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Rebel Princess

By: LokiRenard



Part I

In the heat of battle, Kai spun to face each aggressor, her short blade flashing amid flesh and steel. One of them lay at her feet, safely dispatched, but she bled herself, and still the others pressed in on her from all sides. Her eyes were an icy mask of death as she battled her foes. In the distance she heard the barking of a dog, drawing ever closer, but she had no time to consider it as a sweeping blade cut the air before her eyes.

She dodged it barely, but there was already another slicing up towards her. Her ears rang with the sound of clashing blades and grunts, her nostrils assaulted with the scent of sweating brutes and the unmistakable tang of blood.

Then, in the next instant, the motion stopped. The tornado of movement was cut short as first one assailant, then the other gurgled unpleasantly and slid to the ground, dead before they landed, the ground quickly soaking with the blood from their mortal wounds.

Breathing heavily, and still very much on guard, Kai found herself looking at a tall black silhouette with cool grey eyes. Her rescuer flicked the blood from the blade with a quick motion that made it whistle, then withdrew a white cloth and wiped it clean before tossing it on the ground along side the bodies.

"You are wounded." The figure spoke with a strange accent as it stepped towards her, sheathing the sword smoothly.

Kai made to disagree, to resist, her own blade held threateningly, but she stayed her hand as the figure knelt, and withdrew a length of bandage from its robes. Quickly and firmly, Kai's wounds were dressed, the blood flow staunched. There was a nasty gash on her thigh, and several more superficial cuts along her legs. She felt herself waver where she stood, the battle had almost finished the last reserves of her strength.

"Thank you, you don't have to..." she mumbled as she fainted dead away and was caught by mysterious hands.

Part II

Awaking in a cool cave, on a soft bed, Kai groaned softly. Her entire body ached from the blows, and she was dizzy and weak, presumably from the blood loss.

"Welcome back." That voice again. Kai's head jerked up and she caught sight of that same figure, now clad in a light black robe, with its back to her. The voice was hard to place, somewhere between masculine and feminine, with a pleasant depth to it, and an accent she had not heard before.

"H..hello," Kai replied faintly.

The figure turned, and Kai gasped. It was a woman, a woman with deep grey eyes, full crimson lips, and judging by the way the robe fell ever so slightly open, a full bosom. Kai blushed a deep red at being in such an undignified position with this lady, whose eyes alone magnetized her helplessly. She squirmed in the little bed involuntarily, hiding behind her long straight black hair, her blue eyes shining through the veil at her rescuer.

"How do you feel?" The woman asked her with a kind smile, taking a step towards her carrying a cup of, what at that moment, seemed to be the most delicious smelling chicken soup she had ever smelled before. She helped Kai sit up and handed her the cup, which Kai drank down ravenously, not bothering to reply, so great was her hunger.

The woman smiled and took the cup from her, refilling it with more soup before returning it to her once more. Once again, Kai drank it down with great hunger, and the process was repeated several times before Kai began to slow down a little.

"You fight very well." The woman commented, as she poured herself some soup.

Kai blushed. "Thank you," she mumbled. She had never been much for talk, and this woman made her nervous.

"I am Rael," The woman said, draining her own cup, and settling down amongst some pillows to regard Kai in a friendly fashion.

Kai nodded and chewed on the edge of her cup. Rael smiled and chuckled a little. "So you do not wish to introduce yourself in kind?" Kai blushed and shook her head quickly. Rael chuckled more, evidently bemused. "Well then, judging by the state of you, and the fact that you had attracted the attention of the King's Brigands, I shall hazard a guess that you are one of these mischievous urchins one hears about, wandering hither and thither and getting themselves into trouble."

Kai bristled and blushed at the same time. "Who says I am an urchin?"

Rael's lips curled up into a smile. "You bear no marks, dear. Not to mention the fact that you travel alone."

Kai shrugged and gave Rael her best cold look. "Thank you for your help. I really must go," she said, beginning to struggle out of the bed.

Rael nodded politely. "Of course. You will find your possessions packed by your side." 

Kai swung her legs over the side of the bed and reached down, picking up her bag, and finding it not only filled with all her things, but packed with clean clothes and stocked with dry meats, biscuits, and water.

In spite of herself, Kai burst into tears at the kindness.

"Are you alright?" Rael asked, her brow furrowed with concern.

Kai nodded and wiped her eyes. "Yes, sorry, I must be tired still. Thank you for the supplies."

Rael smiled understandingly. "You are welcome to stay if you wish."

Kai shook her head. "I must go.. I must.. I.." Reminded of her mission, she felt tears prick at her eyes once more.

"You lost a lot of blood. An extra day's rest will help you make better time." Rael said firmly, taking the bag out of her hand and placing it beside the bed.

Kai nodded tearfully, abandoning her fight easily. She laid back on the bed, closing her eyes, and was startled by a movement near her knee that quickly traveled up her thigh. Squealing, she sat up, her arm reaching for the blade that was no longer at her side as her fearsome attacker leapt at a strand of her hair and dangled from it, a grey bundle of furry fury.

Kai giggled with relief, and cradled the little grey kitten in her hands, gently disentangling it from her hair. It purred and licked her skin, its unfocused blue eyes staring fuzzily up into her face. Rael smiled. 

"That is one of the kittens, there are two more about the place somewhere."

"He is cute." Kai said, nuzzling the little kitten, forgetting the battle and her wounds as the little creature vibrated in her hands with pure joy.

Rael smiled, happy to see her guest enjoying the kitten. It was clear from the young lady's demeanor that she had not had much enjoyment in her life up until this moment.

"I think he will be a fearsome hunter when he is grown." Rael commented, watching the little kitten bat at the strands of Kai's hair that fell over her face.

Kai nodded enthusiastically, sending the kitten into spasms as it tried to catch the hair it bobbing up and down before it. "He will be the best hunter." She said, smiling at the little thing, so frail in her hands. She could feel its tiny bones moving against her palm, and marveled at how such a small thing could be so feisty.

The light of the day was beginning to fade, and Kai played with the kitten as Rael moved about the cave, lighting candles. Once they were lit, she went to the entrance of the cave and with no little effort, rolled a large stone across the door. She caught Kai looking at her with a touch of claustrophobic panic in her gaze and winked. "Better to keep the brigands out than fight and kill them all."

Kai shook her head "I would rather kill them all," she said fiercely.

Rael laughed, a low laugh. "A life in blood is little of a life at all." She settled back on the cushions with a scroll. As she laid back, two more kittens, both as black as the night appeared from the shadows and walked across the cushions with unsteady gaits, both stiff legged like little soldiers.

They were so cute, and as Rael unrolled her scroll and began to read, Kai fell asleep watching the kittens pull at Rael's robe, the little grey kitten curled up at her own neck.

Part III

Morning found her much improved. Kai awoke to streaming morning light. Blinking in its glare, she stretched and found that semi miraculously, her pains were dull compared to how badly she had been hurt. Whatever had been in that soup must have worked as she slept.

Sitting up in bed, Kai swung her legs over the edge, and shouldered her bag. There was no sign of Rael, but Kai's feet were itching to get back on the road, so she quickly slid out of the cave with a pat to the little grey kitten who remained curled up in the warm sheets.

"Leaving so soon?" Rael's voice cut through her movements as she began her descent down the mountain. Kai froze, her tummy flip flopping for some unknown reason. She turned and gave a weak smile as Rael stepped out from behind a cluster of trees and walked over to her. As Rael drew close, Kai realized just how tall the woman was compared to her, she had her by at least a foot.

There was a hint of censure in her gaze, and Kai had a second realization, this one of just how rude she was being. This woman had saved Kai's life and shared her home, and in return, Kai was simply sneaking out like a burglar. Rael said nothing however, simply giving Kai a smile.

"Be safe on your journey." She said with a courteous bow.

"I will, thank you, thank you for everything," Kai replied, bowing back.

Rael's eyes twinkled with merriment as Kai bowed once more and practically fled down the mountain, not stopping until she was sure she was out of sight. After an hour or so of quick marching, she dropped down for a rest. Her leg was beginning to ache, and she could feel that the bandage needed to be changed. Rifling thorough her bag, she found more of the soup, stored up in a flask, as well as some clean bandages. The woman, the stranger, had certainly gone out of her way to ensure that Kai was well prepared for her journey.

As Kai peeled the old bandage away, she blushed with embarrassment. She had behaved so badly, but why? She knew better than that. She resolved to return from the city with a gift for Rael. The resolution assuaged her conscience a little, and she set about changing the bandage. Drinking the soup refreshed her further, and as the sun shone down pleasantly on her skin, Kai felt a glow of contentment. She closed her eyes, and raised her face up to the sun, relaxing in the sweet morning breeze.

It was not even five minutes before a shadow fell across her face, and she frowned. How very like life, for a cloud to come just as one learns to enjoy the sun's rays.

A rough voice roused her from her philosophical reverie.

"Look at this little bitch." it laughed, masculine and uncouth. Kai's eyes snapped open and she gave the speaker a cold glare. Yet another one of the mountain brigands, would she never be rid of them? Behind him, a band of five men waited, each of them looking at her in lecherous fashion. A shiver ran through Kai as she registered their intent, and almost immediately she was on her feet, her blade slashing up towards the brigand's throat, slicing it through with deadly precision before he could utter so much as a single cry.

It was safe to say that this reaction had not been anticipated, as their comrade fell, blood pumping from his wound, three of the men rushed her as the fifth one, a smaller male, perhaps not even a man, fled the scene. Kai had no time to stop him, the others were upon her, fueled by rage and testosterone, they pressed her hard, attacking from every side, every quarter. She drew her second blade, using the two deadly edges to clear her space, taking advantage of their clumsy openings as they lunged at her. One lost his arm, and staggered away, howling and clutching at his elbow stump. That left three, which quickly became two as one of the brigands vomited at the sight of the dismembered limb and was quickly skewered through.

The two remaining brigands were made of sterner stuff, and they circled around her, trying to take her front and her back at the same time, trying to out maneuver her. Their attacks came in a strangely synchronized fashion, one blade slicing towards her neck whilst another aimed at the back of her knees. These were no ordinary brigands, these people knew how to wield their blades.

But knowing how to wield a blade alone was not enough, and Kai desired to end this quickly. It was time for the coup de grace. Stepping back, and up onto a stone Kai launched herself into the air, her body arcing like a reed as her swords cut the wind, lopping the head of one of the brigands neatly from his shoulders, and severing the other's blade as he attempted to block her movement. She landed kneeling, facing away from her assailant, but with a quick upwards thrust behind her, without even so much as looking, cut him from navel to breast, spinning aside as he fell forward, and mercifully beheading him as he landed on the ground.

Finishing the movement, she flicked her swords clean of blood, and sheathed them. There was no time to gloat, to feel nauseous in, or to lose. She could hear the wails of the man who had lost his arm in the distance, and the younger one had escaped, he could be back with reinforcements at any moment.

Shouldering her pack quickly, Kai made use of an old technique she had learned when she was young, and quickly climbed a tree. Fortunately, the brigands had come upon her at the edge of a wooded glen, and she quickly moved through the trees, stepping from branch to branch as she may have stepped along a road, leaving no tracks to follow or scent to be found.

Once she had cleared the area, she began to ascend the tallest of the trees. Looking out over the valleys, she could see the brigand encampment nestled in a little nook not 5 miles hence. It was buzzing with activity, they would soon be on the hunt, and she was sure that she the quarry. Frowning to herself, she winced as once again her leg reminded her that not only was she wounded, she had not helped matters by engaging in such vigorous exercise. The wound had reopened, and was threatening to bleed through the bandage again.

It was all too much. Hunted, wounded, alone. Curled up against the branches, Kai began to cry to herself, overwhelmed with the events of the past day, remembering the soft bed she had left, the sweet kitten, half wishing that she had stayed with the lady, what was her name? Rael.

She allowed herself that outburst of emotion, but she also needed to move on, and quickly. They were sure to be after her in short order, she could already see bands leaving the camp and beginning to scour the hills.

The next hours consisted of dashing through trees and splashing through streams between trees as she tried to put as much distance as possible between herself and the brigands. A few of the bands were traveling by horseback, and she could hear them across the mountain, yelling to one another.

The trees grew higher and more dense in the mountain crevices, and she headed for one of these areas, staying in the treetops, barely noticing how much ground she was covering, or how very remote the terrain was becoming. In another hour or two, she could no longer hear those tracking her, and looking around her, she realized that she had absolutely no idea where she was.

Kai had a fair knowledge of the terrains of her homeland, she had traveled them many times since she was a child. From coast to coast she prized herself on never being lost, knowing where she was simply by the type of trees which grew in a particular region, or the kind of earth that crunched beneath her feet.

These trees were different from ones she had seen before, and there was a scent in the air that was unfamiliar. Few people knew that regions could be identified by scent alone, but Kai was almost like an animal in that regard. This new place was strange and aroused her curiosity, as well as her fear. She shimmied down the tree to investigate the territory further, and found herself in a verdant paradise, soft grass bent underfoot, and ferns adorned the lower reaches of the trees. It was a big change from the hard rocky reaches of most of the mountains, yet if anything she had reached a higher altitude than before.

"You do fight very well young lady, but your diplomacy leaves a certain something to be desired." A familiar voice set her heart leaping wildly, and as she spun around to see Rael, a surge of relief flowed through her, and a smile set itself uncharacteristically on her face. She even giggled a little. "What.. what are you doing here?" she asked, feeling herself blush.

"When an unexpected storm is unleashed upon the mountain, I seek the source of the trouble." Rael replied, the tone of censure back in her voice, as her eyes held Kai's gaze firmly.

"It wasn't my fault.. they were going to attack me." Kai replied, sounding petulant. Rael's only response was to quirk an eyebrow slightly, an act which inexplicably caused Kai to fall silent. In the silence, a little mewl could be heard, and Kai suddenly saw that Rael had the kittens with her. Riding in a sling across Rael's chest, three little heads, two black and one grey regarded Kai with varying levels of interest.

"What.. where are you going?" Kai blurted the question.

Rael smiled that patient smile once more. "As I said, when trouble comes to the mountain, I seek the source. I also seek the protection of my second home when the lawless begin to swarm around my usual dwelling."

Kai's head spun. "You live here too?"

Rael nodded. "I am sure you would have stumbled across it sooner or later, you do seem to have a talent for seeking things out," she said mysteriously, turning, and motioning for Kai to follow. This time there was no request, or gentle suggestion. It was an order to follow, and Kai found herself obeying it, following Rael's footsteps.

They walked for another hour, and Rael spoke little along the way. Kai snuck up along side her and peeked at the kittens, they were all asleep and contented, their little faces pictures of relaxed security. At a glance from Rael, Kai fell back behind her. Something in the woman's demeanor had changed since they had first met. Perhaps it was because she was now leaving her home to seek shelter from the brigands on the mountain, or perhaps it was simply the concentration required to successfully navigate the dense bush, but Kai couldn't help but feel as if she were somehow in trouble.

The light was beginning to fade when Rael suddenly stopped and simply said "Here."

Kai looked around. There was nothing but bushes and ferns and more bushes, were they going to spend the night out in the cold?

She opened her mouth to ask the question, but before she could, she saw Rael unpack a rope ladder from her bag, and a grappling hook. With a practiced ease, she swung the hook several times before sending it up through the branches. Kai stood well back, expecting it to come crashing down again, but it seemed to have caught well enough.

Tugging at the ladder to make sure it was secure, Rael turned to Kai. "Come." She said, indicating that Kai should climb the ladder. Kai did so obediently, partly out of curiosity, partly out of fear, and partly out of a strange desire to please the woman. As she climbed it seemed that the ladder went on and on and on into forever. She passed branch after branch, loosing sight of the ground.

It was several minutes before a platform came into view, a platform with a hole in it which Kai found herself climbing up through. As she climbed through to the other side, she gasped in surprise and delight. It was a tree house, and no mere box on a platform either. It seemed to have at least two levels, a larger lower level, which she could see into and contained little tables, cooking equipment, as well as a bed or two and a large pile of silk cushions. The upper level remained a mystery, and Kai simply stood and stared as Rael ascended after her and stood next to her on the platform.

"This is amazing!" Kai exclaimed, looking up at Rael, who smiled a small smile.


Rebel Princess Ch. 02



This is the second installment of Rebel Princess on Literotica, I do advise you to read Part One first, this will make much more sense if you do.

As always, enjoy!





The next morning Kai awoke hiding in her bed. As silly as that seemed, she actually awoke curled up under the blankets, and peeking out for any sign of Rael. Her bottom stung gently with every little movement, reminding her of Rael's correction.

"Good morning," Rael greeted her from across the room.

"Hello," Kai mumbled back, finding as she shifted more, sharp little claws dug into her arm as the little grey creature asleep on her warned her not to move. She giggled a little and lifted it up, ignoring the accusatory look it gave her.

"Come along girl, time to get up," Rael said, her tone light, but with that note of command in it once more. Kai frowned to herself, her rebellious streak rising. Just who did this woman think she was? She would have to set things straight around here, let this woman know what she was made of, she would show her who was boss, she would show her...

"Kai." Rael said warningly.

Kai struggled out of bed grumpily. "Where's the fucking fire?" she growled as she did. Rael's gaze was sharp to say the least. 

"Please refrain from using that language," she said, her tone deceptively soft.

"I'll speak how the fuck I want to." Kai replied petulantly, turning her back on Rael dismissively. In the next moment a pain seared through her backside, and even as she squealed she wondered where Rael had taken the hot poker from, so intensely did her backside burn.

That train of thought was quickly cut short as she was lifted by the scruff of her neck and swung around to face Rael, lifted up so her feet were off the floor, she dangled before those intense grey eyes, which now seemed to burn into hers.

"You will not disrespect me in that fashion, and you will not disrespect yourself by behaving in such a manner, do you understand me?" Rael spoke softly, but each word fell on Kai's ears in no uncertain manner, and Kai felt a shiver run along her spine, as just for a moment she was allowed a glimpse into the soul of the woman holding her and saw, for a fleeting second, just what she was capable of.

"Yes ma'am," she whimpered.

Rael nodded and placed her back down on the ground gently. "Tidy up, you can wash behind the screen," she said, indicating a corner of the room that had been screened off with a pretty three faced screen.

Kai nodded and scuttled off, glad to escape that gaze, if only for a few minutes whilst she washed and changed. When she emerged, Rael was waiting for her.

"We will go out and patrol the area before breakfast. It should be clear, but with all the activity lately, it is good to make sure that one has not been followed," she said, handing Kai a little rice cake to tide her over until they returned.

Kai nodded obediently.

"You'll be pleased to know that getting down is much easier than getting up was last night."

Rael said with a smile, leading her out to the balcony and showing her a device that she hadn't seen the night before. It was a polished wooden seat, suspended from the branches above and hanging out over the trees.

"Sit down," Rael bade her. Looking doubtful, Kai complied. 

"Now hold on tight." Rael said briefly before the tension on the ropes holding the seat went out and Kai found herself plummeting through the branches, too terrified to scream. This was it, this was how she was going to die, and after all she had been through, to die on a broken toy.

Before she was shattered on the ground, the rope began to take again, slowing her descent until she was gently placed upon the ground, trembling a little as she stepped away from the seat and watched it slowly rise up several feet, and then rocket back into the treetops.

Another minute or two later, Rael was beside her, grinning in a pleased sort of fashion.

"How did you like that?" she asked, clearly proud of it.

"It was, it was okay." Kai said, trying to sound nonchalant.

Rael laughed and gave her a quick hug with one arm around her shoulder. "My apologies if it frightened you, I confess, I haven't had anyone to show it off to."

Kai nodded a little. "What is it?" she asked.

"I call it an 'elevator'" Rael declared proudly. "It makes getting up and down much more easy."

Kai smiled simply from seeing Rael so pleased with her invention. "It's definitely quick," she offered.

Rael nodded. "Oh yes. It's very quick," she smiled, before getting back down to business.

"Now follow me, and if you spot anything, let me know," she said. "And let me know if your leg is hurting," she added as an afterthought.

Kai nodded, and they set off through the bush. Rael seemed to know her way well, and traveled through the bush barely disturbing so much as a leaf. Kai found herself admiring more and more about the woman.

A flash of color and a rustle of movement alerted them both to something in the undergrowth. With a look at Kai, Rael began to move towards the noise, her hand on the hilt of her sword in perfect readiness. With practiced ease, Kai fell in on her flank, both offering protection and cutting off one route of escape for the trespasser.

They crept forward slowly through the foliage before merely a thin layer of leaves stood between them and their quarry. With a sharp yell, Rael broke through the cover, raising her blade and bringing it down within a hair's breadth of the intruder's neck. 

"Howdy!" The intruder responded cheerfully, and Kai's eyes widened as Rael stopped her motion perfectly in mid swing and sheathed her sword.

"Lucy!" She said in a tone that Kai recognized as being one that indicated the recipient of the tone was in no small measure of trouble.

"Lady Rael, it is a pleasure as always," Lucy replied with a low and elaborate bow. 

Lucy was rather a curious figure indeed. Clearly of foreign blood, she wore a black wide brimmed hat at a jaunty angle, and unlike the robes that Rael and Kai wore, her legs were clad in a type oflegging that Kai had not seen before. Black and dark, fitted close to her figure then flaring out

as they passed the knee they were most strange pieces of apparel. The upper part of her body was clad in an odd white shirt that reminded Kai of an undershirt, but which was much more ornate, with lace and ruffles running down the front of it, over the young woman's bosom.

The stranger caught Kai looking at her and smiled and bowed to her too. Kai frowned and shifted uncertainly. She did not like strange new things, and this woman was as strange and new as one could get. 

Lucy had bigger problems than Kai at that point in time however, Rael was looking at the young woman with a thunderous expression.

"Does your Uncle know you are out here?"

Lucy shrugged with a devil may care smile. "Oh him, he probably does, I left him a note. Aren't you pleased to see me?" she ended her sentence on a wheedling tone.

Rael shook her head. "Of course I am. But it is dangerous out here, especially for one such as yourself. Have you even bought a weapon with you?"she asked.

"Just my rapier wit," Lucy winked.

For a moment, Kai thought that Rael was going to take Lucy and whip her then and there.

"Right. Come with us. This is Kai." She said, by way of introduction. "Kai, keep an eye on this one, and do not be influenced by her," she said with a stern look at Lucy before turning and leading the little party back to the tree house.

Lucy slid back next to Kai. "Hello, I am Lucy." She said unnecessarily. Kai nodded in acknowledgment, but said nothing.

"You have to be careful with her," Lucy whispered, pointing out Rael. "She has a mean right hand," she confided in Kai.

Kai couldn't help but smile a little at that, Lucy was absolutely right. Lucy seemed prepared to chatter the whole way back, but Rael soon put a stop to that with a look.

"I think she's mad at me." Lucy whispered to Kai, before falling into silence.

In short order they were all assembled back in the safety of the tree house. Rael looked both her guests over, an unfathomable expression on her face.

"She's trying to decide whether or not to eat us." Lucy whispered loudly to Kai, making Kai laugh, and earning her a wry look from Rael.

"On the contrary, I am trying to ascertain whether or not my arm will be able to take the strain of having both of you around," she said dryly.

Kai felt herself squirming on the spot. She didn't know how it had happened, but somehow it seemed that she had been taken under Rael's wing. It felt nice, if a little odd. 

Lucy seemed more than comfortable with it, in fact she simply waltzed up to Rael, put her arms around the woman's waist and looked up at her with a sweet expression.

"I promise I'll be good," she wheedled.

Rael laughed and shook her head, hugging the younger woman back. "Yes dear, yes you will," she agreed, patting her bottom.

"You take the bed next to Kai," she directed Lucy, who immediately bounded over to the indicated bed and sat down on it. Kai found herself regarding the girl with immense curiosity.She was so light of spirit, it seemed as if nothing bothered her at all.

"We will breakfast in a moment, Kai, I'll change your dressing for you," Rael said, gesturing for Kai to remove her outer robe and lay on her stomach.

Now it was Lucy's turn to stare as Rael peeled back the bandage on Kai's leg and revealed the wound.

"Wow. What happened to you?" She blurted as Rael began to clean it gently.

"Just a fight." Kai replied casually.

Lucy stared wide eyed. "Somebody did this to you?" She said incredulously, her light grey eyes growing dark.

"Uhm, yeah," Kai replied, wondering a little at how Lucy seemed so unaware of the consequences of fighting.

"Those bastards!" Lucy exclaimed in genuine outrage.

Kai laughed a little. "It's okay, they're gone now."

Lucy nodded in approval. "Good," she said, settling back on her bed.

Rael shook her head. "This is why you need to be careful, and not simply run off into the woods when the mood takes you, young lady," she lectured Lucy as she bandaged Kai.

"Hmph." Lucy replied, clearly not swayed by the argument.

"Or perhaps I should give you a physical reminder of your own as to why you shouldn't run off on your own." Rael said more seriously.

"Rael, I am quite grown and able to undertake my own decisions." Lucy said haughtily,removing her hat, and letting reddish brown curls tumble out from under it.

"You may be grown, but you must still obey some of us." Rael cautioned her as she finished wrapping Kai's leg.

Lucy simply made a disgusted sound in response, and Rael shook her head. "Evidently your Uncle has been remiss in your discipline," she said, standing up and taking her by the arm.

Kai watched with wide eyes as Lucy began to thrash and squirm around, fighting Rael for all she was worth.

"No! You can't do this! I am grown!" She protested even as Rael easily countered her moves and placed her over her lap, beginning to work on the fastening of the pants she wore as Lucy fought like a little tigress, growling and spitting angrily at the effrontery of it all.

"You will always answer to your Uncle and I." Rael replied, succeeding in loosening the fastening and lowering her pants to reveal a curved bare bottom that wriggled about over her lap, and gave Kai a very curious feeling in her tummy.

"Dammit Rael, this isn't fair." Lucy protested as she felt Rael's hand on her bottom. "I am not a child anymore."

"No, which makes it even worse that you would come out to these lands unescorted. You couldhave been severely hurt, do you understand that?" Rael said sternly, beginning the spanking of the recalcitrant woman.

Lucy yowled and squealed as Rael's hand smacked her bottom soundly, soon bursting into tears as the slaps reddened her cheeks and made her poor bottom burn. Kai felt a little sorry for her, being spanked simply for having gone somewhere, it didn't seem fair at all.

Rael was keen to impart the lesson soundly, and by the time she was finished, Lucy was an angry, crying young lady over her lap with a very red bottom to boot. She attempted to give her a hug, but Lucy was having none of it, pushing Rael away and throwing herself on the bed crying.

Rael shook her head, and left her to cry it out alone whilst she went and prepared for breakfast.

Lucy sobbed into the pillow, her red bottom on display as she did, and Kai felt so sorry for her that she went and knelt next to the bed. "Are you okay?" She whispered.

Lucy nodded a little through her tears. "She is so mean," she sobbed.

Kai nodded, and impulsively hugged her, something that seemed to have a positive effect. "It will be okay, do you want me to rub it better for you?" she said, just wanting to help ease herpain and her crying. Lucy sniffled against her and nodded, "Yes, please," she said, and Kai obliged by sliding one hand down to her burning bottom and rubbing the hot curvy cheeks.

For a moment or two Kai was almost grateful for Rael having spanked Lucy. Her bottom was gorgeous, full round cheeks that looked ever so cute blushing red from her spanking. As Kai's hand rubbed them, it was hard to resist from giving Lucy's bottom a little squeeze.

Slowly as Kai rubbed and refrained from squeezing, Lucy began to calm down, and smiled gratefully at Kai for her kindness. "You're so nice," she said as Kai regretfully slid her hand away. 

Kai smiled back at her. "You're sweet and you deserve it," she replied, blushing a little as she said the words.

Lucy smiled, a cute little smile and hugged Kai. 

"You will be my friend." She declared with a simplicity that made Kai laugh and nod. 

"I will be your friend." She agreed.

"Okay you two, breakfast." Rael called, making both their heads pop up. They were both hungry, and within moments they were at the table eating heartily. Rael watched them with a smile as she ate. Fate had a strange way of working things out, it seemed.





Did you enjoy that installment? Let me know, for there is more to come of this tale...



Rebel Princess Ch. 03



This story contains more than just lesbian sex, in fact it contains quite blatantly heterosexual sex. It's somewhat incidental though, and there is also lesbian sex, so I'm just going to leave this in the Lesbian Sex category so as not to confuse the story and whatnot. There's also a lot of spanking. You were warned ;) Read parts one and two before you read this part and there's a chance it will make more sense. 

*

The next few days passed in relative calmness. The kittens, Kai and Lucy all played happily about the place, getting underfoot and threatening to drive Rael up the wall at times. It was in this time that Kai discovered the point of the upper reaches of the house. Rael withdrew up there to sleep and to meditate, and to generally avoid the chaos below. 

Kai and Lucy were getting on very well. Though ostensibly very different in personality, they shared a sense of humor and playfulness that saw them screaming about the place cheerfully. This house in the trees had given them both a rare moment of respite from the heavy cares of the world they both carried in their every day lives. Caught up in the playfulness too was an undeniable chemistry, an ongoing flirtation that threatened to bubble over at any moment. 

They were playing a rousing game of chase one afternoon, a game that Kai was somewhat hampered in playing due to her injury, when Lucy suddenly stared out the window, screeched and fled up the stairs towards Rael's room.

Puzzled, Kai turned, and saw the source of Lucy's squealing. Standing in the doorway was a tall man with eyes of coal and long ebony straight hair which flowed down over his jet black traveling robes. His skin was pale, and his cheekbones high. Altogether he presented a picture of quiet menace.

Kai took a step backwards, cursing herself for being unarmed.

"Lucian!" Rael said, coming down the stairs.

Kai looked between Rael and this new man.

"Hello Lady Rael," Lucian responded with a deep bow.

"Come in Lucian." Rael bade him.

"Thank you." Lucian said, stepping inside with a smile at Rael. "I see my niece made it here unharmed," he noted as he shed his outer robe and pack, revealing his jerkin clad torso, and large muscled arms ringed with dragon tattoos. He was surprisingly young, Kai had pictured a much older man when Lucy spoke of her Uncle, but Lucian was probably only a few years older than Rael, in the prime of his life.

Rael chuckled. "Indeed she did."

"I shall discuss that with her later," he said in a tone laden with significance.

Kai looked at his big muscled arms and frowned, he would destroy Lucy if he hit her. She decided there and then that she had to save her friend.

Neither Rael nor Lucian seemed to notice her presence as she edged quietly around the room to the stairs. They greeted one another like old friends, and were almost immediately engaged in what seemed to be a very deep conversation.

Kai quickly climbed up the stairs and found Lucy huddling behind the bed, looking pale and scared.

"He's going to whip me so bad," she confided in Kai, her eyes wide.

Kai grinned. "Not if he can't find you, he won't," she whispered, pointing out the window of Rael's room, where the trees grew thick and dense.

The relief on Lucy's face was almost palpable. They quickly clambered out into the shelter of the branches and traveled between the trees until they found a good position where they could both see into the house and were safe from any disciplinary action. 

Peeking into the tree house, Kai let out a small squeal of shocked laughter and covered her mouth.

"What? Have they found we're gone?" Lucy whispered.

Kai shook her head. "I don't think so, I don't think they are going to notice for a while." Kai giggled.

Lucy frowned and looked herself and gasped.

In the house, it was certain that they had not yet been missed. Lucian had shed his top, and was on his knees between Rael's legs, servicing her, his head buried between her thighs.

Kai and Lucy both watched absolutely transfixed as gradually Rael shed her robes and her body was revealed, slim in the light, her breasts full, swaying with her movements as Lucian kicked off his pants, revealing muscled thighs and a proudly erect cock.

They were a beautiful pair, and it was clear that they were old lovers from the familiar way that they explored one another's bodies. Both Kai and Lucy squirmed in their hiding spot as Lucian's mouth locked on to a nipple and suckled it, sending Rael's head arching back in pleasure. Kissing passionately, they fell back on Kai's bed, Rael spreading her legs to allow Lucian entrance to her body. 

Kai and Lucy were transfixed as they watched Lucian's muscles rippling as he began to slide into Rael, and her moans floated across to their position in the trees.

Their mouths locked in a kiss, he drove into her body again and again, each thrust firm and hard, growing faster and harder by the moment as he quickly began a pounding motion, his hips slamming his cock deep into Rael's body, her breasts swaying with every thrust, and her moans turning into desperate cries as she came closer and closer to the edge.

He cried out as he came, thrusting hard into her body, his large hands cupping her breasts as his thickness began pumping inside her body, triggering her own orgasm. It had been over quickly, clearly the two lovers had missed one another, and Kai and Lucy tittered nervously in the tree as Lucian and Rael embraced one another tightly. 

"Wow." Lucy said with a blush. 

Kai simply nodded. "Yeah," she agreed.

"I don't know how I will ever look at him again," Lucy whispered, then quickly fell silent as the pair unwound from one another, and Rael took herself off to wash up whilst Lucian slid on his pants and walked out onto the balcony, apparently enjoying the fresh air. It wasn't until he looked directly in Lucy and Kai's direction that their hearts both stopped.

"Both of you. Inside. Now." He ordered in no uncertain terms.

With wide eyes, Lucy and Kai looked at one another. Had he known they were there the whole time?

"Now." He repeated, his gaze seeming to pierce the trees.

Shamefacedly they obeyed, crawling back around through the branches of the trees to Rael's window, then crossing the room with trepidation and climbing down into the main room, where Lucian and Rael were waiting for them.

"Two voyeurs, hmm?"Lucian said crisply, making them both blush. "One of whom desired to escape her very well deserved punishment." He shook his head and gave them both a disappointed look. Even though he was a stranger to Kai, having spied upon him in an intimate moment had broken the ice a great deal.

"Both of you bend over the bed," he ordered.

They complied, perhaps out of fear, perhaps out of confusion, perhaps because the man they had just seen so impressively naked was telling them to.

First Lucy, then Kai felt his strong hands at their hips, tugging down their loose pants and exposing their bare bottoms to his gaze. "You should know better" he scolded again, sounding stern and authoritarian.

Kai had never felt smaller, here she was with her most intimate parts on display, being lectured like a child by the man she had just seen making love to her Mistress.

"Please Uncle..." Lucy tried to plead, but was cut short. "Hush girl, you should have known better." 

Lucian said, giving her a quick smack on her behind, she yelped and fell silent.

"You are both to be spanked soundly. This will teach you not to spy on others." He announced, making Kai whimper and blush a deep red from embarrassment. As he began to spank them both, slapping one bottom firmly, and then the next, and both girls yelped and sniffled, it occurred to Kai that the worst part of the punishment was not the spanking, but being treated like a little girl by this handsome man. He could see her sweet intimate parts, and he didn't care at all, he just kept spanking her bottom, and Lucy's, until they were a bright red color, and both women were wriggling and sniffling on the bed.

His hand was hard and hot, every slap pressed Kai against the wooden edge of the bed and stoked the fire which grew low in her belly. He was oblivious to her arousal though, entirely focused on punishing her, making her writhe and cry out as he laid smack after smack across her round cheeks.

Then it was over.

"Now get into bed, both of you," he ordered after placing the last hard swats on each of their bottoms. Both Kai and Lucy scrambled into bed obediently, sniffling and rubbing their red behinds.

"Stay there until you are told otherwise," he said sternly, taking Rael by the elbow and leading her up to her room.

Left alone, crying softly, Lucy crawled over into Kai's bed. "He is so mean," she sniffled.

Kai nodded. "He is so mean," she agreed, both sets of cheeks burning bright red. Anger was beginning to rise in her as she thought about what had just happened. She had been distracted by seeing Rael and Lucian make love, if she hadn't been there was no way that she would have allowed him to do that to her.

Her thoughts were broken by Lucy's hand timidly rubbing her bottom, easing the sting a little. She smiled and returned the favor, running her own fingers over Lucy's red cheeks. "He's always whipping me," Lucy confided.

Kai nodded. "I can believe that," she said thoughtfully, her fingers dipping between Lucy's cheeks and making her wriggle. It had been an accident, but the reaction was so delightful that she repeated the action, allowing her fingers to gently brush across Lucy's silky nether lips.

The reaction was immediate, Lucy mewled like a kitten and squirmed closer to Kai, spreading her legs and pressing her mound against Kai's as she too, slid her fingers down to lay across Kai's slit.

Lucy let her fingers roam teasingly across Kai's pussy, winding her up as she delicately allowed a soft finger to circle around Kai's clit.

"You little tease." Kai growled low in her throat, pushing two fingers deep into Lucy's cunt without warning. Lucy almost screamed, but Kai used her other hand to cover her mouth.

"Be a good girl and take your fucking," she ordered gently, slowly sliding her fingers out to the tips and then pressing them roughly back in again. Lucy moaned against the restraining hand as Kai began to fuck her pussy roughly.

The aggressive warrior in Kai was rising fast, after so many days of oppression and being treated like a little girl, the raw side of her persona was breaking free, and sweet Lucy was about to bear the brunt of it.

"You like this don't you, you like your little cunt being fucked nice and hard." Kai growled into her ear, pushing a third finger in with the other two and filling Lucy's cunt once more. Lucy moaned softly and slid a gentle finger into Kai's pussy as Kai jammed her fingers into Lucy's pussy.

'Your cunt is mine to fuck, you hear that?" Kai said as she felt Lucy's pussy virtually gush with juices. "Whenever I want you, I'll fuck your little pussy, so you better be ready," she continued, thrusting her fingers firmly inside the squirming girl, harder, faster, a thumb grazing over her clit sending her suddenly over the edge, crying out her pleasure into Kai's neck as she came on her fingers.

Kai smiled slowly and pulled her fingers out with a light slap to Lucy's pussy. "Now get your little mouth to work," she said with a smile.

Obediently Lucy slid down Kai's body, her little pink tongue tracing the outline of Kai's pussy lips. She lapped gently at Kai's slit, sending her moaning as Kai squirmed her pussy. "I'm going to fuck your mouth." She announced, grabbing Lucy's hair and grinding her pussy against her lips and tongue. Lucy soon got the idea and began suckling on Kai's clit as Kai thrust against her mouth, strumming the tip of her tongue over the very tip of Kai's clit until Kai exploded in her mouth, her pussy juices flowing over Lucy's lips and tongue as she lapped them all up like a satisfied pussy cat. 

Their passions sated, Kai pulled Lucy up and kissed her deeply. Something had changed between them, it was in both their eyes, and in the way their tongues played in one another's mouths. Curled up with Lucy, Kai sighed contentedly. She liked the way this felt, liked the soft curves of Lucy against her, loved the way she squealed when her cunt was penetrated. A satisfied smile spread across her face and she slid a finger into Lucy's pussy possessively. Lucy squeaked and looked at her, to be met with a smile and one word. "Mine."

They fell asleep like that, and did not awaken until evening, when they were wakened by Rael shaking them awake gently.

"Dinner time, you two."

Dinner was a strange affair, with all present basking in a pleasant sexual afterglow, yet there was some tension. Kai kept her eye on Lucian, quietly planning her next move. He might be handsome and strong, but he must not be allowed to think that he ruled over her.

Her looks did not go unnoticed by Rael, or indeed Lucian, who seemed quietly amused, a fact that riled Kai even more.

"Do you have a problem?" Kai finally came out with the aggressive question.

Lucian quirked an eyebrow and smiled, though his smile was not entirely pleasant. "No, girl. I do not have a problem," he replied, with a slight lilt on the word 'girl'.

"Lucian." Rael looked at him warningly, and Lucy gave a long suffering sigh. Whilst a gentleman in many respects, her Uncle frequently had brushes with misogyny, which explained why the Lady Rael only tolerated him for relatively short periods of time and then sent him on his way once more. He had proposed marriage on one occasion, but she had declined, citing the reason that she would prefer not to be the one to wring his neck.

Lucian smiled arrogantly, after all he was the leader of troops and a decorated hero, and this woman who gave him such dirty looks was merely some wretch from the streets.

"I don't know. I think you might have a problem." Kai said nonchalantly.

"Girl, do not make threats you can not make good on," Lucian replied.

Sitting back with a wry smile, Rael let the little scene unfold.

"Oh I make good on all my threats." Kai replied, popping a piece of dried meat into her mouth casually. "I hope you enjoyed earlier, for you will not lay a hand on me again," she continued.

Lucian threw back his head and laughed. "I will decide that, not you."

Kai smiled at him, a smile completely devoid of humor, the expression in her eyes darkening.

"No. You won't," she replied.

"Do not test me. You will not like the results." Lucian warned.

"Oh for gods sakes, can you two please stop waving your cocks around, it's hard to eat and dodge them at the same time." Lucy quipped, sending Kai and Rael into gales of laughter, and earning her a sharp look from her Uncle.

"Lucy, do not use that sort of language," he said warningly before turning to Rael "Rael, what on earth have you been doing with my niece? She left my household a lady, and now I find her here clambering through the trees and spouting foul language," he said, a twist of a smile on his lips.

It was Rael's turn to laugh. "Lucian, nobody in your blood line has ever been well behaved," she said, patting his hand condescendingly.

He smiled and chuckled. "This is true."

The tension broken for the moment, they went back to eating and chatting, the score between Lucian and Kai left unsettled for the time being.

As dinner broke up, Lucian stood up hugged Lucy close. "Don't you go running off like that again. I was worried about you," he said, kissing her cheek.

Lucy giggled and cuddled up with him. "Well you should stop hitting me," she said playfully.

"Unlikely," Lucian laughed, placing her back down on the ground and patting her bottom.

"Not with the way you behave, dear girl."

Kai smiled as she watched Lucy and her Uncle together. There was obviously great fondness and affection there on both sides. Rael and Kai cleared up as Lucy snuggled up with her Uncle on the cushions and told him all about her journey there.

As they cleared away the dishes, Rael pulled Kai aside for a moment. "Do not let him rile you dear, he means well, and takes his protective responsibilities seriously, he just has trouble turning them off."

"Well as long as he leaves me alone there will be no trouble." Kai said stubbornly.

Rael nodded with a resigned look. Those two were going to come to blows eventually.

Part IV

Trouble came the next morning, during the regular patrol. Ordered back to the house by Lucian, Kai refused to go.

"Go. You will be safe back at the house," he said, his eyebrows drawing together in serious displeasure.

Kai snorted. "I am probably safer than you out here, old man," she said derisively.

Lucian turned on her, his eyes full of thunder. "Enough. I do not have time for this, go back at once, or I will take you back myself," he said.

Kai smiled tauntingly. "Try," she said simply.

Lucian shook his head and reached for her arm to pull her over his knee, but even as he reached for her, she was gone, seeming to dissipate under his fingers. He whirled around searching for her, and she laughed at his confusion as she dropped down behind him and dealt him a hearty smack on his backside before dancing away again, using the surrounding trees to flip and vault, landing a few feet away from his face, sword drawn.

"Come on then, boy," she taunted again. "Let's see you punish me."

If Lucian was surprised, he didn't show it. He was about to decline to draw his sword when she rushed him and he was forced to draw, too late to deflect the blow that cut cleanly through his pants leg, leaving the skin unscathed. That shook him, and the look he gave her was one of curious respect as he bade her come on once more.

This time their blades engaged, dancing, flashing almost faster than the eyes. Kai found herself on the back foot, struggling to block all his blows, neither one of them giving any advantage, any opening. A split second mistake, and Kai felt her robe sliced, the lower part of it falling away, leaving her bare legged as Lucian spun around her with a wicked grin.

Eyes narrowed, she moved back, vaulting through the air to set some distance between them. Her leg ached a little, but she ignored it, so intent was she to prove herself to this man. Their next engagement was no less fierce than the first, this time Kai managed to slice the other leg of his pants, leaving him with the appearance of wearing shorts like a small boy.

Lucian laughed and redoubled his efforts, but Kai held strong, blocking and parrying, vaulting through trees, she seemed to operate in another dimension, not earth bound as others were. The battle drew on and on, and Kai felt her leg begin to give her more and more pain, but still she pushed through it, one cheeky stroke of a blade clipping off a lock of his long hair.

For his part, Lucian seemed to be enjoying the challenge, but he saw the way she was becoming weak on her leg. "Enough, your point is made," he called out, but Kai was having none of it, she attacked again, and Lucian shook his head, reaching out with almost supernatural quickness and grabbing the hand which held her sword, triggering a pressure point that locked her arm. Kai yowled in disappointment and tried to fight on, but the sword fell uselessly from her hand, and he caught her other arm in his strong hand.

"Enough little tiger, you are injuring yourself necessarily," he said, his tone serious.

At his words, Kai stopped struggling so much, and Lucian unlocked the pressure points he had exploited. "You are an exceptional fighter," he said, with a bow to her. Kai smiled a little and bowed back, from one who fought as he did, that was high praise indeed.

"If I could teach my men to fight half as well, I am sure I would have the strongest force in all the lands," he continued quite seriously, as he scooped her up in his arms. She squealed in affront. 




Rebel Princess Ch. 03



"What do you think you are doing?"

"You have re-opened your wound. It will do you no good to walk on it." Lucian replied, carrying her back to the tree house. Kai nodded sullenly, he had a point.

"I don't think Rael will be pleased with either of us," he said with a flicker of a wink at her.

She giggled and nodded in agreement. "No, she won't. You better watch out, she hits harder than you do." Kai quipped, making him laugh.

His prediction was correct. Rael was not pleased to see the damage that Kai's wound had sustained, and she scolded Kai and Lucian as she re bandaged the wound.

"Neither of you are to fight again unless absolutely necessary until this wound is healed." She instructed both of them. Lucian stood in the door frame, his arms folded across his chest, a fresh pair of pants on, smiling unrepentantly. Kai was much the same way. They had both enjoyed their little battle immensely.

"You know Kai, if you are interested, I could use someone like you," Lucian said casually.

Kai looked doubtful. "I don't really, uh, do military regimentation," she replied.

"As an independent warrior," he clarified.

"Thank you for the offer, it is very nice of you." Kai replied.

"You would receive additional training, and a very competitive salary."

"Thank you." Kai said again.

Lucian smiled. "We can discuss this later."

Lucy stamped her foot. "No you won't. Kai isn't allowed to fight and get hurt, she is my friend!" 

"In my estimation, your friend is one of the best fighters in the land, dear," Lucian replied with an indulgent smile.

"I don't care. She has to stay safe." Lucy replied.

Lucian chuckled and nodded. "Very well."

Kai shot Lucy a smile, she really was so very sweet, and she already cared for her a great deal, Kai could tell.

Rael finished bandaging Kai's leg and gave her a light swat on her behind. "I hope you understood me, young lady. I will not stand for you injuring this leg repeatedly." She said, her grey gaze serious.

Kai blushed and nodded. Whereas Lucian's arrogance made her balk at his punishment, Rael had been nothing but kind to her since they had met, and she had saved her life. Rael smiled and hugged Kai. 

"Good girl," she praised, pulling Kai's pants up for her in a maternal fashion.

The rest of the day passed in playful relaxation, high spirits were the order of the day, but lurking behind Kai's eyes was a creeping sadness. She would soon have to leave this place, and these people, Lucy included. Her own business called, and it could not go unattended much longer.

That night, Lucy crept into bed with Kai as had become her custom. Kai cuddled her super tight, and she squeaked with happiness. "You will always be my friend." Lucy said, an utterance that almost made Kai choke and cry then and there.

"I will always be your friend. No matter what." Kai confirmed, kissing Lucy's forehead gently and snuggling her close in her arms.

Part V

A howl of dismay awoke Rael and Lucian the next morning. Thinking they were under attack, in less than a moment, both were down on the main floor where Lucy and Kai had fallen asleep the previous evening, entwined in each other's arms. There were no attackers. There was no Kai. Only Lucy clutching a note and crying. 

"She's gone," Lucy sobbed. 

Rael and Lucian exchanged looks. This had not been out of the realm of possibility. Kai had spoken of leaving often enough in their breif association that her departure had seemed inevitable. 

"I'm sorry, Lucy," Rael said softly, stroking Lucy's hair comfortingly.

"Why? Why would she leave me?" Lucy wailed, her heart broken. 

Sitting down next to Lucy and embracing her, Rael looked out into the forest. No doubt Kai had not intended to leave a trail as wide as the great river Yarang when she left, but Rael saw it easily, stretching far off into the trees. A broken twig here, a indentation in mud there. Kai could certainly fight well, but her survival skills were severely lacking. 

"It is probably for the best," Lucian murmured, earning a sharp look from Lucy. 

"How could you say that!"

Lucian held his tongue, but his disapproval was clear. Kai was dangerous, more dangerous than many of his own soldiers. Truth be told, he had been uncomfortable with how close Lucy was becoming with someone such as her. 

"How could she!" Lucy continued, anger beginning to take the place of sadness. 

"She had something she had to do," Rael said, reading the brief scribble Kai had left. "She will no doubt return in good time."

Lucy nodded morosely. 

"As do we, and as will we," Lucian broke in. "Lucy, we must return to Iskendar. The ceremony of your ordination is days away."

"Maybe I won't be ordained, maybe I'll leave, like Rael," Lucy mused, causing her Uncle's expression to become thunderous at the mere thought. 

"Lucy you have studied too long. You were chosen by the Priestesses, it is a great honor and you will not shame them or I by running. This is your destiny."

"Your Uncle is right Lucy, you were born for the ordination," Rael smiled at her. "And I would not miss it for the world." 

Lucy's expression changed entirely. "Really? You will come to the ceremony?"

Rael smiled back. "As I said, I would not miss it for the world."

Over Lucy's head, Lucian mouthed "Thank You" at Rael.

He knew perhaps better than anyone else that Rael did not relish the idea of returning to Iskendar, her self imposed exile from the city had lasted many years. But to see Lucy, her dear Lucy take her place as Priestess of Iskendar, that she would most certainly not miss.

The return to Iskendar was as morose as it was uneventful. 

Part VII

On the day she became Priestess of Iskendar, Lucy was barely recognizable. Gone were the wild curls, the boyish clothes and the youthful demeanor she carried around her family and friends. She stood upon the steps of the great temple every inch a lady, her hair slicked back from her head, her face made up with delicate but definitive make up that enhanced her deep eyes. The nobility had gathered for the ordination of the new Priestess of Iskendar, Lucaela, otherwise known as Lucy to her friends. 

The citizenry had gathered too, and they thronged the base of the great temple, their cries of happiness and joy at having a whole day off work and welcoming the new Priestess of Iskendar echoing around the surrounding buildings. Having eschewed the seats of the nobility, Rael made herself comfortable in the rabble. The crowd was a living, seething, faceless mass, yet it had its interesting points. One in particular as it happened. Near a pillar, Rael spotted a familiar figure. 

On the high steps of the great marble temple, its spires spinning to the heavens, the solemn ceremony was taking place. Clad in a long, flowing white gown draped with translucent muslin, Lucaela took the dual vows of protection and peace, her voice ringing clear and true in the cool autumn air. 

Seated around her to one side were the lower order devotees, and on the other, the nobles. Just a few feet away from the niece he had raised, Lucian beamed proudly as the elderly Priestess placed the sacred chain of leadership over Lucaela's head and began the sacrament which would bind her as the Priestess until she too, grew too old or infirm to carry out her duties. 

Making her way through the crowd, Rael whispered into the figure's ear, "She is beautiful, is she not?" then smiled as Kai whirled around in a flash of panic and silver. 

"She is." Kai agreed, her expression uncertain as she looked up into the face of the one woman who had ever truly frightened her. 

"It is a pity that you came here to kill her," Rael replied calmly, her voice lowered. 

Kai's eyes spoke of thoughts of running, but there was nowhere to go. Rael was infinitely faster than she. She had failed.

"How long have you known?"

"I had my suspicions the day I laid eyes on you. You bear no marks, you carry no insignia, yet you are most certainly of Argrenar. You can fight, you can kill, but you can do little else. You were a lone assassin on her way to Iskendar just weeks before the ordination."

"Why didn't you let them kill me? Why didn't you kill me?" Kai's voice cracked. "You let me into your home, you allowed me to... you stood by whilst I made love to her..."

Rael smiled a smile of no humor at all. "You did not know who she was, how could you? Outside of the temple, outside of this city, Lucy is no-one to anyone."

"What are you going to do?"

"Nothing."

"Nothing?"

"If you were going to carry out your orders, you would have done so already." 

Before Rael could finish speaking, Kai whipped around, extracted a blow gun from the folds of her robe and shot a single deadly dart in the direction of the steps. 

The other Argrenar assassin, a young man clad in a red vest who had just made his leap onto the steps, dagger drawn, clutched at his heart and collapsed back into the embrace of the seething crowd. 

"There's always two of us." Kai muttered. 

"So it would seem," Rael agreed, looking between Kai and Lucy, who shot a flicker of a dirty look into the crowd in the direction of the dart and continued chanting the sacred words as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened at all. 

*

As always, please do leave your thoughts and vote if you like the story. It is your feedback that feeds the literary beast :)

Loki



Rebel Princess Ch. 04



VIII

After midnight, when the celebrations of ordination had died down and she had been released from her duties and allowed to return to the bosom of her kin, Lucy made her way back to her new quarters. Rael was secretly staying with her, political issues, safety and simple courtesy demanded it.

"You did well today, Lucy," Rael smiled at her kinswoman, draping a maternal arm over Lucy's shoulders as she met her after the ball which she had not attended herself. As a voluntary exile, it would hardly have been proper to show up to gather nibbles from the buffet table and make polite conversation about pretty dresses. 

Lucy nodded as she slipped off the uncomfortable shoes that had pinched her toes all evening. Shoes and ordination notwithstanding, she had not smiled properly since Kai left. Even in moments of levity there was a sadness in her gaze. 

"Thank you. I still think I should have done what you did and left this place whilst I still had a chance at life." she replied with a shadow of a grin.

"You are a better woman than I," Rael replied. 

"I have less to live for," Lucy replied morosely as they entered her chambers, large vaulted marble rooms exquisitely decorated with all manner of garish regalia. 

"That's a pity, perhaps I should have carried out my orders." A voice came from a darkened corner, a voice which made Lucy stop dead in her tracks, peering intently into the shadows.

Slowly, nonchalantly, Kai came forward into the light. She was dressed in simple black hip hugging leggings after the style Lucy preferred, and a low cut tunic which gathered under her slight bosom. Her deep cat like eyes glistened with emotion as she waited for Lucy's response. 

"Kai!" Lucy squealed, forgetting in an instance the rigors of office, the pain in her feet, the deep depression that had followed her. She threw herself across the room and into Kai's arms, hugging her tightly for so long that it seemed one of them would pass out before she would break the embrace.

"Why did you leave like that?" she stammered, "Where did you go?"

Kai bit her lip. The answer to that question was not an easy one.

"Tell her, Kai, it is the least she deserves," Rael interjected, watching over the pair as they reunited.

Sensing Kai's discomfort, and the unmistakable air of a dark secret, Lucy frowned and took a step back. 

"What's going on?"

Kai tried to frame it gently, but tact was not her strong suit. 

"Lucy, I am an assassin. I was sent to kill you. Well, not you, well, yes you, but I didn't know it was you and obviously I didn't kill you, so I'm not going to kill you, but I was supposed to, so...." Kai's voice trailed off as she anxiously looked into Lucy's face. 

"You're an assassin. You came to kill me." Lucy repeated, looking dazed.

"I was sent to kill the new priestess, I didn't know that was you, and when I realized it was you, I couldn't do it. I would never hurt you." The words were earnest.

"But, if you didn't know me, then you would have killed me?" Lucy's expression was unfathomable. 

Kai opened her mouth, but there were no words. A mute shrug of the shoulders did not make things any better. 

"You're an enemy of my state and my people, and officially me. And I'm in love with you. Brilliant." Lucy threw up her hands and turned away.

"No," Kai said quietly, stepping forward and sliding her hands around Lucy's waist.

"I am now an enemy of my own state and my own people and I am in love with you." 

She turned Lucy towards her and ignoring her protestations, kissed her deeply, letting her body say what words couldn't. Lucy struggled a moment then capitulated to her lust, her longing, her love. Their tongues played urgently with one another as Kai's strong hands roamed Lucy's body, caressing her back, her thighs, her curved ass. Where Kai was hardened from battle and training, Lucy was soft and curved. Together they melted perfectly. 

"Wait, wait, Rael's still here," Lucy muttered, breaking free for a moment. They both looked over to see that Rael had quietly taken her leave. 

Kai grinned, and picking up Lucy under her backside, carried her over to the large white organza trimmed bed which lay in the recesses of the chamber. Tossing Lucy on her back, she followed quickly, stripping Lucy of the flowing dress she had been wearing, exposing smooth, ample curves to her gaze. 

"My god, you are beautiful," she whispered, laying kisses between Lucy's round breasts. 

"I am fat," Lucy complained.

For a moment, Kai's eyes narrowed, then she sharply laid a little slap to Lucy's left breast, leaving a pink mark and eliciting a yelp of surprise more than pain. 

"Don't ever let me hear you say that again, you're perfect." Kai said seriously, her eyes locked on Lucy's.

Stunned for a moment, Lucy quickly recovered into brat mode. "Oh, yes ma'am," she replied with a grin, then squealed again as Kai shifted her to the side and laid a firm slap to her ass. 

"Do you want to spend tonight being punished, or do you want pleasure?" Kai purred, lowering her head to graze her teeth lightly over the sensitive skin of Lucy's neck. 

"Mnnggh pleasure..." Lucy replied, her hands running up over Kai's thighs and working feverishly at the ties which held the tight pants to her body. In a moment or two, Kai was as naked as her love, a slim and toned thigh slipped between Lucy's legs, quickly becoming soaked with Lucy's juices as they writhed against one another. 

"Do you remember what I told you in the tree house?" Kai whispered throatily.

"Mnggghg" Lucy replied, bucking her hips against Kai and finding one of Kai's taught brown nipples to suckle on. 

"I told you you were mine to fuck as I please, didn't I. I told you I would take you as I want you." Kai continued, slipping her fingers down to tease Lucy's mound, withdrawing her thigh to allow her fingers a chance to caress Lucy's outer lips, feeling how they were flowering open and covered with sweet dew. 

Lucy moaned with frustrated arousal and returned the favor, using her fingers to cup Kai's pussy, feeling her wetness which had begun to slick her upper thighs. Kai may have been in control, but her lust was just as powerful as Lucy's. Her pussy was hot, wanting, needing Lucy's touch. 

"Look at me" Lucy whispered. Kai's eyes rose from Lucy's breasts to her eyes and as they gazed at one another, both slowly slid inside the other, stretching sweet pussy flesh with their fingers. Their bodies continued to writhe and pump, soft moans and guttural grunts of pleasure echoing around the room as they became one loving, lustful creature. 

At first they moved slowly, becoming used to the fullness of fingers inside their bodies. Gently, Kai rose and fell above Lucy, working her pussy on Lucy's fingers and moving her own inside Lucy in kind. 

Pinned below Kai, Lucy was limited in her movement. Though she could arch and flex her hips and did so with wanton abandon, she was a slave to Kai's timing, a wet, whimpering slave loving every slow thrust of Kai's three fingers inside her pussy and pleading for faster, harder strokes as Kai began to ride her harder and more aggressively. 

Those little moans and groans soon turned into loud cries as Kai's hand slapped against Lucy's pussy, the heel of her palm smacking then grinding against Lucy's pink, engorged clit. In kind, Lucy pistoned her fingers deep and hard into Kai. 

What a sight they were, Kai's slim tanned body arched with pleasure, Lucy's pale curves trembling and bouncing with vigorous thrusts. Their arousal was rising to a crescendo, and deep inside each of them, climaxes were building heralded by higher cries, greater urging, a desperate grinding of clits and pussies against the hard fingers stretching and rubbing inside them. 

Lucy broke first, the walls of her cunt spasaming around Kai's fingers, her own fingers curling deep inside Kai, pushing her over the edge. Together they shook and churned and rode the bright intensity of their orgasms, feeling the waves of pleasure wash through their bodies, taking them beyond the room, beyond the world to another place where only they existed. 

Returning to earth in one another's arms, they lay together for a long while in silence. 

"If I wake up tomorrow and you're gone. I will become the assassin," Lucy said finally. 

Kai laughed and kissed her lips. "I will be here." 

"Will you stay?"

"I don't know, how can I stay? I'm a criminal here, and I am now wanted in my own land."

Lucy smiled. "Well, here I am the Priestess of Iskendar,"

"This is true, you can keep me in the lap of luxury."

"You can be my little pet," Lucy teased.

Kai replied by growling and snapping at her nose. 

Lucy laughed and they embraced one another once more, basking in the warmth of their love. 

THUMP THUMP THUMP

"Priestess!"

They were interrupted by a loud banging on the doors of Lucy's chamber, and the sound of a guard calling for her. 

"Oh no," Lucy gasped. 

Kai had already melted from the bed and was crouched naked on the far side of the room, knife in hand. 

The thumping came again. "Priestess!"

"Coming!" Lucy called in the most reasonable voice she could muster, drawing the modesty curtain around the bed chamber where Kai hid, hurriedly donning her robe and rushing to the door, which she threw open with imperious irritation.

"Yes?" she queried the small platoon of guards at her door. 

The leader looked a little taken aback at her tone, but there was not time.

"Preistess, we have received word of a threat on your life. We must search your chambers immediately."

"You most certainly will not!" Lucy bristled, fixing him with the steeliest gaze she could muster, one she had learned from Rael.

"We must, Priestess. It is for your own safety." His tone became plaintive, Lucy had him on the run, metaphorically speaking. 

"Well, sir, for your own safety, may I suggest that you take yourself off out of my sight before I lose patience entirely. I am tired and there are no assassins here. I am alive, am I not?"

The guard was forced to admit that yes, she was most certainly alive, but nevertheless he needed to search her chambers. 

"If anyone is to search my chambers, it will be on Lord Lucien's orders only." 

"Lord Lucien need not be here," a rough, older voice broke in. The soldiers moved aside to reveal Chaudean, a general of the guard and no friend of Lucy's at all. 

"Chaudean, get your men out of here," Lucy said flatly, drawing herself up to her full height. 

Unfortunately, this did not provide a great deal of intimidation. Lucy was barely 5'7 and Chaudean was at least 6'5 and built like an elephant. His face was a slab of granite punctuated by two bright blue orbs that passed for eyes. He was a great friend of Lucien's, but Lucy did not look upon him with any favor. 

Chaudean arched an eyebrow. "I see becoming Priestess has given you illusions of power." 

Lucy flashed him a dirty look. 

"The fact that you have known me since I was a child does not give you the right to speak to me as if I were still one. I am Priestess and you will respect my station if you cannot find it in you to respect me." 

"It is out of respect both for you and your station that I am here to see that you come to no harm. I shall inform Lucien of your reticence in complying with this request." Chaudean made to gently press Lucy to the side only to find the Priestess of Iskendar's teeth buried firmly in his wrist. 

A short grunt of pain and a hand grasping the back of her neck disengaged her as his men began to search the room. Lucy had no time to enjoy the indentations on his wrist as she anxiously watched the heavy set guards clomping about her room, searching hither and thither. 

She steeled herself as one finally approached her bedchamber and stepped forward to distract him, only to be once more restrained by Chaudean. The solider pulled back the curtain to reveal not an assassin with a knife, but nothing aside from a very rumpled bed. 

"See, no assassins," Lucy said shortly, her gaze withering. 

With a grunt, Chaudean withdrew his men from the room. "Sorry to bother you, Priestess. I shall inform your Uncle of the outcome of this visit." He said, with a significant look at the teeth marks on his wrist. 

"Yes, you do that Chaudean, you do that." Lucy said haughtily as the door shut behind the guard. She locked it quickly, then went to look for Kai. 

Kai was gone.



Part IX

Kai was gone because the moment Lucy had drawn the curtain, Kai had felt herself grasped by the shoulder and dragged backwards into a small, hidden antechamber. Hollowed out of the very walls of the temple, it was so secure and soundproof that she could no longer hear the men beyond.

Rael held a finger to her lips for silence and gave Kai a robe. 

"We have to get you out of here, the alarm has been raised. The guards know as well as you that Argrenar assassins work in pairs and they are searching for the other."

"I can't leave, Lucy will kill me." Kai replied, shrugging the robe on quickly, too distracted to blush at being naked before Rael. 

"Lucy won't kill you. She will understand."

Kai shook her head. "I'm not leaving her."

Rael's look became stony. "I am not giving you a choice, I am giving you an order. You are leaving with me, now."

"Rael, I can't I can't leave her."

"Well you cannot stay here, and for the moment she cannot leave. Do you wish a future together or a short lived and painful demise? For that is all you will find here."

Raels' words were harsh, but they rang with truth. Kai bowed her head. 

"Very well."

The antechamber lead into a series of tunnels under the great temple. They followed them through many twists and turns, joins and dips and rises. So many that Kai was sure she would never be able to find her way back to Lucy's chambers even if she wished to. 

"How do you know about these?" she whispered to Rael.

"Let's just say I'm pretty familiar with this city and that which lies beneath it." Rael replied, carefully guiding Kai around a poisoned arrow trap weighted on the floor. 

They walked for what felt like hours, carefully watching every step so that they would not set off any of the many traps which lined the tunnels. Kai was beginning to think that she would never see the light of day again when she felt a soft, fresh breeze upon her face and saw a few wisps of natural light sneaking in up ahead. The tunnel eventually lead out under a rickety old shed in a field a good mile outside the city. 

"Isn't that dangerous, having an opening to the palace and temple right here?" Kai asked as she climbed out of the hole behind Rael, brushing bits of straw from the floor of the shed from her body. 

Rael smiled wickedly as she slid the slatted floor back into place over the exit. "Any so bold as to enter it without full knowledge would soon meet a sticky end."

Part X

"Lucy, you may be Priestess, but that does not give you the right to bite Generals." Lucien said sternly.

"Really? Let me make an edict about that," Lucy replied, staring out the window of the temple, barely pretending to listen to her Uncle, who was, of course, accompanied by Chaudean. 

Chaudean and Lucien exchanged looks. Though Lucien understood very well why Lucy had behaved as she did on the day Chaudean searched her chambers, since then her attitude had not improved at all.

As Preistess of Iskendar, Lucy was largely a figurehead for the religious system which had supported the nobles for centuries. As such, she was expected to smile and nod a lot and visit hospitals. Though some powers were associated with the role, her predecessors had not made a great deal of use of them, finding that the nobles quickly grew vicious if their spiritual controls were weakened in any way. 

Unsurprisingly, she devoted little time or attention to the responsibilities of her new role and her behavior was drawing widespread critiques from nobles and commoners alike. They had barely seen her smile and wave since the day of her ordination. There were comparisons made between her and a certain Princess Raelalene who no longer graced Iskendar with her presence, and speculation that Lucy too could soon depart.

"Lucy. Your role calls for service to your people. Personal considerations must be put aside."

Lucy turned. "Very well. I will serve my people."

With that she swept out of the room onto the balcony where a small crowd of the very faithful had hovered for days, and made an edict that every seventh day from that day forth should be cake day, on which worshipers should feast upon cake and reflect upon the bounty that the gods had given them. The edict was met with cheers of great joy. 

Lucy swept back into the room, fixed the two men with a look and said sweetly. "There, duties attended to," before sweeping off into her chambers, slamming the door loudly behind her. 

"It was easier when you could whip her and send her to her room," Chaudean remarked as the echoes reverberated through the room where they stood. 

"Don't tempt me, Chaudean, don't tempt me." Lucien replied, his dark gaze following whence she had gone. 

"I almost did it myself when she bit me. Bit me! She would not have dared do that a month ago."

"You would have been within your rights." Lucien replied. What with running after assassin lovers and undermining the status of her position, his niece was proving more of a liability than an asset in governance.

"Ah well, perhaps she will settle down soon." Chaudean said unconvincingly. 

"Perhaps. I apologize again, friend. I will go speak to her alone."

Irritated by Lucy's blasé attitude and disrespect, Lucien entered her chambers to find her curled up on a couch reading an amateur chemistry book. 

"Lucy, you cannot behave this way. There will be consequences, consequences beyond those which I can provide or control," he stated flatly. 

She looked up from her book. "You're right. I'm sorry," she agreed demurely. 

Lucien looked at her suspiciously. "What?"

"I've been bad tempered and rude and I haven't done my job at all. I'll make up for it tonight at high service, I promise." 

"I should have you whipped for how you behaved."

Lucy cocked her head and considered his statement with the air of a cat considering a bath. "Maybe, but you won't be around to whip me forever Uncle, and let's face it, it doesn't seem to have been all that effective in the past. It's still lead us to this point. No, I am grown. I am priestess. I am beyond such measures now."

Her little speech was delivered with conviction, enough to make Lucien crack a small smile.

"You will never be beyond much measures as long as I am alive, but very well. Make amends at high service tonight, and all will be forgiven."

Lucy smiled enigmatically. "Oh I will Uncle, I very much will."



Part XI

High service was the great service held once a week at the temple. Believers from around the city would come to have their sins absolved by the spawn of the aristocracy. It would be Lucy's first service as Priestess, and as such was considered to be the service of the year. 

Lucien had his concerns. Though Lucy had appeared to be contrite and serious, he could not quite trust her quick turn around in attitude. He stationed himself near the pulpit with the honored guests and other nobles as the service began.

The temple, with its high walls dwarfing any man was filled with the music of a thousand organs as Lucy made her first appearance from the rear of the church and every eye turned to watch her walk gracefully down the aisle. She wore the robes of her office, white and red, long and flowing about her. The front was cut low enough to show cleavage, prudently covered with a light mesh to baffle calls of indecency. 

As she reached the front of the temple, a feat which took several minutes due to the length of the building, she smiled, bowed to the royal family who graced the service from the privacy and sanctity of the upper tier of the temple, greeted the nobles, then the remainder of the congregation and began the service by reading from the book of the faithful.




Rebel Princess Ch. 04



Murmurs of approbation from the nobles and admiration from the common people reassured Lucien that perhaps Lucy had been serious in her intention after all. 

"And yea, though we may face hardships, may we remember to pay homage to those who protect us," Lucy read.

"May we not forget our true place, our true station in life"

"May we give thanks and praise to the gods for their bounty and to the lords for their stewardship of the land and the riches in it."

Propaganda spilled sweetly from her lips, enchanting all who listened. This was the role of the Priestess, to sweeten the harsh mantle of feudalism with ornate words. 

As she entered the call and response phase of the service, the congregation began to repeat after her. 

"Let us remember to always follow what is planned for us."

Strong voices took up her words, raising them up with greater volume and power. 

"Let us always remember our duties in the sight of the gods."

Again, the voices, thrilled with the glory of their gods and themselves repeated the words with conviction.

"And let us always remember that our hearts are the only real test of truth."

The congregation followed again, strongly, then trailing off as they realized that the words were unfamiliar. The Priestess had changed the high service!

"And let us never forget, the bounty of knowledge will set us free." Lucy continued, raising one arm high as if to offer praise to the gods. In her hands were three dark balls, which she cast violently down towards the floor of the temple. 

With great booming sounds, they exploded and gas poured thickly from them. Deep, dark gas tinged with fingers of flame which set the congregation screaming and scrambling for the exits. 

The few who had enjoyed the benefit of a higher education were less perturbed. Fire and smoke bombs were common experiments among students, though rarely were they so large or violent. Even those armed with knowledge were forced to hold perfumed 'kerchiefs to their noses as the foul odor assaulted their nasal passages. 

When the smoke cleared a minute or two later, there was nobody in the pulpit, and only three light sooty marks to show where Lucy had once stood. 

The Priestess of the Iskendar had made her escape. 

"After her!" Chaudean cried, wasting no time in gathering the troops who had assembled outside the temple during the service and beginning to scour the streets surrounding the temple. Lucien joined the fray, equal parts worried and unimpressed with what Lucy had done. 

Nobody noticed the little old crippled lady sitting outside the temple, begging for alms under the cover of her dirty cloak. Not until a soldier evicted her sharply with the toe of his boot and she scuttled away, muttering dark curses. 

Lucy was nowhere to be found, though tales of the Priestess of Iskendar and her revolutionary service were the talk of the city for many days and months hence. Angered beyond all hope of mollification, the royal family acted swiftly. Within 24 hours of the service, Lucy was declared apostate and stripped of the title of Priestess. 

She was replaced by Dorothea Astengaard, a beautiful young woman with a pleasant reading voice who thought little of anything besides fashionable dresses and fancy parties. She was a model priestess and found great favor amongst the ruling families.

In just one day, Lucy transformed from being one of the most influential women in the kingdom to being a heretical vigilante criminal on the run from the dogs of justice. To the disappointment of many, cake day was canceled permanently.



Rebel Princess



"I am glad you approve, please go inside," she replied.

Kai looked at her as she complied, there was definitely something different about her. She was not less friendly, or less kind, but there was a seriousness to her demeanor, especially when she looked at Kai, that sent a little thrill through Kai's belly.

Stepping into the tree house, Rael began to prepare it for inhabitation, closing the door and windows before she let the little kittens out to run and tumble about the place, quickly sniffing out a litter box and using it for its intended purpose. Closing up for the evening Rael first drew heavy black shades down over the window openings, and then pretty red embroidered ones over them, before lighting a few candles in ceramic containers around the room.

"This is usually my summer retreat, it is difficult to heat in winter." Rael mentioned, motioning for Kai to sit as she went to a low carved chest and began to remove food and water from it, setting the items up on the little low table.

"Take off your bag and come and eat," she said, once again, a note of command in her voice. Kai was only too happy to obey, and they feasted on rice crackers and dried fish and vegetables as the kittens too feed on tit bits. Kai gazed curiously at Rael as they ate. She was rather mysterious, a single woman, living alone, there were not many of those about. Perhaps she had been widowed? Perhaps she had killed an important man when she was young and been forced into seclusion? Kai found herself making up all sorts of stories in her mind as she stuffed food into her mouth.

Once they had finished, Rael told Kai to clear the dishes away to a little sink located in the far corner. Kai capitulated to the command, she did not approve of being told what to do, but it was only fair after all Rael had done for her.

"Once you are finished stacking those, come over here and I will dress your wound for you."

Rael said, sitting down on the bed, and watching as Kai shyly approached.

"Lay down." Rael said, patting the bed she was sitting on.

Kai made a complaining sound, but obeyed, laying down on her tummy, letting her work on the wound at the back of her slim thigh.

"Lift up your hips," Rael said crisply, as her hands went to the waistband of Kai's trousers. Kai whimpered and squirmed, hiding her face in the pillows as she lifted her hips up and felt her trousers being gently lowered down over her bottom and thighs. It reminded her of something she had seen once, when she was just a girl, when she had been playing with a friend in the street until late at night.

Kai hadn't had any place to be, but her friend's mother had been worried sick and had found her daughter close to midnight, whereupon the woman had both burst into tears and scolded the child soundly. Kai had watched as the girl's mother marched her home, and peeking through the windows, had observed with wide eyes as the mother bared the girl's bottom, placed the errant child over her lap, and smacked her bottom very soundly indeed. Kai's friend had squealed and wriggled, and promised to be a good girl, and her bottom had gotten a bright pink color from the smacks on her bottom delivered by her mother.

Not being able to stand watching her friend be punished, Kai was about to jump in through the window and save her friend when she saw her friend's mother stop and rub her daughter's bottom, speaking to her softly and kindly, and picking her up for a tight hug, letting her cry on her shoulder.

Kai had never seen such a thing before. She had no parents, and any discipline handed out by the distant aunt who served as a guardian came in the form of harsh blows which she quickly learned to dodge and run from. She never saw that friend again. Her mother forbade her to play with Kai anymore, calling her a bad influence, but Kai never forgot the scene she had seen play out over the mother's knee.

Now, so many years later, she found herself laying face down, her bottom vulnerable and exposed as Rael gently unwrapped the bandage on her leg, washed the wound with water, and applied a salve that soothed and cooled it, taking some of the pain away, before carefully re wrapping it.

"There you are, ready to fight another day," Rael noted wryly, giving Kai a light, friendly pat on her bottom. Kai felt tingles shoot through her body, just from the light touch, and she felt a warmth spring up immediately low in her belly. She squirmed as Rael restored her trousers to their rightful place, almost whimpering with disappointment as Rael stood up and moved away.

"You should lay down and get some rest, you have had another very big day, and that wound will not heal well if you keep stressing it." Rael said, settling herself in on her customary pile of cushions, and unrolling what seemed to be her favorite scroll.

Kai just nodded. She wished she could have gone to sleep, but she didn't think she could. Her body was alive, remembering Rael's touch, and as she watched Rael quietly reading, she felt a mischievous impulse rise in her. Taking one of the little pillows on the bed, she waited until she was sure Rael was not paying attention, and then threw it at her.

Quick as a flash, Rael caught the pillow, giving Kai a curious look. "And what do you think you're doing, young lady?" she asked, her brow quirked, grey eyes observing Kai.

"Nuthin'." Kai responded, sticking her tongue out on an impulse.

Seeing this, Rael's brow rose even higher.

"Kai, keep up this behavior, and I will tan your hide," she said, her gaze never wavering.

Kai's response was immediate. She blushed bright red and lay down quickly, mumbling "Sorry".

Rael smiled to herself and returned to her scroll.

A minute or two later, a pillow whizzed by her head and skidded across the ground, where one of the black kittens pounced on it.

Rael looked up slowly. "I did warn you, Kai," she said, standing up, and walking over to the bed.

"It seems you require having your bottom warmed," she continued, sitting down on the bed, and motioning for Kai to crawl over her lap. Of course, Kai did no such thing, instead she whimpered for forgiveness, and pleaded for Rael not to spank her.

It was to little avail, Rael lifted her easily and placed her gently over her lap as Kai felt her trousers being lowered for the second time that day, and her panties lowered too. In shock, she realized that she was bare bottomed across Rael's lap. She, the woman who could slay five men in a single blow, was about to be punished like a child.

She squeaked in fear as she felt the strong palm lay across her cheeks. "Now young lady, I expect you to behave in a respectful and appropriate fashion." Rael lectured, bringing her hand stinging down onto Kai's bottom. Kai yelped and wriggled at the sting which spread quickly over her cheeks. "I have much to take you to task on, young one, so I suggest that you behave yourself. You do not need to seek correction, believe me, correction will find you, my dear." Rael continued as she peppered the wriggling cheeks with short sharp smacks, coloring the girl's bottom nicely.

For her part Kai squirmed and yelped, feeling her bottom sting and burn from the spanking she was receiving. "I'm sorry, I am sorry I was naughty," she begged as Rael gave her several firm swats to the underside of her bottom.

If being spanked wasn't enough by itself, Kai was surprised to feel herself becoming aroused as Rael's hand reddened her cheeks. Every writhing squirm of her hips allowed her to feel the slickness between her nether lips, but it seemed that Rael was having none of that. She spanked Kai firmly and soundly until Kai's whimpers began to turn to yowls, then she stopped the spanking, pulled her panties up, and cuddled her tight. "There there, it is okay small one,"

Rael smoothed as Kai cried, mostly out of embarrassment than actual pain. Her bottom stung and was red, but she was far from being severely spanked. She was just a naughty girl who had been punished with a spanking, and if she were to be honest, in that moment, she felt much more like a little girl than the grown woman she was.

Rael rubbed her bottom comfortingly and murmured reassuring words in her ear as Kai's cries turned to sniffles, and then into little snores as the very tired out young woman feel asleep. Rael laid her down carefully in the bed, covered her with a blanket and tucked her in nicely before returning to her evening's reading with rather a stinging hand.

I hope you enjoyed reading the first part of Rebel Princess as much as I enjoyed writing it. If you would like to read more of this story, please do rate it and leave feedback! :)

- Loki Renard