The Saga of Tallia the Unwilling Ch. 06

"I return to thee, my beloved," echoed a voice in her head. Tallia ignored it. She had work to do.

The two monster men rushed at the Amazon, one trying to tackle her, the other holding a broad blade of bronze. Tallia smiled and in two impossibly quick strokes felled the creatures -- one lost a leg, the other lost his head. She turned to the wizard even as Arion was himself turning to see her rebellion. She could see the third eye begin to open and so she threw the Blade of Celaeno with all her strength straight at the wizard. It flew through the air like a javelin straight at Arion's head just as she had slain the hydra so many days ago on the River Deng. The arc of the throw was flawless, perfect, parabolic and powerful. The sword, in truth a graceless missile, still sped towards its target like a dart of bright metal.

The point headed straight towards the wizard's heart.

The blade froze in midair, floating without any hand upon it, save for the great will of the wizard. The Eye opened and Tallia screamed. Her mind flooded with green flame and agonizing subjugation. She though did not fall to her knees. She began to walk towards her would-be master, slowly, painfully, bathing in the weirdling radiation. The wizard focused and sweat beaded upon his brow. She extended her hands as if reaching forward, grasping for the wizard, but she remained too distant.

She struggled, she fought, she strained with every step closing the distance between Arion and herself. Nearer and nearer, she shook and spasmed in genuine agony. She was close, so close. She would strangle the life out of this monster. She could do this!

Every inch was a labor. Every step was pain. Every moment she felt her whole body burn with green-flame. The Eye commanded her stop. The Eye commanded her to kneel. The Eye! Fuck the Eye! She pressed forward.

And then she fell to her knees, defeated. She was then suddenly surrounded by a dozen Sons of Arion, each holding spears and crude blades upon her. These monster men had stormed into the sanctuary at their master's call and where poised to strike and end her life when...

"Wait!" cried the wizard. "I want her unharmed!"

The wizard came close and whispered in her ear, even as the Amazon knelt before him defeated. "Do you know why I'm not killing you, Tallia?" He took out a small dagger from his belt and held it to her throat.

"Why I am toying with you even now after you tried to kill me? Because you are no threat! You never have been, you imbecile. You are strong, Amazon, but I am beyond strength." He gave the warrior's cheek a shallow, painful, bleeding cut with his knife. He held the bloody blade before the eyes of his proud thrall.

"I am Arion, Master of Masters! I am the Three-Eyed King!" exulted the wizard. "I wield power unknown since the elder days of this world! Your blonde little fuck-toy has led you on a fool's errand. I am a newborn god and soon this age, this epoch will bear my name. I will shatter the thrones of this world and remake every human heart and you and your little friends are powerless to stop me. You had greatness in the palm of your hands, Tallia, but you had not the will to seize it."

He gestured to his guards. "Take this wretch back to her cell!" He glared deep into the Amazon's eyes, which even now shined with green light. "There you will remain to contemplate your failure until I summon you once more to dance for me, my toy."

Tallia watched as the glass coffer's broken panel reformed by the wizard's touch and Arion Three-Eyes caged her sword within once more. She was dragged back to her cell, her blue silk robe ripped from her and roughly thrown back in the cell naked and in chains by her vile captors.

Far above, Arion slumped on his throne, panting and exhausted, unable even to stand. The wizard changed his mind. That sword -- it had resisted his magic. He had barely caught it. That was the closest he'd come to death in decades. He had not known such peril since the damned witch Cassandra. The Amazon -- she had to die.

The time for games was at an end. As soon as he recovered his strength, she would be offered to the Queen of Demons along with all her friends. Star alignments and elaborate ceremonies be damned. Yes, soon they would all be dead and his patron would reward him for his sacrifices, but now he needed rest. He summoned Diagoras and placed a double guard on his personal quarters. He ate a little food, drank a modicum of wine and then fell into a deep slumber. The major domo had seen this before. His three hundred year old master would likely sleep for two, maybe three days. And when he awoke, Diagoras knew he would do all his master commanded of him. Every horrible, unconscionable command -- he would obey.

Back in the cells, Hilarius waited until the monster men were gone and all was once more silent and dark. He picked the lock on his ankle. He rushed over to his beaten, bruised and naked friend and lover. She was alive and breathing but only just. She needed food and water but he had none to give.

So instead he looked deep into her barely open eyes and said, "So, honey, tough day at the office?"

To be continued in Chapter Seven: Pulling Out Just in Time...