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Casting Off Convention

By: Darkniciad



AUTHOR'S NOTES:

Please note that there is virtually no sex in the first two thirds of this story.  If you're looking for pure stroke, just skip ahead to page 4 and you'll get a nice dose of hot sticky action.

This story is erotic fantasy, set in a world of magic.

This tale takes place in the same world as my core Danica story and all my other stories in Sci-Fi/Fantasy on Lit.

This tale is history for Christi from my Blackhawk Hall series.  Christi tells Arilee about her first girl-girl encounter in Blackhawk at one point, and this is that story in full.  Don't worry, there are more Arilee tales coming as well, set both before and after Blackhawk.

The occasional use of "modern" measurements and such is a product of my fantasy world.  I know most who read fantasy would probably prefer "leagues", "cubits", and "handspans" but my world always utilized modern terms for distances and measures.  I hope it doesn't jar too much to detract from the story.

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**

Christi flipped her dark ponytail back over her shoulder with a sigh, and leaned up against the side of the building, where she had been for quite some time.  Wrinkling her nose and shaking her head a bit did nothing to chase away the smell of sweat and animals that hung over the wagon yard.  She was drenched in sweat, her clothing starting to cling to her, and she was ready to give up for another day.

Closing her eyes for a moment, she tried to relax, and decided that she would stay for a bit longer.  What little coin she had would only last her a few days, even staying in the hostel and fighting off the advances of all the men who thought that she would be easy prey — a lone woman amongst so many men who lived by the sword.

The last job she had picked up — a long boring walk beside a slow moving wagon from here to the city of Freeland and back — hadn't paid much.  It had been enough to prevent her from having to return home again, and allowed her to build up coin to make another go at having a life of her own — but not by much.

She knew why she was rarely chosen by the various merchants, and never by the mercenary companies.  Her father had told her right from the start that she was going to have a hard time making a living as a sellsword, because it was an endeavor dominated by men.  Women were seen as people who needed protecting, not someone to offer protection.  Even he had been skeptical at first, until he saw her skill when she trained with her brothers.  When she had managed to score a point on him in a sparring match, which it had taken her over a year to convince him to undertake, she had won him over.  Christi's father was a simple, practical man, and the grizzled old veteran knew skill when he saw it.

A whistle and a few words that she couldn't quite make out across the distance broke through Christi's musing.   A pair of young men, also sellswords looking for work, stared in her direction and gestured for her to approach.  One of them grabbed his crotch and yelled, "Come over here, and I'll give you some work!"

Christi put her hands behind her and pushed away from the building, causing her firm breasts to jut out and press against the sweat-soaked material of her shirt.  She looked at the man who was gripping his crotch, her expression suggestive, and walked toward them.

Letting her hips sway, Christi watched the men eye her body as she sauntered toward them.  She was toned and tanned from time out in the sun, and practicing to keep her fighting edge.  She knew the effect her body had on men, and she played it for all it was worth.  The two men laughed and started gesturing again.

Fools, she thought, stiffening her gate somewhat, so that her breasts would bounce a little more.

One of the men she was walking toward said, "That's right — come on over here.  We'll give you plenty of work.  You can polish our swords for us."

Christi reached them and let out a little purr.  "So, you like what you see, do you? I suppose you want to get a good look between my legs, too?"

The man with the scar on his cheek chuckled and replied, "You get right to the point don't you?"

Christi smiled and simply said, "Yes, I do," before grabbing his shoulder and bringing her knee up hard into the man's crotch.  He dropped immediately to his knees with a groan that was an octave or so higher than the tone of his voice a moment earlier.

The other man spent too long gaping at his moaning buddy.  Using the kneeling man's head for added balance, she snap kicked the second one in the groin.  She didn't want asshole number two to feel left out.  This one fell over backwards, and then curled up, gripping his groin and moaning in pain.

Christi looked down at them with a crooked grin and said, "I thought you might get a better view from down there, since you're closer."

Laughter burst from the other mercenaries, spreading as those who had seen what happened told those who had missed it.  Christi walked between the two men, swaying her ass outrageously, and then headed toward a water barrel with a dipper hanging on the edge.

Christi filled the dipper and took a drink.  She was in the process of dipping it again when another woman walked up to the barrel and chuckled.  "Nice kick."

Christi propped a hip against the barrel and took another sip, appraising the woman who had spoken to her.  She had on a sleeveless jerkin that revealed well-defined arms and legs — muscular but still feminine.  Her breasts, as large as Christi's, strained against the blouse beneath the jerkin.   The blouse was short, not meant to be tucked into her skirt, and the bottom two buttons were open, revealing hints of her abdomen — the soft lines belying the muscles that certainly must be there.

Her hair was short, and so dark as to be almost black.  She had a slightly square jaw and somewhat narrow eyes, giving her features an overall look that brought the word dangerous to Christi's mind.  The smile the woman wore helped to soften that look, as did the sparkle in her eyes.

Nodding to acknowledge the statement, Christi took her drink and hung the dipper back on the barrel.  With a grin, she replied, "Thanks.  I'm always at my best working for a noble cause."

The woman laughed, throwing her head back a bit as she did so.  "I like that attitude.  I guess you're looking for work too, huh?"

Christi nodded and sighed.  "If I don't convince someone to hire my sword soon, I'm going to be back home trying to build up enough coin to try again in a year or two."

The woman snorted and nodded her head in understanding.  "It's not easy for a woman, that's for sure.  I just got fed up with the company I've been with for a year now, and decided to seek my fortune elsewhere.  Rochelle Sornama."

"Christi Crimm."

"You any relation to Crimm the Grim?"

Christi smiled and replied, "That's my father."

Rochelle put her hands on her hips, inclining her head slightly, "That's a name that should serve you well.  Crimm the Grim is a name everybody has heard."

With a shrug, Christi admitted, "I had to pull it out to get my last job, but I'm trying to stand on my own merits."

"If that kick is any indication of your skill, you have plenty of merit to stand on."

Christi sighed and stretched.  "I think I'm going to give it up for the day, and celebrate with a nice stiff drink."

Rochelle glanced to the side and suggested, "I'd wait a bit if I were you," nodding in the direction she was looking.

Christi turned and saw a muscular man in well-appointed armor walking toward the wagon yard.  He glanced at the men standing around hoping for work, and certainly appeared to be in the market.

"Let's go put ourselves on the block and see if he's buying," Rochelle declared, and walked toward the man.  Christi adjusted her sword belt and followed.

As the pair approached, along with most of the men in the yard, Christi heard the man shout, "My name is Raptor, and I'm the Captain of the Blue Hawks.  I just picked up a new job, and I'm a little short on manpower.  I'll be forming a small company for this job, and those who prove themselves will find a place in the Hawks.  I'm looking for men who have their own kits and weapons, and know how to use them.  We'll be facing orcs, so I don't want any parade walkers.  This isn't guard duty.  You will be fighting — guaranteed."

Several of the men, obviously not liking the sound of the dangers, turned away and returned to lounging in the yard.  Christi and Rochelle continued toward the smaller group now gathering in front of Raptor.

One of the men propped his foot on a wagon wheel and asked, "What's the pay?"

Raptor looked over at him.  "You'll get a Freeland crown per day, with bonuses for those who prove they've earned it.  If you let me know a way to find them, your pay will go to your next of kin if you get killed.  I've got a cleric in the company, so I don't lose many men, thanks to his healing magic."

Christi let out a sound of surprise.  Most mercenary bands didn't have clerics, and fewer still promised the pay of the fallen to their kin.  The man sounded like a good employer, and it was an opportunity for a long-term arrangement.

Raptor was already pointing out men he had chosen when the two women approached.  When his eyes fell on them he said, "Rochelle? I thought you were with Farthall and his dogs?"

Rochelle put her hands on her hips and responded, "We had a falling out."

"His loss.  This is perfect, because the job is a rescue of a couple of women.  The man with the coin will appreciate seeing some women along to protect their virtue." Nodding at Christi, he asked, "And who are you?"

Her intention to stand on her own merits be damned, Christi offered her full name, because the job sounded too good to pass up.  "Christi Crimm."

"Kin to Crimm the Grim?"

Christi nodded and answered, "My father."

Turning back to Rochelle, Raptor asked, "You know her? Does she live up to old Grim's reputation?"

Rochelle put an arm over Christi's shoulder and replied, "We just met, but she's got a damn fine kick, and she's quick.  If her old man let her come out here without protest, she's got something going for her."

Raptor snorted and nodded his head.  "You're both in." He then turned and finished selecting the remainder of the men he would take with him.  Once he had selected the members of the new company, he told them to get their kits and get back to him as quickly as possible.

Christi returned to the hostel to retrieve her pack and other weapons from the man who ran the place, made sure nothing was missing, and hurried back out to the yard with a smile on her face.  She wouldn't be forced to return home any time soon with the pay from this job.

Once all the members of the new company returned, Raptor called out, "Let's move you dogs.  We've got a bit of walking to do."

Rochelle laughed and shouted out, "And bitches?"

Raptor laughed with her and said, "I'll stick with dogs."  He grabbed his crotch and added, "I like these where they are, Rochelle."

Christi fell into step with the company, glad to be on the road and employed.

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**

"Damn women got no business out here.  Should be sucking my prick or making me dinner."

Christi growled as she overheard the whispered comment from somewhere behind her.

Rochelle gave her a playful punch in the shoulder and advised, "Just ignore them.  They're all green.  Once you've saved their hides a couple of times, the ones with any sense will get over it.  The rest won't last long, anyhow.  There are a few that aren't joining in the muttering."

Christi blew out a blast of air from between her lips and responded, "The ones that aren't muttering are just trying to figure out how to get in my pants."

Rochelle laughed.  "You are a smart girl.  It does get better once you proven yourself, though.  I've been there — remember?"

Turning to her, Christi asked, "How long have you been doing this?"

Rochelle answered, "Since I was fifteen.  I got lucky and had the opportunity to prove my worth on what should have been a lazy caravan parade.  I killed three bandits myself; standing on the board with a merchant who was sitting in a puddle of pee and screaming like a girl.  Once we drove them off and got into town, he was busy telling anyone who would listen about how I saved his life.  He had a big mouth, and he made my reputation in one day."

"I was sixteen the first time I went out with one of my brothers.  There have been a couple of times I've seen trouble, but they've always decided the fight wasn't worth the prize and backed down without attacking," Christi confided.

"Sounds like you'll get a chance to draw your sword on this trip.  You do know how to use it, don't you?"

Christi smiled and replied, "I can whip all five of my brothers, and father trained them."

"Good! Don't let me down Crimm.  I've got faith in you."  Rochelle looked up ahead and said, "Looks like we're about to meet our employer."

The company had just topped a rise, and when Christi looked, she saw a small encampment.  A man dressed in fine looking leather armor paced back and forth at the front of the camp, and when he noticed the company approaching, he stopped to face the oncoming group.

Once the company was close, the man stepped forward at a brisk pace and stopped in front of Raptor.  "We need to hurry.  You trust these men to save my sisters?"

Raptor replied, "And women, I figured that might make you feel a little better about your sister's virtue, if we had some women along.  The group is green, but I know some of them by reputation, and the lot of them look solid.  They'll get the job done."

The man nodded and addressed the company, "My name is Cordain Garravan.  My sisters were passing this way, returning home, and encountered a group of orcs.  My sisters escaped into a series of caves, but were followed inside.  My older sister can use magic, and thus has been able to hide them near a source of water and contact me.  They have been hiding for two days, and my sister grows weak from lack of food.  We must find them before she becomes too weary to maintain her magic."

Raptor then addressed the group as well, "You heard him.  The caves are just over that hill there, and we're going in.  We're going to have a fight right from the start, because the stinking orcs were smart enough to leave at least a couple guarding the cave entrance.  Get geared up for battle, because we move in five minutes."

Raptor then moved to confer with Cordain and a pair of his men that he had chosen to keep with him for this job, while the new company adjusted gear to prepare for a fight.  A man came around collecting packs, tents, and other items that would provide nothing but encumbrance, to store them in the camp while the company penetrated the caves.

Christi adjusted her sword belt and sheathed daggers one last time, then tightened the straps on the various parts of her leather armor.  Rochelle donned a chain mail shirt, and she was shrugging her shoulders to get it to settle properly when the call came to move out.

Upon reaching the top of the hill, Raptor turned and told his new recruits, "There's no way to sneak up, so we're just going to walk right in there."  Pointing out three men and his two proven lieutenants, he ordered, "You, you, and you, first in the caves with Cartan and Erris."  Turning to Rochelle and Christi, he said, "You two stay close to Cordain.  He can use that sword he carries, but you're the insurance for our pay.  Keep him safe."

Christi and Rochelle nodded to indicate that they understood, and Raptor instructed the rest of the company, "Once we're inside, stay together and don't try to be a hero.  Protect each other's backs, get the job done, and we'll all walk out alive to earn our pay."

A few battle cries erupted from the company and Raptor called, "Move out!"

They moved forward at a brisk pace, and saw one of the orcs just inside the cave entrance as they drew closer.  Another appeared for a moment, and then turned to run off into the darkness beyond the range of Christi’s vision.

Christi had heard of the creatures, of course, but this was her first time to see one.  The orc obviously possessed great strength, evidenced by its muscular form.  A dark mop of unkempt hair topped a brutish face that sported long tusks.  The creature wore a hodgepodge of cast-off armor, carried an ill-kept woodsman's axe in one hand, and a crude spear in the other.

Raptor ordered, "Shields up and ware."

The warning proved to be quite valid, because as soon as the first men were within the creature's long throwing range, it hurled a spear.  One of Raptor's lieutenants caught the weapon on his shield, the loud clang echoing through the valley as the company continued toward the cave.  The orc moved back into the darkness of the cave, hoping to utilize its ability to see in low light to good advantage against the human attackers.

That hoped-for advantage proved to be false when the two lieutenants entered the cave, each hurling a globe above his head that hovered and shone noon-bright light throughout the cave.  Christi could hear screams of surprise and pain coming from several orcs as the bright light assaulted their eyes.

"That's handy," Rochelle grunted as she and Christi hurried to enter the cave to join the battle that they could already hear underway.

"My magic," Cordain explained, "The bright light will be to our advantage at first, although it may serve as a target later.  We will need the light, and better something that may blind our foes as it reveals our location."

The three passed through the curtain of cool air into the cave a moment later, and Cordain leapt into the battle with a growl.  Rochelle and Christi hurried to join him, a little surprised that he had jumped into the fray so quickly.  Perhaps fifteen of the dangerous orcs lurked in the first large chamber of the cave.  Christi could immediately tell that the monsters were trying to flee, now that they realized that they were outnumbered.

Cordain stabbed a creature that managed to successfully defend against two of the other mercenaries, killing it as the two women reached his side.  By the time Christi and Rochelle turned to seek other foes, the battle was over.  Ten orcs lay dead in the chamber, and the rest had managed to turn and flee.  Trails of blood leading into a passage that penetrated deeper into the cave revealed that not all of those that had escaped had done so unharmed.

Raptor called out, "Anybody wounded?"

Grunts and answers in the negative came to the Captain as the men gathered around him.

"Good.  That's ten down.  Even though the rest will be warned now, they'll be warned that a large, dangerous group is coming toward them.  They may just flee, not thinking two females are worth the fight.  Any who do remain are going to be cautious, and are going to try to attack from ambush.  Check out any side passages carefully, watch out for large rocks, and anywhere one of the damn things could climb.  Men with shields to the front, because they'll probably try to use our light as a target for spears."

Raptor walked over to Cordain and asked him, "You have a bearing on your sister?"

Cordain raised an amulet to his forehead for a moment, and then gestured off to the right, deeper under the earth.  "That way.  There is but one passage, so until we find a branch, we simply follow the only path."
"Move out!"

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**

The walk through the passage leading into the earth was tense, but uneventful.  At one point, the entire company had to proceed single file when the passage narrowed.  It opened up immediately on the other side of the narrow place, and steadily loomed higher and wider in the bobbing magical lights.


Casting Off Convention



"We'll reach another chamber soon," one of the men, who had shown some knowledge of caves on the walk, quietly suggested.  While the light would reveal the group, the twisting nature of the caverns meant that sound would reach unfriendly ears long before the light reached their eyes.   The company remained quiet to reduce the amount of warning enemies might have of their approach.

Raptor passed the word to be ready, and most of those with shields moved to the forefront again.  Another chamber opened up, as the man had predicted, only a short while later.  When the company moved into it, they found it empty, save for the corpse of an orc that had been injured in the original fight at the entrance.

Cordain raised his amulet to his forehead again, and when he dropped it back to his chest, he frowned.  He pointed off to the right, where two passages that were nearly parallel led off in the direction where he sensed his sister.

"We'll take one and see if it starts going the wrong direction, and then come back to the other," Raptor decided.

Cordain shook his head and argued, "Time grows short.  We split up.  Send some of your men with me, and take the rest down the other, wider passage.  Take that man, who seems to know caves, with you.  If the path starts moving in that direction," he pointed to indicate the direction they had been moving through the original passage, "Backtrack and join us.  We will do the same if I sense our path moves away from my sister."

Raptor rubbed his chin and said, "I don't like it.  But, if you think we need to hurry?"

"I do," Cordain replied with obvious concern in his voice.

"Erris, Crimm, Rochelle, and you three," Raptor said, indicating three of the men who had shown great skill in the entrance battle, "Go with Cordain.  We'll send someone back if we find anything."

"We will do the same," Cordain responded.

Raptor nodded, and the two groups split up, Christi and Rochelle at Cordain’s side, following the shield bearing men down the narrow passage.

After only a few minutes, Cordain approached the men at the front and whispered, "Go inform Raptor.  My sister is near.  This is the correct passage."

Erris nodded and pointed at one of the men, silently instructing him to return through the passage and seek out the rest of the company.

The group could hear faint sounds somewhere down the passageway, and so they moved back around another bend in the passage, trying to shield the light from revealing them until Raptor arrived with the rest of the men.

A distinct grunt sounded from ahead, prompting Cordain to immediately drop the amulet from his forehead, draw his sword, and run down the passage.  Already on edge, Christi and Rochelle were on his heels a moment after he started moving.  The other men hesitated for a moment, and thus were behind when Cordain hurtled into another chamber, just as the sound of a woman's scream split the air.

Cordain yelled a battle cry and raised his sword aloft, summoning a bright light to replace the one that was lagging behind with the Lieutenant.  Christi saw a dozen or so orcs in the chamber that the light revealed, approaching two women who cowered in an alcove along the wall.

The sound of Cordain's scream caused the orcs to turn, and the sudden burst of light blinded them.  Christi cursed when she saw how many of the monsters were in the chamber.  Cordain ran at full speed toward the orcs closest to his relatives, Christi and Rochelle hot on his heels.

Cordain reached the first orc and lashed out; ducking a spear thrust, and stabbed the creature in the groin before it could even pull its weapon back from the strike.  Rochelle and Christi both turned their backs to him and each other, facing the oncoming monsters.  Half of the creatures turned toward them, while the other half charged the rest of the men.

Cordain shouted a word of command, and an aura of faint blue light shone about the three for a moment.  He shouted, "You need not fear hurled spears or other missile weapons now.  My magic will protect us from those.  It will block no other strike, however."

Neither woman had time to reply, because the orcs were upon them.  Christi grunted as she deflected a chop from an iron-shod club, wielded by the orc in front of her.  Her strength in battle was in her speed, and this situation did not play to it.  The ring of the club against her steel rattled her arm painfully, even though she had angled the blade to deflect, and not block the strike.  Christi slashed, forcing the orc with the club and another approaching with an axe to both dodge the strike.  When both orcs flinched away, she took the opportunity to draw a dagger with her free hand.

Rochelle blocked the strike of a rusty sword from the orc in front of her, shoving the creature backward and slashing it across the belly beneath its tattered armor as it stumbled back.  The creature fell, trying desperately to put the coils of entrails boiling out of the wound back inside where they belonged.  Another creature approached, shoved its wounded comrade out of the way, and attacked, having no more success in penetrating Rochelle's guard with the spear it carried than the previous attacker.  Instead, it lost the tip of the spear, and a foot or so of the shaft, to Rochelle's parry.

Cordain opened the throat of the creature he had stabbed in the groin when it dropped its weapon and reached down to clutch the wound.  Having no other enemy in front of him, he glanced to the side and saw the orc with the broken spear within his range.  Slashing out, he opened a wide wound in the creature's shoulder, causing the spear to fall from its lifeless fingers.

One of the creatures facing Christi looked down when the dying orc with the belly wound bumped against it.  Christi didn't waste the opportunity, and hacked down at the creature's spear, forcing the weapon toward the floor while the orc was distracted.  She then immediately stabbed upward into the creature's chest, the rapidly spreading dark stain on the creature's filthy tunic evidence that her blow had hit deep.

A scream echoed through the chamber, and Christi saw one of the orcs approaching the two women in the alcove.  Raising her dagger, she hurled it through the air.  She hit her mark in the neck of the creature stalking the women.  It gurgled and grabbed its throat, fountains of blood spurting from between its fingers with each beat of the monster's heart.  She turned just in time to grab her sword with both hands and block an overhand swing from the club wielding orc.  The strength of the blow forced her into Cordain's back and rattled her teeth.  Cordain stood firm behind her, and she was able to regain her balance almost immediately.

Christi only just caught the end of some chanted words when bolts of light streaked from the alcove and sizzled into the flesh of the orc that had just attacked her.  It let out a scream and took a pair of stumbling steps backwards, smoke rising from its clothing where the magical missiles had struck.  Christi wasted no time stepping forward to slash it in the weapon arm, forcing the creature to drop the club.  She followed with a stab into the creature's heart.

Rochelle stabbed the final creature facing her, and the three defenders looked up to see the men approaching, all their foes having been dispatched as well.  The sounds of fast-running feet also greeted them, and the clamor was immediately followed by the rest of the company bursting into the chamber with weapons drawn.  They lowered their weapons when they saw the carnage.

Cordain immediately dropped his bloody blade, and hurried to his sisters.  The older of the two was sitting against the wall, unconscious.  The younger quietly wept and held her leg.

Kneeling down, Cordain asked, "Are you all right, Corrine?"  He then reached over to check the other sister, finding her pulse strong and her breathing regular.

The young woman sniffled and replied, "My leg is broken.  Is Celeste okay?"

He smiled and said, "She will be fine.  That last spell must have drained her strength."

Raptor approached the three siblings from across the chamber, and Christi picked up Cordain's sword to wipe the blood from the blade, having already cleaned hers and slid it back into its sheathe.

"You certainly do know how to use that sword.  I'm assuming that is your dagger sticking out of that one's throat," Rochelle commented, nodding toward the orc lying near the alcove.  "Nice throw."

"This fight didn't exactly suit me.  I'm a lot better when I've got room to move.  Having to stand my ground against enemies stronger than me isn't my idea of fun," Christi replied, holding up the sword she was cleaning to the light to examine it.

"Can't wait to see you in a fight where you're having fun then."  Rochelle chuckled.

Raptor called out, "Cartan! Take a couple of men and go fetch Alaster.  Have him bring some food with him too.  Watch your ass, but hurry.  I want the two ladies here healed and able to get out of these caves as soon as possible.  Anybody else injured?"

The members of the company all answered in the negative, any wounds they had sustained being minor.  Already merging into a cohesive unit, some kept watch on the tunnels leading into the chamber, others made sure all the monsters were dead, and the rest cared for their equipment.

"Okay, keep your eyes and ears open, we may not have gotten them all.  Damn fine work, you dogs, but no relaxing until we're out of here!"

The healing prayers of the cleric, and a little food, soon had the two sisters feeling well enough to walk.  Raptor formed up the men with the former captives and Cordain in the center, flanked by Rochelle and Christi.  A shouted order started the group moving back toward the cave exit.

Either the company had managed to kill or drive off all the orcs, or the creatures simply decided that a fight with the effective company of mercenaries was not conducive to a long life.  The journey through the underground passages was uneventful, and the group soon smelled the change in the air that signaled that they were close to the entrance.

Stepping out into the sunlight a little later, Christi smiled, knowing that she had performed well in the caves.  Rochelle had already complimented her, and so she knew she had proven the trust that the woman had shown in her.  Raptor came to a halt once everyone exited the cave, drinking in the smell of the outside world and raising his face toward the sun.

Turning back to the assembled sellswords, he laughed and confessed, "I'm glad to be out of there.  Truth to tell, I don't like close spaces.  Now, you all can relax a bit.  Everyone performed well, and unless I see something that changes my mind, I'm inclined to take on the lot of you into the Hawks."

Shouts and whoops of pleasure greeted that announcement.

Cordain talked quietly with his sisters, and after a nod, turned to Christi and Rochelle.  "I am inclined to offer the two of you my gratitude, specifically.  You reacted quickly, and fought well, even when I made a rash and foolish decision to charge into battle unannounced.  Rest assured that you will receive additional compensation from me for what you have done, and I thank you.  And now, I must go speak with Raptor."

With a respectful nod that bordered on a bow, Cordain turned and walked toward the Captain.  At the same time, the sisters approached.

The older sister, Celeste, spoke first.  "We would like to thank you as well — not only for saving us, but for protecting our dear brother, whom we love."

Christi nodded, getting a good look at the women for the first time.  While the magical lights were bright, the color was somewhat unnatural.  Both women had long, sandy-blonde hair, and they were well blessed with ample chests and full hips.  The sisters were soft, obviously unused to physical labor or strenuous exercise.  Christi assumed that they certainly turned heads with their curvaceous figures and ready smiles.

Rochelle returned those smiles and replied, "Just doing our job."

"Thanks for that magic spell.  It gave me the break I needed to get out of a tough two-on-one situation," Christi responded.

"You might not have been in such a difficult situation, had you not thrown that knife and prevented that monster from reaching us.  So, the thanks still belongs to you," Celeste countered.

Christi laughed and relented.  "Fair enough, then."

The younger sister, who Christi guessed was about sixteen, and just starting to flower into full womanhood, spoke then.  "I wanted to thank you, too.  I thought my broken leg was going to bring us both to disaster.  Will you please offer our thanks to the rest as well?  I'm a little frightened to, because..."

"They're men?"  Rochelle supplied, guessing where the young woman was going.

Corrine nodded, her face flushing with color.

"Smart girl," Rochelle chuckled.

A shout from Raptor broke up the conversation.  "Gather 'round!"

The company moved close, and Raptor announced, "It looks like we're not quite done yet.  Our employer wants us to escort him and his sisters back home.  You'll all get your pay when we get there.  It should take about two days to get him home, so that's two more crowns when you get there, plus your bonus.  Try not to drink it all up the first night.”  He laughed, and then continued, “Should be a nice lazy walk with no trouble, but I expect you all to be on guard, anyway.  Let's get back to camp, strike it, then hit the road.  Move out!"

)-)-
|C~C::::::::::::::::::::::
**

The march proved to be exactly what they expected — a long lazy walk.  Raptor set a slow pace, because he knew that the weakened sisters would have a hard time keeping up with the fit mercenaries, if they moved out at full walking speed.

The company followed a small stream — the water crystal clear and only a couple of feet deep.  The shallow brook flowed from a tract of woods that steadily loomed larger in the eyes of the company as they approached.  A cooler breeze stirred the hot summer air, making the journey far from an unpleasant one.  Since they were earning pay as they traveled, it only buoyed their spirits more.		

Corrine whispered to her sister for a moment once the woods was within a few more minutes of walking.  When Corrine finished, Celeste nodded before turning to her brother and whispering in his ear as well.  Cordain in turn, gave a short nod and said, "I will go speak with Raptor."

When he increased his pace to catch up with the Captain of the company, Christi asked Celeste, "Something wrong?"

Celeste shook her head and answered, "Nothing.  We simply hope to bathe in the pool that feeds this stream before we continue on.  I wish we had been able to retrieve our baggage, because we will be forced to put back on these soiled garments."

The dresses that the women wore were indeed filthy, and certainly smelled none too sweet.  Only some creative pinning prevented Corrine's from becoming indecent.  The sleeve had torn at the seam and would have almost revealed the swell of her breast, were the material not pinned closed.

Rochelle looked at Christi for a moment, and then said, "Some of your things might fit them, Christi, if you have anything to spare."

Christi shrugged, and then turned to the other pair of women.  "I should have enough for you to get by, but it's not going to be anything you're accustomed to, I'll tell you that."

"If it is clean and not falling off of me, it will be an improvement," Corrine disputed.  "The pins holding my dress together are pricking my bosom."

Celeste smiled and admitted, "We only dress as we do because of our caste.  In this situation, I believe it will be acceptable for us to be a bit more daring.  The two of you and our brother will protect us from unwanted advances, I'm sure."

Christi winked and teased, "What about wanted advances?"

Both sisters giggled and their cheeks flooded with color.  Corrine exclaimed, "Don't talk so when Cordain can hear.  I would die of embarrassment."

"I promise," Christi agreed, coming to a halt with the rest of the company just short of the trees.  She could barely see sparkling hints of the pool that the sisters had mentioned through the thick foliage and undergrowth.

Raptor called out, "Our guests wish to bathe, and this spot is as good as any to make camp.  You lot of stinking dogs could probably do with a good washing as well.  You men follow me, and we'll start setting camp.  Crimm, Rochelle — take the ladies to the pool."

The two mercenary women waved in acknowledgment of the order, and then led their wealthy counterparts toward the wood.  The rest of the company moved a short distance away to set camp.

A barely visible, winding trail snaked from the entrance of the woods to the pool, which was spring fed, and just as clear as the stream the company had followed here.  The pool was shallow on one end, gently sloping into a deeper spot.  In the deep end of the pool, the water churned from the source beneath the surface.  It looked like a perfect place for bathing.

Rochelle knelt down and dipped a hand into the water, but she immediately snatched it back.  "Damn — that's cold!"

Already removing her dress, Celeste explained, "We have bathed here before.  It is quite shocking at first, but if you stay in the shallows near the edge, it is actually quite invigorating."

"If my smell wasn't turning my own nose, I'd skip a bath until we found a nice warm lake out in the sun, or a tub somewhere," Rochelle remarked as she loosened the straps on her armor.

Christi laughed as she took clothing out of her pack that she and the sisters could put on once they had bathed.  She chose the most modest tops and longest skirts she had — things she didn't often wear anyway — for the sisters.  "I'd rather have a nice warm lake in the sun too, but I'll take what I can get."

Having needed to remove only their dresses and underclothes, Celeste and her younger sibling were nude long before the two mercenaries could get out of their armor and the clothes beneath.  Celeste held her dress at arm's length, wrinkling her nose.  "If mother would not be cross with me, I would burn this."  Tossing the garment over a rock, she turned to the two mercenaries.  "You would bathe in the open, with so many men about?"

Rochelle shrugged and replied, "You normally don't get much allowance for modesty in our line of work.  You just get used to it."

She then pulled off her blouse and revealed her breasts, which despite their size, sat high and proud, thanks to her musculature.  Dark nipples and areoles blended with her tanned skin, the firm globes obviously having seen their share of sun.  Christi finished removing her armor and turned to look when her comrade-in-arms spoke.  The sight caused Christi to wonder just what had prompted the woman to be topless beneath the sun.

"I fear I would have to endure my smell, were I forced to bathe in full view of any prying eyes," Corrine admitted.

Christi turned toward Corrine and her sister, both of whom were stepping into the pool now, and said, "Well, you're lucky you knew about this place.  You won't have to worry about that here."

Both sisters had small nipples and large areolas on their large, somewhat pendulous breasts.  It was obvious that Corrine's breasts would match her sister's in time, as she was not much smaller up top, even at her younger age.  Both women's labia were puffy, hiding the pink middles between them, with carefully manicured, closely cropped hair surrounding their sex.

"Let's get this over with.  I'm already shivering," Rochelle declared as she stepped out of her skirt.  Her mound was shaven bare, save for a thin strip leading from her hood to just below her navel.




Casting Off Convention



Christi felt a little tingle run through her body, and closed her eyes tight for a second as she pulled off her blouse.  She didn't know what caused her eyes to drift toward other women's bodies, but it disturbed her.  Those thoughts were rapidly chased away by a twinge of embarrassment.  She would be a stark contrast to the other women, with the wild tangle of dark hair between her legs.

The two sisters settled into the pool with a sigh and a shiver as Christi pulled off her pants and panties.  Rochelle simply strode into the pool and sat down with a sharp gasp, not wanting to prolong the experience by easing into the water.  Christi did much the same, but as an effort to hide her untamed patch of hair, rather than reluctance for the cold water of the pool.

Once she settled into the water, she realized her haste was useless.  The water was so clear that every inch of the four women was visible, with only the ripples from their movement masking what lay beneath the surface.

As they bathed, Christi kept finding her eyes on the other women's bodies, no matter how hard she tried to avoid it.  She was thankful that none of them seemed to notice, because she had no idea what she would have said if one of them had confronted her.  She couldn't explain her actions, because she didn't remotely understand them, herself.

Shaking the thoughts out of her head, Christi turned all of her attention to scrubbing the grit off her body, and out of her hair.

)-)-
|C~C::::::::::::::::::::::
**

All four women felt a great deal better once they were washed and in clean clothes.  Celeste remarked that her brother would be completely scandalized when he saw how much skin the borrowed blouses and skirts revealed, even though the garments were quite modest by Christi's standards.

Cordain indeed looked stunned and uncomfortable when the four stepped out from the trees to walk toward the camp.  He immediately encouraged the men setting up his large tent to hurry, so that his sisters would have somewhere to hide from prying eyes.

Christi and Rochelle went to help set the camp, and a couple of men took advantage of the pool, now that it was free.  Very few of the other men decided to bathe when they heard how cold the water was, though.  The sisters frustrated their brother by sitting outside the tent under the awning that spread out from its front door, claiming that the heat inside was stifling.  Cordain made it his personal duty to stare down any man who even looked in the direction of the two young women.

Those who had drawn the duty started supper, and watch was set as night slowly crept upon the camp.  The sunset that evening was particularly stunning, spreading warm bands of color all across the horizon.  Christi appreciated the beauty of the event, but not as much as the two sisters, who were positively delighted.

As the camp prepared to bunk down, Cordain approached Christi and Rochelle, who were laying out their bedrolls in Rochelle's tent.

"I would appreciate it if you would share the tent with my sisters this evening.  I have asked Raptor to excuse you both from the watch rotation so that you might watch over them," Cordain requested of them.

Christi raised an eyebrow and smiled, "Excused from the watch, and not being cooped up in this tent — I think I can live with that," she laughed.   "What about you, though?  Where are you going to sleep?"

Cordain smiled back and responded, "Your tent will not be nearly as confining for one, if I may use it?"

Rochelle laughed and replied, "Be my guest," making a gesture toward the tent.

Cordain nodded his acknowledgment and walked toward the wagon that carried his supplies.  Christi and Rochelle picked up their bedrolls and walked toward the tent, where the two women sitting in front of it were yawning, and appeared to be prepared to enter the tent and bed down.

"Looks like we're bunking with you tonight," Rochelle announced when they reached the tent.

"I'm glad," admitted Corrine, "Some of those men were looking at me a lot.  It felt good in a way, but it was somewhat disquieting as well."

Rochelle laughed and pointed at Christi.  "I've seen how she deals with rude men.  We'll be fine so long as she's around."
Celeste pulled back the tent flap and held it open, inviting the others in.  Once they were inside, she said, "I will be taking a wagon — and guards — the next time I decide to travel.  I have learned my lesson about traveling alone, and this is far superior to the small tent we slept in."

Christi dropped her bedroll, started to roll it out, and said, "Same here.  Your brother didn't seem too put out, considering he's stuck with our tent."

Celeste pulled off her clothes, as did Corrine.  The sisters’ bedrolls were already prepared, and they obviously had decided to sleep nude, since they didn't have any nightclothes to change into.  Celeste responded, "Cordain brought this tent for us, actually.  When he travels, he uses a tent much the same as yours."

Christi shrugged, purposely keeping her eyes locked on her bedroll as she straightened it.  "Well, I'm not too proud to take the comfort, that's for sure."

Rochelle chuckled.  "Me either," she agreed as she pulled off her clothes.

Christi fought her wandering eyes, and this time she won.  She stripped down as well and settled into her bedroll, as did the other three women.

Keeping her eyes from wandering did nothing to keep the disquieting thoughts from creeping into her mind, however.  Even though she had consciously avoided looking at the other women, she was still thinking about them nude.

It took Christi a long time to quiet her mind enough to sleep, and she did so with an ample amount of wetness and a needful ache between her legs.

)-)-
|C~C::::::::::::::::::::::
**									

Christi and Rochelle both rose early, feeling quite refreshed from the unbroken sleep.  They aided the men who were chosen to cook, and the smell of breakfast soon roused the camp.

The company set out once more, moving at a slightly quicker pace this time.  Well rested now, the former captives the company had rescued were easily able to keep up.  Rochelle told stories about her time as a mercenary, making the morning pass swiftly for Christi, the sisters, and Cordain, who all moved closer so that they could hear as they traveled.

This spread to nearly the entire company sitting around listening to Rochelle when they stopped for lunch.  Even Raptor and his experienced lieutenants seemed to hang on her every word.  Rochelle had led an adventurous life, and she was young enough that she had many more years to accumulate new tales of valor and sacrifice.

As with the first day, the trek proved to be a simple march.  They encountered only a few merchants traveling in the opposite direction, and a farmstead here and there along the way.  Cordain suggested that they leave the road, which turned toward a town and would take them far out of their way, in favor of a cross-country route that would bring them to their destination several hours earlier.

Raptor agreed after Cordain assured him that the waist-high grass covering the gently rolling hills hid no obstacles that would impede the wagon or their march.  What truly won the Captain over was the news that by turning away from the road, they would pass near the home of an acquaintance of Cordain's.  His friend could provide them with the means to cook a full meal at around the time they would normally stop to make camp for the evening.

Christi was surprised by how smooth the path was, considering that they were marching across open territory.  Cordain explained that it was a property of the climate and the tall grasses, the roots of which held the earth tightly packed.

The company briefly stopped near a stream to have the noon meal.  Christi and Rochelle sat, leaning against the wheels of Cordain's wagon, where they were somewhat shielded from the sun as they ate.

Christi dropped the final bite of jerky she held in her hand as she started feeling drowsy.  Shaking her head and fighting against the unexplained phenomenon, Christi looked over to see Rochelle's eyes flutter and close.  Her eyelids felt as if they were weighed down by iron. Christi did her best to look around to discover if anyone else was afflicted with the same lethargy.  As she slumped down into the tall grass, still fighting to keep her eyes open, she saw other members of the company collapsing as well.

Christi clenched her teeth and bent every ounce of her will to keeping her eyes open.  At first, she thought that she would lose the battle, and then the pressure simply vanished.  She started to get up, but an unfamiliar voice on the other side of the wagon gave her pause.

"You were right.  He's shaking it off, and so are they."

The voice was low and gruff, almost growling.  Turning slowly, taking care not to rustle the grass, Christi peered beneath the wagon and saw two sets of legs through the thick vegetation, as well as the slowly rousing forms of Corrine and Celeste.

"Of course I'm right.  I know them, and the family resistance to magic.  This will be a lot more fun because they'll be awake to enjoy it."

The second voice was high-pitched, and the speaker had a drawl that he was obviously trying to suppress, which nevertheless revealed him to be from a rural area.  Christi edged underneath the wagon, creeping toward the two men who were obviously up to no good.

"You can get up.  I know you're awake," the man with the drawl announced.

The sound of grass rustling greeted Christi's ears as she continued to slowly move forward, pushing the grass aside and steadily inching toward the other side of the wagon where the two men stood.

"Sit up, and don't try to run," the other newcomer warned, as he jerked at Corrine's blouse.

The two women warily sat up, a sword pointed at them to accentuate the warning the man had growled.  Christi silently cursed, wondering what she could possibly do against two men who obviously planned to use the sisters as insurance against attack.

Cordain's voice was full of seething anger when he spoke.  "No magic of yours could have put all these men to sleep, Aruld.  So, have you been stealing from wizards in their sleep?"

The man with the high-pitched voice must have been Aruld, because he responded, "I killed him and took what I wanted.  The sleep globe, the orc charm, and this here wand," he said, producing the magic item from where he had concealed it in the waist of his pants.

As Christi continued to crawl forward, she saw the wand the man spoke of now aimed at Celeste, who looked up and scowled at the man who held it.

"A cowardly strike from concealment — in the back, no doubt," Cordain spat back at the man.

"I do what I have to do," Aruld confirmed.  "Now, you're going to stand there nice and still, or I'll burn your whore sisters but good.  I planned to use the orcs to kill them and get my revenge that way, but you messed that up.  Now I think I'll have a little fun with them, then hold them for ransom."

Christi heard the hiss of a sword leaving its scabbard.  She was now close enough that she could have reached out and grabbed either of the men, but with the sword and wand both pointed at the women they held as hostages, she couldn't risk any rash action.

Aruld threatened, "Don't move Cordain!"  He pressed the tip of the wand hard against Celeste's breast as he screamed the order.

The sound of Cordain's sword sliding back into the scabbard preceded Aruld speaking again.  "Smart choice," he laughed.  Then he ordered the other man, "Now, go get his sword and tie him up.  Make sure he can watch us leave with the whores."

The sword tip that had hovered dangerously close to Corrine moved out of Christi's vision as the larger man with the deep voice moved through the grass.  Christi counted her heartbeats as the man moved, and then seized the only opportunity she could think of.  Snapping out her hand, she grabbed the wand and jerked it out of Aruld's grip.

Christi heard him scream in stunned disbelief, "What?"

Christi heard Cordain's sword hiss free once more, as he loosed a battle cry.  Christi dropped the wand, pulled one of her daggers and stabbed it into Aruld's leg — or tried to.  He moved at the last moment and the blade only scratched his flesh, but the distraction was enough for Corrine and Celeste to scramble under the wagon away from him.  The sound of Cordain's blade striking the other man's sword rang out at the same time.

Christi quickly turned and crawled out from under the wagon to make room for the sisters.  She immediately stood and drew her sword.  Aruld turned toward her, narrowing his eyes and snarling, "You bitch!"

Christi stalked around the wagon as Cordain battled with the larger man, not far away.  Aruld drew his sword and said, "Throw it down, wench, or you die."

Cordain and his opponent stood close together, their blades locked.  Cordain shoved hard, forcing the man back and yelled, "Beware, he is well trained!"

Christi heeded the warning, but she had little choice other than to engage the man.  The sisters were still too close — still in danger — and she couldn't allow Aruld to join his comrade, gaining an advantage over Cordain.

Christi taunted, "Why don't you try having some fun with me, rube?"

The verbal barb, aimed at his obvious attempt to disguise his heritage, drew blood.  Aruld raised his blade and stalked with murderous purpose toward Christi.

Balanced on the balls of her feet, with her sword at the ready, Christi waited for the man to reach her.  He didn't waste time on more words, instead launching an attack as soon as he was within range.  Christi easily deflected the slash aimed for her throat, pushing the blade up high in the process.

Aruld recovered quickly, whipping his sword into an overhand strike.  Christi must have surprised him with her speed, because when she spun out of the way of his strike, he was slightly off balance.  Christi took the opportunity to stab at his chest from the side, but he turned and planted his feet quickly, deflecting her strike wide with his blade.

Christi followed the momentum of the deflection, spinning again and feigning a strike toward his back, then stepped away almost instantly.  He was not fooled by the feint and set to attack again, pointing his weapon toward her and circling around her in perfect balance.

Again, Christi taunted him, "Trying to find water, farm boy?  You're supposed to use a forked stick."

Aruld snarled, "Stupid woman," as he continued to await an opportunity to strike.

Christi remained facing him, keeping her balance and ready to defend or move, as necessary.  "Have a problem with women?  Maybe you prefer sheep," she said with a smile and a chuckle.

Growling, he stepped forward and launched a vicious slash at her neck.  Rather than parry the attack and counter with her weapon, Christi instead ducked under the stroke and kicked him hard in his right shin, rolling backward almost as soon as her foot connected.  She then popped back up with her sword at the ready.

The kick did some damage, because Aruld favored the leg as he sought another opening to attack.  "You fight without honor."

"I fight to win," Christi retorted, moving in and stabbing at his chest.  He parried the blow, but flinched when Christi feigned another kick.  The momentary reaction to the false attack gave Christi an opening that nearly penetrated his guard.  Only the skill Cordain had mentioned prevented the man from taking a deep wound to his off shoulder.

A gurgling cry sounded as the other fighter facing Cordain slumped to the ground.  Christi remained at the ready, seeking an opening and prepared for any incoming attack.

"Drop your weapon, Aruld," Cordain ordered as he approached, his blade dripping blood.  "You are now outnumbered, and your purloined magic will not long prevent the odds from increasing against you."

"Those odds have already taken another turn in our favor," Celeste announced from beneath the wagon.  She was pointing the wand at Aruld, and the sparkle of power on the tip of the wand revealed that she had discovered how to activate it.

"As usual, you win because of your wealth, stolen from hard-working folk," Aruld accused, dropping his weapon to the ground.

"I find that criticism difficult to take to heart, when it was only stolen magic that gave you any hope of succeeding in your dark scheme," Cordain replied while kicking the discarded sword out of Aruld's reach.

Cordain's prediction, that the magic Aruld had used to put the rest of the company to sleep would not last long, proved true when a few groans revealed that others had awakened.  The sisters crawled out from beneath the wagon, and Celeste cast a spell that bound their attacker in mystical bands of ruddy-colored energy.

Cordain pointed at the man he had killed and asked, "Does this man have kin to whom we might return his body?"

"As if you would go to the trouble," Aruld sneered.

"I certainly will, if you will but tell me how to contact his kin.  No man deserves an unmarked grave in a lonely field, regardless of his ill-considered choices in life."

Aruld actually looked a little stunned by this revelation, but his face regained the hard cast of anger almost immediately, and he responded, "He had no kin.  I was the only friend he had in the world."

"A pity he did not meet you before your heart turned dark then, for once you were a man of honor."

Aruld turned his head away, the anger in his face masking whatever thoughts might be running through his mind.

Celeste turned to Christi and said, "Thank you, Christi.  We once again owe you our lives."

"I was so frightened.  I couldn't think.  Thank you, Christi," Corrine agreed.

The sound of people awakening became more frequent, and a few of the men rose unsteadily to their feet as Cordain retrieved some rope from the wagon to bind Aruld.

Once he was bound, most of the camp had awakened.  Cordain then walked over to Christi and stood looking at her for a moment before declaring, "I owe you a great debt — one which I am unsure is within my ability to repay."

Raptor came over, still trying to blink the sleep out of his eyes, and asked, "What happened?"

"I will be glad to tell you the tale, good Captain, as soon as we have attended to these," Cordain said, gesturing to Aruld and the dead man.  "It is a tale of valor that all should hear."

Color rose in Christi's face, something that happened very rarely to her.

"Fair enough," Raptor said with a nod, and then shouted to the rest of the company, "You dogs get the rest of the men up and moving, and somebody break out the shovels."

)-)-
|C~C::::::::::::::::::::::
**

Cordain had a flair for language, as did his sisters, and Christi's embarrassment continued, although a great swell of pride accompanied it as the story unfolded for the company.

The men, even those who had so callously muttered about women in the company, showed a high level of respect to Christi from that point forward.  Most everyone took the time to congratulate her personally, as the group marched onward, including Raptor and Rochelle.

Having a full meal — and the added treat of beer — once the company reached the home of Cordain's acquaintance raised their spirits even more.  Christi, Rochelle, and the three siblings sat near the large tent, talking for a few minutes more before going to bed down for the night.

"Your resistance to magic is quite phenomenal for one not versed in the Art," Cordain remarked.  "Have you ever considered studying the Mystic Arts?"

Christi drank the final swallow from her cup of beer and shook her head.  "No.  All I've ever known is practice with my sword and daggers.  I'm not exactly the type to learn magic."




Casting Off Convention



Cordain smiled at her.  "One may combine the blade with the Art, as I do," he argued.

"Not exactly something I'm liable to stumble into," Christi responded with a shrug.

"I will copy some of the easier spells for you when we have reached our home," Celeste revealed.  "You can at least see if you have some aptitude, if you will not stay and try to learn from me."

"I'll look.  Some magic tricks could come in handy in a fight," Christi admitted.

Rochelle yawned and stretched.  "Okay, I've been up forever — not counting our magical nap — and I'm going to bed."

"As should we all," Cordain stated.

"One more day on the road, and then it's time to celebrate," Rochelle said as she opened the tent flap and walked inside.

Christi yawned, exhausted from the march and the fight with Aruld, who was at the moment being transported to a magistrate to be punished for his crimes.  Christi echoed the other warrior-woman, "One more day.  I'm off to bed too."

Cordain nodded his head respectfully and went to his own small tent as the women bedded down for the night.

Christi awoke deep in the night, her breathing quick, and her face flushed, having had a vivid sexual dream about Celeste.  The ache between her legs was so strong that she had to assuage it with her fingers beneath the blankets.

As her eyes opened, her body still trembling in orgasmic release, Christi thought she saw Rochelle's eyes open.  Closing hers to a narrow slit, she looked at Rochelle again.  After a few moments, she decided it had been her imagination.

With a final shudder, she pulled her hand from her panties and drifted back off to sleep.

Rochelle licked her lips and took in a deep breath, savoring the hint of Christi's arousal in the air.

"I will be so glad to see home again," Corrine remarked, as they ate the noon meal the next day.

Celeste added, "As will I.  I have learned a lesson about depending upon my magic to carry me through the dangers presented by traveling alone."

Rochelle asked, "So, what's this Dalesholme like?  Any decent inns and taverns?  I'm looking to celebrate a bit, before we hit the road again to join up with the rest of the Hawks.  I'm ready for some comfort."

Cordain laughed and replied, "You will find that the taverns provide a great deal of pleasurable diversion.  The city is accustomed to mercenary visitors, and some even make their home there, when they choose to settle for a time.  As to your accommodations during your stay, I hope that the two of you will guest with us."

"Isn't that going to breed some bad blood with the rest of the company?" Christi speculated.

Rochelle blew a raspberry.  "Nah — we won't be there long, and they'll all be so drunk the first day that they won't even remember it.  You've certainly earned your right to enjoy a bit of special treatment, Christi."

Christi shrugged and asserted, "I was just doing the job we're being paid to do."

Rochelle clapped her friend on the shoulder and said, "The point is — you did it damn well."

"I agree," affirmed Cordain.  "I will ensure that no large fanfare accompanies your stay, despite the likelihood that our mother might wish otherwise.  I plan to provide the accommodations for the rest of the company at the finest hostel in the city, and they will thus retain the coin they would have otherwise spent on lodging for their entertainment."

Rochelle laughed and grabbed Christi's shoulder, exclaiming, "So quit worrying, and enjoy your reward for a job well done."

Celeste suggested to Cordain, "They should have the guest rooms in the East wing, near the stairs."  She the turned to Christi and Rochelle and said, "The rooms are adjoined by a bath — a warm one."

"This is getting better every minute," Rochelle remarked.

Raptor shouted out, "Get your boots on, and get ready to march!  I'm ready to collect my pay, and find a place to rest my carcass where there's a bunk between me and the ground!"

Rochelle stood, shouldered her pack, and asked Cordain, "How much longer?"

"Three — perhaps four hours," he replied, "We should begin seeing the farms that surround the city within a few minutes."

Rochelle took a deep breath and said, "I can almost smell the beer already."

Christi laughed as she shouldered her own pack, and the company prepared to move out.

)-)-
|C~C::::::::::::::::::::::
**

Everyone in the company had a spring in his or her step as they approached the city of Dalesholme a few hours later.  The city was fair-sized, walled, and a steady stream of traffic moved in and out as the company marched toward the gates.  A few of the men, who had visited the city before, spoke about the lively nature of the taverns, as well as the beauty of the women of negotiable virtue.

Cordain sent a young man he met near the gate running to the keep that was his ancestral home, to fetch the pay for the mercenary company.  He then directed the company to the hostel where they would bed down for free during their stay.  

Along the way, friendly townsfolk and other mercenaries greeted them, and many who knew Cordain and the sisters moved to express their joy regarding the siblings’ safe return.  The town bustled, with a busy marketplace and merchant shops scattered on nearly every street.

The young man returned with a smiling servant just as the group reached the hostel.  Raptor received the coin owed for the rescue and the march, and distributed it with praise for each mercenary’s efforts.  Cordain then distributed the bonuses, which amounted to double the coin promised for the work.  His final announcement, that he would pay for their stay at the hostel, drew a loud cheer from the company.  The men quickly stowed their gear and hurried toward the taverns.

Cordain led his siblings, Christi, and Rochelle to the keep, where he showed the two mercenaries to their rooms.  The chambers were lavish for guest rooms, and the bath that lay between them was large enough for more than one person to share.  Cordain said he would have it filled immediately, and would ensure it remained warm until they chose to use it.

Rochelle clapped her hands as she tossed her pack down at the foot of her bed.  "Okay, I'm ready to go celebrate.  Let's go join the rest of the company at the tavern."

Celeste said, "I will bring copies of a few easy spells for you in the morning, Christi."

"Not too early.  I may not be in the best shape first thing in the morning," Christi remarked with a laugh as she sat down her own pack.

"In the afternoon, then," Celeste responded with a laugh of her own.

"I can have hot water brought for the basins, if you wish to wash before going back into the city," Cordain offered.

Rochelle shrugged and said, "I'm not worried about it.  The place where everyone is going sounds like it's a sellsword watering hole, and we probably won't stand out with the grit of the road on us.  After a couple of beers, I won't care anyway."

Christi gestured with her thumb and said, "I'm with her.  I'm ready for a few drinks."

"The guards at the gates have been ordered to give you admittance at any hour.  Go and enjoy the fruits of your labors," Cordain said with a nod of his head.

The two warrior-women did exactly that, without delay.

)-)-
|C~C::::::::::::::::::::::
**										

Although they had been close to stumbling when they left the tavern, the walk in the night air back to the keep had sobered Christi and Rochelle enough that they were able to walk straight and steady by the time they arrived.  They were both still feeling very good, however.

As promised, the guards admitted them without hesitation, and they reached their rooms shortly thereafter.  Christi ran her fingers through her hair and wrinkled her nose.  "I'm definitely ready for a bath now.  You'd think that a man would figure out that when he can't manage to hold onto a beer without spilling it on someone, he doesn't need any more."

"Same here," Rochelle responded and walked over to open the door that adjoined their rooms.  After opening the door and looking inside, she turned back to Christi and said, "Cordain kept his promise.  The tub is full, it's steaming, and there are towels and soap left in there for us."

Christi asked, "You want to go first?"

Rochelle jerked her head toward the open door.  "The tub is big enough.  We should just share.  That way one of us won't be stuck waiting."

Thoughts and emotions immediately went to war in Christi's head and heart.  Before she even realized what she was saying, she responded, "Sure," the alcohol in her system overcoming her hesitation.

Rochelle smiled and walked into the bath, and Christi followed.  Christi had to fight hard to keep her eyes off Rochelle as the other woman undressed.  She was concentrating so hard on keeping her eyes away from Rochelle's body, that she didn't notice Rochelle was doing little to hide that she was admiring Christi's nude form.

The two women slipped into the bath — which was indeed warm and felt wonderful — and started to wash.  Christi felt tingles running through her body every time Rochelle brushed up against her, and it seemed as if the other woman was constantly doing so as she washed and shaved her legs.

While Rochelle shaved her mound, Christi at last acknowledged something that she had truly known for a long time.  She was attracted to other women.  It was a purely sexual attraction, but it was undeniable.  Christi actually felt relieved once she admitted the truth to herself, and the feelings weren't quite as disturbing as they had been.  The thing that was disturbing her now was that she doubted she would ever be able to explore those feelings, because there was little chance she would summon up the courage to discuss the subject with another woman.

Rochelle finished shaving and ran two fingers over her full outer labia, now smooth once again.  When she raised her eyes, she saw Christi looking at her.  Christi's eyes were focused on her freshly shaven sex, but the woman almost appeared to be looking through her, deep in thought, as opposed to at her.

Rochelle offered the scissors and razor to Christi.  "Want to trim up a bit?  I kind of get the impression you're a bit embarrassed about how untamed your hair is down there."

Christi's eyes snapped back into focus, and she quickly turned her head slightly, so that she wasn't gazing at the other woman's pussy.  Thinking it would perhaps cover her stare, and actually wanting to trim back the wild, bushy patch between her legs, Christi said, "Yes, it does bother me a bit."  She then took the scissors and razor, rising up to her knees and sitting the razor down on the edge of the tub.

Christi had difficulty manipulating the scissors.  The angle was strange to her, and she constantly felt as if she was holding the dainty clippers in the wrong hand.

Rochelle rose up and asked, "Do you want me to do it for you?  You'll get used to it in time, but there's a lot of work to do down there, and I can do it easier."

Christi felt wetness gathering between her legs that had nothing to do with the water in the tub.  Her tongue felt like a lead weight in her mouth, so she simply nodded in response to the question.

Rochelle put her hands on Christi's abdomen, pushing a little.  "Lean back and put your hands on the edge of the tub behind you."

Christi followed the instructions, which served to thrust her crotch forward toward the other woman.  Rochelle put her hands on Christi's knees, and then slowly moved her hands forward toward the dark tangle of hair.  Once Rochelle's hands reached Christi's thighs, she pushed them apart with gentle pressure.

Christi parted her thighs, her heart beating fast in her chest.  She fought hard not to shudder from Rochelle's touch, and hoped that the other woman wouldn't notice how wet she was getting.

Rochelle did notice, and she had to fight just as hard to not let her arousal show.

Working with practiced efficiency, Rochelle snipped the long hair surrounding Christi's sex, steadily revealing her folds.  Rochelle breathed in the scent of Christi's arousal, letting her fingers stray — in what appeared to be an innocent manner — to Christi's moist inner lips quite often.

Christi's breathing quickened, and she could not help but watch with rapt attention as Rochelle revealed her nether lips.  Her nipples were now turgid points, and her clit throbbed, begging for attention.  She wanted nothing more right now than for Rochelle to put down the scissors and slide a finger or tongue between her folds.  Rochelle smiled as she labored, and Christi thought the other woman's nipples looked hard as well.  Christi curiously wondered, Is she getting hot from touching me?

Rochelle snapped the scissors one last time and put them down on the edge of the tub.  She then cupped her hands and dipped them in the water, pouring it over Christi's mound to wash away any loose hair.  Once she had done this three times, Rochelle ran her fingers over the tips of Christi's now close-cropped hairs and asked, "Do you like it?"

Christi could not suppress the slight shudder that ran through her body from that touch, and the suggestive tone in Rochelle's voice.  Nodding her head, Christi replied, "Yes," with hints of the need she felt present in her tone, despite all attempts to keep her voice normal and neutral.

Rochelle asked, "Would you like me to shave you?"  She continued to let her fingers move up and down over the short hairs, sending a tickling tingle all through Christi's body.  "It's certainly cooler out in the heat, and I know it makes me feel cleaner.  I think you'd look good with just a little triangle pointing down, like a signpost."

"Yes, do it," Christi replied, her voice slightly husky as her desire built toward a fever pitch.

A crooked grin decorated Rochelle's face as she reached for the razor.  She picked up another handful of water and wetted the hair between Christi's legs, and then began to shave her, starting with the hair on her outer lips.

Christi's breathing steadily deepened as Rochelle pulled the razor, shearing away the hair and leaving soft, bare skin behind.  Rochelle's fingers softly tugged at Christi's lips, moving them to reach hairs in the creases, and sending shockwaves of pleasure up Christi's spine with every touch.  Though too absorbed in watching the other woman between her legs to notice, she was wet enough now that she was dripping.

Rochelle certainly noticed, the heady scent making her mouth water, as she finished shaving away the hair surrounding Christi's sex.  Turning her attention to the remaining patch above, she sculpted the hair into a triangle, as she had mentioned earlier.

With a final stroke of the razor, and a last splash of water, Rochelle finished.  Putting the razor down, she cupped Christi's sex in her hand and ran it upward over the smooth flesh.  "Does it feel good?"

The suggestion in Rochelle's voice this time was completely unmasked, as was the desire in her eyes.  The two women's eyes locked, silently communicating their desires.

Christi sucked in a sharp, noisy breath, unable to prevent the sound from escaping her, or to keep her body from trembling under Rochelle's touch.  She gasped out, "Gods, yes."

A crooked, knowing smile spread across Rochelle's face.  She let out a little moan and put her hands on the edge of the tub, leaning over Christi, their eyes still locked.  Letting her breasts brush against Christi's as she moved forward, Rochelle kissed her.

With her weight almost completely supported by her hands behind her, Christi could barely move as she quivered and returned the kiss.  Rochelle's tongue snaked out and tickled Christi's gums, and then their tongues intertwined.

Christi moaned when Rochelle rose up from the kiss, looking into her eyes again.  Christi's pussy ached to be touched, and there was a sensation of warmth running throughout her body, manifested in a flush of color in her face and chest.

Rochelle reached behind Christi and wrapped her arms around her, guiding her up into another kiss as they knelt in the quickly cooling water.  When they broke from the kiss, Rochelle said, "I knew you wanted me.  I saw you looking at me.  Celeste, and Corrine, too.  You don't understand those feelings, do you?"

Christi licked her lips and replied, "I think I do now."

Rochelle let out a sharp moan that bordered on a short purr.  Reaching down to caress Christi's bottom for a moment, she then stood up and stepped out of the tub, grasping Christi's hand as she did so.  Christi allowed Rochelle to guide her, standing and stepping out as well.

Rochelle moved to pull down a towel hanging from a peg on the wall while looking back over her shoulder at Christi.  Christi, in turn, watched the play of Rochelle's muscles in her back and buttocks as the woman sensually strutted the couple of steps toward the towel.

Christi stroked her hands over Rochelle's body as the woman blotted her dry.  The feeling was so much different from that of touching a man.  Rochelle's skin was smooth, and not covered in hair like the men Christi had bedded.  Quiet sounds of pleasure emerged from her whenever the towel passed over a sensitive part of her body, and it was not only her most private parts that caused those sensations.  Every inch of Christi's body felt alive with energy.  Even the most innocent touch to her abdomen, her back, or any number of other places carried a sensual power that made Christi tingle.

The same erotic pulses of pleasure shot through Christi when Rochelle handed her the towel to return the favor.  Christi was fascinated by Rochelle's response to her touches.  The woman obviously had a swell of pleasure building within her, but it didn't carry with it the urgency and animal need she saw in men when she had teased them in similar ways.

Once they were both dry, Rochelle took the towel and tossed it toward the peg on the wall, and then took Christi's hand in hers.  Pulling Christi toward the guest room given to her, Rochelle walked backwards, keeping her eyes on Christi's body as they moved toward the bed in the room.

When Rochelle's legs touched the bed, she again kissed Christi.  Rochelle stroked Christi's neck and cheek as their tongues embraced, and Christi's hands moved to trace the lines of Rochelle's back.  Their breasts just touched each other, the slightly taller Rochelle's nipples grazing the upper globes of Christi's breasts, while Christi's pebble-hard buds rubbed against the bottom of Rochelle's firm globes.

After a few strong pecks, their lips parted and Rochelle slipped her hands down to Christi's buttocks, kneading them, and turned to reverse their position, so that Christi was up against the bed.  Moving her hands up to Christi's hips, she pressed downward, silently instructing Christi to sit.

Christi sat down on the bed, anticipation burning inside her like a bonfire.  Rochelle glided her hands over Christi's hips, then her abdomen, and finally brought them to rest on Christi's shoulders.  A push on Christi's shoulders told her to lie down, and the flame of desire within Christi spiked even higher.

Rochelle climbed onto the bed with slow, cat-like movements, and continued to guide Christi with touches and nudges until they were both lengthwise on the bed with Rochelle up on her knees above Christi.

Once more, Rochelle kissed her, more need and passion obvious this time in the press of her lips.  Christi traced the lines of Rochelle's curves with her fingertips as they kissed, marveling still at the smoothness of the woman's skin.

Rochelle moved to kiss Christi's neck, first on one side, and then the other.  Christi trembled and moaned beneath her, her hips rising of their own accord.  Rochelle's next kiss was on her right shoulder, and three more kisses followed down toward Christi's arm.  Rochelle then dragged the tip of her tongue down Christi's arm, stopping to kiss the crease opposite the elbow, and then the elbow as well.




Casting Off Convention



Christi panted for breath, her eyelids fluttering as Rochelle's kisses tantalized her.  Rochelle hadn't even touched her breasts, let alone her sex, and yet she could feel the first tingles of an orgasm growing inside her.  "That feels so good," she whispered, reaching down to run her fingers through Rochelle's short hair.

"Mmm hmm," Rochelle moaned back, kissing across Christi's tummy, and then journeying up her arm with soft kisses, back to Christi's shoulder and neck again.

Rochelle scooted her knees back, and then rose up over them straight again, bringing her head over Christi's tummy once more.  Again, Rochelle planted kisses over the taut flesh, and then upon Christi's left hip.  The next kiss was in the crease of her leg, so close to her aching sex, and caused Christi's hips to rise up off the bed again.

Looking up into Christi's eyes and smiling mischievously, Rochelle crawled over Christi's body, and once again, their lips and tongues met in passionate embrace.  When Rochelle pulled away, she kissed her way down Christi's neck, and then placed kisses on the swell of each breast.

Christi gasped, the gasp turning into a moan as Rochelle continued to kiss her breasts, and then to slide the tip of her tongue over the firm globes.  Rochelle's teasing tongue drew near to, but never quite touched, the erect buds that were screaming for attention.

Christi let out a long, warbling sigh of pleasure when Rochelle finally did swirl her tongue over Christi's right nipple, and then locked her lips over it a moment later.  Reaching down, Christi ran her fingers through Rochelle's hair and over the woman's muscled back.  Christi's eyes met Rochelle's, which were filled with both mischief and desire, and Christi watched with fascination as another woman suckled her breast.

The sensations caused by Rochelle's slow, teasing foreplay were powerful and deeply arousing.  While Christi ached to be touched, the need was just below the point of being torturous, and only increased the pleasure she was feeling.  It was so different from the men Christi had been with, even the most attentive of them left her feeling like they rushed, compared to Rochelle.

Just as Christi was reaching the point where she would have to be touched, or go mad, Rochelle sucked the nipple between her lips hard, pulling upward and releasing it with a smile.  Rochelle rose up onto her knees and grazed her hands over Christi's hips and legs.  When Rochelle's hands reached Christi's knees, she squeezed them once, and then traced circles on them with her fingertips.  Licking her lips, Rochelle curled her fingers in behind Christi's knees pulling them upward and out.

Christi's clit throbbed in time with her heartbeat as she parted her legs.  The anticipation of Rochelle giving release to her aching need sent a chill through Christi's body, causing her skin to break out in gooseflesh.

Rochelle slowly lowered her head toward Christi's pussy while looking into her eyes.  The heady scent of Christi's arousal sent a slight tremor through Rochelle's body, nearly overcoming her desire to fan the other woman's fires gradually.

Rochelle leaned down tantalizingly close to Christi's nether lips, and then turned to kiss her thighs instead, first the right, and then the left.  Two more kisses followed, at the crease where Christi's legs met her hips.

"Oh, please," Christi huskily gasped, the urgent throb of her clit becoming too much to bear.

A sharp sound of pleasure erupted from Christi when Rochelle complied with that request by softly kissing her folds.  Christi threw her head back as she yelped, and then sucked in a gasping breath when Rochelle's tongue wiggled between her labia, seeking the warm, wet recesses between them.

Christi was lost in a fog of pleasure as Rochelle's lips and tongue danced over her folds.  She writhed, gasping and moaning, as bliss overcame her.  Her toes curled and her fingers gripped the bedclothes as Rochelle held her at the peak of pleasure for what felt like an eternity.

Rochelle moaned into Christi's folds when the woman stiffened for a moment, and then erupted in a primal scream of release.  Christi's body trembled, and Rochelle continued to softly lap her as the shocks of orgasmic release wracked the body beneath her.  The bittersweet flow of Christi's juices washed over Rochelle's tongue, the sharp scent of arousal filling her lungs.

With a final kiss on Christi's hood, Rochelle moved to lie down on her side next to the still quivering woman, caressing Christi's tummy as the brunette’s orgasm slowly subsided.

"Oh gods, that was good," Christi gasped out, when she was at last able to catch her breath.

Rochelle sat up and leaned over Christi, licking her lips and saying, "Yes, it was," before pressing her lips to Christi's in a hungry kiss.  Christi moaned, tasting her own juices on Rochelle's lips and tongue.

When their lips parted, Rochelle whispered, "You taste good, don't you?"

"Mmm hmm," Christi moaned back in response.

Rochelle leaned down once more and suckled Christi's earlobe.  She then sultrily whispered, "Taste me."

Christi reached over and grasped Rochelle's tight ass, pulling the other woman toward her.  Rochelle released a quick, grunting moan, and then rose up to swing her right leg over Christi's body.  She knelt back down with her sex just out of reach of Christi's tongue.  Looking down to enjoy the anticipation in Christi's face for a moment, Rochelle briefly rubbed her nipples and grinned.  Christi snaked out her tongue and wiggled the tip, gripping Rochelle's hips and trying to pull the other woman toward her.

Rochelle moved first one knee, and then the other forward until she centered her nether lips over Christi's mouth.  Christi's tongue tip was already dancing over Rochelle's folds when the first knee settled into place.

Shivering from the feather-light touch, Rochelle lowered her pussy to Christi's eager mouth.  The muffled moan of delight, and the look of surprised pleasure on Christi's face when she got her first good taste of another woman, brought a smile to Rochelle's face.  The feeling of Christi's tongue sliding inside her, seeking the bittersweet wetness within, caused a warm wave of pleasure to rise up through Rochelle's body.

Once again, Christi was lost in a haze of pleasure.  The taste and scent of Rochelle's hot sex in her face was intoxicating, and Christi couldn't lap and probe fast enough with her tongue to satisfy the growing desire for more.

Some small part of Christi's mind was attentive to what her tongue was doing, and she used what Rochelle had done for her, as well as knowledge of her own body, to build Rochelle's pleasure.  The muffled sounds of delight Christi heard from between Rochelle's thighs, as well as the constant flow of wetness washing over her tongue, let Christi know she was stoking a fire in Rochelle's loins.

Rochelle started to rock her hips and grind her pussy on Christi's face as she drew near the point of no return.  Though doing this for the first time, Christi was obviously a natural — and certainly eager to please.  Looking down into Christi's eyes, Rochelle panted and gasped for breath.  A final gasp transformed into a scream as Rochelle came.

Christi's eyes opened wide as she felt Rochelle clamping down on her tongue.  The flow of Rochelle's juices increased, becoming thicker and tangier as the woman cried out in orgasm.  Christi drank up every drop she could catch, but her face was still a sticky mess when Rochelle leaned forward against the headboard to gasp for breath a few minutes later.

When Rochelle caught her breath, she slid down until she could kiss Christi and lap her own juices from the other woman's face.  With a final lick of Christi's sticky chin, she shivered and let out a sensual growl.  "Damn, that felt good.  Did you like making me leak all over you?"

Christi licked her lips and smiled, moaning, "Mmm hmm."

Rochelle moved, mirroring Christi's smile, until their labia pressed together.  When Rochelle started to rock her hips, rubbing their nether lips together with hot friction, both of them instantly spiked back to the intense level of arousal they had experienced before their first touch.

They were both utterly exhausted when they collapsed together on the damp bedclothes, late in the night.

)-)-
|C~C::::::::::::::::::::::
**

The company celebrated their success, knowing they would soon merge with the rest of the Hawks.  Christi and Rochelle enjoyed fine meals — and better wine — throughout the day, and decided to stay in the keep until later in the evening.

Celeste brought Christi several spell scrolls she could attempt to learn, and tried to persuade her to remain and study.  Likewise, Cordain did his best to convince both women to remain in his employ as his sisters' personal guards.

Both Christi and Rochelle shared the opinion that they weren't ready to be tied down to one place just yet.  They craved adventure, and they could best fulfill that need with the Hawks.

Disappointed, but understanding the free nature of the two mercenary women, Cordain instead presented them each with a gift, the first of two he planned to give them as reward for their aid in bringing his siblings home safely.  Each woman received a dagger that would magically return to the owner if thrown or dropped.  The weapons could also summon a bright light similar to that the company had utilized in the caves.

The second gift would require some time, and thus would have to be delivered to them.  Cordain planned to commission perfectly fitted armor for both of them, magically enhanced to steal the force of attacks, and to resist normal wear so that the armor would serve them well for many years to come.  Knowing the end result made the long session of standing to have every nook and cranny of their bodies measured worth the time and discomfort.

That evening, they joined the rest of the new Hawks in the tavern, but didn't stay quite as long as they had the night before — or get nearly as drunk.  They had other things on their mind, and those arousing thoughts had them returning to Cordain's keep long before the festivities in the tavern started to wind down for the night.

Christi took the initiative this time, pulling Rochelle into a kiss before the door to her room had even closed, much to Rochelle's delight.  Christi proved to have quickly learned Rochelle's technique the previous evening.  Utilizing those newfound insights, she drove Rochelle to mind-numbing orgasms, before receiving the same pleasure from Rochelle.  They didn't collapse into spent slumber until a few hours before sunrise.

Raptor had warned everyone that they would move out to join the rest of the Hawks a couple of hours after midday.  He reminded the company that they needed to be fit to march by then.  Christi and Rochelle were both a little worn out, and many of the men were still hung over, but they kept up gamely with the pace Raptor set.

The first night of sleep broken by watch duties went hard on both Christi and Rochelle, but they were seasoned campaigners, despite their young age.  Both women stayed awake and alert during their turn on guard.  The broken sleep was more than they had managed to enjoy on their last night in Cordain's keep, however, and when the order to march came the next morning, they were both feeling quite a bit better.

At midday, they topped a rise and saw their new home on the horizon — or the closest thing a sellsword had to one.  Built next to a small village that helped supply the company in exchange for the protective presence, the walled complex that was the home of the Hawks was an impressive sight, even in the distance.

Christi could see men dueling in the practice yard, as well as others exercising.  Buildings surrounded the yard, and most were obviously the barracks where the soldiers bunked down.  Men patrolled the walls, and stood at posts atop the buildings.  Some of the men were obviously shouting down to others, although Christi could not hear their words across the distance.

As the marching company drew closer, the scent of pork frying put an extra spring in their step.  Rochelle remarked, "Smells like we're coming in at just the right time."

When the recruits marched through the gates of the complex, they saw their new comrades-in-arms formed up waiting for them.  One man, who must be a ranking member of the company, stepped forward and called out, "Welcome home, Raptor.  Guess all is well, eh?"

Raptor walked up to the man and clapped him on the shoulder.  "Home safe.  Job well done — and in time to eat.  Aye, all is well."

Raptor gestured to a man in robes that stood with the rest of the Hawks, before turning to the fresh recruits and pointing toward a building with smoke rising from the chimney.  "That's the mess hall.  You can grab some chow and start getting to know everybody.  You'll learn who ranks quick enough, and they've got that rank because they earned it.  They'll pull your ass out of more than one fire.  I'll guarantee you that.  Now, go eat.  Christi, Rochelle, come over here before you hit the mess."

The man in robes had reached Raptor's side by the time he finished speaking, and he nodded a greeting as the two women approached.

Raptor nodded toward the robed man and said, "This is Glenwell, and he's our best wizard.  We've got a couple of others, but he's the one we depend on in a pinch.  Rochelle, I know your reputation, and Christi, you've damn sure proved your worth.  Glen needs protection while he works his magic, and I want you two to be a part of that.  You'll still see your share of swinging your swords, but when we need magic, you'll be making sure he has time to use it."

Turning to Glenwell, Raptor continued, "Christi was up and fighting while the rest of us were snoozing through a sleep spell.  Damn sure, she'll be nice to have around if somebody is hurling magic back at you.  I know you've heard the tales about Rochelle, although she's got some I'm sure you haven't heard, too.  They fight well together, too."

Glenwell smiled and said, "I will be pleased to have you by my side."

As best Christi could guess, Rochelle had no interest in men, but such was not the case with her.  Glenwell had a handsome face, and it made Christi wonder what might be beneath the robe he wore.

"Well then, go get some chow," Raptor told them, and made a shooing gesture toward the mess hall.

As they approached the building, Rochelle nudged Christi with her shoulder.  "Looks like you won't be going home any time soon — for lack of coin anyhow.  Guess you taught them a thing or two about a woman's ability to fight."

"I learned a thing or two about women too," Christi said, twitching her eyebrows.

Rochelle leaned in close and purred, "I've got more to teach you, when we find the time."

Christi licked her lips and responded, "I can't wait."

)-)-
|C~C::::::::::::::::::::::
**

Hope you've enjoyed this tale.  Thanks to Roust for his keen eye in editing this twice.  What you've just read is a new edit, applying things that I've learned since I started.  Please take a moment to vote, and perhaps comment.  That's all the payment we get as free authors.