Private Tales Guillotine, Part II

[Asa Renwyk]

Boil. Bubble. Boil. Bubble. Boil. Bubble.

The liquid in the bowl was nearly ready. All that was left was one final ingredient: a bit of animal fat. So he pulled out his little jar of lard and scoped two spoon fulls into the bowl. Then back to stirring while the mixture boiled and bubbled.

His whole process might resemble something like a witch's brew in a tiny earthware cauldron. It wasn't that far off. He had spoken with a witch who claimed to have a cure for drunkenness and alcoholism. What she had (aside from a nice nape and plump ass) was a mixture that kind of dealt with drunkenness and did nothing for alcoholism. They always went back to the brew after a week or so. But the ingredients had potential.

And after a rather large bubble popped, the alchemist pulled the bowl off the coals. He set it off to the side to cool down. The action granted his focus its freedom at last. And with it he finally noticed the busty woman staring at the ceiling in her chair in a green dress.

A slight smile formed as he approached her.

"I didn't know Guillotine had such voluptuous green hills."

His gaze was obvious in where it was directed as he spoke. It never left her chest as he came up behind her. His fingers slide over her shoulders and he began to massage.

"Mixture needs to cool down to a comfortable temperature then you can drink it all. Odd, not so pleasant taste but it won't take long to take effect. Not much longer."

Jane

 

[Jane]

Jane saw Asa coming around, mostly upright at first and then as he went behind the chair turning upside-down by her perspective.

"Neither did I."

She slid quite willingly into the massage, rolling her shoulders up into it. Her heeled sabatons were of particular annoyance to her, but she didn't get irritated nearly as much as she ought to at her pauldrons: they were obnoxiously heavy, restricted movement, got in the way all the time, left her shoulders in a low-grade thrum of soreness when on occasion she had the luxury of being able to take them off (and how freeing it was, a literal weight lifted from her shoulders!).

A little moan of contentment hummed in her throat. And she continued what she was saying from before, "But I guess the Blessings of Drakon go unnoticed all the time, huh."

Being playfully obtuse. She knew damn well what he meant, what she had to work with.

Not much longer.

Jane smiled. Good. The taste of the brew wouldn't be that much of a concern--couldn't be worse than the sloppy gruel the Eunuch provided for his slaves whenever his coin pouch got light or whenever mass punishment was in effect.

She looked up to Asa then. Said with a lurid affectation, "I can't wait to see how much you can bleed."

Asa Renwyk

 

[Asa Renwyk]

Asa gave Jane a slight smirk as she made her last comment. Would seem the act of making him bleed was as obsessively attached to her mind right now as exploring her body was for his. The idea of getting cut wasn't so pleasant for him, but the reward for letting her enjoy herself was far too tempting for him to pass up. Must have been the demon's blood in him, unless his father neglected to mention just how strong his libido was when he was a young man before he past on.

"Do not worry. I plans that will allow you to cut and bleed me as much as you wish without fear of death. So long as you do not stab me anywhere vital. Some injuries are just beyond the ability to heal, even for those as experienced as myself."

He slide his hands down and brushed over her breasts in his massage as he spoke. She was making it rather obvious what she wanted. He planned to do the same. But now wasn't the time to play upon her hills. He still needed to retrieve the brew and bath himself. There was also the preparations for the ritual he had just mentioned to be made as well.

So he made one more pass from her shoulders, under her dress, and got a feel for the peaks that lay beneath. An primal noise escaped him as he did. A sign he was becoming less of a proper man and more of a carnal beast.

Reluctantly he had to step away and remove his touch from her skin. Back to the kitchen he went to check on the bowl. The outside had cooled down enough to not burn the hand. Then he dipped a pinky into the liquid. Still a tad too hot, but it was nearly there itself. He picked it up and carried it over to the busty knight.

As he set it in front of her he said, "Give it a couple more minutes to cool then drink all of it up. The more of it you consume the more your sobriety will return to you."

A hand slide over her shoulder and down towards her chest once again. "It will take anywhere from half to a full hour for the brew's effects to kick in. I will bath and make my preparations for your pleasure in that time."

Even more reluctantly than before he turned to leave. He had a bath to take after all and things to do. The sooner both were done the sooner he could have what he wanted.

Jane

 

[Jane]

Normally such a brew, the very idea of it in fact, would be repulsive. What sort of horrible creation, some misbegotten effort in alchemy, allowed for the undoing for drunkenness. Awful. Ever want to see every single person in any particular tavern all unanimously agree on something, pitch that idea to them and see what they say. But in this unique instance, it was exactly what Jane needed. A misconception on what Asa was going to be spending his night doing, a fuck-it-let's-get-drunk solution, finding out Asa decided he actually had time, and well, being drunk came relatively cheap and easy. This didn't. And something had to give.

So bottom's up.

Jane, once the concoction had cooled, downed the entire batch. And while Asa was bathing and the minutes drifted on by, she felt the swirling inebriation in her head lessen and lessen until it was no more. Heh, it really was hard to think of times when she might legitimately pass up getting hammered. But here was such a one.

And once all of the preparations were made.

Once Jane had the knife in her hand and had Asa standing before her.

She held her arms out to her sides and commanded, "Undress me...and we'll begin."

---

Time passed, and the blood had gotten everywhere. On that plush chair. On the table in the main room. Little droplets leading to the bedroom. Red staining the sheets.

Still atop the bed lay Jane, naked and exhausted and bespeckled with spatters of blood; around her lips, in particular, to her chin and her cheeks and her nostrils a smearing of blood from when she had tasted her work. A sheen of sensual sweat coated her skin. She stared up at the ceiling as she lay, eyes so narrowly focused her gaze seemed to penetrate through to the dark sky above. She breathed heaving breaths. Her mouth twisted into a supremely satisfied grin.

And the knife finally slipped from her hand and fell to the bedroom floor with a dull clatter of metal on wood.

Asa's pain tolerance being quite disappointing, Jane had compensated in other ways, carving out her artistry upon his flesh, slicing ritualistic designs into them, swirling trails of crimson that spilled their sanguine treasure onto her awaiting tongue and in that wake was left the subtle and esoteric symbols of devotion to a god that was most certainly not Astra. Had Jane surfaced any conscious thought at all as to what she was doing, a reset would have come without delay. But she knew the bounds of her shackles, and had tested them well.

"Asa," she said, her voice one step above a whisper. "You make me happy. I want you to know that."

Asa Renwyk

 

[Asa Renwyk]

Cleaned. Purified. Bathed. Many names for the activity and all appropriate in one way or another for what Asa had done to prepare for the night. All the oils and dust of the day cleaned off his skin. A clean canvas for Jane to draw red upon. Instead of the stench of the road about him now just the scent of a flowering meadow. Perhaps she would find it more appealing than musk and dirt.

Once leaving the filthy water behind to be dealt with later, Asa had gotten himself dressed in only something to cover his private parts. He retrieved some supplies from his bag and took them into the bedroom. Ash, salt, and bonemeal to mix and use to line the circle he drew with charcoal. Placed in smaller circles within his bigger one was herbs and potions designed to speed up and aid in the healing process. Candles of beeswax and infused with dried herbs, such as lavender, that had a pleasant and healing scent about them were placed about the ritual circle as well.

And then he returned to Jane with his sharpest medical knife in hand. She gave her command and the most carnal grin crossed his lips. "As you command, my Lady." A slight bow as he snapped his fingers and the candles of the ritual were lit. The magical spark that began a zone of perpetual healing and boosted regeneration. She would get to cut as much as she wanted with no fear of him bleeding out on her.

======================================================

The doctor was spent. His blood flowed in amounts that could fill the Cairou river. Moans and grunts of pleasure and pain had echoed in equal amounts. He had no love for a knife slicing his flesh. In fact he found it rather annoying. But he had never once stopped her from her enjoyment. His focus instead was on exploring her form with his hands as thoroughly as she had no doubt done with the edge of the blade.

As all of it took place, the ritual did its job. Every wound would close itself up given a minute or two. No scars left behind. A powerful magic no doubt best saved for the sick as it devoured a large portion of his supplies. Ones that had taken him time to stock up on.

But Asa didn't regret his selfish indulgence of his own carnal needs.

So next to Jane he lay on the bed. Her words bringing a self satisfied smirk from him. A hand fell upon her. He did not even attempt to pick a certain place. All of her was his to enjoy till the sun rose, as he was for her.

"As do you Jane make me happy."

Asa rolled over on top of her. He looked down into her eyes. "I have a gift."

Then he reached down to pick the knife back up from the floor being sure to bring his lips next to her ear.

"A scar anywhere you wish."

And as he rose back up, he held the knife back out to Jane.

Jane

 

[Jane]

Asa rolled on top of her, and Jane just smiled and draped her arms atop his back. Ohhh...ready to go again? the words she would have said. The sex had been fantastic, the shuddering climaxes powerful enough to reverberate back through the drought she'd endured during her time in Astra's service and make it all right. The gratification was a long time in coming, but, heh, sometimes the wait made the satisfaction deeper than it otherwise would have been--like it had been with finally killing the Eunuch and freeing herself from her slavery. And what was Dave doing right now, huh? Probably snoring, puking, or tugging on his manhood in the dark. His loss.

But anyway.

Those words she would have said, but Asa spoke first. I have a gift.

"That so?"

And he reached down. Got the knife, ohh, innnnteresting. A scar. A scar. Anywhere she wished. She took the knife by the handle and tapped the point of it with the tip of a finger, pondering as her eyes searched Asa's naked body. What a feast, teeming with possibilities. Ahhh, and she wanted to make him shiver and groan with pain this time, to feel that recoiling of the body and to hear the manifest agony escaping his throat. She wanted to give it one last try, at least.

"Roll over," Jane said.

And, once done, she'd roll over atop him this time, straddling his waist as she looked down with a devious gaze. She idly brushed the sides of the knife against the palm of her free hand as she said, "Has your magic trick worn off? Hmm?"

Asa Renwyk

 

[Asa Renwyk]

The busty woman flipped their positions. Now she was atop of him. No. She had mounted him like he was no more than a mere wild beast for her sole use. The knife in her hand was still sharp despite the extensive use it had already gone through that night. He used only the finest metals shaped by the best at their craft after all for the tools of his trade.

Asa was curious and excited to see what Jane had in mind. Not that mixture of those emotions a child might feel looking upon wrapped presents honoring their birth. No, he felt that mixture that came only when facing a something one understood the true dangers of. Staring down a tiger or sailing into a savage storm. That sort of curious and excited.

Then she asked him a question. She was curious how much longer the ritual had left. He idly looked about at the reagents. Empty vials that were once potions and piles of gray powder that were once herbs. The candles were still lit, but had already melted down to stubs that only stayed alive out of sheer stubbornness.

"One moment." Asa said as he turned his attention back to Jane. Another snap of different fingers than before and the candle were snuffed out. A smile was upon his face now. "There. The offerings are spent and the ritual is over. Whatever you do will heal naturally again."

And with that the doctor waited to see what the knight would do next. His hands sliding up her knees to her thighs and round to her behind. Freed of all the layers, he gave her a proper squeeze.

Jane

 

[Jane]

"Good..."

Jane just smiled, devilish and sly. Feigned having a think about what she wanted to do, her eyes and head swinging off to the left, swinging off to the right, and then back to Asa. She already knew what she wanted to do. Mmhmm. She just burned a little time and enjoyed the feel of Asa's hands on her rear, that satisfying squeeze.

"Just a little something. Right over...your heart."

And she leaned forward some and placed her free hand down on Asa's chest and then the tip of her knife on the skin, resting it there lightly, not yet cutting in. She closed her eyes. Didn't think at all about what she wanted to do, what she was about to do. No conscious thought of it, not anymore, not since the barest flicker of it had come to her and it was decided in the quiet dark at the back periphery of mind. She'd have to let her hands remember, let them do it, let them call back to that time when she used to do this to her captives at the commencement of the great sacrificial rituals in the Citadel.

The knife slipped into flesh. Touched the bone of his rib cage. And Jane began to carve in the symbol.

A line there. Another there. The crossing. The angle. The curve at the end. The point at the front. Jane carved into Asa's chest the Double Crossed Arrow, the symbol of the Dark One Alarak, who was worshipped exclusively by the Sisters of the Citadel in the Black Bay, they believing him to a divine incarnation on Arethil.

Once done, her hand knowing it to be so, she opened her eyes again and carelessly flung the knife away. She slammed her palm down onto the fresh, intricate wound, pressing into it, a slight twist of her hand, a small "mmmmmm" rumbling in her throat. And she lifted that bloodied hand and smacked it onto her left breast, just above her own heart.

Chin raised, looking down past her nose at Asa below, Jane asked in a tone of light anticipation, "Did it hurt you?"

Asa Renwyk

 

[Asa Renwyk]

Jane was doing that thing she had been doing all night to Asa. She was purposefully delaying gratification so as to build it up. At least he hoped that was why she was doing it. The act would likely frustrate another man, but not him. It was rare he ever felt impatient with things. Something that true about him even before his long life revealed itself to him. Normally he would ponder on that a bit, but not in this instance. No he had something far more important on his mind that the meaning of life and his own existence within it.

Asa was focused on Jane's bare figure. His gaze in that lull of her pretending to ponder her next action had found itself slowly taking in the sight. It lingered longest upon her lovely bosom. His hands in a rather casual cycle of loosening and tightening his grip upon her behind as he did. All of it just feasting upon the splendor that was the rather busty knight known as Jane.

And then she made up her mind. A mark over his heart. Rather romantic. Was it a declaration she would be capturing his? The thought nearly made him laugh. The woman had been carnal, lustful. Anything but romantic. Most likely she was leaving her mark as a way of declaring him either her toy or as a sign she had mounted him first.

All he had time to do in response was smile up at her before she began to carve into his flesh. It was not a shallow cut. She went all the way down to the bone before sliding the sharp edge through him. Effortlessly the blade would do as she wished. Each line made exactly as she required. Her efforts even would leave their little marks upon his bones.

Thankfully the deep care in maintaining his knife's edge eased the pain he would be feeling. A dull blade would have made even him scream out in pain at the worst parts. As before he tried to distract himself by focusing on her body, but it wasn't enough this time.

Asa winced in pain. Tiny grunts and groans would escape his lips. His blood flowed and stained his blade and skin. Before the ritual had closed up the wounds quickly while lessening the pain he felt. Now he felt the full force of her efforts. And this difference would show itself to Jane.

When she finished and had slapped her breast, the doctor's attention was caught. Was she performing a ritual? He looked at her work and could make out roughly the mark she had left upon him. It was a ritual. But he felt no magic from it. Should he be concerned?

Jane's question distracted Asa from his thoughts. A grin crossed his lips as he looked into her eyes. A certain fire seemed to be burning within her. Some kind of anticipation held.

"If it had not would you look so smug?"

A swift smack was made to her rump. A little revenge. An excuse to do what he had been doing to her since they met only without that pesky armor in the way to lessen his enjoyment in the act.

"So is that all you plan to do while on top of me?"

Jane

 

[Jane]

A cheek-lifting smile, a narrowing of her eyes, completed the smug look. Jane was thoroughly pleased, having heard those familiar protestations of pain escape from Asa's lips now that that ritual of his was done away with. Those delectable sounds, that savory twitches and spasms, tiny things that were yet oh so big, those were what she craved more than anything. She loved above all else hearing, feeling, tasting the pain she inflicted on others. These constituted the feedback of her will, her power, enacted on the world, dominating her own small part of it. How fulfilling was it to crush dirt beneath her feet, when she could crush a face and make it tell her through these things everything she wanted to hear? She. Loved it.

Jane's back jerked straight when Asa smacked her rear. A small gasp of surprise, eyes opened and blinking once, twice, to match. And then that cheek-lifting smile twisted open into a grin. She liked a level of roughness, a blurring and a mixing of the intimacy of violence and the intimacy of sex. And of course--for in the Black Bay, at the Citadel, in what she did there with the Sisters, she knew not what these acts were bereft of.

And even if she did, she would not care.

So is that all you plan to do while on top of me?

Her hand dropped away from her breast and left the smeared, bloody handprint there on her skin. Fingers flexed like claws, she clamped down on Asa's shoulders and then leaned forward, gyrating her waist and squirming her thighs, touched her nose to his as the curtain of her hair draped around their faces.

And she said, "I'm going to taste your pain...while you helplessly enjoy the ride."

She kissed him, pressing her lips hard to his. Aggressive, feral inhales and exhales through her nose. And then she drew back just slightly...and her teeth found his bottom lip.

There would be more biting this time.

---

Asa Renwyk

 

[Asa Renwyk]

A carnal smirk formed on his face as Jane spoke her words to him. He gripped her rear hard with both hands. It would be his only response to her declaration. Silence was all she needed since she never once had asked for permission, not truly. A fact that should have been a warning to stay clear of this busty knight yet had been more of a mating call for Asa.

With the feral, aggressive kiss turned into her biting his lip, it was finally the opening moment for the two to embrace in their lust and desires together for the second time that night. One that the alchemist welcomed with as much passion and excitement as he had the first....

==============================================================

His amber eye opened as the faintest ray of light was peeking over the horizon. Dawn. His head and neck were sore. Fingertips idly pressed to the worst spot on his neck. Dried blood stains came back. Seems she had actually broken his skin.

A half second chuckle and a grin escaped him.

The doctor looked over and saw the knight. Fleeting feelings of regret drifted through him. If only it was still the night and not the dawn. What more he would do to her.... But they both had duties to uphold and he had the sick to save.

As if those mental comments had not just occurred, his hands were already sliding across her body. One down the length of her back to stop as her firm behind. One across her arm and shoulder to rest upon her ample breast. He pulled himself closer.

Should he taste her lips? Just to make sure there was no left over blood upon them.

Jane

 

[Jane]

Jane, on average, was a fucking heavy sleeper. Especially after doing anything particularly exhausting. And so she lay, not quite in the utterly chaotic fashion she might well end up in after crashing from an all-night blackout drunk escapade to a tavern and beyond, no, not quite. Just on her side, one leg a touch askew, some of her hair in rebellious strands hanging in wily lines about her face.

A tiny moan, one of a sleeper resisting the oncoming march of morning more than one pleasurably excited, came from her throat when Asa's hands went exploring.

Her eyes were still closed, and she was in the process of waking up.

Just not there yet. The veil of dreams hadn't departed in its entirety, but the curtains were moving.

* * * * *​

Tina the Mute was an early riser. She was also went to bed rather late. She just, well, never really got that much sleep. Sometimes she didn't, or couldn't sleep at all, hence the permanent dark bags under her eyes. Ever since her ostracization from society at all and her delving into necromancy, she'd been burdened with insomnia.

The eastern sky, burning bright with the herald of the rising sun and juxtaposed with the receding dark of the west, framed the cabin far outside of Guillotine that she was approaching. It was time to see what the talkers wanted today. Maybe when their stupid plan came to fruition they'd finally help her raise all the rest of the bodies, and add new ones in the town of Guillotine itself.

Tina walked up the three steps to the cabin's front door. Yawned and stretched before she knocked on it.

No answer.

She pulled a long, irritated face and pushed open the door. Unlocked. Inside, a single room cabin. And no one inside. No Tavian, no Torrence. Both of the stupid talkers weren't here.

Tina's eyes narrowed, and she poked her head in. All was quiet, and there was no where for them to hide. Mild bewilderment came over her.

They were just...gone. When they should have been here.

Asa Renwyk

 

[Asa Renwyk]

With no resistance coming from the bustiest of knights, Asa's hands were free to do as they pleased. Squeezing, massaging, and a general groping continued on. The temptation to kiss her was ever present, but he decided such an act was best left for when she could also enjoy it. The pleasure of bare skin to skin contact as he enjoyed her body would have to do.

But he only spent a few minutes having his way. That ever nagging need to be productive eventually broke through. And while enjoyable, groping her as she slept was not very productive. So he got one last feel of her entire body with his hands then did his best to get out of the bed without waking her up.

After the night they had, she could use the rest.

The doctor found his way to the kitchen with just his pants slipped back on. No need to surprise any visitors with the of his vigorous vitality. Instead he just hunted around to see what there was to eat. And his search produced nothing. Nothing worth trying to cook at least. So he got walked to the door and left to hunt down some worthwhile food.

============

Caw!

Tina would find she was no longer alone. A crow was perched in a nearby tree just staring at her. What might have been dried blood or berry juice was all over its beak and surrounding area of its head.

Caw!

It was watching her intensely. Perhaps it thought she had food. Perhaps it thought she was food. It was impossible to tell. All it did was just sit there with its focus solely on the mute girl at the cabin.

===============

The scent of eggs frying in butter and bacon sizzling in a pan would begin to fill Jane's claimed home. Along with it but more subtle was the smell of beans with little chunks of onion and garlic was cooking in a pot. And in the middle of those scents was the cause of them: Asa.

The alchemist had managed to find (or more accurately rob) the items from the homes of the freshly dead or moved to the town quarantine. The exactly details of their abandonment was unnecessary to him. All he needed to know was that the hearths were long cold, which gave him the right to take it in his mind.

Along with the quicker to eat items, the man was in the middle of kneading dough for bread. Honey and dried berries were not far away. More items claimed from forgotten homes. It was clear he wasn't planning on making simple bread as he waited for the food to cook.

Jane

 

[Jane]

The bedroom opened.

Jane came out, rubbing her face perhaps in an attempt to wipe away the last vestiges of clinging sleep, and crossed the hall to the bathroom. She bumped into the door jamb. "Ow. Fuck." Then a second after she entered the bathroom, "One on the tally."

A couple minutes later, Jane came out of the bathroom, dressed in her arming pants and arming dress. No boots. Not yet. She'd get those put on (and her damned armor) once she was ready to actually go. Ah. And speaking of the tally, she'd have to allot some time today to whip herself. Astra was generous, but not too generous with the powers bestowed on her--if she didn't keep up with her flagellations, no more Blessings, no more Divine spells, and the simmering ire of Astra and Nykios glaring down on her like reproachful overseers scrutinizing her boat-building slave labor.

She plopped down on the plush chair in the main room. Kicked her feet up onto the table. Drew in a long whiff of the food being cooked.

"Hmm. I do love bacon." She stretched and then folded her arms. A lazy smile followed. And she asked Asa, "Whose pig did you butcher?"

* * * * *​

Tina entered the cabin, ignoring the calls and songs of the morning birds. There wasn't any reason to go inside, but she did anyway, as if seeing to a mandatory task with perfunctory effort.

She adjusted her scarf and her robe. Glanced about the cabin, seeing nothing particularly amiss. Stupid talkers, probably just left her out of the loop. Probably didn't think she was worthy of being told whatever it was they were planning on doing today because, oh, what is the Mute going to do, say her piece? She hated them; talkers in general, but these two specifically, because they were the most recent she'd interacted with. They probably knew she hated them too. At least Tavian did. Asshole.

She went to the small cot at the back of the cabin's single room. Grabbed the blanket and casually tossed it off of the bed.

Nothing but the sheet underneath.

Tina just pulled a face. Annoyed. But, alright, you know what? Fine. Let those talkers be gone, off to do whatever they wanted to do. She didn't really need them anyway. Tonight, she could just quietly raise what was left in the graveyards and move along. She didn't care about Guillotine--they did. She could go elsewhere with her undead friends.

And she started to scrounge around the cabin, pilfering what supplies she liked from Torrence's meager stock.

Asa Renwyk

 

[Asa Renwyk]

Still working on the bread, the sounds of sleeping beauty having finally awoken echoed from further into the house. Eventually she swaggered her way to her chair and with the grace of the princess she was sat down. The comments he knew would follow followed. Jane had proven herself to be a rather vocal person, which was rather nice at driving the loneliness of the morning away.

"If I said do you think they would ask for their swine back?" Asa asked after having mixed in the berries and honey to let the dough rest. He found a rag and cleaned his hands. Then as he got to checking on the rest of the food he said, "I must say. I'm rather disappointed to see you dressed. Perhaps we can correct that later?"

The doctor just directed a slight grin towards the busty knight. He pulled the food off the coals. They were left to cool then he poured some freshly colored liquid into a pair of cups. With them in hand he moved over to the table and held out one of the cups for Jane to take from him.

"As sad as it is to see the sun rising, what duties do we have scheduled for today? I have other patients to attend to. But what about yourself? More undead to slay or perhaps you will be on the hunt for another doctor to cure your tension."

A slight smirk had formed during his last comment. He raised the cup to his lips and drank from the mixture of fresh fruit juices mixed with clean water.

====================================

The crow just watched as the one known as Tiny Tina entered the cabin. The bird ruffled up its feathers excitedly before flying down from its branch. As it came close to the ground in a swirl of feathers and smoke it turned into a tall, curvy woman.

Then she entered the cabin silent as the breeze locking the door behind her.

An impish smile upon her lips, she placed a hand seemingly clawed along the side of her face. The other hand also seemingly clawed held her elbow as her arm was beneath her ample bosom as if to support it as well.

Stealing from the dead is a sin my dear. You did get permission to take things beforehand didn't you Tiny Tina?

Immediately after she would slide a finger in front of her lips and make a soft shushing sound.

No need to answer. I already know you can't.

The woman would shift her weight like a predator getting into an easier position to pounce.

Why don't we have a chat you and I?

Jane

 

[Jane]

Jane just shrugged about the swine. "They didn't care for having it too much, huh. What with how easy it was to grab."

That's just how things went in Guillotine. Weren't any official guardsmen. Keep yer sword, keep it close, as they said, so yeah, while the community was close and reputation mattered, well, everybody had an asshole. Wasn't all outsiders who were troublemakers, and it wouldn't be Guillotine if the Guillotiners themselves weren't part of that troublemaking lot.

Perhaps we can correct that later?

"Keep that knife handy. Asa." She let his name roll off of her tongue slowly, heavily.

Jane took one of the cups, didn't even look to see what manner of drink was in it, and chugged it down, setting the empty cup on the table. "Me, I'm gonna do what I've mostly been doing during the day: shootin' the shit with George or Dave, or bothering Telford while he's trying to work."

That, and attending to Astra's demands before nightfall. And she wondered briefly if Astra ever made any of her other followers whip themselves regularly. Funny a thought as it was, she'd yet to meet or even have reason to believe that there were other "converts", courtesy of the Redeemer, like her. Wouldn't that be something.

* * * * *​

Tina gasped. Flinched. So caught up in her errand, and likewise so assured that the cabin was empty, that the sudden intrusion of the unknown woman had taken her wholly by surprise.

Tina dropped the small bundle of pilfered goods she'd collected (these all clattering or bouncing or rolling in a mess once the bundle met the floor) and whirled around to face the woman. She gave some small and intricate flicks of her wrist and flexings of her fingers, black and dark green necromantic energy enwreathed her hands, and two floating spears of bone were summoned, their pale points aimed at the woman. She did not launch them--not yet. But she stood her ground.

Have a chat. Have a chat??

Her nose wrinkled and her lip curled down. Tina was incensed, offended. She didn't know how the woman knew her name, seemed to know she was mute, and she didn't care--Tina herself knew a number of things, unsavory things even, about people while they had been alive. But, 'have a chat'? Talkers! Of course, what more could she expect from them?

She didn't respond--other than with the defensive conjuring of bone spears and a distrustful gaze. A thought: was this the "she" that Torrence had on scarce occasion mentioned? Oh but it hardly mattered.

And she watched the woman warily. Listened apprehensively.

* * * * *​

Knock. Knock. Knock.

"Hey, Ymir," George said, his fist still resting on the tavern door. "You in there? Hell, you up yet? Don't make me go to your house and wake your ass up and bug your mom and your father."

Quiet morning, with mere scraps of the dawn's light filtering through the rooftops and distant trees surrounding Guillotine. Fresh air. And fuck, why did he had to be an early riser? Always was, just, WAM, like a bolt of lightning, up every day, every godsdamned day, just before the crack of dawn. 'Course, Ymir got some more of that coffee in from saints-know-where, and George wanted to make himself a cup. Himself and his wife, hell, she liked it too.

Problem was getting a hold of Ymir. Sometimes she was up this early and in the tavern, cleaning and whatnot; other times she was sleeping her ass off back home. And this looked like one of those other times.

Maybe a couple more knocks. Just in case.

Asa Renwyk

 

[Asa Renwyk]

The doctor watched as the knight just drank the entire cup in one sitting. Seemed she had worked up a thirst. He certainly didn't know what activities during the night could have caused that. But it was a fleeting little thought as his mind drifted over to thinking about her comments. She was as ready for another round of fun as he was and it seemed she had little too do unless the dead rose to attack again.

A thought crossed his mind. A rather naughty thought concerning her lack of duties and the events of not just the night before but the evening leading up to it as well. His greed was beginning to flair up, and for once he was not letting it fade away within seconds.

He downed his cup as well then took the empty one from Jane. As he started to head back to the kitchen he spoke in a casual tone that held a suggestive edge.

"So not much to do then."

Asa began to refill their cups and get their food on their plates.

"Your mention of those men reminds me of some interesting things I noticed yesterday. That tavern owner. Oh what was her name? Ymir? Yes, Ymir. She certainly was having her swaying hips on full display. Had them wrapped around her fingers like puppet strings. I believe she even tried to catch my own attention once. She never did succeed as you are far too alluring for it to happen."

He put the bread into a small oven slot then headed back to the table with the plates, cups, and pitcher. Jane's plate and cup were placed before her then he placed his own nearby. He set the pitcher between them then sat himself down.

"My point to bringing it up is that she seems to think she is top bitch amongst your group. I was thinking that you could convince her to join us for our next bit of fun and show her who is really on top."

He gave her a smile. "If you want to of course. She might have lovely curves as well, but compared to you she seems rather boring. I would pick you every time."

Then he picked up his eating utensils. "Now, shall we enjoy our meal?"

==================================================

The woman watched, not even attempting to hold back a laugh, as Tiny Tina conjured bone spears from nothing. She just shifted her weight around a bit. The predatory posture grew more fierce. A smirk was upon her lips. What looked to be sharp teeth appeared as she laughed.

But the sounds of her laughter didn't come from her throat. It seemed to just appear in Tiny Tina's head. A detail she may notice now that was the same for her earlier words.

So quick to hostility. Shameful.

The woman just walked over to move some chairs about so one was directly facing another. Her guard was completely down the entire time as if she didn't find the spears of bone to be any more a threat to her than twigs. She sat in one of the chairs then patted the empty seat of the other.

Come sit. Time for that chat. Unless you wish to bore me and I do to you what I did to- What was his name? Trevor? Torrolt? Oh yes. Tavian. A delicious, if foolish, fellow.

Jane

 

[Jane]

Jane had speared one of the eggs on her plate through, and was about to take a bite. But it was right there that Asa had said "I was thinking that you could convince her to join us...", and Jane just started laughing, her head rolling back. After, she took that bite of egg as if nothing happened. Ah well damn that was good. Real food was something else, and never ceased to bring Jane a certain amount of satisfaction; those "rations" the Eunuch provided his slaves could've been seasoned with a fistful of dirt and still tasted the same.

Once she finished the egg, she answered. "You want to spend a night with Ymir, you go ahead. Don't need my permission." Then she put her elbows on the table and leaned forward a bit to make her point. "Women don't do it for me."

Never had, never would. Oh sure, it was all fine to watch them bleed and suffer. One of her fondest memories was setting up the other slave named Jane to be eaten by a saltwater crocodile, pretending to try and help her by clasping her hand and "attempting" to pull her out, only really doing that so that she could feel the tense grip of mortal agony in Other Jane's hand. But it wasn't the same. It satisfied her sadism--some of it--but not what was also hinged onto said sadism.

She plucked a strip of bacon then.

Said wryly, speaking of the sickness hounding the people of Guillotine. "Hope you can do what Astra wouldn't let me."

Heh. Of course. The one time she actually wanted to do something that paladins typically did, she wasn't able to. Her Blessings were just not up to the task.

* * * * *​

Tina grew even more disgusted. Great. Not just a talker, but a magic talker. She hated all of them, but this was worse: like being flaunted with two potential avenues for speech, either with one's mouth or one's mind, and knowing that both of these roads were closed off to her.

So this woman killed Tavian. Good. Her only emotion was that of minor disappointment: Tavian would have made for a fine corpse, walking about in amicable silence with the rest.

Tina glanced to the empty chair indicated by the woman. She didn't walk toward it.

Instead, flickers of ghostly white sparked about her hands. Small, ephemeral, ghostly torsos, these either headless or with indiscernible faces, with long, spindly arms and fingers, were summoned into existence about the chair, the gang of them grasping it and in unison pulling the chair back, back, back, the wooden legs of the chair groaning as it slid across the floor. And the ghosts faded once their task was done, the delivery of the chair to be right beside Tina, such that she need not take a single step forward to sit on it.

And she did sit. Her hands still up and ready to cast, the bone spears still floating about her. Wary. She'd listen to this talker like she had listened to Tavian and Torrence when they had first approached her. It was rare, exceedingly rare, but sometimes they actually had worthwhile things to say.

* * * * *​

Torrence slammed Ymir down to the ground by the neck, her head bouncing off the floor of her home.

Her father lay on the floor by the bedroom's door, stabbed and bloodied and close to death, and even then still clutching his sword--like a true Guillotiner. Her mother, bedridden by the plague that had spread through Guillotine, could only watch with fear and dismay and tears in her eyes. And Ymir's sword (as well as Torrence's own) was all the way across the bedroom, having been knocked loose from her grasp and now halfway beneath a cabinet.

The stranger, Torrence, whom Ymir had let in to her family's home after believing his pretense, shoved his knee down onto Ymir's chest and shifted his weight onto it, pinning her.

"Who are you?" she said, barely managing it through the heavy daze of the slam and the choking weight of the knee.

"A collector," said Torrence. "Coming for what is owed."

In his left hand he held the soulstone. Always held it. And now he reached with his right hand into his pocket. Small motions therein. His hand came out. Something wet on the palm.

"One more..." said Torrence, speaking not to Ymir it would seem. "As you asked."

"No, no, what are you--!?"

And Torrence slapped his hand down onto Ymir's mouth.

Asa Renwyk

 

[Asa Renwyk]

The reactions to his questions certainly didn't go unnoticed. Jane made it clear how she felt on the topic and that was all he needed to know. The reaction to his cook was missed in all of it, but perhaps he wouldn't miss it the next time they ate real food together. If they ever got that chance again.

Asa ate his own food while Jane was expressing her disinterest carnally in women. After she finished he just gave her a smile. "Understood. I will get to have more intimate time with you then."

What he hadn't expected was the follow up comment from her. She was a rather sadistic woman with little interest in the well being of others from what he had gathered in their acts the night before. But she was expressing concern for those of this town. He was rarely keen on picking up such emotions, but for some reason he had picked up on it here. A mental note of this was made.

After swallowing his current bite of food, Asa replied. "Tis why I'm here my dear. I have saved towns from worse outbreaks. I can not and will not promise to be able to save them all, but I will save who I am able."

He took a drink then swirled the contents of his cup idly. As he watched it his mind began to drift from his more carnal desires towards his professional ones.

"We will need to restock on healing potions and supplies. Ymir and the other tavern owner would be the best ones to speak with first. The sooner they begin the mass brewing of potions for us the sooner we can begin to see cured patients."

Asa looked to Jane.

"If I asked for your assistance, which of the two would you prefer speaking with? Also would you be so kind as to start getting the healthy towns people to begin gathering up all the healing supplies and sick people into a central location for me? I didn't see any building serving that purpose when I arrived. Does one exist already? If so direct me towards it. It will be impossible to save many lives if my patients and supplies are scattered about."

Then he took another drink before getting back to eating his food.

===========================================

The whole scene with Tiny Tina was watched with mild amusement from the woman. She seemed rather indifferent to it all. But that wasn't the issue for the girl here. The look in the woman's amber eyes seemed to suggest she vaguely knew what was on Tina's mind. The girl might even feel a strange tickle in his head right now.

Or she might not.

The woman just watched with that smile until the girl sat down.

That is a good, smart girl. I will not bore you with further pleasantries. Unlike Tavian, your skills are actually useful. I'd like for you to put them to my use instead of your current owner.

The woman held up a hand already knowing the girl wouldn't take the word "owner" well.

Denial it pointless. You became owned the moment you began to aid in this foolish game. Now instead of suffering when your current owner inevitably loses, and she will lose darling, why not join with the ultimate winner now and get something you desire out of it?

The woman had leaned forward during this, revealing her ample cleavage as a result. The smile still on her face as that predatory presence about her returned. Tina might notice that she was not being viewed in that moment as a person but as a thing. Clearly to the woman before her she was either a new doll or new prey. Which she ultimately became was up to the decision she made.

Would you like some time to decide? I would gladly give you eternity, but I can only give you as much time as we have until the other fool realizes his friend was gobbled up.

Jane

 

[Jane]

Jane ate and drank and listened. She put down her cup, sighed and rolled her eyes, and made a show of saying, "Ugh...work..."

Then she flicked her gaze back to Asa. Smirked. Normally she would have meant it, would have needed that prodding in her heart to get her ass moving, and she would have been dragging her feet the whole way. But, jokes aside, not this time. Hell, it almost felt downright rebellious to see the plagued folk of Guillotine cured, seeing that her Blessings couldn't do it themselves. And Asa, as it so happened with his timely appearance, was part of that rebellion.

I didn't see any building serving that purpose when I arrived. Does one exist already...

"Nope on that building. Your eyes weren't fucking with you. Heh, there's no chance Guillotine would have a hospital."

Ah. Hospitals. Funny little Mainlander places. At least along the Cortosi Coast, they were full of free sacrifices. Could either take everyone inside (and ironically cure what ailed them through dark magic) back to the Citadel easily, or, if she and the Sisters were in a hurry, just burn the place down with everyone still inside. The Dark One Alarak liked a good bonfire every now and then.

Jane thought for a moment, tapping her chin with a finger before coming to a solution. "Best place is gonna be the Town Square--right where we met. It's big and open. Won't be pleasant to lie everyone down on cobbles, but they'll just have to be big boys and girls about it--especially if they want to be cured."

She began to finish off her plate, talking as she chewed, "I'll go speak with Dave." A stifled chuckle. "I'm sure he'll be thrilled. And then I'll see about getting George to help me go door to door and tell people where to bring their sick. There's...oh...sixty, seventy...yeah that sounds right...about that many sick people, so it's gonna take a while."

* * * * *​

Tina kept her caution, kept her gaze on the woman and her bone spears likewise aimed.

A look of intrigue in her eyes at the proposal.

Tina pointed to the woman.

She then pointed to herself.

Made an exaggerated raising motion with her hand.

An ephemeral summoned ghost beside Tina briefly pantomimed crawling up out of the ground, before disappearing.

And she made a quizzical face, seeking an answer.

Hopefully this stupid talker understood her.

Asa Renwyk

 

[Asa Renwyk]

The meal proceeded and the doctor was glad to see that the knight was willing to aid him. The hardest part of his job always seemed to be getting people to do the grunt work needed for things to run as efficiently as possible. He could not do the footwork and care for patients at the same time. He agreeing to speak with the townspeople about centralizing everything while also getting the other brewer for him would be tremendous help.

Asa smiled back at Jane's smirk as he finished his own meal. Time to see to the bread. Last thing anyone wanted was burnt bread after all.

As he was up, he listened to Jane confirm what she was going to do for him. She went beyond his hopes by already thinking of getting someone else to help with the tasks. He owed her a reward for that. Perhaps allow her another scar or let her have a stab at him without healing it for a bit? Both seemed equally likely to get her interest, but may be boring after the night they spent together. Something to think about.

"Cots or thick bedding is all they would need for comfort. The cobbles matter little if we can supply one of them for each patient. I plan to triage the situation once they are all gathered and handle the most severe cases first. Standard practice, but it is the standard for a reason."

He took a peak at the bread. Not yet ready.

"As for Dave, please get him to the town center to meet with me and Ymir. By force if necessary. The sooner I can show them how to brew the potions we will require the better. They will do little to cure this plague, but they will buy us precious time and help ease some of the pain."

He went about getting things gathered up that he would need after he left. As he did a thought crossed his mind. He turned to Jane and looked at her.

"Some advice for the future speaking of. Never trust a potion to save your life from a serious wound. Despite what many alchemists may tell you, they take time to work and only speed up your natural recovery. Further treatment will always be required. They are not some magical cure all that will instantly close up wounds or unbreak bones."

Then with that said he went back to gathering his items as the bread finished baking.

===============================================

The woman continued to sit and watch Tina like a raven watching a snail. She didn't move once as the necromancer's interest was peaked and she began to mime out her desire. But the excited energy of smug anticipation coming off of the woman grew exponentially.

That little tickle in Tina's brain would get stronger.

And then the woman shifted in the chair. The aura of a predator growing ever stronger. The look in her eyes shifting from uncertainty to that of looking at a doll.

Who is it that you wish to bring back? Who is it you wish to see?

The woman waited on Tina to answer. A shimmer of energy seeming to grow around her as she did.

================================================

Now fully dressed and equipt with his supplies, Asa wrapped the fully cooked bread in some cloth. Half he stuffed into his bag. The other half he held out for Jane to take with her. It was berry bread sweetened with honey. Hopefully the busty woman enjoyed sweet things.

He had helped her with her armor so she didn't have to put it back on alone. Deft fingers use to the actions made it go infinitely faster for her no doubt.

"I will get Ymir and bring her to the town square. You will get Dave and do the same. After I will setup and begin treating those who arrive as you inform everyone of what we are doing. Does that sound correct?"

He smiled to her slightly.

"Oh and where can I find Ymir? Her tavern? Most owners tend to live in their taverns in my experience."

Jane

 

[Jane]

Damn it, she hated her armor. Why did she even need to wear it right now anyway? It was broad fucking daylight out there, the undead only came at night, but noooo, she felt that itching "you better get a move on" feeling in the back of her head, like that feel you get when a stern overseer is glowering down at you from behind and even though you haven't heard or seen him you know that motherfucker is there, only in this case it was Astra and her fuckstick the Redeemer. Fucking Redeemer. How about you redeem this ticket for a free foot shoved up your--

The memory of the Redeemer's hand, smothering her face, that white light, smothering her thoughts then and smothering her thoughts now.

Right. Better get a move on.

Armor donned. Sword on her belt. Shield in hand. Oh, and some of that sweet bread Asa had been making--she could eat it tantalizingly in front of Dave to piss him off. Might actually work. Dave was the sort of guy who was strangely most agreeable when he was a little bit aggravated.

"Yeah, I got Dave."

On the question Ymir, Jane just shrugged, the steel of her pauldrons rattling slightly.

"Maybe, if she dragged her ass out of bed early enough today. She doesn't live in her tavern though. So she might be at home with her family."

Her family. Just her mother and father. Mother, and father. Jane had been idly wondering why Ymir hadn't killed those two by now. Her mother at least.

"Just ask around and you'll happily get pointed there--sure are enough morning drinkers in Guillotine, I'll tell you that."

One last forward stretch of her arms, and Jane started for the door. Long, tedious day ahead, was looking like. Peaks and valleys, as some of these Mainlanders were fond of saying.

* * * * *​

Tina rolled her eyes as her brow narrowed and her lip curled open in frustration. Stupid talker!

She shook her head adamantly after the questions.

Then she repeated her gestures--pointing at the woman, pointing at herself, making the raising motion with her hand--this time with more force, as if the added emphasis would somehow break through the barrier of mistranslation. More ghosts, brief in their summoning, repeated their pantomime as well, crawling up out of the ground and standing idly by Tina like a horde before, again, disappearing.

The quizzical face. Annoyed this time.

Asa Renwyk

 

[Asa Renwyk]

The doctor took a moment to think over what the knight had to tell him. Seemed Ymir was more of a family gal than the image she projected implied. Certainly something that could be said for himself as well. After all his mother still was with him most of the time. People might even think he was a bit of a mother's boy if they knew of this, although it was definitely not true. Not that the truth ever stopped anyone from having their own mind on anything.

"I believe I will try her at home first. You said her mom was sick correct? I can get my first glimpse at what is ailing this town even if Ymir isn't home then. You wouldn't happen to know where her parents live would you?"

Asa smiled to Jane. There was an answer he expected and an answer he hoped he would get from her. If she stayed true to how she had been so far then they both knew which answer he would get from her concerning the topic.

======================================

The woman just sighed. No sound left her lips, but the sound of it was still heard. The smiled seemed to have dropped as well from her lips and was replaced by a frustrated frown. Her eyes showed great annoyance, and that look of Tina being a doll was already swinging back towards prey.

Darling you are horrid at this.

The woman shifted in his seat yet again. Everything about her grew more annoyed as she did.

I never could understand you mortals. So let us try again and this time instead of playing this guessing game we can have this chat in your mind. Now don't fight it and just let me in~

The previous ticklish sensation would suddenly feel like a spear being thrust inside of Tina's mind. An action more akin to an assault than a gentle knock. The more she struggled the stronger the thrusting sensation would become. It was clear that the woman wanted inside of her mind badly and wasn't bothered if it hurt Tina in the process.

=======================================

After Jane gave her answer to Asa, he would walk over to her. His hand could cup her cheek and he would lean in for a kiss of her lips. An intimate action that would normally hint at an attempt at romance. But his movements held no such suggestion. It was clearly him teasing the woman and trying to make her feel a bit awkward before they parted. His reason for why being purely his own enjoyment and a bit of payback for all the teasing she had put him through the night before.

With that done he would say with a smile, "See you soon my curviest knight."

And with that he departed to track down Ymir's house.

Jane

 

[Jane]

Jane stopped by the door, having it only halfway open. She shrugged at Asa's question about Ymir's mother.

"I don't know. Maybe she is sick. If I said while I was drunk it's probably true."

Still, Jane couldn't fathom why Ymir was so concerned about her mother. If she was sick, and the sickness turned out to be deadly, then that'd take her out. Sure it wasn't as satisfying as letting loose a saltwater crocodile on her, or getting hands on, but it would work well enough. Hell, if Jane could send a double-dose of this sickness floating all the way to the Black Bay and into Cerak to poison her own mother, she'd do it in a heartbeat--provided she wasn't already dead.

You wouldn't happen to know where her parents live would you?

"Same place Ymir lives. Just ask around, like I said." Jane never quite did have an occasion to go to Ymir's house. She knew where Dave, George, Telford, and even Hatry lived. But Ymir? Nah. No reason.

Then, a bit of an oddity--at least to Jane's sensibilities. Asa cupped her cheek, which was fine, but then started leaning in. She lifted an armored hand to intercept his advance with her palm. Casually was this done, nonchalant was her expression, but inside, hidden behind the cool exterior, she was genuinely perplexed. Jane, quite simply, was wholly unaccustomed to the flows of what the well-adjusted of Arethil would deem a normal romance. Her life had flatly not permitted for it.

"Save that for later."

She smirked. An exterior action.

Then came the greeting of the dawn sun, the morning sky, barely a wisp of a cloud overhead, as she left to track down Dave's dirty ass.

* * * * *​

Tina grimaced heavily, her head briefly dipping low, her floating bone spears wobbling. Then she looked back up, teeth clenched in the angry sneer of a perceived betrayal. She jumped out of the chair, and set about defending herself.

One bone spear launched. It missed completely, striking the wall of the cabin obliquely and careening upward, leaving a trail of splintered wood, until it smacked against the ceiling and came spiraling down to the floor and opposite wall. The second bone spear launched, and this one was aimed far better, flying on target toward the woman.

Tina made a wide gesture with her arms and a sweeping gesture with her hands, and the auras of necromantic magic wreathed about her hands churned and grew darker. Two Spectral Reapers were summoned beside her. Ghostly, legless, faceless hooded creatures wielding phantasmal scythes. The touch of their weapons drew no flesh and blood wounds, but sapped away a person's reserve of magical power, inducing heavier and heavier arcane fatigue with each connecting slash.

At Tina's bidding, the Reapers glided swiftly and silently toward the woman, seeking to drain her energy away with their scythes.

* * * * *​

Ymir lay on the floor, hand to her face, covering her fresh black eye. The stubbly-faced man was gone from their home, and he'd beat her back down to the ground when she tried to grab her sword and follow him. She didn't make it out of the bedroom. Ymir's mother, meekly from the bed, was asking in her strained voice if she was okay, if she was okay, are you alright? Ymir replied said that she would be fine, spat on the floor (such a foul taste was in her mouth!), and then crawled over to her father.

He was breathing. Still breathing. He couldn't focus his eyes on her, didn't respond to his name being called and then being shouted, but he was still breathing.

Ymir stood. Said to her mother that she was going to get some help for father. Spat on the floor again. And then--limping, as her left knee felt like a sack of daggers if she put too much weight on it--she made for the front door of her home.

Asa Renwyk

 

[Asa Renwyk]

A smile was all Asa gave to Jane in response to her comment. The hand stopping his kiss told him that his little tease had worked in some way. Perhaps not as intended, but still had a desired effect.

And with that they both left to their respective tasks.

============================

The little bitch threw one of the spears at the woman. It completely missed. She didn't show any reaction. The air about her grew heavier and a faint shimmer began to appear around her. Then the second was thrown. Straighter this time.

The shimmer grew more visible. The air began to feel like a wet blanket thrown over one's self. A humming began to echo from the woman.

The second bone spear was swatted away by a black feather covered tail.

Then the spirits were summoned and sent to attack the woman. The amber eyed woman with clearly clawed hands and a tail swinging behind her. A fanged snarl came across her face.

Spirits? Against me?

In the span of a blink the woman was on the pair of ethereal things. Her claws digging into them as if they were made of fleshy forms. She drug them to her toothy maw and began to slurp them up as if they were nothing but bony broth.

The woman's legs were different now. They had become like those of a bird. Feathers seemed to be mixed with her hair now.

As soon as the spirits were down her gullet, the woman was upon Tina in that same span of a blink. A twisted grimace of annoyance upon her face. Her eyes burning with the light of a predator upon its prey.

A little rebellion keeps things entertaining. More than that means I need to work. You were never worth me working. Now is this a little rebellion or is this work girl? How much you resist will give me your answer. Now will you let me in or will I let myself in?

With that the clawed hands gripped lashed forth to grab the girl's wrists to prevent further annoyances. An intent to raise her up off the floor so she couldn't run after. That spear like sensation in her head would follow.

This was Tiny Tina's last chance.

================================

Asa had asked around and discovered where Ymir lived. In such a small community it wasn't hard. All it required was informing people he was the doctor that word about had already been spread. Instructions on what he needed people to do to help also occurred, but that was of little importance.

What was important was as he drew closer to the home of Ymir and her parents, the cambion began to smell freshly drawn blood and detect the signs of intense pain. If his mother was with him they would be like the ringing of bells to announce it was meal time. To him it told him his services were required and required immediately.

He began to sprint. All his senses picking up on more and stronger signs of ill willed things.

Ymir exited her home. She was not well. Something had happened.

The doctor rushed up to the woman. A slight frown on his face as he already began to examine the woman.

"Bruised eye. Limping due to left leg. No visible signs of blood.... Who else is injured?"

He was speaking out loud. A bit of a quirk of his, but one with a point. He found it drew out further information from his patients. They would fill in what he missed or correct him if he was wrong. It also helped speed up his own thoughts and keep them organized hearing it out loud.

He hoped this time proved to save as much time.

Jane