Blake’s eyes slowly opened, and he found himself nestled in the arms of a naked Miann, she was smiling at him as he rose to a seat. “What happened?” he asked as he shift to sit right.

Her hands pulled him back into her, nestling the back of his head between her breasts, “ aftereffect of the pill, it forces you to sleep a bit, make sure you don’t die by trying to move after it has done its job.” she said calmly as she pulled his hair away from his face, “I am surprised that you woke after ten minutes, normally it lasts for thirty to an hour.” She spoke with a note of happiness.

“Yeah, sorry about the end, I had to get a bit rough, you aren't hurt right?” he asked as he looked at his hands and then around the room.

“No, it was a bit uncomfortable, but I'll be alright.” she said as her hands found their way to his chest, playfully scratching him a bit. “Besides, compared to the mental torture that you went through because of my pill, I think I owed you some roughness.”

Blake snorted at that, “No, no you owe nothing, I should have been more careful about it, I thought that that side wouldn’t get out outside of combat.” He said after a second.

“That is something I don’t get, how can you use it like you do?” she asked, her hands resting on his chest, her voice while comforting to him was also a bit unsettling at the depth of this one question.

“Ummm, how do I explain this?” he wondered to himself aloud, his hand pulling up one of hers and feeling the lines and lengths of her fingers, the size eclipsed by his massive hands. “I guess I don’t use all of it, I just channel that ruthlessness towards what I am dealing with. Like you know when you see a friend or family member being attacked and your first gut instinct is to rush to attack their assailant, that, that slip second of unhinged malice that is what it is. I just have too much of it, and it only got deeper after my late wife died.” he said with hints of sadness.

“I think I understand, that makes some sense, I remember when my husband died, I used my spell to drag his killer into the ground and buried them alive,” She said after a second, “But I don’t think I can tap into it on my own as you do. however, I am happy you only use it to protect.” she patted his chest and pushed him a bit.

Blake took it as a signal to get up and offered her his hand after he got to his feet. “I am still sorry about your shirt, it was lovely, and for scaring you like that, it is not who I am.” he said as she stood beside him.

She gave him a kiss, and then broke away, “it's fine, you didn’t hurt me just my shirt, also I should have told you about the effects of the pill beforehand.” She said as she found a clean set of clothes, while he got his own back on. “Besides you did warn me to gag you, which i think really made it easy for me to keep you tied up.”

“Yeah, I got a feeling right before I lost it, so I had to tell you.” Blake said after buckling his belt, coming up behind her, and hugging her tight. “I am just happy you aren’t hurt, the things that drug showed me, yeah I don’t think I want any of those.”

“Well if you are done with my request, I do have something else for you, so let me go.” she said, and as he did, she quickly made him a new cup of the supplement and handed it to him. “I have a feeling someone else may want a part of you too, and while your skill can’t be questioned, you do have a limit to the amount of seed you can give. So, drink up.” she smiled at him in a fiendish manner, like he would get assaulted as soon as he is out the door.

Blake chugged the drink down and had to hiss as the aftertaste kicked in. “that is not tasty that is all I am going to say” and tried to close in for a kiss only getting her hand on his face.

“Ok, now get your shirt on and beat it, I have things to get ready before the festival tonight.” she said as she pushed him away.

Blake got his shirt back on and shifted his pants a bit before slipping his new boots back on, glancing back at her as she got the fireplace lit. “I’ll see you later then,” he said as he reached for the door.

She glanced back at him and smiled, “Yeah, you will, not like you can get this fine ass anywhere around here, now get out before I feed you a second pill.” she said with a playful tone and mischievous face.

Blake snorted and headed back out, taking a turn toward Jackie’s house, as he wanted to test his new weapon and shield. His walk was somehow lighter than before, but he didn’t mind it as he got back, his nose was greeted by the scent of a feast being cooked up, as the dining area was transformed into a communal kitchen with Jackie and six others Blake didn’t recognize cooking and gossiping, but all chatter cut out as he opened the door, peeking inside and smiling at the gathering.

“Hey, should I come in through the other door?” he asked noticing the very little space in the room.

Jackie smiled back at him, “Would you, we are busy, also the seamstress has dropped off your new clothes they are on the bed.” She said and went back to her work, as the rest of the women laughed a bit to themselves likely because of their interaction.

“Right, I’ll see you later.” He said before stepping back out and making his way around to the back door, overhearing some of the chatter out the makeshift kitchen, as different questions about Jackie and his relationship all of which were skillfully deflected by Jackie.

He smiled to himself as she keep the nosey village woman from getting any information even when the questions shifted to if he would stay or take someone else. [well at least she isn’t a gossip]

Blake changed out of his sticky clothes and got the new set on, long breeches that ended just under the middle of his shin, a simple under tunic made of linen, and a heavy and padded over tunic made of wool, all kept up and closed tight with his belt. He gave it a few tests as he stretched, pushing the distance as far as he could, getting caught in a long lunge forward as Jackie walked in with a light knock.

She smiled at him as he lost balance and had to get back up after his fall, “Hilda just came by, she wants to meet you outside the village by where you fought the troll.” she said as he turned to face her, her eyes found his stance just now amusing, but her face showed a bit of concern.

Blake watched her for a second, “did she say what she wants?” He asked as he reached for his sword and started tying it to his belt.

“No, but she took her shield and spear with her.” she said after a second of watching him, picking up his shield and holding it out to him. “I think she may challenge you to a fight, I heard that is how her grandmother chose her grandfather.”

Blake watched her for a second, then took the shield and slung it over his shoulder. “And if I lose, she may try to kill me?”

Jackie looked a bit away, but his eyes showed him that that is what Jackie believed would happen. And he had to sigh, “I guess ill have to win then, but I have to be careful.” he said and rubbed her cheek.

She pushed a bit against his palm, then pulled away, “Please don’t hurt her, I do know you will win but she doesn’t need to die for her stubbornness.” she said as she walked out.

Blake looked down at his hand, grabbing at the air hard, before sucking his teeth at the thought of having to fight her, he wasn’t sure if he should but he will not disrespect Hilda by refusing to fight, if that is something she wants then he would give her a fight worthy of her.

His march through the village made a few of them follow behind him until he got to the gate, off in the distance he could see a single figure standing on the road, spear planted and raised high with their shield held in hand. Blake looked around at the villagers around him and saw one who had a small hatchet held in his belt.

“Can I borrow that, I’ll bring it back?” He asked and the man looked a bit bewildered but obliged.

Sliding the extra weapon in place behind his back he started his march up to her, slinging the shield into his own hand and walking with purpose, his stance tall, and bearing as stoic as he had done during drills in boot camp. He would not be disrespectful of her even in this, that was the least he could do.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

As they were within earshot of each other she tilted her spear forward bringing him and a few more behind him to a stop, before she spoke, “If you are not Blake, you need to leave, this is a battle, not a spar.” her voice roared a bit, and Blake glanced over his shoulder at the five men that backed away and headed back to the village.

He looked back at her, her normally happy demeanor and joyful glint were gone, she was not looking at him as someone she want but as a challenge to her safety, her pale brown eyes narrowed as she focused her gaze, her pale red hair flowed in bits in the breeze where it had come undone, she was dressed in a well-made leather cuirass that did its job well as it only gave a rough outline of her chest, the deep blue tunic hung under the bottom of it, and she wore well-crafted pants that she had tied tight at key points to allow for flexibility, ending in tall knee high boots that had a set of leather greaves on them to add protection. Her shield was a round one like his but was painted with a green leaf tree and spear across the horizon, and her spear was a long-leaf headed one. She had a hatchet in the loop of her belt, meaning that she is ready and maybe willing to sacrifice the spear for the win.

Blake took a deep inhale to shift away from his feelings for her, this was a battle after all, and he would not lose. “So, you called me out here, I guess this is a family tradition or something, I am honored that you would allow me to challenge you.” Blake said as he drew his sword, and gave it a flourish in his hand.

“Blake, I can’t let you keep going like this, so here are the conditions. if you win, you can do as you wish, leave the village and have me, take me with you to sell me off in Wynberg, I don’t care.” she said back, making Blake angry at the last suggestion, “But When I win, you have to stay here and be the village guardian, and you will have to listen to me and do as I say.” she shifted her stance taking to a readied and lowered pose that blocked a lot of her but gave her more room to thrust her spear, itself hidden behind her shield.

Blake sucked his teeth and shifted to a ready stance he had learned, shuffling a bit so his feet are just over shoulder length apart, with his shield forward and at an angle to her as his sword came to rest behind his rear leg. “When... A bold choice of words shield maiden, but I will not lose, I don’t like the idea of being controlled like that.” he watched her shuffle a bit as he got ready, her eyes studying his stance looking for an opening. “Before we start do you want a real battle or should I not use my magic?” he asked out to her.

She locked her eyes on his, “This is a test of arms, I would think you an honorable man to fight at my level.” she said back with a hint of anger, but he nodded back.

The soft gust of wind pulled dust off the path up as they held, each not moving to take the first move or first mistake, neither of them was idle as they stared the other down, a battle of wills fighting in their eyes. Finally, Blake shifted his feet to slide a bit forward, his advance not to attack but find the end of her reach. His eyes watched as he got closer and closer, looking for her reaction to his movements.

Then she moves, her shield slamming its rim on his, knocking his guard away, followed by her spear, its path perfect to his abdomen. But he quickly switched his grip on the sword and knocked the point under his shield arm, and brought the point of his blade up, aiming for her head as he stepped forward, only to have his blade deflected offline by her shield. Then before he could react she pulled her spear back and spun around slamming the back of him with the blunt end, knocking him forward and inline with the return thrust as she came back around.

Pressing on his foot and jerking back out of the way, his hand switching its grip and swinging up, knocking her spear up high at the middle of her thrust, the momentum unbalancing her, then bringing the blade back down, biting into her shield as she blocks, but his followup knee knocked her backward, her shuffle back and return to her readied stance was filled with anger, as her eyes glared at him.

Blake didn’t press the same fury but he got back into his stance and started to shuffle forward again. But was stopped a lot sooner as his shield was hit twice outside of his line of sight, and timing for the next strike, swinging his shield away, showing her opened guard but she pulled back and away before she unleashed a barrage of strikes, each one aimed at a key point on his body.

Blake whipped his shield back and parried any attacks that his shield didn’t deflect, her fury-filled onslaught pattered out after three seconds, and he noted a total of sixteen separate thrusts. As she withdrew back in, he hit as hard as he could on her spear with the rim of his shield, knocking the weapon down and out of her hand, before he swang up for an underhand upward slash, the hit connecting with the bottom of her shield and scraping the front of her armor as her guard was opened. His hand released his sword at the end of his swing, finding the hatchet and whipping it out, and down at her neck stopping before she could get her own back up out.

Her eyes showed fear as the blade was held there a hair away from ending her, her breathing fast and panicked, her forehead had a single sweat bead rolling down the side, and her face show confusion and frustration.

But Blake didn’t care, he had beaten her, she was skilled for sure but he saw what she was lacking, it made the reason for the fall of the village clear, he was sure she could have handled a goblin attack by herself. But he didn’t need to degrade her now, she needs to accept that he is the victor, not hear of her failure, so he pulled the weapon back and slid it back into its nook, before turning around and walking over to his sword and checked it over while picking it up.

As he turned around she had fallen to her knees, still stunned at the outcome, her clear dislike of her loss, as she stared down at her spear, jaw tightening as she clenched her teeth, “Damn it, I have to fight again, I can’t lose, I have to win.” she said as she gripped her spear and stood back up. “Again Blake” she roared while getting into her stance again.

Blake could see that she was not being honest, she didn’t need to win, she needed something else. But he obliged and got into his stance, this time resting his blade on his shoulder, and shield tilted up and away to over his left shoulder, his breathing slow and careful as he watched her.

She took the first move this time, lunging forward with a step to extend her reach, the point aimed at his leading leg, but he reverses his stance and brought his sword down and locking the weapon there before rushing forward with the blade edge racing along the shaft of her weapon, making her withdraw and bring her shield up to deflect the decapitation strike. Blake kicks using the momentum he had to spin around and hit her shield, knocking her off her feet and tumbling off the road.

He walks up as she gets to her feet, her hair now a mess as it had come undone in the fall, her eyes showed she was angry, and her voice confirmed it as she rushed forward again, this time striking out her attacks at him, jabbing wildly to force him back as he blocks or parries them, her guard still active but has taken a backseat in her fighting.

Dropping the sword as she thrust, he grabs the spear and yanks it away from her, as she stumbles forward, he brings his knee up again, catching her in the stomach, the impact enough to make her spit up some drool with a cough, as she falls to her knees when he let her go, getting his hatchet out and placing it before her eyes.

“Why, why can't I beat you?” She says in a defeated voice, her hands dropping her equipment.

Blake pulled the hatchet away as he walked over to his sword taking it up again and wiping the dust off on his tunic, “Why do you think, and no it has nothing to do with you being a woman.” he says back and walked to the edge of her spear’s reach.

He watches her, she will stroke her fury and try again, but she looks up to him, her eyes were saddened, like some recruit who had tasted failure for the first time in their career.

“Get up and fight me, this is not a battle of honor or pride anymore, but survival, and you are the only person that can stop me.” he said as he got into his stance, and watched as she did the same, “If you don’t beat me, I will rape and kill everyone, so beat me and save your village.” he said, his tone forced to sound real, and saw her eyes widen in alarm at the statement.

Her visage shifts from confusion to fear then rage and then to unfettered malice. “I fucking knew it” She roars as she closes, her attack perfect and stance and guard flawless, but he manages to block, before bringing his sword down but she knocks his attack out the way with the shield while pulling the spear back enough to thrust again, forcing him to dodge as he hops back and a bit off the road.

But she doesn’t relent as she closes again and unleashes a volley of quick probing jabs, which he blocks with some ease, but he hisses as the blade caught his right shoulder, the catch adding to her attacks as she focuses her thrusts at his sword arm, and he has to use his shield to block the blows, then he loses sight of her before a sudden impact on his back, him turning a bit to the right, glancing over his shoulder she had already started her next thrust and he has to throw his head back and away, using the turn to bring his shield into her he catches nothing but air, as she had ducked under it completely, her spear catching his tunic above the left shoulder, she roared as she pushes hard while hooking the back of one of his legs, making him trip and fall.

Blake swings his arm up to cut her, but her foot finds his arm pinning him while she discards the shield and draws her second weapon, raising it over her head, bringing it down fast and hard to his face. But her attack falters for a second and he dodges the blow. The silence is deafening as nothing but the wind cuts into the space.

“Why, why are you really like this, why are you doing this” she starts to ask, her face a twisted reflection of her will to be with him and her understanding of his fake threat, the pain of having to cut him down after the kindness he had shown her, her breath fast and hard at the amount of energy she used up to overtake him.

Blake started laughing, making her expression shift to shock, fearful that he would fight back now as her hands gripped tighter and she pulls the hatchet back up. “Because I needed you to stop.” he said quickly, his words making her hesitate, “you asked why you can’t win, it's because you are scared of hurting people, but look at where we are when you want to protect.”

Her eyes wandered for a second, “you said that on purpose, to get me to fight harder?” she asked a bit confused, her hesitation clear as she was reading him, to see if this is a ploy to get her to lower her guard. “Why would you do that, to say something like that, I thought you care about us.”

“Because I needed you to embrace the power I use when I fight, and you did just now.” He said back making her shudder at the implication “That merciless and rage-filled state allowed you to move on intuition alone, your attacks perfect to keep me from fighting, your guard flawless to guard yourself while fighting, the attack pattern to bait me into moving in a way you could exploit, that primal energy is called the will to survive, most people don’t tap it unless they have to, it is dangerous energy, it's addictive and intoxicating, it will plague your mind the deeper and more often you wade into it, your mind with eventually embrace it if you aren’t careful. But that is the power I tap when I fight, the goblins, do or die, same for the troll and bandits and those slavers, and now you know it.”

Her hands shake a bit as she takes in what he said, and her face twist to fear but of herself.

“This is why you couldn’t beat me, you were fighting to beat me and take control, I was fighting to kill you, while only channeling that savage energy, my will to live was stronger than your will to win.” He said with a smile, letting his equipment go and reaching up with his shield arm grabbing her thigh, gently caressing it. “But you don’t need to be afraid, because you don’t need to embrace it anymore like you did now, just commit the feelings you had while fighting me to memory and none will ever beat you unless they know how to use it to.”

She takes her foot off his arm before sitting on top of him, “is this how you feel after every fight though, this heat is like a forge under my skin,” she says as her hands leave the weapons on the ground, the cooling air around them refreshing for both.

“Yeah, made going to sleep a nightmare after the bandit attack.” he said back, before bringing his hands up and onto her abdomen, “but that is only a side effect of the energy, it is primal and savage and it only wants two things, you know.” his voice intentionally inviting, and his hands teasing under her armor.

Her eyes met his, the glint of her desire as she watched him, her own hands pressing down on his chest gripping the tunic tight and leaning down, planting a heated kiss as their lips meet. Before she pulls back and gets up, freeing him of the spear, and gathering her things. “Follow me” she said as he got to his own feet and collected his gear, slinging his shield and following her for a few minutes until they find an open gap between some of the trees, where she rested the spear against a tree along with her shield.

Blake looked around but was stunned as she pushed him against a tree, as she press against him while they kissed. As she pulled away he could see a hint of hesitation, “You won our first bout, so I guess I have no choice” she said to herself before looking back up into his eyes. “What will you do with me, I will hold to my word, I said you could do anything you want”

Blake brought his hand up and rubbed her cheek, smiling at her with care and forgiveness, “nothing you don’t want to do yourself.” he said with a soft voice and honest tenderness for her well-being. “I want Hilda, the woman that saw me, and learned the monster I am, and I want her to choose what she wants to do.”

Her breath hitched as he spoke her name, and her hands found their way into his hair as she pulled him into a second kiss, this one was forceful but out of her longing for him, something he embraced back as he wrapped his arms around her and brought her flush against him.