DARKLORDS

Jemma struggled vainly as the large Giak pushed her to the hard, iron deck of the skyship and opened her thighs. The young woman screamed in terror as several of the monster's henchmen ripped her thin tunic off and began to fondle her breasts roughly. One Giak inserted his long, slimy tongue into her mouth and probed inside as two others began sucking hungrily on her tits. Jemma moaned softly as the Giak leader knelt down to reach her pussy and began licking her petal lips noisily. The naked girl attempted to weakly break the monsters grip on her arms and legs, but they were too strong for her. Her pink nipples grew erect and hard as the Giaks licked and sucked on her large, round breasts. The monster caressing her tongue with its own sucked wetly on her soft, red lips, then backed away to untie its greasy breeches.

The helpless girl watched with horror as the Giak's large, pulsing cock emerged from its pants and hung before her face. The monster smiled lustfully as he forced his rod into the girl's mouth and down her throat. Jemma moaned as she took the penis into her warm mouth then unconsciously began to suck on it, her lips tight against the cock's flesh. The Giak between her slim legs inserted its tongue deeply into her pussy, exploring her vagina with its long probe. The naked girl's body shuddered as it responded to the sexual stimuli, and the loud moans issuing from her mouth drove the monsters into a frenzy. The three Giaks around her head took turns putting their erect cocks into her lovely mouth, as one was serviced, the other two would lick and suck the sweet flesh of her tits.

The Giak licking Jemma's pussy grunted with pleasure as the girl orgasmed and shot warm cum into it's eager mouth. The monster buried its snout in her cunt until it had licked all of the love honey from her hole. Wet sucking sounds came from Jemma's mouth as she fed on a Giak's large cock, then gulped down its jism as it cummed down her throat. Another Giak shouted with ecstasy as it fucked her large tits and shot its load across her neck and collarbone.

The third monster quickly inserted its engorged penis into the naked girl's slack mouth, which automatically began sucking wantonly on the rod until it cummed across her lips and face. As the girl licked the warm jism from her lips, the Giak between her legs rose up to insert its cock into her warm pussy. Jemma moaned loudly as the monster fiercely pumped its rod into her tight cunt and began fucking her roughly. The girl's breasts jiggled back and forth in time with the Giak's thrusts as it pushed deeply into her vagina. The large Giak leaned forward to squeeze the girl's tits tightly as it pushed into her pussy.

Jemma panted loudly as the beast fucked her cunt, waves of sexual pleasure washing over her beautiful, naked body. She began to push her crotch onto the Giak's cock, while she took another monster's penis with her right hand and began to stroke it. The Giak above her set his flacid tool above her face, and she eagerly began to lick and suck on the head until it grew hard with desire. The raven-haired girl took the cock into her warm, eager mouth and sucked hungrily on the beast's flesh, then she licked along the shaft until she reached the Giak's large balls, which she took lustfully into her mouth. The Giak fucking her cunt shot his load, spurting green jism across her crotch and stomach. Jemma moaned loudly with pleasure as she felt another orgasm build within her and explode, her own warm cum trickling out of her pussy to the cold floor. The Giak quickly bent down to lick her love honey, then sucked loudly on her pussy until all of her cum was consumed.

Jemma sucked wantonly on the monster's penis until it grunted with satisfaction and shot another load of cum down her throat, which she drank eagerly. Her soft red lips moved up and down the shaft of the beast's cock, then she sucked deeply on the head of his tool until all of his jism was gone.

"Put her in her room till we reach Telchos," ordered the lead Giak to its minions. "We will deliver her safely back to her master before we inform our lord of Vonotar's tragic death."

The skyship, Black Heart, sailed gracefully over the strong walls of Telchos and flew slowly over the city until it hung above the imperial castle. A group of three Nadziranim mages waited patiently on the landing tower, and quickly walked forward to cast spells of levitation on the departing crewmembers.

Two muscular Giaks tightly held Jemma on either side as the trio descended lightly to the cold stone floor of the tower. The Giak leader fluttered down after the girl, and bowed deeply to the dark wizards after he landed on the tower's surface.

"Where is your master, Vonotar?" asked the senior mage.

"Unfortunately, our master was slain by the Elf bitch, Gwena," replied the Giak respectfully.

"How? She was just a slave like this human slut," said the Nadziranim with disbelief.

"She appeared to possess a Ring of Power, similar to the artifacts used by our masters, the Darklords," responded the soldier quickly.

"An Elf? With a Ring of Power?" muttered the wizard wonderingly.

"She must have taken it from the Kunae during the Convocation attack," said another of the mages.

"I shall have to tell our leader of this," stated the senior mage urgently.

The Helghast Lord sat on the Governor's Throne and waited with the patience of the dead as the three Nadziranim mages entered the audience chamber and knelt before it. The Undead hissed softly and motioned for the senior mage to report.

"Vonotar is dead. He was slain by an Elf girl named Gwena who possesses a Ring of Power stolen from Darklord Kunae. We believe that she also may have Kai training from the rebel named Ben Starblade," said the Nadziranim calmly.

"This is distressing. If the Elf bitch can train more Kai, our grand Empire may be in jeopardy. Order Rachel to begin searching for the Elf. When Gwena is found, I want her killed," hissed the Helghast coldly.

"As you wish, lord," replied the mage quickly before he made a hasty exit.

Rachel reclined on a soft bed of silk as the Nadziranim entered her quarters and bowed at the waist.

"The Helghast Lord wishes you to find the Elf called Gwena Starblade and kill her for the glory of the Darklord Empire," said the mage.

"I only kill to feed and for the pleasure of it, not for something so paltry as glory," whispered the beautiful, pale woman who rose gracefully to her feet and approached the wizard.

"Shall I show you a little glory, human?" asked the woman as she untied her black silk robe and let it fall to her delicate feet.

The evil wizard marveled at Rachel's round, firm breasts and slim body. The white-skinned woman ran her long, tapered fingers across the human's chest, then rubbed his crotch invitingly. The man gasped in surprise as Rachel kissed him softly on the lips then began licking the flesh of his neck teasingly. He reached around her shapely hips to squeeze her firm ass as she untied his black robes and uncovered his body for her pleasure.

The raven-haired woman caressed the mage's cock with her hands, then knelt down to suck lightly on the head of his tool. The man grunted with pleasure as she began to suck hungrily on his penis, moving up and down the shaft until it grew hard with excitement. The mage caressed the woman's long, silky black hair as she licked his cock lovingly, then plunged his meat deeply into her throat. The man fucked her warm, red-lipped mouth for several minutes until she pulled away from him and caressed her large, creamy tits wantonly.

Rachel turned around so her firm, shapely ass pointed towards the mage, then she bent down until her hands touched the floor. The mage got the idea quickly and grabbed her slim hips tightly. He ran his engorged cock across her wet pussy, then inserted his rod into her tight love hole. Rachel moaned loudly with sexual pleasure as the man pumped his meat deeply into her cunt. The woman's round tits jiggled as her ass moved in time to the man's thrusts.

Rachel panted for breath as the mage fucked her fiercely; waves of ecstasy assaulting her beautiful naked body like ocean tides. The mage thrust deeply into the woman's vagina, reveling as her pussy clamped on his cock like a vice and squeezed it hungrily. He came within minutes, shooting his load deeply into her love hole. Rachel moaned loudly as she orgasmed moments later, her own honey mingling with the man's seed. The Nadziranim pulled out of her cunt, allowing the woman to finger her own pussy and lick the combined jism from her digits. The man watched as the woman's moist, red lips licked the fluid like it was fine wine, then he looked deeply into her red-tinged eyes as she swayed wantonly to where he stood and rubbed her naked body over his.

"And now for a quick bite before I start my search," said Rachel before she plunged her exposed fangs into the man's neck and began drinking his hot blood hungrily.

The mage groaned in sexual satisfaction as the naked woman fed on him, then slumped limply to the floor when she was done.

"Umm, not bad," remarked Rachel as she licked her sexy, red lips with her moist tongue, then bent down to retrieve her robe. "Now the hunt begins."

====

Gwena and Brandon trudged through the grass-laden hills on their way to the town of Xanar. The sun shone warmly on them as they stoically traveled past tall ranges of mountains; determined to make their way to the Fortress--the headquarters of the Rebellion. The afternoon passed uneventfully until they reached the walls of Xanar, and passed easily through its lightly guarded gates. The sun was setting brilliantly to the west as the duo found an inn for the evening and settled down for a hot meal.

A beautiful young woman with long red hair and green eyes took their order, then swayed her hips suggestively as she left the table.

"She's either after me or you, Gwena," said Brandon wryly.

"I'll take her if you're not up for it," offered Gwena.

"She's all yours," replied the mage as he sipped his mug of ale.

The lovely serving wench brought them a tray of food, allowing the Elf girl an opportunity to smile seductively at her. The redhead returned the smile, then bent down to whisper in the Elf's ear.

"I know where your room is. I'll meet you there at midnight," said the woman softly. Gwena winked in reply then watched as the wench went to serve another table.

"Try to get some sleep tonight, we need to hit the road in the morning," admonished Brandon before he took a bite from his roast chicken.

"Don't worry, sex is quite restorative for Elves, I'll keep up with you," replied Gwena with a wicked grin.

A soft knock on the door awoke Gwena as she napped on a bed. The slim Elf girl quickly rose and unbolted the door, allowing the beautiful serving wench entry. The red-haired, young woman carried a tray with a jug of wine and two cups. Gwena smiled as the woman set the tray down on a nearby table and poured for both of them.

Offering a cup to the Elven girl, the wench drank her wine in one gulp then quickly refilled it. Gwena drank her wine slowly, savoring its sweet flavor as she gazed hungrily at the woman's revealing cleavage. After consuming a second cup, the redhead licked her red lips suggestively, then set her cup on the tray. The wench walked to the foot of the bed, slowly pulling her white blouse over her head. The woman's round, creamy breasts impressed Gwena; she watched as the woman unfastened her skirt and allowed it to fall to the ground. The Elf girl finished her own wine, then moved towards the wench who pulled off her lace panties before sitting at the foot of the large bed.

Gwena knelt in front of the red-haired woman, who spread her legs apart for her Elvish lover. The Elvish girl leaned down to lick the woman's pussy lightly, then began stroking the red-haired cunt more fervently. The naked woman moaned loudly as Gwena sucked deeply on her pussy lips, then plunged her wet tongue into the warm orifice. The redhead squeezed her own large, firm tits, then licked her nipples into hardness. Gwena buried her face in the woman's cunt, licking the flesh of her vagina before sucking the warm cum that began to trickle forth. The woman's body shuddered with pleasure as her orgasm assaulted her brain.

After drinking all of the naked woman's love honey, the Elf girl stood up and took off her own tunic and skintight leggings. The two naked women rubbed their firm breasts together and kissed each other wantonly.

Gwena pushed the serving wench lightly onto the bed, then crawled up on top of her. The two young women kissed passionately, caressing each other's tongues eagerly. The Elf girl licked down the red-haired woman's neck until she reached two firm breasts. Gwena began sucking lustfully on the woman's tits as her lover moaned loudly with pleasure. The Elf girl licked and sucked on the redhead's sweet flesh, then licked down the valley between the woman's large tits. The wench reached beneath Gwena's naked body and began to finger the girl's pussy. Gwena moaned softly as the woman caressed her cunt lips then inserted a slender finger into her love hole. The two women sucked on each other's mouths as the wench finger-fucked the girl's pussy, plunging two fingers in and out of the Elf's tight snatch.

The red-haired woman sucked hungrily on Gwena's firm breast, biting the nipple into hardness. The girl moaned loudly as she orgasmed and spurted warm cum onto the wench's probing fingers. The woman removed her fingers and brought them to her mouth, where she sucked wantonly on them. Gwena leaned down to add her own tongue to the feast, tasting her own jism before she kissed the woman roughly on the mouth. As their wet tongues parted, the Elf girl turned around to face the prone woman's pussy, then bent low to begin licking the wet cunt eagerly. The redhead panted as she felt sexual ecstasy slam into her naked body, then she started licking the Elf girl's blonde snatch. The two naked girls tongue-fucked each other until they both orgasmed strongly, sweat glistening on their slim, beautiful bodies.

After resting, the serving wench gave Gwena one last lingering kiss before she left the room. The Elf girl re-bolted the door, then collapsed with exhaustion on the sweat-drenched sheets.

"I feel much better," whispered Gwena as she panted for air then fell quickly to sleep.

====

Rain fell heavily across the window as the merchant Gates stood nearby and watched lightning flash among the rolling clouds. Candles lit the large dining room as Jemma, his slave, brought a tray of steaming, roast beef to her master and set it upon the heavily laiden table.

"Dinner is ready, master," offered the young woman softly.

The fat merchant gulped down the rest of his wine, then waddled to his large chair and sat down heavily. Jemma loaded a large plate for the man, then pushed it gently in front of her lord. Gates grabbed a fork and knife, then quickly began to slice and devour the beef with relish. The raven-haired girl kept the man's glass full of wine and offered him a napkin to clean the grease and food remnants from his chin and beard.

"Bring me dessert, you lazy bitch!" ordered Gates before he slopped wine into his gaping mouth. The lovely slave moved quickly to obey her master, returning with another tray laden with a large, ice cream sundae. The merchant guzzled down this latest offering, then reclined back in his chair, small burps escaping from his fleshy lips. Jemma began to clear away the dishes and glasses before Gates grabbed her by the slender waist and pressed her close to his obese body.

"I didn't say I was finished with dessert," said the man quietly before he tore off the girl's shift and fondled her breasts.

Jemma grabbed the fat man's meaty hands, but did nothing as her master sucked loudly on one of her firm tits, then reached down with one hand to fondle her dark-haired snatch.

Sharp clicking heels reverberated down the empty hallway as Jemma sat upon the edge of the dining room table while the fat merchant leaned down to suck hungrily on her pussy. As the creamy-skinned girl moaned softly, a lithe female form entered the dining room and walked behind the grunting merchant.

Before Gates could finish his snack, a strong, delicate hand pulled his face away from Jemma's open pussy, and sharp fangs impaled the flesh of his wide neck. Gates screamed in agony as his lifeblood was devoured by the beautiful female vampire, then he gurgled softly as he fell limply across the table.

Jemma panted deeply for air as the pale, dark-haired woman walked up to her and helped her to stand.

"I hope that you didn't mind my interruption," whispered the woman, "But you didn't appear to be enjoying the attentions of that pig."

"Thank you," replied Jemma. "Who are you?"

"My name is Rachel, and I'm looking for a friend of yours. I believe that her name is Gwena," offered the woman.

"Oh, yes. I know Gwena. Is she alright?" asked Jemma with concern.

"For the moment," replied the woman. "But I need your help to find her. Will you help me?"

"Of course," said Jemma with a smile.

Rachel returned the grin, then pounced forward to bite the girl on the neck. The slave girl let out a gasp of surprise as she felt the woman feed on her blood.

Rachel stroked the slave girl's long, black hair as she drank greedily from the girl's neck. Jemma closed her eyes and moaned softly as the woman drank her blood, then fell back limply onto the table. The vampire woman spread Jemma's legs apart, then leaned down to lick the girl's pussy softly. As Jemma caressed her own large, firm breasts, Rachel inserted her delicate tongue and began to probe the naked girl's cunt lazily. Jemma moaned softly with pleasure as the woman thrust her tongue deeply into her vagina, licking the inside of her womanhood eagerly. Rachel stroked the prone girl's slim thighs as she pressed her face harder against the girl's warm crotch.

Jemma licked the nipples of her tits until they grew hard and erect, then pushed her crotch harder against the woman's sucking mouth. Rachel tongue-fucked the naked, slave girl until she orgasmed with a loud moan. The vampire woman drank the girl's warm cum with relish, sucking deeply on Jemma's soft pussy lips until all of the nector was gone. Jemma sat up upon the table and leaned forward to kiss Rachel passionately on the lips. The two women's tongues caressed and stroked each other, then parted with a thin trail of saliva. Jemma moved down to kiss the woman's smooth cleavage, then lightly pulled aside Rachel's gown to expose a lovely breast before she started sucking it. The woman moaned softly with pleasure, pulling the straps of her silk dress away from her shoulders, allowing the garment to fall lightly to the floor.

Jemma squeezed both of the woman's firm, round breasts, then sucked wantonly on both of them in turn as Rachel caressed the girl's long hair and panted heavily. Jemma began to stroke the woman's pussy with her right hand, then she slowly inserted a finger into the vampire's tight cunt. The woman moaned loudly and spread her legs apart as Jemma thrust a finger deeply into her snatch while sucking loudly on one of her tits. As she reached orgasm and shot love honey across the slave girl's probing finger and hand, Rachel bit open her left wrist and presented the bleeding wound to the horny girl before her.

"Drink, Jemma, and you will no longer be a slave to any man," whispered Rachel huskily as the girl sat up, but continued to probe the woman's cunt with a slim finger.

The naked girl smiled, then bent down to lick daintily at the woman's blood. Relishing the sweet taste, Jemma clamped her mouth across the cut wrist and drank thirstily, sucking as much fluid as she could. Rachel moaned softly in sexual ecstasy as the girl fed from her, until pain began to lance up her arm.

"Enough!" shouted Rachel as she pushed Jemma away and watched the naked girl shake and convulse as she died mortal death and began her life as an undead.

"Now I can find the Elf bitch and feast on her sweet flesh," muttered the vampire with satisfaction.

====

Gwena and her companion, Brandon, dismounted their horses and gave the reins to a nearby stable boy. Sweaty and tired from travel, the duo gratefully entered the Crow's Nest Inn and sat heavily at a corner table. A young girl about fifteen years old came to their table and took their orders for food and ale, then left with a smile to convey the request.

"I'm glad we've finally made it to Kagorst," said Gwena softly.

"We're not too far from the Fortress. It resides within the valley of a nearby mountain range," replied Brandon.

"Can we make it by nightfall tomorrow?" asked Gwena.

"I don't see why not, unless something happens along the way," responded the mage.

"That's what I like about you, your cheerful disposition," said the Elf girl sarcastically.

The wizard smiled in retort just as the serving girl returned with two cold ales and warm snack bread. The two travelers gratefully took their drinks, then attacked the bread with a vengeance.

Late at night, a lovely serving wench in the town of Xanar finished cleaning the tables of her inn and prepared for sleep. After blowing out the two candles upon the bar, the red-haired girl climbed the stairs to the third floor and walked wearily to her room. Upon entering the room and bolting it shut, the young woman pulled off her clothes and lay naked upon the bed. Relishing the release of pressure on her feet, she began taking deep breaths to invoke sleep. As her firm breasts rose and fell steadily, a feminine shadow emerged from the wall and sat next to the prone female.

"What?" muttered the naked girl as Rachel leaned forward and stared deeply into her eyes.

"You've met a young Elf girl named Gwena?" asked Rachel tersely.

"Yes," replied the girl as her eyelids fluttered sleepily.

"Did she tell you where she was going? Did you overhear anything?" inquired the vampire.

"I overheard her talking to her friend. She was going to the Fortress," answered the girl.

"Thank you," said Rachel with a smile before she plunged her fangs into the redhead's neck and drank deeply of her blood. The naked girl struggled for a moment, then went still.

"I left some for you," offered Rachel as she stepped away from the naked girl's body.

Emerging from the darkness, a much paler Jemma walked forward and sat upon the edge of the bed. Admiring the girl's cooling body with golden eyes, the young vampire stroked the long strands of red hair, then quickly leaned down to fasten her teeth on the tender flesh just below the prone girl's left breast. Jemma sucked hungrily on the remaining lifeblood of the young woman, then pulled away from the corpse when it became empty.

"I want some more," pouted Jemma as she licked a stray drop of blood from her moist, red lips.

"Later. We need to catch up to Gwena before she reaches the Fortress," said Rachel coldly.

With a wave of displaced air, the two vampires left the room.

It was mid-afternoon when Gwena and Brandon reached a small bridge that crossed over a river. To the north, raging falls could be heard as water gushed from a nearby mountain range and flowed fiercely south. Near the bridge, the water was quick, yet calm. Gwena dismounted her steed and knelt near the riverbank, cupping clear, cool water into her hands before drinking deeply. Brandon stayed seated on his horse and looked around for any would-be ambushers. After drinking her fill and washing her face and arms, the beautiful Elf girl returned to her mount and agilely jumped into the saddle. Smiling at her friend, Gwena led the duo across the bridge, then down an obvious forest trail that led northwest. The two travelers rode in silence, with Brandon watching the flanks as Gwena kept her Kai senses open.

Afternoon became evening, then with a rustle of bushes, a squad of Dark Rangers burst upon the pair. Gwena drew her short sword and parried the thrust of a Ranger's blade just as Brandon smashed in the skull of another foe with his staff. A Ranger grabbed Gwena's leg and pulled her from her horse, forcing her to the ground. As he tried to stab her with a wavy dagger, Gwena smashed her right foot into his balls, then stuck her sword into his stomach. The Man grunted as he fell and died, only to be replaced by another foe as Gwena got to her feet.

Brandon chanted quickly, then threw a sheet of fire at three charging Rangers. The Men screamed as their flesh was seared away, then they collapsed as smoking skeletons. Gwena slashed open the stomach of another Ranger, then traded a series of blows with the last attacker. The Man slashed Gwena's left thigh open, then slapped her hard across the face. As the Elf girl fell, the Ranger lifted his sword high, preparing to impale her. Concentrating her will, Gwena sent a lance of psychic energy into the Ranger's brain, making the Man scream in agony. The Man dropped his sword and clenched his temples with both hands, allowing Gwena time to aim her blade and impale the Ranger up to the hilt. With a gurgle of blood, the Dark Ranger fell to the ground, and Gwena grimaced from the sharp pain of her thigh. Brandon rushed over to his prone friend, then carefully examined the wound.

"Do you want me to use my magic?" asked the mage anxiously.

"No," gasped out Gwena. "It's time I used my Kai skills."

With a quick intake of air, the Elf girl invoked her powers of Healing, asking Kai and Ishir to mend her wounds. In an instant, the girl's prayers were answered, and the tearing wound in her thigh closed up and disappeared as if it had never existed. Gwena sighed with relief, then said a quick prayer of gratitude to the Deities of Light.

The Elf girl rose to her feet, and after walking the stiffness out of her limbs, she remounted her steed and followed Brandon through the forest. As night fell, and darkness covered the face of the land, the companions emerged from the green forest and beheld the sight of the Fortress. The keep was immense, a rough out-thrust of rock that had been summoned by the power of the Lorestone. Torches flared upon battlements as troops of sentries kept a vigil against attackers. As the travelers rode closer to the keep, a squad of armed soldiers emerged from the huge gates and rode quickly to intercept them.

"What is your business here?" demanded a grizzled veteran after he had stopped the duo from advancing.

"We seek entrance to the Fortress," replied Brandon. "I am a mage of the Crystal Star Brotherhood, and this is Gwena, Elf fighter and last of the Kai."

"I'm impressed. Two representatives of two dead Orders, perhaps I should kneel and pledge my life to both of you?" asked the soldier with a sneer.

"Just allow us entry and take us to the Council, we'll dispense with the formalities," retorted Brandon coldly.

"As you wish, my lord," replied the soldier sarcastically as he motioned for his Men to surround the pair and escort them to the keep's interior.

"We could take them all out now, Mistress," said Jemma softly as she sat upon the branch of a nearby tree.

"No, it's too risky," replied Rachel as she sat next to her young spawn. "There could be wizards along the battlements, and we could be well within the range of their damned magics. We'll wait here for now, and if an opportunity presents itself, we'll take it."

"As you wish, Mistress," said Jemma quietly as she licked her red lips in anticipation.

====

Gwena and Brandon were shown to rooms in which to change clothes and bathe before meeting the White Council. After quickly making themselves presentable, the duo was escorted under armed guard to the Council Hall, where the nine rulers of the Fortress met to discuss policy.

The Prime Minister of the Council was Mythas, an Elf. The advisors to the Prime Minister were Zana, a lovely Dark Elf, and Smythe, a gruff Dwarf. Gwena and the mage bowed briefly at the waist then acknowledged the remaining Men who filled out the Council.

"Welcome to the Fortress, honored Kai and Crystal Star Mage," said Mythas gravely. "We have great need of your unique skills and knowledge."

"I noticed there were wizards patrolling the battlements with the men-at-arms. I thought that I was the only mage left," remarked Brandon.

"Fortunately you were wrong. The mages you saw belong to a new Order, the Order of Flame. They have been instrumental in the construction and maintenance of the Fortress. While they are powerful, they lack the ancient knowledge and history attributed to the Crystal Star Brotherhood. I hope that you will be able to aid our wizards and make them even more potent in our struggle against the Darklords and their cursed god, Naar," said Mythas.

"I will do everything I can," promised Brandon.

"Good," replied Mythas before he turned to regard Gwena. "It is a great honor to see another of my kind, Gwena. I am proud that you have inherited the legacy of the Kai. I must admit though, I did not believe that anyone could get Ben Starblade to mentor them."

"It wasn't easy," admitted Gwena. "Fortunately, I found a way to persuade him."

"Indeed? You must have been very convincing," remarked Zana with a wicked grin.

"Don't you start, Zana," corrected Mythas with a sharp glare. The tanned-skinned Elf woman tossed her mane of silver hair, ignoring Mythas in order to stare admiringly at Gwena.

"I don't think these two will be useful," grated Smythe tersely. "What good are two spell flingers against legions of Hellspawn."

"As usual, Smythe, you aren't thinking," replied Zana acidly. "With a Kai and a Crystal Star mage, we can finally take the offensive and bring the fight to the Darklords. Admit the truth, it will only be a matter of time before the Darklords send an army to destroy the Fortress. They already have Dark Rangers patrolling the edges of our territory spying out our strengths and defensive positions. They will come, and when they do, they'll roll right over us."

"We'll take plenty of them to Hell with us," bit out Smythe proudly.

"Enough, this discussion is counter productive," admonished Mythas to both of his advisors. "We shall dismiss our two visitors for now, and the Council will discuss how best to use these two new weapons in our arsenal. Gwena and Brandon, please feel free to rest and have a hot meal. You will be summoned again tomorrow morning to hear our decision."

"As you wish, Lord Mythas," replied Gwena with a bow before she left the room with her companion.

The two travelers were escorted back to their spacious quarters, and soon after, a serving wench arrived with a large tray of food and drink. The companions hungrily devoured the large repast, then reclined in their soft chairs and sipped wine from crystal glasses.

"The Resistance must be doing pretty well if they can afford such finery," remarked Brandon as he gazed at the fire roaring in the nearby hearth.

"It's all magic, Brandon," replied Gwena softly as she sipped her red wine. "Elven magic is often used to produce food and fine clothing. The Elves enjoy their comforts, too much sometimes."

"Ahh," said the mage. "Do you think they'll trust us enough to let us join the Resistance?"

"I think that I can convince them of our usefulness," returned the Elf girl with a gleam in her eye.

"You Elves are really different sometimes," remarked Brandon with a sigh.

"More than you can ever know," retorted Gwena with a bright smile.

Prime Minister Mythas, sat at his desk late into the night and read the latest spy reports on Darklord troop movements. Engrossed in his reading, it took three light knocks on the door of his study before the Elf registered the noise.

"Come!" invited the Elf. He smiled as a lithe Gwena entered the room and closed the door behind her. "I thought that you might come for a private meeting."

"I hoped that I might prevail upon your good judgment," replied Gwena as she walked gracefully to the front edge of Mythas' desk and perched herself upon the rim.

"Please present your arguments, and I'll consider them in my decision," said Mythas as the Elf girl pulled off her white blouse, exposing her large, round breasts.

The Elf male grinned in appreciation as Gwena took off her skintight leggings then removed her lace panties. Leaving on her shiny, high-heeled leather boots, the naked girl swayed over to stand next to Mythas' chair, then knelt down before him. The Elf male stood up long enough to disrobe, then sat back down in his chair and opened his legs apart for the girl.

Gwena crawled forward, then took the Elf's penis in both of her small hands. Mythas grunted softly as the Elf girl stroked his cock up and down, arousing it into hardness. Gwena leaned down to suck on the head of the penis, then took the rod deeply into her warm mouth. Mythas caressed Gwena's long, blonde hair as she moved up and down the Elf's tool, sucking deeply on his manhood. Mythas started pumping his cock into the girl's throat, watching as her red, moist lips surrounded his rod. Moaning with pleasure, Gwena caressed her own firm tits, then reached down with her left hand to finger her wet cunt as she devoured the Elf's cock with her mouth.

Mythas pulled away from the Elf girl's hot lips, then pulled her to her feet and set her shapely, firm ass on the desktop. The Elf male opened her slim legs apart, then knelt down to lick her warm pussy with his tongue. Gwena moaned loudly as the Elf licked the lips of her womanhood then inserted his tongue deeply into her cunt. The Elf girl panted for air as she leaned back across the desk and fondled her creamy tits as Mythas sucked and licked her pussy like a starving man. The two Elves were so lost in their lust that they failed to detect Zana, the Dark Elf, teleport into the room and regard the grunting Elves with amusement.

"I figured that the Elf slut would try something like this," remarked Zana as she untied her tight, leather halter-top, then slid out of her glossy, leather panties.

Retaining her spiked collar and high-heeled boots, the Dark Elf woman walked quietly to the head of the desk where Gwena's head lay, her long, golden hair spilling like a waterfall towards the floor. The Dark Elf grabbed a handful of the girl's hair, then leaned down to kiss her passionately on the lips. The two women sucked on each other's red lips then caressed each other's tongues wantonly.

Gwena shuddered as Mythas' tongue-fuck brought her to orgasm, and warm cum poured from her twitching cunt into the waiting Elf's eager mouth. Zana leaned forward to suck lustfully on Gwena's firm tits, biting the nipples into hardness. Mythas stood up, then brought his engorged cock next to Gwena's tight pussy and rubbed it against her petals of flesh. The prone Elf girl moaned as her breasts were sucked and her snatch was teased by the Elf male. Mythas inserted his rod slowly into the girl's pussy until it filled her vagina, then he began pumping in and out of her love hole.

The naked Elf girl's body moved up and down the desk in time to the Elf's thrusts, as the Dark Elf allowed her to suck hungrily on tanned, sweet breasts. Gwena moaned as she orgasmed again, then opened her mouth as Zana moved her own pussy within licking distance. The Elf girl licked the warm, pink flesh of Zana's womanhood, then fastened her mouth on the woman's cunt, sucking on her crotch fiercely. The Dark Elf woman moaned with pleasure, beginning to squeeze and lick her own tits.

Mythas groaned loudly as he shot his load into Gwena's squeezing pussy, then he continued to fuck her cunt deeply. The prone Elf girl sucked lustfully on the Dark Elf's silver-haired snatch then licked the tender flesh of her inner thighs. Zana reached down with one hand and pushed Gwena's head against her pussy, making the naked girl resume her cunt sucking and tongue-fuck. The Elf girl eagerly responded, and within moments, Zana moaned with orgasm and spurted love honey across Gwena's mouth and face. The Elf girl laughed as she licked and devoured the woman's sweet jism, running her wet tongue across her red lips until all of the fluid was gone.

Zana knelt down to lick the flesh of Gwena's face, relishing her own honey, then she kissed the Elf girl on the lips, inserting her tongue into the naked girl's slack mouth. Gwena moaned again as she orgasmed, her cum mingling with the cream from Mythas' cock. The male Elf turned the naked girl onto her stomach, then resumed fucking her pussy until he came again, pumping his seed into her tight love hole. All three naked Elves panted for air, then slowly put on their garments and prepared to leave.

"I can guarantee that Zana and I will vote for you to stay. Unfortunately, you saw how Smythe regarded you. You're going to have to be extra persuasive to get his support," said Mythas.

"I think that I can handle a Dwarf," replied Gwena with a smile as Zana wrapped a slim arm around her waist.

"Don't be so sure, love," said Zana softly. "Smythe likes it rough; real rough."

"So do I," replied Gwena with a malicious grin as her Ring of Power began to pulse eagerly.

====

Three days had passed since Gwena's unofficial meeting with the Prime Minister. Even with Mythas' and Zana's support the fate of the Elf girl and her mage companion was in limbo. Smythe refused to accept them, and that resulted in a divided vote among the Men who filled out the Council.

After a brief discussion with both Elven leaders, Gwena made a decision and went to stand under the night sky before she carried it out. Standing upon the outer battlements of the Fortress, Gwena relaxed under the soft caress of the wind that ruffled her long blonde hair and the slim, black silk dress that she wore. Taking a deep breath, the Elf girl left the battlements and walked far into the rock stronghold. Passing through a large, iron door, Gwena descended a narrow, spiral staircase that led into the bowels of the keep. The Elf girl passed several landings in her descent, landings that led to passages branching into storage rooms, dungeons, and training facilities. Eventually, the landings were left behind, and Gwena traveled in enveloping darkness, cold stone her only guide as she descended far into the heart of the foundation. As the blackness pressed down upon her, the girl finally spied light at the foot of the stairs.

A dimly lit passageway greeted Gwena as she emerged from the staircase. Softly glowing lightspheres illuminated her progress as she walked quietly to a pitted, iron door with a sliding bolt across its surface. Pushing the iron bar aside, the Elf girl opened the portal and stepped into a eye-searing, breath-stealing furnace. Machines and chains hung everywhere in the large chamber. To the left, a huge forge lay, spewing smoke and flames towards the soot-caked ceiling. To the right, a series of wooden frames were set in place, with chains, manacles, and other bondage devices hanging from them.

Within the very last frame, a naked human girl about sixteen years old, with long, black hair, hung from her wrists by leather restraints. A large, rubber ball was fastened in her mouth, and her slim legs were bound apart. A strange gear-driven machine sat under her exposed crotch, pushing an engorged rubber dildo into her wet pussy. The machine plunged the rod deeply into her cunt, then retracted the tool quickly before inserting it in again. Every few minutes, the girl would moan loudly through the gag as she experienced a powerful orgasm. Sweat glistened on her naked flesh, and her black hair was plastered to her head. Gwena felt the stirrings of lust in her crotch as she watched the young girl get fucked.

"What do you want, Elf bitch?" growled the Dwarf, Smythe, as he glared at the Elf girl from his desk.

Smiling winningly, Gwena walked to where Smythe sat and placed her delicate hands behind her back.

"I was hoping to convince you that I could be a valuable addition to the Army of Light," whispered the Elf girl in a husky tone.

"We need an Elf slut just like I need crabs," retorted Smythe as he returned to watch the shuddering girl and take notes on a stone tablet.

"If you let me, I can demonstrate some of my many talents," replied Gwena with a lustful grin.

"Look, I'll only tell you this once. The last time the Good Races depended on a Kai, see what happened. The moment he dies, the entire Army falls apart and the Darklords take over everything. Ever since Lone Wolf was killed, we've been on the run, and Magnamund has been in Naar's control for over two hundred years. We lost the Crystal Star Order, the Elder Magi, the Isle of Lorn, everything! Because we placed all of our faith in the Kai, the Good Races thought that they were invincible, and that pride led to our downfall. We will regain our world, but we'll win because of our sacrifice and courage, not because some Kai bitch with some fancy powers thinks she can end a three-hundred-year war in one week. Got it?" shouted Smythe before he reclined in his chair and slopped ale into a clay mug from a nearby pitcher.

"I understand," said Gwena softly. Sighing to herself, the Elf girl prepared to leave, then spied a reclining chair to her right, near the forge. "Have you tested that one yet?"

"No, I've been too busy with my orgasmic endurance elixir," muttered Smythe as he stood next to the dildo machine and increased the speed.

"Well, now's your chance," said Gwena as she allowed her silk dress to fall to the floor and sat back upon the cold, iron chair.

Smythe turned to reject the girl's offer, but nearly popped his eyes out as he watched the beautiful, lithe, Elf girl reclining in his fuck device. Licking his chapped lips with anticipation, the coarse-skinned Dwarf retrieved some note tablets from his desk, then set them next to the fuck chair. Gwena allowed Smythe to fasten restraints tightly to her wrists and ankles, binding her to the cold device. The Dwarf pulled a lever, and with the loud grinding of gears and hissing of escaping gas, the chair reclined back until the Elf girl was staring at the rocky ceiling and her exposed pussy was level with Smythe's face.

Drooling slightly, the Dwarf pulled another lever, and a large, pulsing, artificial penis lowered down on hinges and stopped just short of Gwena's moist, red lips. The Elf girl kissed the head of the dildo playfully as Smythe looked over his control console and flipped a switch. Two large suction cups lowered from the ceiling and fastened on the girl's firm breasts. Pushing another button, the Dwarf activated powerful motors that allowed the suction cups to begin sucking hungrily on Gwena's round tits. The Elf girl moaned loudly, then gagged slightly as the dildo over her head lowered down quickly and began probing her throat.

Laughing with glee, Smythe pulled another lever, and a large rubber cock engorged with life, then thrust deeply into the girl's tight pussy as it was carried forward on a catapult-like arm. Gwena's body shuddered and thrashed as she sucked on the cock in her mouth and felt the dildo in her cunt push in and out with mechanical precision. The girl's breasts felt like they were in sex-crazed vices as the machine sucked on her flesh eagerly. Manipulator tendrils rose up and caressed the tender flesh of her pussy lips and inner thighs as the rod in her cunt pumped in and out.

Smythe was jumping up and down with excitement as he watched his machine ravish the naked Elf girl and force her into orgasm. Gwena moaned softly and her crotch spasmed as she shot warm cum over the thrusting dildo. The girl's love honey dripped from the grinding machine and pooled on the floor, where the Dwarf gathered it with his rough digits and licked it with relish. Sweat poured from her struggling body and a thin trickle of saliva escaped from her cock-filled mouth. The suction cups on her breasts pulled away with a loud pop, and thin, wispy metal tendrils rose from under the chair to wrap around her heaving tits and squeeze them tightly. Little pinchers ejected from the tips of two tendrils, and they bit and teased the helpless Elf girl's nipples into hardness.

Smythe ran the fuck machine for two hours, relishing Gwena's orgasmic moans and the movement of her naked body as the machine ravished her sweet flesh. He took extensive notes on his stone tablets, noting areas where he could make improvements on the device. After he acquired all the data he needed, the Dwarf deactivated the dildo in Gwena's pussy, and retracted it back into place. As the dildo in the girl's mouth continued to thrust in and out of her red, slack lips, Smythe licked her wet pussy with his coarse tongue, then sucked eagerly on her cunt, drinking her cum with relish. The Dwarf's mouth went deeply into her snatch, exploring her vagina with his tongue and lips.

After a quick tongue-fuck, Smythe pulled away from the Elf girl's tasty love hole, and untied his breeches. Adjusting the machine's angle so he could fuck her pussy, the Dwarf stroked his cock into hardness as he watched Gwena suck on the cock in her mouth like a cheap slut. He watched the metal tendrils caress and squeeze the girl's creamy, sweat-glistened tits, then he pushed his rod into the bound girl's tight cunt. The Elf girl moaned as the Dwarf began thrusting in and out of her pussy, his engorged tool pumping deeply into her warm vagina. Smythe grabbed onto the naked girl's shapely hips with both hands, then pushed hard into her womanhood, enjoying the sensation of the Elf girl's twat squeezing his tool like a hungry mouth.

The Dwarf orgasmed, shooting his seed into Gwena's tight cunt, then he resumed fucking the Elf whore until she shuddered with orgasmic bliss and mingled his cum with her own warm juices. Smythe turned off the rest of the fuck machine, then ran his stumpy hands across the girl's smooth, sweaty flesh. He pinched her rising breasts tightly, then ran a hand over her slender throat and across her red, sensuous lips. Gwena panted for breath now that she could rest, but she took a second to suck lightly on the Dwarf's small fingers. Smiling briefly, the Dwarf kissed Gwena roughly on the lips, forcing his tongue into her mouth and down her throat. The Elf girl let Smythe caress her tongue and suck on her sweet lips, then she relaxed her sore, sweat-caked body and tried to catch her breath.

Smythe finished taking some last minute notes, then made sure that the Image Sphere had recorded everything. Satisfied with the results, the Dwarf released Gwena from her bonds and helped her to her feet. He gave her a mug of wine to drink, then handed her the dress that she had worn. Groaning with effort, Gwena climbed into her shear black garment, then looked at Smythe.

"Will you support me now?" asked the tired Elf girl.

"Yeah, I guess you can't do any worse than we've been doing," muttered Smythe gruffly.

"Thank you!" Gwena gushed, leaning down to kiss the Dwarf on the forehead before staggering out of the room.

"Elves!" grunted Smythe as he turned to stroke the human girl's naked stomach.

====

The Helghast Lord, Skorn, watched as the Darklord Fleet hung over the city of Telchos like a plague of locusts about to strike. Over a hundred iron skyships made up the fleet, gathered from across the vast continent of Magnamund. The undead entity smiled coldly as he anticipated the coming battle, the battle that would destroy the last bastion of Light on the planet. A Nadziranim mage approached Skorn, then stood respectfully behind the undead.

"The Kunae Darklords command that you attend them on the flagship, Naar's Hand. I have been sent to escort you to them immediately," said the dark wizard.

"Tell the Darklords that I respectfully decline their offer. I have other matters to attend to right now," hissed the Helghast Lord.

"I beg of you, Lord Skorn, please come with me. If I do not bring you into their presence, they will kill me," replied the mage nervously.

"Then you will relay my message, and then you will die for the greater glory of the Darklord Empire," said Skorn coldly.

"As you wish, my lord," whispered the Nadziranim before he teleported in a swirl of greenish light.

The Helghast Lord watched with gauntlets clasped behind his back as the forward warships of the fleet began their flight north, to the Fortress of Light.

"Our spies in Telchos say that the Darklords have mobilized a large fleet of skyships, and intend to attack the Fortress within the week. We will prepare for their strike, but we will also execute one of our own," began Mythas as he addressed the entire White Council, the Order of Flame, and the two companions, Gwena and Brandon.

"With the magical assistance of the Kai, Gwena, and the mage, Brandon, a strike force will travel east and assault the stronghold of Vashna, the Darklord who administers Northern Magnamund. If the assault team can kill Vashna, operations in this hemisphere will be thrown into chaos, and allow the Army of Light the perfect opportunity to liberate vast regions of occupied territory. The team will leave tomorrow on one of our few skyships and should reach Vashna's fortress in Helgor within two days. With luck, the team will accomplish its objective before the Darklord fleet reaches the Fortress, and the ensuing chaos will severely undermine their attack. Any questions?" asked Mythas.

"How many will make up the assault team?" asked a Mannish councilman.

"Six. That should be enough to provide the Kai and mage cover, yet be small enough not to be noticed easily. Five men-at-arms and one mage will make up the team," replied the Elf. After searching the rest of the chamber, the Prime Minister nodded with satisfaction and said, "This meeting is adjourned." The Council and Order of Flame left the room, leaving only Gwena and Brandon in their chairs.

"What do you think?" asked Brandon warily.

"I think that Kai and Ishir will have to be in a very indulgent mood if this thing is going to work out," replied Gwena with a weak smile.

Night was in full bloom as a squadron of soldiers patrolled the edge of the woods near the Fortress. The Men walked cautiously, listening for any betraying sounds that would indicate Dark Rangers or worse. At the end of the formation, two tired Men trudged over the grass, grasping their sword hilts loosely.

"I hate these patrols," complained the first soldier softly. "We never find anything."

"Consider yourself lucky, the Elf girl and her mage friend ran into a patrol of Dark Rangers near here," replied the other soldier quietly.

"The Rangers were probably tracking them, that's all," said the first Man with a shrug.

"Whatever. I'd keep my eyes open, though. Unless you want your throat slit," retorted the second Man.

The first soldier snorted softly then turned left when he spied a pale form deeper in the trees. Motioning for his companion to follow, the soldier entered the forest and made his way past looming oaks. The two Men walked for several minutes, plunging deeper into the silent depths of the forest. The soldiers finally entered a small clearing where a petite, naked girl with pale white skin and long black hair lay upon the soft grass and fingered her pussy with delicate, fragile hands. The Men stood at the edge of the clearing and gaped with open mouths as the young girl rubbed her soft clit, moistening the flesh with her arousal. She softly panted as she rubbed across her cunt, then inserted a long finger into her love hole. The girl's large, round breasts rose and fell with her exertions and her frenzied moaning reverberated within the clearing.

Without a thought, the two Men entered the clearing and approached the masturbating girl. As she fingered her pussy blissfully, the first soldier knelt between her outspread legs while the second knelt above her raven-haired head. The first Man leaned forward, licking the soft flesh of the naked girl's slim thighs. The young woman continued to finger her pussy without hesitation as the Man inhaled her sweet scent, then began licking the sweet flesh of her cunt lips. The Man kneeling above the girl's head untied his leather breeches, then released his hardening cock from its confinement. He caressed the girl's cheeks and lips with his tool, then gasped in surprise as the prone girl licked his meat, then began sucking on the head of his penis lustfully. The Man groaned as the brunette licked along the shaft of his engorged cock, then sucked hungrily on his balls.

The Man between the girl's legs sucked lightly on her pussy lips then inserted his tongue into the hole that she held open for him. The girl moaned loudly around the second Man's cock as his companion probed deeply into her vagina with his tongue. She thrust her shapely hips against the Man's face as he tongue-fucked her snatch wantonly. The dark-haired girl sucked eagerly on the other soldier's tool, opening her moist, red lips wide as he thrust his cock deeply down her warm throat. The Man fucking the girl's mouth leaned forward to caress and squeeze her firm, creamy tits. He pinched her sensitive nipples roughly as she swirled her wet tongue around his prick, then teased his cockhead until a thin trickle of pre-cum entered her sensuous lips.

The Man tongue-fucking the naked girl's pussy sat up then untied his breeches and released his engorged rod. He slowly ran his meat across the girl's quivering pussy lips, then inserted his cock into her tight fuckhole. The dark-haired girl panted deeply as she sucked on one cock while fucking another with her snatch. Her pale-skinned body glistened with sweat as she slutfully pressed her crotch upon the Man's hard tool. The Man thrusting his rod into the girl's warm mouth grunted as he shot his load into her waiting lips. The naked young woman drank his seed as she spasmed with her own orgasm, then forced the other Man screwing her pussy to spurt his cum into her vice-like vagina.

As the two Men gasped for breath and lay back upon the soft, green grass, Rachel emerged from the darkness and grabbed the Man lying next to Jemma's head. The helpless soldier managed a small, weak, shriek before Rachel impaled his neck with her fangs and began sucking hungrily on his blood. The remaining soldier sat up in alarm as Jemma darted forward like a snake and latched her wet mouth against his shoulder. He trembled lightly as the naked girl drank his lifeblood, then let him fall limply to the ground when she was sated.

"Now do it as I instructed," said Rachel as her features began to blur and melt.

Jemma followed the lead of her Mistress, and soon both lovely young women duplicated the appearance of the dead soldiers. The pair quickly stripped the corpses of their armor and weapons, then rushed like the wind to rejoin the perimeter patrol.

"Where the Hell have the two of you been?" yelled the patrol sergeant as the two soldiers took up their old positions.

"We saw some suspicious activity in the woods and decided to investigate," replied the disguised Rachel.

"Sure you did," remarked the sergeant skeptically.

"Why don't we finish our patrol as if nothing happened," suggested Rachel softly as her golden eyes glowed.

"Don't ever do anything without telling me," rebuked the sergeant quietly.

"No, never, sir," promised Jemma.

With a nod to both disguised vampires, the sergeant resumed the patrol, then returned the unit to the Fortress for some rest. Rachel and Jemma entered the keep without incident.

Gwena sat in a plush, velvet-lined chair and stared out the thin, floor to ceiling window. A low fire burned in the fireplace to her right, but she paid it no mind. Ever since she'd begun wearing the Ring of Power seized from one of the Kunae Darklords, she didn't require much sleep at night, an hour or two at most. The thought should disturb her, but she accepted it like she accepted everything that had happened in her life recently, with stoic resolve.

The Elf girl sat limply in her chair as the door to her quarters opened silently and the two beautiful vampire women glided like shades across the room. Just as Rachel raised a clawed left hand and prepared to strike--a blood-red dome appeared around Gwena, sending waves of force and heat into the two killers. Rachel was hurled roughly against the far wall, smashing a large indentation in the stone. Jemma fell into a table and shattered the fragile wood into a pile of tinder. The Elf girl rose to her feet, gazing at her attackers with glowing red eyes.

"What do you two want?" asked Gwena in a death-chilled whisper.

"To send you into the arms of Naar," said Rachel as she invoked the Darkness in her soul and hurled blue lightning at Gwena's shield.

The Elf girl smiled wryly as the vampire woman flung numerous bolts of energy at her, attempting to weaken the barrier that the Ring had formed around her. Manipulating her hands along sorcerous paths, Gwena summoned greenish fire and threw it at Rachel, scorching the woman's black robes off her body. Jemma jumped from the floor and hurled herself towards her one-time friend, claws extended. Gwena slapped her away like a gnat, then moved across the room in a blur and grabbed Rachel around the throat with her right hand. The Ring glowed hotly, feeding off of Gwena's rage as the Elf girl squeezed Rachel's pale neck, grinding her spine into powder.

"How? How can an Elf bitch like you have so much Dark Power?" gasped Rachel as she struggled to pull free from Gwena's tightening grasp.

"Maybe it's my cynical outlook on life," whispered Gwena before she hurled the naked woman across the room and through the glass window.

Jemma rose unsteadily to her feet, then began to inch her way towards the exit. Gwena watched the slim girl attempt to escape.

"You've become a little paler since the last time I saw you," remarked Gwena.

"And you've developed a real mean streak," replied Jemma softly.

"Life lashes me, so I lash back," retorted the Elf girl.

"The Darklords are after you," said Jemma as she reached the open window. "The Kunae are especially keen on killing you and retrieving their Ring. Watch your back."

"I don't have to, the Magic does it for me," answered Gwena before the lithe vampire girl fled into the cool night air. "The Magic is everything," murmured Gwena as she watched the two vampires fly into the dark sky.

====

Brandon sat alone in the vast library of the Fortress. He browsed through a volume of magical theory written by one of the Order of Flame masters. The young mage shook his head in disbelief, these new wizards had no idea of the forces they called forth with their spells. He recognized the fact that he would have to talk with the Flame masters and set them straight on many of their practices and theories. Finally, the knowledge given to him by the last Crystal Star mage could be passed on to others, the Brotherhood would live again. Dreaming visions of glory and recognition, the young mage was startled when a delicate hand brushed his shoulder. Brandon jumped to his feet, surprising the young woman who stood behind him dressed in the red robes of a Flame mage.

"I'm sorry! Did I scare you?" asked the girl timidly.

"No, you just caught me off guard," replied Brandon with a shy smile.

"I had heard that a Crystal Star mage was here, and I wanted to request your help with a spell that I'm studying. Do you have some time to spare?" inquired the brown-haired girl.

"Well, I'm leaving with the strike team at dawn, but I guess that I can spare a few hours," said Brandon before he followed the slim young woman out of the library.

The sun began its ascension into the sky, and the eight members of the strike team assembled on one of the highest towers of the Fortress. Above them, a small skyship glided into place, then lowered rope ladders for the team to climb upon. Standing with the team, Mythas and Zana wished everyone success, then backed away to allow the soldiers room to climb. As Gwena waited to board the skyship, Zana approached her and kissed her lightly on the lips.

"Good luck, Kai warrior. I wish you victory," whispered the lovely Dark Elf.

"Just call me Gwena Starblade," replied the Elf girl.

"Oh? Finding the burden of being an icon a little too constraining?" asked Zana with a grin.

"Something like that," retorted Gwena gruffly.

Zana's right eyebrow rose archly at the girl's tone, then the Dark Elf shrugged and walked to rejoin Mythas.

"Be careful!" warned the young mage girl as she held Brandon's hand tightly.

"Don't worry, I will," replied Brandon as he smiled at the apprentice reassuringly and squeezed her small hand. "When I get back, I'll continue your training, you have a lot of potential."

"You think so?" asked the girl eagerly.

"I know so," said the mage before he gently pulled his hand away. "By the way, what's your name?"

"Mara," replied the girl softly, eyes downcast.

"Take care, Mara. And keep studying!" admonished Brandon as he began walking to a dangling rope ladder. The lanky mage climbed the ladder quickly, then waved back to everyone on the tower.

The wooden skyship made to sharp turn to port and began to accelerate east. Mythas and Zana waved briefly then entered a trapdoor that descended into the keep. Mara stood near the tower's battlements and watched the small aircraft dwindle into the sky until it disappeared.

The skyship journeyed east for two days, flying over the wasted and desolate landscape of Northern Magnamund. Gwena stayed in her quarters; she talked to no one, and at night strange lights glimmered from under her door.

Brandon could not sense anything from her room, so he assumed she was practicing her Kai disciplines. As for the mage himself, he stayed on deck during the day, watching the sky and talking to the deckhands. Dwarves ran the ship, and they were very talkative. They spoke with Brandon about the state of the land, how they would drive back the Darklords, and what they would do when the Light was victorious. Despite hundreds of years of war and suffering, the Dwarves were strangely optimistic, they claimed it was because they were such a strong and long-lived people, a claim that Brandon didn't dare to challenge. At night, the crew and Brandon would eat under the stars, and the captain would pass around a jug of fine Dwarf spirits. As Brandon grew drowsy after two cups, the Dwarves would sing songs of women and treasure, their deep voices reverberating across the glossy decks.

Like all journeys, this one came to an end. The skyship landed in a mountain pass just northwest of Helgor. The strike team quickly left the ship with their weapons and supplies, then started south as the wooden vessel took to the air. Brandon took a moment to wave to the Dwarf crew, and they lined the starboard rail, waving down to their mage friend. The eight companions traveled cautiously all day, and as dusk fell, they reached the dark city.

Helgor was a sprawling city, with several tall towers and a domed temple to Naar. At the northeast corner of Helgor lay the castle of Vashna, Darklord ruler of Northern Magnamund. Several flocks of Kraan patrolled the skies, but their pattern was predictable.

"This shouldn't be too hard," remarked one of the soldiers.

"Don't get overconfident," admonished Gwena. "Vashna could have wards all over the city."

"Except for a general alarm ward, I can't sense any other magicks," replied the Flame mage.

"I see a mystical web net over the city, probably to detect cloaked skyships or other magical intruders. I also see a ward calibrated to detect Kai powers, that could be a problem," said Brandon quietly.

"It won't. I can cover my link to Kai with my magical ability. Besides, I haven't been using my Kai skills lately," replied Gwena softly.

"You've been accessing the Ring, haven't you?" accused Brandon.

"You two can argue later. Right now, we need to get to that castle. Can you get us in or not, Brandon?" asked the Flame mage.

"Yes. I know an Invisibility spell that can protect all of us," answered Brandon.

With a nod from the mage, Brandon closed his eyes and chanted the words of power that would invoke the spell. When the Crystal Star mage opened his eyes, a glowing red fog surrounded everyone.

"The spell is active," reported Brandon.

"Good," said the Flame mage as he led the team into the outskirts of Helgor, then northeast towards the Darklord's castle.

====

The eight-person strike team kept to the shadows, using the cover of night and the dimly lit streets to advance towards Vashna's castle. Gwena led the group, using her Elven sight to scout for city guards or other unwelcome obstacles. Brandon followed his friend, grasping his mage staff tightly. He saw the red fog surrounding the group, indicating that his cloaking magic was still in effect. Brandon's mage sight allowed him to see the living auras of other beings, which aided him in searching for possible ambushers. The Flame mage, Greyfell, led the remaining soldiers who composed the strike team. The red-robed wizard's abilities were not as great as Brandon's, but he was just as determined to kill Vashna and free Magnamund from the evil of the Darklords and their god, Naar.

Gwena stopped walking at the corner of a tall, stone building. Beyond her position, an intersection of streets split off to the east, north, and south.

"I think that we should split up and take different paths," whispered the Elf girl urgently.

"I disagree, we should stay together," replied Brandon quietly.

"The Kai is right. If we split up, at least one group should make it to the castle and reach the Darklord," hissed Greyfell.

"I go alone," muttered Gwena before she stepped away from the group and ran swiftly down the eastern street.

"Gwena!" whispered Brandon loudly as he reached out with his right hand.

The Elf girl ignored his entreaty, disappearing into the dark folds of shadow. The Crystal mage sighed in frustration, then searched the intersection for late night travelers.

"Let's both take the northern road, and if it splits, you take the soldiers while I go solo," suggested Brandon.

"Sounds acceptable to me. I probably need the troops more than you, anyway," replied Greyfell with a bitter smile.

Brandon returned the grin, then led the remaining infiltrators down the northern path.

Gwena walked nonchalantly down the dark street, grasping the hilt of her short sword firmly with her left hand. Her Elven vision revealed nothing that might be a danger to her as she progressed towards the home of Vashna, but she remained alert for any guard patrols. The Elf girl gasped softly in surprise when a black-cloaked figure emerged from an alley to the right and moved to block her progress.

"You are Gwena Starblade, I presume?" hissed the cowled stranger.

"Yes. Is there a reason I shouldn't kill you right now?" retorted Gwena crossly.

"I believe we may be able to help each other. But let's not talk here. I know of a place where we can speak more comfortably," said the cloaked man.

"Lead the way," replied Gwena curiously after a short pause. "But do anything funny and you're dead, understand!"

The cowled man bowed at the waist then led the wary Elf girl down several twisting streets to a seedy tavern. The stranger opened the ironbound door, releasing a chorus of loud singing, burping, and shouted conversation. Gwena wrinkled her pert nose as the aromas of ale, vomit, and unwashed bodies assaulted her. The cloaked man entered the tavern, walked directly to the bar and asked for a private room. The fat bartender held out a large, callused hand, then smiled when the stranger paid him four gold crowns. Gwena followed her cloaked guide up a short staircase and down a dimly lit hallway to a small door. The bartender opened the door and held it open for the stranger and the lovely Elf girl. Once they were inside, he closed it quietly behind them.

"Please, have a seat," offered the stranger as he pulled back his cowl to reveal the face of a hideous Helghast Lord.

"Foul spawn!" shouted Gwena as she drew her short sword and assumed a fighting position.

"Please, please! I mean you no harm!" assured the undead as it waved its hands soothingly. "Let's sit down and have a nice chat."

"What could I possibly have to say to a creature of Darkness?" asked Gwena skeptically.

"Come now, Gwena," replied the Helghast Lord as it sat down at the head of the room's only table. "You've nearly as much Darkness in your own spirit as I do; and it grows stronger every day, doesn't it?"

"Maybe," admitted the Elf girl as she sat opposite the undead and sheathed her weapon smoothly.

"I thought so, " nodded the Helghast Lord. "To one such as I, you reek of corruption. It's a wonder your companions have not detected it." At the dark glance Gwena gave him, the undead creature quickly continued, "Let me begin by giving you my name, Abydos."

"Hi," replied Gwena with a limp wave of her right hand.

"I want to talk with you about the future. The future of Magnamund to be precise."

"What about it? I kill Vashna, then the Army of Light defeats the Darklords. Peace is restored to the land and its 'noble' people," said Gwena, with an unmistakably bitter undertone.

"That's one possibility, but here's a better one. You possess a Ring of Power that once belonged to the Kunae. I can help you unlock its true power, and make you the ruler of all of Magnamund. The Darklords, the Men, everyone would bow to your will. Sounds good, doesn't it?" asked Abydos eagerly.

"Yeah, but what do you get out of it?" parried Gwena, but the gleam in her eyes revealed her definite interest.

"Well, even a goddess needs help running an empire, right? My skills are being wasted under the administration of the Darklords. I think you would be much more open to my advice," answered Abydos with a depreciating smile.

Gwena did not respond to this immediately. Instead she sat silently, starring through the Helghast Lord as if was not there. From the expressions alternately crossing her face, it was obvious that a great conflict was raging within her. Finally, after a time span measured in minutes, the battle ended and the cold look that Abydos had hoped to see settled over her beautiful features.

"If I agree to your plan," said Gwena resolutely. "What would we do first?"

"You continue with your mission to kill Vashna, then we both eliminate your Light-worshipping friends and consolidate control over northeastern Magnamund. The Darklords and the followers of Kai will be so wrapped up in their own conflict that they won't notice us until it is too late," replied Abydos confidently. "Before you go, I suggest that you recharge the Ring of Power so you'll have the best possible chance against Vashna."

"And how do I do that?" inquired the Elf girl with a hint of impatience.

"You'll like this," grinned the undead, before he leaned forward and whispered to her.

The prostitute stood patiently at the street corner, waiting for a john to shell out some gold. The woman was in her mid-twenties, had long black hair, and wore a short, black leather skirt with a matching halter-top. The young woman pursed her full red lips as she watched a cloaked figure approach her from one of the branching streets.

"You lookin' for a good time?" asked the whore in a husky voice.

"Yes, and I think that you'll do just fine," replied the cowled stranger in a soft, feminine tone.

The whore wrapped her right arm around the prospect's left, following the client as she walked away from the intersection, then turned into a dark alley. The prostitute gazed around nervously as she was led deeper into the stygian darkness. She gasped when the cloaked female suddenly slammed her roughly onto one of the alley walls. The whore stared with wide, blue eyes as the stranger pulled back her cowl and revealed a coldly beautiful Elven face.

Gwena Starblade smiled lustfully, pressed her slim body against the trapped whore and kissing the woman passionately on the mouth. The woman moaned softly as Gwena explored her mouth with a wet tongue then licked her delicate neck and shoulders.

The Elf ripped off the young woman's halter, squeezing and caressing her victim's large, round breasts. The whore grunted with pleasure as Gwena sucked hungrily on her nipples, making them hard and erect with arousal. The Elf girl pressed the mounds of flesh into her warm mouth, then sucked deeply on the prostitute's firm tits. The whore held her slim arms above her head and panted loudly as Gwena moved from breast to breast, devouring the beautiful woman's melons wantonly. The Elf drew her short sword, then swiftly sliced off the whore's tiny skirt. Luscious, pink pussy flesh beckoned to Gwena's red lips, and she wasted no time in kneeling down to caress the whore's labia with her mouth and tongue. The naked woman moaned with erotic pleasure, squeezing her own round tits and licking her nipples. She thrust her dark-haired snatch against Gwena's hot mouth as the Elf girl inserted her tongue into the whore's cunt and tasted her womanhood.

Gwena reached around to squeeze and pinch the slut's firm ass as she licked the young woman's labia and nuzzled inside her throbbing slit. The whore orgasmed and moaned loudly, releasing a stream of honey into the Elf girl's thirsty mouth. Gwena drank all of it, then stood up and spun the naked woman around. She pushed the panting whore against the wall, bending the woman over so that her firm, creamy ass thrust upwards. Caressing her smooth flesh, Gwena knelt down again and resumed tongue-fucking the whore lustfully. The raven-haired woman groaned loudly and pressed her small hands against the hard stone. Her large breasts rubbed against the wall, grinding painfully into the cold rock. She pressed her right cheek onto the wall and opened her red lips to release her moans of pleasure.

The Elf girl inserted a long, slim finger into the brunette's tight pussy, then began to thrust it in and out of her clenching fuckhole. The whore began to pant louder and louder as another orgasm started to build inside her beautiful body. Gwena thrust her fingers faster and faster into the slut's hot cunt, smiling as warm juices trickled down the woman's bare thighs. The whore spread her slim legs wide apart, pushing her creamy ass onto the Elf's long fingers. With a scream of ecstasy, the slut orgasmed, her naked body shuddering with pleasure.

Gwena knew it was time for her to act, but she hesitated for a moment, realizing this was her last chance to veer from the path she had chosen in the tavern. But the vision of the future Abydos had presented was like a song in her mind, and she could taste the dark power that beckoned within her, aching for release. In a heartbeat, her final choice was made.

She arose smoothly, pulled the naked whore's head back by the hair, and gave her neck a final lick. The Dark power, to which she had at last given herself to fully, flooded through the elven girl and she willed her canine teeth to lengthen into razor-sharp fangs. Without hesitation now, Gwena bit deeply into her victim's pale neck, tasting for the first time the lifeblood of another. The whore moaned softly as the Elf greedily drank her blood, sucking loudly on her sweet flesh. The Ring of Power on Gwena's right hand shone with a fiery light as she fed on the naked girl's essence, giving the unholy artifact the sustenance that it craved.

When the Ring's hunger was sated, Gwena licked her lips with satisfaction, dropped the naked whore's limp corpse into the dirt, and left the alley without another thought. Had her former companions been there to see her, they would have noted the evil crimson glow in her eyes and known instantly that the girl they knew was gone--her soul consumed by Darkness.

Gazing to the north, the lovely Elf girl examined the imposing bulk of Vashna's castle and smiled in anticipation.

====

The naked girl moaned loudly as the Darklord Vashna thrust his huge cock into her tight fuckhole. The panting young woman had long pink hair, smooth white skin, and large bouncing breasts. Vashna was a humanoid of giant-like stature, with midnight black skin and bright red eyes. Two curved horns adorned his forehead, and long white hair poured down his naked back. White pubic hair surrounded the Darklord's engorged penis as he pumped his rod deeply into the naked slave girl's pussy. Slimy tentacles waved above the groaning girl's head, and occasionally one would dart down and enter her open mouth, delving deeply down her warm throat. Vashna caressed the naked girl's smooth skin with his clawed hands, leaving little blood trails on her flesh. Sweat poured from the slave girl's body as Vashna's tool slammed against her g-spot, making her cunt flow with warm juices. The Darklord grabbed the moaning girl and pressed her against the hot skin of his chest. The pink-haired slave reached up with her arms and wrapped them around her evil lover's thick neck as she pushed her throbbing snatch harder against the Darklord's cock, forcing the rod deeper into her womanhood. Vashna reached around the girl's sweating body to squeeze her round tits tightly. The slave girl moaned with pleasure as he pinched her nipples painfully, crushing them with his clawed hands.

A nervous cleric of Naar entered the audience room where the Darklord fucked his new slave, then slowly walked up the blood-red carpet until he stood before the huge, obsidian dais. Vashna smiled at the cleric's discomfort as he pumped his rod into the panting girl's pink-haired muff. The naked girl leaned back against her lord, moaning for more, as a mighty orgasm began to build in Vashna's tool. Roaring in ecstasy, the Darklord came, shooting his evil seed deeply into the slave girl's uterus, filling it until cum overflowed out of her cunt and down her slim, firm thighs. The pink-haired girl screamed with pleasure, holding on to Vashna's neck tightly.

When the Darklord finished firing his salvo of lust, he grinned with satisfaction, then easily pulled the small girl off of his cock. He positioned her dripping pussy near his fanged mouth and bent down to suck hungrily on her hot labia. The naked girl hung limply over her lord's crotch, thin arms dangling towards the floor. She moaned softly as Vashna licked her juices, and his jism, from her warm honey pot. But she began struggling and screaming in pain when he bit deeply into her pussy and began to devour her flesh. The evil cleric watched with wide eyes as Vashna literally ate the naked girl's cunt, laughing as hot blood spurted across his face and black-skinned chest. The slave girl eventually fell still, her skin taking on the pallor of a corpse. The Darklord licked his dark, blood-drenched lips, then turned the dead girl around so that he could kiss her lustfully on the lips and suck briefly on her cold, firm breasts.

The cleric of Naar bowed low as Vashna tossed the naked corpse onto a small pile of dead bodies in a corner of the chamber; then he gazed fearfully at his lord.

"The Nadziranim report that intruders have entered our holy city and are making their way towards the castle. What are your wishes, great one?" asked the cleric.

"Put the castle on alert and increase the patrols of the city," rumbled Vashna as he wiped blood off of his firm chest with a tattered blouse. "Did the mages say who these intruders are?"

"No, but they detected strong magical energy. That suggests a mage of some ability is in the area."

"It is no matter. I can handle anything that the worms on this planet throw at me," declared Vashna arrogantly. "You may go, unless you want to take some leftovers with you."

"No thank you, lord," replied the cleric with a sickly expression as he gazed furtively at the pile of naked dead girls. He quickly gathered his black robes in both hands, then practically ran out of the long audience chamber.

Gwena and Abydos hid in the shadows and examined the tall, black stone walls of Vashna's castle. The duo spotted several Giak patrols manning the battlements, but no sign of Nadziranim mages or lesser Helghasts. Behind the two conspirators, a squad of Helghasts unsheathed their black steel swords and hissed in eager anticipation.

"I believe that Lord Vashna is probably aware of our presence by now, Gwena. A direct assault would be best at this point," advised the undead creature.

"After you," whispered the Elf with a forward sweep of her left arm.

The Helghast Lord grimaced in frustration, then motioned his henchmen to follow him. Gwena smiled maliciously as she drew her own short sword and empowered it with magic from her glowing Ring of Power. The Helghasts advanced swiftly on the castle's walls, making absolutely no noise as they scaled the rough stone barrier and crawled over the battlements. Giak soldiers just had time to gasp in surprise before Helghast blades swiftly cut them down. After grabbing a gibbering Giak and slitting his throat with relish, Abydos waved down to Gwena, who gracefully ran to the foot of the wall, then levitated to the top with her dark magic.

"Vashna should be in the main hall," remarked Abydos as he led the evil band down a staircase along the inner wall and across the dimly lit courtyard.

Giaks shouted when they spotted the invaders, then sharp horns and gongs reverberated into the night, waking up all of the castle's defenders. A stream of Giaks poured from the main gates of the castle, rushing to cross swords with the coldly efficient undead. Abydos met the Giak charge, slashing with wide, elegant strokes that disemboweled and beheaded any soldier foolish enough to get near him. Crossbowmen formed up on the battlements and fired volleys of bolts into the milling swordsmen. Giaks and Helghasts alike went down as the lethal bolts slashed throats and impaled hearts.

Gwena dodged the hurling missiles, throwing two raging fireballs into the high firing positions. Giaks screamed as loud explosions rocked the courtyard, and flaming corpses fell from the walls to smash wetly into the hard ground. Whole sections of the curtain wall collapsed and fell into the streets of the city as Gwena engulfed the battlements with searing red flames. The surviving Helghasts quickly dispatched the remainder of the Giak troops.

The invaders ran eagerly into the wide, open doors of the castle and into the entry hall. The passage was deathly quiet as the undead, and their Elven mistress, stalked down the main hall towards the audience chamber. Gwena's sword glowed with magical fire as she watched the area for more attackers. The party reached the high, iron doors of the throneroom without incident and Abydos walked forward to push the huge portals inwards. Beyond the screeching doors, the long, arch-ceiled throneroom was as dark as a tomb, lit only by small magelights spaced at wide intervals. At the far end of the chamber, Darklord Vashna waited, drinking calmly from a golden chalice.

"Please, enter. I have so few guests these days," welcomed the Darklord warmly.

Abydos and Gwena looked briefly at each other; then the Elf motioned for the Helghast Lord and his henchmen to wait outside. Nodding in acknowledgement, Abydos backed away from the entrance and closed the heavy iron doors behind the slim Elf warrior.

"I must admit, I didn't think that an Elf girl could cause so much trouble," remarked Vashna before he drained his chalice and set it aside.

"I have a talent for it," replied Gwena with a smile as she walked calmly to the foot of the dais and stared up at Vashna with wide, blue eyes.

"I'm sure that you have many talents," whispered the Darklord with a deep rumble.

"Would you like me to show you some?" asked Gwena sweetly as she unfastened her swordbelt and let it fall loudly to the floor.

Vashna licked his black lips with a long, dripping tongue, and watched the Elf pull off her skintight leather armor. Soon, she stood naked before the Darklord in all of her glory. Vashna's exposed penis grew hard with arousal as the beautiful Elf maiden climbed the steps of his dais and knelt between his large, muscular legs. The Darklord groaned loudly when Gwena caressed his erect cock, running her small, delicate hands over his warming meat. The Elf smiled lustfully, rubbing her moist red lips across the head of his tool, then licking the evil ruler's rod with her wet tongue. Vashna moaned softly as Gwena pushed his cock into her small mouth, forcing his rod deeply into her throat. The Darklord grasped the stone armrests of his throne, enjoying the feeling of Elf's lips sliding up and down his pole, caressing his meat with a wet tongue.

Gwena squeezed Vashna's large, hanging balls, caressing them with slow, circular finger movements. The Darklord was panting for breath as he fucked the Elf's hot mouth with his cock, thrusting his crotch spasmatically into Gwena's sucking lips. The pale-skinned Elf slut caressed her own firm tits, then reached down with her left hand to finger her wet, throbbing pussy. Gwena tasted the pre-cum on Vashna' s prick that heralded the ruler's imminent orgasm. Moaning with pleasure, she began to summon the Dark power of the Ring as Vashna gasped and groaned, then began to convulse in sexual ecstasy. Hot cum burst from the Darklord's cock, filling the Elf girl's mouth, and spilling in thin streams down her chin onto her firm breasts.

The Elf drank the Darklord's jism wantonly while she casually reached up and pressed her small right hand against Vashna's massive chest. On the third finger of that hand, the Ring of Power now glowed like a raging star. The Darklord grunted with release, only slowly opening his blood-red eyes. He immediately noticed the burning Ring against his torso and, recognizing what it was and the danger it presented, roared in fury. But before he could take any action, Gwena unleashed the magic of the Ring, releasing a blue-tinged ball of flame that engulfed the helpless Darklord.

She leapt away from the immolated giant before he shot up to his feet and staggered towards her. Large gobs of melting flesh fell from Vashna's body as he advanced towards Gwena, who smiled coldly in satisfaction. The Elf woman raised her right hand and a burst of mana bolts flew from her fingers, smashing into Vashna's chest and hurling him backwards. The dying Darklord fell limply onto his throne, expiring as he stretched out his right hand in supplication.

As the stench of burning flesh filled the dark chamber, Gwena calmly retrieved her leather armor and put it back on. Relishing the feel of the material over her naked skin, she moved to stand over the smoldering corpse and laughed with an evil chuckle.

Suddenly, an enormous crash resounded through the throneroom as the chamber's massive iron doors were blasted open by a powerful burst of magic. Clouds of smoke obscured the entranceway for a moment, but rapidly drifted away to reveal the lone figure of Brandon.

"Gwena, what the hell happened?" asked the Crystal Star mage, who slowly stepped into the smoky room.

"I was just making a career advancement," replied Gwena calmly as she turned to face her one-time friend.

"What do you mean?" inquired the mage suspiciously.

"I'm sick of playing the meek little Elf girl who always does what everyone wants and ends up getting raped or abused. If I've learned one thing since I was captured and taken from my home, it's that power is the only thing people understand. Love, kindness, and humility are pathetic--they only invite others to treat you like shit. But now I've got the power to make everyone respect me."

"The Ring, it's finally corrupted you hasn't it, Gwena?" Brandon replied with sorrow in his voice.

"You've got one chance to leave now and forget that you ever knew me," warned Gwena dangerously.

"I can't do that," whispered Brandon as he gazed at the beautiful Elf with pleading eyes.

"I didn't think you would," replied Gwena before she raised her right hand and activated the Ring of Power.

Violet lightning spat out from the Ring and flashed into Brandon, searing deeply into his flesh. The mage screamed in agony and staggered to his knees, reaching out to the Elf woman with both hands. Like a statute, Gwena's gaze never wavered from her former friend and lover as more lightning bolts slammed into Brandon's fragile body, boiling his blood and causing his internal organs to burst. The dying mage spat out a stream of smoking fluid then fell limply onto his face.

Gwena spent several minutes staring at the smoldering corpse, somewhat surprised that she felt absolutely no remorse for what she had just done. Finally, she left the body-filled chamber and went to find Abydos, her spiked heels rhythmically clicking on the hard stone floors of the fortress.

====

As fires consumed much of the city of Helgor, Gwena's forces seized control of the Darklord capital from the disorganized remnants of Vashna's troops. Within the center of the castle's courtyard lay the dead bodies of Greyfell and the soldiers under his command. The new ruler of northeastern Magnamund was dressed in a tight leather halter-top that exposed a generous array of cleavage, a long black cloak, shiny high-heeled boots, a short leather skirt that just barely covered her white panties, and a leather choke collar with a metal ring under her chin. The Ring of Power nestled contently on her right hand as the pale-skinned Elf woman stood upon the shattered battlements of her castle and watched the battles below with detached calm.

"The Army of Light defeated the Darklord's siege force," reported Abydos, who stood by her side. "However, both forces took heavy losses and are ripe for attack."

"We'll organize our troops here, then destroy the Fortress of Light and claim all of Northern Magnamund," replied Gwena emotionlessly. "The Darklords can hide in their keeps until I'm ready to 'liberate' the South."

"Very wise, Your Majesty," complimented Abydos. "Do you require anything?"

"Yes, there was a delicious serving girl hiding in the kitchens earlier. Get her for me and bring her to Vashna's old bedchambers. He had some interesting toys that I want to try out," said Gwena with a hungry smile.

"As you wish, Divine One," acknowledged the Helghast Lord with a low bow before he rushed to satisfy his mistress' appetite.

~~~~~~