Lovers and Warriors Dedicated to Zakiyah ***** The man dropped like a sack of potatoes. Ned Malone quickly rolled away before the heavy man could fall on him. Usually I'm the one getting hit over the head. I guess this is my lucky day, he thought wryly. He stood up and looked around. The three men who had attacked him lay on the ground, all of them unconscious, battered, and bruised. He had finished off two of them on his own, but the last one had given him a lot of trouble. The unexpected support from a rescuer who came out of nowhere had saved him. He looked at his rescuer and the attackers were quickly forgotten. In front of him stood a stunning woman, obviously a warrior of some kind, as she was heavily armed. She gazed at him without a smile, probably unsure whether the man she had just saved was friend or foe. The young journalist decided it was time to thank her. He smiled at her, bowed his head and said, "My name is Ned Malone. Thank you for saving me." The woman looked at him for a moment and then she smiled back. "I'm Sarina of the Katu tribe. It was an honor to help another warrior. These men here," she kicked one with her boot, "are nothing better than common robbers. Vermin crossing the roads of honest travelers." Ned found her refreshingly direct and he grinned inwardly. "I guess you're right. Where are you heading?" "I'm a traveler. I'm searching for my destiny," she responded with a very serious expression on her face. "And you?" Ned smiled. "I guess I'm also a traveler. This is unfamiliar territory for me. Maybe we can travel together for a while." She nodded. "Yes, that seems like a wise decision." They tied up the three men to make sure that they couldn't follow, but used knots they should eventually be able to undo. Despite their actions, Ned didn't feel right about leaving them to the mercy of raptors. Then he and Sarina set off on the rough jungle path. Ned looked at the woman walking next to him. She was tall and her arms and legs were strong and muscular. She wore a yellow tunic and heavy leather armor over it. Her leather boots were thigh high and she wore a long sword across her back and two knives on her belt. She also had a club on her belt, which she had used earlier to knock out the robber. Her hair was dark and long and she had colorful pearls and bands tied into it. Her skin was light brown and her eyes were pale green. She was very striking and something about her proud bearing and the strength she projected reminded him of Veronica, although they didn't look alike at all. "Where does your tribe live, Sarina?" he asked her after a few minutes of silence. "We are a wandering tribe. We live all over the Plateau. We travel from place to place and offer our services as warriors. Sometimes we stay for a week or a month and sometimes we settle down for years. But eventually we continue our journey." "Do you always wander alone?" Ned inquired. "No. Mostly we travel in groups. But sometimes we have to go on a quest to test our strength and convictions, and we must do this on our own," she replied. Ned smiled at her. "I understand." The warrior looked at him intently. "Are you also on a quest? Have you left your tribe?" "My tribe?" He chuckled. "I guess we're too small to call ourselves a tribe. Let's just say I've left my family for a while." "But you will go back to them?" she asked. Ned stopped walking for a moment and stared into the distance. Then he said softly, "Yes, I'll go back. There was never a doubt about that. I miss them very much." Sarina put her hand on his arm and replied gently, "You will see them again. I can feel it." Ned was touched by her remark and they continued on the path. ***** It was very late when they finally reached a small settlement. Barking dogs alerted the inhabitants to their arrival. Sarina and Ned stood in the middle of the square as the villagers streamed out of their houses to take a look at the newcomers. The villagers were farmers, by the looks of it, and they glanced at the two with suspicion in their eyes. Sarina introduced them and after a short, hushed conversation among a few of the villagers, a tall, middle-aged man stepped forward. "I'm Tirrol. I'm the elder of the village. We've heard about the Katu and we know they are brave warriors who often help those in need." Ned was impressed that Sarina's tribe had such a reputation in this region. His companion's face showed pride and great dignity at the same time. "I'm honored that you speak so highly of my tribe," she said. "We have been traveling all day, and my friend and I are now looking for a safe place to sleep." "Please be our guests for the night," Tirrol said. "We will share our food with you and provide you with shelter." They followed Tirrol into the one of the larger houses. Sarina and Ned sat at a large table in what turned out to be Tirrol's home. With them at the table were Tirrol, his wife, Elysi, and several younger men and women whom Ned gathered were a mix of their hosts' family and friends. Sarina and Ned were served a hearty meal of wild boar stewed with grains and vegetables, which tasted delicious after their long day on the trail. Both thanked their hosts sincerely when they'd finished eating. Elysi was pleased that her cooking was so appreciated. She and the others had kept the newcomers company while eating, but they had only had small portions of food, obviously more a ceremonial gesture of hospitality than a real meal. The young people studied Ned and Sarina and whispered to each other. From what Ned could gather, they were commenting on their strange clothing and Sarina's tribe. When one of them made a remark that elicited giggles and laughter, Elysi threw them a stern admonishing glance. "Honor our guests!" she snapped, displeased with their immature behavior. She rose and instinctively all the men rose with her, including Ned. There was something in her manner that demanded respect. Elysi looked to her left at the two young women still sitting there. "Nali, Chisari, clear the table while I fetch the ale." She left for the kitchen, not waiting to see if they would do as she said. She was a woman accustomed to being obeyed. "Yes, ma'am." The younger women nodded, although Elysi was already out of sight. They stood and began to move around the table, collecting up the dirty dishes. The men sat again with the exception of Ned. "Let me help," he offered. There was a split-second pause when the young women froze, then continued clearing up. The men eyed Malone suspiciously. "The women will manage," Tirrol said. "Sit down, sit down." Ned sat as the headman continued. "You and Sarina are guests here and our hospitality would be wanting if we made you work for your supper." Elysi backed through the kitchen door just then, five wooden mugs in one hand, four in the other, and all balanced against her ample bosom. She returned just in time to hear Sarina speak. "But surely there is something we can do," the warrior woman spoke up. "I would not want to be in debt to you when I can find some way to repay it. It is the way of my tribe." "That's the healthiest attitude I've heard in a long time," Elysi declared. She deposited her burden of beers on the cleared table, slopping only the smallest amount onto the well-worn wooden top, and began handing them around. The first two went to Ned and Sarina, the next to her husband, and the next she kept for herself. As she reclaimed her seat beside Tirrol, Nali and Chisari returned from the kitchen. Each wordlessly took a mug and carried it to chairs by the fire. They sat with their drinks beside them. One—Ned wasn't sure but he thought she was the one called Nali—fished a ball of yarn and needles from a basket and began to knit. The other—Chisari—reached into a second basket and removed a shirt, which she began to mend with meticulous care. Once everyone else had been served, the young men took the last three drinks. They hedged away from the rest of those at the table, and Ned wasn't sorry to see them do it. The trio made him uneasy in a way he wasn't able to pinpoint—and that just bothered him all the more. His attention was drawn back to the discussion when Sarina spoke again. "What do you mean?" she asked their hostess. She took a sip of her drink and gave a small nod of approval. Ned tasted his, too, and smiled. It was the best beer he'd had since he'd left London three years ago. He continued to sip the golden-brown liquid as Elysi replied. "There are plenty in this world who don't believe in fair trade or paying a fair price for something," the headwoman said cryptically. "That's all." "Are you saying you've had problems with those kinds of people lately?" Ned asked, his reporter's curiosity piqued. Tirrol gave his wife a warning look. "Elysi…" "I'm not saying anything," she answered in false innocence. She sent a brief but scathing glare at the three young men, then proceeded to ignore them completely. Ned glanced first at his hostess, then at the young men, than at the girls by the fire. He was having a hard time trying to understand the family dynamics and Elysi's attitude didn't help his confusion. Tirrol noticed him looking and leapt at the chance to change the subject to safer ground. "Our daughters," he said, nodding at the young women. "And the others?" Ned asked, looking warily at the trio again. Elysi followed his gaze and said, "Suitors to our daughters." She spat word "suitors" as if it were an epithet. She quickly changed the subject with a question of her own. "Do you have any children yourself?" she asked, looking at both Ned and Sarina. "No," Ned answered. Sarina just shook her head and said, "But you haven't told us about…your friends over there. What did they do?" A tense silence fell over the room, broken only by the crackling of the fire, the hiss of the oil lamps that hung in the corners of the room, and the quiet wooden clacking of Nali's knitting needles. Elysi and Tirrol stared at one another for several seconds. The three young men seemed frozen in place, waiting for what might come. Ned and Sarina watched it all with growing interest and intensity. Finally, not moving her steady gaze from that of her husband, Elysi said, "They want to abandon the village." Ned wasn't sure whether now was the time to ask direct questions. Sarina, who wasn't prone to lengthy reflections when important questions needed to be asked, was more blunt. "Why? Do they want to go on a quest?" Elysi sighed. "We don't go on quests. We are farmers. We work the land so we can feed our families. Ours is a quiet way. But there are forces that are threatening our way of life." Sarina and Ned looked at each other, slightly puzzled. Elysi went on. "There is a tribe of bandits who are pillaging and robbing villages in this valley. They steal food and valuables. Each time they attack they are more brutal. They raped a woman in the Kanara settlement a month ago and killed three men of the Vilu tribe last week." Elysi paused. Malone and his companion waited patiently. Finally the woman continued once more. "These bandits are blackmailing villages. They promise to spare them if they are paid a ransom. But they come back so often, in the end the villagers don't have anything left to give. So the bandits attack them. Some of our people have left us and gone to live in the city of Kartash. But in the city we can only live as servants. There is more honor in working the land," Elysi said with bitterness in her voice. Ned looked at the three young men who huddled in a corner. Why wouldn't they want to fight for their home? Elysi seemed to read his mind and provided the answer. "The bandits are powerful. They are warriors, while we are only farmers. The young men of our village believe that we are doomed. They think that life in the city is preferable to this slow death." "Don't call these bandits warriors!" Sarina interrupted heatedly. "They have no honor; they can't be warriors." Elysi nodded gravely. "Just so," she replied placatingly. She had no desire to offend her guest, who was clearly an honorable woman. "We had a few run-ins with the bandits and the few men who had been trained in the art of war were killed. We are defenseless against another attack." Ned felt Sarina's hand grab his fingers. "You gave us food and shelter. I am at your service. I will defend your village against any attacker." She looked expectantly at Ned. The young journalist didn't have to think about his answer. "Whatever I can do to help you, I will do." Sarina squeezed his hand excitedly. Elysi's face lit up with joy. Tirrol, on the other hand, seemed aghast at this offer. "There is no need for your services. We will pay off the bandits and they will leave us alone," he said in a belligerent tone. Elysi scoffed at this remark. "What? Like they left the Vilu alone?" Tirrol blanched at her words. It was obvious that his family was important to him and that he was worried about their safety. Pride and concern were at war in his soul. Elysi decided that it was time for a conciliatory remark. "It is late. Let's go to sleep. Tomorrow we can talk some more about making our village safe. Don't you agree, Tirrol?" The man nodded. "You're right. Things look different in the morning." Elysi stood up and waved to Malone and Sarina to rise, too. "Follow me, I'll show you where you can sleep." She led them to a house on the edge of the settlement. It was fairly new, solidly built, and pretty large. "It was the home of one of our bravest warriors," Elysi said with a sad smile. "He was my brother and he died fighting the bandits." Sarina bowed her head reverently and laid her hand above her heart. "We are deeply honored to step into the home of such a brave warrior." "It's only fitting, isn't it?" Elysi remarked. Ned wondered how she could be sure that he or Sarina deserved this honor, but when he looked at his companion, he could only agree that she was the perfect embodiment of a proud warrior. And I guess I get glory by association, he thought, slightly amused yet a touch bitter, too. Not for the first time… The interior of the house was kept in neat order, but it was apparent that no one lived there day to day. It was too tidy and didn't have a lived-in feeling. Elysi gestured towards the fireplace. "There is wood outside. Just light a fire and it will keep you warm and you can heat water." On the left side of the room was a bed, which was covered with blankets and fur. "If it gets at all chilly in the night," Elysi said, "there are more blankets in the cupboard." She pointed at a small door in the wall near the foot of the bed. It was clear she believed Ned and Sarina were together in more than the traveling companion sense. Ned felt uncomfortable. The bed was big, but the young journalist considered it rather inappropriate for him and Sarina to sleep in such close proximity. I expect Roxton would call me a prude again, he couldn't help thinking. He couldn't quite decide whether it was his sense of propriety that made him uncomfortable or the fact that he was expected to share his bed with a very beautiful woman whom he had just met. And with whom, if he were to be honest with himself, he very much wanted to share that bed or any other. He didn't want to bring it up with their hostess, as he felt that her generosity shouldn't be bothered with such details. He and Sarina would have to sort it out themselves. Elysi bid them good-night and Sarina walked outside to get firewood. When she returned, Ned had already lit a small fire. She put a few logs on it and after a short while the living area was lighted by the pleasant shine of the fireplace. Sarina took off her heavy armor and her boots. She stretched her arms and then she turned to Malone.
Ned agreed that they both needed sleep. He looked around the house, but there really was no other place where he could reasonably sleep—no couch, no comfortable chair. The floor? he considered, then immediately rejected the idea. It was getting rather cold. He briefly contemplated writing about his day's adventures in his journal, but he was too tired to organize his thoughts properly. And I'd only be delaying the inevitable, he admitted to himself. Well, Sarina doesn't seem to mind the sleeping arrangements, and it's only temporary anyway, he finally concluded. When his companion had laid down and made herself comfortable in the bed, the journalist took off his boots and climbed in next to her, keeping to the far side of the bed. With Sarina sleeping peacefully next to him, Ned covered himself in blankets and tried to find a comfortable position. He was very tired, but he still couldn't sleep right away, too aware of the body of the woman beside him. It was nearly dawn when he finally fell asleep. ***** It was close to noon when Ned woke up the next day. He heard yelling and the clanking of swords. He looked around, but Sarina was nowhere in sight. He quickly put on his boots and went outside. An astonishing sight greeted him. The three young men from the night before all held swords and they were attacking one person—Sarina. Ned pulled out his revolver and shot into the ground. "Let her go!" he yelled, outraged by this unfair attack. Sarina turned around and laughed. "Don't worry, Ned, we're just practicing." Malone was flabbergasted. What’s this all about? he wondered. The young men lowered their swords and Ned noticed that most of the villagers were standing around the square, watching the spectacle. Sarina bowed to the three young men, who bowed back. Then she walked over to Ned and took him aside. "I've heard more about the bandits. They aren’t a terribly large group and they are successful because they go after villages that have few or no warriors. Elysi and Tirrol think that they can convince these young men to be proud warriors who can defend their own village. They were rather arrogant at first, but when I beat all three of them in battle, they showed some more respect." "You beat all three of them?" Ned asked incredulously. "Three times," the female warrior said matter-of-factly. "It wasn't very hard. These boys barely know how to handle a sword." "So let me get this straight, you want to train these three to become warriors?" "I want to train all the villagers in fighting skills. We don't have much time. The bandits were seen about a week's journey from here and they are expected to attack villages in this region." "A week…" Ned's voice couldn't conceal his skepticism. "That's a very short time." "True enough," Sarina replied, "but they have both of us to help them and to front the battle." Malone didn't quite share Sarina's self-confidence, but a look at the villagers was enough to convince him that he had to help these people. And they would need to start right away. The next several days were filled with little more than training, eating, and sleeping. While Sarina handled the majority of the swordsmanship, Ned primarily taught hand-to-hand combat. It was surprising to Ned how the people whom he'd expected to be good warrior material often turned out to be only mediocre fighters. A case in point was the headman and his wife, who had been their hosts upon their arrival. Tirrol was a tall, strong man, but his wife Elysi was a lot better at handling the sword than he was. Another was an old man who proved to be so proficient in sword-fighting that he was able to fight off two attackers at once. The villagers admired Sarina greatly for her fighting skills and her willingness to show them how to defend themselves. They also had tremendous respect for Ned, who had a lot of fighting tricks up his sleeve as well. Malone had never considered himself an exceptional fighter, but compared to the villagers he had years of experience in fending off enemies. He had learned many tricks from Roxton and Veronica in his time on the Plateau and these came in handy now. On the third day of their stay in the village, their sleeping arrangements were changed. During the course of a conversation with Sarina, Elysi had finally figured out that Ned and Sarina were practically strangers and not a couple as she had assumed. Elysi moved Sarina into another house, which she shared with three other unmarried women. Sarina didn't quite understand the reason for this change, as her tribe had no notion of marriage or illicit relationships, but she wanted to be respectful of their hosts. Malone was rather happy about the change as well; he had found the close nighttime proximity of Sarina quite disconcerting and a sure way to cause heavy bouts of insomnia. Apart from this little scandal, the relationship between the villagers and the two outsiders grew more amicable every day. Each day the villagers spent hours practicing battle skills. Ten days later they had learned a great deal, but so far their skills hadn't been tested against real opponents. In all that time, they heard nothing about the bandits. Another week passed and still no bandits were in sight. Tirrol decided to visit a neighboring village to find out whether they had heard anything about the marauders. Ned and Sarina volunteered to accompany him, as both were eager for a change of scenery. The village was only a few hours away and if they left early, they could be back by nightfall. Their journey was uneventful until about ten miles before they reached the village. Ned found traces that indicated that other travelers had been in the area. "Heavy boots. Not the kind that the villagers around here tend to wear," he said, kneeling down and studying the footprints. Sarina took a look as well. "I agree with your assessment. These may well be the bandits' tracks. Let's hurry. The village may have had visitors." The three of them picked up the pace. When they came closer to the village, they smelled the smoke. They all became very worried. There were no sounds of battle, just the smell of smoke too strong for simple cooking fires. They climbed up a steep hill and when they reached the top, a horrible sight greeted them. The village was destroyed. Some buildings were only charred ruins; others still burned. Bodies lay on the ground. It was a picture of mayhem and destruction. They ran down the hill, all hoping that they'd find some survivors. Tirrol and Sarina drew their swords while Ned got his gun ready. The attack seemed to have happened a while ago, but the bandits could still be hidden somewhere close. They examined the first dead body they found. Tirrol cried out in dismay when he saw how it had been viciously mutilated. Ned felt sick to his stomach. These weren't just robbers; these were cold-blooded murderers who liked to torture. The trio walked through the village, looking at ruins, trying to find traces of survivors. Tirrol looked at the dead bodies, some of which were charred beyond recognition. Those still identifiable he named for Sarina and Ned, telling them who each person had been. They weren't nameless faces for them anymore and both felt anger and pain at the terrible loss of so many lives. "I think they've killed most of them. Only two are missing, two young girls," Tirrol said after they had gone through the whole village. "Young girls? How young?" Sarina asked in a cold tone. "Twelve or thirteen. I don't remember exactly. They are the children of Elysi's friend Hella. The woman we found in the first house." Tirrol's voice was thick with grief. Ned suddenly understood what Sarina was worried about. "You think they've kidnapped them." "These men are evil. You saw what they did to some of the women. They will use these girls and then sell them to slavers."
Sarina stopped him. "There isn't time. Help me check the perimeter of the village. People who create such carnage are unlikely to be difficult to track. We will find them ourselves." Quickly the three split up and began to search the outskirts of the village. By now they were certain no bandits had stayed behind. There was no one there but themselves and the dead. At the southeast edge of the settlement, Ned found what they were looking for. "Here!" he called out loudly. When the others reached him he was crouched down, examining a wide trail left by the feet of many heavy-soled boots. He looked up at his companions. "You were right when you said they'd be easy to track. But I don't see any prints that might be the girls'," he said sadly. "Then the men have carried them," replied Sarina decisively. She turned to Tirrol. "Will you come with us or will you return to your village? We could use your help, but your people should be told of what we found here." Tirrol's answer was decisive. "I'll return to my village. You're right that they need to be told, and the good people who died here deserve to be laid to rest. I'll return here with others tomorrow to give them a proper burial." Sarina nodded and turned to Ned. "Let's go." "The girls' names are Ayana and Maura," Tirrol said. "If you find them, they will know you're friends if you know their names." "Not 'if'," Ned corrected quickly. "When." ***** Sarina and Ned moved quickly through the jungle, easily following the path made by the bandits. There was no way to be certain, but Ned guessed there were more than two dozen of them. And that's just this group, he thought in trepidation. I wonder how many we'll find when we find their base. After some time they came a cross a deserted campsite. They paused and searched the area, looking for any sign of the two missing girls. Then Sarina spotted it. A small scrap of pale pink cloth clung like the last leaf of autumn to a bramble bush at the edge of the camp. She rushed to it and plucked it from the bush. She turned the scrap over in her hands, examining it carefully. "What is it?" asked Ned, coming up beside her. Sarina showed him the bit of fabric. "They were here with at least one of the girls." "There's blood on it," Ned noted worriedly. "From the brambles, judging by the way it is torn and the pattern of the blood," Sarina replied. "I found it here." She pointed to the stickery bush and Malone nodded in understanding. "But that doesn't mean she is unharmed." "The bandits aren't making much effort to hide their movements." Ned scanned the area with his eyes. "I have a bad feeling about this." "As do I," agreed Sarina. "They clearly stopped here for the night on their way to their home, if vermin like this can be said to have anything as civilized as a home," she added bitterly. "We can move faster than they. I believe we can catch up to them before nightfall." "Assuming they haven't already reached their base camp." "Either way, we will find them and rescue the girls." "Sarina," Ned started, then paused. The passion in his companion's eyes disconcerted him a little. He didn't want to anger her by questioning her, but he had concerns he felt needed to be addressed. "What do you plan to do when we find them?" "I told you, Ned. We will rescue the girls." "I understand that, but we can't just attack twenty some armed and obviously vicious men." Sarina paused at his words and Ned knew his suspicions were correct. She had been ready and willing to throw herself into battle with the bandits for the sake of the missing girls. It was an attitude he'd seen before—in his friends at the Treehouse and, if he were to be completely honest, in himself since his return from the spirit world. "We can't save them by rushing headlong into a camp of bandits and getting ourselves killed," he said calmly. Slowly, reluctantly, she nodded in agreement. "You're right," she admitted at last. "You said you thought we could catch up to them before nightfall, right?" Sarina nodded again. "Then that's perfect. We find them, scope out their camp and figure out where they're keeping the girls, and then we can go in under the cover of darkness and get them out." "It's a good plan," she agreed. Ned let out a small sigh of relief. "Then we'd better get moving if we're going to put it into action." ***** Under cover of the thick jungle foliage, Sarina and Ned looked down on the camp below them. They lay flat on the ground on a low cliff, hidden from view by the angle and a fallen and decaying tree. At least a dozen men sat or stood around the clearing they'd made by trampling the underbrush with their heavy boots and hacking down the smaller trees with their swords. A fire had been built in the center of the camp and something noxious was roasting over it, sending its pungent smoke into the cooling night air. The pair continued to search the area with their eyes until Ned spotted their target. He laid a hand on Sarina's arm and carefully pointed. There, at the edge of the clearing, were two huddled forms. They were much smaller than anyone else and clung together in obvious terror. Ned couldn't be sure from that distance, but he thought at least one was crying. He turned his head and met Sarina's gaze. It was bright and angry. In silent agreement, they slipped cautiously away from the ledge. When they were certain they were out of range of the camp, Ned spoke softly. "Where are the rest of them?" "I think I know," Sarina answered just as quietly. "There was another path leading away from this camp. I think the rest have gone on to take word to their leader." "But why leave so many behind just for two little girls?" Sarina shrugged slightly. "Even feral dogs travel in packs. There is safety in groups." Ned nodded, trusting her judgment, and focused on their immediate situation. "There's only one man guarding the girls and two standing lookout." "I saw. If you can dispose of one lookout, I will remove the other. Then you can distract the guard and I'll get the girls." She obviously had it all planned out in her head. Ned wanted to argue that he should be the one to actually infiltrate the bandits' camp, but the set line of Sarina's jaw and the fierceness in her eyes stopped him. "All right," he agreed a bit reluctantly. "But be careful. If you're seen we'll have the whole pack of them down on us." "I won't be seen." Her quiet declaration had the ring of a sworn oath. Ned nodded sharply once and they moved out. He circled cautiously around the camp to the far side where they had seen one sentry. Sarina would take out the nearer guard then meet up with Malone near the captive girls. Quick and quiet, the journalist thought as he crept up on his quarry, gun in hand. He wouldn't fire it, but intended to use its sturdy handle to knock the man unconscious. Nearly there… Crack! A twig snapped under Ned's boot and the guard spun around. Without pausing to think, Ned struck out, bringing the butt of his Colt .45 into sharp contact with the man's temple. The bandit had only a split second to register surprise before crumpling to the ground. I hope the rest of this is that easy, thought Ned. He continued his careful trek around the camp to the place he and Sarina had agreed to meet. He found her already waiting. Her quick, mirthless smile told him all he needed to know; she had disposed of the other guard. He nodded back and moved stealthily toward the camp, picking up several small stones as he went. A large, broadleaf tree overhung the edge of the camp near his target. Tucking the pebbles into a pocket, he began to climb the tree. His goal was to get high enough to be able to toss the pebbles at the guard, hopefully causing him to think one of the jungle's nocturnal species of monkey was having a game with him. Ned hoped to anger the man just as much to make him careless enough to leave the encampment in search of the irritating primate. Once he was in the shadows, Sarina could slip into the camp and get the girls. The plan worked like a charm at first. He tossed the smallest of the stones at the man, causing him to flinch and spin around. Ned continued to spatter him with tiny stones and the guard brushed angrily at his hair, glaring up into Ned's tree, searching for his tormentor, but Ned stayed well hidden among the branches and leaves. A couple of the other bandits noticed the guard's distress and pointed at him, laughing. The guard snarled something in a language Ned didn't recognize, but the intent in the words was clear. The other bandits just laughed raucously and sneered more before turning back to their own activities and ignoring their companion. The guard glared at them and then up into the tree again. Careful to remain out of sight, Ned dropped a larger pebble, which hit the man squarely on the nose. He yelped and snarled furiously, rubbing his face with one hand. He yanked his sword from his belt and strode into the shadows beyond the firelight. Malone moved very, very carefully above him, silently thanking his lucky stars that this species of tree had such wide and sturdy limbs. He lured the man to the darker side of the jungle giant and leapt. The force of his landing sent the guard sprawling, knocking the wind from him. Before he could catch his breath and raise the alarm, Ned withdrew his gun and struck the back of the bandit's head. With a grunt, the man collapsed, unconscious. So far so— Ned's thought was cut short as he heard a shout from the direction of the camp. Damn! He spun on his heel, quickly transferring his grip on his weapon so he was ready to shoot. Sarina burst out of the darkness, two young girls before her and a pack of angry men not far behind. As soon as the women were past the spot where he hid behind the tree trunk, Ned began firing. Shots rang out, startling bandits and wildlife alike. Night birds erupted from the surrounding trees at the sharp and unexpected noise. Ned continued to fire, picking out the shapes of the charging bandits, eerily backlit by the campfire filtering through the foliage. He heard several of them cry out and fall and he knew that at least some of his bullets had hit their marks. The bandits slowed their charge, the unfamiliar weapon and the shifting darkness making them suddenly cautious. Ned took their moment of hesitation to fire three more shots into the crowd, downing two more men, before fleeing after Sarina and the girls. He caught up to them not far away. The girls were huddled on the lee-side of a huge boulder that was submerged like a stone iceberg in the land. Ned stopped short a the point of Sarina's sword. "Whoa!" he gasped, skidding to a halt. "Ned!" Sarina smiled and lowered her weapon. Then her expression grew grim and she glanced over his shoulder. "The bandits?" "Slowed but not stopped. We need to keep moving," he answered quickly. She turned to the hunched and shaking girls. "We have to go." Then she looked back to Ned. "I think we will be faster if we carry them." He nodded and she looked back at the girls. "Stand up. We must move on now. Maura, this is Ned," she said to the older of the girls. "Hold onto him and we'll soon have you safe." The two girls rose and Maura nodded tensely. Tears had streaked her dirt-covered face, but she wasn't crying now. Her expression held only determination. To Ned's eye she looked closer to ten than twelve, as Tirrol had told them, but in the darkness and in such a state, he couldn't be sure of her age. He holstered his gun and smiled at her in a way he hoped she found encouraging, then turned so she could climb onto his back. Sarina sheathed her sword and hoisted Ayana in her arms, and they jogged off as quickly as they could into the night. ***** Their way back to the village was long and tedious. They tried to cover their tracks by using a few detours, hoping that this would confuse their enemies. It was a little after dawn when they finally arrived home safely. They were greeted by a crowd of villagers, many of whom offered to take care of the girls. When Ned and Sarina tried to hand them over, the frightened girls refused and continued to cling to them. "We better take care of them for a while." Ned said, hugging Maura closely. Sarina nodded with a frown on her face. "I'm not experienced in mothering." Ned couldn't suppress a grin. "I'm sure there's a lot you can teach them. What every girl needs to know—how to fight with a sword, how to knock out an opponent who's twice as heavy…" Sarina looked at him gravely. "Ned Malone, are you making fun of me?" He smiled at her. "Just a little." She relaxed and smiled back at him. "Let's eat something and then get some rest. I'm sure those bandits will figure out pretty quickly who's responsible for the disappearance of the children." ***** The bandits who had followed Ned and Sarina were very good at vicious killing, but lacked good tracking skills. After they got lost a few times in the dark, they decided to go back to their base camp and face their leader. The camp was merely a ramshackle collection of crude huts and dirty tents. About forty bandits lived there and a few women, all of them abducted and living a slave-like existence. The men had come from a lot of different tribes and they had only one thing in common—a total disregard for the value of human life. Their leader was a man named Cainstor. He was of medium height and build and didn't look very impressive at first sight. His eyes gave the clue to his true personality. They were the gleaming paths into the soul of a madman. The returnees were greeted with cheers at first, but when they explained that they had lost the girls and several of their men, the mood turned. They were grabbed and shoved into Cainstor's hut. One of the men, a chubby red-haired fellow named Itari, had the thankless task of telling their leader what had happened. He massaged the truth liberally and Ned and Sarina turned into a large army of heavily armed men. Cainstor walked up and down while listening to his account. "An army?" His voice had an unpleasant stentorian quality to it. "What kind of army has formed? Who are these people? Who is their leader?" Itari wasn't a man blessed with a lot of imagination, so he had a hard time expanding his lies any further. He started to sweat profusely. Cainstor's wrath was feared among the men. He used swords and knives with horrid creativity when he wanted to punish a man for insurgence or incompetence. Cainstor's pace back and forth became more and more frantic. Suddenly he stopped and grabbed Itari by the throat. "I ask you one last time—who leads this army?" His spittle wet Itari's face and the man couldn't swallow because Cainstor's grip on his throat was so harsh. "I don't know. I mean…I'm not sure. Maybe the village we destroyed had allies?" he said hoarsely. Cainstor's face was a mask of rage and pure hatred. He threw Itari back and stalked out of the hut, yelling out, "Everyone! Come here and listen to my orders!" The men assembled quickly. It didn't do any good to disobey his orders. "Brothers!" Cainstor started. "Our rule is threatened by a new army. These spineless villagers must have gotten outside help. We will not let anyone take away what's ours. Our slaves, our tribute, our territory. Get your weapons. We are going to WAR!" His voice had grown louder and louder until it became a hysterical shriek. The men cheered. They ran back into their huts and tents and grabbed their weapons. Cainstor's deputy Ontio, a tall man with horrible facial scars, turned to his leader and asked in a soft voice, "Where do you think we'll find this army?" Cainstor looked at him with a vicious smile on his face. "It will find us. We will give them a signal. A burning village or two. A few dead bodies nailed to trees. A chopped-off head on a trail…" Ontio smiled. His scars turned the smile into a hideous mask. A few hours later they were on their way. Their goal was the village closest to the last they had pillaged. Tirrol's village… ***** The village was quiet. Sentries stood guard at the gates and the one watchtower, but there was nothing to see. The jungle was shrouded in darkness broken only by a sliver of moon and the multitudinous stars of the Milky Way. Alone in the house he'd been given for the duration of his stay, Ned couldn't find restful sleep. He tossed and turned on the bed, tired and weary, occasionally nodding off, but soon woken up again by unpleasant dreams. It was hot and stuffy in the room and after a while he decided to get up and go out for a short walk through the settlement. It had taken some time, but eventually he and Sarina had calmed down the rescued girls enough to put them to bed. Once the adrenaline caused by their fear had stopped rushing through them, exhaustion had overtaken them both. Maura and Ayana were now asleep in the unmarried women's quarters where they could be close to Sarina. He briefly considered stopping in to check on them, but decided against it. Everyone needed all the rest he or she could get, and the last thing those girls needed was to be awoken suddenly in the middle of the night. The night air cooled him off a little bit and after about half an hour he felt better. Maybe now I can get some sleep, he thought wistfully. There was a good chance that tomorrow would be a day when he would need all his fighting skills. While nothing had been found in the immediate vicinity, a small band of the village's hunters had seen smoke from campfires about a day's journey away. I've got to get some rest. When he walked back into his room, he was greeted by the sight of Sarina, sitting cross-legged on his bed, sharpening her sword with a stone. She was little more than a dark shadow against a darker background, but he knew in an instant that it was her. The fact alone that she could sharpen a sword by nothing but the light of a dying fire was proof of her identity. Ned had no doubt that none of the villagers had that skill. "Sarina!" he said in quiet surprise. "What are you doing here? Is there trouble? Are the girls okay?" Before he'd even finishing speaking, Malone had moved over to the corner of the room where he had stored his rifle, but soft laughter from the direction of the bed stopped him. "No, Ned, don't worry. The fight is many hours away and the girls are sleeping," Sarina said with quite a bit of amusement in her soft voice. Malone couldn't see her facial expression very well, but it was clear from her tone that she was smiling. "Then why are you here?" Ned asked, puzzled by her presence. "Do you want to discuss strategy?" The woman put the stone away and gingerly touched the blade of her sword. She nodded, pleased; its sharpness met with her approval. Then she laid the sword on the floor at the foot of the bed and stretched out her hand. Malone slowly approached her. Sarina patted the space next to her and the journalist sat down. "My tribe celebrates life before battle." Ned raised his eyebrows questioningly. "Meaning?" "We celebrate life because life and death are inextricably intertwined. Tomorrow we may well face death, but tonight we will celebrate life." Ned wished that she wouldn't just repeat "celebrate life" over and over again, but rather be more specific. He felt a bit like he had when the two Amazon warriors had won him and had asked him to join them in their celebration. That had turned out to be a rather interesting and educational experience, although it had been cut short by Veronica's unexpected arrival. Well…not entirely unexpected; he had hoped she would rescue him, just not so soon. It had been a rather intimate moment when she barged in. He looked at Sarina, slowly understanding what she was hinting at. A log crackled in the fireplace and a flurry of embers illuminated the room for a few seconds. The woman's gaze was bold but affectionate. She sees me as an equal, the journalist thought with quiet satisfaction. I'm a warrior like she is. He smiled at her and lifted his hand to her face. He gently caressed her cheek and she smiled. She took his hand and pressed a kiss into the palm of it. Her lips felt warm and soft on his skin and he felt a rush of excitement surge through him. A celebration of life. I think I like this religion–or whatever you want to call it, he thought wryly. Sarina let go of his hand and rose to her feet. He watched her curiously as she crossed to the table and lit the three candles so they would be able to see one another better. Ned swallowed hard, his puritan upbringing losing rapidly to pure and wanton lust. He found he liked the idea of being able to see her clearly while they "celebrated." She returned to the bed and sat facing him. She began to unbutton his shirt slowly. Once she had it open, he shrugged it off. Sarina stared boldly and the usually modest reporter found he quite enjoyed her scrutiny. She touched his chest and slowly let her hands wander down his abdomen, around his sides, and then up his back. "You're strong," she whispered admiringly. Ned decided it was time to do a little exploring of his own. He quickly undid the two knots that held her yellow tunic together and the garment slid down to her waist. Her body was exquisite, curvaceous and muscular, an enticing mixture of softness and strength. In the faint candlelight Ned could discern quite a number of scars, testament to the many battles she had fought. His hands caressed her back and neck and then gently cupped her breasts. They were quite large and he enjoyed their beauty and how they felt to the touch. She smiled and leaned a little bit into him. He perfectly understood this gesture of encouragement and started stroking and massaging her breasts until her nipples grew hard. She moaned softly and closed her eyes. Her hands weren't idle either. She caressed his thighs and slowly inched closer to his trouser front. She massaged his burgeoning erection through the thin fabric and then went on to unbutton his pants. Ned was amused when he glanced down and saw his penis practically jump out of its khaki prison. Sarina opened her eyes as her strong hands grabbed onto the engorged member. She started to fondle him with experienced fingers. She smiled at him. "Do you like this, Ned?" she asked. "What do you think?" he asked back, with a teasing and affectionate grin. "I think you like it. A lot." She kissed him lightly on the lips and started to stroke him a little faster. Ned bit his lower lip, her caresses exciting him tremendously. He grabbed her hands. "Wait, Sarina." The woman looked at him questioningly, confused by the interruption. "What's wrong?" she inquired. "Nothing. I just want you to slow down. I want this to last a while and you're…" He hesitated a moment, unsure how to phrase this politely. "You're very good at this, but I want to please you as well." The warrior nodded gravely, obviously not offended by his words. She ran her fingers up and down his penis one last time, treasuring the silk-like softness of the skin, and then she looked at him expectantly. Ned stepped back and quickly took off his boots and pants. Then he helped Sarina up and proceeded to undress her completely. When they were both naked, he laid down on the bed and took her hand. Understanding his invitation, she joined him, their bodies warm where they pressed against one another. His hands and lips started their own expedition. He nibbled on her neck while his fingers played with her nipples. After a while his lips replaced his hands on her chest, lovingly sucking and nipping at her tender and sensitive flesh. Her breathing became faster and her hands in his hair and on the back of his neck provided wordless encouragement. His left hand slowly slid down across her flat stomach and rested between her legs. Her thighs parted willingly and he stroked the coarse curls before finally letting one finger slip into her vagina. She was already very wet and he moaned excitedly when he felt how ready she was for him. Her hips surged upwards and he understood that this was a sign to devote more attention to her womanhood. He slid another finger into her and started to stroke in and out in a languid rhythm. Her contented sighs told him that he was on the right track. When his fingers were well-lubricated, he slipped them out of her and proceeded to seek out her clitoris. He gently rubbed the sensitive little nub and Sarina's moans became louder. Malone decided that he wanted to taste his new lover and he quickly slid down her body. He knelt at the foot of the bed, pulled her with him so her hip rested on its edge, and bent his head between the warrior's thighs. He licked her soft flesh for a while and then flicked his tongue at her clitoris. Sarina bent her knees, bringing her feet up to the level of her hips, so that she could more easily arch her wet pussy into his touch. Her deep sigh of contentment made Ned smile. He began to gently suck on her clitoris and once again slid his fingers into her. He felt how the walls of her vagina contracted around them as she neared orgasm. Ned leaned back far enough to watch his lover climax, keeping his fingers moving inside her. Sarina's face was flushed and her breathing was fast and shallow. Her muscles clenched and unclenched around his fingers as she came. After a while her spasms slowed and her body relaxed. She opened her eyes and smiled at him, murmuring, "You're good at this." Malone felt proud. He wasn't exactly experienced in these matters and he had acted on instinct. This was obviously a field where knowledge didn't come out of books. Although they can be helpful, he thought with a smile, remembering how much he'd enjoyed Sir Richard Burton's translation of The Kama Sutra. He stood up and joined her on the bed once again. She shifted up so she was stretched out on the bed, and then slid a bit to the side so he could lie down comfortably. He put his arm under her head and she melted into his embrace. Her hand slowly glided down his body until she had reached his member. She looked very pleased when she found him fully erect and very hard. She gently stroked him and Ned closed his eyes, enjoying the sensation. Her hands were rough and callused, but her touch was very loving. Releasing him from her grasp, she used her hand to nudge him tenderly so he'd lie fully on his back. He complied and she shifted to her knees. When Ned opened his eyes he saw Sarina above him, straddling his hips and ready to make love with him. She grasped his erection and slid the sensitive tip back and forth between her labia for a few moments. Then she positioned herself over him and lowered herself slowly onto his cock. They both moaned deeply with pleasure when he entered her.
They picked up the pace and moved faster, both sighing and moaning with each thrust. Sarina's long dark hair flowed wildly around her face the faster she moved. Sweat trickled down Ned's brow and back into his hair. He felt his oncoming orgasm and gasped. "Sarina!" The woman understood and moved even faster, panting, "I'm ready!" She contracted her vaginal muscles and this incredible sensation sent Malone over the edge. He cried out and came. Sarina climaxed with a loud moan and then collapsed on top of him. They didn't speak for a while. Then Sarina lifted her head from his chest and smiled at him. "Celebration of life, Ned. Do you understand now?" The journalist kissed her forehead and nodded. "I understand." Sarina lifted herself off of the exhausted journalist, his now flaccid penis slipping easily out of her. She lay half beside and half on top of him, her body languidly draped along his. Ned closed his eyes and soon fell asleep. He slept peacefully and when he woke up the next morning with Sarina still in his arms, he was ready for battle. ***** An unnatural silence shrouded the settlement. Everyone could feel that battle was imminent, but only Sarina and Ned truly felt they were prepared to face it. The pair walked along the ranks that stood guard on the rampart just inside the wall of the village. Normally it was used as a combination gutter and aqueduct, channeling what rainwater it captured down wooden chutes to large storage containers underground. Now it served as a battlement from which the villagers could watch for their enemies in relative safety. Once they'd reviewed those ranks, the pair descended to check the ground troops. Ned glanced at the villagers. "They look pretty scared," he said, a pang of guilt pulsing through him. "We've told them they can win this battle, but what if we're wrong?" Sarina laid a hand on his arm and squeezed it reassuringly. "They are risking their lives. Feeling scared is normal. I'm scared whenever I go into battle."
The warrior smiled at him when she saw the expression on his face. "Well, there always might be a stronger warrior, or the number of enemies might be higher than I anticipated. Whatever happens today, I'm glad that you are at my side. You are a brave warrior, Ned Malone." Malone lowered his head and shuffled some dirt around with his boot. "I think you overestimate me. I'm more an observer than a fighter." "Observer?" Sarina's voice sounded very skeptical. "Well, I haven't known you for a long time, but you and I seem to have a lot in common and I'm not an observer." Her expression grew thoughtful and introspective. "Maybe that's bad. Maybe I should observe more and not always head into battle so readily," she remarked with a frown on her face. Malone felt a surge of affection for this woman well up in him. She didn't find fault with others easily and had a very open mind. "I don't think you have to change at all, Sarina. You are a very remarkable woman," he said spontaneously. She grinned at him. "Elysi warned me about you. She said you were a sweet-talking man and that I shouldn't be swayed by your good looks. Men like you, she told me, are easy to fall for, but they often don't make good husbands." Much to his embarrassment Malone felt himself blush. He had a hard time seeing himself as womanizer. The thought that Elysi was warning someone like Sarina about "good old Ned Malone" was a tad strange. Sarina seemed to be very amused by the recollection of her conversation with Elysi. "These villagers are very different from the people of my tribe. They worry about very unimportant matters." Their conversation was suddenly interrupted by a warning cry from the outpost. "They're coming," Malone said gravely. Sarina nodded and drew her sword. They ran towards the rampart and found Tirrol. "How many?" Sarina asked. "We think they are about fifty men," the village elder answered. Ned looked around and did a quick count. That meant that the villagers had nearly a two-to-one advantage, man to man. And quite a few women had shown themselves willing and able to fight as bravely as the men. The odds weren't completely impossible despite the new and untested skills of the villagers, but he knew that bloodshed was inevitable. Unlike the villagers, these men had a lot of experience in killing and they enjoyed it. He looked at Sarina, a wealth of unspoken words in his pale blue eyes. All he said was, "I'm going up." The warrior woman understood and nodded. "Good fighting." As Ned climbed the ladder to join the archers on the wall, Sarina turned to face her own band of make-shift fighters. Neither of them looked back. There was no finesse, no grand plan in the bandits' attack. It was a straight-forward frontal assault aimed at the gates—the weakest point in the village's wooden wall. Their tactics were simple and ugly: get inside and kill everyone. The first wave hit the gates and wood cracked. They struck again, their shouts blending into a single roar of anger as they threw themselves bodily at the impeding structure. It cracked again and splinters flew. The villagers ranged on the aqueduct tried desperately to keep their footing as the wall shook under them. Ned grabbed hold of a nearby brace with one hand and shouted over the noise, "Archers, take aim! Fire!" The archers, once simply the settlement's few game-hunters, aimed and fired into the massed bandits below. Arrows met targets and several men collapsed, their bodies either trampled by their companions or pressed so tightly between them that they were carried along with the flow. "Again!" As the archers took aim once more, Ned glanced down into the village square. There was Sarina at the front of the army of villagers. All stood poised and waiting for the wave of bandits that would undoubtedly breach the gates. They were all very still. Only the slightest shift of grip on a sword or pike, or the restless shuffle of a foot disturbed them. With a terrible shriek of bending metal hinges and a shattering of wooden beams, the gates gave way. The attackers surged through them. The archers continued to fire into the mass of bandits until they were through the torn remains of the gate. Once they passed inside the wall, the danger of accidentally shooting a fellow villager was too great and the archers were forced to stop. However, that left them free to join their companions on the ground. They swarmed down the ladder, grabbing hand-weapons from women waiting at the bottom for just this moment. Ned was the last one down. He didn't dare draw his gun; like the archers, it would be too easy for him to shoot an innocent villager. Instead, he took a sword from the woman by the ladder. It was only as he grabbed it that he recognized the person who held it out to him. "Elysi." She nodded grimly and reached for a pike that rested against the wall next to her. "Ned." Together they joined the fray. Swords swung wildly. Pikes that began as stabbing weapons soon became quarterstaves as the battle intensified and combatants pressed closer to one another. Ned could make no sense of the chaos around him and so gave up trying. He saw out of the corners of his eyes people fighting, people bleeding, people dying. Cries of rage mingled with screams of pain and terror and the clash of weapons until the noise became a deafening roar of sound. A flash of a familiar face caught his attention. He quickly dispatched the bandit he was fighting and turned. Sarina fought brilliantly, her movements as natural as the breath she drew. She moved gracefully, fluidly, as if she were born for it. Ned became absorbed in watching her. Her sword arced smoothly through the air, catching her opponent in the midsection and nearly slicing him in half. In the same motion, she turned her body and used her free arm to block a downward blow from another bandit. It was the work of a moment for her to run him through. His body hadn't hit the ground before she moved on. A sudden grunt and thud behind him snapped Malone back to the present. He spun on his heel, sword at the ready, only to find Elysi staring at him over the fallen body of a bandit. The dead man stared blindly up at the sky, his face a ghastly mask of scars. "Watch your back, young man," Elysi said severely. In a flash, Malone dropped his sword and drew his gun. He aimed over her left shoulder and fired. Elysi started at the loud explosion so close to her face, then turned to look behind her. A chubby, red-haired man lay face down in the dirt, his blood flowing freely into the ground. "You, too," replied Ned. Elysi looked at him again and smiled grimly. "My thanks." "Call it even." Across the square Sarina heard the shot and looked towards it. It took her keen warrior's eye only a moment to assess what had happened, but in that moment a wild-eyed bandit struck. Cainstor had been rather annoyed at first. These were not the complacent, weak farmers he had come to expect and it irked him. The thought that they would put up a fight against him and his men was almost unbelievable. Yet there they were, battling as if they actually thought they stood a chance of surviving. It hadn't taken him long to identify the true threat in the midst of the villagers. In a mass of barely-trained hunters and farmers, warriors were easy to spot. He had sent Itari and Ontio to deal with the fair-haired man, but he wanted the woman for himself. He took his time working through the battle towards her, judging her skills and tactics as he neared. She had killed nearly a dozen of his men by the time he was close enough to reach her. The small explosion was just the distraction he needed. When she turned to see what had happened, he leapt at her, shrieking in berserker-like fury. But Sarina was too quick, too skilled for his rude attack. She ducked his sweeping blade and rolled directly at his feet. Cainstor tripped over her and fell hard to the ground, but he managed to hang onto his sword. They both came up ready to fight. The battle raged around them, but the madman and the warrior only had eyes for each other. Cainstor was a good fighter, but this woman was unlike any opponent he had ever faced. Their swords rang as they came together time and time again. Her finely honed skills began to wear at him and he found his usual crude tactics weren't enough. He brought his weapon up one more time, aiming a furious swing at his opponent's head. But instead of parrying, Sarina ducked and spun, side-stepping his stroke. Cainstor was pulled off balance by his own attack and stumbled. Seeing her opening, Sarina struck her death blow, driving her sword deep into the bandit's gut. Cainstor's brain had only a moment to register the searing pain before her blade drove upward, cleaving flesh and bone alike. His life's blood poured out over the weapon. Sarina was just able to withdraw her blade before his falling body could pull it from her hand. Around her the fighting slowed and ceased as bandits and villagers alike stood staring at her and the dead man at her feet. She raised her head and her blood-soaked sword and shouted into the throng. "Your master is dead!" She, too, could recognize a leader when she faced one, even when it was only the leader of a pack of wild animals. "I have slain him! Will another of you challenge me?" She glared menacingly at the remaining marauders. No one answered her challenge. Ned jogged up beside her. "Drop your weapons!" he ordered the thugs. One by one, the bandits tossed their weapons aside. As they did, Tirrol approached Malone. The journalist-turned-warrior looked at him. "They're yours now," he said grimly. "What do you want to do with them?" The village's headman surveyed what remained of the bandits. Less than a third of the attacking force still stood; the rest were dead or injured. Heavy silence descended over the assembled company while Tirrol deliberated. "Sort and bury the dead," he said, his voice heavy with the pain of loss. "Tend all the wounded. Those bandits still living—chain them up. They are animals, but we are civilized people. They will stand trial for their crimes here and in our neighboring villages." There were rumblings amongst the villagers and Ned couldn't be sure if they were positive or dissenting. But whichever the case, they all began to move about wearily. The uninjured split into groups without having to be told. Some went to help those who had been hurt, others to restrain their attackers, still others to begin the woeful task of sorting out and cataloging the dead for burial. There was no sense of victory in their movements. They were sluggish, exhausted, filled with sorrow for those they had lost. Ned noticed it and it made his heart ache. Sarina spoke quietly so that only Ned could hear her. "Today we mourn our losses. Tomorrow we will celebrate victory and life." "I just hope it was worth their sacrifices," he replied softly. "When evil is defeated, it is always worth the sacrifice." Ned nodded, but inside he wasn't so sure. I wish I could see things in black and white like Sarina does, he thought. The lines are so clear to her. It reminded him of someone else he knew and that made him smile, although that smile was tinged with melancholy. Just like Veronica. ***** Two days after the victory celebration, Sarina decided that it was time for her to move on. Tirrol tried to talk her into staying, but the warrior was adamant. She assured Tirrol that the newly earned battle skills of his villagers were sufficient now to deal with other raiders. She had to continue her quest. Malone felt a similar restlessness, but his thoughts focused on the Treehouse. The fight had brought back many memories. Most of his battles had been fought on the side of his Treehouse family and he felt a pang of homesickness. He still wasn't sure where his journey would lead him, but he felt that he had gotten all the answers he could get on his quest. The rest would present itself when he was back at the Treehouse. He didn't know why he was so certain about it, but he was. It was like a revelation. He packed his few belongings into his backpack and joined Sarina for a day's journey. He had told her about his intention to return to his friends and she had seemed pleased. "You have found some answers then," she said. "This is good. I can sense your new-found peace." "Will you miss me?" Malone burst out spontaneously. He regretted his words immediately. He knew quite well by now that Sarina's people had a very different way of life, one where constant separation and a lack of conventional bonds built the foundation of their tribal relationships. But the warrior surprised him by nodding. "Yes, Ned Malone, I will miss you. Fighting with you has been an honor," she said gravely. Suddenly she smiled mischievously. "And you have quite a knack for celebrating life." The young journalist couldn't help feeling flattered, especially about her last comment. He flushed despite his efforts to remain impassive. They walked alongside one another for a considerable time without speaking much. When the sun went down, they decided to make camp. The next morning their paths would diverge. Ned would go south back to the Treehouse and Sarina would go north into an area she had never visited before. They found a small, vented cave that provided shelter. They lit a fire and made a meal of a small dinosaur Ned shot. After they finished their meal, they laid out their blankets next to each other. The small fire that they had used to cook their meal was nearly burnt down; only a few embers lit the cave walls. Sarina looked in the direction of the cave entrance. "I think we're safe here," she said. Ned knew immediately what she was telling him. "I agree," he smiled. Sarina took off her armor, boots, and tunic. Ned followed her example and started to undress as well. It wasn't long before they were both naked and Ned laid down on his back on his blanket. "The rock is hard. I think you'll be more comfortable if I lie down first," he explained to her. Sarina smirked a little. "I think you just like your woman on top. Make her do all the work." Ned found it quite enchanting how the usually rather serious Sarina became playful when she was intimate with him. "You've seen right through me," he quipped. "If you insist, I'll be happy to be on top." Sarina felt the ground through the blanket on which he lay and then she frowned. "It is rather hard." "Rock solid." His lame pun resulted in a rather stern look from her. "Stop talking," she whispered and leaned forward to kiss him. Her lips felt soft and familiar, and he sighed contentedly. His hands roamed along her body, feeling her curves, caressing and touching. Sarina kissed a searing path down his throat, then his chest, lovingly pausing at his nipples, licking and gently sucking for a few moments, and finally moving down again, continuing on her erotic path down his abdomen. Ned swallowed hard when she reached his erection. "Rock solid," she quipped, peering up at him mischievously. She dipped her head again and tongued the sensitive tip for a while, leading him to gasp and moan loudly. Then she took him in her mouth. He was very hard now, his senses completely centered between his legs. She sucked his penis noisily, obviously enjoying his vocal reactions to her ministrations. The young journalist bit his lip, trying to gain a modicum of control over his moans, but he wasn't successful, especially when she started to suck harder. He wanted to tell her to stop, otherwise there'd be no way he could control himself and use his erection to satisfy her, but after a few moments all conscious thoughts were gone. He was vaguely aware of grabbing her hair as his hips jerked up and he came. Sarina kept him in her mouth until he was soft again. Then she put a little kiss on the tip of his now soft penis and crawled up to lie next to him. "Did I please you?" she asked with a smile. "Please… I have to recover first." Ned could hardly speak. The warrior grabbed the water flask and took a hearty swallow. Then she laid her head on Ned's chest. He put his arms around her and kissed her forehead. "Thank you. You've definitely pleased me. I hope that I'll recover quickly, so I can make sure that you are pleased as well." "I think I know you well enough by now to be confident that it is only a matter of time. A short time," the warrior replied in a light-hearted tone. Ned wasn't used to so much confidence in his abilities. He would really miss Sarina. He stroked her back, his fingers lovingly tracing her spine. Then he gently turned her on her back so he could better reach her breasts. He started fondling them and began to suck on her nipples. He felt his penis grow half-erect and knew it would indeed only be a matter of time until he was ready to make love to this beautiful woman. Sarina meanwhile leaned back, her arms folded behind her head, her eyes closed, obviously enjoying the journalist's activities. Ned let one hand sneak down between her legs and he lovingly stroked her inner thighs before dipping into the soft folds between her legs. Not unexpectedly he found her ready and waiting. He stimulated her clitoris for a while, eliciting loud moans from Sarina. His cock had meanwhile returned to its full hardness. He was getting ready to move over, so that Sarina could get on top of him, when she caught his attention by whispering in his ear. "How about something new, my warrior?" Ned knew that a good journalist always needed to get all the facts, whatever the situation. "What do you mean?" he asked, his voice thick with excitement. In a graceful movement Sarina got up on all fours and turned her head around. "A most pleasurable position, Ned. What are you waiting for? I'm ready," she said in a low, sultry voice. Ned decided that keeping a lady waiting was indeed rather rude. He positioned himself behind Sarina, grabbed her hips and with a strong thrust he entered her slick and hot vagina. She sighed deeply and Ned paused for a brief moment. Then he started his movements, long and even strokes that made her moan with pleasure. The position was unfamiliar for Ned, but primeval instincts took over. He knew exactly how to move, what pace to set, and how to interpret the reactions of his lover. Sarina met each of his thrusts eagerly, occasionally using one hand to touch her breasts or her clitoris for added stimulation. Ned felt her vaginal muscles contract more and more strongly and with a loud cry she climaxed. He stopped his movements, but didn't withdraw. He felt that after his first orgasm he was now able to prolong this some more. He concentrated on Sarina. She panted and her head rested on her folded arms. Ned stroked her back tenderly and watched her recover slowly from her orgasm. After a while the woman became aware that their lovemaking wasn't over. She turned her head and smiled at him. He took this as a signal to start again. His rhythm now was slower, more languid. Sarina rotated her hips a bit, which changed the sensation for him in a very pleasurable way. He felt sweat trickle down his chest and spine. In the dimly lit cave, he watched the erotic and slightly obscene shadows that he and Sarina threw on the wall. Their cries and moans became louder and louder and soon their furious thrusting brought them both to supremely satisfying climax. The two lovers parted and collapsed on top of each other, completely spent, but very content. The warrior embraced Ned and kissed him lightly on the lips. He grabbed a blanket and wrapped it around their bodies to shield them from the night cold. They soon fell asleep. ***** The next morning they said good-bye. They hugged each other, but when Ned went to kiss her, Sarina put a finger on his lips. "No. Not anymore. You have to go back to your Treehouse and you know that someone is waiting for you." Ned's face darkened. He thought of his parting with Veronica with a trace of bitterness. Just friends. "Things can change, Ned Malone," Sarina said, with a strange conviction in her voice, as if she could read his mind and knew about his thoughts regarding Veronica. "You and I are warriors. We fought together and we celebrated life. But now is the time for us to part." "Will I ever see you again?" Ned asked, suddenly feeling choked up with emotion. He and Sarina had grown close in their short time together. He would miss her. Sarina was silent for a moment, contemplating his question, then she replied. "I think you will. I don't know why, but I think our paths will cross again. Until then, farewell, my warrior." "Farewell, Sarina." She turned around and followed the trail to the north. Ned watched her for a while, then he shouldered his rifle and went south. The way to the Treehouse was long and strenuous and his journey had only begun. ~ Return to Naughty Fics Menu |