Usually one for Elyn’s interesting plans, Aurora didn’t like the sound of her girlfriend’s latest plan. It sounded to her like it would be far more trouble than it was worth.

“Everyone will think it was me and I’ll get in so much trouble,” Aurora said. “Like actual, legal trouble. With the entire government of Esterlin.”

“I thought you liked trouble,” Elyn said.

“Not this kind of trouble! At least, not anymore! I can take getting caught stealing something, though that’s never happened mind you, but not this. I’ll be happy to tie you up, my darling, but faking a kidnapping is... well, it’s just not a good idea, love.”

“I’ll make sure you won’t get in trouble. I just want something... real. Well, real-ish. You know? I have to feel that sense of danger... I know! You could summon that old shadow... thing you used on us before.”

“I had the book. That was dangerous. And stupid. I won’t do that again. Besides... Jhana and Lanala turned it against me. If I summoned it again, it would just tie me up again.”

“Oh, I’d pay so much to see that,” Elyn said.

“Then let’s just have fun. I can take you to my wardrobe again...”

“A fine idea. But, like I said, I want something real. It has to feel real. There has to be someone we could pay to...”

Elyn stopped speaking and an idea formed in her mind. She smiled wide and looked Aurora right in the eye. Her girlfriend shook her head.

“No, Elyn, if you’re thinking what I’m thinking-”

“Fa’rah would do it.”

“She hates you. All of you. There’s no telling what else she might do.”

“I know! Exciting, isn’t it?”

“No! I would kill her, and myself, if I went along with this and she hurt you. I won’t have it.”

“Oh, come on. She just wants a bit of revenge. She’s not that violent. She could kidnap me, keep me tied up, and try to ransom me back to the government. How’s that? I could even act as an anonymous benefactor who wants to hold me for some kind of political gain. And we could promise her half the money if she kidnaps me. Plus, I know you’ll protect me. You’ll come save me, right?”

“I would, every time, my love,” Aurora said. “But Elyn, this could go wrong in so many ways...”

“Not if you look after me. And just think of it. You always loved tying up Fa’rah too, right? And you’ll be recognized as a true hero! Rescuing the former princess of Sixellia... it’s like an old story.”

“It’s usually the witch who kidnaps the princess, darling. Witches don’t do rescues,” Aurora countered.

“They do now. Because you’re different. And you know what? Fa’rah is practically a brigand like those tribes in Trivalia. She’s a wanted criminal like them. It could be a way to lure her in and get her behind bars for a while. What do you say to that?”

Aurora hesitated. That part didn’t sound like a terrible idea. It would save Elyn from any future schemes Fa’rah might have cooked up in her plot for vengeance.

“It’s still a big risk. And I don’t like the idea of putting you in danger.”

“Is that a reluctant yes, my love?” Elyn asked.

Aurora sighed. “It is...”

Elyn planted a long kiss on Aurora’s lips and practically jumped up and down from excitement. “Oh, thank you, my sweet! I promise, it will work out fine! As long as you’re with me, and keeping your eye on me, it’ll all work out! I know it will!”

“I certainly hope so...”

...

She had her suspicions about the anonymous note but the chance at revenge, plus a generous payout, were just two things Fa’rah the Rogue Warrior couldn’t resist. Though her interactions with the former princess of Sixellia and current member of the Republic’s council were few and far between, she was an ally to some of her worst enemies. And that made her a prime target.

Kidnapping her for ransom would be one step closer to finally getting revenge on the old Esterlin Princess Guild for the number of times she found herself held as their captive and arrested.

She remembered Elyn, picturing the svelte, tall woman in her mind’s eye. Milky white skin, shining orange hair, short but thick with medium length bangs, soft orange eyes and always dressed in a silky red dress, split up both sides of the skirt with a low cut neckline and black heeled shoes. Fa’rah admitted to herself that Elyn was a highly attractive woman and she wouldn’t mind having her tied up and at her mercy.

Fa’rah herself was an absolute bear of a woman, in excellent shape with a powerful, muscular figure. Long, flowing blonde hair, shining blue eyes, immensely strong legs, shapely curves, thick and mighty arms, she could easily have looked the part of a dashing, beautiful heroine. Were it not for her actions.

They didn’t call her the Rogue Warrior in Esterlin without reason. Though there were lines she refused to cross, Fa’rah was not above theft, extortion, threats of violence, kidnapping and a long list of other crimes she had been guilty of many times over. And she was a master manipulator, when it came to most people. She seemed to have a hard time with members of the old Guild, however. They always seemed one step ahead of her. As did past employers... but she put them out of her mind. For now, she was tracking her target, said to be travelling alone through Central Esterlin, a heavily forested area with sparse inhabitants.

She was easy to spot through the trees. Fa’rah thought to herself that Elyn wasn’t exactly dressed for travel through the woods, still wearing her usual dress and heeled shoes, but she again ignored her suspicions. This was too good a chance to pass up.

The Rogue Warrior wore her thick, short cloth tunic, coloured grey, with a brown cloak hanging from her back. The tunic showed off her strong, uncovered legs and, without sleeves, her impressive arms. Brown leather sandals, with many straps and reaching her knees, completed the outfit.

She drew the short sword at her left hip and rushed in as soon as her target came into view. She knew Elyn would be travelling alone so made no hesitation in getting after her target.

Before Elyn even knew what had happened, someone strong already had wrapped an arm around her waist and was holding a sword inches from her throat.

“Well... hello, Fa’rah,” Elyn said.

“Knew it was me, did you?” Fa’rah asked. “What gave me away?”

“You’re terrible at stealth,” Elyn said. “I heard you pounding your big hooves through the whole forest.”

Fa’rah pulled her in closer, tightening her grip. “Then why not run?”

“I’m unarmed. You’re not. It’s pointless to start a fight with you. Especially for little old me.”

Fa’rah chuckled. “Spare me. You’re not as weak as you’d have me believe.”

“Getting smarter, I see,” Elyn said.

“Just a bit. Or maybe it’s you getting dumber. What were you thinking, travelling all by your lonesome?”

Fa’rah sheathed her sword and yanked Elyn’s arms behind her, quickly crossing them over each other in an ‘x’ and tying them tightly together with the many coils of rope she had brought with her hanging from her belt.

“Was I to assume something would happen?” Elyn asked.

“There’s still brigands all over. They don’t just stick to Trivalia you know. Goodness me, one of them could have even kidnapped you! And wouldn’t that be terrible?”

Elyn just smirked at Fa’rah’s sarcastic tone. She could feel her heart race, and the excited butterflies in her stomach, when Fa’rah began looping coils of rope around her arms and torso, tying them in a harness to frame her breasts, and pinning her arms to her sides.

“Perhaps that was my plan?” Elyn said.

“Even you wouldn’t plan something like that,” Fa’rah said. “Because you’re all important for the new Republic, aren’t you? And it seems you’ve been making yourself some enemies. Somebody wants to ransom your pretty little head back to the government.”

Elyn took an equally sarcastic tone. “Do they now? Well, I suppose it’s lucky you found me then. I’ll be rescued before supper time.”

“Laugh it up, girly. You won’t be laughing when I’m stinking rich and holding all of you Guild women as my own personal captives.”

Elyn just smiled. “Oh, you spoil me Fa’rah! And you’ll keep us all nice and tied up, won’t you?”

“You won’t enjoy it if your friends are in trouble. I know your weaknesses, Elyn.”

Fa’rah tightened the grip of the ropes on Elyn’s body, wrapping one around her waist, looping it through and around the rope already binding her wrists, tightening off the knot just above Elyn’s waistline around the front of her mid-section.

“Oh, more rope please,” Elyn said. “You know how I love this.”

Fa’rah shook her head. “You always were a freak...”

Strapping on a leather collar around Elyn’s neck, Fa’rah tied a length of rope to a metal ring on the front of it as a sort of leash. She also tied two loops around each of her ankles with her last rope, restricting her steps by wrapping the rope over itself in a long, thick strand of rope that would allow Elyn to walk but only take strides of around two feet.

“So, you plan on taking me somewhere? Holding me in a dank, dark cell? Or maybe take me to your camp?”

“You, my dear, don’t get to know that. In fact...” Fa’rah pulled a black cloth tight over Elyn’s eyes, tying it off behind her head to blindfold her. “You don’t even get to see where you’re going.”

“You do know how to show a girl a good time, Fa’rah...”

“And that’ll be enough of your mouth,” Fa’rah said.

“Oh goody! My favourite p-rmmt,” Elyn said, being cut off in the middle of a word as Fa’rah shoved a large cloth, bunched up, into her open mouth. She sealed that in with a white cloth pulled between her teeth, another that covered her mouth, and one final cloth over her mouth and nose.

Grabbing hold of the rope leash, Fa’rah walked forward and pulled on it once. “March!” she said.

Elyn did as she was told, following her captor with short, hobbled steps, walking blindly along as Fa’rah pulled her. From between the trees, a pair of dark eyes watched them go, hidden away by a spell of her own doing. Aurora smiled at the sight of her bound and gagged girlfriend. She loved the idea of catching Fa’rah unaware and tying her up, yet again. But this plan of Elyn’s certainly did have its risks.

Aurora knew there was a clan of brigands making camp not too far from here. And that Fa’rah, in particular, had not ingratiated herself well with them. If they caught her then they would have no quarrel with holding Elyn captive as well. Luckily, Aurora saw to it that the brigands were... occupied. But she thought of this as a potential teaching moment for Elyn not to take such silly risks. So, while she watched, she had an idea. But it would first require the help of some old allies...

...

The two people in front of her were not surprised, yet they did both seem to be fairly annoyed at what Aurora had just told them.

The Thief Witch stood before them in her short, red dress with long sleeves black boots and matching fingerless gloves. The black cloak on her back fluttered in the breeze that had picked up when she was finished explaining the plan to the two people. One of them looked her straight in her brown eyes, noting her healthy, bronze skin, sharp brown eyes and long, luxurious black hair.

The man standing in front her lowered her tired, grey eyes and rubbed them between his fingers, taking in a long breath.

He was rather tall, broad-shouldered, and wore a scruffy, brown beard on his face that matched his short hair. Dressed in black pants and shirt, with a brown leather vest and cape, long brown gloves and boots, he looked rather... princely. Though he no longer held such a title as it was already quite dubious to begin with. Now back in Esterlin, taking on a much more suitable background role, he hadn’t expected to run into the Thief Witch on this day. Neither did the woman to his left.

She was very short, petite, but lithe and in great shape. She had sparkling blue eyes, pale skin, and long brown hair. She, too, was dressed in brown and black. She wore a leather vest with long, black sleeves and low cut neckline, tight black pants with white cuffs and low cut, flat black shoes.

The man let out a long breath and looked back up at Aurora. “Okay... what?”

“Come on, scruffy, do I have to explain it again? Really?”

“Leave Jonas alone,” the woman said. “I mean, everything you just said is... a lot to take in. Even if it’s no surprise coming from someone like Elyn.”

“How could you go along with it?” Jonas asked.

“Celia...” Aurora said, addressing the woman. “Jonas... I tried to talk her out of it. But you know me by now. She gets this look in those gorgeous eyes and the whole part about luring in Fa’rah was actually a good idea and-”

“Stop,” Celia said. She let out a long breath. “I get it. This is just... it’s pretty complicated. So many things could go wrong.”

“Which is why I’m coming to you. I want to help teach Elyn something about taking these kinds of risks and have backup. You know, just in case.”

“Not a bad idea,” Jonas said. “But you left her with Fa’rah?”

“I’ve not left her. I’m going back for her. Besides, if Fa’rah does anything to her... I think she knows she will incur my wrath. And she doesn’t want to do that again.”

“I guess not,” Celia said. “I don’t think anyone would.”

“Exactly my point. Now please. Will you help me?”

“For Elyn?” Yes,” Jonas said. “What exactly is your plan?”

She leaned in closer to them, motioning for them to join her. “So this might sound crazy but... it all starts with me getting captured by Fa’rah...”

...

“Mmmmph! Mmmrrghh! Lmmt mm gmmm!”

Fa’rah ignored Aurora’s gagged protests, still dumbstruck that she had captured her old boss. That was something without precedent. She’d gotten the drop on the women of the Guild a few times in the past but Aurora had always been prepared for her. The fact that she wasn’t this time was... odd. But she wasn’t about to complain. Two victories in the same day? It was like a dream come true.

She had tied the Thief Witch in the same way she had tied Elyn, pulling her along by a rope leash and leading her to her camp where Elyn, now hogtied in her tent, was already waiting for them. And while they walked, Fa’rah replayed in her mind exactly what had happened.

At first, she heard a commotion just outside her camp as she was about to finish tying up Elyn. Making sure her knots were tight, Fa’rah stepped outside. It hadn’t been a long walk before she stumbled on Aurora, seeming to battle against a spell gone wrong. Hardly believing her luck, Fa’rah seized the opportunity and pounced, subduing Aurora much quicker than she ever could have expected. Now bound, gagged, and blindfolded walking behind her captor, the Thief Witch struggled and complained the whole way, muffled by her gag.

She brought Aurora into camp and sat her down on the ground beside her girlfriend, grinning from ear to ear. “You’ll never guess who I found, Elyn...” Fa’rah said.

“Mmmph! Mmlmmnn! Nmmm!” Aurora said, helplessly battling the ropes that held her captive.

“Mmrmmrmm?” Elyn said, recognizing her girlfriend’s voice.

“Seems your girl here was trying to conjure up a rescue plan. Bungled that one, didn’t you, witch?”

“Mmmrrgghh! Lmmt mm gmmm!!”

Fa’rah just chuckled. “Ah, this is nice. What an unexpected development. Soon as the government pays up for my pretty little hostage, you and I are going to find someplace quiet. Oh, you’re going to stay tied up for the rest of your life, Aurora. Mark my words.”

Both women struggled hard against their unyielding bonds. Aurora feigned both anger and fear but Elyn, meanwhile, now believed that there was no one to rescue her from Fa’rah. And, even worse, Fa’rah was going to keep Aurora from her. Now, more than ever, she wished she hadn’t been so lax with Artema’s escape training...

Fa’rah left her two captives to squirm and struggle in the tent, stepping outside and tending to her campfire. For the moment, she decided to enjoy the feeling of victory and closed her eyes, drinking it in... until something sharp stabbed her arm and she reached for it instinctively.

“What...” Her head began swimming and she could feel her muscles going limp. “No... no! Not again! No way! I won’t let... it... happen...” Fa’rah could not stay conscious, even as she pulled the sleep dart from her arm. She collapsed onto her back, falling unconscious in seconds, and that was when Celia and Jonas stepped out of cover.

“Did Meryn give you that?” Jonas asked, nodding toward the small, one-handed crossbow Celia held in her hand.

“She helped me make it,” Celia said. “And I’ve been practicing with it.”

“You’re a good shot. Take care of her, will you? You’re the one that’s good at this... stuff.”

Celia slung several long, thick coils of rope over her shoulder, picking up several cloths. “Already on it. She won’t be going anywhere.”

“In the meantime, we’re to wait until sundown to let the worry seep in for Elyn. I hate to do it but... it’s for her own good,” Jonas said.

“So do I but she does need the lesson, I think,” Celia replied.

She finished coiling up a long rope around Fa’rah’s arms and torso, tying her arms from elbows to shoulders. With Fa’rah’s wrists crossed and tied behind her back, pinned to her waist by another coil of rope, Celia slipped her hands into tight leather mittens that forced Fa’rah’s hands into fists. Strapping them on, Celia finished off with two more thick coils on Fa’rah’s thighs and then lower legs, covering her calves and ankles in rope. Finally, she pulled her wrists and ankles as close together as possible to leave her in a strict hogtie before gagging her with several cloths stuffed in her mouth and two more covering her mouth and tied on tight behind her head.

“There,” Celia said, finishing with Fa’rah’s gag. “That should do it.”

Jonas had taken a seat by the fire, watching the sun as it dipped lower in the sky, gradually darkening the world around them. “Nearly there,” he said. “Should we head in?”

“Give it a bit longer,” Celia said. “I don’t think Aurora will mind.”

“I suppose not,” Jonas said.

They went silent but their silence was broken when they heard Fa’rah groaning from the ground behind them.

“She’s awake...” Celia said.

“Mmmph.... hmmmph!? NMMMM! HLLLMMMPP! MMTMM MMM! MMMMMPPHHH!”

Celia rolled her eyes. “I’ll watch this big baby. You head into the tent. The sun’s almost down anyway.”

Jonas simply nodded, stepping past the furiously struggling Fa’rah, and pressing aside the tent flap. He knelt down to Aurora first and pulled off her blindfold, helping her remove her gag and spit out the cloth in her mouth.

“You all right?” he asked.

“More then that,” Aurora said. “I rather enjoyed that.”

Jonas sighed. “Of course you did...”

He cut the ropes from her body and helped her to her feet and looked to the very confused Elyn, still hogtied on the tent floor.

“My darling...” Aurora said. She knelt down and whispered close to her ear. She pulled the blindfold off and they met each other’s eyes. “It’s all right. Everything was in hand. But, did you know a clan of brigands was nearby? I took care of them but you and Fa’rah really didn’t know about them, did you?”

Elyn just shook her head.

“I thought not. Which is why such a silly plan cannot happen again. It’s too big a risk and I wanted you to see that. So... I set this up. I let Fa’rah capture me. It upset me to hear such fear in your voice but... I had to. For your safety. You’re too important to take such risks, understand?”

Elyn nodded this time.

“I am sorry, my love. Can you forgive me?”

Elyn giggled and nodded again.

“To make it up to you, I’ll leave you liked this. Would like the blindfold back on?”

Elyn hesitated but shook her head. “Nmmph.”

“Very well. We’re going to have the Constabulary down here to take Fa’rah off to prison. Just so you know, your plan did work. Celia has her tied up outside.”

Elyn chuckled and nodded yet again.

“And while we wait... you and I can have our fun.”

Elyn struggled to get close to Aurora, laying her head on her girlfriend’s lap.

“Well then... scruffy,” she said, turning to Jonas. “If you could leave us...”

Jonas got up right away and headed for the opening. “Sure, no problem. I’m already gone.”

He brushed aside the tent flap and put out of his head exactly what the two of them were about to get up to inside that tent. Instead he walked back to the fire, nodding to Celia as he passed. She kept her eyes on Fa’rah, still thrashing and bucking on the ground, unable to escape.

“LMMT MM MMT MMF THMMPH! MMMTTTMMMM MMMM! HHHHLLLMMMPPP!”

Celia just chuckled and leaned forward, resting her arms on her knees while she sat there.

“Things always end the same for you, don’t they Fa’rah? Even when you think you’ve won, you’ve lost.”

“NNNNMMMMMM!! MMMMMPPPPHHH!!”