RotIQ 05: The Magic Trials

Rise of the Ice Queen 5

The Magic Trials

Slowly. Slowly but surely Beatrice's eyes open to the familiar cavern. She did not dare move yet, her mind still processing what is real. The walls seemed to bend and wave around her with the same consistency of water. She felt numb, but oddly... sensitive. Like she could feel things that weren't there. She did not speak for fear of her tongue falling out, nor did she remember what her voice sounded like. She just stayed lying on the slab, unsure of how much time was passing as she tried to regain her senses. There was one thing that she could say for certain; she had survived the One that Called.

"Are you sure that we should split here? We don't have the Ice Queen to back us up." Catherine, usually the more intrepid one out of the captain duo looked to Astrid, whose eyes were trained straight ahead.

"Suddenly lost your nerve?" Astrid's voice was cold and distant, part of the reason that the oft cavalier Catherine asked in the first place.

"Nah, I just know you, and I know this."

Astrid didn't turn to face her partner, did not even flinch. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Of course you don't." Catherine, the berserker that had made a name for herself in only a few weeks as a harbinger of chaotic fury, shook her head as she walked away from the statuesque Astrid. Her hair, now a pale green instead of her dusty blonde even without the surging magic of the domination armour, started to glow as the thin strips of metal around her frame clenched her flesh before trails of emerald flame flowed behind her. In an instant, Catherine was gone.

Astrid, still motionless, could not bear to let Catherine help her with this. This is her fight alone. The stoic captain sighed heavily before finally moving back to her war camp. Her thirty Knights of Ruin stood behind an army of nearly one thousand soldiers. Four strange machines sat in between the two groups, machines that fired frost-tipped ballistae, shattering even reinforced stone with its frigid magic. This castle, the Castle Worhin, was the largest castle in all of Borea other than the capital of Fherin, yet not one soldier looked nervous.

"Ready for your command." The Knight Command saluted her commander, followed by the other knights as Astrid motioned at ease before taking her position in front of her knights. She wished she could be as comfortable in her armour as Catherine, but she still felt the gazes as her dick hung out, even in her most relaxed state it was never flaccid. There was a bit of wind today and it still felt weird that her breasts, exposed in all their glory, did not feel cold at all. The bindings that wove up her legs gave an almost eerie sense of comfort that she never had felt before in her life.

Whatever. She had to take the steps she did to come to this point, she needed the Ice Queen's power. She knew that the lord welled up in this castle was dangerous, Astrid needed to steel herself to become just as ruthless as she. She should not be the one here...

"Commander!" The scout interrupted Astrid's thoughts as she came running towards her, bowing immediately upon arrival. "News from inside the castle!"

She had sent spies into Worhin when they first began this campaign three weeks ago. This was always going to be the breaking point of this war, especially without the Ice Queen.

"Report."

"Three thousand troops line the castle walls in waiting."

"We already knew we'd be outnumbered."

"But, reports came in just yesterday, about..."

"Spit it out."

"There have been sightings of some Desolate within the castle, ready to fight."

"Makes sense, we are nearly at their border."

"They are said to be of the Red Curse."

Astrid paused at that information. Even though she was from western Borea, she knew very little about their western neighbours. To say there was tension, even before the Ice Queen's ascension would be a severe understatement. The borders between the two countries split one of the largest rivers in all of Aguilar in half, making any travel on it always a contentious issue. But beyond anything was those of the Red Curse, at least that's what Boreans called it.

It had been said that a few Desolate bloodlines were blessed by the Goddess at the Rebirth, but it was harder to parse truth from this legend even more than others because of the nature of the Red Curse itself. Those that can wield it are said to be able to bend the wills of those around them, affecting everything from memories to desires. So it is hard to take any information from a source that can be easily swayed cannot be readily used as truth.

"...Ready the assault."

It's true that this was a large kink in her plans, but she needed to continue. She was too close.

Beatrice still lied motionless, exercising every meditation technique she knew to try to combat this loss of senses. Her vision had come back slightly, but the cavern walls still seemed to phase in and out of existence. She saw that the Trio were sleeping around her, still breathing it seemed. Every breath she took felt stranger and stranger, as if she could 'feel' the air inside her lungs, the strange sensitivity only growing greater with every moment.

One at a time, the Ice Queen move her fingers slowly, then her toes, then her full arms and legs. Her body seemed fine, better than fine, really. She raised her head from the stone, her platinum hair falling over her shoulders. Once the first silky strands brushed against her exposed areolas, the true level of her sensitivity was released. It seemed like every neuron fired off all at once, her body convulsing as she painted the cavern wall in front of her white.

This new state was going to take some getting used to...

Astrid watched as the ballistae rolled into range, wanting so badly to rush in and personally deal her fury. She tried her best to assure her that there would be time for that, that this is not the pushovers that had come before. Especially with the word of the Red Curse within the castle, it will make this whole operation all the more precarious. The wheels come to a stop more than two hundred feet farther than most ballistae, but for these this distance is no problem.

On Astrid's command, all four fire their frost-tipped bolts towards the castle walls. With devastating speed they crash into it causing some of the outer walls to break, the magical frost quickly creeping to anything it can touch making the surrounding walls all the more brittle for the next attack. The castle defenses were powerless as the range of the ballistae was just too far for a counterattack.

She was just about to commence the next wave before Astrid stumbled to the ground. She felt like she got hit by a massive boulder as she struggled to get back onto her feet. Her Knight Command rushed to her side as the other knights surround her in a defensive position, looking for the cause of the phantom attack. Astrid's pride did not want to take her subordinate's hand, but she did not know if she could truly get up otherwise.

"Stand down, it wasn't an attack." She leaned on her knight, her exposed skin tingling with any touch.

"Do you think it might have been the Red Curse?"

Astrid did not know enough about the foreign magic to know for certain that it wasn't, but somehow she could feel that this was not an attack against her directly. It felt like it was just a wind that only she could feel, as strange as that was to say.

"No, proceed with the second volley in my stead."

Her knight nodded as she gently sat Astrid down at the medic tent before returning to the army.

"Fire!" Astrid heard her strong voice in the distance, another reminder of how strong everyone was around her. Both Catherine and her Knight Commands were younger than them, only turning twenty a few months ago, yet they had commanded such respect with their strength and leadership unlike Astrid's noble position and armour. She was more proficient with a blade than the average noble, she had practiced magic more than most as well, but nowhere near the amount that those below them had practiced and toiled just to be commanded by her.

The thoughts came back from when the Ice Queen first gave her the armour, the hesitation if she really was the one who should wear it. She did not have Catherine's inner strength, her goals were petty compared to those of her queen.

Before she could brood any longer, Astrid felt another wave come. This one, however, was much gentler. Instead of overpowering her, it whirled around her figure like an invisible tornado.

Astrid

"My Queen?!"

From the wind came a breathless voice, but Astrid could tell that it came from Beatrice. She stood up immediately, forgoing any physical consequence that there might be.

I require something of you.

"Of course, anything!" She was hoping in whatever manner that the Ice Queen was communicating with her she was not able to read minds. She couldn't help but blush though, thinking of the dominating queen knowing her deepest thoughts.

The queen's voice stopped using words she understood, yet she still knew what she was saying. Astrid focused on the voice until a strange image appeared in her head. Astrid could not comprehend what she saw, but it remained there, as if it was the only memory she had.

Carve it.

"Yes, my Queen..."

Astrid, now flush with passion and desire, took her sword from the ground beside her and started off on her quest.

With Astrid predisposed, Ylina, Knight Command of the Astrid Knights, headed the assault of Castle Worhin as its outer walls lie in ruin. Her powerful legs pumped forward as she and the rest of the army charged through the empty fields before the castle. As they did, the ballistae targeted the towers, desecrating any hope of advantage the defending army might have.

As the assaulting army closed in, Ylina started to conjure her magic, letting her umbral armour course with energy as she tried to assume Astrid's place as best she could. As she approached the cracked but still intact gate, she focused her energy into her sword, swinging it as hard as she could. As it touched the door, an explosion blew open the gate and all the defenders near it.

Now, finally, the assault had begun.

Astrid walked to the side of the castle, the image still burned in her memory. She didn't know what was guiding her, but she felt like she needed to carve it in a certain place. For the first time today, her pure black hair turned a neon orange, the same colour coursed through her armour as well. With her domination armour, she easily cleared the ruined part of the wall as all attention was on the sieging army on the other side. With speed incomparable she blazed around the outskirts of the city to where she was getting brought to.

Before long, she was near the inner keep where the lord of Worhin kept her artifacts. It was also home to some terrible memories, memories that were thankfully kept at bay by the guiding image. She slowed down, she was where it needed to be carved.

With her crystalline sword, she began to carve in the rock wall.

Beatrice stretched once more before cock slapping the still sleeping Trio. She needed them up immediately. Her meat connected over and over again until they had all woken up.

"You could have just rang the bell..."

"I know." Beatrice glanced at the stupid bell. "This was more fun."

The still sleepy Trio accepted their punishment, or reward, with no more resistance as Beatrice already was walking up the stairs out of their cavern.

"Meet me in my room immediately."

Beatrice still felt a bit woozy, but she could feel that she was needed. Her faithful duo had nearly completed her campaign for her while she was out but now she saw that this battle was going to be difficult, perhaps too much for an inexperienced commander like Astrid.

She stopped in at the nursery to grab Helia.

"You're awake!" Helia proclaimed with giddy energy though she knew not to say anything more than that as Beatrice held the pregnant cocksleeve under her arm. Without a word she carried her to the armory where her armour, somehow even more revealing than the domination armour was proudly on display.

"Dress me."

Helia quickly brought the armour to her master and started to cinch it up. It took all her willpower to fondle her master, both for the rare opportunity she had and also the 'punishment', she saw that her master was too busy for her right now. Although, as she cinched up the master's groin, she couldn't help but to give the master's head a little kiss.

The kiss resonated throughout Beatrice, her sensitivity still outrageously high. She snatched Helia's hair and rammed her full cock down her cocksleeve's trained throat. Helia's eyes rolled back as Beatrice used her roughly until she gave her a meal as she held Helia's head at the base as she shot a massive load into her. It was the most intense orgasm she had ever had yet, if anything, she felt clearer than she did before. Helia did not share that same feeling, her cum-drunk face in ignorant bliss as part of her latest service to her queen started to pour out of her mouth.

Beatrice pulled Helia out to the hallway where she dropped her, partly to make sure she doesn't choke in her cum coma and partly just as more humiliation. Even though she has given up any hope of retaking her crown, Helia still needed to go through humiliation training as much as possible.

The Trio were waiting for Beatrice as she entered her room. From a hidden slat she pulled her sword, Winter's call.

"Clean me up."

The one that was closest to the queen knelt down and started to make sure that the queen's other sword was clean as well. The sensation was still as powerful, but Beatrice did her best to control it, she needed to be able to if this feeling never went away.

"Will you tell us why you need us now?"

"No time, just wait."

Astrid was on the last small detail of the image. It had taken all of her concentration to make sure that every tiny line on the image was in place. There was only a couple times that she was interrupted by stray soldiers running past, other than that she had been able to work without attention. And finally she was done. She lifted her sword from the carving as blue and orange lights started to flicker on its surface. With a sigh, she relaxed for a moment.

"What a surprise finding someone as important as Commander Astrid Heron."

Astrid turned around to see a stranger leaning against the stone wall nearly ten feet away. She was dressed in radiant armour of gold and burgundy, her dark skin contrasting against it only to make it more eye-catching. She smiled confidently as she approached the captain, her ponytail bobbing with every step. With every bounce, Astrid felt her strength wane.

"The Red Curse..." Astrid held her sword in front of her even as she felt her mind telling her to stand down. She shook her head, trying to rid herself of this affliction.

"I was hoping you would be the one to lead this attack. You always seemed easier to control."

Astrid tried to concentrate but she had too little energy to maintain her armour's power. Even though it was just a carving, it seemed that it drained Astrid more than she knew. Her orange flames started to fade faster the closer the Desolate came.

"Why are you here?" Astrid gritted her teeth to expel her question. "This is a Borean issue."

"Yet you are here as well." She gracefully slid out a slim, curved sword. "I will say that I am surprised you are still able to move."

"I will never fall to your curse!" Astrid bit her tongue, the pain jolting her mind enough to control enough to keep her guard strong.

"A curse, a blessing..." The Desolate shrugged her shoulders casually, unconcerned with her opponent in front of her. "It doesn't matter what people call it as they are helplessly entangled within it."

The Desolate walked within Astrid's reach, yet Astrid could barely keep her sword up let alone swing.

"You were doomed the moment you released your concentration." She smirked as she placed the impossibly sharp blade on Astrid's cheek, drawing a drop of blood without pressure. "I will take pleasure in this." With a small flick she carved a gash on Astrid but then stopped unexpectedly.

"Not as much as I will have with you." The Desolate looked up in shock to see the towering Ice Queen behind her, the head of her dick already splitting her labia.

"How did you!" Was all she could manage before Beatrice's hand closed around her throat and, with a mighty thrust, broke the Desolate's hold over Astrid. The captain immediately fell to the ground, released from that tight mental hold as two members of the Trio rushed over to her and helped her up.

"Stand up, Astrid." Beatrice was now rhythmically but forcefully pumping in and out of the Desolate warrior. "You still have work to do." The Desolate's flaccid cock was now sputtering cum as she orgasmed again. The two robed women beside her took out a couple of small blue crystals and each placed a hand on the worn out captain.

As soon as they did, Astrid was penetrated by power, energy coursing through her once again. In a moment, her bright orange flames began to flow once again.

"Take them to help with your vengeance."

Astrid nodded to her queen as she began to scale the familiar stairs up to the keep outlook, where she could see her target casting spells to take out the invading army. Behind her she heard a grunt that she knew well, a conquering grunt then Beatrice telling the last of the Trio to "bind her", whatever that meant. Now that she had her target in sight, Astrid could think of nothing else.

"Numun!" She yelled as she swung her sword down on the sorceress lord. Before it landed however, it was met by an invisible sheet of ice.

"Ah, if it isn't Astrid. You had left in such a huff I feared that you wouldn't come back!" Numun cackled as she turned to meet the furious captain. "Now we can have the reunion that I have always wanted."

Astrid did not speak, her fury too great for any sense of communication. The flames roared from the back of her armour as it thrived on Astrid's true feelings.

"Some fancy equipment there, I guess you think it's enough overpower-"

Astrid swung, an orange wave sheering through Numun's shields like butter, inflicting a mortal wound to silence the haughty lord. She stood over her, ready to finish her job until a voice came from behind her.

"If I may interrupt, my dear captain. Could we have her alive?" The two members of the Trio came running up to the poised captain. "That way, you may even torture her more if you feel like it, other than have an empty close to your vengeance."

Astrid scoffed as she stepped away from the dying lord knowing the robed woman's words were true, even if she couldn't accept them.

"Do what you will."

Astrid heard giddy chanting behind her as she overlooked the one-sided battle with the Ice Queen's miraculous appearance. Borea was now the queen's. But what did the future hold for her?

Ylina rushed over to Astrid the moment she saw her in the aftermath of the battle.

"Captain! You're feeling better!" The Knight Command had taken off her helmet, showing off her long red-brown hair. Her smile glowed from ear to ear, a harsh contrast from the ruthless warrior she is on the battlefield. "I was so worried!" She gave Astrid a large hug, one that the captain couldn't help but enjoy.

"I'm fine. Thank you for filling in for me." Astrid cracked a small smile from her melancholic thoughts.

"I did as much as I could, but nowhere close to you!" She paused her hug as she realised what she was doing and stood back from Astrid and saluted her, trying, and failing, to keep a stern face as she did.