CH 4

Eric rode on for the second day and came into a farming village of a dozen houses clumped together. No Inn, no store. Damn it. Seeing a man and a woman working to unload a cart of vegetables, he stopped by them. "Excuse me, I heard there was a castle around here someplace?"

They looked up at him. "Down the road is Lord Picon's castle," the man said. "You another swordsman looking to be hired?"

"Nope. Came to trade," Eric replied. "By the way, you folks know of a girl named Cynthia? Long dark hair, kind of skinny?"

The woman frowned at him. "Lord Picon's men came for her, she ran away. My Amy had to go, never came back. Since Cynthia ran off, her parents were taken to the castle."

"Her parents?" Eric asked.

"Yeah," The man agreed. "If Cynthia don't come back, they'll be killed!"

"That so?"

"Yeah. Mr, you want nothing to do with Lord Picon! If ya do, we want nothing to do with you!"

Eric grinned and said, "I got a surprise for this Lord. If anyone asks, you didn't see me." He then rode on.

Clearing the village, he continue on another mile through farmland to see a castle rising in the distance. Seeing a pond close to the road, he stopped to rest his horse and let him water. The castle only had two towers and from here he could see the peak of a single manor house. Judging by the men he'd met and the modest size of this castle, this Lord Picon wasn't someone with wealth. Eric knew there was no possibility for trade, but he was very curious where these girls were going. Most likely the slave trade he figured.

Riding on, he got to the manor with fifteen foot curtain walls of stacked stone. The gates were plank, strapped with plank, not even iron. Above, the wall was smooth, no parapets. The moat was a dry moat with sharpened sticks at the bottom. Yup, this Lord didn't have much at all. The town here wasn't much bigger then the village he passed through.

Coming up to the wooden bridge that was fixed in place, he stopped in front of the gate guards and announced himself. "I'm Eric Carvon, I came to see your Lord for a trade."

"You bring gold?" one guard asked.

"Nope, I brought steel."

"This way," The guard said and walked inside.

Eyeing the courtyard, Eric found wooden battlements against the wall. The guard asked a servant where Lord Picon was. He was in the back in the practice yard.

Eric was shown to the single stable and watering trough. Eric tethered his horse at the watering tough and followed the guard on foot around the building.

"You better be able to pay," the guard warned. Lord Picon isn't very kind to jokesters who can't pay up."

"I think I got more money that your Lord does," Eric told him.

Coming around to the back, Eric noted a man was being knelt down, his head on a block. A headsman stood by. A well dressed man pointed to the man on the block and yelled to a bound woman, "You will tell me where she is, or watch him die!"

The woman cringed but kept quiet.

"Excuse me!" Eric said loudly.

The well dressed man only glanced at him. "Headsman, do your job!" he said.

"NO!" the woman cried.

The headsman raised his axe high. Eric pulled a pistol and shot him. The headsman fell backwards, dead. Now, everyone was watching him.

"I don't like to be ignored," Eric said loudly. "I'm looking for Lord Picon."

The man in the fancy clothes glared at him. "You just killed one of my men!" he barked.

"I've killed a lot of people," Eric said, striding towards him. "You Lord Picon?"

The guards rushed over to stand in front of their Lord,. They all looked nervous. The one by him backed off few steps and raised his spear at Eric.

"I am, what do you want?" Lord Picon snapped.

"Came to trade," Eric said and pulled out the bar of steel he brought. "I got solid steel. You game for a trade?"

"Steel? Not gold?" Picon asked gazing at the bar Eric was holding up.

"That's right. Business first, if you're game. You can have your little party here after," Eric stated. He was betting on this Lord being very upset that Eric just strode in, killed a man, then demanded to have his way. He wasn't disappointed.

Lord Picon, pushed his way though the guard fence in front of him. Eyeing the steel bar, he asked, "Steel, not iron? How much do you have?"

Eric hefted the bar and said, "High quality carbon steel." He looked around and added, "And I got more for sale if you can afford it. You got gold?"

Greed shined in Picon's eyes. "I can afford much. Where is this steel?"

"Partner's watching it for me. I asked if you had gold." He then frowned at the woman. "What's up with her?"

"Just an unruly peasant that hid her daughter." Picon said with wave of his hand. "Tell me where this steel is."

Eric asked, "This daughter, her name Cynthia?"

"You've seen her?" Picon asked.

This guy wasn't mad yet. Eric had to help him along. "Yeah, she's at my camp. By the way, did you send hounds and men after her?"

"They will bring her back," Picon said firmly.

"No they won't," Eric replied. "I was coming this way and saw the dogs running at me. Thought they were after me so I killed them. The men and their horses too. Told my partner to chop the horses up for meat. No sense wasting all that horse flesh."

Picon flushed in anger. "That girl is mine! You will bring her back here!"

"No, I won't. I found her, she ain't yours any more."

Pico paused then said, I'll take that bar of steel you got for payment." He held his hand out.

Eric laughed. "A whole bar of steel for one girl? You are out of your mind, or crazy. Sides, I ain't payin for what I already got. You want to trade, or what?"

"Guards, kill him!"

That was what Eric was waiting for. He quickly drew his cap pistols. He shot the guard by him and Picon at the same time, then leveled his guns on the other guards. "Any man that don't want to get killed, drop your spears and walk away."

They looked at Picon who was lying dead, his chest growing a large blood spot. One by one, they dropped their spears and stepped back, then turned and walked back around the manor. Eric waited until all of them except a boy was walking away. The boy was staring at him.

Eric pointed a pistol at him. "You boy, got a knife?"

The boy shook his head.

"You know where those where the girls this guy grabbed are?"

He nodded.

"Stay there a moment." Eric told him. He drew his boot knife and cut the woman free, then the man who was still kneeling at the block.

"You know where my Cynthia is," the woman asked.

"She's safe," he replied. Tikiez appeared beside him in full demon form. "You said you'd call for me," she snapped.

The boy screamed and ran back into the manor.

Eric shrugged. "Sorry. Find those girls that scumbag grabbed, get them out of here. Feel free to kill anyone in your way."

"Yes, Master," she replied with a smirk and disappeared again.

Eric turned to the couple who were also gaping at him. "Once I get back to camp, I'll let Cynthia know you're all right, and she can come home if she wants."

"Thank you," the man said sincerely.

"Yes, thank you!" the woman cried.

"I'll be back in a few days, Cynthia will be with us. You can see her then," Eric told them then walked back the way he came.

"Who are you?" the man asked.

"Eric Carvon. And there better not be any more stealing girls from their families," he said loudly.

Eric was expecting a gauntlet of guards ready to pounce on him as he walked into the courtyard. There were a gaggle of guards, they were talking in a large group, Upon seeing him, they froze. Pausing to eye them, he said, "Any more girls get stolen from their families, and I'll be back, and I'll kill every one of you sons-a-bitches."

He strode over to his horse and got on. The manor doors opened and a stream of girls ran out followed by Tikiez. Tikiez watched the girls run out of the gates then called over, "Master, I only had to kill a few men. Are these guys fair game?" she asked.

"Not yet, get back to camp. I'll see you there."

"You're no fun!" she growled and disappeared. All the guards turned to eye Eric.

"Best remember what I told you," he said, then rode out of the gate.

.

Eric got back to camp to find Cynthia looked different. Her long hair was braided up allowing her face to show. Instead of wrapped in her cloak a tightly as possible, it hung freely off her shoulders. Around her waist was a sword belt. There was no slouch to her posture, she stood tall to greet him.

"Welcome back, Thunder." she said clearly, no meekness at all.

Eric had to grin. Obviously, Tikiez had been working with her. "I see a change for the better," he said. He got off his horse and teetered it nearby. He pointed to the sword. "T show you how to use that?"

"She did," Cynthia said proudly and drew a long, thin blade. "T made it for me. We've been practicing. I'm not a strong man, but with speed and wounding stabs like Lightning showed me, I'm not afraid any more."

"Lightning?" he asked.

"Yes. You are Thunder, T is Lightning."

"That works I guess," he agreed.

Tikiez appeared dressed the same as Cynthia. She beamed Eric a bright smile. "Cynthia is ready for her destiny," she announced.

"Just don't go causing fights," Eric cautioned. "We leave in the morning."

"After a full night of relaxation and fun," Tikiez agreed.

Cynthia looked at Tikiez and blushed.

Tikiez pointed to Eric, "It's Master's time for some fun."

"Him too?" Cynthia asked in a squeak as she blushed deeper.

Eric didn't want to know what that was about. He decided to go over and see if there was anything to eat in the pot over the fire. "Gotta eat something first," he said.

Having brought the grill plate and some spices and olive oil from Chicago, Tikiez made horse steaks and grilled them over the coals in the fire with some sweet potatoes on the side. The marinate was thin, but usable. In Cynthia's cup, she added a bit of sleeping potion. They had a great meal, Cynthia fawned over her cooking. Not long after they ate, Cynthia had a good long snooze. Tikiez put her in the back of the wagon, then she guided Eric into the hut for some long overdue sex.

.

It took two whole days to return to the village. Eric stopped outside Cynthia's house. Cynthia called out, "MOM, I'm back!" and leaped off the wagon. Her mother came out and got plowed into by Cynthia.

Happy to see her daughter, the woman held her tight and cried. After a few minute, she held Cynthia at arm's length and her face grew wide. "Cynthia! Where have you been? You have a sword?"

Cynthia pointed at the wagon. "I was with Thunder and Lightning. Come meet them."

Her mother took a few steps and stopped, seeing Eric. "You, you killed Lord Picon and saved us."

"Yup, while I was doing that, T taught Cynthia a few things," Eric said, jerking a thumb at Tikiez. I don't think she'll be as easy drag off to a castle any longer."

The woman looked at her daughter again. "I imagine not. She looks like a real swordswoman."

"She is a real swordswoman," Tikiez said. "Cynthia learns fast once I got her to see her potential."

"And this sword is really light and strong," Cynthia boasted. "Lightning made me practice with it. That was hard and I'm sore afterwards, but I am getting better every day."

"Cynthia, don't forget your share of the horse meat," Eric said and nodded at the bed of the wagon.

"Oh, right!" She ran to the back and pulled out a long shank wrapped in cloth. "We got meat Mom, lots of it!"

"Where did that come from?" her mother asked.

Cynthia hefted the shank up on her shoulder. "Lightning killed the riders and their horses. She thrust her hands out and hit them with lightning bolts. You should have seen it! Then she got lots of meat from the horses before she buried the carcasses. "

The mother looked at Eric. "Yes, and you call him Thunder, he makes loud noises and men drop dead."

"He does." In a serious tone, Cynthia said, "They taught me not to be afraid, Mom. I won't be if any other men come here looking to steal girls away."

Going over to Eric, the mother asked, "Won't you stay for a while? At least let me make you dinner."

"We gotta go, Ma'am, but thanks for the invite," Eric told her with a nod. "You folks take care of yourselves."

After 'Thunder and Lightning' left, Cynthia took the meat inside and hung it up where her mother showed her. Her dad got home and Cynthia showed then a bit of what she learned.

Watching her jab at a post with quick strikes, her Father said, "She's quick, kinda looks like a snake striking."

Taking a swing at the post using the tip to attack like Lightning showed her, she felt the strike hit and go through the post. The top part fell to the ground. Cynthia stopped and looked at the sword and the post she just cut neatly in half.

That made her wonder what else Lightning had done to the sword besides reshaping it.

Her parents had no doubt that Cynthia was now a swordswoman.

.

Passing through the town with the castle, no one approached Eric's wagon. If anything, people got out of the way. A few people cheered them on their way past.

Traveling on, they came to a place where the road looked like it used to split, but now only one path was worn.

"We need to go to the left," Tikiez said, indicating the overgrown road.

"Figures," Eric grumbled. This was worse than a goat path. He had to keep stopping to let Tikiez chop down trees and move them out of the way.

Night fell and they were in the woods, the old tracks passing between trees and to each side of a few large ones. Tikiez stayed in her demon form, radiating power to scare any animals away. Eric fed and watered the horses in place, in case they needed to move out quickly. They agreed to take turns keeping watch. Tikiez took the midnight to morning. She didn't need light to see when their small fire burned down.

The next two days was the same, making their own road though the leftovers they were following. The third night, something large came close, but Tikiez let out an animal like growl and projected a bit of fear, and it quickly moved away.

After what seemed forever, the woods led them right up to an open gateway in a stone wall. Again, Tikiez cleared some trees out of the way, even in the courtyard so Eric could bring the wagon in.

Looking up at the castle, it had moss on the stones, but looked intact. "This place is old," Eric said vacantly.

"One of my sisters is in there," Tikiez said firmly.

"Let's go get her," Eric said. He got a coupe torches out of the back and his .30 30, and made sure he was fully loaded. Anything could be in this place, the front doors had fallen in a long time ago.

Stepping inside, Eric noted the musty smell of disuse, but nothing to be concerned over. He let Tikiez lead as they entered the foyer. The inside, like the outside was intact, only unused for a long time. They scared some bats and a few small animals. Nothing to be concerned over. Tikiez pointed to a dark hallway. "This way," she said.

Eric held out a torch. "Light this for me." She breathed on it, igniting the torch. "Thanks."

A few snakes slithered away from them as they went deeper. From behind a double set of doors that were still intact, a voice called, "In here, help me!"

"Stay back from the door!" Tikiez called. She pushed. It didn't open.

"Is it barred from your side?" Eric asked loudly.

"Yes!'

"Then take the bar out!" He told her.

"I can't, it's too far away."

"Until someone picks it up, she has to stay close to her amulet," Tikiez said. Tikiez faded from view then snapped back in place. "I can't go through, there's a magic seal on the door."

"Try from the side," Eric suggested.

Tikiez did. She faded out then returned to where she started.

Maybe that bar was rotten like the rest of this place. Eric shouldered hard into the doors. They didn't move. He then motioned to the door and said, "Burn it."

Tikiez drew in a deep breath and breathed fire on the door. The fire splayed out. The door was untouched. Drawing a deeper breath that made her torso expand, Tikiez tried again. Fire splashed past the door to both sides and heated up the hallway. The doors were untouched.

"Something has to affect these doors," Eric grumbled loudly.

From the other side, the voice said, "Before he died, my Master said to make the door invulnerable to attack, and put a magic shield around the whole room."

"How in the hell are we suppose to get you out of there!" Eric raged. "Cancel your magic!"

"I can't. I have no Master to order me to."

"This is just great," Eric spat. They come all this way to find this demon had sealed herself into a prison. "Is the floor and ceiling shielded too?" he asked.

"Yes, unfortunately."

Eric looked at Tikiez. "Any ideas?"

"This shield stops any magic and the door stops … everything!" she said, waving a hand at the door.

Eric thought hard about what she said, then had an idea. He moved to one side of the doors. "T, get behind me."

When she was behind him, he pulled a colt pistol (less smoke) and shot the door. The bullet ricocheted down the hallway.

"I could have told you that would happen," Tikiez grumbled.

Eric moved to the middle of the doors and took aim at the stone wall. He shot again. Again the bullet ricocheted down the hallway. Aiming at the same spot, he shot again.

"Are you having fun? You're killing my ears!" Tikiez complained.

"Look," Eric told her. "I shot the door, nothing." He moved over to the wall. "Look here, the shots took out stone chips."

Tikiez glared at him. "At that rate, by the time you're though, we'll be stone DEAF!"

"We can dig through the stone wall," Eric told her. "Find something to break up stone, like a hammer and chisel."

Tikiez brightened up. "Yes, Master!" She ran off down the hallway.

Eric leaned his torch against the wall by the door. The hallway was empty, nothing here to batter stone with. He also hadn't brought anything like that in his supplies.

"Is anyone still there?" the voice from inside called.

"Still here. We're working on it," he replied.

"I heard the booms. Magic won't work."

"We figured that out."

"Maybe of you can break through the wall."

"We figured that out too. We need something to do that with." Eric noted the tight seams, each stone was cut and set perfectly. There was no room to pry them apart. Push them through maybe, once a gap was created. He kicked the wall. Nothing but a sore foot. He had to try it. There had to be something he could use.

"I'll be back," he said and grabbed the torch.

Going out to the wagon, Eric tried to think of what might be useful. He needed a hammer. A steel ingot would fill the bill there, he got one out. He took the ingot back in and slammed a corner of it into the wall. Stone chips came out. He beat at a seam with the ingot. The corner of the ingot was rounding, but he was making some progress. A large chip came out when he hit it again.

The torch was dying, he lit the other torch and kept pounding away at one block of the joint. He made a decent sized crack on the block.

By this time, he was sweating. Another hard hit and the crack broke into a few cracks. He tapped away to get the cracks to spread, then used his knife to dig them out. He was in half a finger length into the stone block. Progress. Aiming a little lower with a fresh corner of the ingot, he dug away and got another crack to form. Again, he pried it out with his knife.

Tikiez returned with a rusty iron bar and a hammer head. "This was all I could find," she said apologetically.

"Might be enough," he told her and kept at the edge of the hole he was making. Digging in to a full two inches deep, he wailed on the stone gain and it shifted to push in.

Eric grabbed the rusty bar, shoved it into the crack and pried. Holding the bar in place, he told Tikiez, "Hit the bar right where it's touching the stone with the steel ingot."

She did, slamming the ingot onto the bar. The bar rang and Eric let out a yelp and let go.

That stung. He could also see darkness in the block. He stuck the pry bar in and this time when he pushed, the block visibly moved farther in. The other side of the block was separated from the rest of the wall. He worked and pried at that.

"You're doing it!" a much clearer call came from inside.

Pry, push and working the damaged stone block and it fell into the room. The blocks were maybe two feet by maybe three wide. He was going to have to take out a few to get inside.

Eric worked at the one beside it next. Wailing on this one with the steel ingot got it to move in. A small bit at a time, but it was working. When the edge was inside the room, Eric pried on the edge that was hanging inside the room. He got it to move, then worked at the seam edge. The block was stubborn but moved with a grating sound.

Having the hole wide enough, Eric had Tikeiez hit the block above that was between them. One solid strike and the block fell out.

"About time!" Eric took his mostly burned out torch and went through the hole. Inside at the edge of his torch light, he saw a naked female figure jumping up and waving. He knew he effect Tikiez had on him when he first saw her, so he didn't look directly at her.

"Where's your amulet?" he asked as he advanced, watching to the side.

"On the skeleton in front of the throne chair."

Eric went over to the skeleton crumpled in front of the throne. He pulled the thing aside. The skull rolled off and the bones came apart. He picked up the amulet and was gripped in a bear hug.

"I'm yours now!" she cried.

"Hang on," he replied and studied the writing on the amulet. "So you're … Saphrin?"

She gasped. He finally looked at her to see a curvy red head. Casting her green eyes on him, she asked, "You can read my name?"

"Yes, get those doors open, and give us some light."

"Yes, master!" She ran over and tossed the bar off and opened the doors.

Eric strode out. "Come on, let's go."

Saphrin stopped. "What about my old master's treasure? Don't you want that?" she asked.

Eric pushed her towards the entrance. "Never pays to be greedy. Move."

The sun was lower as they emerged out of the castle. Saphrin had cast a sheer harem outfit over herself with a red bra and very brief groin cover under it that was clearly visible. Yup, she looked great. Great ass , long legs, and although not quite as endowed as Tikiez, she still bore an impressive set of boobs.

Tikiez made herself a similar harem outfit to wear, only all black.

Eric had a feeling there was some competition between them going on already. He also knew if Saphrin was going to do much, she need energy. He pulled her into a hug and gave her a deep kiss. She responded with a cooing moan and gripped onto him tightly. He also felt her draw out some energy. He broke the kiss.

Grinning broadly at him, Saphrin said, "Take me, please!"

"Hold onto that thought,". He looked at Tikiez, "Sense any others?"

"Not yet. Maybe if I had some more energy," she said in a hint.

Right. Now he had rabidly horney demon times two. He looked around the courtyard. This was as good of a place as any to spend the night, he figured. It was a good thing these two were super sexy. He had the feeling he was going to be worn to a frazzle by the time they were done with him.

Like Tikiez, Saphrin didn't care how he took her. Top, bottom, sitting on the tail gate of the wagon. Even if he was just kissing and playing with their breasts. As long as he was paying attention to them and really wanted them, which he did. If fact, by just kissing and playing, he could take care of them on either side of him.

Eric passed out exhausted. His demon girls though were pumped, getting plenty of lustful energy from him. So much energy that while Eric himself slept, they restored and cleaned up the castle.

.

In the morning, Eric couldn't help but see the new-looking castle. All the trees and brush was gone from the courtyard. Being led inside - after a few lusty kisses from each - Saphrin took him and Tikiez on a tour of the now lit castle interior that had all the oil sconces burning. Even the wall he had dug through was repaired.

In the throne room Eric asked, "Saphrin, why did your former Master have you lock him in here like that?"

"I was trying to keep out Lord Soth," she said with a huff.

"Soth? You're sure of that name?" Eric asked intently.

"He's a damned Knight. He died long ago, but his spirit still inhabits the land," she explained. "He works for the evil Gods. He got past everything I could do, walked up to Master and put his ghostly hand in Master's chest, killing him. I tried to slice him, burn him, fry him. Nothing worked. That's how I got stuck there."

Eric frowned. "You'll know this Soth it you see him again, right?" he asked . She nodded. "Can you sense him?" he asked.

Saphrin shook her head. "No. I didn't know he was there until he appeared before Master."

Soth, the knight who ran away and allowed millions to die in the cataclysm. Soth was still around and causing trouble. "What did your Master do to make Soth come kill him?" Eric asked.

"Master liked to help others and got rid of people who were abusing others. He went to war against some Black Knights and defeated them," Saphrin explained.

"Master, you've been doing the same thing," Tikiez told him, looking worried. "This Soth may come after you. From what Saphrin says, if he comes, I can't protect you."

Eric thought about that. For what he did, Eric wanted a shot at this Soth. Unlike Saphrin's master, he couldn't die. Immortal VS undead, he didn't know how that would turn out, but he was aching give Soth some of his agony over what Soth caused.

"Master? What are you thinking!" Tikiez blurted out.

Eric was well aware she knew what he was thinking. "I think it's time to start some trouble with these evil-lovers."

"You want to draw Soth to you?" Tikiez cried. "Master, he'll kill you!"

"Doubt it," Eric replied flatly. "I got a score to settle with Mr. Deadman. I thought he was long dead and gone. He's dead, but not gone. If I can't make him gone, I'll make his undead life very miserable. Go find me some Black Knights."

"Master, you can't do this." Tikiez said firmly. "Think of us!"

"Soth betrayed me!" Eric roared at her. "He betrayed me and a multitude of others! Everyone I knew died because of him and I WILL have his ass for it!"

"Yes, Master," Tikiez said meekly. "You want me to find Black Knights and kill them?"

Thinking about it, he said, "No, not kill. You can charm people, right? Charm them into giving up their alliance and Knighthood. Kill only the leaders. I want to poke their Gods into sending this Soth to me. Let everyone know I'm behind it."

"That's going to take a huge amount of energy," Tikiez said.

"So? Come back for recharges," he said with a grin. He then kissed Tikiez with a deep, energy giving kiss.

Gazing at him, Tikiez said, "Master, you're crazy."

He shrugged and told her, "Go find some Black Knights and cause some trouble."

"Yes, Master." Tikiez disappeared.

Eric then looked a Saphrin. "I'll need to charge you up some more. Then I want you to shield this entire castle with anti-magic and physical protection."

Saphrin grinned and said, "I will need a very large amount of energy for that."

"You'll get it."

He'd done this before with Tikiez. Instead of the quick 'gotta have it now' sex that Succubi preferred to get their rush, he took his time and studied every inch of her, kissing all the while and building up her ache to finally finish the deed. He loved her all day long, only actually having sex twice. By extending their sessions, he was giving her bits of his energy in smaller amounts. Being able to recover easier, overall it was more that a single mating. Saphrin was humming like a lyre string with energy. He was beat, but she was a glowing bonfire of energy.

The first thing he had her do was the physical protection. Saphrin covered the entire castle. This did use all her energy, but he kissed and fondled her back to normal as they lay in a remade bed in some bedroom.

Tikiez came in, also spend. He recharged her with some intimate attention, then passed out for the night in between them.