A Call to Action, A Call to War

“Huh? Wha’ could Rina –?”

“Ugh, just ignore that half-Elf whore...!” Thea derisively demands, her expression twisting into a sneer. “Or better yet, tell her to fuck off!”

The Far-Speaking ring continues to pulse, its black onyx-like gem echoing insistently into Krvavy’s mind. Ignoring that would be... quite difficult. Unless Krvavy took the ring off and placed it aside. Which is tempting. But then the Countess might try to contact Beryl instead... So it’d really be better to tell her that they are busy right now and to call back... tomorrow.

The barbarian takes a deep breath, mentally preparing herself to do as her bratty fiancée has said, albeit far more politely. With just a thought, she accepts the call and –

Rina’s voice comes through before Krvavy can so much as say a single thing. ⟨Duke Dovoryn Terenti of Volhynia is marching to war.⟩

Silence fills the connection between the two Champions, lingering for a good few seconds.

⟨So?⟩ Krvavy softly shrugs her shoulders. To keep her hands busy, she scoops up a forkful of the blueberry pie and takes a bite of that delicious dessert. The more than mild annoyance swirling through her mind tarnishes that otherwise tasty treat. ⟨Oh, and hello to you too.⟩

⟨Do you not want to kill him? To get your ****?⟩ A rather odd tone fill’s the Countess’ projected voice, her true emotions difficult to discern. Is she genuinely confused? Is she sympathetic and concerned by the dismissive response she clearly didn’t expect? Is she trying to manipulate Krvavy? Again? ⟨Because this is your best chance to do so. I can say many things about the Duke and his character, but not that he is a coward. For all of his faults, Dovoryn leads from the front.⟩

Thea’s kissable lips press into a thin, pouty line. “You are talking to the whore.” She coldly comments, clearly seeing where Krvavy’s attention lays.

⟨The chaos of battle will provide an opportunity for you to... confront him, so to speak. I will not go so far as to say that he will be **** or undefended, but there will be fewer men between you and him, for they would no doubt be otherwise occupied as they siege Svaneti.⟩

“Svaneti...?!” The barbarian breathes out, her brow shooting up in surprise. She quickly shakes her head and composes herself, missing Thea’s increasingly scowled stare. ⟨Svaneti?⟩ Krvavy does her best to sound disinterested as she repeats that question through her Far-Speaking ring. But she isn’t the best actress. Which matters more for the girls around her.

⟨Yes,⟩ Rina is quick to respond, ⟨it is a small Barony to the south of Raseyne. You would have heard of it during the Council. Their representative was absent.⟩

Krvavy’s fingers tighten around her fork, anxiously tapping the tip of that utensil into her plate. ⟨How much time do they have...?⟩

⟨I’m not quite sure.⟩ The Countess admits, her tone a little hesitant. ⟨I only heard of this a few minutes ago, from my scouts. The details were sparse. But Dovoryn’s army is well-disciplined, so I would expect his men to move fairly fast on a march. Taking that into consideration... we have perhaps three days until they reach Svaneti. It may then take them another day to set their camps and encircle the town. As for the siege,⟩ a soft sigh makes its way through the connection, ⟨I do not expect Svaneti to hold for long. It would take a miracle for them to even last until this time next week. They are... little more than a speed bump, in all honesty.⟩

“What...” A tinge of concern fills Thea’s voice, her delicate fingers grabbing onto her Draconic lover’s wrist. “What is that whore saying about my people...? Why is she talking about Svaneti...?!”

The barbarian quite roughly bites the inside of her cheek. ⟨That...⟩ A faint, metallic taste fills her mouth. ⟨I’m not sure if I’d be able to get there in time.⟩

⟨While I do not know where you are, I can say that Svaneti is relatively close to the bridge where Shadow... where I sent you to ambush the Duke’s right hand man, the Patriarch. Add another... two days, to be conservative, and that should give you an estimate.⟩

“Krvavy...!”

⟨Maybe if I rush... I... I’ll see what I can do.⟩

A feeling of relief bleeds through the Far-Speaking ring. ⟨My scouts will have learned more by the time you arrive, so don’t be afraid to contact me. I will freely share everything I know, if only you ask. And Krvavy...⟩ The way that Rina’s voice drops makes it easy to forget that she rules a rather wealthy city and a fairly prosperous land. That she has been chosen by a God. She sounds... ****. Fragile. ⟨I’ve missed you.⟩

With that... the connection falls silent, having been cut at the Countess’ end.

“Hey! Answer me!” Thea’s trembling fingers grasp onto Krvavy’s upper horns, using them like handles to **** the Drakling’s head towards her. “What is she saying?!”

The barbarian breathes deeply, regret and frustration hanging at the edges of her mind as she meets her fiancée’s gaze. The worry and pain in those soft-blue eyes is like a stab to the heart. Her carnivorous teeth grind together, air hissing past them.

“The Duke is leading his army towards Svaneti.”

Just a few minutes ago, the atmosphere in this dining room was warm and happy and full of love. But now it is cold and heavy. And only growing thicker, more suffocating. Becoming grim and serious.

“Mm... You will have to leave right away, won’t you?” That isn’t a question. Or at least not one that Inanna doesn’t already know the answer too. Her hands press against the heavy stone table, pushing against it and sliding her seat back a bit. “Then let us not waste any time. Your supplies need to be packed. And we need to prepare you for battle.”

“Ach.” Beryl tilts her head back and gazes up at the arched ceiling above. “Suppose it is a good thing Ah didn’t feed all o’ the pasties ta Lynn...” Just like the Dwarf across from her, the Dryad also rises to her feet. “They’d make fer better travel food than trail mix and jerky. More ‘earty and fillin’. They’ll give ya the energy tha’ ya’ll need, my dearest love.”

Krvavy’s hand glides down her Halfling’s bottom-heavy body, grasping at a wonderfully thick thigh. “I’m sorry, Adeline.” She leans her head down, nuzzling her nose into dark-blonde hair as she so tightly hugs the tiny girl in her lap. “Your birthday wasn’t supposed to end like this. At least... at least you had a good morning, relaxing in the hot springs and getting spoiled by our other birthday girls... It was nice, yeah...?”

Adeline trembles, a soft squeak of a sigh passing through her lips. “Y-y-yes...” She weakly stammers back, grabbing at the Drakling’s arm and massaging the flexible black scales that cover it. She doesn’t want to let go, for this embrace to end.

And neither does Krvavy. She doesn’t want to leave... all of this... behind. She doesn’t want to leave her girls. But... it has to be done. It –

“I am coming with you.”

Silence hangs in the stifling air as everyone present turns their attention towards... Thea.

“Absolutely not.” Krvavy sets her jaw and meets that noble girl’s defiant gaze, her expression as steady and unyielding as that of her beautiful brat.

“I am not going to sit here, safe in our home, while my people are massacred and my family is put to the sword.” Thea responds with the calm certainty of a woman whose mind has been made, and who will not be swayed from her path.

But that doesn’t mean the Drakling won’t try to do just that. “No.” She firmly shakes her head, ignoring the increasingly loud beat of her heart. “I’m not sure if I could even make it there in time as is, and it’ll take even longer if I have to escort you as well. We would arrive way too late. But if I rush, then maybe...” Krvavy stifles a tired sigh. “We just don’t have enough time. We don’t even have time for this.”

Thea purses her lips, palms pressing flat against the tabletop as she leans further and further forwards, slipping from her seat to stand before the barbarian... who still remains taller than her. “I...” She swallows her pride and steels her will. “I can guarantee that we arrive on time. With my help, you could use Windborne Haste the entire way there. You need only carry me, skewered on your cock...! Nymph’s Respite will then ensure your mana remains topped up...! Euphoric Embrace may help as well, fortifying your attributes and giving you the endurance needed for... for such an ordeal!”

Krvavy’s throat feels tight. “I...” She chokes on her own tongue. “I am not bringing you into a warzone!” She shouts those words a little louder than intended, finding it a bit difficult to even breathe.

“I do not need to be brought into the thick of battle!” Thea exasperatedly exclaims, forcing the increasingly distressed Drakling back as she gets right up into the face of her protective lover. “You can drop me off a fair distance from the fighting, somewhere safe where I can wait for you to come retrieve me once everything is settled!”

“No, no! Absolutely not!” Krvavy’s frustration grows, her temper flaring up and doing what it can to push back the fear of losing what she holds so dear. “I can’t just leave you alone and undefended out in the middle of nowhere! Especially not near an entire army!”

“I am not defenceless! I am not a weak and helpless little princess that can do nothing but wait to be saved!” Thea’s firm composure cracks a little, letting a vehement fury leak through her voice. “Use Inspect if you will not take my word! I can protect myself! With my crossbow! With my magic!”

The Drakling grinds her carnivorous teeth together. Were things different right now, she would be proud of her fiancée. She would be proud of how much Thea has grown. She would be proud of how confident and self-assured that girl has become. But right now... All of the info before her, all of those numbers that increased due to Thea’s hard work – or, in the case of her Perception, because of her enchanted glasses – only adds to Krvavy’s dread.

Wanton Willpower I: Increases Willpower by 5%, strengthens the effect it has on Mana & Resistances, and improves mental fortitude & resilience in regards to matters of sex. Associated attribute = Willpower.

Climactic Cleansing: Purge all manner of dirt, stains, and grime via the use of libidinous magics. Causes a temporary spike in lust proportional to the amount of filth cleansed. Associated attributes = Allure & Endurance.

Ecstatic Shock: Magical lust gathers at your fingertips, ready to burst free as bolts of pure orgasmic energy. This power can be imbued into objects, which trigger an immense & immediate climax in the first person to come in contact with them. Mana cost depends on the strength of the shock and how long it can remain imbued in an object. Associated attributes = Charisma & Allure.

Restrained Release: Utilizing your prowess of the perverted arts, you may leverage a targets lust to place a lock upon their pleasure, preventing them from finding relief for as long as it remains in place. Each orgasm prevented by this lock further bolsters the target’s lust, making it all the more difficult for their arousal to fall below an ever raising baseline as they grow increasingly **** for a release that is beyond their reach.
Upon being dispelled, all of the orgasms prevented by this lock will be released simultaneously as a singular combined climax. If not dispelled, this lock will remain in place for as long as the target is aroused, only dispersing on its own when they completely calm their lusts. With sufficient willpower, or a great enough sexual frustration, the target can prematurely break this lock, causing the libidinous energies it held at bay to suffuse their very being as they are sent into a frenzied rut/heat that only ends when they are satisfied and drained of desire. Associated attributes = Charisma, Allure, & Willpower.

Were Krvavy in a better mood, that new trait and those three lewd spells would be a source of... they would be a source of amusement. She would laugh and tease this bratty girl of hers over how slutty all of that sounds. She would cherish the flustered reaction she’d get in return.

But instead, those descriptions cause her heart to twist into a knot. Because one of those spells proves Thea’s point. And another... might. Depending on how creatively it can be used.

“Nothing to say?” The noble girl’s voice isn’t quite cold, but neither is it full of warmth.

A hollow emptiness rests atop Krvavy’s very being, like an unwelcome blanket. Her breaths grow shallow as her sluggish mind scrambles for any excuse she can get to deny the first woman to become her fiancée this chance to be so reckless. Could she use the fact that Thea still hasn’t learned proper emotion magic...? No. Bringing that up would just piss the brat off even more. Besides, they all know that having those kinds of spells wouldn’t change Krvavy’s mind. So it would be too weak an excuse.

“Your health...!” The Drakling suddenly gasps, a tinge of hope in her voice as she goes with what should have been obvious. “You don’t have much! One good hit and –!”

“Rrghn!” A sharp growl cuts short that **** pleading. “Mate!” Strong, paw-like hands grasp at the Drakling’s head, forcing her attention towards Khalia’s looming face instead. “Me protect Girlie! She safe with me! No danger! No harm!”

That reassurance has the complete opposite effect on Krvavy. Because now she has to fight two of her girls. Because now she has to worry about losing another of her loves.

“Me fast! Outrun Mate! Me keep up easy!” Each of those grunted truths sends a jolt of panic arcing through the barbarian’s body, undermining her arguments before she can even make them. “No excuse!”

A pair of dexterous hands find the Drakling’s shoulders, kneading and massaging at the tension and suffocating stress that refuses to fade. “My dearest love... Close yer eyes and breathe... In... Out... In... Out...”

Krvavy shudders and... finds herself doing exactly as her sweet berry says. But it doesn’t help all that much. It doesn’t bury her fears. “You...!”

“Shhhh...” That soft sound whispers through the air. “Don’t worry, Ah’m not tryin’ ta come along as well...” The Dryad gently murmurs, her verdant lips barely brushing against the barbarian’s pointed ear. “So just... relax... Breathe and relax...”

Unwanted thoughts of danger and **** continue to race through Krvavy’s mind. The fact that Beryl is wise enough to not take such an unnecessary risk helps to calm her down, if just a tiny bit. Because if Krvavy were to die out there, then Beryl would begin to wither away. The Dryad would have no real chance of survival, while Thea and Khalia could at least run back home...

The nimble hands kneading Krvavy’s shoulders continue their massage. Both brat and Were-Beast move in closer to the barbarian, sharing their warmth and all but squishing into her sides, while the adorably small girl in her lap –

“C-can I–Iiiiiieeeeiieeeee...!” Adeline suddenly squeaks, her composure cracking near instantly as her trembling little hands grasp at Krvavy’s scaled fingers. “M-my f-fam-mily...! I-I...! Eeeeeiiieeeeee...!”

Droplets of wet warmth drip down onto the Drakling’s arm as it squeezes tight around that Halfling’s waist. Tears.

“Rghmh...!” Khalia’s paw-like hands pet and pat that timid blonde. “Me carry little meat!” She quickly declares.

What little bit of peace Krvavy was able to recover quickly shatters. But she doesn’t quite panic. She is too burned out for that. Her emerald eyes pierce into the top of Adeline’s head, ignoring the new silvery hairpin and that nicely polished wooden hair fork as she takes one last **** gambit, one she doesn’t have much hope for. It isn’t like anyone here is listening to her arguments...

Adeline twitches at that intrusion into her privacy, but doesn’t even slightly resist it.

Krvavy tilts her head back and closes her eyes. This tiny and fragile Halfling... has more health than Thea. Not by much. And her health regen is less. But... if that argument didn’t work to dissuade the brat, then it definitely won’t work here.

Cute & Charismatic I: Increases Charisma by 5%, strengthens the effect it has on Total Health & Mana Regeneration, and makes it less likely that others will take aggressive action towards you. Associated attribute = Charisma.

Demure Dexterity I: Increases Dexterity by 5%, strengthens the effect it has on Stamina Regeneration, and it now affects Health Regeneration. Associated attribute = Dexterity.

Gentle Guile I: Increases Guile by 5%, slightly strengthens the effect it has on Total Stamina & Total Mana, and it now affects Total Health. Associated attribute = Guile.

And those traits don’t help either. Or at least the first one doesn’t. It won’t keep Adeline safe, but with Khalia and Thea there as well...

“Hahhhhhhhhhh...” The Drakling slowly sighs, voicing her complete and utter defeat. She just... she just can’t muster the will to turn her girls down. Especially since she knows full well that her opinion doesn’t... it doesn’t matter. If she doesn’t carry Thea herself, then that brat will simply make Khalia carry her instead. Regardless of whether Krvavy gives them permission to follow her or not. Though... maybe Adeline would be left behind if that were the case...? But maybe not. The Halfling isn’t big or heavy. Khalia could carry both bunny-mouse and brat with ease...

“Hmph. Have you seen reason yet?” Despite Thea’s rather bratty choice of words, her tone is... relatively gentle. “I need to be there, at least in the aftermath. And... we cannot deny Adeline the same right as I. So do we need to fight you some more, or...?”

Krvavy grimaces and meets her frustratingly stubborn fiancée’s gaze. “Fine...” She chokes out, dread clinging to her heart. “But you’re all going to stay far away from any fighting...!”

“Obviously.” Thea returns, rolling her eyes just a bit.

“Mm. In that case...” The Dwarf’s calm voice causes Krvavy to tense up even more. “We should all get moving.” That she isn’t trying to come along as well is hardly a reassurance at this point... “Khalia. Please retrieve our love’s armour. And your own.”

The Were-Beast hesitates, her paw-like hands clinging onto Krvavy’s body. “Rrrgh...” Her strong shoulders sag as Inanna simply stands there and patiently waits for her to do as she is told. “Yes, Dwarfy...” She sighs, pulling back from her barbaric Mate and reluctantly heading off... taking her plate and the piece of pie atop it with her.

“Mm. Thea, Adeline.” Inanna addresses the two blondes, ready to give them their orders. “Both of you should begin packing. Two bags, one for Krvavy to carry and the other for Khalia. You will need blankets to use as bedding, waterproof sheets in case it rains, and pelts for additional warmth at night. As well as food, of course, and clothing. Be mindful of how much everything weighs. Beyond that, bring some form of entertainment to keep yourselves occupied when not on the move. Perhaps your book, Thea? Though I understand you’ve read it a few times n–”

“Yeah, yeah.” Thea cuts the Dwarf off with a bit too much haste to seem casual, her cheeks flushed a rosy hue. “I have helped our Dragon pack her bags enough times to know what we will need.” She reaches out and pries Krvavy’s hands off of Adeline, before grabbing onto the bunny-mouse girl’s wondrously wide hips and pulling that so very short girl free from their lover’s lap. “Now come on. We do not have all day.”

Adeline’s fingers interlock with those of her fellow fiancée as she is led out of the dining room. But just before she leaves, the wholesome Halfling glances back towards the barbarian. Her big hazel eyes are still a little watery, her cheeks stained with tears, but despite that... a reassuring smile plays at her lips. As if to say that everything will be alright.

“And now it is just us. So... Wha’ are we ta do?” Beryl curiously asks, continuing to massage her dearest love’s tense shoulders for as long as she can.

“I intend to paint runes upon Krvavy’s body, to help prepare her for the coming battle.”

“Ah see.” The tanned tomboy softly sighs, understanding what this shortstack is talking about even though her question wasn’t entirely answered. “Ah’ll go get the paste ready fer ya.” She leans in and gives the top of Krvavy’s head a gentle kiss before completely pulling back. “Will it be the same stuff as last time?”

“Mhm.” Inanna nods, grabbing onto her Draconic lover’s rather large hand and clasping it in both of her own. “But in larger quantity. Perhaps... twice as much? If that is not a problem. I would like to be a bit more intricate in my designs this time. And I may paint some onto Khalia as well, to help ease our love’s worries.”

“Aye, Ah can do tha’.” Beryl replies, her lacy negligee swishing a little as she turns around on the spot and struts away, hips swinging side to side and naturally drawing the Drakling’s gaze towards her perfect ass. “And Ah’ll try ta be as quick as Ah can. Ta not keep the two o’ ya waitin’ long.”

With that, Drakling and Dwarf are left alone in the dining room.

Well... mostly alone. Lynn is still here, subdued slightly by the serious emotions that she couldn’t help but feel. Though the dour atmosphere hasn’t stopped her from oozing partway onto the table, taking advantage of the lack of oversight to eat up the rest of her dessert, before stealthily moving towards Beryl’s plate and the bit of pie that remains on it.

“My Ushumgal.” Inanna brings the barbarian’s hand right up to her chest, pressing it against the looped necklace braids resting atop her expansive cleavage. “Don’t worry, everything will be alright. We will ensure as much. So have faith in us, as we have faith in you.”

Krvavy takes a deep breath, and slowly exhales. “Alright...” She meets her shortstack’s steady gaze. Those intense copper-orange eyes aren’t entirely calm. There is a tinge of concern in them, for Krvavy and the others, but so too is there confidence, a certainty that they will indeed be alright. “Do you... need me to undress, so that you can plan your runes...?”

“Mm. Yes, that would be helpful.” The dutiful and diligent Dwarf nods, the faintest smile playing at her dark-grey lips. “I intend to paint two separate matrices onto your body. The first to help you reach your target, to make your way through the battlefield. The second for when you are ready to get your ****. But we are getting ahead of ourselves. We should cover up the untouched desserts first, lest everything get eaten by a certain glutton.”

⟨!!!⟩ Lynn makes a sharp and rather surprised sound as Krvavy’s attention suddenly turns towards her... just in time to see the slime engulfs Thea’s plate. ⟨...⟩ A rather neutral noise follows as that purple-blue blob wiggles and drops down onto the brat’s seat, doing the best she can to look innocent and free of guilt. Though that isn’t exactly convincing, considering the dissolving dessert floating around inside of her mass and all...

“Mm.” The serious shortstack simply hums and gives her head a soft shake, the faintest of smiles playing at her dark-grey lips.