Answers to reviewers' questions or statements:
Jebest4781: Yeah, the comics will up until remain issue four which will roughly go the same with some variations but after that, it's all new territory.
Lustful Angel-98: Yeah, someday I might be able to get to that.
Spawn Hades: No Peter will be around for that portion of the story and no 'Goblin's' will have some role in the coup to take Ur from Arkhalla.
Yo: It's kind of what I'm going with here in that Peter is more in tune to his animalistic side, plus we'll see that his upbringing had something to do with that.
CRUDEN: Nah Blade won't be showing up, if he did this would be a very short story since most of the characters will die.
gunman: The raven-haired woman was just some random person that happened to catch Bel's eye for what was supposed to be for his threesome with the queen. A few other Marvel characters will show up yeah or be mentioned at the very least.
Disclaimer: I don't own any Marvel or ARH characters seen, mentioned or used
It was near midnight that Arkhalla, after spending the better part of the day with Peter and the other woman ravishing each other in a multitude of ways that would leave even a whore blushing, was making her way down to her 'bath' which wasn't too far from the dungeons clad only in a green peacock like cloak that rested on her shoulders to keep her mostly covered with only her guards and the young man that caught her attention earlier last night.
She casted a brief glance at the little thing and frowned at how skinny he was 'Hmm, not much for pleasure, but I'm sure he'll be useful in other ways'
Arkhalla nodded at this as she and her entourage had arrived at her bath and she grinned at the three men and one woman strung up upside down over the bath all bare and with looks of absolute fright on their faces. She also made out Bel's form not too far away and had to suppress a look of annoyance on her face at seeing the man that she was still angry with as she disrobed and approached her bath as the men holing the prisoners secured the chains before grabbing long staves with curved blades on the ends and began to cut large tears across their bodies, completely draining them of blood and drenching Arkhalla in their blood like as if it were raining while it pooled and gathered in her bath until it reached her ankles before looking up at the men.
"Bring me more, I wish to completely submerge myself today" Arkhalla said with a blood-soaked smirk while she rubbed the crimson liquid across her naked form.
"Yes my queen…" the guards replied as they began to bring forth more prisoners and do the same until eventually Arkhalla was standing chest deep at the bath's deepest before signaling for the men to stop as she washed herself with the gore of her kingdoms slaves and peasants.
She than finally glanced at Bel who was standing next to her new kneeling slave boy and gave him a curt nod, still crossed with the man but after an amazing time with Peter, she supposed she could be a little more kind to the man "Speak Bel, I will allow you that much for the evening"
Bel nodded as he gathered his thoughts before he cleared his throat and began to speak, being mindful to watch his tone, knowing that Arkhalla is possibly still unhappy with his brief error yesterday.
"With Lakar taken, the only city that might pose a danger is Carcosa" Bel said as he watched his queen bath herself in the pool of blood before continuing "Unless we move on south to the port cities of Dilmun"
Arkhalla hummed at this as she scooped up a bit of blood in her hands before running it across her face and letting it drip down her neck and across her breasts and into the pool "No, it's too early in the day"
"Carcosa it is then" Bel nodded as he stood a little straighter "My men are rested and ready"
Arkhalla hummed at this as she submerged herself for a moment before rising with a gasp while she ran her hands across her body in a very sensual manner, knowing she had the attention of everyone in the room on her and loved it.
Bel watched her with obvious lust before he decided to speak on something that's been troubling him for some time now "The conscripts concern me though. I swear humans are just not made of the same stuff as in your father's day. Whining about the grain shortage, complaining that their families are starving"
Arkhalla listed to Bel as she moved towards the edge pf the pool and took a chalice that was being held by one of the servant girls and took a generous sip of the liquor as Bel continued on.
"Of course all complainers are put to the sword. But I did check the granaries and the shortage is genuine" Bel revealed with a sigh at how fragile and meek humans can be without a little food "There haven't been nearly enough supplies from the north provinces. I think Governor Izdubar is more concerned with draining the villages of Tibira then making sure they have a good harvest"
"I see…" Arkhalla said as she finally emerged from the pool, the blood dripping down her body.
Bel watched this until he saw the young man that his queen had spared last night and scowled as he saw the human stare at his queen. He narrowed his eyes at the man and growled "Eyes down wrench, you are not worthy"
Arkhalla chuckled at this as she approached the boy and gave him a coy grin "You seem a little flushed. Is it the gore, or is it me?"
He then cupped the man's crouth and grinned as she felt he was a little hard "Mmm, maybe a bit of both?"
She gave his groin a hard squeeze that caused him to hiss in pain before releasing him and stepped away with a smirk 'Still, not as large as Peter is…'
She then glanced down at the boy "What is your name?"
"I have no name" he said with anger thrown towards her "Are we not all wretches to you?"
Arkhalla quirked a brow at this while Bel backhanded the man with a powerful smack. She chuckled as she saw some blood dripping from his mouth "That was the wrong answer"
She than glanced at Bel in amusement "I need a new body slave. He'll do"
Bel stared at her in silence before he slowly nodded "…As you command"
He then took the robe she wore earlier from one of the girls and held it out for Arkhalla while her new slave was taken away by one of her guards. Bel gave the young man a look of disgust as he used his head to gesture towards him "Clean him up and put him in the slave pin"
Arkhalla waited until the guard and the others were gone along with her new slave when she suddenly snatched Bel's sword from his waist and grabbed him by the back of his head and pulled it back to expose his throat where she placed the edge of his blade. Bel was taken by surprise and was about to ask what she was doing before she spoke in a cold whisper.
"You questioned my decision. It's as clear on your face as it is in your mind" Arkhalla's eyed narrowed in rage before she leaned in closer, the tip of Bel's sword breaking the skin slightly and causing a small stream of blood to leak out "General Bel, your one of my late father's oldest supporters and most trusted warriors, but do not think for a moment that gives you any influence over me. Or it'll be you hanging up there with your throat cut at my next bath!"
She then released him before shoving him away as she picked up her cloak and waved him off "Now leave me, I wish to be alone"
Bel held a hand up to the wound on his neck to stem the bleeding as he reached down to retrieve his sword before sheathing it "As you wish…"
He then turned on his heel and left Arkhalla to her thoughts.
The Undying Queen watched him go for a few moments before he disappeared from sight and she let out a sigh of annoyance at Bel's actions lately. He was starting to reflect Morbius in his final days at her court before he betrayed her and fled into the wilds after nearly killing her and several others.
'Though if he does try something similar as his late cousin, I'm sure Peter will be more than willing to end him for me, especially after the gratitude I showed him earlier by slaying Morbius' Arkhalla thought with a chuckle as she began the journey back to her room to dress and see if her latest consort was still asleep or not.
It did not take her as long to return to her quarters and for her to see that Peter was now awake, the woman they shared last night already gone. She quirked a brow as she saw him washing his chest piece of his armor with a rag and a small basin of water.
"I could have someone do that for you… even repair it if you wish" she said as she stepped into his field of vision before disrobing and began to adorn herself in a similar attire she wore last night.
Peter glanced at her for a moment before answering as he returned to cleaning his armor "Forgive me my queen, but I'll die before I let another clean, repair or touch my armor…"
Arkhalla paused in slipping on her crown before glancing at Peter with an amused expression as she placed a hand on her hip "You didn't seem to mine me helping you out of it last night"
At this Peter chuckled "I'll make the occasional exceptions, especially to beautiful women such as yourself"
"Charmer…" she purred as she walked over and saw the bite marks on his shoulder and leaned in to lick and kiss them.
Peter casted a glance at her before he resumed his cleaning before setting the chest piece down and reaching for his gauntlets and activating the mechanism that unsheathes the silver blade, the sunlight reflecting off it's surface as if it was the fabled waters of Symkaria.
Arkhalla paused in her actions and casted a curious gaze at the blade and saw a multitude of inscriptions written in some language she's never seen before etched on the blade "Remarkable craftsmanship"
"Made it from the broken shards of my old sword" Peter said as he examined the blade for any defects "Didn't feel right to just discard it after everything I've been through with it. Least this way it's still useful"
Arkhalla hummed at this as she made to retrieve her scepter before looking over her shoulder at the man and watched as he held up his wrist towards where the rest of his belongings were and did something she didn't quite expect.
TWIP!
A single line of something that smelled like the numerous webs in the caverns below her palace shot forth from his wrist and snagged a particular pouch before he yanked it over and grabbed it with his hand and removed a small stone from it and began to rub it against the blade's edges, sharpening it and filling the room with the screech of stone on metal.
"So, you are one of 'them'…" Arkhalla said aloud as she mentally reviewed everything she's gathered from the man since she first laid her eyes on him.
From his armor, to his rapid healing given all of his marks are now healed, enhanced strength given that last night he was able to physically overpower her and their bedmate at the same time and how he was able to last the better part of an entire day with two vampires when a mere human would barely last an hour at best with one, let alone one as powerful as Arkhalla.
"One of who my queen?" Peter asked as he didn't turn to meet her, instead concentrating on sharpening the blade in his hands.
"One of the fabled warriors of Aranece" Arkhalla stated as she turned to retrieve her scepter.
"Oh, that… wellI was, now I'm just a…" Peter trailed off as he tried to think of a word but came up short "Just a man getting by in the world I suppose"
"Indeed" Arkhalla said as her thoughts raced at the knowledge that she had one of the most sought-after foot soldiers in the world. After a few moments, she made a decision that could very well expand her power far greater then she could ever hope to achieve on her own. She already made plans to keep him enthralled in her service, but having him confirm what she was already suspecting made her all the more determined to have him under her command…
'And under me in other ways' Arkhalla mentally chuckled before speaking aloud "Peter… how would you like to make more gold then you've ever seen in your life?"
At this, Peter turned towards her with an interested expression.
"…I'm listening"
Arkhalla smirked as she slowly approached Peter "Morbius was once one of my finest warriors, but after he left, he killed a number of my men that I've since had to use a large number of conscripts to try and fill the hole he left and given that you've killed him… Well I find my army in need of someone of your talents"
"Really?" Peter said with a raised brow.
"Yes, and I'm willing to pay you" Arkhalla said as she leaned in toward Peter with a seductive grin "Be it money… women… and if you prove yourself like you have with Morbius… me"
Peter stared at her for several moments before he answered "Well, I'd have to be daft to turn down such a generous offer like that"
"Good" Arkhalla said as she stood up and turned to leave "When you're done cleaning your armor, head down to the barracks and get yourself familiar with some of the officers that'll be under your command"
"Your giving me an officer's post?" Peter said with surprise, he wasn't expecting that much standing in her army right off the bat.
"Would you prefer to take orders from them instead?" Arkhalla asked with a frown.
"No, no, just wondering if your aware that some of your officers may not be too pleased that someone that's not one of them is giving them orders" Peter said with a shrug as he returned to cleaning his armor.
"Well…" Arkhalla said as she turned and left "I'm sure you'll have no trouble getting them to accept it, one way or another"
Peter's response was to chuckle as he lifted up his helmet and began to polish the dark red metal as it's glass like eyes stared back at him for the next few minutes. After he was done he casted a brief glance around the room.
"Well… looks like I'll be staying" Peter said as he stood up and approached his belongings and reached for a small pouch that was carefully secured and hidden amongst his things "Might as well get a lay of the land, never know when it'll come in handy…"
He opened the pouch before sticking his hand inside and began to speak in a rather soothing voice, as if speaking to a baby "Come on… come on… that's it… there we go"
He then pulled his hand out to show that he had eight black widows attached to his hand. After making sure they were secured he stood up and approached the door and listened to hear if the guards were still there, interestingly enough they weren't which caused Peter to smirk as he opened the door and casted a brief glance around and used his enhanced senses to make sure there was no one else nearby before he kneeled on the ground and let the Widows off his hand.
"You know what I want, captain of the guard, General Bel, whoever her spy master is… all of them" Peter said as he watched the small black spiders disappear into the shadows as they went about searching for their targets.
If Peter was going to stay in Ur for a time, he might as well know who to keep an eye on…
…
And done.
Peter inspects the troops, encounters Bel and has to find a way to take a bunch of half-starved conscripts and turn them into a descent fighting force to command.
