The Tattooed Woman Pt. 35

Aventine looked round, "Bearable?"

Hildegard could almost have sworn that the edges of the woman's lips had twitched just momentarily as her eyes licked towards her, "More or less."

Looking to her servant the Matriarch nodded, "And you, Abria, what do you say?"

"Oh, I like her, she's funny!"

Grinning, Aventine shook her head, "You like everyone, you'd never make a Dark Elf."

"Thank the Gods."

"Behave wench, or 'tis back to the scullery with you."

"Ha! Like you could ever manage to even find your clothes, let alone dress yourself in them without me."

With a sigh the Matriarch looked to Matron Livia, "See what I have to put up with."

The older Dark Elf simply raised an arched brow and said nothing.

Turning her gaze back to the floor, Aventine effortlessly schooled her expression, once again donning the cold, aloof, demeanor of Matriarch. The transformation was as instantaneous as it was seamless, and Hildegard felt herself swallow nervously.

"Very well, I am satisfied. Lady Hildegard, I offered you the choice of becoming my Handmaiden. You have now had opportunity to sample the role and learn what that means, and so now, before this company, I would have your formal answer."

Drawing herself up the woman met the Dark Elf's eyes squarely, "Truly, I have no idea what you and your sister see in me. But I accept. You could have kept me in chains, but you didn't. I will serve you and house Varro as best I can, and... be grateful for it."

"Oh, Hildegard, I am a Dark Elf, nothing I offer is freely given and this is no gift. By the time we are done, you and I, then you will have well-earned any honour you might think I have granted you," she smiled, "and as for what we see in you, well that is for us to know, and mayhap for you to learn. For myself I do not think my sister and I have chosen poorly."

She sniffed and squared her shoulders, "Now, Lady Hildegard, I would have you present your charge."

Hildegard hesitated, "Um..." but a servant came to the rescue by gently ushering Garrow forward to stand beside her.

"Ah, Matriarch, you instructed that I find a bodyguard. I, uh, choose her... um, her name is Garrow."

Off to one side Sala winced at the clumsy delivery.

"Indeed," she sighed, "and what are her virtues that compel you to make this choice?"

"She's... big, and she's strong, and... I trust her."

Aventine simply stared, until she eventually gave a snort, "Humans..."

Looking down towards the lower table she spoke, "Master Guage, can you elucidate?"

The big Half-Orc stood and pursed his lips in thought, "Garrow comes to us from the Arena. She's rough and needs much training as well as exercise and careful handling both to rebuild stamina and replace wasted muscle, but, for all that, she's a fine enough specimen. She's strong enough, and she has spirit," he grinned, "and for my part I find spirit's enough more often than not. She'll do."

The Matriarch nodded and her eyes flicked to one side, "And you, Lady Schrade? Are you willing to train her?"

The Dark Elf gave a merry grin that any shark would be proud of and nodded, "Oh yes, quite so. I definitely look forward to teaching her a lesson or two."

Garrow sighed quietly, "Fuck..."

Aventine nodded, "Excellent."

Turning she passed an object to Abria and gestured, "Here then, you will need this."

The servant gracefully moved to stand before Hildegard and with a bow she offered up the object. Hildegard drew a breath as she saw it was a collar of delicately braided leather with a silver emblem. The insignia engraved on the emblem looked familiar but strangely different and she looked up quizzically.

"This is not the markings of House Varro?"

Aventine smiled, "It is not. That is your mark, Lady Hildegard."

"I don't understand."

"It is not possible to faithfully serve two Mistresses. If she is to be your bodyguard then she must answer to no other! You will serve me, and she will serve you, and House Varro shall extend its protection over us all."

Hildegard examined the sigil, seeing that while it at first appeared to be cast from some silver-like metal, it had a far deeper lustre. The engraving was very finely done. In part it encompassed the unicorn emblem of House Varro, but with subtle variation, surrounded by a circular and intricate woven pattern.

Looking back to the Matriarch, she stammered, "This... is me?"

"It is your mark, your sigil, and may one day be the emblem of your own House, Lady Hildegard. It shows we are linked, and anything bearing that sign is under our protection."

She leaned forward in her chair, her unblinking gaze was intent, and her voice was iron, "See that nothing besmirches that sigil, Lady, and that you allow no insult or blow levied against it to ever go unanswered, for it shows that you stand with House Varro and we will not be dishonoured."

Hildegard swallowed, "Yes, Matriarch."

Aventine held her gaze for a long moment before finally leaning back in her chair and making an offhand gesture, "Good, now attend to your vassal and let us see it done."

Turning to Garrow, Hildegard licked her lips nervously as she held up the collar, "I don't..."

Garrow caught her hand in an iron hard grip and her eyes bored into her, "Will you keep your word to me, Human? I've been betrayed enough."

Hildegard nodded, "We'll keep faith with each other Garrow, you and me. And the first chance I get, I'll set you free, my word on it."

The Half Orc sniffed, "So be it then," she grinned suddenly and glanced towards Lady Schrade, "um, do I have to take any shit from her?"

Hildegard eyed the Dark Elf and stifled her smile as she reached up to fix the collar round the throat of the near giantess and she whispered, "Learn what you can, and if she gives you grief feel free to kick her skinny arse all over the palaestra and I'll not complain."

Garrow chuckled, "Fair enough."

With collar fixed Hildegard gripped her arm a moment before turning back to the Matriarch.

Aventine nodded in satisfaction and gave her a bright smile, "Well enough, it appears you are now a woman of property, Mistress Hildegard," she gestured to the empty seat next to her, "now fetch yourself to proper place by my side, Handmaiden, for I have another task to set you."

...

A low evening mist had risen in the glen but overhead the sky was almost unnaturally clear, and Cassie lay back with her head resting on Ellén's warm lap as she gazed up at the spectacular tapestry of stars overhead, all sparkling and glittering like diamonds. The moon was full and brilliant, bathing the ruined tower, the vale and forests with her aethereal glow, and all was still and silent.

The young woman sighed happily, "It's beautiful..."

Gently stroking her fingers through the girl's hair Ellén took in her wistful look, and smiled, "Very."

Supper had been a merry affair, for rations were still plentiful and Lashelle's cooking was better than fair. Varoona had come to sit by their fire bringing portions for all, and a little later Gorsini and Magda had made appearance. The man had entertained them with hilariously bawdy tales of his early days as a sellsword and adventurer that had provoked gales of laughter, and Ellén had told a long-forgotten tale that her mother had once told her. Her eyes had gleamed in the growing darkness as her words weaved their spell, and for a while it seemed the images of wing and scale could be seen in the shifting flames of the witchfire.

Afterwards Magda had sung for them, and her voice had echoed about the camp. Almost all who heard it found themselves pausing to listen and even the cawing of crows stilled.

Later, when the others had retired to their own fires and bedrolls Cassie and Ellén had sat together a while, wrapped in each other's arms, watching the stars and listening as the sounds of the camp grew quiet.

A soft breeze stirred the mist and caused the witchfire in their small hearth to flicker, which was strange and Ellén shivered.

"Cassie?"

She looked up and Adair was there. Standing at the edge of the firelight, and the witchfire reflected as much from her eyes as it did from the gleaming blade of her spear.

Cassie had been asleep that morning when the woman had left in search of Ellén. This was the first time she had seen her since she had been healed and...

"Oh, my..."

Adair tilted her head to one side and smiled as she wagged a finger in gentlest reproof. Her long hair fell down over her shoulders like a gleaming dark waterfall, her pale skin almost glowed in the moonlight and yet her smile and her voice were for once strangely shy, "Cassie, there's someone I'd like you to meet."

The young woman's eyes were already as wide as saucers at what she saw, and her voice distracted, "Wh-who?"

"My... mother."

It took a long moment for the words to register, but when they did Cassie blinked, "Wha-"

The darkness just beyond the firelight congealed, the breeze drew still, even the distant Banshee grew quiet, and She was there.

Cassie looked...

...

"But why?"

They were ensconced in the Matriarch's study indulging in a second supper, much to Garrow's delight, though the Dark Elf seemed content to simply nurse a goblet of wine while the human picked at a few bits of fruit.

Aventine lowered her glass and, brow raised, she regarded her handmaiden cooly. The woman flushed, "I-I'm sorry, it just seems odd that you would want me to kidnap a simple innkeeper."

"I did not say, "Kidnap" as such. I... um, well, now you mention it..."

Hildegard waved her arms in a gesture that was equal parts irritation and frustration, "You said bring her here, "Brook no refusal" you said, "Whatever means necessary" were your very words! What in Hell does that mean if not kidnapping if she says no?"

"Then convince her! Bribe her, offer her incentive, buy the fucking inn out from under her if you have to! But get her here. Oh, and make damned sure you include that scullery maid, and the, uh, cook? I think it's the cook. Get her too."

Hildegard stared, "Buy the inn? What the Hell..."

"Well, I'd prefer you didn't, it would be a bit of a waste given I doubt two sticks of the place will be left standing by the time this is done. But if needs must."

The human woman looked troubled, "Two sticks...? What the Hell are you planning?"

Garrow looked up from the leg of mutton she was cheerfully demolishing and wiped her chin, "What's the problem? We go there, I shove her headfirst in a sack and be done with it."

With a snort the Matriarch reached across and refilled the woman's goblet, pretending not to notice how the simple gesture startled the Half-Orc, "Oh, if only it were that simple. Let us just say I do not wish unnecessary complications. Should this go awry and draw in certain of the woman's relatives and Gods forbid other acquaintances then this could turn most unpleasant in any number of thoroughly unfortunate and quite spectacularly violent ways."

Garrow looked at her glass and eyed the woman, "Why are you being so cordial to me?"

Aventine smiled, "It's a ploy, obviously."

The Half-Orc snorted, "Obviously."

Gesturing to her handmaiden, the Dark Elf fetched Garrow a look that was part mischief and part cold calculation. It was a look her kind did very well, "Hildegard postulates that by treating you fair she might gain your trust and, beyond that, your loyalty. I remain unconvinced as to the validity of such a stratagem, but I confess, the experiment is an interesting one, and I do value loyalty," she grinned, "trust? Not so much."

"So, you do not do this for me?"

"Not directly, though there is no reason you should not profit by it. I do it for her. She is my Handmaiden after all and deserves a fair shake of the bough."

"Fair? A Dark Elf speaks of "fair?"

Aventine sipped from her glass and grinned, "My kind are the fairest of all, my mirror tells me so every morn. But as to your objection let us just say we are very much advocates of the philosophy that, "All is fair, in love and war."

"Well, that's true enough."

The Matriarch leaned back and sighed, "Think on it this way, Garrow. Anyone with wit can see clear as day that Hildegard here is depressingly noble, despite her likely protests. She says she will work to free you, and she means it. Any fool can see that. Doubtless you see it yourself for you would never agree to serve her otherwise."

"I might be lying."

Aventine burst out laughing and near choked on her wine, "Not a chance! You're as transparent as she is. I'll bet coin in any amount you fancy! You'll not break your word. You'll do your best by her, while she does her best by me, while trying to do her best by you! It's hilariously symmetrical and in all respects, I profit."

The Half-Orc sniffed, "You know, I strangled the last pixie who laughed at me."

The Dark Elf didn't so much as quiver, "And doubtless the witless trollop deserved it. Try it with me and I'll spill your guts on the floor before you can fucking blink."

The Half-Orc turned to Hildegard who was cagily eyeing them both, "I'm starting to like this one."

The handmaiden grinned, "She's annoying that way, her sister is worse, far, far worse."

"That the one you're sleeping with?" She hooked a thumb towards Aventine, "I thought it was her for a bit, but 'tis the sister, isn't it? The one who's gone off to the fighting? That's why you look like someone pissed in your soup half the time."

"I do not!"

Aventine chuckled, "I'm afraid her arrow hits the mark there Hildegard, but we stray from the point. Your task remains unchanged. Fetch me this woman, and do it tonight, for matters are progressing apace, and time is becoming an increasingly valuable treasure."

Hildegard looked into the Dark Elf's eyes and saw the discussion was over. She bowed, "Yes, Matriarch."

...

Ellén lunged to her feet as Cassie lolled backwards, eyes wide and black as she stared blindly up at the night sky. Spinning to the dark entity her eyes burned and her lips curled back in a snarl, "What did you do to her you bitc-"

Nemain's gaze flicked to her, "Be still."

Ellén froze, quivering in place as the thing slid forward to crouch before the girl, taking her by the hand, and her voice was surprisingly gentle as she murmured, "Now, now, Cassie, don't frighten us so, come back child."

After a long moment, the woman twitched, and drawing a great breath she blinked, "Oh, you're huge!"

Nemain chuckled, "Not a compliment many women of my age would care for young lady, but I suppose..."

Rising, she turned to the Dragon with a smile and extended her hand, "You must be Ellén. I've heard... so much about you," her grin turned impish, "why, it's almost as if we've already met."

Ellén swallowed as she looked down at the hand, "Is Cassie all rig-"

"She is well, and then some, she just saw something... untoward, I suppose. My, um, sisters have oft said I can be a bit... much."

"T-thank you."

"Oh, she would have awakened in good time I think, though when that would be I would not like to say."

The thing peered into Ellén's eyes causing the Dragon to shiver, "You would have defended her, against me?"

"I would defend her against anyone!"

The creature smiled, "Interesting," she looked down, "will you not give me your hand then?"

"Will I get it back?"

Nemain laughed, and the crows in the nearby trees took flight cawing madly. The creature tilted her head at the sound and her smile widened, "Oh, I like this one! Can I keep her?"

With a sigh Adair shook her head, "I think she's spoken for, Mother."

"Too bad."

Cassie looked up and her voice held a note of childish wonder, "Are you really her ma?"

The thing crouched before her, "I am."

The girl trembled, "T-they say she's my sister."

"She is that."

Cassie's lip trembled, and tears appeared in her eyes, "D-does that mean..."

Reaching out with talons sharp enough they could like as not peel granite, Nemain oh so gently ran her fingers through the girl's hair and nodded.

"W-will you visit? Adair misses you so."

Nemain eyed the three of them, "We'll be there for the wedding."

"Wedding?"

The creature turned and, just as the shadows took her, she looked to Ellén and fetched the young Dragon a wicked grin.

...

With the near infinite patience of a born predator, Sura edged through the undergrowth towards the tower and, such was her stealth, that not so much as a blade of grass had been disturbed at her passing. She moved like a ghost, or a shadow, passing the cunningly hidden outer sentries who, despite their wariness, were left oblivious of her presence.

The scar across her face, from where that Dark Elven bitch had tagged her, still throbbed but she ignored the pain, as she ignored her hunger, and her thirst. Her Mistress was gone, doubtless killed by that bastard Dragon and all that mattered was doing her last bidding. There was no way she would survive this attack, but if she killed the wizard, she would at least be able to look her beloved Mistress in the eye and not hang her head in shame when they met again in Hell.

The Drow's red eyes easily pierced the gloom, and her delicately pointed ears were sensitive to the sounds around her and especially the quiet noises of the nearby camp.

Taking a slow measured breath, she silently slid forward a few more inches.

"My, you're a sneaky wee bugger aren't you."

The voice came from her left and Sura spun instantly, hand slashing out with the speed of a striking cobra.

The hand that slid over her shoulder to drop the thrown knife back into her lap was cold, but not near so cold as the voice that whispered in her ear, "A fine blade, and a sly throw, young Drow. But you'll need to be quicker than that."

Sura looked up into the gleaming red eyes and pale features of the creature looming above her and screamed.

...

Chulainn looked down at the bound woman before him and swore, again. The crimson eyed creature glared back and snarled something, and while the gag might have muffled the likely barb, it did nothing to diminish the venom behind it.

At least the wound in his leg had finally stopped bleeding, and he shook his head in disgust. When he had tried to help the dark-skinned minx to her feet, she had damned near castrated him. She was quick, and vicious as Hell, and had she not been just a little off-balance from her magical tumble she might have plunged her blade fully into his groin, instead of just slashing him across the thigh before a wicked clout with the butt end of his spear had brought her struggles to an abrupt end.

After she woke, he had tried talking to her, but her only responses had been spitting insults in some strange Sylvan tongue, and an attempt to bite his bloody finger off when he had offered her water. So, he gagged her and now was left wondering what to do with the red-eyed maniac.

He sucked at the bleeding teeth marks on his hand as he muttered, "I can't just leave ye here for the beasties you mad wee bitch, no matter how fucking tempting 'tis becoming."

She snarled.

"Aye, I'm sure, yer very sorry, and you promise no to kill me in my sleep," he grinned at her glare, "I know! I can tell just by looking at ye that you're usually such a sweet-tempered wee thing, and this is all like as not just a big misunderstanding."

The tirade of furious mumblings from the creature was probably as colourful as it was inventive but given he couldn't understand a fucking word she was saying he didn't give much thought to removing the gag to listen, and instead sighed, "Shite."

The tall dark-garbed woman simply appeared from the shadows and casually tossed another of the black-skinned creatures to the ground beside the other and he eyed them both incredulously, "Oh good! Another one for my collection, just when I thought I was going to run out. Here lass, do you mind telling me where I..."