The Rescue Of The Queen Page 8

  Per felt the dwarf's windpipe crunch under his fist and barely caught himself before he fell over. Lord Letlow's servant spun away from the door and fell down, clutching at his throat. The servant's eyes bulged out and his mouth gaped open. No sound came out, no even the rush of air in and out of the dwarf's lungs. Per watched in nauseous indifference as the servant thrashed about, slowly suffocating to death.

  When the dwarf finally lay still, Per stumbled towards the door. Summoning up his remaining concentration, he slowly twisted the door handle and carefully pulled the door open.

  He stepped onto a wooden balcony running round a huge room lit by magical globes. Steps led off to his right, going down to the floor of the hundred foot long room. Ropes and chains dangled from the stone vaulted ceiling and from the walls. Per shuddered to see a rack, an iron maiden and other instruments of torture festooned around the chamber. In the center of the room was a large wooden device which both Melinar and Nyrandurril were strapped to.

  The device had two half-tables, which the naked girls were tied to face down. The table binds secured their bodies, arms and heads, while their feet were tied to pedals. The pedals operated a series of gears that drove thick, ribbed dildos in and out of their cunts and assholes. A frame stretched over the women and had metal arms, which held red-hot pokers. Both girls had red welts on their backs and asses. Lord Letlow stood beside the contraption, holding a switch in his hands.

  "Pedal, dears," he crooned to Melinar and Nyrandurril. "Remember if you stop, the irons will swing down and singe your pretty little faces. It's been so long since I've had two females here to enjoy. I should do it more often. Hopefully, you'll be able to pedal long enough for the irons to cool."

  Per could see that both Melinar and Nyrandurril were dripping in sweat and trembling, either in pain and exhaustion. Still dazed from the blow to his head, he carefully made his way down the steps and came up behind Lord Letlow. He picked a small wooden chock off the rack and rapped the magistrate sharply behind the ear, dropping him like a stone.

  Hearing the noise, Melinar almost stopped pedaling. The hot iron swung down until it was only an inch away from her face. She pedaled furiously, moving the iron back up and drawing a muffled cry from Nyrandurril as the dildos in her ass and pussy churned even faster.

  "Pedal," gasped Per. "I'll get you out."

  The girls kept pedaling as Per quickly removed the hot irons. He then released both of them from their bondage. Melinar and Nyrandurril ran to him, grasping him tightly as they broke down crying. Unable to maintain his balance with both girls clinging to him, Per slumped down and held them close.

  It was several minutes before he managed to get them settled down enough to let go of him. He moved them over to the stairs and then went back to pick up Lord Letlow. Per noticed that the iron maiden did not have the usual spikes inside, but instead access plates for dropping insects or other nasty items inside. He stuffed Letlow inside the maiden and locked the two halves together.

  "Let's find you some clothes," said Per softly to the two trembling women. "Don't worry, he won't be getting out of there any time soon."

  "Oh, Per!" cried Nyrandurril, flinging herself at him. "I thought you were dead. When I was dragged through that room, you were just laying there with blood all over your face."

  "My helmet cut my forehead," said Per, stroking her arms. "I was knocked unconscious. Let's get out of here."

  The three of them climbed back up the stairs and went back into the library. Vail was still lying on the floor. "You two go and find some clothes," said Per. "I'll take Vail to the kitchen and meet you there."

  Per dragged Vail through and checked him for other wounds, but only found the knot on the back of his head. He placed a cool, wet cloth on the man's forehead as Melinar and Nyrandurril returned wearing ill-fitting tunics. Both of them grimaced and moved stiffly as the cloth rubbed against their welts.

  "Our clothes were destroyed, but at least these will cover us," said Melinar. "How is he?"

  "Still unconscious," replied Per.

  "He tried to protect me," said Melinar, looking down at Vail. "He tried to stop Letlow from taking me down there. Letlow's servant hit him in the head with a club. Letlow's sick! Really sick! He delights in torture and sadism. We can't let him go!"

  "Wait here and watch Vail. I'll be back soon."

  Per walked back into the hallway. Melinar sat down and cradled Vail's head in her lap. Nyrandurril replaced the wet cloth and Vail moaned as the coolness of it touched his forehead. After a while, the two girls heard banging in the house. The pounding soon ceased and, shortly thereafter, Per walked back into the kitchen.

  "What happened?" asked Melinar.

  "We have to leave here without being seen," said Per, ignoring Melinar's question. "Can you two make it if I carry Vail?"

  Nyrandurril and Melinar looked at each other and then nodded. Grimacing in pain, they slowly stood up as Per slung Vail over his shoulders. He fought the return of his dizziness and then followed the girls as they made their way slowly out the back door. They exited the grounds through the back gate.

  Outside the wall, Per set the man down and went back to lock the gate. He then climbed over the wall and picked up Vail again. Their progress was slow due to their injuries. Once, Melinar almost cried out when she pressed her back against a wall when someone came into view. Fortunately, there were few people on the streets and they made it back to the club without being seen.

  Melinar led them through a basement door and up the back stairwell to a private set of room up on the third floor. Per laid Vail down on a bed and noticed that Melinar and Nyrandurril were hunched over in pain and fatigue.

  "Go lay down," he said to them. "I'll go get a healer for the three of you."

  "Tell Dareen to get the healer," said Melinar. "It's still dangerous for you out on the streets. I've got to get this tunic off. It's irritating the cuts. We'll be next door."

  Per went down the back stairwell and snuck around until he reached the grand entrance. Dareen was sitting at the desk in the lobby was empty. He whistled and she looked up. When she saw him, her eyes grew wide and she rushed over to where he was. "Are you okay? What happened?" she asked, staring at him.

  "We need a healer," said Per. "Vail's been hit on the head. Both Nyrandurril and Melinar have been beaten. They're up on the third floor."

  "I'll get the healer, and we'll discuss your effectiveness at protecting people later," snarled Dareen hotly.

  Per tried to keep his temper down in response to her accusation and his guilt. "Look, I'll go get the healer if you like."

  Dareen snorted. "With all that blood on your face? You'll scare him half to death. Go upstairs and wash it off. I'll be up shortly."

  He went back upstairs and washed his face, gritting his teeth as he touched the four-inch cut on his forehead. Vail groaned once, shifted a little and then laid still again. Per then walked over to the next door and knocked.

  "Come in." Per opened the door and received a shock. The room had two big beds and both women were lying down on each one naked. Per could see a dozen or so cuts and welts across Melinar's back and ass, while Nyrandurril had around eight.

  "I...," stammered Per.

  "Come in and close the door," said Melinar, looking up. "This is the most comfortable position for both of us. Has Dareen sent for the healer?"

  "I think so. I told her that we needed one. I think she wants to rip my heart out for not protecting you better," said Per. "I am so sorry. I should have done a better job."

  "Yes, you should have!" said Dareen, walking into the room. "You should have..."

  "Dareen! Hush!" commanded Nyrandurril, grimacing in pain as she sat up. "Lord Letlow and his servant did not touch us. His thrill was for each of us to torture and humiliate the other until we broke. Per rescued us from that! We have been in similar situations and have survived."

  "Please, Nyrandurril, lay back down," pleaded Dareen. "I'm sorry, I wasn't there. I didn't mean to
judged too quickly. Please lay back down before you reopen the cuts. Lie down and Per can tell me what happened."

  Per waited until Nyrandurril was resting back on her stomach, then told Dareen what had happened. "That's basically it," he concluded.

  "What was that banging in the villa?" asked Melinar.

  "And what happened to Lord Letlow?" asked Dareen. "You didn't let him go, did you?"

  "No," said Per slowly. "I broke the servant's neck and dragged his body to the bottom of the staircase on the first floor. I extinguished all the torches in the torture chamber and closed the bookcase. The banging was me nailing the bookcase closed. I covered the nails with books."

  "But what about Lord Letlow?" asked Dareen again.

  "I left him locked up in the iron maiden."

  Melinar and Nyrandurril looked at Per open-mouthed. Dareen just smiled. "Good for you," she said.

  "Dareen, that's hideous!" said Nyrandurril.

  "No, hideous was what he was doing to you," said Dareen. "The Gods alone know how many bodies he has left behind him. This is justice. Not only for you two, but also for those before you and those who will be saved by destroying the monster. Now, lay back down until the healer gets here. Per, I apologize."

  "No need," said Per. "I know you care very much for these two. I hope you understand that I do too."

  There was a discreet knock at the door. Dareen went to the door and opened it a crack. Someone on the other side mumbled something to her.

  "The healer is here," said Dareen, looking over her shoulder. "He can look at Vail first and then you. Once he's finished with the two of you, I'll being him here."

  Per followed Dareen out. Tawni and a man carrying a satchel were standing in the hallway waiting for them. Dareen dismissed Tawni and led the man to the bedroom with Vail. The healer checked over the man, then pulled a blue vial from his satchel, uncorked it and held it under Vail's nose. Vail snorted and thrashed as he inhaled the fumes.

  "I don't think his skull is broken," said the healer as he moved away from the bed. "He'll wake up soon. Have a bucket ready because he will vomit. He'll also be in a great deal of pain. Mix a spoonful of this powder in a cup of hot water and give it to him every two hours. It tastes vile, but he has to drink it all down. He'll be better by tomorrow. Who's next?"

  "This is Wen," said Dareen. "He has a cut forehead."

  "Sit. Sit," exclaimed the healer. "You're too tall for me to stand tiptoe. Ah, yes. Shallow cut, but lots of blood." The healer pulled a white cloth and a brown bottle out of his satchel. He pulled the stopper out of the bottle and poured the clear liquid onto the cloth. "This is going to sting."

  Per hissed as the soaked cloth was pressed onto his cut. The liquid bit and burned on his gash.

  "Hold it there until it stops burning. It will clean and heal the wound. Who's next?"

  Dareen pulled the bell cord next to the bed. "Wen, stay here until one of the girls arrives. I have a room for you across the hall. Repeat to the girl what Silex said about Vail throwing up and tel her that she is to stay with him until someone comes to relieve her. Come, Silex, I have two women next door that you have to see."

  Per waited in the room with Vail until a short girl with black curly hair and an olive complexion came in. He gave her Dareen's orders and walked across the hallway to his room. The room had two dressers and a king-size bed. A seascape picture hung on one wall with a large mirror on the opposite wall. The medicine had stopped burning by this time, so Per dropped the cloth in the wash basin. He looked in the mirror and saw that the cut was completely healed. Per pulled off his bloodstained shirt just as there was a knock on the door. "Come in," he called out.

  The door opened and Dareen entered the room. "Melinar and Nyrandurril are asleep," she said. "Silex gave them something to put them to sleep and I have a salve for their cuts and bruises. Would you like to use our baths? They're in the basement and I would be happy to show you the way."

  "Sure. Where's Silex?" asked Per as he followed Dareen out of the room.

  "Rhetta and Tawni are entertaining him. That will take care of his fee. By late tomorrow, he probably won't be able to remember his name, let alone walk. It will keep him under wraps for awhile."

  Dareen headed down to the basement and stopped in front of a large ornate door. As she opened the door, a blast of warm moist air engulfed Per. Behind the door was a room containing a large pool as well as two smaller ones. Wicker chairs and tables were placed around all three bodies of water.

  "These two pools are heated," explained Dareen, pointing to two of them. "The other one is not. You'll find soaps, oils and towels in the back room. Can I get you anything? Is there anything I can do for you?"

  "Yes, tell me why you are being so nice," asked Per, confused by her solicitedness. "A short while ago, I was certain you were going to cut out my heart."

  Dareen looked down, blushing. "I'm trying to make up for the way I acted earlier," she said. "I'm not good at apologizing and tend to overcompensate. I guess my own experiences intruded."

  "You're forgiven," said Per with a smile. "I'm just glad you've forgiven me. I didn't do a good enough job protecting them. If I had been unconscious a few minutes more, we would have all have been fishbait."

  "But you weren't and everyone is safe. Nyrandurril said all of you have been in a similar situation, so this is the second time you have saved them."

  "No, I didn't save them that time either," said Per. "I was locked up in the stocks and the Overlord came and saved them."

  Dareen stared at Per quizzically. "There's obviously a lot more to you than meets the eye. Take your bath and I'll have drink sent down."

  Chapter 4: The Kidnap Of The Queen

  Per stripped off his clothing, grabbed a couple of the towels folded and stacked against the back wall, and went back to the large pool. He threw his towels on a wicker chair and was just about to test the water when the main door opened.

  "I brought you down some ale and..." Dareen froze at the sight of Per's naked body. The hard muscle knotting his seven-foot, six frame was impressive enough, but Dareen's eyes were riveted on his cock. Her mouth dropped open as she stared at the seven inch flaccid prick in front of her and the blood drained from her face.

  Per took a step towards her, which broke her trance. Dareen's head snapped up and her back went rigid as her mouth snapped closed. The blood rushed back to her face making it bright red. She sputtered and stared about wildly. She slammed the tray she was carrying down onto a table and bolted out of the room before Per could do anything.

  "Damn!" he swore as he ran into the back room and yanked on his pants.

  Per snatched up his dagger and shirt as he raced out of the baths and ran upstairs. He raced into the grand entrance and confronted the girl at the desk. "Did Dareen run by here?" he asked, leaning on the desk.

  "Out the door!" stammered the girl, scared by his looming presence.

  Per burst out the doors, bowling over a gentleman coming up the stairs. Looking to the right, he caught sight of Dareen running up the street. He took off after her, pulling his shirt on over his head. He slowly closed the distance between them. Dareen never looked back, but seemed to be heading in a definite direction. Per lost sight of her now and again as she turned down side streets and ran around buildings. He nearly panicked each time he could not see her.

  Dareen was about seventy-five feet ahead of him when she slowed up and turned down an alleyway. Per ran up to the alley and turned the corner. About twenty feet in front of him was Dareen, kneeling in the muck, sobbing her heart out. He walked around her and squatted down in front of her. "What is it, Dareen?" he asked gently. "Are you alright?"

  "This is where Sari was killed," sobbed Dareen. "I didn't... I couldn't... I don't know. It all just just flooded back to me. The pain, her screams. It was just like it happened yesterday. I've never been back here since that night. I've never been to where she is buried."

  "Let's go home," said Per, helping her to her feet
. "If you want, I'll take you to her grave tomorrow so you can say goodbye properly."

  "Thank you. I'd like that."

  They were almost out of the alley when Per heard a coach approaching. He motioned Dareen to step back into the shadows and flattened himself against the wall. No sooner had they hidden themselves when two men ran out from across the street and tossed a bundle of logs across the middle of the road. The noise of the coach and the horses grew louder. Per heard the coachman call out to halt the horses before they tripped over the logs. Sharp twangs punctuated the air, followed by the sound of wet thunks. He cautiously peered around the corner.

  A black coach was stopped in the street with two white horses in harness. The coachman sat on top with four arrows sticking out of his chest. Four men in dark hooded cloaks rushed out from the shadows to surround the coach. One climbed up and pushed the dead coachman off. Another started to move the logs off the street. The last two approached the door of the coach only to have it flung open and a woman look out.

  "What is the meaning of this?" she demanded imperially.

  Per would have recognized her anywhere. It was Queen Shara, the wife of the Overlord and the woman who had tried to kill Per. She was dressed in a black cloak and she looked down on her assailants with disdain.

  The man closest to her pulled a knife from his belt and held it to her throat. "Quiet, Your Majesty," he said softly. "Someone would like to meet you. We were told about your secret meeting with your uncle. Tsk, tsk, tsk! Your husband would not be pleased with such goings-on. Back inside! Behave and you will be well treated. Endanger us and I'll cut your face to ribbons. We have a long way to go."

  The Queen turned pale and meekly sat back in the coach. The two men went into the coach with her as the other two climbed up to the coachman's seat. The driver shook the reins and the coach disappeared down the street.

  "Let's go," said Per to Dareen.