OOC: Tags to
@Draconian !
"Fuck that Duchy and whatever they stand for. You think I give a lick the Duke of Turgall is standing up against the Grand Duke?" He laughed so hard he was spitting. Shaking his head, General Mordeth waved his gloved hand to shoo away the messenger. "Can't you see I'm trying to enjoy my drink? Can't get Serenian whisky everywhere." He belched. "Though maybe bottom eaters don't know better."
The smile Krah had given the messenger helped root the wormy feeling he had been traipsing on ever since being in his presence. He had heard alot about this man- how large he was, and powerful- and very commanding...
But also how very...
unpleasant. Sure, the whole army smelled of sweat, but this man also reeked of beer. He noted some of the blood stained adorning his army that he was still half wearing as the General enjoyed his meal. Seems he didn't bother to take the time to even keep his suit of arms cleaned.
Noticing the man hadn't left and was staring at him, he narrowed his gaze and threw the remaining bone of his hammock at the man's head.
"I thought I told you to get the fucking hell out of here."
The messenger grew dancy, debating whether he ought to abandon this mission-
"But sir.. General... This letter comes from the Grand Duke himself."
"Yeah, well, fuck the Grand Duke." The man belched again, slamming an angered fist onto the table. "Just put the letter down and get the hell out of my tent. You're speaking to a Genral- and the orders are to get the hell out of here- NOW!"
The messenger didn't need to be told twice. Though he might face the wrath of the Grand Duke for only partially delivering the message, he didn't want his head bashed in with the remaining plate of food he could hear the 'God of War' devouring as he left. Though he knew war wasn't a pretty thing... He had to wonder what good a man like that could really bring to the army. ANd the way he spoke...
Wasn't it blasphemy? Surely he had heard the man wrong...
No, he had to be drunk. Surely a man fighting for the Grand Duke would not speak so il-minded of! Either way, he was glad to be off, leaping onto the back of his messenger horse and preparing to leave the camp.
It was important news, that was for sure, but the approach of another caravan had his brows raised. Was that the flag of the church? Perhaps... perhaps if they were here, as warriors for the church to aid the General...
Maybe one of them would listen and deliver the message? After all, it was a pretty big deal...
Turgall would be their next target, after all - and they were very close to its borders.
Sunniva had heard of General Mordeth.
Not anything good, but she'd been warned. It was a mission entrusted to her and her alone - though she couldn't fathom why. Blind as she was, seated upon her horse, hood drawn up and over her eyes, hair held back. She was a vision of white and gold on the white charger, back straight, head held high. The only telltale sigh that she was even a woman was the lily etched onto her breastplate and the plush look of her lips which clearly didn't belong to any man.
While she wasn't leading this operation, she was the figure head. The daughter of the Duke of Folkvar, a White Lily Knight. Raised by the church.
The first thing she noticed when she was led to the Generals tent was the smell. A wrinkle of her nose and she quickly dismounted, though before she could enter the tent she noticed the man on the horse. Though it wasn't from her vision, it was from his.
"Yes?" She finally asked the messenger, a tilt of her head. The way she turned to him, like she could see, was probably unnerving. "You seem like you need to say something," she paused for a moment before tilting her head, "I have to have a chat with..." She nodded towards the tent before turning back to the messenger, "Is there something I can help with?"
The man was still trembling, even doubly so to see the recessed cavaties where the woman's eyes were now swollen shut. It was like some sort of a nightmare, and inspite of himself, he drew a marking across his breast- the one to signify protection, and he only eased when he noticed just what she was.
"My lady, forgive me, but I... urgent news... It is to be delivered, and to the General. It seems.... perhaps he is too busy to comprehend what I have to say."
The sous of someone makin the holy symbol was easy to detect and she ducked her head slightly and pulled her good further down her face, so the edge rested on the bridge of her nose. A slightly irritated sigh and she nodded once to the messenger.
"I see."
Taking a few steps forward, far me brave than a blind woman seemed capable of she shoved her hand to the rent flap and pulled it aside.
It smelled awful and she almost wanted to retch. Few times in her life had she had to deal with such... Unpleasant smells. "General Mordeth, it would be wise you listen to messages. It could be important." Without listening she motioned to the messenger, "just talk over him if he doesn't listen, if General Mordeth is going to be rude - treat him in kind. I'll protect you."
At the sudden opening of his tent flap- that let in a rude gust of chilly wind, he turned his attentions to those that entered.
"You again?" he belched, drunkenly as he stared at the messenger, actually impressed he came back. But when his eyes came across her, eyes or not, he gave a whistle.
He stood up suddenly, and tossed a bag of gold to the messenger.
"You didn't fucking say you brought me a whore." He crossed the distance between them with quick, heavy, long strides. A strong arm suddenly went around Sunniva's waste. "Now go back and tell the Grand Duke i'll fucking wipe out the on coming army, no problem. But for now..."
And here he turned to steal a rough, wild and beer landened kiss from Sunniva, while using an entire hand to smoosh in the messenger's face and shove him clean out of the tent.
He'd need privacy with his whore, after all!
"A wh--!" Sunniva wasn't expecting that. Any of that.
The lack of contact had her tingling. And while the kiss could have been under better circumstances - like not thinking she was a whore - Sunniva reeled back her hand and laded a heavy metal fist to General Mordeth's side, right along the waist. Yanking her head back she sneered, "I am not a whore! I am Sunniva Avarali, Knight of the White Lily and you'd do well to keep your hands and lips to yourself!"
"Oh!" It seemed the punch had the opposite effect on him. He was grinning ear to ear.
"Sorry, my lady," he went down in a mock bow. "But Lily or not... you came into my tent," he insisted, crossing the short distance between them again, but not quite grabbing her into his powerful arms this time. "You should do well to know that everything inside this tent.." he went on, fingers tip toeing up her barely exposed cleavage. "Is mine."
Furious!
What a terrible human being?
"Did you personally buy this tent?" She asked, slapping at his hands and doing her best to back away from his touch. She didn't like what it did to her. Sunniva really didn't care for the tingling sensation that ran through her when his hands were on her. And she didn't like being able to hear his grin! "Listen to the messenger. Regardless."
"What?" he paused, looking at her, and then his amused grin returned. He looked to the messenger.
"How about he listens to us." He looked back to Sunniva, and snuck in closer, lips so close to her neck- she'd be able to feel his breath- and no doubt smell the alcohol.
"I'm told I make women sing the best praises to Ansgar.." And a hand found it's way to her leg, moving up under her skirts.
"I knew you were a brute, Krah Mordeth, but I didn't expect you to display it so disgustingly to a Holy Knight of Ansgar." Her voice turned cold and she went still, hands balled into fists while she waited for him to remove himself from her person. "I request you let go of me - now. I have no interest in you. You smell. You're clearly a brute and I wish to hear the messenger - not your boasts and lies."
Oh? She wanted to show her authority.
"Well.. if you insist in being incharge.." he went on, with drawing his hand that had been crawling up her skirts. But then he took her hand and yanked her forward, and forced her to cup his hard on that was begging to be released from his pants.
Great.
Juuuust great.
Instead of aroused or embarrassed Sunniva just got angry and she whipped her hand away and gave him a heavy push. Or as heavy as she could manage. Being quite a bit smaller than him, she didn't imagine she could do much damage. "Have you no shame?! Do you plan on raping me?" she yelled, face flushed with anger, "Only one of us would survive and that it would be me because I'd shortly after burn you alive!"
Chewing on her lip for a moment angry but not unthinking, "Calm yourself and stop being a pig for an hour!" another snap and she took a few steps away, "I'll see you discharged. They may not be as large as you but there are soldiers just as disgusting to easily take your place."
And at such a response...?
He laughed.
Oh how he laughed, his mouth opening wide as it barked out, probably spitting on her face, even from the new distance she acquired. But oh, was this so funny to the drunken General. But before things could go on any further, the messenger stepped in. And this, actually made Krah blink.
"What do you want. Outta the way," And as he went to shove the messenger away, someone else threw open the tend flap.
"General Mordeth!"
Krah narrowed his gaze at the soldier who dared charge into his tent.
"The valley to the North.. soldiers.. they have the flag of Turgall... and they're heading this way."
At this, the messenger paled, lips trembling as they fell open.
"G-General.. please.. my message."
Krah had enough. Too many voices, too muhc going on- and the alcohol could only filter so much! Slamming a fist onto a nearby table- which made it crack under his wrath, he growled.
"Fucking army! The orders are clear." And he held up a fist, before drawing it as a line across his throat. "We wipe out that entire fucking army." He sneered, eyes deadly, and cold. "They're traitors and we'll get paid in gold for each head we make roll."
He stepped away from the table.
"Ready the men."
And his smile grew, much like that of a crazed devil as he reached for his helm.
"Don't forget to remind thiem... THIS.. is.. WAR."
What.
Sunniva wiped the spit from her face. Disgusted. Angered. Pissed was the less lady-like version of all those things and she could only stand stalk still while the Krah fellow who'd just been busy groping her went on a new rampage.
He was a crazy man.
A crazy ill thinking man.
Her mouth fell open and she pressed her hands to her lips before she turned to the messenger.
"tell me the message. I'll deliver it to the general myself." Even if she had to sit on his lap to do it. Or something. Sunniva frowned down at the ground. Her heart was pounding and she shook her head. Things had turned for the worst and she knew that the soliders that were brought with her would probably be roused into going with the general. That was part of the orders.
The messenger wanted nothing to do but get the hell out of there. But at the white lily's insistance, he remained. He gestured for her to follow him, just outside the tent where he sighed with some relief to be outside of Krah's presence.
He removed a long container, who's end he twisted off. Inside he dumped out a letter on paper with the Grand Duke's seal.
"Turgall has declared war against the Grand Duke."
The man frowned and waited for the Lily to read it.
"He asks for General Mordeth to act- and to silence this uprising as fast- and in any way, he can."
The sound of paper was obvious, she could follow the sounds of the messenger but she couldn't read. "Well, Geberal Mordeth seems to be doing exactly that." The worry fled. If it had been a call to hold arms she would have acted but Sunniva had no place on the battlefield, blind that she was. Instead she held out her hand, palm open for the message. "Give it to me. I'll give it to general Mordeth when he's..." She wrinkled her nose in distaste, "finished."
The man hesitated, but gave the letter over to her.
"The General.. I think we've got no time to spare," the messenger whispered.
Sunniva gave a shrill whistle and quickly enough the sound of hooves was nearby, her horse standing beside her. It wouldn't be hard to follow Krah, his stetch and degree of loudness unlike any other. Climbing onto her horse she used the sight of other people to pinpoint where General Mordeth was and before long she cut him off with her horse. The hood had fallen off in her rush on the horse and her waves of bright red hair fell about her shoulders to her waist. Holding out the letter , "you have a message, General. You'd do well to read it."
Krah jerked his horse to a halt.
"The blind whore returns." He smirkeda nd looked at the letter. "I know well enough what it says. It gives me the order to destroy the enemy just over that horizon," he went on with a point of his sword. "Or... can you not see what I mean?"
ANd he laughed terribly at such a joke.
Sunniva sneered, clutching the letter. Fine. She'd wait for him at the camp. Maybe air out his tent. It smelled awful enough. "Don't get hit in the head, it's big enough of a target." Sunniva snapped though she gave pause and remembered the moments before, where he'd made her grab, "though I hope you get shot in the cock." She urged her horse away. She had neither mace not shield and wasnt exactly keen on being killed.
Krah's smile consumed his face as he barked a laugh at her retreating form.
"And if I'm so injured, will your devout and tender lips nurse it back?"
Eyes twinkling with dark humor, he gave a hard kick to his horses side and soon was bellowing the orders. The Turgall military was now seen as the enemy, though confused, the soldiers readily obeyed. At least now the frost was thawing and the rivers running high. But still, this time of day was chilly and the breaths of men and horses alike could be seen as they journied, and jouneyed fast.
Krah and his army wouldn't need to get far. They were nearing the Matron River, just north of the valley, when the tops of Turgallick flags could be seen. Krah gave a sneering laugh, and wasted not another minute. The time to attack was now. He would not give the enemy any warning, or his men, a reprieve.
And it was barely an hour later that Sunniva might hear....
The cannon fire, the gun shots- and the call of dying men echoing into the vacated campsite.
Nurse it...
Sunniva made a face, turning over her shoulder one last time to stick her tongue out at Krah before she returned back to the camp. While she could be mature when needed, a suggestion such as that only had one response. An immature one that involved an equally immature action.
Having busied herself with brushing down what horses remained at camp while the few personal guards remained with her made their tents, Sunniva's head snapped up at the echos of screams. Throwing her hood off to let her long red hair tumble down her back, she turned her face to the sky, clasped her hands together to her breast and prayed.
Prayed for the broken beaten men that lay dying. Praying for a quick death. Praying that that awful general get shot someone else besides his cock because she very much did not want to press her lips to anything on his body, let alone that.
The fight remained distant, the call of men like the sea, and the gun and canon fire, thunder. It didn't seem like the fighting was anywhere near a close, but moments later, a rider on a dark horse came thundering into the camp.
He bore the Grand Duke's flag and was quick to approach Sunniva.
"My lady... the General, he requests more aid, and black powder. Can you help me travel down to the Southern camp and-"
And tht's when he paused- realizing...
Was this White Lily... blind?
Luckily she'd been beside her horse, hand on his neck when the man game.
Quickly her attention was grabbed and she snapped her head to face him, frowning when he trailed off.
"Of course." Quickly enough she was on her horse, waiting for instructions, "Lead the way." Though helping the general wasn't exactly a keen thing in her mind she licked her lips and squared her shoulders, "I'll do what I can."
Licking his lips, he gave a nod.
"Do.. do you need help there, milady?"
Though even he hesitated. What use would she be except for a stock still protector? Though he supposed it was better than nothing.
"I'm already on my horse," she frowned, head tilting. "I need you to lead the way, the sooner we help the general the better.
The man hesitated.
"Shall.. shall I tether our horses together?"
Though he knew he was wasting precious time, he also did not wish to deny the appointed help of God, or at least one blessed by he.
"No. My horse is well trained," Sunniva bit out with a hiss. "You're wasting precious time and people are dying. Move!"
He nodded quickly, all but jumping at the snap in her voice. He turned to head south, checking every so often to ensure she was behind him. Once the pair were upon the camp, he informed her,
"We're here. Shall we rally the men together?"
Sunniva pursed her lips, nodding at him. Rally they together? Did he think her a solider? How did one rally soldiers? Keeping mage abilities away from her being was an innate ability. Rallying soliders required charisma and while she would like to think she had that, she was quite aware that most anything soldiers looked at on her was her bust.
"Very well. Lead the way."
That was a good vague thing, right? Right. The sooner she got herself out of this God Forsaken mess the better.
It didn't take much to get the remaining troops together. The call to arms had them on the road in minutes. And as they began their march, the adrenaline could be tasted, as well as the overwhelming beat of their hearts. These were men trained for war, men ready to commit war, and not a single one of them looked afraid. These were, after all, General Krah's men, and he had the roughest and most savage of the lot.
The captains and other higher ranking officers easily got that way by acts of savagery, men who didn't fear getting their hands a little dirty, as well as those that didn't mind taking the lead. And the closer they got, the smell of black powder filled the air and as they crested the hill-
The animated scene of battle was all but consuming their view.
The leaders took one look at General Krah, who stood in the midst of the smoking blood bath and as he raised his sword arm to them- all of the General's men roared as they rushed into the fray.
Now with the second batch of soldiers, fresh and ready to fight, any weight wearing on Krah vanished. He swung his sword with the fury of ten thousand men, and continued to cut those down who stood in his path. And soon it seemed the General was getting the upper hand-
But then again, it was hard to see through the misty, smoke filled field.
( I couldn't think of what to write to keep it moving! I'm sorrrrry. D= )
If there had been God here, Sunniva didn't feel it.
The stench made her nose wrinkle and she moved her sleeve to her face to breath in the scent of cloth before the sharp scent of blood could hit her. The sights from everywhere were overwhelming and before long her head was buried in her arms, resting precariously on top of her horse. The white hood was drawn up over her head, obscuring her face and she gave a breathy sob.
Sunniva wanted to go home.
Still, giving herself a mental shake she rose her head and squared her shoulders.
The least she could do was look like she knew what she was doing. She was a White Lily Knight. That made her.. Symbolic.
Useless.
Sort of. There were no mages over there, were there?
Sunniva hadn't noticed she was on the side lines, standing tall on her horse. A perfect target for an archer or some other wayward soldier looking to make a name for himself.
And a perfect target was something the opposing forces were not going to waste time taking advantage of, so while she stood there, frozen atop of her horse, a skilled archer raised his bow. She'd have been stuck through easily, had the cold, hard blade of General Mordeth not sunk into the man's right arm. He cried out in alarm, his arrow shooting past the mist of the fight before the sword smacked against his face.
"That's what you fucking get for trying to take down a holy night." And he spat on the archer before turning to look over at Sunniva.
The dull noise of an arrow sinking into flesh and the sharp cry of her horse had her mind go blank and before she realized it the horse was on it's hind legs and Sunniva tumbled off the back, landing hard on her side.
This was bad.
Apparently there had been more than one archer.
Short of breath she saw herself from a high vantage point and heard the familiar (awful) voice. Krah. That awful man. Though she knew he saved her from certain death at the tip of an arrow, now she was horseless and in the middle of some god forsaken battle. Apparently Sunniva was very good at losing her horses.
Still, she got up quickly enough, red hair coming loose from her hood to hang wildly at her sides. "Krah!" Maybe he'd be able to get her back to camp. Somewhere safe. So, she held out a hand, looking a little frantic, in her search for help.
Seeing her with her hand out, he scoffed, "Why is your hand empty? Pull out your sword and fight!" And he turned from her, sword swooping up to catch another attacker on his ribs.
It was like being slapped.
Pull out your sword and fight? She knew he was simple. Didn't think he was that simple.
That's be great advice if she could see. Better advice if she could use a sword. A moment to 'see' how many eyes were on the sitting duck now that she knew she was in her own. A hand to her chest to help her with her breath.
Why wouldn't he just save her?
Sunniva's breath picked up and her hand went to the flanged mace at her hip. It was mostly for decorative purposes but she knew it was real. The sharp edges. No horse. Blind. Where had that stupid messenger gone with all that stuff he said he needed.
It was almost too late, ducking away from the sword that made a sweep for her head. A second later and she knew her head would have gone tumbling. Had to get away. They didn't really expect her to fight did they? Her? She was a show piece!
Stil the mace was a welcome weight in her hands and she took a careful breath before she took up a stance. If that stupid general wouldn't bring her to safety then she supposed she'd have to do it herself.
Krah was merciless in who he cut down, sword cutting across one man's face, then the chest of another. Though he knew he used his sword with cruel finesse, the moment he caught sight of the fumbling white lily, he sneered.
The man that dare try to cut off her head earned a slug to his face before Krah's sword ran him through, which made the man topple into Sunniva, possibly giving her his eyes' sight and view of the great General before her.
"Why are you just standing there? This is war."
He looked big.
Sunniva made a face at him. A childish face that involved her tongue sticking out and she was sure her impeccable aim at where he was would raise eyebrows later.
"Your stupid messenger brought me out here!" She yelled at him, pushing the man away from her as the vision dimmed and he died. "Just... Lead me to somewhere not here and I'll --" Sunniva ducked and when she ducked the mace went up into a chin an what was once a face was a shredded pulpy mess and the gurgling of the man on the ground helped her aim the next attack. Right on his throat.
It was too accurate and too clean to be done by a simple blind girl and she started to back away. Head turning this way and that. She had to leave. She had to get away from here because she wasn't a soldier. She was some... Symbol. Some strange symbol and she knew she couldn't fight here. Too much chaos. Too many eyes.
Most of her words were gargled by the sounds of sword meeting sword. The battle was too intense for him to keep a focus on her, and soon his back was to her as he focused on the men rushing them.
As much as Sunniva didn't like the man, he made a good shield. So, she did her best to shuffle behind him to help take care of any stragglers that turned around to get to the general. A few more faces were torn off by her mace and Sunniva felt her face wet with blood. More screams. Her nose and mouth burned with the smells.
Sweaty. Covered in blood. There was a gash on her cheek that stung (which she accidentally did to herself,) Sunniva hadn't come here to help in the battle, but now she found herself neck deep in it.
At least the smell of blood and smoke drowned out the lingering scent of alcohol from the general. A small blessing.
It seemed the battle was never ending, as more men from the opposing army seemed to flood them from all sides. Krah only had a moment to pause, his back to Sunniva as he judged the situation, then peered over at the river, then to the bridge. The men seemed to be flooding from that direction. With a narrowed look, he began to cut his own way towards it.
Was he leaving her?!
Sunniva's breath hitched when she realized he wasn't here anymore. Another face turned to pulp. "General!" Sunniva cried, panic rising. Luckily, the little Lily was a smaller target and Krah made a more interesting thing to follow. More panic and Sunniva curled up, hands over her head around the dead bodies. Abandoned.
Krah had better things to do than to baby sit a white lily. Attractive or not, he was a being sculpted for war, and he was thriving in such bloodied chaos. So while she was left to her own devices, he stormed past the fighting troops, cutting down any that stood in his way before pulling his horse around the canons.
"You, manning the gun powder, get it on a cart and get it on there now. The enemy is coming from the other side of the bridge..."
And as he pointed it out, the man inquired, "But sir, are you implying-"
"Yes," Krah cut off his words, a cold grin on his face. "We're blowing up the bridge. NOW HURRY!" he barked. The men all scrambled, working quick to get the black powder barrels onto the cart. It was a dangerous feet, but thankfully the opposing forces didn't have much in the form of firearms themselves. Once it was ready, Krah wasted no time in giving the signal as he boomed, "FOLLOW MY LEAD! TO THE BRIDGE!"
So many people were looking at the gun powder. Why? Krah's voice cut though the cries and Sunniva jolted when she realized they were looking at the bridge. It didn't take a genius to figure out what was going to happen and Sunniva tried to shout. He was going to die. He was going to take those soldiers and he was going to die.
So many eyes.
Sunniva clamped a hand over her mouth, face tucked down. Blood from everywhere wet her hair and to someone giving a quick scan she looked like she'd been stabbed. Sunniva just wanted to go home. Something caught her arm and she felt cool metal against her neck and it was either quick thinking or pure rage that had the nearest sword was in her hand in sunk into his belly. His own sword left a cut of its own on her neck and he collapsed on top of her. Leaving her pinned under the heavy armored man.
It was chaos at its finest, but the battle had truly only begun. THe opposing forces were cut down well enough to secure an opening to the bridge. However, time was costly, and it seemed the other side caught wind of what they were planning,a nd began to shoot arrows as the cart,a nd when one sunk in, causing some of the powder to leak, Krah roared, "MOVE THIS CART FASTER!"
The hell he'd let the cart blow up before it could even serve it's purpose.
Now that things on this side of the river were calming, one of the soldiers noted the pinned white lily. He hesitated not in throwing the body off of her and stared down at her, stunned a moment and wondering if the holy woman were dead.
The body being moved off of hers was a blessing and Sunniva laid still for a few moments, taking stock of her body. There were aches and pains eveywhere and she knew she'd be one big bruise tomorrow. If she survived that long. Sunniva rubbed at her chest, the armor slick with blood before she tilted her head to the solider that had helped her.
Tired. Sunniva's arms hurt but this was a battle. She couldn't just rest.
A moment to lick her lips and she reared back as gagged, getting a tongue-swipe of blood that probably wasn't hers. "What's your General doing?" She asked the soldier breathlessly, not quite keen on believing the images she'd seen. Sunniva had an idea of what the general was up to. That didn't mean she wanted to believe it.
The soldier, relieved the lily was alive, wasn't entirely sure what to make of her. She looked injured, for all he knew fatal, but at her question, he shook his head.
"I.. Id on't know. It seems he and his men are heading for the bridge."
What she suspected.
Sunniva rolled her shoulders and just lifted he head. It was too late to stop him and Sunniva wasn't sure she wanted to. Hands trembling she lowered her head and pressed her bloodied fingers to her face. "We have no choice but to wait then," her voice was soft and she let out a breath.
"Wait?" The calls of battle echoed all around them. "But shouldn't we... are we not... Our obligations," he went on, voice stronger. "We should be backing the General."
Sunniva tilted her head, giving a sweep of the area through the other mans eyes. "I meant wait for him to finish with whatever he's doing at the bridge." This really wasn't what she wanted to do today. Sunniva frowned down at her empty hand, it ached. The muscles in her arm were tense, "do you know where my mace is?" She asked, head tilted, "it'd be a bit... Meaty at the end. I seemed to have dropped it."
"Mace?" The man looked around frantically, before shaking his head. "I don't see..." But then he paused, seeing it sunk into the skull of a fallen soldier. He cringed and moved forward, placing a boot to the man before pulling the thing free.
"Are you still able to fight?" he asked her, offering a hand to keep her stable, while also offering her back her weapon.
Sunniva took the mace before shaking her head.
"Yes. But I don't want to. I feel like I'm going to collapse or my arms are going to fall off." Visibly her hands were shaking and she was glad for the gloves and clothing. Selfishly she couldn't wait to get clean. Frowning again, she lowered her head and took a breath. "Lead the way soldier, I'm afraid I don't have a good eye for the battlefield."
That's when the man did a double take.
"Wait... are.. are you... blind?" And was it blasphemy to ask?
A natural reaction she turned her head to his voice and lifted an eyebrow.
"I Am blind, yet I am blessed by Ansgar." She swung the flanged mace at the ground and the sound of wet meat hitting the ground was audible. Even made her want to gag a little. "Let's go help your general."
He was a bit taken by her term of 'his General', but he supposed his duty lay with her as much as it did with General Krah.
"Can you walk okay?" he asked. Being blind surely had it's limitations, did it not?
Sunniva tilted her head.
Now was the time to act meek. Sunniva gave a little shake of her head and held out her hand. "Guide me?" What a bother. Most of her face was obscured by hair wet with blood and Sunniva let her head tip down. A careful breath and she rolled her shoulders again. "Just to the bridge." Though heading towards the bridge seemed like a bad idea.
He too thought the idea was bad, as he peered over at the bridge while Krah was howling for his men to go faster. Gritting his teeth, he wasted no time and pulled Sunniva by the hand. It took little effort to get tot he bridge, though once at the end of it, arrows and magical blasts from the opposing side came crashing far too closely all around them.
As an Adhara there was no worry about magic around her.
However, arrows were another thing entirely and she gave a pained scream when one of them sunk into the meat of her thigh on the side, luckily the arrow head poked through. This was a terrible idea. Sunniva was angry. "You better be hurrying up, General!" She barked, because why else bring gunpowder here? Crouched over fingers drifting along the arrow into her thigh while she hobbled back, giving pained little gasps. At least it wasn't lethal. It was just the meat.
There was a suspicious lack of arrows headed her way after that, while she was crouched. They either fell right out of the sky or embedded themselves into the ground beside her. Another of her talents, given to her by Ansgar. The one she'd have to punish herself for, later.
The enemy knew too much and rushed the bridge. Over a hundred men were on it. Magic was popping over head, crashing into this or that and at one point- had a direct hit ont he side of the cart, sending it toppling to the side. With a cry,t he Generalmoved to catch it, saving the whole damn thing from blowing up on impact.
He swore, cursing enough to make Ansgar's beard curdle as he struggled to right the cart. Meanwhile,t he soldier with Sunniva saw what was going on and readied his sword.
"The General needs our help!" And without much thought on it, he began to drag the White Lily along.
Oh no. Again?
Why did the General keep needing help. What sort of General was he if he needed help all the time?! Sunniva refrained from sighing - the pain in her leg was too much - before she snapped off the remainder of the arrow and followed where she was dragged. Right into the thick of things.
So many eyes were on the cart and Sunniva knew that, as part of her job, she was to help the general.
If there was one thing she could do wounded it be to nullify magic. "Stay here," She barked to the soldier who'd dragged her here.
Pushing her way to the front in a hobble, she used the eyes around her to guide her way with frightening efficiency. Picking up a shield from one of the dead soldiers on the bridge, mace in hand she let out a careful breath and whatever magic got close to her just fizzled out from existence until finally she was closer to The General and that barrel of his.
Didn't save any of them from more arrows though, which is why she had the shield. "There. I've helped." She quipped quietly, mostly to herself.
Krah nearly lost his hold on the cart.
"Priestess?" He couldn't believe it. "What are you dong here?"
"Protecting you from magic. My range is shorter but, if you'll care to notice, any magic aimed at you just fizzles into nothing." Sunniva snapped at him, " I am a Holy Knight not some Priestess." A snarl, if she hadn't considered herself a real knight of Ansgar before she certainly did now. "Move your things, General, I'll do my best to keep you safe." From arrows. Safe from arrows.
Krah could have laughed, maybe he did.
"Thanks."
And that might have be the only time he remembered in years that he ever thanked someone. Other men came along. They righted the cart, and with an nod, he ordered, "ONWARD!" But as much effort as it had taken to get it this far, as much as they needed to get just a few more yards-
The enemy was more prepared this time. They were, after all, a trained army, flying the flag or Turgall and not some rag tag band of rebels.
So when he returned his focus on the enemies rather than the cart, he froze a moment to mutter, "Oh Fuck."
Unthinking, he threw himself at the White Lily, powerful arms around her, one of them helping her keep the shield hard and close, and just as the two began a chaotic freefall-
a canon ball hit the cart full of blackpowder, and the entire bridge lit up.
Was this dying?
Sunniva gave a yelp of surprise when she was tackled if she hadn't been so close as to smell the alcohol on him she would have thought it was someone to kill her. No, it was the General and Sunniva did little else then tuck her head close and steady her arm when she felt his arm against the shield to hold it far more steady than her arms could provide. The images from everywhere had her gasp and her grip on him tightened, then there was light and noise and she clung to him as best she could in fear.
They were going to die.
Krah might have been thinking that too, was the explosion not an all consuming voice. He could feel the rawness of it's heat, burning at his backside, even as he fell. Though the White Lily might not feel any, as his body was all but consuming her in a protective embrace, she'd certain hear it- as the explosion as deafening and had enough force to jerk even the free falling pair.
And after what seemed like forever, though was only mere seconds, their free fall came more tumultuous as Krah's back slammed against the sharp edges of river rock, and he began to spiral, all sides of him smacking intot he piercing rocks and propelling them in a chaotic spin ever downward until the reprieve of the stinging cold water stole away whatever breath was left of him-
and down the heavy armored man went, taking the equally armored, but less heavy, White Lily with him.
Sunniva clung for everything she was worth, at one point the shield had been ripped from her arm, caught on a rock, stuck and ripped away. Surely that pain was far worse than the arrow that was getting battered around in her thigh. Her now free hand had also moved between their bodies.
Then it was cold.
The tumble didn't last forever. Finally, wet, bleeding, they'd stopped, though she didn't move. Was afraid to move. Her breath was sharp little gasps and she kept her face tucked against his neck, arms clutching at his front. Sunniva wasn't sure which way was up, her head hurt and she felt dizzy and she clung to him all the tighter. Everything was dark.
The pair had washed up to shore, nearly a mile down the Matron. And the ride had been anything but a comfy one. And things were dark, because the only vision she could see through was the apparently unconscious form of General Krah, laying there bleeding on the ground.
Rolling her shoulders, Sunniva slowly got up, hands shaking, her hair was everywhere but she looked with her hands. At once they were at Krah's neck, feeling for anything wrong. Somewhere down the line she'd bitten her tongue, the tang of blood heavy in her mouth but she took a careful breath, fingers moving to his throat, her ear by his mouth.
Still breathing. Heart still beating. He wasn't dead.
He'd saved her. Sunniva let out another shaky breath before she removed his chest armor.
"Wake up," she pleaded, one hand on his throat and the other checking his head for wounds. Had he been wearing a helmet? Probably not. He was stupid. "Please?" Gentle hands, fingers studying his face, her thumb drifting over his cheek where her's had been cut. "You have to wake up. General Mordeth?" Another shaky breath and she finally planted her hands on his chest and gave a powerful shove, quickly followed by a yelp of pain and her cradling the arm that had held the shield.
"Wake up!" It was an order and in a shrill panicked voice. He was alive. Why wasn't he awake?
She might as well have been yelling at a damn rock, for the man seemed unmoving. Far off in the distance, the battle still raged on, and what was left of the bridge began to collapse. This left for another loud noise and a swelling of smoke filled debris their way. But it was the noise that roused him, as he coughed out a breath while the cloud of smoke rolled over their forms.
A yelp of surprise and she moved to cover Krah's face. Then he was coughing and she was relieved. A strange feeling for this fellow of all people. Groping her. Making her grope him. Sunniva frowned deeply before she took a careful little breath, still cradling his head and doing her best to keep the debris from his face. "How badly are you hurt?" She asked quietly.
When the dust settled, Krah was finally able to catch his breath, groaning as his dark eyes peered up at the girl. No longer bloody, her hair was still a wild and untamed mess from the river, and fall. He found it sex.
Giving her a crooked smile before he winced, he growled out through a cough, "Not that bad anymore."
Clearly he had died and gone to heaven.
Not that bad anymore?
What happened? Alarmed, Sunniva traced over his jaw with her fingers, along his neck. Confused. She didn't feel anything. Wasn't he a mordecai? "I don't understand," her hands moved down to his arms, looking for scrapes.
Though she paused, hand on his chest, fingers resting against his neck. "You saved me."
He was still breathing, labored, and though no wounds were shown on the outside, he had more bruises and scrapes elsewhere than he knew. Not that it mattered, it felt as if everything hurt as he groaned and looked at her, really looked at her.
"Saved you?"
His face wrinkled, before another loud collapse of the bridge down the river thundered their way. He saw the swell of smoke.
"Fuck." And the pair were consumed in smoke again. When it once again faded, he managed to sit himself up some.
"Fuck.. what the hell happened... the bridge?" And he looked around, suddenly more wary. "My men.. the army.. What's going on?"
His disbelief at saving her - even in a round about way - seemed just as genuine as hers did. Sunniva covered her face with her hair and Krah's face by hovering over it the best she could. The bridge.
"Something hit the powder. It exploded and it souds like the bridge is collapsing." A gentle shake of her head and she cradled her arm in her lap, one hand still resting against Krah's chest. Pleased he was alive. For how. "I don't know how we survived, I'd be dead if it weren't for you and the shield that's..." Her had went down to her arm, the skin raw and bleeding from when the shield had been ripped away.
Slowly she stood up, heavily favoring one leg. "Are your legs hurt?"
Krah groaned.
"Only as much as everything else." And with a grunt, he tried to stand, but was a bit wobbly, before involuntarily toppling onto Sunniva. He managed to catch himself before crushing her nad knocking her over with his weight, but it seemed it did much pain to do so, hence hte bulging of his veins and the tightened clenched growl set with his teeth.
"Fucking Ansgar..." he grumbled, shaking a little as he tried to stand more erect, but once he felt more secure, he turned towards the half fallen bridge and let out a snort of a laugh.
"I'll be.. guess at least those bastards won't be using it anytime soon." And he began to look around, judging how far away they were.
"We need to get out of here. The Turgallian army can't know I'm gone. If so," he went on with a grunt, limping towards the rocky cliff sides surrounding them, "They'll think I'm fucking dead, or worse. Can't have them thinking they won," he went on, but paused a moment to realize...
"Fuck."
Yeah.. rocky cliffs everywhere- and even in perfect health, they'd be hell to climb.
"How's your arm?" he asked, giving a testing kick with his boots to some of hte more solid looking crags of rock.
It wasn't just her arm.
Sunniva smoothed her hand over her leg, felt the wood of the arrow jutting out before she examined the arm. Scrapes. The flesh was tender and her fingers were wet. It wasn't an awful injury. Superficial. Perhaps a sprained wrist.
"You should go on without me," a simple shake of her head. "I'll only slow you down if you need to climb."
It was at such a suggestion he growled.
"And what- condemn me to death for your murder?" His eyes flared. "No, I don't think so. You're a White Lily. And you're not dead. So you're coming back with me."
He just needed to find a place to climb.
Sunniva growled back, "I didn't mean leave me here to die." Pushing her fingers through her hair She collected it over her shoulder and sighed. "I'm hurt. I'm cold. I can't climb. I can't see." A shakey breath and she ducked her head down, bringing her hands up to cover her face.
"Oh? Only know you're admitting you're useless?" he spat. "You're a god damn knight of the White Lily!"
What a useless crock of shit she was!
Taking a big breath, Sunniva pressed a hand go her mouth and gave a loud growl of frustration. This was stupid. "I'm trying to save you time! I can't climb up and I doubt you can carry me on your back the whole way up!"
He paused after trying his footing on some rocks, and turned to look at her from over his shoulder.
"Is that a challenge?" Though in pain, and his mind still reeling from surviving that fall, he approached her without reserve, and she'd suddenly find herself slung over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.
"Hold on tight. I think I found a way out of here."
A grunt and a yelp when she was move around like a pillow Sunniva couldn't quite believe it. Hold on tight? To what?! Her hands pressed at his back and she tried to look. Another gasp and she didnt move. "Be careful of my thigh," she said quietly, frowning. Annoyed that she couldn't actually help.
"I'll make it up to you," it was quiet, mumbled against his back. Not a promise.
Before beginning his ascent, he paused to look at her leg. He made a face, then set her back down. "That looks bad. You'll bled out if we don't address it."
But that would hurt.
Sunniva shook her head frantically, hands out, reaching for him. It was high on her thigh and Krah would have to be one of the last people she'd want close to her lower half. Though she knew, it would be for the best, to get it dressed quickly. Get the arrow out. A shuddering breath and she leaned against him before sitting down and extending her leg to run her fingers over it.
"Do you have a knife? It would be easier to just... Cut it out from the other side than to rip it back out. It went deep enough, I can feel the arrow head." Her hand moved aside and she ducked her head down, tense. Giving pain was one thing, experiencing it for herself wasn't nearly as fun.
He eyed her leg, somehow not looking at it like a piece of meat.
"Well no shit. You don't pull arrows back out unless you have a death wish."
He prodded at the arrow, just to see how deep it was in her.
"Yep, that fuckers in there real good."
And he paused a moment, realizing he could see nicely up her skirts.
"I know!" She snapped, if she could glare she would. Still, she frowned deeply and her eyebrows drew down.
"Why do you think it's still in there?! I told you to be careful of it, not that it needed to be tended to right now." A snarl and she clamped her hand over her butt to press the wet fabric closer to her leg, to hide whatever it was Krah got sight of. It had been a flash in her own mind but there was definitely some up-skirt action. "And stop looking up my skirts! Can you be of sound mind and not thinking with your penis for ten minutes?!"
"Why?" he went on, hand over the wound,a nd moving warmly up her leg. He grinned at her, leaning in and leering like a cat.
Sunniva pressed her hand to Krah's face with the intent to feel his expression and push him away.
"Wipe that stupid look off your face. And why? What do you mean why?!" Her voice was getting shrill and she mostly ignored the hand moving up her thigh. Maybe that whole 'if you ignore it, it'll go away' thing worked? She'd see. Or he'd get a smack on the nose.
"Your penis isn't going to fix my arm or my leg and it isn't going to ... get us out of here. So, put it away for an hour. You can have all the unsavory disease ridden women and men when we're safe."
His grin grew more and more predatory, that his hand suddenly went up between her skirts, feeling the heat between her leg before kissing her suddenly, pulling her in close and hard and sealing their lips together so tight, he wouldn't let her breath.
And that's when his thumb pushed into her wound with such force, it made the arrow break through on the other side. And though he knew she'd be wailing in pain, he kept kissing her, holding her even tighter before continuing to push the damn arrow until it was out far enough he thought he could grab it.
Sunniva gasped, her hands going up to push him away harder but then his mouth was against her's and his hand was too close and then there was only firey pain and all she could do was cry out against his mouth and fist his hair. Between the searing pain of her thigh and the kisses from the brute, she much preferred the kisses. Kisses were so much nicer than arrows. Indeed the cries of pain were muffled by the kiss, one arm looking around his neck to hold herself closer because the contact was nice compared to the pain.
Groping her leg still, he felt the end of the arrow head and fished a finger roughly into the new wound, bursting open more flesh with his large fingers, all the while breathing hot and heavy through his nose. His lips did little to move, knowing he might not get a chance at this again, and though he was truly helping her, he might as well help himself.
The next cry of pain couldn't be muffled by Krah's lips but the kissing resumed and instead of pushing away from it, Sunniva dived into it. A distraction from the pain. The little coil of pleasure in her belly was a strange sensation considering how much her leg hurt and was continuing to hurt but with her arms wrapped around his neck, one hand fisted into his hair she pressed against him.
Her breathing was labored and every twinge of pain was accompanied by pulling on the mans hair. Why was he going so slow? She shifted her leg a little to give him better access to the arrow, now that she understood what he was up to, even as she held him tighter.
He took full advantage of that leg raise.
Full.
Advantage.
Thigh hooked around his bicep, he used his other hand to grab the arrow head much better, and once he felt the shaft-
He pulled it out in one hard yank, fresh hot blood splattering out from the wound as he threw it aside nd pulled her in close, now shoving his tongue inside her mouth and grinding his pants against the exposed lifted portion of her skirts. Her leg was up and offered after all-
and hot damn did her lips taste good.
The noise she made when he finally pulled out the arrow was probably a lot like someone who'd finished. Relief of the tension. The grinding pain was gone and Sunniva went lax, not caring that he had her leg in a really awkward position because instead of being tense she let it droop down and for a few moments she wasn't really thinking about what was going on. Just went with the movements. Her tongue played with his and she shifted herself to where he ground against her.
Then everything came flooding back and she pulled her mouth away from his, moving her hand up and between their mouths.
Sunniva was panting, face flushed and clammy. "Wait, wait. You got the arrow out," she said breathlessly, her voice husky. She moved her hand away from his mouth to press to her thigh, bare and warm. Sticky with blood but no arrow. "That really hurt," She whimpered, letting her head tip forward, her forehead resting against Krah's chin.
Krah remained tall, a sturdy figure for her to lean on. His hand was clutching at one side of her wound, applying pressure.
"We have to let this clot," he growled, breathing hard. "You'll bleed out other wise." And he shifted to let her lean in closer, his hard on still pressing up between her legs. Gods be damned if he'd let that opportunity go. He really needed to fuck.
Still trembling she lifted her head. Her breath was shuddering little gasps and the heat in her belly coiled tighter, Sunniva's hands moved up, her thumb brushing over his cheek bone. It was Sunniva who moved in, seeking more of that heat in the kisses. More of the distraction. Even as she trembled from the pain, she shivered from the pleasure of the heat between her legs.
"General," She whispered gently after she kissed him, nuzzling their noses together unintentionally as another tremor ran through her body, "This isn't proper." Though she didn't move to pull away.
The small snuggling gesture of their noses sent a strange feeling tickling up inside him. He wouldn't' dare admit he whimpered, and moved hungrily to seek more of those kisses. The bulge in his pants continued to grind against her, his hold firm, tight against her wound as his tongue sought hers again, and he guided her to lean against a cliffside wall.
Slipping his hand from around her, he moved it up her other leg, stroking around her moistening panties as he whimpered again, kisses deepening.
"Let me fuck you," he growled. "Ansgar's name, let me fuck you."
Frantic. Sunniva didn't really know how to deal with all the feelings she was, well, feeling. They made her tense and she let him guide her to the cliffside wall. This was the gross brute who'd groped her moments after meeting her. The smelly man who'd thought she was little more than a whore. Sunniva whimpered when his hand met her core and she rolled her hips before shuddering to a stop.
This was wrong.
She was a White Lily. She was still wearing her armor.
His words sent heat through her and she curled her arms up around his neck before she gave little nods of her head, too ashamed of what she was feeling to form the word yes but craving something too much to say no. She'd tried it, once, it was nice, it gave her a taste of the world and then she dismissed it. Nothing had changed after that. She'd kept her adharaism. No one had known but her.
"Be gentle," she said softly, fingers moving to trace his jaw, fingers trembling.
Krah couldn't even put together in words how much that turned him on. He had always dreamed about deflowing the sacred, virgin women of Ansgar-
Never thought he'd have the chance.
He did whimper this time, and swore he could have came in his pants.
"Gods name," he moaned, kissing her roughly, then sweetly, his free hand smoothing up and down her leg. He wouldn't stop kissing her, lips locking, tongue rolling as he grunted and stumbled over undoing his pants. The damn armor was so cumbersome, but he was vigilant and finally, after a short struggle, he breathed with relief through a kiss.
His dick was throbbing in its release, and though he was a man known throughout Connlaoth for being 'beyond well endowed'; Sunniva would be able to feel the truth of it as it's mass, it's girth slowly slipped to stroke between her leg, as one finger lifted up her pants and he stroked her, moaning and feeling her slickness, and stroked.
"Let.. let me know when you want it.. Gods.." he panted through needed breath.
It was a strange feeling, the heat coiled in her belly. The movements. The pain in her leg was non existent and she could only press closer, nipping at his lips and she tensed when she felt him between her lips.
"Now or it's not going to happen," She said heatedly against his lips, fingers pressing in his hair while one hand explored the features of his face. He seemed handsome enough she supposed, but she had never been a good judge of that.
She'd feel hard scruff, hard features but she'd be correct to presume he was handsome. It was a feature he took advantage, and his body was like that of a God. He'd show it to her had they the time, had there been a need but the greatest need was to fuck, and the excitement that bubbled up from his groin and coiled into his own belly had him thrusting up into her, letting his thick shaft slide in slow, steady and deep.
And the moan he made rumbled all around her, kisses unending as his scruff was surely scraping her flesh raw. He nearly lost his grip on her wound, tightened it so and began to move nice and slow, all the way in, all the way out, making so much noises and breaths he found himself soon moaning the praise, "You're a goddess." And he stole her lips again before she could reply.
Her breath was stolen from her and she tipped her head back and cried out. Sunniva wasn't sure if it was pleasure or pain that did it but she felt full and stretched and she curled up slightly. Every movement was accompanied by a gasp against his lips and eventually she found the rhythm when nothing mattered anymore but feeling the moment and her fingers tightened against his neck and her thumb gently brushed against his cheek.
Right now, it was the greatest idea in the world.
If she hadn't been flushed already his words would have done it and she moaned against his lips, about to speak before he cut her off. Her fingers tightened against his neck, and she stopped worrying, rocking her hips to seek her own pleasure. Hardly a goddess. A sinner. "Faster," She breathed against his lips, leaning in for more of the intoxicating kisses, "I can still feel my leg." It was issued like a challenge and she moved the hand that wasn't resting against his face to his side, to hold his hip.
Grunting, he pushed into her harder.
"I'm going to fuck you raw," he growled, teeth finding her ears as he pistoned into her fast and with desperate need. "Gods you're a dream," he moaned, free hand moving all over her body, loosening at her armor, tugging pulling untilt he front hung loose and a hand snaked up inside. Her breast he groped was warm, her nipples, pert and hard as fingers rolled over them. He moaned, feeling heat, fearing he might peak too early, but then it was too late.
He was gushing inside her, filling her with so much cum it was dribbling down her legs.
But that didn't stop him- he was hardly finished as he continued to fuck and buck into her, demanding, "SCREAM MY NAME! GODS.. Call me your God. Your master! TELL ME YOU WANT IT MORE!" he roared, grunting and bucking, face so red and hot with sweat.
Sunniva helped with the armor until her breasts were freed, bared to the sky, the fight still waging above and most of all - The God of War. Her long red hair was still wet and it clung to her milky white flesh, her nipples hard little beads from the cold water and the carnal act she was partaking in. Indeed, he helped her forget about the thigh. Bleeding out from the wound was a distant thought and all she could do was hold Krah as close as she could, an arm returning around his neck and she held him.
"I want it more," She breathed, breath hitching with each movement, head tipping back. "Oh my God, I'm so close," To what she wasn't sure, but her fingers clutched at his neck and she held him almost tenderly compared to how tight her thighs were around him. Her breath was hot in his ear and she turned ever so slightly to nip at the lobe, leaning back to press her forehead to his cheek so she could trace his sweaty heated face with her fingers.
Sunniva wanted to see him and she could only do that by tracing his features with her hand.
"Krah," she moaned, head tipped, her voice soft, "Krah."
To hear his name had him fucking harder, deeper than before. Sweat rippled down his face, sticking the linens beneath his armor to the curves and crevices of his body. Somehow he had gotten loose his pants, wanting more freedom. They dropped. So did the pair of them, still bucking like dogs as he moved to lay overtop of her on the mossy rocks.
He couldn't stop, motions fast, grinding, mouth tasting her up and down all exposed parts of her body. She was so warm. She smelled like heaven, and with a grunt, he thurst himself up inside her, trembling out a scream as he held her shoulder and released a second load deep within her, claiming her with his seed for a second time and hoping she'd be crying out to the Gods with him.
Gods let the sinning never end. He wanted to fuck her forever.
The movement down had her clinging to him harder and she whimpered out his name again when he didn't stop. Her good leg curled up around his waist and she moaned at the sounds. So lewd. She could hear them and it wasn't just the sound of skin slapping. Still, she rolled her hips against his and when he gave her that final thrust it pushed her over the edge.
Sunniva cried out his name, fingers digging into his arm. A full body shudder when she came and she curled her leg around him tighter. She didn't want him to move. Sunniva was a sweaty trembling mess and she pressed light kisses to his forehead, nuzzling him while she trembled and panted, him still deep within her and she, unwilling to let him pull away.
He remained propped over her, hand clinging to her wounded leg so tight it made his own knuckles whiten. He too shivered, sweat dripping off of him as he looked down at her. Truly an angel. Truly all his.
For the moment, his lips were tender, soft and sweet, sweeping against her own, seeking tender kisses while he enjoyed remaining inside her.
"Gods above, I want you always," he growled like an animal, his dick twitching, surprising even himself it was ready for more. "God.. forget the war.." he went on, a hand raking through her hair as his lips met her's hard. "Let me fuck you, claim you again," came a hungered growl felt even in his belly, as his dick slid in and out of her soft sex, slow, tantalizingly slow.
A shuddering gasp and she shifted, fingers again gently exploring his features even while their kiss was rough. Another memory to place at the back of her head. Or something to think about often. The words that left his lips had her tense up and he'd no doubt feel it, her knee moved up and down his leg and she rolled her hips into his gentle thrusts.
"Krah," she whimpered out, head tilting back, "Claim me." Sacrilegious. She was Ansgars. Her soul had been sold to the church.
For now though, her body was Krah's.
"Fuck me," She pushed her fingers through his hair, pulled him in for a rough kiss before she bucked her hips. "If we're going to forsake God we might as well make it worth it, hmm?" She hissed, almost like a curse while she rolled her hips against his, seeking another peak, another dive off of the metaphorical cliff.
His sex drive was insatiable, and she'd be likely raw when they were done. But Gods, the heat inside her was roaring, keeping him going, fucking her in short, quick jerks. His balls slapped against her each time he hit her deep within, and his lips were trailing hot, soaked kisses down her flesh, scratching her with his beard and smothering her with breath.
"F-Fuck... Gods, you're so tight." He couldn't stop moving. It was an addiction, the amount of pleasure immeasurable. "Gods.. Fuck the War. I'm gonna come again. Fucking Ansgar's name, how can you make me come again?" he panted, feeling the tickling, bubbling heated sensation as he was about to plant his seed into her again.
Having already reached her peak once and Krah having not stopped, Sunniva was easy to come again. A surprised sharp cry left her mouth and she clung to him, each thrust from Krah getting a breathy moaning from Sunniva. Her hair was a tangled red mess around her head and her fingers were digging into what flesh of his she could touch.
"I don't know," she moaned, moving her hand to his face to trace his lips, "You're easy?" It was a tease and she gave a little moan before she tipped back her head. Though she didn't move her hand from his face.
If her hand on his face bothered him, he didn't show it, but rather embraced it, nuzzling roughly into her hands as he growled.
"Like a dog," he panted. "Can you handle being on your knees as we fuck?"
Being on her knees?
Sunniva frowned, pulled from the moment before she realized what he meant. Literally on her knees. A hot flush rose up her cheeks and she gave a shaky little nod. Why not? There was nothing left to lose. No one to find them. Wasn't she too short for them to be on their knees? Unless he meant... His words had her gasp and she bit her lip. Wasn't like she'd ever do this again, so...
Shifting under him she moved her legs - the pulsing pain of her arrow wound the farthest thing from her mind. His heat had seeped into her and all she wanted was to fuck. Pulling herself away from him, he popped out of her with a lewd wet noise but instead of bending over she started to push at his shoulders to get him on his back. "Get on your back," she urged in a husky voice, looking not unlike a succubus, her hair mussed, half clothe.
"I'll still be on my knees," she brushed her fingers over his face to find his lips and she pressed a searing kiss to them, licking his lips before pulling away, "and you'll be at my mercy."
If she wanted to drive him crazy, she did. And with a shudder, he obeyed.
"I'm yours," he growled. "Just try and tame me." And his rock hard cock stood tall, glistening and itching with invitation.
At her mercy.
Sunniva smoothed her hands over his chest where she could, biting her lips and giving them a lick before she moved to sit on his thighs, fingers tracing his legs until finally grasping around his cock. Inching forward she ignored the pain in her thigh to rub their sexes together, giving little gasps when it bumped against her clit before finally she rose up and guided him in. Mouth open and giving hitching little breaths until she was seated full, head tipped back.
"Krah," she whimpered before she planted her hands on his chest and began to move her hips, breasts bouncing with the movements.
He'd called her a Goddess before and seated upon his personal throne she almost felt like one. "I'm so full," it was a heated confession and she dipped forward, reaching her hands for him, pulling him to sit up so she could kiss him again while she rocked her hips against his. "I've never felt like this," she cried, moving faster to catch her pleasure and she rode him hard until she stopped moving entirely and tensed up, pulsing and quivering on top of him, having come again with a low drawn out moan.
Hands on her hips, he was in heaven, moaning as his eyes rolled back into his head as he let her have full control. His hands roved all over her body, calloused and strong and when she guided him, he obeyed, lips locking in heat and need. And when she had herself come, he smiled and growled, "Feel free to take,more."
Sunniva moved until she couldn't anymore. Tensed, flushed, she melted against him, face tucked against his neck. "I can't," She gave a whiny moaned, giving another little roll of her hips, "I can't." Her arms looped around his neck in a hug and she pressed herself against him, a trembling sweaty mess. "I can't move anymore, I think you've wrung me dry."
And he'd surprise her with another three rounds. They fucked so,much his dick started to hurt, but damn did he feel good. And as they lay there, about ready to,pass out, he contemplated, a little guiltily, over the fact how many times he came.. That unless this virgin was barren, shed be giving him a child.
And she was a White Lily. Damn. What an ego boost.
"Im,pretty sure Ansgar is smiling on us. Right now they'll think we're dead, but think of the stories about us told upon our triumphant return."
Everything ached. A delicious awful ache.
Sunniva felt boneless, sprawled out on top of the brute, breathing slowly.
"I don't think he is," she whispered, voice hoarse. What an awful idea. "You'll resume your distance." It wasn't a request. It was a statement. "When we're back. This never happened." Despite that she nuzzled against his chest, exaughsted as she was. "Do you understand?"
"Oh? Really.. nothing?" he hummed, a hand moving between her legs. "Sure feels like something to me."
Sunniva's hand moved down to catch his wrist but she didn't move it away. "You'll ruin my life if you tell anyone," a flush was bright on her cheeks again and she pressed her face against him more. To hide it.
It wasn't that he didn't realize this, but it seemed to sober him for only a minute.
"You think you'd be the only one to hang?"
A tilt of her head and a confused frown. Hang? Hang? Sunniva hadn't even considered that. Hadn't even thought that, perhaps, instead of being forced from the church they'd just... Still naked, a sheen of sweat on her from their activities, Sunniva's hands were pressed to his chest. Making gentle movements along his sides as she calmed herself.
"No one is going to hang. Because I won't talk about it and neither will you." Sunniva hadn't even considered any ramifications for what they did. What might be produced.
"Where are my clothes and armor?" She asked gently, hands still moving gently over his torso.
He handed her her clothing, clumsily slipping into his.
"Then how can I boast about it," he asked, stealing a wet kiss. "The great General, having banged the virgin Lily by the river side as the Matron River fell, and all of Connlaoth was saved." He went on, stroking her body as she dressed. "Ansgar would bless that. He was a good damn warlord himself!"
Sunniva wasn't expecting the kiss and now that the heat of the moment was gone she wasn't filled with lust. It was disgust. Not to him, but herself. Subtly, or as subtly as a blind woman could she wiped her mouth, ignoring his touches as she pulled on her clothing carefully and fixed her armor. Smithing her hands over her clothes to make sure everything was in the right place.
She was sore, and she frowned and rubbed her leg before she carefully sat back down.
"Ansgar isn't going to bless anything and you won't mention this to anyone," her voice was heated and she pushed him away. Now she was just getting more and more angry. "Do you understand, General Mordeth?"
His smile cut across his face.
"You giving me orders, White Lily?"
His eyes danced as he looked at her. She was doubly attractive when angry.
"Yes!" She shouted, shoulders back and trying to look menacing. Which was difficult when all you looked was Well Loved and just a bit bigger than tiny. Then it sort of hit her. He'd called her White Lily. Did he even know her name?
It didn't matter. Less about her he knew the better for both of them.
"I am giving you an order." Slowly she stood up, though it was wobbly, "and I'll ruin your life just as equally as mine would be if I hear anything about this."
"Oh? Is that a challenge?" he asked gruffly, leering her form. "What if I said I like it rough?" ANd he stepped forward, daring to reach a hand out to pull her in close at her waist.
Sunniva let out an exasperated sigh, head turning to the side and her hair acting like a curtain. She didn't struggled away from him, but she didn't melt into his embrace.
"I'd say I'm not surprised and to unhand me. You've had your fun. The arrow is out of my leg. Throw me over your shoulder like a sack of potatoes and let's get out of here." Sunniva wasn't sure if she could stand another minute of him and the anger always dissapeared until she remebered just exactly who he was.
"Hey, my fun was your fun, Lily. You think I could easily forget your screams and how tight you were, easily taking my seed?"
Instantly she went scarlet with anger.
"That has nothing to so with this!" She barked, stomping her foot again, "you can keep those things to yourself!" She flexed her fingers and took deep breaths before finally Sunniva tossed her hair over her shoulder. "Let's go. Please. They'll think you're dead and you don't want that."
Krah simply laughed and hefted her up over his shoulder.
"Yes, ma'am. Time to go save the fucking world."
And with a grunt, he began his ascent, damsel over his shoulder, and two hands free to dig and pull and get them to the very top.
Once there, the Connlaothian winds welcomed them, as the smell of blood,dust and smoke filled the air. There was a gloom, making things hard to see, but as they got closer and it began to fade, Krah stopped dead in his tracks.
"Oh Fuck."
For the flag of the Grand Duke had been replaced with that or the flag of Turgall.
He swore too much.
Sunniva suffered the ride up quietly, finally on hard ground though she held onto Krah's arm. It wasn't until he swore - again - that she borrowed his sight.
"What have you done?" She asked quietly, hand still on his arm. "General, it doesn't look like you've saved the day."
Krah bared his teeth and breathed a growl like a feral beast.
"I'm going to go find out just what exactly the fuck happened." And he began to stalk his way back towards the bridge.
With her hand firmly clasped on his forearm Sunniva trailed behind the General. They hadn't been gone that long. Apparently his insatiable appetite lead to this. Her thigh tensed and she gave a pained gasp, but kept on. Why were they going to the bridge?
"Do you know how this could have happened?"
"Not a fucking clue," he growled. "But keep your eye out for spies and the Grand Duke's men. No fucking doubt they'll want us dead knowing we weren't before. As soon as I find my army, theyres going to be fucking hell to pay."
Keep her eye out for spies.
Sunniva just frowned and went silent for a few moments, tightening her grip on his arm. If he'd said that he'd forgotten she was blind for the most part - except for flashes of other peoples.
"I'll... Try?" She said plainly, doing her best to keep up. "Just... Find your army quickly, General." Because it wasn't like he was trying to do that already or anything.
Perhaps it was a slip of tongue, a man so unused to a handicapped woman. A blind woman truly had no place in war. How useless. At least he got a good fuck out of her. It was some of the best sex he had, which he was sure was due to the fact not only did he believe her a virgin, but a supposed blessed being from God... He might have a weakness for women with those specs.
He snarled a little at her remark.
"Well. What else can you do?" He inquired, snidely.
There was the General Krah Mordeth she's come to expect. Sunniva tried to keep the hurt off her face, ducking her head down to help hide her features behind her curtain of hair. Taking a careful breath, her hand still right on his arm.
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you," she replied cryptically, refering to her strange sense of 'other sight.' Still, Sunniva kept silent, head up, frowning.
"Why, because you didn't keep your vows?" he told her cryptically, eyes still cleaving ahead, itching to find a sign of a fight. But it seemed this silence, this waiting, was worse than the actual damn battle itself. Where was everyone? The battle couldn't have been over in the hour he'd been gone- could it? And just as his gaze moved towards the flag of Turgall, something caught his eyes and he tackled Sunniva into the nearby woods, just as a blast of magic soared past. He grit his teeth, his form over Sunniva's to where she was now pressed int he dirt. Was that friendly fire? Or was the enemy still lurking like hounds beneath their flag?
"What in God's name?!" Sunniva snapped, angry. What a prick! Sunniva was glad that she'd been delirious with pain when they'd had sex, at least then she could convince herself she was willing to do anything to keep from feeling it. Though quickly enough her hand snaked around Krah's head and yanked him down closer.
"Archer's. My Adharaism stops magic but it can't stop arrows," a look of concentration on her face, " a lot of archers. I don't know if they're yours or not. They aren't looking at one another."
"Looking? That's fucking priceless information. But the arrows had fire."
Though even a simpleton would know a mordecai or adhara's powers couldn't truly snuff out objects of enchantment only the source from the enchanter.
Despite the situation, having him this close had her blood remembering what they'd done earlier and she had heat pool in her belly ad a shiver on her spine. she shifted slightly to get him closer to bein off of hrhsn easily between her legs. "What should we do?" She whispered up at him, frowning again. "They have arrows on you if you get up and they're not your men." They still could be, Sunniva hang seen their colours.
The sexual nature of this beast was at bay for now, the war calculating mongrel was loose, dark eyes scanning as he kept low.
"Just keep low and keep with me," came his low, but powerful growl as he kept one arm hooked around her, the other one drawing his blade as he began to inch forward, ears ever alert and body tensed, like the mighty beast of prey he was.
Keep low. Stay close. Sunniva nodded slightly, careful to let out a careful little breath of air. Sunniva could do little but be dragged along. Did she want to die? No, not really. This was Krah's element. Well, Sunniva was sure that 'whore house' was his element, but... The battlefield. That as well.
Krah paused suddenly, heart thumping rapid within his chest. He remained silent as a cat, which was an impressive feat in how heavy an armor he wore. His eyes were like a wolves, cleaving through the foliage and narrowing in on the group of soldiers that moved swiftly past.
A hand slipped inside his belt side, pulling out a knife which, after feeling the weight, he took aim but once before he threw the thing. It landed right in the soldier's neck.
"Stay back here while I take care of the rest!" Krah growled, and lunged out from the forest, onto the road and took his sword, grabbing onto the nearest man an d drawing him forward before slashing his blade across his throat. It wasn't until he saw the face of whom it was that he realized...
"K-Krah.. " the man gurgled on his own blood, a hand moving to paw at the other's armor. "You're.. alive?"
But then his eyes glazed over, the gurgling stopped, and he fell to his knees.
Krah stood there for a long moment, realizing he had just killed one of his high ranking captains on HIS side. He felt his hands squeeze into fists, while the men all stood there, wide eyed and soon picking up their own weapons.
"You.. you killed your own captain!" one of the men accused, but no one dare strike the God of War-
Not yet. THey knew whta it would mean, and somewhere not prepared to fall dead their like commander.
Sunniva slapped her hands over her mouth. She'd said she wasn't sure who's soldiers they were, right? Right? It felt like her heart was going to pound right out of her chest and she shook her head with her hand over her mouth. He told her to stay back, hadn't he?
So Sunniva didn't move. Didn't move an inch. She sat there with her hand over her mouth and slowly, oh so slowly, the events of the day sunk in.
It seemed just for a moment, time stood still. But the chill of the wind and the coldness of this reality were unphased. Krah's expression grew grim, and he felt his muscles swell and shake with anger. He drew up his sword and hesitated not to slash it across the man's face before him, who called out in agony as blood gushed from his eyes.
"FOOLS!" he roared, like a thunderous lion. "How dare you accuse your own General of whom you attacked blindly first!"
As the man groped around, wailing in agony and clutching his bleeding face, Krah stalked over to him, grabbed him up roughly by his hair while kicking his sword aside. He then proceded to spit on him.
"Ansgar would curse your name, and all your family for this," he growled. "Consider this a kind reply to your ignorance to let the Grand Duke's flag fall, and for attacking the God of War."
And as he spoke his voice rolled into a dark purr as he sliced his sword acrosst he man's neck, hot blood sputtered out as Krah stood there, holding the man's head while his body collapsed onto the road.
He turned to the other men, who were frozen in fear. His eyes held a dangerous glint before he threw the severed head onto the ground.
"I AM YOUR GENERAL!" he bellowed, steam almost seemed to be streaming from his nose. "I DEMAND TO KNOW WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED HERE!" And he gestured iwth his bloodied sword skyward. "WHERE IS THE GRAND DUKE'S FLAG!?"
Flashes of what was going on helped Sunniva put actions to words and she gave a startled scream when she heard the sound of blood and a body falling limp. Krah was a monster. Sure, Sunniva had killed her fare share of people. They had been mages though! Heathens! Fingers tingling she stood up, angry.
"General Mordeth!" She snarled, feeling like such a little thing. To think, barely an hour ago they'd... That was in the past though, an encounter to be tucked away and never thought of again. It was nice while it lasted but now it was over and done with. "What are you doing? Those are your men and you're cutting them down?! You're nothing but a cold blooded monster!"
The men hadn't a chance to respond when a woman's scream gained their attention, and all eyes turned to her- and Krah's were the coldest, simmering with a wild fire.
"Keep your fucking mouth shut, whore," he snapped. "These men followed me, undefeated for years. I'm gone for a fucking hour, and they fucking turn tail and run." And he turned to one of the men, jabbing a sword against him, but not into him.
"I should have all of your heads for treason!"
Angry. Whore. Sunniva's face went red with rage but she went quiet and kept her fury to herself. What a brute. A monster. It didn't matter that she couldn't see him, he was angry. So was she, but her rage didn't match his. Neither did her size or her strength. Even if she wanted to, if she tried to fight him, tried to argue with him it would go badly and she'd probably be killed, run through with his sword.
Krah seemed the type.
"Fine! I hope your choices put you in your grave," she snarled, taking steps back to where she'd been, wishing she'd never interrupted him because clearly he was an insane beast. Needed to be leashed or caged. Sunniva backed up slowly, a limp to her step, until her back hit what she felt was a tree and she moved to sit beside it, sneaking in behind it to wait. Suddenly dying was the best ending to this mess.
The sword was then turned to Sunniva, Krah's eyes flaring.
"Speak of the grave to the cowards that deserve it." And he spat on his dead captain's corpse and moved to crunched a boat over his head, and pressed ontop of it hard, and harder until it cracked and oozed out his brains and blood.
He withdrew his blade and turned to the men who remained, his eyes still wild.
"Someone here explain!" he bellowed. But before he got a chance, riders came from down the way- fully armed, and decidedly noton any side of the Grand Duke.
A few flashes of something she didn't want to see - a crunch of a skull, the sight of new people on horses coming their way. Sunniva stood up again, frowning in her blood stained, white church garb. Still, she looked like a White Lily. Though one that looked like she fell down a ways and was manhandled all the way back up. So, she looked exactly like she went through. Perhaps a little more flushed than she should be.
Still, the newest additions to the hot mess this situation was becoming concerned her and she frowned, though she didn't hide again. "What a mess," She said softly, perhaps a little too calmly before she turned towards Krah, "They're not yours, are they?"
Krah reached for his sword.
"No."
He bared his teeth, body tensed, poised and blood soaked- and ready for more battle. This is what men like him were built for- were trained to be, were molded to become. He was war, in every which way, thick, strong, and bull like.
The men beside him stood uncertainly, hands anxiously hoovering over their weapons.
Take a stance forward, Krah barked back to the men.
"You'll gain redemption to take up arms here. Or if you run, I'll hunt you down and drag your gods forsaken corpse to Hell myself."
Krah's men hesitantly took up their arms. A little confused. Mostly afraid. They'd just seen him crush someone's skull. Sunniva however, frowned, tilting her head. He didn't even know what they wanted. Still, she stayed back. Blind. Without her weapon, she was little more than a target and instead of standing and tell them to at least make sure he wasn't going to murder anyone else on his side, she remained quiet and leaned against the tree she'd moved to stand beside.
As the horse riders neared, it was evident there was no way out of this without a fight. One man took up a rifle, aiming it at the soldiers while another ready his lance, and the rest- broad swords that shined with the promise of blood.
Heart pumping, muscles tensing; Krah waited until the rifle was fired, before charging forward himself, and tumbling across the rifleman's horse, cutting it across the front and nearly being trampled himself to death when the horse bucked and tossed it's rider, tearing off.
The downed man was winded, and Krah crawled over towards him, taking his blade and slamming it into the man's chest and giving a twist. And he turned, just in time to miss a flying dagger that fell uselessly onto the dirt road.
ANd it was chaos. Most of men's remaining men had been slain, but the victor who rose out of the fight was the blood soaked God of War-
He had been the only one to survive, and the last man he killed was still laying ont he ground beneath him, gurgling from the gash across his throat, and drowning in his own blood.
It was terrifying to listen to and Sunniva had her hands clamped down over her ears. The time crawled like a slug and finally when the sound died to just gurgling and the drop of blood, she braved leaving behind her tree. It pained her that she was concerned - for a man like him, of all people - but she was, so hesitantly her voice rose. "Krah?" A soft question, because she wasn't sure and she didn't want to be relieved when it was, indeed, the God of War.
A soft growl of a breath escaped his lips as he moved a hand to wipe the blood and sweat from his brow. He turned towards the voice, watching as only then did the White Lily step out from behind the trees. He studied her before snorting.
"What's the matter? Decided too late you wanted to help fight?" His grin was grim as he moved to sheath his sword. "They're all dead." He figured he'd let her know before she asked it, and he looked her over.
"Be glad you can't see," he told her gruffly, before turning his attention back to the road.
Except she could.
Sunniva went pale when Krah looked and through his eyes, she saw. It was a massacre. "I didn't want to fight," she reply simply. Swallowing back bile, she pressed a hand to her throat, "are you hurt?"
Krah spat blood to the side.
"Nothing fatal." He looked her over. "What kind of White Lily are you? I thought you were chosen warriors by your God."
"I don't know," she replied, "a really bad one. I didn't ask for any of this. " Sunniva pressed her fingers to her face, now she just wanted to go home. Or as close to home as she was going to ever get.
"Tch, you and me both. Then again, I probably got more coin than you'll ever see from it." He stared at her face, only then realizing....
"Did you fuck with the church and they took your eyes?" He spat to the side. "Figures they'd fuck with something before realizing they can use it."
Sunniva went still, not expecting the question. "My father took my eyes. I saw things and in fear of his daughter being a Mage, he removed what I saw with." Her arms curled around her middle, "I was seven, maybe, and then as a show of good faith, he gave his eldest child to the church and so here I am." Though the concept of getting paid for this made her sick and she frowned down at the ground.
"Your father?" he laughed, though not at her. "He sounds like a bigger prick than me."
Though even he wasn't sure of that. Then again, he was pretty damn sure, despite all the men he's slaughtered, he wouldn't do that to some girl. Seven years old? Damn.
"You'd think after all those years you'd want to fight and shove your sword into a man's belly. Hell, a hundred men's bellies."
"I wouldn't know, I imagine he might be." Sunniva smirked at his comment, tilting her head, "I was raised by the church, as suppressed as everything else is, wanting to slaughter people isn't very high on my list." A sigh and she ducked her head, shifting her stance, "I'm leaving." It was sudden and she turned around, using the sound of her feet on the path to lead her while she wandered away.
He raised a brow at her.
"And where do you aim to go? This is still a battle field."
"I don't know." She replied, stoic with her head down. Sunniva pressed her fingers to her face, palms to her cheeks, "I don't know. Maybe I'll be killed." She gave a humourless laugh, "think I'll be executed if the other guys find me?"
"This is a war," he called after her. "There's no time for an execution."
Sunniva stopped and turne around, angry. Confused. Has she ever been alone before? Not really. There's always been someone to lead her around. Helping in some manner. "Can you help me?" Her voice had gone small. She could trust him, right? "I find myself quite lost."
"Help?" he looked her over. "And just what am I helping you with? Are you aiming to take on the Turgallian army yourself? I heard the Duke of Turgall might actually be a match for me in battle..."
Sunniva sighed, asking for help had made her tongue itchy and she turned back around. "Fine. Nevermind. You and I both know I'm not cut out for this and if you weren't such a giant war mongering idiot I wouldn't be in this mess. So! I'll take my chances going to wherever ever this leads - because God knows I can't tell- and you enjoy being covered in blood and fighting until you die."
Was the blind Lily insane? Despite surviving the all and getting to fuck her, he wasn't feeling much for and towards the stubborn bitch. Let her leave. It was her wish after all. Too bad she wouldn't get the chance.
He felt the rumble of the approach of men, no doubt soldiers alerted by the previous fight. And he stood there, still recovering from his first battle, he was already switching back into the mind set to fight.
He saw the flags, their color, first. Of course it was the enemy. And of course they had archers. And of course they could see the corpses on the floor, a man dressed in the suit of a General, and a White Lily- perfect for the skewering.
He had almost not seen the rifleman, and those who took aim. And he knew the rifle's bullets couldn't reach him. Not at that distant. He'd been through too many battles with those blasted things to know that.
But the Lily...
He didn't know what compelled him. Perhaps he was pissed at her and didn't want to let her just die as pathetically as she was acting. Or maybe she forced out a reflex he never had before.
The second the rifles blasted, he was ontop of her, grabbing her up and hitting the dirt, feeling a bullet smash intot he side of his arm, rattling him to his bone and sending a sharp ringing through his ears. He was smashing Sunniva, who no doubt would have felt and heard the tremendous blasts as well, for two more bit into the ground around then, a third of which exploded in their faces, sending a blast of dirt into their eyes.
Krah could taste the damn gun powder, and the dirt now stuck in his teeth. But he wasn't about to die here, and not so stupidly. He had survived a god damn drop from a bridge, he still needed to bask int he after glow of that victory- Lily fucking aside. So he wrapped his arms around Sunniva, and threw himself off the road and into the gully just beneath a squall of trees. Swearing, he could feel blood somewhere, but whatever pain it elicited, and where, he ignored it and got to his feet, yanking Sunniva with him before pulling her up and into the line of trees.
Anger.
All Sunniva felt was anger. Knocking her down. The sound of guns and someone being hit. Obviously it was Krah, that certain scent of his was telling and she tucked her head down and let herself be moved around like a ragdoll. Dirt was in her mouth and she could feel it smeared up her cheek and in her hair. Was any of this wetness mud made from blood?
Sunniva decided she didn't want to know.
Again she was dragged along, quiet before they had another tumble down somewhere and up past trees. Why wouldn't he just let her die? Why not just leave her? Sunniva hissed at him, displeasure clear on her face - and not just because of the dirt in her mouth. Later. She'd get angry at him later. For now she did her best to keep up because while she was quite okay with rolling over and taking a stake through the heart she'd feel the littlest bit guilty if something she did cause harm to another.
Even if that other was Krah Mordeth.
Darting through the trees, he heard the call of men ordered to follow. Thankfully the trees were thick enough horses would be of no help here, but they could at least use them to pay catch up. And this little copse of trees wouldn't last long, because the outskirts of the city was drawing near, and soon buildings would replace trees.
The first sign of the city that greeted them was a god damn wall, which had Krah swearing up a storm as he tried to figure out just which way to go.
A brief shake of her head.
The sight of so many.
"Just ... Go!" Panic bubbled in her gut and she pressed close to his arm. It sunk in slowly that if they got caught they were going to be killed and it being a real true possibility had her react violently. "Krah," her voice was soft. A little panicked. And if he couldn't make a choice... Sunniva started to tug them along to the right.
But then he stopped her and pulled left.
"Come on," he growled. "There's a thick wall of trees over this way. Hopefully one is close enough, and sturdy enough, for us to climb."
Why wasn't he leaving her here to die? Sunniva gave a little nod and held on tight. "Just... Tell me what to do."
"Move faster, for starters," he growled between his teeth, tugging her along. "The army's only going to catch up to us once they get through the trees." He could only hope they wouldn't be smart enough to send men into the city.
The second tree he approached was perfect enough to climb, and though the limb stretching over the city wall was a bit thin and higher than he'd like- he wasn't going to be picky.
"Here- a tree," he went on, grabbing her arms roughly and forcing her to grope the bark. But then he pulled her away and yanked her towards his back side. "Get on my back."
Sunniva did as instructed. Though the going faster was difficult, her thigh still hurt and she was half sure - hoping really - that the trickling feeling going down her thigh was blood. The movements made her dizzy but quickly enough she was on his back, quiet. "I'm sorry," her voice was small and she wrapped her arms around his neck.
He bristled at her apology, but said nothing, scaling the tree with ease. However, crawling out on the limb was a bit of a challenge, and as he heard the thing snap, he leaped from it, and landed hard on the ground.
If he was hurt, he said nothing, eyes cleaving through the night as he tugged her along down the street.
Sunniva grunted when they landed and was quite taken aback when he continued to tug her along. "Do you know what we're doing?" She asked, a little breathless giving his hand a squeeze.
"Are you questioning the man with eyes? I'm a god damn General."
"Yes. You are." She stated plainly, giving his hand a little squeeze. "I'll stay quiet and let you do your thing."
"When you find your eyes I'll let you fucking help then," he growled, still pulling her along until he heard a heavy door thrown open.
"White Lily!" called the priest at the church door. "This way, please!"
Krah turned around, staring at the man before dragging Sunniva along and through the open door. Once inside, he looked around.
"The army might search here first." he turned to the priest. "You, is there a basement here?" He had dropped the woman's hand to look out a window. "Or some men hiding away that know how to fight?"
Sunniva had to bite back the curse that wanted to slip from her lips. Frowning deeply in the general direction of Krah. The call for her though had her head whip towards it and she took in a quick breath. Once they were inside and her hand had been dropped she found it strangly cold and held her hands in front of her, rubbing her knuckles.
"There's a basement," the Priest said, "Where the wine is kept." A weary smile though, "No men who know how to fight though. This is a holy place," He nodded towards the door, "The fighting happens out there." Sunniva felt warm hands on hers and a hand on her head as the priest escorted her to the basement, leaving Krah to follow if he chose to.
That's when Krah stopped the priest with his curt voice.
"Stop right there."
The priest looked up at him, questionably so.
Krah took a moment to pace back and forth once before returning to the top of the stairs.
"The basement- you say it's a cellar- but is this the only way in and out of it?"
The priest frownd slightly.
"There's a tunnel. It leads outside the city should the worst happen." He shook his head, "it's boarded up though." Sunniva remained quiet.
Krah eyed the priest.
"Boards can't keep a man out- let a lone an army." He looked over his shoulder. "Someone should keep watch." He turned back to the pair. "And also, someone needs to explain to me how the city fell to that cunt sucking army from Turgall."
The priest shook his head, "Boarded on this side, there's a hidden door where the tunnel leads. They'd have to know where it was to find it. It's to escape by, should you need it." He gave a small smile, "It hasn't been used. Yet." THe priest gave a shrug, "I've been here, tending to the weary and wondering the same thing. I've assumed the Grand Duke's army fell." He chose not to mention anything about the Generals foul language.
He didn't like the idea of it being just him and a lame Lily, but the army was heading their way and would be combing the city soon.
"Then let's get down there and have a look."
And as He followed, he sorely hoped he wasn't walking into his grave.
"So... What. We just hide?" Sunniva questioned, irritated.
"Why do I have to stay with you?"
He paused in mid-stride to give her a fiery look.
"You got a better idea?"
Sunniva went quiet and sighed resuming how closely she followed him.
"I.... No. I don't." Now she just wanted to go home. Which was a far off dream.
"We're not going to fucking hide anyway," the man growled. And he turned to the priest, pointing and commanding, "Show us the blocked path." And he moved to crack his neck. "We're gonna unblock it and get the hell out of this city."
Sunniva didn't regret a lot in her life.
But realizing just how awful a person Krah was made her regret their encounter. Sunniva remained quiet while the priest led them to the passage. Stayed quiet still hands around Krah's wrist so she wouldn't be left behind.
The priest nodded, and moved with haste. Even if he was not liking the tone of this General Mordeth, he would at least oblige him for the sake of the Lily at his side. They were both in a bind, and he knew the Grand Duke relied on these such men (and women) to save their country. But just as he was leading them deeper through the winding halls of the basement, the sudden smashing of doors and screaming over head alerted them that they were quickly running out of time.
Krah squeezed her hand and shouted to the priest, "RUN!"
Not needing to be told twice, the priest rushed down one hall, then another, swiftly leading them towards a barred path.
"There are hammers, but located in my office upstairs."
But soon the priest was jumping near out of his robes when Krah's heavy sword smashed into the wood, exploding splinters everywhere.
"I don't need a fucking hammer! I just need us to get through and get through now!"
A few more hefty swings and he was able to shove his arm in through a large gaping hole. Using strong hands, he began to tear the planks of wood clean from the wall, before kicking in the one's below. When the opening was big enough, he paused, hackles rising at the charging of men down the stairs.
He swore, and grabbed the blind Lily by the hand and dragged her into the dark.
Having not been too alarmed before, the urgency from Krah had her heart speed up and Sunniva let out a startled gasp and picked up the pace. Shielding her face from him when he smashed at what was blocking the path.
Then she was pulled along and damp air touched her face. It smelled stale and Sunniva drew herself closers to Krah, shivering but remaining close to him when real danger was so nearby.
"Keep moving, keep moving," came low rumbling growls from his throat. He could barely tell which way they were going, and once all light escaped them, he was relying on touch about as much as she was. But the deeper they went, the further he began to wonder if this was to be their grave. And just when he thought he found a blocked path, fires from long behind them offered them faint light for him to realize this is where the path split.
"Left or right..." He grit his teeth, muscles tensing. He gave Sunniva a tug. "Left."
Because he had a feeling right might draw them only further into the city-
and though he wanted to single handedly take on the Turgallian army-
He was not completely a fool.
His pace quickened as he heard men's footsteps echoing. Who knew how much longer they had before their hunters caught their prey.
Left took them out of the city. The damp tunnel weaved and got smaller- not too small for a tiny thing like Sunniva but decently cramped for a man like Krah. Her hand tightened on his and she held herself as close to him as she could. Fear of getting trapped. Fear of dying. The footsteps behind echoed, and no doubt their own echoed back to any pursuers. He didn't exactly make her feel safe, but Sunniva supposed there were worse people to die beside and her little thought process ended in her giving his hand a squeeze.
Left eventually opened up to a wide bend in the upper matron river. Or at least he thought that was which matron this was. It was hard to tell when you were underground for so long, but in the moment, they had little option but to rush away from the door and out towards the river.
"So... how well are you at swimming?" he asked, not halting on his charge towards the river.
Panic made her chest tighten and she frowned deeply, a little out of breath and very not comfortable with the situation. "I can tread water, I think. " was her prompt but hesitant reply.
"Can you tread that water in your armor?" he wasn't sure they'd have time to strip out of their armor, or if it was a good idea to even consider it. Although he knew he could sink quite easily in his, he just hoped he'd have enough strength to keep himself afloat while the current could handle the rest.
Sunniva froze being being tugged along.
She hadn't thought of that, "No. No I can't." she could barely float without twenty pounds of armor on. The fingers of her free hand moved for the buckles and straps to at least loosen them for when they finally got into the water. Though how they were going to get into the water was a little beyond her at this moment.
Krah was moving fast, his grip on her's tightening.
He paused at the edge of the river. It was a ways down, but nothing like the fall from the bridge. He looked back over his shoulder, towards the passage that would soon release a hounding army of rebels. He looked to Sunniva.
"You can't swim, you can't fight," he growled, yanking her rough and close. "Then hold to me or drowned." And before she could protest, he shoved her over the river bank, himself following suit.
Can't fight. Can't swim.
Sunniva's buckles and ties were forgotten when his grip tightened and she was pulled close. A hiss of breath and she went quiet, fingers grabbing what she could. Hold onto him or drown. It was tempting - oh so tempting - to just let go. End her - from Krah's point of view - useless existence. There was more to say but by then it was too late and she just clung and remained silent. Currently too angry to think of letting him rid of her so easy.
With her silence, all they had was the rage of the river. Krah moved as swift as he could, keeping low, moving forward, using all of his strength not to drown. They had only so much time to get pulled past the bend and be out of sight before the army would see where they had gone. Though he knew they would figure it out soon enough, it was all they had.
They both could't fight. They both couldn't swim. They were both left to the fate of the river.
The pull of the river was to strong and with Krah occupied with keeping his head above water, Sunniva being stubborn and suicidal she only gave a startled cry when one good jostle removed her fingertips of one hand from what she was grabbing onto. A grunt and she tried her best to remove what armor she could, fingers working at the ties she'd started to undo earlier and then, when the heaviest of her metal armor was off and sinking into the river she did her best to curl her arms around what she could again, sputtering out water and catching another lungful of river water when she tried to catch her breath.
Gun fire echoed across the river as he and the struggling Lily passed the bend.
"Keep close," he growled, clutching to her with one strong arm, the other one pushing forward into the racing river. "We can't leave the river."
To leave it meant death, but his armor was treading water, and soon he was feeling his limbs tired. But he couldn't stop. Now he was no longer the hound, and he? Well he didn't give a damn for the Grand Duke in the moment. He did value his own breath, his pride.
Sunniva coughed out water, one hand clutching what she could and the other moving to the metal of his armor, "I can take it off," she struggled to say, throat raw from coughing, "I can't see with my eyes but..." She moved her one hand to his side and felt for the buckles. "Or you could let me go," Another thick swallow, "I'm useless to you. You could just let me go."
He coughed out water.
"What? And waste my armor... waste my used strength?" He smiled darkly through more sputtered water. "No... I'm keeping you here." He sunk a little, coughed a little. "You can thank me with sex on the next river bank."
Sunniva couldn't help but be entertained that he didn't want to make it easier now because he'd already gotten so far with so much extra work. Sunniva would get armor no problem - she didn't pay for it - though now she was out some metal bits. "Is that all it takes?" She breathed out, arms tightening on him, "you are easy." The words were still sputtered but she tried her best to catch her breath.
"Easy?" He coughed out more water. "FUCK." He readjusted her weight on him. "You think this is easy?" ANd he laughed with a mouthful of water.
"You make it look easy," She gasped out, hoping he wouldn't catch the fact that she was blind and couldn't see anything. Or if he did catch it, he'd see the inappropriately timed humour.
His laughter grew louder.
"I make this look easy to everyone." And if he got her blind humor, it was incorporated in his ego filled response.
At least when he was almost dying he wasn't an asshole. Sunniva held herself closer, not enjoying the water and finally the cold was setting in and her knees were curling up around his torso. "Krah, it's a good thing you're so big and burly, anyone else would get swept away," Herself included. And she was pretty sure he was big and burly. Pretty sure.
"Fuck!" he laughed through a mouthful of water, and they both went under before, through a water-filled growl, they were back at the surface. "You should really keep your mouth shut. You aiming to kill me with your wit?"
Wouldn't that be something! A joke from a White Lily slays the God of War.
Sunniva hadn't been expecting the mouthful of water and when they finally surfaced she hacked and coughed, "I'm sorry," she panted out, holding onto him tighter while she tried to both cough water out of her lungs and breath air.
After a while of huffing and swimming, he told her, "Just hang on, eh?" He looked forward. "We've got a long journey coming and this river yields to no one."
"okay," Sunniva said in a soft voice, almost inaudible. Holding on tight, as he'd told her too and she found she didn't want to get swept away and while this was hardly a fun situation to be in, she didn't want to just give up. It burned her to know that she owed him her life a few times over.
Who knew how long they'd be in the waters. Too long to count, too long to keep going. Somehow, despite the odds, he did. The Matron, thankfully, had tributaries, so they would not be hauled back towards the bridge. It was perhaps an act of God, or mercy, that they found themselves this way, but the ships that greeted them, though they held Green and black flags of the Grand Duke, were hardly impressed to see him and the half drowned woman clinging to his side.
And though the ships brought them safely on board, the second General Krah was announced- guns were brought to their heads.
Krah raised a shaggy brow.
"What the fuck is this?"
The pistol was cocked.
"A weapon, sir, you're a General of the Grand Duke.... or at least you were. We've heard about the fall of the bridge, and the fall of your men...
So you have exactly one minute to explain yourself before we blow off your head for abandonment, and treason."
Sunniva was exhausted and she hadn't even been doing the swimming.
Cold, Sunniva shivered visibly though she did her best to remain still when she heard the cock of a gun. A shuddering gasp and she lifted her head, "We were blown from the bridge," she started, "there's no treason." she snarled the word like it was filthy, "He can hardly be leading his men - who should have been able to do well enough on their own - from the river below with no way up."
"He was keeping a sister of the church, an adhara, safe- he had to carry me." A deep frown, though she was blind, "That is hardly treason."
There was a pause around the men before Krah was yanked away from the White Lily, and still held at gun point farther from her on the ship's deck. It was there, this captain stood forward and eyed the Lily over.
"And you might be, sister?"
"My name is Sunniva Avarali and I am the Duke of Folkvar's eldest daughter and a humble knight of the White Lily." She straightened her shoulders, figuring if there was ever a time to mention the man who took her eyes by name, it was when she owed a life debt to someone whom may be killed. Sure it would eliminate the debt but the guilt would linger forever and she'd find that she'd regret not doing anything.
"If anyone is to blame or be shot in the head for abandonment it's me because if General Mordeth hadn't saved me from that bridge he'd be just as dead as the rest of them."
"Sunniva Avarali?" The man looked her over his hawk shaped nose. "Well, haven't you grown up."
He peered over at Krah.
"Keep him in custody." He shrugged at Sunniva. "We still have to report him to the Grand Duke to see if he has mercy."
A frown, blinded, she wasn't even sure if she would be able to recognize this man who - apparently - knew who she was. Grown up. Sunniva suddenly remembered she'd dropped her armor in the river to make the load lighter on Krah and she curled her arms over her chest. It was cold and she hadn't worn much under the metal.
"I will speak on his behalf if it comes to it. I owe the General my life and I'm sure my mother will do what she can to see to his safety as well." As much as she and her mother didn't get along, she knew the woman would do that much for her. Sunniva frowned, "Who are you."
The older man smiled.
"I must say I'm disappointed you don't recognize me.. but it has been so long. Please.." he offered her his hand. "Let's speak in private and I can tell you all that you've missed."
The rustling of fabric let her know he'd extended his hand and Sunniva extended her own, moving it until the back of her hand bumped against his. "I am afraid I don't recognize your voice," she said quietly, apologetic.
"You'll find that I'm quiet unable to recognize how you look though," she added with a hint of humour in her voice, though quickly enough it desolved into shivers from the cold.
The man smiled and offered her his coat and patted the girl on the shoulder.
"Come now, you will remember in time, though even still, it is my honor and duty to give it up." He hooked arms with her and patted her hand.
"I was a warden at your father's keep for many years. I have always been faithful to their lines and have been selected to serve the Grand Duke himself these many miles from home."
He had his men open the door for them and guided Sunniva inside.
"Here I am simply a Captain, but you've known me in your youth as Uncle Ted."
Sunniva's heart stopped and she went still. Possibly paled - though it was hard to tell with how shivery and cold she was to begin with. "No." She shook her head, "It couldn't be." Then again, how would he know that name? One of the last people she actually saw and now she remembered him clearly. Her chilled hand moved up and she brushed a finger over some of the key points of his face and she gasped and threw herself at him, wrapping her arms around his neck and giving him a hug.
"Is it really you? Here? Of all places. Of all times." Sunniva pulled back, "What do you mean tell me what I've missed? What have I missed?|
That had the old man laughing.
"Sweet child, you've just been rescued! Let us get you by a warm fire and bed before I make you dizzy with your requests." And he guided her over towards a plush chair in his room.
"The ships docked here are sailing back to the capital, and with haste, now with General Mordeth in custody."
Sunniva was worried now, chewing on her lip but she let herself be guided away and sat in the chair as she was instructed. Still, she shivered and she let her head drop down, ropes of wet hair dripping and clinging to her face.
"Are they really going to kill him?"
Sensing her worry, his grey brows raised.
"Child, please, do not worry yourself. This is all war affairs. Right now, it was believed he was dead. Now that he's alive... well... We'll let the Grand Duke hear of it. He was the one who appointed that man as General. He is his to kill as he pleases. He is in our Grace's hand now."
"It's..." Sunniva pressed her hands to her face and sighed, "He saved my life. Twice. He could have left me behind. Could have left me to die." Her hands moved to her thighs and she shook her head, heaving a sigh. "Is there anything I can do? I owe him."
Her Uncle looked her over.
"I wouldn't be much of an Uncle of anything if I didn't let my own niece seek justice. You've served your country well, I see. And stationed with this General? Well... I suppose your voice shall be heard too. I will take you with me to Reajh, to the palace itself. I'm sure the Grand Duke will listen before passing judgement. But we live in curious times now.... It seems that support of our Grand Duke has waned considerably."
Sunniva nodded and sighed, shivering all the same and ducking her head down before pressing her hands to her face. What a mess.
"People are getting restless. No one wants to live in a country torn by war with one another," She frowned, finally relaxing into the chair and letting her head rest back. Still shivering but at least not in the water anymore.
"Can I talk to him?"
"Talk to the prisoner? But you've just got here, and you've barely settled in."
A pause and she nodded.
"Of course. I should at least warm up first," and it made her angry that she'd feel guilty for it. Another pause, "How have you been doing, Uncle Ted?" A change of topic. That seemed like a good idea.
The man laughed.
"Do you really want to know? Though I'd be more interested in hearing about your adventures. To be blessed as you are, I can only imagine the burden you bear."
Sunniva gave a simple little shake of her head. "I'm afraid any story I might have would be terribly boring." Clearing her throat she rubbed at her thigh, now that the adrenalin was gone and she was warming up the arrow wound from earlier began to sting and ache again. "How long until we... get to where we're going?"
He saw how she shifted uncomfortably, and asked directly, "Is something the matter?"
"Oh, no. It just... makes me uncomfortable that the man that saved my life is... probably freezing in some... boat-jail-cell." It hadnt even occured to her that she could potentially be pregnant. It was a far off idea for married noble women excitedly waiting their first born sons. Sunniva offered a small smile, head ducked down after a moment. "Is there anything i can do?"
He found himself chuckling at her confession.
"You care for this General, do you now? You always were a sweet one at heart," he went on with a shake of his head. "I suppose you won't try resting until you see him, eh?"
"I do." She confessed in a quiet voice, head down "i really would like to see him. Well... talk to him."
He gave a nod and studied her, and the way she blushed.
"It's strange any woman might speak fondly of him outside of a brothel. He.... hasn't the best reputation as a man."
He had to wonder what his blessed niece was doing caring for him. Perhaps it was just to show support for the crown, but perhaps he was pressing into nothing.
"He could have just ... left me behind. When we fell into the river the time, Uncle Ted, he carried me on his back the whole way up." Sunniva sighed and rubbed her arm and turned her head away, unwilling to face him. "Is that wrong? Should I not care?"
He stared at her, thoughtfully.
"Sounds to me we're imprisoning a hero."
Sunniva blushed and rubbed at her cheek, not mentioning everything else that happened. "I... he just... helped me a lot. I dont think he deserves to freeze down there when the only thing keeping him from the battle was me."
"Freeze? You think we're barbarians?" he laughed. "But come, I will show you to our prisoner." And as he made his way towards the door, he held it open for her. Soon they were below deck, a man calling down to inquire about moving the ships up the river now to return to Reajh. Captain "Ted", as so many men seemed apt to call him, gave the approval before turning back to Sunniva.
"Ah, now where were we?" He gave her a crooked smile and took her by the arm and continued to lead her into the bowels of the ship, where he paused inside a large stock room where Krah sat in darkness, shackled to one of the ship's thick support beams and looking quite a disheveled, roughed up mess.
A brief moment of stolen sight from uncle Ted and Sunniva frowned ever so slightly. Krah was a terrible person. Sunniva was silent for a moment, "are you hurt?" She herself had been limping ever so slightly from the wound on her thigh. Thankfulky only the meat of her leg had been hit, no doubt she'd be limping forever otherwise.
Krah had been watching them approach, holding his tongue until Sunniva drew near. At this, his smile grew cynical as he asked, "Oh... into bondage now are we? Well the river hasn't taken my dick off, so if you're here for one last go before I hang...." he went on, cracking his neck- the left side, then right. "I want no ride less than an hour."
Sunniva went red. Not with shame or embarassement. But with anger. Red hot anger that made her take a step back and duck her head down. "My apologies, it was presumptious of me to... to be concerned for you," Sunniva pressed her palms to her eyes and took a deeo breath before turning away.
It was here her uncle raised his brows, both towards his niece and the barbarian. He caught her and the gesture was a stabilizing one, also a commanding one telling her quietly, to stay.
Brushing past her, he walked clean over towards General Krah- then slugged a heavy fist at his face.
Krah's face was knocked leftward, and he felt the familiar taste of blood fill his mouth. His lips cracked into a smile, and he began to laugh.
Her uncle went to adjust his armor.
"A holy knight of God has come to check on you. Have you no respect?"
At this, Krah's eyes were dark as they shined up at the man, then over to Sunniva.
"You're asking a dead man to pretend he's happy. At least give me a good reason for it," he growled.
The sound of the punch had her gasp and her hands flew to her mouth. Sure Krah was a terrible person but he didnt deserve that. "You're not a dead man," her voice gentle, a hand at her chest. "I owe you my life. I'll do everything I can to save yours."
Krah studied her with a wary look before spitting out blood onto the floor.
"They're trying me for treason... desertion." It made him laugh.
"And do you wish to add defilement of a woman of the church?" her uncle asked, threateningly.
That was a thing? Sure she thought she'd get in trouble if she'd been caught but she didnt know it could be considered a crime. Sunniva ducked her head down, lips pursed. "You did neither of those things, you'll be forgiven. I'll see to it. I owe you. I'd be dead without you. Either crushed under rubble or... or... drowned."
"My fate is oh so graciously in the Grand Duke's hand," Krah sneered.
Her uncle placed a strong hand on her shoulder.
"And our Grand Duke will see justice is served." He gave her shoulder a squeeze. "Are you ready to retire? We won't be in Reajh until another two hours."
"I..." she supposed it was asking to much for Krah to at least have warmed up to her a little bit. Sunniva nodded, head down, perhaps looking a little hurt or disappointed. A shakey little sigh, "yes. I'd like to rest. At least for a little while."
Why did she care? Surely it was only because he'd saved her life.
Uncle Ted guided her back to her room, where, upon seeing she was upset, decided it might be best for her to rest alone. He had work to do, besides, and left with a gentle goodbye and closing of the door.
Sunniva found her way to a chair and sank down onto it, heaving a sigh and pressing her palms to her eyes. It took a lot for her to break down, but the events of the day left her tired and drained and she could do little more than curl up in her chair and cry herself to exaughstion and finally, sleep.
Unfortunately for her, sleep would not last long. The boats hadn't even made it to the city when the Grand Duke's men approached. With news about Matron's Hallow, they were not about to take this siege quietly.
"We're wasting precious time. Every minute we head towards the capital, Blaith,a nd his Turgallian army are getting a stronger hold on the Matron."
"This location is Grand Duke property, and we aim to join with your forces there, Ted, and flush him out and bring back Blaith Harmond's head."
"And what of General Mordeth?" the captain inquired.
"If he has committed treason, send him back with his men to stand before the Grand Duke in judgement. Other wise, you say there's a woman who can plead his innocence? If that's true, unbind him and let the brute fight!"
Sunniva frowned gently when noises woke her. No doubt her hair was a wavy frizzy mess and while she got her bearings about her she finger combed it, trying her best to look presentable in dried clothing and loose hair. The door to the room she'd been led to was opened and she took a few steps out, listening. The words made her frown.
Either way he was going to die, it seemed.
Taking a few hesitant steps forward she pressed her hand to a wall and eavesdropped. "Uncle Ted?" Her voice was hesitant but she remained where she was, not quite sure where to follow the voices to and not really knowing where else to go.
"Sunniva.. you're awake." He moved to her side, but the other men he talked with stared at her without secrecy.
"She's the one who can vouch for his life?"
One man sneered. "Of course the poor woman would have to be blind to consider helping that awful tripe."
Sunniva slammed her fist into the wall, snarling. A strange burst of anger.
"How dare you speak to me like that. Have you ever kept someone from drowning while being carried down river? Carried them on your back while you climbed a near cliff?" Which were very specific events and unlikely for many people to do. "He may be tripe but I owe that man my life and if you will do well to learn who I am before you think of speaking to me like that again. Do you understand?"
The room went awkwardly quiet as her uncle fetched her by the arm and guided her outside of the room. Once down the hall, he sighed and released his hold, but kept his arm lightly against her side.
"Child, I know what are going through but these men have been through war. Some of them have even been with General Mordeth on some of his less glory filled slaughters. The man's reputation... Just... please note, it's hard for many men to like him. He's good at killing, we can all give him that but..." He sighed. "The more we support him, the lot of us feel like war criminals."
"Well then you can kill me too when its all done!" Sunniva barked at him, throwing his hand from her arm. "Use him up and spit him out! If all that soul is worth to you is to bloody his hands instead of yours then why throw them away?"
Her uncle grit his teeth. She certainly had a temper- evidently from her mother!
"Sunniva, please, I am not saying your wishes are untrue or that they will not be heard out... in fact," he sighed, rubbing at his neck with a groan. "I was considering releasing him.. on account of the fact we need the men, and... just his name does help evoke a sense of... power." That of which he hated to admit. "Fear and power."
Sunniva sighed, "I'm sorry, Uncle. The... jab at my blindness made me angry. Like im unable to tell someones character because i cant see them. I know Krah is a terrible person . He hates me. Thinks im useless. But..." Sunniva sighed, "i dont know. I... can't just ignore someone that went through the trouble of saving me, even though im blind and useless. If i wasnt an adhara i'd be little use to anyone . Perhaps a pretty red ornament."
"My dear child, your heart is truly a blessing from Ansgar," he told her, stealing a quick kiss to her hair. "Those men could all learn by your example."
Sunniva sighed and ducked her head, giving an unamused dry laugh. "War mongers. The lot of them." Including the man she was trying to keep from death.
Her uncle left her in his quarters while he and his men prepared for battle. It seemed they were drawing out a lot of troops in this area and waylaying them towards Matron's Hallow. It was definitely a battle too close to home, and with too large of numbers. If anything, Duke Harmond had some balls.
So did another man in question, who, after briefing with his men, realized he was better off alive. Though some questioned his niece's justification, it was silenced under orders and men with keys moved down to where the General had been kept, the sound of their boots passing by the door where Sunniva was kept. She might be able to hear the men muttering,
"I can't believe we're just going to unlock this man."
"I'd rather we do it than not," the other spat back.
"Yeah, but he's a traitor-"
"No more a traitor than you and I. Besides, if the other side believes General Mordeth is dead and he comes back like a ghost on the battle field..."
The other man whined but kept his mouth shut.
Sunniva stewed.
No doubt the general would hate her for either way she pushed it. Pressing a hand to her mouth she listened to the words that drifted passed the room.
A ghost.
Sunniva supposed that what she knew of the general if he was going to go down, it would be by fighting. Sunniva slipped from the chair she was sitting on, pressed her back to a wall and curled her arms around her knees. Resting her cheek to her legs . What a day. She just wanted to go home now.
Krah was released but moments after the men had passed, and at that time, there came a knock at her door.
"Sunniva, it's your uncle." And he paused before asking through the door, "May I come in?" It was a strange request for his own room, but it was only proper.
"Of course," her voice was slightly muffled and she lifted her head after a moment. "It's your room..." chewing on her lip Sunnica sighed, "is something wrong?"
Stepping inside, he made sure to close the door before revealing the grim news.
"We'll be in battle within the hour or less." He paused, gauging her reaction before informing, "And General Mordeth will be left under your commands throughout it."
Within the hour.
Sunniva sighed and pushed her fingers through her hair, it was a tired sigh. Worn down and like she could just sleep forever. Except the next words. Those had her standing up so fast she got dizzy and hand to press her hand to a wall.
"I beg your pardon? Under my what? No, I don't want that. I..." Sunniva swallowed, pressing a hand to her stomach like she was about to be sick. That was some serious responsibility. "That means my head too, doesn't it. If he doesn't... I..." A moment to breath and close her eyes, "I..." A moment to steel herself and she became the quiet stoic woman that the Lillies tried their best to make her into - sometimes it shone through.
"I understand. What is required of me to keep us both alive?"
"My dear, I know this is a big burden," he went on, a hand to her shoulder. Her worry was obvious. "But you wouldn't be completely responsible. The men would just feel better if he were.... watched, like a dog a leash, I dare say. And I know we're asking a lot but..... Well," he sighed. "This is war, and I'd actually feel safer if you could stay behind, but we need everyone we can get. We can not allow Matron's Hallow to remain under the Turgallian flag."
"Yes, i understand." Sort of. A little bit maybe. Sunniva sighed and pressed her hand to the one on her shoulder. "What did the general think of it? You know he cant stand me, right? I wouldnt be surprised if he chose death over being with me."
He stared at her, a bit surprised by her suggestion.
"If anything, he was a smug bastard about it, but he didn't fight it."
He sighed, shaking his head. "He probably thinks you won't keep him on a tight leash, if one at all."
"About an arms length," she teased softly. Someone making a rude comment about her blindness made her angry but when she did it about herself it was generally okay. Why smug? Sunniva shook her head, "when do i ... acquire my... new dog then?"
"He's already on deck, waiting for you."
"I suppose its time I go deal with the problem i've gained myself," Sunniva said gently before she moved her hands to her uncles shoulders and pressed a kiss to his cheek, "i'm far more happy than i am seem to see yoh again, Uncle Ted. Guide me to deck? I'm afraid i dont recall the way."
He guided her in quiet, moving steadily up the stairs and onto the deck with her on his arm. The entire deck was alive with action, the boat moving swiftly down the river and there stood the tall, imposing figure of Krah Mordeth. And when he saw Sunniva, that smug grin returned to his face.
Sunniva didnt need to see to know Krah was there.
There was an odd sense of knowing he was nearby and she didn't need her sight to know he probably had a shit eating grin on his face. There was a beat where she expected him to be lewd and rude and Sunniva prepared herself mentally.
"My debt is paid," she took a few steps towards the General, "you're welcome."
Krah looked the White Lily over with a dance in his eyes before nodding to her Uncle.
"I'll be sure to take real good care of this flower."
Her uncle frowned at Krah, but nodded his head.
"May Ansgar bless you both on the battle ahead."
"He kept us alive this for, oh wait, no, that was me."
The grin Krah flashed Ted made the old man grimace, but still, he wasn't going to retort to Krah's crude language with anything more to fuel it.
"Do not forge your duty and your honor."
Krah nodded to the departing man.
"Naturally." Then he turned down to grin at Sunniva. "So what debt are we talking about, because my palms have yet to be greased."
Sunniva's nose wrinkled. "My whining helped convince them you were more useful alive than dead," she pointed out, choosing to ignore all previous comments about her. Take real good care of the flower he said. Like he hadnt done that already.
"Either way, unless you feel like i owe you more..? I can hardlg carry you on my back."
"No one asked you to hold my hand or carry me," came his amused reply, but there was also the strain of fatigue and irritation in his words. He was tired, no doubt. The pair of them had no rest since the last battle, the fall, and everything else inbetween. And though he sounded strong, looked strong- he definitely needed some ample rest, more food than was rationed to him, and some beer. War never afforded such luxuries, and Krah wasn't a man to gripe when there was money to be made, and more events to fuel the ego of his ever swelling head.
Krah was probably the last person who would ask for help.
"Thats exactly why i did it," Sunniva replied carefully, borrowing the sight of the people staring on the ship for a few moments before moving forward and placing a hand on his arm. A little rub against his flesh with her thumb. A gentle caress.
"Its easy to save face when you dont need to ask someone ti hikd your hand." Gently her hand drifted down his arm and she let it fall to her side before she sighed. "When this is over," her voice turned small and quiet so they werent over heard, "drinks are on me?"
That had him laughing. Thankfully, no one was concerned. They were all too busy preparing muskets and canons for the battle to come.
"If they're on you, I'll indulge," he told her lewdly, but for her sake, his voice was kept low.
"You know, I won't ever forget falling from the bridge," he told her, studying her form with some satisfaction. "Nor the pleasure that followed. I'd be up for drinks and a few rounds of her bouncing on my lap again when this is all done," he growled the whisper into her ear. "You were so tight."
Fire sent her cheeks to be nearly as red as her hair. A unfamiliar wamrth bloomed in her belly and she pressed a hand to her abdomen. Desire? Sunniva ignored it, letting her hand fall away before she gave Krah a push on the shoulder.
"I would be, too," the words were out of her mouth with her hand slapped over her lips before she realized. Tired. She blame the slip of tongue on being tired. She turned her head away, "that requires us both to be alive though."
"We still have time if you want some relief... " he whispered to her.
There was a snort of laughter.
"Here on the deck? No, thank you. Maybe if everyone was as blind as i am." Or more blind. Unless everyone had the strange second set of eyes she could steal from others. Which would be odd to say the least.
At her reply, he simply leaned in closer to assure her, "Oh.. who said about above deck? There are... a lot more private places down below."
Sunniva frowned ever so slightly, turning her head which, instead of having her face away from him brushed their noses together to which she quickly snapped her head back to where it was before. Heat rose on her cheeks and she fisted her hands to the cloth of her shirt. "Is that all you think about? You're about to go back into the fray and... All you can think about is sex? Maybe..." She licked her lips and her voice was still soft, "Maybe there's another woman on the ship who can tend to your needs."
That's what she was supposed to say. Though, really, all she wanted to do was grab his hand and let her hands explore his body. Stupid adrenaline. Stupid almost dying. It pushed everything pure in her away, it seemed. Let someone raw and having barely lived closer to the surface. She hated it.
All she wanted was a nap. Maybe a guitar. Perhaps a tune to sing to. A candle to mediate over. Something besides the scent of sweat and Krah to fill her senses because she couldn't stare at the sky and try not to think of him.
His hand found her wrist.
"It could be our last time to fuck," he told her, voice low and lusty.
Sunniva sucked in a breath, fingers tightening on the fabric of her shirt. "What if I wanted to make love instead?" The words were out of her mouth, a barely whisper before she again turned away, ducking her head down.
"Does this look like a place for that?" he asked, a hand slipping up her dress towards her heat, then- in it.
"I can't see it, so what does it matter to m-ah!" The action caught her off guard and she squeezed her hand on his bicep, cheeks flushing red. "Krah, what are you doing?"
He shoved three fingers into her deeper.
"Pleasuring you," he purred.
Sunniva bit her lip to keep herself from moaning. Either in shame because he was right or anger because he was right. Still her hand clamped around his wrist and she made a futile attempt to push his hand away. "Can't people see?" She whined, moving to hide her face against whatever part of him she could press against, "We shouldn't." And while her words spoke the truth, her body betrayed them, a little roll of her hips and her hand slipped to his palm to feel along his fingers going all the more red at just how much he was pleasuring her. "Krah."
He continued to fuck her with his fingers. She was so hot and soaking.
"Yes?"
How did this happen?
Sunniva bit back a cry, fingers tightening around his wrist and she tensed slightly, rising up on her tiptoes to either press closer to him or draw herself away, she wasn't sure. "You have to stop. Someone might see. Or hear or... " In an effort to not make noise she bit him - not hard - but it was still teeth against cloth - and flesh if she got it.
His hand pulled away, and he began to lead her below deck.
It was a relief when he pulled his hand away.
Right?
Sunniva could play ignorant. Pretend she didn't know what she was getting into.
Also she could die today.
Almost did a few times.
So she let Krah lead her below deck, fingers tight around his wrist, a needy noise in her throat. It was easier to ask for forgiveness for a moment of mindlessness. There were already so many broken rules today. What did a few more matter? They didn't. "Someone will notice us missing," She whispered, hesitant and unsure.
"Most likely it'll be your uncle," he told her, as if it weren't any concern. He continued to guide her along, past men and more deeply into the bowels of the ship. They were at an end where it was so dark, he was nearly blind as her. She'd then feel Krah's hands all over her then as he wasted little time. He hefted up her skirts and set her atop of a barrel, while the rest of them were nearly encased by other barrels and crates.
She'd be able to feel him fumbling with the front of his pants, and a grunt when his turgid cock was released. He moved closer to her, slipping his dick between her legs. His sex could feel her's as he released a feral growl. And then he hiked up one of her legs roughly and slammed his cock deep into her pussy, a sensation that had his eyes rolling back into his brains.
It might hurt, sure, but he wasn't a man to wait for foreplay. He needed to fuck,a nd fuck he did. He was like an animal, hands and lips savage on her form as he pounded her with need. And as they fucked, the subtle men at work, preparing for war, could be heard at the other end of this cargo area the pair had chosen as their place to sin.
A started cry and her fingers were tight on the fabric of his shirt, pressing her face to his neck. His name was a startled whisper when he began to move and for a few moments she pressed kisses and clubg tightly to him.
Then there were other noises and Sunniva tensed up. Biting his ear when she pressed her mouth closer. Heated breath. Again his name left her lips and the noises stopped. "Hello?" A confused voice said from the other side of the cargo area and Sunniva froze, pressing a hand over Krahs mouth and pressing her own mouth to his shoulder.
Krah ignored the person and kept fucking, but this time, he was moving as quietly as he could-
but by the Gods she was tight. He wasn't one to just let himself get off so easily, but Sunniva would feel a gush of his hot cum shoot deep within her as he suffocated her lips with his own to stifle his whimpering moan. And he was so tense, he shook.
But it was only the beginning, he was too aroused now to let just one shot sate him. And she'd feel his dick pistoning inside her once again.
Pressing into the kiss, Sunniva held him close, capturing the whimpers and moans and returning her own. Fingers in his hair, legs curled up around his hips. A gentle bite of his lips and she grew tense, leaning down and biting his shoulder when she came around him with a sharp cry that was muffled by the fabric and flesh in her mouth. He filled her to the point between pleasure and pain and Sunniva clung to him giving encouraging rolls of her hips.
He could hear the men's footsteps drawing nearer. They were barely fucking for ten minutes and he was ready to come again. It was dangerous. They could both hang for this. But instead, he kept giving it to her rough, and flooded her with his hot seed again.
A flash of flesh and Sunniva curled her arms around his neck and held him tight to her with her legs. A heated breath and she pressed her lips to his when the person drew to close. A knock of crates and she moved her hands to hold his head to her chest.
"What is it?"
A voice called from the other end of the cargo area and the man stopped.
"Thought I heard something. Probably just some rats." A few steps back but she kept herself tight to him. Trembling around him. The thrill of being where they were. Possibly getting caught.
"We should stop, we might get caught," she whispered into his ear, a hand moving to gently caress his cheek.
"Like hell we'll stop," came his feral reply. "Turn around. I'm going to fuck you like a dog."
A strange surge of heat struck her core and she visibly shuddered under his touch. Sunniva gave a little whimper and uncurled her legs from around his hips, leaning back before she lowered herself to the ground on her tiptoes. It was degrading. Did she want this? A tension she wasn't familiar with in her gut and she turned around, leaning forward on a crate. Sunniva didn't really plan on surviving past today. Blind. Having to deal with the man rutting between her legs on a level that wasn't sex.
As good as dead.
At least that's what she convinced herself when she lifted a leg onto the crate and put her hand between her legs to keep her pleasure going. No doubt she was as red as her hair. Wanton. Hardly deserving of being a Lily. At least not anymore.
He took her as he wished, for as long as he dared, and when he was spent, he rested a while with her behind the crates in their solitude. Then when both were more presentable, he peered out to see if any one was watching.
"We should head back up to the deck."
No doubt they had been gone long enough for at least her uncle to care.
It was concerning how unconcerned Sunniva was.
Like she'd given up her soul already and so what if she just continued to damn it? Doomed to die. Being a sister of the church was just a safe facade now. A place for her to hide. Who else would take in a blind adhara? She ached in a delightful way and she was concerned when she didn't feel bad for it.
A careful movement and she fixed her clothing, finger combing her hair and finally she rubbed at her abdomen and gave a little nod.
"You could go ahead without me. I'd... I'd like to..." Sunniva frowned, what would she like to do? "Pray? I don't know. Just..." she waved a hand at him, "Just leave me alone. I'll be up on deck in a few minutes."
Krah looked her over.
"You mean you wish to clean up?" He pulled a kerchief from his pocket and tossed it at her. "And how do you expect to get back up on deck? You're blind... remember?"
Sunniva used what she could of his vision to snatch the handkerchief from the air, frowning at him, eyebrows drawn down. "I'm blind, not stupid," She hissed, "Deck is up the stairs. I only play up being blind when it suits my needs- now!" She lifted her skirts and used his kerchief to clean herself up, "You can leave."
He smirked and gave her a bow. He figured she'd be able to 'see' that well enough.
"As the lady wishes." And he disappeared, making sure to be as inconspicuous as possible. But being 'the God of War' made his presence a bit demanding, but no one really questioned or stopped him as he made his way up the stairs and onto the deck.
Once Sunniva was done with the mess she contemplated taking the kerchief with her and putting it in Krahs hand. A second to think and she simply tucked the soiled rag between a few crates before she made her way back up to deck. Looking flushed. But angry.
She'd never admit but she whacked her shin on a few things.
The pain of her shin would be the least of her worries, for the moment she returned on deck the men were shouting.
"Aim the canons and stock the archers, the enemy camps are in sight! Everyman ready his weapons! We dock now!"
Sunniva wasn't one for vulgarities but she bit her lip and muttered a quiet 'shit' when she heard the words.
Panic rose in her chest and she pressed herself to a wall, "Krah? Uncle ted?!" Sure she could kind of see through others eyes, but this wasn't her element. Warfare and battles weren't her thing. Sunniva could fight. Tear people up but her mace was gone and her shield was as well.
The chaotic start of battle lit through the ranks like wild fire. Any cries she had made were soon drowned out- and cannons were firing towards the shore.
Doing her best to stay away from the ruckus, she pressed her hands over her ears and stayed plastered against a wall. Sunniva wasnt built for battles and while she had a sharp tongue, there was currently no sharp objects.
Soon the ships were docked and soldiers pouring out, moving the conflict towards the river bank rather than the river. But it was an uphill battle for the Grand Duke's men, and only a few remained back on the boats to protect them- and use the canons when needed.
It would be then, as the boat was clearing out, that she'd feel a strong, warm hand grabbing her and yanking her from the wall.
"Come on, 'Lily. The fun's started without us."
Sunnivas heart skipped a beat and she held the hand tight. She hated what his touch did to her - even if it was just her hand. Still she followed where he took her and stayed close whike she could.
The battle had only just begun, but the rush of men and swords had already began to paint the river bank red. Krah was quick to observe to area, only to notice an area left unguarded, unseen. He tightened his grip on Sunniva's hand and pulled her down into the thigh high waters of the river's shore and began to drag her along, westward.
"These men have no tactics," he growled, and tried to keep himself as elusive as he could. "They're both leaving their flanks open." He sneered. "Head on battles are for idiots and the dead. Come on, Lily. Let's show them how to win a war."
Ooo the water was cold.
Sunniva sucked in a breath and tightened her grip on Krahs hand, following blindly - pun not intended. His talking was at least an indicator of what he wanted to do and for a few moments she felt... Bad that he had to babysit her.
"Alright," came her hushed voice. Sunniva tried to keep as close behind him as she could, her free hand lingering on his side while they moved.
Plan or not, it wouldn't be easy. Thankfully Krah had on his armor, cause a stray arrow bounced off his shoulder plate. Gritting his teeth, he set to move faster, eyes cleaving the area when he noticed a few men from the other side heading their way.
"Stealth was never really my forte," he went on with a crack of his neck and shoved Sunniva aside while he drew out his blade. He was before her and before the three men with a cocky ass grin. Expecting the battle to last but a few moments, he swung heavily and found himself nearly losing his head when one of the men with a slimmer sword moved swifter than he.
He found a boot to his belly, but he was quick to push back as he slapped his blade across the other man's face, sending him reeling before he noticed the other two were rounding him and heading straight for the girl.
The shove cane unexpectedly and she gave a gasp of surprise and stumbled to the side. A frown and she turned her head around. Flashes of sight. Flashes of her. "What are you??" Was he really going to try and take that many on?
They were going to die.
And Sunniva threw up her hands and the two other soldiers that had rounded him to get to her flew back like they'd been thrown. Frightened still Sunniva gave a little moan of fear before she pressed her hands to her face. "Krah, this was a bad idea," because whike the two soldiers had been thrown back, it didnt kill them and if anythjng they were just a little more keen on getting the Lily now.
And just as the men were knocked back, Krah didn't give them much time to retaliate as he was lunging at both of them like a savage dog, and slammed his blade into one, their the other's bodies. He drew out his blade from their dying body, and turned to Sunniva.
"Don't just stand there. We gotta move."
A few hesitant steps before her hand found Krahs arm, holding onto it with a vicelike grip. Heart pounding. "Where are we going?"
"On dry land. It makes for a difficult battle to fight off an army in the river."
The booming of the canons were still near deafening this close to the ships. But eventually the pair were able to make it on land and most of the canon fire was called off as the remaining men had rushed up the shore and were now fighting sword to sword.
Sunniva pillaged a sword from a dead soldier and frowned at the strangeness of the weight. It wasn't like a mace, but it would have to do. Just in case.
"Alright," she said simply to Krah, following as close behind him as she could. Confused. Frowning. A little scared. Sunniva kept quiet and tried to calm herself. "There are archers, over there," She nodded her head in the general direction, just behind a raise. Just waited for the group of the soldiers to get within the arch of their arrows.
"Oh? Am I to trust your eye sight?" Came Krah's crass remark. They were in a battle! Though she had surprised him enough times with how blindness still suited her- even still, he wasn't about to risk his neck on some blind woman's hunch! So he continued to stalk forward, looking for these supposed archers but not seeing a single damn one of em.
"It's not my eyesight, it's theirs." She hissed, grabbing his arm and trying to hold him back, "If you don't trust me, at least don't go first." Sunniva's voice turned a little frantic, fingers clutching at his clothing, heels digging into the ground. Longbows. Range. Unless Krah was much higher up he'd never see the archers, poised behind a small hill, arrows drawn, waiting for the signal that let them know the bulk of the invading armor was within range. Soon.
It would be very soon.
"Don't go first?" he laughed and pushed her aside. "You don't give orders to a General, Lily."
The push hurt. Not physically but...
Why didn't he trust her? Sunniva snarled and grabbed the back of his shirt, angry now. Furious even. Irritated. Shouldn't he trust her a little? Just a little? Sunniva ignored the weird tightness in her chest and after a moment of hesitation she let him go and took a step back. "Fine! Go die like a dog with the rest of them, enjoy your after life in Hell you Prick."
And that's when he paused to turn to her, his grin wild as an animal's as he gave her a nod and salute.
"I will, Lily."
And she might see it coming, or she might not-
the sudden string of arrows- with one aiming right at his head.
There was the signal.
Was he worth it? Sunniva reacted without thinking, did she care for him? Perhaps in some manner. Some manner unknown to even her. Some... Primal kinship from what she'd shared with him. The clench in her gut had her move before she realized it and she was in front of him as heavy a push as she could muster. The strength of Ansgar helping her the gifts he'd blessed her with giving her too much stretch to knock Krah down and from harms way.
Well, most of the harm.
Luckly, being on the outskirts meant there were much fewer arrows and the one that didn't plunge through her shoulder and into Krah's side from proximity alone to her laying on his front thunked harmlessly into the ground beside them. Cries from other soldiers being impaled
A pained noise, "I just wanted you to trust me," Her voice was small and broken, full of pain, though she didn't move, "Why couldn't you just trust me?"
The arrows sliced like fire, but it was his pride that was bruised as he lay there in the dirt. He looked at her, a fire in his eyes.
"There is no trust in War, Lily," he told her, voice filled with disdain. He looked her over. How fucking perfect. The damned Lily he had to protect to save his own neck was now bleeding out from the quills of arrows she threw herself before.
He wrenched a fist onto her armor and yanked her to her feet and glared right into her eye sockets as if she could see him.
"You see an arrow you don't throw yourself at it like some sack of shit. You cut it down with your weapons. We're not here to eat dirt, but blood."
He was so riled up, so pissed off now. Why did the damn blind little whore even care? They owed nothing to one another, and as far as he cared, they could both die in this battle. But he was not about to have his death trumped by some spirited bullshit from her.
"You didn't see any arrows!" She snapped back, reaching to the arrow and giving it a good tug. A squelch of blood dripped from the wound but she was angry enough to not care. It burned but she was glad for a few moments, that it was her shield arm.
Because she had no shield anyway.
Kicking her feet to find the sword she'd pilfered, Sunniva picked it up and tightened her hand around the handle before she frowned, "I pushed you on your ass and unless you eat with that, you didn't eat dirt." Frowning, "You're so dramatic."
"As if you could see how I fell!" he growled in her face. "Youre a Goddamn no eyed freak whose protected by the fake Gods these people worship! And if you don't watch yourself-" but his harsh words were cut off by the sudden roaring attack of opposing soldiers that nearly caught the General off guard.
"Like i've never heard that before!" She snapped back, about to say more. Though the cries had her head snap up and she rose her sword, ready. The soldiers werent playing nice. The throat cutters, to kill the soldiers that had been struck by arrows.
"Better do the only thing you're good for," she snapped at him, " though try not to fuck their corpses."
Pissed, it only helped aid in the easy cleaving down of the men that dare attack. Blood was splattering everywhere, and even though he's always had a claim to fame for his brute strength, Krah was really showing it then- especially when his one blow cleaved a man clean in half.
With the river bank now clear, he grabbed onto the Lily's fist with his blood stained hand and began to drag her up the embankment.
Sunniva gasped loudly, hands flying to her mouth when she heard the skin sound of someone being cut in half. A flash of herself from the dying mans eyes and she pressed a hand to her stomach before covering her face with her hands. Then, it was over and she had a wet hot hand on her fist and she followed easily. Did she say sorry? No.
Krah was an awful person. He used her. He didn't deserve an apology. She did. Sunniva kept her mouth shut as she was dragged along and she did her best to keep calm but, there were words out of her mouth before she could stop herself. "Did you keep your pants on?"
"If you're so eager for them to drop we can fuck later," he growled, grip tightening on his blade. "I know the last few times were great-" Sex with him was always great. "But I have another title that I do want to maintain."
God of War had a nice ring to it, and he wasn't ready to abandon the title and be cut down on the battle field. But as they round the bend they were met with another band of men, and these one just had to have some enchanted, fiery sparking weapons. Krah clenched his blade and gave a taunt.
"Hey there pretty mage girls, ready to to get fucked over by my blade?"
Though normally not his style, he felt a sick reaction to spit out the words in front of his lovely little 'Lily;.
Sunniva could feel it burning in her gut.
Shame? Probably shame. Made bile rise in her throat and she frowned at him - or where she thought he'd be. Shame for letting him do that ... With her. For letting herself do that with him. So shamelessly. Sunniva rubbed at her chest for a moment before she could taste the magic in the air.
"Krah. You remember I'm an Adhara, right?" her voice was soft, she made no comment on his choice of words - Mostly because Sunniva detested mages herself. Nasty creatures. It was their fault the country was in this state. Licking her lips she stayed her ground and when the first man with the enchanted weapon stepped forward the flames licked away and he quickly took a few steps back, frowning and glaring before backing up.
The flames licked back to life.
"Stay away from his little red headed slut," The man said gruffly to his little band, "Or kill her first." a grin and he winked at Krah, "Or just kill him and you can keep his slut!" He laughed, "Sounds good, first man to kill the legendary God of War gets to keep his tight little trophy." And then they moved, quite intent on the kill.
Krah gave a playful twirl of his sword and beckoned them with a grunt.
"Think you're man enough to try? My sword's eaten men thicker than you!" And soon his sword was bashing off the blades of the first three men coming at him, and although his swings were quite impressive, the men were no fools as a few slipped past him and were coming up on his rear.
They were going to overwhelm him.
Or at least they were trying.
Krah was a big man with a big sword and his little adhara slut killed any enchantments they had going on for them. The first soldier, the leader of the pack gave a swing of his sword, only to have it batted away. Brute force against brute force wouldn't work. A snarl and he glared at the woman, tiny and blind of all things.
"C'mon, toss her away," He growled, wanting every advantage against the man he could get, and that included the sparky fire back on his blade. Another clang of blades and he gave a growl when he ducked under one of the swings but it lopped the head off of his companion. Damnit. Damnit! They said it was just one man and a weak little girl, they didn't say who it was.
"You're gonna pay for that you sonnuvabitch!" He snarled, intent on impaling the God of War with his blade.
Too many blades were coming at him at once. A swing and a miss, and another man was down and Krah's arm had blood tickling down it. Nothing fatal. Nothing to stop him, but when another rush of men was at his back, he turned to parry... just as a blade clipped him heavily across the side-
and soon everything from his waist down was weeping red.
"Krah!"
Sunniva cried out, hand tightening around the blade.
She was trained. She could do this. A shaky little breath, for the most part she was ignored and Sunniva took advantage of that. Sounds and sights from other people had her able to plunge the blade in easily. Deliciously sharp as it was it sunk into his back and went out the front. Viciously she ripped it out the side.
Mages.
A snarl.
This was their fault. Sights. Sunniva muttered a prayer to Ansgar while she moved and the sword plunged into the lungs of the second man at Krahs back. "You're the God of War arent you?" She yelled at him, "die when this is over. You cant let any mere mortals kill you." Hopefully fueling his ego would get him moving.
Krah hissed a growl back at the woman's demands.
"Fuck you. I survived a god damn bridge's fall and carried you single handedly up the river's gorge. You think war, a thing I was born to do could stop me?"
Perhaps it worked despite his scorn, but any blood from his side was ignored as he continued to cut men down and push on through, to where eventually they ran into more of the Grand Duke's army cutting down those weilding Turgullian flags. His eyes were like a hawks, cutting through the masses long before his sword ever could. And no one could deny there was a certain truth to the stories and claims-
He was a fine speciman of man, body rippling with muscles, dripping with sweat and blood and collecting all the more scars for him to boast about along the way. Perhaps there was something Godly about the man who could take such a hit and keep on going as if it were a kitten's scratch. But whatever it was, it was powerful and so far, no man could cut him down.