The Rescue Of The Queen Page 11

  The dots grew larger and soon the pair could make out details of the creatures. Their bodies seemed odd and ungainly. Within a few moments, they drew close enough for Per to make out what they were.

  "Harpies!" he cursed.

  "Let's run for it."

  "They'll out fly us," said Per, as he yanked a shirt out of his saddlebags and began to tear it into small squares. "Here, stuff these into your ears."

  "What? Why?"

  "My stepfather told me that harpy songs lure people to their death," he said as he jammed the cloth patches into his helmet. Per then cocked and loaded his crossbow. "I hope this will be able to drive them off."

  Iona stuffed the patches into her helmet and pulled out a rectangular piece of leather which had straps attached to it. She quickly affixed it to her upper left arm and Per could see that it held numerous darts.

  "We're going to be too close if I have to use these, but it's better to be prepared," said Iona as she slid her shield back on her arm.

  The four harpies landed in a group of trees a little under two hundred yards away from them. Even at that distance, Per could tell that their womanly upper bodies were ugly, even hideous. With a lower body similar to a vulture, they landed on the branches with a grace that belied the abnormality of the woman-vulture mix. Per hummed aloud to himself as he watched the four converse in the trees.

  "What a lovely tune," said Iona, dreamily, looking over at them. Per stopped humming, allowing his ears picked up the sound of the clearest, most harmonic voices he had ever heard:

  "Come to me;

  The joys you'll see.

  Come this way;

  And we'll play all day."

  He booted his horse forward into a walk before stopping again. Per shook his head to clear it of the cloying song. He hummed furiously again, trying to drown it out. He glanced sideways at Iona and saw only adoration on her face as she started her horse towards the trees.

  Per kept his horse walking towards where the harpies were perched. He broke out in a sweat as he tried to put on a face of trance-like adoration while he struggled to keep the magic of the harpies' song at bay. Every now and then, he caught phrases of the song: "joys of pleasure", "lose inhibitions". Per almost jumped out of his skin when Iona's shield clanged down on the ground. Looking sideways, he saw her begin to remove her gauntlets.

  Closer and closer, they came towards the harpies. Two of the harpies were singing in the branches, while the other two were fondling evil-looking daggers. At forty yards, Per lifted his crossbow and fired. The heavy crossbow thunked solidly as the bowstring shot the quarrel forward.

  The song stopped immediately as three harpies screeched in alarm and anger. The fourth cawed out in pain as the quarrel pierced her shoulder and sank in up to the quills. Per re-cocked his crossbow and fitted another quarrel into the slot. The harpy to his far left began to sing again, but she stopped and took to the air when the quarrel hit the tree trunk only inches away from her face.

  All four harpies took to flight and flew out of range of Per's crossbow. He managed to get off one more shot, which clipped the tail feathers of one of them. The harpy turned around and released a vicious stream of curses at Per before flying off after the others.

  "Oh, Per!" exclaimed Iona, wide-eyed as she shook in fright. "I heard the song and couldn't resist it!"

  "Easy," said Per calmly. "They're gone now."

  "Their song. It was so, so..."

  "Catchy little ditty, wasn't it?" said Per.

  Iona stared at Per for a second and then snorted in laughter. "Think they'll come back?" she asked as she went back to retrieve her shield.

  "I don't want to wait around to find out," replied Per. "If they have a nest around here, they could return in greater numbers. Let's head off towards those woods. It may keep them from spotting us from the air."

  They rode into the woods and stayed under cover as they headed south. No other harpy came within sight or sound of them. At the end of the day, Per set up camp in a dense stand of trees.

  "I have a question," said Iona, when they were sitting down to eat a stew that Per had fixed. "What made the harpy's song so enchanting? I mean, I could see their ugliness. I knew they meant me harm, but their song promised such joys and pleasures."

  "I know," said Per. "You said it, though. Their song is enchanting. I was told that their singing is magical in nature. The same with their touch, only the touch is more powerful than the song."

  "How did you resist it?" asked Iona.

  "I did, but only barely," replied Per. "It may be because I was forewarned. It could be that I like more earthly pleasures than promises of delight."

  "Hmm, more earthly pleasures, huh?" asked Iona, arching an eyebrow. "That wouldn't be with anyone close by now, could it? It's been over two weeks since the last time."

  "I'm afraid of losing control and hurting you again."

  "Well, I won't deny it felt like you had shoved a red-hot poker up my ass, but I brought it on myself."

  "What?" exclaimed Per, a little startled. "How can you say that? It was my lustcraze that made me do that to you."

  "When you were sliding that slab of meat between my tits, you told me to lick it. To suck it. I didn't because I wanted your sperm to spray me in the face. I've always liked my sex to be very dirty. Very... messy. You must cum about a gallon each time."

  "A gallon?" guffawed Per with a disbelieving look on his face.

  "Alright, so maybe it's only a couple of pints," laughed Iona. "Anyway, what I was trying to point out was that it was my fault. If I had listened, your lust may have subsided."

  "If, may," said Per. "The point is I lost control and can do so again."

  "Yes, you could," said Iona. "Tell me, was there anything you feel when you are in the grips of your lust? Any single defining moment when you feel a change from one level to another?'

  "No, not really. It builds and builds until I cum again. Only, sometimes, it does not go away until the third time."

  "What about the length of time between having sex?" asked Iona. "How about time of day? Positions?"

  Per just shook his head. "I don't know. I'm not sure any of those things affect it."

  "Well, then it's time to experiment," said Iona, putting her empty bowl aside and moving over towards him.

  "Iona, I..."

  "Oh, hush," she admonished as she took his heavy square jaw in her hands. "The last time scared you more than the other times. If you give into the fear, it will paralyze you. I'm a big girl and I know what I'm doing. Besides, I haven't ever cum as hard as I did when you stuck your cock up my ass."

  "Do you...woah!" Per's voice raised an octave or two as Iona quickly slid one hand down between his legs and playfully twisted his flaccid cock through his trousers. Then, before he could say anything, she plastered her mouth onto his and her tongue snaked into it. Her hand stopped twisting and started rubbing his member up and down in long strokes. Per felt his cock harden quickly to its full twelve-inch length.

  Oh, what the hell, thought Per just before the sensations Iona was producing between his legs reached his brain. He felt his body heat up in desire as he reached up between her legs and his tongue began to duel with hers.

  "Humph!" groaned Iona as his hand rubbed over her pubic mound and her hips automatically gyrated as his fingers pressed her trouser material up against the juncture of her legs. Iona's hands fumbled with his belt until, with a sharp tug, she managed to unbuckle it. Per gasped as she shoved her hands down his pants to grasp his large erection. Her cool hands slid down both sides of his shaft as she pressed her hot body against his.

  They broke apart from their kiss to frantically pull and tug at each other's clothing. Hands fumbled with buttons and buckles, only to get in the way of each other. Unable to undo Iona's shirt, Per snorted in disgust, stood up and yanked her shirt off over her head. Her breasts popped free and her now exposed nipples hardened in the cool night air.

  Per reached down and grabbed the waist
of Iona's pants. He could smell her musky scent just before he stood up. Iona squealed in delight as she went onto her back as he lifted her legs and ass up in the air. Two bouncing yanks pulled her pants over her hips and her butt landed back on the ground as Per he pulled them completely down.

  Unfortunately, her pants got tangled up with her boots that. Per spent several moments trying to untangle the mess. After being twisted one way and then the other, Iona finally kicked her legs free of his grasp. She quickly rolled onto her knees and, with a resolve to match Per's, yanked his pants down to his ankles.

  His cock sprang free, striking Iona on the shoulder. She grasped the hard slab of meat tightly with both hands. Her lips locked around the head of his cock to suck avidly at it as her hands stroked it back and forth quickly. Per inhaled sharply as his balls tightened from the stimulation. He pulled his shirt off over his head and tried to kick off his boots, but after almost losing his balance and getting a grunt of disapproval from Iona, he desisted.

  Iona's head bobbed back and forth quickly as her hands pumped his shaft. He quivered as her tongue snaked across the sensitive skin of the head of his prick. She moaned as she let some of his pre-cum dribble out of the side of her mouth to let it drip down off her chin. Per felt his sexual tension increase and he almost tripped when he tried to change his stance. He put his hands on Iona's shoulders and moved her away from his cock.

  "Aw, but I want to," whined Iona in husky desire as her lips broke contact with his cock. "I want you to cum in my mouth."

  "You won't like it if I fall forward and shove it all the way down your throat," warned Per, trying to kick off his boots again.

  "Gimme those!" growled Iona in frustration as she pulled off his boots. She then removed his pants from around his ankles and quickly yanked off her own boots and pants.

  "Better?" she asked and, without waiting for a reply, grasped his cock to start sucking on it again.

  Per's sexual tension went through the ceiling when she redoubled her efforts to make him cum. Her hands gripped his cock firmly as they rapidly pumped back and forth. Wet slurping sounds emanated from Iona's mouth as she sucked on the tip.

  He was gasping for breath when Iona let go of his cock with her right hand and moved it around to caress his large testicles. Her fingers gently kneaded the heavy sac. Per hissed and almost blew his load when her fingers curled up underneath to rub the sensitive area between his balls and his asshole. The tickling of his pubic hair there tightened up his balls even more.

  "Lay down," gasped Per, pushing her flat on the ground.

  "But, I..." Iona started to say and then looked surprised when Per straddled her body. Her look of surprise changed to a wicked grin when he began to stroke his cock rapidly while pointing it straight at her face.

  "Ooooo, I think I'm going to like this!" she said with her eyes bright in desire as she reached down to finger her clitoris. "Cum, baby, cum!"

  The sexual tension in Per's body hit its peak and with a yell, he climaxed. His body quivered and he fought to stay on his feet as his cock spewed forth its white seed. The first spurt was dead-on as most of it splattered into Iona's open mouth. The next couple of spurts splashed all over her face, hair, and neck as Per struggled to keep his knees locked in place. Her hips arched off the ground as she had a shattering orgasm. As his climax subsided, he stepped over Iona and sat down heavily on the ground. The familiar burn began in his balls.

  Gasping heavily, Iona moved as soon as Per sat down. With his sperm plastered all over her face, she rolled onto her knees and pushed him down onto the ground. She then threw a leg over his hips facing towards his feet. Squatting down on the balls of her feet, Iona grasped Per's rock-hard cock and pointed it at the entrance to her wet cunt. With a gasp of pleasure, she rocked back until three inches of it was stuffed up inside her.

  With his lustcraze coursing through his body, Per groaned in satisfaction as a quarter of his cock was encased in her hot, wet pussy. Iona rocked forward until just the head of his cock was left inside her and then shoved backwards, driving more of his prick up her cunt. She stopped for a moment or two as she quivered and shook in the throes of an orgasm. Per felt her cunt clutch and clasp at his throbbing erection. Iona exhaled and relaxed in the afterglow before starting to hump up and down again.

  With his need to climax again burning inside him, Per felt Iona drive eight inches of his cock into her pussy before she hit bottom. He reached up and grasped her asscheeks tightly as she fucked herself on his cock. Grunt, moans, groans and the sound of raw sex filled the air.

  Per felt his climax building rapidly as the red haze began to appear in front of his eyes. He fought the urge to grab Iona's hips and force his cock all the way inside her. Suddenly, his balls tightened as his sexual tension peaked and exploded.

  Iona felt Per's hips lurch upward and pushed downward at the same time. The head of his cock was up tight against her cervix and she gasped as she felt his cock expand to spurt out its first load of hot, gooey jizz. She moaned as his cock pulsated with each spurt. She felt him fill her womb with his seed and it began to ooze out of her cunt to run down her legs.

  Looking back over her shoulder, she asked tentatively, "You okay, Per?"

  "Apart from you trying to fuck me to death, I'm fine," he replied breathlessly. He smiled up at her. "It left after the second time."

  "Interesting," said Iona as she bounced up and down on his cock a couple of times. "You're still hard, too."

  "And horny enough to hose you down a couple more times," said Per lifting his hips upward to shove his cock into her wet cunt.

  Chapter 6: Yayenski

  "Well, there's Delta," said Iona.

  They had just crested a ridge, and ahead of them was the fortress city of Delta. Built on a rolling plain and straddling a river, the city appeared to be a series of fortified towns clustered together. It was not until Per rode closer that he realized that each 'town' was actually a strongpoint and each one linked together into a collective defense for the entire city.

  "Impressive, huh?" said Iona. "With the river traffic and the trade routes meeting here, it was a natural that a town would spring up. The warlord who founded the town knew it would become a rich, plump target, so he designed it to be impenetrable. In its entire history, only one fool was stupid enough to attack Delta. His skull is in a niche above the main gates."

  "I can see why," said Per. "Everything is set up for mutual protection and defense. Do you think the plot to kidnap Queen Shara started here? The man who ambushed me had Deltian coins and, if this place is as rich as you say, someone here would have had the means to set the plot in motion."

  "I don't know," replied Iona as they rode towards the city. "It could be, but it may also be that the person responsible only hired his help here and paid them in the coinage of the realm."

  "Our problem is that we don't have any information," said Per. "It's been several months since the Queen was kidnapped and the only things we have to go on is a handful of Deltian coins and a name – Yayenski. I hope we find some answers here."

  They rode on towards the massive barbican guarding the main gate into the city. About a thousand yards from the gate was a caravan. It had been stopped to be inspected. Per looked over at Iona and saw her staring up above the gate. He followed her gaze and saw three niches set in the stone wall. Two were empty, but the third one held a skull that looked down on all that entered the city.

  "Rest in peace, grandfather."

  Per started a little. Iona said the words so softly that he was uncertain that she said anything at all. He glanced over but she was riding nonchalantly over the drawbridge. She acted as if she had not said anything at all.

  "What?" she asked as she caught sight of him staring at her.

  "Nothing,' replied Per.

  A quick question of the guards at the gate solicited the location of the nearest inn. Per had never seen such a busy place. People were rushing here and there while vendors yelled out their wares. Not e
ven the Overlord's capitol could match the din of this mob.

  "Is it always like this?" yelled Per to Iona.

  "Pretty much," she replied as she dismounted in front of the inn. "It's the price of commerce."

  Per dismounted and attempted to follow her, but was cut off when three kobolds stopped to argue in front of him. He sighed and tried to get around them. One kobold turned and hissed at Per when he nudged him with the saddlebags. He glared at the kobolds and half-drew his sword, making it plain that they should conduct their business elsewhere. Taking off his helmet and shaking out his sweaty green hair, Per then stepped through the inn's door into the large main room.

  Iona was already at the bar talking to a stout dwarf. "Let's see, that'll be one room for yourself with a large bed, right, miss?" asked the dwarf as he placed a key on the counter.

  "No, I need one room with the largest bed you have for me and my friend," corrected Iona, who waved over her shoulder to indicate Per.

  The dwarf's eyes widened as he took in the half-ogre's seven-foot frame, greenish hair and violet eyes. His face lost all of its animation and became bland as his hand snaked back behind the bar with the key. "I'm sorry, miss," he said flatly. "I don't have anything available. Try down by the wharves. You should be able to find something suitable for the likes of you two."

  "What in Shades do you mean by that?" asked Iona ominously as her hands gripped her weapons.

  "It means I run a respectable inn and I don't have to put up with... human appetites."

  Per grabbed Iona's arm before she could pull out her sword and skewer the dwarf. He had seen two other dwarves come in quietly from a side door and both were carrying axes in their hands. He did not want to have a brawl in the inn, especially since they were the newcomers and would probably end up with the short end of the stick no matter what.

  "It's not worth it," he said to Iona. "We'll find someplace else."

  "Try the sewers," yelled the dwarf as a parting shot as they turned away. "It's about the right level for your kind."