The Nobles stop a few ranks away from our defensive circle and dismount. I don’t see well enough through the crowd to see what’s happening but I assume they’re going to use the soldiers as cover to harass us.
I see a small forest of long wooden spears pointing over the human’s heads, approaching the area where the Nobles dismounted. My Lady is among them, she is tall, my eyes are staring at the top of her helmet.
Rh-hyyyyy, kszz.
Bop. Something lands on the ground near my feet, a wooden ball very similar to the one Teva used to anchor her explosive construct. I drop down and grab it to throw it towards the sky over the Noble’s heads.
Boom! It explodes midway, just over one of the harvester’s heads. The creature’s head is pushed down and it stumbles. One of the soldiers jumps forward to take advantage, throwing a powerful lion strike slash that cuts one of its four arms at the shoulder, the severed blade drops to the ground.
Can’t let them throw more of there in the middle of us. I raise my left arm with my hammer and bring it down suddenly towards the soldiers. The harvesters rush out, breaking the tight circle.
Rh-hyyyyy, kszz.
The human ranks are too tight for their first line to avoid the charge, the Nobles in the middle of their ranks are hindering these soldier’s ability to dodge and a massacre unfolds.
Bop. Another ball falls to the ground, this time too far to my left for me to do anything about it, I jump down on the ground. Boom! The wind of the explosion passes over my back, ruffling my chain-mail.
I get back up and make my way to the front-line. The Nobles are starting to use the long spears to harass the harvesters from afar. It isn’t having an immediate effect but I can tell that this isn’t a good position for either side to be in.
Rh-hyyyyy, kszz.
My Lady is harassing a harvester, I move towards it to use it as cover and wait. She throws a stab, hitting the harvester in its arm. I drop my hammer and seize the end of it with my left limb, preventing her from pulling it back and take hold of the harvester’s hind-leg with my other hand.
I suddenly tug on the spear with all my strength, using the harvester as an anchor, she fails to release the weapon in time and is thrown forward to the front-line, close to me. I smile, my body is heating up. Either because of the limb or because of her. Maybe both.
The harvester raises two of its arms to attack her. My eyes widen in terror at the sight. I hurriedly release the spear, at the same moment as she does. Kneeling to take hold of my hammer and do something, but I’m too slow.
The Rykz brings its blades down, aimed at her torso. The runes on the outside of my Lady’s armor start glowing golden with flow. She avoids one of the harvester’s blades by angling sideways but the second hits her shoulder guard, crushing and bending the rounded piece of armor inwards.
Rh-hyyyyy, kszz.
“You dare attempt to hurt her!” I howl with fury, raising my hammer and slamming it down on the arm that almost injured my Lady.
Crack. The limb is broken by the force of my blow. The Rykz’ body shakes a little as it stops and stands there, immobile. It angles its head down towards me. I raise my hammer threateningly and point it towards a soldier. It ambles forward, obeying, the broken arm is dangling along its body.
“Who are you?” My Lady asks in an unsteady tone.
“Elizabeth Vil.” I reply, trying very hard to control my voice as I grin up to my ears.
“I thought you could be,… but she would never do any of this.” She mutters in a low voice and then stares at my left limb. “It was a delusion to begin with.” She adds with sadness.
Rh-hyyyyy, kszz.
I wouldn’t normally hear her clearly enough to understand but with my entire being focused on her, it isn’t an issue. I want to see her, face, body, fingers, feet, everything. My most intimate place shivers as my lust awakens, my breast’s nipple hardens even further.
“Come, fight me.” I tell her, taking a few steps forward to stand in the middle of the battle-line between humans and Rykz, daring her to join me.
“Why are you doing this? These creatures are invading us, you and your friend aren’t on the good side.” She speaks up, holding her ground and staring back at me as the battle rages around us.
I open my mouth to answer but feel my left arm move on its own, using the hammer to block a sword strike that I hadn’t seen coming at all. I turn to glare at the soldier guilty of interrupting my reunion. I take the time to assemble two lightning constructs and make them rotate around my right hand.
Rh-hyyyyy, kszz.
“Good. Evil.” I chuckle madly. “Neither matters when faced with death on this scale. If I succeed, fewer people will die than if you do. If I fail, I won’t have caused any more damage than if I did… Nothing.” I utter the word with delight,
My Lady flinches at the word, her legs lose strength and she stumbles forward. The sight arouses me. I rush and catch her by the shoulders, feeling my desire begin to moisten the intimacy between my thighs.
She seems to regain her spirit somewhat, her hand is reaching towards the pommel of her sword. I release her shoulders and take a step back. I feel my left limb tense and decide to assemble the signaling construct while my Lady draws her sword. I tell my limb to stop fighting for survival, unwilling to risk an incident like the one with the town guard that it impaled by itself.
Rh-hyyyyy, kszz.
“You’re not,… she was better than this.” Her voice is cold, metallic. “She is better off without me anyway.” She raises her sword to take the stabbing lion strike stance.
I target her sword with one of the lightning constructs, activating it immediately. The bold flashes, hitting it and disappearing within a split second. The runes on her armor glow brighter for a second, but that’s about it. Disappointing, I hoped to capture her with this. It would be too risky to try to overpower that protection.
My Lady rushes, releasing her lion strike towards my chest. I swirl aside, avoiding it and throwing a swiping blow towards her right leg. She lifts it, letting the hammer pass under her foot and kicks me in the chest.
I stumble backward, stunned by her ability to move like that in full plate. I keep moving away and absorb the flow inside my spare lightning construct to use it in a full body strengthening construct.
Rh-hyyyyy, kszz.
“You’re barely standing on your feet!” I giggle, seeing Lance struggle to regain her balance after that move. “You want to save the Izla in that state?”
“You talk too much, shut up for a while!” She roars, rushing forward with a sudden slashing strike.
I laugh and casually slap the sword away with my hammer’s handle, using only my left hand to parry. I feel something hit me in the middle of my chest, cutting my breath and almost making me puke.
I step away. Fuck, a palm strike. The same move she used on the Grub! I roar with anger at the insult, taking my hammer in both hands and using my full strength to swing it towards her chest. She avoids it with a jump, putting some distance between us.
Rh-hyyyyy, kszz.
The battle around us is intensifying. I see that the soldier’s back-lines are evacuating and being replaced by peasants. Those fucking Nobles are using peasants as a meat shield against the harvesters.
Neither side seems to be holding an advantage, harvesters aren’t falling yet but they’re picking up a lot of injuries while the humans are being torn apart under their blades by the handful.
“Nobles.” I seethe. “It‘s all honor and glory until there’s a dirty task, it becomes about duty then.”
The words physically impact my Lady. I take advantage of her distraction to pounce and take firm hold of her helmet with my right hand, throwing a strike towards her chest with my left.
Rh-hyyyyy, kszz.
She moves her sword to intercept my blow but it is far from sufficient. My hammer slams into the blade, its heavy momentum carries both weapons and impacts her torso. My Lady is thrown aside. Her helmet is torn off, remaining in my hand.
Finally. I drink her appearance in, satisfying some of my thirst for her. The void in my heart beats with ecstasy. Her long straight black hair, her sharp expression. The light gray abyss of her eyes is breathtaking despite the dark shadows under them.
Rh-hyyyyy, kszz.
“The Rykz have hatched. Two hundred thousand of them.” I utter, enjoying the nascent despair on her face but holding to my vow. Trying to reach out as more and more peasants are made to take over for the soldiers.
“We’ll do everything to protect the Izla, this isn’t news to us.” My Lady replies quietly, without energy.
“Call the retreat.” I speak up as emphatically as I can. “Save their lives.”
“This is war!” My Lady yells with a painful face.
“It is pointless to continue this battle, a victory here won’t mean anything at this point. You‘ve suffered too many losses.” I reply.
“Don’t be naive, sacrifices are integral to warfare. We’ve bought time for the Izla.” She talks down to me. “I will give my own life for more if necessary!” She roars, raising her sword and charging me.
“Do you feel superior to those peasants?” I parry her blow and successfully avoiding her golden glowing palm this time.
“No!” My Lady replies, an expression of outrage painted on her face.
“Then why are they sent to die without equipment? Without training?” I ask, blocking a quick slash.
Rh-hyyyyy, kszz.
“I…” She hesitates. I take advantage and use my foot to trip her, she crashes to the ground.
“You are superior to them in wealth, in birth, in position, in expertise.” I utter in a hash accusatory tone, stepping away to give her space to stand.
“That’s, I, I do my best to be worthy. I rule fairly.” My Lady says, struggling to get back to her feet because of the heavy plate armor restraining her movements.
“Sure.” I shrug. “But your life?” I pause, giving her time to think back to her words, to how she unconsciously placed her own life above that of the low-born dying all around us. That she would only sacrifice it if necessary while theirs is used to provide Nobility with a meat shield. “Your life should weight the same as theirs.” I lie to my Lady‘s entrancing face.
Rh-hyyyyy, kszz.
She stands but I can see how exhausted she is inside. My words are hitting her harder than they should. She shouldn’t be this weak. I want to torment her some more. The thought fuels my lust, drenching my most intimate place with even more desire.
I rush forth as soon as she manages to regain her balance. Throwing swirling hammer blows with a third of my strength, making the weapon spin around my back to chain blows together.
Rh-hyyyyy, kszz.
My Lady struggles to keep up, choosing to avoid or deviate my attacks instead of blocking them. Her movements are limited by the two harvesters on either side of us.
She blinks, involuntarily, and misses one of my attacks. Clang. Her breastplate absorbs the blow, making her stumble. I let go of my hammer and leap on top of her, forcing my Lady to the ground and straddling her. The sword escapes her hands.
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The landing takes the air out of her lungs, Leomi is visibly fighting unconsciousness. She was too exhausted to fight properly and that last blow seems to have thrown her into a daze.
“Jessica?” She asks softly, tenderly. The void in my heart shrieks with joy. Her eyes turn to the bloody glove on my left limb. “No, she isn’t with me anymore.” My Lady reminds herself, her voice filled with pain. My chest throbs, agony and affection melding together.
Rh-hyyyyy, kszz.
This is good. My most intimate place shivers as a tiny wave of pleasure courses through it. But not good enough, this is… wrong. My Lady isn’t this weak, she is greater than this.
I seize her breast-plate with my left hand and rip it off of her, the straps snap under my strength. She lays there, eyes glazing over. Come on, fight me! I tear apart the straps that holding the hard leather armor underneath and shred the next layer.
My Lady’s face is blank, empty. She isn’t yelling or begging. She wants to hurt. My arousal lessens somewhat, the lack of reaction is throwing me off. I take hold of the layer of leather withholding her breasts and take my dagger from my belt to cut it in half.
Rh-hyyyyy, kszz.
Her magnificent chest is liberated. The sight of her cute nipples rekindles the flame of my desire. They complete her small round breasts perfectly. My Lady‘s skin is smooth to the touch and soft looking. But this isn’t good enough. I need to build her up if I want to tear her down. Yes, it can’t end here.
“I‘ve heard you’ve experienced a bad breakup, just recently.” I whisper in my Lady’s appetizing ears. She seems to regain some coherence at my words. “What was it? Jessica?” I ask, the word shakes her completely out of her trance.
“Don’t speak her name.” She protests weakly.
“I don‘t really believe it.” Hm. “Let‘s see if you’re truly heartbroken.” I feel my lips stretch into a wild grin.
Rh-hyyyyy, kszz.
Leomi struggles under me. I seize her right wrist with my left hand, using my other to force her left arm behind her back, sticking it between her and the ground. She won’t be able to remove it with my weight pressing on her.
With both of my Lady‘s slender hands immobilized, I take hold of the dagger. I use it to pierce her skin just above and to the left of her perfect left breast. I let go of the weapon and assemble another strengthening construct that I apply over my right arm.
I run my fingers over the cut in her skin, staring in my Lady’s light gray eyes through the opening in my helmet. I insert my thumb deeply into the wound, lodging it in-between two ribs.
“Argh!” She screams as I use my strength reinforced by a construct to part the bones and penetrate her flesh.
I keep pressing, pushing and leveraging my weight over my arm to drill towards the beating organ that has fascinated me for so long, the mystery of what exactly it contains is within reach.
“What ar. Rhaa! You doing?!” My Lady gasps, her pupils dilating.
Rh-hyyyyy, kszz.
“Seeking proof!” I exclaim merrily. “We must figure this out together.”
Her ribs part suddenly, letting my thumb pass through them. She convulses under me. I feel her heart beating under my fingertip, quickly and strongly.
“Nope; this isn‘t broken.” I giggle, nodding. “Why are you so weak?” I question while moving my thumb up and down along with her pulse. She coughs. I keep my gaze on her face, scrutinizing its every detail, fascinated by the pain and sadness in her expression. “You’re pathetic, how long as it been since you last slept?” I ask, bringing my knees together to weirdly hug her bare sides.
“A… week? I think.” My Lady replies, her breath is short. “You’re, with them. Did… did you, see a, one-armed, girl?”
“Did I? Hm.” I hum. “Maybe I did.” I chortle, seeing how suspended to my words she is. “I might tell you what I know if you grant me… let’s see.” I pause for dramatic effect. “Five dances.”
“Wh, what?” She asks, baffled.
Rh-hyyyyy, kszz.
“Dances! Five of them!” I exclaim cheerfully, taking my thumb out of her chest.
“Ayh!” She yelps. “You’re, not going, to kill me?” My Lady asks, blinking her eyelids rapidly to chase the hazy veil covering her beautiful eyes.
“Of course not!” I stand up, liberating my Lady.
I throw a quick glance around. The battle is still raging. A few harvesters have fallen. The peasants around us are… terrorized. Why aren’t they running? Far behind the crowd, I notice another group of Nobles on horseback, their swords are bare and what little I can hear of their tone of voice answers my question. Because they’ll be executed if they run.
Rh-hyyyyy, kszz.
My excitement dies down completely, my thighs are still drenched but the only thing I can feel is anger and regret towards this war. There are a handful of harvesters surrounding me, the rest have pushed through the human lines and are a few meters ahead.
“I’ll do you one better.” I tell my Lady, kneeling briefly to take hold of my hammer. I assemble the signaling construct and tell my left limb to focus on healing, counting on the fact that the Rykz can somewhat perceive its mood. “I will try to call a retreat if you get your side to agree to a truce.”
My Lady uses her elbows to push on the ground to lift her bare and bleeding torso, looking up at me. She is hesitating, indecisive.
“It’s in your best interest to agree, Fenyz is about to arrive with four thousand warriors.” I explain.
“Why would you do that?” She asks.
“Because I might be able to get Celyz to agree, most of the Rykz scouts were killed.”
“I mean, why would you…” She starts.
“I know what you mean.” I interrupt her. “I’m not doing this out of spite, Lance. I’m trying to save the Izla from this calamity that Nobility caused.” I explain, turning away to approach the battle-line. “Retreat!” I yell out over the sounds of battle, to no visible effect.
Rh-hyyyyy, kszz.
I raise my hammer behind my back and slam it into the ground behind me, imitating the gesture that Celyz made, hitting the ground with her tail to tell her warriors to disperse. The harvesters’ advance stops, their ranks tighten as they regroup around and slowly cede ground, pulling back step by step.
“I will do what I can, Elizabeth!” My Lady calls out as I evacuate the area with the Rykz.
“I‘ll hold you to those dances, Lance.” I reply, waving my hand. I expect you to be stronger next time we do this, my Lady.
I make my way towards the hill and Celyz, noticing that the rest of the Rykz army is retreating around it in order. A scout approaches, turning around and departing with the harvesters soon after.
Rh-hyyyyy, kszz.
“Jessica.” Celyz calls out, standing on the cart, using her tendrils to support her weight instead of her broken knee. “Explain to me why you left a hole in our line and forced me to call a retreat.”
“How many scouts do you have left?” I ask.
“Three thousand, Fenyz’ warriors are about to refill the ranks.” She replies with impatience in her vibrating voice.
“You wanted me to delay, that’s what I did. You don’t have enough Rykz left to siege Meria right now and their army is crippled.” I explain.
“You’re walking on thin ice, Jessica.” Celyz groans, waving her tendrils. “I’ll allow this truce if you demand that the castle be evacuated and the food left behind.” She pauses. “Along with their army’s stocks.”
“I’ll try.” I answer.
“Succeed.” Celyz replies coldly. “My Queen is growing… impatient. It will soon make four years since my sister was taken, she will break this truce if it drags on even slightly.”
I turn my gaze down to the now empty battlefield. Both armies have regrouped. The amount of dead bodies lying in the plains is staggering. Most are Rykz, but there are much too many humans for anyone to consider this a victory. This is a draw, a deadly, pointless, murderous, fucking draw.
“What will you do if they refuse your terms?”
“Exactly what I would be doing without your interference, attack. They’re exhausted while our warriors are still fresh.” Celyz makes a small waving shrug with her tendrils. “Although I shouldn’t complain too much about your decision, we need the food.”
“They’re setting a tent up.” I comment, staring at a group of servants carrying a large white canvas and long stakes. “Is that a table?” I ask, baffled. “Are they setting up a banquet?” I utter, anger filling my belly.
My right hand drifts towards the dagger that should have been by my side, but I find nothing there. Oh. I smile, feeling the void beat tenderly inside my heart. My Lady must have taken it.
“Give me an escort, I’m going now.” I tell Celyz.
“Done.” She waves a tendril and a scout departs at running pace towards the harvesters.
I slowly make my way downhill, managing my injuries. Whatever the limb injected me with has dissipated and I feel pain with each step. Hm, hm. I head straight towards the tent, a dozen harvesters meet up with me, forming a dispersed circle.
Once I reach the tent, I wave my left limb and the harvesters spread out around it. The human servants that are moving a large wooden table and those carrying supplies freeze on the spot, shaking as they stare at the large Rykz who simply trot past them.
“Take the food and table back.” I tell them. “The conversation won’t last that long.” I chuckle, staring at each other them in turn.
Some nod in response, others start moving away immediately. I see fear on their faces, eyes fixated on my bloody helmet and glove. I swallow to control myself as their gazes make me feel uncomfortable, monstrous. The end of the road is what matters. I’ll carry the weight until my legs give out under me.
I walk into the tent, find it empty. I make my way to the stake holding the center and lay my back against it. I wonder how they put this together so fast, a construct maybe.
I spend the next few minutes waiting, occasionally smiling at the memory of having felt my Lady’s heartbeat under my thumb floats up to the forefront of my mind. I hear steps approaching the tent, half a dozen humans.
Five of them enter the tent, decisively pushing the flap aside to step in. Their clothes are clean, there isn’t a trace of red or brown blood, not a shred of dirt. Commanding Nobles, I suppose. They all glance at me, but surprise me by turning away and gathering to the side, not even deigning to acknowledge my presence. Seriously?
“As I was saying, Count, these Rykz know not of honor. Their retreat proves that we are superior, this is our victory.” A Lady says haughtily, gazing at an older Lord.
“Temper your assumptions, Countess, we have bloodied them and brought glory to Caeviel but they are not beaten yet.” He replies.
I squeeze my left hand’s fist around my hammer, about to explode with fury. They dare to speak of victory? Half their army lays dead on the field! I stagger forward, rage filling my chest. The last human enters the tent. I turn, finding my Lady in her hard leather armor. My breath is cut short.
“Lance.” I utter, my anger somewhat receding but not fading.
“Elizabeth.” She replies with a worried frown. “What’s the matter, we had a…”
“I am reconsidering.” I cut her off. “These… These pigs, they care not for the slaughter.” I raise and slam my hammer against the ground. “They speak of glory!” I howl furiously, advancing towards the Nobles, one heavy step at a time, dragging my weapon behind me.
“Please, calm down.” My Lady hurriedly speaks up, moving to cut off my path.
“Is… is that the one? The evil thing that works for the Rykz?” The elder Count asks, retreating with the others.
“I am E.Vil, yes.” I giggle at my own play on words. “Let me show you!” I exclaim enthusiastically, pulling on my hammer’s handle.
“I am a Lord, I fear no bloody dwarf.” One of the Lord unsheathes his sword.
“Silence!” My Lady yells over her shoulder towards the Nobles. “Not another word.” She adds more quietly, holding her hand out to block my advance. “You spoke to me, Elizabeth. Speak to me now.” She pleads. “These Lords and Ladies will remind themselves that the Duke has given me the authority to parley, they will stay out of it.” Lance adds with ice in her voice.
“Cowards.” I spit out, unwilling to both push past my Lady and break my vow to do whatever I can no matter the personal cost.
“Nobles have risked their lives today, Elizabeth, and many have fallen.” Leomi shakes her head sadly. I feel the pull to comfort her, surprising myself. I don’t want her to feel loss unless I am the cause. I realize.
“They haven‘t.” I utter, pointing at their clean clothes. “But no matter.” I repress my anger and control myself. “The Rykz have two conditions to let you go.”
I grin under my helmet as my Lady‘s worried expression relaxes. The other Nobles straighten their backs, protests on the tip of their lips. They start speaking over each other all at once, from words of straight-up challenge to simple sneering.
“Quiet.” Lance utters calmly. “What are the conditions, Elizabeth?” She asks me.
“They want Castle Lance with its supplies and most of your army’s food stocks.” I relate Celyz’ words, changing them only slightly. “They will let you evacuate.”
“Preposterous!” The Count shouts. “We will never agree to these terms!” The rest of the Nobles voice their agreement.
“We accept.” My Lady replies, ignoring them. “We will keep what we need to return to Meria. What length of time have they agreed to?” She asks.
“Until their Queen loses patience.” I turn away and start walking towards the exit. “That’s all I had to say. Don’t forget our deal, Lance.”
“I won’t. Is she okay?” She asks with a trembling voice.
“Five dances.” I reply, giggling. “I’m surprised though, didn’t you say she was better off without you?”
I push the tent’s flap and step outside without waiting for her answer, smiling under my helmet. There are thirty Templars surrounding the harvesters, they all turn to look at me, I can almost feel them glaring through their helmets.
I wave my left limb and the Rykz gather around me. In the tent, behind me, I can hear my Lady arguing with the Nobles. I shake my head and start making my way back towards Celyz, feeling giddy about my future.
There is a truce and soon I’ll be held in my Lady’s arms, dancing with her. I start whistling, climbing uphill, singing with a laugh.
“Today is a good day to be E.Vil.”
– Arc 02 End –