Luna approached her from the main deck and stopped beside her on the Griffin Knight’s ship. Starling, helmet resting on the deck beside her, stared out at sea and felt the cool sea breeze toss her long, red hair. She had it tied back in a ponytail but her long bangs were still tossed by the wind that propelled her ship.

“Still another day until we get to the Seven Islands. That’s where Nara’s ship was last spotted,” Starling said.

Luna leaned on the railing beside her and turned her head to look at the Griffin Knight. “That’s not what I’m asking about,” she replied.

“Well then spit out your question,” Starling said.

“Mirelle didn’t want me to ask it.”

“Well she’s not here,” Starling said. “The poor girl is speaking to the chancellor of Trivalia in your stead. I don’t envy that...”

Luna sighed. “No. Nor do I.”

With a growl under her breath, Starling’s sharp eyes finally met the cold, grey gaze of Luna. “Ask your question already.”

Luna drew in a sharp breath. She finally let it out without hesitation. “What happened to you?”

Starling looked away from her again. “You’re referring to the armour... the white runes... my demeanour... correct?”

Luna eyed the white streaks in Starling’s otherwise immaculate scarlet hair and simply nodded.

“A witch,” Starling said. “You know her. I went to see her.”

“Aurora is back?” Luna asked.

“The Thief Witch is indeed in Esterlin. I learned of an ancient book which is still in her possession and it’s power to... change. To grant strength.”

“But at what price?”

Starling shook her head. “The price does not matter to exact my vengeance.”

“What did Aurora do?”

Starling turned to look at Luna again. She stared at her for a moment, toying with the idea of telling her what happened. Finally, she began.

...

The Griffin Knight had heard stories about the enigmatic witch living just outside the borders of Onellia. People from the nearby village often visited her, hoping for a blessing of one kind or another. A bountiful harvest, a warm winter, the affections of someone they admired, and things of that nature. But Aurora was known as a bit of a trickster among the people and, quite often, she deemed people or tasks as unworthy or unsavoury and cursed those who sought her out instead. But her whims were said to be changeable as the eastern wind, a constant storm front that came and went, baffling all the royal scientists.

Starling reached her hut early in the morning and did not bother knocking when she walked inside. The place was dimly lit, as Aurora the Thief Witch liked it, within the small, wooden structure. Myriad herbs and plants hung from the ceiling around the small kitchen and Aurora herself was hunched over the hardwood table, grinding something with a mortar and pestle.

"That's awfully bold of you to just storm into a witch's den like that," the accented woman's voice said as soon as Starling stepped inside.

She was clad in her full maroon armour and the runes on her helmet glowed like deep, fiery embers. Her sword had runes etched up the blade that matched.

"I have nothing to fear from witches," Starling said. "Especially not you."

Aurora the Thief Witch couldn't help the laugh that escaped her lips. Dressed in her short, red robes, black fingerless gloves and knee high black boots, Aurora spun on her heels and her dark eyes met the helmet of the knight within her hut.

With skin the colour of caramel and long, black hair, Aurora was a rather striking beauty which often caught people off guard. Witches were often thought to be old hags, monstrous and wretched. But Aurora had an allure to her with an underlying danger just in her very presence.

But Starling did not flinch at the witch's withering stare.

"Remove your helmet, Griffin Knight, so that I might look upon your face."

"Do you not wish to know what I have come for?"

"After I see your face. I want to know if you are as… striking as I've heard."

Though hesitant, Starling lifted the helmet from her head and placed it on Aurora's kitchen table. The witch stepped closer and her eyes bored into Starling's.

"My my… you have strong eyes, my dear. Old eyes. You have seen much in your time."

Starling did not flinch as Aurora reached up with one of her hands and traced the many scars on her face.

"Many battles as well. Though the marks cannot hide your beauty, dearest Griffin Knight."

"What is the purpose of this?"

Aurora had been wearing a wry smile the entire time but it quickly disappeared. "I hear your heart. It is a good one. But I fear you have dark designs in seeking me out. Dark designs for yourself. I may not have what you seek anymore. I have changed somewhat."

"So you will not help me? What about the book?"

Aurora nodded grimly. "I see. You are doom driven then. For what purpose is this doom of yours?"

"Vengeance. Against the pirate. Nara the Blade…"

Aurora nodded again. “A noble quest. She is a blight upon Esterlin.”

“I’ve noticed.”

Turning in place again, Aurora walked further inside the hut and Starling followed. Behind the kitchen table on a dusty bookshelf, Aurora plucked one thick, leather-bound volume from the others and placed it down on the table. “This book is dangerous and powerful,” she said. “What do you know of it?”

“It belonged once to a coven, since imprisoned, who once lived within Onellia. But its origins are unknown to me.”

“Well they are known to me. With Jhana’s absence, I would have been the most powerful witch in Esterlin. However, there is one who may yet have more...”

“And they created this book?” Starling asked.

“They are known only as The Faceless. None remain who knows who they were before they created the book. A cursed immortality followed them and keeps them alive. The same such curse afflicts all who seek the power of this book.”

“Even you?”

“I have used it once. In attempt to control another. And it would have been my undoing had I not been stopped. It will be yours as well if you allow its power to consume you for too long. What power do you desire?”

Starling drew her sword and laid it on the table beside her helmet. “The runes. They grant me strength. But not enough strength. I need to ensure that no one but me may remove either of these items from me. It has happened once too many...”

“I can do this for you,” Aurora said. “There are many runic enhancements in this book. But there are many great dangers.”

“What are they?”

“Madness,” Aurora said. “Unquenchable rage. You will be unmatched in combat but your mind and body will change. It will not weaken you but you may find yourself feeling less... human.”

Without blinking, Starling answered back. “I know what that is like. It does not scare me.”

“You... know? How?”

“In my many lives, I have been both alive and dead. Undead and made of flame’s embers. I have felt the blood of dragons pass through my veins. I have survived mortal wounds. And I have been killed and killed again. But I always rise.”

“So you... aren’t human.”

“Not entirely,” Starling said.

“But your mind is.”

“It would seem so.”

Aurora flipped through the book for a few minutes before she reached the page she wanted. “If your mind is human it can succumb to madness. And there is more that must be done as you and the runes of your armour are bound together, yes?”

“We are.”

“Which means...” Aurora smirked. She enjoyed the thought tremendously. “You shall have to remove the armour and be bound alongside the runes.”

Starling furrowed her brow. “What?”

“The enchantment requires it. Read it yourself,” she said, turning the book toward Starling. “’Intertwined, the user to bind.’ Now, you must know of my... reputation. I would need no excuse to tie you up, my dear. But, in this case, I would not do it unless it was required. Just because I will enjoy it does not make it any less necessary.”

Starling growled under her breath. “This is trying my patience...”

“Do you want the strength of the runes or not?”

Starling sighed. “I do.”

“Then remove your armour and your chainmail. Down to your undergarments and sit in that chair there. I shall have to fetch my rope and cloth...”

“Try not to sound so pleased about it,” Starling said.

“That will be difficult, Griffin Knight. Nigh impossible, I say. And remember, this is necessary for the runes to be bound to you. It will also be for your own protection because the enchantments of this book are known to cause the same unquenchable rage I mentioned. And I won’t have you rampaging in the village just because we did the enchantment improperly.”

Starling closed her eyes and took in a deep breath. When she opened them again, she glared into Aurora’s eyes. “Very well. Give me some degree of dignity while I remove my armour.”

“I’ll leave the room then. Let me know when you are finished.”

Aurora stepped out of the kitchen and listened to the sound of clanking metal and buckles as Starling stripped off her armour piece by piece.

Finally, the rattling of her chainmail as she put it on the table signalled that she was done.

"It's done," Starling called.

Aurora entered the kitchen once more and met Starling's eyes as she sat down in one of the wooden chairs.

The Thief Witch slapped down a few thick bundles of rope and three thick, white cotton cloths on the table. She smiled wide at Starling, who scowled in return.

"At least wipe the smile from your face," Starling said.

"Let me have my fun and I'll make this quick."

Starling rolled her eyes. "Fine. Just get this over with."

Sitting back in the chair, Starling crossed her wrists behind the back of it and another sigh escaped her lips as Aurora began winding rope around them. She cinched the rope in the middle and pulled it tight to keep the strong, muscular woman properly restrained. With Starling’s hands now tied behind the back of the chair, Aurora took a moment to admire her. She simply couldn’t help it.

The impressive redhead was tall, strong, and had well toned muscles. She was rather lean but her arms and legs were thick, shapely, and rippling. Clad in a pair of tight, leather panties and a sleeveless, black undershirt, Aurora really did find the Griffin Knight a beautiful sight. She would never compare to the woman of her heart but a she began looping a coil of rope around Starling’s arms, tucking them under her rather large chest, Aurora realized she would enjoy this more than she thought.

The rope pulled Starling’s arms tight to her sides, wrapping under her breasts, and pinning her arms in place. Another coil went on her upper arms just above her breasts and formed a sort of harness to keep her upper body fully restrained. But Aurora was far from finished.

Another rope went around Starling’s waist, pinning her to the chair, and then looping around her already bound wrists to keep them stuck in place as well. Satisfied with how she had tied Starling’s upper body, Aurora focussed next on her powerful legs.

She used a pretty heavy coil of rope on Starling’s ankles, tying it off and leaving a longer bit to pull her feet back and tie them to her bound wrists, forcing the Griffin Knight onto her tiptoes.

Starling, all the while, ignored the irritating sensation of being tied up and just let Aurora get on with her work.

Aurora continued by tying another coil of rope around Starling’s calves, just below the knees, cinching it in the middle and pulling it tight. Another rope went around her well toned thighs just above the knees to hold them in place as well. And for good measure, Aurora tied another rope higher up on Starling’s thighs and attached them to the seat of the chair to further hold her down.

Stepping back to admire her handiwork, Starling growled under her breath at the smile on Aurora’s face.

“Are you done?” she asked with a sigh.

“Almost. I can’t have people thinking I’m torturing you in here. And believe me, the enchantment is going to make you absolutely scream in rage.”

Starling sighed yet again. “You wish to gag me?”

“I do. But I also must,” Aurora said, picking up the three cloths from the table. She crumpled up once into a ball and held it close to Starling’s face. “Open wide.”

Shaking her head, Starling held her mouth open and let Aurora stuff the cloth inside. Another of the white cloths went on over her mouth, tied on tight behind her head. Finally, Aurora took the third cloth and pulled it tight over Starling’s mouth and nose to further muffle her.

“Mmmphh...” Starling complained.

“It’s just a precaution. Though I’d say it’s doing a fine job.

Starling rolled her eyes again.

“I had to cover your nose to make your breathing a little more difficult. It will hold you in place and tire you out if you can’t get big breaths. And I need every advantage I’m going to get with a woman as strong as you when the rage takes you...”

"Mmmpphh…"Starling grunted.

Aurora stepped back to the table and leaned over the book.

"Are you ready?"

"Mmmph," Starling said, nodding once.

With the book in front of her, Aurora concentrated all of her thoughts and all of her energy on the words within the book. She then began to recite the words.

"For one who is righteous in title and goal. Take heed of the darkness upon thy soul. From embers to rise to the power you lack. And thy soul, thy essence, begins to turn black."

The orange, embered runes glowed brightly as Aurora spoke. They grew brighter and brighter and started to pale in colour.

Starling, too, felt a strength surge through her as the runes on her helmet and sword whispered within her mind. And with the strength came a great rage and the desire to avenge not just her defeat… but everything.

"MMMMPPHHH!!" she bellowed, stymied by her gag. She struggled hard against the tough ropes but they held her firm. "MMMMRRRGGHH! MMMMMMMMMPPPPHHH!!"

Aurora continued reciting the enchantment. “From within, the spirit withers as madness takes hold. Runic power gathers from the darkness of old. No hands but thou’s shall lay upon the runic steel. No soul but thou’s shall remove it from your seal. Thine own soul shall become the black. And should thy mind recede... there is no going back.”

With the enchantment finished, Aurora slammed the book shut and watched the maroon armour on the table begin to turn black as the runes on the helmet and sword glowed brighter and brighter, turning from orange embers to bright glowing white.

All the while, the glowing white power seemed to surround Starling’s body as she battled the ropes binding her. Aurora admitted she quite liked the sight... except when she saw Starling’s eyes.

Though still green, a dark malice seemed to take hold as the power grew and grew. Drenched in sweat and still struggling, growling, bucking and thrashing, the Griffin Knight could not free herself from her bonds. Worse, her green eyes became more and more wild as she struggled.

“MMMMPPHHH!! MMMMMMPPPPPHHHHH!!! MMMMMRRRRGHHHH!! MMMMMMRRGHHHH!! MMMMMMMMPPPPPHHHH!!”

The gag did it’s job in keeping her quiet but Aurora jumped back a bit in surprise when the ropes began to fray ever so slightly... but that was as far as Starling could go. They still held firm and she was just as tightly bound and gagged as before. It seemed just being near the runes gave Starling increased strength, a dangerous thing indeed for her enemies. But, if she were ever captured and bound like this, then even this strength seemed as though it wasn’t enough to help her escape.

“Intriguing,” Aurora said, watching the struggle. “You can’t escape, even though you’re stronger. I can’t imagine what you’ll be like when you put the helmet back on and hold the sword in your hand.”

“MMMMMMPPPPHHH!!”

“Yes... Though I imagine you’ll prove nigh impossible to capture, Griffin Knight.”

After quite a while of still struggling and thrashing, Starling’s energy gave out and she couldn’t get a decent breath through the gag that covered her mouth and nose. So she had no choice but to rest and let the rage subside. When she finally stopped growling and screaming into her gag, Starling looked up at Aurora. It seemed the intensity in her eyes had not subsided but she had, at least, controlled the rage.

“Mmmpph...” she said.

“Are you all right?” Aurora asked, watching beads of sweat drip from Starling’s brow.

“Mmmph...” she nodded.

“Let me remove the gag then.”

Aurora untied the two cloths around Starling’s mouth and nose and helped her spit out the wadded up one inside her mouth. Starling flexed her jaw and took in a deep breath when the gag was finally pulled free.

“I think... it worked...” she said between breaths.

“Oh, it worked. But what have you done to yourself?”

“That doesn’t matter. I will put an end to that pirate no matter the cost.”

“Well, the anger seems to have died down enough. I will untie you then. Though you look so fetching...”

“Get these ropes off me...” Starling said.

“Why? Can you not escape on your own?” Aurora asked with a wry smirk.

With a heavy sigh, Starling lowered her head. “No...”

“Well, there are few who can tie better knots than I can. I have plenty of experience tying up beautiful women like you, you know.”

“Enough talk. Untie me... please,” Starling said, trying to take a softer approach.

“Very well. Let’s get you out of those lovely ropes...”

...

When she finished her tale, Luna stared out at sea for a moment and shook her head. Luna turned back to Starling and met her eyes. “You let her tie you up?”

“The enchantment would not have worked otherwise. I read what the book said.”

“I get the feeling she was telling you a half truth there. I think she just wanted to see you tied up.”

“Either way,” Starling said sharply. “It worked and I have the power I need to do what I must.”

“Must? Or want?”

Starling glared and her intense, wild eyes met Luna’s ice cold eyes. For once, a shade of fear entered the reserved princess’ stare. The Griffin Knight saw it and found herself stricken with guilt. To cause fear in the eyes of an ally, and one in need at that...

“Forgive me,” Starling said, looking away from her. “These runes have made me... not myself...”

“What will you do when you’ve beaten Nara? Will you be able to remove the enchantment?”

“The Thief witch did not say,” Starling said.

“What if it’s irreversible?”

Starling went silent. She reached down and picked up her helmet, placing it on her head again. Luna could hear the maddened whispers again as she spoke and the runes glowed once more.

“There’s her ship,” Starling said, ignoring Luna’s question. “Moored in that cove. Hidden and out of sight of that trade port. She may be ashore.”

“So let’s head ashore then,” Luna said.

Starling directed her crew toward the pirate’s ship, bellowing orders and slowing the ship, letting it anchor in deeper water. They would approach the shore and the pirate ship via the lifeboats. Luna and Starling went together but they told the crew to stay behind. Besides, none of them were real warriors. Able sailors perhaps but Starling and, to a lesser extent, Luna were the only fighters on board. Luna also decided that only the two of them would be far less noticeable going ashore.

With Starling rowing the boat, seething anger driving them forward, they reached shore in no time. Choosing to scout on ahead, Starling sensed the presence of Nara the Blade... and her blinded rage made her forget that Luna should have been behind her. Instead, they lost each other in the busy port town and now Luna was completely alone while Starling charged on after Nara somewhere in town.

Lost in the throng of people, Luna pushed onward. But, hidden in the crowd, a large woman with pale, silver hair smirked to herself.

“Heh... I knew it. Thirst for vengeance is a hell of a drug.”

Walking alone herself, Nara the Blade reached into her long, dark blue coat and pulled out a small flintlock pistol. She drew back the hammer and hid the small gun in the palm of her hand, approaching the unsuspecting princess.

Though she had a sword at her side, and powerful ice magic to wield, Princess Luna needed both long, rhyming verses to cast her magic as nearly all magic users in Esterlin did, and the ability so see her opponent coming. Somehow, Nara had planned for this.

She knew, as soon as Starling swore her vengeance, that the Griffin Knight would be after her. Nara also banked on either Luna or Mirelle to be with her on the ship. It would be the perfect opportunity to give herself some ‘insurance.’

Drawing within a few steps of Luna from behind, Nara grabbed her with one thick, strong arm and raised the pistol to her face, pulling the trigger. A deep red powder erupted from the pistol and immediately filled Luna’s lungs and gave her no time to cry out.

Knowing that Starling was somewhere nearby, Nara quickly hauled her unconscious target over her shoulder and shuffled away into the crowd, heading back to her hidden, moored ship. And she knew there was enough space in the brig for a second captive...

...

“Mmmmph! Lmmnmmm!! Wmmk mmmp! MMMPPHH!!”

The muffled woman’s voice kept hitting her ears and the fog of her mind recognized it from somewhere. Her memory was... hazy, at the moment.

Luna remembered that... something had happened. She was on a ship with... who was it again? She remembered being told a story about a witch...

“Mmmpphh....” she groaned, when the name came back to her. Aurora she thought. Starling... the Griffin Knight and her ship... Mirelle... Vera!

“Mmmmph!” Luna’s eyes shot open and she took in a sharp breath. Her vision was still hazy and she wanted to rub her eyes but... something stopped her.

Still trying to clear her vision, Luna tugged at her arms and felt something pull against them. Rope... I’m tied up...

“Mmmph...” she groaned. Gagged too.

She tried stretching out her hands and found that she couldn’t. Is that... leather? On my hands? Keeping them closed?

Below her, she felt her chest and stomach pressed against a hard, wooden surface. It touched her bare skin... though she was partially clothed.

I think my sandals are still on...she thought, realizing she was still wearing her strappy, knee high sandals that were mostly a pale blue colour accented with a darker blue.

She felt her tight, leather bra and panties on her body and... that was it. Her silky, travelling dress and the armour for her chest and forearms had been removed. As had her sword, obviously.

Tight ropes contrasted against Luna’s dark, ebony skin. As she tried to sit up her long, braided pale blue hair swayed back and forth.

Am I... hogtied?

“Lmmnmmm! Mmmmph!”

The voice called to her again. It sounded just like...

“Mmmph!” Luna said, trying to shake the fog from her vision. She saw a blurry shape of... someone standing on the other side of the room. They couldn’t seem to move away from a thin, wooden pole behind them. And the person was a short, thickly built woman who, even with her foggy vision, Luna could tell she was strong. She had a warrior’s body. It could only be Vera.

“Vmmrmmm...” she said, still shaking off the effect of the strange red powder Nara had used on her.

The thick ropes held her legs together at the ankles, calves, above and below the knees, and in two more places up her elegant thighs. Luna’s arms were pinned in a box tie position, one arm on top of the other, and her wrists tied together. A chest harness of rope framed her breasts and pinned her arms to her sides. One rope had been tied between her arms, wrists, and ankles and pulled tight to hold her in a hogtie position. She chewed on something soft, and cloth, inside her mouth and held there by three more cloths. One was pulled between her teeth, another was pulled over her mouth and a final cloth covered her mouth and nose, all tied on behind her head. Luna’s hands were also locked inside tight, leather mittens that were padlocked shut and made her fingers useless. With no knots within reach, and no use of her fingers, Luna was completely helpless.

“Mmmmppphh!!” Vera called to her again and Luna’s vision finally began to clear.

She was still wearing very little, as she had been the last time they had seen her being hauled away from that Central Esterlin dock.

Vera, short, stocky and thick, was quite a muscular woman. But she was tied up and gagged identically to Luna, save for the position. All the ropes, the chest harness, the box tie and the leg ropes, were the same. But Vera was forced to stand up, tied to a thin wooden pole in the brig of The Blade, Nara’s ship. She wore nothing but a tight, sleeveless shirt coloured white that bore her impressive midriff. Coupled with high cut underwear that showed off her thick and shapely legs, Vera was just as helpless and thoroughly gagged as the princess of Fivellin, with an identical multi-layered gag that covered her mouth and nose.

The pale skinned woman with dark eyes and short, black hair could only shuffle a few inches back and forth against the pole when she struggled as hard as she could. The pole she was tied to was thin but sturdy, it seemed. And inside the brig of Nara’s ship, gagged as they were... nobody would hear them.

Luna sighed to herself. Well, at least I found Vera... she thought. Think positive like Mirelle, I guess.

She heard Vera squeal behind her gag and struggle harder and decided to look up to the stairs leading up to the ship’s deck. The captain of the ship, her large frame looming above her two captives, stepped down from the last step and knelt down on the floor, looking into Luna’s eyes.

“Your friend made this so easy for me. I knew she’d want to hunt me down. Whatever she did to herself, it’s warped her mind. And she left you alone. Unguarded. You had no idea, did you?”

“Mmmmrrghh...” Luna growled.

“I’m thinking I should sell you back to your kingdom. Get a bigger fleet together. What do you think? Esterlin is going to need a strong navy when I’m in charge...”

“Mmmmpphh!!”

“I might even be able to get some money out of your darling wife. And fund a little... expedition.”

Luna furrowed her brow. Nara smiled wide and stood up, looking between the two captive women. “Tell me, ladies. You ever heard of a certain, special book?”

Luna struggled in her bonds. “Nmmmm!”

Nara chuckled. “Oh, so you know what I’m talking about, princess?” She knelt down again and met Luna’s eyes, who glared at her. “I’d remove the gag but I don’t need to hear your pointless whining. So this book... Midanyami is its title, I believe. Currently held by a certain witch. A witch I know you know...”

“Mmmmpphh!”

“Not just the book, either. It’s creator. So tell me, Princess Luna...” Nara said. “Tell me about The Faceless...”


Story Theme Song: Wolfmother- Witchcraft