Stark<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n><><\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nLounging amidst violet, satin pillows, Lillium groaned softly, as a slave kneeled between her legs, gently licking at her thighs, tasting the juices that had rolled down the succubus\u2019s flesh through her early dawn tryst. The woman wore a collar around her pretty neck, and bore markings of Morkate on the back of her shoulder, marking her place as a whore.<\/span><\/p>\nA very skilled whore, Lillium thought to herself as her claws trailed through the woman\u2019s silky hair. The succubus let out another low groan, her back arching, pushing bared breasts into the air. It was tempting to lay in here awhile longer, perhaps take this woman again. She was proving most enjoyable.<\/span><\/p>\nHer thoughts were interrupted by the entrance of her tent flapping open, Lorth walking in, in full battle order. He did not avert his eyes from the naked women before him, but nor did he stare dumbly. Even as Lillium slowly ceased to writhe beneath the whore\u2019s skilled tongue, Lorth smashed a fist to his chest in salute.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cBaroness. The defenders of Driftafay are sallying forth. They mean to fight us with honour,\u201d the captain reported.<\/span><\/p>\nWith a press of claws until fine ruby droplets formed upon the whore\u2019s scalp, Lillium ceased her pleasure.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cWell, we best not disappoint them shall we. Send a runner to Bazk, and we will sow these fields with corpses.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n><><\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nSunlight brushed over the Helot\u2019s face as he made his way quietly through the brush, ducking branches and skirting bushes. They could not see him from the walls, could not warn their allies on the fields of the flank attack to come. The warrior felt his mouth watering for the coming battle and the blood that would be shed.<\/span><\/p>\nThe crossbow bolt that hissed from the foliage smashed his skull to pieces, and he slumped to the ground without a further sound. Brain spilled from the ruins of his head with chips of bone amidst the gray chunks.<\/span><\/p>\nAs Kira and Thaden slipped out from the shadows of leaves of the early morning, looking down upon the corpse they just made, Thaden was quick to step forward, pulling his bolt from the mess of gore, flicking the tip in an attempt to remove much of the gunk. Kira let her eyes peer out from the foliage, stepping into thickets and brush, to see the city.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cThey\u2019re marching out,\u201d she whispered, looking back to her companion.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cDriftafay is?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\nKira nodded, and the two looked down at the corpse by their feet. Doubtlessly a runner from Lillium\u2019s main encampment.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cSeems our plans have moved up some,\u201d the wolfkin whispered. Without further hesitation, the two stole back into the shadows, to strike at the camp they had poisoned in the night.<\/span><\/p>\n><><\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nThe morning sun was climbing higher into the sky, its heat beating down upon the soldiers marching away from the safety of their walls. Sweat ran down the backs of their necks and their faces beneath the steel brims of their helmets. Dampening tunics stuck to their backs beneath their chainmail hauberks, and their skin was starting to itch.<\/span><\/p>\nNot one of them whined, too concerned with what lay ahead of them, beyond the rims of their rounded shields and the points of their spears. The lines of Helot soldiers, utterly inhuman beneath their dark steel plates, wicked swords in one hand, square shields with jagged bottoms and right rims in the other. In the centre of that beastly line stood the contrast. The agonizingly beautiful succubus, raven hair fluttering about her face; the woman they were here to kill.<\/span><\/p>\nSarya gripped her spatha tight, her own Gondulin shield strapped firmly. The red painted steel, with its black dragon standing proud amidst the more ramshackle equipment of those she led. It felt good to be back on a battlefield, though strange that it was not her disciplined soldiers beside her.<\/span><\/p>\nOff to the side, hooves thundered as the heavily armoured Knights of Oan moved into a flanking position, white banners streaming from their lances held upright. Lillium glanced towards them, but did nothing.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cShe has another force in reserve… she was ready to flank herself,\u201d Sarya muttered, feeling her gut clench. Biting her lip she glanced towards the knights. If it was true they could well be massacred, but if they pulled back now, Lillium would continue to pound Driftafay into ruin.<\/span><\/p>\nLifting up her sword, Sarya quickly let it drop, pointing the tip of her blade towards the enemy line, letting out a loud shout that ripped from her throat as she did. The answering call was deafening. Spears lowered, and nearly a thousand soldiers ran forward. To the side, lances lowered and spurs pressed harshly into the armoured flanks of warhorses. Dust burst upwards into the air, as the forces of Driftafay charged forward the final gap towards their enemies, shouts swirling amongst each other in a cacophony of fury.<\/span><\/p>\nThe two lines of infantry met in a crash of steel and blood. Many shouts turned to screams, and Helots roared out their bloodlust as combat finally came upon them. Driftafay soldiers pushed the thrust their spears, spilling the dark blood of their enemies, even as the Kazdruk foot soldiers lashed back, opening flesh and spraying crimson in great arcs from their blades. In the thick of it, two women moved with confidence and surety that only experience brings.<\/span><\/p>\nSarya stayed at the head of her formation, not getting ahead of those around her, lashing out with shield and spatha with deadly purpose. Seconds dragged out into minutes as the two small armies fought, and Sarya could already feel the blood running over the hilt of her blade, streaming down her hands to the bracers tied firmly to her forearms. She could see Lillium, dancing with beautiful yet deadly grace, blood trailing behind her sword, spattering on her dark steel and pale flesh.<\/span><\/p>\nTo the side, Helots screamed out in frustration as the Knight\u2019s of Oan crashed into their lines, impaling the Kazdruk warriors upon their long lances, before riding off again, some with broken lances, making them unsheathe their swords.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cLillium!\u201d Sarya shouted above the din of combat, smashing the bottom edge of her shield into a Helot\u2019s neck. The creature scarcely had time to choke before the spatha lunged forward, slipping under its arm and into the small hollow beneath, directly through to heart and lungs. Blood frothed at its mouth for a split moment before it collapsed at her feet.<\/span><\/p>\nThe succubus turned to stare at Sarya, holding a soldier by his neck. The man squirmed as Lillium\u2019s thumb pressed into the front of his throat, blood bubbling around the claw that sank into his flesh. When he dropped dead, Sarya did not spare him a glance. He was gone, there were others still living she could save.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cYou\u2019re mine bitch,\u201d the centurion roared, finally breaking free of the line, a soldier quickly taking her place as she pushed along the clashing warriors around her, shield and sword never still as she moved to meet the succubus.<\/span><\/p>\nLillium grinned, tongue rolling across her lips, smearing blood across them, even as it ran down all over her form. Even from here, Sarya saw the fangs hiding behind those perfect lips. There was a brief flutter of fear within her gut as she recognized something no one else had said about the succubus.<\/span><\/p>\nVampire.<\/span><\/p>\nLillium dragged her line of death towards Sarya, that confident grin never faltering as she moved to meet the centurion.<\/span><\/p>\nAmidst corpses and severed limbs, the two commanders finally clashed, their swords ringing against one another as conqueror found defender.<\/span><\/p>\n><><\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nSweat rolled under her helmet, yet Viviane ignored it as she charged with her brothers into the Helots a second time. She heard bones and steel crunching beneath hooves, even as she felt the point of her lance slam into one of the Helot\u2019s chests, punching through the breastplate and impaling it upon the long staff.<\/span><\/p>\nWith a loud crack, the lance snapped in two, leaving Viviane with a much shorter weapon tipped with ragged splinters. Beside her, Sir Bran was dragged from his saddle by a wicked scythe. The steel scraped against his armour but did not penetrate. Not that it helped him when he landed on the ground.<\/span><\/p>\nWhirling away from the clashing mass, Viviane glanced over her shoulder, and wished she hadn\u2019t. A heavy axe was brought down on Sir Bran\u2019s face, crushing bone hidden behind his helmet, blood spurting out his visor.<\/span><\/p>\nGritting her teeth, Viviane tossed her ruined lance away, and reached down to draw her sword. She could not hear the rasp of steel against leather as it came free, but the familiar weight in her fist was comforting. An old friend in the fight against evil.<\/span><\/p>\nThe remaining knights turned again a short distance from the battle. Viviane found herself at the head of the wedge, and holding her blade forward, pointing the tip at the enemy, she let her voice raise in a shout with those she rode with.<\/span><\/p>\nShe didn\u2019t truly see the dark shapes that flickered outwards, but she certainly recognized the crossbow bolts as three knights fell from their horses riddled with them. They dragged their horses to the ground under their heavy weight, and another knight stumbled as his horse\u2019s hooves caught upon the writhing beasts struggling to rise. Sir Joran was flung into the Helots waiting for them this time with a scream. Blades and heavy feet descended upon him, and it did not take too long for them to find a weak spot to silence his shouts of righteous fury.<\/span><\/p>\nViviane\u2019s though still rang loudly. Her blade took half the skull from a Helot as she rammed through their throng. Already she was starting to pull back. There were too many to stay and fight. The knights were far too outnumbered. Another fell as they retreated, his mount\u2019s head lopped off with a vicious strike from a two handed sword that left only a bleeding stump and the glimmer of spine in its wake. The next strike took his own head.<\/span><\/p>\nNow, at a safe distance again, Viviane looked upon her surviving brothers. There were only the three of them left; herself, Sir Morris, and Sir Duncan. Morris was clutching at his side, blood seeping through gauntleted fingers. A crossbow bolt had found its mark on him as well. When he saw her looking he merely nodded.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cI\u2019ll live,\u201d were the only words to slip out. Viviane nodded and looked back at the battle.<\/span><\/p>\nSarya, and the succubus were fighting, each of them perfect in their forms. Sword met shield, spatha met bracer, parries and dodges for both blood soaked fighters. A ring had started to form around them, none of the other fighters wanting to incur the wrath of the champion of their enemy. The battle though continued to rage around them. Blood soaked the grass, and corpses littered the ground, forcing those on either side to step over friends and comrades that they may add the next enemy to the pile.<\/span><\/p>\nHuman wounded writhed in pain on the ground, clutching at the stump where an arm or leg may have been, or at their torn throats, trying in vain to keep that precious blood within them, or a handful even clutching at their guts, trying to prevent them from spilling out any further.<\/span><\/p>\nThe Helots though fought on despite their wounds. Viviane saw one swinging wildly without a weapon, the hand that had gripped it taken off below the elbow. Its demonic ichor spewing from severed flesh it punched and thrashed until spears stabbed it in the chest.<\/span><\/p>\nViviane turned again to look at her own comrades, to prepare them for one last charge into the fray, to buy some time for Sarya, when she saw the charging band of Helots. Hundreds of them sprinting across the field. Spears and swords glinted in the sunlight.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cWe cannot win this. A sacrifice in this battle will be in vain.\u201d Sir Morris said glumly, looking towards the charging foe. Viviane looked back to the battle, then to the flanking Kazdruk warriors.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cGo. Back to the city, I\u2019ll warn Sarya, we need to pull back now, before they get here,\u201d she said.<\/span><\/p>\nWith short nods the other two knights turned their horses towards Driftafay, while Viviane rode hard back to the battle.<\/span><\/p>\n><><\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nWatching them run towards the clash on the fields, Kira clutched her fists. There hadn\u2019t been enough time to stop the Helots, and she and Thadon were not enough to stop them. They had needed more soldiers, and the refugees waiting in the thick of the woods were in no condition to fight.<\/span><\/p>\nAfter killing the runner, she and Thadon had returned to the camp. Darting in to kill two sentries, she quickly had ran back into the woods, leading a chase while she and her companion picked off the enemy with sword, claw, fang, and crossbow. A trail of corpses was strung beneath the canopy now, but even after a few dozen lay dead on the forest floor, their blood feeding the land they had sought to ravage, a runner Kira had missed came running back to the encampment.<\/span><\/p>\nAfter that, they forgot all about the wolfkin, quickly packing up and charging off towards the battle.<\/span><\/p>\nNow Kira watched, her claws digging into a nearby tree as they charged the soldiers of Driftafay to sway the tide of battle.<\/span><\/p>\n><><\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nLillium\u2019s sword flicked across Sarya\u2019s bicep, parting the flesh and drawing a line of deep crimson, but the Centurion ignored the pain, the injured shield arm flicking the succubus\u2019s blade out wide, and coming in low with a slash. Lillium\u2019s bracer deflected easily, but it made the opening Sarya was hoping for.<\/span><\/p>\nA quick lash of her helmeted head crashed into Lillium\u2019s face. She felt the cartilage snap, and felt a gush of blood over her face. The succubus surprised her though with a soft moan. So the bitch was a masochist.<\/span><\/p>\nWith her own blood smeared over her lower face, Lillium kicked out. The sharp heel of her boot scratched Sarya\u2019s armour, while the flat base pushed her back, making her stumble slightly. She quickly regained her bearings, blocking a vicious overhead chop with her shield before slashing at the pale exposed midsection before her.<\/span><\/p>\nShe scored a deep hit, earning another groan that sent tingles down her spine despite herself. Worse though, was watching the skin reknit, healing before any true damage sunk in. Sarya let out a roar of anger and frustration, coming in with a whirlwind of blade strikes. Lillium blocked each one perfectly, her movements with the sword as close to perfect as Sarya had even seen.<\/span><\/p>\nShe finished her wild attack with a shield bash, but Lillium stepped to the side, and pulled hard on the rim, sending Sarya past her. The centurion immediately rolled forward, knowing what was following, but felt the bite of Kazdruk steel in her thigh regardless. She howled in pain, but pushed it back into her mind as she rose once more to her feet to face her enemy.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cHelot reinforcements. We need to retreat!\u201d Viviane\u2019s call rang through the din of battle.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cHold your ground! Hold!\u201d Sarya yelled, moving fast despite the slight limp in each step. The flanking party, later than she expected, but still here. And Lillium still lived. This had to end fast.<\/span><\/p>\nThe two warriors met again, swords crashing against one another as each tried to find the killing blow, but each finding the other a match. Around her, Driftafay troops were wavering, caught between utter fear, and the need to see this done. Some were already running, fleeing back to the city to let their comrades be cut down. Sarya couldn\u2019t pay them any heed though.<\/span><\/p>\nThe succubus\u2019s sword arcing down towards her shoulder, Sarya gritted her teeth, and slammed the lower rim of her shield at an angle. The blade rocked against the plates over her shoulder, sending a dull pain throbbing into her flesh, but the succubus let out a shout of surprise as she lost her balance. A sickening crunch sounding from her knee that did not earn a groan.<\/span><\/p>\nResisting the urge to say something witty, Sarya followed through with a vicious stab. The point of her sword split open the soft tender flesh of Lillium\u2019s partially exposed breast, scraping against the edge of the steel cupping her breast. Blood gushed outwards from the wound as the spatha\u2019s tip broke through the protective ribs hiding behind such succulent flesh.<\/span><\/p>\nLillium\u2019s red eyes went wide, as she looked down at the sword lodged in her heart. She coughed, blood spattered over Sarya\u2019s helmet. It wasn\u2019t enough though, Sarya knew it. She\u2019d killed a few vampires in her time. With a kick to Lillium\u2019s gut, she dislodged her sword, blood spraying from the wound. The vampiric succubus fell to the ground, gasping in agony, her strength fleeing.<\/span><\/p>\nOne more strike, and it would be over.<\/span><\/p>\nThen arms grabbed her, pulling her back to her lines.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cNo, no!\u201d she yelled as Helots ran to save their baroness. The soldiers of Driftafay dragged Sarya away from the conflict, while Helots carried their commander off the field.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cThey\u2019re retreating, we\u2019ve won. You got her,\u201d someone shouted in Sarya\u2019s ear.<\/span><\/p>\nBut Lillium still lived, and the fact that the Helots\u2019 bloodlust had been calmed by her fall rather than stoked, made her fear the woman\u2019s power all the more. She stared at the backs of the retreating Helots, Lillium carried like a goddess off the field of battle, while she was dragged.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cThis is far from over.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n><><\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nStanding atop the walls and watching the battle, Isilda\u2019s hands hadn\u2019t left her mouth, scrunched up with nervousness as she watched hundreds upon hundreds of men die. Their screams were distant, the ring of steel carrying on the wind, and she couldn\u2019t see Sarya. Her stomach clenched, and she wasn\u2019t able to eat, or drink.<\/span><\/p>\nAnother whore stood beside her, gently rubbing her arm, humming softly to try and soothe her.<\/span><\/p>\nShe didn\u2019t know how long she had been standing there, amongst countless others from the city watching as their fate was decided. When it was finally ended, both armies simply, walking away from the other, Isilda didn\u2019t know what to think. It was strange to see them simply break away, leaving a line of corpses that looked like a dark smear on the grass at this distance.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cShe\u2019s coming back dear. Come on, the new girl wants to tell us something back at the brothel. Let\u2019s get you cleaned up for when Sarya comes calling,\u201d her friend said, and Isilda offered a weak smile.<\/span><\/p>\nSarya would be by soon, she would. And maybe listening to this girl, one of the refugees from outside the city, would help her calm down.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"By: SinfulWolf The sound of trebuchets letting loose their boulders, to sail into the city and smash through wall and roof, was scarcely heard. Almost drowned out by the crickets of the fields, uncaring for the corruption of the land. Staring to the north west, where any reinforcing armies would be coming from, the Helot […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[10],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dominionschain.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/209"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dominionschain.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dominionschain.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dominionschain.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dominionschain.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=209"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.dominionschain.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/209\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1060,"href":"https:\/\/www.dominionschain.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/209\/revisions\/1060"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dominionschain.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=209"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dominionschain.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=209"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dominionschain.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=209"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
![\"14viviane1\"](\"http:\/\/www.dominionschain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/14viviane1.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n