Raiders Dungeon

Part XI..Death of a Tyrant

While Raider and D'elle, along with Thomas and Lord Oak sat in the pub
discussing what to do with Ragnor, their nemesis was having a girl readied for
torture. He knew her family had no money buried on their land but he had been
bored in the underground home he had made for himself. Under the cover of
darkness he and his henchmen had ridden out. They had burned the young girls
home and killed off her only surviving relatives, her Aunt Rachel and Uncle
Owen.

Ragnor had already had his sport with her before he burned her home to the
ground. He now watched as, the surprisingly defiant, girl was brought in by two
of his men. He had thought her far too meek to struggle now. This might be fun
after all he thought. As she was brought before him one of his men entered the
room and came right to him. He knelt on one knee and placed his hand over his
heart.

"My Lord I bring news from the town." Ragnor looked bored but relented.

"Tie the slut to the post I will play with her in a bit. Now then tell me what
has you so upset." The man took a deep breath and began.

"Your cousin is not dead. Lord and Lady Silver are locked in the dungeon cells
below the pub. Ulysses King is dead. He and Raider fought with swords." The man
watched as Ragnor's face turned beet red in his anger. "I was in the back and
overheard the two slave girls talking in the kitchen. The one was going to go to
her Master and tell him of our plans." Ragnor was furious.

"Did you kill the bitch?" The man was shaking now.

"No, My Lord, I brought her to you. I thought it to swift a death for her." The
man lowered his head waiting for the blow from Ragnor. Instead he heard the
deadly calm voice of his liege.

"Bring the slut to me now." Ragnor watched as the girl tried to pull away from
his men. She was so frightened she wet herself. As she came close, he stood up.
Ragnor was not very tall. In fact he was less than six feet.

Ragnor was also dark skinned and hairy. Thick mats of hair covered his back and
chest along with his arms and legs. He had a large red nose from too much
drinking and thick fleshy lips. His dark eyes were set too close together.

There was long scar on his left cheek, a souvenir from a past battle with
Raider; it puckered his face making him look as if he were a leering clown. His
long thick hair was matted and hung well below his shoulders. As always there
was the odor of unwashed clothes and body about him.  He studied the sobbing
girl dispassionately.

"Strip the slut." He stepped toward her as his men obeyed. "So you dared to even
think about betraying me." It was more a statement than a question. "You will
suffer long and well for this you filthy slut." The girl screamed.

"NOOOOOOO! Please my Lord Ragnor. I have been your faithful servant. I would not
betray you. It was only idle talk. Please I beg you." The girl broke down again
and sobbed.

Ragnor stepped forward and fondled her breasts. He worked the nipples with his
fingers until they were hard nubs. He bent his head and suckled at them. The
girl moaned in spite of her fear.  He chuckled, and then bit hard on first the
left then the right.

"AAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE NOOOOOOOOO!" The girl struggled to break
free to no avail as Ragnor continued to bite her nipples and breasts. Her
shrieks of pain excited him.

"Hold the bitches legs up and spread wide." Ragnor reached for his codpiece as
he snapped the order to his men. The men holding her watched grinning as he
stuck two fingers into her pussy. Then he added a third and forth finger. He was
laughing as she struggled and moaned. The bitch was hot and wet.

He worked his fingers in and out of her then he held the tips of his four
fingers and his thumb together forming a sort of cone. He laughed as two of his
men spread her pussy wide for him and he shoved his hand into her wet vagina up
to and past his wrist.

"AAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO..... NOOOOOOO IT
HURTS PLEEEEEZZZZE."

Her pleading had no effect on Ragnor. He began pumping his fist in and out of
her like a piston. His hand was slick with her juices.

"Turn this cunt over." The men quickly obeyed and Ragnor began pushing his hand
into her anus. Her screeching filled the room as his entire hand filled her
bowels. The med tube had done its job and both her vagina and her rectum were
like stretchy rubber. They did not tear or rip. Ragnor pumped her ass hard then
pulled out his fist and rammed his hard thick cock into her. The men cheered as
he sodomized her.

"Hang her spread upside down and give her the awake drug. I don't want her
missing anything." While his men obeyed him he walked over to the girl tied to
the pole. "Watch well slut you will be next. Maybe not today but surely
tomorrow." He liked how she hated his touch. He tore open her tunic and played
with her breasts. Pinching and pulling on her nipples he chuckled to himself.
He liked them to hate his touch. It was more fun for him.

Turning he walked over to the girl hanging upside down. He selected several
single birch rods from the barrel of brine water and tied them together.
Laughing he began whipping her front and back with the rods as hard as he could.
Her body writhed and jerked in agony with each strike of the rods. Red lines
appeared and blood dripped slowly from each of the cuts. He soon began on her
inner thighs and her exposed pussy. The birch rods pummeled her tender sex. He
went back to her ass and breasts until all three areas were bright red and
welted.

"Please pleaaaaaaaasssssssee no more I beeeeggggg you.
AAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee." Her screams were growing
fainter as she strained her voice.

The sweat and the salt from the brine soaked rods made each of the cuts hurt
worse. It was not enough for Ragnor; he had her sponged down with the brine
water. This set her screaming to a higher pitch. Ragnor was hard again. He
ordered one of his men to continue birching her while he watched. He turned and
pointed to one of the naked female slaves and motioned her to kneel before him.
She hurriedly obeyed, too afraid not to do his bidding.
,…………………………………………………………..
Meanwhile in the pub, plans were being made for the coming attack. Men were
going to be dispatched to all the tunnels. The attack would come from all
directions. Thomas looked up as one of his slaves was walking out the front door
of the pub.

"YOU! Where do you think you are going?" He shouted to her.

"N-n-n-no where Master." Thomas stared at her.

"Exactly right slut, get your ass back in here and serve the food. Where is the
other slut?" The girl shook her head and shrugged. Thomas studied her as she
hurried to obey him. Then he caught sight of the other slave. Only her back but
that was good enough.

"Thomas, you do not trust them do you?" I inquired. He shook his head no. I
turned and went into the kitchen. I had seen both girls enter but now there was
only one. I smiled and slipped on my leather gloves. I grabbed the first girl by
her hair and jerked her head back.

"I want answers slut and I want them now. I pulled at the neck of her shift and
bared her breasts. Picking up the tongs I applied them to her nipples. She
moaned loudly.

"Where is the other slave and are you one of our spies?"  She did not answer.
She just stared at me. I stuck the tongs into the fire of the wood stove. This
time when I applied them her scream was sweet. I gripped and twisted the
tortured tip." She was no fun. She told me yes she was a spy and the other girl
had gone downstairs.  I hit her over the head with a rolling pin and knocked her
out. I wanted no trouble from her.

I thought to call for Raider but didn't know how much time I would have. I moved
slowly and silently down the steps. I heard the squeal of Horace; it was high
pitched and sort of gurgling. Then I heard Beulah.

"NO! You bitch NO. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.
AAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEE."  I moved forward so I could see
who was there. It was the girl I had seen earlier. She opened Celeste's cell.

"Selena! Oh thank heaven you got away from him. Are you alright?" Celeste spoke
in an excited voice. " Hurry free me and let us be gone.

"I don't think so sister dear." Selena's voice sounded so sarcastic. "I think
that right there is just fine for what I have to do."

"SELENA!" Celeste's voice went up an octave. "What do you mean?"

"You never were too bright were you? First you fucked around with Raider's
ponies and got yourself royally tortured by that bitch D'elle. Then branded and
sent out as a dung slut. How disgusting. I on the other hand have been living
quite well. Ragnor may not be much to look at but he will be ruler soon. I will
be his queen. When he finds out I have killed his cousin and her husband, then
you and Morgana the slut bitch upstairs. Oh and the other little kitchen slave
too. Then when he wins, D'elle will be ours to torture and Raider will be dead
along with that pub owner upstairs and Lord Oak." Selena smiled smugly at her
sister.

"You are the one that is not overly bright sister. Look at all Ragnor has done
to the slaves and his family. You honestly think he cares about you? He cares
for no one but D'elle. He wants her as his Queen." Celeste shook her head. "To
think I have done all this so you would not suffer. You are right I am stupid.
Go on get it over with."

"Gladly my sweet sister." I watched as the girl raised her hand. The straight
razor flashed in the light from outside the cell. Her snarl turned to a yelp of
pain as I used the crystal whip to knock the razor from her hand. That soon
turned to a gasp then a growling snarl as she turned to run at me.

I lashed out at her face and she screeched and kept on coming. I turned the whip
on high and struck her several times in the face and breasts. She dropped to her
knees holding her face. I did not trust her and continued to whip her. She
writhed on the floor with each blow and when I looked up there was Raider along
with Thomas and Lord Oak. I smiled.

"Meet celeste's sister selena, she came to kill celeste and the others. Now, now
Raider please don't scowl at me. I tried to yell but there was so much noise out
there. I had to get to her."  He stared at me for a very long time.

"When will you learn not to be so impulsive? Do you think I issue orders for the
fun of it? Do you think I do so to be mean to you?" He shook his head.

"No, my friend and Liege, but there was no time. I had the whip and after all it
is only a woman." I rolled my eyes as Thomas and Lord Oak both agreed with me.
Raider saw me and began laughing.

"What if it had been a man?" he asked with a smirk on his face.

"Why then I would have hurried and called to you of course. I am after all only
a woman and I could not dare hope to best a man."  I smiled my most innocent
smile at him. He shook his head and as he passed me he smacked my butt.  He
reached down and grabbed the girl by her hair and pulled her to her feet.

"I don't have time for this shit." She tried to hit him but he merely jerked her
around by her hair. He dragged her over to the rack and slammed her down on it.
In seconds he had her hands chained to the top of it and Thomas and Lord Oak
chained her feet wide apart.

He turned the wheel and stretched her taut. While this was going on I walked to
the cells containing Horace and Beulah. Both were dead. Horace lay with his
belly slashed open and his penis sliced off. Beulah was cut from neck to crotch.
Next to her on the floor laid Ulysses King. The smell of death rose and I closed
the door. I turned as selena cried out. Raider was attaching the clamps to her
nipples and clit. Thomas gave her the shot of awake to keep her alert.

"Now tell me what I want to know and you wont have to do this."  The girl looked
at him stoically.

"Go ahead and kill me. I will die a hero." She spit out at him Raider laughed at
her.

"The crystal power does not kill. You will wish yourself dead but it won't kill.
As for being a hero, no it won't happen. We won't tell. He pressed the button
sending the current into her body. Selena gasped then let out a blood-curdling
scream. We watched as her body strained to free itself from the pain. When he
released the button she gasped again.

Her respite was short lived for he hit her with another wave of pain. He would
let up for a few seconds then turn on the current again. She held up for quite
awhile then told all there was to know. He leaned close to her and spoke softly.

"I have not finished with you as yet. I have plans for you. You are the worst
kind of scum there is. You turn on your sister after she sacrificed for you. You
were going to kill her. You will be very sorry little slut. " He chuckled as he
walked away. "Thomas would you be so kind as to chain her in a cell."

"Oh sure, no problem there Raider my friend. I've one more where there are no
dead bodies in them." Thomas moved off mumbling.

Once she was secured we locked the cell door and the one containing celeste. A
guard was stationed in the cellar to ward off any further attacks. We arrived
upstairs to find that Lord Frederick's men had arrived and theresa was pouting
because she had not been there to assist Raider.

"I promise you will be called to assist me next time little sadistic fairy
girl." Raider shook his head and chuckled to himself.  This at least had her
smiling. She was also mumbling to herself. She did not realize that she was
getting louder and louder as she went. Her feet were swinging back and forth as
she sat on the table and she was twisting her shift at the same time.

"I just don't see why I can't stay with MiLady. She is only going to the first
entrance and there will be guards there. What if they come back and try to
kidnap me here? Then where would I be? Poor little slave fairy, left all alone
here to worry about her Master and friends. Who will assist MiLady? I just don't
know how she will manage without me. Why I can do many things. I am very
helpful. I don't like being far away from all the goings on. It just isn't
right." She looked up when Lord Frederick stood in front of her.

Her smile lit up the room and he found himself smiling back at her.

"ta ray saaa," he said in his Maltese accent, "You are my property, my slave,
and I will not have you that close to the danger. I would be worrying about you
and watching for you and I could get myself killed. Do you wish this?" He stood
looking at her. She did not disappoint him.

"OH MASTER NO! OH you mustn't get yourself killed whatever would I do without
you. I would be heartbroken. I will do as you wish Master I was only talking to
myself." She looked around as everyone in the room started laughing.

"My slave when you talk to yourself perhaps you should not shout it so loud."
Her blush was instantaneous and she hid her face in the front of Lord Fredericks
jacket. He didn't seem to mind.
……………………………………………………….
Ragnor listened as the girl shrieked. She had been taken down and laid on the

rack. The men had stretched her to the point of dislocating her shoulders and
hips. He stood up pulling his limp cock from the slave girls' mouth and walked
across the floor. He looked at the girl on the rack. Her naked body glistening
in the glow from the crystal torches made him smile. He ran his hands over the
cuts, down her sides then cupped her abused sex.

"This is all you are good for," he said as he shoved his fingers in and out of
her pussy. "You are not even smart enough to get me information. How dare you?"
He walked away and came back with a branding iron. Its white-hot tip gave off a
lot of heat. He said nothing and shoved the iron down on her just above her
pubic bone. At first all you heard was a sizzling sound and her indrawn breath.
Then her agonizing scream filled the room.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHNOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!"
She seemed to go on forever before it turned into a moan as he removed the iron.
The word WHORE was branded into her flesh. He did not seem satisfied with that
and continued to brand the young woman. He branded slut on her left breast and
cunt on the right. Fuck was branded on her left ass cheek and me was branded on
her right one. He put his brand on the soles of her feet.

"Put her in the cage. I might want to brand her some more.  Put the other one in
the box until morning. I am tired and in the need of sleep." Confident that his
orders would be obeyed he looked over the women and chose a young girl that he
had not yet tried out. He liked that she began crying right away. He dragged her
down the tunnel to his private little hole in the wall.
………………………………………………………….
The pub was crowded with men. Many were in the stables and still more in the
barbershop. All had been fed and all were preparing for the battle the next day.
It would not be easy to fight them in the tunnels but in the great rooms under
the city they would put their weapons to a test. Swords and crystal stingers,
Raider had laughed.

"What a combination. Using Swords from the old and ancient times and stingers
from the now, an interesting way to fight your enemy." I could see the irony of
this too.

"Personally I am very glad we have the Crystal Stingers. Leave it to us to make
something that doesn't kill into something that does. Just remember they have
them too. I am tired of wars. I hope this will bring peace to our sector but I
fear that it will not. It is late and we need rest. I bid you all a good night."
I left the pub and went upstairs to my quarters. I laid out my things for the
morning and took a quick shower. I braided my hair in one braid down my back and
dressed in all but my shirt and boots. I lay back on the bed knowing that sleep
would not come.
……………………………………………….
Ragnor woke slowly. He looked over at the girl next to him. She had been fun
last night all her squealing and crying. She was so tight and her mouth was
small as well. He looked at her nipples and liked that they were so swollen.
That meant they were nice and tender and when he pinched or bit them as he
fucked her she would give him a good ride. He smiled as he fastened the hook to
her bound wrists. He was in the mood for some fun before he tortured the girl he
had had to neglect yesterday.

He raised the little sluts arms and woke her by pinching both swollen nipples.
She came awake with a scream and Ragnor kissed her.

"Time for more fun you stupid cow." He ignored her protests and pleas. He raised
her up then slid his legs between hers so she straddled him with her facing his
feet. His cock was already hard and he lowered her down onto him.

"Now whore, you will fuck me and you are going to give me a really good ride."

He laid back and waited for her to move. He propped pillows behind him and
reached for a cigar. Once it was lit he grinned and put the burning tip to her
ass.

"YEEEEEEEOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWW" She screeched and jerked her hips. He roared with
laughter and took a puff before pressing the tip to her other butt cheek. He was
having too much fun. The girl was sobbing as he began burning her back with the
cigar. Her screams and pleading excited him.  He liked what he was doing so much
he came and was instantly hard again.

"Turn around slut and be quick. You heard me girl spin around here and face me."
He groaned with pleasure as she turned and faced him. His hard cock never left
her.  He lit another cigar and told her to get fucking. He pinched and pulled on
her nipples as he burned her breasts with the cigar.

The girl begged and begged for mercy but Ragnor had none to give her. He laughed
and burned her belly and thighs as she tried to do his bidding. When he had cum
inside her again he pushed her from him and lowered her to the floor. She lay
curled and sobbing at his feet. He reached down and pulled her head up.

"Now slut, I need to piss. You open your mouth and you suck it all down and
don't you spill a drop or I will stick this cigar in your eye." He roared with
laughter at her look of both horror and fear. He loved that she shuddered as she
obeyed him. He was still laughing as he finished relieving himself and got up
from the bed. He tossed the rope down and pulled on his pants and boots.  He
never looked back at the retching girl on the floor.

In the main room he ordered a slave to bring him coffee. He moved to the box
that the girl was in and opened it. She blinked at the light. He reached in and
grabbed her by the hair and pulled her out. He ripped off the rest of her
clothing and dragged her over to a table that had several restraints on it. He
bent her over the table and secured her wrists to the opposite side.

"I think that pretty ass of yours needs some warming up."  He picked up a wooden
paddle and set to work. Each loud smack of the paddle was followed by a grunt
from her. He paused here and there to drink the coffee held by the slave that
brought it to him. After nearly thirty strokes he jerked her head back and
licked the tears from her cheek. His fetid breath nauseated her as he clamped
his fleshy lips over hers and slobbered his kiss on her. Her look of disgust
angered him and he dropped the paddle and picked up a leather strap.

He worked her back and ass and thighs with the strap laying more than fifty
lashes on the helpless girl. He wanted her to scream but so far she had merely
groaned and cried. He would teach her. He picked up a long thin flexible rod and
began whipping her ass with it. The cane cut into her tender ass cheeks and he
at last got her to cry out in pain.  Laughing now he poured brine water over her
ass. This brought the screams he loved to hear.

Ragnor untied her wrists and turned her on her back and retied them. The harsh
wood made her back and buttocks hurt more. Her ass was on the edge of the table
and he pulled her legs apart and back then tied them to the front legs of the
table. This left her totally exposed. He grinned at her as he fingered her pussy
and fondled her breasts. He turned his head and told the girl to fetch
something. When she returned he tightened a strap around the base of each breast
so they looked like round balls.

He picked up a thin whip and began whipping her breasts and down her belly and
her exposed inner thighs. She gritted her teeth as the pain grew with each new
stripe. That wasn't enough for him. He used the strap on her, slashing at her
breasts over and over again. Her nipples stood out bruised and swollen. Then he
concentrated on her sex. This brought a screeching cry from her. He loved it and
struck her there and on her thighs.
………………………..
While Ragnor tortured the girl Raider and his men were taking their places. His
group would go through the main tunnel to Ragnor's underground room. The rest
would enter through the other tunnels. All entrances were blocked and guarded by
those loyal to Raider.  I bid my friends well on their task ahead. Raider was
not happy that I had come this close. I assured him I would move back to the
rise above the tunnel. That wasn't good enough. He sent his Capt. Of the Guard
Roark with me.

Roark started to protest but one look at Raider's face told him not to. He
nodded and left with me to the rise along with two other soldiers. Together we
watched them enter the tunnel.

"I am sorry he made you come with me Roark." I tried to smooth things over. It
was to no avail.

"Women like you should be chained to the bed and left there." To say I was taken
aback is putting it mildly.

"HOW dare you. When Raider hears of your conduct", my words were cut off as he
backhanded me. I staggered back and wiped the blood from my cut lip.

"Shut up you slut. My brother Ragnor will see to Raider. Then you will be his
and when he tires of you then I will have my fun with you." I said nothing. I
simply bided my time. He took my crystal whip and fastened it to his belt. My
arms were tied behind me and he gagged me with my scarf. He pulled me along with
him and I put up just enough of a struggle so he would not become suspicious.

It seemed there was a hidden entrance. One none of us knew about. It is odd the
things that come to mind when in a dangerous position. We had left Morgana tied,
as she had been most of the day and all of the night. I was pulled into the
tunnel and ordered to silence. Who knew that Ragnor had a brother that looked
like Roark? Ragnor was ugly whereas Roark was a tall good-looking man. I
wondered how many brothers he had.

……………………………
Ragnor laughed at the girls' struggles as he used the strap on her. He then
decided on something new. He went over to a chest and came back with a box.

"Now for some real fun."  The girl gasped in horror as he showed her the long
needles and the large thick safety pins. She shook her head and started to
scream. He laughed and brought a strap around her head to hold her to the table.
Laughing he set to work on the girl. He showed her slightly smaller safety pins.
Smiling he gripped her lips together and pulled then slowly and painfully pushed
the pin through both lips. The girl screamed as he continued to place safety
pins across her lips. Seven in all, her lips barely opened and her studied her
for a moment before sliding a pin through her nose from one side to another.

Tears and blood mingled and fell down the side of her face and onto the table.
Ragnor patted her cheek then began pulling on her nipple.

"MMMMM Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo" she managed to get out.

He merely laughed and pushed one of the larger safety pins into her nipple.

"AAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEE!!" He
pushed another into the same nipple so that they crossed. He was giggling like
the demented man he was as he repeated this to the other nipple. Her screams
delighted him.

He began playing with her sex and she began struggling more and more.

"Ah, you know what I am going to do now don't you?  HE HE HE HE HE HE." He
sounded like a small child as he picked up another safety pin. "I shall teach
you to keep secrets from me."  He was so into his "playing" with his victim he
forgot that there was no gold.

He slid the pin into her labia and slowly pushed it through the tender flesh.
Then he pushed it through her clit which brought him shrill screeching. Then
into the other tender sex lip until it came out the other side and he could
fasten it. He continued to seal her pussy with the thick safety pins. When he
was done she had ten safety pins closing her up. The girl was moaning now her
pain obvious on her face. Laughing he poured brine water and alcohol on her
face, breasts and sex. She let out one loud shriek and fainted. Ragnor turned
and shrugged.

"Some women are such wimps. Get me some food you whore!" The men laughed and the
women cringed. Ragnor grinned as he walked to the table. He liked their fear. He
looked up as the passage to the hidden tunnel opened. Swords were drawn as Roark
came into the room. Ragnor's face turned from concern to a smile then to a grin
as I was pushed forward.

"Well, well, well, the fair D'elle herself. How delightful to see you my dear."
He bowed low and I merely sneered at him.

"You will have time later Ragnor to amuse yourself with the slut. Right now
Raider is coming through the tunnels to you." He no sooner had the words out and
Raider was there his sword at Ragnor's back.

"Correction, I am here. Surrender or die."  Ragnor chuckled and pointed at me.

I merely nodded to Raider but I could tell he knew what I was about.

"Roark has my crystal whip, Raider. You be careful he that he doesn't take your
sword from you with it." I looked scared as I said it.

"D'ELLE!!!!!! He would not have thought of it." Raider made as if to step back
and Roark smiled and held it out in front of him. He pressed the button and
nothing happened. He pressed it again and he stiffened no sound escaped his lips
then poof he was gone. Just dust on the floor and my crystal whip of course.
Ragnor was furious. He lunged for his sword a few feet away.

Raider had let him. His eyes were cold and dark as he watched Ragnor. He could
see me as I used a tool on my belt to cut through the ropes on my wrists. I
stooped and picked up my crystal whip. I put it on full and the first man that
moved screamed as I struck where it would do the most good. Only three of us
knew that Raider was going in ten minutes before the others would start into the
tunnels. Not even Roark knew this. Ragnor turned and raised his sword.

"This time you won't be so lucky. I will split you in two." He swung the sword.

"I don't think so Ragnor. This time I will simply take your head."  The sword
fight seemed to go on forever. I stood back making sure no one interfered with
either of them. Each sported wounds and I waited my eyes on Raider and the room.
The two men did not even notice as Lord Fredericks men came through the hidden
tunnel. He pushed theresa to me and she clung to me, her eyes round with fear. I
noticed a rope burn on her neck but turned my attention back to Raider and
Ragnor.

The men were tiring but Raider pressed on. Then Ragnor lunged in anger at him
and Raider brought his sword down. As promised Ragnor's head rolled across the
floor. I hurried to Raider as he leaned against the table.  I paid no attention
to his protests and ripped open his shirt. The worst wound gushed blood, and he
had lost much. I used the healing wand I always carried to stop the bleeding.
The med tube would be needed to restore him fully. Then he would need to rest
for a day or two.

The men, led by Thomas and Lord Oak had done their job well. All of Ragnor's men
had been contained. It was then that I saw the girl tied to the table. Her eyes
were open and filled with pain.

'This will hurt. I have no choice in that but I will heal you later. There will
be no scars. Are you ready?"  She nodded and I began with the pin in her nose.

Then I began on the ones in her lips, which were hard to unfasten. I asked
theresa if she knew the girls name. But she shook her head no. When I had taken
the last of the ones from her lips she whispered to me.

"My name is ruth." I smiled and winked.

"Just a bit longer ruthie." Poor ruthie was sobbing by the time I got rid of all
of the pins and released her from the table. I held her for a few minutes and
one of Raiders men found her a warm cloak to put on. I turned her over to
theresa and her gentle ministrations.

It seemed like the battle had only been going for a few minutes. When in fact it
had been several hours. Many of Ragnor's men were dead the rest had surrendered.
The women would be sorted out later and until we knew who was loyal and who was
not, they would be isolated. The dead would stay underground. Raider was going
to collapse the tunnels. Thomas had a slight head wound and Lord Oak a rather
rakish looking cut on his cheek. I asked if he was going to keep it or not.

"Let us leave this place. We will put the bodies of the others in with them.
There has been enough of the stench of death to last a lifetime." Raider smiled
at his friends and his men. "Well done all of you. Well done indeed."

It was a battle weary group that headed back to town. Once in the pub the wounds
of all were seen to. We made ruthie go first and the med tube healed all but the
memory of her ordeal. That was something she would have to do for herself. I
thought perhaps she was much stronger than she appeared to be. Raider was last.
We were all sworn not to talk about the battle until he was done in the tube. He
would be weak for a day maybe two. Then he would be back to his usual robust
self. As I started to close the tube he stopped me.

"Does this mean I can't you know?" He smiled so innocently.

"NO it merely means she has to be on top and you can't do it ten times in a
night for two nights. You will have to cut that in half." He nodded as if I were
serious. I shut the tube and he shut his eyes and slept. I stood near not
letting anyone close to the tube.

Two hours later night had fallen. It was cold and dreary. The bodies from the
cellar had been tossed in with Ragnor and his men. Morgana had been given the
choice of death and burial with them or continue on as a prisoner. She chose
prisoner. When asked celeste chose death. Her guilt over betraying everyone for
her sister was too much for her. She chose the stinger and a swift death.  Then
Raider started with me. I raised my hands.

"Ordinarily I would agree with you Raider. I would have said yes I should have
stayed at the pub with theresa. However, it did not matter. Had I been there the
outcome might have been quite different. Tell him theresa." She looked at me in
shock. Her lip quivered and she looked tearfully around the room.

"I tried to be obedient my Master. I did. I really did. I stayed in my room.
Then I heard your two men say they wished this was all over and Ragnor would
rule again. That they could rape all the women they wanted then but that you, my
Master, would not allow it. Then I heard them say they were going to kill me. I
didn't know what to do. They came into the room and put a rope around my neck
and I used the ring on them both. I - well I --- sort of  um sort of grabbed
them by the balls. There I said it. Yep, I did. Right by the balls first one
then the other. Amazing how well that works. Then I hit them over the head with
the baseball bat I keep under the bed. I hurried to tell MiLady and saw that
Roark hit her and tie her up and I saw the other men. They were going to follow
him in. Must have been a hundred of them but MY MASTER stopped them. I ran as
fast as I could to tell him. Whew. That's it." She smiled and wiped away her
tears her legs had not stopped swinging.

"So you see my dear Raider, it would have made no difference whether I stayed or
not. I am sorry I made you worry. It was not my intention to do so." I smiled at
him. "Now all the tales and retelling can wait. We are all tired and fed. Let us
be off to bed. Since theresa will be with Lord Frederick you will sleep in her
room ruthie."

"Oh no MiLady I could not. I will sleep by the fireplace if it is alright with
Sir Thomas." She smiled shyly.

"It may be fine with him but not with me. Now come along."  She smiled and
followed me. I gave her one of my old warm gowns. It was too long for her and
she laughed but curled up in the warm bed and was quickly asleep. I was not long
after her.

I woke to the aroma of coffee the next morning. I smiled at ruthie and
gratefully accepted the cup. I told her I would shower and join the group
downstairs.

Raider had been up for several hours. He had been through the tunnels and had
gone through Ragnor's personal belongings. The girl he had raped and burned was
still there and Raider had brought her back. I studied his face for a minute.

"So, how many brothers? He looked up at me and started to laugh.

"I hate when you read my mind like that. There were seven in all each by a
different mother. Five are dead. Two live. Both it seems are quite barbaric. The
one is peculiar in some manner but it does not say how. Something about him
enjoying both worlds. I don't know if any lived to carry the news of Ragnor's
death to them or not. I cannot worry about what might be I have to deal with the
what is." I nodded.

"I say we go to the farm. You will like parts of it. A few you won't. It has
grown much and we are very self-sufficient. Besides you need a rest and you
promised.  You all are invited. Lord Oak you can bring Morgana with you if you
like. You as well Thomas you must come along. I would like you to come along as
well ruthie. Unless of course you have family here or a reason to stay."

It was agreed upon that all would come. Morgana would ride the horse the entire
way there. The prisoners would pull the wagons. The women from the underground
tunnels were turned over to the town to be sorted out.

Two days later a more refreshed group of people set out for Demongate Farm.
Raider had pierced selena's nose and hooked a lead from it to the wagon. He had
left her naked and her arms tied behind her back. She had no choice but to
follow us on our new adventure.