Stormking, Part 4

The story so far: Well, it was just like me to be fished out of the drink and end up on board a ship full of bloodthirsty pirates, but there I was, aboard the corsair tub Vule Raper, serving Captain Squid, as well as his oversexed wife, Sakkolia, who seemed determined to teach her fleshy and overendowed daughter Danni all the techniques of pleasing a man. Meanwhile, Li and Theanna were captured by the Stormking, Theanna was caught up in the embrace of the elven sorceress Lothaera, and Li was "tamed" by a Wolfen shaman who specialized in reducing females to sexual slavery. Fortunately for Li and Theanna, they also fell into bed with each other, and their emotional bond helped keep them relatively independent of their would-be masters. While the Stormking readied his armada to invade the Elven Empire, I was stuck servicing Sakkolia and Danni, while trying not to get caught by Saquod, who was fond of feeding his wife's boyfriends to the blood-eels. Skrall and Squitter struck up a friendship, and the orcish bosun rescued me from almost certain castration, telling me that he was willing to help find the Stormking and rescue Theanna and Li, so long as he and his friends got plenty of plunder. It sounded like a fair deal to me.

Fortunately for me, as far as Captain Squid was concerned, out of sight was out of mind, and he never seemed to suspect my involvement with his voluptuous wife and daughter. Besides, he'd been drunk when he'd burst in to Sakkolia's cabin and probably didn't notice anything amiss. I was eager, however, to leave the "Raper" and get to grips with his majesty, the Stormking.

Not that my time in the crows' nest wasn't without incident. The platform was relatively roomy, and I was able to sleep in the fetal position. The weather was mild, so sleeping beneath the stars was actually a pleasant experience. A day or so out of port, when I'd started to relax a bit, I was jarred out of a light doze by the creak of someone clambering up the shrouds. I peeked over the edge, expecting to see Skrall or Squit, but was both surprised and somewhat disturbed to see the smiling, round face of young Dannitara, framed by pale red-gold tresses.

"Hi, Flotsam," she said, softly. "I asked mother whether I could come up here and thank you for your help last week."

I gulped. "Danni," I said, mouth suddenly going dry as she continued to climb toward me, "don't think it wasn't wonderful, but, well... Your father probably... I don't think you should..."

"Silly," she said, dismissively. "Now, are you going to help me in?"

Damn me all to hell, I obliged, helping her heft her not- inconsiderable body over the lip of the crow's nest and onto the floor with me. With two of us there, it was somewhat cramped, but there was at least some room to maneuver.

She wore a dark tunic and men's trousers, but was barefoot. I was impressed -- she'd scuttled up the shrouds like an old salt, and showed absolutely no fear of heights. Doing better than me, I thought.

"Thank you, Flotsam," Danni said, shaking her head, causing her hair to glint in the light of two moons, one full, one a quarter. "I had a lovely time. I'm sorry daddy interrupted."

"You're welcome, I guess," I said. "I don't usually risk my life when having sex." Then again, I thought, given my past history, I actually do.

"I liked it when you put your cock between my breasts," she said, completely shameless. "It felt so good. Especially when you shot your come all over me. I went back to my cabin and licked it all off."

Gods, I thought, why do I always get the perverted ones?

"Uhh," I said, unable to come up with any kind of a rejoinder. "Don't mention it?"

"Oh, but I did," she said, loosening the laces of her tunic. "I've been thinking about you ever since, and now mama said it would be all right to come up here and, well..." With that, she pulled her tunic open, freeing twin pale mounds of flesh. And I do mean mounds -- Each was bigger than I could hold in both hands, and her huge nipples were of the the most delicate pink and coral. "Look familiar?"

"I believe I put my cock between them once," I said. "Like you said, I think I came on them, too."

"Oh, you did," she whispered. "I loved licking it off. I love how your come tastes. I came up here because I wanted some more."

I was about to comment when she slapped her mouth over mine, our tongues lapping sloppily together, the growing heat from her exposed flesh driving off the evening chill.

Well, I thought, hands going down to massage the vast, warm softness of her breasts, she certainly knew what men liked to hear. I still felt used, but bloody horny nonetheless.

Hell. We were in the crow's nest. The chances of Saquod catching us were...

Well, if not exactly nil, then very nearly so. Looking at Danni contorting herself so she could remove her breeches, then crouch opposite me like a fleshy, blonde-haired animal, breasts hanging down as inviting as fruit on a branch, I decide that the risk was probably worth it.

Probably.

"You seem to know what you want," I said, helping her pull my shirt aside.

 "Always. Mamma says that a strong woman knows what she wants and gets it."

We were both naked now, and she moved astride me, thighs apart. She reached down between them, slowly and luxuriously spread her cunt lips apart, stroking herself.

"And right now, I want you again." She looked down in mock surprise. "Oh, my. What is that lovely hard thing between my thighs?"

"If you don't know what it is," I said, "then your mother hasn't been doing her job."

"Oh, I think I remember," she said, teasingly stroking my erection. "It's called a cock, isn't it?"

"Among other things."

"I like that name best, I think." Her hands lovingly encircled my shaft and stroked. "I think they like to be petted, don't they?"

I nodded. "I think this one does."

"They like to be sucked, too, don't they?"

"One of few animals which actually enjoys being eaten," I said, smartass to the last.

"Very funny." She moved backwards, pressing against the wall of the crow's nest, and bent down, huge breasts brushing my thighs. Her tongue flicked out and delicately traced the length of my cock, then darted around my glans. I twitched at the sudden sensation.

"Like it?"

"Oh, yes," I breathed. "Very much."

"Mamma says to use lots of spit," she said, licking up and down my now painfully-erect length, applying saliva with enthusiasm. "Watch." With that, she moved above my cock and released a generous gob of spittle, which ran down my hard flesh. She stroked it, rubbing it across my cock's entire length.

"Mmm, yes. Very good. I think you're wet enough now."

She moved back to her original position astride me, spreading the outer lips of her pussy and then reaching down to rub my cockhead against her delicate inner recesses.

"Of course, I'm pretty wet, too." Slowly, she began to settle onto my cock, enveloping it in the rich, hot moisture of her cunt. "Yessssss. Oh, yes, Flotsam. I do love this cock."

More coached lines from Mamma, I thought? Yeah, probably. But as Danni came to rest astride my hips, my prick buried deeply inside her soft and yielding cunt, I decided that I didn't care. Unless Captain Saquod chose to take a midnight stroll that included the crow's nest, I was probably safe.

All such thoughts vanished in the next moments as Danni expertly rose up on her knees, then plunged down again, sliding me inside her, then out again. Her enormous breasts bobbed freely, her mane of blonde hair tossed wildly, and her belly heaved as she devoured me with her cunt, bouncing up and down with steadily-growing passion.

"Oh, yes, Flotsam... Yes... Fuck me with that cock... Fuck me."

This, I thought, was either sincere, or the best script-reading I'd ever heard. I responded by rising to her, not allowing her to escape, clamping my hands down on the vast, yielding flesh of her ass, and pulling her to me.

"Ah... Ahhhh..." Danni's round face contorted into a grimace of pleasure, mouth stretched out in an involuntary grin. She flung her head back, breasts quivering.  "Yes, Flotsam. Give me cock. I want cock. Please, yes."

I responded, jamming my cock into her with renewed enthusiasm. She alternated stroking her clit as I did so with squeezing her vast breasts together, then gathering them together so that she could lick her own nipples. Needless to say, I found this extremely exciting.

This went on for a long time. Danni had reached at least two orgasms before I realized that we our frenzied coupling was actually rocking the boat from side to side. I sat up, facing her.

"Turn around," I said. "I want you from behind."

Her eyes locked with mine, and she spoke with passionate gravity.

"Up my ass, Flotsam. Fuck my ass. Mamma says men love to do it, but she hasn't let me yet. I want to feel everything, Flotsam."

I frowned. "Are you sure? I don't know whether I'm --"

"Do it," she hissed urgently. "Fuck me up the ass or I'll tell my father what you've been doing."

I suppose I should have been upset, but given my circumstances -- naked, with my hard cock buried in the cunt of my captain's daughter, I wasn't in any position to argue. I grinned.

"You do know what you want, don't you?"

She nodded emphatically. "Mamma is a fine teacher."

Yeah, I thought. Sick as a fallen Kyborist monk, but a good teacher.

Danni disengaged from me, turning away, and leaning over the outer wall of the crow's nest, bracing herself with her arms so that her breasts and hair hung over into empty space. I gulped, a number of nightmarish scenarios crossing my mind. Accidentally sending Danni falling to her death after a particularly passionate thrust was one -- I suspected that while fucking the captain's daughter was bad, then buggering and accidentally killing her was probably far worse.

"Do it, Flotsam," she urged, presenting her vast, pale buttocks to me like a ritual offering. "Fuck my asshole."

I started slowly, stroking her buttocks with both hands, then slowly moving between them. Gods, but she was soft. Finally my finger sought out the puckered surface of her anus and, moistening it from the overflowing fount of her cunt, I slipped a finger in.

"Ah, yes," she gasped, stiffening. "Yeah. Rub it."

I obliged, massaging my way into her, slipping my finger deeper and deeper, accompanied by her rising moans.

"Get it wet. Get it wet. Get my asshole all wet and slick. You're the first, Flotsam. You're the first man to fuck me up the ass."

I felt so privileged.

At length, when she seemed adequately lubricated, I began to rub my cock between her cheeks, moving slowly but steadily toward my goal. I was still hard as a rock, which was surprising, considering that I'd just had my life threatened. But then, I suppose I'm one of those guys who gets off on danger...

No, on second thought, I'm not. I just have an overdeveloped sense of self-preservation.

"You ready?" I whispered.

"I was ready the minute you walked on the ship, Flotsam," she replied. "I've been thinking about this ever since."

So, dearest Sakkolia had turned her daughter into a perverted little minx. As I slowly slipped my cockhead into the tightness of her asshole, I wondered whether mamma's plans for Danni would backfire. Sure, she'd get married, but would she be satisfied with just one man?

Probably not. Her mother sure as hell wasn't.

"Oh, I can feel it," Danni told me. "I can feel you stretching me out. Slide it in slowly, slowly."

I obliged. My cock was nearly halfway inside her now, and what resistance I'd felt initially was melting away.

"That's it," she sighed. "That's it. All the way now. Fuck me. Fuck me up the ass as hard as you want."

With a single thrust that caused her to go stiff again, I buried my cock to the hilt in her ass, then slowly pulled out and began to thrust in again.

"So tight," I said. "Feels so good."

"Come all over my ass," she said. "I want to feel it on my ass."

Okay, I thought. That's how you want it.

I thrust again, faster this time, and her moans grew in intensity. Hopefully, they wouldn't reach the deck or, worse, Saquod's cabin, but such concerns were of only passing interest to me right now. I was busy fucking a lovely, fleshy blonde woman up the ass, and such things tend to cloud one's better judgment.

"Faster, please," she said, quite reasonably.

I moved faster. Soon, I was fucking Danni's tight rear entry as quickly and forcefully as I'd just hammered into her cunt. It seemed to appeal to her.

"Yes. Yes. Fuck my ass. Fuck it hard." She moved forward and back, meeting my thrusts with equal passion. Her hands gripped the edge of the crow's nest, white knuckled, and her breasts beat against it, slapping rhythmically with each thrust. "Fuck it hard, Flotsam. Fuck me  til it hurts..."

Passion in a woman is a lovely thing to behold, especially under such circumstances, and I obliged, pounding in and out without concern. Danni gave every indication of loving every minute of my attention, so I gave her all I could.

Of course, it couldn't go on forever, and within moments, her passionate cries, coupled with the sheer eroticism of her tossing hair, clenched fists and pounding breasts brought me to the brink. Images of my little session of voyeurism at Livia's, watching my unrequited love getting fucked in the ass by an enormous cock came back to me, and suddenly I was coming. I yanked my cock from her anus just in time, and let loose a generous spatter of semen across the endless, soft white expanse of her buttocks. She looked back, eyes wide, lips pursed.

"You coming, Flotsam?" She rubbed one hand across her splattered ass, then licked my come off her fingers. "Did you like fucking my ass?"

"Loved it," I admitted, falling backwards in a sweaty heap. "You like getting your ass fucked?"

She nodded. "Loved it," she repeated. "I'm going to want to do it all the time, now."

"Sure you are," I said. "Just not with me. I'm leaving when we get to Snakehold."

Danni shrugged. "I know. I'm used to it. Someday I'll fall in love with a man who likes to fuck as much as I do. But in the meantime... Well, you just fucked a virgin."

I considered this. "Virgin by a very narrow definition, I suppose, but virgin nonetheless."

"Wait until I tell Mamma."

I held up a hand. "Wait until I'm gone before you tell her. She may take a dim view of my advancing your studies to this extent."

"Oh, of course," she said, brightly, gathering up her clothes. "I was only kidding, Flotsam. I'd never have told my father. I just wanted your cock up my ass so badly I'd have said anything."

Obsessive little vixen, I thought. I kissed her good night and watched her climb back down the rigging. No alarms erupted from the ship below, so as post-coital exhaustion swept over me, I pulled up a blanket and drifted off to sleep, relatively sure that I was safe from the blood-eel pit.

For the moment, anyway.

We put in at Snakehold ten days later. I was burned to a crisp, my joints ached and I was grateful to feel dry land under my feet once more. As I stepped down the gangplank toward the bandit-city's teeming waterfront, Sakkolia sidled up to me, smiling broadly.

"Danni said you did nice by her," she whispered. "If you ever want to drop by again..."

I gulped. "What did she tell you?"

"Up in the crow's nest. She said you buggered her like a priest with an acolyte. Perhaps some day you could show me how good you are."

I glared at her.

"You are a sick woman," I said. "The farther I get away from you, your oversexed daughter, your homicidal husband and his blood eel pit the better."

She shrugged. "Hm. You've no idea how many men have said that."

"Actually," I growled back, "I think I do."

Squit and I met with Skrall in a waterfront tavern called the Dead Fish a few hours later, squandering the handful of coppers which Captain Squid had deigned to pass on to us.

"I've gotten together a crew, and a ship of sorts," Skrall said. "Promised  em first choice of the Stormking's plunder or, if he wins, their pick of booty from the elven fleet."

"That covers all your bets, I suppose," I said, taking a deep swig of the first decent ale I'd tasted in weeks. "What's this ship like?"

"What's it called?" Squitter chirped. "The  Ugly Fucker'?"

Skrall glared. "Shut up or we have rat on a stick for dinner, junior. It's called the  Suicide Squid.' It's the best I could get on short notice."

"You Swamp Lords are going to have to start giving your ships better names," I said. "I doubt anyone'll be frightened of something called the  Suicide Squid'."

"My other choices were the  Foul Bitch' and the  Self Sinker'," Skrall confided. "I doubt you'd have liked them any better."

"When do we leave?" I asked.

"Three days," Skrall replied. "The Stormking's taken over a place called Brightwater Castle. It'll take another few days to sail from here. You fellas can crash with me in the meantime."

"Got anything to eat?" Squit demanded. "Rotting vegetables, maybe?"

"Sorry, squirt, I'm strictly carnivorous."

"Yeah," I muttered, "that's what your last girlfriend told me."

"Funny." Skrall didn't look amused.

The barmaid strolled by, bringing us another round of ale. She was of the full-bodied, black-haired, wink-and-smile type, the sort that I usually fall for like a knight with a spear through his head. Unfortunately, Sakkolia and Danni had drained me of much of my traditional enthusiasm, and I only returned her smiles politely, then watched as she walked away disappointed. Probably thought that Skrall and I were involved or something.

"What's your wizard situation here?" I asked. "I want to send some messages if I can. There's some folks out there who might be able to help us."

"Try Shardin," Skrall said.  "On Viper Road, about half a league west of here. He's got sending crystals that rent by the minute."

I looked into my purse. Not much left. Hopefully it was enough.

I drained my ale mug and set it down. "Okay, show me the way and I'll do the rest."

Skrall cast me a dubious look.

"How do I know you're not up to something? Why should I trust you?"

"No idea," I replied, "other than the fact that I've given my word, and that if you tell Captain Squid what I was up to on board the  Raper' then I'm deader than Saint Orlan."

"Well, you got a point..."

"Damn right I do. We need to trust each other from this point on, Skrall. All of us."

"Why should he trust you?" Squit demanded. "I don't."

"Shut up," I said, "or I'll tell Saquod that YOU were porking his wife and daughter."

"I wish," mumbled Squitter.

"I'm surrounded by perverts," I grumbled.

"Hey, Wolfie, takes one to know one."

With my obnoxious little ratling's words still ringing in my ears I ventured out onto the streets of Snakehold. It was one of those filthy, crowded pirate ports where you're best advised to keep one hand on your purse and the other on your sword hilt. The citizens were an unclean crowd of scarred, glowering nastiness. You know the kind: father stabbers, mother rapers, father rapers. Of course I fit right in, even though I never stabbed or raped either one of my parents. Even if I'd had the inclination to do either it might have proved difficult, considering that I had no idea who they were.

I made my way past the grizzled, mad-eyed, wine-besotted, carnage-obsessed, father-raping throng and found Viper Road, a rude muddy track lined with shops of dubious quality.

"Hey, handsome!" shouted a big-eyed redhead, leaning out from a balcony and baring her breasts. "Want to show a lady a good time?"

I ignored her. Gods, I thought, harlots must use the same lines in every corner of the world and in every imaginable bygone era. I imagined some ancient lizard-man making his way through a foreign cave complex, having females flash their neck-sacs and wave their tails at him.

Halfway up the street I spied a small, narrow shop and a sign reading "SHARDIN the Sorcerer. Fortunes Told * Potions Prepared * Wands Recharged * Entrails Read * Musical Instruments Tuned * Pets Spayed and Neutered * Reasonable Rates for Communication Crystals."

This apparently was the man I was looking for, and I pushed my way through the badly hung, creaking door. The shop interior was spotless, if somewhat bare, with a counter, a small selection of minor magical items for sale, and a bearded, grey-robed proprietor reclining in a chair, tilted precariously against the wall, tall hat pulled down over his eyes.

"Hello?" I said.

"Zzzzhhhssshhhhawwwwwwwww...." replied the wizard.

"Shardin?"

"Grrnnnnawwwwwkkkkkkkkkkkkkk... snort."

"Uhhhh..." I tiptoed over to the slumbering owner and tapped his shoulder.

The wizard exploded into a flurry of motion, skinny limbs flailing, robes whirling, eventually overbalancing and depositing himself on the floor. Two slightly confused eyes stared at me out of the tangle of robes, arms, legs and beard.

"Hello," he said, struggling to his feet and dusting himself off. "Please forgive me, sir. Late night last night, don't you know."

  "I see. Shardin I presume?"

"The same, the same." He adjusted his tall hat with an air of flustered but self-important dignity. He looked young for a wizard, and about as dangerous as a mangy kitten. "How can I help you?"

"I need a communication crystal. It's an emergency."

"And where is your subject?"

"Stoneburg. She has her own crystals."

"Hm. That will be one kopin per minute."

I nodded. I had about enough for a five minute communication. It was enough if I was careful.

I handed over a deposit, Shardin escorted me to a small curtained alcove, selected a crystal sphere and set it in an ornate stand.

"I assume you know the basics of crystal communication?" Shardin asked.

"Direct from the Imperial Academy," I said. "Unfortunately I flunked out in my sophomore year."

He seemed impressed. "Well, I'll leave you to it, then."

I pulled the curtain shut, activated the crystal and concentrated on Livia. For me, of course, that wasn't difficult, but unfortunately I kept visualizing her naked. I pushed it out of my mind and created another image, of the chaste, white-clad Livia doing sensible, chaste, wizardly things. A few moments later I felt a spark of contact, and an image began to swim into focus in the crystal.

Of course, I should have stuck with my first image of her. Livia was lying in bed, her lovely blonde-framed face and delicate bare shoulders visible. There as always -- pale blue eyes, turned-up nose, a light sprinkling of freckles, and pouty, bee-stung lips... My heart twisted in a number of uncomfortable ways.

"Livia!" I almost shouted, and she looked at me in surprise.

"Wulf," she said, hesitantly, then frowned with rapidly gathering resolve. "As always, you're the master of impeccable timing."

"Did I wake you?" I said, apologetically. "I'm sorry. It's kind of an emergency."

Her eyes flickered briefly and a mild shudder seemed to pass through her. "I believe it's always an emergency with you, isn't it, Wulf?"

"Well in this case, I -- " I broke off abruptly as another shudder contorted Livia's lovely visage. I muttered a command word under my breath, and in the crystal my field of vision widened, taking in the entirety of Livia's bed, and the pale-skinned expanse of her naked body, as well, from the aforementioned bare shoulders to the sweetly ripe curve of her breasts, downy-furred belly, wide hips and...

Oh, hell...

I should have expected it, given Livia's proclivities. She wasn't alone, though all I could see of her companion was a tanned back and long, dark brown hair. Whoever it was -- male or female I wasn't certain -- was busy between her thighs, head bobbing, hands hidden but obviously moving with urgent intensity.

Livia, of course, noticed what I was doing, and looked at me, torn between annoyance and insouciance.

"Like it?" she said. "You seem to enjoy being a voyeur lately, don't you. Oh, my... Right there, darling. That's so good."

I swallowed, trying not to notice the sudden return of both libido and erection (and also wondering whether the proprietor was outside, eavesdropping). Dear Livia... We hadn't touched each other intimately since the waterfall in Kenth, but she could fire my lust unlike almost anyone else. Sakkolia and Danni faded rapidly at the sight of my unrequited love's object lying naked and exposed, pleasured by a completely anonymous and androgynous partner...

I forced myself to concentrate. "I have to keep this short," I said. "I've only got about four more minutes. This is a secure crystal, isn't it?"

"Anyone who tries to eavesdrop will find himself turned into a random invertebrate," Livia assured me, settling back into her pillows and letting her still-unknown lover get back to work. "Now talk, and I'll listen. And play with my nipples, if you don't mind."

Fucking tease, I thought to myself as Livia tilted her head back, wetting her lips with a dart of pink tongue and began to stroke and tickle her own breasts.

"I'm in Snakehold," I said, "but I need your help." I raced through the past weeks' adventures as quickly as possible -- the princess, the Xeshite liner, the storm, my rescue, and the Stormking's current schemes. "We're getting together a crew and heading for Brightwater Castle. I'm going to need all the help I can get, so I figured I'd call and ask for your assistance. If you were to come down here with Skate, I suspect that there would be potential for considerable profit if we nail the Stormking."

During my monolog, Livia's breath had begun to come faster, and her nipple-play increased in intensity, until she was tugging at both nubs and squeezing so hard it looked painful. When I finished, she looked at me, eyes smoldering.

"You know," she said, "I was just wondering what I would do if you were actually here."

"Livia," I said, fighting back a renewed rush of desire, "this is hardly the time or the place..."

"Nonsense. You've got almost two minutes left. You want me to join you at Brightwater, and we'll plan how to free your little elf slut and bring down the Stormking."

"Well, at least rescue Theanna."

"Good." She squeezed her breasts together and let a deep moan escape from her lips. "I'll join you there in ten days. Meanwhile, wouldn't you love to be here?"

I gritted my teeth. "You know I would."

"Lick my lovely wet cunt? Put your finger up my asshole?"

I nodded again. I wanted to break off the communication and walk away, but as always my essential maleness kept me glued to the crystal, letting the woman tease and torment me.

"Let me suck your cock? Slide it down my throat and listen to me moan?"

"Yes."

"I wouldn't let you fuck me, though. I wouldn't let you put your cock in my cunt. No, you don't deserve that. You'd have to earn it."

"How?" I asked. "I didn't have to work to hard in Kenth."

"That was different. I needed a cock, and you were there. Here, you can just lick me and let me suck you." A sudden convulsion racked Livia and her back bent upward, breasts quivering. "Then I'd make you sit in a chair and watch me play with myself. You could make yourself come while you watched me."

"I already have," I said, wondering whether I should attempt to polish my dagger here in Shardin's booth. I finally decided against it, since I was about to come without any further encouragement.

"I'd watch you shoot your come all over..." she groaned, then grabbed her lover's head and thrust herself against it. "Yessss.... Oh, darling Wulf... Oh, yes... I'm c... c... com --"

The crystal went suddenly black, and Livia's flushed, orgasmic image vanished, though it remained seared into my brain.

"Shit," I muttered, feeling my erection begin to vanish. The need for release pulsed in the back of my mind, and perhaps I'd do something about it eventually, but right now I was torn between hopeless love for the woman and dark, angry frustration. She certainly knew how to manipulate me.

Oh well, I thought, stepping out of the booth, at least she would be helping us.

Fears that Shardin might have been listening in on my little long- distance diddle with Livia vanished when I saw what was going on in the main shop area.

A beefy, balding gentleman with an eyepatch stood calmly while his two companions, a mangy, patch-furred Wolfen and a black-scaled Jarrek, each held one of Shardin's arms while the unfortunate wizard struggled feebly.

Bald and beefy looked up as I stepped out of the booth, and spoke to me in a cultured voice.

"Hello, old fellow. We were just having a word with the proprietor of this establishment. It seems he's a bit behind on some important payments, and our employer has asked us to teach him the error of his ways."

"Eeep," whined Shardin, staring at me with pleading eyes.

"Perhaps," continued the lead thug, testing the edge of a notched dagger, "you'd be so kind as to run along and let us get on with our job?"

I don't really know what gets into me sometimes. Perhaps it was Shardin's pathetic stare. Perhaps it was the fact that I don't like thugs, especially flunky thugs. Then again, perhaps I just have a death wish.

"So you're telling me to leave so that you can maim this unfortunate wizard just because he didn't keep up his protection payments to some low-browed ape who thinks he's the local crime boss?" I asked, and was rewarded by three equally perplexed stares. "I'm not trying to be difficult here. I just want to clarify the situation."

"We're tellin' you," growled the Wolfen, heavily accented and barely intelligible, "to get the fuck out NOW, before we hafta hurt you like we're gonna hurt HIM."

I nodded. "I see." My hand crept to my sword hilt. "I really don't think I like the tone of your voice, dog-boy."

"Well, sir, neither I nor my friends like the present arrangement of your face," said baldy. "I think that we shall give you a new one. Scar, if you will do the honors?"

"Wit' pleasure," growled the Wolfen.

"Now that's hardly friendly," I said, drawing my rapier and parrying dagger. "I was just going to offer you a dog biscuit."

Rather than grin at my humor, embrace me like a long-lost brother, and invite me to high tea, Scar charged at me, bounding on all fours, snarling. The fact that I had a weapon and he didn't made little difference -- Wolfen are equipped with some pretty impressive personal armament, and many, particularly their damned Primes, or warrior-monks, fight entirely unarmed all the time, feeling it dishonorable to do so. Now, I doubted that Scar had ever been a Prime -- they don't go for the criminal life -- I suspected that he didn't need weapons to hurt me.

He proved it by dodging under my first slash and chomping at my leg with ragged, yellowish fangs. I took a slice at his grey-furred neck, but he danced away again, taking a slash with the broken and dirty, but still serviceable, claws on his hands.

So far, baldy and scaly took no part in the fight, confident that their mangy cohort would finish me. Even if I did finish off the fleabag, I thought, stabbing with my dagger while feinting left and stabbing right with my sword, I'd have to contend with a vengeful lizard-man and a human thug who'd probably seen more fights than a barroom floor.

As I sustained a bite on one arm and retaliated by slashing Scar's shoulder, I began to wonder how the hell I was going to get out of this one. I'd stepped in on the sleepy sorcerer's side for some unknown reason, and now I was about to get killed on his behalf, my mission uncompleted, my girlfriend and the woman I was responsible for still held by the evil Stormking.

Fortunately for me, Shardin chose that moment to show his gratitude, twisting suddenly away from the black Jarrek, who was focused on my fight with Scar. Shardin's hand darted quickly to a small shelf nearby, grabbed an earthen bottle and smashed it on the lizard-man's head. A small cloud of sparkling dust burst free, enveloping the Jarrek, who fell, hissing and squealing.

His companion's sudden fall distracted Scar long enough for me to jam my dagger into his neck and slice him across the belly, sending him falling in a messy, bloody heap.

None of this set too well with baldy who, with a roar of rage, leaped after Shardin, dagger slashing.

Disengaging my blade from the Wolfen's writhing, soon-to-be- corpse, I whirled, scanning the walls, and grabbed a jar similar to the one Shardin had used on the Jarrek. I cocked my arm, took aim at baldy, and --

"No! Don't!" Shardin squeaked, holding out a hand, desperately.

He was too late. The jar was on its way toward the lead thug's bald pate. It struck with a loud crack, the jar split open...

And baldy was suddenly a bouncing, capering human torch, a black skeleton wreathed in angry orange and yellow flames. His screams were truly impressive.

Shardin and I gaped in horror for a long instant, until I realized that the burning man was now spreading his inflammatory compound all over the shop. Shardin's curtains, wall-hangings and a desk full of parchments caught, and began to blaze.

"Let's get out of here!" Shardin shouted, dashing for the exit before it, too, was engulfed in the growing inferno.

Fine sentiment, I thought, bounding after him as the flaming, screaming bald thug continued to dash about, flames pooling around him. We made it to the street just as a massive "whoosh" heralded the shop's destruction in a massive orange fireball. We dashed away as the flames began to spread to surrounding buildings.

"I suppose," Shardin puffed as we caught our breath in an alleyway, "I should thank you. Unfortunately, in saving my life, you also destroyed my livelihood and reduced me to utter penury."

"Picky, picky, picky," I growled. "Dead is worst than penury."

"I agree," Shardin said, listening to alarm gongs and calls for water echo from several streets away, accenting the column of black smoke that now began to rise over the city. "Yet I wonder if I could have been saved with less loss of real property."

"Sorry," I said, "but I usually break eggs when I make omelettes. Who were those bastards, anyway? They didn't seem to have much sense of humor about things."

Shardin shook his head. "Don't know their names. Hired muscle working for The Manticore."

"The what?"

"The Manticore. Local crime boss. Calls himself that  cause it sounds so scary. He's actually a middle-aged man with a big gut and lots of gold to hand out. I got behind on my protection payments, and his employees paid me a visit. Of course, now my life isn't worth a cartload of dead rats at a Rexxaran Revival, since we killed three of his boys."

I made a face. "Damn. I town only a couple of hours and already the local thugs want me dead. Typical. Say, you aren't much of a sorcerer, are you? Why didn't you just fry those guys with a spell or something?"

Shardin frowned. "You don't know much about magic, do you?"

"A year and one semester at the Imperial Academy. I'm not exactly ignorant."

"Well, I'm NOT much of a sorcerer. I take forever to actually say the spell instead of visualizing it instantaneously, which is what you're really supposed to do. I know spells. They just take a while. And, well, I was never much for studying --"

"Man after my own heart," I said. "Since I just cost you your business and got a price put on your head, you want to come with me? We're sailing for Brightwater Castle tomorrow."

"The Stormking, you mean?" Shardin asked. "You're going to go join up with THAT loser?"

"Well, he throws around waterspouts better than you could ever hope to," I said. "Besides, we're not going to join him. Hopefully we're going to fuck him up real good."

Shardin made a helpless gesture. "I wouldn't last a day here alone. I'd better go with you. Let's go pack up my things. Oh, wait a minute." He snapped his fingers as if suddenly remembering something. "I forgot. I don't have any things. YOU burned them all up."

"I said I was sorry. Don't make me regret signing you up."

"Oh, I shouldn't complain," Shardin said, philosophically, following me down the street through a steady stream of locals carrying buckets and jars full of water. "It was all for the best. I wasn't making any money off that damned place anyway."

Shardin's arrival didn't exactly make Skrall and Squit's day.

"You're bringing THIS fraud along?" the orc demanded. "He couldn't cast a combat spell to save his own life."

"Pipe down, Skrall," Shardin shot back. "I'm perfecting a spell that'll keep you from dribbling beer down your chin when you drink. You'll love it."

"Another shaved monkey," Squitter complained. "I'm up to my armpits in you freaks!"

"You know," I told him, "there's a small island near here that has about six rocs living on it. I understand they LOVE rat."

"Yeah?" Squit demanded. "What of it."

"Keep talking like that and you'll find yourself there. Alone."

"I'm shakin' in my sandals," Squit sneered. "I got skills you're gonna need, so I'm not goin' anywhere."

"What skills? Gnawing holes in food crates?"

"Gods," commented Shardin. "You three are one big, happy family, aren't you?"

"Ah, don't mind us," Squitter said, smoothing his whiskers. "We fight alla time, but we love each other. Don't we, boys?"

"Yup," Skrall agreed. "I love you guys like a favorite festering sore."

"There's a lot of love in this room right now," I said. "I'd better go open a window."

Despite my companions' doubts, Shardin stayed with us, and three days later, along with a crew of toughs even less appetizing than those on the "Vile Raper" we made our way to the docks and there took possession of the good ship "Suicide Squid." She was a wallowing tub, leaking from a dozen badly-caulked seams, and her rigging seemed to consist entirely of splices, with no actual rope remaining. When we raised sail, I almost expected to see it patched with the remnants of sailor's underwear. Fortunately for me, this did not prove to be the case.

Though they were ugly, Skrall -- now, "Captain Skrall" to all and sundry -- had picked a good crew. Renegades and criminals from a dozen races, they worked efficiently and professionally. There was a large number of women, too, including an especially voluptuous Cold Islander with a mane of blonde hair and breasts like snow melons. Just like Wulf to notice the hot females first, I thought, watching her scuttle up the ratlines and help reef sails. I wondered what her name was.

We left Snakehold on the morning tide, set sail, and bore south toward Brightwater Castle and our engagement with the Stormking.

"Whatcha gonna do when we get there?" Squit asked, dangling from the rigging beside me as I handled the ship's wheel.

"That," I replied, taking a bite of ship's biscuit and wondering how nutritious weevils were, "is something I haven't thought about yet, my ratty little friend."

"You mean you're gonna improvise?"

"I mean I'm gonna figure it out when we get there."

"You fill me with confidence, Wulf. Makes me wonder why I ever got involved with you."

"You said it yourself, whisker-boy. It's love, plain and simple."

"Now THAT is what I call disgusting," Squit replied, scrambling up the rigging. "What's this thing I'm climbing on called, anyway?"

"It's called a ratline," I shouted up to him.

"No shit," Squit said, impressed. "How the hell did they know?"
 

A gust of wind from the bay ruffled Theanna's hair, and made Li, walking submissively beside her, naked save for her studded collar and leash, shiver and growl.

"Do you want to go inside?" Theanna asked. "It looks as if one of our leader's storms might come this way."

Li shook her head. "I like the weather. It is cold, and it makes me shiver, but it is something real. We face enough unreality each day that even discomfort is welcome."

"That," Theanna said as a large, cold droplet of rain splashed between her eyes, making her blink, "is an interesting way of looking at it."

"On the other hand," Li said as a wall of rain swept in across the bay, obscuring the ships, "I draw the line at getting soaked, especially when I'm naked. Let's go inside."

Theanna agreed, and they darted into her chambers just as the worst of the rain struck the castle. She collapsed on a couch and watched as Li knelt dutifully nearby and gazed at her with a steady yellow-gold gaze.

"You don't need to behave in this manner around me," Theanna complained. "You're only my slave because the Stormking has decreed it. I'd prefer to think of you as my friend."

Li cocked her head and said softly, "It is best that I play the role assigned me, rather than attract suspicion. Besides, I do not mind playing that role for you."

Theanna swallowed, feeling a sting of emotion. "Truly?"

"Love can do remarkable things. I perform for Tanu because I must, and because I choose to. For you, I serve because I love you. I would serve only one other in such a manner."

"Wulf?"

Li nodded. "My dear Wulf. And then I would only do so for a while, until I could stand it no longer."

Theanna sighed. "Oh, sweet Li Shu. I think your Wulf is dead. Along with that horrid little rat creature."

"I do not give up hope so easily, lady."

"You have more than I, then. I serve the Stormking now, and all is lost."

"You will betray your mother, then?"

"The Stormking wills it, and as he wills, so we all shall do. I'll not defy the one who holds the power of life and death over me. I suppose a true heroine would die rather than betray her nation -- fling herself from the battlements, or fall upon a hidden dagger." Theanna looked at the floor and spoke sadly. "But I am no heroine. I am a spoiled and arrogant princess who never understood what she needed until it was too late."

"It's not too late, lady."

"Again, Li, I wish I had your spirit. For now, I fear, mine is lost to Lothaera and the Stormking."  Lothaera

"We have word of two more ships on the way, My Lord," Lothaera said as she stood beside the Stormking on a broad balcony, looking out over the wind-tossed harbor. His magic protected them -- after all, he himself had created the storms; he could protect himself from them.

The horned helmet inclined slightly. "Any others?"

"Not at this time, Lord. There is a fast corsair from Stoneburg, the  Skate,' under command of a mercenary sorceress named Livia. There is also a pirate vessel called the  Suicide Squid,' though it doesn't sound like a front-line warship."

"It does not matter. With their arrival, our fleet will be complete. Then we will sail for the isles, and our conquest will begin. The Lady and her minions will know the wrath of the subjects they neglected for so long."

"But the Lady will not be harmed," Lothaera pointed out. "That was the price of Theanna's cooperation."

"We'd have had her cooperation one way or another, sorceress. Our promise was easily given. Whether it will be kept, well... We should see how cooperative the Lady and her family proves before we make any further commitments." The armored figure turned abruptly and marched back into the castle.

"I will need a complete roster of all vessels, their crews and capabilities," he shouted over his shoulder. "We sail with the first tide after those last ships arrive!"

Lothaera remained on the balcony, even as the Stormking's protection vanished and the rain washed over her. His words rang in her mind, against images of Theanna's wide-eyed, fearful countenance, and memories of their intimate moments together.

With sudden clarity, Lotharea realized that the Stormking had no intention of leaving the Silver Lady alive. To do so, allowing his closest and most powerful rival to live, would be madness. His promise had only been to secure Theanna's willing cooperation, nothing more.

And, a tiny voice asked deep inside her, if the Stormking showed no mercy to the Lady and her children, what were the chances that he would spare Theanna?

Lothaera could not bring herself to answer the question.

Perhaps a week out of Snakehold, we beheld a sight which both made my heart leap and sink in quick succession. The gleaming white hull of the "Skate" sailed majestically into view over the horizon, her sails billowing with a fresh, magical breeze. As we drew close, I spied a familiar figure on the quarterdeck.

"Livia!" I shouted, waving. "Ahoy! It's us!"

By the gods, she actually broke into a smile when she saw me, and as we drew alongside, I leaped across the railing, sweeping her up in my arms. She was the same as she'd ever been, lithe but voluptuous, face pale and sprinkled with freckles, eyes wide and blue, blond hair bound into a short braid. She was dressed for work, in breeches and blouse, but even now she had to bow to fashion, for her ample breasts were gathered up by a tight bodice, presented to me like a tray of treats I couldn't eat.

"Finally decided you couldn't live without me, eh?" I demanded, kissing her. "Couldn't get that waterfall out of your mind, could you?"

She grinned sweetly. "Someday, Wulf, I'll meet a man with an ego as big as yours."

I shrugged. "Something about me has to be big, I suppose."

"Again with the sex talk, Wulf. Is that all you think about?"

"I know it's all YOU think about," I retorted. "Have any spare lovers chained in the hold?"

"Oh, I never have to chain them up, Wulf. Not unless they beg for it."

At that moment, Cap'n Skrall chose to swing across on a ratline and land with a thud on the deck nearby. When Livia saw him, green skin gleaming and muscles bulging, her eyes widened slightly.

"Oh, my. Now who is this, Wulf, and where have you been hiding him?"

I threw up my hands in disgust. "My captain, dearest. His name is Skrall. And I've been hiding him because I was afraid you'd eat him alive."

"Lady," growled the orc. To my surprise, he bowed.

"Phaedra's belly," I muttered. "An orc is polite to a lady."

"Is that so unusual?" Livia demanded, allowing Skrall to take her hand and press his tusked mouth against it.

"Damned right it is. I was expecting the world to end."

"Fine ship you got here, Lady," Skrall commented.

"I'll give you the tour later," Livia replied suggestively. Behind Skrall, I rolled my eyes. She gave me a dirty look.

"Hey, gorgeous," squeaked a bright, annoying voice. "You another one o' Wulf's floozies?"

Squitter had arrived.

Livia glanced with amusement at the bright-eyed furball scrambling over the railing.

"And who is this cutie?" she asked as the ratling positioned himself at her feet and looked up at her, whiskers twitching.

"They call me Squitter, though that ain't my real name," Squit said. He held up a paw, two fingers crossed. "Wulf and me, we're like this, ya know."

"Shut up, Squit," I said. "She'll think we're lovers."

Squitter looked at me with distaste. "Ew. What kinda pervert do you take me for?"

"I've brought another friend of yours," Livia said. "I found him in the gutter outside the Red Shark."

My stomach lurched. "No," I said, fearfully. "You didn't --"

"’Ey! Wot the hell is dis orc doin' on deck?"

Yes, it was Udo. The rumpled, tangle-bearded dwarf staggered up from the hold, eyes burning with blood-lust.

"You really know how to hurt a guy, don't you?" I asked Livia.

"Give him a break, Wulf," she replied. "You'll need fighters, and he's one of the best."

"Yeah. No brains, but a good fighter. Just give him an axe, wind him up and point him in the right direction."

"Orc! Kill!"

I smacked the little drunk between the eyes, sending him tumbling to the deck, swearing.

"Shut up, Udo," I said. "Skrall's on our side."

"But he's an orc!" Udo said, defensively, trying to get on his feet.

"Udo, I'm your guardian, and I say leave Skrall be. There'll be plenty of other non-dwarves to chop up later."

He brightned and flashed a lopsided grin. "Promise?"

"Promise," I said.

Then the last of our members showed up. Shardin, bleary-eyed and faintly green, staggered up from "Squid"'s hold and hailed us uncertainly.

"Good morning," he said. "I think I feel better today."

I sighed and motioned toward the railing.  "Livia, meet Shardin, a sorcerer of sorts. We rescued him from the legbreakers in Snakehold."

Livia nodded and smiled sweetly, approaching the rail with her hand extended.

"Pleased to meet you, Shardin," she said, taking his hand as he held it out from "Skate." "Perhaps we could talk shop sometime."

"Of c... c... course." Shardin's eyes bulged as a swell hit us. "Now, excuse me." He dashed toward the opposite railing and retched loudly.

Great. My crew of misfits -- knockabout thief, mangy ratling, tattooed orc, drunken dwarf, seasick magician and oversexed sorceress -- was complete. Now all we had to do was inflitrate an evil wizard's fleet, rescue his prisoners, thwart his plans for world domination, and save the elven nation from defeat.

Piece of cake.

"Okay, Skrall," I said, stepping back toward the railing. "We'd better get back on board..."

I stopped. Skrall was nowhere to be seen. As a matter of fact, so was Livia.

"Where'd they go?" I asked.

"Oh, they took off while you were talkin' to the dwarf," Squit said. "I think she liked him, know what I mean?" He grinned and made a sound like bed springs. "Ee-ee ee-ee ee-ee ee-ee. Woo-woo."

I glared at him. "You know, my pride is hurt enough without overgrown vermin rubbing salt in the wound."

Squit shrugged. "Sorry, boss. It's my nature. So are you comin' back on board, or would you rather stay here and imagine what she's doin' to the orc?"

"Lead on, rat-boy," I said, turning back to the railing. "We've got work to do."

"So does she, I bet."

"Just shut up, okay?"

"Hm," Skrall grunted, looking around him. "Pretty posh for shipboard, innit?"

"I didn't bring you here to criticize my decorating skills," Livia said, sidling up to him. She slid a hand across his muscular chest, and standing on her toes, whispered urgently into his ring-studded ear. "You see, I've never had an orc before."

Skrall turned his gaze back to her. "So that's it, huh? Thought you'd add an orc to your collection? Hell, lady, we only just met."

"Oh, you mustn't look at it like that," Livia said, stepping back, loosening the laces of her bodice. "Use your imagination. Think of yourself as a merciless orc warlord and I'm your elvish captive."

"Hm. Never really liked elves all that much..."

The faint trace of a glare sullied Livia's pale brow. "Don't like elves? What kind of orc are you? Pillaging, looting, burning, raping... Don't they mean anything to you?"

"Oh, yeah," Skrall grinned. "I always enjoyed the pillaging and looting. Especially the burning. I never got much into the raping, though."

"You sure you don't have some human in your ancestry somewhere?"

"Sure, it's possible," Skrall said thoughtfully. "Don't know for sure, though. Never did figure out who my dad was."

Livia rolled her eyes.  Her bodice was unlaced and her tunic hung down, tantalizingly revealing the pale globes of her breasts. "My luck to find the one humanitarian orc on all of Thystra."

"Hey! Watch your language!" Skrall seemed insulted. "I'm no humanitarian. Just cuz I don't like raping..."

"You're not REALLY raping me, you tinhead! You're just PRETENDING! Like in a bad Litharnan novel!"

Light suddenly dawned in Skrall's yellow eyes. "Oh! Right! Well, in that case..."

A moment later, they were on the bed and he was on top of her, large hands eagerly ripping away her bodice, yanking down her tunic, revealing the soft expanse of her breasts. Already, her nipples were growing hard with excitement.

Yes, Livia thought, this is more like it...

"Oh don't," she gasped breathily even as she met his lips with hers and felt the rough caress of his tongue on her face. "Please, stop." She hoped that it sounded sufficiently sincere.

"Never," he growled back, yanking her blouse and breeches away with a satisfying rip of cloth. Now she was completely naked beneath him, her breasts pressed down by the insistent, hot pressure of Skrall's chest. "You're my captive, and will do as I demand!"

In the back of her mind, along with a brief moment of relief that this wasn't one of her more expensive outfits, Livia noted that Skrall was already talking like the rugged antihero of one of those damned Litharnan potboiler romances. Perhaps he read them in his spare time. Wouldn't he hate it if that ever got out to his friends...

Then, as always, idle thoughts were swept away as the orc's big, strong hands encircled her breasts, squeezing them, making her nipples protrude so that he could easily slap his big, black tongue across them.

"Mmmm." Livia was unable to mask a brief gasp of pleasure, then returned to her assigned role.

"Oh, what are you doing? Oh, please..."

 "Silence, slave!" Skrall barked, and his pointed teeth clamped down on one swollen nipple.

"Ah!" The pain was exquisite, just as she liked it. "Oh, no... Please..."

Now Skrall bit her other nipple with equal enthusiasm.

"Oh... Yes... Yes... Please." Feigned pleas for mercy became real pleas for more. "Don't stop, master."

With that, Skrall levered himself atop her again, pinning her wrists against the bed. She felt the hard pressure of his erection, and hoped that in her excited state she wasn't underestimating its size. His eyes were hot now, and his voice commanding.

"Who's your master?" he demanded.

"You are," she gasped. "You're my master."

"Who owns you, slave?"

"You do, master. You do." Livia's heart raced at the thrill of the words. Why? She wondered. She'd not be as thrilled were she truly the slave to an orcish warlord, whose cruelty and mercilessness were legendary. Perhaps, however, now in the cabin of her ship, with her willing playmate, she could have the excitement of captivity and ravishment with none of the danger or threat.

Enough, she thought. Back to the game.

"What do you want?" Skrall demanded. His face was twisted into a savage snarl, and the lamplight glinted off his numerous golden earrings. "What does my slave want?"

"I want you to fuck me, master," Livia whispered, and her sincerity was apparent. "I want you to fuck me as hard as you want." She felt his erection twitch at that. "And I want to suck you. I want to suck that beautiful huge cock. I want it in my mouth. Please."

Skrall's expression did not change. "Please what?"

"Please let me suck your cock. Please fuck my mouth with your cock. I want it so badly."

"Hm. You beg nicely, slave."

"For you, master. I beg for you because it pleases you."

Gods, Livia thought, I do this so well...

Skrall released her, then stepped back off the bed, loosening his breeches.

"On your knees, slave," he growled. "Suck your master's cock."

This is getting cornier by the minute, she thought, dutifully crawling down from the bed, then rising up to her knees, hands sliding up the corded muscles of Skrall's thighs. Impressed, she gazed for a moment at the orc's penis, a heavy shaft of greenish flesh standing out from his loins like a Litharnan siege gun. If anything, she'd been overly conservative in her estimate of his size.

"Your cock is so big, master," she hissed. "Shall I lick it?"

"Yes."

"Order me to lick it, master."

"Lick it, slave."

Livia felt a brief stirring in her stomach, spreading rapidly downward to her thighs and her steadily-moistening cunt.

"Call me a bitch, master. Tell me I'm a bitch."

"Lick it, bitch."

"Oh, yes." She licked up and down the shaft with growing intensity. "Yes. I'm your bitch, master. I'm your slut. I'm your whore. Your whore loves to suck her master's cock."

Oh, my... Why did such words excite her so? Forbidden words? Angry words spoken in passion? Cruel words that masked real affection? That even though she played the slave, she was actually the mistress, and could order him to say anything she chose? Livia didn't know. All she knew was that it made her desire the orcish sailor even more.

Her tongue glided up and down Skrall's cock, feeling the heat of its engorged flesh. She nibbled gently at the surprisingly soft skin, then licked around his knobby head.

"Mmm," she said. "More, please. Give your slut more cock."

Heeding her request, Skrall placed his hand on the back of Livia's head and pressed it forward, feeding his cock to her with the other. Her lips parted and she felt the hard shaft slide into her mouth. Slowly but steadily she allowed it in, further and further, until it had slipped down her throat and she had swallowed it completely. She held it there for several seconds, teasing it with light nips of her teeth, then let it slide out again, tongue caressing its thick, fleshy length.

"Urrh," rumbled Skrall. "Good."

"I'll give you more," she whispered, holding the engorged organ in both hands. "Much more." She fitted her lips around it again, and once more let him thrust deep into her mouth, face tight against the rough bristles of his pubic hair.

"Oh, yeah," Skrall hissed. "Don't stop, you little slut..."

Again the master is the one left begging, Livia thought triumphantly. So like a man, first demanding, then begging. Were they really worth all the trouble?

As her head began to bob faster and faster, sliding the great organ in and out, she decided that they probably were. For the moment, at any rate.

A few moments later, Livia squealed incoherently, her face buried in a pillow, as Skrall's cock pounded into her from behind. His own animalistic sounds joined Livia's, and soon their voices united in breathless harmony. She felt sweat drip from his forehead down onto her back, and as his pace increased, she rose to meet it, moving backwards with equal enthusiasm as he thrust forward, doubling the almost blinding, numbing sensations of the great prick as it moved in and out, almost an entity in its own right, a heavy muscular rod of inescapable pleasure...

"Ah," she cried out, feeling tension race through her, the rising fever of oncoming orgasm. "Ah... I'm coming, master... Make me come, please..."

Skrall only snarled in response, roughly grabbing the soft flesh of her buttocks, pulling her to him even faster and harder than Livia had believed possible.

"Oh, your cock master... I love it... I want it..." Words were torn from her, forced through a constricted throat and savagely bared, clenched teeth. "Fuck me. Fuck me. Fuck me. Fuck me. Make me come. Fuck me, master."

The merciless pressure of Skrall's cock only increased, thrusting against the steadily tightening fist of her cunt.

"Want it?" Skrall growled.

"Yes, master, yes!" she wailed back, feeling the faintest edge of final release. "I want it so... so... b... b..."

Then it came, driven over the brink by a final thrust of the thick, heavy cock. Livia collapsed forward, feeling Skrall's delicious, heavy bulk falling down upon her, his prick slipping out as her cunt contracted, again and again, her cries rising in intensity, then fading off into overheated, weak gasps.

"Oh, Skrall..." she said, faintly, rolling onto her back, feeling sweat streaming from her breasts, pooling on her belly. "Oh, you fucked me so very, very well..."

"Not finished yet," the orc said, moving astride her, cock still hard, gleaming with her cunt's warm residue. "Not yet, slave."

Oh, yes... That "master" business... Livia had to remind herself, since most of her male partners raised no objection to simply being pushed out of bed and told to go finish themselves off by hand once she had had her way with them. Still, she'd started this game and, sated and exhausted though she was, it was her responsibility to finish it.

"Yes, master," she whispered, pulling a pillow up behind her head and letting Skrall slide his hardness between her lips and thrust into her mouth once more. Oh, well... Perhaps this wasn't so bad, she thought, feeling her libido soar again as the thick organ began to move in and out of her, encircled by thick, pouting lips, caressed by her long and agile tongue. She sensed the taste of her own cunt along the great cock's lovely expanse, and it excited her again.

 How lovely I taste, she thought. Oh, how sweet it would be to make love to myself. Not simple masturbation, of course -- she was well familiar with that. But to actually touch, and kiss, and taste and stroke to another body, one identical to her own... Perhaps there was some kind of magical solution... Livia mentally filed away the notion, and applied herself to Skrall's waiting erection.

Fortunately for Livia's neck, the orcish sailor was well along on the road to climax, and the tenor of his moans told her that he didn't have much farther to travel. She bobbed her head forward and back, stroking the wet shaft with her fingers, groaning with real excitement as he grew closer and closer, feeling the growing throb of her own stimulation as she moved him closer and closer to his final explosion.

You want this so much, she said silently, unable to speak for the thick organ in her mouth. I'm giving you what you want, I'm controlling you, my dearest orcish warlord... Making you give me that lovely hot load, making you fill my mouth with proof of your utter devotion to me... I'll make you come...

She released the cock, pumping it with her fists. "Come for me, master. Come for your little slut. Show your little whore how much you want her..."

Then she sucked him again, grabbing his buttocks, pulling him in.

"Oh, yes..." he groaned, throwing his head back.

Yes, she thought, yes. Show me now...

Then he came, a hot gush of semen exploding into her mouth. Livia sucked at the pumping organ, swallowing the bosun's copious load, feeling it slide down her throat, feeling the orc's feverish, convulsive spasms. She sucked at the warm dregs of Skrall's orgasm and felt the softening prick slip from her mouth, leaving behind a fine trail of semen, and the orc collapsed beside her.

Weakly, idly stroking between her legs and massaging a deliciously sore breast, Livia rolled onto her side to gaze at Skrall. She felt a trickle of the last vestige of Skrall's semen trickling from one corner of her mouth, but she made no move to wipe it away.

"Oh, my," she breathed. "You are such a lovely orc..."

Rather than replying, Skrall snored loudly.

Livia frowned in sudden annoyance.

"Stupid fucking male," she muttered, then rose, wrapped herself in a robe and stalked angrily from her cabin.
 

"I am your pilot," said ours, sibillant and polite, like all of his race. "The Stormking bids you tell me the names and races of your crew, your vessel's capabilities, and allow me to guide you through the maze of storms which my master has created."

Skrall grunted. "You're welcome to the wheel, dragonman. As for my crew, I'm damned if I know all their names. I'm Skrall, captain."

I swallowed. "Chuma," I said. "First mate."

The dragonman quietly listened as our crew gave their names, then Skrall sang the "Suicide Squid"'s praises. I had to leave at that point, since referring to that tub as a "sloop of war" almost sent me into gales of laughter.

Our pilot proved efficient, and two hours later, as the sun sank low on the horizon, "Squid" led "Skate" into the unsettled, crowded waters of Brightwater Bay. With our names and the vessel's ludicrous capabilities committed to his inscrutable draconic mind, he then leaped gracefully into the air, and dwindled, finally disappearing onto the ramparts of a grim gray castle that crouched on a craggy promontory above us.

"Home to our nemesis the Stormking, no doubt," I muttered to Skrall.

Skrall nodded. He had looked somewhat weary ever since Livia had returned to the "Skate." I didn't have to guess why.

"Quite a fleet he's got, too," the orc commented.

"Yeah," I said, scanning the variety of vessels resting at anchor around us. "I think the Stormking favors quantity over quality, though."

Skrall agreed. "Might be enough to put a dent in the Sea Griffin fleet, though."

"Only a dent. He can't possibly hope to win. What the hell is he thinking?"

"We're gonna find out real soon." He looked back up at the castle. "You think your elf-girl is up there?"

"Best place to start," I said. "Only, I can't be --"

I bit off my words. Something tickled at the back of my brain -- the last time I'd felt it had been on the "Princess Xura," when Theanna was being menaced by the Xeshite and his phony priest. I'd commented that Theanna's allies might have linked us in some way, then had forgotten all about it. Now, the sensation was back, and I knew.

"She's up there," I said, quietly. "I can feel her."

Skrall looked curious. "I guess I'll have to take your word on it."

I gritted my teeth. If Theanna was there, where was Li? Was she even alive?

"I need to get a message to her," I said. "Or at least find out what side she's on."

"Hm. Plannin' on runnin' the gauntlet to get in? Or maybe you should have Livia give her a call."

I considered this. I suspected that I could get into the castle -- getting out again might be a challenge. And Livia could probably find and communicate with Theanna, while setting off every ward and magical alarm in the castle. Neither course of action was likely to end with me alive and healthy.

"I have a better idea," I said. "Hey, Squitter!"

Our resident hairball appeared a moment later, gnawing on what looked like a week-old turnip.

"Yeah, boss?" he chirped, brightly.

"Can you get into that castle?" I asked.

"Can I?" He turned and started to scamper toward the railing. "Watch me!"

Skrall grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and dragged him back, his legs still pumping furiously.

"Not yet, hotshot," he said. "Don't you want to know what we want you to do there?"

"Who cares?" Squitter replied. "I just wanna get off this barge."

"Get into the castle and find Theanna," I said. "Remember her?"

"The snotty elf-bitch? Sure. Ya want me to off her, boss?"

"No!" I barked. "I want you to find out whether she'd being held prisoner or is cooperating with the Stormking?"

Squitter looked confused. "Then should I off her?"

"No. Find Li. Remember Li?"

"The striped pussy? Sure."

"See if she's okay. Tell her I'm here if you can. If you can't, get back here and report."

"I don't get it. Don't I get to off anyone?"

I shook my head. "Scouting mission only, cheese-head. Now get going."

Squit stepped back and saluted. "Righty-o."

I was just about to find the bosun and unship the skiff when Squit scampered back to the rail and plunged over the side.

"Squit!" I shouted. "You don't have to swim all the way!"

"It's okay, boss! I need a bath anyway!"

Then he was gone in a swirl of dirty water.

"He's actually swimming in it," I noted to Skrall. "He's braver than I thought."  Squitter

The ratling scrambled up the breakwater at the base of Brightwater Castle, his small mind running with a dozen different, often conflicting, thoughts.

Darkness had fallen, and clouds obscured the moons, but the air was redolent with smells -- the tang of the sea; the sweat of thousands of humans, elves, orcs and others; the sharp scent of freshly-oiled metal; the musk of horses; the heavy odor of leather... And best of all, the delicious essence of rotting vegetables.

After months at sea, Squitter was in heaven.

He gazed up at the soaring walls of Brightwater, grim and grey, obviously built for defense.

"Imposing," he muttered. "What's an honest rat to do?"

Nearby, he spied a trail of dirty water, cascading down the wall from a narrow spout. The sewage and waste systems of the castle must simply exit onto the sea. Hardly the route an invading army would take.

But for a large, very intelligent rat...

"What the hell," Squitter said to himself, jumping nimbly from rock to rock, toward the wall, scanning it for handholds. "I've done worse things."

Slowly, he crawled upward, hands, feet and tail seeking purchase. The nearest spout was a good 30 feet off the ground, so he moved with care.

"Worse things, yeah," he grunted as he drew nearer to his goal. "I'm sure I've done  em, but I just can't remember when right now."

 It was nearly a half-hour later when a sodden, stinking mass of matted fur crawled painfully out of the kitchen waste floor drain, muttering blackly to himself.

"Go to the castle, he says. Find the elf-bitch, he says. Tell the pussycat that she's my 'ittle snuggy-wuggums. And you, you stupid little rat -- you listen to him. Bah."

Moments later, however, Squitter's frustrations were forgotten as he crept through the empty kitchen, gnawing on discarded foodstuffs. At last, he located a pile of rags and cleaned himself as best he could.

"Good idea," he muttered. "Elf-boys'll smell me 'fore they see me."

With that, Squitter darted from the kitchen, easing through shadows.

The castle was vast and, even though most of its inhabitants slumbered, Squit still had to dodge patrols on several occasions. Squit had wandered through Brightwater's labyrinthine corridors for over an hour before he heard the sound of voices.

Yellow light spilled into the corridor from a large conference chamber, where several elves sat around a table, inspecting parchments and talking animatedly. Squitter lurked in an alcove, noting that two grim- looking creatures in the form of black suits of armor flanked the doorway. Dreadguard, Wulf had called them. Not the sort of thing Squit wanted to cross. Besides, he was close enough to hear them. Ratlings, he was proud to remind himself, had excellent hearing.

"Our fleet numbers seventy vessels," said a tall officer in blue- green sea-elf armor. "Of those, perhaps a third are first-line warships capable of standing against elven craft. Without reinforcement, the Sea Griffin fleet can defeat us easily."

The individual at the head of the table made Squit shudder. At first he thought it was another Dreadguard, but when a muffled but clearly elven voice echoed from within the gleaming, demonic helm, he realized that there was a living being inside the armor.

"My storms will aid us. Even now they draw together into a great maelstrom. Our fleet will advance with the storm, in the eye where the sea is calm. Though the Lady's sea-mages will be able to dispell much of the storm's force, it will nonetheless damage some enemy vessels. Our agents in the Sea Griffin fleet are ready to take command of their ships at the given time, and the Princess' plea should cause others to come over to our side, or at least waver. I will also summon allies to aid us in battle. Though it is sure to be a near-run thing, we will emerge victorious." The demon- helm turned to face a tall, slender elven woman. "Lady Lothaera, is Princess Theanna still willing to cooperate?"

The woman replied quietly. "She harbors doubts, My Lord. Nonetheless, I believe that she will do what you ask, if only to spare the lives of her mother and sisters."

Squit's ears pricked up at this. Theanna, cooperating with the helmet-boy? Hm. Maybe he WOULD have to off her, after all.

A motion in the corridor behind him caught Squitter's attention. Glancing into the gloom, he was, for once, shocked at what he saw.

A tall, muscular Wolfen walked down the corridor, a leather strap in one hand. Behind him, walking slowly, head down, bound up in a variety of leather straps and buckles, shuffled none other than Wulf's beloved little cat-girl.

Squitter bit back the urge to squeak "Fuck me," and instead padded after the pair, hoping he was far enough back for the Wolfen not to smell him.

Well, at least SHE wasn't here voluntarily, Squit thought.

The Wolfen led Li down a side hall, at the end of which a wooden door was guarded by two more of the black-armored horrors. More Dreadguard, Squit thought? Must be important. Maybe her nibs.

The door creaked open, and Theanna appeared, silhouetted in warm light.

"I bring your slave back to you, Lady," growled the Wolfen.

"Thank you, Tanu," said Theanna, accepting the leash and leading Li into the chamber. The door closed, and the Wolfen returned the way he'd come. Squitter ducked away as the Wolfen walked past, but the canid's pace did not slack. A moment later, he was gone.

Squitter sat and fumed for several minutes after that. Damned little elf-bitch... She HAD gone over to the enemy! And she was keeping the cat-girl all tied up and handing her over to that smelly dog-boy. Squit was forced to admit, with considerable reluctance, that he actually liked Li. Certainly more than the ice princess...

Logic told the ratling to report back to Wulf, tell him that the elf had turned traitor, and that his beloved kitty was held in thrall by the bad guys.

Instincts fought with logic. Squitter fingered the dagger at his belt, and considered the enormity of the elf-princess' betrayal.

No. He couldn't go. Not now, with Li bound up and forced to do gods-knew-what. Not now, with the princess for whom Wulf had risked his life ready to stab him and everyone else in the back for her precious Stormking...

The chamber behind Theanna had looked luxurious. Surely, it had its own privy or bath chamber. And that chamber had a drain. Gathering up his resolve, Squitter stood and moved back along the hall, searching for a route to the enemy's lair. A route, he thought grimly, to vengeance.
 

"No," Li replied. "It is beginning to get somewhat tedious, however. I live for the day I can have him bound up, following my orders."

"There's that optimism again, love," Theanna said, helping Li to her feet. "Now, do you care to come to bed?"

Li yawned and stretched, belly rippling, breasts bobbing. "I think I will."

Theanna opened a chest at the foot of the bed and pulled out a silken garment. "Nightgown?"

"I think not. Ancestors, though, I think these elves have broken me of the habit of wearing clothes. I feel much freer and less encumbered."

Theanna chuckled. "You'll be popular in some lands with that outlook."

 Li kissed her lightly on the cheek. "Come to bed, dearest."

Theanna was about to oblige when a small, blurry form shot from the shadows, squeaking and chittering.

"Bitch! Traitor! I'll kill you!"

Shock and confusion raced through Theanna's brain, and she scarcely perceived the nature of the filty, furred creature atop her, and did nothing to resist as a gleaming, metal blade described a short, murderous arc toward her throat...

Then the weight lifted from her, and when she looked up, Theanna saw a dirty ratling, dagger clasped in one paw, struggling, suspended in the air by Li, whose eyes glowed with feral rage.

"Drop the weapon or die, ratling," she snarled. "You'll not harm the elf-woman."

The ratling stammered a reply. "B... b... but... She's a traitor! She made you a slave! She's gonna stab Wulf in the back..."

Then the ratling fell to the floor, and Li was atop him, unsheathed claws held to his throat.

"Wulf? You come from Wulf? Is he still alive?"

"Yeah, yeah," chattered the intruder. "Dontcha remember me? I'm Squit? We helped you get off the ship when the storm hit."

"Squitter?" demanded Li, releasing him and stepping back. "The little rat from the liner?"

"The same, lady," he said, grooming himself with an air of annoyance. "Gods. I come to help get you out and you try to gut me."

"Squitter," repeated Theanna. "Oh, dearest... I'm so sorry. You misunderstood..."

"Theanna's no traitor," Li told him. "She's cooperating to save her own life, and those of her family."

"Hm. Come to think of it, I heard the Stormking say something like that a few minutes ago."

"You saw the Stormking?"

"Not too close. I just hid in the corridor and listen. He's gettin' ready to put to sea and take your mother's fleet down."

"I know," Theanna said sadly. "I've agreed to support his cause if he spares my mother and sisters."

"Confidentially, lady, I'd trust that fucker as far as I could throw the White Emperor's palace."

"We know," Li said. "Unfortunately, we've no choice right now."

Between the two of them, Li and Theanna explained events since the storm.

"So it seems that Li was right all along," Theanna concluded. "Our protector is still alive."

"Yeah, and he's down in the harbor along with two ships full of toughs, come to save you and tear the Stormking a new asshole. He's got some kinda sorceress, too. Blonde babe from Stoneburg."

"Her name wouldn't be ‘Livia,' would it?" Li asked, the faintest trace of a growl in her voice.

"Yeah, that's her. Livia. One hot mama, if ya know what I mean.  Course, I like my women with six tits, ‘stead of just two, but I can appreciate her all the same. She was screwing the captain, I think. Wulf didn't seem to like it."

A snarl rumbled deep in Li's chest. "I look forward to meeting this sorceress."

"Ooooh, catfight," Squitter said, rubbing his paws together with relish. "Can I watch?"

"You've got to get word back to Wulf," Theanna said. "We're sailing with the tide tomorrow. The Stormking's flagship is called the  Conqueror' and he will be commanding from there. If Wulf and his friends can get aboard, they might be able to stop him."

"I'll let him know."

Li sniffed delicately. "Not to pry too much into your professional secrets, ratling, but exactly how did you get in here past the Dreadguards."

"Believe me, sister, you don't know, you don't need to know and you don't want to know," Squitter replied. "The things I do for that guy. Sheesh."

"Well, you're going to have to reverse your route shortly," said Theanna. "Tell Wulf that I will do whatever I can, though I guarantee nothing. We may not be able to communicate again, but at least we know he's safe."

"And you're not a traitor," Squitter noted, jamming his dagger back into his belt. "Sorry ‘bout the misunderstanding, yer ladyship."

"Never mind. Just get to Wulf."

"And tell him I love him," Li said.

"He says he loves you, too, by the way," Squit said. "I forgot to tell you." Though Wulf had not actually mentioned such a message, Squitter felt it was only right. He was gratified when Li smiled.

"I knew it. I knew he would return. Tell him we'll fight. We won't let him down."

"Good," Squit said, standing and bowing briefly. "Now, if you will excuse me, I'm outta here."

Theanna sat wordlessly after he vanished.

"So you see that sometimes hope is rewarded," Li told her. "Now, at least we have a chance."

"Yes," Theanna replied. "If we have the courage to take it. Gods only know whether I do."

"You will take it, beloved. For me. For Wulf. For your mother. You will take it."

"Will I?" Theanna asked, forlornly. "Will I truly?"
 

I took the news as calmly as I could. Squitter was a sodden mess, but had insisted on reporting immediately.

"He's right," Skrall noted, handing me a parchment. "We just received orders to sail with the tide tomorrow morning."

I resisted the urge to express wonder that Skrall could actually read, and instead replied, "That means we don't have much time. Better have someone wake up Livia. Tell her it's council of war time."

"I'll go," offered Skrall.

"Nope," I told him. "Send Kwy. If you went into her bedroom, you'd never come out."

Skrall growled in protest, but agreed. Moments later, our Mruti bosun was winging his way toward the "Skate," and I was gathering the rest of our leaders.

As Skrall and I made our way to his cabin, collecting the still- greenish Shardin on the way, I wondered how we would ever get out of all this. Our meeting wasn't to plan strategy so much as to see if anyone had any better ideas than I did.

Tomorrow, we would sail, ready or not, and ride toward an uncertain destiny. How it would end, and whether we had the faintest trace of a chance against the Stormking remained to be seen.

At this point, I thought with a sinking heart, I had no reason to be optimistic.
 

 "We'd have had her cooperation one way or another, sorceress. Our promise was easily given. Whether it will be kept, well... We should see how cooperative the Lady and her family proves before we make any further commitments."

Lothaera knew the truth of it... Once she was no longer useful to him, Theanna would die, along with her mother and sisters.

 Suddenly, she was bolt upright, her mind filled with sudden resolution.

Lothaera stepped out of bed, wrapping herself in a robe, and strode deliberately from her bedchamber.  Theanna

Lothaera's expression was troubled, ominous.

"Don't worry," she whispered urgently. "The Stormking can't hear us now. I've cast a minor ward to protect us. Besides, I think he's sleeping now."

"What's wrong?" Theanna asked, sleepy and uncertain. Beside her, the cat-woman slept soundly -- Lothaera had taken pains not to wake her.

Lothaera's eyes brimmed with tears, and in a few moments, her fears came spilling out.

"I don't think he will keep his promise to you. I don't think he will save your mother or your sisters. And..." She faltered. "I think he means to kill you, as well. He is not so foolish as to leave potential rivals alive."

Theanna felt a faint trace of shock, but her lover had simply confirmed what she had long suspected.

She did not reply immediately, only gazed thoughtfully around the room.

"What do you advise I do?" she asked at last.

"I don't know, dearest," Lothaera replied sadly. "We are both his prisoners, truly, and without friends."

Theanna's eyes narrowed. Her heart urged her to trust Lothaera, though common sense screamed otherwise. At last, she made her decision.

"I have friends, Lothaera," she said. "They are in the harbor. Perhaps they can help us."
 

"That flagship is going to be sewed up tighter than an Kyborist's asshole," I said, using my natural talent for vivid description. "I say we sneak on board tomorrow when the fleet's at anchor, grab the women, and get the hell out."

"Gods dammit, Wulf," snarled the orc. "We're in it for the profit, aren't we? What the hell point is there in sneaking around in the dark then leaving before the real battle begins?"

"Well, let me think," I said, counting on my fingers. "One, we'll still be alive. Two, we'll still be alive. Three..."

Livia interrupted me, pointing. "Wulf! Look!"

A silvery shimmer swirled in the center of the cramped chamber. Shardin jumped up, yelping in surprise and fear, while Squit britled and squeaked angrily.

Before I or our two sorcerers could react with a counterspell, the shimmer resolved itself into a familiar form, one which I hadn't seen in weeks. Though she was only a magically created image, I felt relieved and almost -- gods help me -- glad to see her.

"Wulf!" cried Theanna, eyes dancing with glad recognition. She was clad in a silken robe, and her eyes were red with tears, but otherwise she looked healthy.

"Princess," I replied. "I never thought you'd actually be glad to see me."

"More than glad," she replied, urgently. "I'm sorry for everything I've said and done to you, but time is short, and we can discuss that later."

"Is Li there?" I demanded.

"Yes. She is well and sends her love."

I nodded and waved a hand around my room. "My friends," I said. "Introductions can come later, too."

"Yes. Please, listen closely. We've little time."

We listened as she raced through the last few weeks' events. My apprehension grew as she described the Stormking's plans for the Sea Griffin fleet.

"Damn," growled Skrall when she finished.

"We'll never be able to stop him," commented Shardin. "I think you're right, Wulf. We need to get the women out and get the hell away from here."

"No!" barked Skrall and Udo in unison.

"I wanna kill elves!" the dwarf complained.

"Then you're dumber than you look," replied Squit. "I'm with Wulf. Leave the ear-boys to kill each other."

Theanna's voice cut through the hubbub. "Wait! I have a plan!"

We fell silent, looking at the princess' image as it hovered and sparkled in the center of the room.

I shrugged. "One plan's as good as another," I said. "Let's hear it, highness."

When she finished, I didn't feel terribly reassured.

"Whaddya think?" Skrall asked eagerly. "It should work."

"Yeah, right," I said dubiously.

"I must go now," Theanna said. "The Stormking might discover that I'm talking to you. You may do as you wish, Wulf, but regardless of your actions, I will do what I said I will do. My honor demands no less."

I stood, anger and frustration surging.

"You'll be killed if you act on your own!" I cried. "You can't --"

"I must go. Follow your heart, Wulf."

Then she was gone, and we were left gaping.

Livia looked at me.

"I guess that's it," she said. "If we don't help, she's going to get herself killed. Her only chance is if we help her."

"A slim chance," I said, gloomily. "And if she's killed, so is Li."

"But if we fail, we're all dead," Shardin said, voice rising with panic. "What she suggests is suicide!"

"Suicide, ha!" Udo said. "Suicide is for cowards. We die in battle like good warriors! That's not suicide! That's glory, and we'll all drink in the gods' ale-hall after! Come on, orc! I'm with you even if these cowards aren't!"

"I'm captain here," Skrall said, with grim finality. "And I say we follow the elf-woman's plan. It's all we have."

I knew better than to argue. The thought of jumping ship and sailing off with Livia crossed my mind as the meeting broke up, but I knew that I wouldn't.

My honor, to quote Theanna, demanded no less.

The fleet sailed out the next morning, riding at the eye of a great storm, heading northeast toward the ancient Elven Isles.

"The last time I headed this way, I almost ended up dead," I told Skrall. "Let's hope history doesn't repeat itself."

"Hmf," snorted Skrall. "I heard you killed a lot of orcs."

"Uhhhh, yeah," I said with great reluctance. "They were all Thrazz's boys, though."

A grin split the orc's ugly face. "Nice goin', pinky. I always hated that fucker."

I sighed inwardly with relief.

"You ready for this?" I asked.

Skrall patted the double-bladed battle axe which hung at his side. "I was born ready, human."

"Yeah, yeah," I grumbled. "Do you think we've got any chance at all?"

"Hm. We don't think that way, Wulf. Either we live or we don't. And if we don't, well, I guess we'll all meet in the mead hall of the gods and get drunk together."

"You sound like a Cold Island berserker, Skrall. I've never managed to be that fatalistic. I like living too much."

"You prefer life in this world to life with the gods, Wulf? Why?"

I shrugged. "The gods hate me now. What are the odds that they'll like me any better after I'm dead?"

Skrall looked puzzled. "You are one weird motherfucker, Wulf, you know that?"

I threw up my hands. "Great. I'm getting called  weird' by a damned orc."

Skrall grinned. "Don't worry, Wulf. All my friends are weird."
 

And then...

She sighed. Theanna had revealed much of the Stormking's plan, though several gaps remained. Who were these mysterious "allies" whom the Stormking intended to summon? What other forces did he hold in reserve?

Theanna had not known the answers. What she had known, however, was significant -- the identity of all the elven vessels which harbored traitors. Robbing the Stormking of his turncoats in the Sea Griffin fleet might be a telling blow, and swing the battle decisively against him. If the traitors succeeded, Wulf's chances of success would be much less. The desperate attempt to take the Stormking's flagship might fail, and with it...

Livia shuddered, both at her fear for Wulf, and for her own growing realization that she truly cared about what happened to the ragged outlaw.

Gods damn it, she thought to herself. I refuse to fall in love again. I refuse to bind myself to anyone, to rely on others. I am Livia, and I swore that I would never depend on another as long as I lived.

But Wulf, urged a tiny voice inside her. Wulf loves you, though he will never admit it.

Yes, she thought. Wulf loves me, and would never deny me anything. Such devotion and loyalty could not be ignored. She had to help him as much as she could. It was the least she could do for someone she...

Her mind choked on the next word, and Livia thrust such concerns out of her mind.

"All right, Shardin," she said abruptly. "You got that spell ready?"

The thin wizard stepped from the shadows, nodding.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" he asked, face mirroring concern. "You'll have to swim all the way through the maelstrom and find the elven fleet. There are orcas and sharks out there, you know."

"I'm not stupid, Shardin," she snapped. "I'm just not very good at transformational magic. That's why I asked for your help. Now are you going to do it or not?"

"I don't know, Livia. I'm not sure whether I can... I mean, I don't think I'm good enough."

Livia rolled her eyes. "Damn straight you're good enough, Shardin. I can smell potential a mile away, and if you put your mind to it you will be one hell of a mage. What is your problem, anyway?"

"I'm just not sure of myself, Liva. My father wanted me to stay home, be a cooper. Said I wasn't cut out to be a wizard and live like a vagabond. I guess all these years I've secretly thought he was right."

"Well it's time that you started considering that he was wrong, Shardin. We've got a battle coming up that might change the world, and you're one of the few people who can affect it. You want the Lady to win as much as I do. Now cast the spell or get the hell out of my life, got it?"

Shardin nodded with sudden resolve. "Okay. It's against my better judgment, but..." He didn't finish the sentence, instead holding his hands out and beginning a series of spellcasting gestures. "Now prepare yourself, please."

Livia took a deep breath, closed her eyes briefly, then shed her robe, standing naked on the foredeck, the dark sea behind her.

Shardin spared only an instant to admire her. Despite his apparent cowardice, the wizard was a professional, and knew what he had to do.

Mystic syllables writhed from his lips, combining with the glowing lines sparking from his waving fingers, and an instant later, a cocoon of brilliant light encircled Livia. Burning sensations streaked up and down her skin, making her cry out. She felt her body elongating, stretching into a new form, her limbs shortening and fusing, her head vanishing into a smooth grey cylindrical body.

When the spell was almost complete, Livia threw herself over the railing, and the black water rushed up to meet her. She struck it and plunged downward, feeling a million new sensations and the caress of the sea against her new flesh.

"Good luck, Livia!" Shardin cried. "I'll tell Captain Kamaz that she's in charge until you return."

A rude squeaking sound replied, and the slim, graceful form of a dolphin streaked away from the "Skate"

"Good luck, Livia," Shardin repeated, softly. "I hope my father was wrong about me."

Besides, Lothaera was here, making love to her with a fierce resolution, far stronger and more passionate than she had ever done before. Already, Theanna's nipples ached from the intense attentions of Lothaera's teeth and fingers.

"Mmmm, my pretty princess," Lothaera murmured, stroking open Theanna's thighs, touching the blooming petals of her vulva with insistent fingers. "I'd no idea I'd love you so much."

"I'd no idea either," Theanna gasped, cupping her breasts and squeezing her still sore nipples as the other woman's long fingers urgently caressed her soft flesh, trailing between her moist outer lips and touching the sensitive surface of her inner reaches. Theanna's clit began to throb uncontrollably, fired even more by the deep emotions she felt.

"Please, please, put your fingers in me," she said, pressing her breasts together and stroking. "Please, please, Lothaera."

Lothaera sighed, but did not comply, simply stroking the outer lips faster and more firmly.

"Oh, pretty princess, I want you to remember this, and to remember me. I want this night to echo in your thoughts when you are queen and the lands of the elves bow down to you."

"I'll never be queen," Theanna replied. "I'll never rule anyone. I don't want them. I want you."

"You want me?" Lothaera smiled up at her between the white expanses of her spread thighs. "Me and no one else?"

"I want Li, too," Theanna admitted. "I want my tiger-woman, too. But I don't want her now. I want you now. I want you to make love to me now, and never, ever stop."

"I fear even I can't fulfill such a request," Lothaera said, regretfully. Her fingers moved faster now, occasionally touching the burning nub of Theanna's desire, sending shocks from her clitoris to her head and back again. "We've only tonight, you and I. Then, for better or worse, we must part."

Theanna wanted to reply, to beg the elven sorceress to stay with her, to live with her and Li and leave the pain of the world behind, but she could not. All she could manage was a deep, heart-felt moan as Lothaera's middle finger finally penetrated her, cleaving aside wet, clinging tissue and stroking deep inside her.

"Ahhhhh..." The sound rose up unbidden, and Theanna felt her back arch and hips thrust, moving to meet Lothaera's thrusts. "Ah, Lothaera... Oh, I love that so much..."

Lothaera grinned wickedly. "Then you'll like this." A second finger joined the first, sliding in and out of Theanna's sopping cunt, then a third.

"You like it, my sweet?" Lothaera hissed, mouth open, lips wet, eyes locked with Theanna's. "You love it?"

"Yes, Lothaera." The words were barely coherent, intermingled with an underlying moan of desire. "Yes, I love it. Put your fingers in me."

Lothaera complied, thrusting the three fingers in and out for several long minutes, pressing against the steadily-tightening resistance of Theanna's cunt. The throb of her cunt grew to near unbearable intensity, and the timbre of Theanna's moans grew to a razor-edged cry of heartfelt longing.

"Oh, Lothaera, Lothaera. Oh, please..."

"Want more?" Lothaera asked. "More fingers in your cunt?"

Theanna stiffened, sensing her coming orgasm, and wanting it to last forever. "Yes. Put them all in. Put your whole hand inside me."

Four fingers, now, tightly pressed together by Lothaera's sopping, ever-tightening inner reaches. Lothaera's hands were long, slender and delicate, typical of her race, but now they seemed to fill Theanna deeper than she had ever been filled.

"M... m... more. More, please..."

Then at last, grinning fiercely, Lothaera slipped her thumb into the pink softness of Theanna's cunt, hot juices slathering her hand. The younger elf's cunt clamped down upon her hand, muscular contractions almost painful. She pulled out, then thrust her hand in once more, feeling the tightness recede slightly. Another thrust... Each time, Lothaera's hand slipped further inside Theanna, until at last...

"Oh. Oh. OH, LOTHAERA...!" Her last portal breached, Theanna bucked and writhed again, clawing at her breasts, squeezing her nipples, face frozen in a grimace of pleasure, eyes screwed shut, lips pursed, pale cheeks flushed pink, sweat beading on her forehead, dripping from her golden hair...

Lothaera's hand vanished completely up to the wrist between Theanna's cunt lips, and deep inside her, the princess felt her lover's hand ball into a fist, filling her completely, straining the walls of her cunt, sending her tumbling at last into a bottomless pit of release, her muscles contracting, shocks of agonizing pleasure streaking through her...

"OHHHHHHHHH... OHHHHHHHH... I... I... I love you, Lothaera..." Theanna's lips trembled, her eyes flickered wildly. "I love you so, Lothaera... I... I..." She went limp, collapsing on the bed like a cast-off rag, cunt still filled with Lothaera's hand.

She cried out once as Lothaera pulled out, then threw her arms around the older woman's shoulders, raining kisses on her face, holding her close. Lothaera's small breasts and their knobby, swollen nipples pressed against Theanna's large, pink-topped mounds, and their bodies intertwined like two ancient trees.

"I love you, Lothaera," Theanna repeated, voice trailing off as exhaustion swept over her. "I love you. Never leave me. Never."

"I won't, darling," Lothaera assured her, holding her as she slid off into unconsciousness. "I will always be with you." Her voice grew lower, laced with sorrow, as if she knew that she was lying, but did so nonetheless. "I'll always be with you."
 

The visitor was a human woman and, if you liked that sort of thing, quite attractive. She stood, naked and shivering before him, white skin tinged bluish, nipples hardening in the cold air, then smiled gratefully as a mariner brought her a cloak. His crew had fished her out of the water as the fleet advanced on the mysterious maelstrom, and she had demanded to see him. Naked and obviously unarmed, she posed no obvious threat, and his sea-mages assured him that she was what she appeared, though until recently she had apparently been a dolphin.

"You wished to speak with me, human?" Nae'mitz asked, standing in what he hoped was an impressive pose upon the forecastle of his flagship, the "Kraken."

"Yes, My Lord," the woman said in passable elvish. "My name is Livia, and I am a sorceress. I come bearing a warning of grave danger."

"I imagine that it relates to the great maelstrom which my fleet is at this time tracking," Nae'mitz said, gesturing toward the squat, whirling column of black clouds which now filled the horizon, blocking out the light of the rising sun.

"It does, my lord. The maelstrom conceals the fleet of the usurper you call the Stormking."

Nae'mitz stared in sudden horror. "If you are lying, woman --"

"I speak the truth. Tell your mages to dispel the clouds, ask the merfolk. They will confirm my story. I sailed with the Stormking, but I am no friend of his. I bring you information that may save your fleet."

The elvish admiral looked skeptical, but bade her continue.

"There are traitors on some of your ships, My Lord. When the Stormking sends word, they will take over their vessels and turn them against you. Combined with the Stormking's magic, this may be enough to defeat your fleet."

"No." Nae'mitz's denial was emphatic. "My mariners are loyal."

"Most are, Lord, but a few traitors lurk in your midst, in important positions. They plan to take over the ships ‘Waverunner,' ‘Gullwing,' ‘Sea Dragon,' and six others. That is nearly a third of your fleet, Lord, sufficient to cripple you."

Nae'mitz did not reply, but turned away to gaze at the oncoming storm. At length he turned and barked an order to the "Kraken's" captain, who stood nearby, resplendent in her aquamarine sea-elven chain and orca's-head helm.

"Have the human give you a complete list of the vessels she claims will be attacked by traitors," he said. "Send their captains to me, and be quick. The storm will be upon us in a few hours."

"Thank you, Lord," Livia said, bowing, surprisingly dignified and proud despite her nudity.

"Don't thank me yet, woman." The admiral's voice was grim. "If you are lying, or if you are an agent of the Stormking sent to cast unwarranted suspicion on loyal vessels, you will pay for your deceit."

"You will find that I speak the truth, Admiral," Livia said, and a shiver ran through her, raising goosebumps, and her nipples poked alluringly against the pale silk of her wet cloak. "Now, would it be at all possible to find me warmer clothing? I feel no shame at my condition, but I am damnably cold."

Nae'mitz nodded. "Of course, Lady. Forgive my rudeness."

Damn him, Livia thought. The elf seems completely unmoved by me.

Bloody ear-boys.

We were about as ready as we were ever going to be. "Suicide Squid" moved ponderously through the waves, while "Skate" glided gracefully along beside us, a lithe cheetah beside a wallowing hippo. All around us, our rag-tag fleet prepared for battle.

I scanned my companions, running over the plan in my mind once more. The "Squid's" crew stood about, arrayed with a motley collection of weapons and armor, while their Captain stood beside me, bare-chested, clad in breeches and boots, legs spread wide against the roll of the deck, his great axe poised. He grinned at me.

"Ready, Pinkie?" he asked.

"I was born ready, tusk-face," I shot back.

"Yeah!" grunted Udo. The dwarf was clad in impractical chain mail and helm, clutching an ugly warhammer. He reeked of liquor, and I hoped he would be steady enough to board the "Conqueror" without going straight into the drink.

Squit clung to the rigging nearby. Like Skrall, he was traveling light, in ragged black breeches, with a brace of daggers jammed into his rope belt.

"Whatcha lookin' at, Wolf-boy?" he chittered angrily. "You just watch yourself and don't make me come and bail you out!"

"Don't worry, furball," I replied. "I'll save all the cheese I find for you!"

"Aw, fuck off," he spat back which, I concluded, was as close to "Be careful, my friend" as he was capable of coming.

I looked over at "Skate," and saw its crew loading twin ballistae, and arming for combat. Captain Kamaz, a tough-faced woman who could have put me through a wall if she wanted to, was armored in white leather, and armed with a wicked-looking mace.

Unfortuantely, try as I might, I didn't see Livia, who was the lynchpin of our desperate plan. Casting about on our own foam-swept deck and bracing against the stiff wind, I saw only Shardin, walking forward with a determined look on his face.

"Hey, Shardin," I shouted. "Where the hell is Livia? It's almost time."

He looked at me evenly. "She's not here."

I felt like a child learning for the first time that there isn't really a Magic Holiday Wish Dragon to bring me presents.

 "WHAT?" I demanded.

"I did a shapechange on her," he said, icy calm. "She swam ahead to warn the Sea Griffin fleet."

"Phaedra's FUCKING TITS!" I bellowed, grabbing Shardin by the shoulders and shaking him. "Are you FUCKING KIDDING? We need her! She was going to cast a counterspell and punch us through the ‘Conqueror's' wards! What are we expected to do now? This isn't some kind of joke she wanted you to play on us, is it?"

"Nope. She's gone, Wulf. I'll be casting the counterspell."

I glared at him. "You? Since when did you specialize in countermagic?"

Shardin shrugged. "I wanted to be a wizard ever since I was a boy. I guess I decided it was time to start acting like one."

I rolled my eyes. "It's a noble sentiment, Shardin. I'm just not sure this is the best time to make a major lifestyle change."

"It doesn't matter now, Wulf," he told me. "Livia is gone, and I'm all you've got. Now, do we go in or not?"

A dozen images flashed through my mind, not the least of which being the threat to Theanna and Li. I scanned the faces of my companions

I knew it. They were all set to go, Livia or no Livia.

"We go," I said. "Just don't screw it up."

"You fill me with confidence, Wulf," Shardin grumbled.

"I'm good at that," I replied.
 

Slowly, cautiously, Li tested her bonds and smiled a quiet, secret smile. Lothaera had done as she had pledged. Her wrists were loose. Now, all she needed do was wait.

But after months in bondage, could she wait? She swallowed, looking at Tanu, who continued to stand without expression.

Soon, my master, she thought to herself. Soon we will see who is truly "tamed."
 

The Stormking's head swiveled toward the bow, where the grey- black swirl of the maelstrom began to thin and dissipate.

"I would say that your report is a bit outdated, dragonman," his voice echoed. "The storm is dispersing." He turned to Theanna, who stood nearby, wrapped in a black, fur-lined cloak, her hood raised against the wind and rain. "Are you ready, Highness?"

"I am, My Lord," she replied quietly. Beside her, Lothaera stiffened with fearful anticipation.

"Your Dreadguard are prepared to lead the assault?" the Stormking asked her.

"Yes, Lord," Lothaera replied. Below them, the "Conqueror's" decks were ranked with mailed elf warriors, and the black-armored, nightmare shapes of her enchanted automata.

"Prepare yourself, Princess," the alien voice boomed. "I will summon our allies."

Lothaera watched with mounting unease as the Stormking spread his arms and shouted a strange incantation. A shock shivered through her as she realized that his syllables were no elvish spell. These were strange, syllables -- twisted and alien.

A dancing nimbus of bluis light sprang up around the Stormking, and high above him a vast circular portal opened in the empty air, crackling with lightning and rumbling with thunder. And through it came...

Lothaera could not restrain a gasp of pure horror.
 

"Admiral!" screamed a mariner, pointing. "Storm daemons! Storm daemons come!"

Livia whirled, shouting at Nae'mitz.

"He's summoned storm daemons! Bring me a staff! You're going to need all the combat mages you can get!"

"Bring her a staff!" the elf shouted, his high voice cutting through the howling wind. The "Kraken" struck a heavy swell and the deck leaped upward. "By the gods, I hope that you are truly what you say you are, human!"

"I guess we'll just have to find out, won't we, Admiral!"
 

"Holy shit!" squeaked Squitter. "This better work, Wulf, or we're lunch!"

I couldn't agree more.

"Get ready to come about!" Skrall shouted, pointing toward "'Conqueror's" black, ominous form. "Signal  'Skate' to provide support!"

I braced for the maneuver, praying that the Princess would come through.

In a few moments, we'd all know whether we'd live or die.
 

"Princess?" he said. "Now that our enemies have seen our allies, it is time that you play your part."

"Yes, Lord." Theanna dropped her cloak, and stood before the Stormking clad in a pale blue gown. Her heart pounded so hard she feared it would burst, and a painful tingling sensation spread down her arms. Her breath came in short, terrified gasps.

"Begin your incantation, Lady Lothaera."

Looking nearly as fearful as Theanna, Lothaera began to recite the spell that would create an image of Theanna above the elven fleet. Moments later, a halo of golden light surrounded the princess.

In the troubled skies above the Sea Griffin fleet, Theanna appeared.

"It's the Princess!" shouted Nae'mitz. "Princess Theanna!"

Gods grant that she does what she pledged to do, Livia thought.

"My elven brothers and sisters," echoed Theanna's voice, high and mellifluous, the musical syllables of the elven tongue flowing from her lips, "I am Princess Theanna, daughter of our sacred ruler, the Silver Lady. I come with a message from the one who calls himself the Stormking."

She paused, and time hung suspended. The winds fell silent, the rush of the ocean muted, and even the terrifying daemons seemed to move noiselessly through the air.

The silence seemed to go on forever, until Livia, gripping the white, crystal-topped staff which the elves had brought her, was ready to scream.

"My kindred, my countrymen, my fellows," Theanna said at last, "the Stormking is a traitor. He claims to bring peace and stability, but truly all he represents is pain and deceit. He wished me to call upon you to surrender, and offered my life and those of my family in exchange. I know now that he has no intention of keeping his promise. The Stormking is a thing of evil, and I call upon all loyal elves to rise up and destroy him. Long live the Lady!"

There was an instant of stunned inactivity, a fraction of a second for all to take in and understand what Theanna had said...

Then, almost literally, all hell broke loose.

"Slut!" His normally calm voice echoed with towering rage as he strode across the bridge toward her. "Foul treacherous bitch! You will know such suffering --"

But even as he raised his arms to deliver a vengeful magical blow against Theanna, the armored form of a Dreadguard interposed itself, swinging its glowing violet-blue sword. It struck the Stormking in the shoulder, knocking him to his knees.

The Stormking's helmeted head snapped up, white lightning flashing from its eyeslits, smashing the Dreadguard into molten fragments.

Then the sorcerer's gaze fell upon Lothaera, who stood protectively in front of Theanna. The Princess leaned against the railing, eyes glazed, face drained of blood.

"What is this?" the Stormking demanded. "More treachery? Fallen for the little slut, have we, my dear?"

"Yes," Lothaera declared, stepping forward, arms raised and crackling with magical force. "Yes, I have. I love her, you traitorous bastard, and I've finally seen you for what you truly are!"

"I'm what you made me, you bitch!" The Stormking launched another bolt of force at Lothaera. It struck her, burning through her magical defenses, sending her staggering.

Swiftly, she wove a complex pattern of flickering light-motes in the air, creating a circular shield between them.

The Stormking advanced, drawing his sword, a blade of trapped lightning, and swung it at the shield, shattering it.

"To me, my guards!" Lothaera shouted, and two more hulking Dreadguard threw themselves at the sorcerer. Again, the lightning-sword whirled, and magical energies flared, and they disintegrated, their trapped souls shrieking in agony.

"Not good enough, traitress!" the Stormking shouted, sword poised to strike at Lothaera even as she desperately sought to weave another shield.

Then a cracking "boom" smote the air, and the bubble of magical defenses which surrounded the "Conqueror" cracked and crumbled. The Stormking whirled, staring amidships, where a huge, ungainly pirate vessel plunged through the breach in his wards and struck his flagship with a splintering crash.

"Stormking!" bellowed a voice, and a ragged band of a dozen races swarmed on board.

"Wulf!" shouted Theanna, weakly.

The sorcerer had paused, for the first time shocked into momentary inactivity.

Lothaera took the opportunity and threw herself bodily at the Stormking, seizing him around the neck, hands locking onto the crackling, magic-charged metal, trying to drag him over the railing.

Theanna fell to her knees, too weak to stop her or assist her.

For an instant, Lothaera and the Stormking hung suspended. The elven sorceress cast a single glance back, and met Theanna's gaze. Her lips moved, silently forming the words, "I love you."

Then they were gone, plummeting over the railing and plummeting toward the deck below.

Theanna desperately wanted to scream Lothaera's name, but could not muster even that much strength.
 

Shardin's spell had worked to perfection. We'd broken the "Conqueror's" wards, and our sudden attack took most of her crew by surprise. A volley of ballista bolts from the "Skate" cut down at least a half dozen as we swarmed aboard. I traded blows with a mailed sea-elf and cut him across the face. I leaped away, leaving him writhing, and took on a second crewman, disarming him and knocking him over the side.

Behind me, the rest of the crew fell screaming upon the defending elves. The infamous dreadguard were noteable in their absence; I wondered idly where they were.

A blue-white explosion shattered the mainmast, sending it falling like a great tree, crushing dozens of rebel elven defenders, littering the deck with fallen spars, rigging and canvas. I looked back and saw Shardin standing at the prow of the "Suicide Squid," fingertips smoking, a satisfied smirk on his face.

Suddenly, in front of me, as the struggling forms of two elves fell heavily onto the deck in a flash of lightning and mana. There were two of them -- a female and an armored figure. My mind fled back to the night months ago when this had begun, recognizing the woman as the sorceress who had summoned the Dreadguard. She had fallen beneath the armored one, and looked to be in bad shape.

The armored elf moved, rising painfully to his feet. His armor seemed alive, flickering with lightning, and his visor glared at me like an enraged daemon.

"Stormking," I growled. "Nice to meet you at last."

He stood unsteadily. Beneath him, the elven woman moved feebly.

"Storm daemons," rasped a broken voice from within the helm. "To me! To me!"
 

"Is that they best you elves can do?" Livia demanded.

"My mages expended their energies while dispelling the Stormking's Maelstrom!" Nae'mitz shouted, irritably, loosing Ocean's Treasure from its scabbard. "Care to see if you can do better?"

"As My Lord wishes!" Livia replied, gripping the elven staff in both hands. Her hair tossed in the wild wind, and her eyes shone with fire and steel. She stood with feet spread wide, aiming the staff at the oncoming daemons. "Qaeshti X'Zutheq Zaeshi-Xyfe!"

It was a Xeshite earth-spell, especially effective against air- creatures such as the storm daemons. A bolt of dark matter sprang from Livia's staff, striking the lead beast, and instantly expanding into a great entangling net of force. The daemon's wings collapsed and it fell heavily from the sky, landing on "Kraken" with a crash, splintering decking. A crowd of marines in blue-green scale rushed forward, spears stabbing. The thing rose up from the wreckage, screaming and slashing with sparking claws, mauling a pair of marines. Then a half-dozen spears peirced the daemon's flesh, and it fell beneath the elves' onslaught.

"Is that acceptable, My Lord?" Livia asked, but before the admiral could reply a gust of wind heralded the arrival of the second daemon.

"Hello, my love!" Livia cried, staff on guard, eyes blazing with defiance. "Come, embrace me!"
 

Tanu's composure held for a moment, but when a body blundered against the cabin door with a thud, his head turned, and his eyes wandered.

It was all Li needed. The hated shackles fell from her wrists, and with a single motion she tore the gag from her mouth and leaped onto Tanu, overbearing the surprised Wolfen and sending him crashing to the floor.

"Master," she hissed, baring her fangs, hatred dripping from each syllable.

The tamer's eyes widened, and his canine face registered surprise, fear, confusion.

To his credit, Tanu was not stunned for long. With a snarl, he surged to his feet, flinging Li back against the wall of the tiny cabin. Reaching to his belt, he drew a shortsword and came at her, howling.

Li ducked away from his thrust, hammering her fists down on his wrist, then twisting around to kick him in the face. Tanu fell back with a surprised yelp, and the sword fell from nerveless fingers.

Li's claws whirled, opening a gash in the Wolfen's face, sprinkling his grey pelt with bright red drops of blood. She scooped up the sword and barreled into the tamer, slamming him up against the cabin door. She drove the shortsword's point up beneath his chin.

"Master," she repeated, snarling, eyes wide and angry. "Your pet no longer likes her collar. Who will tame her now?"

"I surrender to you," Tanu said, voice high and desperate. "I have failed. I sought to honor you by taming you, but you have instead defeated me, and robbed me of honor. My life is yours now, Kaitian woman. You have tamed me."

Anger flamed in Li's heart, but deep in the Wolfen's eyes, she saw a faint spark, a sign that the tamer's honor remained, though she had defeated him.

"Your tricks did not work on me," she said. "Your shaman's way is useless against real love, isn't it?"

Tanu nodded. "It is our greatest secret. Only love can break our training."

"You are my slave now, then?"

"I am, Lady."

Though part of her said not to trust the Wolfen, Li stepped back, taking the point from Tanu's throat.

"Then come with me, tamer. Help me save the princess."

"As you wish, Lady." Though his words were solemn, a predatory grin crossed Tanu's face. "If I may say so, I much prefer fighting by your side to fighting against you."

"Let us see if you still feel that way tomorrow," Li said, casting off the last of her shackles and harnesses. "Now, come! We've a battle to fight."
 

The storm daemon rushed down from the sky, claws outstretched, angry blue eyes flashing lightning. I tried to dodge, but the clawed fist caught me, slashing my shoulder and sending me tumbling. I crashed against a mast and felt bones break.

Amid battling elves and pirates, and a scatter of bloody corpses, the daemon landed on the deck, horned jacklegs touching down delicately, wings flapping. It was at least twice my height, covered with spikes and leathery, armored skin.

Desperately I tried to rise, my sword held up defensively, though against this monstrosity, it was about as useful as a toothpick.

From the mast above me, a flash of fur and teeth streaked downward, landing upon the fanged daemon-head, squeaking and swearing a blue streak.

"You mother-fucking pile of bat-shit! I'll teach you to fuck with my boss! Eat this!"

It was Squitter, clinging to the top of the daemon's head, slashing at its eyes with a dagger, biting at the armored skin. The daemon screamed in irritation, sweeping a claw across its head, trying to dislodge the ratling.

"Ow!" Squit squealed. "Come on, Wulf! I can't hang on forever!"

I scrambled to my feet as a second blow sent Squitter flying. My left shoulder was dislocated, but there was nothing wrong with my right, and I raced at the storm daemon, throwing all my weight behind the rapier's point, plunging it into the leather-hard abdomen. It resisted for an instant, then plunged in, eliciting an agonized shriek from the beast. I hacked, feeling flesh give, sending a spray of black daemon-blood across the deck, then ripped down with all my strength. The daemon split wide open, entrails spilling. I dodged out of the way, but got caught in the flood of slime nonetheless.

"Ewwww! That's disgusting!" came an outraged squeak from nearby. Squit lay on the deck, nursing his own wounds. He pointed toward the stern. "It's the chief motherfucker, Wulf! Get him!"

The Stormking stood uncertainly, sword at the ready, his enchanted armor flickering feebly. He'd used most of his energies, I realized.

I raced at him, sword whirling, trying to ignore the pain of my injured shoulder and to keep my footing in the slippery blood and noxious fluids.

The Stormking's sword flashed at me. It was low on power, too, and shone only feebly. I struck again, knocking the sword aside, then swung at his head. My blade clanged off metal, sparking and shimmering. The Stormking slipped in the slime and fell to his knees.

Marshalling what remained of my strength, I cocked my arm back, and brought my blade down upon the daemon-helm as hard as I could.

More sparks showered, and my blade snapped in two. But the Stormking cried out in pain and fear, then looked up.

"Fuck me," I whispered.

My blow had sheared off his visor and shattered his helm. The face that stared at me, wide-eyed and pleading, was not that of a light elf.

It was a dark elf.

I swung again with the snapped-off stub of my sword, catching him across the face and sending him sprawling. I fell on him, stabbing and slashing.

"Bastard!" I screamed. "You sick, twisted fuck...!"

A shock blasted through me. With the last of his energy, the Stormking flung me away, blue sparks burning my hair and flesh. He struggled up, angry violet eyes flashing. He stabbed down with his sword, but I rolled away and the point plunged into decking, splintering wood, and sticking fast. He hauled on the weapon fruitlessly for a few seconds, looked desperately around for another weapon, then turned and fled.

Or, should I say, tried to flee.

A figure appeared, cutting off his escape -- a figure armed with a snapped off spear.

It was Theanna.

As I watched in horrified fascination, she plunged the jagged stump into the Stormking's belly, shattering the weakened armor, and emerging from his back in a spurt of blood.

"Hail the Stormking," hissed Princess Theanna. "Remember my face, My Lord. Remember it in hell."

The Stormking's lips moved, but no words emerged. A gush of blood burst from his mouth, and he collapsed on the deck, twitching feebly.

I looked up at Theanna.

"Your Majesty," I said, grinning weakly.

"My Lord Wulf," she replied, releasing her grip on the bloody spear. "You came as you said you would. Your honor and bravery shames me."

"No," I said, gazing at the carnage around me. Skrall and his crew were busily butchering the last elvish defenders. The decks were slick with blood. "I'm the one who should be shamed. I'm the one."
 

"Theanna..."

She sought out the voice, and finally found it. Lady Lothaera lay beneath a fallen bit of sailcloth, body broken, a trickle of blood trailing from her mouth.

"Oh, Lady..." Theanna sobbed, kneeling beside her lover. The tears poured forth now, and she could not stop them. "Oh, dearest lady..."

"I was wrong, beloved." Her voice was weak, but fire burned in her eyes, as if she clung to life just long enough to speak to Theanna. "We were all wrong. Your mother was right. She is true ruler of the elven nation. I love you. I will love you forever, in all the coming worlds, regardless of my fate or my punishment. Always remember that, dearest princess. I love you."

Theanna held her close. "I love you, Lady Lothaera."

She pressed her lips to Lothaera's. The sorceress convulsed once, then was still.

Wulf limped up beside Theanna and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"She saved you?" he whispered.

Theanna nodded, weeping.

She stayed with Lothaera for a long time.

"Wolf! Dearest Wolf!"

I turned and looked upon the most welcome sight I'd seen in weeks.

Li Shu stepped toward me, ignoring the sundered bodies beneath her feet, arms outstretched, fangs exposed in a wide grin. She was naked, blood-spattered, and as gloriously beautiful as I'd remembered. As I held her with my one good arm, I noticed a breech-clouted, muscular Wolfen standing meekly behind her.

"Who's your friend?" I asked. "He looks wolfish."

"That," Li said, kissing me, then licking my face with her long, bristly tongue, "is a long story."

As we picked our way along the deck, we found Udo, the drunken, half-wit dwarf, standing over a slain orc, holding his hammer proudly.

"Ha!" he grunted. "Took him out right quick, I did!"

I frowned. "I didn't think the Stormking had any orcs in his crew."

Skrall appeared, stepping from behind a pile of fallen canvas.

"He didn't," the orc growled, poking the corpse with his toe. "This is my chief cook. What's left of him, anyway."

Udo looked confused. "He wasn't... I mean, he didn't..."

I threw up my hands. "Nice going," I said. "You killed one of your own crewmen."

Skrall shrugged noncomittally. "Ah, who the hell cares? He was a lousy cook anyway."

Realizing that he wasn't going to get in trouble, Udo smiled proudly.

"Took him out right quick, didn't I?"

I took Li by the arm and led her away from the scene of the carnage.

"I think we'd better leave," I told her. "The little bastard might mistake me for a wolfen or something."

"Small chance of that, my love," Li replied. "You've not got nearly enough hair."

The sun sank in bloody shadows as we mopped up the last of the Stormking's fleet. With the defeat of his daemons, and the arrest of the traitors in the Sea Griffin fleet, his plan had collapsed before it had even begun. Theanna's call to the fleet had been the last nail in his coffin. In retrospect, he'd never had a chance, though it wasn't really obvious until afterwards.

I made an annoyed noise as Admiral Nae'mitz's healers worked on my shoulder.

"Your people fell for the oldest trick in the book," I grumbled. "Didn't anyone bother to look under the Stormking's helmet to make sure he was REALLY an elf?"

"That," replied the admiral, watching as his crew pushed the badly burned corpse of a storm daemon over the side, "is not my people's way. He said he was one of us, and my people believed him."

"Well in that case," I said, "I have some nice Necrotian swampland to sell you."

Nae'mitz looked at me uncomprehendingly. "Why would I wish to buy Necrotian swampland, human?"

"Never mind," I said. The corpse tumbled over the side with a splash. "Nice job on those daemons, by the way."

"I'm afraid that we cannot claim credit for the daemon's death," the admiral admitted. "That was your friend's work."

"My friend?" I asked, puzzled.

"None other," said a voice, and out of the lengthening shadows Livia emerged, holding a long elven crystal staff. "The elves' wizards were busy dispelling the Stormking's magic, so I had to deal with those ugly bastards myself."

I raised my eyebrows. "I am impressed. Remind me to stay on your good side from now on."

"Well, it would help if you stopped sneaking into my bedroom and spying on me with my lovers."

I gave her a sour look. "Yeah, right. Admit it. You love tormenting me."

"That I do, dear. And you love being tormented."

"I'd love being in that bed with you even more."

She smiled sweetly. "Who knows, Wulf? You may get the chance some day."

"I won't hold my breath."

Admiral Nae'mitz looked on with disapproval.

"Please discuss your rutting behavior elsewhere, humans. I do not care to listen to it."

"You," said Livia, holding her staff aggressively, "will listen to anything I care to say, since Wulf and I saved your sorry elven asses. Got it, admiral?"

Nae'mitz sniffed, but said nothing.

Good old Livia.
 

"It is an honor," she said, trying to keep an angry growl out of her voice.

Livia bowed, smiling. "The honor is mine. I've not met a Kaitian before, let alone one as brave and resourceful as you."

"You flatter me, Lady. Wulf speaks of you often."

"I'm sure he does," Livia replied. Almost instinctively, they fell in step together, walking along the deck of the "Skate."

A half league distant, the poor, abused "Suicide Squid" slipped beneath the waves. Skrall and his crew had claimed "Conqueror" as a prize, and now busied themselves repairing the damaged hull and jury-rigging a main mast for the trip back to Snakehold. Loaded with rich cargo, weapons, supplies and other plunder, the vessel represented success beyond the corsairs' wildest imaginings. Livia had gotten her cut, as well, but after hiring "Skate," she had barely broken even.

Not that it mattered, she thought. The change of scene had done her good.

And besides, the sex had been unbelievable.

"I think he is in love with you, Lady," Li said.

Livia accepted the Kaitian's statement without comment.

"Do you love him?" Li asked.

"Love is a very complex thing," Livia said.

"That does not answer my question."

"That is all the answer I care to give right now, Kaitian. Do you love him?"

"I do," Li admitted. "See how easy it is? Perhaps you should examine your feelings some time."

Livia sighed. "I suppose I should get angry and tell you to mind your own business," she said. "But, well..." Her eyes narrowed and she grinned. "I can't find it in me to be angry at someone as lovely as you."

Li stopped, looking at Livia with a critical gaze.

"You find me attractive?" she asked.

"I do, dear Katian. And if you care to come to my cabin later, I will show you just how attractive I find you."

Li made a strange, choking noise, and it took Livia several seconds to realize that she was laughing.

"You foolish, foolish human," she said, grinning. "You want to make love to me?"

"I would like that very much, Kaitian." Livia's voice was low and husky. "It hardly seems fair that I be forced to look but not touch, considering that you wander around naked, and look at me with those lovely golden eyes."

"Hm. Flattering. Well, human, I do not wish to make love to you."

Livia frowned in shocked silence. She seemed about to speak, but thought better of it.

"I think I understand something about you, Lady," Li said. "You use your sex as a weapon, or as a medium of exchange. You make love with those who can do something for you, or to those who provide you with pleasure, then leave quietly when you ask them to. You do not wish to love or be loved. You do not make love, Lady. You only -- oh, what is the human word for it? You only fuck."

Livia looked annoyed.

"But I want you, Li. You've been with that elf princess, haven't you? How can you deny what I'm offering you?"

"The same way you deny Wulf, Lady. Now, perhaps you know what he feels. I thank you for your hospitality, but I wish to return to the ‘Conqueror.' Wulf and I have been apart for a long time. I think I would like to do with him what you are unwilling to do."

Livia made a face. "Well, given that I helped save you and your precious elf-girl, perhaps you could grant me one request."

"That depends," Li said. "What is it?"

"The use of your Wolfen pet for a few hours. To use your charming terminology, I do not wish to make love to him. I wish to fuck him."

Li grinned. "Then  fuck' away. I will send him over. I doubt he will raise any objection. If he does, I will beat him."

"Thank you, Li. And if you ever change your mind..."

"Yes, Lady. I know where to find you. But before I go, I have one more thing to say."

"Go ahead." Livia's expression was a strange mixture of annoyance, lust and grudging respect.

"You may wish to make love to Wolf some day, Lady. If you do, I have no objections. If, however, you only fuck him, I will find you, and cut you to pieces by inches. I'll not have my precious Wolf's heart used for your petty power games."

"I will keep that in mind, Lady. Perhaps some day I can learn to make love again. If I do, I will find you, and hopefully find out what that tongue of yours feels like against my nipples. Deal?"

Li nodded. "Deal, Lady. Despite what you've done to my Wolf, I hate to admit that I still like you. Please learn of love, Lady. It is a fine thing, even with hairless apes such as yourself."

"I'll try, Li. Please send Tanu over. I'll be waiting in my chambers."

"Consider it done, Lady."

Then the Kaitian vanished into the night, leaving Livia alone.

She stared after Li, slowly shaking her head.

"Damn them all," she muttered. "Can't they leave me in peace?"

"My dearest human," Li purred, grinning in sharp-toothed counterpoint to her companion. "I trust your shoulder is well."

I nodded. "The admiral's healers know their stuff. Feels good as new."

"I should hope so," Li said, a delicious trace of her seductive growl creeping into her voice. "I would like to put it, and the rest of your body to good use tonight."

I sighed and smiled. "You don't know how long I've wanted to hear you say that, dearest."

Li paused for a moment, then turned to look at Theanna.

"Would my Wolf consent to another joining us?"

The words hit me with the force of a ballista bolt and I must admit that I stared like the village idiot gawking at a prize sow.

"Your Majesty...?" I asked, trying desperately to accept what Li had said.

"Lord Wulf," Theanna said, stepping forward, bowing her head respectfully, "I have learned much since our separation. I have learned the honor and courage of other peoples equals and even exceeds that of my own. I have learned that love and faith are the most powerful forces in the cosmos, before which mountains crumble and armies flee in terror. I have learned that I can love whom I chose, whenever I choose. And finally, Lord Wulf, I have learned that I misjudged and horribly mistreated you. I ask to be given the opportunity to make amends."

"In my bed?" I asked, still incredulous.

"In your bed, My Lord."

I held up a hand. "Please, Princess. Any offenses you may have committed against me were minuscule and are already forgotten. You needn't feel that you have to... to... to let me..."

"Lord Wulf," she replied, calmly, looking at me under lowered lids, "I do not make this offer because I feel I have to. I do it because I want to. In the past I have loved, Lord Wulf, but have been unable to show it or give myself completely up to it. Li taught me how to give of myself and to share the love I feel. Li and... And Lady Lothaera."

"Oh, gods," I said, softly, remembering the elven sorceress, broken and dying on the bloody deck. "I'm sorry."

Theanna looked thoughtful and misty-eyed. "Her last act bought redemption. She sits with the gods and the ancient heroes now, and some day we will all be together once more."

"In elven paradise, eh?"

"I believe, Lord Wulf, that in the lands of the gods all are welcome -- elves, humans, kaitians, dwarves, even orcs and trolls, if they are kind of heart and gentle of manner."

"So there are no orcs in heaven, then?"

The princess laughed. "That is not for us to know, my loyal human defender. It is for the gods, who look upon us, weeping at our sorrows and laughing at our triumphs."

"Are the gods laughing now, Princess?" Li asked, leaning out over the railing, tail lashing, above shapely buttocks and columnar thighs.

Theanna stepped up behind her and began to caress her. Once more I was struck at how voluptuous she was for an elf.

"Yes," Theanna said. "The gods laugh, Li Shu. They laugh and are glad."
 

"You have something to say to me, Wolfen?" she asked, looking at him in what she hoped was a cold and imperious manner. In a strange way, her nudity seemed to make it easier, since she always found it easier to dominate men when she was naked.

"My mistress bids me come here and serve you, Lady," Tanu replied. "What would you have of me?"

Livia crawled forward and lay on her stomach, facing the Wolfen. He was an even more strapping specimen than she'd realized -- tall, muscular, covered in a fine grey pelt, canine face bedecked with feathers and carved charms, eyes mild and somehow noble. He was nearly naked, too, which in Livia's estimation never hurt. She suspected that beneath his buckskin loincloth, he was probably feeling the first stirrings of erection.

"I," Livia said, fixing Tanu with her most burning, seductive gaze, "would have you get naked and fuck me like the fine, brawny Wolfen stud that you are. My orc friend here will help."

Though he appeared to be trying to maintain a neutral expression, Livia fancied she saw a glint of enthusiasm in Tanu's soft brown eyes.

"Of course, Lady. I shall serve you to the best of my ability."

"That," Livia said, reaching out to caress the Wolfen's face, "is all I ask."

Livia found it difficult to concentrate on Skrall's cock. The insistent touch of Tanu's long, wolfy tongue against her cunt was almost unbearable, as it mold itself to her every contour, stroking past her sensitive inner lips and sliding, slick and hot, against her steadily swelling clit.

"Mmff," she mumbled, releasing Skrall and stroking him, noting that there was room for both hands around his erect green shaft. "He's lovely, Skrall. He licks my cunt so well."

"I'm glad," Skrall grumbled back. He didn't seem entirely comfortable to be sharing her with another male, especially a Wolfen, but like most males, if sex was offered he would take it, regardless of circumstances.

Oh, well, Livia thought, returning to wetly sucking Skrall, feeling more of his thick shaft slide into her mouth with each stroke, I probably won't hear any objections when you're burying this lovely piece of meat in my deepest recesses...

The attention of the Wolfen's tongue had drawn Livia up to new levels of sensitivity, and now it was as if she was aware of every nerve in her body. As Tanu's hands crept up her thighs and across her belly, it was as if the very touch of his fingers made her skin tingle, and with each passing second of attention from that long, flexible tongue, the sensations increased to become nearly unbearable. She knew his hands were seeking out her breasts and nipples. She wondered whether she'd be able to stand it by the time he reached them.

She felt her nipples grow erect at Tanu's touch, and sensations shot through her, making her stiffen and moan, swallowing Skrall to the hilt in a single gulp, and thrusting against the insistent hardness of Tanu's snout and the warm softness of his tongue.

"OhhhhhHHHH," she groaned, and was gratified to feel Tanu's fingers tighten on the hard pink nubs of her nipples, increasing the uncontrollable jolts of sensation passing through her by several orders of magnitude.

"Keep licking, keep licking, keep licking," she babbled, alternating her pleas with her own tongue strokes up and down Skrall's cock, her hands seeking out the soft fur on the back of Tanu's head and pressing him against her. "Lick it. Lick it. Please, lick it faster."

Tanu took his orders seriously, redoubling the speed of his lapping, the entirety of his long and lovely hot tongue embracing her cunt, ratcheting her deliciously painful anticipation tighter and tighter with each passing moment. Gods, she wondered, how many times am I going to come tonight?

Well, at least once, she thought, as the agony of delayed pleasure abruptly began to melt into the crashing sensation of release. Involuntarily, Livia felt herself bite down upon Skrall's cock. He grunted, but didn't seem to mind, instead enjoying the sight of Livia in the throes of orgasm. Her pale skin flushed as the first wave crashed through her, borne up by the endlessly tireless lapping of Tanu's tongue, her nipples swelled beneath the Wolfen's touch, and her muscles clenched painfully...

"MMmmmmm," she grunted, muffled by the slick hardness of Skrall's cock. "Cmmmnnng.... ysssss...."

Another wave broke over Livia, and to her surprise she felt the Wolfen's tongue vanish from her cunt. Before she could object a second sensation -- long, hard and slick, pressed into the sopping depths of her cunt.

Oh, yes, my Wolfen slave, she thought, as Tanu's heavy, muscular bulk descended upon her and the long, lovely cock pounded into her contracting cunt, driving her to still higher reaches of pleasurable release. Fuck me.

She let Skrall slide out of her mouth, and addressed the Wolfen directly.

"Don't come, Wolfen," she ordered, grabbing him behind the head and dragging his panting wolf-head down close to hers. "Don't you dare come yet. You've got to fuck me more than this before I let you go back to your mistress."

"I... I..." Tanu's voice was feverish, but a moment later, firm control returned. "I obey, Lady."

Absolute power, Livia thought as another wave of orgasm rocketed through her body. How I adore it...
 

Whatever else you could say about the Stormking, he certainly knew how to keep a luxurious flagship. We had appropriated the "Conqueror's" captain's quarters for our use, and now it was dimly lit by oil lamps and mageglobes, the air laced with various incenses, and trays beside the bed bore fruit, wine, and oils warming on gentle candle flames.

"You've been preparing," I commented as I reclined on a mountain of silken pillows, watching Li and Theanna embrace at the foot of the bed.

"Mmm," Li nodded, holding Theanna close. The elf was still in her white gown, though I suspected this situation wouldn't persist much longer. Li was, of course, naked, and Theanna's delicate hands ran up and down the orange and black fur of her back unhindered. Her tail twitched spasmodically.  "We discussed this last night and have spent all day getting ready for you."

"I'm flattered," I replied.

As I watched, the two women kissed long and luxuriantly, Li's short bewhiskered muzzle pressing against Theanna's full lips, tongues slipping together wetly, gleaming in the globelight.

I felt a growing tightness between my legs. "Did you discuss playing with each other while I watched and driving me insane?" I asked as Li tugged down on Theanna's gown, exposing pale shoulders and the first swelling of her breasts. "That's what you're doing, after all."

Now it was Theanna's turn to reply. Her wide, blue eyes regarded me with an intriguing mix of emotions. "We'd cause you no distress, Wulf. My lady Li suggested that we demonstrate our love for each other before showing our love for you." One arm came free from the gown, and a moment later, the shapely swell of a breast, tipped by a swelling pink nipple. "And the Lady Li loves me, does she not?"

In lieu of reply, Li freed a second breasts and pushed her backwards, spine arching. The pale globes of Theanna's breasts bobbed freely, and Li lapped a rough tongue across her nipples.

"Ohhhhh," she moaned, eyes fluttering, blond hair tumbling in a shimmering cascade and hanging down toward the floor. "See, Wulf. She does love me."

I was quite happy to let Li demonstrate her love, as long as she let me demonstrate mine. I climbed out of my clothes as Theanna's gown fell to the floor, leaving the two women entwined with each other in a sensuous tangle of arms, hands, mouths and breasts. I was busy getting the erection of the epoch -- considering the last time I'd used it I'd been in mortal fear for my life, I was glad that it was still in full working order.

Li was on her knees now, arms holding Theanna tightly against her. The Kaitian's mouth was busily darting back and forth between the two pendulous mounds, biting at their pink nubs, licking briefly, eliciting tiny moans of pleasure. Theanna continued to hold her head tilted backward, hand alternating between stroking her own breasts and running through her own tangle of golden hair. Her pleasurable sighs and moans ran from mild yips of almost surprised enjoyment, to deeper, fuller sounds of longing and need.

I leaned back, letting my cock do its own work. It was pretty hard by now, as whose wouldn't under the circumstances, but I could tell it had a ways to go before being fully ready for action. The two women seemed more than happy to give me the time I needed.

Now Li stood abruptly, suddenly transforming into a predatory animal, her victim trapped in her claws, and only too willing to be consumed. She drove a single hand between Theanna's thighs, triggering new moans, while with the other seizing the back of the elf woman's head and crushing it against her own mouth.

"On the bed, elf," she said, so softly that I barely heard her. "You will pleasure me before I pleasure you."

"And before we both pleasure Lord Wulf?" Theanna asked, stepping away like a pale, shapely spectre and reclining slowly and luxuriantly on the bed near me.

"Of course, dearest," Li replied, stalking onto the bed on hands and knees, tail lashing, her breasts hanging down to graze Theanna's thighs. "But first, you will do as I ask."

Hm, I thought as Li straddled Theanna's torso and started to stroke the elf's large breasts with gentle fingers. She's learned a lot from her Wolfen friend.

I wondered briefly what Tanu was up to just then, and abrpubly discarded the thought as Li extended claws and began to prick at Theanna's hardening nipples, and a new collection of impassioned noises rose from the elf woman's throat.
 

She lowered herself onto Skrall, steadying herself on his scarred, muscular chest.

"Ohhh, yes," she sighed, feeling the great organ part her like a warship sliding through a glassy sea. "Oh, you are so very, very big, Skrall."

"Mrrf," the orc replied, flashing a tusky grin. "Thanks."

"Just... keep... it... hard," she continued, letting the entire shaft fill her. "Keep it hard and we'll be fine."

Rather than replying, Skrall grabbed her buttocks fiercely, and pulled her down, his entire length filling her abruptly.

"Oh!" Livia cried, throwing her head back, face etched with a delicate amalgam of pleasure, pain and surprise. She clutched her breasts, fingering her nipples, overwhelmed by the sudden desire --no, the sudden need -- for another orgasm, even more powerful than the first.

"Bad orc," she hissed, lying down atop Skrall, her breasts pressing against his chest. "Livia makes the rules here, doesn't she?"

Skrall chuckled. "But Livia likes to get played with," he growled, then with another sudden motion, thrust deeply inside her once more. "Doesn't she?"

"Mmmmm," she moaned, feeling her muscles begin to tighten as the orc's thick organ began to slide in and out rhythmically. She killed him, feeling the rough thrust of his tongue. "Yes, I do, Skrall. Play with me, little orc."

"Hey, who ya callin' little?" Skrall demanded, hands tight against the softness of Livia's ass, pulling her in and thrusting her out with ever- increasing forcefulness.

"Figuratively... Ohhhhhh... Figuratively speaking, Skrall... OhhhHHHH..."

"Atta girl," Skrall said, approvingly. "Say you like it."

"Like it?" Livia demanded, eyes dancing with steadily intensifying passion. "My dear Skrall... Yesss... I positively LOVE it."

Skrall fucked her tirelessly for long minutes after that, apparently completely unconcerned about his own climax, but bringing a squealing, writhing Livia to at least two more.

Still atop the orc, her thighs and buttocks sopping with spent juices, her face flushed and nipples hard, Livia turned to look at Tanu, standing forlornly at the foot of the bed, nursing a still-massive erection. Her eyes were wild, her lips trembling, and a strand of sweat-soaked hair was swept across her face.

"Hey, slave," she said, voice deep with unremitted desires.

 Tanu's ears perked up. "Yes, mistress?"

"I've got another hole back there, slave. Take that beautiful cock of yours and fill it. Now."

Tanu looked on in perplexity. "Mistress?"

"Fuck my ass while he fucks my cunt, you stupid animal," Livia snapped. "Shove it inside me as hard as you can. Make me feel it, slave, or you're due for punishment."

Tanu grinned. He didn't seem too concerned about carrying out her wishes.

"As my mistress desires."

Liva set to concentrating on Skrall's cock, thrusting deeply into her sopping cunt as Tanu moved forward and began to play with her asshole. Her heart hammered uncontrollably, and another orgasm was on the horizon, hurried along by the desperate anticipation of being rammed from behind by Tanu's long, slick organ. After a few moments, she began to groan and cry out incoherently, words and nonsense coming out in an uncontrollable flood.

"Ohhhh, Skrall, yessssss. Ohhhhhh..." The club-headed shaft began to probe between her buttocks, and a moment later moved to begin to penetrate her. "Tannnnuuuu.... Fuck.... Fuck.... Ahhhh.... Fuck.... You feel so good... Yessss..."

Then he was inside her, thrusting past initial resistance, and she cried out in pain, followed instantly by another flood of mindless, pure sensation.

"Fuck me, both of you," she cried. "Fuck me as hard as you want... Ohhhh. Fuck me, please. Fuck my cunt, fuck my ass. Fuck me..."

If only I had a cock in my mouth, she thought, briefly, an image of poor Wulf flashing through her mind. If only I could suck his cock while they fucked me... That would be perfect...

She thrust Wulf's image from her. No. Not now, not here. I have my two males, and they are fucking me senseless... Wulf... Wulf simply can't follow orders... Dammit all, he probably wouldn't leave when I told him to.

Dammit, Livia's rational mind complained, the bastard's in love with me.

 Love can be so fucking inconvenient.

Besides, she thought, reveling the sudden wash of sensation when Skrall and Tanu thrust in together, simultaneously filling her with thick, unyielding cock-flesh, and crying out so loudly she feared that the other ships in the fleet would hear her...

Besides, Wulf was probably busy now, anyway.
 

I had crawled closer, and now kneeled beside the struggling duo, my cock now painfully erect, its unspoken demands getting more and more difficult to ignore. Tentatively, I reached out, stroking the heated surface of Theanna's breast, where it heaved and bounced, a pale globe of tender flesh. In a moment, I was also astride Theanna, my hard cock nestled against the soft, heaving flesh of her belly as I took handfuls of her soft breasts and squeezed at her swollen pink nipples. Gods, after months of convincing myself that she hated me and that I'd never even be able to touch her little finger... Life, I reflected, took some strange turns sometimes.

"Rrrwwwlll..." Li snarled, then her voice trailed into a breathless gasp. "Ah, the Wolf emerges from his lair." She threw her head back, her hair batting my face. "Grrrrlll... Please, give my lover some attention, man. Oh, my elf... Rrrr... She loves me with her tongue and her mouth, and she needs pleasure of her own."

This seemed to please Theanna, whose hands left Li to grab my thighs and reach for the hardness of my cock.

"Lick her like she licks me, my Wolf," Li said, voice tight, and it was obvious that she was feeling the first stirrings of orgasm. "Lick her now. Rwwwrrrr..."

My cock still demanded attention, but I was relatively sure it would get some; I shoved its protests to the back of my mind and slid down Theanna's soft, heated body, taking her hands in mine, and slipped between her thighs.

 Li's howls grew in volume and intensity, and I knew she was getting close. With no small effort, given the impassioned cries of my Kaitian lover, I turned my attention to the elf woman, and the delicate pinkness between her thighs. Theanna held my hands in a death grip, so I was forced to rely only on my tongue, lapping at the fleshy outer portals of her cunt, then licking, slowly and deliberately between them, tasting the sweet moisture of her juices, digging deeper with more deliberate thrusts and strokes.

Between Li's thighs, Theanna began to cry out, voice muffled by the Kaitian's wet cunt-flesh, and beneath me the elf woman grew rigid, her fingers digging into my palm, nails stabbing me with a pain that wasn't truly painful.

I licked harder, finding at last the swelling nub of her clitoris, lavishing tongue-strokes upon it, finally encircling it with my lips and sucking, then biting gently. I was rewarded by even louder shrieks of desire from Theana, who also apparently applied even stronger and more impassioned cunt-licking to my writhing tigress, sending her into a paroxysm of orgasmic release.

Li growled and snarled, teeth snapping, hair flying, driving down upon Theanna, hands atop her head pressing her closer, intertwined with the elf's long, golden hair, tugging and twisting.

Theanna came seconds later, spurred on by the pressure of my tongue and lips, but I suspected the intensity of Li's orgasm helped, as well, and for nearly a full minute, they both cried out in utter abandon, Li grinding her cunt against Theanna's face, and Theanna thrusting and driving against mine. Theanna released my hands and seized my hair, fingers digging into my scalp, pulling my head repeatedly against her, forcing my mouth open, plunging my tongue deep inside her.

At last, in total collapse, Li and Theanna fell into a tangle of moist limbs, panting and moaning softly. I found myself between them, caressed in a dozen places by gentle, almost unconscious touches, from fingers, mouths, tongues, toes, and of course, Li's ever-twitching tail.

"Mmmmmmm," purred Li, licking my neck then moving down my chest to bite at my nipples. "Mmmmm, my Wolf. Your turn now, perhaps?"

Theanna's radiant, gold-tressed face appeared above me, sporting a sly grin and a cold, sensual fire in her eyes that I had never seen before.

"His turn now, dearest Kaitian," she whispered. She took one vast breast in one hand, squeezing it and presenting her nipple to me, stroking it across my face, trailing it past my lips. "His turn."
 

"You heard me," Livia continued, feeling a wash of sweat pour down her flushed, laboring face. "I want both cocks in my cunt, Wolf. Now."

Tanu seemed to shrug and moved once more behind her. It took some maneuvering, but at last she felt the Wolfen's engorged cock touch the swollen lips of her cunt.

At last, Skrall figured out what was going on.

"Hey!" he cried, ceasing his thrusting for a moment, and trying to look down toward Tanu. "What the hell are you doin', woman?"

Livia grabbed the orc's wrists with unaccustomed strength and pinned the surprised Skrall to the bed.

"I'm getting fucked by two cocks at once, moron," she hissed, baring her own teeth in a shining rictus of desire. "I'm having Tanu shove his cock into me right on top of yours. I happen to absolutely love getting fucked by two cocks at once, but most men I know don't want to do it. They think that letting their precious cock touch another man might turn them into a homosexual. I don't think that, do you?"

Skrall looked suddenly meek in the face of Livia's wrath. "No, I guess not."

"Well, now I knew you would be reasonable. Keep up with your work, Tanu. Skrall doesn't mind." She looked down at Skrall and grinned. "In fact, he says he kind of likes it, right, Skrall?"

Skrall only growled and set to thrusting again. A moment later, sensation redoubled, the walls of Livia's cunt stretched and filled to overflowing, as Tanu's cock moved inside her as well.

"Oh, my," Livia gasped. "Two cocks, one cunt. What a predicament."

Neither Tanu nor Skrall seemed amused, but instead began to fuck her with redoubled energy. First, they alternated, one thrusting in as the other withdrew. Moments later, they seemed to coordinate by mutual consent, filling her simultaneously, then withdrawing and thrusting in again before Livia's overburdened cunt could recover.

Of course, orgasm was pretty much a foregone conclusion under these conditions, and another, utterly overwhelming climax swept over Livia and she convulsed violently, pinned between the two heaving, sweaty bodies of her lovers. Still, Tanu and Skrall pounded in and out with unbroken rhythm and unflagging energy.

"You like it, Skrall?" she demanded in a relatively lucid moment between orgasms. "You like sharing my cunt with another cock?"

"Mmm, yeah," Skrall admitted, feverishly.

"You really should consider the possibilities of cocks. They're quite wonderful when used properly. I'm pretty unconcerned about who I sleep with, so long as they give me what I need. You should think about expanding your horizons. I suspect that Tanu would be quite open to the idea."

Skrall seemed somewhat nonplussed at this, but didn't break rhythm, continuing to thrust in and out in perfect coordination with Tanu.

Livia giggled inwardly, even as another climax crept up on her. So much fun playing with others' assumptions about themselves...

Gods and goddesses, she thought, are they ever going to come? It had been years since anyone had actually worn her out. Would history finally repeat itself?

Fuck me, Livia thought, soaking in the sensations of two cocks filling her, I hope so.
 

Li, still shaking from the smashing orgasm Theanna had given her, was content to lie back and watch us cavort and, as much as I wanted to make love to my long-absent cat-girl, I wasn't going to object.

Theanna, continuing in the same vein she'd begun a few moments before, proceeded to moisten her nipples with swift strokes of her long pink tongue, then rub her way from my face, down my chest, to my belly and thighs, eventually locating my still-hard cock with an expression of mock surprise.

"Oh, my, Lord Wulf," she said, her lips pursed in an "o" of astonishment. "What have we done to put you in such a state?"

"Does that require an answer?" I asked.

She only threw me a burning, heavy-lidded gaze and to my surprise took my cock in her hands and began to lick it, from base to tip, lavishing attention on the tip, kissing my glans and stiffly tonguing its opening. I was unable to suppress my own groans of passion, and I was swiftly overwhelmed by a torrent of sensation, centering on the darting, agile tongue and lips that now made unrestrained love to my hard, throbbing prick.

Li crawled up beside me, and began to stroke my face.

"See what we've awakened, my dearest Wolf?" she whispered as Theanna's lips encircled my cock, and slowly began to swallow it up. "See what passions she feels? For years she tried to ignore them, but now they burn so brightly she must give in or be consumed."

"That..." I said, voice strained as more of my cock vanished into Theanna's sweet, wet mouth. "That is exactly what I was... just... thinking... Ahhhh..."

Li moved behind me, resting my head on her stomach, laying her legs across my shoulders and stroking my hair. Between my thighs, Theanna slid my cock into her mouth, then out again, savoring it with all the intensity of a fine ancient wine.

"I think that the princess wants more now," Li mumured, even as the pace of Theanna's sucking grew faster and more intense. She ended each stroke with a sharp intake of breath, releasing my cock with a pop, then grasping and swallowing it again.

"I want more," Theanna agreed, holding my cock against her white cheek. "I want this inside me."

"Put it in you," I urged. "Let me fuck you."

"Such language, human," Theanna chided. "My people do not use such crude terminology when we make love."

"Well, what do you say?" I asked.

"Hm..." Theanna seemed puzzled. "I don't think we actually have a word for it. Far too primitive for our advanced tongue."

"Good," I said. "Then you can use my term. Let me fuck you."

"No," she said, firmly, rising to her knees and moving forward. "No, you may not fuck me, human. I am going to fuck you."

"Six of one..." I began, then swallowed the remaining words as Theanna stepped astride my hips and began rubbing my cock against her moist cunt.

"Ahhh," she breathed. "Feel where your tongue and spittle touched me and made me cry out in passion? I was such a fool to shun your people. You are the noblest of a noble race, Lord Wulf. I gave you no reason to love me, treating you like a mendicant, like a servant. Yet here you are, your stiff, hard organ against me, about to plunge deep inside me, make me cry out and scream with passion. You want to do that, don't you?"

I nodded. "More than anything right now."

"And to think that I once rejected you, Lord Wulf." She rubbed me against her clit, now and moaned softly. "Now, Wulf. Now you may have me."

She slid down, my cock sliding smoothly into her wet cunt. She surrounded me with hot, unbearably soft flesh, enveloping me and drawing me into her.

"Yes, Lord Wulf, yes," she sighed, and began to drive, pumping up and down, letting me slide out, then thrust heavily back inside. Her eyes closed, her face froze, her breasts bounced alluringly with each thrust, and behind me, Li stroked and spoke in hot whispers.

"I've tasted her, my Wolf. I know. I know what she hides inside her, what heat, what passion, what lovely dripping moistness. Now you know it as well, my love. Now you know."

Soon, I could take no more, and rose to meet Theanna's strokes, hands gripping her hips with involuntarily harsh pressure. Theanna cupped and played with her own breasts, at last lifting a nipple to her mouth to lick and suck at herself as I fucked. Again and again I let her fill herself with my cock, and with each stroke, the heat inside her grew, until at last...

"She's coming, Wolf. I've seen that look in her eyes before."

Sure enough, Theanna climaxed violently, flopping forward onto me, mouth locking onto mine, hips pumping in and out my cock pounding into her even as around it her cunt contracted, powerful muscles gripping me, releasing, then gripping again. It was another extended orgasm, and after what had to be at least three minutes of intense, screaming release, she slipped away, and lay close, hands caressing my face.

I was still hard, though I felt the first traces of orgasm off in the distance as Li now moved atop me.

"At last, my love, you may fill me with your manhood once more," she said. "As you filled my beloved elf-woman. Give of yourself to me, Wolf. Fill me with yourself and share your seed with me, my sweet, beloved human."

I moved to touch her with fingers, lips, tongue and cock. Damn, I thought, the things I'm forced to do. It just isn't fair.
 

She'd figured out some time ago that this had become some kind of pissing contest between Tanu and Skrall. Both caught up in stupid male dominance games, it was obvious that they were in a competition with each other, the loser being the one who came first.

Idiot males, Livia thought. Have to make everything into a contest.

She kneeled between them now, sucking first Skrall, then Tanu. They both looked on the ragged edge of climax -- Skrall's eyes were glazed, and his breath came in shallow gasps. Tanu looked downright mangy, his fur plastered with Livia's sweat and other juices, saliva hanging in long ropy strands from his lolling, pink tongue. Soon now, she thought. Soon.

"You know," she said, releasing Skrall from her mouth, and stroking his cock with her hands, "I think you've both done very well. I don't think it should matter who comes first."

Skrall only growled wordlessly.

Okay, Livia thought. If that's how you want it.

"I think you'll come first, though," she said, and swallowed the great green shaft with a single gulp. She let him go, covered in spittle and throbbing with repressed passion. "I think you want to see your hot come all over my tongue, don't you?"

"Grnnn," said Skrall, obviously trying to resist. Thinking about squat-ball or killing elves, probably.

"You want to come on me," Livia said. It wasn't a question this time. She flicked her tongue along his slick, wet shaft. "You want to shoot your hot come all over my face and all over my lips and all over my tongue and all over my titties, don't you?"

"NNnng..." Skrall's groans had a desperate edge to them. "Nnnnnnnn..."

"Come, Skrall. It's okay. I want it."

He came. It was no surprise to Livia -- she hadn't met a man yet who could hold out under her determined attentions. As she'd predicted, his come splattered across her face, shoulders and breasts, though she caught a good percentage of it on her outstretched tongue. She loved this sort of thing, more for the effect it had on men than for her own pleasure, since cleanup was always so messy, but what the hell, Skrall seemed to like it.

The orc collapsed on the bed, then Livia moved to Tanu, face still plastered with the evidence of Skrall's passions, and gave the Wolfen the same treatment. He didn't take much longer, and moments later his semen joined Skrall's on her flushed, pale skin.

After that, Livia's recollections grew somewhat hazy, though faint memories of slumbering in a pile with Skrall and Tanu persisted for quite some time. Some hours later she awoke alone and sighed happily, wondering how the mess had gotten cleaned up. Perhaps the boys had cleaned her while she slept. So kind of them.

Oh, gods, Livia thought, stretching luxuriously against the covers, feeling them slide across her naked body. Gods, but I love power. I love men, I love women, I love myself, but most of all, I love to be in command, I love to rule, I love to control.

She sighed. But it's also true that I love to be commanded, to be ruled, to be controlled. All these things were part of the same continuum, Livia thought, the universe of love and pleasure, all intertwined and related. To dominate is to be dominated, to rule is to be ruled.

So complex, she thought. So very complex, but so very wonderful.
 

"Nrrrlll... I love you," she replied, writhing beneath me, legs wrapped about my neck, hands kneading her breasts, hair touseled and disarrayed. "Take me, my beloved Wolf. Take me as hard as you want."

Of course, I was already doing that, my cock pounding into her, thrusting with every ounce of strength I could scrape together after my wild fuck-fest with Theanna. We'd been grappling for nearly a half hour now, and I'd almost reached the limit of my endurance. Still, I plunged along gamely, levered up on my forearms, my eyes locked with Li's slitted predator's orbs.

So far, Theanna had merely lain beside us, watching with tired fascination. Now, she disappeared from view, and I didn't have the reserves left to look for her.

I didn't have long to wonder where Theanna went. I felt her move between my legs and a moment later felt her tongue against my cock, licking it and slickening it with her own moisture as I thrust in and out of Li. Then she lapped at Li's cunt lips, making the tiger-woman yowl and snarl even more.

"Ohhh... rrrr... Oh, yes... Grrllll... I love you both so... Oh, my most beloved male and female... Yrrrrrrwwwwllllll.... Ohhhhh... Nnnnraaarrrrr..."

I looked back at Theanna, her blonde head bobbing between my thighs.

"Here," I said, pulling out of Li. "I'll make this easier for you."

I lay on my back and, with some guidance, Li mounted my cock, facing away from me, her cunt presented to Theanna.

"Oh, dearest Lord Wulf," she murmured, burying her face in Li's cunt. "Always thinking of others."

I reached around Li's back and took her breasts in my hands, pulling her backwards onto me, letting her ride up and down on my cock as Theanna continued to lick at her. I felt her hot caresses along my hard shaft, interspersed with quick laps and nips at Li's cunt and clit.

Li didn't hold out terribly long against the combined attention of my prick and Theanna's mouth, and in a few minutes she was hanging on the brink of a heart-stopping climax.

"Ohhh, darlings... Rrrr... Yes... Grrrrnnnnnlllll... I... I want... Nrrrrrr... I want to..."

"You want to come?" I said, trying to breath normally against the incessant pressue of her muscular, soft-furred body. "You have my permission."

Then Theanna was atop Li, crushing their breasts together, pressing the tiger-woman between us. I bit feverishly at the back of Li's neck and shoulders while Theanna's lips sought out her delicate, fanged mouth. I wrapped my arms around Theanna, pressing our three bodies even closer and held tight.

I felt it coming... closer with each stroke, closer and closer, until at last I lost it, coming in a torrent, my seed gushing into Li's heaving cunt. Her cries rose louder and louder, until she, too, came, howling, kissing and biting at Theanna, her cunt contracting around me.

As the final, shuddering contractions passed through me, I went limp, feeling Li collapse atop me. I continued to hold her breasts gently, feeling her heart beat slow and her feverish breathing grow calmer. My cock remained inside her as Theanna slid down between Li's thighs and licked her wet cunt slowly and lovingly. Her tongue caressed my softening cock, licking up the dribbling remains of my orgasm.

"Oh, dearest elf," Li sighed. "I love the way you touch me."

Theanna looked up at us, face slick with Li's copious juices.

"I love to touch you, Kaitian. And you, too, my Lord."

"The feeling is mutual," I sighed.

"I hope that you found my apology acceptable."

I frowned, weakly. "You've done nothing that needs an apology, Princess," I told her. "But all is forgiven anyway."

Theanna sat cross-legged, watching as Li and I disentangled each other, and lay side-by-side, hands intertwined.

"I love you both, you know," Theanna said, softly. "I didn't think it possible, but I do."

I felt a rush of emotion then, and swallowed hard.

"I love you, too, Princess. Thank you."

"No," Theanna said. "Thank you, Wulf. You've helped me more than you can know."

"Now you see how I feel for my Wolf," Li said, head held close against my chest. "You've learned much."

I wasn't sure what to say at that, and as Theanna crept up to take her place beside me, opposite Li, I decided that words weren't really necessary.
 

Tanu looked at him, a frown on his canine face. "But what, Captain?"

"But this doesn't make me a fag or anything, right?"

Tanu smiled and nodded.

"Whatever you say, Captain," he said, pleasantly.

Skrall walked away at that, face still troubled.

After he was gone, Tanu looked back across the waves and smiled.
 

"Hey, Wiz! How's it hangin'?"

Shardin looked up to see the twitching, bewhiskered form of the little Ratling, Squitter, swinging from the rigging above him.

"Hello, rat-man," he replied. "Glad to see you're well. I was afraid we might have lost you."

"Heh," Squitter laughed casually, alighting on deck beside Shardin. "Just a lousy storm daemon and a few hundred elves. Nothin' I couldn't handle."

"I'm glad you see it that way. I can't say that I'm as nonchalant about the danger we just faced."

"Ah, stow it, wizard. We kicked ass and you helped. Wanna come with us?"

"What do you mean?"

Squitter groomed his whiskers. "I mean, Cap'n Skrall is plannin' on sailing this crate all over the Inner Sea. Hell, we'll burn and pillage from the Daemon Lands to Cold Island. If you were to ask him, I think he'd be inclined to include you in the crew."

Shardin considered the ratling's words, then slowly shook his head.

"No," he said at last. "I'm sorry. I... I don't think... I don't think it would work out very well. My father was right. I haven't the stomach for magic, or for this kind of life. I'm going to the Empire and settle down. Become a scribe or something."

Squitter squeaked angrily. "You're a bad liar, Shardin. You want to go with Skrall as much as I do. What do I have to do to convince you?"

Shardin looked up and was about to deliver an indignant retort when a musical female voice interrupted them.

"Hello, sorcerer. Like your rat. Is he your famliar?"

Two pairs of eyes swiveled to fix on a tall, blonde-maned woman clambering down from the rigging. A Cold Islander, Shardin thought, and a damnably lovely one at that.

"No," he replied. "This is Squitter. He's just a friend."

"And shipmate," Squit added. "A shipmate's more than just a friend."

"I saw you fight yesterday," the woman said. "You were very brave."

Shardin felt his face color and was glad for the darkness. "Thank you. I... I don't know... I mean, I never thought I was terribly brave."

"Brave enough to take down the barrier and smash that mainmast," she replied, stepping closer. Shardin felt his clothing growing uncomfortably tight. "My name is Svedra. You are...?"

"Shardin. That's my name. Just Shardin."

"One name is all we need at sea," Svedra said, taking his hand. "Care to discuss the ins and outs of ocean travel and combat with a veteran mariner?"

Shardin swallowed. "Of course," he said.

Squit crouched in the rigging as Shardin and Svedra wandered away and into the lamplit gloom.

Hm, he thought. Damned humans. "Ins and outs" indeed. Wave a potential rutting-mate in front of  em and they'll do anything.

Squitter climbed into the rigging, grinning a ratty grin.

No problem. I'll go tell Skrall that we've got ourselves a ship's wizard.

No problem at all.

"Theanna too?" I asked, gazing out over the waves and wondering what I was going to do.

"Of course. She's decided to see the world now, and try to learn about the people her own race holds in such contempt. Tanu comes as well, of course, being the faithful slave that he is."

"Faithful stud service, you mean," I said and grinned to show I wasn't serious. "I suppose you'd like me to come along, as well."

Li met my gaze evenly. She was still naked save for a baldric and sword -- it seemed to suit her, and she now professed to prefer it to the minimal clothing she'd worn previously. She was every bit the muscular, tawny-furred animal I'd met that morning on board "Bluefin" so many months ago. More so in many ways, I reflected.

"I would ask you, my Wolf, but I know that you cannot go. You've other horizons, other destinies. Wolves must roam free, and my love would be a leash that would soon grow wearisome. Eventually it would be a chain binding you, and of all the beings in the world, I would chain you least of all. No, you must return to your home, Wolf, and find your own future."

I sighed. She was right. I loved her, just like I'd loved Ushandra and all the others. And now, like all the others, she was leaving, and I could do nothing to stop her.

"I hope you find your sister," I told her. "And if you ever need help, let me know. I'll be there, no matter what. And I'll bring help."

"I'm sure that your dear Livia would be happy to help me as well. Ancestors, Wolf, I do not think she knows how to respond when someone rejects her overtures. She is lovely but vain and cruel, Wolf. Perhaps some day you can show her how to be kind and compassionate."

"Perhaps," I said. "Unlikely, though."

She moved close, and I embraced her.

"It's not goodbye yet, Wolf," she said, softly. "I will feel sorrow when I go, but you know that I must. We have some days before that moment, however."

"You propose putting them to good use."

She purred. "I do, my Wolf. I do, indeed. Just the two of us this time. You and me, and all the time we need."

 Well, I thought, letting her lead me belowdecks and to the officer's cabin which she had appropriated, at least we're all alive, which is more than can be said for the Stormking.

Still the question remained -- who the hell was he and why had he taken such an insane gamble?

Reminding myself that I wasn't about to find the answers between Li's thighs or nuzzling her breasts, I forced the questions from my mind, determined to concentrate on the task at hand.

Everyone's parting of the ways came several days later. It was a scene I'd grown used to, but I still felt a deep tug of emotion seeing Li and Theanna sail away for parts unknown. I stood at the prow of the "Skate," watching as "Conqueror" vanished in the distance. Li and Theanna waved from the deck, Squit chittered from the rigging, Tanu stood stoically, and Shardin looked seasick. Skrall's bellowing orc voice rose above the rush of the water and the creak of the rigging as the great black vessel sailed out of sight.

"Great scrap, Pinkskin! We'll have to do it again some time!"

I stood on deck for many long minutes after "Conqueror" had disappeared. East of us, Admiral Nae'mitz's fleet was returning to the elven isles, and at Brightwater Castle a new band of outlaws struggled for dominance.

"Wish you were going with them?" said a voice.

I turned to see Livia walking up behind me. She was clad in utilitarian ship's garments, looking all businesslike, rather than the sex-mad vixen I usually saw.

I continued to stare out over the glittering water.

"In some ways, I do," I admitted. "Look there. Boon companions. Two beautiful women. A ship. Adventure. Excitement. What's here?" I jerked my thumb at Udo, who lay in a sodden heap in the middle of a coil of rope. "That reprobate. A woman who bangs everyone but me, despite the fact that I love her to distraction."

Livia cocked an eyebrow at me. "Really? What's her name? I'll scratch her eyes out."

I forced a smile. "Very helpful of you, little sister, but I think I'd rather deal with her myself."

"Are you sure? She sounds dangerous."

"Only to those who don't know her." I turned and walked back toward the stern. "Still, I feel like a chump, being the only one who decided to go back to Stoneburg."

"What about the dwarf?"

"Ah. Skrall said he didn't want Udo. Something about not wanting to risk another cook."

"I see."

"So have you learned anything about the Stormking?"

Livia shrugged. "A male dark elf sorcerer. Powerful one, too. That's rare enough. Most male dark elves are so drugged up as to be worthless. It will take time to learn more."

"I guess I'll help," I offered. "Given your resistance to my charms, there won't be much else to do with my time on the way home."

Livia clucked her tongue. "Poor, dear Wulf. You'll make someone a fine sex slave some day."

"I've already done that, and I didn't like it," I said. "So, who the hell do you think he was, and what was he up to?"

Livia opened the door to the bridge and ushered me through. "Who can fathom the minds of the dark elves, Wulf? We may never know."

"That," I replied grimly, "is what worries me."
 

She sat upon her plush throne atop a raised dais, naked save for a light and almost invisible network of fine chains, her flesh pierced by various rings, bars and ornaments, glittering in the dim blue magelight. Her own black flesh seemed to floresce, glowing with unearthly dark luminesence.

A long chain was attached to each of Thae'lynn's nipple rings. The first was attached to a ring which pierced the clitoris of her former rival, now supplicant, Yawesha'ae, who kneeled, also naked, beside Thae'lynn's throne. She was silent and, able to watch the proceedings which carried on before her, but unable to move or participate, partly due to her submissive nature, partly due to the fact that she was gagged and held motionless by two short silver chains extending from her collar to a ring on the floor, with just enough slack to enable her to crouch. They'd spent the hour before the orgy inhaling dreamweed smoke, and now both floated on warm clouds of sensual languor.

The second chain was attached to Thae'lynn's other current favorite, the black panther Darro, who was also held to the floor by a short chain, but occasionally moved restlessly, tugging at Thae'lynn's nipple ring and stimulating her further.

So similar, she thought. Yawesh' thought she could compete with me, be my equal. Now she's my pet just like Darro, for me to reward or punish as I see fit. Such a good little animal she was, Thae'lynn thought. Perhaps if she's especially good, I'll let her play down below.

In the perfumed, silk-padded pit below the dais, dozens of bodies writhed and intertwined. There were mostly dark elf women, with an occasional human or elven slave thrown in, their skins pale white or brown or ochre against the rich black of Thae'lynn's female friends. A few males were sprinkled here and there, but they were generally useless, fucking for a few minutes before coming and falling aside, exhausted. Mostly, the orgiastic rite was for females, with their endless capacity for pleasure and orgasm. It was almost as if the gods had punished the dark elves -- as the males were weak and uninterested in sex, the females were almost insatiable, satisfying their lusts with other species, or with each other. Thae'lynn was considered excessively obsessed with sex, even for a dark elf.

The scene was lovely to her, and Thae'lynn felt her clit begin to throb with undeniable desire as she watched Nakath and Yyl'thrae share the dripping cunt of a moaning light elf slave woman, who lay, wrists chained, unable to resist, and probably not wanting to. First Nakath, her face long and aristocratic, licked at the swelling elf-woman's clit, then Yyl slid fingers into her, emerging, glinting with moisture. At length, they worked out an arrangement, with Nakath lapping at the lovely clit, Yyl sliding the entirety of her hand inside the elf woman, accompanied by the soaring music of her moans.

The scene was repeated endlessly across the vast silken stretches of the pit. Here, one woman penetrated another with a severed unicorn horn. There, three lay together in a complex labyrinth of limbs. Elsewhere, a male thrust into a female from behind as she licked at the cunt of a nymen slave- woman. Near Thae'lynn was the group she most wished to join, a long, writhing chain of at least eight women, each licking and nibbling at the cunt of another.

Yes, Thae'lynn thought, unfastening Darro and reaching for Yawesh's chain, as her lover looked up with sudden enthusiasm.

Unfortunately, Mazzor went and ruined everything.

"Lady?" rumbled her daemon lover, looming out of the shadows nearby. "I would not interrupt your pleasures..."

"What's the matter, Mazzor?" Thae'lynn demanded. "Want to play? You know you're always welcome."

"No, Lady," he said, shaking his green-scaled draconic head. "I bring important news."

"What?" she said. "It had better be the end of the world, otherwise I'll not have my orgies disrupted."

"Not entirely Lady, but it is near to that. I regret to inform you that your agent, the Stormking, has been overthrown and slain."

Thae'lynn stood instantly, yanking Yawesh's chain and making her companion yelp.

"WHAT?"

Mazzor nodded. "His plans came to grief against the Sea Griffin fleet. The elves did not come to his side, and several of his own vessels turned on him. He was unmasked and killed."

Something in the daemon's tone made Thae'lynn wonder.

"By whom?"

"A group of adventurers, led by a human, Lady. The one called Wulf."

Thae'lynn nodded, as if she had known all along.

"My beloved human pet. Mother of Pleasure, Mazzor, will I never be rid of him?"

"I do not know, Lady."

She unfastened Yawesh's chain from her nipple, then unchained her lover from the floor.

"Go ahead, pet," Thae'lynn told her. "Go pleasure yourself. I must leave."

"Must you, beloved?" Yawesh asked, staring at her plaintively, but eyeing the writhing daisy-chain longingly, her gaze dazed and dreamy. "It's been so long since I've tasted you."

"Later, dear," Thae'lynn replied over her shoulder, following Mazzor from the chamber.

"So the Stormking has fallen," Mazzor commented as they reached Thae'lynn's private suite. Not bothering to dress herself, Thae'lynn stalked to a glassed cabinet, opened it and seized the Silver Chalice.

"So he has," she replied, filling the chalice with wine. "And ruined tonight's orgy in the process. Damned human. I don't know whether I want to fuck him or kill him."

"Perhaps both," Mazzor suggested.

"Perhaps."

"So if your orgy is cancelled, Lady, what are we going to do tonght?"

Thae'lynn took a long swig from the chalice, and felt its malign energies course through her.

"Same thing we do every night," she replied. "Try to take over the world."