Interrogation of an Amazon

The following totally fictitious writings of M Coolham are intended for the sole readership of those of LEGAL AGE. The ADULT ONLY material contained within is also for personal use only where local standards permit scenes of violence, torture and sex. Please do not read further if any of these subjects offend, or if you are not of legal age.

This is a work of fiction. The author does not condone violence of any sort.

The following is under Copyright and is for your sole enjoyment. Your cooperation in not using the material in any other application without the express permission of the author is requested. Thank you.

Interrogation of an Amazon

CHAPTER FIVE

Introduced

She had never known such fear.

The dungeon master held the vicious brand up to her face. Amphora could feel the heat against her skin. She turned her head away but there was no escape. He was enjoying her terror.

"I could scar your face but that would seem a shame," he said. "Better to save the best till later. How about your stupendous breasts?" he moved the rod down towards her chest holding it an inch away from her cleavage. With his other hand he took hold of her right tit, letting the breast sit in his open palm. "Plenty of flesh here," he smirked. "Or how about its companion," and moved his hand across to her other breast again letting the weight of her exposed tit hang in his palm.

She fought to remain still; any false move and her skin might brush against the red-hot iron. The smell and sound of the hissing metal played havoc with her senses. The Amazon concentrated on her breathing, trying to slow her heaving chest.

"Or how about here," he continued, bringing the fearsome brand down to the centre of her belly. "Such a lovely strong stomach. I have a liking for muscular women and you're the best I've ever seen." His fingers ran across the solid mounds of muscle that formed her toned abdomen, on down to her navel, to finish at what remained of her dress. He fiddled with the gold belt and it fell to the floor. The man grasped the white cotton where it lay just below her belly button and gave a fierce tug. The last fragments of the dress were ripped in two, the material falling to her elbows. The force of the tug made her upper body shake, her breasts bouncing and wobbling.

The whole of the Amazon's toned body was exposed before him. He saw her powerful thighs and the tiny white panties in which she'd been presented. She saw him smile, the front of his trousers noticeably bulging.

"How thoughtful," he grinned. "My favourite colour. So perfect against the bronze of your skin".

"Is this the only way you get to see a woman?" she hissed. "Tied up and defenseless".

Her tormentor's eyes flashed against hers but he ignored the jibe.

"Here might be good," he said, taunting her, the red-hot scythe hovering less than an inch from the inside of her left thigh.

The warrior remained motionless knowing that he was highly aroused. She gathered her thoughts, aware she had to stay calm.

He pulled the brand away, the molten iron tip coming within millimeters of her quivering breasts.

"Where's Sempha?" he asked. "I want to know where we'll find the Princess".

Silence.

"Think you're strong?" he rasped, his mouth inches from her face. The sight of his teeth and the smell of his breath made her wince and look away.

The dungeon master walked behind her. Amphora tried to track him, turning her head as far as she could, but the ropes restricted her movement. She struggled with renewed vigor. The beautiful victim remained helpless.

"Well," said the man, a jeer in his voice. He stroked her right shoulder enjoying the feeling of hard muscle just below the surface of her velvet skin. "What have we here? A serpent tattoo. Do you want to tell me the significance of the snake?"

Silence. Amphora stared straight ahead.

He grabbed a fistful of her hair and yanked back her head. The Amazon was caught off guard, momentarily breathless. "I said - have you no answer for me?" he whispered into her right ear.

She shook her head but he held her fast.

"I'm going to break your spirit," he rasped.

"Never," she snarled. "Scum".

The brute released her hair and stepped away to examine the back of her arms.

After what seemed an age the man made his decision and raised his hand. He drove the red-hot scythe into her shoulder destroying her tattoo in an instant. A terrible hissing sound and the overwhelming stench of burning flesh filled the chamber. Amphora felt a white heat of indescribable pain pass from her shoulder, through her whole body, into her eyes. The agony took her to a place she'd never been. The Amazon dropped back her head and screamed – a primal guttural cry. He withdrew the iron, small pieces of skin and flesh sticking to the metal. Again she screamed, the dreadful cry crashing against the walls. She was overwhelmed by nausea. Her head sunk to her chest.

The dungeon master came round to stand before the bound warrior. He placed his hand under her chin and lifted up her head. Her eyelids fluttered. He could see she was only semi-conscious.

"Now, my feisty friend, you wear the mark of the scythe," he said, "You are mine to use as I please. I OWN you".

Then she fainted.

* * *

The six groups of soldiers had split up but not before Tevo had given his men one last instruction. "I have an order direct from King Nemo. No one knows what Princess Sempha looks like. If you capture any Amazons you are expressly forbidden to harm them. The king wishes to be the first with Sempha. If we take the Princess, and can identify her, you will all get a chance with any other women we capture. Is that clear?" The men had nodded, understanding the gravity of the command.

No maps were available for this little-known region of Lumana so the group leaders made themselves familiar with prominent landmarks. The Captain had ordered that the troops reassemble back at the Lynx at noon on the fourth day after their arrival. The ship's crew had been left with route plans for the soldiers so that the troops could be contacted if word arrived from Thorania of Sempha's whereabouts.

Jemius's group, with Pilo as his number two, was searching an area southwest of the landing point. The terrain was hilly and forested but there were occasional plains of short grass between the trees. The scouts had informed them that few Amazons were currently in this region, the warrior women having been called for duty at the border where the Thoranian attack was expected. Despite this, the five men stuck together knowing that alone they could easily fall prey to a gang of Amazons.

Haalet had joined Tevo's group and they had set off in a northerly direction.

* * *

Sempha and Glaina were headed towards the northeast. Although familiar with the geography they traveled warily stopping occasionally at high vantage points to look out over the surrounding land. They were at the height of fitness but the heat, coupled the perpetual need for alertness, were taking their toll. The Amazon Princess and her powerful bodyguard were looking forward to arriving at their chosen hiding place.

* * *

A little after sunrise on the second day a sparrow hawk flew over Jemius's group. The men watched the bird fly past enjoying its easy movement. The canopy of trees high above them provided welcome relief from the scorching sun.

"What I wouldn't do for a pair of eyes in the sky," said Pilo, the others murmuring in agreement.

"Sssshhhh", whispered Jemius, his fingers to his lips.

Three hundred yards away to the west of them, two Amazons froze. Glaina instinctively motioned for Sempha to get down but the Princess had heard the sound too and was already kneeling behind a thick oak tree. Glaina joined her. Speaking in sign language they agreed to stay in their position.

The women heard tramping feet; the sound grew louder but was still some way off. Glaina sensed that whomever was making the noise was going to pass nearby but not close enough to cause them danger. The two warriors remained motionless, both crouching on one knee ready to run if necessary.

To disguise Sempha's identity in case of capture the Amazons were dressed alike. They wore green cotton sleeveless low-cut jerkins held across their breasts by leather laces, the cleavage of each woman clearly visible. They had brown leather skirts that came down to the middle of their muscular thighs, slit at the sides up to their waists. They wore dark-brown knee-length calfskin boots, pale-brown laces criss-crossing their shins drawn into a bow at top of the boots. These were ideal traveling clothes; lightweight for speed and excellent camouflage inside the forest. A black leather scabbard hung from their thick brown belts, each woman resting a hand on the hilts of their swords in case of immediate need. Both warriors had a dagger strapped to their left thigh, protected from moisture by light-brown calfskin sheaths. They had no need for provisions. The land was rich with fruit and nuts, and the water was clean enough to drink.

Although clothed identically they differed in appearance. Sempha's straight golden blonde hair was in sharp contrast to Glaina's curly copper mane. Both wore their thick lustrous hair far down their backs. Glaina was the taller of the two, at six foot the same height and build as her twin sister Amphora. Sempha was two inches shorter and proportionately smaller in body size. But the Princess shared the same remarkable muscle tone as her bodyguard sisters; immensely strong, beautifully defined, ultra taut; hard-bodied with muscles in peak condition. The two women were bronzed, their skin glowing with health. Each of them had generous breasts, Sempha especially so. They were both twenty-five years of age.

Glaina wore a gold serpent wound around her right bicep otherwise the women were devoid of jewelry bar one thing. Sempha wore a thin white braided-cotton band around her head, a puma's face engraved onto a small platinum sphere in the centre of her forehead, miniscule sapphires for eyes, its mouth open with teeth bared, the creature snarling.

Their faces were remarkable, stunning in opposite ways. Glaina was the spitting image of her twin sister - same catlike eyes, strong jaw-line, pretty nose, full lips, petite ears - except her eyes were a piercing emerald green. Sempha's features were equally feminine yet, incredibly, a degree finer. She had higher cheekbones and slightly fuller lips. These subtle differences gave her a look that was utterly exquisite. And her eyes; the palest blue. Feline. Sublime. Mesmerizing. Once seen never forgotten.

The sound of people approaching grew louder, twigs and bracken being snapped underfoot. The women could tell there was more than one person – also that the group was not large. But until the people came into view they were unable to determine the exact number and whether they were friend or foe. The group was getting closer – now only two hundred yards away. The Amazons watched, their breathing slowed.

Fifty yards ahead a deer appeared from the undergrowth walking directly into the path of the oncoming noise. Glaina spotted the animal immediately. So did a flock of crows. The birds took fright and several dozen of them launched squawking into the sky.

Jemius raised his arm and the group stopped dead in their tracks. His sixth sense told him something was wrong.

In seconds Glaina's brain performed hundreds calculations. Her number one concern was to protect Sempha. Perhaps the two warriors could overpower the men, however many there were, but she discounted that option immediately as too risky. She could make a run for it alone drawing the attention away from the Princess. The bodyguard knew that the men would follow her. She felt sure the aggressors would not wait to find out if there were other Amazons in the area; that for their stalkers, one in the hand was better than two in the bush. Glaina was certain she could outrun the men plus she had the advantage of knowing the terrain. Through the trees she could see a flat open plain, perfect for highlighting her presence at the expense of Sempha, and ideal for making a quick getaway. Although once away from the protection of the forest she would be exposed to fire from archers, she knew that if at all possible the men would want to take their intended target unharmed; that they would not use arrows to bring her down. A plan came together in her head. She could protect Sempha and escape herself, to rendezvous later with the Princess.

"There's something over there," Jemius said, nodding in the direction of the women. The Amazons heard the words and it was enough. Glaina decided to act.

"I'll meet you in the caves by the crooked sycamore tree in six hours," she whispered to Sempha. The Princess nodded. Both women understood Glaina's first duty; Sempha would not attempt to dissuade her bodyguard from putting herself in danger in order to protect the leader. The women exchanged eye contact, the full weight of Glaina's action thoroughly understood between them.

The group had begun to approach, now only a hundred yards away. Then eighty. Then sixty. Although tempted to make her break, Glaina waited until they were sufficiently close so that they would be sure to see her. The diversionary tactic absolutely had to work. When the gap had narrowed to just forty yards she leapt forward making as much noise as possible and headed off towards the grassland.

"Look," shouted Pilo, pointing at the Amazon fast disappearing through the trees.

"GET HER," yelled Jemius at the top of his voice.

The five soldiers ran after the powerful bodyguard passing within a few feet of Sempha, their attention on the fleeing warrior.

Some minutes later, when the troops were at a safe distance, Sempha stood up, flung back her thick blonde hair, and started her journey to the caves. She did not look back, pleased with the plan's result and confident in the knowledge that Glaina could easily outrun the men. The Princess looked forward to congratulating her bodyguard six hours hence.

* * *

The sharp pain coming from Amphora's shoulder pierced through the fog and bought her back to semi-consciousness. She opened her eyes and tried to bring her vision into focus. With her left hand the warrior went to nurse her wounded shoulder but found she was unable to move her arm more than a few inches. The sound of chains clanking reached her ears. The Amazon tried to move her legs but they were held fast, her ankles completely immobile.

"Welcome back my beauty." The deep husky sound appeared to come from a tall shadow standing to her left. "I missed you".

Instant recognition of the voice bought Amphora fully to her senses. She saw the shadow's hand coming towards her and tried to raise her arms to push him away only to find that her limbs were restrained. Again she heard the sound of chains rattling, this time clearer and louder. What had been a shadow became a muscular hairy man looking down at her. He wore a sleeveless black leather jerkin, open at the chest, and dark brown trousers. A Minotaur's head was tattooed onto his left shoulder. Anxious to avoid his touch she made an effort to twist her body out of harm's way. Suddenly the captive realized she could go nowhere – that she was tied on her back, her arms stretched out above her head. She was chained naked to an enormous oak rack.

The dungeon master placed his right hand on the warrior's abdomen and for the hundredth time since she'd been tied ran his hand across her stomach, relishing the ridges of muscle that lay beneath her smooth bronze skin, her belly rising and falling in time with her breathing. He moved his hand up her muscled torso and into her cleavage, his fingertips rough against her chest. Her breaths became deeper. He squeezed and twisted her prominent nipples threatening to wrench them from her dark brown aureoles. He slapped her breasts; first the right, then the left, then the right again, her tits wobbling from side to side before coming to rest. He had big hands. It had been a long time since he had had an opportunity to torture a woman whose breasts were sufficiently large for the whole flat of his hand to contact flesh. Amphora writhed as he hit her but she was held fast.

He moved his hand up her left arm, gripping and squeezing her taut triceps and flattened bicep. Although secured above her head, there was still enough slack in the chains for her arms to move a little. She tried to pull her hands down towards her unprotected body, her biceps accentuated in the process. She grimaced with the effort, fighting back the shot of pain that came from her right shoulder every time she moved. Even when she lay still, the constant ache that came from the brand gnawed at her resources. The man placed his palm against her bunched bicep, the sensation of her futile struggle exciting him.

Amphora relaxed her arms as his hand traveled along her forearm, his palm passing over the cold metal cuff that held her wrist. He liked the mechanism of the rack and the fantastic scale of the thing. The victim lay on nine slats of rough oak, the slats at the outer edges of the rack thicker than those in the centre. The contraption measured twelve foot end to end and was nearly four foot wide. Between each of the five central slats was a gap of half an inch. The rack stood four feet off the floor on six sturdy rectangular legs, edged by a thick frame. He studied the metal rings that were welded onto each side of her elliptical wrist-cuffs. With his eyes he followed the four thick brown chains up to the top of the huge rack, one chain attached to each side of the two cuffs, her open hands lying close together. He marveled at the winching mechanism, the chains running from her wrists along the boards to the underside of a great drum only a few inches above the upside of the rack. At each end of the cylinder was a big metal wheel, six wooden spokes protruding from the centre of each wheel.

Two levers and two winches, one of each centred at both ends of the rack, lay beneath the slats hidden behind the frame.

The fingers of his right hand interlocked with her left hand, small in comparison to his. Their eyes met. He bared his broken yellow teeth and started to bend back her fingers. She fought him, her chest rising and falling as he increased the pressure, her heart pumping furiously. He noticed his prisoner starting to sweat, beads of perspiration forming all over her toned body. He continued to bend back her fingers. Amphora winced. She tried to raise her arm off the rack, her muscles contorting with the effort, her veins standing proud, her breasts quivering.

The brute allowed the woman's arm to rise a little before using the new angle to force her fingers even further back. Amphora closed her eyes hard, clenched her teeth, and put all her energy into fighting back his hand. She started to win ground, her fingers returning from the uncomfortable angle. Sensing she might embarrass him, the dungeon master brought his left fist crashing down into her tensed abdomen winding the Amazon. Her eyes opened wide and she coughed. He seized the moment and wrenched back her fingers even further than before.

"Aaaarrrgghhhh," she cried out.

"That's more like it," he said, grinning.

He released her hand and stood for a moment admiring the remarkable body laid out before him. Everything about her made him salivate with pleasure. The slant of her fiery amber eyes alive with fire, the luster of her black hair splayed out on the wood above her head, the display of toned muscle under hard young flesh, the softness of her skin, the width of her flattened shoulder blades, her tapered waist, her gorgeous breasts, the sheer length of her stretched out at his mercy. He liked his victims spirited. And they didn't come much more feisty than the woman presented to him now.

The man wanted to finish his inspection before starting work. He put his hand on her left foot and felt the soft underside of her instep. He liked the scarlet paint the healers had used to decorate her toenails. He studied the four thick chains, six inches long, which ran from metal rings one on each side of the two circular cuffs that held her ankles separately. The other ends of the chains were welded to a black iron bar at the end of the rack. The Amazon's heels were close together, her feet splayed out almost as if she was standing.

He brought his hand along her smooth shin, up over her knee, and onto her muscular thighs. Her legs; their shape, their femininity, their power, amazed him. He placed his hand against her inner thigh appreciating the extra soft skin. She looked away to her right, determined not to show any emotion, humiliated in her nakedness. His fingers played with her soft dark hairs. She wouldn't look at him. He wanted to play with her; to squeeze her folds of skin and drive his fingers inside her. But he chose to hold back, that pleasure to be saved until he was alone with her. The man withdrew his hand.

"Let me introduce my accomplices," he said.

Four figures stepped forward from behind her head coming to stand two each side of the rack, the woman positioning herself next to the dungeon master.

"This is Clen, Puno, and Breet, " he said pointing respectively at the bald man, the skinny one, and the man with the non-existent nose. "And this is Ennuta. She is an expert with breasts. You'll have a chance to get acquainted with her later". The dungeon master stroked Ennuta's lank hair.

"Oh," he said as an afterthought. "Ennuta despises beautiful women". The ugly female's mouth broke into a smile but her dark eyes remained hard, burning with venom. Amphora swallowed.

"And I dare not even describe the plans the other three have for you," he snarled. "They've only dreamt of torturing an Amazon – until now that is".

The five of them stood and leered at her spectacular body laid out before them totally at their mercy. The bound woman struggled against the chains, each person taking pleasure from watching her squirm.

"Take your positions," said the dungeon master, his head motioning towards the top of the rack. "It's time to get some answers".

Amphora's heart pounded in her chest. Her mind raced. "Glaina. Sempha. Where are you? Come quickly. Please please come quickly".

The four people walked away in the direction from which they had come and out of her sight. She strained her head backwards, to the left, and saw Clen standing by the top corner of the rack facing a large metal wheel, his hands resting on two wooden spokes. She looked back, to her right, and saw Breet at the other corner in a similar position. Puno and Ennuta were nowhere to be seen.

The dungeon master placed the palms of his hands face down on the rack by her waist and cleared his throat. She turned her attention back to the ogre.

"Where's Sempha?" he said impassively.

Amphora looked away from him, her head touching the inside of her right arm.

"I said, where's the Princess?"

Silence.

He looked up at the two men.

"Stretch her."

In unison, Clen and Breet turned the wheel. The cylinder started to rotate gathering up slack in the chains that held her arms. The links wound around the drum, anti-slip locking mechanisms built into the rack clicking as the wheel was turned.

Click.

Click.

Amphora felt her wrist-cuffs start to tug against her hands.

Click click click.

Her arms were pulled straighter. Her breathing quickened, her chest rising and falling vigorously, her breasts gently wobbling.

When the wrist chains were taut she felt her whole body pulled very slightly towards the top of the rack as what little slack was left in the ankle chains was taken up. Suddenly the wheel became tight in the men's hands. She was stretched out as far as she could naturally reach. The men stopped turning as the final ratchet locked holding her rigid. She felt utterly vulnerable, her naked body an open target for them to abuse as they pleased.

"Where will we find your leader?"

"Do what you want to me," said Amphora. "I'll tell you nothing".

"Don't worry," he replied. "We shall".

He looked up at the two men.

"Stretch the bitch".

Clen and Breet leaned into the wheels. The cylinder groaned and started to rotate. The cuffs at the extremities of her limbs bit into her flesh as the chains began to pull her muscled body apart.

Click.

Click.

"AAAARRGGHHH."

They continued to turn the drum.

Click.

"NOOOOOO".

The racked Amazon struggled against the chains, every muscle in her body tight as she fought with the mechanism. The pain in her right shoulder numbed as her elbows, shoulders, and hips – wrists, knees, and ankles – and spine - shrieked in protest at being wrenched apart. She twisted and turned as best she could, her breasts swayed, her ribcage expanded, her stomach sucked in, her waist impossibly slim. Sweat ran from her body dripping onto the oak boards on which she lay.

The men stopped again, the rack straining to hold the warrior stretched beyond anything she could have imagined possible.

"Had enough my beauty?" said the dungeon master. "We can continue if you wish. Have you anything to tell me?"

Amphora's face was screwed up in pain, her eyes closed, her teeth gritted, her fingernails digging into her palms.

"No?" he asked.

"Never," she whispered. "You'll never break me," she said, forcing the words out between deep breaths.

"And more," he smiled.

Altering the positions of their feet to add their weight, Clen and Breet cranked the wheels. The grinding sound coming from the mechanism was deafening to her. How could they stretch her more? Where was there left to go?

Click.

The tortured woman flung back her head, her back now off the boards, the two men able to see the pained expression on her face as she looked back at the thugs. Her triceps stood proud from her upper arms. The muscles in her thighs were rounded and hard. The hollows of her armpits glistened, her whole body slick with sweat. The metal cuffs ate into her wrists and ankles, blood oozing from fresh cuts. Her breathing became constricted, her lungs under enormous pressure.

Click.

Her screams ricocheted off the walls.

Click.

"NOOOOO. EEEAAAARRRGGHHH. LET ME GO YOU BASTARDS. LET ME GO".

"Stop there," said the dungeon master calmly.

The men released the wheels, checking that the locking mechanisms could hold the outstretched captive.

The ogre turned to his prisoner.

"Have you decided to talk my beauty?"

From her innermost being she summoned fresh strength and pulled on the chains. The mechanism gave one click in reverse and froze. The physical relief for her was meager, the psychological boost massive.

"Trying to break my rack are you?" said the dungeon master, putting his face close up to hers, his filthy hair brushing against her nose. "I don't think so. This is just the start. We'll continue until you talk".

Amphora turned her face away but he pulled her head back to the centre, his fingers gripping her cheeks.

"Your decoration looks wonderful," he said, stroking her eyebrows with his other hand. "Such a shame to see you in agony".

He released her head and she turned away again, her face feeling the sweat on her muscled arm.

"Stretch her at will."

The dungeon master stood back and watched. They stretched her, let her rest, then stretched her further. It felt as if the very ligaments of her muscles were about to be ripped from her frame. After an hour of torture, when she thought she could take no more, they gave her more. Much more.

With Amphora's defenseless body lying against the slats, the dungeon master walked to the end of the rack by her feet.

"Engage the next level," he said.

Puno stepped forwards and stood by the centre of the drum. The two men reached down and pulled on the two hidden levers. Metal ground against metal as switching gear beneath the rack fell into place.

"Bring them up," said the dungeon master. He and Puno turned the winches. Rising slowly, five rows of sharpened metal spikes appeared in between the five central slats. Each row ran the length of the rack, the points an inch apart.

As the spikes rose above the slats they started digging into Amphora's flesh. First her buttocks, then her upper back, then her thighs, calves, and arms. Only the small of her back was spared the piercing metal. She tried to raise herself above the points but she was held fast by the chains. She twisted to her right only for a spike to dig deep into her wounded shoulder making her shriek.

"And now the rest," said the dungeon master.

The men worked the levers and the rows of spikes moved back and forth.

She screamed in agony as the spikes ripped into her stretched body, her limbs and torso at breaking point. When they re-tightened the chains she was pulled clear of the points. And when they relaxed the drum a notch or two her body sunk down onto the spikes. They engaged the levers again. The Amazon cried out, her stomach muscles tight as she fought to keep her head off the points. Drops of blood ran down the spikes and onto the floor. Again they tightened the drum and again she was lifted slightly higher, her temptress body at full stretch.

After another hour of hideous torture the back of her torso and limbs were a mass of cuts.

But the Amazon had said nothing.

The dungeon master stood by the side of the rack and looked down at the victim. Her body was just as beautiful despite the ordeal.

"It's pointless you resisting me," he said menacingly. "We WILL get the information we require. Where is the Princess?"

She gasped for breath.

"Where?" he asked again, thumping his fist against the rack.

Amphora closed her eyes. Almost imperceptibly, she shook her head.

"Let me tell you something about our plans for you," he said. "Perhaps you'll change your mind about where your loyalties lie".

The interrogator leaned closer to her face. He could read the agony in her expression.

"If you choose not to help us today, what will follow is beyond your worst nightmare. The rack will seem a mere trifle in comparison. You will be given to each of my accomplices in turn; they have plans for your lovely body that'll make you wish you were dead".

He ran his hands down her torso and licked her sweat off his fingers.

She shuddered.

"But I'll be sure you survive," he continued, "so that I can personally strap you into my newest piece of equipment. I'm sorely tempted to take you there immediately but I promised my colleagues the opportunity to work on you. I call my new invention the 'device' and you will have the honor of being my first experiment". The man pulled away. "For the last time, where will we find Sempha?"

The Amazon opened her eyes. Were those tears he saw? She bared her teeth. Through rasping breath she spat out a single word.

"Never".

The two adversaries locked eyes.

"Break her," said her torturer.

The two men on the wheels gave everything they had and from somewhere they found another - click.

Then another - click

And then another – click - from the over-burdened mechanism.

They had never turned the wheel so far; had never seen a victim undergo what she had endured. The woman's screams hurt their ears, her agony echoing off the walls of the sealed chamber.

With her remarkable body totally flat, her skin stretched far beyond what seemed possible, her joints and muscles violently protesting at their inhuman treatment, her wrists and ankles bleeding, her flesh cut by the spikes, they locked the drum in place and left her. The mechanism creaked with the strain of holding the tortured warrior.

She lay before them soaked in sweat, barely conscious, in unbearable agony.

"It's your turn tomorrow Ennuta," said the dungeon master. "I want that information. And I want it soon. Everyone has a breaking point, even her".

He walked away, then looked back.

"Leave the Amazon for a while," he said over his shoulder. "Then untie her, wash her, and give her food. I want her fresh for the morning".

* * *

Glaina broke out of the woods and started out across the flat grass plain towards a copse half a mile away, her copper hair flying behind her as she gathered speed. Her muscular legs pounded the ground, the slits in her skirt allowing her free movement. The woman's large breasts swayed inside her jerkin. The sound of the wind rushing in her ears mixed with the gentle rattling that came from her sword against the top of its scabbard.

The small branches and vines that littered the forest floor impeded the soldiers' progress. By the time Chrim, the fastest of the group, had exited the trees, the Amazon was sixty yards ahead of him. He could see where she was headed. Rather than wait for the others and risk loosing her amongst the trees up ahead, he decided to carry on alone. The man was a superb athlete, champion of the runners at the Thoranian games. Chrim began gaining ground on the woman but began to doubt that he could catch her before she entered the copse.

The Amazon stole a glance backwards, her curly hair falling across her face. She could see the approaching soldier, four others some way behind him. Turning forward again she knew she would reach the safety of the trees before he caught up with her. Once inside the wood her greater agility would allow her to pull ahead and loose the group. Her plan had worked. Both she and the Princess were safe.

But there was one key piece of information about Chrim that Glaina did not possess.

* * *

While Glaina charged across the plain, Tevo and his four companions approached a shallow gorge, rocks rising up to points on either side of them. The commander knew that a ravine of this type was always dangerous but there was no way around it without losing valuable time.

"Spread out," he said. "And keep your wits about you. I'll lead. Haalet, you bring up the rear".

The men entered the gorge in single file, their senses on full alert. It was stiflingly hot and airless between the walls of rock, silent but for the sound of their leather tunics squeaking as they walked. Their feet kicked up dust, the thick atmosphere heightening their thirsts. They knew that the Captain had planned a refreshment break once they reached the other end.

Nearing the exit they started to relax, their thoughts turning to water and the opportunity to take the weight off their feet. They had been walking for three hours solid.

A rushing sound filled the air.

THUCK.

THUCK THUCK.

The middle three men fell to the ground, dead. Tevo and Haalet froze. Three Amazons appeared on top of the rocks and started running down towards them, their swords drawn. The women were splitting up, two of them heading for Haalet and one for the Captain. Tevo panicked – he couldn't decide what to do. Those precious seconds of indecision proved to be disastrous. The two women were upon Haalet, his inexperience no match for their fighting ability. The Prince was on the ground, the warriors on top of him tying his hands.

"Better to get help than risk being killed," Tevo decided and fled.

The woman could probably have caught the Captain but she decided to let him go. Their instructions had been to take a man alive with the intention of extracting information about the Thoranian's attack plans. She knew that Tolana would be pleased with her and her two companions.

* * *

Chrim had narrowed the gap between him and Glaina to just ten yards but it had taken him most of the half mile to do so and he was starting to tire. The woman was nearly at the copse. He knew that the moment she reached the trees she'd be gone. Enticing as she was, the sight of her flowing copper hair and long bronzed legs exciting him, he was not fast enough to catch her. He stopped running, his heart smashing against his chest. It seemed as if his lungs were about to burst. But this was not a moment to think about pain. Time was of the essence.

He reached around his back with his arms. He knew that Tevo wanted their quarry to be taken unharmed. His colleagues had laughed when he had shown them this new piece of equipment but he was about to prove them wrong. He grasped the weapon and pulled it over to his front.

Glaina was within fifteen yards of the forest. She had put on a final burst of speed that she knew had left her pursuer standing. The Amazon took her hand off the hilt of her sword so she could gain an extra few seconds from the more efficient swinging of her arms.

From nowhere, with no sound, her arms were suddenly pinned hard against her side. A sharp tug pulled her backwards. In a cloud of dust she crashed to the ground….……lassoed.

* * *

Sempha made her way through the forest silently taking care not to step on twigs or branches that might make noise. Every twenty yards she stopped, held her breath, listened, and scoured the way ahead for signs of danger. She had suspected there were scouts in the region but had no idea that soldiers had landed nearby. Despite her caution and experience she was unaware that an expert in jungle combat was watching her, his camouflage making him invisible against the trees. The man had been stalking her for over two miles, waiting for the right moment to strike. He was in awe of her beauty, entranced by the way her thick blonde hair swung as she walked, transfixed by her muscular limbs, bewitched by glimpses of her stunning face as she looked about her. He longed to touch the astonishing woman but knew that patience was the key to bagging this prey – the greatest prize of all.

To be continued……..

* * *