Theme of first scene: The rhythm of the heart, by Peter Gabriel
play.spotify.com/track/1yS9216…

“Who dares to bring Whiteskinns into the hall of The Blood in Kuybi Kala?”
It was a tall, strong woman with grey in her black hair and a double axe tattoo on her left bizeps  who had spoken, and it was Zusha, standing before the others, who answered:
“I dare to do so.”
Zusha was the only Rondaka in the hall wearing Arankian polished black leather, the more than 200 other women present were all clad in suede, there arms bare, showing their tattoos, which ranged from double axes and other weapons to dragon heads, spiders, snakes or wolf heads.
No one dared to interrupt the conversation, no one moved. Dana nearly held her breath. The large hall of old wood had a high doomed ceiling, at the walls there hung ancient banners and weapons and tapestries showing detailed scenes and stories. Along the walls, tables stood, laden with provision, drinks, ashtrays and the like. Through high windows fell streaks of light down to the ground.
No slaves or servants were to be seen, every Rondaka here was armed and booted and had a tattoo on an arm.
“As whom are you speaking, young woman?”
“I am speaking as Shija Shu, heiress of the Ruka Ro, may her axe arm never waver.”
Still, no one said anything, there were no surprised whispers and such.  Danas ears only heard her friends breath and the odd squeaking of leather or suede.
“The Blood of Kuybi Kala welcomes you in its hall, Shija Shu.”
“I am thanking The Blood.”
“The Blood welcomes those Whiteskinns brought here by Shija Shu.”
“As is the custom.” Was there a hint of annoyance in Zushas voice while delivering that phrase? Dana wasn’t sure.
The old Tra Ka Dar abruptly turned and went back to the others who stood in a wide semicircle.
Another woman came forward and positioned herself opposite Zusha. It was Lina Lir, her sworn sister, who had betrayed her. Both girls faces were expressionless. Lina Lir had a delicate, slender face and beautiful dark eyes with wonderful long and thick eyelashes.  
A third woman approached, carrying a wooden plate. On it were two cigarettes and a large box of long, thick matches.
Each girl took a cigarette, and then they simultaneously placed the filtered stick between the others lips. The matches followed, each took one in turn, then lit them. They reached forward to light their sisters cigarette, as out of a sudden Zusha slapped Lina Lir forcefully in the face. Blood sprayed from injured lips, cigarette as well as match flew away. Lina Lir tumbled backwards.
Zusha lit her cigarette with her own match herself, took a drag, killed the flame of the match, took another drag, and only then took the stick between her black gloved fingers. Her voice was even and cold as she spoke:
“You have betrayed me, sworn sister. You arranged for me to be abducted and sold as a slave to the Whiteskinns. I have judged you, and I will carry out the sentence myself.”
She dropped the cigarette and killed it under her boot.
Lina Lir stared at her with flickering eyes. She wiped blood from her lips with her forearm. Other than Zushas, her voice was shaking, as she said:
“Very well. I choose weapons. Short swords it will be.”
The two girls dropped their weapon belts to the floor, then started to strip. Tashmal signaled to Dana with flying fingers:
“Go over there and collect Zushas clothes and weapons, bring them back to us.”
Dana obeyed. Another Rondaka came forward and collected weapons and clothes of Lina Lir. The blonde returned to her friends and put everything at her feet.
Zusha and Lina Lir, nude now, still faced each other. It was still quiet in the large hall.
Another woman came forward, carrying two sheeted short swords.
Danas Achaian lover signaled:
“I fear for Zusha. The short sword is not her favorite weapon, but it’s the one of Lina Lir.”
It was obvious that it was Lina Lirs favored weapon because she had chosen it, but… “How do you know Zusha didn’t like the weapon?”
Tashmals fingers answered:
“She has trained with a short sword every night in an inn on our journey.”
Dana nodded. Tashmal still saw or deducted much more than she herself. She was still very inexperienced. There was still much to learn from her Achaian whore.
Both Rondakian girls now took a sword, drew it, and discarded the scabbard to the side.
Time passed, they just stood there, still facing each other, blades held low at their hips.
Danas hands in her gloves were sweaty. She noticed she had bite into her upper lip.
Suddenly both Rondakas moved, very quickly. Dana thought of the first combats she had witnessed, seeing Tashmal fight back in the beginning. The lesson learned then applied here too: Combat was short and violent.
Blades were crossed six times, then every movement came to a stop. Followed by Lina Lirs weapon falling to the ground. Zushas sword was buried deeply in her sworn sisters belly. But on the other blade on the ground, there was blood too. One of Zushas breasts was severed, blood now streaming over her body.
Lina Lir let out a soft groan, starting to slide backwards from Zushas blade. As the blade came free, blood and tissue left the wound in the girls belly. She pressed her hands against it, groaned again, tumbled a step backwards, sunk on her knees.
Two Rondakas with magic staffs and silvern hairbands were suddenly at Zushas side.
“Heal her.” Danas friend said evenly.
One of the magas knelt  down beside Lina Lir, put the silvern crystal at her staff end at the cruel belly wound, and issued a spell. The girl let out a shrill scream and sank to the floor, having lost consciousness. The wound was gone, blood and tissue ran over the smooth red brown skin of her intact belly.
The second maga healed Zusha, which passed out too.  The magas invocated other spells, and both girls regained consciousness. Lina Lir just lay there motionless on her back and stared at the high ceiling. Only her lips were moving, she was speaking, weakly so. Danas sharp ears heard:
“… always loved you… but you didn’t love me back… not the way I longed for … had to get rid of you… before this love ate up my heart…”
The blonde suddenly felt pity for the Rondaka.
Zusha fought herself into a sitting position.
The old Tra Ka Dar was near, carrying a large, heavy glass full of Gur, the rondakian grog. Zusha took the glass and gulped down the Gur without pausing. Then she rose, unsteadily, but she rose.
“Ropes, a gag, and a slave collar, simple iron.”
The items were brought. With difficulty, but determined, Zusha started to package Lina Lir. Finally, Danas friends body and face covered in sweat, the other girl was tightly bound, gagged and a narrow iron collar was around her throat.
Lina Lir didn’t react to her treatment in the slightest. Zusha steadied herself.
“A slave indenter.”
A woman gave such to Zusha, who knelt down before Lina Lir and pressed the magical indenter onto the other girls forehead. As Zusha took back the item, Dana could see a complicated, carved black symbol like a tattoo on Lina Lirs brow.
The indented girl shuddered, closed her eyes.
“You have been marked, slave. Stand up and follow me.”
Zusha rose, turned and headed over to her friends. She nearly fell, and Rowenn caught her in her arms. Lina Lir fought to get on her feet, her legs had not been tied. With difficulty, she managed to do so.  Head down, her eyes on the floor, she came over to Zusha and her friends, like Zushas, her steps were unsteady.
Dana couldn’t hold back any longer:
“Zusha, are you well?”
“No.” Her friend said.

+++
“We informed the nearest city state about the captured rogue gang, and out of boredom sexinterrogated the leadress and their scout priestress. The leadress was a former captain of the guard of another city state who fled her hometown after a murder and had become quite successful as outlaw doing large robberies or slave hunting. The moon priestress is, or better was, really such , she had been evicted from her order for immoral behavior.
Finally the authorities arrived in form of two dragons laden with city guards, and we continued on our way. It was the only noteworthy episode of the whole journey.”
Tashmal came to an end and lit a Shalimo. Dana watched her lover smoke, feeling mild arousal as usual, and leaned back in her cushioned chair.
The friends were in the house of an Achaian merchant in Kuybi Kala, who had offered them a place in her home. The woman lived here for over 15 years , was married to a Rondakian woman, and both had a whole bunch of pretty children, all with light brown skin like shox,  a curious mix of the Rondakian redbrown and the Achaian milkwhite skin color.
Zusha had declined an invitation to live at the city rulers palace opposite the hall of The Blood, and had stayed with her friends, her new slave and former (or still?) sworn sister Lina Lir following her everywhere, now kneeling beside the table, still bound and gagged. She didn’t struggle, she didn’t mew or groan into her gag, which was of suede, not latexa to be sure, and was the most unaroused package Dana had seen yet.
The merchant, whose name was Gushonee  Beteldos, laughed and turned to Dana:
“How do you look at Rondakian customs, Lady Danadeva?”
The woman was informed about Danas identity and the groups mission – her second profession was agent of the Achaian intelligence service, which was known  to the empire of Tresha Kor, which somehow didn’t seem to object, at least they hadn’t crucified Gushonee on the market place yet.
“I found customs and cultures as diverse as in Arankalor. But the custom of lighting up cigarettes between persons who are in some ways intimate I find cute, romantic and hot. Lady Tashmal and I practice this custom sometimes now.”
“Ahh, I like this custom too. Did you know that’s one of the elements of the wedding ceremony in many Rondakian cultures? Yes, its true, Eya El and I did likewise during our wedding, before we drank a glass of Gur offered to us by the other respectively. The third element, usually before the smoke, is feeding each other with a salted slice of black bread.”
“That’s very interesting. In my home country, the Doranian empire, the only symbolic action is to tie the partners hands together with ribbons in the color of the rainbow, representing the Reigen of the goddesses”, Dana said.
One of the daughters of the house, a pretty girl with open, waistlong hair and about the age of 12, put more wine into Danas glass and the blonde thanked her and smiled at her. The girl smiled shyly back.
She was cautious with the wine, knowing all too well her alcohol tolerance was low. Several others of her friends, including Tashmal had no such reservations, Megan was even slightly drunk. Dana suddenly realized Megan was relatively often drunk. The witchs unlucky love for Tashmal? Or something else?  Anyway, as her Achaian lover would say.
Zusha rose out of a sudden and started to free Lina Lir of her bondage.  Dana and the others watched uneasily, only Tashmal, Niyi and the achaian-rodakian companions seemed unconcerned. When all ropes were removed from the slave, Zusha ordered:
“Remove your gag. Go to our quarters and lay down in a bed. You are weakened by the healing of a normally deathly wound. Rest, we will need your strength soon. You are allowed to drink and eat something in the kitchen. Here, three cigarettes and matches. Smoke them as you please.  Before you go to sleep, cut your hair chin length. I have let your weapons be brought here, you will find them in our quarters. You will oil and sharpen them before going to bed too.
Our journey continues tomorrow. Be prepared to use your fighting skills and your quick, agile mind soon, slave.”
Lina Lir, having ungagged herself,  answered in a low, subdued voice:
“Yes mistress.” Then: “Am I allowed to ask a question?”
“Go ahead.”
“Why haven’t you killed me, mistress?”
“You don’t deserve to die honorable in a judgement.”
There were tears in Lina Lirs dark eyes under the beautiful eyelashes.  Dana gulped, gripped by emotion. She opened her mouth to say something, but Tashmals hand on her arm hold her back.
Zusha said evenly:
“You may go now.”
Without another word, Lina Lir rose and left the room. Zusha sat down again, playing with the ropes her slave had been bound with. She put the coils to one side and reached for her cigarette pack on the table.
It was Marule the bard who spoke first:
“You trust her, Zusha? She had you abducted and sold into slavery, a few hours ago she tried to kill you with a very sharp looking blade, and now you untie her and even give her back her weapons? I know about Rondakian honor, but that?”
Zusha, an unlit cigarette now between her black lips, mumbled seemingly lightly:
“She is my sworn sister.”
Marule shook her head and changed a glance with Dana.
“Uhh,” Rowenn made and continued:
“How do we proceed tomorrow?”
Zusha had lit her Kaskago, blew out smoke and answered:
“The escort of 60 Tra Ka Dar warriors and 6 fighting magas of our order is ready to join us. Kera Kel Kesh, the older warrior who welcomed us in the hall of The Blood, will lead the force. Horses, provision, water, cigarettes and gear are ready too. We can ride east into the Rukuros tomorrow morning.”
Trish said:
“According to our calculations of the seals position, we will need about three weeks to reach it, assuming there arise no greater problems.”
Dana lit a cigarette of her own and changed the subject:
“Zusha, now that you are in your home country again, don’t you want to see your mother or the odd friend?”
“No,” was the Rondakians short and rather cold answer.
Gushonee the merchant broke the ensuing silence:
“Dinner will be ready in one hour. My cook is Rondakian, but she has spent some time in Lashayette in her youth, and is well versed in Achaian cuisine. I think you will look back fondly on this meal when you are out there in the wilderness.”
Tashmal smiled broadly:
“The best news of the day, if someone asks an Achaian whore. What I miss most from home is the cuisine.”
After being silent during the whole day and its dramatic events,  Sirf said in Danas mind:
“Tashmal is probably the only one among you who thinks more with her stomach than with her pussy.”
“After what happened in the hall of The Blood a short while ago, THIS is your comment of the day, old male?”
“There is this aggressiveness in your mind voice again. The events there were quite clear and self explanatory. The Rondakas, and especially those of The Blood in Tresha Kor, are very proud and honorbound. And your Zusha is exemplary. So no real surprises here.”
“Why does she take Lina Lir with us? It would have been more merciful to kill her!”
“Maybe she is a cruel bitch, your Zusha. Or maybe she loves the girl back, only in a different way. The last word between the two has not been spoken yet.”
“Can we trust her? I mean Lina Lir?”
“As much as you can trust everyone in your group. Remember, you don’t even really trust Tashmal despite loving her.”
Dana tortured the filter of her cigarette with her lips. Tashmal watched her with this knowing smile, obviously assuming she spoke with Sirf.
Out of an impulse, she said to her lover:
“Sirf is of the opinion that you only think with your stomach.”
Tashmal laughed and turned her head towards the tomcat, which was in the center of the attention of several of the families smaller kids.
The Achaian beamed:
“Listen to him, obviously he knows me much better than you do, sugarmouth.”

+++

“We fight were the Ruka Ro sends us. A large contingent of our order is assisting the northwestern Rondakas in their war against the deathknightresses of Kerke. She who prefers to be called Zusha now was among them when she was abducted.”
Kera Kel Kesh, the greyhaired Tra Ka Dar, seemed still guarded when Dana in her curiosity questioned her. But she was polite, even if clearly reserved.  The blonde and the leadress of the Tra Ka Dar escort rode in the middle of the group, which just had crossed a small stream and now continued along a trail through the woods of the Rukuros.
It was their fifth day on horseback. Taking a rivership as an option had been ruled out in the end, it would have been difficult to find a ship large enough to house the whole unit and all its horses.
So far, the journey had been uneventful. They followed trails, which were rather broad, made by plant-eating ground dragons, during the days and stopped in the evenings, making camp at clearings near streams or small lakes.
Counting the pack horses in, they had over a hundred animals, and so they needed a certain amount of space when resting. During the nights, a fifth of the Tra Ka Dar were always on sentry duty.
All others, including Dana and her friends, slept with their weapons nearby. They indulged in nightly pleasures in shifts, and to muffle any cries of Joy or lust, they all had sex while gagged. Dana found this rule were funny and enjoyed this “game” very much with her Tashmal, and she enjoyed seeing others making love while they were gagged too.
The Tra Ka Dar were a professional lot, all trained warriors with combat experience, the magas as strong as Megan or Trish. They wore suede garment in light green and white, their official uniform.
The friends had found some of them, especially the younger ones, quite open with the foreigners. At least they gladly mixed up with them for nightly pleasures.
Only one detail was currently casting a shadow on Danas mood: Lina Lir, the slave in their midst. She was not in physical bondage, always rode behind Zusha, armed like everyone else, her raven black hair now chinlength, the indented black symbol on her forehead clear for all to see.
Zusha only addressed her with short, sharp commands, the Tra Ka Dar ignored Lina Lir, and Dana and the other girls didn’t talk to her too, as everyone suspected it would anger Zusha.
So, Lina Lir was all alone among them, likewise not participating in the nightly pleasures. Zusha had forbidden her to touch herself, and Dana was sure, while they all had their hotness cooled in turns at night, the girl lay there under her blanket and sheer burst with need.
The blonde suddenly thought it was enough. She excused herself by Kera Kel Kesh, stopped her horse and waited till Zusha and her slave had reached her.
“Zusha , may I command your slave and talk to her?”
“Sure, Dana. You may do anything with her, save for sexual pleasures, as she has not yet earned relief.”
Dana nodded and addressed Lina Lir:
“Come, slave, ride with me.”
The girl obeyed, and she and Dana waited until Zusha and several others had passed.
The exmaid eyed Lina Lir, seeing she had obviously cried during the night, her eyes red, visible despite her fresh make up.
“Is it only honor that you don’t flee or kill yourself?”
Surprised by this opening of Dana, the girl met her eyes, but lowered her gaze quickly again. She hesitated, and Dana didn’t press her.
“I am guilty of treason. I must be punished, its fitting. “
“What made you commit such a silly crime, letting the one you love be abducted and sold into slavery? It was not… ahhh.. really rational.”
“Maybe I wanted her to suffer like I had suffered. I am not very wise, I know. And I am selfish, and cruel.”
“Well, Zusha doesn’t seem so different from you, to tell the truth. So, your mother has nothing to do with it? It had absolutely nothing to do with politics, powerplay, the like?”
“No, mistress, my mother is innocent, she is a loyal follower of the Ruka Ro.”
“Hmmm, do you think Zusha will release you after some time?”
“I have been indented, mistress, I am slave for life.”
“Wonderful. Here, take a cigarette, your Zusha is not very generous with those.”
Dana took one herself too, and both girls lit up. The blonde could see how much Lina Lir had lusted for a smoke.
“Mmmh, thank you mistress, you are very kind.”
“You know what our mission is all about?”
“Yes mistress. Even if not a traitress and bound to Shija… I mean Zusha, I would want to accompany you to readjust this seal and stop the male invasion. “
“Can it be that you hope that as Zushas slave you will be always near her, and that her feelings towards you will change over time?”
Before Lina Lir could answer, a harsh, unknown male voice called out in Danas mind:
“Incoming assault! Savage women all around us!”
This had to be Horsh, Trishs falcon and new con-fy-deth.  Dana took a hasty last drag from her Laxago and then dropped the cigarette, screaming at the top of her lungs:
“Alarm! Incoming assault!”
The Tra Ka Dar and Danas friends immediately drew weapons. Not a moment too soon, as arrows started to fly from the woods and numerous girls stormed the trail, brandishing weapons and screaming shrill. The attackers were racial Rondakas naturally, clad in crude garments of dragon hide, their faces painted black with red stripes and red lips. Red streaks were in their black long hair manes too.
The Tra Ka Dar warriors were equipped with shields, which caught many arrows. But some hit home, into female or horses flesh. Lassos came out of the trees and caught the odd rider, dragging her out of the saddle.
Dana had drawn her sword, as she was attacked by a savage who tried to severe her booted leg with an axe. She parried the attack and, reluctantly, ripped the girls head in two with her blade.
Two horselengths from her, a Tra Ka Dar had been dragged from her horse by lasso. The girl had been able to cut the lasso now with her dagger, but she was still on the ground, and two attackers were upon her. But before Dana could reach the scene, Lina Lir was there, having dismounted, and quickly killed both savages with thrusts of her shortsword.
An arrow hissed through Danas blonde mane, missing her throat only by a small margin. She turned her attention to another savage, who just had emerged from the bushes around the trees. The girl held a spear and looked about for a target. Dana brought her horse near her with her thighs, while drawing her latexa club. As the savage girl stormed towards her, she threw the club, hitting the enemy at the head. The girl went down silently.
Suddenly a lasso fell on her, pinning her arms to her sides. With much force, she was dragged out of the saddle. The bounce on the ground pressed the air out of her lungs, and she was stunned for a moment. She had lost her sword. Tashmal screamed something in the distance, probably having seen her fall.
The blonde fought back her weakness, gripped the hilt of her dagger and drew it. She was pulled upwards, standing upright, than her feet lost contact with the ground. She could see five Tra Ka Dar and Trish dangling on lassos from the trees too. They were now easy targets for arrows, but the attackers had probably something else in mind for them.
The lasso was pinning her arms at her elbows to the body, it was drawn very tight. She couldn’t reach it with her dagger.  Out of thin air, something gripped her blonde mane and pulled. Surprised and in pain, she opened her mouth to scream, and out of the trees a packing of folded leather flew into her oral orifice and gagged her forcefully.
“UMMPPHH!”
She tried to work the packing out again with her tongue, but a band of leather flew through the air, wound itself around her lower head and was pulled tight, pressing the packing deep into her mouth.
“MMPPHH! UMMUMMPPH!”
The enemy obviously had magas too, and didn’t employ them in throwing fireballs or the like, but in securing prisoners. Despite the dangerous combat situation, Dana felt aroused by her suspension and especially the magical gagging.
More lassos fell, three more Tra Ka Dar were dragged from their saddles. Dana realized the ground assault and the arrows were only a diversion, the lassos were the real attack. The savage tribe didn’t aim to kill but to capture.
Then Tashmal and Megan were there. Megan invocated a spell, and with a sharp sound the lasso snapped in two, so Dana fell to the ground. It was easy to slip out of the no longer tight item. Crouching on the trail, the exmaid cut the gag strap with her dagger, then poked the packing out of her mouth. Tashmal guarded her with sword at the ready. The blonde saw her sword in the dirt a few feet away and retrieved it.
Kera Kel Kesh had realized the enemys real objective too, and now ordered her girls to help those captured by lassos. On the ground, the savages were no match for the Tra Ka Dar. The elite warriors had stopped using deadly force, instead took out savage girls with latexa clubs and the flat side of their weapons.
Dana looked out for another enemy, but there was no one in her vicinity. Meanwhile, on a command of Kera Kel Kesh, some Tra Ka Dar started to climb the trees from where the lassos fell.
Suddenly, a horn was blown in the woods, and the savages disappeared as quickly as they had come.
The leadress of the unit started to get things organized. The girls still dangling on lassos were freed, the wounded were tended too, and the savages on the ground, were, if not dead or gravely wounded, packaged.
Dana and Tashmal helped out by tying up and gagging several unconscious girls. Megan healed graver wounds, like Trish and theRrondakaian magas, but lighter ones were only tended with healing potion, as the Magas mana pools were limited.
In the end, every wounded had been tended to, and they had 27 packaged savages lying under the trees near the trail. Three Tra Ka Dar and four horses had been killed, seven more warriors had been severely wounded and magically healed, but were now too weak to ride themselves. Apart from the 27 captives, 22 savages were dead.
Dana and her friends met with Kera Kel Kesh, everyone enjoying a well earned smoke. Dana said:
“Is someone among your unit who speaks the tribes dialect?”
The old warrior nodded. The blonde continued:
“Fine. Well, if you agree, I would like to give the captives back to them and tell them that we only want to traverse their territory.  Maybe they will refrain then from attacking us again.”
Kera Kel Kesh nodded:
“That would be honorable. These tribes hold their honor high. It might work.”
And so, Dana spoke into the surroundings woods, translated by a Tra Ka Dar, and magically strengthened to carry far by Megan:
“We have cared for your wounded. We treated your dead with respect. We will leave your packaged comrades behind here. Our group just wishes to pass through your lands. We neither want war nor slaves. If you leave us alone, no one else will come to harm.”
There was no answer, and Dana hadn’t expected one. She climbed into her saddle, nodded to the others, and their group continued along the trail, leaving the struggling and mewing captives behind.
Tashmal said to Dana:
“In a sense, we even have given them gifts. 27 sets of fine silk rope and 27 good latexa three part gags. They will be delighted. By the way, you looked good dangling on this lasso, and your gagtalk was first class as usual.”
Dana chuckled:
“I knew that you would mention it, cute whore.”