Rescue Ch. 15

Rescue is Book Two of the Pervikar series. Pervikar is the first book and Ritual will be the third. I wish to express my thanks to the readers who have sent me feedback and have voted for my stories. My special thanks go to sweetmirazh, who does my editing, and mack_the_knife.

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The sun had just set when Karina and her company approached Cific. Bargan, the High Priest of the Temple of Aphrodite in Cific, used his badge of office to gain them easy access through the gates. He was followed through the gates by Karina and Helga. Helga was once Karina's maid and now was her friend and confidant. They were followed in turn by Gedda, a child of the streets turned thief, and Cendri, a warrioress. Those two led a horse litter bearing Nesbra, the smuggler they had saved in Woodhall. The final two in this cavalcade were Ivin, High Priestess of Aphrodite in Tectin, and Octavia, fighter supreme.

Karina endured the ogling stares of the guards at the gate as she rode through. Since her padded armor had been sliced to ribbons in the last fight, Karina had to wear a divided riding skirt and white blouse. Her outfit, unlike her armor, enhanced instead of hid her mammoth breasts and slim waist. Her dagger was her only weapon since her short sword had also been broken. The whistles and catcalls from the guards stopped when Ivin and Octavia gave the guards steely-eyed looks, which was accompanied by the threat of a clinking flail and drawn longsword.

Bargan led the group through the darkening streets of the city. Merchants and craftsmen were closing up their shops as the day ended and people went home or to the taverns for dinner. Bargan took them to the front of the Temple of Aphrodite and took them around the side. The temple was a large stone building with several multi-story wings joined off of the central building. As they approached the wing entrance, the heavy oak double doors opened and seven servants came out to hold the horses. A busty young woman wearing a white gown came out after the servants.

Karina estimated the woman to be around twenty years old, about five foot-eleven inches tall, with blond hair done up in braids on top of her head. Her white dress had ties that crossed over her large breasts, pulling the fabric tight against them. The coolness of the springtime night air was immediately evident by the way the woman's nipples poked out the material. Karina looked up at the woman's blue eyes to see her making the same cursory assessment of her. The woman smiled at Karina and turned to face Bargan.

"Good evening, Your Grace," said the woman as the servants helped the riders to dismount. Two servants handed over their horses to others and went inside. They came back out carrying a stretcher and transferred Nesbra onto it. They gently carried her inside.

"Efficient as always, Tessa. May I introduce Lady Karina Devon and High Priestess Ivin? Octavia you know along with Gedda and Cendri. This last lady is Helga, Lady Karina's friend and companion," said Bargan to the young woman as she led them inside where other servants took their stained cloaks and muddy boots. "I don't remember our staff being this large."

"I am honored to meet you all," said Tessa as the servants produced slippers for everyone. "I hired extra help at your expense, Your Grace. Would you like dinner first or to bathe?"

"Dinner," stated Ivin so quickly that Karina was a little startled.

"As you wish," said Tessa. "Please, follow me."

"I'm sorry, Tessa, but I need to talk to His Grace about an important matter first," apologized Ivin. "Please take the others to dinner and we will join you in a few minutes."

"What do you suppose that was all about?" Helga asked Karina as Tessa led them towards the dining room.

"Probably some secret Temple business that can't be discussed in front of us," replied Karina. "Nothing I'm going to lose sleep over."

Tessa led them to a small, but beautifully furnished dining room. Candlelight glowed from the chandelier and wall mounts to sparkle off the china and silverware. The table was set for seven people and four servants stood near the buffet.

"Uh...um..." stammered Octavia, a little uncomfortable in the lavish surroundings.

"I'm sorry, but the cook went overboard when fixing this dinner," said Tessa. "She always wants His Grace to have a certain degree of...bearing that she thinks befits his status. Please, sit down and eat before the food gets cold."

Ivin came in just as everyone was getting settled.

"Karina...Octavia...Bargan would appreciate a minute of your time," she said as she sat down.

Karina and Octavia looked at each other, stood up, and walked out the door. Bargan was standing just a little ways up the hallway. As they approached him, he opened a door and led them into a nearby study.

"I'm sorry to take you away from your dinner, but Ivin informed me of a problem," said Bargan, closing the door. "We have the Rite of First Bath observed here. It is a rite that is more prevalent in a large city than at Ivin's temple, but they still follow it to certain degrees. Octavia, you and I had the rite the last time you were here. Basically, it is rite to honor the guests under our roof with the first bath. Bath attendants will wash you and then a companion, who has been selected for you, will go to bed with you. Ivin is afraid that Helga will see the companions and, possibly, the bath attendants as sexual slaves."

"Are they slaves?" asked Karina.

"We are all slaves one way or the other," stated Bargan. "I am a slave to my oath of office and to my deity. You are a slave to your quest, but this is not the place to argue semantics. We do not own the companions. They compete for these positions and we pay them for their services."

"Were you paid for your service with me?" asked Octavia.

"Octavia, the Rite of First Bath is not for my benefit or for the other companions. It was designed solely for our guests, to relax them and ease their worries, to make them forget their cares for a while. You gave as much as you took and it was a rare and wonderful experience I'll remember to the end of my days. We are digressing, however. Helga is the problem according to Ivin."

"Did Ivin tell you that Helga was used as a sexual favor and toy by her former master?" asked Karina. "She retreated into an emotionless shell for self-preservation and is now just coming out of it. Ivin may be right. I don't know how she'll react to being offered a companion for the night. I supposed Tessa has set up the rite already."

"Yes, for everyone," replied Bargan.

"Including you?" asked Karina.

Bargan smiled. "No, I'm not a guest. Due to my position, I have to offer myself to the highest ranking or most senior lady present. I believe that would be you, Lady Karina."

"Me!?!"

Yes, you."

"But what if I was ugly or hideous or very, very old?" asked Karina. "How could you...uh?"

"Practice," replied Bargan. "Years of practice."

"What if I did not want you?"

"Anyone can refuse a companion or even select a different one," said Bargan. "The problem is we are bound to make the offer."

"Wait a minute," interrupted Octavia. "I have an idea."

She quickly outlined her plan to Bargan and Karina.

"That would work," said Karina to Bargan. "Do you see a problem with it?"

"No, I can't," he replied. "Come, I've kept you from your dinner. I'll inform Tessa of the change."

As the three of them stepped out of the study into the hallway, a door banged open to their left. A naked woman ran out of the door laughing and the down the hallway away from them. She was chased after by a naked man. They both disappeared around a corner at the end of the hallway.

"My apologies," said Bargan. "Many people come here to solve their sexual problems and sometimes it gets out of hand."

"The only problem I saw was that we only saw him from behind," laughed Octavia. "To dinner...right, Karina?"

"Uh-huh," grunted Karina in assent.

The three of them went back into the dining room. Trays of roast pork and beef ribs were passed around. Bowls of fresh spring vegetables dotted the table along with baskets of hot bread. Karina barely noticed the delicious food. When she had seen the naked man's ass, she had gone into sort of a daze and a fire was slowly begining to burn in her loins.

Karina took no notice of the tray of fruit or the slice of cake placed in front of her. She felt hot and the glasses of water she quaffed down did little to ease her discomfort. She barely noticed Bargan talking to Tessa, but quickly averted her eyes when she found herself admiring his muscular profile.

"Are you alright?" asked Helga, leaning over towards Karina. "You look flushed."

"Too much wine," murmured Karina, trying to keep her eyes off Bargan. Helga stared at Karina's untouched wineglass. She turned to Octavia and the two of them whispered back and forth to each other. They then walked over to talk quietly to Bargan and Tessa.

Karina squirmed in her seat, unconscious that her legs were rubbing together as she fought to keep her lust in check. Her nipples were rock hard and poked out the soft cotton material of her blouse. Every movement that Karina made seemed to rasp the sensitive nubs against the cloth.

Tessa pulled a bell cord and four men walked into the room. Each man was in his early twenties with a superb muscular build and wearing a short toga. Tessa turned towards the table.

"Ladies, we have baths drawn for each of you. Helga, will you please follow His Grace and, Lady Karina, if you will follow me? The attendants will show the rest of you to your baths and rooms. Your luggage and gear has already been brought up."

"Great service, Bargan," commented Cendri, eyeing the attendants. "How big is your staff?"

Everyone jumped as Karina guffawed and then went into a coughing fit as a completely different meaning of Cendri's question sprang into her mind. Karina turned away as she felt the heat radiating off her face. Her clothing had become unbearably tight and Karina struggled to regain some of her composure.

"We used to have twenty-three working in the temple, including myself, as of the day before yesterday," said Bargan to Cendri, allowing Karina to collect herself. "I'm not sure what we have now because some of the faces I've seen are new." "Fifty-eight, Your Grace," said Tessa, matter-of-factly. "I see," said Bargan, in a tone that spoke volumes. He held out an arm. "Helga, if you will permit me the honor of escorting you..."

Helga looked around, momentarily confused, before putting her hand on Bargan's arm. They walked out the door and were followed by each attendant escorting Octavia, Ivin, Gedda, and Cendri. After they left, Tessa turned to Karina.

"Lady Karina, will you please follow me?"

"Please call me Karina, Tessa. Too many titles make life stuffy. I...I..." Karina shook her head to try and think clearly. "I'm sorry. I'm sort of in a daze right now."

Tessa smiled and said, "We can talk later, but, for now, just relax."

Karina let some of the tenseness out. Her body tingled and felt hot from her lust, but it did not overpower her as it had before. She idly wondered if it was because she had only seen the back of the man in the hallway instead of his front. She stood up and a feeling like small electric jolts coursed from her nipples through her breasts as her shirt was pulled over the hard points.

Tessa led Karina to a luxurious bathroom. A large sunken tub was in the center of the room and it was filled with hot, scented water. Several couches were lined up against the walls and there was a door on the far wall opposite of the one they had entered through.

"May I assist you?" asked Tessa.

"No offense, but why you?" asked Karina as Tessa led her over to a couch to remove her footwear.

"Normally, His Grace would be filling this role," said Tessa as she helped Karina undress, "but your change of arrangements precluded that. Helga warned us what may happen if you were helped by a male attendant. For that reason, I am here for you."

Tessa only made a small gasp as Karina's huge breasts sprung out as her shirt was removed. She let Karina slip into the hot water before picking up Karina's clothes and placing them outside the door in the hallway. Tessa then walked back over to the sunken tub.

"You haven't answered my question on if I can assist you," she reminded Karina.

"What? Oh...um...I guess so."

Tessa reached behind her and undid the cords and fasteners of her dress. As she took off her dress, it was now Karina's turn to be impressed. Although Tessa could not match Karina's measurements, she had a body and a pair that was right up there with Melinar and Octavia's.

Tessa's large, heavy breasts and well-rounded hips were matched by her air of sexuality that Melinar, Octavia, nor Karina could match. Tessa laid her dress across a couch, picked up a pitcher, and came back to the tub to sit on the edge behind Karina.

Karina closed her eyes as Tessa filled the pitcher from the bath and poured the steaming water over Karina's head. Karina sighed in bliss as Tessa shampooed her hair and rinsed it clean. She almost moaned when Tessa began to wash her gently with a soft cloth.

Karina libido never subsided. Although relaxed, Karina was managing to hold her lust in check, despite Tessa's soapy hands sliding over Karina's huge, slick tits and the rest of her body.

Tessa finished up and dried off first. She then toweled Karina dry and combed out her hair. Tessa produced a powder-puff and powdered Karina's body.

"Feeling better?" asked Tessa.

"Somewhat," replied Karina. "I do have a question for you, though."

"Ask away."

"My son is Per, the half-ogre," said Karina. "This quest I'm on is to find the women my son has made love to or who may have influenced him greatly. I understand you are one of these women. I have to ask you if you will take part in an ogre ritual of ascension. Per is supposed to make love to you and all the other women during the ritual, which lasts for a week. The consequences of not performing the ritual could kill Per."

"I would have to discuss this with His Grace," said Tessa. "I can't give you an answer until I do."

"Talk also with High Priestess Ivin," suggested Karina. "She has agreed to participate and has some insight that could prove helpful to you."

"I shall," said Tessa, as she stood up. "Come."

Tessa led Karina through the other door into a spacious bedroom. Elegant wood dressers, bureaus, end tables, and chairs were in the room, but the bed dominated it all. It was eight feet wide and twelve feet long, covered with golden silk sheets, which offset the rich blue walls of the room. Karina just stood in the doorway, mesmerized by what she saw.

"Come," said Tessa, gently pulling Karina over to the bed. "Lie down and close your eyes."

Karina did as Tessa asked. The silk sheets felt cool against her skin and she moaned slightly as Tessa began to massage her back.

After a few minutes, Tessa leaned down and whispered, " Karina, I have to leave. Someone will take my place so do not be startled. Just keep your eyes closed and enjoy."

Karina moaned her assent as she rubbed her body against the sheets. Her lust had started to build up slowly during her bath and massage. Karina ground her nipples into the mattress in an effort to diminish the tightness she felt in them. She could feel her pussy seep out moisture as her loins burned hotter.

"Shhh," came a soft, hush from a new voice close to her ear.

Karina kept her eyes closed as a pair of hands began to massage her back again. Karina gasped and her eyes snapped wide open because no sooner did the fingers touch her back than her mind split into six parts. She was herself and five other people. Her part knew her body was in the huge bed getting her back massaged by some unknown person.

Another part of her mind was in Helga's mind, seeing and feeling what Helga saw and felt. Helga/Karina was also laying face down in a bed. Bargan, wearing a towel around his waist, was massaging her back. Karina was amazed that she could feel Bargan's fingers expertly knead Helga's back, while her own part of her mind could feel her own back being massaged. She could also feel a sort of panic welling up inside Helga at what was happening to her.

"It's alright, Helga," said Bargan softly. "It's a gift from Aphrodite." Bargan looked upward slightly exasperated. "Although, I do wish Her Divineness would give a little warning." A silver bell blinked into existence over Bargan's head, rang once, and then disappeared.

The third part of Karina's mind was inside Cendri's mind. The young woman was sitting in a six-foot square tub with two young men on either side of her. Through Cendri's thoughts, Karina knew that one of the men was the bath attendant who Cendri had invited to stay and the other had come out of the bedroom when Cendri called for him. Cendri was swapping passionate kisses with both of them as they caressed her breasts. Karina could feel their fingers fondling Cendri's pert tits and pinching her hard nipples. Karina could also feel their hard cocks as Cendri stroked each one with a hand under the water.

The fourth part was inside Ivin's mind. Karina saw through Ivin's eyes that Ivin was being carried by three men into the bedroom from the bath. The men were tall, muscular, and their hard cocks jutted out as they placed Ivin in the center of the bed. Karina sensed confusion in Ivin's mind. Ivin had once perverted her deity's orders from where she taught and gave pleasure to others to where she demanded others to please her. Aphrodite had Ivin raped countless times by twenty-one men all in one night. Ivin never strayed again, but now that she was a guest in Bargan's temple, her role was reversed. Karina could sense Ivin's confusion between that fact that she should relax and enjoy, and her teaching that she has to be the one to give pleasure to others. There was also the fear that Aphrodite would not approve of her being on the receiving end.

Karina was lucky that each part of her mind was separate; otherwise the fifth split would have scared her to death. Through Gedda's eyes, Karina saw that Gedda was climbing up a rope to a support beam about sixty feet above a gymnasium floor. Gedda was naked and Karina could feel the scratchy rope rub against her skin. Gedda looked over and Karina saw another rope hanging down about ten feet away. A naked, red-haired man was climbing up it, keeping pace with Gedda. They both reached the support truss at the same time and climbed up onto the six-inch wide beam. Thrills of exhilaration coursed through Gedda's body.

Despite Gedda's precarious position, it was the final part of Karina's mind that astonished her the most. The final separation of Karina's mind was inside Octavia's. Karina saw that Octavia was in a spacious bedroom and lying down on a large bed with silk sheets. What had astounded Karina was the fact that Octavia was tied down spread-eagled on the bed with a gag in her mouth. Karina could feel the softness and strength of the silken sashes binding Octavia's wrists and ankles. She tasted the texture of the gag as Octavia's tongue ran over it. A blond man, about thirty years old, sat in a chair facing Octavia. He rubbed his chin as he contemplated Octavia's desires and her level of frustration for him to begin. Karina sensed Octavia's frustration, even though she requested this. A thought flitted through that part of Karina's mind that Octavia wanted to try something new and different. She had told Bargan that she wanted to have no control over what happened tonight. What had surprised Octavia was that as soon as the man had secured her, he sat down and did nothing.

"Shhh," hushed a voice in Karina's own ear as the person with her started massaging her lower back. Karina remembered what Tessa had said and closed her eyes. Her lustful desire had not diminished and she wished the hands would just grab her ass to relieve some of the tightness she felt there. Karina wiggled her shoulders to mash her huge breasts and hard nipples into the mattress. Her lust was growing stronger, yet she could distinctly see, hear, and feel what the other five women were doing. Karina moaned and spread her legs apart as the hands massaging her back slid lower over her ass. One hand gently roamed over her round buttocks as the other slipped down to rub up and down over her wet slit. Karina gasped in approval as a middle finger slowly, but firmly wormed its way into her hot, tight vagina.