is somewhat stronger than the one you are used to. I do hope you can bend it." Thane handed Rapina the bow. Rapina gritted her teeth a bit but she was able to bend the bow. "Splendid, Guardian Rames, I shall never doubt your opinions as an arms master again." Rames chuckled, "We had a little disagreement over bows. Guardian Thane wanted me to get a somewhat weaker bow, but I felt you could grow into this one." Rapina smiled, "What's our assignment?" It is a simple matter, really. You are to consecrate several small graveyards to Mortaebius, and create another. In order to accomplish the feat, you must drive your horses hard, luckily skeleton horses do not tire. Guardian Rames will show you the maps. You are to study them. Here also is a compass and your copies of the maps in case you should become separated. After you are finished, I shall take you to this Graveyard in the county of Li'Yeiraun. You shall make a large circle around the area as you consecrate and then you will create a graveyard here, in a forest just east of Castle Yeiraun." Other than feeling a bit of soreness in her rump, the consecration of various graveyards around Li'Yeiraun was going very well. Rapina dismounted at still another tiny graveyard. A small parsonage to an agricultural deity could be seen not far off. "We begin," Rames said. "Hail Mortaebius guardian of the dead, the dead who lie here entreat thee, hallow this ground that the dead might rest." "Hail Mortaebius, keeper of the deceased, we the living entreat thee, hallow this ground that the dead be held in thy embrace, to rise only in the direst need," Rapina said. A door to the parsonage opened and closed, "Is someone there." In a lowered voice, Rames continued with the consecration, "Hearken, ye buried and departed, to the power of Mortaebius coursing through thy rotting flesh and bones." Rapina continued, "Harken, ye living to the call of thy ancestors in Mortaebius' embrace, and know his power will preserve thee, until death takes life's grace. Both Rapina and Rames finished the consecration. "...and thus we close the circle, life and death, the cycle is complete." "Food! Food! You got food? Snuffle-snuff!" Rames half shouted in a crazed voice as the Parson approached. The parson held a crossbow on Rames. "Hold up there beggar." "Me smell fooood!" Rames shouted. Rapina stealthily circled the parson in the darkness as Rames' voice drew his attention. Since both she and her companion were dressed in black with their exposed skin thoroughly sooted, the Parson was having a difficult time seeing them in the dim light, and Rames was making sure the parson concentrated on him. When Rapina was behind the parson, she poised her hand just over the man's sword hilt and raised her other hand to tap on his left shoulder. "Look out behind you, sir," Rames said. At that moment the parson felt a tap on his shoulder and whirled, but Rapina's hand took his sword and slowed him long enough for her to hit the trigger on his crossbow. The bolt fired into the open air as Rapina's boot kicked the parson off his feet. Rames was on the Parson in an instant. Me told you look out. Now me look for Fooood! Rames knelt on one of the man's arms and searched him. Rapina stamped on the man's arm as he went for a knife. Rames snatched the knife and threw it as far as he could while Rapina removed the bolts from the parson's quiver and tossed them as well. "He not got no food. You go get us food. We not hurt you. Rames stood the man up and pushed him towards the parsonage." As the parson hustled towards his house, Rames and Rapina stealthily made their way back to their horses and mounted up. When the parsonage door closed, they galloped off. "Whew, that was close. I'm so glad you warned him about the person behind him, I think he might have shot you in surprise if I had just tapped him on the shoulder." Rames chuckled, "Yes, it did work rather well. For a moment I was almost his friend." The consecration of the remaining graveyards went without a hitch, but there was still the one to be created. Rames and Rapina rode slowly, stopping frequently to listen for guards. They saw a pair of them walk by in the distance. When Rames stopped, Rapina immediately dismounted and took down her shovel. She dug a hole, tossed an open burlap sack of bones into it and buried it. She paced off twelve paces distance and did the same with a second skeleton. Rames was doing likewise, some distance away. After the burial was done, they immediately did the consecration ritual in voices barely above a whisper. When they were finished they stopped and listened for a moment; a pair of guards was coming. Carefully they laid down. "I hate it when the mists rise off the ground like that, it gives me the creeps," a first guard said. "Bah, you afraid of spooks?" his partner asked. "Na, just don't like the way it obscures things." "Well come on then, lets walk on through there, nothing to be afraid of. Rapina held her breath. One of the guards nearly stepped on her, but he passed. The mists seemed to be thickening by the minute. After the guards had gone some distance, Rapina heard chanting in a low voice from nearby. "Be very quiet, the guards are near, Rapina whispered in a barely audible voice." Rames picked up leaves and sifted them over the small burried holes until his spell-enhanced night vision told him the ground looked untouched. He could see Rapina was doing the same. Thane, who had arrived with the mists, checked the work of the others, and when he was satisfied, handed them the leads to their horses, took their hands and began to chant. Rapina thanked her lucky stars that the guards were not due to pass this way for another few minutes. When the three of them materialized back at the abode, she breathed a sigh of relief. "Do you suppose they will find the tracks of our horses?" "Nay, I doubt it, the leaves are thick in that area, as is the forest. The trail you came in on is well traveled by horses and guards, so I expect we will be just fine. However, I did include some insurance on the skeletons you buried. Should they be triggered by an attacker who unearths them, they will stand up causing a glyph to fire that will send a message to me," Thane said. Our work for the evening is not done. We must transport a number of skeletons to Red Jack's camp yet tonight. I have animated the bodies of two criminals delivered by the constable as well," Thane added. When they arrived, Red Jack's camp was bustling with quiet activity. A number of ghouls combed the area surrounding the camp for spies while Rames and Roger took the skeletons to the appointed locations for shallow burial. Rapina assisted the pirates in making a pack train to the graveyard. The pirates carried great pieces of their longship, tools and other supplies. Thane began transporting groups of pirates to some far off graveyard. By the time the birds sung heralding the dawn, the pirates had removed the ship from its tent, but the tent still stood. Within the tent, bowls of flaming oil had replaced the flaming skeletons. In fact, the pirate camp looked much the same as it always had, except that the number of pirates in it was greatly reduced. Those deemed too green to fight well, plus a few officers that had been put in charge of building the new camp, were no longer present. The pirates that remained put on a show of activity while the number of guards searching the forest around the camp quietly doubled in number. At dawn, Kroz bid the pirates adieu and took Kent and most of his ghouls with him as he left. --- The next night, Thane came to his afternoon "breakfast" looking as though he was trying to figure out what might go wrong with a plan he had worked on for many hours. "Good evening Guardian Thane," Rapina said. "Good evening Rapina. Tonight is an important night. We will discuss our plan, and when we are done it will be time to put it into action..." --- The sun was just about to slip below the horizon when Rage walked down the path for the guard post farthest from the camp. Rage saw the large tree and took the runed cover from over the stone set in his sword. A recruit he hardly knew accompanied him to guard duty. Kroz had told Rage that the sword he had stolen from Lord Li'Yeiraun's men had been bugged with a magic stone. Now it was his turn to use their little gadget against them. He pocketed the cover then went on. Once at the guard post he struck up a conversation with the two young guards, a conversation he knew Nordula would overhear. "Okay men, you're relived. Get back to camp quick; remember it'll be midnight before you know it, and the captain wants you to get into your groups and be ready to move out, so make sure you pack up. We're going to slip out right under the noses of those spying dogs." "Aye sir," the youth said as he started down the trail. "What group're ye in Blood?" Biler asked. "Me? Number five, how about you?" Blood said. "Group seven, we're the best," Biller replied. "Bah..." Blood said. Rage smiled to himself. When this guard duty was over, he would pry the stone from the sword and give it to Roger. The camp wards were going to be unearthed and packed up for the most part, but Roger was a walking ward. --- Rapina waited in a shadow. She was near the cobbled path that led to the front door of Madam Agnes' House of Angels. It was in Yeiraun Villiage. Yeiraun castle was a mile walk up a hill to the north. The disguise Rames was wearing looked utterly ridiculous, but the one Thane was wearing was an absolute scream. Rapina heard the whinney of a horse. "I can't believe my luck!" Rames said as he played "Hans." "Imagine that, an out of town gentleman coming away with the newest and definitely the most heavenly angel of the bunch. It was worth the small fortune I paid." Lieutenant Richter looked forward to this night every week. Yes, every week he picked up a bottle and one of Agnes' girls and was back to his room for a nine to midnight romp. Occasionally he even let one of the sergeants have a taste. Rapina started up the path with Rames and looked up at the lieutenant as he came down the path. The coy expression on her face coupled with the tug on the officer's lust served to grab his attention and slow his pace as he gave Rapina a good looking over. "Hans! Hansel! I know you're in there, I dragged your words out of that hotel clerk!" Thane said in a disguised voice. Thane, dressed as a rather ugly but convincing woman opened the gate of Madam Agnes' house with a resounding squeak. "Hans" stiffened. Swore under his breath, then whispered frantically to the Lieutenant, "Sir, I've got this new girl for the entire night, and she's yours if you bail me out of what's about to happen with my damned wife." Rames pushed Rapina at the Lieutenant. "Ooo," Rapina squawked as she bumped into the Lieutenant, giving his lust a little jerk on impact. The lieutenant had no time to think or react before a homely woman bore down on "Hans" like a mad hornet. "Shame on you! The very idea that you would fraternize with harlots! You are a married man!" "Nonsense, you have it all wrong. Hilda, I'd like you to meet my friend," Hans said. "Good to meet you Hilda, my name's Adolf Richter, I'm an old friend of your husband. I'm sure he was just over here looking for me. We had a lot of catching up to do." "We sure did honey, it's so great to see him, why Adolf is one of the best swordsmen I've ever known. Uh, he works for, uh..." "Lord Li'Yeiraun." "Yes, and Lord Li'Yeiraun holds him in high esteem. It's great to see an old friend with such an honorable post, isn't it Hilda? I thought I might find him over here at the, uh house of the ladies. I heard he, uh, sometimes comes here and I was um going to ask around and see when he'd be in. Low and behold I bumped into him coming out with this young lady and we've been catching up on old times ever since." Hilda looked a little nonplused, "Well, thank heaven you weren't frequenting this house of ill repute as I had first suspected. Hilda glared at the Lieutenant. You should get yourself a wife, Adolf. These ladies are evil, you understand? eeevil! Now come along Hans, you get away from this place." "Yes dear," Hans whimpered as Hilda hauled him towards the gate. Richter chuckled, "Poor sap, it's men like him who remind me that a smart man never marries." "Men like him remind you?" Rapina asked innocently as she tugged at Richter's lust. "And girls like you," Richter smiled saltily. "Lets stop in and see Agnes a minute." "Okay, have you got some money?" Rapina asked. "Shit, do you think she'd charge me for you all over again?" Richter asked. Rapina smiled, "Um, I just got here yesterday; do you think she would?" Rapina asked. Richter looked at the door uneasily, then back at Rapina. Damn she was so young, and so breathtaking. He could pay for her all over again but that would cost... nah. Richter did an about face, took Rapina's hand and led her down the walkway, "What's your name?" "Leanna." Rapina smiled. --- Edgar the ghoul peered down from the treetop. Not even the half-elven sentries posted around the perimeter of the Li'Yeiraun camp could see him. His corpse was as cold as the air around it. As of a few minutes ago, men were frantically donning armor, filling quivers, and generally racing around as if about to go into battle. Edgar climbed down the tree. He had a message to get to Kroz's assistant. --- Richter knocked on the heavy door, "It's Richter, open up." A grizzled old Sergeant opened the door. Simply because she was an imp, Rapina tugged at the old Sergeant's lust. "Oi, who's th' girl?" the sergeant asked. "Got her down at Agnes'. Damn pretty, isn't she Sergeant Deinzen?" Lieutenant Richter asked. "Jah!" Sergeant Deinzen agreed. "'Leanna, this is Sergeant Deinzen. I Got her for the whole night," Richter grinned. "Let me know if he falls asleep on ya," Deinzen chuckled. Rapina blushed, "Okay," she said smiling. The lieutenant led her through the heavy door. It was evident that Mansun Dido had given accurate drawings and descriptions of Castle Li'Yieraun to Thane. The plans had come at a price however. Thane's little coup was to be much more bloodless than originally planned. At night all doors to the castle were barred and bolted from the inside with large, heavy bars and huge metal bolts. The only way past the barred doors was down a corridor that led right through the guard barracks, and only the Lieutenant had the key into the castle proper. Rapina followed the Lieutenant down an isle that went through a large room full of bunk beds. On the other side he unlocked a heavy door and entered a corridor. After ten more paces he opened a door on the left and took Rapina through a small office room where he grabbed some glasses and a corkscrew for the bottle of wine he'd bought while in town. On the other side of the office was the Lieutenant's bedroom. "Who says a man who's supposed to be on call every night of the week can't have a little fun," Richter grinned as he passed Rapina a glass of wine. Richter looked at the beauty he had picked up and took a moment just to gloat on his good fortune. He began to wonder just how much stuffing she had packed beneath her breasts to make them look so full. Heheh, turn around girl. Rapina turned and felt the Lieutenant's fingers unbuttoning her dress. His breathing was rapid and hot against her neck. Her nose twitched as his lust tickled her senses. "Heheh, step out of that now, I want to see what you've got on under it." Rapina turned, blushed and stepped out of her dress. The black satin lace teddy underneath had been copied from a sample procured days earlier by Rames from one of Agnes' Angels. Richter licked his lips and began to unlace Rapina's front. When he was finished he slid the teddy's straps over her shoulders and pulled it down. Her ripe breasts jiggled free, her nipples already erect. a loud knocking could be heard on the outer door. "Shit!" "One minute," The lieutenant whispered and disappeared into the office. "It's Captain Gleister, get the men together on the double. Leave old Deinzen and a skeleton crew. We will need every available man. The pirates are bugging out and we need to catch them as they leave or we'll likely not catch them at all. "Yes sir!" Richter said. After the captain left, Richter poked his head in the room took a few more steps and kissed Rapina's nipples. Damn pirates! I might be back before morning. You stay here until then." Rapina nodded, "okay." In the next half hour, Rapina heard a great deal of activity, and then the castle around her grew quiet. Rapina took a lamp and went into the office. Thankfully the lieutenant had not locked the door out. Perhaps he knew he might not be back until long after morning or maybe he had just been in too big a hurry. Rapina laced up her teddy and walked to the door to the barracks. It was locked. She wrinkled her nose, trying to settle on a course of action. Rapina shrugged and knocked on the door. What the? Blade drawn, the sergeant opened the door into the officer's corridor. Rapina grimaced and jumped backwards when she saw the sergeant's blade. Her breasts jiggled succulently. "Ooo, um sorry to bother you, but the lieutenant left me all alone in his room. He seemed to be in a rush. He wanted me to stay till morning, but there's nothing to do in there." "Well, now I'm sure I could find somethin' for ye to do out here," Sergeant Deinzen said. "Who's that," asked one of the four guards remaining in the barracks. "That'd be th' lieutenant's harlot. Deinzen laughed, "He was just about to dip his rod when the captain came in and told him it was time to pull out." The guards laughed. Two got up from their bunks and came to take a look. "One hell of a woman too, isn't she, Deiter?" Seargeant Deinzen asked "Jah, she sure is," Guard Deiter agreed. "Hey, I've got somethin' you can do girl. Watch the door for me a second, Dieter." Deinzen buttoned down his trousers and pulled out his half erect cock. "Suck." Rapina blinked as thoughts raced through her mind, "How am I supposed to put him to sleep with my mouth?" Rapina slurped him into her mouth and tried to draw on his energy, but it was no use, the best she could do was tug on his lust. Her mouth just wasn't set up the same way as her vagina. She knew how to use her throat on a man, Guardian Rames had taught her, but how was she going to work any magic if all he wanted was her mouth? Rapina smiled inwardly and began to finger herself as she sucked on the Sergeant. She tried to go slowly as she frantically fingered herself. "Faster girl, I'm supposed to be on duty," Sergeant Deinzen said. Rapina's head bobbed up and down, her moans escaping her throat as she used everything she had trying to get herself to orgasm before the Sergeant came in her mouth. Deinzen shook his head, "ever seen a hoar who enjoyed her work like this one?" The sergeant pumped and plunged adding speed to the young woman's otherwise impressive performance. Rapina's could hardly stand it she was giving herself so much stimulation, and then she felt Deinzen shudder as hot jets of cum began to shoot down her throat. Just as the man was about to pull out, Rapina took hold of his balls. She sucked what was left of his erection to the cadence of her own slippery clit-teasing finger. "Heheh, you're a real natural," Sergeant Deinzen said. 1Uhuhaaah, Rapina rode her orgasm to the cloud of Deinzen's mind and touched him with lust and stiffness as powerful as those she had inflicted on the late reverend Evangeline. Deinzen removed Rapina's hand from his balls. Whew, you're a grabby one, girl. Care for a whirl men? --- "Huddle closer!" the magician, Nordula said. "Good, now hold together." Sweat ran from Nordula's brow. Two a night had been about right, now he was teleporting groups of four men together at once. He had already used up every elixir of power and energy stone he had, and finally he was nearly done. Nordula collapsed as he pronounced the final word. The men disappeared. "Nordula, I would be gravely disappointed if you were unable to teleport the remainder of my personal guards and I," Lord Heinrich Li'Yieraun said. "Let me rest a moment m'Lord, I will come with you, and that should make it a little easier. Teleporting others without going oneself is a taxing proposition, without the stone on the other side it is not even practical. Nordula wiped the sweat from his brow with a handkerchief. He was spent; he knew he would have to rest for at least twenty minutes. Fifteen minutes later Lord Li'Yieraun cleared his throat, "Nordula?" "Five more minutes m' Lord, and I should have the energy," Nordula said. Li'Yeiraun nearly growled. Finally Nordula stood and gathered the two bodyguards and his lord together. Nordula's head felt as though it had been clubbed repeatedly, yet he knew he must make one last supreme effort. He was sure the warriors would be occupied making preparations until near midnight. He would sleep in the camp. He wrapped his fur cloak around him and began to incant the spell. He did not like the way the evening was progressing. His plan had been to transport the men a day or two before the battle was to take place so he could rest up from the taxing duty of teleportation, but because the pirates had decided to try to slip away he was expected to teleport and fight in one night, but how could he cast when he had used up all his reserves on transportation? --- The guard walking the wall of Yeiraun castle cussed to himself, "Why do I have to take a second shift anyways, I should be at my leisure, damn pirates! Wha? did I hear something? What in hell's up with the lights going out? The guard put his hand up to check for rain, then whirled suddenly, but it had grown so dark. He smelled rotten meat. Someone was there, but before he could strike out, they scratched him, and he froze solid with some kind of magical fear. The ghoul gibbered softly, crouching in the darkness that seemed to cling to him, and then moved off down the wall. The skeletal assassin, Elizabetta, jumped off the wall above the gate, her blackjack expertly rapped on the back of the gate guard's skull before she flattened against the cobbles with the impact of her thirty-foot fall. Her charcoal-colored bones were not brittle like those of lesser skeletons, but instead were firm but flexible as rubber. Blunt weapons and falls were now mere nuisances. The second gate guard could hardly see, and certainly could not believe what was happening. A shadow fell off the wall? He swished his sword behind his comrade, but hit only air. Suddenly something hit him like a rubber ball that had bounced from the top of the wall. Ulch! His jaw shattered as the flexible skull hit him like a blackjack. He fell over backwards and the creature gouged a spot behind his ears. Suddenly everything went black. Thane smiled within his death mask as the gate quietly opened. Under the cover of clinging darkness, Thane and his guards led a string of black leather-clad skeletal draft horses through the gate of Yeiraun castle. A number of double animated skeletons flanked the horses and when they were through the gate, Elizabetta waited as her two flexible skeletal helpers dragged a body each to the gate from the wall. A shadowy Kent came up and scratched the men before dragging them off into the shadows. "Nnnggugulp," Rapina gasped and swallowed as Deiter filled her mouth with cum. She tugged wildly at Sergeant Deinzen's lust as he pistoned in and out of her wanton cleft. "Ooooo..." Deinzen croaked as his orgasm seemed to stretch to infinity. The pleasure was so overwhelming. When it was finally over, he shuddered and collapsed. Rapina rolled the sergeant off her and gasped for breath. Deiter came around to the front of the bunk and sat her back up. His mouth latched onto her right nipple and he suckled her and fingered her clit like a man possessed. She reached behind him and massaged his buttocks. Eventually her fingers wrapped under, found the base of his rod and stimulated him. His staff rose. There came a knocking at the great door to the outside. Guard Dieter ignored the knock, he would get it later, besides, the knocker had not identified himself, and that was the rule. His fingers had tasted what he must have and now he would have his rising erection between her lovely thighs. Rapina moaned as Deiter entered her. Dieter laughed and cried as he pumped himself between the gates of Elysium. At last his eyes rolled back in his head, his loins surged forward and he hollered in ecstasy. Rapina drew the power out of the guard with all her might. He pumped and hollered for several minutes before collapsing on top of her. An insistent knock sounded at the door. Rapina was about to roll Dieter off when he pushed up drunkenly. He was obviously addled. Deiter shot back the bolt and opened the door. Wha? The ghoul scratched Deiter's face and he froze. Rapina screamed hoarsely. Kent pretended to scratch Rapina and she froze. "Ghouls immobilize those guards, bind the wench over one of the horses, I think I might have a use for her later on." Thane cast vision in darkness on Rapina as Kent bound her over the back of a horse. He had the ghouls toss the guards into a cell in the block just on the other side of the barracks. Once the last of them was in, Thane shot home the bolt on the outside of the door. After the last skeletal horse had come in from the courtyard, the Elizabetta, the skeletal assassin bolted the door to the barracks. Thane opened the door to the officers' corridor with the sergeant's key and moved his entourage forward. "Where is the key to the inner door, Thane whispered in Rapina's ear. "The lieutenant had a key ring, but he left in such a hurry, I think he still had it with him," Rapina whispered. "Elizabetta, the lock if you are able," Thane said. The skeletal assassin removed lock picks from a pouch, worked a few minutes, then opened the door. "Splendid." Thane intoned arcane syllables and filled the room beyond the door with darkness. Now, take your cohorts and scout our way to Nordula's chambers." The skeletal assassins and the pack of ghouls they led slunk ahead. Thane and his entourage followed more slowly. At last they arrived at the door to Nordula's chambers. Thane first dispelled any magic holding the door fast, then Elizabetta worked on the lock for about ten minutes, periodically requesting tools from a case on one of the horses. Thane filled the rooms surrounding the entrance to Nordula's chambers with darkness. The ghouls and the other two skeletal assassins scouted for and immobilized guards in the area. There were few to remove, however. The castle was largely empty. At last the door opened. Elizabetta sent her underlings forward to check for traps. Thane assisted with his mage-sight, detecting and dispelling a glyph on the door. Once the party made it into Nordula's library, Thane began dispelling magic on the books, and designating which books needed to be packed within the rib cages of the horses. Any work on magic was taken away. Once in, the skeletal assassin carefully checked for secret doors in Nordula's chambers. Her two cohorts assisted, while Thane did the same using magic. Thane found a magical stone in the mantle of the fireplace in Nordula's bedroom. He dispelled it, then carefully pried it off and put it in a tiny metal box. In the study Elizabetta found a bookcase that slid aside revealing another bookcase hidden within the wall behind the first. "Excellent, you are a fine servant of our god, Elizabetta." Kent ran in. "town guardsmen, master." Rapina gasped, "You've had it now!" Thane dispelled the books in the hidden bookcase in case any were magically trapped. "Examine the case for mechanical traps then get those books loaded. I have other things to attend to." Thane smiled. "I Have no worries as long as these fools have no mage," He rasped as he passed her. I shall increase the darkened areas of the castle. You shall immobilize these meddling town guardsmen. It appears that someone escaped the castle and fetched them. As the darkened areas grew, ghouls chittered and men screamed. "Skeletons, front four ranks, defend only. Let the ghouls handle this," Thane ordered. A lone guard somehow made it past the skeletons and into the room. "Thane pointed a finger at him and said, "Death" in the frightening voice of his death mask. The town guardsman blanched and ran from the room as if the hounds of hell were chasing him. Rapina peered from the back of the horse she was draped over as if paralyzed. "What hideous spell was that?" She whispered. "He didn't give me a chance to cast one," Thane chuckled. Rapina groaned. Thane had simply scared the man. It was much quicker than spellcasting. "Good, I think we are set here; Let us head for the laboratory," Thane said. Rapina just shook her head, Thane was so casual. He cast spells to detect and dispel while Elizabetta and her assassins checked for traps and entered the laboratory. It was really surprising how few traps there were. Rapina supposed it stood to reason since Nordula was actually using his books and laboratory probably less than an hour before they had arrived. Thane snatched up a kettle, some lab books, various items and reagents from the lab and then had them packed in one of the horses. When he was satisfied they left the laboratory. Upstairs the ghouls were slinking around paralyzing anyone who dared enter the magical darkness. Once outside the castle, Rapina heard arrows wiz by in the air. Thankfully none hit her. Soon Thane and his entourage were marching towards the forest in darkness that was lost in the night. The ghouls paralyzed those soldiers foolish enough to enter the inky blackness surrounding the necromancer's caravan. Thane chuckled, "I'm sure Li'Yeiraun's troops would have been better equipped with light stones and such, but I would venture to guess just about all of them are being used at the pirate camp along with any other magical items Nordula might have that would aid in a battle. When they got to the previously consecrated graveyard, Thane cast graveyard mists. The entourage appeared in a cemetery next to an ancient temple that Rapina had never seen. They entered a stream near the temple and traveled half a mile to a lake. There Thane again cast the graveyard mists spell. Next they appeared briefly on an island in a steamy swamp. They followed an ancient road into the water, and from there Thane took them to the abode. "Was that lake a cemetary?" Rapina asked. Thane wiped his brow and chuckled, "both the lake and the swamp were sites where a great many bodies were dumped or fell from ancient battles. The cemeteries I took us too were consecrated and or warded, and each had a rich history behind it. All these things tend to be very hard on divination magics." "Oh, I get it," Rapina said. "Given that Nordula's forebears were fond of reading the tea leaves, I decided to make it very difficult if not impossible for him to figure out my final destination. Thane smiled. Now get dressed, we must rescue the pirates. Rames is with them playing Karmoz, my soldierly assistant who wears a helmet with a leather mask. Thane collapsed on a chair in the great hall, "I must rest for a moment." Thane wiped the sweat from his brow. He had cast far too many spells already. --- Fletcher Arzeal grimaced as an arrow grazed his arm. It was obvious that Li'Yieraun's men included some half-elves or elves. The first decoy group of pirates had left the camp at half past midnight. They had spotted the expected ambush and had routed back into camp, landing many enemies in the pit traps and deadly snares that had been set up for them. The center of the pirates' camp was now a fortified dip in the ground that had been squared up, its walls made sheer and reinforced by timbers. Earth had been spread out from the walls to make sure fire would not spread easily in the pirates' makeshift keep. Some of the old camp shacks still stood, and the perimeter of the camp was protected by standing spears and armed skeletons buried in extremely shallow graves so that the enemy could not count them. The tent that once stood around the ship was empty, but it had been left up as a ploy so that the enemy would believe there was still a ship within. Arzeal picked off another man and then heard a far off scream. He wondered if Edgar was responsible and found himself almost wishing Kroz would arrive with the rest of the ghouls. For now, the battle was a stalemate. Afraid of the traps set by the pirates, the nobleman's forces surrounded the pirate camp and attempted to pick Jacks men off with arrows, however most of the men were behind solid cover. Arzeal was busy attempting to fend off the elves among the enemy, unfortunately, there appeared to be perhaps ten of them and they were moving in to attempt to find a way to get at the hiding pirates. Almost too late Arzeal spotted the heat signatures in the trees. He tapped the man in the leather mask. "Ten archers in the trees over there," Arzeal said. The pirates screamed as many arrows found their marks. "97th archers rise and fire," Karmoz, the masked warrior played by Rames said. Seven skeletal archers rose from their very shallow graves and fired on the archers in the trees. Their vision was not hampered in the least by the darkness. Li'Yiraun Archers began screaming and falling from the trees as arrows began hitting them. Well back from the front lines and surrounded by his personal guard, Lord Heinrich Li'Yeiraun brooded as news came in from his messengers. "The elves attempted to use the trees to get high enough to get by the cover of the pirate earthworks, but the pirates somehow spotted them, and fired back picking our men off!" Captain Gleister reported. "Damn it! Does Jack have more elves than we thought?" Count Li'Yeiraun asked. "It is easy to see that our archers do not have the visual advantage as we thought. The enemy has those who can see and fire on them even under cover of foliage and darkness," Captain Gleister said. "Captain, we must use our infantry. Our numbers are superior. Concentrate them and attempt to break the pirate perimeter." --- Arzeal listened as a hoard of soldiers came in from the South, "Ready archers." A red spotlight directed by the pirates illumined the approach. The hired soldiers screamed battle cries and came forward. "Fire at will!" Arzeal ordered. "77th archers rise to kneel, and fire at will," Karmoz ordered. A group of ten skeleton archers rose from their shallow graves and began firing at the enemy. "Heheh, I see yew." Brackston fired arrow after arrow as did every pirate in a wild effort to break the enemy charge. "47th archers, rise, wheel right, fire at will," Karmoz ordered. 77th infantry, ready spears, all set and rise to crouch." "Do them numbers have anything to do with anything?" Skitch asked. "Other than incorporating a few memory hooks as to what direction they're in, the numbers have nothing whatever to do with anything," Karmoz whispered. The skeletons are told what group they are in, and it doesn't really matter to them what the name or number is. I like to keep the numbers large so the enemy thinks we have plenty of squads," Karmoz chuckled. "Heheh, good deal." Skitch let fly another shaft and then another. Skitch howled with crazed laughter as the front lines of mercenaries met the raised spears of the skeletons. "Ghosts!" "Skeletons!" "Vampires!" The mercenary charge turned into a route as the sheer horror of fighting undead enemies was suddenly sprung on them. "Aye, tharr we got 'em! Pound tharr backs with arrows men, every one we hit is one that we won't be seein' in th' next charge." That warr shock value; th' idiots don't know it, but they could 'ave won through if their livers hadn't turned ta lillies. That hesitation at th' skeletons allowed are arrows ta do their best work an' give their fear some grounds, but it warr smoke and mirrors. Now they'll 'ave ta regroup, an' that'll buy us some time. If Heinie knew how few there are of us, and how green me men are, he'd be on us in a heartbeat, but after we turned 'is ambush on th' road into one of our own, he's broodin'; he don't trust 'is luck, an' 'e thinks I got a trick up me sleeve as usual. He'll be spittin' nails when 'e finds out what I really 'ad up me sleeve." --- "Animated skeletons milord, there must have been hundreds of them," the mercenary commander said. "My men were pinned down by missile fire, and when we made the edge of the camp proper, the undead met us with spears!" The commander's voice wavered. "Morale broke and we routed." "Fools, you lost your heads. How many of these fell creatures were there? Have you a reliable count, or have the numbers grown with the telling?" Li'Yeiraun asked. "Pathfinder, send a few trustworthy and level-headed men up for a look. If we are outnumbered, I want to know about it. If not then we must prepare for another charge. Incompetent mercenaries! It is just like that slippery, cheating son of a bitch pirate to find himself a dark priest or necromancer just when I have him in my grasp!" Li'Yeiraun snarled. ------------ It was the better part of an hour before the Li'Yeiraun's next charge was set up. This one had a backbone of his own men behind the mercenary front lines, and everyone had been informed that a skeleton could be destroyed much as a man could be. "What's keepin' that damn Kroz, I sure hope he didn't sell out ta Heinie. Arzeal, what's goin' on out tharr?" Captain Red Jack asked. "They're massing for a charge, sir, a big one," Arzeal replied. "Karmoz, it's goin' ta be all we can do ta hold this'n back. If I had ta make a guess, I'd say we're cooked. I'd move th' bulk o' yer forces up ta th' front they'll be attackin.' Then again, I wouldn't put it past Heiny ta try ta send a little squad up are ass while we're occupied. " "I will move the skeletons on the sides somewhat towards the front, and leave those in the rear as reserves," Karmoz whispered. "Sounds like a plan," Jack said. "Mates, lets be gettin' every arrow we 'ave left out an' ready, thisn's goin' ta be big, and we might not live through it. Damn necromancer's still playin' hookie. Thank all th' gods 'e brought us a hoard o' arrows night before last. We're going ta need 'em." A few minutes later the charge was sounded. Arzeal climbed a large tree in the camp and took cover behind a stout limb. He was the first archer to begin firing. His elevation, night vision and accuracy were second to none. The pirates could see a little better than usual as the mercenaries had brought a few mage lights with them and many of the bodies gave spotty illumination to the area of the forest they had come through. As soon as the enemy could be seen, the pirates let fly. "Shoot fast, but make 'em count, mates." The captain drew back his bow and fired. Many men fell to the pirate archers, but the enemy got closer and closer, soon melee broke out between the front lines of the attackers and the skeleton spearmen at the perimeter of the camp. The pirates continued to ply their bows from the fortified center of the camp. "Good evening," Kroz said as he dropped the illusion he had used to get Rapina, his ghouls and skeletons from the graveyard to the pirate camp. "It looks like the skeletons could use a hand." "Glad ye could make it, I was beginnin' ta think ye were workin' fer Heinie." Jack snaped. Kroz droned a few syllables and the front line was engulfed in darkness. "Nay, the packing took longer than expected, and I had to use a bit of misdirection to guarantee I would not be magically tracked later. What is the news," Kroz asked. "Th' news is that tharr is a charge we 'aven't got a snowball's chance in 'ell o' stoppin.' Got any bright ideas on how ye're going ta get us outta here before they're on top of us?" Jack asked. "I have brought a few additional troops. And this scroll of shadow summoning," Kroz said. Thane rolled out a scroll and intoned the spell. The shadows seemed to coalesce into something shaped vaguely like a human. Kroz pointed at the creature, "You will obey Kent, this ghoul. Kent, you and your ghouls will keep the enemy occupied while I escape with the pirates. Eat when it is safe, and double or triple your number if it is convenient. I will set up as much magical darkness in the area in addition to what I have already cast on you and yours as I can before I leave. Be advised, however, that the other side has a mage. If their mage begins dispelling the darkness, then rout and use hit and run tactics around their parameter until near dawn. At that time find burrows and dig in. When Li'Yieraun pulls out, I will come to collect you and your new friends. During the nights to come, continue using hit and run tactics. If you are doing well, see if you can locate and loot the tent of their mage, Nordula. Use a diversion to draw him away or wait until he steps out on his own accord if that proves practical. Do not risk yourselves unduly once we have left. At that time your primary objectives will be to survive, feed, multiply, and demoralize the enemy" Kroz began casting; darkness engulfed more and more of the forest around the pirates. Now whisper it to the next man, join hands, then we go South forty paces to an area I prepared earlier. Kroz cast vision in darkness on the pirate officers, then resumed casting magical darkness until sweat bristled from his brow. The last spell put out the lights in the pirate camp. The men began to march South. In the darkness, they could hear the ghouls at work on mercenaries who had won their way past the skeletal troops. Kroz took hold of the hands of Rapina and Red jack and placed them on his shoulders. "Let us pray." Kroz set up an illusion spell to echo the murmurings of the pirates so that the source of the sound could not easily be located, and then began casting graveyard mists. "Hail Mortaebius, Lord of the dead..." Arzeal stood at the perimeter of the group of pirates. He let fly one shaft after another, assisting the ghouls as they kept the enemy confused and away from the pirates. A recruit kept his hand on the archer's shoulder and kept him moving as the group stepped forward slowly while the mists rose. Arzeal droned the prayer to Mortaebius he had learned as he sent mercenary after mercenary to join the god of the dead. When the mists cleared, Rapina and Red Jack were holding the necromancer up. "I must rest. I do hope I got everyone," Kroz rasped. "All right, get yer red lights on, lets see who we got," Red Jack ordered. Rapina moved the slider on her mage light and illumined the area around her in Red. The captain and the officers took stock and conferred. "We lost about ten ta death before th' escape, and four either got lost 'er Kroz didn't get 'em moved 'cause they weren't touchin th' rest of us, er weren't prayin' ta Mortaebius. Those men'll be missed. Thanks ta Slice, it looks like we still got Bloody Brackston. Ye can tell me how ye liked yer first transport by magic later, Brackston." Some of ye may wonder what this warr all about. Well what we did was Kroz took a stab at their mage while 'e warr occupied with chasin' us pirates. If it works, then that mage is going ta have a harder time nailin' us, and at the same time, are mage is goin' ta be more powerful. Also we made areselves some money, an I got me wench a little extra education, on account of negotiatin' a good deal all around. If we're lucky, Kroz may be able ta retrieve some o' th' cadavers from tanight's battle, but ye never know. It depends on what ol' Heinie does now that 'e's out there all alone. Now lets get movin' Tharr's more'n a few miles ta cover afore we get ta are new camp." The story continues in [Rapina]032 Yieraun Castle copyright 2001, by Rapina The Touch of Darkness Back to, The Jolly Roger, page [Rapina]027 In The Eyes of a Sword [Rapina]028 The Touch of Darkness *[Rapina]029 Spies and Assasins [Rapina]030 Seeping Toxins [Rapina]031 The Shadows of Wizardry [Rapina]027 In The Eyes of a Sword Once Jack Had shaken on the deal, he asked about the particulars. "Now when will ye be puttin' up yer protections again' other mages an' how?" "Have you buried any recruits or spies near the camp?" Roger asked. "Aye, we've got a small collection o' graves o'er yonder," Jack said. "Good, Rapina and I will consecrate the graveyard to Mortaebius yet tonight, and Kroz will come tomorrow night to get a closer look at the area and place the wards for the camp. Even now you are not totally without protection. I have within my skull an enchanted item that wards an area the radius of the length of a longship around me. If I am aboard a vessel it will be protected from faraway remote viewing by a special enchantment that influences remote viewing to be unable to see people and their constructions. Terrain will otherwise appear as it really does. For closer-in viewing, such as when an enemy mage knows or stumbles on the exact location of a ship or the camp, enemy mages will see natural-looking magical static that obscures vision. In addition, teleportation magic will not function normally within the confines of the ward. Those teleporting in will be killed or severely wounded when their materialization is scrambled somewhat, and those trying to teleport out will fail to dematerialize. In addition, I should be able to detect remote viewing when it is attempted within the ward. Enemy mages will be dealt with as Kroz sees fit," Roger said. "Kroz will be in tomorrow night? Then I'd like ta invite Rapina ta stay here tanight, would that be aright?" Roger paused a moment. "Kroz says She may stay now and leave with him tomorrow night if she wishes," Roger said. "Aye then will ye stay girl?" Jack asked. Rapina nodded. "Sure, but I'm not used to sleeping at night. Kroz keeps a nocturnal schedule." "That'll be fine, ye can do yer consecratin' and catch up w' the night watch once I'm sleepin' if ye like. I think Rage is on one o' th' posts tanight. Meantime, I'd like ta hog ye fer a bit soon as I get Roger situated to 'is night's work," Jack said. Rapina nodded and smiled. "Roger, I'd have ye work here in me tent if it weren't fer th' fact that I'd feel silly tryin' ta romance me wench with a walkin' bag o' bones in th' room. On th' other hand I got a heap o' book work for ye. We got so much new goin' on, and wi' only six o' me old men here I've been putin off th' book work somthin' fierce. What little 'as been done, 'as been done by me an' Drake, an' he's somewhat new at 'is letters so 'e ain't near as fast as ye are. I'll fix ye up with a table in th' supply tent right next ta this tent," Jack said. "Rapina, this'll take me a bit as I'll 'ave ta explain ta Roger what's happenin'. Why don't ye go back ta th' fire an' catch up with what men are still up 'an around while ye wait," Jack said. "Okay, I'll go scare Brackston." Rapina smirked. The captain laughed as they exited the tent. Rapina went back to the camp's central fire. There were several men sitting around the fire, including Pike who was there with some bandages. He was talking to Brackston and Skitch. Rapina sat down next to Pike. Brackston looked uneasily at Rapina. "I'm sorry I couldn't do any better for him, Brackston, but I got the distinct feeling it was this, another execution, or Jack and the rest of you loosing as much weight as Roger. Rapina took Pike's hand and started bandaging it properly. "You don't have any herbs, do you?" Rapina asked. Pike shook his head. We don't have a leech, and even if we did, it was already getting cold before we got the camp built. Otherwise maybe Arzeal could have come up with something. Doanthalas is around here too, but only since yesterday. He and his woman Elizabetta, Rage, and the Li'Yeiraun pair, Mansun the pathfinder and Adriana Li'Yeiraun. It turns out Adrianna is really Captain Red Jack's daughter on account of some foolin' around he did with Heinrich Li'Yeiraun's wife years back." "Jack has a daughter? I'd like to meet her," Rapina said. "She's bedded down for the night, but I expect you'll be meeting her in the morning," Pike said. Rapina nodded. "Sorry about the hand." Pike grinned, "That was my fault. After all those arrows bounced off you and Roger, I should have had more sense than to try something. No hard feelings though, I know you're doing the best you can for Jack." Rapina nodded. "So what's that necromancer like. I mean as a man?" Pike asked. "Kroz is intense, a bit scary, very intelligent and, as long as he respects you, he's a fair man," Rapina said. "Are you his mistress?" a young pirate named Zit asked. Rapina smiled at the armed youth who stood nearby. Blemishes scarred and speckled his face. "I'm an apprentice to Kroz actually. I clean the house, make the meals, tend the garden and study every spare minute I can find. Lately I study more because there's no garden in the winter." "Rapina here used ta be a crewman," Skitch said. "I helped ta train her up meself. 'Best ruttin' student I ever had." Skitch chuckled. Rapina blushed. "Basic was tough for me. Thankfully, I had a number of friends and benefactors here. If I didn't enjoy, ah, dealing with men, I probably would not have made it. Watch out for Skitch though, he drives a hard bargain," Rapina smiled. The men laughed. "Rapina, yew warr good as any I raised up, but yew didn't fit. Yew were always too damn smart, an' too pretty a pussy. Yew put a cramp in me style. All th' boys were too busy ogglin' yew ta get in trouble so's I could pump some brains up their ass. That 'an I had ta make sure none o' them boys done nothin' again' yer will an' th' cap'n's orders. Right taxin' yew were," Brackston said. "You did good though, Brackston, never gave me any trouble as long as I behaved. I think the captain put me in your barracks because he knew you'd be more tempted by the boys." Rapina smiled. "No secret I like th' boys. That's what keeps 'em in line. What kind o' spooks do yew have ta put up wif over wif Kroz?" "Mostly walking skeletons, but I don't mind them so much anymore because they help me with the housework," Rapina said. "Help yew with the housework?!" Brackston cringed. "Yew mean yew spend yer days in th' company of a bunch o' dead men?" "Kroz is a necromancer, I don't have a lot of say about his taste in servants. Kroz procured Kent and Edgar while we were lifting the rest of the pirate bodies. He is doing some sort of project on Kent. I see them both on occasion, though I don't like to deal with them. I think the skeletons are more trustworthy," Rapina said. Brackston shivered, "Ghouls! I don't know why yew aren't a jibberin' crazy mess, Rapina." Rapina took a moment to think about what she had been through. "Me neither," she said. The pirates laughed heartily. "I guess I'm too interested in the magic lessons to worry too much about the creepiness of it all. I can't say much more, you know how sorcerers are about their secrets." Brackston nodded gravely, and there was a brief silence around the fire. "Aright wench, I got me skinny assistant puttin' me sorry books back in order. Hey, ye know, I'll bet he never has ta take a pee break th' whole night," Red Jack chuckled as Brackston grimaced. Back in the old days Jack had enjoyed having Doanthalas in the cage just because having something the men were scared of made it easier to keep them in line. Although working with the necromancer might be dangerous in the long run, depending on how long the holy war lasted, the captain knew that having the spooks around would make his job a whole lot easier. Jack took Rapina's hand and the two of them started towards his tent as the captain spoke over his shoulder," Rapina's nocturnal as a minx, er lynx these days, men, so she'll be out here again whilst I'm sawing wood. I'll catch ye in th' mornin. I got some speechifyin' ta do afore th' men soon as they get up. I want 'em up a few minutes early tamarra, so wake 'em when the birds start a chirpin' heraldin' dawn but before th' rosy hues start brighten' up th' sky. It's got ta still be dark. That's important." "There now girl," Jack smiled as he let Rapina into his tent. We got a lot o' catchin' up ta do, but I 'spect we can do some 'o that tamarra. How's that old spook been treatin' ye?" Jack asked. "He's stern, but fair," Rapina said. "I work hard and study hard, but the fact that the priest who made me an outlaw in the first place was of the vindicator makes me something of a heroine with the priests of Mortaebius. That certainly hasn't hurt me." Rapina smiled. "I'm glad someone got a lucky break out o' that isle o' th' dead. Pickin' that rock fer a base almost made me a shadow o' me former self. Then it nearly cost me my head. It would 'ave if some o' me good men hadna escaped ta rescue me. I jus' recently got Doanthalas an' Rage back, but they came wi' baggage. Doanthalas' toatin' a woman I got ta remember ta have Roger check out. She walks too much like a feline fer me tastes, an' Rage brought me daughter and a condemned Li'Yeiraun pathfinder with 'im. I don't trust him neither. It's been a real zoo since ye left me. I got way too many green recruits an' not nearly enough veterans." Jack grimaced. "I'm glad you're making the best of it, Jack," Rapina smirked as she hung her cloak on a peg on Jack's tent pole while the pirate captain stoked up his tiny pot- bellied stove. Red Jack chuckled, "Aye, that I am. It reminds me o' th' old days when I first started out as a pirate. It's full circle, I guess. Enough o' business, I been eyein' that scarlet dress o' yours an' it's drivin' me up a wall. As ye might 'ave guessed I once 'ad a taste fer noblewenches. I've feasted me eyes on plenty o' finery in me day, but I can't say as though I can remember a single one o' them noblewenches who could fill th' finery like ye can, up down, all aroun'." Rapina smiled and blushed. Ye've been growin' up while ye've been gone girl. Ye carry yerself different too, like a gentlewoman. Ye're gettin' class. Is that spook a nobleman? Rapina hung her rapier and weapons belt on the headboard of Jack's bed, then sat down next to him. "Kroz did have some contact with the upper crust and he thought it would be wise for someone with my particular magical talent and specialty to know deportment, so he has been drilling me on it." "Drillin ye?" Jack chuckled. Well, whatever else 'e may be, 'e's taught ye a useful thing er two. What o' this magical specialty? Can ye do any tricks?" Rapina grinned, "Well, I have a talent, but outside of that I can't do so much as a cantrip. Even doing those simple feats of magic requires several years of practice to develop the necessary underlying ability, even if the aptitude is there." "Ye got a talent at least, is that a common thing for an apprentice?" Jack asked. "No, I don't think so, but it's certainly more common for a magic apprentice to have one than just anyone, I suppose," Rapina said. "What is yer talent if ye don't mind me askin', girl?" Jack asked. "Rapina smirked. I think you could answer that one for yourself, Jack," Rapina stroked her hands down Jack's chest, pulling at his lust all the way down to his belly. "Damn yer good at that!" Jack exclaimed. Rapina smiled as she started to undo Jack's shirt. "Talented?" Rapina asked. "Aye, so that's it. Ye've a magic snatch," Jack said. Rapina giggled, then caressed the inside of the Captain's thigh and watched his skin take on a ruddy hue as his manhood strained to leap out of his pants. "I suppose you could put it that way," Rapina said. "Ye do have knack fer th' bedroom; is that yer magic?" Jack asked. Rapina noded. "What can ye do with that besides make a man fall all over 'imself? Jack said breathing heavily as he worked to undo Rapina's bodice." "With sex magic? Theoretically quite a bit, but I need to develop my talent." Rapina unbuckled Jack's belt. "I think I can help ye with that," Jack took a deep breath as he pulled Rapina's dress down and looked at her scarlet bustier. "I like this one even better than th' one I first saw ye in," Jack said. "This one fits." Rapina smiled. "Aye, th' design looks ta be made fer yer figure, an there's even more fillin' th' cups than there was when ye were younger. Ye always did have nice tits, girl, an they just keep gettin' better. Rapina smiled, stepped out of her dress and folded it over Jack's chair while the Captain removed his trousers. The captain's erection stood at attention. "Ye're still in better shape than any noblewench I've seen. 'as ol' spooky been makin' ye carry water aroun' 'is 'aunted castle?" Jack asked. Rapina giggled, "No, actually I have been training with an assistant of his," Rapina said. "At arms?" Jack asked. Rapina nodded. "Spooky must trust ye quite a bit," Jack said. "Yes, that and he's a necromancer, so I'd still be in trouble even if I successfully killed him," Rapina said. Jack chuckled, "I see yer point. I notice ye carry a rapier, but it ain't that nice one I got ye. Is that what ye've been trainin' at?" "Yes, I miss that blade. I'm hoping I can convince Kroz to buy me another from the Montfort forge. I've continued to train in rapier, plus unarmed, and a little bow work so I don't get rusty," Rapina said. Jack caressed Rapina's sides and back through her bustier. "Aye, yer in great shape. Do ye eat bettern' ye did as a pirate?" Jack asked. Rapina grinned, "Yes, Kroz is a wealthy man, his table is well stocked. Sometimes I'm the one who stocks it. We apprentices have to work for a living too, you know," Rapina said. "Aye," Jack chuckled as he cupped Rapina's breasts beneath her bustier then grasped her sides and moved her onto his lap. I can see how havin' a woman like you aroun' would make 'im feel especially wealthy. 'e sure does dress ye nice. Where did these under things come from?" Jack asked. "Argos, Kroz really gets around." Rapina could feel Jack's hardness against her cheeks. His lust burned through her silken panties and coursed up her spine. The captain chuckled and turned. He rose slightly so that Rapina's rump slid off his lap and then he gently pushed her down on the bed. Jack unclipped her silk stockings then reached under her bustier and pealed the scarlet panties from her body as she lifted her long legs. "I'm just glad he ain't th' jealous type. Ye know I found ye that isle jus' so ye could get inta the company of them mage types," Jack winked as he stroked Rapina's smooth inner thighs. Rapina smiled up at the captain, her legs bent at the knees and slightly apart as she lay on the bed. "I should have known you had the whole thing planned. That was quite a sacrifice to make for my education. How will I ever repay you?" Rapina asked. Jack chuckled lustily as he caressed Rapina's nether lips, already quite wet with lubrication. "I'm sure we can work somethin' out. Besides, I couldn't cheat th' world out o' a magic snatch. It would be against me religion. It would 'ave been down right sacrilegious o' me even ta think about it. Jack's nimble fingers worked over Rapina's slippery labia, dipping into her honey and using it to lubricate her swollen clit. It's a work o' art, an it's got plenty o' zip an' slip to it. A woman with sex drive like ye've got is a rare jewel. I'll bet ye could take th' whole camp on an' never go dry," Jack marveled. "Sometime I'll have to find out," Rapina said half seriously. "Sometimes I think ye already have," Jack said. Rapina giggled. She did recall certain very busy evenings during basic. "Well, not everyone." "Jfft abot," The captain's voice was muffled between Rapina's velvety thighs. Rapina moaned between deep breaths, and before long, lights filled her mind as she came. She could touch Jack's mind from her peak as she might have touched a gray cloud from a mountaintop. She resisted the urge to reinforce the captain's lust and let the cloud go by, gathering only a hint of her affection as it passed. Captain Red Jack brought her to climax numerous times in the next couple of hours. Rapina let him take her twice before sending a sleepy, calming mood to his mind during her final orgasm. She took it easy on him, but not quite as easy as she once had, for she felt he now trusted her enough that she might let him learn the truth. After Jack fell asleep, Rapina cleaned up as best she could at Jack's basin, then gathered up her clothes, dressed and headed back through the cold winter's night towards the camp's central fires. The wind was chill, but she hardly felt it through the glow Red Jack had left within her. The vindicator's teachings admonished her to feel triply guilty about her tryst with Jack. It was sex before marriage, sex with a second partner, and sex in the face of being involved with Rames, currently her primary lover. Honest lust, the vindicator could not stand it, so he could not stand her either. Now that she was back in the pirate camp, she would do what came naturally if she felt like it. Rapina shook her head, the vindicator that had been revealed to her by reverend Evangeline was a sham. Jack, Thane and Rames were evil men, but they were not deceivers as Evangeline had been. She did not know what goddess of lust might control her fait. For now, she was fairly sure she had been loaned to Mortaebius, the god of the dead. She was content to be of use in his struggle against the vindicator's "pious" followers who preached honesty and justice while they dressed as bandits, killed priests and burned the temples of other gods. "Hail Mortaebius, guardian of the dead. A creature of life and lust am I, glad in thy just service to draw nigh, lust, and life, and death - one cycle, life goes by. Death is fact and a god I will not deny, and as lust I shall serve thee to kill the lie." "Well met Rapina," Roger said. Startled, Rapina lurched to a halt. She looked up just in time not to run right into Roger. What was even more startling than the appearance of the skeleton was the fact that Rapina could swear she had seen him smiling when she first looked up. "How can a skeleton be smiling without lips?" Rapina rationalized to herself. "The graveyard is this way. Shall we consecrate it before you begin socializing?" Roger asked. "Uh, sure, that way I can have the rest of the night with the men." Rapina smiled. "Indeed." Roger silently led the way through the snow, his boney feet hardly leaving a trail. "The graves are here." "They are?" Rapina asked, for she could see only snow. "Yes, I will show you. Roger walked elongated ovals marking four graves. Mortaebius knows where the dead lie. What we will do here tonight is merely a formality. It works a magic sympathetic to Kroz's spell and will allow him to come to this graveyard more easily. What he attempts tomorrow night is a new feat for him. In the past he has come to graveyards he has been to that are familiar to him. This one is different. He has viewed it only through his pool, and he will be counting on us to mark it, to add something familiar to it to make his spell surer. It is good we are both present. If this first attempt is successful, he will have greater confidence, confidence that could be very important in the months to come. This will be a simple ritual. Roger walked a rectangle around the four graves. I will walk along the lines of this rectangle, as I move you will move, always in the same direction, but you will remain always be on a diagonal corner from from me. I will say a prayer, and you will repeat it or say another if you cannot remember it. Any questions?" "none." Rapina smiled. "Good, I will stand on the Northeast corner and you on the Southwest to start," Roger said. "Hail Mortaebius guardian of the dead, we the dead who lie here entreat thee, hallow this ground that we might rest," Roger intoned. "Hail Mortaebius, keeper of the deceased, we the living entreat thee, hallow this ground that the dead be held in thy embrace, to rise only in the direst need," Rapina incanted. Roger walked clockwise around the periphery to the next corner, and intoned another prayer. Rapina moved as Roger did, arriving to pray first in the Northwest, then in the Northeast where Roger started. "...and thus we close the circle, life and death, the cycle is complete." "Excellent, Rapina. I had no idea you knew the prayers of consecration and in your first prayer you added, "to rise only in the direst need," a line that is most often left off these days. I expected a much less proper ritual. Your performance was as flawless as a priest's. Tell me, why do you know such things?" Roger asked. Rapina blushed, "I don't think I am meant to be a priestess of Mortaebius. I'm just not into the dead like Kroz, but Mortaebius has been a good patron to me, and I am honored to be his ally. I studied one of Guardian Rames' books that he had from being a chaplain before he actually became a priest. It's a handbook for church deacons. The line I added was mentioned in the footnote as the historical form, but given the situation, I thought it would be appropriate," Rapina said. "Yes, I remember your uncommon sharp wit," Roger said. "You know the rituals and serve my master well. There are things best done by the living. Your aptitudes are a fine complement to our own. Thank you Rapina. You may return to the warmth of the fire, and rest assured, Mortaebius recognizes a good servant, even if she is an ally not natural to his service." "Thank you Roger," Rapina said as she waved and left death to contemplate the graves in the biting winter wind. --- The central campfire shone like a beacon guiding Rage towards the cluster of tents in the distance. The young pirate finished strapping on his sword as he walked. He had been cleaning it when one of the new pirates had brought news of Rapina's arrival. It could only be Rapina judging by the man's description. Few women could rival her beauty. Rage wasn't sure he believed that she had stepped out of the fire with a demon in tow. That was a lot of superstitious nonsense most likely fueled by the return of Doanthalas. The old crewmembers knew he wasn't a demon spawn, but the new crew had yet to come to that conclusion. "It will be good to see Rapina again," Rage thought as he felt a swelling in his pants. "For more than a few reasons..." He smiled as he looked down at the stone set in the hilt of his sword. Things were looking up. Soon what was left of the old crew would be back together again. They would once again be strong and feared. Rage loved being a pirate. All the action, women, and booty a man could want...and then some. His smile widened as he approached the camp. --- The mage Nordula watched intently as Rage returned to the camp from guard duty. "The only thing more boring than being on guard duty is watching someone who is on guard duty," he mused. As much as Nordual hated babysitting this young pirate he hated the thought of Lord Li'Yeiraun's wrath even more. At least the magical stone set in the sword hilt was doing its job... and remarkably well. It had been a good plan to leave the sword where Rage was sure to pick it up. Now with the sword and stone strapped to the young pirate's hip the images were coming through crystal clear. The image in the center of the kettle shifted and seemed to shimmer for a moment. It began to jump and coalesce into a whirlpool of color. Something was interfering with Nordula's scrying. It appeared as though it were some natural disturbance, an upwelling of earth energy, or some such; it might also have been a clever ward, but where would a simple pirate captain have come upon such a thing? In any case, it was not a good sign. He did not think that Jack had any mages to detect let alone deal with his magical workings. No, if it was countermagic, some magical device plundered from one of Red Jack's victims more likely caused it. It had not been in effect at the guard post. Therefore, it likely had a range. If that was so then the stone in the sword could still be of use when Rage was away from the center of the camp. Still Nordula would have to inform Henrich of this development. Something would have to be done to ensure that their prey did not escape. The mage wrapped his robes around him and stepped outside to summon one of his apprentices. He found a candidate studying in his library. "Kall! Come and watch over the scrying kettle! The image has faded, but let me know the moment it reappears. I must find Lord Li'Yeiraun." He waved a hand at the boy as he disappeared in a cloud of colored smoke. --- It had been a few days since Doantalis had lain with Elisabetta. He had not spoken to her either. She had made her choice. Her loyalty to Paolo had been stronger than her feelings for Doanthalas. It hurt...a lot! But, then again, the elf's life had been nothing but pain for the last fifty years or so. He was becoming jaded...numb to the whole experience. Once again everything was happening at once; Elisabetta was plotting to assassinate Red Jack, Rapina had returned, and Jack's daughter had come looking for Drake. Nothing was ever easy. Doanthalas had to decide what to do about Elisabetta. He felt no loyalty towards Jack, but he had also seen quite enough killing for one lifetime. Almost without thinking the elf pulled the locket out of his pocket and held it in his hand. Inside was the picture of the guard he had slain and his family. Of all the lives he had taken over the past fifty years this one affected him the most. Doanthalas had been able to justify the other killings. It was justice pure and simple. But this was different. The only thing the guard had been guilty of was doing his job. Then there was Rapina. Where had she been and why had she returned? He was not going to get an answer while he sat there and brooded so he pocketed the locket and made his way towards the center of camp. --- Mansun Dido sat around the large central fire watching the pirates with mild interest. They still regarded him as an outsider so he sat alone. In fact, the only person in the camp who seemed to show him any amount of respect at all had been the tattooed elf. He was sure the elf did not trust him yet, but that would come in time. The pirates had been content to sneer at him or ignore him depending on their moods. Sitting amongst the pirates chatting away like an old comrade-in-arms was the woman Rapina. She was a difficult one to figure out. He detected strength in her that was intriguing and frightening at the same time. All the more terrifying because her beauty seemed to distract, the men at least, from it. At the moment he wasn't worried about her though. Elisabetta had him worried. For the past few days she had cut herself off from the elf. Something had happened to push them apart. When he had first met them they seemed to almost dote on one another...almost. Now she avoided him whenever possible. What's more she had taken on a subtle, but dangerous edge. Once again she was nowhere to be found. Neither was the elf for that matter. But Doanthalas didn't worry Mansun. He was dangerous, no doubt, but the pathfinder felt secure in the feeling that he had nothing to fear from him. There was an infinite sadness to the elf that seemed to permeate everything he did and said. Something horrible must have happened to him in the past. The pathfinder's thoughts were interrupted by the appearance of the young pirate Rage. Apparently, he was returning from guard duty. --- Rage finished his business and exited the latrine. For some reason he felt uneasy. He looked around. He guessed it was nothing. In any case he needed sleep. He walked briskly back towards the barracks tent. Nordula's chambers dissolved and were replaced by an outdoor scene. Deitrich froze in place and held his breath a moment. A young pirate wearing a nice sword left the outhouse beside him and seemed to look right through him before he walked up the path back towards the pirate camp. Nordula had not explained why he had to teleport Deitrich so close to the camp, but he was glad the cloaking spell had lasted through the transfer. Looking around, the spy quickly got his bearings and made his way to a thick cluster of bushes. Traveling via Nordula's magic had not been nearly as disconcerting as he thought it might be. He actually thought he could get used to it. It sure beat riding weeks through rugged terrain to reach his destination. He stealthily put a little distance between the pirate camp and himself before the invisibility wore off. If he could find out where the watch posts were while still cloaked, it would make his job much easier. "I've arrived," he said into the magic stone hanging from his neck. The stone seemed to pulse with light as Nordula's voice emanated from it, "Excellent! Keep us informed of any developments." The light from the stone faded as the spy nodded and stealthily made his way around the periphery of the pirate camp. ----------------------- Adriana was beautiful lying there beside him. She was asleep. Drake hadn't known her long at all, but already his heart belonged to her. That was precisely the reason Drake was lying there seriously considering Jack's request. He had given up a lot to become a pirate and had lost just as much during the course of becoming one. Drake leaned over and kissed her on the lips. She stirred and rolled to her side draping an arm over his chest. Losing Adriana was not a thought he could stand. That was why he had decided to do as Jack requested and take her away from the pirates. They would start a new life elsewhere. Jack had a friend who knew important people in foreign lands who could help them get a start. Drake Stretched and yawned. Pulling the covers up he nestled in close to Adriana and draped his arm around her. In minutes he, too, was asleep. ------- [Rapina]028 The Touch of Darkness Rapina looked up from her conversation with a few of the recruits as Rage approached wearing a new sword. Pike had gone to bed a few minutes before, looking a little more tired and worn than she had ever seen him. She could tell that the turn of events, the magic, Jack's capture and so many new and potentially untrustworthy faces had taken their toll on the Norseman, though he tried not to show it. The new recruits were typical of the young men Jack attracted, full of bravado, bloodthirstiness and often fleeing a harsh or boring lifestyle for the even harsher lifestyle of Red Jack's pirate camp. Rapina smiled to herself, and then greeted Rage who had just come in from guard duty. "Rage! It's good to see you, not many of the faces around here look familiar," Rapina said. "Aye, It's good seeing' ya too," Rage said. "Not many of us survived the isle o' the dead. Just me an' Pike, Brackston, Arzeal, Skitch, an' the elf, made off without gettin' nabbed. We got Jack back, 'an I guess that necromancer's still got 'is claws in ye from what I hear. He hasn't turned ye inta something like Kent, has 'ee? Rapina smiled, "Actually, I'm with a more experienced necromancer now. The guardian of the isle sometimes buys spells and things from Kroz, my master. They both worship the same god. Of course you'd kind of expect most necromancers to worship a god of the dead." She could tell Rage had reservations about her relationship with the necromancer. She could not really blame him. Thane had frightened the wits out of the pirates. In spite of their combat experience, they were a superstitious lot with no understanding of the principles of magic. What he had experienced on the isle of the dead would probably haunt Rage's dreams for years to come. "No, no, he has not turned me into something like Kent, I'd be of less use to him as a dead-brain," Rapina said. "Kroz is frightening, but to tell you the truth, I've kind of gotten used to him, as much as that's possible. He is a fair master, though not particularly kindly. Although he lacks Jack's flair and deadly humor, he does have a razor wit and he can be quite engaging to listen to, especially if you have an interest in magic," Rapina said. "Magic! Huh I'd steer clear o' that nonsense if I were you. It's dangerous," Rage said with conviction. "Yes, it is, but that's where my talents are, but you already knew that, didn't you?" Rapina said. "Rage smiled crookedly. "Yeah, I could tell. I guess you won't be such a bad sorceress, but damn, why did you pick a necromancer for a teacher?" Rage asked. "I didn't, really, life just happened that way," Rapina said. Rage's mood softened. He guessed Rapina always was cut out for sorcery. Red Jack had seen it in her and encouraged her magical studies. Earlier Rage had been all set to see if he could spirit Rapina off to bed, but the memories had come back. She was with a necromancer, a man who created and ruled the walking dead, a man like the man who had turned Kent into a clawed cadaver. Rage shivered involuntarily. He wondered if she slept with the necromancer, wondered if his blue dead hands caressed her shapely rump, or if his purple lips had suckled at her breasts. Rage had never seen Kroz. Yet, he could imagine the necromancer and how frightening he must be in person. It all made the young pirate nervous, so he put on his toughest face. "I'll see you later, Rapina, I need to get something to eat here." Rage busied himself getting food. Rapina smirked. It was obvious it would take the young pirate a while to get used to her again. She was sure he would be okay given time. At the moment she noticed someone who looked distinctly out of place, for her emerald eyes had lit on the pathfinder. She knew little of him, only that the men seemed not to trust him, yet she could not help but get the feeling that he was a good man in a bad situation. This resonated with her own reason for getting involved with the pirates. Sometimes life took some unexpected turns. Since Rage's soliloquy had cooled the pirates on her for the moment, she took the opportunity to sit near the pathfinder. His story might be interesting. Rapina's eyes caressed over the man's form, assessing him. He was obviously a warrior of some sort, though not particularly overbuilt. His stature was average, his dark hair was cut short and his features were fairly plain, but handsome in their own way. "You look as out of place as I feel," Rapina said softly as she sat down beside him. Mansun Dido was startled out of his thoughts by the woman's comment. Looking up from the ground he saw a beautiful woman with the most engaging emerald eyes. Her smile seemed friendly, but underneath it all she seemed to be sizing him up for something. The pathfinder recovered quickly. "I could say the same of you milady," Mansun articulated. He was definitely familiar with the ways of the nobility as evidenced by his etiquette. A sigh escaped his lips as he closed his eyes for a moment. "Not so long ago I was a pathfinder in the service of Lord Henrich Li'Yeiraun." Seeing Rapina's questioning look he replied, "That is correct. I used to be a loyal servant of the man who tried to kill Red Jack for sleeping with his wife. But that was when I thought loyalty and honor counted for something." Mansun massaged his temples and took a deep breath. "I was in charge of the pathfinders that were tracking Rage. Lord Li'Yeiraun wanted us to find Red Jack's new camp and figured this to be the best way. Unfortunately, we lost Rage's trail a few days after his escape. I didn't know it then, but this was due to the help of the elf Doanthalas. To make a long story short; Lord Li'Yeiraun was so upset that we lost the pirate's trail that he decided to make an example of me and have me executed in his place." The pathfinder shook his head and snorted, "A lifetime of loyal service...gone." Mansun shook the depressing thought from his mind and faced Rapina. "My name is Mansun Dido. What name do you go by?" "I go by Rapina." Rapina extended her hand. "I'm sorry to hear a man who should have been noble betrayed you. My reasons for originally joining Jack's men were similar to yours. When men of power behave in ways that are criminal, good people are forced to flee the justice that should be protecting them. It's sad that Lord Li' Yeiraun is not more loyal to those that serve him. I will stop feeling sorry for him that Jack diverted his wife's attentions. Is Lord Li'Yeiraun a religious man? "As much as any lord is I suppose," Mansun replied. "That was to say that as religious as he had to seem to his subjects and still keep his good name. I too have stopped feeling sorry for him about Jack and his wife. It's ironic that Red Jack would turn out to be the honorable one and Lord Li'Yeiraun the bloodthirsty tyrant." He shook his head and laughed. "I owe my life to Red Jack's daughter you know? She is the one who saved me the trouble of swinging from the leafless tree...if you take my meaning." The pathfinder sighed and ran his fingers through his short hair. "Now I have to begin my life anew. By now Lord Li'Yeiraun has tainted my good name amongst the folks I once knew. I wish I knew what to do. You seem to have adapted to life on the run fairly easily, milady. Any pointers for a recently unemployed pathfinder?" This last comment was said with a wry smile. Apparently, the man did have a sense of humor. "Sometimes the currents of life are impossible to swim against. The best I've been able to do is keep afloat. In my case I've been swept to the opposite shore, to help the enemies of the man who betrayed me. At first I was just trying to get away, and since the law was after me, I took shelter with Jack, an outlaw, but being a pirate turned out to be a between-stage. I'm not sure if it's truly good luck or ill, but I now work for an enemy of the man who betrayed me. That's why I ask what religion Lord Li'Yeiraun pays homage too. There are many issues that divide powerful nobles and religion is one of them. It's an important question in these times. It might be possible that Lord Li'Yeiraun has enemies who are more legitimate to the law of Clairmont than Jack is." "I'm not a religious man myself so I do have to confess a sort of ignorance to the religion of the land." A wry smile crossed his lips, "The only god I pay homage to is mother earth and the only service I attend is that of the local tavern. And speaking of drink I could really go for one right about now. Would milady Rapina care to join me for a little of the holy spirits?" Rapina smiled, "I have a great deal of respect for anyone who can scare up a drink in a pirate camp, so of course I would be glad to join you." Mansun proved to be an interesting conversationalist, but Rapina felt he was not the kind of fish who enjoyed being reeled in right away. She did not need to be in a hurry, at least that's what she told herself. In truth the exposure to so many men, even in spite of the wintry conditions, was deepening her hunger. It was as if she had been on a stringent program of rationing drawing only from Rames, and now that she was surrounded by food, she felt hungrier than she had previously realized. It had not been long before Mansun's life of early to bed, early to rise had forced him to retreat to his bedroll. Rapina returned to the campfire, but the early morning hours were not kind. Only a few men remained on sentry duty. Since many of the youths did not know her, Rapina thought it unwise to go around talking to the sentries. It was ironic that Rapina wound up in the supply tent with Roger. The death of Mortaebius said nothing as she entered, and continued to work on Jack's books as if conversation and breaks were luxuries reserved for the living. For her part, Rapina decided there were mental exercises pertaining to her magical studies to be done. It was a pity she had not brought a book with her, but everything had happened so rapidly from her entry into the inner sanctum of the mortancers to her reunion with captain Jack. One thing had stuck in her mind, however. In the negotiations, Roger had mentioned there were necromantic spells that could be used to drain the life force from another, and transfer it to the necromancer in order to heal him. Rapina thought to herself as she cupped the fullness of her breasts within her cloak, "Isn't that exactly what I do with men? Only it feels good when I do it to them and I can store the energy." As Rapina was musing, there came a scratching at the tent flap. Roger seemed unmoved. Rapina slipped out to see whom it might be. "Zit? What are you doing out at this hour?" Rapina asked. "I, I wanted to ask you something," Zit said. "What?" Rapina asked. The young man looked down at Rapina's feet. "Is it true?" "What?" Rapina asked. "We were talkin' and... Are ye a vampire?" Zit asked. "Zit, are you still in basic, because if you are, and Brackston finds out you snuck out of the barracks, he's going to pump some sense up your butt, like he always threatens." Zit's mouth formed an "O" as his back stiffened. "But I have ta know," Zit whispered. "I'll run back so it seems I just went ta the latrine." Rapina smirked. "If I were a vampire, don't you think I'd have fangs?" "Well, yeah, but ye might have an illusion that covers 'em up," Zit said. Rapina rolled her eyes. "Was Brackston in on this little discussion in the barracks?" "Uh, I'd rather not say," Zit said. "I'll take that as a yes." Rapina grinned. "So you want to know if I'm a vampire. Shall we find out?" Rapina grabbed the boy and bit his neck playfully, sucking some skin into her mouth. Zit froze and screamed soundlessly... "Hey, you didn't even break the skin," Zit said. "You sound disappointed. Were you hoping I'd suck your blood and turn you into my sex slave?" Zit blushed. Rapina giggled softly, "Sorry Zit, I just don't have the teeth for the first part, and you don't have the time for the second part. Because if you don't get back to the barracks, you're going to be Brackston's sex slave." Zit's lips formed the familiar "O" once again. "Okay bye," He said flailing a hand and running off. Rapina shook her head and smiled as she reentered the tent. Roger was as she had left him. She wondered if there wasn't a certain urgency in the way the death of Mortaebius applied himself. It stood to reason, the holy war between Mortaebius and the Vindicator was heating up rapidly. The mortancers had been deadly serious. During the winter months when the orcs made little attempt to retake the lands Lord Avengene had wrested from them, his most loyal forces were marauding the temples of Mortaebius posing as bandits. Originally, it was hoped that Avengene's religious fervor would halt at the borders of his own lands, but it now seemed obvious that the Vindicator's forces had larger plans in mind. To these plans the Church of Moraebius must react swiftly, for they did not have a standing army like Avengene's on which to draw. The Order of the Shroud would likely bloom afresh, and Rapina intended to ingratiate herself to that organization to the best of her ability. For in this game of chess, her only prospect of finding friends was to seek out the enemies of her enemy. ------------------ "Captain, time to wake up for your speech, Sir," Arzeal said. "Aye I was jus' gonna... Wha oi, oh it's mornin'. Jack sat up and massaged his face. Damn ye'd think I'd pulled an all-nighter last night th' way I feel. Now I grant ye I wasn't ta bed early, an me wench were in rare form, put me practically on the moon, she did, but it weren't like I staid up th' whole night boffin 'er brains out. I sure feel like it though. Damn, well get me some strong tea. Th' men need a speech about are new deal with th' spooks, an' it's a speech they'll get." The captain roused himself and began dressing and preparing for his speech. By the time he emerged from his tent and went to the central fires, Brackston had the men assembled for the speech. "Aye there now, me mates, I'll bet ye're wonderin why yer up a bit early this mornin', why I'm disturbin' yer beauty rest," Captain Red Jack said. "Well some of ye know we 'ad some visitors last night. Seems me new fame that's been drawin' recruits 'as also drawn some other attention, sorcerous attention. I'm sure the tails o' spooks an' sorcery 'ave already made th' rounds. Now I'm going ta give ye th' skinny. Seems I'm in a bit o' a spot. Me fame is invitin' th' attentions o' morn' jus' th' law. Now I got mages ta contend with. Luckily th' first of 'em ain't lookin' ta cash in are chips jus' yet. I'm not sayin' I trust 'im completely, but we 'ave somethin 'e needs, and 'e 'as somethin' we need. Now where I come from, that's the grounds fer a deal. I found me a necromancer. His name is Kroz, and 'e's going ta put up some protections against sorcerous spyin' an th' like. In return, come raidin' season we're going ta supply 'im with cadavers from are raids ta keep 'is laboratory hummin'. As ye know, I'm a little short on experienced help after that damned illusionist broke up me former men. I'm tired o' fightin' sorcery with spar varnish, so now we got us a magician on are side!" The pirates cheered. "Bein' that 'e 'as ta spend most 'o 'is time in some musty laboratory, Kroz 'as left a pair 'o hands an eyes with me ta help us out, an bein' as how are new 'elper looks like th' pirate flag, we'll be callin 'im Roger. All ye need ta know about Roger is that 'e's a skinny officer with a rank same as Drake's, an' with th' weight of bein' th' stiff that keeps th' books for me an' at times carries me orders. Other than that, th' less ye know about Kroz an' are new helper, th' longer ye're likely ta live. If ye hear any wild stories about 'is past or anything ye didn't hear from me, ye better come straight ta Red Jack an' let me know who's tellin' tall tales. I'll not be havin' me camp turned upside down by wild rumors, an' any man who disobeys that order's going ta be sleepin' with Roger." "Fer those of ye who don't know what in hell a necromancer is, I'll tell ye. A necromancer is a magician who specializes in magic concernin th' dead. Spells that allow a magican ta speak wi' th' dead, make th' dead rise up an' dance and such like dark sorceries are what necromancers are best at. Necromancers are generally considered ta be th' most evil o' mages, so a necromancer is just th' kind o' critter who would 'ave no trouble workin' with rapin', pilligin', murderin', bloodthirsty pirates like areselves. Now Roger, I want ye ta say a few words intraducin' yerself ta th' men, so as they can recognize yer face an voice." A figure cowled in heavy black robes came before the men and stripped back his hood. A gasp ran through the crowd, and the eyes of many of the men opened wide with terror. "I am death, but you may call me Roger if you wish. I will see that bodies from the raids are harvested for Kroz, and I will serve Captain Red Jack," Roger said in an emotionless tone. There was a persistent murmuring in the crowd that would not seem to die down. "I know what ye're thinkin'," Red Jack said. "Half o' ye can't believe sorcery like this exists and ye're sayin ta yerself, 'e's just a collection o' bones wired tagether an' there's a pirate hidin' behind Jack makin' 'is voice, an' th' others a ye are worryin' about yer immortal soul on account o' workin' wit' spooks. Roger go 'round th' crowd and shake th' 'ands o' th men that're man enough ta shake. That should 'elp ye all ta see Roger ain't some prop I put tagether fer yer entertainment. 'An if ye're so convinced 'e ain't nothin, ye can 'ave a little sword play with 'im, long as ye don't mind 'im relivin' ye o' yer 'ead. Fer ye that's fearin' fer yer souls, ye should 'o thought 'o that before ye joined a gang 'o bloodthirsty pirates, now shouldn't ye? If yer religious types 'er right then we'll all meet in hell anyhow." Captain Red Jack watched as Roger made his way through the men. Most shrunk away from the boney appendage, too terrified to shake. Others practically scoffed, thinking Roger was a trick. They shook, and many came away with a look of horror. Two of the scoffers were big, tough boys from the slums of Turnmoor. Wedge was respected for his strength and skill at arms, and Blunt was the black sheep of weapons practice who didn't give a damn who got hurt, as long as he got to laugh at them. They looked at each other, they looked at Roger and they grinned. Just after the death had passed them, they drew their cutlasses in unison. The death of Mortaebius carried his scythe in his left han. As the men drew, he spun three hundred sixty degrees in that direction to shake the next recruit's hand only a fraction of a second after he would originally have done so. The fact that Wedge's cutlass, along with his right hand, fell to the ground at about the same time as Blunt's head, did not seem to concern Roger in the least. He was following orders. The two recruits would serve as an example. Open-mouthed, the pirates saw the one recruit fall in a fountain of blood and the other grab his own handless forearm. Had it not been for the movement of his thick black robes, and the glint of his scythe, the men might have believed Roger had not moved at all. Yet, the death and disfigurement he had left in his wake made his actions unmistakable. "Brackston, get a tourniquet on Wedge's stump, and pick up that 'and. Maybe we can sew it back on," Jack chuckled. Zit's hands were shaking even more than they had been. The shower of blood and the scent of death hadn't helped any. As the skeletal figure approached, Zit steeled himself. He had to know. As the young recruit reached out and shook Roger's hand he moved closer to where he thought the skeleton's ear would be, if he really had one, and whispered, "G-good morning sir, could you tell me, Is Rapina a-a vampire?" Roger brought his teeth near the young man's ear and whispered, "Rapina is a creature of lust. She offers pleasure for what she takes from a man; a vampire takes blood, and offers death." ---------- After Jack's bloody speech, the pirate captain offered Rapina his bed and she slept there until late afternoon. A few hours later, just after dusk, she and Roger waited in the graveyard for Kroz, the necromancer who would be played by Thane. When he arrived, he was in high spirits, his confidence in his own ability to use the graveyard mists spell for transportation having been bolstered. With him, he had brought his personal guards a group of double-animated skeletons dressed in new blackened plate armor. Behind them, in addition to the fading magical mists, a cloud of steam rose into the air. Rapina recognized six of the flaming skeletons that were used to heat Thane's abode. Many of the more ordinary armored skeletons carried litters filled with supplies. The most notable of these being a very large roll of oiled canvas. Thane himself was dressed in his mortancer robes and looked much like Roger. For the illusion of a skeletal face obscured his real face, and his voice was also modified by magic to sound like the voice of a dead man. "Roger, Rapina, it is so nice to see you. I trust things are not moving too rapidly for you?" Kroz said. "Things are going as planned here, Kroz. Your arrival is a welcome development. I believe your ease of transport has been facilitated by the fine job your apprentice, Rapina, did in assisting me with the consecration of this graveyard. She has the skills of a deaconess, and my master views her deeds of service favorably." Kroz raised his chin. "Excellent, Rapina, as your service gradually outweighs your sins, I shall make sure that you do not go unrewarded. Our master appreciates service, especially in times of conflict when it is so desperately needed." Rapina nodded. "Now we have much work to do, "Kroz said. "I must meet with the captain. Another house of our master was sacked early this morning, the last and strongest in the enemy's territory. We had largely been abandoning the others but this one had been serving as a base from which we were conducting our strategic withdrawal. Once the enemy saw how easy it was to take those houses that were largely abandoned, he acted swiftly, but I'm afraid we lost more than a few brothers in that last battle. Word is that those with sentiments that do not agree with the enemy's are being disappeared rapidly as he consolidates his power. My associates and I have decided to give this pirate project a little boost. We need Jack's ship harvesting the dead as early in the spring as possible. Winter is more than half over. We hope our enemy will be too busy consolidating the power of his church within his own lands to have any time to launch attacks outside them before the orcs on his Northern border tie up his forces again this spring. We will provide Jack the supplies he needs to enclose the skeleton of the ship he is building within a tent, and get the temperature within high enough to do the wood-working now, rather than waiting for spring thaws. Come, after I speak to the captain, we must plant the warding devices in the camp. Kroz bustled towards the captain's tent. It was obvious he had somehow studied the layout of the camp. When the trio arrived they were allowed into the captain's tent where he was waiting for them." Jack looked up from some record books. "Looks like ye've been on th' same diet as Roger there, Kroz. Jack chuckled. Good ta meet ye. I am Captain Red Jack." The captain shook hands with the new corpse. What be the news? I see ye've brought more of ye're boney buddies with ye tanight, an' a few torches as well." "I will bestow upon you a small boon for your organization in wake of another sacking of my lord Mortaebius' properties. Lives have been lost, and time is of the essence. I want you to have the necessities with which to continue work on the building of your ship during the winter months. I need you operational as early as possible. Here is a modest gift towards necessaries for the ship. Thane handed Jack a small but heavy sack. Jack peered inside. "Aye, mixed circulated gold from a hundred towns by th' looks of it, untraceable," Jack smiled. "That'll come in handy." An th' skeleton torches, ye brought them ta heat th' tent we build around th' ship in so the wood will not be brittle?" "Indeed," Kroz replied. "Your creations?" Jack asked. "Let us say that I was able to glean the remains of your men from a colleague, and that certain of your men were well suited for that particular animation," Thane whispered to Jack. "If ye're tryin ta make up fer th' drubbin ol' Thane gave me by bringin' me men's walkin' corpses back ta me, it ain't ganna work, they're all dead," Red Jack snapped in a vehement whisper. "I will not try to make anything up to you. I serve Mortaebius in this. I respect your ability or I would not have proposed this deal. You must admit, however that the dead can be useful." "I'd take issue with ye on that if it weren't fer Roger's work on me books. He 'asn't lost 'is touch, and 'e's got a load 'o work done fer me already." Kroz nodded. "What about me arms master's wounded hand. I'm dead in th' water without 'im, and I'm spread thin enough as it is," Jack asked. "We have been most fortunate in that regard. I was able to locate the two necessary incantations," Kroz said. The two men discussed arrangements for the healing work that needed to be done. The work on Pike would be straightforward, but Rapina was sent with Arzeal and a couple of burly recruits to prepare the stump of the unwise recruit for the remedy Kroz had recommended. After he saw the captain, Rapina had helped Kroz bury ward-bearing skulls in the ground three paces from skull-bearing pike markers that gave a clue as to the direction and location of the actual buried wards. Subsequently Rapina had been sent to supervise the preparation for Thane's debut as a healer. A tourniquet had been applied not far above Wedge, the unwise recruit's stump, and the small sword Rapina was handed glowed cherry red from the heat of a stone forge. "This is going to hurt, Wedge. If you move, you might loose more flesh than you need to. Hold still." Wedge nodded drunkenly. The rum he had been given had dulled his senses, but the agony he suffered as the hot blade sliced his flesh made him scream in torment. AAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIIHHHH!!! Rapina grimaced as she sliced the flesh away. Being the closest thing Jack had to a leech was not proving to be enjoyable. In spite of the man's arm being pinned by two burly recruits and Arzeal, it was moving, and Rapina had to compensate in order not to take more flesh than was necessary, and to make the cuts straight. "Flip him over, I need to do the other side." Wedge roared with pain as blood rendered to steam billowed from the stump of his severed limb. Rapina worked as rapidly as she could, handing her blade to a recruit in exchange for a glowing hot replacement whenever it grew too cool. "Okay, it's finished. Pike, you're next. Take the bandages off and Kroz will repair your hand." Pike brooded just across the room of the shack that served as the camp's smithy. He stood next to the prone form of a feverish recruit. A stench hung about the man from a brawl's sword wound that had gone bad. It was gangrene. Pike knew the man didn't have a chance, so why had Jack had him brought near, and why were Rapina and Arzeal exposing some of the bone of Wedge's arm behind his severed wrist? Wasn't a smooth stump preferable? The armsmaster unwrapped the bandages from his mangled right hand as he had been bidden. Pike grimaced as several skeletons entered the room. Two were armed and armored; the other two were robed. One of the robed figures Pike recognized as Roger. The other had to be Kroz, a necromancer of Mortaebius. Was he too a skeleton? He certainly looked it. A shiver ran up Pike's spine. He didn't like the smell of sorcery. "Splendid, that should do fine. Armsmaster Pike, hold out your wounded hand." Pike complied, glowering at the skeletal figure that made arcane gestures and utterences, grabbed Pike's wounded hand and shook in agony. A scream of pain involuntarily escaped the necromancer's throat as life force was ripped from him by the power of his own spell. Pike gasped as a surge of energy pulsed through his hand. The tingling was intense, and he could feel the flesh knitting as he inhaled. The necromancer seemed to waver for a second before his discipline returned. His scream was rapidly replaced by further arcane utterances and gestures as his skeletal left hand plunged down to touch the naked chest of the feverish recruit who then yelled and convulsed. "Mmm, very good, very good. The life force I gave the armsmaster has been restored from this unfortunate victim of disease. I believe we can continue," Kroz said. More utterances issued from the throat of the necromancer, then he was again wracked with pain, but did not scream. This time he held Blade's stump, which began to heal instantly, leaving the stub of bone Rapina had exposed. Without even a moment's hesitation the necromancer cast the second spell, turned and grasped the skull of the gangrenous victim. A silent scream was all that marked the man's passing. A gray handprint colored the skin of the dead victim's forehead where Thane's skeletal hand had touched it. A faint, but similar mark could be seen on his chest where Thane's first drain of life force had struck him. "That went very well, very well indeed. Painful at the outset, to be sure, but our victim has made up for that." The necromancer almost chuckled. "Rapina, our work here is done for now. Captain Red Jack, I will work on the hand of this recruit. In two days time, I will return with something that I believe he will find more useful than a hook. Come, we must return to the abode." Rapina nodded as she turned from inspecting Wedge's healed stump. Her job exposing a bit of the bone would be quite adequate for what Thane had in mind for a later visit. She turned to Pike. "Can you grasp my hand?" she asked pike. Pike reached out and gave her hand a squeeze. His hand was whole again. Rapina smiled. A few minutes later she, her master and their entourage disappeared into the mists that rose to obscure the pirate's graveyard. ----------- [Rapina]029 Spies and Assasins The next day the pirate camp buzzed with activity as the men erected a tent around the skeleton of their ship. When night fell ending the men's intense effort, the pirates were glad to finally rest. Not long before the first light of dawn, a lithe figure stealthily moved through the shadows. The guard stationed outside of Red Jack's tent did not see it approach. And no one else was about to see the garrote slip around his neck. Neither did anyone see the shadow drag off the guard's body and slip into Jack's tent without a sound. --------------------------------------------------- Outside of the pirate camp another figure moved stealthily through the darkness. Deitrich had spent most of the previous day scouting the camp's perimeter and, after a shortened night's rest, was finally ready to report his findings. Unfortunately for him, some sort of interference was prohibiting him from using his magical pendant to contact his master. He moved silently away from the pirate camp trusting his master's words that the pendant would function if he got sufficiently far from the abode of the pirates. The interference had been less pronounced or widespread until the previous night when it its influence around the pirate camp had grown. Unbeknownst to the spy Deitrich, someone had noticed his presence. Doanthalas' feral eyes seemed to glow in the darkness as he watched the figure move away. This man was good, but he was no elf. He was probably a human. Even the best humans could not sneak past an elf in the woods. Elves had a sort of magical affinity with nature that humans could never hope to understand or achieve ...at least most of them. Deitrich finally found a spot where the magic seemed to work again. He pulled out the glowing pendant and shielded the magic stone with his body so he would not be spotted. He incanted the magic words and a swirling image began to appear in the stone set in the pendant. Suddenly it was struck by something hard that sent it spinning from his grasp. The man rolled to the side and came up with sword drawn and eyes searching. Most likely a lone sentry had spotted him, since he had not heard an alarm sound. If he could dispatch this sentry quickly and quietly then his lord's plan could still be carried out. The elf watched the man's back for a few minutes as he looked around for his assailant. This human was certainly a warrior of great skill, but it was obvious that his eyes were not very helpful in these darkened conditions. The man seemed to finally sense the elf's presence behind him and slowly turned around. He almost jumped out of his boots when he heard Doanthalas' guttural growl and saw his emerald eyes reflecting the moonlight. Doanthalas had his own sword drawn as he leapt through the high grass straight at the man. Although the man was scared Doanthalas had to give him credit for holding his ground. In a flurry of motion man and elf were upon each other with swords flying. The clash of metal against metal rang through the night. ---------------------------- Back at the camp Drake and Adriana were enjoying a private walk. They had made up their minds to leave everything behind and go to another place and start over. Their spirits were flying high with newfound hope as they meandered around the camp. Suddenly the sounds of fighting erupted from the stillness around them. Drake pulled Adriana close and drew his sword protectively. "Drake! What is that? What's happening?" she asked as she strained to see through the darkness. "I'm not sure my love, but I'm going to check it out." he turned to face her, "Find a sentry and warn him that there is trouble afoot." He saw the worried look on her face and pulled her close. "Don't worry Lady Adriana. I will be careful." That said he kissed her passionately on the lips. "Now go!" he said as he headed off towards the sounds. He had barely made it two steps when the sounds stopped. Drake looked back to see that Adriana had noticed it too. Adriana was about to say something when a dark shape erupted from the darkness heading straight for Drake. A terrified scream escaped her lips as the shadow descended upon him. Adriana's scream had scared the wits out of him, but had also alerted him to the presence of someone behind him. Drake swung his sword with all the strength and precision he could muster hoping to connect before the assailant ran him through. A familiar voice rang out mere moments before his sword connected with the assailant's. Metal against metal rang out through the darkness as Drake composed himself and said somewhat befuddled, "Doanthalas?" "Yes." was the reply as the elf grabbed Drake and then Adriana by the arms. "Come. There is danger afoot. We must warn Red Jack." Drake and Adriana looked at Doanthalas' blood soaked form and then to each other. They weren't sure what was going on, but the blood and serious look on the elf's face made them quicken their step. -------------------------------------- Inside the tent Red Jack slept soundly. It had been a long day of planning, and giving orders concerning the ship's tent, and he had retired early. That was just fine for the assassin who crept silently towards the pirate's sleeping form. Slowly the assassin drew a knife. A few more steps and Jack would be no more. The elf stopped dead in his tracks as he rounded a cluster of tents and saw no guard in front of Jack's tent. He held up a finger to silence Drake and Adriana. They complied as Doanthalas indicated the dead guard's feet in some nearby bushes and motioned for them to get help. They quickly departed as the elf crept forward. He glanced at the guard to see if it was anyone he knew. It wasn't. Most likely it was one of the new recruits. The elf didn't give the body a second glance as he slipped into the tent. His eyes adjusted quickly to the darkness of the tent's interior. It was quick enough for him to see the figure standing above Jack ready to strike. Doanthalas let out a feral scream as he leapt for the assassin. The assassin brought the knife down in its killing arc. She had been trained too well to be distracted by the elf's scream. However, this must not have been the first attempt on the captain's life, for he rolled frantically away from the assassin in spite of having been deeply asleep a second before Doanthalis' scream. The knife opened Jack's side rather than piercing the pirate's heart. Elizabetta did not have time to consider her options as Doanthalas was upon her. With a deft move she ducked under his attack and drove her foot into his back. He crashed to the ground, rolled, and came up in a fighting stance. Jack was now awake. He had grabbed his blade and then rolled off the side of the bed opposite the assassin. As he rolled he bellowed, "Roger! Guards! Assasin!" Red light from the magelight pendant Roger had given the captain suddenly illumined the room. Elizabetta took a gamble and jumped the bed to get behind the pirate. She held her knife against his neck. "Move and you die!" she hissed. Doanthalas knew that Elizabetta might try something like this. He hadn't anticipated that it would be so soon though. But none of that mattered now. He had tried his best to talk her out of it, but as the days went by she never wavered in her decision. She had been given a choice of living the life of an assassin and killing Red Jack or living the life that she and Doanthalas could carve out together. She had made her choice and she was about to carry out her mission. If he did not think fast, Jack was surely dead. He only hoped that she would keep him alive as a hostage long enough for him to form a plan. "So it comes to this," he said as he moved to block the tent's entrance. "It was always heading in this direction Doanthalas," she said with a bit of regret in her voice. "Perhaps in another life things could have been different... but not in this one. Don't think that I wasn't tempted by your offer." Elizabetta sighed as she pressed the knife firmly against Jack's neck. "I can think of nothing I would like more than a life with you, but you have to understand... it's not my life anymore. If I betray him he will send his best assassins after me. We would both be in danger." "Then let us face that danger together. Neither of us are strangers to danger. We can fight them." "Quite a romantic picture you paint...my love. But unfortunately the end result will be the same for me. Either way I die... with or without you." A tear rolled down her cheek as she glanced over Doanthalas' shoulder. My death is a given, but I could not bear to have your blood on my hands as well. Sure we could survive for a while, but sooner or later they would find us and kill us both." "Trust me. My way is better. I know the way he works and he would not stop until we were both dead. I do this because I have to...because I love you." A dark shape rose behind Doanthalas. Doanthalas felt cold steel across his throat as a boney hand grasped him from behind. "Your way will have the same result as you believed his would," The Death of Mortaebius rasped. "The penalty for bringing an assassin into this camp is death. Elizabetta, you are correct, either way you die. In your foolishness you have brought death down upon Doanthalas. Pirates, some of whom are as lethal with a bow as the best assassins, will soon surround this tent. You will not escape this place alive, nor will your lover." "Roger, get away from Doanthalas or the captain dies." "Do you take me for a fool? In life I was a pirate. You will kill the captain regardless of whether or not I release Doanthalas. If you wish me to release him, you must move away from the captain so that there is a real chance that I can rescue him. You must make yourself a more attractive target than the elf. Right now, he is a sure thing. You make the mistake of believing that death will stop Red Jack. I assure you, his grave would hardly have a chance to grow cold before he rose from it as I have." Elizabetta swallowed. Death was no fool. Slowly she moved back from the pirate captain. If she were just fast enough, she could still pull it off. She held her dagger to Jack's back, drew another and used it to slice an opening in the tent behind her. She did not like the way Roger moved Doanthalas to the side to allow him to get at her more quickly should the opportunity present itself. It was almost as though Roger had done this before. Suddenly Jack dove forward and rolled. Run! The assassin screamed to Doanthalas as Death left the elf behind and jumped towards her. Roger did not take the split second of extra time it would have taken to kill the elf, for Elizabetta was already sending a deadly blade Jack's way with a snap of her wrist. The elf dove out the tent flap the way he had come in. He rolled between two approaching pirates and into the bushes near the dead guard's body before the men could catch him to gut him with their swords. The sound of metal against metal rang briefly through the tent as death's scythe picked her thrown dagger from the air. Elizabetta would not have thought it possible to deflect one of her throws had she not seen it with her own eyes. It was too late to throw another. The shadow of death was upon her. She turned a back flip and was through the opening, outside and on her feet in an instant. Roger removed a small, spike-bladed dagger with a large bone handle from within his robes. "kill," he said as he threw the blade through the breach Elizabetta had opened. Once through the opening Elizabetta jumped to the side to avoid the knife death threw at her. She drew a small crossbow, already cocked and loaded with a poisoned bolt. Although she could not see him through the tent, She knew where Jack was; it didn't really matter where she hit him. The poison was most virulent. Elizabetta took aim. Uh!? She dodged backwards as she fired. Death's knife had veered in mid flight! "Poison!" Jack bellowed from within the tent. Elizabetta allowed herself a half smile on a job well done. Now she must escape Death who, despite his robes and scythe, was out of the tent. Elizabetta sprinted and jumped. The flying bone-handled dagger buried itself in a pirate's chest as she narrowly got past his swinging sword and behind him. Would the dagger be satisfied with the death of another? Elizabetta did not plan to wait around to find out. Neither did she wish to wait around while archers arrived. That Death was right behind her was enough. Elizabetta pushed deftly through some bushes knowing that the skeleton's lighter weight would make bushes more impenetrable to him than they were to her. She headed for an area of the forest near the camp where she knew the bushes, brush and undergrowth would slow death to a crawl. She heard pirates behind her, but she did not run straight. She put the darkness of the pre-dawn night and obstacles between herself and her pursuers and stuck to shadowy areas of the camp as she fled, not letting them get a clear shot at her back. At last she made it into the forest. The darkness would hide her from all but death, and the thick foliage ought to hide her from the dangerous skeleton even if the darkness would not. If she could evade him long enough, she believed dawn's light would fight him for her. Doanthalas heard Elizabetta making her way through the forest. She was far behind him. Humans were not fleet of foot in the undergrowth. For a human, her passage was quiet, but to him distinctive. Like him she had chosen the thickest woods to cover her escape. He was about to go to her... The assassin broke through the bushes and jumped the narrow path. Elizabetta stopped abruptly on the far side of the path. She stared at the end of the handle of a scythe against her breast. She knew the blade must have passed through her, but it had been so fast, so fast she had hardly felt it. Already blood was soaking her shirt. Where had it come from? "How," she gasped. Roger stepped from behind a tree. The darkness made all but the skull within his black hood invisible. "Your life force is as a beacon to me, assassin. It is true you pass through this foliage more easily than I, but did you honestly think it would hide you from death? I simply took the path and intercepted you. Even you are relatively blind in this darkness, but I am not. In life, I served an unscrupulous master with unswerving loyalty. You have done the same. Now you will join my master, Mortaebius. He will set a new task for you." As if to punctuate Death's words, the blade he had thrown through the hole in the tent transfixed her from behind, but she was already dead. A single tear rolled down the elf's cheek as he hastened away through the forest. He had caught the faint sound of the death skeleton's voice on the wind. He turned east and hurried towards the rosy glimmerings of dawn. He would miss her; he would miss them all. [Rapina]030 Seeping Toxins "Aiii! That'll do it, Drake, I don't want th' tourniquet so tight as to kill me leg completely. Damn poison 'as been seepin' up, fer hours. I can't feel a thing from me toes ta th' middle of me thigh." "But sir, the wound is just a scratch," Drake said. "Aye, a scratch on me ankle, and I washed it out with brandy only seconds after that blasted bolt creased through me jammies. I screamed bloody murder like I'd been hit for real, an I think I fooled that wench assassin. She didn't know I shimmed up towards me bed a bit while she warr occupied with Roger an 'is knife. Otherwise the wench would 'ave hit me square in th' chest. A real pro that one warr, but no one escapes death," Jack chuckled. How is th' sun doin'? Drake exited the captain's tent and then came back inside. "It's not quite down to the tree-line sir, but it's getting there." "Good, I'll never admit ta bein' grateful to that ol' warlock after what 'is collegue did ta me men, but he brought Roger, an Roger just saved me life, an I hope ol' Kroz can make that savin' permanent. This pois/g seon's tryin' ta undo what Roger did. Any news on th' trackers?" Jack asked. "None Sir, they've been at it since dawn, and dusk will be here soon," Drake said. "No one in camp could identify th' man Doanthalas killed afore comin' ta confront me assassin, so he could be a local, but 'e's too well equipped ta be a farmer, " Jack said. "He's got the weapons and th' look of a tracker. As soon as our mage gets here 'e can sniff th' place o' death fer magic. Damn! I hate bein' so dependent on a bunch 'o spooks! Gettin' famous has ruined th' piratin' business!" Anyways, Arzeal, Dido and a few men are out lookin' for th' dead man's base camp. Could be tharr's more than one spy out tharr." "Arzeal, reporting Sir," Arzeal said as he scratched at the captain's tent flap. "Aye, come in Arzeal. Did ye find a camp or a new spy?" "We found one of his traps, sir." "Who did ye loose?" Jack asked. "The recruit named Binge we took as a flanker is down and dieing, sir; we had to carry him back. A spiked snare trap hit him. We are not sure if the trap was set by the dead man or someone else, but it was getting to be too dark to track anyway, so we all returned." "Damn spies and assassins seem ta be comin' out o' th' woodwork since Doanthalas and Rage got back here with you an' me daughter. Heinie Li'Yeiraun never did have a mage worth squat. Seems to me all 'e used to have was a family line o' second rate tea leaf readers ta help 'im with his investments. I'd 'ave been dead ta rights years ago if that ass had had a real mage. Any change in that department Dido? Who's th' Li'Yeiraun mage at the moment? "Nordula, sir," Dido said. "Has he got any talent?" Jack asked. Mansun Dido squeezed his chin between his thumb and forefinger. "It is true Lord Li'Yeiraun's mages never could seem to give him a straight answer as to where you were, Captain. Their hope was in Nordula, he had more talent than either of his forebears on account of the peasant wise woman his father's tea leaves pointed at to be the boy's future mother. When he had grown some, they used up a great deal of the money their line had siphoned off the Li' Yeirauns and a sizable contribution from their lord to send Nordula for outside training. When he returned from his schooling he was able to do a few notable spells, creating sounds, flashes of light, balls of blue magic that could inflict wounds, that sort of thing." "Aye, true sorcery, but nothing compared to teleporting a man's body," Jack said. "Yes, I see what you mean, but it is possible Nordula has improved and I may be, in part, responsible," Dido said. "An' how might that be?" Jack asked. "There was an old mage who lived in a deep forest to the East of the Lord's lands. We were sent to find and bring him in for questioning. Lord Li' Yeiraun said the man was implicated for harboring a fugitive. I now have my doubts. The mage fought us and we lost many men to his spells, but he was old and frail. After a few volleys that decimated our ranks and sent us running, Nordula noticed the old man was using spells of lesser potency. We regrouped from what should have been a route, doubled back, and ambushed him just outside his abode. Nordula was able to wound him with a spell from behind while his magical shield was directed towards fending off the swords of my men. Once wounded, the mage lost his concentration, his shield dropped for a moment, and we cut him down right on the doorstep to his abode. Two more steps and he would have been inside. I was not involved after the initial mission, but from what I heard, Lord Li' Yeiraun hired a group of mercenaries to clean the mage's abode. His books now sit on Nordula's shelves. "Aye, so it could be tharr was somethin' to those volumes an' Nordula has become more'n a second rate tea leaf reader," Red Jack nodded, and then knocked on the large chest at the foot of his bed. "Are ye awake yet Roger?" "I never really sleep sir, but the sun makes me... drowsy." "Well, it ain't quite down yet, but I need ye ta get hold o' Kroz as soon as ye can. Doanthalas killed a spy before he came ta stop th' assassin wench last night, and there may be other spies at large as well. We already lost one man to a trap. "I will relay the news to Kroz, Captain. I do not know if he would wish to become embroiled in such mundane matters, but I am sure he will come for the assassin's body if you wish to sell it to him. I believe Elizabetta is the perfect subject for an advanced animation." "Aye, I'll trade 'er cadaver for a cure ta this poison if he can get me one." --- "Captain Jack, Kroz is here with Rapina and he brought some ghouls, but he left them at the graveyard. He is willing to infuse you with life force to heal the damage done by the poison if you have a donor," Arzeal said. Okay men take me out ta th' infirmary, thar's not a moment ta loose, damn poison's up to me hip." Within the ship's tent, the pirates were eating dinner. Fist one, then another blood-chilling scream interrupted the men's meal. "Damn sorcery! It's gonna to give us all a belly ache fer sure." Back at the infirmary tent Kroz entered and addressed the captain, "How is the leg, Captain?" "It's still tinglin,' thanks ta Binge, here. The captain patted Binge's freshly dead corpse. Heh heh, we were both dead men 'fore long. His dyin' sooner is goin' ta buy 'is captain some time." "Without another donor, that is as much as I can do for you. If you have the bolt, I may be able to determine what sort of poison was used. There may be an antidote." "Ye mean ye don't think Binge's whole life is going ta be enough ta quench this damn poison?" "Your body will have much more energy with which to fight the toxin and the damage it has already done will be healed, however my spell does not neutralize the poison. The poison will begin to do damage once again," Kroz said. "Damn! Will we 'ave to take me leg off?" Jack asked. "It would stop the poison, however you would then be minus a leg," Kroz said. "Aye, and what kind o' leader would I be without even enough leg fer a peg?" Jack scowled. "We could remove the flesh and leave the bone. I have Wedge's hand for him. I will put it on as soon as he is brought here. If you find its functionality to your liking, we could prepare your leg similarly." "Here sir," Wedge said. "Recruit, Kroz 'as got yer hand for ye." "Splendid, you have arrived, Wedge. You have a decision to make. Let me see your wrist. Wedge held out his stump. Kroz carefully fitted Wedge's cleaned up skeletal hand to the bone of his stump and made a few incantations. Wedge inhaled involuntarily. "You have a decision to make, young man. Your skeleton is now whole, but you cannot move the bones of your dead hand, can you?" Wedge grimaced, "No sir." "With magic I can give you that power and you will be able to use it. It will not, however be any stronger than the hand of a pampered woman. If you wish to serve the god of the dead, I can ask him for his blessing and additional divine magic. Your hand will become formidable in its strength. You will have no trouble wielding an axe or a heavy blade, but you will also wield that blade in the name of the god of the dead, for you will have a connection to him. Do you understand?" Wedge nodded gravely, "Like Roger?" "Yes," the necromancer affirmed. Wedge grinned evilly. "What do I have to do?" The necromancer's rasping laugh filled the night. ----- As quietly as a man could, Gariot Hansfeldt made his way through the woods. He held the glowing red bit of glass aloft and smiled. One of his traps had been sprung. He could see the spikes were deep in the body. One protruded from the chest of the corpse. He shook his head as he thought to himself, "I should have known they would be looking for me. Well it's too late, they had their chance to find my base camp, and now I don't have the magic pendant anymore, and I will not know where the new camp is even if they catch me. Gariot bent down to examine his handywork." "Agh!" Gariot's eyes bulged as the corpse stuck to the spikes grabbed his face. The smell of rot seemed to thicken. How could the corpse be moving? Edgar the ghoul jumped from the bushes and clawed rapidly yet savagely at the side of the tracker's head. He would not let up while he had the advantage. "Kkhahah," he signaled. The stench in the area soon grew in magnitude as Kent sunk his claws into the man's back and neck. The victim froze. Kent removed the tracker's weapons and chittered happily as Edgar and the newly created zombie of the pirate named Binge carried their paralyzed victim back to Red Jack's camp. --- Brackston blanched. Wedge opened and closed his skeletal hand so that all the men within the ship's tent could see it. A great vat of stew simmered over the foot of a seated flaming skeleton. Bedrolls were spread all around the ship, for the men had moved out of their chill barracks tents to where the heat was. Wedge grabbed a heavy axe and swung it, "Ahahahah, it's strong, see, I can wield the best weapons again! Pitty me now, Slice. Ahahaha! The power of the god of the dead is in my hand." "Oooiiiiakakakahhh!" Kent screamed. "Thane looked up from an engaging magical conversation he was having with Rapina under what would soon be the ship's bow. "Arzeal, I believe Kent has found some measure of success. He is calling us from the graveyard. Rapina, carry on." --- "It is not a man I know whispered Mansun Dido from the bushes. If he is working for Lord Li' Yeiraun then he would have to be new." "No doubt," Kroz rasped. "How did yew find are camp?" Brackston questioned. "I just stumbled upon it. I had no idea what it was," Gariot Hansfeldt said. Kroz softly imitated the caw of a crow. Brackston caught the sound of the raspy crow and knew the tracker was lying, "Yew think I believe that? Bloody Brackston pulled the man's shirt off. Gariot Handsfeld was chained in an upright position between two stout posts. His legs and arms were spread and the lash had already torn his shirt to shreds." Brackston reached around front and undid the man's belt, and then he walked around front and unbuttoned Hansfeldt's pants. The tracker looked at the pirate incredulously. "Yew better start tellin' th' truth. How did ye find us, how did ye get here?" "I told you, I rode," Hansfeldt said. Brackston jerked the man's pants down and pulled his sheath knife. He played the tip over the man's balls. Yew think yew're really tight lyin' ta ol' Brackston. I'll bet yer tight," Brackston shoved his middle finger up the man's butt. "Hhhh! Don't you dare sodomize me!" Handfeldt hollered. "Heh, heh, if yew insist, but I was going ta use the branding irons an' save that for latter, Heh heh..." Hours of pain passed. "This man is surprisingly resistant to torture," Kroz said in a bored tone. "I believe he lasted something over three hours in Brackston's capable hands." Mansun was sitting on the cold ground, his back to the scene. It was something he had long ago decided he would rather not see. He was here as a second opinion to the magic of Kroz, to help give Brackston an idea of whether or not the man was telling the truth if the man were working for Lord Li'Yieraun. It almost didn't see fair. Whenever the tracker lied Brackston knew, and the tracker suffered for it. "I was teleported by a mage, damn it!" the prisoner, Gariot Hansfeldt, finally admitted. "Where were yew, who done it, and how was it done?" Brackston asked. Gariot cried, "I was hired out from Turnmoor and paid in gold. The mage, Nordula. told me to hold my breath and he started casting some kind of spell, and then I, I just appeared." The prisoner said. "Where did yew report to this mage ta be teleported?" Brackston asked. "In Turnmoor," Hansfeldt said. Brackston heard the crow and grabbed ahold of a branding iron. AAAIIIIII! Castle Yieraun. It was at Castle Yieraun!" Hansfeldt admitted. "... That's better, now where did yew appear and what were yewr orders?" Brackston asked. "Ouu! Please, I was put in a handstand before Nordula cast the spell. He told me when I arrived I was to pick up the pendant dropped by the other man, and that it would be right under my head, and then I was to set up a temporary camp. I left the pendant there." Brackston heard the caw of a crow, smiled and went behind the man. Gariot stiffened as the pirate drove his fleshy rod into the raw pain of his bowels. "Ahhhii! You already know when I'm lying, why do you even ask?" "Because I like ta fuck yew, yew ass! Now yew tell de whole truth or it'll be back ta the brandin' iron." Hansfeldt shuddered, "All right, all right, the mage sent two more men earlier tonight. I was to keep watch on the pirate camp and go to a specified location two days every week to pick up the pendent and make my report," Handsfedt said. "Why don't they just leave the pendant with you? If they ain't watchin' our camp, how come they need it?" Brackston asked. "I don't know! Aaaiii!" Hansfeld said. "Why do you think?" Brackston asked. "I, I think the mage needs the pendant to teleport men to. I was teleported to the pendant, and so were the other two. I held it up and each appeared under it in turn," Hansfeld admitted. "So while yew watch our camp, Nordula fills another camp with soldiers, is that right?" Brackston asked. "Yes, I think that's the plan. The river is too choked with ice, I don't think they can send a ship, so they are sending us with magic," Hansfeld admitted. "Why don't they send yew overland?" Brackston asked. "The Lord here doesn't like Lord Li' Yeiraun. Isn't that why Red Jack holed up here?.. Aaaouuch!" Hansfeldt asked. "Yew got to remember who asks and who answers..." Brackston said. --- "Aln I see yourrr rum and raise you ahhrum," Dodge slurred. "Yourr on," Pike blinked. The two men slammed back still another round of rum. Rapina raised her eyebrows. Pike had come over just after Kroz had left and the pirate named Dodge had complained about Pike trying to keep the "wench" for himself. Things had escalated from there, but not exactly the way she would have thought. Dodge maintained that a contest of arms between he and Pike would be unfair, instead, he had challenged Pike to a contest of cups. "Yooouulll never oud dlink me, Piike, I've been annn alcoholic since birff, I suck-kled ale ad mmy mmother's tteat, hic," Dodge slurred. "Tthen why are you wavering aaand I'm ssstill sssteady as a rrock?" Pike asked. Dodge tittered, "Yyew, sssteady? Yyewer jusst a-about ta falll. One morrre rrround ought ta havvve it, hic," Dodge said. Another round was poured and the two men tossed it back. Rapina wrinkled her nose, both men were astoundingly drunk, how Dodge figured he was going to make use of her company if he did win the drinking bout was beyond her. The cook raised his eyebrows, already the men had drunk their way through Dodge's stash of rum, "One of you better fall now, we're out of rum." Ssusorry, me dliink all yer rum, but meee nod fallin' Whho gott's more?" Dodge asked. "Llookss a draw," Pike said drunkenly. "Stoker, you got some rum, give it up," Creaser said. "Should I sir?" Stoker asked. "Ooonly iff hee's mmman ennnough," Dodge slurred. Pike slapped the table, "Hhaull id oud." "Yes sir," Stoker grinned evilly and retrieved a bottle from his sea chest. "It's strong stuff Sir." "Dodge tittered." "Yyou thththink weee carrre?" Pike asked. "I see your point sir." Stoker filled both cups near to the brim. The two men slammed back their drinks, and Stoker immediately filled them up again from his bottle. "Doouble err nothin'," Dodge said slamming back his cup. Pike downed his drink a second later. Stoker swiftly refilled them. "Gggive it ttime ttoo settle, Pike wavered." Dodge tittered, "Eee's fllagin'." "Bbbbahh, bbrink id on," Pike said. The two men slammed back four more drinks in rapid succession. "Uhhhooooo" Dodge said as he kept going backwards after lifting the next cup. Pike finished the fifth drink in the set, and began to stand up. "Baa, liddlelightwade." For an instant, Pike looked a little surprised, "Oooooooo" Stoker and Greasy barely managed to catch the Norse giant's body. Once caught they pulled him to his bed roll. Rapina looked at the lust written all over the faces of pirates dragging Pike to his rest, and then suddenly realized what was going on. Jack was in his bed nursing his leg, Arzeal was far away in the night with Kent and the ghouls, attempting to find the spy's base camp to see if he had left any evidence of a plan there. Brackston, Thane, and Mansun Dido were interrogating the captured spy. Rage and Skitch were on night guard duty. Pike had been the only officer present, and the only man likely to protect her "virtue." Dodge was likely a dupe of an alcoholic given free booze in exchange for attempting to drink Pike under the table, but Pike was a huge man, and known to drink a bit himself. From Dodge's slipped remark, the original owner of the first bottles of rum had probably been Greasy, and the last cups poured by Stoker had come fast and furious, and the rum? Rapina snatched the bottle from the low table in front of her and tipped the bottle way back, concealing the fact that she took only a tiny swig. "Haahhh," she rasped. Tears came to her eyes as liquid fire burned down her throat. The pirates laughed as the spellbinding wench clutched her throat from the heat of the rum she had just downed. The rum was nearly one hundred percent alcohol. It all made sense now, Stoker knew the contestants were too drunk to taste just how strong the new rum was, and he knew if he got enough of it into them fast enough, it would not mater who fell first, both were sure to go down. Rapina realized she had about one second to put her own spin on things before the raging river of the pirates' lust chose a channel other than the one she would try to send it down. "No officers?" Rapina asked in mock innocence. Then in a husky, conspiratorial tone, "Want to have some fun?" A hearty roar rose up from the pirates. Rapina smiled provocatively, "Okay, I'm going to need a little music, something slow and sultry, and something to dance on. How about that scaffold? Some of the men looked a bit disappointed. The river was trying to escape Rapina's channel. And Zit, could you be a dear and collect my clothes when they fall?" Rapina asked as she diverted the lust back to her channel. The Pirates grinned lustily, "Oh Yah!," they cheered. Men hastened to move a section of scaffold to the central location Rapina had indicated. "My good things are all gifts from Kroz to beautify his household, and I'm not sure what kind of sorcerous experiments he would perform on someone who damaged them. Rapina glanced at one of the flaming skeletons. Just be a dear and put them in your sea chest. Zit nodded gravely. "Cmon! Wench, get it on! Chops began to play his bongos as a pirate next to him fingered chords on a lute. Rapina tossed her cloak to Zit and mounted up on the stage. She was suddenly the soul focus of fifty lusty pirates. Lust tingled up and down her spine; she practically vibrated with it as it raced up her legs and down her arms. Almost in spite of herself, she began to tug at it as she danced, with every sway of her hips, every stretch of her long legs she grabbed and tugged. In the past, she had always pulled on the lust of a single man, now she found groups were a little different, but came just as naturally. The music helped, but the tugging did nothing to slow the men's appetite for more skin. She was her own worst enemy. She had thought that if she kept them entertained for long enough, surely one of the officers would happen by. Now it was impossible to say what she wanted. Their lust was so thick she could almost touch it, and it was making her so hungry, so wet, she was embarrassed and yet intrigued all at once. For so long she had made due with just one man, now she was looking at a multitude. Involuntarily, she licked her lips like the vampire Zit had taken her for. Rapina's breathing increased as she stepped out of her dress and kicked it into Zit's waiting arms. Lust nearly overwhelmed her as the pirates' eyes caressed her scarlet lingerie, her involuntary moan was swallowed by the music and a thousand lusty comments about her curves. Her, long legs, her high, round butt, her rich, round breasts, everything she showed them brought a rush that overwhelmed her reason. Her bustier came down, her breasts jiggled freely, Her garters were unclipped as she passed the groping fingers of the pirates at the edges of the makeshift stage. When they tugged down her panties she had fallen back into a roll and when she rolled up on her feet again as Rames had drilled into her in his classes on unarmed defense, she had her own panties in her hands, dangling from her long delicate fingers, taunting the men, tugging at their lust. "Woooo-hu, now thar's a real wench! Blackjack reached out and wiped his fingers over the inside of Rapina's leg, just above the knee. Then he thrust his fingers into his mouth. Mmm-mm, that ain't sweat, mates! "Oou, that's a PIRATE WENCH!" Glinter hollered. One of Rapina's silk stockings fell off, a casualty of the sock-pulling and rolling game the reaching pirates had come up with on their own. Her bustier was open to her navel and sliding down over her hips, but none of that seemed to matter because she was trying very hard, very hard to keep from shaking. She felt like her eyes should be glowing or something, she felt so much fire in her body. Her other sock was pulled from her foot as she stepped up, and then as she swung from a cross beam, her bustier fell to the stage. Other than the choker Kroz always made her wear when she came to the pirate camp, there was nothing left to take off, and as far as she knew, the choker could only be removed by magical means. Rage stomped a bit to remove the snow from his boots and then re-secured the exit flap. "Wow, it sure was warmer in the ship's tent than it was outside," he thought. As he turned, he realized the music and cheers had stopped, and fifty pirates were looking at him. But when the fifty-first looked at him he gasped for breath. His cold, tight balls fell nearly as rapidly as his shaft rose. "Aaagh." For a second he was going to ask Rapina why she was standing naked on the scaffold, he was going to scold the men, but his breathing was way too heavy as he walked to her. She was perfect, she smelled like lust, and he had her undivided attention. He should have told her off for inciting the men. He should have done a lot of things, but something was wrong with his head and he could only think about one thing, getting it into her, getting it into her now. Rapina idly wondered why her fingers were unbuttoning Rage's pants, and why she was breathing like a winded horse. Someone threw a bedroll over the planking behind her. Rapina pulled down his breeches and she brought him down. Rage kicked off his pants and thrust like a stallion, again and again. Rapina was so wet there would have been no friction at all had it not been for the muscles within her, stronger and more facile than those of any woman he had ever known. She squeezed him, she pulled at his seed, she called to it from her wet depths like a sea of sirens. The pirates cheered. Rapina felt as though she had nearly broken something inside of her holding back her need so as not to consume Rage as he came violently, fountaining his lust into her bottomless hunger. EEEEYAAAAAAAH! His orgasm seemed to last forever. When it finally ended he went limp. "Stoker!" Rapina rolled the pirate officer off her and smiled her hunger at the instigator of the drinking contest. Had Stoker paused to wonder why the pirate wench had rolled a limp, exhausted Rage off her body, he might have hesitated to bed her. However, he had been plotting all night, and he was not the kind of man who easily let the spoils of victory go free. He was on her in an instant. Rapina wrapped her legs around him and bucked like a mule, she had nothing left in her to hold back with, she pulled at his seed like a crazed animal. Had it not been for the cheers of the pirates, she felt certain Stoker would have lost his nerve. Perhaps he would have been better off if he had. Stoker's eyes rolled back in his head, he had bedded more women than he could count, and he had never cared much whether or not they were willing. The wench beneath him now was a wildcat, a hellion, a succubus, and every stroke pulled him down to hell and then shot him straight to heaven, he moaned, heaved, pumped, and gasped. This was extreme, something felt wrong, but he could not stop, he just couldnot stop. It felt so good, he had to spend, his thrusting was compulsion and she squeezed him, clutched him, pulled at his lust with a force he could not comprehend. Gaaaaaaaaaaah! Stoker's eyes nearly popped out of his skull. Had any pirate been in the right position to see Stoker's eyes, he would have screamed in terror. Fortunately, no one saw it, no one but Rapina. Rage got unsteadily to his feet. Damn!" The pirates laughed. After several minutes of Stoker's gasping orgasm and spewing seed, Rapina's hunger was blunted and she relented. Rapina rolled Stoker off her body and tried not to notice how limp he had gone. "Greasy!" she chimed, almost cheerfully. The cook lasted only a few minutes before he joined his deathly comrade with a long, eye-popping orgasm. Rapina rolled him aside and was about to speak, but another pirate jumped between her thighs before she could say a word. With Stoker and Greasy Rapina had lost control -lost it utterly; but she felt much better now, a little more herself. Her clutching wetness was just a joy, and if she just relaxed and let the men fill her mind and body with power and pleasure, she would not draw dangerously on any one of them. Stoker and Greasy had paid for their perfidy, but the rest would be just fine. She whispered comments, sometimes requests or even orders to change positions and sometimes endearments as each pirate bedded her. Her lively cunny supped gluttonously as each pirate came powerfully, spewing seed and energy into her hungry depths. Few lasted more than five minutes, but hardly a second would pass between the time one man drenched the warmth of her clutching vagina and another entered. It was almost as though one tireless pirate was bedding her, and because of that she began to come, and come, over and over. She was so sensitized by all the lust and life force being pumped into her that very nearly everything drove her to orgasm. She would peak, then after a few minutes peak again, and for whatever perverse reason, vanity, or perhaps revenge, whenever she did, she filled each man's mind with fealty, utter, unabashed obedience and worship for their goddess of lust. If these pirates thought with the brain between their legs, then she would command their minds. Zit realized he was the low man on the totem pole because everyone had gone up on the makeshift stage, and several had been on the platform twice, yet he had not been given a chance at all. Rapina closed her thighs and turned after sending Blackjack to the platform. "I've seen you others before, let Zit up first, it's not fair keeping him a virgin forever." The pirates laughed. Several in the crowd piped up, "Get Zit up there, no pirate should be a virgin, it aren't right." Zit crawled up onto the platform at last. He lifted his palm, the bedroll was afloat in goo. Rapina giggled. Zit smiled, and then his mouth fell open as he saw Rapia's breasts jiggle. They were so full and pert, and her nipples were standing up like little pink towers. He couldn't quite imagine how she had fit her breasts into her bodice. Rapina saw what he was looking at and pulled him to her breast with a finger under his chin. He suckled her, and then she grabbed him around back. She put her hand between his buns, found the base of his penis and pulled him to her. Zit moaned as Rapina guided him into her and caressed him inside her. He hardly noticed the rasping laughter from across the tent. He just coursed in and out of Rapina's captivating cleft. Hearing the laughter she clasped her palms over his ears and pumped harder against him. He moaned and thrust a while longer then started coming grandly. Rapina released one of Zit's ears and pulled him into her with her right hand between the cheeks of his behind. Feeling the delicious pulsing at the base of his cock with her wrapped fingertips as he came long and hard. She bucked against him cried out as she too began to come. As her mind touched his, she became his princess, his sovereign, his queen, and yet one who held him with great affection. Kroz chuckled and it amused him all the more that it came out as a wicked rasping, for his death robes made his voice sound so very undead. "Well now, while the cats are away, it appears the mice will play." Rapina massaged the base of Zit's waning cock and looked up at the approaching death mask of Kroz. She felt far too good to be embarrassed. "Rauw," she mewed. Zit's organ began to re-engorge. Rapina grinned like the cat who had just swallowed the cannary. "They started it," She said. Kroz laughed so hard his death robes could hardly cope with it. He pounded his knee as he looked at the many sleeping pirates and the gaggle still waiting around the stage. "Did you want to see if you could take on the entire camp?" Kroz asked. "No, I'm just having fun," Rapina smiled. Her hand caressed Zit's behind as her loins moved gently around his hardening rod. "Besides, there had to be a few on guard duty, so it's not quite the whole camp. Zit was the last of them, and I had to complain to get him a spot. Those others are greedy; they're here for seconds. Rapina suckled playfully at Zit's neck. Kroz raised his eyebrows beneath the death mask. There was a man lying near the edge of the stage. Kroz rolled him over. He looked dead, but he was erect, and the very tip of his cock was gray. Thane took a tiny hand mirror from within his robe and held it near the man's nose. It steamed up, but barely. "Mmm, he seems... exhausted. Was he the first? Rapina blinked, but did not pause in the slow thrusting of her hips. "The second actually. Rage was the first, but he just walked in after I danced for them. I thought I was stalling until an officer came and I succeeded. An officer did come, just before they started in, but there was so much lust, I was... "Primed?" Kroz asked. "I was um, Stoked," Rapina grinned. "Rage, well he could tell I was ready. He didn't say anything, he just came up, and, I couldn't keep my hands out of his pants. I didn't tire him out too badly. This whole thing, it wasn't his fault, he just walked into it." Kroz chuckled, "Your sense of justice never ceases to amaze me Rapina. And this..." Kroz indicated the comatose man on the edge of the stage. "Stoker," Rapina sighed and smiled dreamily as she continued to pump Zit's erection into her wanton cunt. "Stoker was the instigator?" Kroz asked. Rapina nodded, "I think so. He and Greasy supplied the rum for a drinking contest between Dodge and Pike, the only officer here." "Kroz laughed. "And you saw the whole thing coming?" "Not as soon as I should have. Pike won the contest, but the last bottle of rum, the one Stoker supplied, was extremely strong. I tasted it after Dodge went down, it nearly burned my throat out, and Stoker had been pouring them fast and furious at the end of the contest. Pike had enough in his stomach to make him pass out, he just didn't know it until about two minutes after he had won." Kroze smiled beneath the death mask, "So the contest was just a way to neutralize the officer protecting your virtue. It really didn't matter who won, both lost." Rapina moaned with pleasure, then nodded, "It was very clever, actually. Stoker would have taken advantage as soon as they laid Pike down, but I offered to dance for everyone before he had the chance." Rapina giggled, "At the time I thought I was stalling for time, but oh did that backfire on me. I should have known better, so many men, so much lust, how could I resist?" "Indeed." Kroz stepped up onto the stage and stepped over Rapina and Zit to examine something hanging from one of the posts of the scaffolding. It was a pair of trousers with sheathed weapons still attached. Kroz seemed most interested in an impressive-looking sword. He went around behind it and mumbled a few incantations. "Well, I hate to break up your little party, my dear, but it is nearly dawn and we must get back to the abode. We have some urgent business to take care of in the laboratory." Kroz said. "Okay, I'll get cleaned up," Rapina smiled as she continued her wanton rutting. "Splendid. Tell me, to whom does this weapon belong?" Kroz asked. Zit grunted, "Those are Rage's things, sir, I hung them up for him while he was busy." "Ah, that makes sense, I must consult with Red Jack a moment, so I believe you two will have time to finish up after all, not that you really appeared to be stopping," Kroz chuckled. ---- While Thane slept, Rapina retired to her room, but she could not sleep. She was simply buzzing with energy. She took a catnap, but otherwise read for the entire time she would have slept. After he had arisen, Thane ate a rushed breakfast, and then went down to the laboratory to try to discover what kind of poison Elizabetta had used on Jack. Sometime after nightfall, Rapina set "lunch" out for the two priests of Mortaebius. "Here you are Guardians. Any luck on the poison?" "Yes, the toxin used comes from a tiny insect. It takes a great deal of trouble to make, but it is one of the most deadly toxins known, which explains why the scratch on Jack's leg was enough to sicken him so. Ordinarily the toxin kills in a matter of seconds, but if the dose is exceptionally small, it works more slowly. The poison could still be fatal. Once introduced it works on the nerves, including the brain and the nerves that control the heart. I must return to the pirate camp yet tonight. I contacted Roger just after dark, and Jack is already in dire need of another infusion of life force to regenerate his body. Short of a magical potion or the spell of a priest of a god of healing, the poison cannot be neutralized. We shall have to hope he can find a continuous supply of victims, or Jack may not make it. Thankfully, the nobles of Turnmoor have provided us with at least one. ----------------- It had been several days since she had seen the pirates and Rapina was in Thane's magical library with five books open on the floor. A single flaming skeleton stood in an alcove near the door. Ordinarily she might have taken the books to her room, but she did not see the point. Neither Thane nor Rames was home to scold her, and the book she was reading required many references just to understand. No sooner would she close one reference, than she needed another from the shelf. The book she was trying to understand was the book on magical theory that Red Jack had allowed her to read when she was a pirate. Thane owned all of Jack's old books now. She had picked up the book just after returning from the tryst with the pirates because she needed a challenge. The energy from the pirates was keeping her quite alert, and she saw no reason not to use it. Rapina fingered the choker around her neck. Thane made her wear it whenever she was away from the abode, and now it appeared she must also wear it whenever both priests were out. It was little more than a slave collar, she supposed. It was odd that Thane had not put it on her when she made her mock escape from him in Granville. No doubt, he had been testing her. A few days ago, Thane, or Kroz as he now liked to be called sent Rames on some sort of assignment. He was still gone, and Thane had gone to infuse Red Jack with another nightly dose of life force to keep him alive. Rapina knew he would also check on the results of Kent's ghoulish scouting efforts. "Rapina!?" Thane called out. "In the Library!" Rapina answered. "Ah, I should have known. Thane frowned at all the books scattered across the floor. For an apprentice who does the bulk of the cleaning around here, you seem to be quite at home with slovenly habits. I see you did not even button your bodice this morning." Rapina giggled, "I can't, Guardian." "No?" "I gained a cup size from bedding the pirates. Actually, I'm not as big as I was a few days ago. I could probably button at least one or two buttons now, Rapina said." "Mmm?" Thane asked. Rapina stood, took Thane's skeletal left hand and pushed it down the front of her dress. Thane's jaw dropped. Astonishing! As you know, I can feel life force with that hand. Rapina nodded, "Yes, that's why I took your left hand and not the other. I'm sure the right would have been more pleasant, but I don't think you would have gotten the point. The other point is, I'm really just reading the book in my hands, the other five are references, and I keep having to pull more down from the shelves. This is a very hard book. I think you might have kept it on the shelf in your room had it not been for the fact that you knew I had already seen it. It was Jack's." "Ah, yes, I know the volume. It is a difficult work, not the sort of thing an apprentice would normally try to tackle. Why are you locking horns with it?" "I was so charged up from the pirates, I needed the challenge. I am nearly done, I've been at it for several days." Hard at it too, I believe your standards for the cleanliness of the Kitchen have slipped. "Oooo," Rapina put her hand to her lips. "I forgot to tidy up after lunch." Thane chuckled. I see you are not far from the end. Do not break your chain of thought now. You can attend to the kitchen at dinner, which can be simple fare since I will be busy and Rames is not due back until tomorrow after dusk. "Thank you Guardian Thane. I could really use the time. I do believe I finally know enough, and have a big enough library at my disposal to be getting somewhere." "Indeed, I will discuss the work with you when you have finished. I read it myself shortly after it came into my possession. It is a valuable though confusing treatise. One more thing, Rapina." "Hmm?" "How did you fair when the shadows drained you when you foiled that little assassination attempt I cooked up for Red Jack not long after you all arrived on Graveston isle? "They seemed to tap my reserves before they started to hurt me. Are you out of victims for healing Jack?" Rapina asked. Thane chuckled and shook his head, "My dear, you are far too familiar with the way I think. Yes, the spy lasted through four drains in two days before death claimed him. Since then the Captain's more loyal officers have donated life force of one drain apiece. More would be too dangerous. Red Jack is still by no means well, indeed, his straights seem more dire each time I see him. I am healing some of the damage, but I cannot touch the poison itself. He needs more just to keep him alive. Yet, I do not believe he wants to start using crewmen to keep himself among the living. Given that one powerful but remote group already appears to know the location of his camp, I do not think he wishes to betray his location to other groups by locating local men and having me drain the life out of them. The life force you store appears to be of a somewhat different character than what I am used to draining, but as long as it is drainable, it is worth a try. You will come with me to help Jack tomorrow then?" Rapina nodded, "Yes Guardian. I wonder, why are you helping him so much? You have been there every night since he was poisoned. It is not in the contract." Thane chuckled, "There would be no contract without Red Jack, that and he has already made his payment. He gave me the fresh corpse of Elizabetta, a highly trained assassin, a rare gem, and I have been working on her and the enchantments I must learn to complete her every available hour since I got her back. I have had to purchase the corpses of two lesser assassins at great personal expense just to practice on. Moreover, I have had to appeal to our cause and ask favors of several Mortancers of Mortaebius so that I can learn the process aright and make no mistakes on her enchantments when she is ready. I will see you at dinner. I still have much to do. If I am successful in these next few days, I will have learned a second of Mortaebius' advanced animations." --------------------- The next evening at Dusk Thane, as Kroz, used the graveyard mists spell to transport Rapina and his guards to the pirate camp. "I will consult with Kent. Mayhap you would like to try to glean some more energy before we try this. I see you were able to button your bodice this morning, though the fit of your dress is too tight," Kroz said. Rapina nodded and hustled towards the camp with a couple of guards Thane had assigned to her. Their mailed feet crunched the packed snow on the path as they followed her. When she entered the ship's tent, she saw that things had changed somewhat. The ship was both more and less built, and a body of a recruit hung from one of the posts. It appeared that the men were making the ship, but also disassembling and packing its parts for transport by sled. Red Jack was probably getting ready to run, but he was probably too sick to do it just yet. Rapina rubbed her tingling nose as she looked around and then realized that a number of the pirates were already lustfully looking at her, tickling her senses. "Lust on deck! Phhhweeetphweew!" Blackjack bellowed. Rapina blushed and felt her nipples erect as a great deal of lustful attention had its effect on her. The men had adopted a horse whistle instead of the usual naval whistle they sometimes used before formal speeches of the captain. It appeared she had taken on new rank, although the rank seemed pregnant with humor. Rapina covered the "Oh" written on her lips as she realized the suggestion her mind had cooked up to give the pirates when she had slipped into their clutches a few days ago. She would just have to do it again, maybe the pirates would become a little more serious. "Hi men, it looks like you've been hard at work." "Not as hard as we'd like ta be!" Glinter blurted. "Oh yea!" The pirates hollered as they gave Glinter the thumbs up. Just then Brackston came into the tent, "Captain says 'e's not feelin' up ta satisfyin' de red hot wench tanight. Yew men think ye can fill 'is shoes?" "Aye!" The pirates hollered. "Damn right we can!" Stoker said with fanatic zeal. Rapina raised her eyebrows. After the way she had abused Stoker the last time she had seen him, she was surprised he had any interest. Yet it was apparent from his eyes that he was obsessed, like an addict who had been debilitated by opium, yet craved more. Brackston whispered in Rapina's ear, "Captain Jack says yew're th' last person 'e wants ta steal life force from. Only reason 'e's willin' ta try this is Kroz says yew got a little natural talent fer sex magic. Th' Captain will give it a try, but only if yew can charge yerself way up with yer magic snatch. Red Jack don't want yew hurt from Kroz's deadly hand. Yew fuck them men, and yew fuck them good, understand?" "Yes sir," Rapina blushed. A section of scaffolding was already being moved to the center of the tent, and a few bed rolls and blankets were being tossed on top of it. Rapina jumped up on the scaffold. "You sure you can fill Jack's shoes guys? Jack's got a wicked tongue and he is awfully long-winded." "We'll do it 'er die tryin!" Greasy shouted. Rapina felt a familar touch on her back and then a man's fingers began unlacing her bodice. Rapina looked over her shoulder. Arzeal? "Not the circumstances I would have chosen, but these men can be rough, best to start well-warmed with a man who will treat you right." Arzeal did treat her right. He undressed her and caressed her in front of the men like a master showman. When it was time, he kissed her everywhere, then knelt to drink the juices from her wanton cleft until she was writhing over him like a wildcat. She came powerfully and touched his mind with affection and only then did he enter her. Being half elven, he was slightly shorter than she, but it worked beautifully for the standing positions. By the time he was finished with her she was sopping with lubrication, and the men were cheering and lusting so palpably that Rapina's whole body seemed to vibrate with their sentiment. After Arzeal broke the ice, pirate after pirate mounted her, each pumping the power of his loins into her body. Man after man took her, some she recognized, Stoker, Greasy, Rage, Skitch and others. She had seen many of the remaining pirates but she hardly knew them. The entire camp seemed to be participating. The guards even changed while she was moaning on her back. Rough hands grabbed her ankles and pulled her nether lips even with the edge of the scaffold. At the same time, Slice stepped over her, straddled her chest, knelt down and played with her breasts. Rapina's mouth opened as she realized what was happening. Brackston's rough hand reached around and grasped Slice's throbbing organ, but instead of entering the boy, he entered Rapina. "Slice leaned forward and whispered to Rapina. Take as much as ye can from him, Wench. He was the only officer who would not give Kroz a jolt. He doesn't trust the old warlock, but he trusts you. You take him hard." Rapina nodded, she clutched and pulled at Brackston's seed with all her strength, holding nothing back. She could hear him grunting behind Slice, and when she did catch a glimpse of him, his eyes were rolled up in his head, and his mouth was open and drooling. UuuaaaaAAAAIIIIIeeeeu-u-u... Brackston came for what seemed an eternity. Rapina used nearly all of her strength, pulling nearly as hard as she had on Stoker the other night. Brackston tried to stand, but fell forward and collapsed on the platform next to Rapina. "Was that hard enough Brackston, she whispered?" For several minutes her only answer was a glassy-eyed stare. "Aye, close enough. Yew take it easy on Slice." Rapina nodded. "You can bet on it, because I'm sorely winded from tugging your guts out," Rapina giggled. "Wench!" Brackston groaned. "Some guys like it rough, and some like it nice and easy," Rapina said pushing Slice down her body and engulfing his erection. She pulled Brackston's hip towards her and put Slice's hand on the side of his exhausted lover's rump. She could tell these men's lusts did not run strongly for women, but their efforts on behalf of their captain were touching. As he peaked, Slice's eyes opened and then popped wide in a look that communicated both intense ecstasy and surprise that he could be having it at the hands of a woman. Man followed man until Rapina affectionately embraced Zit and nuzzled his earlobe. He looked overjoyed to see her and she could not help dallying with him a little longer than she needed to. He was a perceptive boy. Somehow, he had known there was something about her that was unusual, and now he seemed to understand that she was not a vampire in the usual sense, but that he had not been entirely wrong about her either. When Zit rolled off her with a contented sigh, Arzeal was there to clean her up, get her dressed quickly and whisk her off to the captain's tent where Kroz was conferring with Jack and Roger. "Tharr's me wench," the captain said feebly. Rapina bent and kissed Jack's lips. Jack spoke so softly Rapina could barely hear him. "Aye, lets get on with this afore I can't keep me brain workin' namore. Th' poison's reavin' me soul. These treatments 'er pullin me back from th' brink o' death, but it seems like they're pullin' me back less far each time." "This may not work, but if it does not, perhaps we can find a volunteer among the men for a second drain. Kroz removed the gloves from his hands and began to cast the first spell. Unlike Rapina, he had no means to store life force in his body for any length of time, thus the first spell drained Kroz's own life force and bestowed it on the Captain. Kroz placed his hand on Jack's head and grimaced as his energy flowed into the ailing pirate. "Aye, some better, some better, I can feel th' damage healin' an me headache, dullin' down towards bearable." The second spell would draw life force from Rapina to replace Kroz's loss. Kroz droned the incantation. Rapina loosened her bodice and pulled it out so that Kroz could reach in at the right moment. When he did, she was not entirely ready for the squeal of surprise that came from Thane's lips as he drained a goodly amount of her reserves. "How are your reserves?" Kroz asked. "I've enough for another," Rapina said. Thane hurriedly cast the draining spell again and grabbed Rapina's other breast, then before the drain was even complete he began hurriedly casting the energy bestowing spell. This time he placed his hand on Jack's solar plexus, and poured Rapina's energy into the dieing pirate. "Balls o' fire, this'd be th' first time I ever got a ragin' instant hard-on from the touch of a skeleton. What was in that? I'd like that spell again," Jack chuckled. "I ain't just tinglin, I feel warm all over too. Will you kiss me Kroz? Jack laughed uncontrollably." Kroz cleared his throat. There is a peculiar property to the energy. I noticed that right off. By replacing what I had lost and then draining a second time immediately followed by the bestowal spell, I have attempted to give you a dose of Rapina's energy in a purer form, more directly from her. I have no ability to store energy, but I attempted to transfer it before it had a chance to dissipate. I am curious to see if it is as effective as the life force I wrench from myself and others." "Tharr's no contest on that score, Kroz. I've been through this enough ta know what one o' yer energy transfers is supposed ta do an' how much. Whatever Rapina's got, it trounces ye in th' healin' department. All along there's been a dull fire in me nerves, 'an even when th' life force ye give me healed th' damage, th' fire's been still there, eatin' away at me. All around me chest an' upper legs, I'm feelin' that fire goin' out. Maybe it's just the hellish hard, hard-on I got that I'm not feelin' things aright, but I think I got 'em square. Leave me be fer a bit and I'll let ye know how things come out. "What happened to the recruit hanging from the pole of the ship's tent?" "Roger, Brackston and I have spent a great deal of time over the past few nights searching for additional spies," Kroz said. "After all, there were two outside spies; it stood to reason there might be an inside spy as well. I have a plan to deal with this sorcerer of Li'Yieraun's, but it would not do if he had a spy in our camp. After questioning everyone but the old officers, we found that we indeed had a spy. He was working for an assassin in Turnmoor, possibly Elizabetta's boss Palo, though he did not use that name when he hired the boy. We made use of his life force, and then hung him up as an example." Rapina grimaced at the fate of the boy but smirked in spite of herself. Kroz was being much more helpful than the contract Roger had hammered out with Red Jack said he had to be. Surely, he was insuring the future of his contract, but Rapina felt that there must be something else. Perhaps Kroz saw some gain for the church of Mortaebius or himself. --- [Rapina]031 The Shadows of Wizardry "You look stunning poured into black silk, my dear, does she not?" Thane asked. Rames rubbed his hands together and held them near Rapina's loins as if by a fire. Rapina giggled. "I see only one problem with your outfit," Thane said. "Hmm?" Rapina asked. "This is a night operation, and your blades are silvery, far too reflective. If you should find yourself in battle, your blades would betray your position. Try these instead." Thane held up a pair of black leather sheathes. The hilts of the weapons they contained were also black leather; the metal of the pommels and hilt guards were dull black as well. Rapina loosened her belt and replaced her weapons with the ones Thane had given her. She drew the rapier part way and saw that the metal of the blades was the same dull black color as the hilt guard. She squinted at the tang mark, it was the mark of The Montfort Forge. "Oh thank you! Thank you Guardian Thane, I love these Montfort blades. I really missed the one I had." Thane chuckled, "Yes, Guardian Rames said that was painfully obvious. Now that you will be helping us handle the clandestine affairs of the Church, you shall not lack for quality equipment. I have a darkwood bow for you as well. It is somewhat stronger than the one you are used to. I do hope you can bend it." Thane handed Rapina the bow. Rapina gritted her teeth a bit but she was able to bend the bow. "Splendid, Guardian Rames, I shall never doubt your opinions as an arms master again." Rames chuckled, "We had a little disagreement over bows. Guardian Thane wanted me to get a somewhat weaker bow, but I felt you could grow into this one." Rapina smiled, "What's our assignment?" It is a simple matter, really. You are to consecrate several small graveyards to Mortaebius, and create another. In order to accomplish the feat, you must drive your horses hard, luckily skeleton horses do not tire. Guardian Rames will show you the maps. You are to study them. Here also is a compass and your copies of the maps in case you should become separated. After you are finished, I shall take you to this Graveyard in the county of Li'Yeiraun. You shall make a large circle around the area as you consecrate and then you will create a graveyard here, in a forest just east of Castle Yeiraun." Other than feeling a bit of soreness in her rump, the consecration of various graveyards around Li'Yeiraun was going very well. Rapina dismounted at still another tiny graveyard. A small parsonage to an agricultural deity could be seen not far off. "We begin," Rames said. "Hail Mortaebius guardian of the dead, the dead who lie here entreat thee, hallow this ground that the dead might rest." "Hail Mortaebius, keeper of the deceased, we the living entreat thee, hallow this ground that the dead be held in thy embrace, to rise only in the direst need," Rapina said. A door to the parsonage opened and closed, "Is someone there." In a lowered voice, Rames continued with the consecration, "Hearken, ye buried and departed, to the power of Mortaebius coursing through thy rotting flesh and bones." Rapina continued, "Harken, ye living to the call of thy ancestors in Mortaebius' embrace, and know his power will preserve thee, until death takes life's grace. Both Rapina and Rames finished the consecration. "...and thus we close the circle, life and death, the cycle is complete." "Food! Food! You got food? Snuffle-snuff!" Rames half shouted in a crazed voice as the Parson approached. The parson held a crossbow on Rames. "Hold up there beggar." "Me smell fooood!" Rames shouted. Rapina stealthily circled the parson in the darkness as Rames' voice drew his attention. Since both she and her companion were dressed in black with their exposed skin thoroughly sooted, the Parson was having a difficult time seeing them in the dim light, and Rames was making sure the parson concentrated on him. When Rapina was behind the parson, she poised her hand just over the man's sword hilt and raised her other hand to tap on his left shoulder. "Look out behind you, sir," Rames said. At that moment the parson felt a tap on his shoulder and whirled, but Rapina's hand took his sword and slowed him long enough for her to hit the trigger on his crossbow. The bolt fired into the open air as Rapina's boot kicked the parson off his feet. Rames was on the Parson in an instant. Me told you look out. Now me look for Fooood! Rames knelt on one of the man's arms and searched him. Rapina stamped on the man's arm as he went for a knife. Rames snatched the knife and threw it as far as he could while Rapina removed the bolts from the parson's quiver and tossed them as well. "He not got no food. You go get us food. We not hurt you. Rames stood the man up and pushed him towards the parsonage." As the parson hustled towards his house, Rames and Rapina stealthily made their way back to their horses and mounted up. When the parsonage door closed, they galloped off. "Whew, that was close. I'm so glad you warned him about the person behind him, I think he might have shot you in surprise if I had just tapped him on the shoulder." Rames chuckled, "Yes, it did work rather well. For a moment I was almost his friend." The consecration of the remaining graveyards went without a hitch, but there was still the one to be created. Rames and Rapina rode slowly, stopping frequently to listen for guards. They saw a pair of them walk by in the distance. When Rames stopped, Rapina immediately dismounted and took down her shovel. She dug a hole, tossed an open burlap sack of bones into it and buried it. She paced off twelve paces distance and did the same with a second skeleton. Rames was doing likewise, some distance away. After the burial was done, they immediately did the consecration ritual in voices barely above a whisper. When they were finished they stopped and listened for a moment; a pair of guards was coming. Carefully they laid down. "I hate it when the mists rise off the ground like that, it gives me the creeps," a first guard said. "Bah, you afraid of spooks?" his partner asked. "Na, just don't like the way it obscures things." "Well come on then, lets walk on through there, nothing to be afraid of. Rapina held her breath. One of the guards nearly stepped on her, but he passed. The mists seemed to be thickening by the minute. After the guards had gone some distance, Rapina heard chanting in a low voice from nearby. "Be very quiet, the guards are near, Rapina whispered in a barely audible voice." Rames picked up leaves and sifted them over the small burried holes until his spell-enhanced night vision told him the ground looked untouched. He could see Rapina was doing the same. Thane, who had arrived with the mists, checked the work of the others, and when he was satisfied, handed them the leads to their horses, took their hands and began to chant. Rapina thanked her lucky stars that the guards were not due to pass this way for another few minutes. When the three of them materialized back at the abode, she breathed a sigh of relief. "Do you suppose they will find the tracks of our horses?" "Nay, I doubt it, the leaves are thick in that area, as is the forest. The trail you came in on is well traveled by horses and guards, so I expect we will be just fine. However, I did include some insurance on the skeletons you buried. Should they be triggered by an attacker who unearths them, they will stand up causing a glyph to fire that will send a message to me," Thane said. Our work for the evening is not done. We must transport a number of skeletons to Red Jack's camp yet tonight. I have animated the bodies of two criminals delivered by the constable as well," Thane added. When they arrived, Red Jack's camp was bustling with quiet activity. A number of ghouls combed the area surrounding the camp for spies while Rames and Roger took the skeletons to the appointed locations for shallow burial. Rapina assisted the pirates in making a pack train to the graveyard. The pirates carried great pieces of their longship, tools and other supplies. Thane began transporting groups of pirates to some far off graveyard. By the time the birds sung heralding the dawn, the pirates had removed the ship from its tent, but the tent still stood. Within the tent, bowls of flaming oil had replaced the flaming skeletons. In fact, the pirate camp looked much the same as it always had, except that the number of pirates in it was greatly reduced. Those deemed too green to fight well, plus a few officers that had been put in charge of building the new camp, were no longer present. The pirates that remained put on a show of activity while the number of guards searching the forest around the camp quietly doubled in number. At dawn, Kroz bid the pirates adieu and took Kent and most of his ghouls with him as he left. --- The next night, Thane came to his afternoon "breakfast" looking as though he was trying to figure out what might go wrong with a plan he had worked on for many hours. "Good evening Guardian Thane," Rapina said. "Good evening Rapina. Tonight is an important night. We will discuss our plan, and when we are done it will be time to put it into action..." --- The sun was just about to slip below the horizon when Rage walked down the path for the guard post farthest from the camp. Rage saw the large tree and took the runed cover from over the stone set in his sword. A recruit he hardly knew accompanied him to guard duty. Kroz had told Rage that the sword he had stolen from Lord Li'Yeiraun's men had been bugged with a magic stone. Now it was his turn to use their little gadget against them. He pocketed the cover then went on. Once at the guard post he struck up a conversation with the two young guards, a conversation he knew Nordula would overhear. "Okay men, you're relived. Get back to camp quick; remember it'll be midnight before you know it, and the captain wants you to get into your groups and be ready to move out, so make sure you pack up. We're going to slip out right under the noses of those spying dogs." "Aye sir," the youth said as he started down the trail. "What group're ye in Blood?" Biler asked. "Me? Number five, how about you?" Blood said. "Group seven, we're the best," Biller replied. "Bah..." Blood said. Rage smiled to himself. When this guard duty was over, he would pry the stone from the sword and give it to Roger. The camp wards were going to be unearthed and packed up for the most part, but Roger was a walking ward. --- Rapina waited in a shadow. She was near the cobbled path that led to the front door of Madam Agnes' House of Angels. It was in Yeiraun Villiage. Yeiraun castle was a mile walk up a hill to the north. The disguise Rames was wearing looked utterly ridiculous, but the one Thane was wearing was an absolute scream. Rapina heard the whinney of a horse. "I can't believe my luck!" Rames said as he played "Hans." "Imagine that, an out of town gentleman coming away with the newest and definitely the most heavenly angel of the bunch. It was worth the small fortune I paid." Lieutenant Richter looked forward to this night every week. Yes, every week he picked up a bottle and one of Agnes' girls and was back to his room for a nine to midnight romp. Occasionally he even let one of the sergeants have a taste. Rapina started up the path with Rames and looked up at the lieutenant as he came down the path. The coy expression on her face coupled with the tug on the officer's lust served to grab his attention and slow his pace as he gave Rapina a good looking over. "Hans! Hansel! I know you're in there, I dragged your words out of that hotel clerk!" Thane said in a disguised voice. Thane, dressed as a rather ugly but convincing woman opened the gate of Madam Agnes' house with a resounding squeak. "Hans" stiffened. Swore under his breath, then whispered frantically to the Lieutenant, "Sir, I've got this new girl for the entire night, and she's yours if you bail me out of what's about to happen with my damned wife." Rames pushed Rapina at the Lieutenant. "Ooo," Rapina squawked as she bumped into the Lieutenant, giving his lust a little jerk on impact. The lieutenant had no time to think or react before a homely woman bore down on "Hans" like a mad hornet. "Shame on you! The very idea that you would fraternize with harlots! You are a married man!" "Nonsense, you have it all wrong. Hilda, I'd like you to meet my friend," Hans said. "Good to meet you Hilda, my name's Adolf Richter, I'm an old friend of your husband. I'm sure he was just over here looking for me. We had a lot of catching up to do." "We sure did honey, it's so great to see him, why Adolf is one of the best swordsmen I've ever known. Uh, he works for, uh..." "Lord Li'Yeiraun." "Yes, and Lord Li'Yeiraun holds him in high esteem. It's great to see an old friend with such an honorable post, isn't it Hilda? I thought I might find him over here at the, uh house of the ladies. I heard he, uh, sometimes comes here and I was um going to ask around and see when he'd be in. Low and behold I bumped into him coming out with this young lady and we've been catching up on old times ever since." Hilda looked a little nonplused, "Well, thank heaven you weren't frequenting this house of ill repute as I had first suspected. Hilda glared at the Lieutenant. You should get yourself a wife, Adolf. These ladies are evil, you understand? eeevil! Now come along Hans, you get away from this place." "Yes dear," Hans whimpered as Hilda hauled him towards the gate. Richter chuckled, "Poor sap, it's men like him who remind me that a smart man never marries." "Men like him remind you?" Rapina asked innocently as she tugged at Richter's lust. "And girls like you," Richter smiled saltily. "Lets stop in and see Agnes a minute." "Okay, have you got some money?" Rapina asked. "Shit, do you think she'd charge me for you all over again?" Richter asked. Rapina smiled, "Um, I just got here yesterday; do you think she would?" Rapina asked. Richter looked at the door uneasily, then back at Rapina. Damn she was so young, and so breathtaking. He could pay for her all over again but that would cost... nah. Richter did an about face, took Rapina's hand and led her down the walkway, "What's your name?" "Leanna." Rapina smiled. --- Edgar the ghoul peered down from the treetop. Not even the half-elven sentries posted around the perimeter of the Li'Yeiraun camp could see him. His corpse was as cold as the air around it. As of a few minutes ago, men were frantically donning armor, filling quivers, and generally racing around as if about to go into battle. Edgar climbed down the tree. He had a message to get to Kroz's assistant. --- Richter knocked on the heavy door, "It's Richter, open up." A grizzled old Sergeant opened the door. Simply because she was an imp, Rapina tugged at the old Sergeant's lust. "Oi, who's th' girl?" the sergeant asked. "Got her down at Agnes'. Damn pretty, isn't she Sergeant Deinzen?" Lieutenant Richter asked. "Jah!" Sergeant Deinzen agreed. "'Leanna, this is Sergeant Deinzen. I Got her for the whole night," Richter grinned. "Let me know if he falls asleep on ya," Deinzen chuckled. Rapina blushed, "Okay," she said smiling. The lieutenant led her through the heavy door. It was evident that Mansun Dido had given accurate drawings and descriptions of Castle Li'Yieraun to Thane. The plans had come at a price however. Thane's little coup was to be much more bloodless than originally planned. At night all doors to the castle were barred and bolted from the inside with large, heavy bars and huge metal bolts. The only way past the barred doors was down a corridor that led right through the guard barracks, and only the Lieutenant had the key into the castle proper. Rapina followed the Lieutenant down an isle that went through a large room full of bunk beds. On the other side he unlocked a heavy door and entered a corridor. After ten more paces he opened a door on the left and took Rapina through a small office room where he grabbed some glasses and a corkscrew for the bottle of wine he'd bought while in town. On the other side of the office was the Lieutenant's bedroom. "Who says a man who's supposed to be on call every night of the week can't have a little fun," Richter grinned as he passed Rapina a glass of wine. Richter looked at the beauty he had picked up and took a moment just to gloat on his good fortune. He began to wonder just how much stuffing she had packed beneath her breasts to make them look so full. Heheh, turn around girl. Rapina turned and felt the Lieutenant's fingers unbuttoning her dress. His breathing was rapid and hot against her neck. Her nose twitched as his lust tickled her senses. "Heheh, step out of that now, I want to see what you've got on under it." Rapina turned, blushed and stepped out of her dress. The black satin lace teddy underneath had been copied from a sample procured days earlier by Rames from one of Agnes' Angels. Richter licked his lips and began to unlace Rapina's front. When he was finished he slid the teddy's straps over her shoulders and pulled it down. Her ripe breasts jiggled free, her nipples already erect. a loud knocking could be heard on the outer door. "Shit!" "One minute," The lieutenant whispered and disappeared into the office. "It's Captain Gleister, get the men together on the double. Leave old Deinzen and a skeleton crew. We will need every available man. The pirates are bugging out and we need to catch them as they leave or we'll likely not catch them at all. "Yes sir!" Richter said. After the captain left, Richter poked his head in the room took a few more steps and kissed Rapina's nipples. Damn pirates! I might be back before morning. You stay here until then." Rapina nodded, "okay." In the next half hour, Rapina heard a great deal of activity, and then the castle around her grew quiet. Rapina took a lamp and went into the office. Thankfully the lieutenant had not locked the door out. Perhaps he knew he might not be back until long after morning or maybe he had just been in too big a hurry. Rapina laced up her teddy and walked to the door to the barracks. It was locked. She wrinkled her nose, trying to settle on a course of action. Rapina shrugged and knocked on the door. What the? Blade drawn, the sergeant opened the door into the officer's corridor. Rapina grimaced and jumped backwards when she saw the sergeant's blade. Her breasts jiggled succulently. "Ooo, um sorry to bother you, but the lieutenant left me all alone in his room. He seemed to be in a rush. He wanted me to stay till morning, but there's nothing to do in there." "Well, now I'm sure I could find somethin' for ye to do out here," Sergeant Deinzen said. "Who's that," asked one of the four guards remaining in the barracks. "That'd be th' lieutenant's harlot. Deinzen laughed, "He was just about to dip his rod when the captain came in and told him it was time to pull out." The guards laughed. Two got up from their bunks and came to take a look. "One hell of a woman too, isn't she, Deiter?" Seargeant Deinzen asked "Jah, she sure is," Guard Deiter agreed. "Hey, I've got somethin' you can do girl. Watch the door for me a second, Dieter." Deinzen buttoned down his trousers and pulled out his half erect cock. "Suck." Rapina blinked as thoughts raced through her mind, "How am I supposed to put him to sleep with my mouth?" Rapina slurped him into her mouth and tried to draw on his energy, but it was no use, the best she could do was tug on his lust. Her mouth just wasn't set up the same way as her vagina. She knew how to use her throat on a man, Guardian Rames had taught her, but how was she going to work any magic if all he wanted was her mouth? Rapina smiled inwardly and began to finger herself as she sucked on the Sergeant. She tried to go slowly as she frantically fingered herself. "Faster girl, I'm supposed to be on duty," Sergeant Deinzen said. Rapina's head bobbed up and down, her moans escaping her throat as she used everything she had trying to get herself to orgasm before the Sergeant came in her mouth. Deinzen shook his head, "ever seen a hoar who enjoyed her work like this one?" The sergeant pumped and plunged adding speed to the young woman's otherwise impressive performance. Rapina's could hardly stand it she was giving herself so much stimulation, and then she felt Deinzen shudder as hot jets of cum began to shoot down her throat. Just as the man was about to pull out, Rapina took hold of his balls. She sucked what was left of his erection to the cadence of her own slippery clit-teasing finger. "Heheh, you're a real natural," Sergeant Deinzen said. 1Uhuhaaah, Rapina rode her orgasm to the cloud of Deinzen's mind and touched him with lust and stiffness as powerful as those she had inflicted on the late reverend Evangeline. Deinzen removed Rapina's hand from his balls. Whew, you're a grabby one, girl. Care for a whirl men? --- "Huddle closer!" the magician, Nordula said. "Good, now hold together." Sweat ran from Nordula's brow. Two a night had been about right, now he was teleporting groups of four men together at once. He had already used up every elixir of power and energy stone he had, and finally he was nearly done. Nordula collapsed as he pronounced the final word. The men disappeared. "Nordula, I would be gravely disappointed if you were unable to teleport the remainder of my personal guards and I," Lord Heinrich Li'Yieraun said. "Let me rest a moment m'Lord, I will come with you, and that should make it a little easier. Teleporting others without going oneself is a taxing proposition, without the stone on the other side it is not even practical. Nordula wiped the sweat from his brow with a handkerchief. He was spent; he knew he would have to rest for at least twenty minutes. Fifteen minutes later Lord Li'Yieraun cleared his throat, "Nordula?" "Five more minutes m' Lord, and I should have the energy," Nordula said. Li'Yeiraun nearly growled. Finally Nordula stood and gathered the two bodyguards and his lord together. Nordula's head felt as though it had been clubbed repeatedly, yet he knew he must make one last supreme effort. He was sure the warriors would be occupied making preparations until near midnight. He would sleep in the camp. He wrapped his fur cloak around him and began to incant the spell. He did not like the way the evening was progressing. His plan had been to transport the men a day or two before the battle was to take place so he could rest up from the taxing duty of teleportation, but because the pirates had decided to try to slip away he was expected to teleport and fight in one night, but how could he cast when he had used up all his reserves on transportation? --- The guard walking the wall of Yeiraun castle cussed to himself, "Why do I have to take a second shift anyways, I should be at my leisure, damn pirates! Wha? did I hear something? What in hell's up with the lights going out? The guard put his hand up to check for rain, then whirled suddenly, but it had grown so dark. He smelled rotten meat. Someone was there, but before he could strike out, they scratched him, and he froze solid with some kind of magical fear. The ghoul gibbered softly, crouching in the darkness that seemed to cling to him, and then moved off down the wall. The skeletal assassin, Elizabetta, jumped off the wall above the gate, her blackjack expertly rapped on the back of the gate guard's skull before she flattened against the cobbles with the impact of her thirty-foot fall. Her charcoal-colored bones were not brittle like those of lesser skeletons, but instead were firm but flexible as rubber. Blunt weapons and falls were now mere nuisances. The second gate guard could hardly see, and certainly could not believe what was happening. A shadow fell off the wall? He swished his sword behind his comrade, but hit only air. Suddenly something hit him like a rubber ball that had bounced from the top of the wall. Ulch! His jaw shattered as the flexible skull hit him like a blackjack. He fell over backwards and the creature gouged a spot behind his ears. Suddenly everything went black. Thane smiled within his death mask as the gate quietly opened. Under the cover of clinging darkness, Thane and his guards led a string of black leather-clad skeletal draft horses through the gate of Yeiraun castle. A number of double animated skeletons flanked the horses and when they were through the gate, Elizabetta waited as her two flexible skeletal helpers dragged a body each to the gate from the wall. A shadowy Kent came up and scratched the men before dragging them off into the shadows. "Nnnggugulp," Rapina gasped and swallowed as Deiter filled her mouth with cum. She tugged wildly at Sergeant Deinzen's lust as he pistoned in and out of her wanton cleft. "Ooooo..." Deinzen croaked as his orgasm seemed to stretch to infinity. The pleasure was so overwhelming. When it was finally over, he shuddered and collapsed. Rapina rolled the sergeant off her and gasped for breath. Deiter came around to the front of the bunk and sat her back up. His mouth latched onto her right nipple and he suckled her and fingered her clit like a man possessed. She reached behind him and massaged his buttocks. Eventually her fingers wrapped under, found the base of his rod and stimulated him. His staff rose. There came a knocking at the great door to the outside. Guard Dieter ignored the knock, he would get it later, besides, the knocker had not identified himself, and that was the rule. His fingers had tasted what he must have and now he would have his rising erection between her lovely thighs. Rapina moaned as Deiter entered her. Dieter laughed and cried as he pumped himself between the gates of Elysium. At last his eyes rolled back in his head, his loins surged forward and he hollered in ecstasy. Rapina drew the power out of the guard with all her might. He pumped and hollered for several minutes before collapsing on top of her. An insistent knock sounded at the door. Rapina was about to roll Dieter off when he pushed up drunkenly. He was obviously addled. Deiter shot back the bolt and opened the door. Wha? The ghoul scratched Deiter's face and he froze. Rapina screamed hoarsely. Kent pretended to scratch Rapina and she froze. "Ghouls immobilize those guards, bind the wench over one of the horses, I think I might have a use for her later on." Thane cast vision in darkness on Rapina as Kent bound her over the back of a horse. He had the ghouls toss the guards into a cell in the block just on the other side of the barracks. Once the last of them was in, Thane shot home the bolt on the outside of the door. After the last skeletal horse had come in from the courtyard, the Elizabetta, the skeletal assassin bolted the door to the barracks. Thane opened the door to the officers' corridor with the sergeant's key and moved his entourage forward. "Where is the key to the inner door, Thane whispered in Rapina's ear. "The lieutenant had a key ring, but he left in such a hurry, I think he still had it with him," Rapina whispered. "Elizabetta, the lock if you are able," Thane said. The skeletal assassin removed lock picks from a pouch, worked a few minutes, then opened the door. "Splendid." Thane intoned arcane syllables and filled the room beyond the door with darkness. Now, take your cohorts and scout our way to Nordula's chambers." The skeletal assassins and the pack of ghouls they led slunk ahead. Thane and his entourage followed more slowly. At last they arrived at the door to Nordula's chambers. Thane first dispelled any magic holding the door fast, then Elizabetta worked on the lock for about ten minutes, periodically requesting tools from a case on one of the horses. Thane filled the rooms surrounding the entrance to Nordula's chambers with darkness. The ghouls and the other two skeletal assassins scouted for and immobilized guards in the area. There were few to remove, however. The castle was largely empty. At last the door opened. Elizabetta sent her underlings forward to check for traps. Thane assisted with his mage-sight, detecting and dispelling a glyph on the door. Once the party made it into Nordula's library, Thane began dispelling magic on the books, and designating which books needed to be packed within the rib cages of the horses. Any work on magic was taken away. Once in, the skeletal assassin carefully checked for secret doors in Nordula's chambers. Her two cohorts assisted, while Thane did the same using magic. Thane found a magical stone in the mantle of the fireplace in Nordula's bedroom. He dispelled it, then carefully pried it off and put it in a tiny metal box. In the study Elizabetta found a bookcase that slid aside revealing another bookcase hidden within the wall behind the first. "Excellent, you are a fine servant of our god, Elizabetta." Kent ran in. "town guardsmen, master." Rapina gasped, "You've had it now!" Thane dispelled the books in the hidden bookcase in case any were magically trapped. "Examine the case for mechanical traps then get those books loaded. I have other things to attend to." Thane smiled. "I Have no worries as long as these fools have no mage," He rasped as he passed her. I shall increase the darkened areas of the castle. You shall immobilize these meddling town guardsmen. It appears that someone escaped the castle and fetched them. As the darkened areas grew, ghouls chittered and men screamed. "Skeletons, front four ranks, defend only. Let the ghouls handle this," Thane ordered. A lone guard somehow made it past the skeletons and into the room. "Thane pointed a finger at him and said, "Death" in the frightening voice of his death mask. The town guardsman blanched and ran from the room as if the hounds of hell were chasing him. Rapina peered from the back of the horse she was draped over as if paralyzed. "What hideous spell was that?" She whispered. "He didn't give me a chance to cast one," Thane chuckled. Rapina groaned. Thane had simply scared the man. It was much quicker than spellcasting. "Good, I think we are set here; Let us head for the laboratory," Thane said. Rapina just shook her head, Thane was so casual. He cast spells to detect and dispel while Elizabetta and her assassins checked for traps and entered the laboratory. It was really surprising how few traps there were. Rapina supposed it stood to reason since Nordula was actually using his books and laboratory probably less than an hour before they had arrived. Thane snatched up a kettle, some lab books, various items and reagents from the lab and then had them packed in one of the horses. When he was satisfied they left the laboratory. Upstairs the ghouls were slinking around paralyzing anyone who dared enter the magical darkness. Once outside the castle, Rapina heard arrows wiz by in the air. Thankfully none hit her. Soon Thane and his entourage were marching towards the forest in darkness that was lost in the night. The ghouls paralyzed those soldiers foolish enough to enter the inky blackness surrounding the necromancer's caravan. Thane chuckled, "I'm sure Li'Yeiraun's troops would have been better equipped with light stones and such, but I would venture to guess just about all of them are being used at the pirate camp along with any other magical items Nordula might have that would aid in a battle. When they got to the previously consecrated graveyard, Thane cast graveyard mists. The entourage appeared in a cemetery next to an ancient temple that Rapina had never seen. They entered a stream near the temple and traveled half a mile to a lake. There Thane again cast the graveyard mists spell. Next they appeared briefly on an island in a steamy swamp. They followed an ancient road into the water, and from there Thane took them to the abode. "Was that lake a cemetary?" Rapina asked. Thane wiped his brow and chuckled, "both the lake and the swamp were sites where a great many bodies were dumped or fell from ancient battles. The cemeteries I took us too were consecrated and or warded, and each had a rich history behind it. All these things tend to be very hard on divination magics." "Oh, I get it," Rapina said. "Given that Nordula's forebears were fond of reading the tea leaves, I decided to make it very difficult if not impossible for him to figure out my final destination. Thane smiled. Now get dressed, we must rescue the pirates. Rames is with them playing Karmoz, my soldierly assistant who wears a helmet with a leather mask. Thane collapsed on a chair in the great hall, "I must rest for a moment." Thane wiped the sweat from his brow. He had cast far too many spells already. --- Fletcher Arzeal grimaced as an arrow grazed his arm. It was obvious that Li'Yieraun's men included some half-elves or elves. The first decoy group of pirates had left the camp at half past midnight. They had spotted the expected ambush and had routed back into camp, landing many enemies in the pit traps and deadly snares that had been set up for them. The center of the pirates' camp was now a fortified dip in the ground that had been squared up, its walls made sheer and reinforced by timbers. Earth had been spread out from the walls to make sure fire would not spread easily in the pirates' makeshift keep. Some of the old camp shacks still stood, and the perimeter of the camp was protected by standing spears and armed skeletons buried in extremely shallow graves so that the enemy could not count them. The tent that once stood around the ship was empty, but it had been left up as a ploy so that the enemy would believe there was still a ship within. Arzeal picked off another man and then heard a far off scream. He wondered if Edgar was responsible and found himself almost wishing Kroz would arrive with the rest of the ghouls. For now, the battle was a stalemate. Afraid of the traps set by the pirates, the nobleman's forces surrounded the pirate camp and attempted to pick Jacks men off with arrows, however most of the men were behind solid cover. Arzeal was busy attempting to fend off the elves among the enemy, unfortunately, there appeared to be perhaps ten of them and they were moving in to attempt to find a way to get at the hiding pirates. Almost too late Arzeal spotted the heat signatures in the trees. He tapped the man in the leather mask. "Ten archers in the trees over there," Arzeal said. The pirates screamed as many arrows found their marks. "97th archers rise and fire," Karmoz, the masked warrior played by Rames said. Seven skeletal archers rose from their very shallow graves and fired on the archers in the trees. Their vision was not hampered in the least by the darkness. Li'Yiraun Archers began screaming and falling from the trees as arrows began hitting them. Well back from the front lines and surrounded by his personal guard, Lord Heinrich Li'Yeiraun brooded as news came in from his messengers. "The elves attempted to use the trees to get high enough to get by the cover of the pirate earthworks, but the pirates somehow spotted them, and fired back picking our men off!" Captain Gleister reported. "Damn it! Does Jack have more elves than we thought?" Count Li'Yeiraun asked. "It is easy to see that our archers do not have the visual advantage as we thought. The enemy has those who can see and fire on them even under cover of foliage and darkness," Captain Gleister said. "Captain, we must use our infantry. Our numbers are superior. Concentrate them and attempt to break the pirate perimeter." --- Arzeal listened as a hoard of soldiers came in from the South, "Ready archers." A red spotlight directed by the pirates illumined the approach. The hired soldiers screamed battle cries and came forward. "Fire at will!" Arzeal ordered. "77th archers rise to kneel, and fire at will," Karmoz ordered. A group of ten skeleton archers rose from their shallow graves and began firing at the enemy. "Heheh, I see yew." Brackston fired arrow after arrow as did every pirate in a wild effort to break the enemy charge. "47th archers, rise, wheel right, fire at will," Karmoz ordered. 77th infantry, ready spears, all set and rise to crouch." "Do them numbers have anything to do with anything?" Skitch asked. "Other than incorporating a few memory hooks as to what direction they're in, the numbers have nothing whatever to do with anything," Karmoz whispered. The skeletons are told what group they are in, and it doesn't really matter to them what the name or number is. I like to keep the numbers large so the enemy thinks we have plenty of squads," Karmoz chuckled. "Heheh, good deal." Skitch let fly another shaft and then another. Skitch howled with crazed laughter as the front lines of mercenaries met the raised spears of the skeletons. "Ghosts!" "Skeletons!" "Vampires!" The mercenary charge turned into a route as the sheer horror of fighting undead enemies was suddenly sprung on them. "Aye, tharr we got 'em! Pound tharr backs with arrows men, every one we hit is one that we won't be seein' in th' next charge." That warr shock value; th' idiots don't know it, but they could 'ave won through if their livers hadn't turned ta lillies. That hesitation at th' skeletons allowed are arrows ta do their best work an' give their fear some grounds, but it warr smoke and mirrors. Now they'll 'ave ta regroup, an' that'll buy us some time. If Heinie knew how few there are of us, and how green me men are, he'd be on us in a heartbeat, but after we turned 'is ambush on th' road into one of our own, he's broodin'; he don't trust 'is luck, an' 'e thinks I got a trick up me sleeve as usual. He'll be spittin' nails when 'e finds out what I really 'ad up me sleeve." --- "Animated skeletons milord, there must have been hundreds of them," the mercenary commander said. "My men were pinned down by missile fire, and when we made the edge of the camp proper, the undead met us with spears!" The commander's voice wavered. "Morale broke and we routed." "Fools, you lost your heads. How many of these fell creatures were there? Have you a reliable count, or have the numbers grown with the telling?" Li'Yeiraun asked. "Pathfinder, send a few trustworthy and level-headed men up for a look. If we are outnumbered, I want to know about it. If not then we must prepare for another charge. Incompetent mercenaries! It is just like that slippery, cheating son of a bitch pirate to find himself a dark priest or necromancer just when I have him in my grasp!" Li'Yeiraun snarled. ------------ It was the better part of an hour before the Li'Yeiraun's next charge was set up. This one had a backbone of his own men behind the mercenary front lines, and everyone had been informed that a skeleton could be destroyed much as a man could be. "What's keepin' that damn Kroz, I sure hope he didn't sell out ta Heinie. Arzeal, what's goin' on out tharr?" Captain Red Jack asked. "They're massing for a charge, sir, a big one," Arzeal replied. "Karmoz, it's goin' ta be all we can do ta hold this'n back. If I had ta make a guess, I'd say we're cooked. I'd move th' bulk o' yer forces up ta th' front they'll be attackin.' Then again, I wouldn't put it past Heiny ta try ta send a little squad up are ass while we're occupied. " "I will move the skeletons on the sides somewhat towards the front, and leave those in the rear as reserves," Karmoz whispered. "Sounds like a plan," Jack said. "Mates, lets be gettin' every arrow we 'ave left out an' ready, thisn's goin' ta be big, and we might not live through it. Damn necromancer's still playin' hookie. Thank all th' gods 'e brought us a hoard o' arrows night before last. We're going ta need 'em." A few minutes later the charge was sounded. Arzeal climbed a large tree in the camp and took cover behind a stout limb. He was the first archer to begin firing. His elevation, night vision and accuracy were second to none. The pirates could see a little better than usual as the mercenaries had brought a few mage lights with them and many of the bodies gave spotty illumination to the area of the forest they had come through. As soon as the enemy could be seen, the pirates let fly. "Shoot fast, but make 'em count, mates." The captain drew back his bow and fired. Many men fell to the pirate archers, but the enemy got closer and closer, soon melee broke out between the front lines of the attackers and the skeleton spearmen at the perimeter of the camp. The pirates continued to ply their bows from the fortified center of the camp. "Good evening," Kroz said as he dropped the illusion he had used to get Rapina, his ghouls and skeletons from the graveyard to the pirate camp. "It looks like the skeletons could use a hand." "Glad ye could make it, I was beginnin' ta think ye were workin' fer Heinie." Jack snaped. Kroz droned a few syllables and the front line was engulfed in darkness. "Nay, the packing took longer than expected, and I had to use a bit of misdirection to guarantee I would not be magically tracked later. What is the news," Kroz asked. "Th' news is that tharr is a charge we 'aven't got a snowball's chance in 'ell o' stoppin.' Got any bright ideas on how ye're going ta get us outta here before they're on top of us?" Jack asked. "I have brought a few additional troops. And this scroll of shadow summoning," Kroz said. Thane rolled out a scroll and intoned the spell. The shadows seemed to coalesce into something shaped vaguely like a human. Kroz pointed at the creature, "You will obey Kent, this ghoul. Kent, you and your ghouls will keep the enemy occupied while I escape with the pirates. Eat when it is safe, and double or triple your number if it is convenient. I will set up as much magical darkness in the area in addition to what I have already cast on you and yours as I can before I leave. Be advised, however, that the other side has a mage. If their mage begins dispelling the darkness, then rout and use hit and run tactics around their parameter until near dawn. At that time find burrows and dig in. When Li'Yieraun pulls out, I will come to collect you and your new friends. During the nights to come, continue using hit and run tactics. If you are doing well, see if you can locate and loot the tent of their mage, Nordula. Use a diversion to draw him away or wait until he steps out on his own accord if that proves practical. Do not risk yourselves unduly once we have left. At that time your primary objectives will be to survive, feed, multiply, and demoralize the enemy" Kroz began casting; darkness engulfed more and more of the forest around the pirates. Now whisper it to the next man, join hands, then we go South forty paces to an area I prepared earlier. Kroz cast vision in darkness on the pirate officers, then resumed casting magical darkness until sweat bristled from his brow. The last spell put out the lights in the pirate camp. The men began to march South. In the darkness, they could hear the ghouls at work on mercenaries who had won their way past the skeletal troops. Kroz took hold of the hands of Rapina and Red jack and placed them on his shoulders. "Let us pray." Kroz set up an illusion spell to echo the murmurings of the pirates so that the source of the sound could not easily be located, and then began casting graveyard mists. "Hail Mortaebius, Lord of the dead..." Arzeal stood at the perimeter of the group of pirates. He let fly one shaft after another, assisting the ghouls as they kept the enemy confused and away from the pirates. A recruit kept his hand on the archer's shoulder and kept him moving as the group stepped forward slowly while the mists rose. Arzeal droned the prayer to Mortaebius he had learned as he sent mercenary after mercenary to join the god of the dead. When the mists cleared, Rapina and Red Jack were holding the necromancer up. "I must rest. I do hope I got everyone," Kroz rasped. "All right, get yer red lights on, lets see who we got," Red Jack ordered. Rapina moved the slider on her mage light and illumined the area around her in Red. The captain and the officers took stock and conferred. "We lost about ten ta death before th' escape, and four either got lost 'er Kroz didn't get 'em moved 'cause they weren't touchin th' rest of us, er weren't prayin' ta Mortaebius. Those men'll be missed. Thanks ta Slice, it looks like we still got Bloody Brackston. Ye can tell me how ye liked yer first transport by magic later, Brackston." Some of ye may wonder what this warr all about. Well what we did was Kroz took a stab at their mage while 'e warr occupied with chasin' us pirates. If it works, then that mage is going ta have a harder time nailin' us, and at the same time, are mage is goin' ta be more powerful. Also we made areselves some money, an I got me wench a little extra education, on account of negotiatin' a good deal all around. If we're lucky, Kroz may be able ta retrieve some o' th' cadavers from tanight's battle, but ye never know. It depends on what ol' Heinie does now that 'e's out there all alone. Now lets get movin' Tharr's more'n a few miles ta cover afore we get ta are new camp." The story continues in [Rapina]032 Yieraun Castle copyright 2001, by Rapina The Touch of Darkness Back to, The Jolly Roger, page [Rapina]027 In The Eyes of a Sword [Rapina]028 The Touch of Darkness *[Rapina]029 Spies and Assasins [Rapina]030 Seeping Toxins [Rapina]031 The Shadows of Wizardry [Rapina]027 In The Eyes of a Sword Once Jack Had shaken on the deal, he asked about the particulars. "Now when will ye be puttin' up yer protections again' other mages an' how?" "Have you buried any recruits or spies near the camp?" Roger asked. "Aye, we've got a small collection o' graves o'er yonder," Jack said. "Good, Rapina and I will consecrate the graveyard to Mortaebius yet tonight, and Kroz will come tomorrow night to get a closer look at the area and place the wards for the camp. Even now you are not totally without protection. I have within my skull an enchanted item that wards an area the radius of the length of a longship around me. If I am aboard a vessel it will be protected from faraway remote viewing by a special enchantment that influences remote viewing to be unable to see people and their constructions. Terrain will otherwise appear as it really does. For closer-in viewing, such as when an enemy mage knows or stumbles on the exact location of a ship or the camp, enemy mages will see natural-looking magical static that obscures vision. In addition, teleportation magic will not function normally within the confines of the ward. Those teleporting in will be killed or severely wounded when their materialization is scrambled somewhat, and those trying to teleport out will fail to dematerialize. In addition, I should be able to detect remote viewing when it is attempted within the ward. Enemy mages will be dealt with as Kroz sees fit," Roger said. "Kroz will be in tomorrow night? Then I'd like ta invite Rapina ta stay here tanight, would that be aright?" Roger paused a moment. "Kroz says She may stay now and leave with him tomorrow night if she wishes," Roger said. "Aye then will ye stay girl?" Jack asked. Rapina nodded. "Sure, but I'm not used to sleeping at night. Kroz keeps a nocturnal schedule." "That'll be fine, ye can do yer consecratin' and catch up w' the night watch once I'm sleepin' if ye like. I think Rage is on one o' th' posts tanight. Meantime, I'd like ta hog ye fer a bit soon as I get Roger situated to 'is night's work," Jack said. Rapina nodded and smiled. "Roger, I'd have ye work here in me tent if it weren't fer th' fact that I'd feel silly tryin' ta romance me wench with a walkin' bag o' bones in th' room. On th' other hand I got a heap o' book work for ye. We got so much new goin' on, and wi' only six o' me old men here I've been putin off th' book work somthin' fierce. What little 'as been done, 'as been done by me an' Drake, an' he's somewhat new at 'is letters so 'e ain't near as fast as ye are. I'll fix ye up with a table in th' supply tent right next ta this tent," Jack said. "Rapina, this'll take me a bit as I'll 'ave ta explain ta Roger what's happenin'. Why don't ye go back ta th' fire an' catch up with what men are still up 'an around while ye wait," Jack said. "Okay, I'll go scare Brackston." Rapina smirked. The captain laughed as they exited the tent. Rapina went back to the camp's central fire. There were several men sitting around the fire, including Pike who was there with some bandages. He was talking to Brackston and Skitch. Rapina sat down next to Pike. Brackston looked uneasily at Rapina. "I'm sorry I couldn't do any better for him, Brackston, but I got the distinct feeling it was this, another execution, or Jack and the rest of you loosing as much weight as Roger. Rapina took Pike's hand and started bandaging it properly. "You don't have any herbs, do you?" Rapina asked. Pike shook his head. We don't have a leech, and even if we did, it was already getting cold before we got the camp built. Otherwise maybe Arzeal could have come up with something. Doanthalas is around here too, but only since yesterday. He and his woman Elizabetta, Rage, and the Li'Yeiraun pair, Mansun the pathfinder and Adriana Li'Yeiraun. It turns out Adrianna is really Captain Red Jack's daughter on account of some foolin' around he did with Heinrich Li'Yeiraun's wife years back." "Jack has a daughter? I'd like to meet her," Rapina said. "She's bedded down for the night, but I expect you'll be meeting her in the morning," Pike said. Rapina nodded. "Sorry about the hand." Pike grinned, "That was my fault. After all those arrows bounced off you and Roger, I should have had more sense than to try something. No hard feelings though, I know you're doing the best you can for Jack." Rapina nodded. "So what's that necromancer like. I mean as a man?" Pike asked. "Kroz is intense, a bit scary, very intelligent and, as long as he respects you, he's a fair man," Rapina said. "Are you his mistress?" a young pirate named Zit asked. Rapina smiled at the armed youth who stood nearby. Blemishes scarred and speckled his face. "I'm an apprentice to Kroz actually. I clean the house, make the meals, tend the garden and study every spare minute I can find. Lately I study more because there's no garden in the winter." "Rapina here used ta be a crewman," Skitch said. "I helped ta train her up meself. 'Best ruttin' student I ever had." Skitch chuckled. Rapina blushed. "Basic was tough for me. Thankfully, I had a number of friends and benefactors here. If I didn't enjoy, ah, dealing with men, I probably would not have made it. Watch out for Skitch though, he drives a hard bargain," Rapina smiled. The men laughed. "Rapina, yew warr good as any I raised up, but yew didn't fit. Yew were always too damn smart, an' too pretty a pussy. Yew put a cramp in me style. All th' boys were too busy ogglin' yew ta get in trouble so's I could pump some brains up their ass. That 'an I had ta make sure none o' them boys done nothin' again' yer will an' th' cap'n's orders. Right taxin' yew were," Brackston said. "You did good though, Brackston, never gave me any trouble as long as I behaved. I think the captain put me in your barracks because he knew you'd be more tempted by the boys." Rapina smiled. "No secret I like th' boys. That's what keeps 'em in line. What kind o' spooks do yew have ta put up wif over wif Kroz?" "Mostly walking skeletons, but I don't mind them so much anymore because they help me with the housework," Rapina said. "Help yew with the housework?!" Brackston cringed. "Yew mean yew spend yer days in th' company of a bunch o' dead men?" "Kroz is a necromancer, I don't have a lot of say about his taste in servants. Kroz procured Kent and Edgar while we were lifting the rest of the pirate bodies. He is doing some sort of project on Kent. I see them both on occasion, though I don't like to deal with them. I think the skeletons are more trustworthy," Rapina said. Brackston shivered, "Ghouls! I don't know why yew aren't a jibberin' crazy mess, Rapina." Rapina took a moment to think about what she had been through. "Me neither," she said. The pirates laughed heartily. "I guess I'm too interested in the magic lessons to worry too much about the creepiness of it all. I can't say much more, you know how sorcerers are about their secrets." Brackston nodded gravely, and there was a brief silence around the fire. "Aright wench, I got me skinny assistant puttin' me sorry books back in order. Hey, ye know, I'll bet he never has ta take a pee break th' whole night," Red Jack chuckled as Brackston grimaced. Back in the old days Jack had enjoyed having Doanthalas in the cage just because having something the men were scared of made it easier to keep them in line. Although working with the necromancer might be dangerous in the long run, depending on how long the holy war lasted, the captain knew that having the spooks around would make his job a whole lot easier. Jack took Rapina's hand and the two of them started towards his tent as the captain spoke over his shoulder," Rapina's nocturnal as a minx, er lynx these days, men, so she'll be out here again whilst I'm sawing wood. I'll catch ye in th' mornin. I got some speechifyin' ta do afore th' men soon as they get up. I want 'em up a few minutes early tamarra, so wake 'em when the birds start a chirpin' heraldin' dawn but before th' rosy hues start brighten' up th' sky. It's got ta still be dark. That's important." "There now girl," Jack smiled as he let Rapina into his tent. We got a lot o' catchin' up ta do, but I 'spect we can do some 'o that tamarra. How's that old spook been treatin' ye?" Jack asked. "He's stern, but fair," Rapina said. "I work hard and study hard, but the fact that the priest who made me an outlaw in the first place was of the vindicator makes me something of a heroine with the priests of Mortaebius. That certainly hasn't hurt me." Rapina smiled. "I'm glad someone got a lucky break out o' that isle o' th' dead. Pickin' that rock fer a base almost made me a shadow o' me former self. Then it nearly cost me my head. It would 'ave if some o' me good men hadna escaped ta rescue me. I jus' recently got Doanthalas an' Rage back, but they came wi' baggage. Doanthalas' toatin' a woman I got ta remember ta have Roger check out. She walks too much like a feline fer me tastes, an' Rage brought me daughter and a condemned Li'Yeiraun pathfinder with 'im. I don't trust him neither. It's been a real zoo since ye left me. I got way too many green recruits an' not nearly enough veterans." Jack grimaced. "I'm glad you're making the best of it, Jack," Rapina smirked as she hung her cloak on a peg on Jack's tent pole while the pirate captain stoked up his tiny pot- bellied stove. Red Jack chuckled, "Aye, that I am. It reminds me o' th' old days when I first started out as a pirate. It's full circle, I guess. Enough o' business, I been eyein' that scarlet dress o' yours an' it's drivin' me up a wall. As ye might 'ave guessed I once 'ad a taste fer noblewenches. I've feasted me eyes on plenty o' finery in me day, but I can't say as though I can remember a single one o' them noblewenches who could fill th' finery like ye can, up down, all aroun'." Rapina smiled and blushed. Ye've been growin' up while ye've been gone girl. Ye carry yerself different too, like a gentlewoman. Ye're gettin' class. Is that spook a nobleman? Rapina hung her rapier and weapons belt on the headboard of Jack's bed, then sat down next to him. "Kroz did have some contact with the upper crust and he thought it would be wise for someone with my particular magical talent and specialty to know deportment, so he has been drilling me on it." "Drillin ye?" Jack chuckled. Well, whatever else 'e may be, 'e's taught ye a useful thing er two. What o' this magical specialty? Can ye do any tricks?" Rapina grinned, "Well, I have a talent, but outside of that I can't do so much as a cantrip. Even doing those simple feats of magic requires several years of practice to develop the necessary underlying ability, even if the aptitude is there." "Ye got a talent at least, is that a common thing for an apprentice?" Jack asked. "No, I don't think so, but it's certainly more common for a magic apprentice to have one than just anyone, I suppose," Rapina said. "What is yer talent if ye don't mind me askin', girl?" Jack asked. "Rapina smirked. I think you could answer that one for yourself, Jack," Rapina stroked her hands down Jack's chest, pulling at his lust all the way down to his belly. "Damn yer good at that!" Jack exclaimed. Rapina smiled as she started to undo Jack's shirt. "Talented?" Rapina asked. "Aye, so that's it. Ye've a magic snatch," Jack said. Rapina giggled, then caressed the inside of the Captain's thigh and watched his skin take on a ruddy hue as his manhood strained to leap out of his pants. "I suppose you could put it that way," Rapina said. "Ye do have knack fer th' bedroom; is that yer magic?" Jack asked. Rapina noded. "What can ye do with that besides make a man fall all over 'imself? Jack said breathing heavily as he worked to undo Rapina's bodice." "With sex magic? Theoretically quite a bit, but I need to develop my talent." Rapina unbuckled Jack's belt. "I think I can help ye with that," Jack took a deep breath as he pulled Rapina's dress down and looked at her scarlet bustier. "I like this one even better than th' one I first saw ye in," Jack said. "This one fits." Rapina smiled. "Aye, th' design looks ta be made fer yer figure, an there's even more fillin' th' cups than there was when ye were younger. Ye always did have nice tits, girl, an they just keep gettin' better. Rapina smiled, stepped out of her dress and folded it over Jack's chair while the Captain removed his trousers. The captain's erection stood at attention. "Ye're still in better shape than any noblewench I've seen. 'as ol' spooky been makin' ye carry water aroun' 'is 'aunted castle?" Jack asked. Rapina giggled, "No, actually I have been training with an assistant of his," Rapina said. "At arms?" Jack asked. Rapina nodded. "Spooky must trust ye quite a bit," Jack said. "Yes, that and he's a necromancer, so I'd still be in trouble even if I successfully killed him," Rapina said. Jack chuckled, "I see yer point. I notice ye carry a rapier, but it ain't that nice one I got ye. Is that what ye've been trainin' at?" "Yes, I miss that blade. I'm hoping I can convince Kroz to buy me another from the Montfort forge. I've continued to train in rapier, plus unarmed, and a little bow work so I don't get rusty," Rapina said. Jack caressed Rapina's sides and back through her bustier. "Aye, yer in great shape. Do ye eat bettern' ye did as a pirate?" Jack asked. Rapina grinned, "Yes, Kroz is a wealthy man, his table is well stocked. Sometimes I'm the one who stocks it. We apprentices have to work for a living too, you know," Rapina said. "Aye," Jack chuckled as he cupped Rapina's breasts beneath her bustier then grasped her sides and moved her onto his lap. I can see how havin' a woman like you aroun' would make 'im feel especially wealthy. 'e sure does dress ye nice. Where did these under things come from?" Jack asked. "Argos, Kroz really gets around." Rapina could feel Jack's hardness against her cheeks. His lust burned through her silken panties and coursed up her spine. The captain chuckled and turned. He rose slightly so that Rapina's rump slid off his lap and then he gently pushed her down on the bed. Jack unclipped her silk stockings then reached under her bustier and pealed the scarlet panties from her body as she lifted her long legs. "I'm just glad he ain't th' jealous type. Ye know I found ye that isle jus' so ye could get inta the company of them mage types," Jack winked as he stroked Rapina's smooth inner thighs. Rapina smiled up at the captain, her legs bent at the knees and slightly apart as she lay on the bed. "I should have known you had the whole thing planned. That was quite a sacrifice to make for my education. How will I ever repay you?" Rapina asked. Jack chuckled lustily as he caressed Rapina's nether lips, already quite wet with lubrication. "I'm sure we can work somethin' out. Besides, I couldn't cheat th' world out o' a magic snatch. It would be against me religion. It would 'ave been down right sacrilegious o' me even ta think about it. Jack's nimble fingers worked over Rapina's slippery labia, dipping into her honey and using it to lubricate her swollen clit. It's a work o' art, an it's got plenty o' zip an' slip to it. A woman with sex drive like ye've got is a rare jewel. I'll bet ye could take th' whole camp on an' never go dry," Jack marveled. "Sometime I'll have to find out," Rapina said half seriously. "Sometimes I think ye already have," Jack said. Rapina giggled. She did recall certain very busy evenings during basic. "Well, not everyone." "Jfft abot," The captain's voice was muffled between Rapina's velvety thighs. Rapina moaned between deep breaths, and before long, lights filled her mind as she came. She could touch Jack's mind from her peak as she might have touched a gray cloud from a mountaintop. She resisted the urge to reinforce the captain's lust and let the cloud go by, gathering only a hint of her affection as it passed. Captain Red Jack brought her to climax numerous times in the next couple of hours. Rapina let him take her twice before sending a sleepy, calming mood to his mind during her final orgasm. She took it easy on him, but not quite as easy as she once had, for she felt he now trusted her enough that she might let him learn the truth. After Jack fell asleep, Rapina cleaned up as best she could at Jack's basin, then gathered up her clothes, dressed and headed back through the cold winter's night towards the camp's central fires. The wind was chill, but she hardly felt it through the glow Red Jack had left within her. The vindicator's teachings admonished her to feel triply guilty about her tryst with Jack. It was sex before marriage, sex with a second partner, and sex in the face of being involved with Rames, currently her primary lover. Honest lust, the vindicator could not stand it, so he could not stand her either. Now that she was back in the pirate camp, she would do what came naturally if she felt like it. Rapina shook her head, the vindicator that had been revealed to her by reverend Evangeline was a sham. Jack, Thane and Rames were evil men, but they were not deceivers as Evangeline had been. She did not know what goddess of lust might control her fait. For now, she was fairly sure she had been loaned to Mortaebius, the god of the dead. She was content to be of use in his struggle against the vindicator's "pious" followers who preached honesty and justice while they dressed as bandits, killed priests and burned the temples of other gods. "Hail Mortaebius, guardian of the dead. A creature of life and lust am I, glad in thy just service to draw nigh, lust, and life, and death - one cycle, life goes by. Death is fact and a god I will not deny, and as lust I shall serve thee to kill the lie." "Well met Rapina," Roger said. Startled, Rapina lurched to a halt. She looked up just in time not to run right into Roger. What was even more startling than the appearance of the skeleton was the fact that Rapina could swear she had seen him smiling when she first looked up. "How can a skeleton be smiling without lips?" Rapina rationalized to herself. "The graveyard is this way. Shall we consecrate it before you begin socializing?" Roger asked. "Uh, sure, that way I can have the rest of the night with the men." Rapina smiled. "Indeed." Roger silently led the way through the snow, his boney feet hardly leaving a trail. "The graves are here." "They are?" Rapina asked, for she could see only snow. "Yes, I will show you. Roger walked elongated ovals marking four graves. Mortaebius knows where the dead lie. What we will do here tonight is merely a formality. It works a magic sympathetic to Kroz's spell and will allow him to come to this graveyard more easily. What he attempts tomorrow night is a new feat for him. In the past he has come to graveyards he has been to that are familiar to him. This one is different. He has viewed it only through his pool, and he will be counting on us to mark it, to add something familiar to it to make his spell surer. It is good we are both present. If this first attempt is successful, he will have greater confidence, confidence that could be very important in the months to come. This will be a simple ritual. Roger walked a rectangle around the four graves. I will walk along the lines of this rectangle, as I move you will move, always in the same direction, but you will remain always be on a diagonal corner from from me. I will say a prayer, and you will repeat it or say another if you cannot remember it. Any questions?" "none." Rapina smiled. "Good, I will stand on the Northeast corner and you on the Southwest to start," Roger said. "Hail Mortaebius guardian of the dead, we the dead who lie here entreat thee, hallow this ground that we might rest," Roger intoned. "Hail Mortaebius, keeper of the deceased, we the living entreat thee, hallow this ground that the dead be held in thy embrace, to rise only in the direst need," Rapina incanted. Roger walked clockwise around the periphery to the next corner, and intoned another prayer. Rapina moved as Roger did, arriving to pray first in the Northwest, then in the Northeast where Roger started. "...and thus we close the circle, life and death, the cycle is complete." "Excellent, Rapina. I had no idea you knew the prayers of consecration and in your first prayer you added, "to rise only in the direst need," a line that is most often left off these days. I expected a much less proper ritual. Your performance was as flawless as a priest's. Tell me, why do you know such things?" Roger asked. Rapina blushed, "I don't think I am meant to be a priestess of Mortaebius. I'm just not into the dead like Kroz, but Mortaebius has been a good patron to me, and I am honored to be his ally. I studied one of Guardian Rames' books that he had from being a chaplain before he actually became a priest. It's a handbook for church deacons. The line I added was mentioned in the footnote as the historical form, but given the situation, I thought it would be appropriate," Rapina said. "Yes, I remember your uncommon sharp wit," Roger said. "You know the rituals and serve my master well. There are things best done by the living. Your aptitudes are a fine complement to our own. Thank you Rapina. You may return to the warmth of the fire, and rest assured, Mortaebius recognizes a good servant, even if she is an ally not natural to his service." "Thank you Roger," Rapina said as she waved and left death to contemplate the graves in the biting winter wind. --- The central campfire shone like a beacon guiding Rage towards the cluster of tents in the distance. The young pirate finished strapping on his sword as he walked. He had been cleaning it when one of the new pirates had brought news of Rapina's arrival. It could only be Rapina judging by the man's description. Few women could rival her beauty. Rage wasn't sure he believed that she had stepped out of the fire with a demon in tow. That was a lot of superstitious nonsense most likely fueled by the return of Doanthalas. The old crewmembers knew he wasn't a demon spawn, but the new crew had yet to come to that conclusion. "It will be good to see Rapina again," Rage thought as he felt a swelling in his pants. "For more than a few reasons..." He smiled as he looked down at the stone set in the hilt of his sword. Things were looking up. Soon what was left of the old crew would be back together again. They would once again be strong and feared. Rage loved being a pirate. All the action, women, and booty a man could want...and then some. His smile widened as he approached the camp. --- The mage Nordula watched intently as Rage returned to the camp from guard duty. "The only thing more boring than being on guard duty is watching someone who is on guard duty," he mused. As much as Nordual hated babysitting this young pirate he hated the thought of Lord Li'Yeiraun's wrath even more. At least the magical stone set in the sword hilt was doing its job... and remarkably well. It had been a good plan to leave the sword where Rage was sure to pick it up. Now with the sword and stone strapped to the young pirate's hip the images were coming through crystal clear. The image in the center of the kettle shifted and seemed to shimmer for a moment. It began to jump and coalesce into a whirlpool of color. Something was interfering with Nordula's scrying. It appeared as though it were some natural disturbance, an upwelling of earth energy, or some such; it might also have been a clever ward, but where would a simple pirate captain have come upon such a thing? In any case, it was not a good sign. He did not think that Jack had any mages to detect let alone deal with his magical workings. No, if it was countermagic, some magical device plundered from one of Red Jack's victims more likely caused it. It had not been in effect at the guard post. Therefore, it likely had a range. If that was so then the stone in the sword could still be of use when Rage was away from the center of the camp. Still Nordula would have to inform Henrich of this development. Something would have to be done to ensure that their prey did not escape. The mage wrapped his robes around him and stepped outside to summon one of his apprentices. He found a candidate studying in his library. "Kall! Come and watch over the scrying kettle! The image has faded, but let me know the moment it reappears. I must find Lord Li'Yeiraun." He waved a hand at the boy as he disappeared in a cloud of colored smoke. --- It had been a few days since Doantalis had lain with Elisabetta. He had not spoken to her either. She had made her choice. Her loyalty to Paolo had been stronger than her feelings for Doanthalas. It hurt...a lot! But, then again, the elf's life had been nothing but pain for the last fifty years or so. He was becoming jaded...numb to the whole experience. Once again everything was happening at once; Elisabetta was plotting to assassinate Red Jack, Rapina had returned, and Jack's daughter had come looking for Drake. Nothing was ever easy. Doanthalas had to decide what to do about Elisabetta. He felt no loyalty towards Jack, but he had also seen quite enough killing for one lifetime. Almost without thinking the elf pulled the locket out of his pocket and held it in his hand. Inside was the picture of the guard he had slain and his family. Of all the lives he had taken over the past fifty years this one affected him the most. Doanthalas had been able to justify the other killings. It was justice pure and simple. But this was different. The only thing the guard had been guilty of was doing his job. Then there was Rapina. Where had she been and why had she returned? He was not going to get an answer while he sat there and brooded so he pocketed the locket and made his way towards the center of camp. --- Mansun Dido sat around the large central fire watching the pirates with mild interest. They still regarded him as an outsider so he sat alone. In fact, the only person in the camp who seemed to show him any amount of respect at all had been the tattooed elf. He was sure the elf did not trust him yet, but that would come in time. The pirates had been content to sneer at him or ignore him depending on their moods. Sitting amongst the pirates chatting away like an old comrade-in-arms was the woman Rapina. She was a difficult one to figure out. He detected strength in her that was intriguing and frightening at the same time. All the more terrifying because her beauty seemed to distract, the men at least, from it. At the moment he wasn't worried about her though. Elisabetta had him worried. For the past few days she had cut herself off from the elf. Something had happened to push them apart. When he had first met them they seemed to almost dote on one another...almost. Now she avoided him whenever possible. What's more she had taken on a subtle, but dangerous edge. Once again she was nowhere to be found. Neither was the elf for that matter. But Doanthalas didn't worry Mansun. He was dangerous, no doubt, but the pathfinder felt secure in the feeling that he had nothing to fear from him. There was an infinite sadness to the elf that seemed to permeate everything he did and said. Something horrible must have happened to him in the past. The pathfinder's thoughts were interrupted by the appearance of the young pirate Rage. Apparently, he was returning from guard duty. --- Rage finished his business and exited the latrine. For some reason he felt uneasy. He looked around. He guessed it was nothing. In any case he needed sleep. He walked briskly back towards the barracks tent. Nordula's chambers dissolved and were replaced by an outdoor scene. Deitrich froze in place and held his breath a moment. A young pirate wearing a nice sword left the outhouse beside him and seemed to look right through him before he walked up the path back towards the pirate camp. Nordula had not explained why he had to teleport Deitrich so close to the camp, but he was glad the cloaking spell had lasted through the transfer. Looking around, the spy quickly got his bearings and made his way to a thick cluster of bushes. Traveling via Nordula's magic had not been nearly as disconcerting as he thought it might be. He actually thought he could get used to it. It sure beat riding weeks through rugged terrain to reach his destination. He stealthily put a little distance between the pirate camp and himself before the invisibility wore off. If he could find out where the watch posts were while still cloaked, it would make his job much easier. "I've arrived," he said into the magic stone hanging from his neck. The stone seemed to pulse with light as Nordula's voice emanated from it, "Excellent! Keep us informed of any developments." The light from the stone faded as the spy nodded and stealthily made his way around the periphery of the pirate camp. ----------------------- Adriana was beautiful lying there beside him. She was asleep. Drake hadn't known her long at all, but already his heart belonged to her. That was precisely the reason Drake was lying there seriously considering Jack's request. He had given up a lot to become a pirate and had lost just as much during the course of becoming one. Drake leaned over and kissed her on the lips. She stirred and rolled to her side draping an arm over his chest. Losing Adriana was not a thought he could stand. That was why he had decided to do as Jack requested and take her away from the pirates. They would start a new life elsewhere. Jack had a friend who knew important people in foreign lands who could help them get a start. Drake Stretched and yawned. Pulling the covers up he nestled in close to Adriana and draped his arm around her. In minutes he, too, was asleep. ------- [Rapina]028 The Touch of Darkness Rapina looked up from her conversation with a few of the recruits as Rage approached wearing a new sword. Pike had gone to bed a few minutes before, looking a little more tired and worn than she had ever seen him. She could tell that the turn of events, the magic, Jack's capture and so many new and potentially untrustworthy faces had taken their toll on the Norseman, though he tried not to show it. The new recruits were typical of the young men Jack attracted, full of bravado, bloodthirstiness and often fleeing a harsh or boring lifestyle for the even harsher lifestyle of Red Jack's pirate camp. Rapina smiled to herself, and then greeted Rage who had just come in from guard duty. "Rage! It's good to see you, not many of the faces around here look familiar," Rapina said. "Aye, It's good seeing' ya too," Rage said. "Not many of us survived the isle o' the dead. Just me an' Pike, Brackston, Arzeal, Skitch, an' the elf, made off without gettin' nabbed. We got Jack back, 'an I guess that necromancer's still got 'is claws in ye from what I hear. He hasn't turned ye inta something like Kent, has 'ee? Rapina smiled, "Actually, I'm with a more experienced necromancer now. The guardian of the isle sometimes buys spells and things from Kroz, my master. They both worship the same god. Of course you'd kind of expect most necromancers to worship a god of the dead." She could tell Rage had reservations about her relationship with the necromancer. She could not really blame him. Thane had frightened the wits out of the pirates. In spite of their combat experience, they were a superstitious lot with no understanding of the principles of magic. What he had experienced on the isle of the dead would probably haunt Rage's dreams for years to come. "No, no, he has not turned me into something like Kent, I'd be of less use to him as a dead-brain," Rapina said. "Kroz is frightening, but to tell you the truth, I've kind of gotten used to him, as much as that's possible. He is a fair master, though not particularly kindly. Although he lacks Jack's flair and deadly humor, he does have a razor wit and he can be quite engaging to listen to, especially if you have an interest in magic," Rapina said. "Magic! Huh I'd steer clear o' that nonsense if I were you. It's dangerous," Rage said with conviction. "Yes, it is, but that's where my talents are, but you already knew that, didn't you?" Rapina said. "Rage smiled crookedly. "Yeah, I could tell. I guess you won't be such a bad sorceress, but damn, why did you pick a necromancer for a teacher?" Rage asked. "I didn't, really, life just happened that way," Rapina said. Rage's mood softened. He guessed Rapina always was cut out for sorcery. Red Jack had seen it in her and encouraged her magical studies. Earlier Rage had been all set to see if he could spirit Rapina off to bed, but the memories had come back. She was with a necromancer, a man who created and ruled the walking dead, a man like the man who had turned Kent into a clawed cadaver. Rage shivered involuntarily. He wondered if she slept with the necromancer, wondered if his blue dead hands caressed her shapely rump, or if his purple lips had suckled at her breasts. Rage had never seen Kroz. Yet, he could imagine the necromancer and how frightening he must be in person. It all made the young pirate nervous, so he put on his toughest face. "I'll see you later, Rapina, I need to get something to eat here." Rage busied himself getting food. Rapina smirked. It was obvious it would take the young pirate a while to get used to her again. She was sure he would be okay given time. At the moment she noticed someone who looked distinctly out of place, for her emerald eyes had lit on the pathfinder. She knew little of him, only that the men seemed not to trust him, yet she could not help but get the feeling that he was a good man in a bad situation. This resonated with her own reason for getting involved with the pirates. Sometimes life took some unexpected turns. Since Rage's soliloquy had cooled the pirates on her for the moment, she took the opportunity to sit near the pathfinder. His story might be interesting. Rapina's eyes caressed over the man's form, assessing him. He was obviously a warrior of some sort, though not particularly overbuilt. His stature was average, his dark hair was cut short and his features were fairly plain, but handsome in their own way. "You look as out of place as I feel," Rapina said softly as she sat down beside him. Mansun Dido was startled out of his thoughts by the woman's comment. Looking up from the ground he saw a beautiful woman with the most engaging emerald eyes. Her smile seemed friendly, but underneath it all she seemed to be sizing him up for something. The pathfinder recovered quickly. "I could say the same of you milady," Mansun articulated. He was definitely familiar with the ways of the nobility as evidenced by his etiquette. A sigh escaped his lips as he closed his eyes for a moment. "Not so long ago I was a pathfinder in the service of Lord Henrich Li'Yeiraun." Seeing Rapina's questioning look he replied, "That is correct. I used to be a loyal servant of the man who tried to kill Red Jack for sleeping with his wife. But that was when I thought loyalty and honor counted for something." Mansun massaged his temples and took a deep breath. "I was in charge of the pathfinders that were tracking Rage. Lord Li'Yeiraun wanted us to find Red Jack's new camp and figured this to be the best way. Unfortunately, we lost Rage's trail a few days after his escape. I didn't know it then, but this was due to the help of the elf Doanthalas. To make a long story short; Lord Li'Yeiraun was so upset that we lost the pirate's trail that he decided to make an example of me and have me executed in his place." The pathfinder shook his head and snorted, "A lifetime of loyal service...gone." Mansun shook the depressing thought from his mind and faced Rapina. "My name is Mansun Dido. What name do you go by?" "I go by Rapina." Rapina extended her hand. "I'm sorry to hear a man who should have been noble betrayed you. My reasons for originally joining Jack's men were similar to yours. When men of power behave in ways that are criminal, good people are forced to flee the justice that should be protecting them. It's sad that Lord Li' Yeiraun is not more loyal to those that serve him. I will stop feeling sorry for him that Jack diverted his wife's attentions. Is Lord Li'Yeiraun a religious man? "As much as any lord is I suppose," Mansun replied. "That was to say that as religious as he had to seem to his subjects and still keep his good name. I too have stopped feeling sorry for him about Jack and his wife. It's ironic that Red Jack would turn out to be the honorable one and Lord Li'Yeiraun the bloodthirsty tyrant." He shook his head and laughed. "I owe my life to Red Jack's daughter you know? She is the one who saved me the trouble of swinging from the leafless tree...if you take my meaning." The pathfinder sighed and ran his fingers through his short hair. "Now I have to begin my life anew. By now Lord Li'Yeiraun has tainted my good name amongst the folks I once knew. I wish I knew what to do. You seem to have adapted to life on the run fairly easily, milady. Any pointers for a recently unemployed pathfinder?" This last comment was said with a wry smile. Apparently, the man did have a sense of humor. "Sometimes the currents of life are impossible to swim against. The best I've been able to do is keep afloat. In my case I've been swept to the opposite shore, to help the enemies of the man who betrayed me. At first I was just trying to get away, and since the law was after me, I took shelter with Jack, an outlaw, but being a pirate turned out to be a between-stage. I'm not sure if it's truly good luck or ill, but I now work for an enemy of the man who betrayed me. That's why I ask what religion Lord Li'Yeiraun pays homage too. There are many issues that divide powerful nobles and religion is one of them. It's an important question in these times. It might be possible that Lord Li'Yeiraun has enemies who are more legitimate to the law of Clairmont than Jack is." "I'm not a religious man myself so I do have to confess a sort of ignorance to the religion of the land." A wry smile crossed his lips, "The only god I pay homage to is mother earth and the only service I attend is that of the local tavern. And speaking of drink I could really go for one right about now. Would milady Rapina care to join me for a little of the holy spirits?" Rapina smiled, "I have a great deal of respect for anyone who can scare up a drink in a pirate camp, so of course I would be glad to join you." Mansun proved to be an interesting conversationalist, but Rapina felt he was not the kind of fish who enjoyed being reeled in right away. She did not need to be in a hurry, at least that's what she told herself. In truth the exposure to so many men, even in spite of the wintry conditions, was deepening her hunger. It was as if she had been on a stringent program of rationing drawing only from Rames, and now that she was surrounded by food, she felt hungrier than she had previously realized. It had not been long before Mansun's life of early to bed, early to rise had forced him to retreat to his bedroll. Rapina returned to the campfire, but the early morning hours were not kind. Only a few men remained on sentry duty. Since many of the youths did not know her, Rapina thought it unwise to go around talking to the sentries. It was ironic that Rapina wound up in the supply tent with Roger. The death of Mortaebius said nothing as she entered, and continued to work on Jack's books as if conversation and breaks were luxuries reserved for the living. For her part, Rapina decided there were mental exercises pertaining to her magical studies to be done. It was a pity she had not brought a book with her, but everything had happened so rapidly from her entry into the inner sanctum of the mortancers to her reunion with captain Jack. One thing had stuck in her mind, however. In the negotiations, Roger had mentioned there were necromantic spells that could be used to drain the life force from another, and transfer it to the necromancer in order to heal him. Rapina thought to herself as she cupped the fullness of her breasts within her cloak, "Isn't that exactly what I do with men? Only it feels good when I do it to them and I can store the energy." As Rapina was musing, there came a scratching at the tent flap. Roger seemed unmoved. Rapina slipped out to see whom it might be. "Zit? What are you doing out at this hour?" Rapina asked. "I, I wanted to ask you something," Zit said. "What?" Rapina asked. The young man looked down at Rapina's feet. "Is it true?" "What?" Rapina asked. "We were talkin' and... Are ye a vampire?" Zit asked. "Zit, are you still in basic, because if you are, and Brackston finds out you snuck out of the barracks, he's going to pump some sense up your butt, like he always threatens." Zit's mouth formed an "O" as his back stiffened. "But I have ta know," Zit whispered. "I'll run back so it seems I just went ta the latrine." Rapina smirked. "If I were a vampire, don't you think I'd have fangs?" "Well, yeah, but ye might have an illusion that covers 'em up," Zit said. Rapina rolled her eyes. "Was Brackston in on this little discussion in the barracks?" "Uh, I'd rather not say," Zit said. "I'll take that as a yes." Rapina grinned. "So you want to know if I'm a vampire. Shall we find out?" Rapina grabbed the boy and bit his neck playfully, sucking some skin into her mouth. Zit froze and screamed soundlessly... "Hey, you didn't even break the skin," Zit said. "You sound disappointed. Were you hoping I'd suck your blood and turn you into my sex slave?" Zit blushed. Rapina giggled softly, "Sorry Zit, I just don't have the teeth for the first part, and you don't have the time for the second part. Because if you don't get back to the barracks, you're going to be Brackston's sex slave." Zit's lips formed the familiar "O" once again. "Okay bye," He said flailing a hand and running off. Rapina shook her head and smiled as she reentered the tent. Roger was as she had left him. She wondered if there wasn't a certain urgency in the way the death of Mortaebius applied himself. It stood to reason, the holy war between Mortaebius and the Vindicator was heating up rapidly. The mortancers had been deadly serious. During the winter months when the orcs made little attempt to retake the lands Lord Avengene had wrested from them, his most loyal forces were marauding the temples of Mortaebius posing as bandits. Originally, it was hoped that Avengene's religious fervor would halt at the borders of his own lands, but it now seemed obvious that the Vindicator's forces had larger plans in mind. To these plans the Church of Moraebius must react swiftly, for they did not have a standing army like Avengene's on which to draw. The Order of the Shroud would likely bloom afresh, and Rapina intended to ingratiate herself to that organization to the best of her ability. For in this game of chess, her only prospect of finding friends was to seek out the enemies of her enemy. ------------------ "Captain, time to wake up for your speech, Sir," Arzeal said. "Aye I was jus' gonna... Wha oi, oh it's mornin'. Jack sat up and massaged his face. Damn ye'd think I'd pulled an all-nighter last night th' way I feel. Now I grant ye I wasn't ta bed early, an me wench were in rare form, put me practically on the moon, she did, but it weren't like I staid up th' whole night boffin 'er brains out. I sure feel like it though. Damn, well get me some strong tea. Th' men need a speech about are new deal with th' spooks, an' it's a speech they'll get." The captain roused himself and began dressing and preparing for his speech. By the time he emerged from his tent and went to the central fires, Brackston had the men assembled for the speech. "Aye there now, me mates, I'll bet ye're wonderin why yer up a bit early this mornin', why I'm disturbin' yer beauty rest," Captain Red Jack said. "Well some of ye know we 'ad some visitors last night. Seems me new fame that's been drawin' recruits 'as also drawn some other attention, sorcerous attention. I'm sure the tails o' spooks an' sorcery 'ave already made th' rounds. Now I'm going ta give ye th' skinny. Seems I'm in a bit o' a spot. Me fame is invitin' th' attentions o' morn' jus' th' law. Now I got mages ta contend with. Luckily th' first of 'em ain't lookin' ta cash in are chips jus' yet. I'm not sayin' I trust 'im completely, but we 'ave somethin 'e needs, and 'e 'as somethin' we need. Now where I come from, that's the grounds fer a deal. I found me a necromancer. His name is Kroz, and 'e's going ta put up some protections against sorcerous spyin' an th' like. In return, come raidin' season we're going ta supply 'im with cadavers from are raids ta keep 'is laboratory hummin'. As ye know, I'm a little short on experienced help after that damned illusionist broke up me former men. I'm tired o' fightin' sorcery with spar varnish, so now we got us a magician on are side!" The pirates cheered. "Bein' that 'e 'as ta spend most 'o 'is time in some musty laboratory, Kroz 'as left a pair 'o hands an eyes with me ta help us out, an bein' as how are new 'elper looks like th' pirate flag, we'll be callin 'im Roger. All ye need ta know about Roger is that 'e's a skinny officer with a rank same as Drake's, an' with th' weight of bein' th' stiff that keeps th' books for me an' at times carries me orders. Other than that, th' less ye know about Kroz an' are new helper, th' longer ye're likely ta live. If ye hear any wild stories about 'is past or anything ye didn't hear from me, ye better come straight ta Red Jack an' let me know who's tellin' tall tales. I'll not be havin' me camp turned upside down by wild rumors, an' any man who disobeys that order's going ta be sleepin' with Roger." "Fer those of ye who don't know what in hell a necromancer is, I'll tell ye. A necromancer is a magician who specializes in magic concernin th' dead. Spells that allow a magican ta speak wi' th' dead, make th' dead rise up an' dance and such like dark sorceries are what necromancers are best at. Necromancers are generally considered ta be th' most evil o' mages, so a necromancer is just th' kind o' critter who would 'ave no trouble workin' with rapin', pilligin', murderin', bloodthirsty pirates like areselves. Now Roger, I want ye ta say a few words intraducin' yerself ta th' men, so as they can recognize yer face an voice." A figure cowled in heavy black robes came before the men and stripped back his hood. A gasp ran through the crowd, and the eyes of many of the men opened wide with terror. "I am death, but you may call me Roger if you wish. I will see that bodies from the raids are harvested for Kroz, and I will serve Captain Red Jack," Roger said in an emotionless tone. There was a persistent murmuring in the crowd that would not seem to die down. "I know what ye're thinkin'," Red Jack said. "Half o' ye can't believe sorcery like this exists and ye're sayin ta yerself, 'e's just a collection o' bones wired tagether an' there's a pirate hidin' behind Jack makin' 'is voice, an' th' others a ye are worryin' about yer immortal soul on account o' workin' wit' spooks. Roger go 'round th' crowd and shake th' 'ands o' th men that're man enough ta shake. That should 'elp ye all ta see Roger ain't some prop I put tagether fer yer entertainment. 'An if ye're so convinced 'e ain't nothin, ye can 'ave a little sword play with 'im, long as ye don't mind 'im relivin' ye o' yer 'ead. Fer ye that's fearin' fer yer souls, ye should 'o thought 'o that before ye joined a gang 'o bloodthirsty pirates, now shouldn't ye? If yer religious types 'er right then we'll all meet in hell anyhow." Captain Red Jack watched as Roger made his way through the men. Most shrunk away from the boney appendage, too terrified to shake. Others practically scoffed, thinking Roger was a trick. They shook, and many came away with a look of horror. Two of the scoffers were big, tough boys from the slums of Turnmoor. Wedge was respected for his strength and skill at arms, and Blunt was the black sheep of weapons practice who didn't give a damn who got hurt, as long as he got to laugh at them. They looked at each other, they looked at Roger and they grinned. Just after the death had passed them, they drew their cutlasses in unison. The death of Mortaebius carried his scythe in his left han. As the men drew, he spun three hundred sixty degrees in that direction to shake the next recruit's hand only a fraction of a second after he would originally have done so. The fact that Wedge's cutlass, along with his right hand, fell to the ground at about the same time as Blunt's head, did not seem to concern Roger in the least. He was following orders. The two recruits would serve as an example. Open-mouthed, the pirates saw the one recruit fall in a fountain of blood and the other grab his own handless forearm. Had it not been for the movement of his thick black robes, and the glint of his scythe, the men might have believed Roger had not moved at all. Yet, the death and disfigurement he had left in his wake made his actions unmistakable. "Brackston, get a tourniquet on Wedge's stump, and pick up that 'and. Maybe we can sew it back on," Jack chuckled. Zit's hands were shaking even more than they had been. The shower of blood and the scent of death hadn't helped any. As the skeletal figure approached, Zit steeled himself. He had to know. As the young recruit reached out and shook Roger's hand he moved closer to where he thought the skeleton's ear would be, if he really had one, and whispered, "G-good morning sir, could you tell me, Is Rapina a-a vampire?" Roger brought his teeth near the young man's ear and whispered, "Rapina is a creature of lust. She offers pleasure for what she takes from a man; a vampire takes blood, and offers death." ---------- After Jack's bloody speech, the pirate captain offered Rapina his bed and she slept there until late afternoon. A few hours later, just after dusk, she and Roger waited in the graveyard for Kroz, the necromancer who would be played by Thane. When he arrived, he was in high spirits, his confidence in his own ability to use the graveyard mists spell for transportation having been bolstered. With him, he had brought his personal guards a group of double-animated skeletons dressed in new blackened plate armor. Behind them, in addition to the fading magical mists, a cloud of steam rose into the air. Rapina recognized six of the flaming skeletons that were used to heat Thane's abode. Many of the more ordinary armored skeletons carried litters filled with supplies. The most notable of these being a very large roll of oiled canvas. Thane himself was dressed in his mortancer robes and looked much like Roger. For the illusion of a skeletal face obscured his real face, and his voice was also modified by magic to sound like the voice of a dead man. "Roger, Rapina, it is so nice to see you. I trust things are not moving too rapidly for you?" Kroz said. "Things are going as planned here, Kroz. Your arrival is a welcome development. I believe your ease of transport has been facilitated by the fine job your apprentice, Rapina, did in assisting me with the consecration of this graveyard. She has the skills of a deaconess, and my master views her deeds of service favorably." Kroz raised his chin. "Excellent, Rapina, as your service gradually outweighs your sins, I shall make sure that you do not go unrewarded. Our master appreciates service, especially in times of conflict when it is so desperately needed." Rapina nodded. "Now we have much work to do, "Kroz said. "I must meet with the captain. Another house of our master was sacked early this morning, the last and strongest in the enemy's territory. We had largely been abandoning the others but this one had been serving as a base from which we were conducting our strategic withdrawal. Once the enemy saw how easy it was to take those houses that were largely abandoned, he acted swiftly, but I'm afraid we lost more than a few brothers in that last battle. Word is that those with sentiments that do not agree with the enemy's are being disappeared rapidly as he consolidates his power. My associates and I have decided to give this pirate project a little boost. We need Jack's ship harvesting the dead as early in the spring as possible. Winter is more than half over. We hope our enemy will be too busy consolidating the power of his church within his own lands to have any time to launch attacks outside them before the orcs on his Northern border tie up his forces again this spring. We will provide Jack the supplies he needs to enclose the skeleton of the ship he is building within a tent, and get the temperature within high enough to do the wood-working now, rather than waiting for spring thaws. Come, after I speak to the captain, we must plant the warding devices in the camp. Kroz bustled towards the captain's tent. It was obvious he had somehow studied the layout of the camp. When the trio arrived they were allowed into the captain's tent where he was waiting for them." Jack looked up from some record books. "Looks like ye've been on th' same diet as Roger there, Kroz. Jack chuckled. Good ta meet ye. I am Captain Red Jack." The captain shook hands with the new corpse. What be the news? I see ye've brought more of ye're boney buddies with ye tanight, an' a few torches as well." "I will bestow upon you a small boon for your organization in wake of another sacking of my lord Mortaebius' properties. Lives have been lost, and time is of the essence. I want you to have the necessities with which to continue work on the building of your ship during the winter months. I need you operational as early as possible. Here is a modest gift towards necessaries for the ship. Thane handed Jack a small but heavy sack. Jack peered inside. "Aye, mixed circulated gold from a hundred towns by th' looks of it, untraceable," Jack smiled. "That'll come in handy." An th' skeleton torches, ye brought them ta heat th' tent we build around th' ship in so the wood will not be brittle?" "Indeed," Kroz replied. "Your creations?" Jack asked. "Let us say that I was able to glean the remains of your men from a colleague, and that certain of your men were well suited for that particular animation," Thane whispered to Jack. "If ye're tryin ta make up fer th' drubbin ol' Thane gave me by bringin' me men's walkin' corpses back ta me, it ain't ganna work, they're all dead," Red Jack snapped in a vehement whisper. "I will not try to make anything up to you. I serve Mortaebius in this. I respect your ability or I would not have proposed this deal. You must admit, however that the dead can be useful." "I'd take issue with ye on that if it weren't fer Roger's work on me books. He 'asn't lost 'is touch, and 'e's got a load 'o work done fer me already." Kroz nodded. "What about me arms master's wounded hand. I'm dead in th' water without 'im, and I'm spread thin enough as it is," Jack asked. "We have been most fortunate in that regard. I was able to locate the two necessary incantations," Kroz said. The two men discussed arrangements for the healing work that needed to be done. The work on Pike would be straightforward, but Rapina was sent with Arzeal and a couple of burly recruits to prepare the stump of the unwise recruit for the remedy Kroz had recommended. After he saw the captain, Rapina had helped Kroz bury ward-bearing skulls in the ground three paces from skull-bearing pike markers that gave a clue as to the direction and location of the actual buried wards. Subsequently Rapina had been sent to supervise the preparation for Thane's debut as a healer. A tourniquet had been applied not far above Wedge, the unwise recruit's stump, and the small sword Rapina was handed glowed cherry red from the heat of a stone forge. "This is going to hurt, Wedge. If you move, you might loose more flesh than you need to. Hold still." Wedge nodded drunkenly. The rum he had been given had dulled his senses, but the agony he suffered as the hot blade sliced his flesh made him scream in torment. AAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIIHHHH!!! Rapina grimaced as she sliced the flesh away. Being the closest thing Jack had to a leech was not proving to be enjoyable. In spite of the man's arm being pinned by two burly recruits and Arzeal, it was moving, and Rapina had to compensate in order not to take more flesh than was necessary, and to make the cuts straight. "Flip him over, I need to do the other side." Wedge roared with pain as blood rendered to steam billowed from the stump of his severed limb. Rapina worked as rapidly as she could, handing her blade to a recruit in exchange for a glowing hot replacement whenever it grew too cool. "Okay, it's finished. Pike, you're next. Take the bandages off and Kroz will repair your hand." Pike brooded just across the room of the shack that served as the camp's smithy. He stood next to the prone form of a feverish recruit. A stench hung about the man from a brawl's sword wound that had gone bad. It was gangrene. Pike knew the man didn't have a chance, so why had Jack had him brought near, and why were Rapina and Arzeal exposing some of the bone of Wedge's arm behind his severed wrist? Wasn't a smooth stump preferable? The armsmaster unwrapped the bandages from his mangled right hand as he had been bidden. Pike grimaced as several skeletons entered the room. Two were armed and armored; the other two were robed. One of the robed figures Pike recognized as Roger. The other had to be Kroz, a necromancer of Mortaebius. Was he too a skeleton? He certainly looked it. A shiver ran up Pike's spine. He didn't like the smell of sorcery. "Splendid, that should do fine. Armsmaster Pike, hold out your wounded hand." Pike complied, glowering at the skeletal figure that made arcane gestures and utterences, grabbed Pike's wounded hand and shook in agony. A scream of pain involuntarily escaped the necromancer's throat as life force was ripped from him by the power of his own spell. Pike gasped as a surge of energy pulsed through his hand. The tingling was intense, and he could feel the flesh knitting as he inhaled. The necromancer seemed to waver for a second before his discipline returned. His scream was rapidly replaced by further arcane utterances and gestures as his skeletal left hand plunged down to touch the naked chest of the feverish recruit who then yelled and convulsed. "Mmm, very good, very good. The life force I gave the armsmaster has been restored from this unfortunate victim of disease. I believe we can continue," Kroz said. More utterances issued from the throat of the necromancer, then he was again wracked with pain, but did not scream. This time he held Blade's stump, which began to heal instantly, leaving the stub of bone Rapina had exposed. Without even a moment's hesitation the necromancer cast the second spell, turned and grasped the skull of the gangrenous victim. A silent scream was all that marked the man's passing. A gray handprint colored the skin of the dead victim's forehead where Thane's skeletal hand had touched it. A faint, but similar mark could be seen on his chest where Thane's first drain of life force had struck him. "That went very well, very well indeed. Painful at the outset, to be sure, but our victim has made up for that." The necromancer almost chuckled. "Rapina, our work here is done for now. Captain Red Jack, I will work on the hand of this recruit. In two days time, I will return with something that I believe he will find more useful than a hook. Come, we must return to the abode." Rapina nodded as she turned from inspecting Wedge's healed stump. Her job exposing a bit of the bone would be quite adequate for what Thane had in mind for a later visit. She turned to Pike. "Can you grasp my hand?" she asked pike. Pike reached out and gave her hand a squeeze. His hand was whole again. Rapina smiled. A few minutes later she, her master and their entourage disappeared into the mists that rose to obscure the pirate's graveyard. ----------- [Rapina]029 Spies and Assasins The next day the pirate camp buzzed with activity as the men erected a tent around the skeleton of their ship. When night fell ending the men's intense effort, the pirates were glad to finally rest. Not long before the first light of dawn, a lithe figure stealthily moved through the shadows. The guard stationed outside of Red Jack's tent did not see it approach. And no one else was about to see the garrote slip around his neck. Neither did anyone see the shadow drag off the guard's body and slip into Jack's tent without a sound. --------------------------------------------------- Outside of the pirate camp another figure moved stealthily through the darkness. Deitrich had spent most of the previous day scouting the camp's perimeter and, after a shortened night's rest, was finally ready to report his findings. Unfortunately for him, some sort of interference was prohibiting him from using his magical pendant to contact his master. He moved silently away from the pirate camp trusting his master's words that the pendant would function if he got sufficiently far from the abode of the pirates. The interference had been less pronounced or widespread until the previous night when it its influence around the pirate camp had grown. Unbeknownst to the spy Deitrich, someone had noticed his presence. Doanthalas' feral eyes seemed to glow in the darkness as he watched the figure move away. This man was good, but he was no elf. He was probably a human. Even the best humans could not sneak past an elf in the woods. Elves had a sort of magical affinity with nature that humans could never hope to understand or achieve ...at least most of them. Deitrich finally found a spot where the magic seemed to work again. He pulled out the glowing pendant and shielded the magic stone with his body so he would not be spotted. He incanted the magic words and a swirling image began to appear in the stone set in the pendant. Suddenly it was struck by something hard that sent it spinning from his grasp. The man rolled to the side and came up with sword drawn and eyes searching. Most likely a lone sentry had spotted him, since he had not heard an alarm sound. If he could dispatch this sentry quickly and quietly then his lord's plan could still be carried out. The elf watched the man's back for a few minutes as he looked around for his assailant. This human was certainly a warrior of great skill, but it was obvious that his eyes were not very helpful in these darkened conditions. The man seemed to finally sense the elf's presence behind him and slowly turned around. He almost jumped out of his boots when he heard Doanthalas' guttural growl and saw his emerald eyes reflecting the moonlight. Doanthalas had his own sword drawn as he leapt through the high grass straight at the man. Although the man was scared Doanthalas had to give him credit for holding his ground. In a flurry of motion man and elf were upon each other with swords flying. The clash of metal against metal rang through the night. ---------------------------- Back at the camp Drake and Adriana were enjoying a private walk. They had made up their minds to leave everything behind and go to another place and start over. Their spirits were flying high with newfound hope as they meandered around the camp. Suddenly the sounds of fighting erupted from the stillness around them. Drake pulled Adriana close and drew his sword protectively. "Drake! What is that? What's happening?" she asked as she strained to see through the darkness. "I'm not sure my love, but I'm going to check it out." he turned to face her, "Find a sentry and warn him that there is trouble afoot." He saw the worried look on her face and pulled her close. "Don't worry Lady Adriana. I will be careful." That said he kissed her passionately on the lips. "Now go!" he said as he headed off towards the sounds. He had barely made it two steps when the sounds stopped. Drake looked back to see that Adriana had noticed it too. Adriana was about to say something when a dark shape erupted from the darkness heading straight for Drake. A terrified scream escaped her lips as the shadow descended upon him. Adriana's scream had scared the wits out of him, but had also alerted him to the presence of someone behind him. Drake swung his sword with all the strength and precision he could muster hoping to connect before the assailant ran him through. A familiar voice rang out mere moments before his sword connected with the assailant's. Metal against metal rang out through the darkness as Drake composed himself and said somewhat befuddled, "Doanthalas?" "Yes." was the reply as the elf grabbed Drake and then Adriana by the arms. "Come. There is danger afoot. We must warn Red Jack." Drake and Adriana looked at Doanthalas' blood soaked form and then to each other. They weren't sure what was going on, but the blood and serious look on the elf's face made them quicken their step. -------------------------------------- Inside the tent Red Jack slept soundly. It had been a long day of planning, and giving orders concerning the ship's tent, and he had retired early. That was just fine for the assassin who crept silently towards the pirate's sleeping form. Slowly the assassin drew a knife. A few more steps and Jack would be no more. The elf stopped dead in his tracks as he rounded a cluster of tents and saw no guard in front of Jack's tent. He held up a finger to silence Drake and Adriana. They complied as Doanthalas indicated the dead guard's feet in some nearby bushes and motioned for them to get help. They quickly departed as the elf crept forward. He glanced at the guard to see if it was anyone he knew. It wasn't. Most likely it was one of the new recruits. The elf didn't give the body a second glance as he slipped into the tent. His eyes adjusted quickly to the darkness of the tent's interior. It was quick enough for him to see the figure standing above Jack ready to strike. Doanthalas let out a feral scream as he leapt for the assassin. The assassin brought the knife down in its killing arc. She had been trained too well to be distracted by the elf's scream. However, this must not have been the first attempt on the captain's life, for he rolled frantically away from the assassin in spite of having been deeply asleep a second before Doanthalis' scream. The knife opened Jack's side rather than piercing the pirate's heart. Elizabetta did not have time to consider her options as Doanthalas was upon her. With a deft move she ducked under his attack and drove her foot into his back. He crashed to the ground, rolled, and came up in a fighting stance. Jack was now awake. He had grabbed his blade and then rolled off the side of the bed opposite the assassin. As he rolled he bellowed, "Roger! Guards! Assasin!" Red light from the magelight pendant Roger had given the captain suddenly illumined the room. Elizabetta took a gamble and jumped the bed to get behind the pirate. She held her knife against his neck. "Move and you die!" she hissed. Doanthalas knew that Elizabetta might try something like this. He hadn't anticipated that it would be so soon though. But none of that mattered now. He had tried his best to talk her out of it, but as the days went by she never wavered in her decision. She had been given a choice of living the life of an assassin and killing Red Jack or living the life that she and Doanthalas could carve out together. She had made her choice and she was about to carry out her mission. If he did not think fast, Jack was surely dead. He only hoped that she would keep him alive as a hostage long enough for him to form a plan. "So it comes to this," he said as he moved to block the tent's entrance. "It was always heading in this direction Doanthalas," she said with a bit of regret in her voice. "Perhaps in another life things could have been different... but not in this one. Don't think that I wasn't tempted by your offer." Elizabetta sighed as she pressed the knife firmly against Jack's neck. "I can think of nothing I would like more than a life with you, but you have to understand... it's not my life anymore. If I betray him he will send his best assassins after me. We would both be in danger." "Then let us face that danger together. Neither of us are strangers to danger. We can fight them." "Quite a romantic picture you paint...my love. But unfortunately the end result will be the same for me. Either way I die... with or without you." A tear rolled down her cheek as she glanced over Doanthalas' shoulder. My death is a given, but I could not bear to have your blood on my hands as well. Sure we could survive for a while, but sooner or later they would find us and kill us both." "Trust me. My way is better. I know the way he works and he would not stop until we were both dead. I do this because I have to...because I love you." A dark shape rose behind Doanthalas. Doanthalas felt cold steel across his throat as a boney hand grasped him from behind. "Your way will have the same result as you believed his would," The Death of Mortaebius rasped. "The penalty for bringing an assassin into this camp is death. Elizabetta, you are correct, either way you die. In your foolishness you have brought death down upon Doanthalas. Pirates, some of whom are as lethal with a bow as the best assassins, will soon surround this tent. You will not escape this place alive, nor will your lover." "Roger, get away from Doanthalas or the captain dies." "Do you take me for a fool? In life I was a pirate. You will kill the captain regardless of whether or not I release Doanthalas. If you wish me to release him, you must move away from the captain so that there is a real chance that I can rescue him. You must make yourself a more attractive target than the elf. Right now, he is a sure thing. You make the mistake of believing that death will stop Red Jack. I assure you, his grave would hardly have a chance to grow cold before he rose from it as I have." Elizabetta swallowed. Death was no fool. Slowly she moved back from the pirate captain. If she were just fast enough, she could still pull it off. She held her dagger to Jack's back, drew another and used it to slice an opening in the tent behind her. She did not like the way Roger moved Doanthalas to the side to allow him to get at her more quickly should the opportunity present itself. It was almost as though Roger had done this before. Suddenly Jack dove forward and rolled. Run! The assassin screamed to Doanthalas as Death left the elf behind and jumped towards her. Roger did not take the split second of extra time it would have taken to kill the elf, for Elizabetta was already sending a deadly blade Jack's way with a snap of her wrist. The elf dove out the tent flap the way he had come in. He rolled between two approaching pirates and into the bushes near the dead guard's body before the men could catch him to gut him with their swords. The sound of metal against metal rang briefly through the tent as death's scythe picked her thrown dagger from the air. Elizabetta would not have thought it possible to deflect one of her throws had she not seen it with her own eyes. It was too late to throw another. The shadow of death was upon her. She turned a back flip and was through the opening, outside and on her feet in an instant. Roger removed a small, spike-bladed dagger with a large bone handle from within his robes. "kill," he said as he threw the blade through the breach Elizabetta had opened. Once through the opening Elizabetta jumped to the side to avoid the knife death threw at her. She drew a small crossbow, already cocked and loaded with a poisoned bolt. Although she could not see him through the tent, She knew where Jack was; it didn't really matter where she hit him. The poison was most virulent. Elizabetta took aim. Uh!? She dodged backwards as she fired. Death's knife had veered in mid flight! "Poison!" Jack bellowed from within the tent. Elizabetta allowed herself a half smile on a job well done. Now she must escape Death who, despite his robes and scythe, was out of the tent. Elizabetta sprinted and jumped. The flying bone-handled dagger buried itself in a pirate's chest as she narrowly got past his swinging sword and behind him. Would the dagger be satisfied with the death of another? Elizabetta did not plan to wait around to find out. Neither did she wish to wait around while archers arrived. That Death was right behind her was enough. Elizabetta pushed deftly through some bushes knowing that the skeleton's lighter weight would make bushes more impenetrable to him than they were to her. She headed for an area of the forest near the camp where she knew the bushes, brush and undergrowth would slow death to a crawl. She heard pirates behind her, but she did not run straight. She put the darkness of the pre-dawn night and obstacles between herself and her pursuers and stuck to shadowy areas of the camp as she fled, not letting them get a clear shot at her back. At last she made it into the forest. The darkness would hide her from all but death, and the thick foliage ought to hide her from the dangerous skeleton even if the darkness would not. If she could evade him long enough, she believed dawn's light would fight him for her. Doanthalas heard Elizabetta making her way through the forest. She was far behind him. Humans were not fleet of foot in the undergrowth. For a human, her passage was quiet, but to him distinctive. Like him she had chosen the thickest woods to cover her escape. He was about to go to her... The assassin broke through the bushes and jumped the narrow path. Elizabetta stopped abruptly on the far side of the path. She stared at the end of the handle of a scythe against her breast. She knew the blade must have passed through her, but it had been so fast, so fast she had hardly felt it. Already blood was soaking her shirt. Where had it come from? "How," she gasped. Roger stepped from behind a tree. The darkness made all but the skull within his black hood invisible. "Your life force is as a beacon to me, assassin. It is true you pass through this foliage more easily than I, but did you honestly think it would hide you from death? I simply took the path and intercepted you. Even you are relatively blind in this darkness, but I am not. In life, I served an unscrupulous master with unswerving loyalty. You have done the same. Now you will join my master, Mortaebius. He will set a new task for you." As if to punctuate Death's words, the blade he had thrown through the hole in the tent transfixed her from behind, but she was already dead. A single tear rolled down the elf's cheek as he hastened away through the forest. He had caught the faint sound of the death skeleton's voice on the wind. He turned east and hurried towards the rosy glimmerings of dawn. He would miss her; he would miss them all. [Rapina]030 Seeping Toxins "Aiii! That'll do it, Drake, I don't want th' tourniquet so tight as to kill me leg completely. Damn poison 'as been seepin' up, fer hours. I can't feel a thing from me toes ta th' middle of me thigh." "But sir, the wound is just a scratch," Drake said. "Aye, a scratch on me ankle, and I washed it out with brandy only seconds after that blasted bolt creased through me jammies. I screamed bloody murder like I'd been hit for real, an I think I fooled that wench assassin. She didn't know I shimmed up towards me bed a bit while she warr occupied with Roger an 'is knife. Otherwise the wench would 'ave hit me square in th' chest. A real pro that one warr, but no one escapes death," Jack chuckled. How is th' sun doin'? Drake exited the captain's tent and then came back inside. "It's not quite down to the tree-line sir, but it's getting there." "Good, I'll never admit ta bein' grateful to that ol' warlock after what 'is collegue did ta me men, but he brought Roger, an Roger just saved me life, an I hope ol' Kroz can make that savin' permanent. This pois/g seon's tryin' ta undo what Roger did. Any news on th' trackers?" Jack asked. "None Sir, they've been at it since dawn, and dusk will be here soon," Drake said. "No one in camp could identify th' man Doanthalas killed afore comin' ta confront me assassin, so he could be a local, but 'e's too well equipped ta be a farmer, " Jack said. "He's got the weapons and th' look of a tracker. As soon as our mage gets here 'e can sniff th' place o' death fer magic. Damn! I hate bein' so dependent on a bunch 'o spooks! Gettin' famous has ruined th' piratin' business!" Anyways, Arzeal, Dido and a few men are out lookin' for th' dead man's base camp. Could be tharr's more than one spy out tharr." "Arzeal, reporting Sir," Arzeal said as he scratched at the captain's tent flap. "Aye, come in Arzeal. Did ye find a camp or a new spy?" "We found one of his traps, sir." "Who did ye loose?" Jack asked. "The recruit named Binge we took as a flanker is down and dieing, sir; we had to carry him back. A spiked snare trap hit him. We are not sure if the trap was set by the dead man or someone else, but it was getting to be too dark to track anyway, so we all returned." "Damn spies and assassins seem ta be comin' out o' th' woodwork since Doanthalas and Rage got back here with you an' me daughter. Heinie Li'Yeiraun never did have a mage worth squat. Seems to me all 'e used to have was a family line o' second rate tea leaf readers ta help 'im with his investments. I'd 'ave been dead ta rights years ago if that ass had had a real mage. Any change in that department Dido? Who's th' Li'Yeiraun mage at the moment? "Nordula, sir," Dido said. "Has he got any talent?" Jack asked. Mansun Dido squeezed his chin between his thumb and forefinger. "It is true Lord Li'Yeiraun's mages never could seem to give him a straight answer as to where you were, Captain. Their hope was in Nordula, he had more talent than either of his forebears on account of the peasant wise woman his father's tea leaves pointed at to be the boy's future mother. When he had grown some, they used up a great deal of the money their line had siphoned off the Li' Yeirauns and a sizable contribution from their lord to send Nordula for outside training. When he returned from his schooling he was able to do a few notable spells, creating sounds, flashes of light, balls of blue magic that could inflict wounds, that sort of thing." "Aye, true sorcery, but nothing compared to teleporting a man's body," Jack said. "Yes, I see what you mean, but it is possible Nordula has improved and I may be, in part, responsible," Dido said. "An' how might that be?" Jack asked. "There was an old mage who lived in a deep forest to the East of the Lord's lands. We were sent to find and bring him in for questioning. Lord Li' Yeiraun said the man was implicated for harboring a fugitive. I now have my doubts. The mage fought us and we lost many men to his spells, but he was old and frail. After a few volleys that decimated our ranks and sent us running, Nordula noticed the old man was using spells of lesser potency. We regrouped from what should have been a route, doubled back, and ambushed him just outside his abode. Nordula was able to wound him with a spell from behind while his magical shield was directed towards fending off the swords of my men. Once wounded, the mage lost his concentration, his shield dropped for a moment, and we cut him down right on the doorstep to his abode. Two more steps and he would have been inside. I was not involved after the initial mission, but from what I heard, Lord Li' Yeiraun hired a group of mercenaries to clean the mage's abode. His books now sit on Nordula's shelves. "Aye, so it could be tharr was somethin' to those volumes an' Nordula has become more'n a second rate tea leaf reader," Red Jack nodded, and then knocked on the large chest at the foot of his bed. "Are ye awake yet Roger?" "I never really sleep sir, but the sun makes me... drowsy." "Well, it ain't quite down yet, but I need ye ta get hold o' Kroz as soon as ye can. Doanthalas killed a spy before he came ta stop th' assassin wench last night, and there may be other spies at large as well. We already lost one man to a trap. "I will relay the news to Kroz, Captain. I do not know if he would wish to become embroiled in such mundane matters, but I am sure he will come for the assassin's body if you wish to sell it to him. I believe Elizabetta is the perfect subject for an advanced animation." "Aye, I'll trade 'er cadaver for a cure ta this poison if he can get me one." --- "Captain Jack, Kroz is here with Rapina and he brought some ghouls, but he left them at the graveyard. He is willing to infuse you with life force to heal the damage done by the poison if you have a donor," Arzeal said. Okay men take me out ta th' infirmary, thar's not a moment ta loose, damn poison's up to me hip." Within the ship's tent, the pirates were eating dinner. Fist one, then another blood-chilling scream interrupted the men's meal. "Damn sorcery! It's gonna to give us all a belly ache fer sure." Back at the infirmary tent Kroz entered and addressed the captain, "How is the leg, Captain?" "It's still tinglin,' thanks ta Binge, here. The captain patted Binge's freshly dead corpse. Heh heh, we were both dead men 'fore long. His dyin' sooner is goin' ta buy 'is captain some time." "Without another donor, that is as much as I can do for you. If you have the bolt, I may be able to determine what sort of poison was used. There may be an antidote." "Ye mean ye don't think Binge's whole life is going ta be enough ta quench this damn poison?" "Your body will have much more energy with which to fight the toxin and the damage it has already done will be healed, however my spell does not neutralize the poison. The poison will begin to do damage once again," Kroz said. "Damn! Will we 'ave to take me leg off?" Jack asked. "It would stop the poison, however you would then be minus a leg," Kroz said. "Aye, and what kind o' leader would I be without even enough leg fer a peg?" Jack scowled. "We could remove the flesh and leave the bone. I have Wedge's hand for him. I will put it on as soon as he is brought here. If you find its functionality to your liking, we could prepare your leg similarly." "Here sir," Wedge said. "Recruit, Kroz 'as got yer hand for ye." "Splendid, you have arrived, Wedge. You have a decision to make. Let me see your wrist. Wedge held out his stump. Kroz carefully fitted Wedge's cleaned up skeletal hand to the bone of his stump and made a few incantations. Wedge inhaled involuntarily. "You have a decision to make, young man. Your skeleton is now whole, but you cannot move the bones of your dead hand, can you?" Wedge grimaced, "No sir." "With magic I can give you that power and you will be able to use it. It will not, however be any stronger than the hand of a pampered woman. If you wish to serve the god of the dead, I can ask him for his blessing and additional divine magic. Your hand will become formidable in its strength. You will have no trouble wielding an axe or a heavy blade, but you will also wield that blade in the name of the god of the dead, for you will have a connection to him. Do you understand?" Wedge nodded gravely, "Like Roger?" "Yes," the necromancer affirmed. Wedge grinned evilly. "What do I have to do?" The necromancer's rasping laugh filled the night. ----- As quietly as a man could, Gariot Hansfeldt made his way through the woods. He held the glowing red bit of glass aloft and smiled. One of his traps had been sprung. He could see the spikes were deep in the body. One protruded from the chest of the corpse. He shook his head as he thought to himself, "I should have known they would be looking for me. Well it's too late, they had their chance to find my base camp, and now I don't have the magic pendant anymore, and I will not know where the new camp is even if they catch me. Gariot bent down to examine his handywork." "Agh!" Gariot's eyes bulged as the corpse stuck to the spikes grabbed his face. The smell of rot seemed to thicken. How could the corpse be moving? Edgar the ghoul jumped from the bushes and clawed rapidly yet savagely at the side of the tracker's head. He would not let up while he had the advantage. "Kkhahah," he signaled. The stench in the area soon grew in magnitude as Kent sunk his claws into the man's back and neck. The victim froze. Kent removed the tracker's weapons and chittered happily as Edgar and the newly created zombie of the pirate named Binge carried their paralyzed victim back to Red Jack's camp. --- Brackston blanched. Wedge opened and closed his skeletal hand so that all the men within the ship's tent could see it. A great vat of stew simmered over the foot of a seated flaming skeleton. Bedrolls were spread all around the ship, for the men had moved out of their chill barracks tents to where the heat was. Wedge grabbed a heavy axe and swung it, "Ahahahah, it's strong, see, I can wield the best weapons again! Pitty me now, Slice. Ahahaha! The power of the god of the dead is in my hand." "Oooiiiiakakakahhh!" Kent screamed. "Thane looked up from an engaging magical conversation he was having with Rapina under what would soon be the ship's bow. "Arzeal, I believe Kent has found some measure of success. He is calling us from the graveyard. Rapina, carry on." --- "It is not a man I know whispered Mansun Dido from the bushes. If he is working for Lord Li' Yeiraun then he would have to be new." "No doubt," Kroz rasped. "How did yew find are camp?" Brackston questioned. "I just stumbled upon it. I had no idea what it was," Gariot Hansfeldt said. Kroz softly imitated the caw of a crow. Brackston caught the sound of the raspy crow and knew the tracker was lying, "Yew think I believe that? Bloody Brackston pulled the man's shirt off. Gariot Handsfeld was chained in an upright position between two stout posts. His legs and arms were spread and the lash had already torn his shirt to shreds." Brackston reached around front and undid the man's belt, and then he walked around front and unbuttoned Hansfeldt's pants. The tracker looked at the pirate incredulously. "Yew better start tellin' th' truth. How did ye find us, how did ye get here?" "I told you, I rode," Hansfeldt said. Brackston jerked the man's pants down and pulled his sheath knife. He played the tip over the man's balls. Yew think yew're really tight lyin' ta ol' Brackston. I'll bet yer tight," Brackston shoved his middle finger up the man's butt. "Hhhh! Don't you dare sodomize me!" Handfeldt hollered. "Heh, heh, if yew insist, but I was going ta use the branding irons an' save that for latter, Heh heh..." Hours of pain passed. "This man is surprisingly resistant to torture," Kroz said in a bored tone. "I believe he lasted something over three hours in Brackston's capable hands." Mansun was sitting on the cold ground, his back to the scene. It was something he had long ago decided he would rather not see. He was here as a second opinion to the magic of Kroz, to help give Brackston an idea of whether or not the man was telling the truth if the man were working for Lord Li'Yieraun. It almost didn't see fair. Whenever the tracker lied Brackston knew, and the tracker suffered for it. "I was teleported by a mage, damn it!" the prisoner, Gariot Hansfeldt, finally admitted. "Where were yew, who done it, and how was it done?" Brackston asked. Gariot cried, "I was hired out from Turnmoor and paid in gold. The mage, Nordula. told me to hold my breath and he started casting some kind of spell, and then I, I just appeared." The prisoner said. "Where did yew report to this mage ta be teleported?" Brackston asked. "In Turnmoor," Hansfeldt said. Brackston heard the crow and grabbed ahold of a branding iron. AAAIIIIII! Castle Yieraun. It was at Castle Yieraun!" Hansfeldt admitted. "... That's better, now where did yew appear and what were yewr orders?" Brackston asked. "Ouu! Please, I was put in a handstand before Nordula cast the spell. He told me when I arrived I was to pick up the pendant dropped by the other man, and that it would be right under my head, and then I was to set up a temporary camp. I left the pendant there." Brackston heard the caw of a crow, smiled and went behind the man. Gariot stiffened as the pirate drove his fleshy rod into the raw pain of his bowels. "Ahhhii! You already know when I'm lying, why do you even ask?" "Because I like ta fuck yew, yew ass! Now yew tell de whole truth or it'll be back ta the brandin' iron." Hansfeldt shuddered, "All right, all right, the mage sent two more men earlier tonight. I was to keep watch on the pirate camp and go to a specified location two days every week to pick up the pendent and make my report," Handsfedt said. "Why don't they just leave the pendant with you? If they ain't watchin' our camp, how come they need it?" Brackston asked. "I don't know! Aaaiii!" Hansfeld said. "Why do you think?" Brackston asked. "I, I think the mage needs the pendant to teleport men to. I was teleported to the pendant, and so were the other two. I held it up and each appeared under it in turn," Hansfeld admitted. "So while yew watch our camp, Nordula fills another camp with soldiers, is that right?" Brackston asked. "Yes, I think that's the plan. The river is too choked with ice, I don't think they can send a ship, so they are sending us with magic," Hansfeld admitted. "Why don't they send yew overland?" Brackston asked. "The Lord here doesn't like Lord Li' Yeiraun. Isn't that why Red Jack holed up here?.. Aaaouuch!" Hansfeldt asked. "Yew got to remember who asks and who answers..." Brackston said. --- "Aln I see yourrr rum and raise you ahhrum," Dodge slurred. "Yourr on," Pike blinked. The two men slammed back still another round of rum. Rapina raised her eyebrows. Pike had come over just after Kroz had left and the pirate named Dodge had complained about Pike trying to keep the "wench" for himself. Things had escalated from there, but not exactly the way she would have thought. Dodge maintained that a contest of arms between he and Pike would be unfair, instead, he had challenged Pike to a contest of cups. "Yooouulll never oud dlink me, Piike, I've been annn alcoholic since birff, I suck-kled ale ad mmy mmother's tteat, hic," Dodge slurred. "Tthen why are you wavering aaand I'm ssstill sssteady as a rrock?" Pike asked. Dodge tittered, "Yyew, sssteady? Yyewer jusst a-about ta falll. One morrre rrround ought ta havvve it, hic," Dodge said. Another round was poured and the two men tossed it back. Rapina wrinkled her nose, both men were astoundingly drunk, how Dodge figured he was going to make use of her company if he did win the drinking bout was beyond her. The cook raised his eyebrows, already the men had drunk their way through Dodge's stash of rum, "One of you better fall now, we're out of rum." Ssusorry, me dliink all yer rum, but meee nod fallin' Whho gott's more?" Dodge asked. "Llookss a draw," Pike said drunkenly. "Stoker, you got some rum, give it up," Creaser said. "Should I sir?" Stoker asked. "Ooonly iff hee's mmman ennnough," Dodge slurred. Pike slapped the table, "Hhaull id oud." "Yes sir," Stoker grinned evilly and retrieved a bottle from his sea chest. "It's strong stuff Sir." "Dodge tittered." "Yyou thththink weee carrre?" Pike asked. "I see your point sir." Stoker filled both cups near to the brim. The two men slammed back their drinks, and Stoker immediately filled them up again from his bottle. "Doouble err nothin'," Dodge said slamming back his cup. Pike downed his drink a second later. Stoker swiftly refilled them. "Gggive it ttime ttoo settle, Pike wavered." Dodge tittered, "Eee's fllagin'." "Bbbbahh, bbrink id on," Pike said. The two men slammed back four more drinks in rapid succession. "Uhhhooooo" Dodge said as he kept going backwards after lifting the next cup. Pike finished the fifth drink in the set, and began to stand up. "Baa, liddlelightwade." For an instant, Pike looked a little surprised, "Oooooooo" Stoker and Greasy barely managed to catch the Norse giant's body. Once caught they pulled him to his bed roll. Rapina looked at the lust written all over the faces of pirates dragging Pike to his rest, and then suddenly realized what was going on. Jack was in his bed nursing his leg, Arzeal was far away in the night with Kent and the ghouls, attempting to find the spy's base camp to see if he had left any evidence of a plan there. Brackston, Thane, and Mansun Dido were interrogating the captured spy. Rage and Skitch were on night guard duty. Pike had been the only officer present, and the only man likely to protect her "virtue." Dodge was likely a dupe of an alcoholic given free booze in exchange for attempting to drink Pike under the table, but Pike was a huge man, and known to drink a bit himself. From Dodge's slipped remark, the original owner of the first bottles of rum had probably been Greasy, and the last cups poured by Stoker had come fast and furious, and the rum? Rapina snatched the bottle from the low table in front of her and tipped the bottle way back, concealing the fact that she took only a tiny swig. "Haahhh," she rasped. Tears came to her eyes as liquid fire burned down her throat. The pirates laughed as the spellbinding wench clutched her throat from the heat of the rum she had just downed. The rum was nearly one hundred percent alcohol. It all made sense now, Stoker knew the contestants were too drunk to taste just how strong the new rum was, and he knew if he got enough of it into them fast enough, it would not mater who fell first, both were sure to go down. Rapina realized she had about one second to put her own spin on things before the raging river of the pirates' lust chose a channel other than the one she would try to send it down. "No officers?" Rapina asked in mock innocence. Then in a husky, conspiratorial tone, "Want to have some fun?" A hearty roar rose up from the pirates. Rapina smiled provocatively, "Okay, I'm going to need a little music, something slow and sultry, and something to dance on. How about that scaffold? Some of the men looked a bit disappointed. The river was trying to escape Rapina's channel. And Zit, could you be a dear and collect my clothes when they fall?" Rapina asked as she diverted the lust back to her channel. The Pirates grinned lustily, "Oh Yah!," they cheered. Men hastened to move a section of scaffold to the central location Rapina had indicated. "My good things are all gifts from Kroz to beautify his household, and I'm not sure what kind of sorcerous experiments he would perform on someone who damaged them. Rapina glanced at one of the flaming skeletons. Just be a dear and put them in your sea chest. Zit nodded gravely. "Cmon! Wench, get it on! Chops began to play his bongos as a pirate next to him fingered chords on a lute. Rapina tossed her cloak to Zit and mounted up on the stage. She was suddenly the soul focus of fifty lusty pirates. Lust tingled up and down her spine; she practically vibrated with it as it raced up her legs and down her arms. Almost in spite of herself, she began to tug at it as she danced, with every sway of her hips, every stretch of her long legs she grabbed and tugged. In the past, she had always pulled on the lust of a single man, now she found groups were a little different, but came just as naturally. The music helped, but the tugging did nothing to slow the men's appetite for more skin. She was her own worst enemy. She had thought that if she kept them entertained for long enough, surely one of the officers would happen by. Now it was impossible to say what she wanted. Their lust was so thick she could almost touch it, and it was making her so hungry, so wet, she was embarrassed and yet intrigued all at once. For so long she had made due with just one man, now she was looking at a multitude. Involuntarily, she licked her lips like the vampire Zit had taken her for. Rapina's breathing increased as she stepped out of her dress and kicked it into Zit's waiting arms. Lust nearly overwhelmed her as the pirates' eyes caressed her scarlet lingerie, her involuntary moan was swallowed by the music and a thousand lusty comments about her curves. Her, long legs, her high, round butt, her rich, round breasts, everything she showed them brought a rush that overwhelmed her reason. Her bustier came down, her breasts jiggled freely, Her garters were unclipped as she passed the groping fingers of the pirates at the edges of the makeshift stage. When they tugged down her panties she had fallen back into a roll and when she rolled up on her feet again as Rames had drilled into her in his classes on unarmed defense, she had her own panties in her hands, dangling from her long delicate fingers, taunting the men, tugging at their lust. "Woooo-hu, now thar's a real wench! Blackjack reached out and wiped his fingers over the inside of Rapina's leg, just above the knee. Then he thrust his fingers into his mouth. Mmm-mm, that ain't sweat, mates! "Oou, that's a PIRATE WENCH!" Glinter hollered. One of Rapina's silk stockings fell off, a casualty of the sock-pulling and rolling game the reaching pirates had come up with on their own. Her bustier was open to her navel and sliding down over her hips, but none of that seemed to matter because she was trying very hard, very hard to keep from shaking. She felt like her eyes should be glowing or something, she felt so much fire in her body. Her other sock was pulled from her foot as she stepped up, and then as she swung from a cross beam, her bustier fell to the stage. Other than the choker Kroz always made her wear when she came to the pirate camp, there was nothing left to take off, and as far as she knew, the choker could only be removed by magical means. Rage stomped a bit to remove the snow from his boots and then re-secured the exit flap. "Wow, it sure was warmer in the ship's tent than it was outside," he thought. As he turned, he realized the music and cheers had stopped, and fifty pirates were looking at him. But when the fifty-first looked at him he gasped for breath. His cold, tight balls fell nearly as rapidly as his shaft rose. "Aaagh." For a second he was going to ask Rapina why she was standing naked on the scaffold, he was going to scold the men, but his breathing was way too heavy as he walked to her. She was perfect, she smelled like lust, and he had her undivided attention. He should have told her off for inciting the men. He should have done a lot of things, but something was wrong with his head and he could only think about one thing, getting it into her, getting it into her now. Rapina idly wondered why her fingers were unbuttoning Rage's pants, and why she was breathing like a winded horse. Someone threw a bedroll over the planking behind her. Rapina pulled down his breeches and she brought him down. Rage kicked off his pants and thrust like a stallion, again and again. Rapina was so wet there would have been no friction at all had it not been for the muscles within her, stronger and more facile than those of any woman he had ever known. She squeezed him, she pulled at his seed, she called to it from her wet depths like a sea of sirens. The pirates cheered. Rapina felt as though she had nearly broken something inside of her holding back her need so as not to consume Rage as he came violently, fountaining his lust into her bottomless hunger. EEEEYAAAAAAAH! His orgasm seemed to last forever. When it finally ended he went limp. "Stoker!" Rapina rolled the pirate officer off her and smiled her hunger at the instigator of the drinking contest. Had Stoker paused to wonder why the pirate wench had rolled a limp, exhausted Rage off her body, he might have hesitated to bed her. However, he had been plotting all night, and he was not the kind of man who easily let the spoils of victory go free. He was on her in an instant. Rapina wrapped her legs around him and bucked like a mule, she had nothing left in her to hold back with, she pulled at his seed like a crazed animal. Had it not been for the cheers of the pirates, she felt certain Stoker would have lost his nerve. Perhaps he would have been better off if he had. Stoker's eyes rolled back in his head, he had bedded more women than he could count, and he had never cared much whether or not they were willing. The wench beneath him now was a wildcat, a hellion, a succubus, and every stroke pulled him down to hell and then shot him straight to heaven, he moaned, heaved, pumped, and gasped. This was extreme, something felt wrong, but he could not stop, he just couldnot stop. It felt so good, he had to spend, his thrusting was compulsion and she squeezed him, clutched him, pulled at his lust with a force he could not comprehend. Gaaaaaaaaaaah! Stoker's eyes nearly popped out of his skull. Had any pirate been in the right position to see Stoker's eyes, he would have screamed in terror. Fortunately, no one saw it, no one but Rapina. Rage got unsteadily to his feet. Damn!" The pirates laughed. After several minutes of Stoker's gasping orgasm and spewing seed, Rapina's hunger was blunted and she relented. Rapina rolled Stoker off her body and tried not to notice how limp he had gone. "Greasy!" she chimed, almost cheerfully. The cook lasted only a few minutes before he joined his deathly comrade with a long, eye-popping orgasm. Rapina rolled him aside and was about to speak, but another pirate jumped between her thighs before she could say a word. With Stoker and Greasy Rapina had lost control -lost it utterly; but she felt much better now, a little more herself. Her clutching wetness was just a joy, and if she just relaxed and let the men fill her mind and body with power and pleasure, she would not draw dangerously on any one of them. Stoker and Greasy had paid for their perfidy, but the rest would be just fine. She whispered comments, sometimes requests or even orders to change positions and sometimes endearments as each pirate bedded her. Her lively cunny supped gluttonously as each pirate came powerfully, spewing seed and energy into her hungry depths. Few lasted more than five minutes, but hardly a second would pass between the time one man drenched the warmth of her clutching vagina and another entered. It was almost as though one tireless pirate was bedding her, and because of that she began to come, and come, over and over. She was so sensitized by all the lust and life force being pumped into her that very nearly everything drove her to orgasm. She would peak, then after a few minutes peak again, and for whatever perverse reason, vanity, or perhaps revenge, whenever she did, she filled each man's mind with fealty, utter, unabashed obedience and worship for their goddess of lust. If these pirates thought with the brain between their legs, then she would command their minds. Zit realized he was the low man on the totem pole because everyone had gone up on the makeshift stage, and several had been on the platform twice, yet he had not been given a chance at all. Rapina closed her thighs and turned after sending Blackjack to the platform. "I've seen you others before, let Zit up first, it's not fair keeping him a virgin forever." The pirates laughed. Several in the crowd piped up, "Get Zit up there, no pirate should be a virgin, it aren't right." Zit crawled up onto the platform at last. He lifted his palm, the bedroll was afloat in goo. Rapina giggled. Zit smiled, and then his mouth fell open as he saw Rapia's breasts jiggle. They were so full and pert, and her nipples were standing up like little pink towers. He couldn't quite imagine how she had fit her breasts into her bodice. Rapina saw what he was looking at and pulled him to her breast with a finger under his chin. He suckled her, and then she grabbed him around back. She put her hand between his buns, found the base of his penis and pulled him to her. Zit moaned as Rapina guided him into her and caressed him inside her. He hardly noticed the rasping laughter from across the tent. He just coursed in and out of Rapina's captivating cleft. Hearing the laughter she clasped her palms over his ears and pumped harder against him. He moaned and thrust a while longer then started coming grandly. Rapina released one of Zit's ears and pulled him into her with her right hand between the cheeks of his behind. Feeling the delicious pulsing at the base of his cock with her wrapped fingertips as he came long and hard. She bucked against him cried out as she too began to come. As her mind touched his, she became his princess, his sovereign, his queen, and yet one who held him with great affection. Kroz chuckled and it amused him all the more that it came out as a wicked rasping, for his death robes made his voice sound so very undead. "Well now, while the cats are away, it appears the mice will play." Rapina massaged the base of Zit's waning cock and looked up at the approaching death mask of Kroz. She felt far too good to be embarrassed. "Rauw," she mewed. Zit's organ began to re-engorge. Rapina grinned like the cat who had just swallowed the cannary. "They started it," She said. Kroz laughed so hard his death robes could hardly cope with it. He pounded his knee as he looked at the many sleeping pirates and the gaggle still waiting around the stage. "Did you want to see if you could take on the entire camp?" Kroz asked. "No, I'm just having fun," Rapina smiled. Her hand caressed Zit's behind as her loins moved gently around his hardening rod. "Besides, there had to be a few on guard duty, so it's not quite the whole camp. Zit was the last of them, and I had to complain to get him a spot. Those others are greedy; they're here for seconds. Rapina suckled playfully at Zit's neck. Kroz raised his eyebrows beneath the death mask. There was a man lying near the edge of the stage. Kroz rolled him over. He looked dead, but he was erect, and the very tip of his cock was gray. Thane took a tiny hand mirror from within his robe and held it near the man's nose. It steamed up, but barely. "Mmm, he seems... exhausted. Was he the first? Rapina blinked, but did not pause in the slow thrusting of her hips. "The second actually. Rage was the first, but he just walked in after I danced for them. I thought I was stalling until an officer came and I succeeded. An officer did come, just before they started in, but there was so much lust, I was... "Primed?" Kroz asked. "I was um, Stoked," Rapina grinned. "Rage, well he could tell I was ready. He didn't say anything, he just came up, and, I couldn't keep my hands out of his pants. I didn't tire him out too badly. This whole thing, it wasn't his fault, he just walked into it." Kroz chuckled, "Your sense of justice never ceases to amaze me Rapina. And this..." Kroz indicated the comatose man on the edge of the stage. "Stoker," Rapina sighed and smiled dreamily as she continued to pump Zit's erection into her wanton cunt. "Stoker was the instigator?" Kroz asked. Rapina nodded, "I think so. He and Greasy supplied the rum for a drinking contest between Dodge and Pike, the only officer here." "Kroz laughed. "And you saw the whole thing coming?" "Not as soon as I should have. Pike won the contest, but the last bottle of rum, the one Stoker supplied, was extremely strong. I tasted it after Dodge went down, it nearly burned my throat out, and Stoker had been pouring them fast and furious at the end of the contest. Pike had enough in his stomach to make him pass out, he just didn't know it until about two minutes after he had won." Kroze smiled beneath the death mask, "So the contest was just a way to neutralize the officer protecting your virtue. It really didn't matter who won, both lost." Rapina moaned with pleasure, then nodded, "It was very clever, actually. Stoker would have taken advantage as soon as they laid Pike down, but I offered to dance for everyone before he had the chance." Rapina giggled, "At the time I thought I was stalling for time, but oh did that backfire on me. I should have known better, so many men, so much lust, how could I resist?" "Indeed." Kroz stepped up onto the stage and stepped over Rapina and Zit to examine something hanging from one of the posts of the scaffolding. It was a pair of trousers with sheathed weapons still attached. Kroz seemed most interested in an impressive-looking sword. He went around behind it and mumbled a few incantations. "Well, I hate to break up your little party, my dear, but it is nearly dawn and we must get back to the abode. We have some urgent business to take care of in the laboratory." Kroz said. "Okay, I'll get cleaned up," Rapina smiled as she continued her wanton rutting. "Splendid. Tell me, to whom does this weapon belong?" Kroz asked. Zit grunted, "Those are Rage's things, sir, I hung them up for him while he was busy." "Ah, that makes sense, I must consult with Red Jack a moment, so I believe you two will have time to finish up after all, not that you really appeared to be stopping," Kroz chuckled. ---- While Thane slept, Rapina retired to her room, but she could not sleep. She was simply buzzing with energy. She took a catnap, but otherwise read for the entire time she would have slept. After he had arisen, Thane ate a rushed breakfast, and then went down to the laboratory to try to discover what kind of poison Elizabetta had used on Jack. Sometime after nightfall, Rapina set "lunch" out for the two priests of Mortaebius. "Here you are Guardians. Any luck on the poison?" "Yes, the toxin used comes from a tiny insect. It takes a great deal of trouble to make, but it is one of the most deadly toxins known, which explains why the scratch on Jack's leg was enough to sicken him so. Ordinarily the toxin kills in a matter of seconds, but if the dose is exceptionally small, it works more slowly. The poison could still be fatal. Once introduced it works on the nerves, including the brain and the nerves that control the heart. I must return to the pirate camp yet tonight. I contacted Roger just after dark, and Jack is already in dire need of another infusion of life force to regenerate his body. Short of a magical potion or the spell of a priest of a god of healing, the poison cannot be neutralized. We shall have to hope he can find a continuous supply of victims, or Jack may not make it. Thankfully, the nobles of Turnmoor have provided us with at least one. ----------------- It had been several days since she had seen the pirates and Rapina was in Thane's magical library with five books open on the floor. A single flaming skeleton stood in an alcove near the door. Ordinarily she might have taken the books to her room, but she did not see the point. Neither Thane nor Rames was home to scold her, and the book she was reading required many references just to understand. No sooner would she close one reference, than she needed another from the shelf. The book she was trying to understand was the book on magical theory that Red Jack had allowed her to read when she was a pirate. Thane owned all of Jack's old books now. She had picked up the book just after returning from the tryst with the pirates because she needed a challenge. The energy from the pirates was keeping her quite alert, and she saw no reason not to use it. Rapina fingered the choker around her neck. Thane made her wear it whenever she was away from the abode, and now it appeared she must also wear it whenever both priests were out. It was little more than a slave collar, she supposed. It was odd that Thane had not put it on her when she made her mock escape from him in Granville. No doubt, he had been testing her. A few days ago, Thane, or Kroz as he now liked to be called sent Rames on some sort of assignment. He was still gone, and Thane had gone to infuse Red Jack with another nightly dose of life force to keep him alive. Rapina knew he would also check on the results of Kent's ghoulish scouting efforts. "Rapina!?" Thane called out. "In the Library!" Rapina answered. "Ah, I should have known. Thane frowned at all the books scattered across the floor. For an apprentice who does the bulk of the cleaning around here, you seem to be quite at home with slovenly habits. I see you did not even button your bodice this morning." Rapina giggled, "I can't, Guardian." "No?" "I gained a cup size from bedding the pirates. Actually, I'm not as big as I was a few days ago. I could probably button at least one or two buttons now, Rapina said." "Mmm?" Thane asked. Rapina stood, took Thane's skeletal left hand and pushed it down the front of her dress. Thane's jaw dropped. Astonishing! As you know, I can feel life force with that hand. Rapina nodded, "Yes, that's why I took your left hand and not the other. I'm sure the right would have been more pleasant, but I don't think you would have gotten the point. The other point is, I'm really just reading the book in my hands, the other five are references, and I keep having to pull more down from the shelves. This is a very hard book. I think you might have kept it on the shelf in your room had it not been for the fact that you knew I had already seen it. It was Jack's." "Ah, yes, I know the volume. It is a difficult work, not the sort of thing an apprentice would normally try to tackle. Why are you locking horns with it?" "I was so charged up from the pirates, I needed the challenge. I am nearly done, I've been at it for several days." Hard at it too, I believe your standards for the cleanliness of the Kitchen have slipped. "Oooo," Rapina put her hand to her lips. "I forgot to tidy up after lunch." Thane chuckled. I see you are not far from the end. Do not break your chain of thought now. You can attend to the kitchen at dinner, which can be simple fare since I will be busy and Rames is not due back until tomorrow after dusk. "Thank you Guardian Thane. I could really use the time. I do believe I finally know enough, and have a big enough library at my disposal to be getting somewhere." "Indeed, I will discuss the work with you when you have finished. I read it myself shortly after it came into my possession. It is a valuable though confusing treatise. One more thing, Rapina." "Hmm?" "How did you fair when the shadows drained you when you foiled that little assassination attempt I cooked up for Red Jack not long after you all arrived on Graveston isle? "They seemed to tap my reserves before they started to hurt me. Are you out of victims for healing Jack?" Rapina asked. Thane chuckled and shook his head, "My dear, you are far too familiar with the way I think. Yes, the spy lasted through four drains in two days before death claimed him. Since then the Captain's more loyal officers have donated life force of one drain apiece. More would be too dangerous. Red Jack is still by no means well, indeed, his straights seem more dire each time I see him. I am healing some of the damage, but I cannot touch the poison itself. He needs more just to keep him alive. Yet, I do not believe he wants to start using crewmen to keep himself among the living. Given that one powerful but remote group already appears to know the location of his camp, I do not think he wishes to betray his location to other groups by locating local men and having me drain the life out of them. The life force you store appears to be of a somewhat different character than what I am used to draining, but as long as it is drainable, it is worth a try. You will come with me to help Jack tomorrow then?" Rapina nodded, "Yes Guardian. I wonder, why are you helping him so much? You have been there every night since he was poisoned. It is not in the contract." Thane chuckled, "There would be no contract without Red Jack, that and he has already made his payment. He gave me the fresh corpse of Elizabetta, a highly trained assassin, a rare gem, and I have been working on her and the enchantments I must learn to complete her every available hour since I got her back. I have had to purchase the corpses of two lesser assassins at great personal expense just to practice on. Moreover, I have had to appeal to our cause and ask favors of several Mortancers of Mortaebius so that I can learn the process aright and make no mistakes on her enchantments when she is ready. I will see you at dinner. I still have much to do. If I am successful in these next few days, I will have learned a second of Mortaebius' advanced animations." --------------------- The next evening at Dusk Thane, as Kroz, used the graveyard mists spell to transport Rapina and his guards to the pirate camp. "I will consult with Kent. Mayhap you would like to try to glean some more energy before we try this. I see you were able to button your bodice this morning, though the fit of your dress is too tight," Kroz said. Rapina nodded and hustled towards the camp with a couple of guards Thane had assigned to her. Their mailed feet crunched the packed snow on the path as they followed her. When she entered the ship's tent, she saw that things had changed somewhat. The ship was both more and less built, and a body of a recruit hung from one of the posts. It appeared that the men were making the ship, but also disassembling and packing its parts for transport by sled. Red Jack was probably getting ready to run, but he was probably too sick to do it just yet. Rapina rubbed her tingling nose as she looked around and then realized that a number of the pirates were already lustfully looking at her, tickling her senses. "Lust on deck! Phhhweeetphweew!" Blackjack bellowed. Rapina blushed and felt her nipples erect as a great deal of lustful attention had its effect on her. The men had adopted a horse whistle instead of the usual naval whistle they sometimes used before formal speeches of the captain. It appeared she had taken on new rank, although the rank seemed pregnant with humor. Rapina covered the "Oh" written on her lips as she realized the suggestion her mind had cooked up to give the pirates when she had slipped into their clutches a few days ago. She would just have to do it again, maybe the pirates would become a little more serious. "Hi men, it looks like you've been hard at work." "Not as hard as we'd like ta be!" Glinter blurted. "Oh yea!" The pirates hollered as they gave Glinter the thumbs up. Just then Brackston came into the tent, "Captain says 'e's not feelin' up ta satisfyin' de red hot wench tanight. Yew men think ye can fill 'is shoes?" "Aye!" The pirates hollered. "Damn right we can!" Stoker said with fanatic zeal. Rapina raised her eyebrows. After the way she had abused Stoker the last time she had seen him, she was surprised he had any interest. Yet it was apparent from his eyes that he was obsessed, like an addict who had been debilitated by opium, yet craved more. Brackston whispered in Rapina's ear, "Captain Jack says yew're th' last person 'e wants ta steal life force from. Only reason 'e's willin' ta try this is Kroz says yew got a little natural talent fer sex magic. Th' Captain will give it a try, but only if yew can charge yerself way up with yer magic snatch. Red Jack don't want yew hurt from Kroz's deadly hand. Yew fuck them men, and yew fuck them good, understand?" "Yes sir," Rapina blushed. A section of scaffolding was already being moved to the center of the tent, and a few bed rolls and blankets were being tossed on top of it. Rapina jumped up on the scaffold. "You sure you can fill Jack's shoes guys? Jack's got a wicked tongue and he is awfully long-winded." "We'll do it 'er die tryin!" Greasy shouted. Rapina felt a familar touch on her back and then a man's fingers began unlacing her bodice. Rapina looked over her shoulder. Arzeal? "Not the circumstances I would have chosen, but these men can be rough, best to start well-warmed with a man who will treat you right." Arzeal did treat her right. He undressed her and caressed her in front of the men like a master showman. When it was time, he kissed her everywhere, then knelt to drink the juices from her wanton cleft until she was writhing over him like a wildcat. She came powerfully and touched his mind with affection and only then did he enter her. Being half elven, he was slightly shorter than she, but it worked beautifully for the standing positions. By the time he was finished with her she was sopping with lubrication, and the men were cheering and lusting so palpably that Rapina's whole body seemed to vibrate with their sentiment. After Arzeal broke the ice, pirate after pirate mounted her, each pumping the power of his loins into her body. Man after man took her, some she recognized, Stoker, Greasy, Rage, Skitch and others. She had seen many of the remaining pirates but she hardly knew them. The entire camp seemed to be participating. The guards even changed while she was moaning on her back. Rough hands grabbed her ankles and pulled her nether lips even with the edge of the scaffold. At the same time, Slice stepped over her, straddled her chest, knelt down and played with her breasts. Rapina's mouth opened as she realized what was happening. Brackston's rough hand reached around and grasped Slice's throbbing organ, but instead of entering the boy, he entered Rapina. "Slice leaned forward and whispered to Rapina. Take as much as ye can from him, Wench. He was the only officer who would not give Kroz a jolt. He doesn't trust the old warlock, but he trusts you. You take him hard." Rapina nodded, she clutched and pulled at Brackston's seed with all her strength, holding nothing back. She could hear him grunting behind Slice, and when she did catch a glimpse of him, his eyes were rolled up in his head, and his mouth was open and drooling. UuuaaaaAAAAIIIIIeeeeu-u-u... Brackston came for what seemed an eternity. Rapina used nearly all of her strength, pulling nearly as hard as she had on Stoker the other night. Brackston tried to stand, but fell forward and collapsed on the platform next to Rapina. "Was that hard enough Brackston, she whispered?" For several minutes her only answer was a glassy-eyed stare. "Aye, close enough. Yew take it easy on Slice." Rapina nodded. "You can bet on it, because I'm sorely winded from tugging your guts out," Rapina giggled. "Wench!" Brackston groaned. "Some guys like it rough, and some like it nice and easy," Rapina said pushing Slice down her body and engulfing his erection. She pulled Brackston's hip towards her and put Slice's hand on the side of his exhausted lover's rump. She could tell these men's lusts did not run strongly for women, but their efforts on behalf of their captain were touching. As he peaked, Slice's eyes opened and then popped wide in a look that communicated both intense ecstasy and surprise that he could be having it at the hands of a woman. Man followed man until Rapina affectionately embraced Zit and nuzzled his earlobe. He looked overjoyed to see her and she could not help dallying with him a little longer than she needed to. He was a perceptive boy. Somehow, he had known there was something about her that was unusual, and now he seemed to understand that she was not a vampire in the usual sense, but that he had not been entirely wrong about her either. When Zit rolled off her with a contented sigh, Arzeal was there to clean her up, get her dressed quickly and whisk her off to the captain's tent where Kroz was conferring with Jack and Roger. "Tharr's me wench," the captain said feebly. Rapina bent and kissed Jack's lips. Jack spoke so softly Rapina could barely hear him. "Aye, lets get on with this afore I can't keep me brain workin' namore. Th' poison's reavin' me soul. These treatments 'er pullin me back from th' brink o' death, but it seems like they're pullin' me back less far each time." "This may not work, but if it does not, perhaps we can find a volunteer among the men for a second drain. Kroz removed the gloves from his hands and began to cast the first spell. Unlike Rapina, he had no means to store life force in his body for any length of time, thus the first spell drained Kroz's own life force and bestowed it on the Captain. Kroz placed his hand on Jack's head and grimaced as his energy flowed into the ailing pirate. "Aye, some better, some better, I can feel th' damage healin' an me headache, dullin' down towards bearable." The second spell would draw life force from Rapina to replace Kroz's loss. Kroz droned the incantation. Rapina loosened her bodice and pulled it out so that Kroz could reach in at the right moment. When he did, she was not entirely ready for the squeal of surprise that came from Thane's lips as he drained a goodly amount of her reserves. "How are your reserves?" Kroz asked. "I've enough for another," Rapina said. Thane hurriedly cast the draining spell again and grabbed Rapina's other breast, then before the drain was even complete he began hurriedly casting the energy bestowing spell. This time he placed his hand on Jack's solar plexus, and poured Rapina's energy into the dieing pirate. "Balls o' fire, this'd be th' first time I ever got a ragin' instant hard-on from the touch of a skeleton. What was in that? I'd like that spell again," Jack chuckled. "I ain't just tinglin, I feel warm all over too. Will you kiss me Kroz? Jack laughed uncontrollably." Kroz cleared his throat. There is a peculiar property to the energy. I noticed that right off. By replacing what I had lost and then draining a second time immediately followed by the bestowal spell, I have attempted to give you a dose of Rapina's energy in a purer form, more directly from her. I have no ability to store energy, but I attempted to transfer it before it had a chance to dissipate. I am curious to see if it is as effective as the life force I wrench from myself and others." "Tharr's no contest on that score, Kroz. I've been through this enough ta know what one o' yer energy transfers is supposed ta do an' how much. Whatever Rapina's got, it trounces ye in th' healin' department. All along there's been a dull fire in me nerves, 'an even when th' life force ye give me healed th' damage, th' fire's been still there, eatin' away at me. All around me chest an' upper legs, I'm feelin' that fire goin' out. Maybe it's just the hellish hard, hard-on I got that I'm not feelin' things aright, but I think I got 'em square. Leave me be fer a bit and I'll let ye know how things come out. "What happened to the recruit hanging from the pole of the ship's tent?" "Roger, Brackston and I have spent a great deal of time over the past few nights searching for additional spies," Kroz said. "After all, there were two outside spies; it stood to reason there might be an inside spy as well. I have a plan to deal with this sorcerer of Li'Yieraun's, but it would not do if he had a spy in our camp. After questioning everyone but the old officers, we found that we indeed had a spy. He was working for an assassin in Turnmoor, possibly Elizabetta's boss Palo, though he did not use that name when he hired the boy. We made use of his life force, and then hung him up as an example." Rapina grimaced at the fate of the boy but smirked in spite of herself. Kroz was being much more helpful than the contract Roger had hammered out with Red Jack said he had to be. Surely, he was insuring the future of his contract, but Rapina felt that there must be something else. Perhaps Kroz saw some gain for the church of Mortaebius or himself. --- [Rapina]031 The Shadows of Wizardry "You look stunning poured into black silk, my dear, does she not?" Thane asked. Rames rubbed his hands together and held them near Rapina's loins as if by a fire. Rapina giggled. "I see only one problem with your outfit," Thane said. "Hmm?" Rapina asked. "This is a night operation, and your blades are silvery, far too reflective. If you should find yourself in battle, your blades would betray your position. Try these instead." Thane held up a pair of black leather sheathes. The hilts of the weapons they contained were also black leather; the metal of the pommels and hilt guards were dull black as well. Rapina loosened her belt and replaced her weapons with the ones Thane had given her. She drew the rapier part way and saw that the metal of the blades was the same dull black color as the hilt guard. She squinted at the tang mark, it was the mark of The Montfort Forge. "Oh thank you! Thank you Guardian Thane, I love these Montfort blades. I really missed the one I had." Thane chuckled, "Yes, Guardian Rames said that was painfully obvious. Now that you will be helping us handle the clandestine affairs of the Church, you shall not lack for quality equipment. I have a darkwood bow for you as well. It is somewhat stronger than the one you are used to. I do hope you can bend it." Thane handed Rapina the bow. Rapina gritted her teeth a bit but she was able to bend the bow. "Splendid, Guardian Rames, I shall never doubt your opinions as an arms master again." Rames chuckled, "We had a little disagreement over bows. Guardian Thane wanted me to get a somewhat weaker bow, but I felt you could grow into this one." Rapina smiled, "What's our assignment?" It is a simple matter, really. You are to consecrate several small graveyards to Mortaebius, and create another. In order to accomplish the feat, you must drive your horses hard, luckily skeleton horses do not tire. Guardian Rames will show you the maps. You are to study them. Here also is a compass and your copies of the maps in case you should become separated. After you are finished, I shall take you to this Graveyard in the county of Li'Yeiraun. You shall make a large circle around the area as you consecrate and then you will create a graveyard here, in a forest just east of Castle Yeiraun." Other than feeling a bit of soreness in her rump, the consecration of various graveyards around Li'Yeiraun was going very well. Rapina dismounted at still another tiny graveyard. A small parsonage to an agricultural deity could be seen not far off. "We begin," Rames said. "Hail Mortaebius guardian of the dead, the dead who lie here entreat thee, hallow this ground that the dead might rest." "Hail Mortaebius, keeper of the deceased, we the living entreat thee, hallow this ground that the dead be held in thy embrace, to rise only in the direst need," Rapina said. A door to the parsonage opened and closed, "Is someone there." In a lowered voice, Rames continued with the consecration, "Hearken, ye buried and departed, to the power of Mortaebius coursing through thy rotting flesh and bones." Rapina continued, "Harken, ye living to the call of thy ancestors in Mortaebius' embrace, and know his power will preserve thee, until death takes life's grace. Both Rapina and Rames finished the consecration. "...and thus we close the circle, life and death, the cycle is complete." "Food! Food! You got food? Snuffle-snuff!" Rames half shouted in a crazed voice as the Parson approached. The parson held a crossbow on Rames. "Hold up there beggar." "Me smell fooood!" Rames shouted. Rapina stealthily circled the parson in the darkness as Rames' voice drew his attention. Since both she and her companion were dressed in black with their exposed skin thoroughly sooted, the Parson was having a difficult time seeing them in the dim light, and Rames was making sure the parson concentrated on him. When Rapina was behind the parson, she poised her hand just over the man's sword hilt and raised her other hand to tap on his left shoulder. "Look out behind you, sir," Rames said. At that moment the parson felt a tap on his shoulder and whirled, but Rapina's hand took his sword and slowed him long enough for her to hit the trigger on his crossbow. The bolt fired into the open air as Rapina's boot kicked the parson off his feet. Rames was on the Parson in an instant. Me told you look out. Now me look for Fooood! Rames knelt on one of the man's arms and searched him. Rapina stamped on the man's arm as he went for a knife. Rames snatched the knife and threw it as far as he could while Rapina removed the bolts from the parson's quiver and tossed them as well. "He not got no food. You go get us food. We not hurt you. Rames stood the man up and pushed him towards the parsonage." As the parson hustled towards his house, Rames and Rapina stealthily made their way back to their horses and mounted up. When the parsonage door closed, they galloped off. "Whew, that was close. I'm so glad you warned him about the person behind him, I think he might have shot you in surprise if I had just tapped him on the shoulder." Rames chuckled, "Yes, it did work rather well. For a moment I was almost his friend." The consecration of the remaining graveyards went without a hitch, but there was still the one to be created. Rames and Rapina rode slowly, stopping frequently to listen for guards. They saw a pair of them walk by in the distance. When Rames stopped, Rapina immediately dismounted and took down her shovel. She dug a hole, tossed an open burlap sack of bones into it and buried it. She paced off twelve paces distance and did the same with a second skeleton. Rames was doing likewise, some distance away. After the burial was done, they immediately did the consecration ritual in voices barely above a whisper. When they were finished they stopped and listened for a moment; a pair of guards was coming. Carefully they laid down. "I hate it when the mists rise off the ground like that, it gives me the creeps," a first guard said. "Bah, you afraid of spooks?" his partner asked. "Na, just don't like the way it obscures things." "Well come on then, lets walk on through there, nothing to be afraid of. Rapina held her breath. One of the guards nearly stepped on her, but he passed. The mists seemed to be thickening by the minute. After the guards had gone some distance, Rapina heard chanting in a low voice from nearby. "Be very quiet, the guards are near, Rapina whispered in a barely audible voice." Rames picked up leaves and sifted them over the small burried holes until his spell-enhanced night vision told him the ground looked untouched. He could see Rapina was doing the same. Thane, who had arrived with the mists, checked the work of the others, and when he was satisfied, handed them the leads to their horses, took their hands and began to chant. Rapina thanked her lucky stars that the guards were not due to pass this way for another few minutes. When the three of them materialized back at the abode, she breathed a sigh of relief. "Do you suppose they will find the tracks of our horses?" "Nay, I doubt it, the leaves are thick in that area, as is the forest. The trail you came in on is well traveled by horses and guards, so I expect we will be just fine. However, I did include some insurance on the skeletons you buried. Should they be triggered by an attacker who unearths them, they will stand up causing a glyph to fire that will send a message to me," Thane said. Our work for the evening is not done. We must transport a number of skeletons to Red Jack's camp yet tonight. I have animated the bodies of two criminals delivered by the constable as well," Thane added. When they arrived, Red Jack's camp was bustling with quiet activity. A number of ghouls combed the area surrounding the camp for spies while Rames and Roger took the skeletons to the appointed locations for shallow burial. Rapina assisted the pirates in making a pack train to the graveyard. The pirates carried great pieces of their longship, tools and other supplies. Thane began transporting groups of pirates to some far off graveyard. By the time the birds sung heralding the dawn, the pirates had removed the ship from its tent, but the tent still stood. Within the tent, bowls of flaming oil had replaced the flaming skeletons. In fact, the pirate camp looked much the same as it always had, except that the number of pirates in it was greatly reduced. Those deemed too green to fight well, plus a few officers that had been put in charge of building the new camp, were no longer present. The pirates that remained put on a show of activity while the number of guards searching the forest around the camp quietly doubled in number. At dawn, Kroz bid the pirates adieu and took Kent and most of his ghouls with him as he left. --- The next night, Thane came to his afternoon "breakfast" looking as though he was trying to figure out what might go wrong with a plan he had worked on for many hours. "Good evening Guardian Thane," Rapina said. "Good evening Rapina. Tonight is an important night. We will discuss our plan, and when we are done it will be time to put it into action..." --- The sun was just about to slip below the horizon when Rage walked down the path for the guard post farthest from the camp. Rage saw the large tree and took the runed cover from over the stone set in his sword. A recruit he hardly knew accompanied him to guard duty. Kroz had told Rage that the sword he had stolen from Lord Li'Yeiraun's men had been bugged with a magic stone. Now it was his turn to use their little gadget against them. He pocketed the cover then went on. Once at the guard post he struck up a conversation with the two young guards, a conversation he knew Nordula would overhear. "Okay men, you're relived. Get back to camp quick; remember it'll be midnight before you know it, and the captain wants you to get into your groups and be ready to move out, so make sure you pack up. We're going to slip out right under the noses of those spying dogs." "Aye sir," the youth said as he started down the trail. "What group're ye in Blood?" Biler asked. "Me? Number five, how about you?" Blood said. "Group seven, we're the best," Biller replied. "Bah..." Blood said. Rage smiled to himself. When this guard duty was over, he would pry the stone from the sword and give it to Roger. The camp wards were going to be unearthed and packed up for the most part, but Roger was a walking ward. --- Rapina waited in a shadow. She was near the cobbled path that led to the front door of Madam Agnes' House of Angels. It was in Yeiraun Villiage. Yeiraun castle was a mile walk up a hill to the north. The disguise Rames was wearing looked utterly ridiculous, but the one Thane was wearing was an absolute scream. Rapina heard the whinney of a horse. "I can't believe my luck!" Rames said as he played "Hans." "Imagine that, an out of town gentleman coming away with the newest and definitely the most heavenly angel of the bunch. It was worth the small fortune I paid." Lieutenant Richter looked forward to this night every week. Yes, every week he picked up a bottle and one of Agnes' girls and was back to his room for a nine to midnight romp. Occasionally he even let one of the sergeants have a taste. Rapina started up the path with Rames and looked up at the lieutenant as he came down the path. The coy expression on her face coupled with the tug on the officer's lust served to grab his attention and slow his pace as he gave Rapina a good looking over. "Hans! Hansel! I know you're in there, I dragged your words out of that hotel clerk!" Thane said in a disguised voice. Thane, dressed as a rather ugly but convincing woman opened the gate of Madam Agnes' house with a resounding squeak. "Hans" stiffened. Swore under his breath, then whispered frantically to the Lieutenant, "Sir, I've got this new girl for the entire night, and she's yours if you bail me out of what's about to happen with my damned wife." Rames pushed Rapina at the Lieutenant. "Ooo," Rapina squawked as she bumped into the Lieutenant, giving his lust a little jerk on impact. The lieutenant had no time to think or react before a homely woman bore down on "Hans" like a mad hornet. "Shame on you! The very idea that you would fraternize with harlots! You are a married man!" "Nonsense, you have it all wrong. Hilda, I'd like you to meet my friend," Hans said. "Good to meet you Hilda, my name's Adolf Richter, I'm an old friend of your husband. I'm sure he was just over here looking for me. We had a lot of catching up to do." "We sure did honey, it's so great to see him, why Adolf is one of the best swordsmen I've ever known. Uh, he works for, uh..." "Lord Li'Yeiraun." "Yes, and Lord Li'Yeiraun holds him in high esteem. It's great to see an old friend with such an honorable post, isn't it Hilda? I thought I might find him over here at the, uh house of the ladies. I heard he, uh, sometimes comes here and I was um going to ask around and see when he'd be in. Low and behold I bumped into him coming out with this young lady and we've been catching up on old times ever since." Hilda looked a little nonplused, "Well, thank heaven you weren't frequenting this house of ill repute as I had first suspected. Hilda glared at the Lieutenant. You should get yourself a wife, Adolf. These ladies are evil, you understand? eeevil! Now come along Hans, you get away from this place." "Yes dear," Hans whimpered as Hilda hauled him towards the gate. Richter chuckled, "Poor sap, it's men like him who remind me that a smart man never marries." "Men like him remind you?" Rapina asked innocently as she tugged at Richter's lust. "And girls like you," Richter smiled saltily. "Lets stop in and see Agnes a minute." "Okay, have you got some money?" Rapina asked. "Shit, do you think she'd charge me for you all over again?" Richter asked. Rapina smiled, "Um, I just got here yesterday; do you think she would?" Rapina asked. Richter looked at the door uneasily, then back at Rapina. Damn she was so young, and so breathtaking. He could pay for her all over again but that would cost... nah. Richter did an about face, took Rapina's hand and led her down the walkway, "What's your name?" "Leanna." Rapina smiled. --- Edgar the ghoul peered down from the treetop. Not even the half-elven sentries posted around the perimeter of the Li'Yeiraun camp could see him. His corpse was as cold as the air around it. As of a few minutes ago, men were frantically donning armor, filling quivers, and generally racing around as if about to go into battle. Edgar climbed down the tree. He had a message to get to Kroz's assistant. --- Richter knocked on the heavy door, "It's Richter, open up." A grizzled old Sergeant opened the door. Simply because she was an imp, Rapina tugged at the old Sergeant's lust. "Oi, who's th' girl?" the sergeant asked. "Got her down at Agnes'. Damn pretty, isn't she Sergeant Deinzen?" Lieutenant Richter asked. "Jah!" Sergeant Deinzen agreed. "'Leanna, this is Sergeant Deinzen. I Got her for the whole night," Richter grinned. "Let me know if he falls asleep on ya," Deinzen chuckled. Rapina blushed, "Okay," she said smiling. The lieutenant led her through the heavy door. It was evident that Mansun Dido had given accurate drawings and descriptions of Castle Li'Yieraun to Thane. The plans had come at a price however. Thane's little coup was to be much more bloodless than originally planned. At night all doors to the castle were barred and bolted from the inside with large, heavy bars and huge metal bolts. The only way past the barred doors was down a corridor that led right through the guard barracks, and only the Lieutenant had the key into the castle proper. Rapina followed the Lieutenant down an isle that went through a large room full of bunk beds. On the other side he unlocked a heavy door and entered a corridor. After ten more paces he opened a door on the left and took Rapina through a small office room where he grabbed some glasses and a corkscrew for the bottle of wine he'd bought while in town. On the other side of the office was the Lieutenant's bedroom. "Who says a man who's supposed to be on call every night of the week can't have a little fun," Richter grinned as he passed Rapina a glass of wine. Richter looked at the beauty he had picked up and took a moment just to gloat on his good fortune. He began to wonder just how much stuffing she had packed beneath her breasts to make them look so full. Heheh, turn around girl. Rapina turned and felt the Lieutenant's fingers unbuttoning her dress. His breathing was rapid and hot against her neck. Her nose twitched as his lust tickled her senses. "Heheh, step out of that now, I want to see what you've got on under it." Rapina turned, blushed and stepped out of her dress. The black satin lace teddy underneath had been copied from a sample procured days earlier by Rames from one of Agnes' Angels. Richter licked his lips and began to unlace Rapina's front. When he was finished he slid the teddy's straps over her shoulders and pulled it down. Her ripe breasts jiggled free, her nipples already erect. a loud knocking could be heard on the outer door. "Shit!" "One minute," The lieutenant whispered and disappeared into the office. "It's Captain Gleister, get the men together on the double. Leave old Deinzen and a skeleton crew. We will need every available man. The pirates are bugging out and we need to catch them as they leave or we'll likely not catch them at all. "Yes sir!" Richter said. After the captain left, Richter poked his head in the room took a few more steps and kissed Rapina's nipples. Damn pirates! I might be back before morning. You stay here until then." Rapina nodded, "okay." In the next half hour, Rapina heard a great deal of activity, and then the castle around her grew quiet. Rapina took a lamp and went into the office. Thankfully the lieutenant had not locked the door out. Perhaps he knew he might not be back until long after morning or maybe he had just been in too big a hurry. Rapina laced up her teddy and walked to the door to the barracks. It was locked. She wrinkled her nose, trying to settle on a course of action. Rapina shrugged and knocked on the door. What the? Blade drawn, the sergeant opened the door into the officer's corridor. Rapina grimaced and jumped backwards when she saw the sergeant's blade. Her breasts jiggled succulently. "Ooo, um sorry to bother you, but the lieutenant left me all alone in his room. He seemed to be in a rush. He wanted me to stay till morning, but there's nothing to do in there." "Well, now I'm sure I could find somethin' for ye to do out here," Sergeant Deinzen said. "Who's that," asked one of the four guards remaining in the barracks. "That'd be th' lieutenant's harlot. Deinzen laughed, "He was just about to dip his rod when the captain came in and told him it was time to pull out." The guards laughed. Two got up from their bunks and came to take a look. "One hell of a woman too, isn't she, Deiter?" Seargeant Deinzen asked "Jah, she sure is," Guard Deiter agreed. "Hey, I've got somethin' you can do girl. Watch the door for me a second, Dieter." Deinzen buttoned down his trousers and pulled out his half erect cock. "Suck." Rapina blinked as thoughts raced through her mind, "How am I supposed to put him to sleep with my mouth?" Rapina slurped him into her mouth and tried to draw on his energy, but it was no use, the best she could do was tug on his lust. Her mouth just wasn't set up the same way as her vagina. She knew how to use her throat on a man, Guardian Rames had taught her, but how was she going to work any magic if all he wanted was her mouth? Rapina smiled inwardly and began to finger herself as she sucked on the Sergeant. She tried to go slowly as she frantically fingered herself. "Faster girl, I'm supposed to be on duty," Sergeant Deinzen said. Rapina's head bobbed up and down, her moans escaping her throat as she used everything she had trying to get herself to orgasm before the Sergeant came in her mouth. Deinzen shook his head, "ever seen a hoar who enjoyed her work like this one?" The sergeant pumped and plunged adding speed to the young woman's otherwise impressive performance. Rapina's could hardly stand it she was giving herself so much stimulation, and then she felt Deinzen shudder as hot jets of cum began to shoot down her throat. Just as the man was about to pull out, Rapina took hold of his balls. She sucked what was left of his erection to the cadence of her own slippery clit-teasing finger. "Heheh, you're a real natural," Sergeant Deinzen said. 1Uhuhaaah, Rapina rode her orgasm to the cloud of Deinzen's mind and touched him with lust and stiffness as powerful as those she had inflicted on the late reverend Evangeline. Deinzen removed Rapina's hand from his balls. Whew, you're a grabby one, girl. Care for a whirl men? --- "Huddle closer!" the magician, Nordula said. "Good, now hold together." Sweat ran from Nordula's brow. Two a night had been about right, now he was teleporting groups of four men together at once. He had already used up every elixir of power and energy stone he had, and finally he was nearly done. Nordula collapsed as he pronounced the final word. The men disappeared. "Nordula, I would be gravely disappointed if you were unable to teleport the remainder of my personal guards and I," Lord Heinrich Li'Yieraun said. "Let me rest a moment m'Lord, I will come with you, and that should make it a little easier. Teleporting others without going oneself is a taxing proposition, without the stone on the other side it is not even practical. Nordula wiped the sweat from his brow with a handkerchief. He was spent; he knew he would have to rest for at least twenty minutes. Fifteen minutes later Lord Li'Yieraun cleared his throat, "Nordula?" "Five more minutes m' Lord, and I should have the energy," Nordula said. Li'Yeiraun nearly growled. Finally Nordula stood and gathered the two bodyguards and his lord together. Nordula's head felt as though it had been clubbed repeatedly, yet he knew he must make one last supreme effort. He was sure the warriors would be occupied making preparations until near midnight. He would sleep in the camp. He wrapped his fur cloak around him and began to incant the spell. He did not like the way the evening was progressing. His plan had been to transport the men a day or two before the battle was to take place so he could rest up from the taxing duty of teleportation, but because the pirates had decided to try to slip away he was expected to teleport and fight in one night, but how could he cast when he had used up all his reserves on transportation? --- The guard walking the wall of Yeiraun castle cussed to himself, "Why do I have to take a second shift anyways, I should be at my leisure, damn pirates! Wha? did I hear something? What in hell's up with the lights going out? The guard put his hand up to check for rain, then whirled suddenly, but it had grown so dark. He smelled rotten meat. Someone was there, but before he could strike out, they scratched him, and he froze solid with some kind of magical fear. The ghoul gibbered softly, crouching in the darkness that seemed to cling to him, and then moved off down the wall. The skeletal assassin, Elizabetta, jumped off the wall above the gate, her blackjack expertly rapped on the back of the gate guard's skull before she flattened against the cobbles with the impact of her thirty-foot fall. Her charcoal-colored bones were not brittle like those of lesser skeletons, but instead were firm but flexible as rubber. Blunt weapons and falls were now mere nuisances. The second gate guard could hardly see, and certainly could not believe what was happening. A shadow fell off the wall? He swished his sword behind his comrade, but hit only air. Suddenly something hit him like a rubber ball that had bounced from the top of the wall. Ulch! His jaw shattered as the flexible skull hit him like a blackjack. He fell over backwards and the creature gouged a spot behind his ears. Suddenly everything went black. Thane smiled within his death mask as the gate quietly opened. Under the cover of clinging darkness, Thane and his guards led a string of black leather-clad skeletal draft horses through the gate of Yeiraun castle. A number of double animated skeletons flanked the horses and when they were through the gate, Elizabetta waited as her two flexible skeletal helpers dragged a body each to the gate from the wall. A shadowy Kent came up and scratched the men before dragging them off into the shadows. "Nnnggugulp," Rapina gasped and swallowed as Deiter filled her mouth with cum. She tugged wildly at Sergeant Deinzen's lust as he pistoned in and out of her wanton cleft. "Ooooo..." Deinzen croaked as his orgasm seemed to stretch to infinity. The pleasure was so overwhelming. When it was finally over, he shuddered and collapsed. Rapina rolled the sergeant off her and gasped for breath. Deiter came around to the front of the bunk and sat her back up. His mouth latched onto her right nipple and he suckled her and fingered her clit like a man possessed. She reached behind him and massaged his buttocks. Eventually her fingers wrapped under, found the base of his rod and stimulated him. His staff rose. There came a knocking at the great door to the outside. Guard Dieter ignored the knock, he would get it later, besides, the knocker had not identified himself, and that was the rule. His fingers had tasted what he must have and now he would have his rising erection between her lovely thighs. Rapina moaned as Deiter entered her. Dieter laughed and cried as he pumped himself between the gates of Elysium. At last his eyes rolled back in his head, his loins surged forward and he hollered in ecstasy. Rapina drew the power out of the guard with all her might. He pumped and hollered for several minutes before collapsing on top of her. An insistent knock sounded at the door. Rapina was about to roll Dieter off when he pushed up drunkenly. He was obviously addled. Deiter shot back the bolt and opened the door. Wha? The ghoul scratched Deiter's face and he froze. Rapina screamed hoarsely. Kent pretended to scratch Rapina and she froze. "Ghouls immobilize those guards, bind the wench over one of the horses, I think I might have a use for her later on." Thane cast vision in darkness on Rapina as Kent bound her over the back of a horse. He had the ghouls toss the guards into a cell in the block just on the other side of the barracks. Once the last of them was in, Thane shot home the bolt on the outside of the door. After the last skeletal horse had come in from the courtyard, the Elizabetta, the skeletal assassin bolted the door to the barracks. Thane opened the door to the officers' corridor with the sergeant's key and moved his entourage forward. "Where is the key to the inner door, Thane whispered in Rapina's ear. "The lieutenant had a key ring, but he left in such a hurry, I think he still had it with him," Rapina whispered. "Elizabetta, the lock if you are able," Thane said. The skeletal assassin removed lock picks from a pouch, worked a few minutes, then opened the door. "Splendid." Thane intoned arcane syllables and filled the room beyond the door with darkness. Now, take your cohorts and scout our way to Nordula's chambers." The skeletal assassins and the pack of ghouls they led slunk ahead. Thane and his entourage followed more slowly. At last they arrived at the door to Nordula's chambers. Thane first dispelled any magic holding the door fast, then Elizabetta worked on the lock for about ten minutes, periodically requesting tools from a case on one of the horses. Thane filled the rooms surrounding the entrance to Nordula's chambers with darkness. The ghouls and the other two skeletal assassins scouted for and immobilized guards in the area. There were few to remove, however. The castle was largely empty. At last the door opened. Elizabetta sent her underlings forward to check for traps. Thane assisted with his mage-sight, detecting and dispelling a glyph on the door. Once the party made it into Nordula's library, Thane began dispelling magic on the books, and designating which books needed to be packed within the rib cages of the horses. Any work on magic was taken away. Once in, the skeletal assassin carefully checked for secret doors in Nordula's chambers. Her two cohorts assisted, while Thane did the same using magic. Thane found a magical stone in the mantle of the fireplace in Nordula's bedroom. He dispelled it, then carefully pried it off and put it in a tiny metal box. In the study Elizabetta found a bookcase that slid aside revealing another bookcase hidden within the wall behind the first. "Excellent, you are a fine servant of our god, Elizabetta." Kent ran in. "town guardsmen, master." Rapina gasped, "You've had it now!" Thane dispelled the books in the hidden bookcase in case any were magically trapped. "Examine the case for mechanical traps then get those books loaded. I have other things to attend to." Thane smiled. "I Have no worries as long as these fools have no mage," He rasped as he passed her. I shall increase the darkened areas of the castle. You shall immobilize these meddling town guardsmen. It appears that someone escaped the castle and fetched them. As the darkened areas grew, ghouls chittered and men screamed. "Skeletons, front four ranks, defend only. Let the ghouls handle this," Thane ordered. A lone guard somehow made it past the skeletons and into the room. "Thane pointed a finger at him and said, "Death" in the frightening voice of his death mask. The town guardsman blanched and ran from the room as if the hounds of hell were chasing him. Rapina peered from the back of the horse she was draped over as if paralyzed. "What hideous spell was that?" She whispered. "He didn't give me a chance to cast one," Thane chuckled. Rapina groaned. Thane had simply scared the man. It was much quicker than spellcasting. "Good, I think we are set here; Let us head for the laboratory," Thane said. Rapina just shook her head, Thane was so casual. He cast spells to detect and dispel while Elizabetta and her assassins checked for traps and entered the laboratory. It was really surprising how few traps there were. Rapina supposed it stood to reason since Nordula was actually using his books and laboratory probably less than an hour before they had arrived. Thane snatched up a kettle, some lab books, various items and reagents from the lab and then had them packed in one of the horses. When he was satisfied they left the laboratory. Upstairs the ghouls were slinking around paralyzing anyone who dared enter the magical darkness. Once outside the castle, Rapina heard arrows wiz by in the air. Thankfully none hit her. Soon Thane and his entourage were marching towards the forest in darkness that was lost in the night. The ghouls paralyzed those soldiers foolish enough to enter the inky blackness surrounding the necromancer's caravan. Thane chuckled, "I'm sure Li'Yeiraun's troops would have been better equipped with light stones and such, but I would venture to guess just about all of them are being used at the pirate camp along with any other magical items Nordula might have that would aid in a battle. When they got to the previously consecrated graveyard, Thane cast graveyard mists. The entourage appeared in a cemetery next to an ancient temple that Rapina had never seen. They entered a stream near the temple and traveled half a mile to a lake. There Thane again cast the graveyard mists spell. Next they appeared briefly on an island in a steamy swamp. They followed an ancient road into the water, and from there Thane took them to the abode. "Was that lake a cemetary?" Rapina asked. Thane wiped his brow and chuckled, "both the lake and the swamp were sites where a great many bodies were dumped or fell from ancient battles. The cemeteries I took us too were consecrated and or warded, and each had a rich history behind it. All these things tend to be very hard on divination magics." "Oh, I get it," Rapina said. "Given that Nordula's forebears were fond of reading the tea leaves, I decided to make it very difficult if not impossible for him to figure out my final destination. Thane smiled. Now get dressed, we must rescue the pirates. Rames is with them playing Karmoz, my soldierly assistant who wears a helmet with a leather mask. Thane collapsed on a chair in the great hall, "I must rest for a moment." Thane wiped the sweat from his brow. He had cast far too many spells already. --- Fletcher Arzeal grimaced as an arrow grazed his arm. It was obvious that Li'Yieraun's men included some half-elves or elves. The first decoy group of pirates had left the camp at half past midnight. They had spotted the expected ambush and had routed back into camp, landing many enemies in the pit traps and deadly snares that had been set up for them. The center of the pirates' camp was now a fortified dip in the ground that had been squared up, its walls made sheer and reinforced by timbers. Earth had been spread out from the walls to make sure fire would not spread easily in the pirates' makeshift keep. Some of the old camp shacks still stood, and the perimeter of the camp was protected by standing spears and armed skeletons buried in extremely shallow graves so that the enemy could not count them. The tent that once stood around the ship was empty, but it had been left up as a ploy so that the enemy would believe there was still a ship within. Arzeal picked off another man and then heard a far off scream. He wondered if Edgar was responsible and found himself almost wishing Kroz would arrive with the rest of the ghouls. For now, the battle was a stalemate. Afraid of the traps set by the pirates, the nobleman's forces surrounded the pirate camp and attempted to pick Jacks men off with arrows, however most of the men were behind solid cover. Arzeal was busy attempting to fend off the elves among the enemy, unfortunately, there appeared to be perhaps ten of them and they were moving in to attempt to find a way to get at the hiding pirates. Almost too late Arzeal spotted the heat signatures in the trees. He tapped the man in the leather mask. "Ten archers in the trees over there," Arzeal said. The pirates screamed as many arrows found their marks. "97th archers rise and fire," Karmoz, the masked warrior played by Rames said. Seven skeletal archers rose from their very shallow graves and fired on the archers in the trees. Their vision was not hampered in the least by the darkness. Li'Yiraun Archers began screaming and falling from the trees as arrows began hitting them. Well back from the front lines and surrounded by his personal guard, Lord Heinrich Li'Yeiraun brooded as news came in from his messengers. "The elves attempted to use the trees to get high enough to get by the cover of the pirate earthworks, but the pirates somehow spotted them, and fired back picking our men off!" Captain Gleister reported. "Damn it! Does Jack have more elves than we thought?" Count Li'Yeiraun asked. "It is easy to see that our archers do not have the visual advantage as we thought. The enemy has those who can see and fire on them even under cover of foliage and darkness," Captain Gleister said. "Captain, we must use our infantry. Our numbers are superior. Concentrate them and attempt to break the pirate perimeter." --- Arzeal listened as a hoard of soldiers came in from the South, "Ready archers." A red spotlight directed by the pirates illumined the approach. The hired soldiers screamed battle cries and came forward. "Fire at will!" Arzeal ordered. "77th archers rise to kneel, and fire at will," Karmoz ordered. A group of ten skeleton archers rose from their shallow graves and began firing at the enemy. "Heheh, I see yew." Brackston fired arrow after arrow as did every pirate in a wild effort to break the enemy charge. "47th archers, rise, wheel right, fire at will," Karmoz ordered. 77th infantry, ready spears, all set and rise to crouch." "Do them numbers have anything to do with anything?" Skitch asked. "Other than incorporating a few memory hooks as to what direction they're in, the numbers have nothing whatever to do with anything," Karmoz whispered. The skeletons are told what group they are in, and it doesn't really matter to them what the name or number is. I like to keep the numbers large so the enemy thinks we have plenty of squads," Karmoz chuckled. "Heheh, good deal." Skitch let fly another shaft and then another. Skitch howled with crazed laughter as the front lines of mercenaries met the raised spears of the skeletons. "Ghosts!" "Skeletons!" "Vampires!" The mercenary charge turned into a route as the sheer horror of fighting undead enemies was suddenly sprung on them. "Aye, tharr we got 'em! Pound tharr backs with arrows men, every one we hit is one that we won't be seein' in th' next charge." That warr shock value; th' idiots don't know it, but they could 'ave won through if their livers hadn't turned ta lillies. That hesitation at th' skeletons allowed are arrows ta do their best work an' give their fear some grounds, but it warr smoke and mirrors. Now they'll 'ave ta regroup, an' that'll buy us some time. If Heinie knew how few there are of us, and how green me men are, he'd be on us in a heartbeat, but after we turned 'is ambush on th' road into one of our own, he's broodin'; he don't trust 'is luck, an' 'e thinks I got a trick up me sleeve as usual. He'll be spittin' nails when 'e finds out what I really 'ad up me sleeve." --- "Animated skeletons milord, there must have been hundreds of them," the mercenary commander said. "My men were pinned down by missile fire, and when we made the edge of the camp proper, the undead met us with spears!" The commander's voice wavered. "Morale broke and we routed." "Fools, you lost your heads. How many of these fell creatures were there? Have you a reliable count, or have the numbers grown with the telling?" Li'Yeiraun asked. "Pathfinder, send a few trustworthy and level-headed men up for a look. If we are outnumbered, I want to know about it. If not then we must prepare for another charge. Incompetent mercenaries! It is just like that slippery, cheating son of a bitch pirate to find himself a dark priest or necromancer just when I have him in my grasp!" Li'Yeiraun snarled. ------------ It was the better part of an hour before the Li'Yeiraun's next charge was set up. This one had a backbone of his own men behind the mercenary front lines, and everyone had been informed that a skeleton could be destroyed much as a man could be. "What's keepin' that damn Kroz, I sure hope he didn't sell out ta Heinie. Arzeal, what's goin' on out tharr?" Captain Red Jack asked. "They're massing for a charge, sir, a big one," Arzeal replied. "Karmoz, it's goin' ta be all we can do ta hold this'n back. If I had ta make a guess, I'd say we're cooked. I'd move th' bulk o' yer forces up ta th' front they'll be attackin.' Then again, I wouldn't put it past Heiny ta try ta send a little squad up are ass while we're occupied. " "I will move the skeletons on the sides somewhat towards the front, and leave those in the rear as reserves," Karmoz whispered. "Sounds like a plan," Jack said. "Mates, lets be gettin' every arrow we 'ave left out an' ready, thisn's goin' ta be big, and we might not live through it. Damn necromancer's still playin' hookie. Thank all th' gods 'e brought us a hoard o' arrows night before last. We're going ta need 'em." A few minutes later the charge was sounded. Arzeal climbed a large tree in the camp and took cover behind a stout limb. He was the first archer to begin firing. His elevation, night vision and accuracy were second to none. The pirates could see a little better than usual as the mercenaries had brought a few mage lights with them and many of the bodies gave spotty illumination to the area of the forest they had come through. As soon as the enemy could be seen, the pirates let fly. "Shoot fast, but make 'em count, mates." The captain drew back his bow and fired. Many men fell to the pirate archers, but the enemy got closer and closer, soon melee broke out between the front lines of the attackers and the skeleton spearmen at the perimeter of the camp. The pirates continued to ply their bows from the fortified center of the camp. "Good evening," Kroz said as he dropped the illusion he had used to get Rapina, his ghouls and skeletons from the graveyard to the pirate camp. "It looks like the skeletons could use a hand." "Glad ye could make it, I was beginnin' ta think ye were workin' fer Heinie." Jack snaped. Kroz droned a few syllables and the front line was engulfed in darkness. "Nay, the packing took longer than expected, and I had to use a bit of misdirection to guarantee I would not be magically tracked later. What is the news," Kroz asked. "Th' news is that tharr is a charge we 'aven't got a snowball's chance in 'ell o' stoppin.' Got any bright ideas on how ye're going ta get us outta here before they're on top of us?" Jack asked. "I have brought a few additional troops. And this scroll of shadow summoning," Kroz said. Thane rolled out a scroll and intoned the spell. The shadows seemed to coalesce into something shaped vaguely like a human. Kroz pointed at the creature, "You will obey Kent, this ghoul. Kent, you and your ghouls will keep the enemy occupied while I escape with the pirates. Eat when it is safe, and double or triple your number if it is convenient. I will set up as much magical darkness in the area in addition to what I have already cast on you and yours as I can before I leave. Be advised, however, that the other side has a mage. If their mage begins dispelling the darkness, then rout and use hit and run tactics around their parameter until near dawn. At that time find burrows and dig in. When Li'Yieraun pulls out, I will come to collect you and your new friends. During the nights to come, continue using hit and run tactics. If you are doing well, see if you can locate and loot the tent of their mage, Nordula. Use a diversion to draw him away or wait until he steps out on his own accord if that proves practical. Do not risk yourselves unduly once we have left. At that time your primary objectives will be to survive, feed, multiply, and demoralize the enemy" Kroz began casting; darkness engulfed more and more of the forest around the pirates. Now whisper it to the next man, join hands, then we go South forty paces to an area I prepared earlier. Kroz cast vision in darkness on the pirate officers, then resumed casting magical darkness until sweat bristled from his brow. The last spell put out the lights in the pirate camp. The men began to march South. In the darkness, they could hear the ghouls at work on mercenaries who had won their way past the skeletal troops. Kroz took hold of the hands of Rapina and Red jack and placed them on his shoulders. "Let us pray." Kroz set up an illusion spell to echo the murmurings of the pirates so that the source of the sound could not easily be located, and then began casting graveyard mists. "Hail Mortaebius, Lord of the dead..." Arzeal stood at the perimeter of the group of pirates. He let fly one shaft after another, assisting the ghouls as they kept the enemy confused and away from the pirates. A recruit kept his hand on the archer's shoulder and kept him moving as the group stepped forward slowly while the mists rose. Arzeal droned the prayer to Mortaebius he had learned as he sent mercenary after mercenary to join the god of the dead. When the mists cleared, Rapina and Red Jack were holding the necromancer up. "I must rest. I do hope I got everyone," Kroz rasped. "All right, get yer red lights on, lets see who we got," Red Jack ordered. Rapina moved the slider on her mage light and illumined the area around her in Red. The captain and the officers took stock and conferred. "We lost about ten ta death before th' escape, and four either got lost 'er Kroz didn't get 'em moved 'cause they weren't touchin th' rest of us, er weren't prayin' ta Mortaebius. Those men'll be missed. Thanks ta Slice, it looks like we still got Bloody Brackston. Ye can tell me how ye liked yer first transport by magic later, Brackston." Some of ye may wonder what this warr all about. Well what we did was Kroz took a stab at their mage while 'e warr occupied with chasin' us pirates. If it works, then that mage is going ta have a harder time nailin' us, and at the same time, are mage is goin' ta be more powerful. Also we made areselves some money, an I got me wench a little extra education, on account of negotiatin' a good deal all around. If we're lucky, Kroz may be able ta retrieve some o' th' cadavers from tanight's battle, but ye never know. It depends on what ol' Heinie does now that 'e's out there all alone. Now lets get movin' Tharr's more'n a few miles ta cover afore we get ta are new camp." The story continues in [Rapina]032 Yieraun Castle copyright 2001, by Rapina The Touch of Darkness Back to, The Jolly Roger, page [Rapina]027 In The Eyes of a Sword [Rapina]028 The Touch of Darkness *[Rapina]029 Spies and Assasins [Rapina]030 Seeping Toxins [Rapina]031 The Shadows of Wizardry [Rapina]027 In The Eyes of a Sword Once Jack Had shaken on the deal, he asked about the particulars. "Now when will ye be puttin' up yer protections again' other mages an' how?" "Have you buried any recruits or spies near the camp?" Roger asked. "Aye, we've got a small collection o' graves o'er yonder," Jack said. "Good, Rapina and I will consecrate the graveyard to Mortaebius yet tonight, and Kroz will come tomorrow night to get a closer look at the area and place the wards for the camp. Even now you are not totally without protection. I have within my skull an enchanted item that wards an area the radius of the length of a longship around me. If I am aboard a vessel it will be protected from faraway remote viewing by a special enchantment that influences remote viewing to be unable to see people and their constructions. Terrain will otherwise appear as it really does. For closer-in viewing, such as when an enemy mage knows or stumbles on the exact location of a ship or the camp, enemy mages will see natural-looking magical static that obscures vision. In addition, teleportation magic will not function normally within the confines of the ward. Those teleporting in will be killed or severely wounded when their materialization is scrambled somewhat, and those trying to teleport out will fail to dematerialize. In addition, I should be able to detect remote viewing when it is attempted within the ward. Enemy mages will be dealt with as Kroz sees fit," Roger said. "Kroz will be in tomorrow night? Then I'd like ta invite Rapina ta stay here tanight, would that be aright?" Roger paused a moment. "Kroz says She may stay now and leave with him tomorrow night if she wishes," Roger said. "Aye then will ye stay girl?" Jack asked. Rapina nodded. "Sure, but I'm not used to sleeping at night. Kroz keeps a nocturnal schedule." "That'll be fine, ye can do yer consecratin' and catch up w' the night watch once I'm sleepin' if ye like. I think Rage is on one o' th' posts tanight. Meantime, I'd like ta hog ye fer a bit soon as I get Roger situated to 'is night's work," Jack said. Rapina nodded and smiled. "Roger, I'd have ye work here in me tent if it weren't fer th' fact that I'd feel silly tryin' ta romance me wench with a walkin' bag o' bones in th' room. On th' other hand I got a heap o' book work for ye. We got so much new goin' on, and wi' only six o' me old men here I've been putin off th' book work somthin' fierce. What little 'as been done, 'as been done by me an' Drake, an' he's somewhat new at 'is letters so 'e ain't near as fast as ye are. I'll fix ye up with a table in th' supply tent right next ta this tent," Jack said. "Rapina, this'll take me a bit as I'll 'ave ta explain ta Roger what's happenin'. Why don't ye go back ta th' fire an' catch up with what men are still up 'an around while ye wait," Jack said. "Okay, I'll go scare Brackston." Rapina smirked. The captain laughed as they exited the tent. Rapina went back to the camp's central fire. There were several men sitting around the fire, including Pike who was there with some bandages. He was talking to Brackston and Skitch. Rapina sat down next to Pike. Brackston looked uneasily at Rapina. "I'm sorry I couldn't do any better for him, Brackston, but I got the distinct feeling it was this, another execution, or Jack and the rest of you loosing as much weight as Roger. Rapina took Pike's hand and started bandaging it properly. "You don't have any herbs, do you?" Rapina asked. Pike shook his head. We don't have a leech, and even if we did, it was already getting cold before we got the camp built. Otherwise maybe Arzeal could have come up with something. Doanthalas is around here too, but only since yesterday. He and his woman Elizabetta, Rage, and the Li'Yeiraun pair, Mansun the pathfinder and Adriana Li'Yeiraun. It turns out Adrianna is really Captain Red Jack's daughter on account of some foolin' around he did with Heinrich Li'Yeiraun's wife years back." "Jack has a daughter? I'd like to meet her," Rapina said. "She's bedded down for the night, but I expect you'll be meeting her in the morning," Pike said. Rapina nodded. "Sorry about the hand." Pike grinned, "That was my fault. After all those arrows bounced off you and Roger, I should have had more sense than to try something. No hard feelings though, I know you're doing the best you can for Jack." Rapina nodded. "So what's that necromancer like. I mean as a man?" Pike asked. "Kroz is intense, a bit scary, very intelligent and, as long as he respects you, he's a fair man," Rapina said. "Are you his mistress?" a young pirate named Zit asked. Rapina smiled at the armed youth who stood nearby. Blemishes scarred and speckled his face. "I'm an apprentice to Kroz actually. I clean the house, make the meals, tend the garden and study every spare minute I can find. Lately I study more because there's no garden in the winter." "Rapina here used ta be a crewman," Skitch said. "I helped ta train her up meself. 'Best ruttin' student I ever had." Skitch chuckled. Rapina blushed. "Basic was tough for me. Thankfully, I had a number of friends and benefactors here. If I didn't enjoy, ah, dealing with men, I probably would not have made it. Watch out for Skitch though, he drives a hard bargain," Rapina smiled. The men laughed. "Rapina, yew warr good as any I raised up, but yew didn't fit. Yew were always too damn smart, an' too pretty a pussy. Yew put a cramp in me style. All th' boys were too busy ogglin' yew ta get in trouble so's I could pump some brains up their ass. That 'an I had ta make sure none o' them boys done nothin' again' yer will an' th' cap'n's orders. Right taxin' yew were," Brackston said. "You did good though, Brackston, never gave me any trouble as long as I behaved. I think the captain put me in your barracks because he knew you'd be more tempted by the boys." Rapina smiled. "No secret I like th' boys. That's what keeps 'em in line. What kind o' spooks do yew have ta put up wif over wif Kroz?" "Mostly walking skeletons, but I don't mind them so much anymore because they help me with the housework," Rapina said. "Help yew with the housework?!" Brackston cringed. "Yew mean yew spend yer days in th' company of a bunch o' dead men?" "Kroz is a necromancer, I don't have a lot of say about his taste in servants. Kroz procured Kent and Edgar while we were lifting the rest of the pirate bodies. He is doing some sort of project on Kent. I see them both on occasion, though I don't like to deal with them. I think the skeletons are more trustworthy," Rapina said. Brackston shivered, "Ghouls! I don't know why yew aren't a jibberin' crazy mess, Rapina." Rapina took a moment to think about what she had been through. "Me neither," she said. The pirates laughed heartily. "I guess I'm too interested in the magic lessons to worry too much about the creepiness of it all. I can't say much more, you know how sorcerers are about their secrets." Brackston nodded gravely, and there was a brief silence around the fire. "Aright wench, I got me skinny assistant puttin' me sorry books back in order. Hey, ye know, I'll bet he never has ta take a pee break th' whole night," Red Jack chuckled as Brackston grimaced. Back in the old days Jack had enjoyed having Doanthalas in the cage just because having something the men were scared of made it easier to keep them in line. Although working with the necromancer might be dangerous in the long run, depending on how long the holy war lasted, the captain knew that having the spooks around would make his job a whole lot easier. Jack took Rapina's hand and the two of them started towards his tent as the captain spoke over his shoulder," Rapina's nocturnal as a minx, er lynx these days, men, so she'll be out here again whilst I'm sawing wood. I'll catch ye in th' mornin. I got some speechifyin' ta do afore th' men soon as they get up. I want 'em up a few minutes early tamarra, so wake 'em when the birds start a chirpin' heraldin' dawn but before th' rosy hues start brighten' up th' sky. It's got ta still be dark. That's important." "There now girl," Jack smiled as he let Rapina into his tent. We got a lot o' catchin' up ta do, but I 'spect we can do some 'o that tamarra. How's that old spook been treatin' ye?" Jack asked. "He's stern, but fair," Rapina said. "I work hard and study hard, but the fact that the priest who made me an outlaw in the first place was of the vindicator makes me something of a heroine with the priests of Mortaebius. That certainly hasn't hurt me." Rapina smiled. "I'm glad someone got a lucky break out o' that isle o' th' dead. Pickin' that rock fer a base almost made me a shadow o' me former self. Then it nearly cost me my head. It would 'ave if some o' me good men hadna escaped ta rescue me. I jus' recently got Doanthalas an' Rage back, but they came wi' baggage. Doanthalas' toatin' a woman I got ta remember ta have Roger check out. She walks too much like a feline fer me tastes, an' Rage brought me daughter and a condemned Li'Yeiraun pathfinder with 'im. I don't trust him neither. It's been a real zoo since ye left me. I got way too many green recruits an' not nearly enough veterans." Jack grimaced. "I'm glad you're making the best of it, Jack," Rapina smirked as she hung her cloak on a peg on Jack's tent pole while the pirate captain stoked up his tiny pot- bellied stove. Red Jack chuckled, "Aye, that I am. It reminds me o' th' old days when I first started out as a pirate. It's full circle, I guess. Enough o' business, I been eyein' that scarlet dress o' yours an' it's drivin' me up a wall. As ye might 'ave guessed I once 'ad a taste fer noblewenches. I've feasted me eyes on plenty o' finery in me day, but I can't say as though I can remember a single one o' them noblewenches who could fill th' finery like ye can, up down, all aroun'." Rapina smiled and blushed. Ye've been growin' up while ye've been gone girl. Ye carry yerself different too, like a gentlewoman. Ye're gettin' class. Is that spook a nobleman? Rapina hung her rapier and weapons belt on the headboard of Jack's bed, then sat down next to him. "Kroz did have some contact with the upper crust and he thought it would be wise for someone with my particular magical talent and specialty to know deportment, so he has been drilling me on it." "Drillin ye?" Jack chuckled. Well, whatever else 'e may be, 'e's taught ye a useful thing er two. What o' this magical specialty? Can ye do any tricks?" Rapina grinned, "Well, I have a talent, but outside of that I can't do so much as a cantrip. Even doing those simple feats of magic requires several years of practice to develop the necessary underlying ability, even if the aptitude is there." "Ye got a talent at least, is that a common thing for an apprentice?" Jack asked. "No, I don't think so, but it's certainly more common for a magic apprentice to have one than just anyone, I suppose," Rapina said. "What is yer talent if ye don't mind me askin', girl?" Jack asked. "Rapina smirked. I think you could answer that one for yourself, Jack," Rapina stroked her hands down Jack's chest, pulling at his lust all the way down to his belly. "Damn yer good at that!" Jack exclaimed. Rapina smiled as she started to undo Jack's shirt. "Talented?" Rapina asked. "Aye, so that's it. Ye've a magic snatch," Jack said. Rapina giggled, then caressed the inside of the Captain's thigh and watched his skin take on a ruddy hue as his manhood strained to leap out of his pants. "I suppose you could put it that way," Rapina said. "Ye do have knack fer th' bedroom; is that yer magic?" Jack asked. Rapina noded. "What can ye do with that besides make a man fall all over 'imself? Jack said breathing heavily as he worked to undo Rapina's bodice." "With sex magic? Theoretically quite a bit, but I need to develop my talent." Rapina unbuckled Jack's belt. "I think I can help ye with that," Jack took a deep breath as he pulled Rapina's dress down and looked at her scarlet bustier. "I like this one even better than th' one I first saw ye in," Jack said. "This one fits." Rapina smiled. "Aye, th' design looks ta be made fer yer figure, an there's even more fillin' th' cups than there was when ye were younger. Ye always did have nice tits, girl, an they just keep gettin' better. Rapina smiled, stepped out of her dress and folded it over Jack's chair while the Captain removed his trousers. The captain's erection stood at attention. "Ye're still in better shape than any noblewench I've seen. 'as ol' spooky been makin' ye carry water aroun' 'is 'aunted castle?" Jack asked. Rapina giggled, "No, actually I have been training with an assistant of his," Rapina said. "At arms?" Jack asked. Rapina nodded. "Spooky must trust ye quite a bit," Jack said. "Yes, that and he's a necromancer, so I'd still be in trouble even if I successfully killed him," Rapina said. Jack chuckled, "I see yer point. I notice ye carry a rapier, but it ain't that nice one I got ye. Is that what ye've been trainin' at?" "Yes, I miss that blade. I'm hoping I can convince Kroz to buy me another from the Montfort forge. I've continued to train in rapier, plus unarmed, and a little bow work so I don't get rusty," Rapina said. Jack caressed Rapina's sides and back through her bustier. "Aye, yer in great shape. Do ye eat bettern' ye did as a pirate?" Jack asked. Rapina grinned, "Yes, Kroz is a wealthy man, his table is well stocked. Sometimes I'm the one who stocks it. We apprentices have to work for a living too, you know," Rapina said. "Aye," Jack chuckled as he cupped Rapina's breasts beneath her bustier then grasped her sides and moved her onto his lap. I can see how havin' a woman like you aroun' would make 'im feel especially wealthy. 'e sure does dress ye nice. Where did these under things come from?" Jack asked. "Argos, Kroz really gets around." Rapina could feel Jack's hardness against her cheeks. His lust burned through her silken panties and coursed up her spine. The captain chuckled and turned. He rose slightly so that Rapina's rump slid off his lap and then he gently pushed her down on the bed. Jack unclipped her silk stockings then reached under her bustier and pealed the scarlet panties from her body as she lifted her long legs. "I'm just glad he ain't th' jealous type. Ye know I found ye that isle jus' so ye could get inta the company of them mage types," Jack winked as he stroked Rapina's smooth inner thighs. Rapina smiled up at the captain, her legs bent at the knees and slightly apart as she lay on the bed. "I should have known you had the whole thing planned. That was quite a sacrifice to make for my education. How will I ever repay you?" Rapina asked. Jack chuckled lustily as he caressed Rapina's nether lips, already quite wet with lubrication. "I'm sure we can work somethin' out. Besides, I couldn't cheat th' world out o' a magic snatch. It would be against me religion. It would 'ave been down right sacrilegious o' me even ta think about it. Jack's nimble fingers worked over Rapina's slippery labia, dipping into her honey and using it to lubricate her swollen clit. It's a work o' art, an it's got plenty o' zip an' slip to it. A woman with sex drive like ye've got is a rare jewel. I'll bet ye could take th' whole camp on an' never go dry," Jack marveled. "Sometime I'll have to find out," Rapina said half seriously. "Sometimes I think ye already have," Jack said. Rapina giggled. She did recall certain very busy evenings during basic. "Well, not everyone." "Jfft abot," The captain's voice was muffled between Rapina's velvety thighs. Rapina moaned between deep breaths, and before long, lights filled her mind as she came. She could touch Jack's mind from her peak as she might have touched a gray cloud from a mountaintop. She resisted the urge to reinforce the captain's lust and let the cloud go by, gathering only a hint of her affection as it passed. Captain Red Jack brought her to climax numerous times in the next couple of hours. Rapina let him take her twice before sending a sleepy, calming mood to his mind during her final orgasm. She took it easy on him, but not quite as easy as she once had, for she felt he now trusted her enough that she might let him learn the truth. After Jack fell asleep, Rapina cleaned up as best she could at Jack's basin, then gathered up her clothes, dressed and headed back through the cold winter's night towards the camp's central fires. The wind was chill, but she hardly felt it through the glow Red Jack had left within her. The vindicator's teachings admonished her to feel triply guilty about her tryst with Jack. It was sex before marriage, sex with a second partner, and sex in the face of being involved with Rames, currently her primary lover. Honest lust, the vindicator could not stand it, so he could not stand her either. Now that she was back in the pirate camp, she would do what came naturally if she felt like it. Rapina shook her head, the vindicator that had been revealed to her by reverend Evangeline was a sham. Jack, Thane and Rames were evil men, but they were not deceivers as Evangeline had been. She did not know what goddess of lust might control her fait. For now, she was fairly sure she had been loaned to Mortaebius, the god of the dead. She was content to be of use in his struggle against the vindicator's "pious" followers who preached honesty and justice while they dressed as bandits, killed priests and burned the temples of other gods. "Hail Mortaebius, guardian of the dead. A creature of life and lust am I, glad in thy just service to draw nigh, lust, and life, and death - one cycle, life goes by. Death is fact and a god I will not deny, and as lust I shall serve thee to kill the lie." "Well met Rapina," Roger said. Startled, Rapina lurched to a halt. She looked up just in time not to run right into Roger. What was even more startling than the appearance of the skeleton was the fact that Rapina could swear she had seen him smiling when she first looked up. "How can a skeleton be smiling without lips?" Rapina rationalized to herself. "The graveyard is this way. Shall we consecrate it before you begin socializing?" Roger asked. "Uh, sure, that way I can have the rest of the night with the men." Rapina smiled. "Indeed." Roger silently led the way through the snow, his boney feet hardly leaving a trail. "The graves are here." "They are?" Rapina asked, for she could see only snow. "Yes, I will show you. Roger walked elongated ovals marking four graves. Mortaebius knows where the dead lie. What we will do here tonight is merely a formality. It works a magic sympathetic to Kroz's spell and will allow him to come to this graveyard more easily. What he attempts tomorrow night is a new feat for him. In the past he has come to graveyards he has been to that are familiar to him. This one is different. He has viewed it only through his pool, and he will be counting on us to mark it, to add something familiar to it to make his spell surer. It is good we are both present. If this first attempt is successful, he will have greater confidence, confidence that could be very important in the months to come. This will be a simple ritual. Roger walked a rectangle around the four graves. I will walk along the lines of this rectangle, as I move you will move, always in the same direction, but you will remain always be on a diagonal corner from from me. I will say a prayer, and you will repeat it or say another if you cannot remember it. Any questions?" "none." Rapina smiled. "Good, I will stand on the Northeast corner and you on the Southwest to start," Roger said. "Hail Mortaebius guardian of the dead, we the dead who lie here entreat thee, hallow this ground that we might rest," Roger intoned. "Hail Mortaebius, keeper of the deceased, we the living entreat thee, hallow this ground that the dead be held in thy embrace, to rise only in the direst need," Rapina incanted. Roger walked clockwise around the periphery to the next corner, and intoned another prayer. Rapina moved as Roger did, arriving to pray first in the Northwest, then in the Northeast where Roger started. "...and thus we close the circle, life and death, the cycle is complete." "Excellent, Rapina. I had no idea you knew the prayers of consecration and in your first prayer you added, "to rise only in the direst need," a line that is most often left off these days. I expected a much less proper ritual. Your performance was as flawless as a priest's. Tell me, why do you know such things?" Roger asked. Rapina blushed, "I don't think I am meant to be a priestess of Mortaebius. I'm just not into the dead like Kroz, but Mortaebius has been a good patron to me, and I am honored to be his ally. I studied one of Guardian Rames' books that he had from being a chaplain before he actually became a priest. It's a handbook for church deacons. The line I added was mentioned in the footnote as the historical form, but given the situation, I thought it would be appropriate," Rapina said. "Yes, I remember your uncommon sharp wit," Roger said. "You know the rituals and serve my master well. There are things best done by the living. Your aptitudes are a fine complement to our own. Thank you Rapina. You may return to the warmth of the fire, and rest assured, Mortaebius recognizes a good servant, even if she is an ally not natural to his service." "Thank you Roger," Rapina said as she waved and left death to contemplate the graves in the biting winter wind. --- The central campfire shone like a beacon guiding Rage towards the cluster of tents in the distance. The young pirate finished strapping on his sword as he walked. He had been cleaning it when one of the new pirates had brought news of Rapina's arrival. It could only be Rapina judging by the man's description. Few women could rival her beauty. Rage wasn't sure he believed that she had stepped out of the fire with a demon in tow. That was a lot of superstitious nonsense most likely fueled by the return of Doanthalas. The old crewmembers knew he wasn't a demon spawn, but the new crew had yet to come to that conclusion. "It will be good to see Rapina again," Rage thought as he felt a swelling in his pants. "For more than a few reasons..." He smiled as he looked down at the stone set in the hilt of his sword. Things were looking up. Soon what was left of the old crew would be back together again. They would once again be strong and feared. Rage loved being a pirate. All the action, women, and booty a man could want...and then some. His smile widened as he approached the camp. --- The mage Nordula watched intently as Rage returned to the camp from guard duty. "The only thing more boring than being on guard duty is watching someone who is on guard duty," he mused. As much as Nordual hated babysitting this young pirate he hated the thought of Lord Li'Yeiraun's wrath even more. At least the magical stone set in the sword hilt was doing its job... and remarkably well. It had been a good plan to leave the sword where Rage was sure to pick it up. Now with the sword and stone strapped to the young pirate's hip the images were coming through crystal clear. The image in the center of the kettle shifted and seemed to shimmer for a moment. It began to jump and coalesce into a whirlpool of color. Something was interfering with Nordula's scrying. It appeared as though it were some natural disturbance, an upwelling of earth energy, or some such; it might also have been a clever ward, but where would a simple pirate captain have come upon such a thing? In any case, it was not a good sign. He did not think that Jack had any mages to detect let alone deal with his magical workings. No, if it was countermagic, some magical device plundered from one of Red Jack's victims more likely caused it. It had not been in effect at the guard post. Therefore, it likely had a range. If that was so then the stone in the sword could still be of use when Rage was away from the center of the camp. Still Nordula would have to inform Henrich of this development. Something would have to be done to ensure that their prey did not escape. The mage wrapped his robes around him and stepped outside to summon one of his apprentices. He found a candidate studying in his library. "Kall! Come and watch over the scrying kettle! The image has faded, but let me know the moment it reappears. I must find Lord Li'Yeiraun." He waved a hand at the boy as he disappeared in a cloud of colored smoke. --- It had been a few days since Doantalis had lain with Elisabetta. He had not spoken to her either. She had made her choice. Her loyalty to Paolo had been stronger than her feelings for Doanthalas. It hurt...a lot! But, then again, the elf's life had been nothing but pain for the last fifty years or so. He was becoming jaded...numb to the whole experience. Once again everything was happening at once; Elisabetta was plotting to assassinate Red Jack, Rapina had returned, and Jack's daughter had come looking for Drake. Nothing was ever easy. Doanthalas had to decide what to do about Elisabetta. He felt no loyalty towards Jack, but he had also seen quite enough killing for one lifetime. Almost without thinking the elf pulled the locket out of his pocket and held it in his hand. Inside was the picture of the guard he had slain and his family. Of all the lives he had taken over the past fifty years this one affected him the most. Doanthalas had been able to justify the other killings. It was justice pure and simple. But this was different. The only thing the guard had been guilty of was doing his job. Then there was Rapina. Where had she been and why had she returned? He was not going to get an answer while he sat there and brooded so he pocketed the locket and made his way towards the center of camp. --- Mansun Dido sat around the large central fire watching the pirates with mild interest. They still regarded him as an outsider so he sat alone. In fact, the only person in the camp who seemed to show him any amount of respect at all had been the tattooed elf. He was sure the elf did not trust him yet, but that would come in time. The pirates had been content to sneer at him or ignore him depending on their moods. Sitting amongst the pirates chatting away like an old comrade-in-arms was the woman Rapina. She was a difficult one to figure out. He detected strength in her that was intriguing and frightening at the same time. All the more terrifying because her beauty seemed to distract, the men at least, from it. At the moment he wasn't worried about her though. Elisabetta had him worried. For the past few days she had cut herself off from the elf. Something had happened to push them apart. When he had first met them they seemed to almost dote on one another...almost. Now she avoided him whenever possible. What's more she had taken on a subtle, but dangerous edge. Once again she was nowhere to be found. Neither was the elf for that matter. But Doanthalas didn't worry Mansun. He was dangerous, no doubt, but the pathfinder felt secure in the feeling that he had nothing to fear from him. There was an infinite sadness to the elf that seemed to permeate everything he did and said. Something horrible must have happened to him in the past. The pathfinder's thoughts were interrupted by the appearance of the young pirate Rage. Apparently, he was returning from guard duty. --- Rage finished his business and exited the latrine. For some reason he felt uneasy. He looked around. He guessed it was nothing. In any case he needed sleep. He walked briskly back towards the barracks tent. Nordula's chambers dissolved and were replaced by an outdoor scene. Deitrich froze in place and held his breath a moment. A young pirate wearing a nice sword left the outhouse beside him and seemed to look right through him before he walked up the path back towards the pirate camp. Nordula had not explained why he had to teleport Deitrich so close to the camp, but he was glad the cloaking spell had lasted through the transfer. Looking around, the spy quickly got his bearings and made his way to a thick cluster of bushes. Traveling via Nordula's magic had not been nearly as disconcerting as he thought it might be. He actually thought he could get used to it. It sure beat riding weeks through rugged terrain to reach his destination. He stealthily put a little distance between the pirate camp and himself before the invisibility wore off. If he could find out where the watch posts were while still cloaked, it would make his job much easier. "I've arrived," he said into the magic stone hanging from his neck. The stone seemed to pulse with light as Nordula's voice emanated from it, "Excellent! Keep us informed of any developments." The light from the stone faded as the spy nodded and stealthily made his way around the periphery of the pirate camp. ----------------------- Adriana was beautiful lying there beside him. She was asleep. Drake hadn't known her long at all, but already his heart belonged to her. That was precisely the reason Drake was lying there seriously considering Jack's request. He had given up a lot to become a pirate and had lost just as much during the course of becoming one. Drake leaned over and kissed her on the lips. She stirred and rolled to her side draping an arm over his chest. Losing Adriana was not a thought he could stand. That was why he had decided to do as Jack requested and take her away from the pirates. They would start a new life elsewhere. Jack had a friend who knew important people in foreign lands who could help them get a start. Drake Stretched and yawned. Pulling the covers up he nestled in close to Adriana and draped his arm around her. In minutes he, too, was asleep. ------- [Rapina]028 The Touch of Darkness Rapina looked up from her conversation with a few of the recruits as Rage approached wearing a new sword. Pike had gone to bed a few minutes before, looking a little more tired and worn than she had ever seen him. She could tell that the turn of events, the magic, Jack's capture and so many new and potentially untrustworthy faces had taken their toll on the Norseman, though he tried not to show it. The new recruits were typical of the young men Jack attracted, full of bravado, bloodthirstiness and often fleeing a harsh or boring lifestyle for the even harsher lifestyle of Red Jack's pirate camp. Rapina smiled to herself, and then greeted Rage who had just come in from guard duty. "Rage! It's good to see you, not many of the faces around here look familiar," Rapina said. "Aye, It's good seeing' ya too," Rage said. "Not many of us survived the isle o' the dead. Just me an' Pike, Brackston, Arzeal, Skitch, an' the elf, made off without gettin' nabbed. We got Jack back, 'an I guess that necromancer's still got 'is claws in ye from what I hear. He hasn't turned ye inta something like Kent, has 'ee? Rapina smiled, "Actually, I'm with a more experienced necromancer now. The guardian of the isle sometimes buys spells and things from Kroz, my master. They both worship the same god. Of course you'd kind of expect most necromancers to worship a god of the dead." She could tell Rage had reservations about her relationship with the necromancer. She could not really blame him. Thane had frightened the wits out of the pirates. In spite of their combat experience, they were a superstitious lot with no understanding of the principles of magic. What he had experienced on the isle of the dead would probably haunt Rage's dreams for years to come. "No, no, he has not turned me into something like Kent, I'd be of less use to him as a dead-brain," Rapina said. "Kroz is frightening, but to tell you the truth, I've kind of gotten used to him, as much as that's possible. He is a fair master, though not particularly kindly. Although he lacks Jack's flair and deadly humor, he does have a razor wit and he can be quite engaging to listen to, especially if you have an interest in magic," Rapina said. "Magic! Huh I'd steer clear o' that nonsense if I were you. It's dangerous," Rage said with conviction. "Yes, it is, but that's where my talents are, but you already knew that, didn't you?" Rapina said. "Rage smiled crookedly. "Yeah, I could tell. I guess you won't be such a bad sorceress, but damn, why did you pick a necromancer for a teacher?" Rage asked. "I didn't, really, life just happened that way," Rapina said. Rage's mood softened. He guessed Rapina always was cut out for sorcery. Red Jack had seen it in her and encouraged her magical studies. Earlier Rage had been all set to see if he could spirit Rapina off to bed, but the memories had come back. She was with a necromancer, a man who created and ruled the walking dead, a man like the man who had turned Kent into a clawed cadaver. Rage shivered involuntarily. He wondered if she slept with the necromancer, wondered if his blue dead hands caressed her shapely rump, or if his purple lips had suckled at her breasts. Rage had never seen Kroz. Yet, he could imagine the necromancer and how frightening he must be in person. It all made the young pirate nervous, so he put on his toughest face. "I'll see you later, Rapina, I need to get something to eat here." Rage busied himself getting food. Rapina smirked. It was obvious it would take the young pirate a while to get used to her again. She was sure he would be okay given time. At the moment she noticed someone who looked distinctly out of place, for her emerald eyes had lit on the pathfinder. She knew little of him, only that the men seemed not to trust him, yet she could not help but get the feeling that he was a good man in a bad situation. This resonated with her own reason for getting involved with the pirates. Sometimes life took some unexpected turns. Since Rage's soliloquy had cooled the pirates on her for the moment, she took the opportunity to sit near the pathfinder. His story might be interesting. Rapina's eyes caressed over the man's form, assessing him. He was obviously a warrior of some sort, though not particularly overbuilt. His stature was average, his dark hair was cut short and his features were fairly plain, but handsome in their own way. "You look as out of place as I feel," Rapina said softly as she sat down beside him. Mansun Dido was startled out of his thoughts by the woman's comment. Looking up from the ground he saw a beautiful woman with the most engaging emerald eyes. Her smile seemed friendly, but underneath it all she seemed to be sizing him up for something. The pathfinder recovered quickly. "I could say the same of you milady," Mansun articulated. He was definitely familiar with the ways of the nobility as evidenced by his etiquette. A sigh escaped his lips as he closed his eyes for a moment. "Not so long ago I was a pathfinder in the service of Lord Henrich Li'Yeiraun." Seeing Rapina's questioning look he replied, "That is correct. I used to be a loyal servant of the man who tried to kill Red Jack for sleeping with his wife. But that was when I thought loyalty and honor counted for something." Mansun massaged his temples and took a deep breath. "I was in charge of the pathfinders that were tracking Rage. Lord Li'Yeiraun wanted us to find Red Jack's new camp and figured this to be the best way. Unfortunately, we lost Rage's trail a few days after his escape. I didn't know it then, but this was due to the help of the elf Doanthalas. To make a long story short; Lord Li'Yeiraun was so upset that we lost the pirate's trail that he decided to make an example of me and have me executed in his place." The pathfinder shook his head and snorted, "A lifetime of loyal service...gone." Mansun shook the depressing thought from his mind and faced Rapina. "My name is Mansun Dido. What name do you go by?" "I go by Rapina." Rapina extended her hand. "I'm sorry to hear a man who should have been noble betrayed you. My reasons for originally joining Jack's men were similar to yours. When men of power behave in ways that are criminal, good people are forced to flee the justice that should be protecting them. It's sad that Lord Li' Yeiraun is not more loyal to those that serve him. I will stop feeling sorry for him that Jack diverted his wife's attentions. Is Lord Li'Yeiraun a religious man? "As much as any lord is I suppose," Mansun replied. "That was to say that as religious as he had to seem to his subjects and still keep his good name. I too have stopped feeling sorry for him about Jack and his wife. It's ironic that Red Jack would turn out to be the honorable one and Lord Li'Yeiraun the bloodthirsty tyrant." He shook his head and laughed. "I owe my life to Red Jack's daughter you know? She is the one who saved me the trouble of swinging from the leafless tree...if you take my meaning." The pathfinder sighed and ran his fingers through his short hair. "Now I have to begin my life anew. By now Lord Li'Yeiraun has tainted my good name amongst the folks I once knew. I wish I knew what to do. You seem to have adapted to life on the run fairly easily, milady. Any pointers for a recently unemployed pathfinder?" This last comment was said with a wry smile. Apparently, the man did have a sense of humor. "Sometimes the currents of life are impossible to swim against. The best I've been able to do is keep afloat. In my case I've been swept to the opposite shore, to help the enemies of the man who betrayed me. At first I was just trying to get away, and since the law was after me, I took shelter with Jack, an outlaw, but being a pirate turned out to be a between-stage. I'm not sure if it's truly good luck or ill, but I now work for an enemy of the man who betrayed me. That's why I ask what religion Lord Li'Yeiraun pays homage too. There are many issues that divide powerful nobles and religion is one of them. It's an important question in these times. It might be possible that Lord Li'Yeiraun has enemies who are more legitimate to the law of Clairmont than Jack is." "I'm not a religious man myself so I do have to confess a sort of ignorance to the religion of the land." A wry smile crossed his lips, "The only god I pay homage to is mother earth and the only service I attend is that of the local tavern. And speaking of drink I could really go for one right about now. Would milady Rapina care to join me for a little of the holy spirits?" Rapina smiled, "I have a great deal of respect for anyone who can scare up a drink in a pirate camp, so of course I would be glad to join you." Mansun proved to be an interesting conversationalist, but Rapina felt he was not the kind of fish who enjoyed being reeled in right away. She did not need to be in a hurry, at least that's what she told herself. In truth the exposure to so many men, even in spite of the wintry conditions, was deepening her hunger. It was as if she had been on a stringent program of rationing drawing only from Rames, and now that she was surrounded by food, she felt hungrier than she had previously realized. It had not been long before Mansun's life of early to bed, early to rise had forced him to retreat to his bedroll. Rapina returned to the campfire, but the early morning hours were not kind. Only a few men remained on sentry duty. Since many of the youths did not know her, Rapina thought it unwise to go around talking to the sentries. It was ironic that Rapina wound up in the supply tent with Roger. The death of Mortaebius said nothing as she entered, and continued to work on Jack's books as if conversation and breaks were luxuries reserved for the living. For her part, Rapina decided there were mental exercises pertaining to her magical studies to be done. It was a pity she had not brought a book with her, but everything had happened so rapidly from her entry into the inner sanctum of the mortancers to her reunion with captain Jack. One thing had stuck in her mind, however. In the negotiations, Roger had mentioned there were necromantic spells that could be used to drain the life force from another, and transfer it to the necromancer in order to heal him. Rapina thought to herself as she cupped the fullness of her breasts within her cloak, "Isn't that exactly what I do with men? Only it feels good when I do it to them and I can store the energy." As Rapina was musing, there came a scratching at the tent flap. Roger seemed unmoved. Rapina slipped out to see whom it might be. "Zit? What are you doing out at this hour?" Rapina asked. "I, I wanted to ask you something," Zit said. "What?" Rapina asked. The young man looked down at Rapina's feet. "Is it true?" "What?" Rapina asked. "We were talkin' and... Are ye a vampire?" Zit asked. "Zit, are you still in basic, because if you are, and Brackston finds out you snuck out of the barracks, he's going to pump some sense up your butt, like he always threatens." Zit's mouth formed an "O" as his back stiffened. "But I have ta know," Zit whispered. "I'll run back so it seems I just went ta the latrine." Rapina smirked. "If I were a vampire, don't you think I'd have fangs?" "Well, yeah, but ye might have an illusion that covers 'em up," Zit said. Rapina rolled her eyes. "Was Brackston in on this little discussion in the barracks?" "Uh, I'd rather not say," Zit said. "I'll take that as a yes." Rapina grinned. "So you want to know if I'm a vampire. Shall we find out?" Rapina grabbed the boy and bit his neck playfully, sucking some skin into her mouth. Zit froze and screamed soundlessly... "Hey, you didn't even break the skin," Zit said. "You sound disappointed. Were you hoping I'd suck your blood and turn you into my sex slave?" Zit blushed. Rapina giggled softly, "Sorry Zit, I just don't have the teeth for the first part, and you don't have the time for the second part. Because if you don't get back to the barracks, you're going to be Brackston's sex slave." Zit's lips formed the familiar "O" once again. "Okay bye," He said flailing a hand and running off. Rapina shook her head and smiled as she reentered the tent. Roger was as she had left him. She wondered if there wasn't a certain urgency in the way the death of Mortaebius applied himself. It stood to reason, the holy war between Mortaebius and the Vindicator was heating up rapidly. The mortancers had been deadly serious. During the winter months when the orcs made little attempt to retake the lands Lord Avengene had wrested from them, his most loyal forces were marauding the temples of Mortaebius posing as bandits. Originally, it was hoped that Avengene's religious fervor would halt at the borders of his own lands, but it now seemed obvious that the Vindicator's forces had larger plans in mind. To these plans the Church of Moraebius must react swiftly, for they did not have a standing army like Avengene's on which to draw. The Order of the Shroud would likely bloom afresh, and Rapina intended to ingratiate herself to that organization to the best of her ability. For in this game of chess, her only prospect of finding friends was to seek out the enemies of her enemy. ------------------ "Captain, time to wake up for your speech, Sir," Arzeal said. "Aye I was jus' gonna... Wha oi, oh it's mornin'. Jack sat up and massaged his face. Damn ye'd think I'd pulled an all-nighter last night th' way I feel. Now I grant ye I wasn't ta bed early, an me wench were in rare form, put me practically on the moon, she did, but it weren't like I staid up th' whole night boffin 'er brains out. I sure feel like it though. Damn, well get me some strong tea. Th' men need a speech about are new deal with th' spooks, an' it's a speech they'll get." The captain roused himself and began dressing and preparing for his speech. By the time he emerged from his tent and went to the central fires, Brackston had the men assembled for the speech. "Aye there now, me mates, I'll bet ye're wonderin why yer up a bit early this mornin', why I'm disturbin' yer beauty rest," Captain Red Jack said. "Well some of ye know we 'ad some visitors last night. Seems me new fame that's been drawin' recruits 'as also drawn some other attention, sorcerous attention. I'm sure the tails o' spooks an' sorcery 'ave already made th' rounds. Now I'm going ta give ye th' skinny. Seems I'm in a bit o' a spot. Me fame is invitin' th' attentions o' morn' jus' th' law. Now I got mages ta contend with. Luckily th' first of 'em ain't lookin' ta cash in are chips jus' yet. I'm not sayin' I trust 'im completely, but we 'ave somethin 'e needs, and 'e 'as somethin' we need. Now where I come from, that's the grounds fer a deal. I found me a necromancer. His name is Kroz, and 'e's going ta put up some protections against sorcerous spyin' an th' like. In return, come raidin' season we're going ta supply 'im with cadavers from are raids ta keep 'is laboratory hummin'. As ye know, I'm a little short on experienced help after that damned illusionist broke up me former men. I'm tired o' fightin' sorcery with spar varnish, so now we got us a magician on are side!" The pirates cheered. "Bein' that 'e 'as ta spend most 'o 'is time in some musty laboratory, Kroz 'as left a pair 'o hands an eyes with me ta help us out, an bein' as how are new 'elper looks like th' pirate flag, we'll be callin 'im Roger. All ye need ta know about Roger is that 'e's a skinny officer with a rank same as Drake's, an' with th' weight of bein' th' stiff that keeps th' books for me an' at times carries me orders. Other than that, th' less ye know about Kroz an' are new helper, th' longer ye're likely ta live. If ye hear any wild stories about 'is past or anything ye didn't hear from me, ye better come straight ta Red Jack an' let me know who's tellin' tall tales. I'll not be havin' me camp turned upside down by wild rumors, an' any man who disobeys that order's going ta be sleepin' with Roger." "Fer those of ye who don't know what in hell a necromancer is, I'll tell ye. A necromancer is a magician who specializes in magic concernin th' dead. Spells that allow a magican ta speak wi' th' dead, make th' dead rise up an' dance and such like dark sorceries are what necromancers are best at. Necromancers are generally considered ta be th' most evil o' mages, so a necromancer is just th' kind o' critter who would 'ave no trouble workin' with rapin', pilligin', murderin', bloodthirsty pirates like areselves. Now Roger, I want ye ta say a few words intraducin' yerself ta th' men, so as they can recognize yer face an voice." A figure cowled in heavy black robes came before the men and stripped back his hood. A gasp ran through the crowd, and the eyes of many of the men opened wide with terror. "I am death, but you may call me Roger if you wish. I will see that bodies from the raids are harvested for Kroz, and I will serve Captain Red Jack," Roger said in an emotionless tone. There was a persistent murmuring in the crowd that would not seem to die down. "I know what ye're thinkin'," Red Jack said. "Half o' ye can't believe sorcery like this exists and ye're sayin ta yerself, 'e's just a collection o' bones wired tagether an' there's a pirate hidin' behind Jack makin' 'is voice, an' th' others a ye are worryin' about yer immortal soul on account o' workin' wit' spooks. Roger go 'round th' crowd and shake th' 'ands o' th men that're man enough ta shake. That should 'elp ye all ta see Roger ain't some prop I put tagether fer yer entertainment. 'An if ye're so convinced 'e ain't nothin, ye can 'ave a little sword play with 'im, long as ye don't mind 'im relivin' ye o' yer 'ead. Fer ye that's fearin' fer yer souls, ye should 'o thought 'o that before ye joined a gang 'o bloodthirsty pirates, now shouldn't ye? If yer religious types 'er right then we'll all meet in hell anyhow." Captain Red Jack watched as Roger made his way through the men. Most shrunk away from the boney appendage, too terrified to shake. Others practically scoffed, thinking Roger was a trick. They shook, and many came away with a look of horror. Two of the scoffers were big, tough boys from the slums of Turnmoor. Wedge was respected for his strength and skill at arms, and Blunt was the black sheep of weapons practice who didn't give a damn who got hurt, as long as he got to laugh at them. They looked at each other, they looked at Roger and they grinned. Just after the death had passed them, they drew their cutlasses in unison. The death of Mortaebius carried his scythe in his left han. As the men drew, he spun three hundred sixty degrees in that direction to shake the next recruit's hand only a fraction of a second after he would originally have done so. The fact that Wedge's cutlass, along with his right hand, fell to the ground at about the same time as Blunt's head, did not seem to concern Roger in the least. He was following orders. The two recruits would serve as an example. Open-mouthed, the pirates saw the one recruit fall in a fountain of blood and the other grab his own handless forearm. Had it not been for the movement of his thick black robes, and the glint of his scythe, the men might have believed Roger had not moved at all. Yet, the death and disfigurement he had left in his wake made his actions unmistakable. "Brackston, get a tourniquet on Wedge's stump, and pick up that 'and. Maybe we can sew it back on," Jack chuckled. Zit's hands were shaking even more than they had been. The shower of blood and the scent of death hadn't helped any. As the skeletal figure approached, Zit steeled himself. He had to know. As the young recruit reached out and shook Roger's hand he moved closer to where he thought the skeleton's ear would be, if he really had one, and whispered, "G-good morning sir, could you tell me, Is Rapina a-a vampire?" Roger brought his teeth near the young man's ear and whispered, "Rapina is a creature of lust. She offers pleasure for what she takes from a man; a vampire takes blood, and offers death." ---------- After Jack's bloody speech, the pirate captain offered Rapina his bed and she slept there until late afternoon. A few hours later, just after dusk, she and Roger waited in the graveyard for Kroz, the necromancer who would be played by Thane. When he arrived, he was in high spirits, his confidence in his own ability to use the graveyard mists spell for transportation having been bolstered. With him, he had brought his personal guards a group of double-animated skeletons dressed in new blackened plate armor. Behind them, in addition to the fading magical mists, a cloud of steam rose into the air. Rapina recognized six of the flaming skeletons that were used to heat Thane's abode. Many of the more ordinary armored skeletons carried litters filled with supplies. The most notable of these being a very large roll of oiled canvas. Thane himself was dressed in his mortancer robes and looked much like Roger. For the illusion of a skeletal face obscured his real face, and his voice was also modified by magic to sound like the voice of a dead man. "Roger, Rapina, it is so nice to see you. I trust things are not moving too rapidly for you?" Kroz said. "Things are going as planned here, Kroz. Your arrival is a welcome development. I believe your ease of transport has been facilitated by the fine job your apprentice, Rapina, did in assisting me with the consecration of this graveyard. She has the skills of a deaconess, and my master views her deeds of service favorably." Kroz raised his chin. "Excellent, Rapina, as your service gradually outweighs your sins, I shall make sure that you do not go unrewarded. Our master appreciates service, especially in times of conflict when it is so desperately needed." Rapina nodded. "Now we have much work to do, "Kroz said. "I must meet with the captain. Another house of our master was sacked early this morning, the last and strongest in the enemy's territory. We had largely been abandoning the others but this one had been serving as a base from which we were conducting our strategic withdrawal. Once the enemy saw how easy it was to take those houses that were largely abandoned, he acted swiftly, but I'm afraid we lost more than a few brothers in that last battle. Word is that those with sentiments that do not agree with the enemy's are being disappeared rapidly as he consolidates his power. My associates and I have decided to give this pirate project a little boost. We need Jack's ship harvesting the dead as early in the spring as possible. Winter is more than half over. We hope our enemy will be too busy consolidating the power of his church within his own lands to have any time to launch attacks outside them before the orcs on his Northern border tie up his forces again this spring. We will provide Jack the supplies he needs to enclose the skeleton of the ship he is building within a tent, and get the temperature within high enough to do the wood-working now, rather than waiting for spring thaws. Come, after I speak to the captain, we must plant the warding devices in the camp. Kroz bustled towards the captain's tent. It was obvious he had somehow studied the layout of the camp. When the trio arrived they were allowed into the captain's tent where he was waiting for them." Jack looked up from some record books. "Looks like ye've been on th' same diet as Roger there, Kroz. Jack chuckled. Good ta meet ye. I am Captain Red Jack." The captain shook hands with the new corpse. What be the news? I see ye've brought more of ye're boney buddies with ye tanight, an' a few torches as well." "I will bestow upon you a small boon for your organization in wake of another sacking of my lord Mortaebius' properties. Lives have been lost, and time is of the essence. I want you to have the necessities with which to continue work on the building of your ship during the winter months. I need you operational as early as possible. Here is a modest gift towards necessaries for the ship. Thane handed Jack a small but heavy sack. Jack peered inside. "Aye, mixed circulated gold from a hundred towns by th' looks of it, untraceable," Jack smiled. "That'll come in handy." An th' skeleton torches, ye brought them ta heat th' tent we build around th' ship in so the wood will not be brittle?" "Indeed," Kroz replied. "Your creations?" Jack asked. "Let us say that I was able to glean the remains of your men from a colleague, and that certain of your men were well suited for that particular animation," Thane whispered to Jack. "If ye're tryin ta make up fer th' drubbin ol' Thane gave me by bringin' me men's walkin' corpses back ta me, it ain't ganna work, they're all dead," Red Jack snapped in a vehement whisper. "I will not try to make anything up to you. I serve Mortaebius in this. I respect your ability or I would not have proposed this deal. You must admit, however that the dead can be useful." "I'd take issue with ye on that if it weren't fer Roger's work on me books. He 'asn't lost 'is touch, and 'e's got a load 'o work done fer me already." Kroz nodded. "What about me arms master's wounded hand. I'm dead in th' water without 'im, and I'm spread thin enough as it is," Jack asked. "We have been most fortunate in that regard. I was able to locate the two necessary incantations," Kroz said. The two men discussed arrangements for the healing work that needed to be done. The work on Pike would be straightforward, but Rapina was sent with Arzeal and a couple of burly recruits to prepare the stump of the unwise recruit for the remedy Kroz had recommended. After he saw the captain, Rapina had helped Kroz bury ward-bearing skulls in the ground three paces from skull-bearing pike markers that gave a clue as to the direction and location of the actual buried wards. Subsequently Rapina had been sent to supervise the preparation for Thane's debut as a healer. A tourniquet had been applied not far above Wedge, the unwise recruit's stump, and the small sword Rapina was handed glowed cherry red from the heat of a stone forge. "This is going to hurt, Wedge. If you move, you might loose more flesh than you need to. Hold still." Wedge nodded drunkenly. The rum he had been given had dulled his senses, but the agony he suffered as the hot blade sliced his flesh made him scream in torment. AAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIIHHHH!!! Rapina grimaced as she sliced the flesh away. Being the closest thing Jack had to a leech was not proving to be enjoyable. In spite of the man's arm being pinned by two burly recruits and Arzeal, it was moving, and Rapina had to compensate in order not to take more flesh than was necessary, and to make the cuts straight. "Flip him over, I need to do the other side." Wedge roared with pain as blood rendered to steam billowed from the stump of his severed limb. Rapina worked as rapidly as she could, handing her blade to a recruit in exchange for a glowing hot replacement whenever it grew too cool. "Okay, it's finished. Pike, you're next. Take the bandages off and Kroz will repair your hand." Pike brooded just across the room of the shack that served as the camp's smithy. He stood next to the prone form of a feverish recruit. A stench hung about the man from a brawl's sword wound that had gone bad. It was gangrene. Pike knew the man didn't have a chance, so why had Jack had him brought near, and why were Rapina and Arzeal exposing some of the bone of Wedge's arm behind his severed wrist? Wasn't a smooth stump preferable? The armsmaster unwrapped the bandages from his mangled right hand as he had been bidden. Pike grimaced as several skeletons entered the room. Two were armed and armored; the other two were robed. One of the robed figures Pike recognized as Roger. The other had to be Kroz, a necromancer of Mortaebius. Was he too a skeleton? He certainly looked it. A shiver ran up Pike's spine. He didn't like the smell of sorcery. "Splendid, that should do fine. Armsmaster Pike, hold out your wounded hand." Pike complied, glowering at the skeletal figure that made arcane gestures and utterences, grabbed Pike's wounded hand and shook in agony. A scream of pain involuntarily escaped the necromancer's throat as life force was ripped from him by the power of his own spell. Pike gasped as a surge of energy pulsed through his hand. The tingling was intense, and he could feel the flesh knitting as he inhaled. The necromancer seemed to waver for a second before his discipline returned. His scream was rapidly replaced by further arcane utterances and gestures as his skeletal left hand plunged down to touch the naked chest of the feverish recruit who then yelled and convulsed. "Mmm, very good, very good. The life force I gave the armsmaster has been restored from this unfortunate victim of disease. I believe we can continue," Kroz said. More utterances issued from the throat of the necromancer, then he was again wracked with pain, but did not scream. This time he held Blade's stump, which began to heal instantly, leaving the stub of bone Rapina had exposed. Without even a moment's hesitation the necromancer cast the second spell, turned and grasped the skull of the gangrenous victim. A silent scream was all that marked the man's passing. A gray handprint colored the skin of the dead victim's forehead where Thane's skeletal hand had touched it. A faint, but similar mark could be seen on his chest where Thane's first drain of life force had struck him. "That went very well, very well indeed. Painful at the outset, to be sure, but our victim has made up for that." The necromancer almost chuckled. "Rapina, our work here is done for now. Captain Red Jack, I will work on the hand of this recruit. In two days time, I will return with something that I believe he will find more useful than a hook. Come, we must return to the abode." Rapina nodded as she turned from inspecting Wedge's healed stump. Her job exposing a bit of the bone would be quite adequate for what Thane had in mind for a later visit. She turned to Pike. "Can you grasp my hand?" she asked pike. Pike reached out and gave her hand a squeeze. His hand was whole again. Rapina smiled. A few minutes later she, her master and their entourage disappeared into the mists that rose to obscure the pirate's graveyard. ----------- [Rapina]029 Spies and Assasins The next day the pirate camp buzzed with activity as the men erected a tent around the skeleton of their ship. When night fell ending the men's intense effort, the pirates were glad to finally rest. Not long before the first light of dawn, a lithe figure stealthily moved through the shadows. The guard stationed outside of Red Jack's tent did not see it approach. And no one else was about to see the garrote slip around his neck. Neither did anyone see the shadow drag off the guard's body and slip into Jack's tent without a sound. --------------------------------------------------- Outside of the pirate camp another figure moved stealthily through the darkness. Deitrich had spent most of the previous day scouting the camp's perimeter and, after a shortened night's rest, was finally ready to report his findings. Unfortunately for him, some sort of interference was prohibiting him from using his magical pendant to contact his master. He moved silently away from the pirate camp trusting his master's words that the pendant would function if he got sufficiently far from the abode of the pirates. The interference had been less pronounced or widespread until the previous night when it its influence around the pirate camp had grown. Unbeknownst to the spy Deitrich, someone had noticed his presence. Doanthalas' feral eyes seemed to glow in the darkness as he watched the figure move away. This man was good, but he was no elf. He was probably a human. Even the best humans could not sneak past an elf in the woods. Elves had a sort of magical affinity with nature that humans could never hope to understand or achieve ...at least most of them. Deitrich finally found a spot where the magic seemed to work again. He pulled out the glowing pendant and shielded the magic stone with his body so he would not be spotted. He incanted the magic words and a swirling image began to appear in the stone set in the pendant. Suddenly it was struck by something hard that sent it spinning from his grasp. The man rolled to the side and came up with sword drawn and eyes searching. Most likely a lone sentry had spotted him, since he had not heard an alarm sound. If he could dispatch this sentry quickly and quietly then his lord's plan could still be carried out. The elf watched the man's back for a few minutes as he looked around for his assailant. This human was certainly a warrior of great skill, but it was obvious that his eyes were not very helpful in these darkened conditions. The man seemed to finally sense the elf's presence behind him and slowly turned around. He almost jumped out of his boots when he heard Doanthalas' guttural growl and saw his emerald eyes reflecting the moonlight. Doanthalas had his own sword drawn as he leapt through the high grass straight at the man. Although the man was scared Doanthalas had to give him credit for holding his ground. In a flurry of motion man and elf were upon each other with swords flying. The clash of metal against metal rang through the night. ---------------------------- Back at the camp Drake and Adriana were enjoying a private walk. They had made up their minds to leave everything behind and go to another place and start over. Their spirits were flying high with newfound hope as they meandered around the camp. Suddenly the sounds of fighting erupted from the stillness around them. Drake pulled Adriana close and drew his sword protectively. "Drake! What is that? What's happening?" she asked as she strained to see through the darkness. "I'm not sure my love, but I'm going to check it out." he turned to face her, "Find a sentry and warn him that there is trouble afoot." He saw the worried look on her face and pulled her close. "Don't worry Lady Adriana. I will be careful." That said he kissed her passionately on the lips. "Now go!" he said as he headed off towards the sounds. He had barely made it two steps when the sounds stopped. Drake looked back to see that Adriana had noticed it too. Adriana was about to say something when a dark shape erupted from the darkness heading straight for Drake. A terrified scream escaped her lips as the shadow descended upon him. Adriana's scream had scared the wits out of him, but had also alerted him to the presence of someone behind him. Drake swung his sword with all the strength and precision he could muster hoping to connect before the assailant ran him through. A familiar voice rang out mere moments before his sword connected with the assailant's. Metal against metal rang out through the darkness as Drake composed himself and said somewhat befuddled, "Doanthalas?" "Yes." was the reply as the elf grabbed Drake and then Adriana by the arms. "Come. There is danger afoot. We must warn Red Jack." Drake and Adriana looked at Doanthalas' blood soaked form and then to each other. They weren't sure what was going on, but the blood and serious look on the elf's face made them quicken their step. -------------------------------------- Inside the tent Red Jack slept soundly. It had been a long day of planning, and giving orders concerning the ship's tent, and he had retired early. That was just fine for the assassin who crept silently towards the pirate's sleeping form. Slowly the assassin drew a knife. A few more steps and Jack would be no more. The elf stopped dead in his tracks as he rounded a cluster of tents and saw no guard in front of Jack's tent. He held up a finger to silence Drake and Adriana. They complied as Doanthalas indicated the dead guard's feet in some nearby bushes and motioned for them to get help. They quickly departed as the elf crept forward. He glanced at the guard to see if it was anyone he knew. It wasn't. Most likely it was one of the new recruits. The elf didn't give the body a second glance as he slipped into the tent. His eyes adjusted quickly to the darkness of the tent's interior. It was quick enough for him to see the figure standing above Jack ready to strike. Doanthalas let out a feral scream as he leapt for the assassin. The assassin brought the knife down in its killing arc. She had been trained too well to be distracted by the elf's scream. However, this must not have been the first attempt on the captain's life, for he rolled frantically away from the assassin in spite of having been deeply asleep a second before Doanthalis' scream. The knife opened Jack's side rather than piercing the pirate's heart. Elizabetta did not have time to consider her options as Doanthalas was upon her. With a deft move she ducked under his attack and drove her foot into his back. He crashed to the ground, rolled, and came up in a fighting stance. Jack was now awake. He had grabbed his blade and then rolled off the side of the bed opposite the assassin. As he rolled he bellowed, "Roger! Guards! Assasin!" Red light from the magelight pendant Roger had given the captain suddenly illumined the room. Elizabetta took a gamble and jumped the bed to get behind the pirate. She held her knife against his neck. "Move and you die!" she hissed. Doanthalas knew that Elizabetta might try something like this. He hadn't anticipated that it would be so soon though. But none of that mattered now. He had tried his best to talk her out of it, but as the days went by she never wavered in her decision. She had been given a choice of living the life of an assassin and killing Red Jack or living the life that she and Doanthalas could carve out together. She had made her choice and she was about to carry out her mission. If he did not think fast, Jack was surely dead. He only hoped that she would keep him alive as a hostage long enough for him to form a plan. "So it comes to this," he said as he moved to block the tent's entrance. "It was always heading in this direction Doanthalas," she said with a bit of regret in her voice. "Perhaps in another life things could have been different... but not in this one. Don't think that I wasn't tempted by your offer." Elizabetta sighed as she pressed the knife firmly against Jack's neck. "I can think of nothing I would like more than a life with you, but you have to understand... it's not my life anymore. If I betray him he will send his best assassins after me. We would both be in danger." "Then let us face that danger together. Neither of us are strangers to danger. We can fight them." "Quite a romantic picture you paint...my love. But unfortunately the end result will be the same for me. Either way I die... with or without you." A tear rolled down her cheek as she glanced over Doanthalas' shoulder. My death is a given, but I could not bear to have your blood on my hands as well. Sure we could survive for a while, but sooner or later they would find us and kill us both." "Trust me. My way is better. I know the way he works and he would not stop until we were both dead. I do this because I have to...because I love you." A dark shape rose behind Doanthalas. Doanthalas felt cold steel across his throat as a boney hand grasped him from behind. "Your way will have the same result as you believed his would," The Death of Mortaebius rasped. "The penalty for bringing an assassin into this camp is death. Elizabetta, you are correct, either way you die. In your foolishness you have brought death down upon Doanthalas. Pirates, some of whom are as lethal with a bow as the best assassins, will soon surround this tent. You will not escape this place alive, nor will your lover." "Roger, get away from Doanthalas or the captain dies." "Do you take me for a fool? In life I was a pirate. You will kill the captain regardless of whether or not I release Doanthalas. If you wish me to release him, you must move away from the captain so that there is a real chance that I can rescue him. You must make yourself a more attractive target than the elf. Right now, he is a sure thing. You make the mistake of believing that death will stop Red Jack. I assure you, his grave would hardly have a chance to grow cold before he rose from it as I have." Elizabetta swallowed. Death was no fool. Slowly she moved back from the pirate captain. If she were just fast enough, she could still pull it off. She held her dagger to Jack's back, drew another and used it to slice an opening in the tent behind her. She did not like the way Roger moved Doanthalas to the side to allow him to get at her more quickly should the opportunity present itself. It was almost as though Roger had done this before. Suddenly Jack dove forward and rolled. Run! The assassin screamed to Doanthalas as Death left the elf behind and jumped towards her. Roger did not take the split second of extra time it would have taken to kill the elf, for Elizabetta was already sending a deadly blade Jack's way with a snap of her wrist. The elf dove out the tent flap the way he had come in. He rolled between two approaching pirates and into the bushes near the dead guard's body before the men could catch him to gut him with their swords. The sound of metal against metal rang briefly through the tent as death's scythe picked her thrown dagger from the air. Elizabetta would not have thought it possible to deflect one of her throws had she not seen it with her own eyes. It was too late to throw another. The shadow of death was upon her. She turned a back flip and was through the opening, outside and on her feet in an instant. Roger removed a small, spike-bladed dagger with a large bone handle from within his robes. "kill," he said as he threw the blade through the breach Elizabetta had opened. Once through the opening Elizabetta jumped to the side to avoid the knife death threw at her. She drew a small crossbow, already cocked and loaded with a poisoned bolt. Although she could not see him through the tent, She knew where Jack was; it didn't really matter where she hit him. The poison was most virulent. Elizabetta took aim. Uh!? She dodged backwards as she fired. Death's knife had veered in mid flight! "Poison!" Jack bellowed from within the tent. Elizabetta allowed herself a half smile on a job well done. Now she must escape Death who, despite his robes and scythe, was out of the tent. Elizabetta sprinted and jumped. The flying bone-handled dagger buried itself in a pirate's chest as she narrowly got past his swinging sword and behind him. Would the dagger be satisfied with the death of another? Elizabetta did not plan to wait around to find out. Neither did she wish to wait around while archers arrived. That Death was right behind her was enough. Elizabetta pushed deftly through some bushes knowing that the skeleton's lighter weight would make bushes more impenetrable to him than they were to her. She headed for an area of the forest near the camp where she knew the bushes, brush and undergrowth would slow death to a crawl. She heard pirates behind her, but she did not run straight. She put the darkness of the pre-dawn night and obstacles between herself and her pursuers and stuck to shadowy areas of the camp as she fled, not letting them get a clear shot at her back. At last she made it into the forest. The darkness would hide her from all but death, and the thick foliage ought to hide her from the dangerous skeleton even if the darkness would not. If she could evade him long enough, she believed dawn's light would fight him for her. Doanthalas heard Elizabetta making her way through the forest. She was far behind him. Humans were not fleet of foot in the undergrowth. For a human, her passage was quiet, but to him distinctive. Like him she had chosen the thickest woods to cover her escape. He was about to go to her... The assassin broke through the bushes and jumped the narrow path. Elizabetta stopped abruptly on the far side of the path. She stared at the end of the handle of a scythe against her breast. She knew the blade must have passed through her, but it had been so fast, so fast she had hardly felt it. Already blood was soaking her shirt. Where had it come from? "How," she gasped. Roger stepped from behind a tree. The darkness made all but the skull within his black hood invisible. "Your life force is as a beacon to me, assassin. It is true you pass through this foliage more easily than I, but did you honestly think it would hide you from death? I simply took the path and intercepted you. Even you are relatively blind in this darkness, but I am not. In life, I served an unscrupulous master with unswerving loyalty. You have done the same. Now you will join my master, Mortaebius. He will set a new task for you." As if to punctuate Death's words, the blade he had thrown through the hole in the tent transfixed her from behind, but she was already dead. A single tear rolled down the elf's cheek as he hastened away through the forest. He had caught the faint sound of the death skeleton's voice on the wind. He turned east and hurried towards the rosy glimmerings of dawn. He would miss her; he would miss them all. [Rapina]030 Seeping Toxins "Aiii! That'll do it, Drake, I don't want th' tourniquet so tight as to kill me leg completely. Damn poison 'as been seepin' up, fer hours. I can't feel a thing from me toes ta th' middle of me thigh." "But sir, the wound is just a scratch," Drake said. "Aye, a scratch on me ankle, and I washed it out with brandy only seconds after that blasted bolt creased through me jammies. I screamed bloody murder like I'd been hit for real, an I think I fooled that wench assassin. She didn't know I shimmed up towards me bed a bit while she warr occupied with Roger an 'is knife. Otherwise the wench would 'ave hit me square in th' chest. A real pro that one warr, but no one escapes death," Jack chuckled. How is th' sun doin'? Drake exited the captain's tent and then came back inside. "It's not quite down to the tree-line sir, but it's getting there." "Good, I'll never admit ta bein' grateful to that ol' warlock after what 'is collegue did ta me men, but he brought Roger, an Roger just saved me life, an I hope ol' Kroz can make that savin' permanent. This pois/g seon's tryin' ta undo what Roger did. Any news on th' trackers?" Jack asked. "None Sir, they've been at it since dawn, and dusk will be here soon," Drake said. "No one in camp could identify th' man Doanthalas killed afore comin' ta confront me assassin, so he could be a local, but 'e's too well equipped ta be a farmer, " Jack said. "He's got the weapons and th' look of a tracker. As soon as our mage gets here 'e can sniff th' place o' death fer magic. Damn! I hate bein' so dependent on a bunch 'o spooks! Gettin' famous has ruined th' piratin' business!" Anyways, Arzeal, Dido and a few men are out lookin' for th' dead man's base camp. Could be tharr's more than one spy out tharr." "Arzeal, reporting Sir," Arzeal said as he scratched at the captain's tent flap. "Aye, come in Arzeal. Did ye find a camp or a new spy?" "We found one of his traps, sir." "Who did ye loose?" Jack asked. "The recruit named Binge we took as a flanker is down and dieing, sir; we had to carry him back. A spiked snare trap hit him. We are not sure if the trap was set by the dead man or someone else, but it was getting to be too dark to track anyway, so we all returned." "Damn spies and assassins seem ta be comin' out o' th' woodwork since Doanthalas and Rage got back here with you an' me daughter. Heinie Li'Yeiraun never did have a mage worth squat. Seems to me all 'e used to have was a family line o' second rate tea leaf readers ta help 'im with his investments. I'd 'ave been dead ta rights years ago if that ass had had a real mage. Any change in that department Dido? Who's th' Li'Yeiraun mage at the moment? "Nordula, sir," Dido said. "Has he got any talent?" Jack asked. Mansun Dido squeezed his chin between his thumb and forefinger. "It is true Lord Li'Yeiraun's mages never could seem to give him a straight answer as to where you were, Captain. Their hope was in Nordula, he had more talent than either of his forebears on account of the peasant wise woman his father's tea leaves pointed at to be the boy's future mother. When he had grown some, they used up a great deal of the money their line had siphoned off the Li' Yeirauns and a sizable contribution from their lord to send Nordula for outside training. When he returned from his schooling he was able to do a few notable spells, creating sounds, flashes of light, balls of blue magic that could inflict wounds, that sort of thing." "Aye, true sorcery, but nothing compared to teleporting a man's body," Jack said. "Yes, I see what you mean, but it is possible Nordula has improved and I may be, in part, responsible," Dido said. "An' how might that be?" Jack asked. "There was an old mage who lived in a deep forest to the East of the Lord's lands. We were sent to find and bring him in for questioning. Lord Li' Yeiraun said the man was implicated for harboring a fugitive. I now have my doubts. The mage fought us and we lost many men to his spells, but he was old and frail. After a few volleys that decimated our ranks and sent us running, Nordula noticed the old man was using spells of lesser potency. We regrouped from what should have been a route, doubled back, and ambushed him just outside his abode. Nordula was able to wound him with a spell from behind while his magical shield was directed towards fending off the swords of my men. Once wounded, the mage lost his concentration, his shield dropped for a moment, and we cut him down right on the doorstep to his abode. Two more steps and he would have been inside. I was not involved after the initial mission, but from what I heard, Lord Li' Yeiraun hired a group of mercenaries to clean the mage's abode. His books now sit on Nordula's shelves. "Aye, so it could be tharr was somethin' to those volumes an' Nordula has become more'n a second rate tea leaf reader," Red Jack nodded, and then knocked on the large chest at the foot of his bed. "Are ye awake yet Roger?" "I never really sleep sir, but the sun makes me... drowsy." "Well, it ain't quite down yet, but I need ye ta get hold o' Kroz as soon as ye can. Doanthalas killed a spy before he came ta stop th' assassin wench last night, and there may be other spies at large as well. We already lost one man to a trap. "I will relay the news to Kroz, Captain. I do not know if he would wish to become embroiled in such mundane matters, but I am sure he will come for the assassin's body if you wish to sell it to him. I believe Elizabetta is the perfect subject for an advanced animation." "Aye, I'll trade 'er cadaver for a cure ta this poison if he can get me one." --- "Captain Jack, Kroz is here with Rapina and he brought some ghouls, but he left them at the graveyard. He is willing to infuse you with life force to heal the damage done by the poison if you have a donor," Arzeal said. Okay men take me out ta th' infirmary, thar's not a moment ta loose, damn poison's up to me hip." Within the ship's tent, the pirates were eating dinner. Fist one, then another blood-chilling scream interrupted the men's meal. "Damn sorcery! It's gonna to give us all a belly ache fer sure." Back at the infirmary tent Kroz entered and addressed the captain, "How is the leg, Captain?" "It's still tinglin,' thanks ta Binge, here. The captain patted Binge's freshly dead corpse. Heh heh, we were both dead men 'fore long. His dyin' sooner is goin' ta buy 'is captain some time." "Without another donor, that is as much as I can do for you. If you have the bolt, I may be able to determine what sort of poison was used. There may be an antidote." "Ye mean ye don't think Binge's whole life is going ta be enough ta quench this damn poison?" "Your body will have much more energy with which to fight the toxin and the damage it has already done will be healed, however my spell does not neutralize the poison. The poison will begin to do damage once again," Kroz said. "Damn! Will we 'ave to take me leg off?" Jack asked. "It would stop the poison, however you would then be minus a leg," Kroz said. "Aye, and what kind o' leader would I be without even enough leg fer a peg?" Jack scowled. "We could remove the flesh and leave the bone. I have Wedge's hand for him. I will put it on as soon as he is brought here. If you find its functionality to your liking, we could prepare your leg similarly." "Here sir," Wedge said. "Recruit, Kroz 'as got yer hand for ye." "Splendid, you have arrived, Wedge. You have a decision to make. Let me see your wrist. Wedge held out his stump. Kroz carefully fitted Wedge's cleaned up skeletal hand to the bone of his stump and made a few incantations. Wedge inhaled involuntarily. "You have a decision to make, young man. Your skeleton is now whole, but you cannot move the bones of your dead hand, can you?" Wedge grimaced, "No sir." "With magic I can give you that power and you will be able to use it. It will not, however be any stronger than the hand of a pampered woman. If you wish to serve the god of the dead, I can ask him for his blessing and additional divine magic. Your hand will become formidable in its strength. You will have no trouble wielding an axe or a heavy blade, but you will also wield that blade in the name of the god of the dead, for you will have a connection to him. Do you understand?" Wedge nodded gravely, "Like Roger?" "Yes," the necromancer affirmed. Wedge grinned evilly. "What do I have to do?" The necromancer's rasping laugh filled the night. ----- As quietly as a man could, Gariot Hansfeldt made his way through the woods. He held the glowing red bit of glass aloft and smiled. One of his traps had been sprung. He could see the spikes were deep in the body. One protruded from the chest of the corpse. He shook his head as he thought to himself, "I should have known they would be looking for me. Well it's too late, they had their chance to find my base camp, and now I don't have the magic pendant anymore, and I will not know where the new camp is even if they catch me. Gariot bent down to examine his handywork." "Agh!" Gariot's eyes bulged as the corpse stuck to the spikes grabbed his face. The smell of rot seemed to thicken. How could the corpse be moving? Edgar the ghoul jumped from the bushes and clawed rapidly yet savagely at the side of the tracker's head. He would not let up while he had the advantage. "Kkhahah," he signaled. The stench in the area soon grew in magnitude as Kent sunk his claws into the man's back and neck. The victim froze. Kent removed the tracker's weapons and chittered happily as Edgar and the newly created zombie of the pirate named Binge carried their paralyzed victim back to Red Jack's camp. --- Brackston blanched. Wedge opened and closed his skeletal hand so that all the men within the ship's tent could see it. A great vat of stew simmered over the foot of a seated flaming skeleton. Bedrolls were spread all around the ship, for the men had moved out of their chill barracks tents to where the heat was. Wedge grabbed a heavy axe and swung it, "Ahahahah, it's strong, see, I can wield the best weapons again! Pitty me now, Slice. Ahahaha! The power of the god of the dead is in my hand." "Oooiiiiakakakahhh!" Kent screamed. "Thane looked up from an engaging magical conversation he was having with Rapina under what would soon be the ship's bow. "Arzeal, I believe Kent has found some measure of success. He is calling us from the graveyard. Rapina, carry on." --- "It is not a man I know whispered Mansun Dido from the bushes. If he is working for Lord Li' Yeiraun then he would have to be new." "No doubt," Kroz rasped. "How did yew find are camp?" Brackston questioned. "I just stumbled upon it. I had no idea what it was," Gariot Hansfeldt said. Kroz softly imitated the caw of a crow. Brackston caught the sound of the raspy crow and knew the tracker was lying, "Yew think I believe that? Bloody Brackston pulled the man's shirt off. Gariot Handsfeld was chained in an upright position between two stout posts. His legs and arms were spread and the lash had already torn his shirt to shreds." Brackston reached around front and undid the man's belt, and then he walked around front and unbuttoned Hansfeldt's pants. The tracker looked at the pirate incredulously. "Yew better start tellin' th' truth. How did ye find us, how did ye get here?" "I told you, I rode," Hansfeldt said. Brackston jerked the man's pants down and pulled his sheath knife. He played the tip over the man's balls. Yew think yew're really tight lyin' ta ol' Brackston. I'll bet yer tight," Brackston shoved his middle finger up the man's butt. "Hhhh! Don't you dare sodomize me!" Handfeldt hollered. "Heh, heh, if yew insist, but I was going ta use the branding irons an' save that for latter, Heh heh..." Hours of pain passed. "This man is surprisingly resistant to torture," Kroz said in a bored tone. "I believe he lasted something over three hours in Brackston's capable hands." Mansun was sitting on the cold ground, his back to the scene. It was something he had long ago decided he would rather not see. He was here as a second opinion to the magic of Kroz, to help give Brackston an idea of whether or not the man was telling the truth if the man were working for Lord Li'Yieraun. It almost didn't see fair. Whenever the tracker lied Brackston knew, and the tracker suffered for it. "I was teleported by a mage, damn it!" the prisoner, Gariot Hansfeldt, finally admitted. "Where were yew, who done it, and how was it done?" Brackston asked. Gariot cried, "I was hired out from Turnmoor and paid in gold. The mage, Nordula. told me to hold my breath and he started casting some kind of spell, and then I, I just appeared." The prisoner said. "Where did yew report to this mage ta be teleported?" Brackston asked. "In Turnmoor," Hansfeldt said. Brackston heard the crow and grabbed ahold of a branding iron. AAAIIIIII! Castle Yieraun. It was at Castle Yieraun!" Hansfeldt admitted. "... That's better, now where did yew appear and what were yewr orders?" Brackston asked. "Ouu! Please, I was put in a handstand before Nordula cast the spell. He told me when I arrived I was to pick up the pendant dropped by the other man, and that it would be right under my head, and then I was to set up a temporary camp. I left the pendant there." Brackston heard the caw of a crow, smiled and went behind the man. Gariot stiffened as the pirate drove his fleshy rod into the raw pain of his bowels. "Ahhhii! You already know when I'm lying, why do you even ask?" "Because I like ta fuck yew, yew ass! Now yew tell de whole truth or it'll be back ta the brandin' iron." Hansfeldt shuddered, "All right, all right, the mage sent two more men earlier tonight. I was to keep watch on the pirate camp and go to a specified location two days every week to pick up the pendent and make my report," Handsfedt said. "Why don't they just leave the pendant with you? If they ain't watchin' our camp, how come they need it?" Brackston asked. "I don't know! Aaaiii!" Hansfeld said. "Why do you think?" Brackston asked. "I, I think the mage needs the pendant to teleport men to. I was teleported to the pendant, and so were the other two. I held it up and each appeared under it in turn," Hansfeld admitted. "So while yew watch our camp, Nordula fills another camp with soldiers, is that right?" Brackston asked. "Yes, I think that's the plan. The river is too choked with ice, I don't think they can send a ship, so they are sending us with magic," Hansfeld admitted. "Why don't they send yew overland?" Brackston asked. "The Lord here doesn't like Lord Li' Yeiraun. Isn't that why Red Jack holed up here?.. Aaaouuch!" Hansfeldt asked. "Yew got to remember who asks and who answers..." Brackston said. --- "Aln I see yourrr rum and raise you ahhrum," Dodge slurred. "Yourr on," Pike blinked. The two men slammed back still another round of rum. Rapina raised her eyebrows. Pike had come over just after Kroz had left and the pirate named Dodge had complained about Pike trying to keep the "wench" for himself. Things had escalated from there, but not exactly the way she would have thought. Dodge maintained that a contest of arms between he and Pike would be unfair, instead, he had challenged Pike to a contest of cups. "Yooouulll never oud dlink me, Piike, I've been annn alcoholic since birff, I suck-kled ale ad mmy mmother's tteat, hic," Dodge slurred. "Tthen why are you wavering aaand I'm ssstill sssteady as a rrock?" Pike asked. Dodge tittered, "Yyew, sssteady? Yyewer jusst a-about ta falll. One morrre rrround ought ta havvve it, hic," Dodge said. Another round was poured and the two men tossed it back. Rapina wrinkled her nose, both men were astoundingly drunk, how Dodge figured he was going to make use of her company if he did win the drinking bout was beyond her. The cook raised his eyebrows, already the men had drunk their way through Dodge's stash of rum, "One of you better fall now, we're out of rum." Ssusorry, me dliink all yer rum, but meee nod fallin' Whho gott's more?" Dodge asked. "Llookss a draw," Pike said drunkenly. "Stoker, you got some rum, give it up," Creaser said. "Should I sir?" Stoker asked. "Ooonly iff hee's mmman ennnough," Dodge slurred. Pike slapped the table, "Hhaull id oud." "Yes sir," Stoker grinned evilly and retrieved a bottle from his sea chest. "It's strong stuff Sir." "Dodge tittered." "Yyou thththink weee carrre?" Pike asked. "I see your point sir." Stoker filled both cups near to the brim. The two men slammed back their drinks, and Stoker immediately filled them up again from his bottle. "Doouble err nothin'," Dodge said slamming back his cup. Pike downed his drink a second later. Stoker swiftly refilled them. "Gggive it ttime ttoo settle, Pike wavered." Dodge tittered, "Eee's fllagin'." "Bbbbahh, bbrink id on," Pike said. The two men slammed back four more drinks in rapid succession. "Uhhhooooo" Dodge said as he kept going backwards after lifting the next cup. Pike finished the fifth drink in the set, and began to stand up. "Baa, liddlelightwade." For an instant, Pike looked a little surprised, "Oooooooo" Stoker and Greasy barely managed to catch the Norse giant's body. Once caught they pulled him to his bed roll. Rapina looked at the lust written all over the faces of pirates dragging Pike to his rest, and then suddenly realized what was going on. Jack was in his bed nursing his leg, Arzeal was far away in the night with Kent and the ghouls, attempting to find the spy's base camp to see if he had left any evidence of a plan there. Brackston, Thane, and Mansun Dido were interrogating the captured spy. Rage and Skitch were on night guard duty. Pike had been the only officer present, and the only man likely to protect her "virtue." Dodge was likely a dupe of an alcoholic given free booze in exchange for attempting to drink Pike under the table, but Pike was a huge man, and known to drink a bit himself. From Dodge's slipped remark, the original owner of the first bottles of rum had probably been Greasy, and the last cups poured by Stoker had come fast and furious, and the rum? Rapina snatched the bottle from the low table in front of her and tipped the bottle way back, concealing the fact that she took only a tiny swig. "Haahhh," she rasped. Tears came to her eyes as liquid fire burned down her throat. The pirates laughed as the spellbinding wench clutched her throat from the heat of the rum she had just downed. The rum was nearly one hundred percent alcohol. It all made sense now, Stoker knew the contestants were too drunk to taste just how strong the new rum was, and he knew if he got enough of it into them fast enough, it would not mater who fell first, both were sure to go down. Rapina realized she had about one second to put her own spin on things before the raging river of the pirates' lust chose a channel other than the one she would try to send it down. "No officers?" Rapina asked in mock innocence. Then in a husky, conspiratorial tone, "Want to have some fun?" A hearty roar rose up from the pirates. Rapina smiled provocatively, "Okay, I'm going to need a little music, something slow and sultry, and something to dance on. How about that scaffold? Some of the men looked a bit disappointed. The river was trying to escape Rapina's channel. And Zit, could you be a dear and collect my clothes when they fall?" Rapina asked as she diverted the lust back to her channel. The Pirates grinned lustily, "Oh Yah!," they cheered. Men hastened to move a section of scaffold to the central location Rapina had indicated. "My good things are all gifts from Kroz to beautify his household, and I'm not sure what kind of sorcerous experiments he would perform on someone who damaged them. Rapina glanced at one of the flaming skeletons. Just be a dear and put them in your sea chest. Zit nodded gravely. "Cmon! Wench, get it on! Chops began to play his bongos as a pirate next to him fingered chords on a lute. Rapina tossed her cloak to Zit and mounted up on the stage. She was suddenly the soul focus of fifty lusty pirates. Lust tingled up and down her spine; she practically vibrated with it as it raced up her legs and down her arms. Almost in spite of herself, she began to tug at it as she danced, with every sway of her hips, every stretch of her long legs she grabbed and tugged. In the past, she had always pulled on the lust of a single man, now she found groups were a little different, but came just as naturally. The music helped, but the tugging did nothing to slow the men's appetite for more skin. She was her own worst enemy. She had thought that if she kept them entertained for long enough, surely one of the officers would happen by. Now it was impossible to say what she wanted. Their lust was so thick she could almost touch it, and it was making her so hungry, so wet, she was embarrassed and yet intrigued all at once. For so long she had made due with just one man, now she was looking at a multitude. Involuntarily, she licked her lips like the vampire Zit had taken her for. Rapina's breathing increased as she stepped out of her dress and kicked it into Zit's waiting arms. Lust nearly overwhelmed her as the pirates' eyes caressed her scarlet lingerie, her involuntary moan was swallowed by the music and a thousand lusty comments about her curves. Her, long legs, her high, round butt, her rich, round breasts, everything she showed them brought a rush that overwhelmed her reason. Her bustier came down, her breasts jiggled freely, Her garters were unclipped as she passed the groping fingers of the pirates at the edges of the makeshift stage. When they tugged down her panties she had fallen back into a roll and when she rolled up on her feet again as Rames had drilled into her in his classes on unarmed defense, she had her own panties in her hands, dangling from her long delicate fingers, taunting the men, tugging at their lust. "Woooo-hu, now thar's a real wench! Blackjack reached out and wiped his fingers over the inside of Rapina's leg, just above the knee. Then he thrust his fingers into his mouth. Mmm-mm, that ain't sweat, mates! "Oou, that's a PIRATE WENCH!" Glinter hollered. One of Rapina's silk stockings fell off, a casualty of the sock-pulling and rolling game the reaching pirates had come up with on their own. Her bustier was open to her navel and sliding down over her hips, but none of that seemed to matter because she was trying very hard, very hard to keep from shaking. She felt like her eyes should be glowing or something, she felt so much fire in her body. Her other sock was pulled from her foot as she stepped up, and then as she swung from a cross beam, her bustier fell to the stage. Other than the choker Kroz always made her wear when she came to the pirate camp, there was nothing left to take off, and as far as she knew, the choker could only be removed by magical means. Rage stomped a bit to remove the snow from his boots and then re-secured the exit flap. "Wow, it sure was warmer in the ship's tent than it was outside," he thought. As he turned, he realized the music and cheers had stopped, and fifty pirates were looking at him. But when the fifty-first looked at him he gasped for breath. His cold, tight balls fell nearly as rapidly as his shaft rose. "Aaagh." For a second he was going to ask Rapina why she was standing naked on the scaffold, he was going to scold the men, but his breathing was way too heavy as he walked to her. She was perfect, she smelled like lust, and he had her undivided attention. He should have told her off for inciting the men. He should have done a lot of things, but something was wrong with his head and he could only think about one thing, getting it into her, getting it into her now. Rapina idly wondered why her fingers were unbuttoning Rage's pants, and why she was breathing like a winded horse. Someone threw a bedroll over the planking behind her. Rapina pulled down his breeches and she brought him down. Rage kicked off his pants and thrust like a stallion, again and again. Rapina was so wet there would have been no friction at all had it not been for the muscles within her, stronger and more facile than those of any woman he had ever known. She squeezed him, she pulled at his seed, she called to it from her wet depths like a sea of sirens. The pirates cheered. Rapina felt as though she had nearly broken something inside of her holding back her need so as not to consume Rage as he came violently, fountaining his lust into her bottomless hunger. EEEEYAAAAAAAH! His orgasm seemed to last forever. When it finally ended he went limp. "Stoker!" Rapina rolled the pirate officer off her and smiled her hunger at the instigator of the drinking contest. Had Stoker paused to wonder why the pirate wench had rolled a limp, exhausted Rage off her body, he might have hesitated to bed her. However, he had been plotting all night, and he was not the kind of man who easily let the spoils of victory go free. He was on her in an instant. Rapina wrapped her legs around him and bucked like a mule, she had nothing left in her to hold back with, she pulled at his seed like a crazed animal. Had it not been for the cheers of the pirates, she felt certain Stoker would have lost his nerve. Perhaps he would have been better off if he had. Stoker's eyes rolled back in his head, he had bedded more women than he could count, and he had never cared much whether or not they were willing. The wench beneath him now was a wildcat, a hellion, a succubus, and every stroke pulled him down to hell and then shot him straight to heaven, he moaned, heaved, pumped, and gasped. This was extreme, something felt wrong, but he could not stop, he just couldnot stop. It felt so good, he had to spend, his thrusting was compulsion and she squeezed him, clutched him, pulled at his lust with a force he could not comprehend. Gaaaaaaaaaaah! Stoker's eyes nearly popped out of his skull. Had any pirate been in the right position to see Stoker's eyes, he would have screamed in terror. Fortunately, no one saw it, no one but Rapina. Rage got unsteadily to his feet. Damn!" The pirates laughed. After several minutes of Stoker's gasping orgasm and spewing seed, Rapina's hunger was blunted and she relented. Rapina rolled Stoker off her body and tried not to notice how limp he had gone. "Greasy!" she chimed, almost cheerfully. The cook lasted only a few minutes before he joined his deathly comrade with a long, eye-popping orgasm. Rapina rolled him aside and was about to speak, but another pirate jumped between her thighs before she could say a word. With Stoker and Greasy Rapina had lost control -lost it utterly; but she felt much better now, a little more herself. Her clutching wetness was just a joy, and if she just relaxed and let the men fill her mind and body with power and pleasure, she would not draw dangerously on any one of them. Stoker and Greasy had paid for their perfidy, but the rest would be just fine. She whispered comments, sometimes requests or even orders to change positions and sometimes endearments as each pirate bedded her. Her lively cunny supped gluttonously as each pirate came powerfully, spewing seed and energy into her hungry depths. Few lasted more than five minutes, but hardly a second would pass between the time one man drenched the warmth of her clutching vagina and another entered. It was almost as though one tireless pirate was bedding her, and because of that she began to come, and come, over and over. She was so sensitized by all the lust and life force being pumped into her that very nearly everything drove her to orgasm. She would peak, then after a few minutes peak again, and for whatever perverse reason, vanity, or perhaps revenge, whenever she did, she filled each man's mind with fealty, utter, unabashed obedience and worship for their goddess of lust. If these pirates thought with the brain between their legs, then she would command their minds. Zit realized he was the low man on the totem pole because everyone had gone up on the makeshift stage, and several had been on the platform twice, yet he had not been given a chance at all. Rapina closed her thighs and turned after sending Blackjack to the platform. "I've seen you others before, let Zit up first, it's not fair keeping him a virgin forever." The pirates laughed. Several in the crowd piped up, "Get Zit up there, no pirate should be a virgin, it aren't right." Zit crawled up onto the platform at last. He lifted his palm, the bedroll was afloat in goo. Rapina giggled. Zit smiled, and then his mouth fell open as he saw Rapia's breasts jiggle. They were so full and pert, and her nipples were standing up like little pink towers. He couldn't quite imagine how she had fit her breasts into her bodice. Rapina saw what he was looking at and pulled him to her breast with a finger under his chin. He suckled her, and then she grabbed him around back. She put her hand between his buns, found the base of his penis and pulled him to her. Zit moaned as Rapina guided him into her and caressed him inside her. He hardly noticed the rasping laughter from across the tent. He just coursed in and out of Rapina's captivating cleft. Hearing the laughter she clasped her palms over his ears and pumped harder against him. He moaned and thrust a while longer then started coming grandly. Rapina released one of Zit's ears and pulled him into her with her right hand between the cheeks of his behind. Feeling the delicious pulsing at the base of his cock with her wrapped fingertips as he came long and hard. She bucked against him cried out as she too began to come. As her mind touched his, she became his princess, his sovereign, his queen, and yet one who held him with great affection. Kroz chuckled and it amused him all the more that it came out as a wicked rasping, for his death robes made his voice sound so very undead. "Well now, while the cats are away, it appears the mice will play." Rapina massaged the base of Zit's waning cock and looked up at the approaching death mask of Kroz. She felt far too good to be embarrassed. "Rauw," she mewed. Zit's organ began to re-engorge. Rapina grinned like the cat who had just swallowed the cannary. "They started it," She said. Kroz laughed so hard his death robes could hardly cope with it. He pounded his knee as he looked at the many sleeping pirates and the gaggle still waiting around the stage. "Did you want to see if you could take on the entire camp?" Kroz asked. "No, I'm just having fun," Rapina smiled. Her hand caressed Zit's behind as her loins moved gently around his hardening rod. "Besides, there had to be a few on guard duty, so it's not quite the whole camp. Zit was the last of them, and I had to complain to get him a spot. Those others are greedy; they're here for seconds. Rapina suckled playfully at Zit's neck. Kroz raised his eyebrows beneath the death mask. There was a man lying near the edge of the stage. Kroz rolled him over. He looked dead, but he was erect, and the very tip of his cock was gray. Thane took a tiny hand mirror from within his robe and held it near the man's nose. It steamed up, but barely. "Mmm, he seems... exhausted. Was he the first? Rapina blinked, but did not pause in the slow thrusting of her hips. "The second actually. Rage was the first, but he just walked in after I danced for them. I thought I was stalling until an officer came and I succeeded. An officer did come, just before they started in, but there was so much lust, I was... "Primed?" Kroz asked. "I was um, Stoked," Rapina grinned. "Rage, well he could tell I was ready. He didn't say anything, he just came up, and, I couldn't keep my hands out of his pants. I didn't tire him out too badly. This whole thing, it wasn't his fault, he just walked into it." Kroz chuckled, "Your sense of justice never ceases to amaze me Rapina. And this..." Kroz indicated the comatose man on the edge of the stage. "Stoker," Rapina sighed and smiled dreamily as she continued to pump Zit's erection into her wanton cunt. "Stoker was the instigator?" Kroz asked. Rapina nodded, "I think so. He and Greasy supplied the rum for a drinking contest between Dodge and Pike, the only officer here." "Kroz laughed. "And you saw the whole thing coming?" "Not as soon as I should have. Pike won the contest, but the last bottle of rum, the one Stoker supplied, was extremely strong. I tasted it after Dodge went down, it nearly burned my throat out, and Stoker had been pouring them fast and furious at the end of the contest. Pike had enough in his stomach to make him pass out, he just didn't know it until about two minutes after he had won." Kroze smiled beneath the death mask, "So the contest was just a way to neutralize the officer protecting your virtue. It really didn't matter who won, both lost." Rapina moaned with pleasure, then nodded, "It was very clever, actually. Stoker would have taken advantage as soon as they laid Pike down, but I offered to dance for everyone before he had the chance." Rapina giggled, "At the time I thought I was stalling for time, but oh did that backfire on me. I should have known better, so many men, so much lust, how could I resist?" "Indeed." Kroz stepped up onto the stage and stepped over Rapina and Zit to examine something hanging from one of the posts of the scaffolding. It was a pair of trousers with sheathed weapons still attached. Kroz seemed most interested in an impressive-looking sword. He went around behind it and mumbled a few incantations. "Well, I hate to break up your little party, my dear, but it is nearly dawn and we must get back to the abode. We have some urgent business to take care of in the laboratory." Kroz said. "Okay, I'll get cleaned up," Rapina smiled as she continued her wanton rutting. "Splendid. Tell me, to whom does this weapon belong?" Kroz asked. Zit grunted, "Those are Rage's things, sir, I hung them up for him while he was busy." "Ah, that makes sense, I must consult with Red Jack a moment, so I believe you two will have time to finish up after all, not that you really appeared to be stopping," Kroz chuckled. ---- While Thane slept, Rapina retired to her room, but she could not sleep. She was simply buzzing with energy. She took a catnap, but otherwise read for the entire time she would have slept. After he had arisen, Thane ate a rushed breakfast, and then went down to the laboratory to try to discover what kind of poison Elizabetta had used on Jack. Sometime after nightfall, Rapina set "lunch" out for the two priests of Mortaebius. "Here you are Guardians. Any luck on the poison?" "Yes, the toxin used comes from a tiny insect. It takes a great deal of trouble to make, but it is one of the most deadly toxins known, which explains why the scratch on Jack's leg was enough to sicken him so. Ordinarily the toxin kills in a matter of seconds, but if the dose is exceptionally small, it works more slowly. The poison could still be fatal. Once introduced it works on the nerves, including the brain and the nerves that control the heart. I must return to the pirate camp yet tonight. I contacted Roger just after dark, and Jack is already in dire need of another infusion of life force to regenerate his body. Short of a magical potion or the spell of a priest of a god of healing, the poison cannot be neutralized. We shall have to hope he can find a continuous supply of victims, or Jack may not make it. Thankfully, the nobles of Turnmoor have provided us with at least one. ----------------- It had been several days since she had seen the pirates and Rapina was in Thane's magical library with five books open on the floor. A single flaming skeleton stood in an alcove near the door. Ordinarily she might have taken the books to her room, but she did not see the point. Neither Thane nor Rames was home to scold her, and the book she was reading required many references just to understand. No sooner would she close one reference, than she needed another from the shelf. The book she was trying to understand was the book on magical theory that Red Jack had allowed her to read when she was a pirate. Thane owned all of Jack's old books now. She had picked up the book just after returning from the tryst with the pirates because she needed a challenge. The energy from the pirates was keeping her quite alert, and she saw no reason not to use it. Rapina fingered the choker around her neck. Thane made her wear it whenever she was away from the abode, and now it appeared she must also wear it whenever both priests were out. It was little more than a slave collar, she supposed. It was odd that Thane had not put it on her when she made her mock escape from him in Granville. No doubt, he had been testing her. A few days ago, Thane, or Kroz as he now liked to be called sent Rames on some sort of assignment. He was still gone, and Thane had gone to infuse Red Jack with another nightly dose of life force to keep him alive. Rapina knew he would also check on the results of Kent's ghoulish scouting efforts. "Rapina!?" Thane called out. "In the Library!" Rapina answered. "Ah, I should have known. Thane frowned at all the books scattered across the floor. For an apprentice who does the bulk of the cleaning around here, you seem to be quite at home with slovenly habits. I see you did not even button your bodice this morning." Rapina giggled, "I can't, Guardian." "No?" "I gained a cup size from bedding the pirates. Actually, I'm not as big as I was a few days ago. I could probably button at least one or two buttons now, Rapina said." "Mmm?" Thane asked. Rapina stood, took Thane's skeletal left hand and pushed it down the front of her dress. Thane's jaw dropped. Astonishing! As you know, I can feel life force with that hand. Rapina nodded, "Yes, that's why I took your left hand and not the other. I'm sure the right would have been more pleasant, but I don't think you would have gotten the point. The other point is, I'm really just reading the book in my hands, the other five are references, and I keep having to pull more down from the shelves. This is a very hard book. I think you might have kept it on the shelf in your room had it not been for the fact that you knew I had already seen it. It was Jack's." "Ah, yes, I know the volume. It is a difficult work, not the sort of thing an apprentice would normally try to tackle. Why are you locking horns with it?" "I was so charged up from the pirates, I needed the challenge. I am nearly done, I've been at it for several days." Hard at it too, I believe your standards for the cleanliness of the Kitchen have slipped. "Oooo," Rapina put her hand to her lips. "I forgot to tidy up after lunch." Thane chuckled. I see you are not far from the end. Do not break your chain of thought now. You can attend to the kitchen at dinner, which can be simple fare since I will be busy and Rames is not due back until tomorrow after dusk. "Thank you Guardian Thane. I could really use the time. I do believe I finally know enough, and have a big enough library at my disposal to be getting somewhere." "Indeed, I will discuss the work with you when you have finished. I read it myself shortly after it came into my possession. It is a valuable though confusing treatise. One more thing, Rapina." "Hmm?" "How did you fair when the shadows drained you when you foiled that little assassination attempt I cooked up for Red Jack not long after you all arrived on Graveston isle? "They seemed to tap my reserves before they started to hurt me. Are you out of victims for healing Jack?" Rapina asked. Thane chuckled and shook his head, "My dear, you are far too familiar with the way I think. Yes, the spy lasted through four drains in two days before death claimed him. Since then the Captain's more loyal officers have donated life force of one drain apiece. More would be too dangerous. Red Jack is still by no means well, indeed, his straights seem more dire each time I see him. I am healing some of the damage, but I cannot touch the poison itself. He needs more just to keep him alive. Yet, I do not believe he wants to start using crewmen to keep himself among the living. Given that one powerful but remote group already appears to know the location of his camp, I do not think he wishes to betray his location to other groups by locating local men and having me drain the life out of them. The life force you store appears to be of a somewhat different character than what I am used to draining, but as long as it is drainable, it is worth a try. You will come with me to help Jack tomorrow then?" Rapina nodded, "Yes Guardian. I wonder, why are you helping him so much? You have been there every night since he was poisoned. It is not in the contract." Thane chuckled, "There would be no contract without Red Jack, that and he has already made his payment. He gave me the fresh corpse of Elizabetta, a highly trained assassin, a rare gem, and I have been working on her and the enchantments I must learn to complete her every available hour since I got her back. I have had to purchase the corpses of two lesser assassins at great personal expense just to practice on. Moreover, I have had to appeal to our cause and ask favors of several Mortancers of Mortaebius so that I can learn the process aright and make no mistakes on her enchantments when she is ready. I will see you at dinner. I still have much to do. If I am successful in these next few days, I will have learned a second of Mortaebius' advanced animations." --------------------- The next evening at Dusk Thane, as Kroz, used the graveyard mists spell to transport Rapina and his guards to the pirate camp. "I will consult with Kent. Mayhap you would like to try to glean some more energy before we try this. I see you were able to button your bodice this morning, though the fit of your dress is too tight," Kroz said. Rapina nodded and hustled towards the camp with a couple of guards Thane had assigned to her. Their mailed feet crunched the packed snow on the path as they followed her. When she entered the ship's tent, she saw that things had changed somewhat. The ship was both more and less built, and a body of a recruit hung from one of the posts. It appeared that the men were making the ship, but also disassembling and packing its parts for transport by sled. Red Jack was probably getting ready to run, but he was probably too sick to do it just yet. Rapina rubbed her tingling nose as she looked around and then realized that a number of the pirates were already lustfully looking at her, tickling her senses. "Lust on deck! Phhhweeetphweew!" Blackjack bellowed. Rapina blushed and felt her nipples erect as a great deal of lustful attention had its effect on her. The men had adopted a horse whistle instead of the usual naval whistle they sometimes used before formal speeches of the captain. It appeared she had taken on new rank, although the rank seemed pregnant with humor. Rapina covered the "Oh" written on her lips as she realized the suggestion her mind had cooked up to give the pirates when she had slipped into their clutches a few days ago. She would just have to do it again, maybe the pirates would become a little more serious. "Hi men, it looks like you've been hard at work." "Not as hard as we'd like ta be!" Glinter blurted. "Oh yea!" The pirates hollered as they gave Glinter the thumbs up. Just then Brackston came into the tent, "Captain says 'e's not feelin' up ta satisfyin' de red hot wench tanight. Yew men think ye can fill 'is shoes?" "Aye!" The pirates hollered. "Damn right we can!" Stoker said with fanatic zeal. Rapina raised her eyebrows. After the way she had abused Stoker the last time she had seen him, she was surprised he had any interest. Yet it was apparent from his eyes that he was obsessed, like an addict who had been debilitated by opium, yet craved more. Brackston whispered in Rapina's ear, "Captain Jack says yew're th' last person 'e wants ta steal life force from. Only reason 'e's willin' ta try this is Kroz says yew got a little natural talent fer sex magic. Th' Captain will give it a try, but only if yew can charge yerself way up with yer magic snatch. Red Jack don't want yew hurt from Kroz's deadly hand. Yew fuck them men, and yew fuck them good, understand?" "Yes sir," Rapina blushed. A section of scaffolding was already being moved to the center of the tent, and a few bed rolls and blankets were being tossed on top of it. Rapina jumped up on the scaffold. "You sure you can fill Jack's shoes guys? Jack's got a wicked tongue and he is awfully long-winded." "We'll do it 'er die tryin!" Greasy shouted. Rapina felt a familar touch on her back and then a man's fingers began unlacing her bodice. Rapina looked over her shoulder. Arzeal? "Not the circumstances I would have chosen, but these men can be rough, best to start well-warmed with a man who will treat you right." Arzeal did treat her right. He undressed her and caressed her in front of the men like a master showman. When it was time, he kissed her everywhere, then knelt to drink the juices from her wanton cleft until she was writhing over him like a wildcat. She came powerfully and touched his mind with affection and only then did he enter her. Being half elven, he was slightly shorter than she, but it worked beautifully for the standing positions. By the time he was finished with her she was sopping with lubrication, and the men were cheering and lusting so palpably that Rapina's whole body seemed to vibrate with their sentiment. After Arzeal broke the ice, pirate after pirate mounted her, each pumping the power of his loins into her body. Man after man took her, some she recognized, Stoker, Greasy, Rage, Skitch and others. She had seen many of the remaining pirates but she hardly knew them. The entire camp seemed to be participating. The guards even changed while she was moaning on her back. Rough hands grabbed her ankles and pulled her nether lips even with the edge of the scaffold. At the same time, Slice stepped over her, straddled her chest, knelt down and played with her breasts. Rapina's mouth opened as she realized what was happening. Brackston's rough hand reached around and grasped Slice's throbbing organ, but instead of entering the boy, he entered Rapina. "Slice leaned forward and whispered to Rapina. Take as much as ye can from him, Wench. He was the only officer who would not give Kroz a jolt. He doesn't trust the old warlock, but he trusts you. You take him hard." Rapina nodded, she clutched and pulled at Brackston's seed with all her strength, holding nothing back. She could hear him grunting behind Slice, and when she did catch a glimpse of him, his eyes were rolled up in his head, and his mouth was open and drooling. UuuaaaaAAAAIIIIIeeeeu-u-u... Brackston came for what seemed an eternity. Rapina used nearly all of her strength, pulling nearly as hard as she had on Stoker the other night. Brackston tried to stand, but fell forward and collapsed on the platform next to Rapina. "Was that hard enough Brackston, she whispered?" For several minutes her only answer was a glassy-eyed stare. "Aye, close enough. Yew take it easy on Slice." Rapina nodded. "You can bet on it, because I'm sorely winded from tugging your guts out," Rapina giggled. "Wench!" Brackston groaned. "Some guys like it rough, and some like it nice and easy," Rapina said pushing Slice down her body and engulfing his erection. She pulled Brackston's hip towards her and put Slice's hand on the side of his exhausted lover's rump. She could tell these men's lusts did not run strongly for women, but their efforts on behalf of their captain were touching. As he peaked, Slice's eyes opened and then popped wide in a look that communicated both intense ecstasy and surprise that he could be having it at the hands of a woman. Man followed man until Rapina affectionately embraced Zit and nuzzled his earlobe. He looked overjoyed to see her and she could not help dallying with him a little longer than she needed to. He was a perceptive boy. Somehow, he had known there was something about her that was unusual, and now he seemed to understand that she was not a vampire in the usual sense, but that he had not been entirely wrong about her either. When Zit rolled off her with a contented sigh, Arzeal was there to clean her up, get her dressed quickly and whisk her off to the captain's tent where Kroz was conferring with Jack and Roger. "Tharr's me wench," the captain said feebly. Rapina bent and kissed Jack's lips. Jack spoke so softly Rapina could barely hear him. "Aye, lets get on with this afore I can't keep me brain workin' namore. Th' poison's reavin' me soul. These treatments 'er pullin me back from th' brink o' death, but it seems like they're pullin' me back less far each time." "This may not work, but if it does not, perhaps we can find a volunteer among the men for a second drain. Kroz removed the gloves from his hands and began to cast the first spell. Unlike Rapina, he had no means to store life force in his body for any length of time, thus the first spell drained Kroz's own life force and bestowed it on the Captain. Kroz placed his hand on Jack's head and grimaced as his energy flowed into the ailing pirate. "Aye, some better, some better, I can feel th' damage healin' an me headache, dullin' down towards bearable." The second spell would draw life force from Rapina to replace Kroz's loss. Kroz droned the incantation. Rapina loosened her bodice and pulled it out so that Kroz could reach in at the right moment. When he did, she was not entirely ready for the squeal of surprise that came from Thane's lips as he drained a goodly amount of her reserves. "How are your reserves?" Kroz asked. "I've enough for another," Rapina said. Thane hurriedly cast the draining spell again and grabbed Rapina's other breast, then before the drain was even complete he began hurriedly casting the energy bestowing spell. This time he placed his hand on Jack's solar plexus, and poured Rapina's energy into the dieing pirate. "Balls o' fire, this'd be th' first time I ever got a ragin' instant hard-on from the touch of a skeleton. What was in that? I'd like that spell again," Jack chuckled. "I ain't just tinglin, I feel warm all over too. Will you kiss me Kroz? Jack laughed uncontrollably." Kroz cleared his throat. There is a peculiar property to the energy. I noticed that right off. By replacing what I had lost and then draining a second time immediately followed by the bestowal spell, I have attempted to give you a dose of Rapina's energy in a purer form, more directly from her. I have no ability to store energy, but I attempted to transfer it before it had a chance to dissipate. I am curious to see if it is as effective as the life force I wrench from myself and others." "Tharr's no contest on that score, Kroz. I've been through this enough ta know what one o' yer energy transfers is supposed ta do an' how much. Whatever Rapina's got, it trounces ye in th' healin' department. All along there's been a dull fire in me nerves, 'an even when th' life force ye give me healed th' damage, th' fire's been still there, eatin' away at me. All around me chest an' upper legs, I'm feelin' that fire goin' out. Maybe it's just the hellish hard, hard-on I got that I'm not feelin' things aright, but I think I got 'em square. Leave me be fer a bit and I'll let ye know how things come out. "What happened to the recruit hanging from the pole of the ship's tent?" "Roger, Brackston and I have spent a great deal of time over the past few nights searching for additional spies," Kroz said. "After all, there were two outside spies; it stood to reason there might be an inside spy as well. I have a plan to deal with this sorcerer of Li'Yieraun's, but it would not do if he had a spy in our camp. After questioning everyone but the old officers, we found that we indeed had a spy. He was working for an assassin in Turnmoor, possibly Elizabetta's boss Palo, though he did not use that name when he hired the boy. We made use of his life force, and then hung him up as an example." Rapina grimaced at the fate of the boy but smirked in spite of herself. Kroz was being much more helpful than the contract Roger had hammered out with Red Jack said he had to be. Surely, he was insuring the future of his contract, but Rapina felt that there must be something else. Perhaps Kroz saw some gain for the church of Mortaebius or himself. --- [Rapina]031 The Shadows of Wizardry "You look stunning poured into black silk, my dear, does she not?" Thane asked. Rames rubbed his hands together and held them near Rapina's loins as if by a fire. Rapina giggled. "I see only one problem with your outfit," Thane said. "Hmm?" Rapina asked. "This is a night operation, and your blades are silvery, far too reflective. If you should find yourself in battle, your blades would betray your position. Try these instead." Thane held up a pair of black leather sheathes. The hilts of the weapons they contained were also black leather; the metal of the pommels and hilt guards were dull black as well. Rapina loosened her belt and replaced her weapons with the ones Thane had given her. She drew the rapier part way and saw that the metal of the blades was the same dull black color as the hilt guard. She squinted at the tang mark, it was the mark of The Montfort Forge. "Oh thank you! Thank you Guardian Thane, I love these Montfort blades. I really missed the one I had." Thane chuckled, "Yes, Guardian Rames said that was painfully obvious. Now that you will be helping us handle the clandestine affairs of the Church, you shall not lack for quality equipment. I have a darkwood bow for you as well. It is somewhat stronger than the one you are used to. I do hope you can bend it." Thane handed Rapina the bow. Rapina gritted her teeth a bit but she was able to bend the bow. "Splendid, Guardian Rames, I shall never doubt your opinions as an arms master again." Rames chuckled, "We had a little disagreement over bows. Guardian Thane wanted me to get a somewhat weaker bow, but I felt you could grow into this one." Rapina smiled, "What's our assignment?" It is a simple matter, really. You are to consecrate several small graveyards to Mortaebius, and create another. In order to accomplish the feat, you must drive your horses hard, luckily skeleton horses do not tire. Guardian Rames will show you the maps. You are to study them. Here also is a compass and your copies of the maps in case you should become separated. After you are finished, I shall take you to this Graveyard in the county of Li'Yeiraun. You shall make a large circle around the area as you consecrate and then you will create a graveyard here, in a forest just east of Castle Yeiraun." Other than feeling a bit of soreness in her rump, the consecration of various graveyards around Li'Yeiraun was going very well. Rapina dismounted at still another tiny graveyard. A small parsonage to an agricultural deity could be seen not far off. "We begin," Rames said. "Hail Mortaebius guardian of the dead, the dead who lie here entreat thee, hallow this ground that the dead might rest." "Hail Mortaebius, keeper of the deceased, we the living entreat thee, hallow this ground that the dead be held in thy embrace, to rise only in the direst need," Rapina said. A door to the parsonage opened and closed, "Is someone there." In a lowered voice, Rames continued with the consecration, "Hearken, ye buried and departed, to the power of Mortaebius coursing through thy rotting flesh and bones." Rapina continued, "Harken, ye living to the call of thy ancestors in Mortaebius' embrace, and know his power will preserve thee, until death takes life's grace. Both Rapina and Rames finished the consecration. "...and thus we close the circle, life and death, the cycle is complete." "Food! Food! You got food? Snuffle-snuff!" Rames half shouted in a crazed voice as the Parson approached. The parson held a crossbow on Rames. "Hold up there beggar." "Me smell fooood!" Rames shouted. Rapina stealthily circled the parson in the darkness as Rames' voice drew his attention. Since both she and her companion were dressed in black with their exposed skin thoroughly sooted, the Parson was having a difficult time seeing them in the dim light, and Rames was making sure the parson concentrated on him. When Rapina was behind the parson, she poised her hand just over the man's sword hilt and raised her other hand to tap on his left shoulder. "Look out behind you, sir," Rames said. At that moment the parson felt a tap on his shoulder and whirled, but Rapina's hand took his sword and slowed him long enough for her to hit the trigger on his crossbow. The bolt fired into the open air as Rapina's boot kicked the parson off his feet. Rames was on the Parson in an instant. Me told you look out. Now me look for Fooood! Rames knelt on one of the man's arms and searched him. Rapina stamped on the man's arm as he went for a knife. Rames snatched the knife and threw it as far as he could while Rapina removed the bolts from the parson's quiver and tossed them as well. "He not got no food. You go get us food. We not hurt you. Rames stood the man up and pushed him towards the parsonage." As the parson hustled towards his house, Rames and Rapina stealthily made their way back to their horses and mounted up. When the parsonage door closed, they galloped off. "Whew, that was close. I'm so glad you warned him about the person behind him, I think he might have shot you in surprise if I had just tapped him on the shoulder." Rames chuckled, "Yes, it did work rather well. For a moment I was almost his friend." The consecration of the remaining graveyards went without a hitch, but there was still the one to be created. Rames and Rapina rode slowly, stopping frequently to listen for guards. They saw a pair of them walk by in the distance. When Rames stopped, Rapina immediately dismounted and took down her shovel. She dug a hole, tossed an open burlap sack of bones into it and buried it. She paced off twelve paces distance and did the same with a second skeleton. Rames was doing likewise, some distance away. After the burial was done, they immediately did the consecration ritual in voices barely above a whisper. When they were finished they stopped and listened for a moment; a pair of guards was coming. Carefully they laid down. "I hate it when the mists rise off the ground like that, it gives me the creeps," a first guard said. "Bah, you afraid of spooks?" his partner asked. "Na, just don't like the way it obscures things." "Well come on then, lets walk on through there, nothing to be afraid of. Rapina held her breath. One of the guards nearly stepped on her, but he passed. The mists seemed to be thickening by the minute. After the guards had gone some distance, Rapina heard chanting in a low voice from nearby. "Be very quiet, the guards are near, Rapina whispered in a barely audible voice." Rames picked up leaves and sifted them over the small burried holes until his spell-enhanced night vision told him the ground looked untouched. He could see Rapina was doing the same. Thane, who had arrived with the mists, checked the work of the others, and when he was satisfied, handed them the leads to their horses, took their hands and began to chant. Rapina thanked her lucky stars that the guards were not due to pass this way for another few minutes. When the three of them materialized back at the abode, she breathed a sigh of relief. "Do you suppose they will find the tracks of our horses?" "Nay, I doubt it, the leaves are thick in that area, as is the forest. The trail you came in on is well traveled by horses and guards, so I expect we will be just fine. However, I did include some insurance on the skeletons you buried. Should they be triggered by an attacker who unearths them, they will stand up causing a glyph to fire that will send a message to me," Thane said. Our work for the evening is not done. We must transport a number of skeletons to Red Jack's camp yet tonight. I have animated the bodies of two criminals delivered by the constable as well," Thane added. When they arrived, Red Jack's camp was bustling with quiet activity. A number of ghouls combed the area surrounding the camp for spies while Rames and Roger took the skeletons to the appointed locations for shallow burial. Rapina assisted the pirates in making a pack train to the graveyard. The pirates carried great pieces of their longship, tools and other supplies. Thane began transporting groups of pirates to some far off graveyard. By the time the birds sung heralding the dawn, the pirates had removed the ship from its tent, but the tent still stood. Within the tent, bowls of flaming oil had replaced the flaming skeletons. In fact, the pirate camp looked much the same as it always had, except that the number of pirates in it was greatly reduced. Those deemed too green to fight well, plus a few officers that had been put in charge of building the new camp, were no longer present. The pirates that remained put on a show of activity while the number of guards searching the forest around the camp quietly doubled in number. At dawn, Kroz bid the pirates adieu and took Kent and most of his ghouls with him as he left. --- The next night, Thane came to his afternoon "breakfast" looking as though he was trying to figure out what might go wrong with a plan he had worked on for many hours. "Good evening Guardian Thane," Rapina said. "Good evening Rapina. Tonight is an important night. We will discuss our plan, and when we are done it will be time to put it into action..." --- The sun was just about to slip below the horizon when Rage walked down the path for the guard post farthest from the camp. Rage saw the large tree and took the runed cover from over the stone set in his sword. A recruit he hardly knew accompanied him to guard duty. Kroz had told Rage that the sword he had stolen from Lord Li'Yeiraun's men had been bugged with a magic stone. Now it was his turn to use their little gadget against them. He pocketed the cover then went on. Once at the guard post he struck up a conversation with the two young guards, a conversation he knew Nordula would overhear. "Okay men, you're relived. Get back to camp quick; remember it'll be midnight before you know it, and the captain wants you to get into your groups and be ready to move out, so make sure you pack up. We're going to slip out right under the noses of those spying dogs." "Aye sir," the youth said as he started down the trail. "What group're ye in Blood?" Biler asked. "Me? Number five, how about you?" Blood said. "Group seven, we're the best," Biller replied. "Bah..." Blood said. Rage smiled to himself. When this guard duty was over, he would pry the stone from the sword and give it to Roger. The camp wards were going to be unearthed and packed up for the most part, but Roger was a walking ward. --- Rapina waited in a shadow. She was near the cobbled path that led to the front door of Madam Agnes' House of Angels. It was in Yeiraun Villiage. Yeiraun castle was a mile walk up a hill to the north. The disguise Rames was wearing looked utterly ridiculous, but the one Thane was wearing was an absolute scream. Rapina heard the whinney of a horse. "I can't believe my luck!" Rames said as he played "Hans." "Imagine that, an out of town gentleman coming away with the newest and definitely the most heavenly angel of the bunch. It was worth the small fortune I paid." Lieutenant Richter looked forward to this night every week. Yes, every week he picked up a bottle and one of Agnes' girls and was back to his room for a nine to midnight romp. Occasionally he even let one of the sergeants have a taste. Rapina started up the path with Rames and looked up at the lieutenant as he came down the path. The coy expression on her face coupled with the tug on the officer's lust served to grab his attention and slow his pace as he gave Rapina a good looking over. "Hans! Hansel! I know you're in there, I dragged your words out of that hotel clerk!" Thane said in a disguised voice. Thane, dressed as a rather ugly but convincing woman opened the gate of Madam Agnes' house with a resounding squeak. "Hans" stiffened. Swore under his breath, then whispered frantically to the Lieutenant, "Sir, I've got this new girl for the entire night, and she's yours if you bail me out of what's about to happen with my damned wife." Rames pushed Rapina at the Lieutenant. "Ooo," Rapina squawked as she bumped into the Lieutenant, giving his lust a little jerk on impact. The lieutenant had no time to think or react before a homely woman bore down on "Hans" like a mad hornet. "Shame on you! The very idea that you would fraternize with harlots! You are a married man!" "Nonsense, you have it all wrong. Hilda, I'd like you to meet my friend," Hans said. "Good to meet you Hilda, my name's Adolf Richter, I'm an old friend of your husband. I'm sure he was just over here looking for me. We had a lot of catching up to do." "We sure did honey, it's so great to see him, why Adolf is one of the best swordsmen I've ever known. Uh, he works for, uh..." "Lord Li'Yeiraun." "Yes, and Lord Li'Yeiraun holds him in high esteem. It's great to see an old friend with such an honorable post, isn't it Hilda? I thought I might find him over here at the, uh house of the ladies. I heard he, uh, sometimes comes here and I was um going to ask around and see when he'd be in. Low and behold I bumped into him coming out with this young lady and we've been catching up on old times ever since." Hilda looked a little nonplused, "Well, thank heaven you weren't frequenting this house of ill repute as I had first suspected. Hilda glared at the Lieutenant. You should get yourself a wife, Adolf. These ladies are evil, you understand? eeevil! Now come along Hans, you get away from this place." "Yes dear," Hans whimpered as Hilda hauled him towards the gate. Richter chuckled, "Poor sap, it's men like him who remind me that a smart man never marries." "Men like him remind you?" Rapina asked innocently as she tugged at Richter's lust. "And girls like you," Richter smiled saltily. "Lets stop in and see Agnes a minute." "Okay, have you got some money?" Rapina asked. "Shit, do you think she'd charge me for you all over again?" Richter asked. Rapina smiled, "Um, I just got here yesterday; do you think she would?" Rapina asked. Richter looked at the door uneasily, then back at Rapina. Damn she was so young, and so breathtaking. He could pay for her all over again but that would cost... nah. Richter did an about face, took Rapina's hand and led her down the walkway, "What's your name?" "Leanna." Rapina smiled. --- Edgar the ghoul peered down from the treetop. Not even the half-elven sentries posted around the perimeter of the Li'Yeiraun camp could see him. His corpse was as cold as the air around it. As of a few minutes ago, men were frantically donning armor, filling quivers, and generally racing around as if about to go into battle. Edgar climbed down the tree. He had a message to get to Kroz's assistant. --- Richter knocked on the heavy door, "It's Richter, open up." A grizzled old Sergeant opened the door. Simply because she was an imp, Rapina tugged at the old Sergeant's lust. "Oi, who's th' girl?" the sergeant asked. "Got her down at Agnes'. Damn pretty, isn't she Sergeant Deinzen?" Lieutenant Richter asked. "Jah!" Sergeant Deinzen agreed. "'Leanna, this is Sergeant Deinzen. I Got her for the whole night," Richter grinned. "Let me know if he falls asleep on ya," Deinzen chuckled. Rapina blushed, "Okay," she said smiling. The lieutenant led her through the heavy door. It was evident that Mansun Dido had given accurate drawings and descriptions of Castle Li'Yieraun to Thane. The plans had come at a price however. Thane's little coup was to be much more bloodless than originally planned. At night all doors to the castle were barred and bolted from the inside with large, heavy bars and huge metal bolts. The only way past the barred doors was down a corridor that led right through the guard barracks, and only the Lieutenant had the key into the castle proper. Rapina followed the Lieutenant down an isle that went through a large room full of bunk beds. On the other side he unlocked a heavy door and entered a corridor. After ten more paces he opened a door on the left and took Rapina through a small office room where he grabbed some glasses and a corkscrew for the bottle of wine he'd bought while in town. On the other side of the office was the Lieutenant's bedroom. "Who says a man who's supposed to be on call every night of the week can't have a little fun," Richter grinned as he passed Rapina a glass of wine. Richter looked at the beauty he had picked up and took a moment just to gloat on his good fortune. He began to wonder just how much stuffing she had packed beneath her breasts to make them look so full. Heheh, turn around girl. Rapina turned and felt the Lieutenant's fingers unbuttoning her dress. His breathing was rapid and hot against her neck. Her nose twitched as his lust tickled her senses. "Heheh, step out of that now, I want to see what you've got on under it." Rapina turned, blushed and stepped out of her dress. The black satin lace teddy underneath had been copied from a sample procured days earlier by Rames from one of Agnes' Angels. Richter licked his lips and began to unlace Rapina's front. When he was finished he slid the teddy's straps over her shoulders and pulled it down. Her ripe breasts jiggled free, her nipples already erect. a loud knocking could be heard on the outer door. "Shit!" "One minute," The lieutenant whispered and disappeared into the office. "It's Captain Gleister, get the men together on the double. Leave old Deinzen and a skeleton crew. We will need every available man. The pirates are bugging out and we need to catch them as they leave or we'll likely not catch them at all. "Yes sir!" Richter said. After the captain left, Richter poked his head in the room took a few more steps and kissed Rapina's nipples. Damn pirates! I might be back before morning. You stay here until then." Rapina nodded, "okay." In the next half hour, Rapina heard a great deal of activity, and then the castle around her grew quiet. Rapina took a lamp and went into the office. Thankfully the lieutenant had not locked the door out. Perhaps he knew he might not be back until long after morning or maybe he had just been in too big a hurry. Rapina laced up her teddy and walked to the door to the barracks. It was locked. She wrinkled her nose, trying to settle on a course of action. Rapina shrugged and knocked on the door. What the? Blade drawn, the sergeant opened the door into the officer's corridor. Rapina grimaced and jumped backwards when she saw the sergeant's blade. Her breasts jiggled succulently. "Ooo, um sorry to bother you, but the lieutenant left me all alone in his room. He seemed to be in a rush. He wanted me to stay till morning, but there's nothing to do in there." "Well, now I'm sure I could find somethin' for ye to do out here," Sergeant Deinzen said. "Who's that," asked one of the four guards remaining in the barracks. "That'd be th' lieutenant's harlot. Deinzen laughed, "He was just about to dip his rod when the captain came in and told him it was time to pull out." The guards laughed. Two got up from their bunks and came to take a look. "One hell of a woman too, isn't she, Deiter?" Seargeant Deinzen asked "Jah, she sure is," Guard Deiter agreed. "Hey, I've got somethin' you can do girl. Watch the door for me a second, Dieter." Deinzen buttoned down his trousers and pulled out his half erect cock. "Suck." Rapina blinked as thoughts raced through her mind, "How am I supposed to put him to sleep with my mouth?" Rapina slurped him into her mouth and tried to draw on his energy, but it was no use, the best she could do was tug on his lust. Her mouth just wasn't set up the same way as her vagina. She knew how to use her throat on a man, Guardian Rames had taught her, but how was she going to work any magic if all he wanted was her mouth? Rapina smiled inwardly and began to finger herself as she sucked on the Sergeant. She tried to go slowly as she frantically fingered herself. "Faster girl, I'm supposed to be on duty," Sergeant Deinzen said. Rapina's head bobbed up and down, her moans escaping her throat as she used everything she had trying to get herself to orgasm before the Sergeant came in her mouth. Deinzen shook his head, "ever seen a hoar who enjoyed her work like this one?" The sergeant pumped and plunged adding speed to the young woman's otherwise impressive performance. Rapina's could hardly stand it she was giving herself so much stimulation, and then she felt Deinzen shudder as hot jets of cum began to shoot down her throat. Just as the man was about to pull out, Rapina took hold of his balls. She sucked what was left of his erection to the cadence of her own slippery clit-teasing finger. "Heheh, you're a real natural," Sergeant Deinzen said. 1Uhuhaaah, Rapina rode her orgasm to the cloud of Deinzen's mind and touched him with lust and stiffness as powerful as those she had inflicted on the late reverend Evangeline. Deinzen removed Rapina's hand from his balls. Whew, you're a grabby one, girl. Care for a whirl men? --- "Huddle closer!" the magician, Nordula said. "Good, now hold together." Sweat ran from Nordula's brow. Two a night had been about right, now he was teleporting groups of four men together at once. He had already used up every elixir of power and energy stone he had, and finally he was nearly done. Nordula collapsed as he pronounced the final word. The men disappeared. "Nordula, I would be gravely disappointed if you were unable to teleport the remainder of my personal guards and I," Lord Heinrich Li'Yieraun said. "Let me rest a moment m'Lord, I will come with you, and that should make it a little easier. Teleporting others without going oneself is a taxing proposition, without the stone on the other side it is not even practical. Nordula wiped the sweat from his brow with a handkerchief. He was spent; he knew he would have to rest for at least twenty minutes. Fifteen minutes later Lord Li'Yieraun cleared his throat, "Nordula?" "Five more minutes m' Lord, and I should have the energy," Nordula said. Li'Yeiraun nearly growled. Finally Nordula stood and gathered the two bodyguards and his lord together. Nordula's head felt as though it had been clubbed repeatedly, yet he knew he must make one last supreme effort. He was sure the warriors would be occupied making preparations until near midnight. He would sleep in the camp. He wrapped his fur cloak around him and began to incant the spell. He did not like the way the evening was progressing. His plan had been to transport the men a day or two before the battle was to take place so he could rest up from the taxing duty of teleportation, but because the pirates had decided to try to slip away he was expected to teleport and fight in one night, but how could he cast when he had used up all his reserves on transportation? --- The guard walking the wall of Yeiraun castle cussed to himself, "Why do I have to take a second shift anyways, I should be at my leisure, damn pirates! Wha? did I hear something? What in hell's up with the lights going out? The guard put his hand up to check for rain, then whirled suddenly, but it had grown so dark. He smelled rotten meat. Someone was there, but before he could strike out, they scratched him, and he froze solid with some kind of magical fear. The ghoul gibbered softly, crouching in the darkness that seemed to cling to him, and then moved off down the wall. The skeletal assassin, Elizabetta, jumped off the wall above the gate, her blackjack expertly rapped on the back of the gate guard's skull before she flattened against the cobbles with the impact of her thirty-foot fall. Her charcoal-colored bones were not brittle like those of lesser skeletons, but instead were firm but flexible as rubber. Blunt weapons and falls were now mere nuisances. The second gate guard could hardly see, and certainly could not believe what was happening. A shadow fell off the wall? He swished his sword behind his comrade, but hit only air. Suddenly something hit him like a rubber ball that had bounced from the top of the wall. Ulch! His jaw shattered as the flexible skull hit him like a blackjack. He fell over backwards and the creature gouged a spot behind his ears. Suddenly everything went black. Thane smiled within his death mask as the gate quietly opened. Under the cover of clinging darkness, Thane and his guards led a string of black leather-clad skeletal draft horses through the gate of Yeiraun castle. A number of double animated skeletons flanked the horses and when they were through the gate, Elizabetta waited as her two flexible skeletal helpers dragged a body each to the gate from the wall. A shadowy Kent came up and scratched the men before dragging them off into the shadows. "Nnnggugulp," Rapina gasped and swallowed as Deiter filled her mouth with cum. She tugged wildly at Sergeant Deinzen's lust as he pistoned in and out of her wanton cleft. "Ooooo..." Deinzen croaked as his orgasm seemed to stretch to infinity. The pleasure was so overwhelming. When it was finally over, he shuddered and collapsed. Rapina rolled the sergeant off her and gasped for breath. Deiter came around to the front of the bunk and sat her back up. His mouth latched onto her right nipple and he suckled her and fingered her clit like a man possessed. She reached behind him and massaged his buttocks. Eventually her fingers wrapped under, found the base of his rod and stimulated him. His staff rose. There came a knocking at the great door to the outside. Guard Dieter ignored the knock, he would get it later, besides, the knocker had not identified himself, and that was the rule. His fingers had tasted what he must have and now he would have his rising erection between her lovely thighs. Rapina moaned as Deiter entered her. Dieter laughed and cried as he pumped himself between the gates of Elysium. At last his eyes rolled back in his head, his loins surged forward and he hollered in ecstasy. Rapina drew the power out of the guard with all her might. He pumped and hollered for several minutes before collapsing on top of her. An insistent knock sounded at the door. Rapina was about to roll Dieter off when he pushed up drunkenly. He was obviously addled. Deiter shot back the bolt and opened the door. Wha? The ghoul scratched Deiter's face and he froze. Rapina screamed hoarsely. Kent pretended to scratch Rapina and she froze. "Ghouls immobilize those guards, bind the wench over one of the horses, I think I might have a use for her later on." Thane cast vision in darkness on Rapina as Kent bound her over the back of a horse. He had the ghouls toss the guards into a cell in the block just on the other side of the barracks. Once the last of them was in, Thane shot home the bolt on the outside of the door. After the last skeletal horse had come in from the courtyard, the Elizabetta, the skeletal assassin bolted the door to the barracks. Thane opened the door to the officers' corridor with the sergeant's key and moved his entourage forward. "Where is the key to the inner door, Thane whispered in Rapina's ear. "The lieutenant had a key ring, but he left in such a hurry, I think he still had it with him," Rapina whispered. "Elizabetta, the lock if you are able," Thane said. The skeletal assassin removed lock picks from a pouch, worked a few minutes, then opened the door. "Splendid." Thane intoned arcane syllables and filled the room beyond the door with darkness. Now, take your cohorts and scout our way to Nordula's chambers." The skeletal assassins and the pack of ghouls they led slunk ahead. Thane and his entourage followed more slowly. At last they arrived at the door to Nordula's chambers. Thane first dispelled any magic holding the door fast, then Elizabetta worked on the lock for about ten minutes, periodically requesting tools from a case on one of the horses. Thane filled the rooms surrounding the entrance to Nordula's chambers with darkness. The ghouls and the other two skeletal assassins scouted for and immobilized guards in the area. There were few to remove, however. The castle was largely empty. At last the door opened. Elizabetta sent her underlings forward to check for traps. Thane assisted with his mage-sight, detecting and dispelling a glyph on the door. Once the party made it into Nordula's library, Thane began dispelling magic on the books, and designating which books needed to be packed within the rib cages of the horses. Any work on magic was taken away. Once in, the skeletal assassin carefully checked for secret doors in Nordula's chambers. Her two cohorts assisted, while Thane did the same using magic. Thane found a magical stone in the mantle of the fireplace in Nordula's bedroom. He dispelled it, then carefully pried it off and put it in a tiny metal box. In the study Elizabetta found a bookcase that slid aside revealing another bookcase hidden within the wall behind the first. "Excellent, you are a fine servant of our god, Elizabetta." Kent ran in. "town guardsmen, master." Rapina gasped, "You've had it now!" Thane dispelled the books in the hidden bookcase in case any were magically trapped. "Examine the case for mechanical traps then get those books loaded. I have other things to attend to." Thane smiled. "I Have no worries as long as these fools have no mage," He rasped as he passed her. I shall increase the darkened areas of the castle. You shall immobilize these meddling town guardsmen. It appears that someone escaped the castle and fetched them. As the darkened areas grew, ghouls chittered and men screamed. "Skeletons, front four ranks, defend only. Let the ghouls handle this," Thane ordered. A lone guard somehow made it past the skeletons and into the room. "Thane pointed a finger at him and said, "Death" in the frightening voice of his death mask. The town guardsman blanched and ran from the room as if the hounds of hell were chasing him. Rapina peered from the back of the horse she was draped over as if paralyzed. "What hideous spell was that?" She whispered. "He didn't give me a chance to cast one," Thane chuckled. Rapina groaned. Thane had simply scared the man. It was much quicker than spellcasting. "Good, I think we are set here; Let us head for the laboratory," Thane said. Rapina just shook her head, Thane was so casual. He cast spells to detect and dispel while Elizabetta and her assassins checked for traps and entered the laboratory. It was really surprising how few traps there were. Rapina supposed it stood to reason since Nordula was actually using his books and laboratory probably less than an hour before they had arrived. Thane snatched up a kettle, some lab books, various items and reagents from the lab and then had them packed in one of the horses. When he was satisfied they left the laboratory. Upstairs the ghouls were slinking around paralyzing anyone who dared enter the magical darkness. Once outside the castle, Rapina heard arrows wiz by in the air. Thankfully none hit her. Soon Thane and his entourage were marching towards the forest in darkness that was lost in the night. The ghouls paralyzed those soldiers foolish enough to enter the inky blackness surrounding the necromancer's caravan. Thane chuckled, "I'm sure Li'Yeiraun's troops would have been better equipped with light stones and such, but I would venture to guess just about all of them are being used at the pirate camp along with any other magical items Nordula might have that would aid in a battle. When they got to the previously consecrated graveyard, Thane cast graveyard mists. The entourage appeared in a cemetery next to an ancient temple that Rapina had never seen. They entered a stream near the temple and traveled half a mile to a lake. There Thane again cast the graveyard mists spell. Next they appeared briefly on an island in a steamy swamp. They followed an ancient road into the water, and from there Thane took them to the abode. "Was that lake a cemetary?" Rapina asked. Thane wiped his brow and chuckled, "both the lake and the swamp were sites where a great many bodies were dumped or fell from ancient battles. The cemeteries I took us too were consecrated and or warded, and each had a rich history behind it. All these things tend to be very hard on divination magics." "Oh, I get it," Rapina said. "Given that Nordula's forebears were fond of reading the tea leaves, I decided to make it very difficult if not impossible for him to figure out my final destination. Thane smiled. Now get dressed, we must rescue the pirates. Rames is with them playing Karmoz, my soldierly assistant who wears a helmet with a leather mask. Thane collapsed on a chair in the great hall, "I must rest for a moment." Thane wiped the sweat from his brow. He had cast far too many spells already. --- Fletcher Arzeal grimaced as an arrow grazed his arm. It was obvious that Li'Yieraun's men included some half-elves or elves. The first decoy group of pirates had left the camp at half past midnight. They had spotted the expected ambush and had routed back into camp, landing many enemies in the pit traps and deadly snares that had been set up for them. The center of the pirates' camp was now a fortified dip in the ground that had been squared up, its walls made sheer and reinforced by timbers. Earth had been spread out from the walls to make sure fire would not spread easily in the pirates' makeshift keep. Some of the old camp shacks still stood, and the perimeter of the camp was protected by standing spears and armed skeletons buried in extremely shallow graves so that the enemy could not count them. The tent that once stood around the ship was empty, but it had been left up as a ploy so that the enemy would believe there was still a ship within. Arzeal picked off another man and then heard a far off scream. He wondered if Edgar was responsible and found himself almost wishing Kroz would arrive with the rest of the ghouls. For now, the battle was a stalemate. Afraid of the traps set by the pirates, the nobleman's forces surrounded the pirate camp and attempted to pick Jacks men off with arrows, however most of the men were behind solid cover. Arzeal was busy attempting to fend off the elves among the enemy, unfortunately, there appeared to be perhaps ten of them and they were moving in to attempt to find a way to get at the hiding pirates. Almost too late Arzeal spotted the heat signatures in the trees. He tapped the man in the leather mask. "Ten archers in the trees over there," Arzeal said. The pirates screamed as many arrows found their marks. "97th archers rise and fire," Karmoz, the masked warrior played by Rames said. Seven skeletal archers rose from their very shallow graves and fired on the archers in the trees. Their vision was not hampered in the least by the darkness. Li'Yiraun Archers began screaming and falling from the trees as arrows began hitting them. Well back from the front lines and surrounded by his personal guard, Lord Heinrich Li'Yeiraun brooded as news came in from his messengers. "The elves attempted to use the trees to get high enough to get by the cover of the pirate earthworks, but the pirates somehow spotted them, and fired back picking our men off!" Captain Gleister reported. "Damn it! Does Jack have more elves than we thought?" Count Li'Yeiraun asked. "It is easy to see that our archers do not have the visual advantage as we thought. The enemy has those who can see and fire on them even under cover of foliage and darkness," Captain Gleister said. "Captain, we must use our infantry. Our numbers are superior. Concentrate them and attempt to break the pirate perimeter." --- Arzeal listened as a hoard of soldiers came in from the South, "Ready archers." A red spotlight directed by the pirates illumined the approach. The hired soldiers screamed battle cries and came forward. "Fire at will!" Arzeal ordered. "77th archers rise to kneel, and fire at will," Karmoz ordered. A group of ten skeleton archers rose from their shallow graves and began firing at the enemy. "Heheh, I see yew." Brackston fired arrow after arrow as did every pirate in a wild effort to break the enemy charge. "47th archers, rise, wheel right, fire at will," Karmoz ordered. 77th infantry, ready spears, all set and rise to crouch." "Do them numbers have anything to do with anything?" Skitch asked. "Other than incorporating a few memory hooks as to what direction they're in, the numbers have nothing whatever to do with anything," Karmoz whispered. The skeletons are told what group they are in, and it doesn't really matter to them what the name or number is. I like to keep the numbers large so the enemy thinks we have plenty of squads," Karmoz chuckled. "Heheh, good deal." Skitch let fly another shaft and then another. Skitch howled with crazed laughter as the front lines of mercenaries met the raised spears of the skeletons. "Ghosts!" "Skeletons!" "Vampires!" The mercenary charge turned into a route as the sheer horror of fighting undead enemies was suddenly sprung on them. "Aye, tharr we got 'em! Pound tharr backs with arrows men, every one we hit is one that we won't be seein' in th' next charge." That warr shock value; th' idiots don't know it, but they could 'ave won through if their livers hadn't turned ta lillies. That hesitation at th' skeletons allowed are arrows ta do their best work an' give their fear some grounds, but it warr smoke and mirrors. Now they'll 'ave ta regroup, an' that'll buy us some time. If Heinie knew how few there are of us, and how green me men are, he'd be on us in a heartbeat, but after we turned 'is ambush on th' road into one of our own, he's broodin'; he don't trust 'is luck, an' 'e thinks I got a trick up me sleeve as usual. He'll be spittin' nails when 'e finds out what I really 'ad up me sleeve." --- "Animated skeletons milord, there must have been hundreds of them," the mercenary commander said. "My men were pinned down by missile fire, and when we made the edge of the camp proper, the undead met us with spears!" The commander's voice wavered. "Morale broke and we routed." "Fools, you lost your heads. How many of these fell creatures were there? Have you a reliable count, or have the numbers grown with the telling?" Li'Yeiraun asked. "Pathfinder, send a few trustworthy and level-headed men up for a look. If we are outnumbered, I want to know about it. If not then we must prepare for another charge. Incompetent mercenaries! It is just like that slippery, cheating son of a bitch pirate to find himself a dark priest or necromancer just when I have him in my grasp!" Li'Yeiraun snarled. ------------ It was the better part of an hour before the Li'Yeiraun's next charge was set up. This one had a backbone of his own men behind the mercenary front lines, and everyone had been informed that a skeleton could be destroyed much as a man could be. "What's keepin' that damn Kroz, I sure hope he didn't sell out ta Heinie. Arzeal, what's goin' on out tharr?" Captain Red Jack asked. "They're massing for a charge, sir, a big one," Arzeal replied. "Karmoz, it's goin' ta be all we can do ta hold this'n back. If I had ta make a guess, I'd say we're cooked. I'd move th' bulk o' yer forces up ta th' front they'll be attackin.' Then again, I wouldn't put it past Heiny ta try ta send a little squad up are ass while we're occupied. " "I will move the skeletons on the sides somewhat towards the front, and leave those in the rear as reserves," Karmoz whispered. "Sounds like a plan," Jack said. "Mates, lets be gettin' every arrow we 'ave left out an' ready, thisn's goin' ta be big, and we might not live through it. Damn necromancer's still playin' hookie. Thank all th' gods 'e brought us a hoard o' arrows night before last. We're going ta need 'em." A few minutes later the charge was sounded. Arzeal climbed a large tree in the camp and took cover behind a stout limb. He was the first archer to begin firing. His elevation, night vision and accuracy were second to none. The pirates could see a little better than usual as the mercenaries had brought a few mage lights with them and many of the bodies gave spotty illumination to the area of the forest they had come through. As soon as the enemy could be seen, the pirates let fly. "Shoot fast, but make 'em count, mates." The captain drew back his bow and fired. Many men fell to the pirate archers, but the enemy got closer and closer, soon melee broke out between the front lines of the attackers and the skeleton spearmen at the perimeter of the camp. The pirates continued to ply their bows from the fortified center of the camp. "Good evening," Kroz said as he dropped the illusion he had used to get Rapina, his ghouls and skeletons from the graveyard to the pirate camp. "It looks like the skeletons could use a hand." "Glad ye could make it, I was beginnin' ta think ye were workin' fer Heinie." Jack snaped. Kroz droned a few syllables and the front line was engulfed in darkness. "Nay, the packing took longer than expected, and I had to use a bit of misdirection to guarantee I would not be magically tracked later. What is the news," Kroz asked. "Th' news is that tharr is a charge we 'aven't got a snowball's chance in 'ell o' stoppin.' Got any bright ideas on how ye're going ta get us outta here before they're on top of us?" Jack asked. "I have brought a few additional troops. And this scroll of shadow summoning," Kroz said. Thane rolled out a scroll and intoned the spell. The shadows seemed to coalesce into something shaped vaguely like a human. Kroz pointed at the creature, "You will obey Kent, this ghoul. Kent, you and your ghouls will keep the enemy occupied while I escape with the pirates. Eat when it is safe, and double or triple your number if it is convenient. I will set up as much magical darkness in the area in addition to what I have already cast on you and yours as I can before I leave. Be advised, however, that the other side has a mage. If their mage begins dispelling the darkness, then rout and use hit and run tactics around their parameter until near dawn. At that time find burrows and dig in. When Li'Yieraun pulls out, I will come to collect you and your new friends. During the nights to come, continue using hit and run tactics. If you are doing well, see if you can locate and loot the tent of their mage, Nordula. Use a diversion to draw him away or wait until he steps out on his own accord if that proves practical. Do not risk yourselves unduly once we have left. At that time your primary objectives will be to survive, feed, multiply, and demoralize the enemy" Kroz began casting; darkness engulfed more and more of the forest around the pirates. Now whisper it to the next man, join hands, then we go South forty paces to an area I prepared earlier. Kroz cast vision in darkness on the pirate officers, then resumed casting magical darkness until sweat bristled from his brow. The last spell put out the lights in the pirate camp. The men began to march South. In the darkness, they could hear the ghouls at work on mercenaries who had won their way past the skeletal troops. Kroz took hold of the hands of Rapina and Red jack and placed them on his shoulders. "Let us pray." Kroz set up an illusion spell to echo the murmurings of the pirates so that the source of the sound could not easily be located, and then began casting graveyard mists. "Hail Mortaebius, Lord of the dead..." Arzeal stood at the perimeter of the group of pirates. He let fly one shaft after another, assisting the ghouls as they kept the enemy confused and away from the pirates. A recruit kept his hand on the archer's shoulder and kept him moving as the group stepped forward slowly while the mists rose. Arzeal droned the prayer to Mortaebius he had learned as he sent mercenary after mercenary to join the god of the dead. When the mists cleared, Rapina and Red Jack were holding the necromancer up. "I must rest. I do hope I got everyone," Kroz rasped. "All right, get yer red lights on, lets see who we got," Red Jack ordered. Rapina moved the slider on her mage light and illumined the area around her in Red. The captain and the officers took stock and conferred. "We lost about ten ta death before th' escape, and four either got lost 'er Kroz didn't get 'em moved 'cause they weren't touchin th' rest of us, er weren't prayin' ta Mortaebius. Those men'll be missed. Thanks ta Slice, it looks like we still got Bloody Brackston. Ye can tell me how ye liked yer first transport by magic later, Brackston." Some of ye may wonder what this warr all about. Well what we did was Kroz took a stab at their mage while 'e warr occupied with chasin' us pirates. If it works, then that mage is going ta have a harder time nailin' us, and at the same time, are mage is goin' ta be more powerful. Also we made areselves some money, an I got me wench a little extra education, on account of negotiatin' a good deal all around. If we're lucky, Kroz may be able ta retrieve some o' th' cadavers from tanight's battle, but ye never know. It depends on what ol' Heinie does now that 'e's out there all alone. Now lets get movin' Tharr's more'n a few miles ta cover afore we get ta are new camp." The story continues in [Rapina]032 Yieraun Castle copyright 2001, by Rapina