Tuesday, July 17, 2018

Triumph Chapter 8

"The enemy is coming through the Pass!" Amelie exclaimed to her assembled troops. "The Sandoran army is moving to stop them, and we'll come down on the other side to hit their baggage train and cut off their retreat. Any questions?" 

"Yes," Phillipe's voice rang out in the deathly silence of the army, "where is your armor?" 

Amelie's heart stopped, and for a moment she was paralyzed with the fear of being unarmored before battle. The fear turned to horror a moment later when another voice cried out, "Where are your clothes, whore?" 

She looked down in shock at her naked breasts and flushed deeply as the full realization struck her: she was standing completely naked in front of her entire army! She wilted in shame and wrapped one arm over her breasts and covered her slit with the hand from the other. 

"Slut!" 

"Whore!" 

"Let us seem them!" 

"You know you want to show them off!" 

A tremor ran through her, and her fingers inadvertently clutched her sex harder. The digits sank into her warm flesh as she cast her eyes down to the ground. A moment later another sickening realization struck: I'm wet. I'm getting turned on! 

Before she even knew what was happening, her fingers were pushing in and out of her slit. Her other arm drew back, allowing her to cup and knead one of her breasts as her army looked on. Their words crashed in her ears and while part of her did find something in their derision exciting, it was the feeling of being so totally exposed that caused her heart to rush. 

"Ah...they're look at me" she murmured, "they can see everything!" Amelie threw her head back again and moaned in pleasure as the heel of her palm pressed against her clit. Two of her fingers plunged in and out of her body, wading through the slick walls as they twisted about inside her hungry pussy. 

"The bitch loves it!" 

"She was going to lead us into battle?" 

"The slut's only good for one thing!" 

In a flash she was surrounded. Her soldiers' armor was gone, leaving only naked flesh and hard cocks. Burly hands grabbed her arms and pulled them to her sides, preventing her from touching herself. "You want us to look? Then let us look. Let us see everything!" 

Amelie's arms were pulled behind her, leaving her even more exposed from the front. She could feel thousands of eyes on her, devouring her flesh and memorizing every detail of her naked body. "Ah!" A near orgasmic tremor ran through her as she was shamed and degraded before them. 

A moment later a pair of strong, rough hands seized her tits and began to squeeze. Another hand shot between her legs and began to rub her slit. "By the Abyss, she's wetter than Cumberland Falls!" Laughter rang out, and more hands reached out to inspect how wet she was. 

"I got the Princess-Knight's cunt juices on my finger!" 

"Let me get some!" 

"I want a taste!" 

"Hah, sweet as honey!" 

"Just like a tart!" 

The feeling of some many soldiers touching her pussy and commenting on her taste drove her to the brink of another orgasm. Amelie shuddered in delight, thrusting her hips outwards, trying to find more fingers to rub against. "Mmm! Oh! Ah! Yes! Touch me! I need it!" She couldn't believe the words were coming out of her mouth, nor could she deny that they were her own. 

Her body burned, desperate for release, desperate to be touched and felt all over. Amelie groaned as fingers began to pinch her, nipping at her ass, tugging on her nipples, breasts, and even her clit. All around her the Falcon Guard took liberties with her body, touching her however and wherever they wanted. 

Suddenly she found herself on her hands and knees, straddling the cock of a thickset sergeant. It slammed into her without warning, pushing deep inside her folds and filling her hot snatch with the commoner's meat. The soldiers surrounding her took a hold of her and began to bounce her on hiscock, making her ride it as she moaned like a wanton whore. 

Her nether lips wrapped tightly around the base of the cock inside her and kissed the faceless man's pelvis. She started to grind her hips, working the shaft inside her as she eagerly rode atop him. Each time she stirred his cock its bulbous head rubbed against her sensitive inner walls and made her cry out in pleasure. 

But Amelie's lusty cries were quickly muffled as one of her soldiers shoved his prick between her lips. She moaned hotly, sending little vibrations down the length of his cock as she started to suck. Her hips continued to rock into the man beneath her, humping the sergeant as she eagerly sucked off the cock before her. 

The soldier grabbed her head and wrapped his rough, dirty fingers into her brown locks. He gripped them tightly and yanked hard as he slammed his own hips into Amelie's face. His cock launched forward, pushing right into the Queen's throat and sliding down deep, making it bulge visibly. He started to thrust his hips, fucking her face with short, rapid thrusts making sure each time he plunged in that his pelvis touched her lips and his balls smacked her chin. 

"Fuck! She's really into this!" 

"I always knew she was a whore!" 

"Why else would she surround herself with soldiers if she didn't want to get fucked like a whore?" 

Is that true? She wondered as she caressed the man's balls while nuzzling the base of his shaft with her lips. Is must be. Why else would I be enjoying it so much? The realization turned her on even more, and she began sucking and fucking even harder. She was rewarded moments later with two blasts of cum: one deep in her womb and the other right down her throat. 

"You like that don't you?" One of the faceless men in the crowd said. "Tell us you how much you want our cum!" 

"I love it! I want your seed! Spray it all over me with your big dicks! Fill me up with your cum! Shower me with your jizz!" She didn't even know where the words were coming from before they spilled out of her mouth. Amelie had never talked like that in her life, and yet here she was begging for the depraved treatment as vulgarly as possible. 

She was rewarded a moment later with a torrent of thick globs of gooey cum. All around her cocks were erupting and depositing their sticky loads over her face, across her breasts, and into her hair. She could feel it running down her spine and cooling on the round curves of her ass. She contorted in pleasure, twisting and panting as she burned hotly, desperate for relief. It was almost granted to her as she looked down and saw a long string of cum hanging off her erect nipple. 

"Yessss! Thank you! Mmm!" Amelie's long fingers scooped up the seed and shoved it into her mouth. She ran her tongue over her digits and between them as she sucked them clean. However, right as she savored her men's thick, musty cream, she found herself on her back, her legs up in the air with her head between her knees. 

Three men knelt around her head, stroking their long cocks while a fourth positioned himself above her. "Fucking slut! Parading before us naked, covered in cum? I should have done this years ago!" Philippe growled as he lined his cock up with the puckered entrance to her ass. 

Amelie's heart pounded as her eyes locked onto Philippe's cock. Philippe was her protégé, her most trusted lieutenant. Seeing the look of disdain in his eyes struck her to the core. Yet at the same time, feeling his cock sinking into her bottom sent a ripple of pleasure coursing through her body. The iron rod blazed with heat, and felt so good lodged deep inside her bowels. 

"Ah! Oh yes that feels good! Fuck me Philippe!" She cried out lustfully as she rocked her hips upward, trying to take even more of his cock inside her. The men kneeling around her head began to jerk their manhoods, and from her vantage point she had no doubt where exactly their loads were going to fall. She didn't care though, no, she relished the idea that she was about to take a direct facial from three of her soldiers. 

"By the Abyss you're a whore!" Philippe cried out as he watched Amelie writhe and moan. Reaching into a pouch, he pulled out a gold coin with her father's profile stamped on it. "What would your father say? Whore!" 

"Whore! Whore! Whore!" All around her the soldiers called out as they pulled out gold coins and flicked them at her. 

Amelie flinched as the coins rained down on her, splashing in the streaks of cum decorating her body. She was forced to look at the profile of her father as she was anally fucked by her subordinate. What would he say if he saw me now? She wondered. That I'm a disgrace. That I'm a weak woman, that I never should have been allowed to rule. "Oooooh!" Amelie cried out again as another tremor of pleasure rocked her body. 

Philippe began to drill down into her, squatting up and down as he plunged in and out of her tight ass. With each thrust his cock seemed to get bigger, and filled up her backside more and more. Soon the backs of his thighs were roughly colliding with her royal arse as he slammed up and down into her. "Take it! Take that cock, bitch!" 

Pressure began to mount inside her as the friction of his shaft pumping in and out fanned the flames building inside her. Her head began to spin, and her vision began to go black as her orgasm drew nearer and nearer. 

As the pleasure began to crest, she snapped awake and shot off her cot, "Philippe!" 

**** 

Hounds bayed in the night as Jasmara tightly hugged the thick branch of a tree. Torches flickered in the distance, rapidly closing in as the Thestan hunters chased down their prey. The orc princess clutched her spear tightly as her heart pounded in her chest. Daniels is looking for me, and I don't want to think about what he'll do if he catches me. 

Minutes later the pack of dogs surrounded the tree she was hiding in, barking up a storm to draw their masters over as if signaling a treed animal. But I'm not a foxshe thought, a savage smile forming on her lips. 

Just as the hunting party drew up on the tree, Jasmara jumped down, plunging her spear deep into the chest of the nearest soldier. With a savage scream she twirled and flung him into the next Thestan over. She delivered a crushing backhand to one of the hounds, sending the dog scampering away with a sharp whimper. 

"Get -ulk!" One of the soldier's choked as a garrote was wrapped around his throat and pulled tight. Horace forced the soldier to the floor as the wire cut into his neck. 

One of the Thestans turned towards Horace with sword drawn, but before he could strike him down a knife flew from the darkness and buried itself in his chest. The rest of the Queen's Shadow closed in, surrounding the Thestan soldiers. 

Jasmara ripped her spear out of the soldier's chest and spun around to plant it in the stomach of the Thestan she had knocked to the ground. She gave it a wicked twist, before stomping on his chest to gain the leverage needed to pull it back out again. Blood flew through the air as she swung it again and slashed it at the next Thestan. 

The warrior darted back, deftly avoiding the spear but falling into the sword of another of the Queen's Shadow. The tip burst through his stomach, and with an earsplitting scream fell down to his knees. The Shadow quickly pulled the sword out and swung again, severing his head and silencing the Thestan's death knell. 

The hunting party was quickly falling, but before the rest fell one decided to take a final shot at the Princess. He charged forward and thrust his spear at Jasmara's side. The tip dug into the leather of the armor, leaving a deep gouge but deflecting enough off her side to avoid punching through to her flesh. She swung her fist and clocked him across the jaw, then swung the shaft of the spear like a quarterstaff and smashed it into his ribs. 

Jasmara scowled in disappointment as his jerkin absorbed the impact and denied her the rewarding crack of a shattered rib. The Thestan countered by chopping the spear at her, but she easily blocked it with the shaft of the spear. She quickly followed up by kicking his knee, and as he crumpled she bashed him in the chest and sent him sprawling to the earth. 

Now prone, he was quickly dispatched by the formidable orc princess. With her opponent dead, Jasmara scanned the battlefield to see that the Queen's Shadow had dispatched the rest of the Thestens. "Good work, men. We can't afford to leave any survivors." 

The smile Horace gave her sent a shiver down her spine. "You don't need to tell us, Your Highness. We have to keep moving, there will be more where they came from." Jasmara fell in with the Shadows as they formed a single file and began to wind their way through the woods, jogging as fast as they could in the light of the moon. 

All around them, torches flickered in the distance as more search parties fanned out through the woods looking for them. Killing the first group didn't end the threat she faced. She also knew that somewhere out there in the woods, Daniels was looking for her. I hope he finds me, she thought with a savage grin. 

They still had at least another league to go before reaching the Warne river, and once they got across that they would be safe. Detachments from her brother's cavalry would be waiting for them, with horses to carry them swiftly away to their main camp. 

As each minute passed, her twin feelings of worry and relief battled all the more fiercely. She could hear the search parties getting closer, but she also started to hear the sound of the river. Jasmara tried to calculate in her head whether they would make it before the search parties caught up to them or not. By the time they broke free of the tree line her lungs were starting to burn from the swift pace. 

A loud thud followed by a strangled groan cut through the silence as the Queen's Shadow leading the file fell back with a javelin sticking out of his chest. Dark figures sprung up from the ground, weapons drawn as they fanned out to block Jasmara's retreat. 

"Throw down your weapons, Princess" Phillippe called out, "you can't escape. Surrender now and your men will be spared." 

"So you can rape me in front of a castle of my brother's men? Would you surrender in my place?" Jasmara snarled back, gripping her spear tighter. There was no way she would willingly surrender, especially not with freedom so close at hand. 

Phillippe scowled, knowing that this wasn't going to go easily. Their own behavior had brought them here, though that hardly mattered now. She was right, he knew. He wouldn't surrender in her place. Maybe it's time to end this whole sordid affair.Phillippe drew his second javelin and threw it before he had a chance to second guess himself. 

Jasmara's eyes widened in shock as the javelin flew through the air directly towards her face. He's trying to kill me! She instinctively began to turn, twisting just fast enough to avoid having it bury itself deep in her face. The bladed tip left a gash along her cheek before continuing on past her into the darkness. 

Without losing momentum she continued to rotate and brought her spear up and slammed it into the first soldier to rush towards her. It smashed through two ribs and burst his heart from the force of the impact. Jasmara planted her boot in his chest and kicked him off the end of her spear as she continued forward, closing in on Phillippe. 

The Thestan commander unslung his shield and drew his sword, meeting her head on as the rest of his forces engaged the Queen's Shadow. He blocked her jab with his shield, and then answered with his own. The length of Jasmara's spear kept him at a distance though, preventing his attack from getting close. It's ok though, I have time. She's already winded, and more search parties are already closing in. 

He parried the spear aside when she thrust it again, and then slammed his shield into the shaft of the spear, knocking it down. Before he could follow through Jasmara swung the spear low, forcing him to jump back to prevent it from cutting his legs. 

Jasmara growled in frustration as Phillippe fought defensively. We need to get past them before more Thestans arrive. Despite the urgency, she slowed down and refrained from pressing the attack so she could come up with a better tactic. She needed a rest anyway, after the earlier fight and the run. The two combatants couldn't circle each other, not with the rest of the battle raging around them. 

She feinted at Phillippe and then drew back as he made a weak counter. "Scared to fight me, Phillippe? You should be, after what you put me through." Jasmara growled at the Thestan as she feinted again. 

"Not I, Princess." Phillippe replied unconvincingly. "Besides, it was for the greater good. The city surrendered, there was no siege..." 

"And all the other times?" Her words lashed out like a whip as she feinted one more with the spear, and then jammed the base of the shaft into his knee. She grinned savagely as he grunted in pain and quickly swiped her spear again, slashing it down his face and leaving a long cut from his forehead down his cheek. "I owed you that one!" She gloated triumphantly. 

Phillippe scowled as blood rushed down his face, blinding his right eye. He quickly raised his shield as Jasmara tried to capitalize on his weakness by renewing her assault. He used it to deflect her thrust, and then punched her squarely across her wounded cheek. 

The cut on Jasmara's face opened wider and more blood spilled out where it dripped down her grey cheek and seeped into her armor. "Agh!" Jasmara recoiled in pain, so Phillippe charged forward and bashed her with his shield, knocking her to the ground. 

Phillippe thrust his sword down to finish her off but she parried it with her spear again. Jasmara slashed it back and forth, keeping him at bay, but each time she did she got more overextended and tired. I won't be able to keep this up forever! 

Jasmara's arms began to tire, and the spear started to dip. Phillippe readied his sword for another attack, but before he could strike an arrow struck him from behind. The head punched through his chain armor, but the metal links slowed it enough that it didn't break through his leather breastplate. The orc scouts, Jasmara thought in wonder, they must have crossed the river when they heard the battle! 

He spun around to see five orc warriors on horses charging up from the ford in the river and raised his shield just quickly enough to stop another arrow. They continued firing arrows, and his soldiers began to fall under the sudden onslaught. Phillippe looked around desperately, and saw the flickering of torches getting closer. I just need to hold on a little longer! 

A predatory grin formed on her lips as she saw Phillippe spin around to face the horsemen. Gripping her spear tightly, she launched herself up off the ground and slammed the spear forward and up, just below where the cuirass ended and into the base of his spine. Phillippe dropped to the ground like a stone and began to bleed out onto the earth. 

"Your Highness!" The lead orc trooper called out. "It's good to see you! Come along, we've got a horse, quickly!" 

One of the other riders brought her a horse, which she quickly mounted. "Oh it feels good to ride again! Let's go!" The rest of her rescuers quickly followed suit and jumped on horses and began galloping to the river. She could smell the rushing water as she charged towards it, eager to cross it into freedom. I'll get to see Belkor again! She didn't know if she'd hug him or hit him, but it was nice to have the options available to her. 

We've done it, we're free! She thought, a moment too soon. Before she reached the water an arrow sunk into her horse's eye and punctured its brain, killing it instantly.

Jasmara was flung from the horse as it fell to the ground. "Ooof!" She groaned in pain as she landed in the wet, muddy earth on the embankment of the river. 

"Princess!" Horace called out as he led his horse over. He held his arm out to grab her and scoop her up as he rode forward, but had to abandon the attempt at the last minute as another arrow sailed too close for comfort. 

"Not so fast, Princess!' 

Daniels! Jasmara rolled to her feet with a growl, then winced and faltered as her ankle nearly gave out beneath her. "Nnng!" I must have twisted something when I fell. I can still get him though! She began to hobble towards the former footman, who rapidly approached leading a large band of soldiers. 

"Oh I'm not going anywhere until I ram this spear so far up your ass I can pull it out your throat!" 

"Your Highness! We don't have time for this!" Horace called out, but before he could intervene he was under attack again. The entire rescue party was, and more horses began to fall as the Daniels' forces targeted the key to Jasmara's escape. 

Jasmara thrust her spear at Daniels, who easily turned away. The weakness of her ankle made her overextend, and she nearly fell to the ground again before pulling back at the last second. Fortunately, Daniels didn't capitalize on the slip to finish her. On the contrary, he seemed to be lazily playing with her. No doubt he wants to capture me again! She thought angrily. Her former servant wouldn't even give her the honor of a warrior's death. But he'll not take me alive if I can help it! 

Unfortunately, it looked like it might come to that sooner rather than later. Her rescuers were cut off and surrounded by a much larger force, and many of them were already exhausted from a long night of running and fighting. I can still take him with me though! 

Seeing that defeat was inevitable, she decided to use her hopefully superior strength to overwhelm her older human tormentor. Jasmara rushed into Daniels and grabbed his shield, giving it a sharp push to slam it back into him as she threw her whole weight into the wood. She succeeded in knocking him over, and they both tumbled to the ground. 

Daniels cried out in pain and tried to throw her off, but the weight of her body, armor, and the shield proved too much. He quickly changed focus, and tried to tilt the shield to use it for leverage to knock the orc princess off. 

She held on tightly though, and braced herself to avoid being cast off so easily. Instead, she planted her feet in the ground and lifted the shield up, before slamming it down into the ground. She smashed him this way several times, trying to concuss the human and render him unconscious. 

Unfortunately, the earth beside the river was soft and muddy, preventing her attack from hurting him too much. Seeing her favor one side, he kicked his foot out and slammed it directly into her injured ankle. Jasmara cried out and fell to a knee, inhaling sharply from the pain. 

Next, Daniels planted both feet on the inside of the shield and pushed, throwing Jasmara onto her back. She landed with a wet splat, and when she tried to scramble to her feet she slipped in the muck and fell over again. 

Not far away, Horace slid his sword through an enemy's stomach, and then turned to grab Jasmara by the arm and lift her up. "You have to get to the water, it's your only chance!" 

"It's too late for that, Horace." She grabbed him by the shirt. "Run me through with your sword. Don't let them take me again!" 

Horace looked aghast at the prospect. "Your Highness, I couldn't!" 

"You know what they're doing to me...what they'll do. I won't let them continue to use me against my family!" She cried out, grabbing for his sword and lining it up with her stomach. "Do it!" 

Horace tightened his grip. He had heard the stories of course, the Hestens had been making no effort to conceal them. On the contrary, they made sure everyone knew. Just as he began to push the sword forward a Thestan slammed into him, tackling him to the ground. 

"No!" The princess cried, before something heavy collided with the back of her head, and everything went dark. 

**** 

It was good to be home again after such a long trip. His warm, luxurious manse was a welcome change from tents and cots and flea-ridden inns. Drauken shrugged off his cloak and handed it to one of his servants, then approached the scroll box at the base of the stairs. It was filled with correspondence from merchants and contacts throughout the Kingdom but one scroll in particular caught his eye. 

What does the Princess-Knight have for me, he wondered as he picked up a tightly wound scroll sealed with an antelope on crossed axes. The others could wait, but Amelie's missive required attention. He was glad to find it, as he desired the Thestan Queen's counsel on the next phase of the war. Drauken was counting on her to be a more reasonable balance against Henry and the Catabrians. 

Drauken ascended the stairs to his study so he could read the message alone. Melora was off to her own quarters: if he needed her she could be summoned. Drauken locked the door behind him and moved to his desk where he broke the seal, then unwound the scroll. 

p ht jvujlyulk hivba wypujlzz zol klwhyalk tlnkpz huk ayhclsk puav aol hunyphu thyjo av tlla dpao hu vyj joplmahpu uthlk thyrvg zol dhuaz av jvucpujl opt av lualy aol dhy huk puchkl ohclyzla pz aolyl hufaopun fvb jhu kv av mpuk vba doha ohwwlulk av oly dl ohcl pumspjalk thuf jhzbhsaplz vu nyvavrz mvyjlz klzwpal zlaihjr dpao mvyaylzzlz aopunz hyl ha h zahslthal iba dpss johunl dpao aol aohd 

After placing a fresh sheet of parchment on the desk, he dipped his quill in the inkpot and began to decipher the message. 

I am concerned about Princess Brigitte. She departed Megdis and traveled into the Angrian March to meet with an orc chieftain named Markoz. She wants to convince him to enter the war and invade Haverset. Is there anything you can do to find out what happened to her? We have inflicted many casualties on Grotok's forces despite setback with fortresses. Things are at a stalemate but will change with the thaw. 

Once the message was decoded he leaned back in his chair to consider its contents. It's actually not a bad plan, he decided, Markoz might be persuaded to attack the Duchy of Haverset. A wry grin began to cross his face, and if Shropfordshire were sacked, caravan traffic would have to be redirected, preferably to a town with lower taxes. 

It wouldn't be hard for him to meet with Markoz if he could find a way to justify leaving the city again so quickly. He had never met Princess Brigitte, but from what he had heard she had the determination and intelligence to convince him, as long as Markoz was willing to overlook her sex and status. But Drauken had no doubt that if he applied his own weight and efforts into it that it would be successful. 

But what will I tell the council? Another slow grin spread across his face. The truth! I can tell them that one of my sources I made in my journy wrote to me to report that Princess Brigitte was with the March trying to ally with the orcs there. Then I tell them that I can go there and put a stop to it, and maybe even recruit them to our side! 

With the plan in place, he burned both the letter and his deciphered copy. He was about to ring for a goblet of wine when one of his servants knocked on the door. "Master Drauken, the Duke of Fullorm is here to see you." 

"Bring him here, and then get us a bottle of wine." Drauken was not surprised that the Duke was here to see him: it had been a long time since they had spoken face to face. There was initially some question about whether they should meet clandestinely or not, but they decided that there was enough legitimate business between Willem, the Duke of Fullorm and the Master of the Caravan Guild that being covert would actually attract more attention. 

A moment later, the Duke entered Drauken's study. He had been something of a dashing military man in his youth, but the years had been even less kind to him than they had of Queen Jeanette. Though Willem had served admirably in several of the Queen's wars, the dissipated lifestyle he was rumored to have had clearly took a toll. 

The Duke had not gone to fat, quite the opposite in fact. He was excessively thin, hunched over, with wisps of white hair fluttering about his head. "Welcome home, Master Drauken. I trust your trip was successful." 

"Yes and no, Your Grace, and certainly not the way I imagined it would go. King Garrett Ousten is dead, long live King Henry." 

"You should be careful what you say, Master Drauken, even in private. The Queen casts a long shadow." Willem chided him. 

"You're right, of course. Garrett was killed by Henry almost the moment he set eyes on him, and I can't say it wasn't a mercy. Garrett was not in good condition, I'm afraid." 

"Jeanette had her claws in him for a long time," Willem said, "he was emasculated in every way a man could be, except literally. How was Henry?" 

"Troubling. Oh, not in terms of capability. He has a firm grasp on the army and the military situation." Drauken took a moment to collect his thoughts. "How do I want to say this...Henry is becoming extreme. They are executing all the orc prisoners and torturing Princess Jasmara. They intend to slaughter every orc in Zentara." 

"I can see why you'd find that troubling." Willem quipped. "I don't mean to make light of it. I can see where they are coming from, but it is too late for Zentara." Willem leaned forward towards Drauken. "I won't lie, I want to see humans reassert themselves in the Kingdom. But it is too late to drive your people out. For better or worse, we're united now, and to destroy one is to destroy the other." 

"I'm glad you feel that way, because unless we're united and act decisively, that is exactly what Henry will do." 

"I assume you want to move faster than we anticipated?" 

Drauken nodded. "Yes, we need to seize control of Ruar and the royal family before Henry and Amelie invade. Then we'll be in a position to negotiate more acceptable terms." 

"I will talk to the other Dukes, but I think we can have our forces ready in three weeks." 

"Let's not rush. I just learned that Princess Brigitte has ran off into the Angrian March to try and recruit the orcs there to our cause. I think I will be able to assist her. If the orcs were to invade from the east while we seize Ruar and Henry and Amelie attack from the west and north we'll have the royal family trapped." 

Willem took a moment to digest that. "The Princess was always headstrong and forthright, but not promiscuous as you'd expect such a woman to be." A lewd smile crossed his face. "I wonder how she's making out with an orc tribe." 

"Not very well, which is another reason to go. Amelie is concerned for her." 

"As well she should be!" Willem chuckled. "Well, it will take you six weeks to travel to the March, and another six weeks to return. That would bring us to late Spring for the attack. With a bit of luck, the Crown's forces will already be committed and unable to resist either the orcs or us." 

"Ideally. Do you think the other Dukes will agree?" 

"I think so. Testin, Crovoth, and Oxmain will start moving soldiers into the city as caravan guards in six weeks. That will have all our men-at-arms in place by the time you return. Once the Queen and her children are in custody, we'll call a council to elect a new King, one who will be able to negotiate with Henry and Amelie on equal turns." 

"Excellent!" Drauken smiled amiably. "It sounds like we have a plan. Oh, one more thing, while I'm gone I'll be leaving my assistant Melora to manage things here in my absence. She has my full confidence." 

That made Willem look uneasy. "Your 'full' confidence?" 

"Yes: she traveled with me to Heste and saw all my dealings with Henry. She even took some positive steps to help our cause and prove her loyalty. Besides, she's an elf. They have as much reason to resist the Crown as the rest of us." 

"I hope you're right, Master Drauken. You've put your life in her hands, all our lives in her hands. If she gets scared and loses her nerves, we're doomed." 

"She is as solid as steel. Come, I'll introduce you, and you'll see; besides, you'll need to know who she is in case anything comes up while I'm gone." With that, Drauken began leading him to Melora's room. I'll just need to make sure she knows not to let his lecherous hands anywhere near her! 

**** 

Jasmara's whole body ached as she pulled the heavy wooden cart along a broken dirt road. She wanted to cry, but she was so dehydrated that the tears wouldn't come. I was so close to being free, so close to going home. Now I'm back here again. Altengraf Castle loomed in the distance, and around it the encircling Hesten besiegers. 

The orc princess' grey skin faded in the bright sun. Despite the chill in the air, her naked flesh was warm from her exercise. Hauling the cart was hard work, even for an orc. The wood creaked as she moved forward, one step at a time, getting closer to the castle with each one. Her heart got heavier with every beat, as she knew that once she arrived some new humiliation would be inflicted upon her. 

Crack! "Agh!" Jasmara yelped in pain as a whip cracked against her back, leaving another dark red welt. 

"Hurry it up Princess! No more dragging your feet. We have a schedule to keep!" Daniels' words caused her escort to burst into laughter. Whenever Daniels felt that she was going to slow, or maybe just for his own amusement, he gave her a few licks from the whip to motivate her. 

Jasmara grit her teeth and ignored the taunts and laughter. She had long since learned that responding to their insults would only make things worse, and she barely had the energy to continue on, let alone start another fight. Jasmara ran her tongue over her dry, cracked lips, but even that did little to moisten them. 

Finally, after hours of the grueling march, they arrived before the castle. The lines of Hesten soldiers parted so that her and the cart could get close enough to be visible from the castle walls. When she arrived in place, they unhitched her from the cart and allowed her to fall to the ground. She doubled over, choking from the dryness in her throat and desperate for a drink of water. She was so thirsty she thought she'd be able to empty the castle's moat before it was quenched. 

A few moments later, the commander of the garrison appeared atop the wall. "Well? What do you want now?" He called out, his deep voice resounding in the crisp air. "We're not going anywhere, no matter what depravities you perform for us." 

"We're taking this castle, one way or another," Daniels yelled back, "you may as well make it easy for your Princess and surrender now, to save her from further abuse." Daniels gestured towards Jasmara as she knelt on the ground. "Look at her! Princess Jasmara's escape attempt failed, and now she needs to be punished. But you could save her that, if you strike your banner and come down." 

The orc commander's rage was palpable, even from down on the ground. "You call us barbarians, but look how you treat your captives! It's disgusting! Shameful! But I have my orders. No surrendering, not even to sortie out of the castle no matter what you do to her. I know the Princess feels the same way." 

Jasmara exhaled sharply, relieved that she wouldn't again be a pawn against her family and Kingdom. She only hoped that the commander would stay true to his resolve and orders, for she knew that Daniels could be quite devious in his tortures. 

"Are you so sure?" Daniels replied, and then bent low to whisper to Jasmara. "I bet you're thirsty, princess. Do you want something to drink?" After she nodded, he continued, "Then beg to drink our cum! Do it! Beg for it, be a good girl, and you'll get all the water you need." 

Jasmara shook her head and glared up at her former servant. "Never!" She croaked, her voice scratchy and dry from thirst. 

"Don't be too hasty, Princess. It's nothing worse than what you've already done." Daniels reached down to stroke his fingertips over her throat. "Wouldn't it feel so nice to have something wet sliding down your throat? You heard him before: he has strict orders not to open the gate no matter what happens. So what will it hurt to do what you have to in order to drink? In order to surive?" 

The orc princess tried to summon the energy to be furious, but couldn't find it in herself. She was too tired, to weak from thirst to fight. Her mind started to look for reasons to justify giving in so that she could drink: she had to survive in case there was another escape attempt, she didn't want to die without getting revenge, or gettingto see her family again. It had felt so good just before she was captured, when she believed that they would be reunited. She wanted that again. 

Finally, her head bowed down as she whispered, "I want your cum. Please, I'm so thirsty, please let me drink your cum!" She flushed in shame, thankful for once that she was so dehydrated, as it kept tears from welling in her eyes. 

Daniels shifted his attention back to the orc commander. "She wants to drink our cum! She doesn't seem too interested at all in your fate, she's too busy being our slut!" The footman gestured to the soldiers at the cart, who brought over a large bucket and place it before Jasmara. 

Jasmara coughed and turned her head away from the bucket. A foul, heady scent emanated from it, fueled by the thick, sloshing cum collected from every man in the army. Her lips parted as she breathed through her mouth to give her beleaguered nose a break. But the thought of drinking cool, clear water made her give the bucket a second look. By the Abyss, even this filthy mess is starting to look good! 

Before she could bring herself to drink it, Daniels grabbed her by the back of the neck and plunged her face into the bucket. Cum splashed up over her face and into her ears and hair as she was dunked in the mess. Fortunately, Daniels didn't hold her there, and released her neck so that she could come up to breathe. "There you go, Princess. Drink, drink to your heart's content!" 

Cum began to flow down Jasmara's throat as she buried her face in the bucket again. The thick goo splashed around her face as she gulped it down, swallowing mouthful after mouthful of the sticky seed. In spite of everything, it was actually a relief to wet her body, even with their disgusting cum. Jasmara swallowed it so quickly she began to cough, but she fought through the reflex to continue to drink. 

A moment later, Daniels returned with the Princess' spear and knelt beside her again. "I was there when your mother gave this as a guest gift to Turogg,to welcome him to the city." He looked at the weapon nostalgically. "The Queen was a different woman, then. Turogg liked it well enough, and fought with it in the first Hesten War. The second one, too. In fact, he might have been wielding it when Jeanette betrayed him with your father." 

Daniels chuckled as he watched Jasmara take a pause from drinking the bucket of cum. "I bet you didn't know that. Turogg isn't your father, the orc mercenary Gorath is." He grabbed the back of Jasmara's neck when she tried to lift her head from the bucket and held her in place. "I was there for that too, during the second war. It's no secret that Jeanette got to fuck around, that's the orc way, right? But the one iron clad rule was never to give up her cunt. But your mother just couldn't restrain herself, and spread her legs for the mercenary. For Katerei too, but that's not really relevant any more." 

Lies! Jasmara thought, though doubt lingered in the back of her mind. She had seen enough of her mother's behavior to know that nothing was beyond her. But she loved father, she reassured herself, everyone knows that! She'd never betray him! 

"I saw it first-hand. More than first-hand, in fact." A dark expression crossed Daniels' face as he remembered the humiliations Jeanette inflicted upon him. The sight of Jasmara lapping up the cum from the bucket made him flash back to crawling between Jeanette's thighs and cleaning her after her romp with Gorath. He slowly spun the spear in his hands until the butt of the shaft was facing upward. "I bet you just always took it for granted that you were born a little early. The court certainly did. But your mother was a cheating whore, even then!" 

With a snarl he slapped the shaft against her pussy, then pulled it back sharply until the butt scraped over her pussy lips. Before she had time to react he thrust it forward, forcing the thick girth right into her poor, abused hole. He slid it deep inside the orc princess, pushing through her folds until it found her cervix. 

The impact knocked her forward, dunking her face into the bucket of cum once more. She could feel it sloshing in her ears and in her nose as she coughed and sputtered. Choking on the seed was actually a welcome relief, as it momentarily distracted her from the pain of having the wooden spear jammed into her cunt. Jasmara gripped the bucket tightly to brace herself against the harsh thrusts of the spear as Daniels began to fuck her with it. 

It's not true! Her mind screamed. It can't be! But something in Daniels voice told her it was. He had hinted before about his motivations for betraying her family, and the things her mother had made him do. There was also a sincerity in his words, a conviction that she couldn't get passed. Coupled with her own knowledge of her mother's behavior, she found herself believing him. This is all for nothing, then. I'm not even a real Princess! I'm a bastard like Agmar. None of this should be happening to me! 

Oblivious to Jasmara's mental turmoil, Daniels continued to viciously thrust the spear in and out of the orc princess' pussy. "This is what she is!" He called out to the orc commander. "She's a broken whore, just like her mother. None of them are worth dying over. Surrender now and avoid their fate!" 

"Is that it then? This is the twisted show you think will end the siege? It won't, I will never-ulk!" The commander gurgled as a spear suddenly burst through his chest, sending him toppling over the side of the battlement. A moment later the draw bridge fell open, slamming roughly into the ground with a mighty crack. A half-dozen raggedy, starved human servants frantically gestured towards the Hestens, waving them forward. 

"Attack!" Daniels screamed, joined a moment later by the war cries of the besiegers as they streamed through the open gate. 

Jasmara slumped forward, eyes closing in defeat. It's happening again, I just can't win. It's never going to end. 

**** 

The buzz of the council chamber was unmistakable, even from all the way down the hall. Something important must have happened, he thought, has word of Jasmara's escape reached the castle? Drauken hurried down the hall, since it sounded like the rest of the council was already present and had begun discussion. I hadn't thought I was late. 

As he entered the room, the conversation stopped and all eyes fell on him. "What is it? What's happened?" 

"Princess Jasmara's escape attempt has failed. She's been recaptured, and Altengraf Castle has fallen." Dorian replied after a moment. 

"What?" Drauken asked, numbed with shock. "How?" 

"We have not gotten all the details, only that the scouts from King Belkor's army never returned, and that Jasmara was seen outside of Altengraf Castle shortly before it fell." Dorian explained. 

What happened? Melora said she'd take care of it! His mind reeled, horrified at what punishments the Princess must be facing now that she was recaptured. Attempting to escape would not go well for her. 

"There is some good news, at least." Bogor said, not seeming overly concerned with his aunt's recapture. "It seems she managed to kill Amelie's chief lieutenant, and the commander of the Thestan forces before she was captured again." 

Philippe is dead? This is going from bad to worse! They'll be out for blood, now."This is a catastrophe! When will King Belkor move his army against Henry?" 

"My son and Prince Augras have developed a plan for the next campaign season." Jeanette's voice was strained, and Drauken couldn't help but think she'd aged at least a decade since the war began. "I think the plan has a high probability of success." Jeanette turned her head towards Dorian, who was giving her a hard look, but she continued, "Bogor will take the remnants of Agmar's army and reinforce King Grotok." 

She turned to look at Bogor, "You'll be given more specific instructions when you arrive, but rest assured your experience will be put to good use. Grotok's army has been taking heavy casualties from Thestan raiders. With winter nearing its end, Augras believes his magic can create campaigning conditions earlier than normal. He intends to invade Thesta before the Sandoran army has left its winter quarters and steal a march on it." 

"Is that possible?" Drauken asked, worry fueling his disbelief. That would be a disaster. Keeping the Zentaran army bottled up is integral to our strategy! 

"Augras hasn't failed to deliver on any of his promises yet. We have no reason to doubt him now. Bogor, how long will it take you to bring your forces to the front lines?" 

"Three weeks. Faster, if we're given free rein to collect supplies." 

"Master Drauken, I want the guild to assist in whatever way. They'll need the usual supplies, but also extra arrows and plenty of boots. They have a lot of marching ahead of them." 

"It will be done, Your Highness. What about food?" Drauken asked. 

"Marching rations only. The Pass is still too damaged for wagons to travel through, so Grotok's army will be foraging for supplies." 

What are they planning? How are they going to forage for food in winter? I must get word to Queen Amelie, so she'll be ready. 

"Understood, Your Highness." Bogor replied, seemingly not bothered by the order like Drauken was. 

"One more thing," Jeanette added as she slipped a ring of black onyx off her finger and passed it to Bogor, you will also deliver this to Prince Augras; he has requested it for one of his rituals." 

"We will need to draw on our line of credit again." Prince Vilknar, the treasurer stated. 

"Do not concern yourself, Prince. The Guild Masters are prepared to make the necessary sacrifices to end this war." If only you knew how true that was. Drauken pushed those thoughts down deep. This wasn't the time, and if he didn't want to give anything away he had to stay focused. 

"Do you have anything to report from your trip to the March?" Dorian asked, changing the conversation. 

"Actually, yes. The caravans are going to keep coming, which means Zentara will see a nice influx of trade and taxes early in the Spring. But more importantly, I made some valuable contacts there, one of whom has sent me a very interesting message. It seems that young Princess Brigitte of Sandora has entered the March and is trying to recruit the orcs remainingthere as mercenaries for their army." 

That set the council into an uproar, and it took several attemptsfor Jeanette to restore order. "Do you think she'll be successful?" 

Drauken took a moment to pretend to consider that. He studied the Queen, trying to make sense of the expression on her face. It was a strange mix of jealousy and envy, he decided. She knows what's happening to the Princess, and wishes she was young enough to enjoy it. She also wants to be the only royal allied with the orcs. 

"Yes, I do think her plan has a very real chance of success. We cannot risk the Sandorans getting reinforced with orc mercenaries. The danger is real enough that I fear I'm going to have to return to the Angrian March myself to disrupt it. With a bit of luck, I can bring the orcs there in on our side and open a new front in Eastern Sandora." Even better, without me here to smooth things over, Bogor will be delayed in getting his supplies. 

"Do you think that's wise?" Dorian asked. "You've just returned to the city, and you have your work cut out for you supplying Bogor's army." 

"I'll manage. My assistant Melora is more than capable of handling it. She knows all the Guild Masters and their staffs. On the other hand, there's no one but me who can travel into the Angrian March and make contact with the free tribes. It has to be done this way, or not at all." 

Jeanette considered Drauken's argument for a moment. "Very well then, let it be done. But if Bogor's army doesn't march on time, you'll be paying for the supplies. Is that understood?" 

He tried not to wince at the Queen's condition. I did say sacrifices are to be made. I'll more than make up the lost gold at the end of the war. "I do, Your Highness. Believe me, it pains me to have to leave the city so quickly after returning home. But we all do what we must to win the war. I'll try to return as soon as possible, hopefully within six weeks. Then, with all our forces positioned and our enemies beset from every side, we can finally bring this war to a close."

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