0 comments/ 28021 views/ 0 favorites The Summoning Ch. 01 By: Joseki Ko “Equestis Dominus” As Selene finished the incantation, she stepped back to observe her work. The pentacle glowed a brilliant purple and seemed to rise up in a dome. The inscriptions drawn in a circle around the pentacle exuded a strange light blue that complemented the dome. "I hope that's how it’s supposed to look..." She murmured to herself. Glancing around the chamber, she was surprised to find her personal guard lying dead. Selene jumped as a silky voice from behind her spoke. "Greetings, my dear princess." Selene whirled to find her stepmother, Queen Nativa, standing there. "Hello, Mother." She spat. The queen gave her a slight grin as she looked over the circle. "It seems that you have indeed summoned something. Why do you resist me, girl? As my heir you will inherit the Kingdom when I die.." "That," spoke Selene, "would never happen and you know it. If you didn't try to switch bodies with me, lay a gaes on me, or just outright have me killed, one of your retainers would. You killed my father and he would have given you anything." "I'm sorry, honey, but that's just not true and you know it. Your father died the way a King should... driving invaders from our lands. It was just fate that he took an arrow in the eye and died. As for the rest, you know the rule of karma just the same as I. If I did something that mean it would come back to visit me times three." Selene gave her stepmother a very dirty look. "You only say that in front of your hired help. I know how you really are." The queen tossed up her hands in irritation. "I've had it! I can't even talk to you. Guards, seize her! We'll continue this back at the castle." As the guards reached out Selene sank back almost against the wall. One guard, bigger than the rest, shouldered his way through the others and reached out to grab her. Just as he made contact, a hand reached out of the purple light and seized his wrist. He jumped in surprise as a long rapier blade extruded from the light and came to rest under his chin. None present were sure why the tip was so big and red but it stopped the guard cold. His eyes got real big as a man stepped from the light. He was dressed in a purple tunic and black breeches. The part of him that really stood out was his eyes. Selene took a long look into them and she shivered at the outright anger glowing there. He was a little over six feet tall, not nearly as tall as the guard but it was obvious he wasn't intimidated. As he backed the guard up, she got to appreciate his true size. He was big around and looked fairly muscled. His shoulders dwarfed her and were as big as the guard's. "Slick, you should be a little more respectful of women." The man said in a quiet voice. "That's a practice tip on his blade." Came a voice. "It can't hurt you." The guard looked over at a small, compact man. "Thanks, Captain." He looked back at the man summoned from the light, and smiled. As quick as a cat, the man punched with his right hand, smashing the hilt into the guard's temple and dropping him like a rock. The purple man looked over at the Captain of the guard and smiled. "A weapon is only as good as the man using it." The purple man again spoke in the same quiet voice. But it seemed to carry to everyone in the cavern. "Okay, men, there is now an obstacle in our way. Kindly remove it." The Captain stated in an equally quiet voice that carried just as well. As the guards started forward the man in purple held up a hand. "Halt!" The command had the intended effect...every one of the guards stopped still in their tracks. They all looked at the Captain uncertainly. The summoned man turned to the Captain. "I'm a little new to this world. Might I have a minute to get a few things straightened out?" The Captain looked the man in purple over and nodded. "You seem to be a man of honor and you have no weapon. Ask the princess what she will have of you." The man in purple bowed to the captain and turned to Selene with his eyebrows raised. "Princess, eh?" She colored at this. "Yes, I am, good knight. And I beseech you to aid me in my time of need." The Summoning Ch. 02 The man bowed again. "Princess, I am Calico, Knight of Avalon, taken from my home without my leave. I find myself in a strange world where people are about to kill me to get to you. Might I ask you a question?" "Yes, good knight, you may indeed ask your question." "What is your name?" This was said with an exaggerated tone and a big smile. She grinned, despite herself. "I am Selene, Daughter of Queen Mariah and King Brion. And heir to the realm of Sulleigh." Calico bowed to her and turned to face the captain. "I thank you, good sir, and I know I really don't stand a chance. But how often does an opportunity like this come to pass?" The Captain tilted his head quizzically. "What opportunity, my friend?" "Why, Captain," Calico laughed. "Here I am, summoned by a spell to save a damsel in distress, a princess no less, from a pack of ruffians. I ask you, sir, what more could a knight ask for? Well, possibly a dragon, but I'll make do." Selene looked around the room as he spoke and saw most of the guards nodding, even the Captain. "Aye, laddie, 'twill make a fine tale in the telling..." The captain agreed. "...if you make it out of here alive..." Calico bowed and the Captain waved in his men. Selene's stepmother had brought twenty guards with her. Calico had already vanquished one. That left nineteen plus the Captain. Her spell had been designed to summon a great warrior but few are quite that good. Selene was already resigning herself to another year in her stepmother's less than tender clutches. Calico launched his sword into the oncoming rush, it skidded sideways tripping three guards toppled like dominoes. With the same motion he reached down and pulled the sword from the scabbard of the first guard he'd felled. Selene really expected to see him go down in a blaze of glory. But as he came up he closed the distance. What was left of the front rank stabbed at his heart. He swept their blades away in one fluid motion and was in among them, his elbows and the pommel guard of his rapier striking with abandon. Before they could recover he was out and sweeping through the second rank. They blooded him but he made it through, leaving three more guards unconscious on the ground. The guards whirled and began to chase after him. He had stopped behind the last two felled, making the oncoming guards step over or onto their comrades. His hands flew and he looked very graceful as his sword pricked thigh after thigh, dropping another four. "Stop!" The captain’s raised voice echoed through the room. Calico backed off and lowered his blade. The remaining guards started to surge forward but the captain's voice cracked again like a whip, calling them off. The guards retreated, muttering under their breath. As Calico turned toward the Captain, the Captain bowed. "I did you a disservice, good sir." He said, as Calico returned the bow. "I must admit, I'm curious, Captain. The gentle lady by the door must be the queen." He said, bowing in her direction. "How is it that you guard the queen with mere trainees? I would have thought to be fighting the best." Calico made it sound like a question, even though it wasn't. The Captain actually appeared abashed at this comment. Selene wasn't quite sure how Calico had known they were trainees. They looked fierce enough to her. "I was actually in the middle of a training session," the captain explained, "when the king rode out, taking everyone with him. Selene escaped with the remaining trained guard, and the Queen dispatched us to find her. I was quite surprised when the queen caught up to us. I think her personal guard just might be apoplectic by now." "How did he know we were trainees?" One of the guards asked. "Simple." Calico explained with an indulgent smile. "I'm still alive." There was a gruff bark of laughter from the Captain. There's more to it than that, recruit. He knows you're trainees because there is no variation in your fighting style. You all lunge, recover and swing the same. And a true expert is not hampered by infighting." "By the same token, kid, I fear you more than I do your Captain." Calico commented. The Captain's eyes narrowed. "How do you figure that?" "Simple, Captain." The best swordsman in the world doesn't fear the second best swordsman. He fears the worst swordsman in the world, for who knows what the idiot will do." The Summoning Ch. 03 The Captain started laughing again. "Very well, then, shall we go a few rounds?" "As you wish, Captain. First blood? Or something a bit more strenuous?" The Captain arched his eyebrows at this. "Are you offering me a way out, or do you require one yourself?" Calico gestured at the men he'd downed. "None of them are dead, Captain. I see no need to kill here. I also find a first touch event to require more skill than a killing event." The Captain looked around, nodding slowly. "I win, and the princess goes home. You win, and you're both free to go." "I accept, Captain." And with one fluid lunge, Calico tried to end the fight. The Captain barely managed to parry in time and it was on. The Captain was a lithe man and quick on his feet, where as Calico was slower but he had truly impressive hand speed. Time and again one would get the advantage over the other only to be parried at the last instant. They would both advance and retreat, looking for openings. They went back and forth around the cavern twice and then it happened. A pebble rolled under the Captain's foot and he went down in a pile of madly waving arms and legs. Selene really thought it was over then, but Calico calmly stepped forward and offered his hand to the Captain. The Captain looked surprised but let Calico help him to his feet. As the Captain stood up he offered Calico a smile. Something Selene had, until now thought him incapable of. "You had me there, brother knight. Why did you not press your advantage?" Queried the Captain. Calico gave out a hearty belly laugh. "Captain, this is an honorable combat. Part of our knightly code is to not take advantage. In war, the Earthly hinge that swings the fate of kingdoms, we take no advantage so that we can know God's will. I see your kingdom's future will be decided here. So while I will beat you, I won't take unfair advantage." "And if it were unfair combat?" "Well, then, my good Captain, it might get a lot more interesting. Especially since we are so evenly matched." The Captain paused for a second. "And if I take unfair advantage?" Calico grinned. "Is that a warning?" "I wish it was." The Captain grunted and swung his blade in a glittering arc. Calico leaned back and the blade missed his throat by a finger's width. He straightened up and before the Captain could recover, poleaxed him with a shot between the eyes. The Captain went down, blood gushing from his nose. Selene was pretty amazed at the swiftness of his actions. He must have been waiting to pull that off. She was even more surprised when he again leaned forward and held out his hand to the Captain. There didn't seem to be an ounce of ill will in him. The Captain squinted at his proffered hand and, grinning despite himself, allowed Calico to help him up. The Captain seemed to have weak knees for a moment as he sagged into Calico. Selene saw the Captain's lips move and Calico's startled look and swift glance at her. She couldn't hear what was said, but knowing her stepmother and the Captain, it wouldn't be good. The Captain called for his medics and they did something with his nose that seemed to stanch the bleeding. Then, with a look, he gathered his men and set them to gathering the dead bodies. All headed for the door. They stopped only long enough for the Captain to pick up his wounded and to confer with the Queen. Selene thought she'd be furious at the Captain but she seemed very concerned for him. She glanced at Selene, took a long look at Calico and nodded to the Captain. The Captain turned and in a loud voice asked. "Do you stand as her guardian for the duration of your stay?" Calico shot Selene a hard look. "The deeper meaning in that question cuts to the quick. If you mean will I stand in loco parentis’ yes I will. How much of a head start will you give us?" Selene was surprised when her stepmother answered. "I do not think I could find a better guardian than you, sir. You have our leave to wander the world and see what you will." Calico bowed deeply to her and gave Selene another look. "Show respect to the position, if not the person, Princess. As you treat the Queen others will notice and so treat you one day." He whispered. The Summoning Ch. 04 She stiffened, but took his advice and curtsied. She was amazed when she heard the guards whisper to each other. They were truly impressed with the respect she showed the Queen. The Captain presented an arm, the Queen accepted, and in no real order their party left the cavern to Selene and her summoned warrior. Calico turned to look at Selene, a slight smile upon his lips. "So, Princess. When we are done, can you send me home from anywhere, or will we have to return to this cave?" "Well," She stammered. "I really can't send you back." "I see." He said, thinking about it. "So you escaped from your wicked stepmother, got your entire guard killed and kidnapped me from my world to fight a battle against overwhelming odds, only to imprison me here forever?" "It won't be that bad. When we succeed, you'll have your pick of women. And there are worse places to live than Dossray." She sniffed at him. "Well, princess, you did summon a guardian rather than a warrior, did you not?" She didn't quite follow this, but nodded. "I had indeed summoned someone to guard me. And to guard my realm." She said. "And your realm..." He nodded. He helped her pack up the things she'd brought into the cave and they headed outside. -------------------------------------------- As I helped the princess pack her possessions I had a little time to reflect on the day. I'd been at an SCA event when this purple light flared up around me. I'd been pulled into a corridor and as I walked down this corridor of light, I came to a man assaulting a woman. I'd put a stop to that, and then had the first real sword fight of my life. I've been doing rapier in SCA tournaments for years, but this had been different and I'd refused to kill. When I was helping the Captain up he'd whispered to me that the princess needed a parent and maybe I could supply that for her. I'd wondered what he meant until I found that she couldn't send me back. She was willful and didn't care about anyone besides herself. When she became Queen, she'd be a terrible one. She needed to learn to recognize the consequences of her actions and what they would mean to not only the people immediately involved but her realm as well. So my job was not only to protect her but to make her a queen fit to rule. That was a tall order for the son of a preacher man. As we finally exited the cave we found two horses waiting for us. Both horses were huge. One was obviously a trained war horse and black as midnight. The other, a Clydesdale or whatever they called those here was a gray. The princess claimed the warhorse without a thought. It didn't look any too happy to see her either. I tied the baggage onto the Clydesdale and mounted up. Truth to tell I was pretty happy with this turn of events. I can do almost anything with a car, but I've only been on a horse four times in my life. Tied to the saddle of my Clydesdale was a pouch that clinked. It was tied with a calico ribbon so I'm sure the Captain knew who would be on which horse. I owed him one. The princess took the lead and led us in an easterly direction. We had traveled a couple of hours with her not really talking much when we came to a town. It seemed like a nice little place. I was very happy to see as it my butt was already hurting. I don't know how they designed saddles here and now, but they sucked. The cantle road halfway up my back and the seat itself was flat. We walked our horses into town and the Princess led us right up to what was obviously an inn. The sign on it had only a happy pink dragon...no writing at all. We secured our mounts to a rail and went in. The innkeeper came bustling up and asked us what we would have. The princess ordered some meat and asked for the best room in the house. The innkeeper set us up at a table and sent a maid to see to our room. The maid looked all of twelve years old. When the innkeeper brought our food he asked for payment. The Princess hit the roof. Nobody ever asked a princess to pay for something, ever. The Summoning Ch. 05 She went on for several minutes and I could just see the innkeeper hardening up. I rose from my seat, and taking the innkeeper by the shoulder, led him off to his bar. He started in on me about her and I told him she was a work in progress. He gave me a hard look and I just shrugged. I settled with him for dinner, the room, someone to take care of the horses we'd left at the hitching rail and went back to the Princess. Her Highness was a royal pain all through dinner, making disparaging remarks about the food and the clientele in general. Finally, I'd had enough. "Princess, these are your people, are they not?" I queried. "Yes... you can see how beaten they are by my stepmother's wicked ways." I looked around as I had since we came to town but all seemed pretty happy to me, not withstanding the onslaught they'd just lived through. "Either way, Princess, you're not doing us any favors by insulting everything you see." I lectured her. "Everyone needs some dignity in their lives." She just turned up her nose at me. We finished dinner and she started to make another scene about getting a bath. I stopped her and said that after we were in our room I'd see about getting her a bath. After all, royalty didn't share their business with common folk. There was an audible sigh of relief as we left the common room. We found our little maid and she took us upstairs to our room. She showed us in and told us the privy was around back. As she started to give directions the Princess slapped her. "I do not use a privy like commoners! Bring me a chamber pot that I may use." As the maid started to cry I reached out and pulled her to me. I gave her a hug and knelt down to look at her face. It wasn't too bad. I pulled a silver coin out of my pouch and gave it to her. "Stand outside the door and listen. When she screams, peek in. But keep everyone else out." I whispered to the girl. She looked at me and gave me a grin and a nod. And she scuttled out of the room, the Princess still yelling at her. I stood up and removed my weapons. As I set them out of reach of the bed the Princess realized that something was wrong. "What are you doing?" She demanded. "Princess, I've known you about five hours now. In that time I've clubbed two men, fought a duel and listened to you whine about everything. I agreed to help guard your person. I think the biggest threat to you currently, is you. Your father was entirely too lenient with you. I now propose to start remedying that situation." I stated. "You will not!" She defied me, standing up to her full height. "I think a spanking is long overdue." I said, starting for her. "NO!" She cried aghast. There wasn't much room to run and I quickly caught her. I dragged her down to the edge of the bed so the maid would have a good view from the door and threw her over my knee. I intended a bare bottom spanking but I thought I'd better get the princess accustomed being spanked first. Putting my right hand in the middle of her back I began to spank her using my left. I wasn't holding anything back, either. This was going to be one of those spankings where it hurt me as much as it did her. I administered 50 swats to her. At some point she tried to reach behind her to protect her bottom and I pinned her arm behind her. After the fifty I flipped up her dress and chemise to reveal a very white bottom. As I started spanking this I heard her start to scream. The little maid opened the door a crack and looked in with this big smile. I winked at her and she covered her mouth, trying not to laugh. I heard people coming down the hallway as the maid looked behind her with a grimace and shut the door. I could hear the sound of soft voices talking outside the room and the door did open just a crack for the innkeeper to look, but he gave me a quick grin and shut the door quickly and no one else came in. The Summoning Ch. 06 By this time the Princess' bottom was getting very red. She started sobbing and whined that she'd be a good girl. Well this wasn't the first bottom I'd spanked. If I let her up just because she said she'd be good, then she'd try to beg off every spanking with those words. She needed to know that somebody cared enough to invest the time and effort into her. She got that from me in spades. Her bottom was showing white spots when I let her up. But in true daddy-daughter fashion I didn't send her to a corner immediately. I sat her on my lap and held her while she cried, letting her feel my love. As her tears started to subside I gave her another lecture, a softer one this time. "Now, Selene, you can't be putting yourself first. These are your subjects and their welfare comes first in your mind. You are a servant to all, and when you're queen, you will be held responsible for all that passes in your lands. If you are haughty, people will hate you. If you are unfeeling, your subjects will suffer and feel anger towards you. Fealty is a two way street. You agree to listen to their issues and to do what is best for all. They agree to accept that you work for the common good and support you in that goal...using their time, money and services." Selene looked at me with tear streaked cheeks. "That sounds just like what my father used to say." "Well, he failed to instill those values in you, didn't he?" She nodded. "Okay, we're going to spend some time doing that. Tomorrow we are selling your entire collection of princess gear and buying you some servant clothing." She sat up indignantly at this. But I put a finger over her lips. "You are going to learn to be a better person. I will teach you as we go and you will be disciplined when you are naughty. I will help you become the queen your father wanted you to be." She nodded and knelt before me, putting her hands together. "I, Selene do hereby swear fealty to you, Calico, until such time as you discharge me from your service." I was surprised by this but I knew how to answer this plea. I clasped my hands over hers. "I, Calico, hereby except your fealty, and will strive to learn from you as much as I teach. I now take you as my squire until such time as I release you or one of us dies." She looked up with a smile on her tear stained face. "Okay, first and foremost while in my service, you will not be known as Princess. You will be just simply, Selene. You will do every task I assign you to the best of your ability, and if you don't, you will be punished. Any questions?" She shook her head no. "Okay, girl, get up and remove that princess garb. I'm going to give you some time to think about all that has transpired today. I want you naked and with your nose in that corner. You won't move when the maid or anyone else comes in or I will spank you again right in front of them. Understood?" "Yes, Sir!" She said standing up and disrobing. She was a beautiful sight naked. It made me very sorry I was her guardian and not her lover. She went and stood in the corner, her hands gingerly rubbing her bottom. I opened the door and there stood my little maid. I motioned her in and, as she stepped inside, she stopped and just looked at Selene standing in the corner, rubbing her sore bottom. I let her look for a minute as I gathered up all the clothing. "Here, girl, concentrate or you'll end up right next to her." I said this in a light voice but it snapped her attention to me. "Take this out and have it washed. Also, if you could find some more common clothing for her to wear, I'd be appreciative. Bring it by in the morning" The little maid nodded and took one more look before scampering out the door. I set my sword against the door and spread a blanket from my pack a little ways from the corner. If someone opened the door, the sword would fall and wake me up as they stepped across the threshold. I pulled out my knife and worked on the edge. For close work in a small room, a knife is best. I knew someone would come tonight and I'd be ready. When I finally let Selene leave her corner I sent her straight to bed. Her bottom was still very sore so she went willingly. I grinned to myself when I found she intended to sleep on her stomach.