"What even is this?" Juno asked, holding a moth-eaten dress against herself. "Who on earth would wear something like this? It's so...uptight." She picked up another dress, disgusted. "Look at this one! It goes all the way up to the chin!"
"I think they're rather pretty, in an old-fashioned way."
"Hmph. You would."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Ugh. Look at these. Shoes with curly toes." Juno picked them up, held them gingerly. "Have you ever seen anything so archaic?"
"I think these all belonged to his mother."
"Well, I can't say much for her sense of style." Juno sneezed. "It's so dusty in here! Why are we doing this, again?"
"If we clean out some of these storage rooms, we'll have more space to expand the fortress. We might like a library, for one."
"What do you want a library for?"
Kelda gave her a look.
"I can read, you know. I didn't just borrow your book for the pictures, although they were certainly...interesting. I'm not sure how you could get into some of those positions without breaking something important."
"Well," Juno said smugly. "It takes a certain...finesse."
"That's one way of putting it." Kelda dug through the strata of old garments, piling musty cloth in a basket. "You also never know what you're going to find in here. The other day I found a whole room of potions that do gods-know-what. I've been testing them out on the minions." She pulled a chest free with a grunt of effort. "Mostly, they just seem to kill them in interesting ways."
"What exactly are those little things, anyways?"
"I don't really know. Gnarl says they clawed their way up from the earth a long, long time ago to serve an Overlord." Kelda tried the lid of the chest, pulled her dagger from her belt. "I'm not sure if he even knows exactly what they are. Maybe they're demons."
"They're awfully creepy."
"I think they're kind of cute." Kelda fiddled with the lock, and the chest popped open. "Oh! What is this?"
She picked up a bundle of soft velvet, unwrapped it to find a crystal the size of her fist. Golden threads snaked through the heart of it, sparking with magic, held a memory within. A small image of a red-haired woman danced and sparkled in the center, looking up from a perfect red rose, caught in a smile, over and over again in an eternity of sunlight.
"I think this might be his mother," Kelda said slowly. "The witch-boy's."
"She doesn't look much like him," Juno said dubiously. "She looks human."
"I think she was."
"What happened to her?"
"I don't know. He says he doesn't remember her." Kelda wrapped the crystal up, extinguishing its light. "What was your mother like?"
"Beautiful, of course." Juno smiled, twirling a strand of dark hair around her finger. "Everyone says I get my looks from her. It was a great scandal when my father married her- he was a Senator, and she was just a commoner. Her family came from the...from the sewers."
"Are they still alive?"
"Hardly! Do you think my father would have let that awful Governess send me to the Arena? No, my mother died when I was quite young. Daddy was never the same afterward. He whored and gambled the rest of our money away until he caught some nasty wasting disease and died in a dirty little brothel."
"I'm sorry."
"Oh, don't be. I don't need your sympathy." Juno smiled. "I learned a few tricks from the girls who worked there before I knew enough to make it on my own in the world."
"Wait," Kelda asked, not sure if she had misheard her. "You were a- a whore?"
"Such an ugly word." Juno said airily. "I prefer the term 'courtesan'. I was famous and rich enough to be selective. Sometimes men just wanted to spend time with someone other than their wives- someone who will at the very least pretend to listen."
"Huh. I don't know, that doesn't sound quite fair to their wives."
"Oh, to hell with them. It was those same wives who wanted me thrown in the Arena! If they didn't want their husbands to lose interest, then they shouldn't have been so fat and boring." Juno looked around, frowning. "Are we done here? Because this is awfully dull."
"Don't you care about any of this?" Kelda asked her. "Don't you want to know more about him? His name, for one?"
"As long as he keeps bringing me shiny things, I don't exactly care." Juno examined her nails. "He'll do for me, for now."
"You don't deserve him," Kelda snapped.
"Like you do?" Juno gave her a contemptuous look. "With that hair?"
Kelda looked back, chilly.
"We're done here," she said. "You can go."
Kelda tucked the crystal into a pocket in her skirt, watching the other woman walk away. She shook her head and sighed. She'd hoped to find more depth in Juno, but it seemed that she was just as she appeared- haughty, vain, and self-adsorbed. Kelda could hardly wait until the Empire campaign was over- the sooner she was rid of Juno, the better.
-x-
Kelda found Gnarl puttering about among the minion hives, inspecting the new crop of spawn. He was holding a minionling up, giving it a critical look. It kicked and growled fiercely at him, swiping with tiny claws, and his leathery lips creased in a smile.
"Gnarl, can I ask you something?"
"Hmm?" He set the spawn down, and it scampered back into the safety of the hive, squeaking. "Mistress Kelda? Can I help you?"
"It's about something I found in Nordberg today." Kelda pulled the necklace from her skirt pocket and offered it to him. "Have you ever seen anything like this?"
"Hmm." He took it in a pair of weathered claws. "Mistress, this is Dwarven!"
"Dwarven? I thought that dwarves were a myth."
"No, Mistress, not a myth. I've seen them with my own eyes. They're a nasty sort...far too industrious for their own good, if you ask me."
"But what was it doing in Nordberg?"
"I have no idea, Mistress."
"The merchant said that hunters found it." She took the necklace, musing. "I want to know where."
"As far as I know, Mistress, the dwarves fled into the depths of their mountains years ago, after the Master's father defeated their king. Perhaps the hunters found an abandoned settlement?"
"Maybe."
"You should look into it, Mistress. If there is a Dwarven ruin nearby, it may have things we can use. Dwarves make the most exciting war machines."
"I'll do that."
"Ah, Master!" Gnarl turned, brightening. "Come to inspect the new spawn? They're growing up well, sire- they're nice and feisty."
"Brown spawn?"
"Yes, my lord!"
"Good, we need more foot soldiers."
The Overlord extended a hand, and Kelda felt a subsonic call resonate through her bones. The minionlings poured out of the hive in a torrent, squeaking indignantly. She caught one as it bounded past her.
"Oh, they're so cute!" she exclaimed, holding it aloft.
It nipped at her hands with tiny teeth, not even managing to break the skin. She laughed and let it go.
"They look like they're growing up well." The Overlord crouched down, and a minionling nibbled his fingers. "I don't think we'll need to cull any from this batch. They all look strong."
"Fierce little things, aren't they?" Kelda said fondly.
He rose, made a swift gesture, and the minionlings scurried back into the hive.
"Do you come down here often?" she asked him.
"Sometimes. I used to spend a lot of time down here when I was younger, chasing minions through the caves."
"Good times, my lord," Gnarl said fondly.
"Oh! That reminds me." Kelda pulled the crystal from her pocket, unwrapping it. "I found this when I was cleaning out some of the stuff from the old tower. Is this- was this your mother?"
He took the stone from her, staring into its depths. For a moment he remembered- sad eyes, busy hands, the taste of tears, the cold shock of abandonment- and then it was gone.
"Yes," he said softly. His hand tightened on it, angry.
"Ah, sire." Gnarl took the crystal from his hands, "Now's not the time for that, we have a glorious empire to conquer. I'll just hold on to this, for now."
"I'm sorry," Kelda said, taken aback. "I was just curious, that's all."
"She doesn't matter," the Overlord said.
"Well...if you say so." She took his hand, smiled up at him. "Well, why don't you tell me about your adventures in the Empire? I'm curious about what it's like there."
"Ah, yes." His eyes kindled. "Gnarl, there were sheep there! They're fantastic when they're on fire, I've never seen anything blaze quite like that!"
"Ah, sheep," Gnarl said fondly, gaze growing distant. "There's nothing like a bit of fresh mutton, sire, cooked right on the hoof."
"Come and tell me all about it," Kelda insisted.
"But I am telling you-"
"Alone?"
"Oh. Oh!"
-x-
She pulled him after her to their private quarters, almost hauled him bodily through the curtain. This time, they didn't even make it as far as the bed.
He pushed her down to the floor as soon as the curtains closed, hiking her skirts up around her hips, pulled his trousers down in a swift, savage motion. He seized her hips, fingers digging into her pale skin, thrust into her, bestial.
"Ah!"
She gasped, pushing her hips back against him, stiffened suddenly.
"No, stop!"
His fingers tangled in her hair. She slapped his wrist, annoyed.
"No, really, hold on. Your helmet."
"What about it?"
She pulled away, face crimson, pulling her skirt down.
"Gnarl can see me," she hissed.
"Oh. Shit."
He pulled the helmet off, flung it into a corner.
"He's going to be terribly disappointed." he said, grinning down at her.
"I'm sure he'll get through it, somehow," she said dryly, twisting to face him.
He gave no answer, only slammed her back against the floor in reply, hard enough to wind her. She wrapped her legs around him as he forced himself into her, gasping for breath, his weight almost enough to crush her.
"Gods," she moaned. "Oh gods, don't stop-"
"Do you really think I'm about to?" he asked, amused, pulling back.
"Shut up," she gasped, hands tightening on his ass, pushing him into her. "I said, don't fucking stop!"
He growled, pounding into her, ferocious, hard enough to bruise against the stone. She heard herself moaning, feeling the muscles of his lower back tense beneath her hands. She felt the ground shake beneath them, legs wrapped around his waist, as he pushed deep into her, fierce, feral-
She cried out, shuddering, as she came, lay gasping beneath him. He bit her ear, hard enough to hurt, and she gasped. He held her, so tightly she thought he would break her, fucking her so savagely she thought for an instant that he would tear her apart.
He came in a rush, snarling like an animal, chest heaving, collapsed against her. She stroked his hair, gasping for breath, sweat mingling in the lava's light. They lay for a long moment in a tangle of limbs before he stirred, pulling away.
"Don't go." Her arms tightened around his waist. "Stay with me, just for tonight."
He looked down at her, smiling.
"Alright."
Later, they lay together in the vast bed, her breath slowing against his chest.
"I've only ever wanted this," she said sleepily.
"Only ever wanted what?"
"To be with you." She yawned, pulling the furs closer around herself, snuggling back against him. "I missed you."
She felt his arms tighten around her in response. She lay back against him and closed her eyes, fell into a sleep full of wolves and fire.
She woke to the sound of pages turning, sat up sleepily, rubbing her eyes.
"Witch boy?" she asked.
He looked over at her, flipping through the book she'd borrowed from Juno. She flushed.
"Oh, you're reading that?" she asked. "That's not mine, by the way, it's Juno's."
"It's fascinating," he said slowly. "How are some of these even possible?"
He showed her the page he was looking at.
"'The Dolphin'," she read aloud, looking at the picture. "I think maybe you'd both have to be contortionists. And maybe have a couple of extra joints in your arms."
"These don't exactly look pleasurable."
"Not at all. I think it's maybe more about the novelty of it...being able to cross that position off your list, maybe?"
"Should we try that?"
"I don't think I can bend that way. Can you?"
"No," he admitted. "Not without serious structural damage."
"I mean, we can try it, if you want to-"
"No, that's alright."
"No," she agreed. "But...maybe..."
She twisted to face him, reached down and stroked his cock, turned her face up to his and kissed him.
"There's a couple of other positions we might try," she said shyly. "If you want to."
"No," he said, stone-faced. "I don't want to. Not at all."
Kelda pulled back, startled, and then slapped his shoulder.
"Bastard. Fine. I'll just get dressed then."
She started to sit up, but he caught her hips and pulled her closer with a low growl. She smirked.
"Oh, changed your mind, did you?"
He spread her legs apart, brutal, holding her leg by the ankle. He looked down at her for a moment, smiled slowly. She grinned back, gasped as he entered her, nails digging into his shoulders, hard enough to pierce his rough skin. He snarled, bit her neck, felt her moan vibrating against his mouth.
She moved her hips against him, forcing herself against him, clawed her nails down his back. He hissed, flipped her over on her back, lifted her legs above her head and pushed into her. She wrapped her legs around his neck.
"Gods, witch boy," she gasped. "Harder."
He bent to kiss her, biting her lip. She shivered, arcing her body against his, reveling his the heat of his skin. She bit him back, ferocious, and heard him make a low noise of pleasure.
She felt so good, writhing beneath him, moaning, helpless. He felt her legs tense under his grip as she pushed her hips against him, crying out. He fondled her breast with a broad hand, twisted her nipple until she squeaked. She opened her legs even wider, gasping.
"Please," she was crying, almost non-verbal. "Oh gods, yes!"
He felt her come, her body shuddering. He gripped her ass, hard enough to bruise, lifting her up as he fucked her, her legs over his shoulders.
He came, a hot rush between her legs. She panted, pulled him closer, wrapping her arms around his neck, gasping against his chest.
"Oh, my gods," she said again. "I'll never get tired of that."
She felt him stroke her hair, pulled him closer, arms tightening.
"Take care of yourself out there," she said softly, looked him up and down, eyes dancing. "I'd hate to lose all this."
"I'll be back soon." He kissed her shoulder. "I can't stay away from you, even if I wanted to."
She gave him a dirty look, smirking.
"Why would you want to?"
"That...wasn't what I meant."
"I'm kidding, witch boy."
"Oh." He smiled down at her, relieved, pulling on his armor.
He was so naive sometimes, taking everything she said at face value. It was kind of...cute, even. She rose and pressed herself against him, felt the sharp carved edges of his armor against her bare skin.
"Good luck," she whispered, handed him his helmet. "Come back soon...I'll be waiting."
Kelda watched him stride away, a smile playing across her lips. It was strange, she thought- she understood why the villagers were afraid of him, and she knew he could break her in half without even making an effort, but there were times when he could just be...well, almost adorable.
She shook her head. She didn't have time to flit about like some lovelorn lass all day. She pulled on her parka and slipped the Dwarven necklace into her pocket, thoughtful. She had some hunting to do.
-x-
Queen Fay, ruler of the fair folk, sat in her bower, head bent over an ancient tome. She paused, running a slender finger down the page, stopped and stared into the middle distance, eyes sad.
"My lady!" A pixie buzzed up next to her, took the book from her unresisting hands with padded fingers. "Whatever are you reading? 'Might Conquers Right'?! My lady, please, don't read such depressing things!"
Fay started, blinked, coming back to herself.
"Oh, Petunia. I'm sorry, I was lost in thought."
"My lady, don't dwell on the past," the pixie said soothingly, struggling to shove the book into an already overstuffed shelf. "It's not healthy."
"But someone must think of the past if we are not to repeat it." Fay gazed out over the Last Sanctuary, one slender hand trailing through the ivy that grew in jubilant riot over the white stone. It trembled at her touch, twining happy tendrils around her fingers. "I used to think that becoming one with nature was the will of the Mother Goddess. Now, I'm not so sure."
"Everything will work out," the pixie said soothingly. "Your people are happy."
"They may be happy, but are they safe?" Fay shook her head. "That...that awful dark creature, he tore through our defenses like they were paper." She clenched her fist. "Thinking of that beast, Lily, it just makes me so furious." She stood, pacing. "I hate him."
"My lady!" the pixie said, shocked. "You shouldn't let that creature affect you so."
"Do you know what he did, after he killed my troll?"
"My lady, please, try to relax."
"That monster left a letter, crumpled in the chest of one of my best from Everlight, thanking me for the gift! Of all the cruel, wicked-"
"Lady Fay." The pixie steered her towards her bedroom with surprising strength. "You're getting much to agitated, dear. You need to rest."
"No," Fay insisted. "There's too much to do."
"But, my lady-"
"I'm going to pray."
She knelt before a statue of the Mother Goddess, listening for that still, small voice she had heard as a child.
"Please," she prayed. "Please, Mother. Hear my plea. I don't...I don't know what to do."
The Mother did not answer her. Fay felt her heart quail, traitorous, wondered for an instant if the Goddess was listening, if she even existed at all.
"Lady Fay!"
She turned, startled. Her lieutenant bowed, looking unusually grim.
"Florian?" she asked. "What is it?"
"I'm sorry to interrupt your prayers, my lady. I'm afraid I've got terrible news. The Empire's, like, digging all the way down to us. They'll be here in a few days if we can't find a way to stop 'em."
"No," she breathed. "How did they find us?"
"They're after that dark beast, my lady. They're trying to dig down to the Netherworld, and we're just in their way."
"Oh, Goddess." Her hand went to her heart.
She didn't know what to do. She stared out over the green peace of the Last Sanctuary, wishing that the Goddess would speak to her again.
"He is...powerful..." she said at last. "Do you think he could stop them?"
"The guy who calls himself the Overlord?" Florian tilted his head, considering. "I think, just maybe, he could."
"Then I know what I must do." Fay drew herself to her full, scant height, looked back once at the statue of the Mother Goddess. "Forgive me, Mother...I cannot see another way."