Wildhafer - Maiden’s Trail Ch. 10

Sartha n. - One of the moons above the planet Eratherus. When it's full it is often associated with bad luck and evil. 'Sarthan' is also used to describe something that is dark red, the same color as the moon.

* * * * * * * * *

The beautiful identical twins, Allora and Adalla stood on the balcony with their silky raven-black hair uncovered and hanging to mid-back in their formless flowing gossamer nightgowns. Each wore a long necklace with a stone pendant. Their bright blue eyes were gazing out at the dark horizon where the forest met the road. Allora was resting her folded arms on a pillow perched on the edge of the balcony. Clouds obscured the stars leaving the large red moon as the only illumination in the sky

"I can't wait," Allora said with a grin.

"Shouldn't they have arrived by now?" Adalla said. "Maybe they forgot." She shrugged.

"They will come," Allora said with certainty.

"I'm tired, let's relax on the bed," Adalla replied with a yawn.

"Alright."

Allora left the pillow on the edge. Soon after they had got into bed, Adalla fell asleep. Allora was content to gaze at the crackling fire from her position beneath the sheets. A moment after Adalla began snoring there was the sound of a rock hitting their wall outside. Allora popped up immediately with a smile and went to the balcony to look down. There she saw Salbrec and Deikuneist wearing tight fitting cotehardies with pants and hooded cloaks. Deikuneist was wearing red and Salbrec was wearing blue.

Salbrec carefully climbed up the trellis until he reached the top of the balcony where he crawled over with a huff and stood tall with a smile and a length of rope slung around his shoulder.

"Hello cousin," Allora said.

"Good evening Allora. I trust you are well?"

"Yes, thank you. How did you know it was me? Usually you guess wrong."

"The necklace Deikuneist gave you was red," he smiled. "I gave Adalla the blue one, and I wore the same color to match."

"Oh yes, of course," she laughed.

"Where's your sister?"

"Sleeping, let me get her."

"Alright, and get dressed, we have a long way to travel, I don't want you to catch a cold," he said with concern.

"Not a problem," she said, pulling up her night dress over her waist.

"Oh my," he exclaimed, covering his eyes. He peeked between his fingers, smiling slightly. Underneath her long flowing night clothing she was fully dressed in a tight fitting green top with flowing skirts. White linen sleeves flared out from the elbows that were cut out and trimmed with thin but colorful bands of Deiru patterns. "Oh," he frowned when her dress was fully revealed.

"What?" she asked, "You don't like green?"

"No green is fine," Salbrec said quickly.

"Did I pass gas?" she said, sniffing the air and then blushing. "Vegetables sometimes cause me-"

"No," he said, interrupting quickly. "No, no everything's ok," he assured her.

"Ok good," she smiled.

Allora made her way to the bedchamber and woke her sister. They took only a moment to get ready and go to the balcony where Salbrec was waiting. They each put dark hooded cloaks over their dresses.

"Good evening Adalla," Salbrec said with a bow.

"Good evening cousin." Adalla curtsied.

"I'll help you get down by tying this rope around and lowering you," he explained.

"I don't know..."

"I won't drop you," he said with a smile. "I promise," he assured her. "So are you ready?"

"Yes," she said hesitantly.

"Lift your arms."

When she did so, he wrapped the rope around her waist and tied it with a square knot. Salbrec lifted her up and set her on top of the balcony wall.

"Don't fall off," he warned. Allora stood beside her sister, holding her hand. Aldgageir braced himself against the wall inside the twins' room and wrapped the rope around himself. "Alright grab onto the rope and lower yourself over the edge carefully," he said.

"Alright, slowly," she warned.

"Of course."

She took a deep breath and put her legs over the other side of the balcony, and released her sister's hand so she could hold the rope. Salbrec slowly lowered her down.

"Ow its hurting my hands," she complained.

"Almost there," she heard from below. Then after a couple more feet she felt Deikuneist's arms around her. He smiled broadly.

"Thank you," she said.

"You're welcome Adalla," he said, setting her down.

"Untie the rope," Salbrec instructed, whispering loudly from above.

"Excuse me," Deikuneist said, putting his hands to her waist and untying the thick cord. Salbrec pulled up the length of rope and then wrapped it around Allora. After lowering her down as well, he pulled up the rope, looped it over his shoulder, and climbed down the trellis to meet the others.

"So where are we going?" Adalla asked.

"It's not too far," Salbrec said, breathing hard after he got to the bottom. "And the moon is bright, so we shouldn't have too much trouble finding it. Hoods up so no one recognizes us. Let's get moving, or they might start without us."

"Start without us?" Adalla replied. They began walking around the manor, towards the main road.

"Yeah we have a late party for your birthday planned, but... well we had to get some friends to pitch in too. A bunch of people our age are meeting at the temple ruins in the forest."

"For our birthday? Why in the quiet of the night?"

"Well... I don't think our parents would agree to us seeing each other," Deikuneist said frankly. "Me being low-born and all. But... w-we thought it would be romantic." He handed a hooded lantern to Salbrec who led the way.

"That's..." Adalla began.

"So sweet," Allora smiled.

Adalla glared at her sister, but Allora ignored her. Allora grabbed Deikuneist's hand and set her head on his shoulder. They looked very happy together. Adalla was watching them, not noticing that Salbrec tried to grab her hand. When he reached for it, she just happened to fold her arms at the same time. She lowered her arms, and he tried again, but only briefly, as she was refolding her arms across her chest. Salbrec awkwardly brought his hand up and scratched the back of his head with a sheepish smile when Adalla looked at him with confusion. She turned back, Salbrec watched with jealousy as Allora and Deikuneist walked hand in hand down the road. The clouds overhead briefly covered the moons, plunging those below in darkness, except for the dim light from the lantern. Allora hugged Deikuneist in fear and he put his hand on her shoulder.

"It's so dark," Allora said with fear.

"I thought you said it would be bright," Adalla complained.

"The clouds... well I didn't think they'd be out tonight," Salbrec admitted. "At least we're almost there. See the marking?" He pointed to a short stack of flat rocks near the edge of the main road that cast a shadow as they approached with the lantern. "This way," he said, leading their troupe forward.

"What are we going to do when we get there?" she asked curiously.

"Oh well... we thought-"

"It's supposed to be a surprise," Deikuneist quickly interrupted.

"Right, sorry. Surprise," Salbrec said with a wan smile.

"You can't give us a little hint?" Allora asked. She squeezed Deikuneist's hand gently.

"No sorry, not till we get there."

"Hurry, let's get to the ruins then," she laughed, running up ahead towards flickering lights with Deikuneist in tow. Adalla and Salbrec chased after them.

"What is it really?" Adalla asked.

"You'll see," Salbrec replied.

As they approached the light they saw a short stone wall lining the thin path which led to a tattered building about 30 feet height. The roof was in shambles and several sections of the walls were cracking. Light glowed from within, out through the broken windows. Nibbling on the grass was a dark brown horse tied to a tree near the entrance.

Deikuneist and Allora stalled near the building, so Salbrec took the lead, walking them to the front and through the open portico entryway. The ceiling in the entrance was only partially intact, with large gaping holes in the shingles. The front doors to the building had fallen from their hinges and nearly blocked the front passage, leaving barely a four foot high gap.

They ducked below the slanted doors and entered the main temple, a tall rectangular room with high walls. It went about 100 feet deep and was about half as wide. Tall columns held up portions of the roof and stone benches lined the hall, although many lay cracked and useless. Tenacious weeds grew nearly two feet high between the flat stones on the floor, brushing against their boots and clothing as they walked into the room. Flickering candlelight illuminated various sections of the space. On the far end of the chamber, there was a short wooden table covered in a blue tablecloth on a low dais. Arranged on the table were wooden cups next to a small keg. And next to that was a pie with a lemon garnish on the top. Across the barely lit wall behind the dais, was a large engraving of a nude woman of a perfect figure, holding a sphere in her hand. Gouges across the stone face obscured her identity. Old writing above her relief was marred by scratches and time making it completely illegible.

In the large room were several young people, most likely serfs according to their dress. This included a slim woman resting her chin against her hand sleepily on one of the benches and a short man in his mid thirties with a high forehead and more colorful clothing than the other serfs (perhaps lower nobility, but otherwise unremarkable) filling a tankard from the keg. There were also several couples, a man and a woman with a ruddy complexion sitting on a bench near the door with a few candles burning low. The young man was looking towards the woman longingly, while she faced the other way, her finger following a crack along the wall she found of more interest than the other's company. There was a second couple near the right wall holding hands and gazing into each other's eyes. And a third, who walked quickly hand in hand to a cracked door at the back. The man held aloft a candle on a wooden plate as he pulled open the door with a screech. The woman turned beet red and ran through the door before the male pulled the door shut behind them.

Deikuneist nudged Salbrec, pointing with his chin to the recently closed door. Allora tapped Deikuneist's shoulder.

"What are you looking at?" she asked with curiosity.

"Oh umm...," Deikuneist paused with guilt in his voice.

"What?" Adalla asked.

"Oh... uh, don't you think this temple is great for your party?"

"Uh, not really. It's all dark and.. falling apart."

"That's the point," Deikuneist said. "Your parents will never look for us here."

Behind the cracked door the couple leaned against the wall.

"Oh I could die," the young woman said with embarrassment. "Do they know we're going to do... it?" she asked with concern.

"Who cares?"

"I care. I don't want them to think I'm some sort of loose quim."

"But you are."

"Gods! Borkot, why do you say such things?"

"That's why I asked you back here to scrump."

She sighed.

"We are, right?" he asked. "Or did you change your mind? I thought you said-"

"I might just leave," she retorted.

"Please don't, Malorei. I'll do anything."

"You know, you're more handsome when you shut your mouth," she grinned. "Just close your mouth and take off your tunic."

He was instantly quiet, doing exactly as she said. Beneath his tunic he had a wide muscular chest and strong arms.

"That's more like it. Now keep your sweet lips shut and follow me."

Malorei grabbed his hand and led him down the hall. They turned a corner deeper into the ruins of the fane and pushed into a room on the left. An old man was unloading the contents of his bag onto a spread out blanket on the floor, a lantern dimly illuminating the area.

"Who are you? I'm busy!" he said with fire in his voice.

"Sorry," she said.

They moved back into the hall and down to the next room. A broken chest lay in one of the corners and the smell of mildew filled the chamber. She sighed looking at the state of the space.

Back in the room with the old man, he unrolled a fabric scroll. Painted on the canvas was a nude red woman pressed against a pillar with an arched back, displaying her jutting massive breasts, and shelf-like rump, three burning coal-like eyes with a crown of horns coming out of her forehead and long limp hair.

"Yes, give me power," he said as he rubbed his growing erection through his trousers.

Back in the main hall, the man with the high forehead approached the quartet confidently.

"Greetings Salbrec," he said.

"Martein, thanks for getting the beer," Salbrec said with a smile.

"It took some doing, but I think it will be worth it." He looked towards the twins and held up a wooden tankard with a nod and a bow. "Happy birthday Meikell twins." Then he gulped down his beverage greedily. "Salby, you're going to set me up like we spoke about, yes?"

"Oh," Salbrec's voice dropped to a quiet whisper and he approached closer. He looked back and made sure he wasn't heard as he spoke. "I don't think that's going to work out. She brought this out-of-towner, with her," he said as he looked at Deikuneist. "How about one of the other women that came? Like Elke?" he asked tentatively, looking at the woman on the bench by herself. Her eyes were permanently crossed and as she opened her mouth to drink from a wooden cup they saw her crooked yellow teeth.

"What?" A flash of anger went across Martein's face. "You said it would be fine. This is what we agreed. I would bring the drinks, you would get Adalla and I would get Allora. You promised to tell her about how impressive I am. That's the whole reason I helped you set this up. You don't want my father to find out do you?" He was quiet enough that the others couldn't have heard, but still Salbrec looked around nervously.

"Uh... why would you-"

"Don't cross me!" he said threateningly, his voice suddenly loud.

"Is everything alright?" Adalla said from behind them.

"Yes of course my dear," Martein replied with a large grin.

"Oh you are..." Allora began but couldn't finish her thought.

"Martein," he said with ire.

"Sorry," Allora replied, and shrank in fear.

"I didn't-" he began.

"Don't be so rude," Deikuneist warned.

"Listen stranger, don't start with me," Martein replied. He approached pugnaciously despite his shorter stature in comparison to the gangly youth. "You know I could have my father send you to Eafhauld. You'd be a slave in the fields in less than a fortnight," he said with a cruel grin.

"Sorry I don't know you m'lord," Deikuneist said. "Did I do something wrong? We just want to have a good time like everyone else. What's the matter?"

"What's the matter is I want to get what's owed to me. What about me?" he asked as his brow furrowed.

"Hold on, how about you just-" Deikuneist was interrupted.

"Just get us those special drinks," Salbrec interrupted. "And I'll... I'll explain everything to them."

"Ah the drinks," Martein laughed. "If you get me some alone time," he whispered, licking his lips hungrily. "I'll get the drinks."

"I'll try," he replied reluctantly.

"Do it or else," he said firmly.

Martein moved towards the door at the back of the room, leaving the others to themselves at the center of the ruins. As Salbrec looked back towards the door he noticed the awkward couple. The woman caught his gaze and smiled sheepishly while she offered a tentative wave. She was attractive with electric blue eyes of a similar color to the twins. She wore a simple ocre-colored dress with a white wimple covering her hair.

Salbrec acknowledged her with a nod of his head but looked away. Deikuneist and Salbrec huddled together, speaking softly while Adalla and Allora clung to each other, holding hands. Adalla looked at her sister with her eyebrows held high.

"Don't look at me like that," Allora said softly.

"I didn't say anything."

"Good, don't. I know what you're thinking."

"I just... regret coming," Adalla said plainly.

"I said don't say anything."

"What are Salby and Deiky whispering about?"

"I don't know. It's rude to eavesdrop."

"Why are we here Allora? This doesn't look like a party. We don't know anyone else."

"Deikuneist wanted to come. And I... I wanted to come with him."

"How long are you going to do this?" Adalla asked.

"What do you mean?"

"You can't marry Deikuneist," Adalla whispered loudly.

"I... I know."

"You need to tell him to stop seeing you."

"I... I don't want to get married to Ergast... I l-love Deiky."

"I-I know. And I don't want to get married either. Vuldo isn't my idea of a handsome man. But we don't have a choice," Adalla countered. Allora frowned.

The young woman that had waved at Salbrec earlier approached him.

"Good evening Master Salbrec," she said with a bow of her head. "You look well."

"Good evening Ainsta. Did you come with..."

"Wentslatz. But we're just friends," she said dismissively.

"I see. Uh, how is your father doing?"

"He's fine." There was a slight pause. "Who did you come with?" she asked with curiosity?

"Oh, Deikuneist," he said with a nod towards the long-haired young man next to him.

"Deikuneist of the town Kirsgar, son of Etae the Tailor. Hello, pleased to meet you," Deikuneist said with a small bow.

"This is Ainsta of Bausheiv village," Salbrec explained. "She's the blacksmith's daughter. Sorry, what is your father's name?"

"Wuldu," she said as she curtsied. "Pleased to meet you, Deikuneist. You don't look like a serf."

"I'm from Kirsgar."

"Oh, I've never gone," Ainsta confessed. "I've lived here my whole life." Deikunesist nodded.

"And these girls are the reason we are here," Salbrec explained. "My cousins Adalla and Allora of Meikell Manor, daughters of Deinmag the Viscount of Wukla."

"Pleased to meet you," the twins said with a curtsy.

"I t-thank you," Ainsta said a bit flustered as she mirrored their curtsy. "You're so pretty. I mean your dresses are. And you are." Her face was red.

"Thank you. You too," the twins said together. Ainsta smiled broadly.

"Well... Salbrec, could I get you a beer?" she asked.

"Oh thank you, but no. Martein was going to get drinks for us." Ainsta and the others looked around, but Martein wasn't there.

"The beer is just there," she said, pointing to the small keg sitting on the dais.

Then the door in the back opened with Martein and an old man in faded blue robes stepping into the room.

Meanwhile, in the back room, Borkot and Malorei, the attractive couple, sat on the thick blanket with a candle flickering in the corner. He was pushing her pale purple dress up slowly by the ankle.

"Won't that old man next door hear us?" he asked.

"I think he left. Besides..." she said, pushing his hand up beneath her dress and betwixt her legs. She sighed, her eyes fluttering. "We'll be too busy to notice," she said with a smile.

Back in the main chamber, the old man smiled as he approached the twins from behind Martein. "Ah there they are, such winsome twins."

"Thank you," they said with a curtsy. The old man had a tray of wooden cups which he held in front of him.

"I brought everyone something special to drink," he said with a large grin, showing a few missing teeth.

"I don't like beer," Allora replied.

"It's much better than beer," he replied.

"Oh good," Allora said, grabbing a cup.

"One for you too," he said, indicating Adalla.

"No thank you."

"I insist," he replied. "I promised Martein I'd take care of everyone," he smiled.

"Alright," she replied, grabbing a goblet with slightly golden liquid. It almost shone in the redish moonlight. Salbrec and Deikun grabbed a cup as well. "Please try it," he suggested. They sipped tentatively.

"Too sweet," Allora said with a frown.

"It's a special drink I made myself. I would be offended if you didn't finish it. Now, if you excuse me I must hand out the rest of these," he said, again with his large grin.

"It's quite good," Salbrec said.

"That old man looks familiar," Adalla said.

"Who are the rest of the people?" Allora asked Salbrec.

"Oh sorry, I didn't introduce you to everyone. They're some of my friends from Bausheiv. Why don't you follow me and I'll introduce you to the rest."

"What about what we agreed, Salbrec?" Martein asked.

"In a moment, no need to rush. I'm just going to introduce the twins to the others."

"Come back soon."

In the dim chamber in the back of the fane, Malorei was on all fours, while Borkot pulled up her skirts, revealing her juicy pussy.

"Here we go," he said nervously, as she looked back over her shoulder.

"Just relax," she said.

He pushed his trousers around his knees and his hard but rather thin cock sprung up. He grabbed her hips and thrust forward.

"Ow," she said uncomfortably.

"Is it too big for you?" he asked as he pulled out slightly.

"It's not that," she said with a cocked grin.

"Should I slow down?" he asked.

"You're in the wrong..."

"Oh," he said, his eyes going wide. "Offal," he swore, pulling back out from her asshole.

"Exactly," she replied wryly.

He pulled up a corner of the wool blanket and cleaned his cock before trying again.

"How's this?" he asked, pushing forward with his dick.

"Lower. Right... there." He slipped past her pussy lips. "That's more like it," she said with a smile as she looked back at him.

He gripped her hips firmly and bobbed forward in thrusting strokes. Soon he was pounding his loins against her ass with abandon. She leaned forward onto her shoulders and closed her eyes with a cocked grin.

"I.. I'm gonna-"

"Slow down or you'll pop off," she said with annoyance.

Just then, the old man came in.

"Fareik, what are you doing here?!" Borkot said.

"Don't stop on my account," The old man sighed. "I'm just here to give you refreshments," he explained, holding out a cup.

"Later," Malorei said with irritation.

"You don't even have to stop scrumping," the old man said with annoyance, holding up the drink to the woman's lips.

"Fine, I am a little thirsty," she admitted.

She gulped as he tilted the cup until it was half gone, some dribbling down her chin while the young man behind gently urged his hips back and forth, his cock penetrating her from behind.

"Now you my boy," said the aged man, holding out the wooden cup. Borkot took it with a shrug, and drank it all in one go, only a little running down his chin and over his muscular chest.

The old man sighed as he ambled back into the hall, leaving the door wide open. Back in the main chamber a plump young man with cobalt blue eyes approached Salbrec.

"My friend, the beer from before pales in comparison to whatever that old man just gave me," he said.

"Yeah, it's nice and sweet," Ainsta behind him said.

"Wentslatz, you know the twins," Salbrec said with a smile.

"Of course, lovely to see mistress Allora and Adalla." He smiled and bowed to each of the twins individually. "As lovely as ever on your birthday."

"Wentslatz," they said in unison while they curtsied.

"Actually our birthday was last week," Adalla said.

"I rescind my compliments then," he laughed. The twins looked confused.

"And this is Deikuneist."

"Son of Etae the Tailor from Kirsgar," Deikuneist said with a bow.

"Ah really? Kirsgar? Is that place as dirty as they say?" he said with a smirk.

"I don't know what you mean," Deikuneist replied with a feigned chuckle.

"Hey let's have a toast to the Birthday Twins," the old man said loudly as he came up to everyone in the center by the table. His tray of cups was empty. "Everyone raise your mead cups to them," he smiled.

"Here here!" they said together. Then everyone sipped from their mead.

Another young man tapped Salbrec on the shoulder.

"Hey Salby, we have to do this again next fortnight for my birthday. My father has a few barrels of barley beer that we could tap into. If we're careful he won't even know we took any."

"Next week is a bit too soon," Salbrec replied with concern. "We're lucky we didn't get caught this time."

"Just because I'm not a pretty girl you don't want to join?" he laughed.

"Deiky..." Allora slurred.

"What is it?"

"I... I feel funny."

"It's just the mead," he replied.

"Oh ok," she said, and then promptly collapsed into his arms.

"What happened?" Adalla asked with shock.

Salbrec and a few others laughed without worry. Deikuneist held her, a wan smile across his face.

"Let me see," Adalla complained. "Allora, wake up." She shook her shoulder roughly.

"She can't handle her liquor," Salbrec said with a smile. "She's fine."

Ainsta collapsed next. Again the men laughed. Wentslatz slumped against a pew, completely unconscious. The men immediately stopped laughing. Next it was Elke. Adalla felt dizzy as she started seeing double, and then her vision faded to black.

Meanwhile, in the back chamber of the fane, Malorei was still on all fours in front of Borkot. His muscular torso was dripping in sweat as he thrust into her.

"I'm cuming!" he announced, and then his eyes immediately closed and he slumped on top of her, causing her body to collapse completely flat.

"Are you serious?" she laughed. Then her eyes glazed over as she too succumbed to the effects of the liquor.

* * *

Allora woke to a pain on her wrist that caused her to cry out. The old man was cutting her with a sharp blade and her blood was slowly dripping into a large ceramic bowl filled with slightly cloudy yellow fluid. She was on the stone floor of the dais, along with her sister Adalla, and the female serfs Elke and Ainsta, their legs and arms tied behind their backs. When Allora's blood dripped into the bowl it flashed brightly and then faded back to its original yellow color.

"Finally," the old man said.

"Thank Fareik," Martein said.

"Quiet! Name not the Elder God."

"Sorry," Martein muttered.

"You said you would bring me virgins and so far, this has been the first one!"

"The men... t-they all told me the girls were virgins," Martein said.

"Of course they did, idiot. And why would you bring the filthy quim that scrumped in front of everyone?"

"I didn't know she was like that. There's still the other twin and Elke, they should..."

"Quiet!" Gergein said sharply.

"What are you doing?" Allora cried.

The old man and Martein didn't respond. Up the table next to them, instead of the keg and pie was a ceramic vial, a small leather sack, a large paintbrush and an empty metal cage. The items for the birthday had all been brushed to the side and lay in a heap on the floor. Martein, the man with thick hair and high forehead stood next to the old man who was knelt over the young women with a knife.

"Uh... What's your name again?" Allora asked, noticing the man's face.

"Martein!" he yelled.

"Why are you helping him?"

"Gergein will give me what I want. You won't be able to reject me again. And you'll remember my name."

"Who's Gergein?"

"The storyteller."

"The storyteller?" Suddenly Allora remembered where she had seen the old man. He was a traveler that had stopped by their manor home weeks ago and told the tale of Rauda, the Lustful Maiden. Gergein moved to another girl, the one Salbrec had called Elke.

"Ahh," the girl said as he cut her wrist slightly, drawing blood. It dripped into the bowl without any effect.

"Ugh. damn. She's no virgin," he said with a sneer. The old man sighed heavily with a frown upon his face.

"Why does it matter so much that they are virgins? And can't you just take more of their blood?"

"You know nothing of magic and the power of blood. Because you brought me strumpets I'll have to drain all of their blood. But then you're windsome lass won't be much to enjoy then will she?" He pushed Martein to the floor with a grunt and spat at his feet.

"Why?" Martein asked, standing up with fear in his eyes.

Gergein took the knife and the bowl to Adalla next, drawing a bit of her blood into the bowl with a flash and cry from her lips.

"Ah another," the old man smiled.

"Stop hurting them," Martein said. "I thought you were only going to take one of them." He rushed to Allora and suddenly pulled the knife from the old man's hand, but got cut in the process.

"Give it back coward," Gergein taunted.

"Ouch," Martein said, looking at his hand. A drop of blood beaded at the end of his index finger. He shook his wounded digits from side to side as if waving the pain away. There was a small flash in the bowl of blood. Gergein took a quick intake of breath.

"What was that?" he grabbed Martein's nicked hand by the wrist and held it up.

"Ow- ow," Martein complained.

"You?" Gergein asked.

"No," he replied, with a tone of great offense.

"Yes. You're unmarried. So pathetic, how old are you?"

"No-no, no, but I-I"

Gergein grinned cruelly and took the dagger from him. Before Gergein could act, Martein twisted out of his grasp and turned to run. Unfortunately for Martein, the old man was faster than he looked. He slashed across Martein's back. There was a spray of crimson before he toppled to the ground, hitting his head. Crimson seeped over the stone flooring. Gergein picked up the bowl and put it on the ground at Martein's side.

"Nothing shall be wasted," Gergein said with a smile as he held Martein's arm over the bowl and cut along it in a long slice. His blood flowed freely into the bowl, flashing and illuminating Gergein's smiling face as it did so.

"Allora are you alright?" Adalla asked.

"It hurts," her sister replied, referring to the small wound on her wrist that was weeping.

Gergein rose up from Martein's body with the ceramic bowl of blood.

"That should be enough to maintain the portal," he muttered.

Gergein put the bowl up on the table then he took the fist sized leather sack and untied the cord holding it shut. He emptied the powdery white contents into the bowl of blood and took a paintbrush to start mixing everything together until it was an even watery paste. He used the brush to draw a vertical oval on the stone wall from the floor to slightly higher than he was. He was careful to ensure the line was thick and continuous. Then Gergein took a diamond the size of a small egg from a coinpurse tied around his waist. He laid it on the ground in front of the circle and fell to his knees as he began to chant and whisper under his breath.

"We have to get out of here," Adalla whispered. "Where's Salby and Deiky?"

Deikuneist stirred from his position on the floor and woke Salbrec and the male serfs as quietly as he could.

"The twins?" Salbrec asked with concern, seeing the large circle begin to glow at the back of the temple.

"They're tied up on the platform next to the table. We must save them."

"Don't look at me, that old man gives me the creeps," said the serf Wentslatz.

"Then hide behind that broken wall in the back corner, knob," Deikuneist said with derision. "We must save all of them."

"I'm not going to get sacrificed for some evil rite. I don't know about you, right Gohmat?" The other serf nodded in agreement.

Deikuneist sighed as the male serfs hid. He and Salbrec crept through the stone benches to the dais, and the young women alighted with relief as they approached.

"What's he doing?" Deikuneist whispered, as he got to Allora's side. Gergein was still chanting on his knees.

"I think it's a magic spell," Adalla said.

"Hurry," Ainsta said fearfully.

"Shh," Salbrec warned, putting his hand to her lips.

"But I-"

He did it again. Then covered her mouth, wagging his hand in front of her face.

"What are you d-? Ainista asked.

"I said shut up!" he shouted.

Everyone looked at him dubiously. Even Gergein opened his eyes briefly, but then went back to chanting a moment later.

Ainista stayed silent. Deikuneist and Salbrec drew daggers and started cutting free the women, starting with the twins.

"Go hide behind the ruined wall with the others," Salbrec explained when Adalla was cut free. She gave Salbrec a hug. He embraced her with a warm smile.

"No time for that now," Ainsta said.

Salbrec's cheeks were ruddy when Adalla broke their embrace.

"What about my hand?" she said, showing him the weeping wound that had stained her sleeve.

"I... we can't help that now. Just hide."

She nodded and darted off behind the first stone bench. Salbrec started next on Ainsta, while Deikuneist finished with Allora. The old man spoke a bit more loudly, and raised his hands.

"Oh Sarthan Nightmare, may you allow this offering of blood to please you! The portal is drawn with blood to cross great distance, that those may pass without resistance." With those final words the diamond collapsed to dust and the portal was set alight with bright blue fire burning across its edges and then going dim. An inky black surface appeared across the portal.

"Come forth servants of the Sarthan Nightmare!" he screamed.

There was an eerie wind that carried the smell of brimstone as spectral figure flew through the portal quickly and around the temple. All except Gergein cried out with fright, while he looked on with fascination and fanaticism as more spirits began clawing their way across the portal.

"Yes!" he shouted.

"Fareik," Salbrec swore. "Hide with the others," he told Ainsta as he finished cutting her free. "Hurry Deiky, we have to go."

"Almost." Deikuneist said. He was working on the cords binding Elke's feet. Deikuneist cut the final thread. She followed the young men, clinging to Salbrec as they rushed away from the dais. Gergein noted them fleeing, a frown crossing his face, but it was quickly replaced with a savage grin. "Even if you run, the servants of the Sarthan Nightmare will find you and make the worshipers of the Elder Gods suffer!"

They hid behind the stone bench nearest the dais.

"We should leave," Salbrec said. "Get... our parents?"

"We'd be in so much trouble," Allora replied.

"That's the least of our worries," Deikuneist countered.

"What's that?" Adalla asked, pointing to a large glowing red specter in front of Gergein.

The old man's eyes lit up with fright, looking at the ghostly figure with long horns and huge rippling muscles clad in only a loincloth and spiked bands around its wrists and ankles. He didn't notice that the black inky portal began to waver, but not before a huge wolf came through. It sniffed the air and growled fiercely.

"Taxiau's tits," Deikuneist swore.

The doorway closed and the wolf walked to the side of the horned spirit who filled the room with deep laughter.

"Who has called us forth from the Bloody Moon?" it said with a voice like a gruff shout through a long hallway, echoing and hollow.

"It was I, Gergein ein Douber, Priest of the Sarthan Nightmare," said the Storyteller in a wavering tone.

"Such a frail body," the specter said with disappointment. "Very well. You will be my vessel."

The demonic figure pushed him to the ground and appeared to be pulling open his chest. Gergein screamed as a glimmer spread across his torso and his soul, looking like a translucent bluish version of himself, escaped up into the air. It slowly faded away as the specter plunged into the chest of Gergein's body. His eyes closed, then fluttered open, completely black.

"Run!" Salbrec shouted as the demon rose from the floor. They rushed towards the exit, bumping into each other with terror. Allora was knocked to the side by the crowd and fell, but didn't get back up.

The wolf growled and chased after those that fled, the old man cackling as they fell over themselves in fear. The young man Wentslatz screamed as he was bit on the leg by the fierce wolf. He pleaded futilely for help as he was dragged away, back towards the dais. The others pushed and shoved through the small space beneath the fallen door to get out.

Adalla tripped as she came out of the hole, but Aldaeir was there to help her up.

"Where should we go?" Ainsta wondered fretfully.

"Wait, where's Allora?" Deikuneist asked. "She was right behind me. Damn!"

"Maybe we should split up," Elke suggested.

"We can't Allora behind," Deikuneist said to Salbrec. "We have to go back."

"We... we can't save her, and I need to get Adalla to safety," Salbrec argued.

"I'll go back then," Deikuneist said, pulling out a knife from his hip. "You keep Adalla safe." He started through the door again.

"Thank you," Adalla said appreciatively as he walked to the portico.

"Deiky wait," Salbrec said quickly. He came to meet him at the entrance and pulled out a dagger from a leather scabbard at his belt.

"Oh thank you, I knew you would not let me go alone," Deikuneist replied

"Uh... no I mean only to give you this," he said, holding out his dagger. "That knife would hardly put a scratch in the thick wolf's hide."

"You're not going?"

"I told you, someone has to guard Ad-"

Just then there was a growl and the wolf stuck his head out of the entrance. Deikuneist pulled Salbrec against the exterior wall and yelled to Adalla, "Hide behind the trees!"

The others fled into the forest when the wolf slinked out of the tight spot and began chasing them. There were screams of terror as the wolf bit into the serf Ainsta right next to Adalla. They held hands briefly until the wolf pulled Ainsta deeper into the forest. Elke and Gohmat ran the other way. The wolf took its leisure to feast on the fallen woman as she screamed in pain.

"This is hopeless," Salbrec said querulously.

"We should get inside to rescue Allora while the wolf is gone," Deikuneist suggested. "Adalla, come with us. It's not safe outside either."

She nodded, shaking with fright as they all went back inside. Salbrec and Deikuneist brandished their weapons as they walked quietly into the main sanctuary. The possessed storyteller had dragged the unconscious Allora to the dais where he licked her wounded wrist. Deikuneist and Salbrec stood with their weapons drawn. The demon cackled, standing up tall.

"Human children, have you come to die before Gennax?" he asked archly, his arms opening wide as if to challenge them.

"Gen'ass?" Allora said dubiously, stirring from her position on the ground.

"Gennax!" he said, with a deep stentorian voice.

"Are you a friend of my father?" she asked, sitting up.

"I am Gennax of Moltfyre!" he barked angrily, as he pulled her up by the neck. "Scourge to the Syseras!"

"No!" Deikuneist said, rushing forward to the dais. The others trailed behind.

"G-gen a-ass, you're c-choking me," she sputtered, urgently putting her hands up to his iron grip.

"You and your friends will die this night. Your blood will be spilt so the Sarthan Nightmare can envelope this world in crimson."

"N.. no you are the one to d-die," Deikuneist retorted weakly as he held his knife forward. "Come on Salby, together. Go!"

The demon laughed, then threw her forward. She toppled onto Deikuneist, who dropped his blade so he could catch her, falling back as he did so. Adalla rushed to their side while Salbrec held out his dagger that shook in his grasp.

"Coward," the storyteller laughed. "Kneel before me," he commanded.

Salbrec's hands shook as he dropped to his knees.

"Pitiful," the demon chided. He attempted to pull Salbrec up by his neck, but the corpulent young man didn't budge. "Stand, you pale clump of fat!"

"You don't have to be so rude," Salbrec said as he stood.

"I'm going to have fun with you," he grinned, patting Salbrec's cheek. Then suddenly his pure black eyes went wide. He turned, and noticed Adalla standing there behind him, full of fear, having thrust Salbrec's dagger through his back.

"Arg... I under.. estimated you worms. A mistake I will not-"

Salbrec pushed him roughly against the wall, his head hit with a dull thud in the middle of the now extinguished portal and he collapsed to the ground, leaving a smear of gore across the stone. The male youth gently took the dagger from the figure's back and wiped it clean against the fallen man's tunic before he replaced it in his scabbard.

"Is he dead?" Adalla asked.

"I have no idea," Salbrec replied. "But we should hurry, the wolf is still about."

Deikuneist crawled to his feet and helped Allora to stand.

"Oh thank you," she said gratefully. Their faces drew close, but there was the sound of growling.

"Hide, the wolf has come back," Salbrec said in a loud whisper.

They got behind a pillar in the back of the temple behind the dais. The wolf sniffed the floor and growled as he approached the storyteller's body. It nudged him several times to no effect. Then it continued to search the room, muttering in an unintelligible language. As the wolf approached the column it peered around it, but they weren't hiding there. It sniffed the column for a while and then moved on. They had climbed up the ridges on the column, above where the wolf couldn't see. Allora held tightly to Deikuneist. As the wolf moved away Deikuneist dropped, too tired to hold on. The wolf came for them, so they ran back around towards the exit.

"We're not going to make it," Adalla cried.

"Don't say that," Deikuneist replied.

"He's right," Salbrec confessed, as the wolf gained on them.

"Keep Allora safe," Deikuneist replied, falling back and facing the wolf.

"No!" Allora screamed as Adalla and Salbrec pulled her away.

"It's no use," Salbrec replied. They escaped out of the space beneath the fallen door towards the forest.

The wolf slowed as it approached Deikuneist, dripping saliva and it's eyes glowing a faint red.

"Alright, let's go you bag of fur."

The wolf growled, showing his massive jaws and long teeth. Then it lunged. Instinctively and just in the nick of time, Deikuneist ducked. In a flash, the wolf move again, biting into the flesh of the youth's arm. He screamed in pain, unable to avoid the second attack.

The wolf laughed almost like a human. It lunged again, this time aiming for his torso with its mouth of razor sharp teeth. But it yelped suddenly as Salbrec stabbed into its yellowish eye. He had returned after getting the twins safely out. Deikuneist stabbed at the furry beast with his knife, cutting into the flank. The wolf slumped, weakened by the damage Salbrec had managed to cause on the preoccupied wolf. It managed to bite Deikuneist on the arm again, but he swiped back, cutting the wolf deeply. When Deikuneist stood tall, his knife arm still steady, the wolf howled and then ran away reluctantly towards the back of the fane, hiding beneath a bench out of sight.

"Thank you for not leaving me," Deikuneist said with heartfelt gratitude.

"It is what you would have done," Salbrec replied.

He helped Deikuneist out of the temple ruins. Allora cried as she saw his condition and rushed to him.

"We need to stop the bleeding," Salbrec said. Remove your shirt.

Deikuneist removed his coat and shirt, revealing his gangly pale frame. The wounds looked ragged, but weren't bleeding very much.

"Oh no," Allora cried.

"It's not too bad," Salbrec said. "For now, I'll just wrap your shirt around the wounds," he explained as he took the white fabric and enveloped the bleeding. "Put your coat back on. We need to get back to the Bausheiv manor house, you can stay in the barn." Deikuneist did as instructed.

"Did anyone else survive?" Adalla asked sadly. She looked around the dark forest for signs of life. The horse that was tied to the tree was missing.

"I don't see anyone," Salbrec said regretfully.

"Let's go to Meikell, I want to clean Deiky's wound," Allora said.

"Yes, let's do that," Deikuneist smiled.

"Alright, I'll help you walk."

They started making their way back down the path, the same way they had come. Allora held Deikuneist around the waist as they walked, and Salbrec supported his uninjured arm. Adalla stood off to the side, her brow furrowed and in thought. It took them nearly ten minutes of walking until they neared the manor. Allora sighed with a bit of relief.

"I thought I would lose you."

"I just wanted to protect you," Deikuneist explained.

"Don't do that again, I can't... I never want to be without you. I love you."

"I love you too. And I'm not going anywhere."

Adalla sighed heavily as they neared the stables.

"What?" Allora asked.

"You're getting married to Master Ergast in only a few days," she said plainly.

Allora's face became sad. Salbrec looked back and forth between Allora and Adalla. He opened his mouth a few times, but said nothing. Then they heard the sound of approaching footsteps to the East. From the forest, Salbrec's sister Suetaera was approaching with Ogunof at her side.

"What are you doing here?" Salbrec and Suetaera asked in unison.