The Harem Girl (Darius and Lingogirl)
<h1 id="title">Elliquiy Role Playing Forums</h1>
		<h2 id="linktree">Play-By-Post: Bondage, D/s, S&amp;M =&gt; Bondage: Exotic Solos =&gt; Topic started by: Dariusfallenstar on 21-01-2013, 08:31:33</h2>
		<dl id="posts">
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>The Harem Girl (Darius and Lingogirl)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dariusfallenstar</strong> on <strong>21-01-2013, 08:31:33</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div align="center"><span style="font-size: 12pt;" class="bbc_size">The Harem Girl</span></div><br><strong>Featuring </strong>: <strong> Darius Fallenstar </strong>as <strong> Grareth </strong>and&nbsp; <strong> lingogirl456</strong> as <strong> Saxa </strong><br><br><strong>Setting:</strong>&nbsp; Low-fantasy; think Sinbad, Conan, Kull the Conqueror, or Solomon Kane. Magic exists, but it is rarely without some price. Herbs are powerful and can generate amazing effects. Finally, hideous and rare monsters roam the world, including the most powerful of them all – the great Djinn. <br><br><strong> Fetishes Included:</strong> Anything goes, but probably no rape or mutilation. Mind control and domination are in the cards. <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Harem Girl (Darius and Lingogirl)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dariusfallenstar</strong> on <strong>21-01-2013, 08:31:49</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://i945.photobucket.com/albums/ad295/Dariusfallenstar/Male%20Rp%20Characters/2012-09-30_183928.jpg)</div><br>The night was black as pitch and the town surrounding the tower of Lord Ishmael was at the peak of celebration. Lord Ishmael, as it turned out, was on the crux of consummating a new wife, the first added to his harem in nearly a decade. Many had wondered if the old, hard-eyed man had grown soft, now that he’d turned away from the wars of his youth and taken on the mantle of politician. He’d proven the worriers wrong by taking the most beautiful girl as his new bride, promising at least one new child to fill a royal crib before the full year anniversary had passed. <br><br>Lord Gareth Atreyu, young and ambitious and founder of a new house beyond the gates of Lord Ishmael’s ill-earned wealth, took no pleasure in what he was about to do. Killing an innocent girl was not something he would enjoy, no matter how dark-stained his hands and heart were. Long had he worked to secure trade from the outlanders, those who Ishmael rejected as worthless. Long had Gareth worked to earn the respect of his people, using even mind and body-altering curses said to slowly corrupt the soul. But this, this act, he knew, would damn him to the seven hells for all time.<br><br>He had no choice though; killing the girl before Ishmael could consummate the wedding night would guarantee Ishmael’s weakness in the coming days, and Lord Gareth greatly needed that.<br><br>Lean body hardened by two decades of constant conflict and the harsh desert, Gareth shrugged the climbing harness more tightly around his black-clad body. The coal surrounding his eyes, enhancing their already intense depths and long lashes, and the beard he wore helped hide his tanned features from any stray lights as he approached the side of the tower that was nearest a stable and currently unguarded. It was, of course, also a space that would lead to a high window where the harem girl would be in waiting, no doubt “prepared” for her Lord’s visit. <br><br>Hurrying forward, finding handholds none but the most skilled and, perhaps, sorcerously enhanced could, Gareth began to climb. <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Harem Girl (Darius and Lingogirl)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lingo</strong> on <strong>21-01-2013, 21:53:22</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://wpc.556e.edgecastcdn.net/80556E/img.site/PHDUNuxPy2NLHL_1_m.jpg)</div><br>What wild, unnecessary pomp and commotion for an act so common as sex. <br><br>The young bride sat at a mirror by an open window, watching her own veiled face peering back at her. The vibrant cheers, the raucous jokes, all was a quiet hum in her head. The pads of her fingertips glided down the smooth skin of her delicate forearms, ensuring her skin would be lovely to the touch for her Lord. She moved with a slow leisurely pace, completely untouched by the excitement around her. <br><br>All agreed Saxa's beauty was savage. Strange, that anything as small and lithe as she would be considered 'savage', but the young woman understood why it would be called such. She was not delicately pale or plump like many girls of her harem, but small boned and dark. Her tresses burned with a golden sheen, loose and untamed, accentuating her feline features; narrow chin, high cheekbones, and knowing, vivid emerald eyes. When she danced, she moved with prowess. Her allure was a quiet strength that was unsettling, even <em>primal.</em><br><br>A faint noise, just above the crowds, somehow managed to rouse Saxa. The shift of clothing, the exertion of muscles. Had she imagined it? Frowning into the mirror, her hands grasped the oak table before her, a curtain of blonde waves following the movement of her head to rest on the door. "My Lord?" No response. Saxa's once peaceful, even bored, eyes sparked to attention, turning back to the mirror. <br><br>Her husband, Ishmael, was a powerful man with many enemies. The security at the wedding ceremony was proof of that. Her mistress's not so discreet warning was too. Saxa's teeth tugged at her red lip thoughtfully, her reliable intuition fearing the worst, her dainty shoulders tensed for a moment. Suddenly she rose, though she did not move with panic. Standing still for a moment, she listened again- <em>ah,</em> there it was. Closer, now. Coming from... the window. She was positive. The young woman had finely tuned senses. She would not be frightened. Taking the heavy, glass bottle labeled 'Parfum' off the vanity, Saxa breezed past the window, her steps silent. There would be a pause, and then a small, cry of shattered glass would be heard.&nbsp; &nbsp; <br><br>When the intruder would reach the small chamber, he would find it still, almost deserted. But certainly not unoccupied. <br><br>Concealed in the alcove beside the window, the bride waited earnestly. She expected him to find her, after all. Camouflaged by a shimmery, golden curtain and the mound of pillows by her side, she was unthinkably still, unnervingly silent. It was the calm before a storm, really. Her eyes resembled the aggravation of a disturbed predator, one who intended to pounce at any moment. She held the jagged bottle of perfume at her side, wielding it like a dagger about to be brandished. The light reflected off of dark, burning irises, and the decorative chains hanging from her lavender bra and highlighting her tanned, tiny waist. Saxa's unspoken message was clear- you shall not intrude upon me without contest.&nbsp; &nbsp;<br><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Harem Girl (Darius and Lingogirl)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dariusfallenstar</strong> on <strong>22-01-2013, 02:04:59</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Gareth’s fingertips, nails just long enough to fit in the tiny cracks and hardened with a special type of lacquer, shoved into grooves almost too small to see even in daylight. He’d practiced for this moment, planned for every eventuality. Even as he climbed, he smiled to himself, considering how the arrogant Ishmael would look the fool. Guards bribed or replaced, citizens paid to turn the other eye, or arranged to be elsewhere with Gareth’s impressive network of merchants. Even the timing of the events at hand had been influenced by Gareth: Ishmael could only take his new bride after his manhood had been anointed and made ready by his First Wife. All the wine in the castle, every drop, had been tainted to dull a man’s arousal. Not enough to be obvious, to be detected by taste testers or the mild magics at Ishmael’s disposal, but enough to delay the fat old man the precious minutes Gareth needed for this ascension.<br><br>So confident was the warrior-Lord that he did not hear the crunch of glass above him over the pleased thrum of his thoughts, the satisfaction of a job well done. To be fair, his thoughts helped him deal with the niggling guilt in the back of his mind at what he must do once he found the girl. She was a pawn, he tried to remind himself, nothing more than a tool to undermine a Lord with a history of vile acts and a vision so narrow that it left no room for the Desert People to grow to their full potential.<br><br>He made it to the balcony and flipped over, a grandiose maneuver that displayed his strength and grace, but also made a soft brushing sound on the tiles when his smooth-sandaled feet landed. No doubt the girl within was asleep, or doused with a drug to make her able to handle being mounted by such a troll, Gareth told himself as he slid the glass doors open and stepped inside the dark room. <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Harem Girl (Darius and Lingogirl)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lingo</strong> on <strong>22-01-2013, 21:43:22</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Saxa's eyes narrowed as the figure made it's entrance. Though his form was shadowy, she could make out some details. Garbed in dark clothing, his build was quite different from the squat, wrinkly man she now called husband. Feeling a layer of nervous perspiration coating her hands, Saxa clenched them, cursing her own weakness. The men at brothels were rich, therefore it was rare they were physically powerful- this show of obvious masculine strength was a little intimidating. <br><br>Intimidating, yes, but certainly not fearsome enough to keep her still. Only the small ring of metal clinking would be his warning as she advanced upon him from behind. A small hand reached out in front of him, slamming into his torso to force his body against hers. Her veil, completely cloaking her features and hair, danced across his spine, the cold charms dangling off her bra flickered against the small of his back. Saxa was much smaller, both in height and figure, to the intruder. Her strength alone would not be enough to dissuade this man from retaliating, but the accompanying 'dagger' over his jugular might.&nbsp; &nbsp;<br><br>Raising the slightest to her toes, the woman was eye level with his throat. The tip of the jagged glass grazed his neck, passing over his Adam's apple before toying with the possibility of piercing his skin. "See?" The woman hissed in his ear, hammering her fist into his chest a second time. She spoke with an accent, as though this language was not her native tongue. "I am merciful. I am giving you a chance to flee now, pig, before I gut you where you stand."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Harem Girl (Darius and Lingogirl)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dariusfallenstar</strong> on <strong>25-01-2013, 03:10:25</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Gareth felt the surprise blow and would have responded – had responded in similar circumstances before – but the weight behind it, or rather the lack thereof, took him off guard. No bodyguard would have attempted such an ineffective assault, he knew. And then there was something jagged at his throat and a purring voice threatening his life. Calling him a pig. <br><br>Despite himself, Gareth felt a surge of desire. The shadowed beauty before him, so dainty, was fierce despite her station, despite her duty. And she would not be easy prey, or so it seemed. <br><br>Moving with reflexes honed over the years and enhanced by something that might have been a supernatural force, Gareth wove away from that blade, stepping like a dancer across the room from the girl, traversing three or four paces in an eye-blink. It was his domain, Gareth’s – the domain of a warrior and few would question his prowess. <br><br>“Why do you not cry out, little slut?” Gareth asked once he was more-or-less free of the little woman’s dangerous reach. Gareth’s voice was a husky, slightly slurred purr. “Your guard will come in and I will fight them before I kill you. All to keep your husband from having what he seeks. Scream like a weak little harem bitch.” He was taunting her, Gareth realized, though he did not know why.<br><br>He stood there, tall and powerful, face dusky and shadowed, studying the slip of a girl before him, oddly uncomfortable with the idea of killing her. <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Harem Girl (Darius and Lingogirl)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lingo</strong> on <strong>30-01-2013, 05:32:13</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Saxa rose a brow as he spoke. "You intend to kill me?" She repeated dryly, lowering the jagged bottle casually, sauntering a few steps forward. Oh, his words made her blood boil, her heart race. Another small clanging of metal could be heard, her hips swaying slightly with the movement. Saxa's every step was intentional, moving into the light of the moon. Then, her hand gave a single flinch at her side before ripping her veil away from her face. The moon's light echoed off her pale tresses, giving the girl a ironically angelic light. In contrast, her green eyes were ferocious.&nbsp; &nbsp;<br><br>"I won't waste my breath- or my lord's resources- on a pest such as yourself." It was impossible to tell if the young woman's gall was fabricated or if she was truly that cocky. "You talk a mighty talk, for someone who was taken by surprise by a 'weak, little, harem bitch'." Saxa nearly spat; clearly his jeers had managed to get under her skin. <br><br>Raising her weapon once more, she moved noiselessly, leaping at the intruder.<br><br>They went down with a heavy thud on the ground, the floor creaking with the force of both of their weight. By some miracle, Saxa had managed to momentarily overpower the sturdy man, with her knees pressed into his waist and the pads of her finger tips digging into his ribs. This position displayed the swell of her breasts from underneath, the fine curves shaping the otherwise slender female. Sitting on top of him, she rose her arm higher, readying to drive her weapon into his torso.&nbsp; &nbsp;
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Harem Girl (Darius and Lingogirl)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dariusfallenstar</strong> on <strong>31-01-2013, 03:37:21</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				This was getting out of hand! Gareth was once again taken off guard by the harem girl of all people. Was it her saunter or her words? He couldn’t have said, but his guard had been down enough that her pounce had allowed her atop him, his back against the ground. He felt solid beneath the girl, all lean and powerful muscle, and warm too. His was the greedy, hungry warmth of his youthful passions, the sort that could be aroused by such fighting, even as he worked to keep his life. <br><br>She raised the makeshift weapon above him, her eyes aflame with a light that drew the lord in. Had he considered killing her? Why, when claiming her, when taming that fierce spirit would be worth so much more. <br><br>As her hand descended, he snapped his wrist out, pushing it aside to chip on the floor next to his head. Bringing the blade of his hand up her outstretched forearm, her wrapped his fingers around her throat and shoved over, pulling as he did, rolling his hips to reverse the position of who was atop who. As soon as his body, now pressed so firmly between her thighs, was above hers, he shot his hand back out to pin her wrist. Even mostly shattered, the little wench would probably stab him.<br><br>Jerking his other hand down to his side, he came up with a knife, pressing it to her throat. It left her other hand free, but it was a risk worth taking. “Do that again and I will kill you,” he hissed. “Now, you are coming with me.”<br><br>When had he decided she would come with him, rather than kill her? It was odd, feeling as he did – adrenaline sung in his ears and desire between his thighs. His coal black eyes danced with his possessive interest as the moment hung in the air. <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Harem Girl (Darius and Lingogirl)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lingo</strong> on <strong>31-01-2013, 04:39:51</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				It all happened far too fast for the young woman. A hand clasped around her thin wrist, trapping her own hand on the ground. Just when she thought he would crush it, a hand seized her throat, wringing a strangled, enraged cry from her. <br><br>She made no further noise when cold metal touched her skin. The flesh on her arms came to life, prickling with panic. Tilting her neck as far away as she could, her unruly hair sprawled out on the floor. His voice snapped her eyes back to his, searching his face for any expression. The girl swallowed hard. It was the same one her husband had worn at their ceremony- one of <em>dominance</em>. Her chest rose against his with a shaky, deep breath. <br><br>"Like hell I am!" Her knuckles turned white, the jagged bottle shattering in her hand, no doubt wounding her and potentially harming his hand as well. Numb in her blind fury, Saxa raged and stormed, her heels dragging across the floor as she struggled, their torsos colliding. Flicking her wrist, the harem girl attempted to throw the remainder of the glass at him, but instead they danced to the ground, making their current position all that more dangerous. <br><br>She moved like an animal caught in a snare; infused with the wild, desperate will to fight.&nbsp; &nbsp; <br><br>Making use of her free hand, Saxa shoved the heel of her hand against his jaw, feeling his strong chin. The stubble coating his throat and cheeks was surprisingly soft. Pressing her palm onto his cheekbones, unable to reach to pushing into his eyes, as she intended. This pig, this common theft- he intended to destroy the exchange between her mistress and husband, the powerful lord of this city? Her eyes darkened- she halted all movement. Was she giving up? <em>Hardly.</em><br><br>Securing her hand in his hair, yanking it backwards painfully, the girl's lips smashed together. A small trace of saliva struck him on the face, trailing down his chin. Releasing her hand from his hair, she slammed it into the ground repeatedly, making as much noise as possible. Saxa was a haughty girl- she didn't dare scream in front of this bastard. But now she had to admit she couldn't face this man alone. "My lord will have you slain like a common criminal for even daring to touch me!" 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Harem Girl (Darius and Lingogirl)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dariusfallenstar</strong> on <strong>02-02-2013, 02:27:44</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				That was it. She’d given him no choice. Shattered glass cutting her hand and slicing a few scrapes across his wrist, face aching from where she’d clawed at him, she was too much of a hellcat for him to not act. His choices were clear: Gareth could either kill the girl, she seemed to not value her own life at all, or he could use the forbidden magic. Killing her was no longer an option – what she had inside of her, what she was, was too much to simply destroy. He’d no more see her destroyed or in the hands of the fat, old Lord than he’d have destroyed an ancient work of art. That left magic, an option that he did not take pleasure in.<br><br>Gareth’s pursuit of magic had been one of pain, tragedy, and sacrifice; the spells that he knew were among the blackest in the land, and he’d sworn to use the majority of his power to better his people. And, as an aside that he was more than willing to agree to, to break Lord Ishmael in the process. At the time, Gareth had wondered how the Lord had made such powerful enemies. He’d never fully learned the details, but the tutoring Gareth had received made him suspect that the Lord had made agreements of his own, agreements that would protect and even injure any powerful creatures that came after him. Thus, the deal made sense from the perspective of Gareth’s teacher. <br><br>Having spells was not a simple matter, nor was casting them. Each spell a person knew carried a weight with it, a burden. There were some benefits: certain spells could convey longevity and physical strength. But with the benefits there were the curses: with longevity came the passions of the flesh, magnified greatly. With great physical strength came the hunger to destroy. So Gareth had been very careful in accepting specific spells into his mind. <br><br>And one of them, perhaps the most vile he would accept, was Compulsion. It could change a person’s mind, albeit for a brief time, alter their perceptions and goals – change motivations entirely. The greater the change, the shorter the spell would last. In addition, after casting such a spell, the recipient would be immune to its influence for a period of time roughly equal to twice as long as the spell had been in effect. It was a perfect spell for sneaking into places or bypassing certain social challenges. In this case, however, there was much risk. What if this harem girl broke the spell before they were out of the city, or what if her Lord had somehow made her immune to its influence?<br><br>Time was running out. Gareth would know soon enough. <br><br>The spell was only two words, albeit complex ones, in the language of the Djinn, and they hissed passed Gareth’s lips into the girl’s face as she pounded the floor. As he spoke them, Gareth picture the girl adoring, wanton, and willing to aid him. The magic tore free from Gareth, bringing with it a sudden urge to dominate, to control, to rape… <br><br>An urge he barely suppressed. For now.<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Harem Girl (Darius and Lingogirl)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lingo</strong> on <strong>04-02-2013, 00:05:18</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				His face was dark, almost like a hunter, peering into hers. Amidst her struggles, she caught his voice, whispering. Those words... they had to mean something. A spell? Frowning deeply, her lips parted. She looked utterly bewildered for a moment. "Wha-?" Her husky protest was cut short, and the effects of the magic hit her. Hard. <br><br>Realization flitted in her eyes, but so did some weakness. Saxa groaned, her head knocking against the floor, focusing on fighting a hopeless battle. Her mistress had told her of spells, even taught her some, but her grasp of magic was elusive, even superficial. Was he going to overtake her so easily, with just two words? A furious scowled marred her face, and her wrist weakly thwacked against his face in an attempt to slap him. Her hand then trembled, before resting on his shoulder and rubbing the pads of her fingertips against his burning skin thoughtlessly. <br><br>Ramming her other fist once more into the ground, the loudest this time, her eyes glared back into his. "Tenta- tentatoni..." She whispered, nearly silently. There was a phrase, one she had been taught so long ago. Something to dispel this sort of magic, just in case any clients would try to take more than what was promised. <br><br>But, may the Gods help her, she couldn't remember it. It's use never seemed important, there were very few men who were well versed in magic that visited the brothel. Already, the messages manipulating her mind seized her body; her small hands untangled from him, resting beside her head, and the small of her back pressed into the floor. She needed this verse! It was only two words... Mumbling the beginning of magical spell once more, Saxa's eyes clenched shut, her teeth gritting. His weight on top of her wasn't so oppressive anymore, but comforting, even welcoming. It was clear the spell finally worked. Her unique fire that made her so striking was difficult to see now. A soft sigh emitted from her lips, her hips pressing against his wantingly. <br><br>When the young bride opened her eyes, they were diluted. Blinking repeatedly, Saxa had a sleepy, relaxed air, almost waiting for his next move. Despite her heavy breathing, the room was quiet... But that did not count the brewing ruckus downstairs, triggered by the commotion the young woman had managed to create.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Harem Girl (Darius and Lingogirl)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dariusfallenstar</strong> on <strong>05-02-2013, 04:34:23</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				“Fucking Hell,” Gareth murmured, rolling to his feet around the girl’s supine form. No time to debate desire now, or so he told himself as he bent and picked the girl up, pulling her over his broad shoulder. She was light and he was very strong, but there were some concerns about what he was going to attempt next. Based on the pounding of feet coming up the stairwell, however, he didn’t have much time to contemplate. <br><br>“Hold tight to me,” he murmured, hoping the compulsion would last the length of this little stunt. Moving out to the window, he lowered himself – and, by extension her – over and around, finding the handholds he’d been looking for quickly enough. It was difficult, though. Her weight wasn’t evenly distributed and threatened to dislodge him. Which was precisely why he got an eyeful of the door opening just before he ducked down and began doing his best to sprint down the tower.<br><br>Yeah, right.<br><br>A few minutes later, he heard a loud call above. Wiggling his head to clear his view – obscured by his captive’s skirts, he saw a scandalized man’s face looking down at him. Gareth was only halfway down the tower now, but he still heard the man’s cry. “No, don’t fire you idiots! You’ll hit Saxa! Go around. He has no&nbsp; escape!” <br><br>Well, then. Fuck that.<br><br>Gareth redoubled his efforts, until the two reached the ground. The huge black stallion he’d arranged to have tied out near the stall awaited – his getaway mount. He’d intended it for one, but Saxa wouldn’t add too much weight. “I hope you can ride,” he muttered as he shot toward the horse. <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Harem Girl (Darius and Lingogirl)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lingo</strong> on <strong>06-02-2013, 07:25:24</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				With little to no intention of moving anytime soon, Saxa groaned as he lifted her, resting on his shoulder heavily. Gauzy skirts grazed the back of her thighs, the light lavender color contrasting elegantly with her tanned skin. The charms on her bra clinked together noisily. <br><br>Once feisty and alert, the young bride now seemed completely unaware of her own abduction. "Hmm?" Perking up when he spoke, the corrupted woman immediately complied. Slender hands snuck around his back, gripping his upper rib cage, just below his chest. Her face was against his skin, almost like a child hiding behind a parent. Her dainty face was obscured by a mass of tousled blonde hair. <br><br>Saxa was able to cling to him, but any further aid she could supply ended there. Her body's strength was consumed by a mental tug of war. Though she did not- simply could not- fight him, she was pure dead weight. Her limbs often collided with his as he moved; she made no effort to accommodate him during the perilous climb. <br><br>The impact of the ground jostled her. Despite the strong spell she was afflicted with, Saxa's mind momentarily surpassed the consumption. His first warning would be the tensing of her spine, raising her head to get a sense of her surroundings. Instead of shamelessly clinging to his frame, she was <em>squeezing</em> him. Her body was still so weak, but she tightened around his torso as if intending to crush the life out of him. <br><br>Unfortunately for Saxa, there wasn't much she could do other than hold on if he put her up on the horse. A shaky hiss of breath passed her lips, "You... Will not leave this city with me." It was a dark, hushed promise, just barely heard over the noise of approaching men. Teeth tugged on her bottom lip anxiously, hoping her lord's pompous display of domestic security was reliable. <br><br>Meanwhile, several cries of alarm rang out above the crowd, alerting the public of trouble. A robust older man shoved people aside to make a path through the roads, wearing the uniform of a higher, military authority. Busy searching for his men, he snarled at the crowds, "Move along, you lazy scoundrel! Lord Ishmael's bride has been taken!". Groups were amassing in front of the tower, some confused townspeople eager to hear more news. The majority were soldiers frantically trying to reach the unguarded corner of the building, where the stable lied.&nbsp; 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Harem Girl (Darius and Lingogirl)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dariusfallenstar</strong> on <strong>14-02-2013, 02:23:37</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Gareth could feel the tremble in the girl’s body, the not-quite subtle shifting of her posture against his and barely made out a few of her words over the sounds of the city around them. Misunderstanding, he smiled boldly down at the little minx – so clearly under the sway of his ineffable power that she’d given over to her true nature: namely, worshipping him.<br><br>“Of course I will leave this city with you, poppet,” he said, dripping condescension. “Just as soon as I can get you up onto a horse, we’ll…ughhh.” Whatever he’d been saying squeezed off as the girl adjusted her hold and tightened in a rather unexpected, and unpleasant, manner. <br><br>There were some holds that could, provided they were executed properly from the front, turn even a man as confident and uncannily skilled as Gareth into a blubbering little boy. This was one of them. <br><br>It took precious seconds to prize the girl’s hands from where she’d taken her witch’s hold and, once done, he wasted no time manhandling her onto the saddle of the stallion. Thank the Gods he’d arranged this so carefully beforehand! Grabbing the girl’s hips and manhandling her like a sack of potatoes, he began tying her in place. Unfortunately, the extra caution he took – combined with her increasing struggles, gave the guard time to round the corner. There were only a half dozen of them, bleary eyed with drink the drink Gareth had doctored prior to attempting his heist, and only one had his sword half drawn. Still, a lucky farmer with a stick could brain an excellent soldier. <br><br>Leaving one leg&nbsp; entirely unbound and one hand loosely so, Gareth jumped up behind the girl, his hard chest shoving her pelvis into the thankfully padded saddle horn. Winding his hands around her body, shooting warmth and electricity enhanced by the loose remnants of the spell he’d woven, he grabbed the reins and called out, “If you attack, you’ll be gutting her!”<br><br>That said, he heeled the stallion forward. Anxious and eager, the beast reared, nearly bucking Gareth off, before charging forward and through the thick line of men. And, past them, into the city proper. <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Harem Girl (Darius and Lingogirl)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lingo</strong> on <strong>06-03-2013, 02:04:24</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				She reveled as his ribs decompressed, voicing his pain. "Hmph," Saxa's proud, grunt of approval could be barely heard over the commotion. <br><br>Her stomach lurched as he lifted her, raising her off his dark shoulder. This sudden whooziness stole her breath, and a breathy gasp escaped Saxa as she was placed upon the horse. The nausea had to be associated with the spell, of course, it's mental toll was wearing on her.&nbsp; <br><br>Green eyes sharpened on her captor as he bound her. Blinking repeatedly, another wave of anger fueled her as he tied her to his horse as if she were cargo. Red lips curled into a feral scowl, her tan skin paling as she clenched her fists. Twisting her joints calculatingly, it was like the young woman was dancing. Tangoing with the threads of rope, rolling her body to free herself. Her struggle grew more frantic as he climbed up beside her, their skin coming to life at contact. It made her skin grow cold... But not unpleasantly so. Shivering softly, it was hard to tell if her impending abduction or the electricity between their bodies frightened her. <br><br>With the approach of the guards, Saxa halted. Finally! They would not let her be stolen away... Glancing up at the inebriated pack of men before her, shock seized her now. It came like a wave, and for once Saxa appeared completely lost, shaking her head in disbelief. Lord Ishmael, one of the proud leaders of the Desert People! <em>This</em>, this disgusting display of ineptitude, was how he defended his bride? <br><br>Her shoulders heaved a heavy sigh, her voice was soft, but could easily be heard by those around her, "What... What a fucking disgrace." It was not angry, but almost disappointed. <br><br>The guards looked at one another in dismay, all thinking fearfully of the consequences that awaited them if they did not save the girl. But, what was there to do? A few soldiers trembled fiercely to raise their bows, but the horse was gone before any real display of defense was proven. <br><br>A shrill shriek emitted from the woman, nearly falling backwards herself as they took off. Blonde waves lashed across the man's face, the city becoming a chaotic blur. A last glimmer of hope seized her; he left her partially unbound, after all. <br><br>&nbsp;They were beginning to breach the outskirts of the city, and the spell was wearing off on her. Tensing up her freed arm, a shaky yet powerful blow was delivered to Gareth's side with her elbow, her hand lunging for the reins and tugging on them with all her might.&nbsp; <br><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Harem Girl (Darius and Lingogirl)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dariusfallenstar</strong> on <strong>07-03-2013, 04:57:33</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Close. They were close. Ishmael’s sprawling city had huge borders, barely worth being called such save for the huge, canopy-style walls of carved stone that ensconced it. Those walls weren’t entirely for show, but it took a huge army to maintain them; on his wedding day, the Lord couldn’t afford both to guard the gate and protect his guests, so the gates had been left open. <br><br>Gareth was counting on that. And, as the horse broke through the last rings of makeshift, dirty tents and houses of the poorer reaches of the city proper, angling toward a gate known quite appropriately as “Slum’s Bar,” he knew he had it made. With an unexpected prize, no less. <br><br>And then the bitch elbowed him in the ribs and yanked the horse’s head around, jerking it off course. <br><br>A ton of horse flesh kicked and stomped and began to fall. Gareth, being untied, moved with blinding speed, slicing the rope that bound his captive and jerking her free before she was crushed beneath the very animal she had waylaid. A sudden, explosive, snort ricocheted through the space around them as the animal impacted an uneven paving stone and broke its neck, dying in thrashing spasms, even as Gareth worked to clear both himself and his captive from the horse. <br><br>“You want to kill yourself?” Gareth hissed as he pulled her away from the wondrous animal she’d slaughtered so blindly. “You want to fucking die? I don’t mind killing you. Or, better yet, scarring you for all to see. But I don’t want to. Stop being stupid, girl. Your efforts will kill you before they will me.” <br><br>And then, as soon as he finished speaking, the asshole stepped in close and elbowed the girl right in the head, intending to knock her out. She was clearly too much of a liability to keep conscious for this next, hardest, leg of his flight. <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Harem Girl (Darius and Lingogirl)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lingo</strong> on <strong>07-03-2013, 07:03:19</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				She was caught off guard. Feeling the staggering beast below her give way, Saxa threw herself to the side to try to escape, only to be held tight with her bindings. The whisper of a blade sung in the air, wring a gasp from the girl, and suddenly she was cradled by a firm, hot torso, rolling away from the doomed horse. <br><br>Shaking free of her wild hair, a frown marred her sharp features. His horse lay dead only a few feet beside him. The impetuous young woman nearly felt remorseful for what she had done. She had made the poor thing suffer in it's last moments, and she hadn't intended to harm it. There was no time for regret however, as she was being threatened by her captor. <br><br>His question was met with a childish glower, crossing her arms about her breasts, obscuring her chest. He dare to maim her body, a body belonging to another man? Saxa bit her tongue for now, quelling her anger with the pleasure she took from annoying him. His own irritation fed her, fueled her desire to fight. A dry chuckle escaped her, her lips twitching into a defiant smirk. <br><br>Saxa could guess what he was going to do next. After all, it was what any sane man would do when they had a captive as bothersome as she. That's why she had to act fast. Raising a delicate brow, Saxa's voice was both musical and venomous. "I'll take that as a challenge... <em>Pig</em>." Her oath was chilling. <br><br>His blow jerked her face backwards, her lissome frame collapsing against itself as she staggered to fall, no longer conscious. The young bride looked far more fragile now, even virginal. The expression on her face was serene, eyelashes resting against her cheeks. Her limbs moved with a limp grace.&nbsp; 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Harem Girl (Darius and Lingogirl)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dariusfallenstar</strong> on <strong>08-03-2013, 02:51:47</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The girl was light; Gareth moved like a sirocco. A heated wind of movement, of sudden and impossible speed even on the sand-dusted cobblestones, he ran with her on one shoulder and a backpack on his back. Behind them, the stallion that had allowed Gareth the five or six minute head start gave its last, thrashing motions before becoming a still monument, directing any who came their way to the direction he intended to go. <br><br>Past the immense gates, dried wood fortified and banded with brass that glimmered in the faded light, Gareth carried his wayward princess, knowing only too well his physical limitations. He’d planned for many contingencies, including his horse being shot out from beneath him, but not this. Never this. <br><br>His method of escape was too far for him to run with her on his shoulder and outpace the guard. It left him with little choice. <br><br>Despite the price, he had to chant, had to summon a sand demon, a Dervish, to give him time. <br><br>--------------------<br><br>An unknown time passed before the princess awoke. She was in a tent, with an old woman in a wrap of brown, embroidered with colorful sigils, leaning over her. The crone had a face lined the bottom of a desiccated river basin, a gouged map of time, yet her crystalline blue-white eyes were clear and alert.<br><br>“She awakens,” the crone cawed, her voice strong and ancient. <br><br>A moment later a youth appeared. Barely sixteen, with the beginnings of fuzz on his cheeks and chin, the swarthy young man was lean and lightly muscled; more a fox than the panther that Gareth was, and his hair was a shocking shade of red. A foreigner. <br><br>“What did you make Gareth do, bitch?” the man immediately accused. “Do you know what this means to him?” No softness, no guile; only a killing glare of newly tempered steel. This youth, his hand on the hilt of a curved kukri, would murder the princess if she spoke the wrong words, that was clear. <br>&nbsp;<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Harem Girl (Darius and Lingogirl)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lingo</strong> on <strong>09-03-2013, 16:02:31</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				She had begun to stir. Now, draped on a plain but comfortable cot, she mimicked the grace of a lounging cat, content after a nap. Muscles coiling, she elongated her limbs in a slow stretch, a dramatic groan emitting from her throat. Instinctively a hand went to the spot of her head where he had knocked her out, feeling the small bruise there. Letting her hand flop down, Saxa's lush forest gaze finally met the old crow's striking blue. <br><br>Being watched so closely unnerved her immensely. What had happened while she was out? Giving a startled gasp, she jolted upright, backing away on the cot from the old woman. Her body tensed defensively, she exhaled sharply, no longer so startled. "Tell me, where am I?" More so, where was her captor? <br><br>Her question had no time for answer as a young, curious looking man entered the room. Bringing her knees up around her, Saxa presumed he was only a few years younger than she, and they were both not of these lands. She hardly believed that similarity would endear her to him by any means, as he seemed just as violently brash as herself. <br><br>First offended, then even annoyed, Saxa's first response to his question was a haughty snort, her eyes narrowing. She wasn't ignorant enough to ignore the obvious threat of attack he presented; she knew how quick the youth were to display their newly forged skills. So, Saxa tried to quell her own anger and act sensibly.&nbsp; <br><br>"Relax, boy. You must not understand your Gareth and his motives if you are trying to place blame on <em>me</em>." Her voice was frosty with condescension. Raising her chin, she brushed the long hair off her shoulders and down her back. "I know nothing about your master, other than he came to my bridal chambers with the intent of killing me. You see how successful he was." Her jaw clenched, before bearing her teeth. <br><br>"And now, the only thing he has secured is my husband's wrath, and with it dire consequences." Saxa's fists clenched, now sitting ramrod straight and letting her knees rest beside her on the cot, she was eager to see what the little shit had to say in response.&nbsp; &nbsp;<br>&nbsp;
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Harem Girl (Darius and Lingogirl)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dariusfallenstar</strong> on <strong>12-03-2013, 11:01:38</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Spitting at Saxa’s feet, the boy sneered, “You do not comprehend what has happened here. What Gareth has done!” His voice rose in a shout, even as the crone moved over to the ground he’d spat on and bent, collecting the spittle.<br><br>“It is unwise to let loose your water here, Tilje,” the crone murmured, scooping the muck into a container that appeared to be a hollowed root at her side. “I can not believe that you would make this mistake, after spending so much time among our people.”<br>Tilje’s face flushed with embarrassment and much of his bluster seemed to vanish. He reached out, still holding the knife in his off hand, and helped the woman stand, murmuring, “I am sorry Mother.” The title was obvious in his reverent tone. As he helped the old woman up, he shot Saxa an accusatory glare, as though this were all her fault.<br><br>“For all his heat, the boy is right, girl,” the crone said once she was standing again. “It would have been better that you died. Gareth and his people are ready for war. Ready for Ishmael’s retribution. It was planned for years in advance. You were a convenient spur beneath his saddle to get his generals and the few Djinn-Touched he keeps in the city to attacking.” Shaking her head, the woman continued, “That Gareth paid such a price to get you away makes no sense to me. You are not of his tribes, nor do you possess any value other than what might be between your legs.”<br><br>Tilje snorted, “She was a harem girl, Mother. No doubt she has few, if any, skills in the bedroom if she was truly worth the price I hear most fetch.” The loathing and disdain in the boy’s face became even clearer now: he saw the desert people’s lifestyle as animalistic and inappropriate and had applied that hate directly to Saxa. <br><br>A roar erupted outside of the tents, disrupting both old woman and boy. Ignoring Saxa, they fled the tent, the boy groaning, “It comes again. The cost for this power was too high.” And with that, Saxa was left entirely alone in the small tent, with only a small basin of water and a pot for making night soil. <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Harem Girl (Darius and Lingogirl)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lingo</strong> on <strong>13-03-2013, 01:41:12</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Further repulsed by his vulgar gesture, Saxa withdrew back. When he was reprimanded, her superior eyes sharpened upon his, returning his glare. The tension between the two could be cut with a knife. Reluctantly dragging her eyes to the crone, she listened to her calmly speak. Something caught Saxa completely off-guard though- <em>Gareth's men</em>? She had presumed he was a thief, or a hit man, maybe a mage with some respect but... A lord, like Ishmael? How was it possible, at such a young age! Saxa realized she was a pawn in a plot of politics. A pawn that was intended to roll over and die. She had clearly failed to fulfill her pathetic purpose.<br><br>Opening her mouth to make a biting retort to the witch's belittling comment, it appeared the brat Tilje defended her virtue by degrading it. It was true, the high prized harem girls remained intact, but that did not make them virginal fools. The young girl's mood changed so quickly, and after being so enraged, she nearly giggled. This gawky teenager, still coming into his own, what could he possibly know about harems!&nbsp; <br><br>Smiling playfully, the young woman bent to lean back on her forearms, deciding to tease the boy a bit. "Well, one can only hope my mistress is an honest woman, yes? It's not like the business going around a brothel is the most... <em>Upstanding</em>." Her voice was sweet, twisting a piece of hair of hair around her ring finger coyly. Letting her eyes linger on his meaningfully, daring him to question her. Saxa was a woman who was well aware of her sensual power. <br><br>Virgin, yes, but certainly not unable to please men. <br><br>Their stand off was interrupted by a great roar. Frowning seriously, Saxa watched dumbstruck as the two simply left. "Heeeyy, wait! Tell me where we are!" The impetuous woman shouted, receiving no response. Issuing a bloody swear in a foreign tongue, the woman untangled her body and stepped off the cot, trying to get her bearings. Pacing a moment, she pivoted to the water bucket, using some to splash her face. She did not intend on waiting here for their return. Touching her hair habitually, the young woman tread carefully out of the tent, bracing herself for whatever lurked outside... 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Harem Girl (Darius and Lingogirl)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dariusfallenstar</strong> on <strong>13-03-2013, 04:49:54</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				A vast landscape greeted Saxa as she emerged from the tent. She was on a high sandy slope, seemingly situated on the edge of a vast, desert caravan. Closer inspection, however, would reveal that half of the rolling landscape was not sand at all, but sand-covered stone that had been worked with some great detail; a ruin that the huge armada of people had perched upon, squatting like fleas upon the back of a corpse. Far to the left, perhaps three hundred paces, was a stunningly beautiful oasis: clear water that sprung up, crystalline and pure, around which a multitude of trees and other life sprang. No animals lounged near that water, but a steady troupe of people, mostly young boys of the native people, collected the seeming eternal water in jugs before returning to tents and animal lines.<br><br>Of animals, there were many, mostly camels, but a few horses as well. These were smaller than the stallion that Saxa had murdered, fleet desert creatures with temperaments to match the camels. <br><br>People swarmed the encampment, easily over a thousand, all armed and a few of different backgrounds; some tall men, easily over seven feet – half giants – moved about with deceptive grace. Everyone seemed to have something to do: trade, talk, flirt, carry, move – everything was alive in this odd town. <br><br>At first, it was difficult to see what the commotion was – there were too many tents, too many people, too much commotion and the sun was bright above head, with few fluffy clouds to obscure its glare. <br><br>Then, in the distance, one of the sand dunes shifted, shrugging aside curtains of sand that had probably blown in during the night. As it did, a monstrous being – twelve feet or more tall – with brown skin cracked with lava-red lines, rose to the surface. Its clawed hands were clenched into fists as it struggled, pulling lengths of chain that were attached to…whole rows of the animal lines. Camels and horses stood their ground, but only by virtue of there being dozens of them, all standing in a picket line, urged on by watchful handlers. <br><br>The crone and Tilje were moving toward the great, awful beast, the plates covering much of its hide blocking any hint of humanity. Heated eyes appeared in the horrifying face, a maw with needle sharp teeth visible briefly as the thing roared its madness out.<br><br>Sprinting toward it, the crone shouted, “Gareth! Gareth! You must calm yourself! Soon the day will end and you will be yourself again! Be calm, this pain will end!” At her voice, the creature’s unfocused gaze turned to the woman and new shouts arose, shouts of rage and…oddly enough, pain. <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Harem Girl (Darius and Lingogirl)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lingo</strong> on <strong>19-03-2013, 05:25:23</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				A gust of scorching wind slapped her across the face as soon as she left the tent. The wind picked up and dusted her hair across her face, obstructing her view. Delicately prying pieces off her face, her bottom lip curled distastefully. Presumably, it was late afternoon in the desert and the unforgiving sun was in it's prime. Shielding her eyes from the sun with her hand, Saxa could not be prepared for the sight before her.&nbsp; &nbsp; <br><br>Time had been a smoky blur at the harem. Almost like a timeless realm, suspended from the real world. Here, it ran fluidly, a day's work obvious with the hustle and bustle. Across the valley of sand and stone, the sky was vibrating with sounds of brewing chaos. Frowning curiously, the young woman stepped gracefully away from the tent, her step lively, entering the throngs of people to investigate. <br><br>The young bride looked and felt every bit of an outcast; in her lavender garments and gauzy skirts, she did not look ready to perform any hard labor. In fact, it seemed many of the townsfolk knew who she was, or at least what she had done. Young woman whispered and sized her up, old women like the crone shook their heads, and men would whistle softly before sneering. The small girl had difficulty moving through the crowds, the people more than willing to push past her and suffocate her in the musk of sweat. She would garner no sympathy here, no longer a disgraced bride but a <em>prisoner</em>.<br><br>"Oh for the love of, move, you!" A young giant, a male well over six feet tall, growled at the young woman as she pushed him aside. Grimacing irritably, she heaved a theatrical sigh as she escaped the crowds, adjusting her clothing. Hordes of people and animals... A mammoth figure moving out of the sand... Saxa's heart dropped in her stomach, air trapped in her throat. <br><br>The Gods surely had a sick sense of humor. "Shit," She breathed, feeling her knees buckle. What else was there really to say? <br><br>Immediately turning, she attempted to dart into the crowds, only to find no break in the clamor. They acted like a wall, trapping her with the madness engulfing the beast. Relenting in her fruitless pursuits, the young woman glowered at the monster, leaping towards the scene with the grace of a dancer. Weaving in and out of the animals and their masters, Saxa spotted her dear friends from before. Approaching from behind with stealthy precision, the crone rose her voice to reason with the beast. The ill luck of her situation was nearly laughable now- if this was her doing, she sure as hell did not want to see the man when he was back in his true form. <br><br>Stepping forward, Saxa had enough sense to gently grasp the old woman's arm. Facing her, she ignored Tilje for now and rose her voice over the noise. "How has this happened to him? We cannot possibly suppress him like this until the sun falls! Isn't there any magic, any medicine we can use to dull the pain, anything?" <br><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Harem Girl (Darius and Lingogirl)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dariusfallenstar</strong> on <strong>20-03-2013, 10:45:45</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Up close, the creature seemed, if anything, more trapped and pain-wrenched than it did frightening. Its long limbed body, cracked with lines of basalt and obsidian, between those ruddy lines of eldritch red, shuddered in an ecstasy of torment that was undeniable. Bestial face, somewhere between that of a feral cat and an ape, twisted in a rictus of emotion affixed halfway between madness and inhuman suffering, it writhed against captivity. In truth, it may have been writing against its own skin: now that she was within closer proximity, Saxa could, no doubt, feel heat radiating from the creature in a palpable torrent. Like a second sun, that torrential outpouring crisped the sand near the creature’s body, forming shards of glass that only seemed to exacerbate the creature’s oceanic agony.<br><br>“Curses and hells, bloody oceans of salt upon you, woman,” the crone hissed after Saxa was finished speaking. “Do you see what he’s done? Gareth unleashed a demonic curse and took upon himself the power of a lesser demon to spirit you all the way out here. And now, the day belongs to the demon. It will feed him all the pain he can handle and more, glutting itself on his sensations as recompense for the gifts given.” A weathered hand jerked out, toward the creature, still straining against the animals that held it in place. The chain links nearest the demonic form glowed faintly, though tiny runes – now visible – along their length seemed to dissipate the heat, sending it back into the monster rather than into the already sweltering air or poor animals who held it at bay. <br><br>Sheets of glass flowed now, like a river of window panes, each flawed yet beautiful, the glass fanned out around the big thing, flowering. As the glass flowed, the creature sank down, shattering bits beneath, digging a sort of impromptu kiln. <br>Tilje crowed in agony at the sight, hands balled into fists against his hair. “We need to do something. To cool him,” but the youth was unable to move or act, affixed by the scene. <br><br>Within the monstrous body, Gareth suffered. Suffered trauma that he knew he should not survive, and in that suffering was clarity. Without clarity, the suffering would have given way to darkness; the demon would not allow such. In his clarity, Gareth caught sight of Saxa, the source of all his suffering. In that moment, the bestial creature went still, focusing on the girl. And its rage shot out in her direction, a white hot lance that changed the growing glass from a flower into a spear that rapidly extended through the ground toward where she, the crone, and the boy stood. The latter two transfixed by the sight. The crowd around hooting, screaming, doing nothing to help. <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Harem Girl (Darius and Lingogirl)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lingo</strong> on <strong>02-04-2013, 06:53:51</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Spare me, crone," Saxa hissed in response, lifting the blonde curls sticking stubbornly to the back of her neck, "I do not show remorse for curses I do not cast." With another look of contempt, her eyes shifted back to the monstrosity causing further distress. Panes of glass reflecting in the light, creating the most beautiful, painful scene to witness. Recoiling slightly, Saxa grimaced absent-mindedly at the burning sand, scorching the soles of her thin sandals. Hearing Tilje speak, Saxa spoke softly to no one in particular, her gaze still fixed on her feet. "Idiots. What good does it do to just sit here and grumble..." In fact, the whole thing was oddly boring. Really, there was nothing to do except wait for nightfall and watch Gareth pay for his foolish actions. <br><br>Yet a force compelled her to look up, and they were the inhuman eyes of the demon fixed upon hers. For a moment, Saxa did not register the crowds, the boiling temperature, or the disdainful woman and young man. A brief flash of pure fear crossed her eyes, before they steeled themselves to a cool green. Saxa immediately understood what it was thinking. So, essentially, the demon had someone else to torment, or at least target, besides Gareth?&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<br><br>Perhaps she could be of some use. <br><br>"Fuck, <em>move!!</em>" It was a shrill, surprisingly brusque command for such a dainty girl. Gripping the forearm of the hag to her left and the boy on her right (she was sorely tempted to just leave him- Saxa was deeply ingrained to show some respect to elders) she retreated swiftly several feet back, roughly towing them along. Dropping their arms, Saxa huffed dramatically, pacing around Gareth and away from the throngs of his people.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <br><br>Asserting herself, the stolen bride stood defiantly. In her lavender garb, she resembled a lone flower, stubbornly persisting in the cruel glare of the desert. Though, the closer she stood by Gareth, she seemed to wilt; no doubt caused by the sweltering heat emitted from the beast. Taut, tanned skin flushed pink, glistening with perspiration, her wild hair drooping to the back of her neck and arms. Satin and silk now clung to every curve, not only accentuating but scandalizing her body. Had it not been for the quality of her garments, her unkempt appearance could be likened to the common people his people favored to think she was.&nbsp; <br><br>Placing her fingers against her hip bones, she leaned forward, the swell of her breasts moving forward with her actions. "So, you recognize me under that hideous mass, do you?" She challenged, straightening up, she crossed her arms. Her weight went to her toes, preparing to flee her spot if necessary. The next words she spoke were venomous, a cry of spiteful vengeance.<br><br>"In my husband's land, a thief who steals from the market loses the hand that committed the crime. I have no pity for you, you who are now so corrupted, damned to spend the day writhing in a demon's pain. Perhaps it is the just punishment for corrupting my own mind, for without it's unwilling compliance your laughable escape would have failed!"&nbsp; 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Harem Girl (Darius and Lingogirl)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dariusfallenstar</strong> on <strong>06-04-2013, 03:42:07</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				There was always a price for power; such was the nature of Djinn magic, and perhaps why it was so much more potent than any other form of sorcerery in the modern world. In obtaining the power of the demon, Gareth had allowed it into his mind; it, not the heat or his body itself, as tormenting the man who had dared call upon its forbidden shape to escape the city. And in that shared space, the place where two minds, one vulnerable and human, and one demonic and alien, met, there was a certain understanding. In a way, the demon comprehended being alive, being human, through Gareth. <br><br>At the girl’s taunting, both demon and inward-screaming man went utterly calm. The first instant of that calm was at the girl’s audacity, not her words. That she’d saved two people Gareth, the man, considered friends, was not enough to have shaken him or the demon in the state that they were in, locked in a swirl of torment and violence that allowed for little, if any, human thought. <br><br>Being taunted, however, was something the demon recognized on a whole different level. There was a moment of quiet, mutual understanding as the demon offered Gareth surcease from the torture in return for understanding of what the girl was saying. Her posture, sexual and aggressive, had triggered the response in the demon, an understanding that came not based so much on gender as shape. Through the lens of Gareth’s mind, however, the sexual nature of the girl’s taut, non-vocal, yet far more poignant to the creature, came alive. The words only bolstered the creature’s indignation. As much as the demon was *other* and *separate* from Gareth, the two also had a bond; such a creature could not be summoned by another, and Gareth could not bind another, not unless the demon somehow died on its home plane. As such, the demon felt what might be called a certain pride in its strong, disciplined, mortal flesh. <br><br>“What a fucking cunt,” Gareth said within his own mind, a sighed curse that made the demon chuckle. Even in such pain, the man had pride. That, more than anything else the man felt, the demon could recognize and respect. <br><br>Outwardly, the mammoth creature went utterly still. No more screams, no thrashing, only clear-eyed, calculating presence. Twin magma eyes narrowed into slits of disdain, a demon’s regard backed by the shrewd intellect of a man. Puffing his broad, stony chest outward, the demonic thing beat at its chest, then gestured down at the smooth flesh between its thighs, which boiled and roiled like earthen substrate giving birth to a volcano. The sexual organ that formed between the antagonized demon’s thighs would have split horses in two and boiled them alive; yet the gesture was quite clear: she had tits, he had a cock. He was stronger, far superior! <br><br>You know, strutting demon games. <br><br>Gareth, trapped inside, made a mental-host for the demon, felt shock course through him at the demon’s reaction and feelings. This was…impossible. <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Harem Girl (Darius and Lingogirl)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lingo</strong> on <strong>08-04-2013, 09:59:36</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				With crimson orbs piercing into, nearly through, her being, Saxa attempted to force the forming lump in her throat down with a nervous swallow. A creeping dread burrowed in the pit of her stomach, travelling up the notches of her spine. Goosebumps marring her thin arms and shoulders, Saxa shivered. Just a moment ago, the air had been too oppressing to inhale. How could she suddenly feel so clammy in this godforsaken heat? Lengthening her neck and tilting her narrow chin upward, Saxa's arms coiled about her waist, an attempt at disguising her jittery behavior as defiance. Mirroring the demon's little huff as hands resembling the desert's red, clay terrain traveled down the molten body, venturing farther than Saxa could stomach to watch. It was true, as a harem girl, she had been a witness to sex numerous times, even if she was untouched. But the pompous display of bestial sexuality sent a shock of fearful repulsion through her.&nbsp; <br><br>Small lips parted, her arms slowly dropped and, for a fleeting moment, the little brat did not know how to respond, believing Gareth to have control of his actions. A few, brazen males cackled wildly in the audience, though the majority was far too distressed by their Lord's possession to find any humor in the situation. Feeling the spectators gaze burning her back, Saxa felt like a parasite was crawling under her blushing skin; she was far too haughty to handle public shame. Nails braced the feeble skin of her palms, her tensed jaw unhinging itself as she prepared another poisonous string of words. "You filthy, perverse pig!" It was the only name she could refer to him as, after all. <br><br>Naively, she approached the fierce demon, stepping on glass so hot it slowly ate away at the soles of her sandals. "I-", she stammered, clearly at a loss for words, bright eyes vivid with agitation. "I hope this hideous thing brings you such excruciating agony that you collapse from its burden!" Managing a small grimace, Saxa turned to face the late afternoon sun, grumbling condescendingly, "Besides, judging from the pathetic spectacle I witnessed, I cannot imagine you'll endure until the sun falls."&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Harem Girl (Darius and Lingogirl)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dariusfallenstar</strong> on <strong>12-04-2013, 05:13:25</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<em>She is an arrogant thing</em>, the demon thought to itself. It seemed like thought to Gareth, anyway. In reality, it was a summation of the girl’s stance with little intense heat blossoms to indicate the demon’s intent and meaning, followed by a sort of sense of pressure on Gareth’s pain and pleasure centers. It didn’t feel like the creature was really talking to him, rather that it was muttering, and that muttering was visual and sensory. <br><br><em>Why don’t you do something about it?</em> Gareth shot back, using his approximation of the thing’s language, or as close as he could come; the trapped man couldn’t actually induce pain on the demon, no matter how much he wanted to. <br><br>As though shocked at the man’s impetuous questioning, the demon rewarded Gareth with a tiny surge of pain, followed by a much larger surge of what Gareth could only interpret as…questioning pleasure. Like that little tickle one might get just before climax, without climax – a funny sort of “do what?” sensation that left Gareth a little baffled for half a breath, until he caught on. <br><br><em>You’re a demon,</em> Gareth explained. <em>Why not do something to the girl, something appropriate?<br></em><br><em>Like rip her flesh, or rape her to death? </em>The demon suggested, somewhat hopefully. <br><br><em>No, no, that’s not appropriate,</em> Gareth returned. <em>If she dies, she won’t have to live with what she’s done, humiliating both of us, acting so sly and filled with herself. </em>At this point Gareth was angry with the girl, furious, but he also had enough focus to know she didn’t need to die. He’d “rescued” her for a reason and he didn’t intend for her to die right off. <br><br>The demon considered, and Gareth saw its thoughts clearly for the first time. Communicating so directly, being forced to treat the man who summoned it like another being worthy of attention, had changed the bond – if only slightly. For the first time, Gareth could detect the full battery of spells and supernatural abilities available to the ancient thing. As soon as Gareth realized the depth of the creature’s otherworldly power, he cursed himself for having bargained only for its physical strength and stamina. With this thing’s full capabilities on his side, he could have ruled the world.<br><br>The demon, sensing his thoughts, laughed and shot mixed spikes of pain and pleasure into the man. Pain to keep him in line. Pleasure because the demon truly enjoyed the man’s awe. To Gareth, the mixed signals came with a terrifying thought: what if he began mixing pain and pleasure, seeing them as one, as the demon seemed to? Truly dehumanizing. <br><br>Finally, the demon acknowledged Gareth’s wisdom. Though little time had passed externally – perhaps a few seconds – the demon’s demeanor seemed to change entirely. From brutish and hulking, threatening, its stance became far more refined, even genteel, as though it were wearing a flowery, flowing smoking jacket rather than naked skin. Reciting horrible words in a mumble, the thing’s fingers flew in an elaborate pattern, sending a truly horrible curse at the defiant human woman before it. The curse had one, very specific ambition: <br><br>The more the girl struggled, hated, and disobeyed the Gareth – and by extension the demon when Gareth and it were merged – the more vulnerable she would become, the more desire would bind her to him, the greater her need to be his in all sorts of carnal, wicked, tempestuous ways. The curse was not designed to limit or remove free will at all, however: this was a purely biological thing, rooted in magic. Such was the evil of the Demon Lord. <br><br>As soon as the spell ended, so too did the energy that the Demon had expended to manifest around Gareth: the demonic skin shimmied like a heat wave, then vanished, leaving a smooth-skinned, utterly&nbsp; naked (all bronzed and delicious) Gareth falling face down on the sand, unconscious. <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Harem Girl (Darius and Lingogirl)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lingo</strong> on <strong>16-04-2013, 04:59:16</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The demon had left Gareth. Or so it seemed. Though it sounded sadistic, Saxa was a little disappointed. <br><br>The impetuous girl stood, watching, trapped in a momentary stupor. Suspicious, guarded green eyes watched the nude figure laying before her. The wind picked up the slightest, mercifully providing some relief with its breeze, whistling softly as tendrils of her hair whisped about her shoulders.<br><br>Those words... It was more of a <em>chant</em>, really... She hadn't the nearest idea what the Djinn had said. How could she, with her truly ignorant view of magic? The paranoia of not knowing, unsettled by the dark curse that could be brewing inside of her, it was difficult to direct her thoughts elsewhere. But, there was another problem they were faced with; namely, the released, unconscious man lying on the desert floor. <br><br>With the exquisite, languid grace of a queen, bronzed arms extended over her head, meeting at her back to stretch. Turning her head to face the others, she spoke coolly to the stubborn red-headed boy, wearing a haughty smirk, "And perhaps the whore had some purpose, eh?". Saxa was blatantly challenging him, of course, forgetting she was the direct reason the beast was ever summoned. Just as it was with Gareth (though probably not as much; Saxa took no shame in his painful day, only gleeful vengeance), Saxa took no shame in his painful day, only gleeful vengeance), Saxa thrived off their retaliation, the fiery comeback that would only ensue a vicious cycle of aggression. <br><br>Dropping her arms with a lazy demeanor, she pivoted around. The brat intended to wash her hands of the Lord, to return to her little tent, but something stopped her. Frowning curiously, the young woman's head cocked to the side, as if something was gnawing at her thoughts. Her expression was, uncharacteristically, unreadable. Finally, her shoulders fell, vivid eyes rolling, and she drug her feet back over to the unconscious man. <br><br>Standing atop of him, Saxa did not know how to approach from this point. In all frankness, she didn't like seeing mighty men looking so vulnerable. Gingerly tucking her feet beneath her and sliding down to her knees, her hands crept to his shoulders. That same, nagging intimidation crept upon her, forced to touch sinewy, masculine arms, it made her feel like a bashful, young child who understood nothing of human sexuality. <br><br>Her touch was warm, yet his was somehow warmer. A <em>whoosh</em> of air escaped parted lips as she draped his arm around her shoulder, involuntarily shivering as the rough flesh of his thumb grazed her bare arm. Raising up with some difficulty as she shouldered a man twice her size, hunching over uncomfortably, Saxa grimaced at the sagely, old hag. "He is your lord, not mine. By the Gods, we have to be giving him some water, <em>anything,</em> right now!"&nbsp; &nbsp;
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Harem Girl (Darius and Lingogirl)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dariusfallenstar</strong> on <strong>19-04-2013, 02:39:31</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Stunned silence answered the unexpected transformation. Few understood the sort of magic that Gareth employed; fewer still knew the lengths that he’d gone to in order to attain what little, limited mastery he had over it.&nbsp; Almost all who had gathered at his summons had known the dangers of the demon; Gareth had deliberately spread word of what its presence would mean and how to handle it long before the assault attempt. Summoning it had always been an option, albeit a last-ditch one. Though strong, the demon was a purely physical manifestation – Gareth had no bargains with its magics and given enough injury, both it and he could die. Even if the old Ishmael had only a small army of archers, in time Gareth might be brought down. Therefore, the form was primarily for retreat and protection, not assault. Along with details about what the demonic form was capable of were the rules, how long he had to remain in the shape, as well as how he would behave.<br><br>Nothing he said had mentioned coming out of it early, or the intelligence that the demon had seemingly displayed when confronted by the lowly harem girl. Even Tilje and the crone were stunned long enough o allow Saxa to amble up to their lord and lift him. At her words, however, the crone sprang to life.<br><br>“Water and shade! Now!” the crone shouted, glaring over at Tilje as she added, “and fetch his highness. No doubt he will come to shortly. When he does so, he will not want to be in a position to thank this…woman.” The pause in the crone’s depiction of Saxa hinted at a sort of reluctant gratitude, an unexpected outcome that was worth exploring. Potentially.<br><br>Tilje raced over toward Gareth, giving the naked man but a few more seconds on Saxa’s shoulder. Gareth was, in truth, quite the weight. Tall and lean, but densely muscled, the bronze-skinned man had a strange texture to his skin, a little too sleek, too slick, less like the velvet-softness one might expect from human flesh and more like extremely refined silk, or the smooth underside of a serpent’s belly. It wasn’t that his skin was alien or serpentine, rather as though it had been new-made by the process of becoming the demon. Though all of his strength and even the callouses on his palms were intact, it felt vaguely as though he’d been reassembled from a collection of like parts rather than the original flesh. <br><br>Dark hair grazed Saxa’s vulnerable throat as Tilje took his lord from her and hurried off toward the nearest tent, heedless of who might own it. Behind, the line of tethered animals watched on, blinking bemusedly at the goings on. <br><br>Once inside the tent, Tilje set Gareth down and two young women, veiled and presumably pretty, with dark marks around their eyes indicating that they were both virgins and available, and rings around their wrists, proclaiming them of houses of some nobility, appeared, providing water and food. As soon as the water touched Gareth’s lips, he leapt into consciousness, a curse of dismay barely reaching past his new-made, confectious lips, before he grabbed the bottle and drank it all down, followed quickly by a few bites of food. Once he’d finished, perhaps a minute after he’d awoken, he drew a simple cloth around his hips and called out, “Where is that blasted woman? You haven’t let her escape while you were treating me like a barely-scorched infant, have you?”<br><br>Outside the tent, her eyes on Saxa, the crone smirked. “It seems he wants you still, little harem girl. You’d best be careful. He isn’t one to manipulate lightly.”<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Harem Girl (Darius and Lingogirl)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lingo</strong> on <strong>22-04-2013, 03:34:57</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<em>Woman. Bitch. Harem girl. Saxa,</em> The girl thought brusquely as she followed the horde begrudgingly to the closest tent, kicking up sand as she went. <em>My name is Saxa, damn you all.</em> Admired greatly in her harem. Desired the most. A commodity, perhaps, but one of some significance. It was humbling- no, belittling- to be otherwise unknown and unimportant in this group of wayward people.<br><br>Flocks of denizens clustered together, expressions of relief and wonder on their faces. What a beast that had been conjured, and how oddly it had vanished! And Gareth... What of him? Without a group, Saxa merely sauntered up besides the tent, refusing to enter and instead attempted to occupy her mind with her appearance. Blonde, usually untamed hair now simply unattractive, disturbed ringlets knotting together, absorbing dry desert air. Sand decorated her ankles like small, glinting jewels. Skin violently flushed, unaccustomed to spending much time out in the forgiving sun and instead in the cool, darkness of her brothel...<br><br>It was truly bothering her why he had made away with her in the first place. To kill her there; well, it was quite understandable. What better way to hurt Ishmael? Although, would kidnapping her, possessing her, be even more of an injury? It would be a pompous show of victory, to ruin her before all his people, and therefore disgracing Ishmael. She had given him enough motive to harm her, she realized. Paraded through the streets as a prisoner, being horribly scarred or maimed, raped, <em>unfit</em> to be a wife, and reduced to lowest of women.<br><br>Saxa's bright eyes darkened, jaw clenched with worry, unaware of her surroundings and instead caught in a reverie of humiliation and pain. The forming knot of apprehension grew in her stomach, set the skin on her shoulders alive, hair standing on end. It built, like a punch to the gut, winding her- <br><br>Jumping at the bat's tired voice, she gave her head a quick shake. Did the bitch really believe she'd be meek and mild before their recuperating Lord? Rolling her shoulders, Saxa straightened, as if ready to do battle. "I can handle myself," She grumbled, dismissing good advice. "I shan't play nurse to him- I was not trained to be a wench, you know." Throwing the words over her shoulder, Saxa strode into the small tent. <br><br>Raising a brow at the two assisting virgins, Saxa looked a little amused. Resisting the urge to comment, her two, hazy green orbs studied Gareth resentfully. "So, you've awakened already, eh?" Fingers dug into the grooves of her hipbones, traversing the distance to where he sat, steps calculated, <em>suspicious.</em> Daring to stand over top of the noble lord, Saxa's tanned forearms wrapped in front of her ribs, bones as delicate as a bird's, giving a small huff. "It's not like you have ample time, anyway, to prepare for my husband's counter-strike." Oh, she knew it was a biting comment, one he would respond to accordingly. She must learn to still her tongue. Venting all of her frustration, her bitter irritation, and also attempting to gain information from him with this little jab.&nbsp; 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Harem Girl (Darius and Lingogirl)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dariusfallenstar</strong> on <strong>26-04-2013, 06:03:38</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Gareth’s lean face hardened as the girl waltzed in and stood so brazenly above him. She was pretty in a way that made parts of him ache, but enough of a bitch that the ache twisted, became something more like a resentful loathing that wouldn’t allow him to kill or discard her. The very same problem he’d originally had when she’d fought back, only in maturation now that the demon was involved. It sat in the background, laughing within his thoughts in a way that it never had before. The demon and he had made a pact through the power of the Djinn; it was, after all, just one form of Djinn, one known as “demon” to those uninitiated in the lore of such things.<br><br>In the pact-making with the creature, the cost Gareth had paid – and would need to pay each summoning was made and concrete; there were no abstract “or if” situations. Yet here he was, back in the flesh early, and there it was, lingering behind his eyes. If the creature had been opposed to Gareth, fighting him from within his own flesh, Gareth might have been unhappy, even taken steps to banish the creature, no matter the cost. <br><br>But, in some insane way, the girl had left a mark on the Djinn, some pique that was between anger, fascination, and wicked glee. Gareth did not understand the last, for he did not know the spell that the Djinn had cast; it had done so using knowledge far beyond Gareth’s capability and experience. <br><br>All this flashed behind Gareth’s eyes in an instant, followed by the realization that his growing, quick-renewing strength was due to the Djinn’s continued presence in his skin. Using that knowledge, the still-naked man rolled to his feet, the cloth covering his manhood falling to the ground as he did. Should she look, Saxa would see a lean, muscular confection – hairless save for the slightest hint of a trail down his flat stomach, leading above a generous – though not inhuman – manhood that hung low and soft between his powerful thighs. <br><br>“We are going, Saxa,” Gareth said in a low voice. “The plan was always to stir him up, prick his honor, and then leave him a clear trail. Every moment we’ve delayed is a problem. Hopefully,” his dark eyes shifted to the crone and Tilje, “everything is prepared and your lord has yet to mount his offense. Regardless, we are going. And you are coming with me. As my personal servant.” The two girls nearby gasped at the honor he was offering the rebellious harem girl; personal servants, at least in the traveling tribes, were rarely used for sexual pleasure – they hauled water, cooked, helped a lord with his boots and clothes – but the position was considered one of honor. In the cities, of course, personal servants could be used for whatever a Vizier wanted. “You will be treated well, but kept close. Is that clear?”<br><br>Breaking in, the crone murmured, “We estimate Ishmael’s army to ride tomorrow, with the dawn. We must break camp tonight, my lord.” Gareth gave her an acknowledging nod and the woman and Tilje shifted toward the exit, moving just slowly enough to hear Saxa’s reply. Both expected petulance, if not worse. <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Harem Girl (Darius and Lingogirl)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lingo</strong> on <strong>01-05-2013, 05:42:41</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Her eyes unwillingly ventured lower on his body, following the small amount of dark hair at his abdomen and the finely sculpted, inward curving lines leading even further down... A strange, pleasant sensation reverberated through her bones, catching Saxa off-guard. Her eyes widened vulnerably, slowly climbing their way up his form to his face. Catching his eye, a shudder rippled through her. <br><br>The harem girl's throat closed as he spoke, and finally Saxa felt utterly <em>trapped,</em> like an animal captured and thrown in a shrinking cage. The air was heavy, her silky garments clinging to her body and suffocating her skin. These savage, wicked people, they really intended to keep her from her intended husband! No bargains, no ransom. Just life as the spoils of war. Swallowing hard, Saxa's eyes wandered the objects of the room as if they would provide some sort of refuge from the scorching, coal glare of the Lord. <br><br>Could she afford to bargain with him? Any normal, frightened woman taken prisoner would immediately accept his offer with tearful gratitude. But Saxa did not cower when backed against a corner; she lashed out. Intimidation was only met with further aggression. <br><br>"Is that clear?" The bold chit parroted in disbelief, voice quavering with emotion. "Are you absolutely <em>mad</em>? I am not a dog, Gareth! I don't follow a master when he simply offers me comforts," Frowning her displeasure, the saucy girl's shoulders heaved, moving to shove the large man back a pace. "What the hell makes you believe I'd service you in any manner?!" <br><br>Back pedaling from him, the woman pivoted to face the old woman and boy, giving Gareth a view of her gauzy skirts molding to the delicate contours of her thighs and ass. "You won't separate me any further from my Lord. I am not going anywhere!" 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Harem Girl (Darius and Lingogirl)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dariusfallenstar</strong> on <strong>04-05-2013, 03:18:13</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Gareth shrugged slowly, slightly. “Then you will be bound and dragged behind the wheels of the slowest wagon. Unfortunately, we cannot move slowly, so that pace will become daunting after a few sun-drenched, sandy hours.” He could not let the girl loose; best bet, she’d simply die in the scorched sun. Worst, she’d survive and be captured by some other band. Between those, of course, was the off-chance she’d be returned to Ishmael, but it was unlikely that the Vizier would take her back. Even with her flower intact, her honor was sullied; she’d be seen as damaged goods and given to whomever the fat old man wanted to show favor to.<br><br>Of course, Gareth reasoned, Saxa probably knew it all and was simply being stubborn and prideful. That assumption made him oddly fond of the girl. She continued to remind him of the iron he’d seen in her, the very same stuff that had kept him from simply killing her back in the lavish womb of her bed chambers. <br><br>His speaking done, Gareth began pulling on his clothes. Loose trousers that flowed across his legs and an open-throated blue shirt of some delicate silken material seemed to practically appear on him, concealing his masculinity and most of his tempting physique. He seemed about to pull a burnoose on, but hesitated and ultimately dropped his hand back to his side. With the demon riding so close in his thoughts, he felt a degree of protection that was, perhaps, just wishful thinking.<br><br>Brushing past the abstinent girl, the contact electric enough to remind him just how badly he wanted her, he murmured, “Follow me or stay out of my way. Either way, you go nowhere but with me.” That said, he stepped into the sandals waiting for him near the edge of the tent, and then out into the remaining hours of the scorching day. There was much work and oversight to be done, palms to squeeze, and people to talk with. An odd feeling swirled in his head as he moved beyond Saxa; the sense of the demon, rotating to follow where she stood, rather than where Gareth looked, as though the creature could feel her. And, perhaps, it could. Its magic ran through her now, after all. <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Harem Girl (Darius and Lingogirl)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lingo</strong> on <strong>05-05-2013, 07:41:11</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Saxa scoffed in disbelief at his cool response, crossing her arms. "Mmm, what a pity." She retorted, her voice dripping with bitter sarcasm. Averting her eyes from him, Saxa's lithe body swayed uncertainly when he approached her. Raising a brow as he spoke, her silence said far more than words could have. The harem girl listened for his departure. Strangely, it felt like the dusky, fearsome Lord was still looming behind her. Saxa placed a hand on the back of her neck, as if anticipating his breath to fall on her untouched skin. For all her fire,&nbsp; Gareth had responded as though he was completely uninvolved. Was she... <em>Disappointed,</em> that her little tantrum had no affect on him? When she had toppled the horse and he had threatened to harm her, she had liked it. No, even worse, she had fed off of it. Wanted it, vied for it, relished in his attention. Did she harbor some twisted attraction for him?&nbsp; <br><br>There was little she could do but follow him. It was slowly occurring to her that, as his personal servant, Gareth was giving her some leverage. Access to his food, his private chambers... Her mind danced with wicked plots, a small, scheming smile playing on her features. Oh yes; she would take advantage of this role. <br><br>Straightening her skirts so the garment sat on her hips, Saxa emerged from the cool shade of the shelter, shielding her face with a hand. These damnable conditions were going to ruin her complexion! Granted, she was not like the ghostly maidens of her harem; more like a wild lioness, her skin and hair a magnificent, velvety smooth gold. That didn't mean she was worn or weathered by the unforgiving glare of day.&nbsp; &nbsp; <br><br>"Gareth!" Her thin sandals kicked up sands as her fast paced walk turned into a jog. Halting at his side, she stood on the tips of her dainty feet, a hand tugging at his forearm like a child clinging to their parent.&nbsp; "Well, I will not wander around alone in a unfamiliar tribe." Saxa grumbled compliantly, falling back on her heels. So, it seemed the fiery woman would play the obedient servant, at least until opportunity for revenge presented itself.&nbsp; <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Harem Girl (Darius and Lingogirl)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dariusfallenstar</strong> on <strong>05-05-2013, 07:55:47</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Gareth responded to the girl’s tug at his arm with a small nod. He noticed, at least on some level, the feeling of her touch, how small her hands were compared to the limb she plied them against. There was a thrill of temptation within that notice, however much he did his best to ignore it. The young lord knew better than to trust the girl; the power of a Djinn might be great, but entirely re-writing someone’s personality and mind was unlikely. Whatever the fascinated demon had done had probably been to keep the girl around, not keep Gareth safe. <br><br>But the young lord had far more than Saxa to worry about. His plan had been delayed due to her inclusion and the demon he’d allowed out hadn’t done much to help matters. Ishmael might arrive more slowly out of caution, but he’d bring far more troops and perhaps even siege weapons. The notoriously superstitious Vizier was unlikely to have local sorcerers with Djinni pact-magic, but there was nothing to keep him from contracting magi who had far less powerful, but more versatile magics at their fingertips. <br><br>Taking Saxa’s hand, he murmured, “Keep pace. Remain near, or one step behind. Do not speak. I will not repeat this warning. It is for your protection.” Lest she interrupt and force him to punish her before others. <br><br>Then, he was off. Moving with energy and vitality that belied his recent torment, Gareth swam amongst his people. There were a huge variety, old and young alike; not one tribe, but the fusion of dozens of lesser ones, ones who had listened, or could not afford ill afford to ignore, the progressive Gareth. Smiling, waving, exchanging greetings, though as often cajoling and prodding, he convinced them to start packing and moving despite the late hour. Night travel, he reminded even the oldest, saltiest of the desert dogs, would be easier on everyone. No matter that they’d been awake all day waiting for him to come to his senses: he would have coffee made and brought to all, paid for from his own coffers. It would all work out. <br><br>He repeated himself dozens of times before he came before the vast, black-canopied tent of someone he referred to as, “Old Talan.” Into the tent, the interior saturated with the scents of spices and pungent alchemical aromas Gareth went, sweeping Saxa into an arena dominated by a soft, portly black man, his fingers covered in rings, his eyes inset below dark-tinted optics. <br><br>“Gareth,” purred the man’s sweet voice, the voice of a eunuch.<br><br>“I need coffee for everyone, Talan. We must travel through the night,” Gareth announced without preamble.<br><br>Talan’s face fell into folds that told a clear story: Gareth’s request was impossible. <br><br>Frowning, Gareth shifted his gaze over to Saxa. He didn't intend it to be an opening for her to add anything to the conversation; his eyes merely sought a comfortable place to rest while he thought. <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Harem Girl (Darius and Lingogirl)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lingo</strong> on <strong>08-05-2013, 08:20:37</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The smoky light danced off the high points of the harem girl's dainty facial features. The high, often times inquisitively arched brow bones; the sexy, dark lashes framing her uniquely slanted almond eyes. Against the dark background, each blonde curl shone like an individual ribbon of light, framing her face and alluding to how fragile its bone structure really was. Pursing her flushed red lips now, Saxa felt some sympathy for the eunuch's plight; perhaps it was the nostalgia he resurrected within her of the feminine, castrated guards of her old harem. <br><br>Aroused from her quiet role as observer and follower, green eyes flickered to Gareth as his gaze fell upon her. The soft tinkling of metal jewelry was heard as she shifted uncomfortably, raising a brow as if to say, <em>What, is the solution to your problems written on my forehead?</em>. Saxa's sigh broke the quiet, turning her entire body to face Gareth. The Lord towered easily over the girl so that, should he peer low enough, he had a clear view of the supple, rounded cleavage gently pressing out of her bra- that is, until she pushed curtains of light hair in front of her shoulders, draping protectively around her tiny frame like a shawl. <br><br>"Well, Gareth, it seems you've made promises you cannot keep." It was a blunt accusation, accentuated with a shrug of her shoulders. "The man cannot conjure up the grounds required to quench your entire tribe. Why not give those who are responsible for the heaviest physical labor or wagon drivers the coffee, and let the others be? Or," She added dryly, narrowing her eyes meaningfully, "Wait until early morning instead of travelling in the night like a group of desperate thieves." She didn't understand why he felt responsible to supply his people coffee in the first place. Ishmael, and many other powerful Lords, wouldn't hesitate to abandon those who straggled behind the tribes, or threaten any who slacked off during the night trek. Then again, Saxa had noticed the loyalty and&nbsp; respect they held for Gareth. Ishmael controlled through fear, and the end result was that people had to be forced to act in his wishes. Was this how the young Lord had become so powerful?&nbsp; &nbsp;
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Harem Girl (Darius and Lingogirl)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dariusfallenstar</strong> on <strong>10-05-2013, 04:24:12</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				In the same light that made Saxa seem so exotic, Gareth mirrored her. He was one of his people, there was no doubt of that, but that he had been touched by powers beyond his ken was also clear. His caramel skin, burnished in the flawless, smooth lines of his muscularity gleamed with the health and vitality of the new-made. None of the scars that warriors would have valued shone on his features and he was not disfigured, not missing any fingers or toes. Big and powerful, dark of eye and hair, framed with an artful beard that leaned his angular features the cast of some sort of hungry wolf, he might have mistaken for a fop, or some sort of courtesan. <br><br>Until he breathed, or moved at all. Grace and power resided within that improbably beatific visage, a leonine coiling that was entirely masculine, entirely unwavering iron. Within his brief shirt and pants, there as something that had been remade in the desert, forged by trials and tribulations that others could only guess at. Yet within that bronzed clarity there was room for humility, for acceptance, for words of wisdom.<br><br>“Give me what you can, Talan,” Gareth said finally, clearly ignoring the girl’s second suggestion. “The girl is right. We will load people on the wagons and sleep in shifts, using the coffee grounds to keep the strongest awake. Then, we will rotate throughout the night. I will give chits out for the black drink – keep your pot bubbling throughout the night and pour only for yourself and those with a chit. Do you think you can manage this?” <br><br>The fat man considered, eyes narrow, moving from the girl and back to the powerful lord. “It is a good suggestion,” Talan said at last, “I can make it work, provided you give me a few additional men to help.”<br><br>“Done,” Gareth said sharply, then turned to Saxa, a wry smile on his full, expressive lips. A smile that did not quite reach his Djinn-inhabited eyes of dull black fire. “A wise suggestion. Proof that I should keep you near. We will escape and undermine Ishmael yet, even better to have you, who would be in his bed chambers even now, assisting us.”<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Harem Girl (Darius and Lingogirl)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lingo</strong> on <strong>15-05-2013, 04:54:19</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				An eyebrow cocked curiously at the Lord, searching his black ochre eyes, but she said nothing. The lithe girl turned to face the eunuch, marveling at their decision to follow her. Wasn't it a man's place to scorn the words of women, or at least adopt the attitude of doing so? <br><br>Saxa was oddly bashful. A swell of warmth overcame the softness of her skin, making her face take on an almost childlike appearance. Taking pieces of her honey-colored tresses and twisting them self-consciously about her finger, Saxa fought the muscles twitching in her lips, attempting to force them to curl upwards. <br><br>A fist fled to cover her mouth when Gareth address her, forcing an awkward cough to conceal her previous pleasure. His compliment just <em>might've</em> to secure another girlish display from the harem girl- but his mention of her lost husband was certainly enough to secure her temper. It was Saxa's nature that her emotions were far more impetuous than most. <br><br>Eyes resembling the dangerous, unexplored depths of a forest, the urge to smile was replaced with a saucy scowl. Her spine straightened, pushing her chest forward proudly and tilting her chin up. The girl advanced a pace forward, ever the "imposing" figure, speaking in a hushed tone. <br><br>"You are far more foolish than I presumed you to be. You honestly believe I will partake in such base scheming to shame my own husband?" Her voice echoed her disbelief. The harem girl had provided the Lord a strategy... But she chalked that up to her momentary nostalgia and weakness. "I merely stated the obvious, Gareth. Expect no aid, for I have already been spoken for." 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Harem Girl (Darius and Lingogirl)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dariusfallenstar</strong> on <strong>17-05-2013, 05:09:27</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Gareth’s face hardened, all hints of indulgence and winsomeness fading from it as surely as the desert sands might scald away flesh from bone in a sirocco. The darkness in his eyes, that infinitely tantalizing abyss seemed to writhe with a second presence as what might have been the Demon-Djinn stirred, either manipulating Gareth or feeding off of his emotions – and who could tell?<br><br>“Foolish girl. You would have been nothing more than a breeding cow, a worthless trollip, a turnip for the fat Lord’s garden. Once he died of old age, his sons would have inherited his harem&nbsp; and, of course, you. Defiled, soiled, you would have been turned out, penniless and destitute.” He leered, looking her over, “No matter how pleasant your charms now, a few years working the whore house would empty you out. Smoke and drink and too many cocks would have worked that pride from you as surely as anything else.” <br><br>He paused, letting his comments settle in. “Just because you’ve had one good idea, shown an iota of sense, do not think that I find you worthy. You are an ornament, a spiked babe, nothing more. I would discard you, if it pleased me. And it does not. Now then, I must be about a true Lord’s duties. Feel free to amuse yourself however you wish. Walk across the sands and suffer the harsh fate of the unrelenting sun on that soft, delicate skin, if you like.”<br><br>And with that Gareth turned back to the eunuch, meeting the other man’s eyes long enough to confirm his orders were entirely understood, before sweeping past Saxa – his arm brushing hers, brief electric contact stirring the fires within the young man’s stomach, the desire that had made the demon curse the prideful girl a twin prickling in his stomach – and out into the fading sun. He truly had much to do.<br><br>Yet why had he acted as he had? He had to wonder at his words and behavior as he moved among his people. What had spurred him to push the girl so? It was as if some part of him craved her rebellion, needed to push her to her very limits? Never before had Gareth acted so with a woman; though, admittedly, Gareth had courted relatively few in his relatively short lifetime. <br><br>Ah, well, he reasoned to himself, it was about time. She deserved that much and more, after all. Didn’t she?<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Harem Girl (Darius and Lingogirl)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lingo</strong> on <strong>20-05-2013, 10:08:52</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Her face grew taut with suppressed emotion in response to his words. Only the fleeting, involuntary quiver of her lower lip, or the lowering crinkle of her eyebrows conveyed the effect of his words. Hey eyes were strangely calm, focused. When he grew silent, the tendons in her neck coiled, rolling her shoulders with the grace and haughtiness of a peacock- but her hand quivered at her side with the consuming desire to strike him with all her might. Turning to watch him go, the smoky space grew silent. The girl stood motionless by the door, watching the mouth of tent as small wisps of dry air maneuvered inside to toy with the loose tendrils of hair resting on her collarbones. Somewhere amidst all her fire, her passionate resistance, Saxa realized her fault. What was there to be accomplished with incessant tantrums and no plan of action? <br><br>Pivoting on her heels, the harem girl faced Talan, the practiced tension in her body melting to a unguarded vulnerability. Her lips pursed in a pretty expression of quiet fascination, mimicking the delicate thoughtfulness of a curious child. Scanning scraps of paper serving as labels of herbs and various elements, Saxa began tugging on her plump bottom lip excitedly. Vague bits of information of basic remedies, quick cures, and strong aphrodisiacs danced in her mind, tidbits learned at her brothel. Of course, the mistress had also revealed elixirs and tonics that weren't so helpful- poisons that would leave a man short of death, plagued with the fever, or temporarily paralyzed. Saxa herself had hardly taken an interest in the use of herbs, having no motive to cure a man's sloppy intoxication or failing strength, too much pride to ever consider using a aphrodisiac, and lacking any personal vendetta to poison anyone. Perhaps the harem girl gave herself too much credit now, to even entertain the idea of recalling the exact details of such tonics.&nbsp; <br><br>"I will not loiter and burden you," She promised in a naturally melodious voice, one that lacked the defensive, ready edge she used with Gareth. "But I was intrigued. My mistress had been, to a small degree, an alchemist herself..." Saxa faltered off, her eyes alight with hungry scheming. The potential to act now, on this night, and sabotage Gareth's plans.&nbsp; Redirecting her attention calmly to Talan, studying the engorged skin of his face, she gave a respectful nod of her head before leaving. <br><br>It was dusk by the time she had caught up with the Lord. Thankfully, the sweltering, claustrophobic crush of the people and activity was dissipating. Merchants were packing away their wares, families were retreating to their tents; even animals were being secured in stables and fed. And an exasperated Saxa finally spotted the young Lord, her entire upper-half expanding and collapsing in a dramatic sigh, "Finally!" Placing one foot in front of the other, she leisurely ambled over to the commanding man. Finding him momentarily alone, Saxa did not attach herself onto his arm this time, but instead craned her head up to meet his gaze, her hands haughtily resuming their familiar position on her shapely hips. "Have you forgotten you asked me to stay near?&nbsp; Or do you intend on having me chase after you until I pass out?" She did not anticipate an answer, but instead sized up the caravans preparing for their nightly trek. "I hope you realize that your people will be utterly depleted after the trials of this night; especially after coping with that demon you called upon." Saxa's mind drifted to the bizarre incantation it had placed upon her before giving a resolute shake of her head. "It takes a loyal troupe to follow a single man's orders and pick up their lives and move as he sees fit. How can you be sure you command such sway?" Strangely, it wasn't a challenging remark, but a sincere inquisition. Was it possible the typically unwavering, pertinacious girl was comparing the two Lords? 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Harem Girl (Darius and Lingogirl)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dariusfallenstar</strong> on <strong>21-05-2013, 00:47:46</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				To say that Gareth had a busy evening would have been quite an understatement. The Lord had a thousand and one tasks to complete and no time with which to do so. Working with Talan had been a worry of significance, but there were a half dozen others, almost all logistic. His people had been prepared to move, but he’d bitten off more than he could chew. Not that he’d have admitted it to Saxa, or anyone else for that matter. Gareth could have excused himself, told anyone listening that he hadn’t asked for every merchant, family, and slave in a dozen-dozen tribes to fall in line with the warriors, to merge with him as their masonic, idealistic head.<br><br>He’d just been a man with an idea. And now he was shouting with men twice his age, men who’d lugged all their worldly possessions behind for a chance to join the new empire, the new kingdom, the new…whatever it was Gareth had in mind. <br><br>“It’s simple, really,” Gareth sighed sometime later, when he finally had a moment to breathe. The young man looked tired, exhausted and drawn, yet he still carried himself with the fevered, charismatic energy of a leader. “I saw that we needed to modernize. To take on new methods of manufacturing and trade. Our people are exalted above all others, in that we can make exchanges with the Djinn, yet we do not use that power to build, to uplift our lives. We kill one another, make individuals – like your husband – more powerful.” <br><br>A man approached from the shadows and Gareth turned, surprisingly graceful given his state, yet from Saxa’s unique vantage, it would be clear that making himself appear so energized cost him. It felt as though part of him was sagging – not bent, not bowed, but heavily laden. After a brief exchange of clipped words in the merchant’s tongue, the man stepped away and Gareth turned back to her.<br><br>“When a few people started listening to me, Ishmael sent assassins to show his displeasure. That was seven years ago.” Gareth flashed Saxa his white teeth, not bothering to go into the deeper story, the one between those seven years and now. Still, he’d drawn quite the straight line between himself and that Lord. <br><br>“Now, the people follow me because they believe in my ability to forestall Ishmael and the other Viziers, to establish a new order. A new&nbsp; way.” He paused again, frowning now, the motion transforming his angular, sleek-featured face into a fold of dark agony. “In truth, I worry that they are transforming me into something other than a figurehead for an ideal, but into a new Lord, as great and terrible as the Viziers themselves.” After a moment in that fixed, self-doubting state, he shrugged and murmured, “As God wills. I cannot be all things at all times, nor can I concern myself with all things.”<br><br>Behind where they spoke, all along the dunes and well-worn trails, masses of people moved. Talking quietly amongst themselves, interrupted by a few cries and screams of pain or rage as someone went out of turn or moved too fast, the whole encampment began an orderly retreat. At that sight, Gareth exhaled through his lips, now white and compressed thin. <br><br>“I am going to my tent to sleep for a few hours. I’ll be taking rear-guard to ensure your pig of a Lord does not send harriers in to kill the innocent among my people. It would be best if you came with me, for your own protection.”<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Harem Girl (Darius and Lingogirl)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lingo</strong> on <strong>28-05-2013, 06:58:45</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The young harem girl jut her neck forward, her cherry lips opening the slightest as she struggled to keep up with the Lord's explanation. Her livelihood depended upon dancing, charm, beauty, and fostering carnal desire. What did she know of trade, the expanding markets, or the effort required for manufacturing? <br><br>Frustrated, her eyes wandered away from Gareth's to the fading sun, the sky painted with sultry ribbons purple and red. Saxa appeared thoughtful, disarmed, but nevertheless disturbed. Her hands fidgeted together in front of her body, over the velvety flesh of&nbsp; her exposed stomach. His story painted her almighty husband, the fearsome, albeit aged Lord, in an unfavorable light; such a man could not impede the Desert people! Was he not a proud, powerful beacon of success, a man who could benefit all with his extensive resources? <br><br>Well, it was just one man's telling of their history. But his views were supported by a group of diverse, self-sustaining individuals. Saxa's chest tightened uncomfortably, turning to face Gareth as he continued, his face contorting to a clear expression of pain. Her stare fled from the smolder of his eyes- others' pain never sat well with the harem girl. Instead, it lowered to a strong, bearded jaw, over the grace of his fine collar bones, and to the tempting throat of his shirt. She swallowed with some difficulty, quietly suppressing the damnable urge to touch him, to <em>comfort</em> him. <br><br>The chaos brewing in the camp seemed to shake both Gareth's and Saxa's senses. Pivoting on her sandaled feet, a few blonde curls kissing her back caught the wind. Ishmael's men might be arriving? Her forest eyes brightened with uncontained excitement; why bother poisoning him when she could simply flee? <br><br>The harem girl still did not grasp the game of politics she was thrust into, convinced of her worth. Throwing her hair away from her face, accentuating the delicate, chiseled bone structure, Saxa nodded. "Very well, if you insist. It will be a long night and I," The girl's arms went above her head, giving a hearty yawn as she stretched her body forward, "Could use some sort of peace." Situating her hands in their rightful place on her hips, she gestured regally. "By all means, after you."&nbsp; &nbsp; 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Harem Girl (Darius and Lingogirl)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dariusfallenstar</strong> on <strong>30-05-2013, 03:28:22</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The interior of Gareth’s tent was a smoky haze of sprawling half-opulence. Half, because it was far smaller than a typical Lord’s, yet still grand compared to many. Low, covered candle holders offered flickering illumination to the space, revealing a dozen pillows and a small, wide bed with silken sheets adorned one side of the room. Braziers hung from the ceiling&nbsp; and smoked with some alchemical substance designed to promote deep sleep and healing, presumably prepared for the lord’s attendance ahead of time. A mahogany table, low and even with the bed, had been dressed with fruits, a few vegetables, and slices of meat with pitchers of both wine and water. Not a feast, but certainly not the leanest of meals. <br><br>Despite all that, every aspect was crafted in the way of the desert nomads. The braziers were designed to collapse, fold down into neat flowers of metal. The tent could likewise collapse and the sheets and pillows fold, tuck, or squish into spaces a fraction of their fully inflated size. The bed was, perhaps, the largest and most cumbersome element of the room and that could fold as well. A small square of a pack horse, at best. <br><br>Stepping gracefully into the room, dodging pillows that might turn an ankle with practiced, unconscious precision – the same precision the handsome young man had used to sneak into Saxa’s sleeping chamber, Gareth began to shed his clothes. Saxa had already seen him naked, yet the flickering candle light on his tanned, oddly flawless skin was somehow erotic. The muscles of his back, of the tops of his buttocks, played in the light, softening the harsh angles of his sculpted physique. Again, the lack of scars was problematic: a warrior lord, such as Gareth postured himself, should be scared, flawed, and less than he was. Yet the cost of magic had robbed him of that honor. <br><br>He left his underpants on, in the fashion of the deep southerners, just a wrap of white cloth slung low around his lean hips, then sat on the bed, perched on the edge to take refreshment. Fingers wrapped around a grape, the still dusty, somewhat smelly lord grinned over at Saxa, a flash of white in his dark beard, the cinnamon scent of the braziers filling the room, “Eat and drink. It will be quite a day tomorrow and the next.”<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Harem Girl (Darius and Lingogirl)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lingo</strong> on <strong>07-06-2013, 19:06:21</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				A pleasant wave of cool air met the harem girl at the mouth of the tent. Breathing in a sweet, yet musky scent, her body unraveled itself in response. As the curtain shut behind them, Saxa felt completely disconnected from the chaos outside, now enclosed in this shrouded, sensuous atmosphere with the Lord. She observed Gareth soundlessly maneuver through his chamber with familiar grace. Raising her palms and dangling her hands by the sides of her face carefully, Saxa followed, albeit somewhat clumsily, toeing around the cushioned pillows along the floor slowly. Concentrating at the task at hand, she faintly heard the soft thud of cloth hitting the floor. Glancing up, an unwilling gasp left her pretty lips, facing the corded, sinewy muscles of his exposed back. <em>Again?</em><br><br>She momentarily lost her footing amongst the cushions and staggered, her weight threatening to fall completely to one side and topple her, but quickly adjusted and recovered. No doubt Saxa had acquired a strong sense of balance from years of dancing and honing her unique physical elegance. Righting herself once more, she cupped one small, delicate hand to resting against the high arch of her cheek bone, obstructing her view of the undressed man- and, if he glanced over, his view of her reddened complexion. <br><br>His nudity affected her in such a shameful way. Flitting about the room's interior she moved like a fragile butterfly, swiftly going to and fro. A few moments felt like an embarrassing eternity to the young girl, and she finally faced the now scantily clad man when he spoke. <br><br>His offer was impossible for the haughty harem girl to refuse; she was <em>ravenous</em>. Cautiously traversing the distance to where he sat, Saxa resisted the desire to devour the food before her and instead plucked a bright red apple from the display of fruit, returning his bemused grin with her own smirk, "Hmph. I have no doubt of that." Lowering herself gingerly onto the bed, she took a bite of the apple, her shoulders falling with relief at the satisfying <em>crunch</em>. After a few more bites, she moved to situate herself so her body faced his,&nbsp; habitually pushing her blonde ringlets to fall over her chest. "My mistress had prepared me well, or so I thought. She taught me how to act properly at my marriage ceremony, how to best face my wedding night, and how to be a capable member of a Lord's harem." Was it okay to be so conversational with him? Hell, it couldn't make her situation any worse. "She had not warned me my marriage might be disrupted with an abduction, or the possibility of being a married woman and thrust into the role as another's personal servant." For once, the harem girl flashed her straight, pearly teeth with a small smile and laughed dryly. "Tell me, Gareth, do you oppose mighty Lords <em>and</em> the importance of matrimony too?"&nbsp; &nbsp;
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Harem Girl (Darius and Lingogirl)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dariusfallenstar</strong> on <strong>14-06-2013, 03:49:31</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Gareth began eating with the girl as soon as she partook, taking dates and raisins and fruits in little nibbling bites that seemed a remnant of childhood. One of those dainty eaters, always picky, yet somehow managing to keep a clean plate, no matter how often refilled. At Saxa’s question, his dark brow furrowed slightly. Within the darkness of the tent, the absolute black barely softened with the ruddy glow of amber light reflected through the eye-holes in the braziers, the handsome man seemed to affect a look of consternation.<br><br>“There are many customs when it comes to marrying. I am not for or against any of them.” He paused, took a bite of some odd looking pear-like fruit, chewed, thought more, and then continued, “However, when it comes to our customs, I have yet to find one woman with whom I would be happy sharing my heart and bed with. Let alone two. I think the men who keep harems must be truly amazing in all things. Either that, or they are greedy swine who intend to cling to their fragile mortality by fathering as many children upon children as they possibly can.” Gareth emphasized his last with a spat seed, ringing just beside the table in an urn that hissed and smoked angrily at the addition.<br><br>“Then again,” he added suddenly, all impish boy, showing his apparent age, “I wouldn’t mind having a couple women at once. Even if I’ve never known two women who can properly share anything of value, not even a sweet meat.” He laughed at that, softening the sentiment. Gareth was a lord of action, a man who never seemed to stop – when would a man like him have time to properly maintain a harem, let alone a love? There was a hint of strain in his laugh that echoed this, somehow making his mirth seem fake, forced.<br><br>“Tell me, Saxa, I hear you harem girls are trained for all manners of pleasure. But, if you’re brought to bed a virgin, how can you possibly know how to use your entire body?” His grin took on a leering playfulness, perhaps as much a deflection as genuine curiosity. Perhaps not. <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Harem Girl (Darius and Lingogirl)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lingo</strong> on <strong>01-07-2013, 17:52:05</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				When the Lord’s focus fell away from her, Saxa eagerly snatched another colorful fruit from the display of provisions, this time a fleshy, soft peach. She had anticipated, knowing his radical sense of equality, that he would scorn the notion of harems and the men who kept them. But what good would it do to fly to her Lord’s defense? Averting her eyes, Saxa listened thoughtfully, raising the peach to her richly colored lips, preparing to take that first, delicious bite… <br><br><em>“Even if I’ve never known two women who can properly share anything of value, not even a sweet meat.”</em> <br><br>It struck a chord of truth in the harem girl. A swell of laughter caught in her throat, one she quickly tried to overpower by covering her mouth with a hand, but mirth lightened her unusual green eyes, giving them a spark of sweet, unadulterated innocence. Raising her gaze cautiously to his, Saxa had to admit it was an honest observation, and a funny one at that. Reluctantly she allowed herself to laugh, flashing him her pearly, even teeth, the apples of her cheeks fresh with color and a hand swept into her mane. It amazed her how many men believed harems consisted of sensuous, dutiful women, with no agendas of their own. Did they understand the fierce competitions between each wife or mistress, the yearning to be showered with praise and favors above the others? To reap the greatest rewards attainable?<br><br>Throwing her head back in a haughty fashion, Saxa licked her lips before responding. “… Our duty as harem girls only partly lies in our carnal skill. I won’t deny it is important; a girl who flounders after being purchased is doomed, virgin or not. But first, a successful member of a harem must learn to attract a man- without soiling your virginity, of course. What sensible man would pay a large sum for a girl who has already been taken by another?” Rolling her eyes as if this was obvious, Saxa continued in that melodious voice of hers. “To be untouched is, above all, the highest selling point to a man seeking a new girl for his harem. And virgin she may be, but unaware she is not, for a good mistress makes sure potential brides have the ability to seduce. If you master the art of seduction, you can dazzle any man without even touching him.” As if to emphasize her point, Saxa brushed back the blonde tendrils of her hair to expose the smooth, creamy column of her bare neck, while her almond eyes did a careful sweep of the base of his throat, the artistic lines of his collarbones, the rigid power of his shoulders. Her eyes came to a halt just before his chest, almost longingly, her voice a sweet murmur. “Any unskilled whore can beguile a man with what is between her legs. A well-bred harem girl understands the power of eye contact, expression, the way she carries herself, and her ability to dance for others’ viewing pleasure. That which is dangled before a man, but just out of his reach, that is the true way to stir passionate desire.”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <br><br>Just like that she was demurely staring back at him, the look in her eyes extinguished and replaced with something far more aloof, cocking her head coyly to the side. “After all, Gareth, <em>do you</em> have to bed a woman before coming to the conclusion that she is desirable?” <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Harem Girl (Darius and Lingogirl)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dariusfallenstar</strong> on <strong>06-07-2013, 00:55:35</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Gareth watched Saxa as he listened to her speak and found himself agreeing with the spirit of her words, even dipping his sharp, bearded chin in a nod at the end. At her question, he shrugged slightly, “I have had relatively little time to debauch or chase. Men, leaders of clans usually, sometimes offer me their daughters, saying they are gifts that will help cement the tribes to me…” Gareth’s words trailed off briefly, as though he were reluctant to continue. He went on regardless, a certain steel appearing in his eyes. “To me, that sort of ‘cementing’ feels more like what I had to do to get my strength. The bargains I had to make with the Djinn. I am welded to them in exchange for their power. How could I put any innocent in a similar place? Had the girls offered themselves to me full of knowledge, understanding the possible outcomes of their choices, as I was when I sought the Djinn out, perhaps I would have a harem now, if only to ensure the survival of my people. But I cannot make slaves of people.”<br><br>A tortured, haunted quality slipped across Gareth’s lean features, shading them in something almost haggard. Memories from a time not too long ago, mental scars that belied his apparently flawless, youthful skin. Again, he seemed to steel himself, to force his thoughts forward and into the moment.<br><br>Lips cresting slightly, revealing a slash of white, Gareth chuckled softly. “Desire is nice, but I tend to think bedding a woman before the wedding is a good thing. What if she moves like a dead fish and her body does not warm for a man’s native scent?” He arched a dark brow, clearly baiting the girl before him. “What then? Will every husband take a new bride, just to cover the disappointment of the previous?”<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Harem Girl (Darius and Lingogirl)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lingo</strong> on <strong>24-07-2013, 05:23:17</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				His leer made the young woman withdraw the slightest, his attempt at rousing her quite obviously successful. Her full, red lips trembled, quaking to reveal the slightest tremor of embarrassment. Unable to control herself, Saxa blurted, "I-I would <em>not</em> move like a dead fish! And I don't believe any girls worthy of good money would either!" Before the harem girl could go off on a tangent, using whatever came to mind and slandering him, reason assisted her. So he wanted her to whimper, turn red, and admit to being a guileless, silly, little virgin? Pah.<br><br>Regaining her cool, a chuckle rumbled in the girl's frail chest, mimicking the delightful purr of a small cat. "Hmph, I've no doubt every man shares your sentiment, Gareth, and this is why; marriage is, ultimately, a business deal. The security and protection of a man for the possession and domestic duties of a woman. When she sells herself short before, well, isn't that just fulfilling only half of the contract? If one party is satisfied, why bother satisfying the other part?" Raising a willowy eyebrow, the harem girl scoffed knowingly, "Only a foolish woman would take such a gamble." <br><br>Feeling proud of her defense, Saxa leaned back, her hands resting behind her on the bed, voice and body languid as she continued, "Forgive me, you talk like it's all some sort of passionate love affair. But, I think legal bindings are rarely for love... And even the ones that are are never too successful." Wearing a small, nearly mischievous smile, "So, I'll allow you this; the harems, the arranged marriages, they are not founded on affection but business, and anyone involved in that business would most likely be smart enough to know a few tricks of their trade." <br>&nbsp; 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Harem Girl (Darius and Lingogirl)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dariusfallenstar</strong> on <strong>27-07-2013, 00:32:41</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				“A good point,” Gareth responded, nodding as though she had, indeed, made a valid – if obvious series of statements.” Business. And the nature of what I intend to do to your former lord is much the same. Killing you would have been the most efficient business of all, perhaps even worked better than him thinking that I’ve robbed him of a treasure of the flesh and stolen his honor.” He made a gesture down low, as though indicating that Gareth had somehow sliced a short section of his rival’s cock off when he’d taken the girl. <br><br>“I would say that business is not always the best way to approach things. Not everything anyway.” Gareth’s smoldering stare spoke volumes. He was a man interested in revolutionizing a culture, in broadening trade and changing the way the Imams and Lords and Sultans ruled, he would be allowing all the people of their culture to prosper. Nothing in Gareth’s hard physique indicated that he was a mere idealist though; a poise, a radical readiness shown from within him. He would kill. He would murder. He would do what he needed to see his vision to fruition.<br><br>And yet he’d saved Saxa’s life, had risked quite a bit to pull her from that tower, to take her into his tribe. For what? He had not forced himself on the girl, had not sullied her body and made her unfit for anything but lesser nobility – if she was lucky. Nor had he allowed his men, some of whom were no doubt willing to see to the girl’s deflowering, that privilege. If anything, Gareth seemed to thrive on Saxa’s antagonism, entirely unaware of the curse that his demonic half had put on her, back when their minds – his unconscious and the demon’s in control – had merged in purpose. That her rebuttals and rebellions would, in time, twist the magic into her in an inextricable way, tie her libido and, perhaps, more to him, was not consciously known to the desert rebel leader. <br><br>Yet deep down, he must have felt it. Otherwise he wouldn’t prod her so.<br><br>“Wouldn’t you agree?” he added, tilting his head to the side slightly, giving her an opening to argue. The motion accentuated the sleek line of his throat, his collarbone – the caramel of his smooth, seeming flawless flesh. “If you don’t, perhaps I should have just dealt with you as I had intended. And then you wouldn’t be put through this odious trial, eh?” <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Harem Girl (Darius and Lingogirl)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lingo</strong> on <strong>30-07-2013, 00:22:29</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Straightening her languid posture, the mirth faded from her features. Choosing her words carefully, at last the girl responded softly, "Yes, perhaps I should wish for it, at this point." She glanced around the lavish, yet contained, tent, releasing a quiet sigh. If Gareth hadn't captured her, if the wedding night had gone as planned, where would she be now? Lounging in a lavish estate, or perhaps preparing for her new duties as one of many wives? <br><br>Not one to entertain wishful thinking, Saxa quickly dismissed the idea. A fire rekindled in the young girl's eyes, akin to the one blazing the night he had intruded upon her. "But I would never choose death, given the opportunity to decide. What many call honorable I say is simply cowardice. Those who fail to defend themselves, or at least attempt to do so, are weak minded and lack the ability to endure." <br><br>Lolling her head sweetly to the side, the dynamic young woman gazed openly now at the young warrior, frowning curiously. Her thoughtful, outward facade was flawed only by the sly interest dancing in her green eyes. "But, as I recall it... <em>you</em> were the one baking under unforgiving sun, tormented by a sadistic demon for your foolish decision. You are giving shelter to a woman who hopes to be reunited with her husband and, consequently, see you fail. Soon, your people will have to face the mighty military power of a well established Lord." The dainty girl crossed her slender arms before her chest. <br><br>"Tell me Gareth, who has been put on trial?"&nbsp; 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Harem Girl (Darius and Lingogirl)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dariusfallenstar</strong> on <strong>03-08-2013, 01:49:05</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Handsome features quirked in a broken smirk. “It is time for rest. A few hours is all we have. Sleep where you want, but try nothing. I am not a safe man when I sleep.” Accentuating his words, he reached out and took hold of a fluted goblet, lifted it to his mouth and took a few swallows of water, and then set it back down before settling back on his pallet of pillows and sheets, not bothering to disrobe. Settling into place with his hands above his flat abdomen, the man began murmuring a series of what might sound like prayers, a litany in the old language.<br><br>It went on for a few minutes, liquid phrases and unlikely turnings of the tongue slipping past, before he became truly quiescent. Though the smoking braziers continued to produce a dim illumination, one that shaded Gareth’s hard-edged face, the interior of the tent was otherwise dark. Outside, however, new shifts of people stirred awake and moved to aid in the progress of the caravan as a whole. Braying animals, lowing cows, and a few irked horses made enough sounds to keep the night from ever being truly quiet.<br><br>But it was the best they were going to get. <br><br>In the distance, a city stirred. Ishmael with his generals, mercenaries, and witch advisor stirred. Despite the hour, a small army of lightly armored skirmishers had taken up positions outside of the city. Behind them, a larger, more heavily armored and fortified unit prepared to provide support. The army, several hundred in number, would travel fast; Ishmael had no intention to chase the man who had stolen his bride for very long. <br><br>As soon as dawn came, the army would ride, their mounts fueled with oats and water laced with drugs and magic to make them both tireless and fearless. By noon, Ishmael calculated he’d have the thief’s head on a platter. And all the better for it. <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Harem Girl (Darius and Lingogirl)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lingo</strong> on <strong>11-08-2013, 10:23:59</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The chamber was silent, yet the harem girl did not sleep. Though the young woman had spread out at the foot of her abductor's bed with the careless grace of a resting feline, her mind was anything but still. Luscious eyes bore into the shadows of the chamber, taking in nothing of her physical surroundings and instead intently trying to retrieve fragments of visual memory. Blue berries growing among spindly leaves. Fluffy, white spores that grew like a weed. Long, pale leaves.&nbsp; A volcanic, vermillion powder.&nbsp; Just moments ago the young rebel had grown silent and now her own soft lips moved swiftly, producing inaudible speech. <em>Juniper. Rowan. Myrtle. Dragon’s Blood.</em>. A bubble of glee flitted across her features, the angles of her face curling up to a proud, girlish smile. Rising slowly, the young blonde moved as if caught in the cave of a wild predator. One that might be mercifully unconscious for now, but possessing the power to descend upon her with a single wrong step. Moving outside, small swarms of people buzzed quietly about the settlement. The harem girl found it surprisingly easily to slip by unnoticed, even inside Talan’s tent, where a small crowd has amassed to receive coffee for the night, leaving the eunuch quite preoccupied. At a critical time like this, no one thought much of a little, wandering whore who knew nothing of their revolutionary tribe.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<br><br>All external sound was muffled within the young Lord’s space. Even if he had been awake, the young man might’ve missed the girl’s return completely. The sound of her dainty feet touching the ground was muted by the lavish pillows scattered in the tent. Then, gripped with a sudden case of nerves, she gave a small gasp for air, finding it difficult to breathe easy. It felt like there was a small pressure pushing insistently against her chest. Finally, Saxa was beginning to believe escape and revenge was within grasp. Using the four, simple herbs in a deadly concoction, she would poison Gareth. The herbs sat in small satchels, tucked away securely in her bra. Glancing over at the resting man, Saxa frowned intently. In sleep he did not stir, but his limbs remained motionless, only expanding and retracting with breath. It was strangely beautiful, how this warrior’s physical discipline was present even when unconscious. A man who had gone to great lengths to master his mind and body with a noble dream of freedom. She’d refrain from using the vile substance for now. Perhaps he wasn't all that wretched.&nbsp; <br><br>The feisty, little chit would not sleep on the bed, even though she doubted Gareth would make any advances upon her. Call it a matter of principle. Instead, should the Lord peer over the side of the bed, he’d find the Saxa resting on her side atop several pillows, her expression pensive and oddly sweet in sleep, her face framed by the splash of golden waves. The diaphanous fabric of her lavender garments echoed her flesh, the dim light illuminating the rosy glow of her cheeks, arms, and thighs. One hand wrapped firmly around a pillow, clutching it to her exposed torso for warmth. The other balanced on her face, the thumb resting on her narrow jaw, the tips of her forefinger and middle finger placed on the edges of her eyebrow, the ring finger poised on a pink eyelid, and her pinkie delicately floating in the air. And, unbeknownst to both the harem girl and rebelling lord, tucked away along her body was four ingredients that would not create a deadly poison, but instead a potent, long-lasting aphrodisiac.&nbsp; <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Harem Girl (Darius and Lingogirl)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dariusfallenstar</strong> on <strong>13-08-2013, 20:59:25</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Gareth, lord of the wandering hopeful, conqueror of the unnamed demon prince, slept. And in his sleep, his mind and soul faced something he had not anticipated, nor could he have prepared for even should he have had such foresight.&nbsp; As he went into the roiling dark of exhaustion, pulled down, he felt himself not only taken into the mystical halls of memory that afforded him respite, but further. Deeper. Down, down, into the black he went, until his mental self felt a growing heat mixed with intense pressure. <br><br>There, in a place beyond his body yet within the confines of his mental sight, he came face to face with a familiar entity. Here, the demon looked much as Gareth had when he’d borrowed its power: hulking, stone covered, with embers for eyes and a slit for a mouth. When the demon’s lips parted, a surprisingly serpentine motion given how obdurate it appeared, a vast array of teeth, each as long as knives, appeared. <br><br>“Little summoner,” it said, voice filling the cavern, echoing within the very essence of the disembodied Gareth. “Our last interaction was…unanticipated.”<br><br>Gareth blinked, or did something analogous to a blink in this place. “Huh?” Articulation went out the door when a fell djinn spoke directly to its binder.<br><br>“Indeed. We came together. Saw the same objective. Felt the same sting. When I allowed you to bind me, I anticipated a brief visit to the fleshly world, one with nothing of real interest, followed by a few thousand years spent toying with your soul. This new stimulation has piqued me.”<br><br>“Allowed me to bind you?” Gareth mouthed, a wave of shock run through him. Djinn were evil, wicked things – known to be primordial magic and chaos incarnate; of the seven spells he’d learned, only one dealt with the Djinn he’d captured. He’d never considered that it might have allowed him to do so.<br>The demon waved his question aside with a pawed hand. “Never mind that. Now, I am intrigued.”<br><br>“By Saxa?” Gareth prompted.<br><br>“Yes, by Saxa. But also by this Ishmael. The fact that we faced such a challenge at his city gates, that he has witches at his side who have bound some of my cousins – this whole situation intrigues me.”<br><br>Gareth was about to ask what the demon was implying when the braying of horns sounded, shattering his meditative exodus. His eyes shot open, revealing growing light through the tent flaps. Tilje and the crone were already hovering outside, murmuring to one another – Tilje trying to argue for Gareth to be left to sleep a bit longer, the crone denouncing that statement. Neither of them were coming inside, though.<br><br>“I’m awake,” Gareth growled. How long had he slept? It had been deep and surprisingly rejuvenating, despite the odd visitation. Maybe four hours? Shrugging his muscular shoulders, feeling the appreciative tense of his youthful body, he came to his feet and saw Saxa laying there, clearly dreaming.<br><br>“I’m coming out. Let the girl sleep a bit more, then fold the tent up. We have miles to cover and an army to greet.” Sauntering out, the lord moved amongst his people, a newfound sense of intuition and relish rising within him. Never before had he been eager for conflict and challenge, not on this scale, not with his people in the balance. Now, for some reason, he found himself hungry for it. <br><br>From where she lay, should Saxa open her eyes, she would be awarded a vision of the lord limned in pre-dawn hues, golden flesh shining bare above his narrow waist and curvaceous backside. Then, he would be gone. <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Harem Girl (Darius and Lingogirl)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lingo</strong> on <strong>18-08-2013, 07:10:31</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The bellow of the early morning horn stirred the girl's conscious. Her lips pursed slightly in sleep, conveying her annoyance. Her body and mind were far too fatigued to even fathom rising at this hour. Yet she could not drift completely back into sweet, blissful sleep, for the hushed hum of conversation was far too intriguing to outright ignore. Her foggy brain tried to make sense of the garbled voices. The older woman's, the young boy's, and the young Lord's. He was awake. <br><br>Retreating back to the depths of sleep was no longer an option. Saxa was jilted back into her right mind and able to recall her circumstance, and what needed to be done. Radiant eyes finally fluttered to open, barely making out the shape of the man's retreating back. Gently rising from her spot on the floor, as to not alert anyone outside, the wayward princess ambled to the small wooden table beside the bed, hands scrubbing the exhaustion from her eyes like a precocious child. Coming to a halt before the young warrior's goblet of water from the night before, Saxa rummaged casually along the contours of her silky garment, feeling the satchels hidden away there. First went the Myrtle, for the leaves would take the longest to disintegrate into the liquid. Then the bitter Jupiter, followed by Rowan to stifle it's obvious stench. Lastly, the Dragon's Blood, the fiercest acting of all the ingredients, one that was supposed to leave Gareth retching for hours, sweating until thoroughly dehydrated, the result potentially killing him...<br><br>Or so she thought. Where had the harem girl gone wrong in her devious plan? Ironically enough, she hadn't understood the true intent of Dragon's Blood. In her haste to recall the ingredients of the vile substance, Saxa had guessed incorrectly and decided upon the volcanic powder because...<br><br>Well, it certainly <em>sounded</em> like something that would be used to create poison.<br><br>The herb actually promoted male potency and sexual endurance, manipulating both body and mind to mold any man into a ferocious, lust-driven beast. First, the body would begin to sweat, along with a rapid increase of the heart. Sensitivity heightened along the torso and waist, while a strange numbness overcame the tongue and mouth. It took the tonic a full hour to finally overwhelm it's user with the thirst for carnal pleasure, entreating the mind to take whatever means necessary to sate a desire so powerful it bordered pain. From there, a powerful arousal kept most of the men under the drug hard and unrelenting for hours, some lasting an entire day. Mental perceptions were heightened to a nearly hallucinogenic degree; every movement detected by the eye, every sound heard, the smallest contact of bare flesh, was amplified tenfold. Lastly, the scent of female arousal and sweat, no matter how minute, was unnervingly sweet and provoked the already abused senses of the users. Anyone who could craft such a marvelous, consuming tonic was indeed truly vicious. <br><br>The aphrodisiac (or 'lethal poison') had dissolved fully in the water, entirely odorless and tasteless. Clearly satisfied with herself, Saxa took her time exiting the tent, first preening in the darkness and vainly fixing her hair and skirts. She would truly be proving herself a worthy wife to Ishmael, far more deserving than his other simpering whores. A desirable, intact girl who thought like a resourceful woman and acted as a dutiful wife! Who knew what splendor awaited after her return? <br><br>The girl's spirits soared just as high as Gareth's though she did everything in her power to conceal it. Her hips swayed carelessly, her gait one of poise but also boredom. Saxa even wore her usual look of contempt and begrudging compliance, her fine lips curving downwards in a permanent scowl. Carrying the lord's abandoned burnoose and the goblet of water, the Lord might've been alarmed to find her dutifully performing the tasks he had assigned her. When she finally reached him, she rose her dainty brows meaningfully as her small shoulders fell in a dramatic sigh. <br><br>"After all the madness of yesterday, you intend to rise so soon, without adequate protection from heat and nothing to drink?" She presented the garment and charmed water to the young leader as casually as she could. "I'm starting to suspect you as a glutton for punishment, Gareth." A wicked smirk tugged at her lips, her green eyes shining with devious intent. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Harem Girl (Darius and Lingogirl)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dariusfallenstar</strong> on <strong>21-08-2013, 08:11:46</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div align="center"><strong>Before</strong></div><br><em>Finally, the demon acknowledged Gareth’s wisdom. Though little time had passed externally – perhaps a few seconds – the demon’s demeanor seemed to change entirely. From brutish and hulking, threatening, its stance became far more refined, even genteel, as though it were wearing a flowery, flowing smoking jacket rather than naked skin. Reciting horrible words in a mumble, the thing’s fingers flew in an elaborate pattern, sending a truly horrible curse at the defiant human woman before it. The curse had one, very specific ambition: <br><br>The more the girl struggled, hated, and disobeyed the Gareth – and by extension the demon when Gareth and it were merged – the more vulnerable she would become, the more desire would bind her to him, the greater her need to be his in all sorts of carnal, wicked, tempestuous ways. The curse was not designed to limit or remove free will at all, however: this was a purely biological thing, rooted in magic. Such was the evil of the Demon Lord. </em><br><br><div align="center"><strong>Now</strong></div><br>Even as Gareth reached out to take the water, his eyes bright despite the early hour, the strands of the aforementioned curse glowed to life. No doubt they had been humming along, twisting and turning, mapping out the contours of the girl’s deceit and willfulness – but now, with the clear intent to murder the man, the magic of the Djinn erupted into vibrant, fully realized strength. Ironically, it was probably the very magic stirring in her eyes that disarmed Gareth, lowered his guard. <br><br>Nothing about Saxa had led Gareth to believe she’d know anything about poisons – the only thing he’d suspect her of knowing how to concoct would be aids to prevent pregnancy and to add or remove steel from between a man’s thighs. Knowledge of how to murder someone wouldn’t aid most harem girls, or so he told himself as he reached out to take the proffered water. At the contact, a spark of energy – like to like – seemed to bridge the gap between the two of them, causing Gareth to pause. What serendipity was this? A knowingly superstitious man, Gareth saw such things as portentous, perhaps even warnings. But the look in Saxa’s eyes showed him that she’d felt something too.<br><br>Warnings were one sided, not two. He had no intention to hurt Saxa, and she was merely offering him water and his clothing. Smiling slowly, slightly, his lips twisting into something almost playful, he took the offered clothing in one hand and water in the other. Drinking deeply enough for some of the liquid to spill down his mouth, he closed his eyes to savor the refreshment. Such was Gareth’s desperation for liquid that he did not notice the subtle taste of the herbs she had doused the liquid with, nor did he pause to consider just how dangerous accepting such from an unwilling prisoner might be. <br><br>Tugging his burnoose on over his leanly muscular body, seemingly unaffected by the poison so far, Gareth favored Saxa with a smile, even as he moved off to complete oversight for the morning’s efforts. They were almost done – in minutes the rest of the vanguard would be underway, including the few merchants brave – or crazy – enough to continue plying their wares.<br><br>And as Gareth moved along, not quite so fast Saxa could not keep up, her belief fueled the demonic power entwining her, drawing those barbs deeper, echoing the ones she’d unknowingly driven into Gareth with her attempted poisoning. <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Harem Girl (Darius and Lingogirl)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lingo</strong> on <strong>04-09-2013, 08:09:51</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				A queasy feeling stirred in her stomach, surprisingly deep in abdomen, just below her navel. The girl’s face was oddly unreadable for a brief moment, as if entranced by the hand of the man in front of her. What was it? Paranoia? Gareth’s own sorcery? Her red lips parted sweetly, the tongue dashing out to grace her upper lip, now so desperately dry. Swallowing hard, Saxa regained her senses and gave a huffy little cough, returning his own smile with an arch of her brow. With Gareth’s dark, sinfully enticing eyes off her, the harem girl could think more rationally. It was a simple case of nerves, nothing to be taken seriously. The potion would work, it must. <br><br>For a long while the duo walked uneventfully together, mists of warm sand billowing with the wind. The harem girl’s glance was cast downward and out, but soon there was something beckoning her peripheral gaze the man beside her. Even wrapped in the protective burnoose, a tug of the breeze or the tensing of his muscles in motion gave her a glimpse of the powerful body tucked away under cloth. The sturdy, large legs supporting a taut, corded torso that differed so greatly from her own trim, curvy waist and hips. It was nearly laughable, how tiny this sheltered harem girl was compared to the fierce warrior beside her. He could easily dominate her; yet he could protect her too. Saxa had seen Gareth as a leader, earnest and sincere, and as a cunning thief. Even now, the way he wolfishly stared down at her the night he stole her away was burned in her memory. He had forced her down, laid on top of her, and she had been at his complete mercy. To think of it now was exciting, forbidden, tempting, and most of all, <em>scary</em>. Stealing a quick glance at the preoccupied man beside her Saxa felt a shiver clawing its way up her spine, her body struggling to keep control. Her chest heaved a small, panicky breath.&nbsp; &nbsp;<br><br>The Djinn was truly a wicked monster, intending to slowly torture the girl and mimic the effects of the aphrodisiac Gareth had in his system. The uncomfortable yet pleasurable chills rolling through her body forced her to give an inaudible gasp. Her arms were wrapped around her svelte figure as if cold, yet her skin was hot to the touch. Her shapely thighs were becoming slick with sweat. Perplexed, Saxa cast her eyes beguilingly up at the Lord, as if to ask, “Why me?” The Djinn’s curse was quite successful. If the aphrodisiac was affecting Gareth with the power it was supposed to possess, thus securing his arousal and Saxa’s treachery, neither would be able to ignore their desire for much longer.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<br><br>And with time, perhaps the lord would notice the harem girl did not strut right beside him in her typical haughty fashion.&nbsp; Instead, the lioness of a woman cowered several passes behind, taking a few quick strides before stopping suddenly, peering nervously at the man she followed and at last refusing to take another step. Influenced by her own turmoil of emotions and the Djinn’s power, Saxa felt her skin crawl- not with disgust, far from it- but with something that was becoming increasingly agonizing by the minute. If she had to describe it, she could only call it a thirst; a pesky, foreign thirst that shamed her so, one that she had no idea how to quench. <br><br>A moment of silence sat between the young Lord and captured bride, and for a moment Saxa glowered as if <em>he </em>had been the one to poison <em>her</em>.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Harem Girl (Darius and Lingogirl)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dariusfallenstar</strong> on <strong>10-09-2013, 02:21:00</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				There was little pleasure in what Gareth felt now. Immediately before him, mere hours away, was a confrontation that would, no doubt, threaten every man, woman, and child he’d pledged to protect. His ideals, his lunacy, his need to change their way of life – everyone had placed themselves within his care and now the time for truth had come. Would his plans pan out? He’d known this would happen far in advance, nearly a year, and had been preparing accordingly. That so many people, so many families, had accompanied him on his quest to prick Ishmael’s fat ass, was a horrible requirement tethered to his role in that society. The would-be Sultan of the future could not go alone, could not travel without an entourage. Children needed to see the coming future. And they would need food and all other manner of support – thus the merchants came as well. <br><br>Responsibility nearly choked him, nearly bent his broad shoulders. Despite what he’d done, what he’d accomplished and how far he’d come – claiming one of the most powerful of Djinn as his slave (was it still slave? Around Saxa that was unclear) – all of it meant little. His life was poor collateral for the lives of those he suffered for.<br><br>And, despite it all, growing inside of him, was a burning desire for the girl walking just behind him. At first, the desire had been specifically to…be around her, for lack of better terminology. She’d fascinated him, challenged him, pushed him in a way he hadn’t experienced since the trials in the temple of Aelin. There’d been a sexual element, absolutely, but that element had been tempered with the knowledge that should he take her, should he forcefully meld his flesh with hers, he’d be losing. <br><br>Yet now, all he wanted was to violate those rules. To feel her lithe, curvaceous, deliciously rebellious skin against his own. This wasn’t an abstract, selfless desire either: this was the lust of a man who wanted to bury himself within a woman, to find absolute satisfaction in utter release. And more. This lust felt unrelenting, unapologetic: would one coupling be enough? Gareth was in the sort of shape that required constant training, honing of the body, and that fitness was tempered with the burnished, raw magic of the Djinni. What effect would there be on his love making?<br><br>The young lord honestly did not know. <br><br>An hour into the morning, a driving, unrelenting hour of unapologetically pushing his people to their destination, of oversight that was tinged with a harshness that he knew was, in part due to Saxa, the lord paused and looked down. His erection was…unholy. It throbbed. Hurt. And took all of his will, all of his unique mental training, to force it to subside enough to conceal it.<br><br>Turning slowly, suspiciously, he looked over at Saxa. What had she done? Had she cursed him somehow? <br><br>“Come here,” he said, voice like raw gravel, full of demand. He would find out what she’d done now. He could afford a break for that time – in truth, their destination was just over a few hills from here. The three hours was about getting people time, in moving so many, with so much. Gareth had time, and his people were moving. <br><br>He could find out what Saxa had done and put a stop to the fire inside. One way or another. <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Harem Girl (Darius and Lingogirl)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lingo</strong> on <strong>18-09-2013, 07:43:45</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Attempting to soothe her desperate body with a deep breath, Saxa gave a feeble shake of her head, denying his command. It was a fatal mistake; refusing his order left the girl's knees trembling, her eyes clenching shut as the most delicious fire blossomed in her core. Miraculously, she managed to cuff the noise that dared to escape her throat, but her red lips opened still to release a silent, tormented moan. A hand clutched at her exposed throat, moist with her sweet smelling perspiration, and her tongue darted out to lick her dry lips. <br><br>There was some sweetness in her ignorance, and perhaps even the young lord would detect this under her magnificent pride. Ironic that despite her station, that which branded her a trollop, Saxa was completely untouched. The Djinn's powerful spell was enough to overcome a sexually aware woman, let alone a virgin who had never experienced such ferocious physical lust. The little, wayward harem girl would be no match for the demon in this regard, and she was succumbing fast. <br><br>The cursed girl had no way of knowing <em>what</em> manipulated her body, tempting her to act on an urge she had so deeply suppressed upon meeting Gareth. Surely, had the harem girl fostered no attraction towards the man, she would have been able to overcome her biological urges. But the mutual, hushed desire between them was fierce. Giving a shaky exhale the girl felt a painful, erratic throbbing between her legs. She could not refuse him, lest her desire devour her. <br><br>Straightening the slightest and recovering some of the strength in her legs, Saxa at last complied. Each step was taken with a calculated grace, a far cry different from her usual delicate swagger. The sun echoed off the damp flesh of her torso and chest, her garments clung to her moist frame, the billowy skirts outlining her shapely thighs. Averting her face from his, Saxa instead picked up on Gareth's rigid stance, and the movement of his chest that alluded to some difficulty breathing. Immediately Saxa recalled dancing for rich patrons of her brothel, how their eyes clouded and passion swept their features. His skin wasn't the sickly pale of someone who was poisoned; far from it. It was flushed with want. <br><br>It occurred to her that something had gone terribly awry in her tonic. She had not poisoned him; he was aroused just as painfully as she, from the looks of it. Though, and this was even more troubling, how could they bear it? She had drugged him with a ferocious aphrodisiac, and soon they both wouldn't be able to do much but succumb to their needs. Her body would not know any satisfaction until she had replaced desire with utter exhaustion. The gravity of her error hit the harem girl hard. <br><br>What had she done? <br><br>"What troubles you?" She asked at last. It was a curt response, yet her voice quavered as she fought wildly for control. Her eyes were level with his chest and remained fixed there. She refused to look at him- All the coiling heat in her body, prepared to consume her spirit, was reflected and burning in the harem girl's sultry eyes. And, if their gazes met, she had no doubt Gareth would discover her vulnerability and uncover her defeat.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Harem Girl (Darius and Lingogirl)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dariusfallenstar</strong> on <strong>24-09-2013, 06:24:07</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Had Gareth been able to use his full faculties, perhaps he would have seen something in the girl’s shuddering walk, in the way her gait changed and developed as she approached him and finally, in her eyes. But the man was in a struggle every bit as real as the girl before him, his awareness narrowed to a few places – lips, throat, chest, stomach… Okay, not a few places: he was aflame for all of her. <br><br>Reaching out with a smooth movement, more primal than the martial way he normally affected, he wrapped his hand around Saxa’s left biceps, not a crushing grasp – he couldn’t have managed that deliberately, not yet. The merest touch, the flick of his flesh against hers, was an exquisite agony of temptation. His palm, so smooth from his recent transformation, slid across her flesh as sweetly as honey on cream, the electricity behind the moment less a lightning bolt and more a storm scouring the sky.<br><br>“Come here,” he managed barely, throat a tight knot. He drew Saxa with him around one of the nearby dunes – not high enough to conceal them both from view, but a dune nevertheless, and withdrew his water skin. Holding the skin in the air, he murmured a few throat-wrenching sounds and the bladder deflated, the water sacrificed for the simple casting.<br><br>A mist of blurred light, rather like a very poor pane of glass with only shadowy hints behind, smoked into the air, obscuring both sound and light from their vantage. Only once his ritual had ended did Gareth reach out, wrap an arm around Saxa’s slender waist and draw her to him, the heat between his thighs pulsing red hot against her abdomen.<br><br>“What have you done to me?” he murmured, eyes so dilated that the sclera practically ate everything up in a wash of oddly copper-hued darkness, his mouth scant inches from hers. His breath, fresh and vaguely minty from whatever leaves he’d chewed to sharpen his wits, washed across her face as he trembled. Barely holding himself in check. <br>
			</dd>
		</dl>
		<div id="footer" class="smalltext">
			
			<span class="smalltext" style="display: inline; visibility: visible; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?action=credits" title="Simple Machines Forum" target="_blank" class="new_win">SMF 2.0.19</a> |
 <a href="https://www.simplemachines.org/about/smf/license.php" title="License" target="_blank" class="new_win">SMF © 2021</a>, <a href="https://www.simplemachines.org" title="Simple Machines" target="_blank" class="new_win">Simple Machines</a>
			</span>
		</div>