Gnarl shook his head, dismayed. The boy was collecting Mistresses like a spinster collected stray cats. If he wasn't careful, the Tower would be overrun with them...and, worse yet, in little Overlads and lasses. He had been fond of the boy, but even he had to admit that one Overlad had been more than enough.

He surveyed the scene in the throne room, wondering if he should scurry off to cover. Kelda was circling the newcomer, teeth bared in a grin that was distinctly unfriendly.

"Hello to you, too, then," she ground out. "Just who might you be?"

The woman gave her a haughty look.

"I am Quee- I am Fay. Your new Mistress, peasant girl."

"Oh, really." Kelda looked her up and down. "Funny, I don't remember the Master saying anything about you."

"Oh, I'm sure that soon I'll be all he'll talk about."

"Ha!" Juno drifted closer, gave the elf woman a chilly look. "Oh, you're just adorable. Your look is cute, too. It's very...teenage rebel."

"It's a little crowded here as it is, fairy," Kelda snapped. "Why don't you flitter on home before you get hurt?"

Fay tried to stare her down, haughty. Kelda just stared back. Juno watched the two of them, smirking. The portal grated behind them as the Overlord came home.

He looked between the three of them, briefly considering turning around and stepping back out. Gnarl hurried to his side, looking harried.

"Sire, I'm ordinarily all for assembling a harem, or whatever it is you're trying to do here, but the elf woman? Really?"

"She followed me home," he said wearily. "What did you want me to say to her? 'Yes, I've just destroyed your entire kingdom and drained you to a husk, but no, you can't come back with me. So sorry.'"

"Yes! That's exactly what you should have said! You're the Overlord! Gods below, I'm going to gnaw my own ears off if I have to hear the ladies keep squabbling! Do something about this, Sire!"

"What am I supposed to do?" he hissed back, sounding more than a little desperate.

"Well...lay down the law! You're the Master here, after all!"

The portal was starting to look more and more attractive. Gnarl had said something about his father getting trapped in an Infernal Abyss. An Infernal Abyss sounded rather nice at the moment.

"He'll settle this," Kelda snapped. "Won't you, witch boy?"

He swallowed, was suddenly glad that they couldn't see his face.

"It seems we need to do a bit of housecleaning," Fay purred. "I didn't realize that you had a couple of unfortunate hangers on. In this corner, a refugee from the Empire with more in front than up top."

"Ridiculous," Juno snapped. "My hair is lovely! And I don't wear black out of season."

"And some kind of Nordbergian snow rat. I didn't know you did charity work."

"Hmmph." Kelda snorted. "I'd like to see you try to wrestle down and skin a rabid seal-mother, fairy."

"I suppose it's too much to ask that you just kill them right now...so I'll just settle for being the First Mistress."

Again, she said it like it was a title. He glanced at Gnarl, who twiddled his claws innocently.

"Gnarl."

"Er...I may have said something about one or another of them being First Mistress, Sire. How could I have predicted how it would set them off?"

He looked between the three of them. He understood battle, he thought wearily, he understood magic and tactics, but women were something beyond him.

"Sire," Gnarl hissed out of the corner of his mouth. "Do something? Please?"

He strode past them, flung himself into the throne.

"Fay. I'm not killing any of my Mistresses. You've invited yourself here, and while you remain here, you are my guest. You will be treated as such, and you will behave as such. Is that clear?"

She looked away, frowning.

"Yes, my Lord."

"Juno."

"Yes, Master?" she asked, preening.

He'd choose her as his First Mistress, she thought. After all, she was Juno.

"That goes for you, as well."

"But-"

"Kelda."

"What." She put her hands on her hips, glaring at him.

"Since the three of you insist on making this...official...you are First Mistress. You'll continue to oversee the upkeep of the Fortress, as you've been doing. Now you just have a title of sorts. Congratulations, I suppose."

"What?" Juno cried.

Fay frowned, looking murderous. Kelda smirked.

"Oh, don't be bitter, ladies. He and I have a history, after all."

He drummed his fingers, annoyed.

"Don't rub it in."

Kelda ducked her head.

"Sorry," she said sheepishly.

"Fay. The minions will show you to your quarters while you're here."

"I'll show her." Juno linked an arm through the elf woman's. Fay looked at it, nonplussed. "Come on, sweetie. If you're staying with us, we might as well get acquainted. Maybe we can find you something a little more subtle to wear, too."

She threw a smouldering glance over her shoulder as they walked away, gaze raking Kelda from head to foot. Kelda tossed her hair, smirked back.

"I suppose I'll have to find some way to thank you, witch boy," she purred, crossing to the throne.

"The three of you can stop squabbling like a pack of gulls," he snapped. He pulled off his helmet and raked a hand through his hair, irritated. "That would be thanks enough."

She stopped, hurt.

"Hey, I'm not the one who insisted on bringing a bunch of pretty strangers home! Things were so much nicer, back when it was just you and me." She felt her hands bunching. "I don't see why you need a bunch of other women around when you have me."

"I want to have them around."

"Well, I don't! I want you-"

"For yourself? Kelda. I would never bind you like that. Don't do the same to me."

"Damn it." She was pacing, running her hands through her hair. "It's just...the way that elf bitch looked at me...did you know, she ordered me to bring her a drink as soon as she got here? Not an introduction or anything. Literally snapped her fingers at me. And Juno! The way that cunt looks down her nose at me, makes fun of the way I talk, it just makes me want to throw her over the railing."

"I like the way you talk." He caught her hand as she swept past him again, pulling her down onto his lap. "I love you, you spiky, ferocious little bitch. The Mistresses I take won't change that, you know."

"Yeah, but Juno?" Kelda asked, wrinkling her nose. "And an elf? Really?"

"I've lived quite literally under a rock for the past thirteen years, Kelda. Haven't you ever been curious?"

"Oh my gods, me and an elf boy? Can you imagine? 'Hey, that's not real fur, right? Before I go down on you, I have to know, are you vegetarian? Because I only eat out vegetarians.' Gods above, I think I'd kill him."

She felt his laugh, turned to him and kissed him.

"Hey," she said at last. "I'm sorry. This is all just...new to me. I know the elves are all about the whole 'free love' thing, but it's not something humans do all that much. We're a bit too selfish."

He caught her wrists with one vast hand, gave her a cruel look that made her blood race.

"Who said anything about 'free'?" he purred.

His hand slid under her dress and up her thigh. She shivered, moving her hips closer to his. He looked around the throne room, eyes cold.

"Leave us."

She heard the skitter of claws on stone, and not a few disappointed grumbles. He turned that bright gaze back to her, eyes moving over her curves.

"Here, witch boy?" she asked him, half-joking. "Now? You can't be serious. Maybe we can move to the bedroom-"

He was unlacing the stays of her corset now, yanked her dress down hard enough to tear it, caressed her breast. She gasped, blushing, trying to pull away. Surely he didn't-

His fingers tightened, hard enough to bruise. Kelda growled low in her throat, struggling to break free. He held her fast, impossibly strong, watching her with amusement. She could feel him growing hard under her, rubbed herself against him with a guttural moan.

"Bastard," she snarled.

"Bitch."

He kissed her, and she caught his lower lip between her teeth, biting hard enough to draw blood. He drew back and licked his lip, gave her a hard smile.

"So that's the way you want to play, then?"

She bared her teeth at him. Her arrow wounds had healed remarkably fast, and he had been away for what felt like an awfully long time.

"Too rough for you, witch boy?"

"You want rough?" He stroked her hair, twisted it suddenly, hard enough to make her gasp.

She snarled at him, slammed a knee into his side. He just laughed at her, picked her up bodily and threw her down against the throne.

"I can play rough."

She felt his hand settle on the back of her neck, pinning her. She struggled against his grip, nails sinking into his wrist. She heard him growl as he wrestled her skirts up over her hips.

"Gods, I've missed you."

He slid a finger into her, beckoning. She gasped, arcing her hips up against him. She was so warm, so soft and wet. He grinned down at her, twisting a fist in her hair, loving the way her muscles clenched and bunched as she tried to fight him.

Her thighs were slick. She gasped, the stone of the throne hot against her burning cheeks. He pulled his fingers away, and she growled at him like an animal.

"Arsehole!" she snapped. "Don't bloody stop!"

She looked back at him, eyes blazing. He undid his belt one handed, slid his trousers down around his waist, studying her, smirking.

"I said, don't stop, damn it!"

"Hmm, I don't know." She saw him look towards the stairs. "You're a bit of a brat, really, and maybe one of the other Mistresses would be more agreea-"

She reared back with surprising force, caught him in the ribs with an elbow, hard enough to wind him. He snarled, pulled her down to the floor. She twisted in his grip like a cat, bit the side of his neck as he forced her against the stone and entered her, fast and rough, heard her yelp. She hurled herself up against him, forced him onto his back, flushed and triumphant, pushing him deeper into her. He flipped her over with a snarl, and she gasped as they rolled across the floor, collided with the harp in the corner with a discordant crash.

"Oh, shit." Kelda covered her mouth. "Oops."

She stared up at him, looking so shocked that he had to laugh. She grinned back.

"Quaver's not going to be happy," she said.

"Let's just never tell him how we broke it."

He picked her up from the wreckage, felt her shudder, pushed her up against the wall. He felt her trembling as he thrust into her again, fingers digging into her pale thighs. He loved the way she felt when she was gasping under him, the way she was fighting him at every step.

He felt her thighs bunch, and she pushed away from the wall, trying to break free, only succeeded in forcing herself further onto his cock. She hissed, a low noise of pleasure, wrapped her legs around him again. She tangled a hand in his hair, twisting, clawed at his shoulder.

"Harder," she gasped. "Oh gods, yes, harder!"

She was moaning, harsh sounds that hardly sounded human, sounds of pain and fierce pleasure that only drove him on. He thrust against her, the rough stone wall scraping at her back through her dress. She was going to be black and blue after this, she thought deliriously, but at the moment, she couldn't care. She couldn't break free, not even if she'd wanted to. She struggled against his grasp, heart pounding, grinding herself against him, muscles tensing as she came in a rush.

She felt so good, when she came, the motion of her cunt tensing around his cock, almost hard enough to push him over with her. He dragged her down to the ground with a growl, rolled over on top of her. He had her wrists again, pinned above her head on the floor. His weight was driving into her, slamming her back against the stone with every thrust. She struggled against his strength, pulling uselessly against his grip. His grip tightened, harder still, twisting her wrists. She gasped, body arcing up beneath his, helpless. The sight of her beneath him, all white skin and wild hair and fresh bruises, was enough to set him off. She felt him come in a hot rush inside her, crying out as he filled her, pushing her hips up against his.

He stayed inside her for a long moment, looking down at her. She grinned back, looking dazed.

"Fine, the bloody elf can stay," she said at last, still sounding out of breath. "Hells, have Juno, have a dozen Mistresses, I don't care. Just so long as you keep tumbling me like that-"

He kissed her, black blood leaking from a split lip. She returned the kiss, reveling in the strange coppery taste, the subtle electric crackle of magic over her tongue. He pulled away far too soon, buckled his trousers, adjusting the black armor.

"Do you have to go?" she asked him, as she tried and failed to smooth her skirts.

"I've got a few things to take care of before we move against the Empire. Some loose ends I need to cut."

She rose on tiptoe and kissed him again.

"Be careful, love."

"Be good while I'm gone."

Her eyes flashed, wicked.

"That's rich, coming from you. I'm your Mistress, remember? I don't do good."

"What I meant was, don't kill the other two while I'm out. I'm going out to wage a war, I don't want to come home to another one."

"Can I torture them a little?"

He gave her a wry look, and she grinned back.

"Only joking, love. Mostly."

She handed him the helmet, kissed him quickly, impulsive. He picked up his axe and grinned down at her, ruffled her hair and strode away through the portal.

-x-

She'd been so sure that she'd known him.

Fay paced in her new quarters, angry. She'd touched his mind, she thought. Her magic and his had twined together as he'd drained her, as he'd broken her, even as he'd made her whole. They had known each other, for one bright, white-hot instant. She had looked around her with newborn eyes, had seen how empty the pleasures of the Sanctuary really were.

Surely, if there had ever been a Mother Goddess, if she had ever been listening, she would have intervened before things had come to this.

"Hey."

The busty human knocked at the door, poking her elaborately coiffed head in. Fay gave her a chilly look. The woman was Empire, quite obviously. She was wearing enough paint for a circus performer, and entirely too much perfume.

"Can I help you?" she asked coldly, drawing herself up to her full height.

"Just wanted to see if you needed any help getting settled." The woman looked around. "Don't you have, like, any luggage?"

"I left my old things with my old life, back in the Sanctuary. I am a new woman, now."

"If you say so," the other woman said dubiously. "Anyhow. I'm Juno. And you've already met Kelda, unfortunately."

"Yes, the slovenly little peasant." Fay arched an eyebrow. "I thought she was a servant."

"So did I! The way she dresses, it's just...ugh! At least you have a sense of style."

"I thought a classic look was best."

They stared at one another for a moment, evaluating. At last, Juno gestured to her.

"Come on. I'll show you around."

With nothing better to do, she followed the Imperial woman.

She heard a low snarl and a yelp from the throne room. Juno stopped short, her shoulders set.

"Ugh," she snapped. "Unbelievable."

Fay could hear it now, too, low, harsh noises that sounded almost like animals coupling. She swallowed, going even paler, as she heard something splinter below.

"Do they do this often?" She asked weakly.

"Well, fucking out in the open like a couple of dogs...that's a new low, even for her."

Fay heard a low growl, the sound of what almost sounded like a sharp slap, a moan. She suddenly found herself wondering what she'd gotten herself into. For a moment, she was afraid.

She didn't care, she thought suddenly, straightening. Whatever he decided to do to her, she had earned it, with the blood of her people. She'd made her choice, the moment she'd given her shrines to him. And whatever he was, whatever he wanted...she didn't care, so long as she could feel that terrible power crackling through her again.

"He'll get tired of her soon enough," Juno muttered. "Just try to ignore it. Anyhow. This is the private quarters, currently rather tacky, I'm afraid, as the Master's let Kelda throw her greasy little furs about." She kicked at a rug. "I tried to redecorate a bit, but that awful peasant tore down everything I hung up and threatened to burn it! Some people just have no taste."

"What's though there?" Fay asked, nodded towards a heavy red curtain.

"Oh." Juno looked a bit sulky. "The Master sleeps in there. With that peasant girl. Because barbarians have no concept of privacy, apparently."

Another low growl from below. Juno winced.

"Us second fiddles have to stick together, don't we?" She linked her arm through Fay's again. "Come on, I'll bet you could use a bath."

Fay glanced at her, eyes narrowed. Was that an insult? Juno seemed oblivious, red lips in a perfect pout. She'd had decades of experience with court intrigue, though, and she was beginning to suspect that Juno wasn't quite as stupid as she put on.

"Ah, here we go." Juno sighed happily, letting her hair down. "The baths. Probably the best thing about this hellhole."

She stripped off her toga without a hint of shame, slipped into the water. Fay looked down at her, then closed her eyes, letting her will settle like a mantle over her shoulders, stripping her down to her skin, leaving her dress neatly folded beneath her corset. She slid into the warm spring, trying not to pant- the magic had taken far more out of her than it ever had before. But she saw with satisfaction that the other woman was watching her, eyes wide, more than a little wary.

"That's a handy trick," Juno said, recovering. "It must make you very popular at parties."

Fay opened her mouth to retort, saw Juno scowl, focused on something behind her. She turned. The peasant girl had staggered into the baths, holding the remains of her dress up over her breast. She didn't seem to notice them for a moment, humming to herself, smiling absent-mindedly. She stopped short at the edge of the pool, seeing them. She flushed, and for a moment it looked as though she would turn around and leave. Fay watched her, waiting to see what she would do. The girl almost visibly gathered her courage and pulled off her clothes, slipped into the bath, studiously ignoring them.

"Oh, and the water was so nice and clean just a second ago," Juno sighed.

"You can leave," the girl snapped tightly.

"Good idea. I don't want to spend the next few days smelling common."

"The way you splash that perfume about, I'm surprised you can smell anything else."

"You should try it some day, peasant. Do the rest of us a favor."

The girl was studiously ignoring her. Juno smiled, toweling herself off.

"You know, it's funny. Back in Empire City, they called me a whore. What do you think they'd call you?"

Fay was surprised to hear the girl actually snarl then, like some kind of snow cat. Her muscles bunched, and for a moment it looked as though she'd launch herself out of the bath at the other woman. Juno just laughed.

"Try it, sweetheart." She glanced at Fay, pulling on her toga. "Here's a little secret. She can't hurt us. If she does, her 'witch boy' will be just furious with her. And then maybe she wouldn't be First Mistress anymore. Maybe she wouldn't even be a Mistress at all."

"Don't you call him that!" Kelda spat.

"What, 'witch boy'?" Juno purred. "I think it quite suits him, don't you?"

Kelda mastered herself with visible effort, turned her back on the other woman and ducked under the water. Juno smiled at Fay.

"Pity," she said. "I almost thought I had her."

She waltzed away. The girl poked her head out of the water, glaring after her, raked her glare over Fay.

"What are you looking at?" She demanded.

"What did she mean, 'witch boy'?" Fay asked her.

"Oh." The peasant scrubbed at her hair. "That. It's what they always called him in Nordberg. The Overlord."

"It doesn't sound particularly nice."

The girl smirked.

"He's not particularly nice. But it's the only name I've ever known him by, anyhow. Since we were little."

Fay gave her a look, reappraising her. She'd wondered why a creature like the Scourge had taken a scruffy little serf as a Mistress, but now it seemed that they'd been childhood...

She wasn't sure if 'friends' was the right word. The other woman's back was covered in scratches and purpling bruises, and there were what were quite clearly some vicious bite marks on her shoulders. From the noises she'd heard earlier, too, she almost wondered if the Scourge hated the peasant girl and her demeaning little nickname.

"Did he do that?" Fay asked her.

The girl gave her a sidelong glance.

"Having second thoughts, fairy?"

"I- no, of course not." Fay stared at the marks, fascinated. "Why would he-"

"'Cos I wanted him to, of course." The girl gave her a cheeky smile. "I'm Nordbergian, fairy. We northerners aren't quite as soft and pampered as elves or the Empire."

"The elves are hardly pampered. Hunted by the Empire, persecuted wherever we go-"

"Oh, boohoo." The peasant girl pursed her lips. "Have you ever been hungry, elf? Like, truly, really hungry, starving, even?"

"I-"

"Have you ever been hurt so badly you thought you might die, out alone on the ice?"

"I haven't-"

The girl was suddenly inches away from her, grinning fiercely.

"Have you ever been somebody's slave, then?"

Fay bristled.

"Don't presume that you know me, peasant."

"Why are you here, fairy?"

"The Dark One showed me the true path. He has remade me. I would follow him anywhere."

"Huh." The girl stared at her, eyes hard. "You'd better mean every last word of that. Because I don't care who you are or what you can do to me. If you ever try to do anything to hurt him, I'll skin you alive. I'll give you my word as a hunter on that."

Fay stared at her, surprised. The fierce, sharp-elbowed little thing was in love with the Scourge, she realized. How very strange- one may as well be in love with a tempest, or a forest fire.

"I couldn't hurt him if I tried, child. Do you even know how very strong he is? How powerful?"

"That wasn't what I meant." Kelda pulled herself out of the baths, drying her hair. "Everybody who comes here, they all just want something out of him. You, Juno, all the rest...you all seem to forget there's someone underneath all that armor. Someone who I happen to care about quite a lot, in fact." She pulled on her dress, gave her a hard look. "So watch your step, fairy, because I'll be watching you."