(Despite the boring first sentence, even this chapter contains bondage!)

"What about a hot Kaff now?"
"Sounds wonderful."
"Over there is a Kaff house, discovered it three days ago. It has apple cake, Tashmal."
That was Marule, smiling. She, Tashmal, Dana and Zusha were on a shopping tour through Thy-Web-Rell. Today it was not raining, a first since they arrived in Albor. Two maids in yellow attire were following them, heavily laden with their leathern shopping bags, the poor things.
Dana mouthed a Laxago and searched in her hip bag for matches. She wore her black boots, gloves and corsage, and white trousers and blouse and a white latexa band in her hair to held it out of her face.
During their tour through the merchant district, Dana had found that most Alborans were curious about the foreigners, but there manners were well. Nevertheless, they couldnt avoid to send them many glances, especially Dana and Marule with their large breasts.
Suddenly, there was a wooshing sound at her ear, and a shrill cry of Tashmal. Tashmal went down, blood dripping from her blue painted mouth, blood on her back too. A bolt! It had come from  - over there.
"Call a healing witch, quick!" she cried and sprinted to the four level building the shot had come from.  A dark clad figure rose on the red roof, looked down into the street. The woman was masked and hooded and had a crossbow. She started to ran away on the roof. Dana was at the house, drawing her sword, Zusha right behind her. A wooden staircase at the buildings flank led up to the other levels and the roof. The blonde took several stairs with every step. She reached the top in an instant.
The assassin just had jumped over the gap between two houses and had landed on another roof. Dana followed her. The hunt continued for a while, from roof to roof, the distance between the fleeing woman and Dana and Zusha diminishing. Suddenly, the assassin left the roof she was on to the staircase of this dwelling, and entered it through a door at the second level. 
Dana and Zusha followed, reached the door. Dana opened it with a kick, and Zusha darted in, rolled to the right and rose again, her double bladed axe in hand. Dana went left, sword at the ready.
The large room was dimly lit by the weak sunlight, the old, dirty curtains partly drawn shut. 7 women were waiting for them, all armed with swords and daggers and clubs. It were Alborans, by their build, they were masked.
It was a trap, the assassin playing bait. The door was closed behind them from the outside, a heavy crossbar moved across the door.
No one said anything. The enemies were slowly approaching, swords in one, clubs in the other hand.
Dana thought that she wouldnt get away without killing this time. Instead of Kerke, she sent  a short prayer to Benit, goddess of peace and love, and asked her forgiveness.
Suddenly, Zusha issued a shrill cry, like a wild beast, and attacked. Dana didnt hesitate and joined her in her assault. 
The enemy was surprised by the cry, and by its preys sudden attack. Good, Dana thought. Her sword entered the body of a woman with an ugly sound. She whinced inwardly, as much blood sprayed around and the woman screamed. Zushas axe disrupted another womans skull. Dana parried several sword attacks  and clubs, her sword moved rapidly, and another woman stumbled back, gripping her frazzled throat. Zushas weapon severed an arm, another enemy out for good.
That left three. A blade cut into Dana right leg, splitting the leather of the boot, cutting into her flesh.
She ignored the pain, which was very easy again, and spun about, sending a fist into the face of the attacker. The woman tumbled back. Her other remaining enemy hit her with her club on the head, Dana saw stars, but cleared her vision and rose her sword again. The club wealder cried in surprise that she was still standing. The one she had hit with her fist in the face was back, both women faced her now, hesitating.
Another scream, and Zushas last enemy dropped to the floor, Zushas axe had entered her rip case, instantly killing her. The Rondaka joined Dana.
The two remaining assassins took a step back, changed a look, and dropped their weapons to the floor. They went to their knees and raised their hands.
"We surrender, please dont kill us," one said in fear, her alboran had a different accent.
"Take off your masks," Dana ordered.
Yes, they were Alborans, one a blonde, the other a redhead. Both were clearly much in fear.
"Do you have ropes and gags in your hipbags?"
"Yes, mistress."
"Good. Gag yourselfs."
The two women obeyed. Dana let the blonde tie up the red head. Zusha was looking after the five fallen enemies. All but one lay dead in their blood. The one still living had lost an arm, was deeply in shock and would die soon of blood loss if help would not come quickly.
As redhead was serviced, Dana bound the blonde. The clothing of the seven women was brown or tan. The first assassin had worn black. So she was not among them. Damned, Dana thought.  She opened a curtain. On the street she could see yellow clad soldiers, Rowenn leading them, running towards the building. The blonde headed for the far side of the room, where there was another door. It led to a corridor, dirty and empty. She sniffed and listened. Nothing. The first woman was gone, she was sure.
She had an idea who she had been...

***

After the action was over, Dana had immediately felt guilt that she had left Tashmals side to go for a hunt and  some sword action. Tashmal could have been deadly wounded, could have died on the cobble stone of that street, without her lover with her in her last moments.
The petite Achaian had been gravely wounded indeed, but a witch nearby had saved her live, and a dedicated healing witch, member of the Counsell, had later healed her completely with a powerful spell. Tashmal was sleeping now, healed but totally exhausted, as the energy for the spell had come from her, as was always the case with magical healing.
Dana had sat at her bed for several hours, holding the sleeping brunettes hand, until Zusha had come to the chamber and called her to the evening meal. Only then the blonde had felt how hungry she was.
It was now late at night, and she was sitting with Zusha, Megan and Rowenn in a great chamber in the counsell  tower, near a fireplace, drinking warmed wine with honey and discussing the days events.
"The two captives have told us it was a Xishaika who hired them. So it really IS Niyi, the Mayuta, out there. " Megan explained.
Dana drank from her wine and said:
"I already expected that. And they are from a thieves guild in the west of Albor?" 
"Yes, from Resh-Brast-Booth, a large city there. Thieves guild is a very fine expression. They are thugs of a band of robbers and highwaywomen. The plan was to abduct you, and the Rondaka, Zusha, I might add." Rowenn elaborated.
"It is an unanswered question why the enemy doesnt just try to kill you, Dana, instead of trying to get you alive. "
"I gather they want to use me somehow like the order of Kerke in the empire."
"Speaking of Kerke, two death knightresses are in the city, in the empires embassy. A Lurave and a Koxath. These names sound familiar, dont they?"
It was Megan, smiling a bit.
Dana rose an eyebrow, then threw her hair mane back.
"So they havent given up yet. Well, they can always be packaged once again."
"Right, but this time it probably wont be this easy."
The door opened, and there was Tashmal, in a light green silken night gown and slippers. 
"I am sooo hungry."
Dana rose very quickly. "I will fetch something for you, my love."
"Oh, yes, please. A plate full of everything. Meat, foremost meat! Hurry!"
Dana hurried out of the room to fetch provision. As she was out the door, she heard Tashmal say:
"She would make such a good slave. Too bad I am in love with her."
The blonde smiled...
***
Dana thought of the mayutian assassin, imagined her face as she had seen it in the night at the inn when everything had begun. Trish was with her. It had been decided that the danger the mayutian killer posed was more pressing now, so Dana had received a Mana potion after all and she and the white blonde witch were visiting the ocean of events again.
A bubble rose, hovered  before Danas face.
"You did it, Dana. Wonderful and amazing in one."
"Lets go inside. For this, you must still guide me."
Their minds entered the bubble. There she was, Niyi, the Mayuta, the tall, slender yellow skinned woman in black, tight fitting silken clothes. She was unmasked and unhooded, her long black mane in  a tower above her head. She wore white lipstick. She noticed Niyis lips were phenomenal, the woman had perhaps the most beautiful mouth Dana had ever seen.
As there were only a few yellowskins in the city, and all were observed now, Niyi had to hide. She was in a small room, sitting cross legged on the ground. Her eyes were closed. She seemed deep in thought. Or was she sleeping?
"She is meditating,"    Trishs bodyless voice said.
Dana had heard of that. Good. She could see the womans sword on the small bed, a strange,  bent sword. Looking around, she could see her hood and mask, a neatly arranged pile of underwear - silvern silk - provision, a rucksack, a pack of Kigumos. The brand of fantasy and creativity? Well, probably containing the warriors brand, Kaskago.
She moved the bubble, slowly so. They landed above the city in the air, looking down on a sea of red roofs. Damn! That was too far. If she could go back? If she... yes, there was the room with Niyi again.
Once more. Slowly, steadily, Dana, she told herself. It was an inn, few guests, only one maid and the inn mistress, mother and daughter by the looks of it. It looked shabby and dirty.
Another cautious move of the bubble... outside, on the street, there were few women going about. Two little girls were playing hide and seek, despite the rain. The houses looked all shabby. The name of the inn was "The hitting knife".
"We have seen enough. Lets not waste any time or Mana."Dana said/thought.

***

Dana and Tashmal were communicating in sign language. They were standing before the door of Niyis room in the inn. Zusha, Megan and Rowenn were with them.
There had been strong objections, as the friends had announced they wanted to capture the Mayuta themselves. But the Spica had said:
"Our young heroine must get experience in heroic deeds. We cant put her under glass. So let the young ladies go, will you."
Naturally, they had closed off the street and the roofs with weapon maids. The assassin could not escape.
A signal of Tashmal, and Megan whispered a spell. They waited. Dana knew that, if the spell worked, Niyi would now feel the overwhelming urge to smoke. She listened intently. A match was lit in the room. She nodded to Megan, who spoke another spell. The cigarette between the Mayutas lips would now turn into a magical gag, which additionally sent out extremely powerful waves of arousing sex energy. 
"Ummmph!" Dana heard. Rowenn kicked in the door, Tashmal and Dana rushed in, Dana with ropes in hand, Tashmal with a club.
The filter cigarette stuck firmly between Niyis white painted lips, and it gagged her perfectly. Dana could also smell that she was very hot. But the intended effect of weakening her to the point that there would be no resistance, seemed to lack somehow, as the Mayuta had already drawn her sword and threw a small knife, which nearly hit Dana. The blonde only escaped because of her extremely fast reaction, as she darted to the left and landed on the small bed. 
Niyis sword hacked for Tashmal, and Danas lover could only survive by jumping to the right and back, falling backwards over a trunk in the corner.
Now Rowenn and Zusha entered, weapons drawn.
"We must have her alive!" Dana cried, rolled from the bed and came back on her feet in a crouch. Rowenn and Niyi crossed blades, Zusha dropped her axe - reluctantly it seemed - and drew a latexa club. Finally, Megan was in the door and spoke another spell.
Something hit the Mayuta from behind - a magical club, Dana supposed. The woman stumbled, but didnt go down. The cigarette was still deep between her lips. Dana knew it became hard as steel when the spell took effect and couldnt be removed by the person "wearing" it herself.
Tashmal threw her club, which hit the killer at the knees. While Rowenn and Zusha kept her busy, Dana attacked her from behind, embracing her and pinning her arms at the side.  Zusha wound the sword out of Niyis hand, and Rowenn put her blade at the womans throat. She ceased struggling, just stood there. Her black eyes were expressionless. 
Tashmal approached and made the sleeping grip at her neck. The yellow skinned woman passed out.
They went to work on her, and a few minutes later she was stripped, put in black latexa stockings and gloves, tightly bound with rope, and gagged with a three part latexa gag. 
The Achaian breathed loudly when they were done and said:
"A dangerous woman."
"She doesnt look so dangerous now," Rowenn said, patting Niyis gagged cheek.
Dana allowed herself a cigarette and added:
"And she will sing like a bird - or Marule - when you are through with her, Tashmal."
"Give me a filmu too, sugarmouth. Well, I am not so sure. I fear she is trained in Majavet like myself. She will be able to nearly cum at will. Maybe the witches should try a truth spell on her. What do you think, Megan?"
"It can be done. But there are ways to counter that too. She could be magically immunized against that."
"And the good old pain torture will probably not help too."
"And I wouldnt allow it." Dana said sternly.
"I knew you would say that, my Benit mouse." Tashmal smiled.
***

"This is absolutely pointless," Tashmal said angrily, retreating from the captive. Behind her, Niyi squirmed in her bonds, her sheeted legs twisting about, she screaming repeatedly in the gag, her yellow skin bathed in sweat were it was not sheeted in black latexa, her waistlong, now open black hair mane flying about. The packaged killer was a sight to behold, a very hot sight.
"Its WE who get aroused without relief by this, the yellow beast is just having great fun. It is as I feared, she is very well trained."
Megan lit one of her Malegos and mumbled:
"And the truth spell didnt work too. We wont get anything out of the bitch."
Tashmal hissed:
"We should remove all the bondage and dildos, put her in an old womans nightgown, and in a normal bed with linen sheets and let her alone, maybe she will speak out of boredom after a few days. The Klish has nearly killed me with her bolt. And now she is having pleasure without end."
Dana had to laugh. 
"Come on, my little whore, you are just jelaous. Lets head over to our chamber and have some pleasure ourselves. We have caught her, she wont pose a problem anymore."
"There, she cums  yet again.  I dont believe it," Tashmal fumed.



***
"They are smoking much, the two. Avid little klishs." Tashmal smiled.
"You are right. I like that. Makes them more human. How have they arrived here this fast?"
"By dragon. Both are dragon riders. Not the large, slow kind we used one to get to Albor. The small, agile ones called fighter dragons. "
"I see. Kaff and cigarettes and cheese and bread, the whole day long. What do you think they are waiting for?"
"They plan something. Most probably to abduct you."
"I get the strong feeling nearly everyone in the world is plotting to abduct me." Dana chuckled.
They lay on the flat roof of a storage building opposite of a Kaff house at the river. Through two magical binoculars, they were watching Lurave and Koxath, the two death knightresses, sitting in the hall of the Kaff house.
Their hair had been magically regrown, Dana saw. Lurave had it again in a plaite, while Koxaths brown hair was openly falling on her shoulders. The brunette seemed softer with the hair open. Dana remembered that Koxath had been hot about Lurave when both were packaged. She smiled.
"And you really think we should attack first? We cant do it openly, it would cause a diplomatic incident."
"Right. But they must be out of the way. Thats called a preemptive strike."
"What will we do with them once we have them?"
"How about sending them back to the GreatKonnetabel Wutrit Something in a freight dragon, packaged and in leathersacks? If nothing more, we would gain time."
"Sounds wonderful." Dana giggled.
"I already have a plan. Its simple. No risk with these bitches."
"Im am listening, cute whore..."

***

The two Kerke sisters seemed to be not the least worried someone could attack them. They walked through the streets of Thy-Web-Rell back to the empires embassy, using small alleys too.
They had no chance. Tashmal and Zusha threw latexa clubs, which hit both women at the back of their necks. They went down and didnt move anymore. Dana and the two others rushed towards them. While Dana shoved a gag packing in Koxaths slack mouth, she said:
"Interesting mode of attack. Will one of you teach me how to throw a club like that?"
"Sure, sugarmouth. Now to the second part of the plan....

An hour later, the three friends were standing in a playing room of a pleasure house in one of the citys finest districts. Opposite of them were standing Lurave and Koxath, both naked save for black latexa gloves and stockings, tightly bound with white ropes, gagged with white latexa gags.
"We have decided you can keep your hair this time. Nice of us, hu?" Dana said.
"Now, there. You are in for great pleasure. Dont struggle so much, Lady Lurave." 
Dana realized Koxath not only was hot about her blonde comrade, but was in love with her, without Lurave knowing. Well, maybe she would know after this night.
She went back to Zusha and Tashmal, and said:
"And their transport, Tashmal?"
"Already arranged. Officially, they are two pleasure slaves for the GreatKonnetabel . The dragon will, loaded with some more slaves, start for the empire tommorrow morning. Our deadly warriors here have the whole night to get to know each other very well."

***

"How shall I go about it?" Dana asked.
Once more, she was standing naked with Trish on the white beach of the ocean of events in dream world. Three days had passed since they had packaged the two death knightresses, and Danas Mana pool was restored again.
"Just ask a question."
"Hm. Well." She turned to the ocean.
"How can we hinder the Males from entering Matria?"
Nothing happened. Dana thought for a while. It was the ocean of events and persons, so...
"Who knows how the Males can be hindered from entering Matria?"
A bubble rose.
They entered it. Dana saw a room without windows, lit by light from an invisible source. Floor and walls were of the shagjat-Material - that was the name of the shiny stone - save for one wall, which seemed made out of metal, littered with magic crystals and dark blind mirrors. A very large dark mirror was in the center.
"Whats that?", she asked.
Trish answered: "A machine of the Ancients. If it still works, it can speak and answer questions. Its like a magical library. A smaller one is in this tower here, in the cellar. Its broken now, but its said two hundred years ago it still worked. Lets see where this machine is located. Can you move in the bubble?"
Dana did so, and they looked down on the ruins of a large city, made out of Shagjat and metal. On some places, the shagjat looked as if melted. A large tower, it must have about 100 levels - no, 112, rose in the center of the ruins.
"Ouch-od-Dry!" Trish exclaimed.
"Its in Albor? Thats an alboran name."
"Yes and no, Dana. Its on the alboran island, but not in our country. Its in Medu-sat-Hedd, the Medusa Head, the northern peninsula. Medu-sat-Hedd is elven country."
Dana was curious and wanted to explore the ruins, but Trish urged her to leave the dream world now.  
Reluctantly, the ex maid agreed. They left the bubble and woke up.
***

Dana opened her eyes and found herself bound and gagged. Trish beside her was packaged too. Dana tried the ropes, the latexa gag - very strict, very professional bondage.
She looked up at her captor. It was Niyi. The Mayuta wore the attire of an alboran weapon maid in yellow, with the red lion over the bosom. She busied herself with a knife, a piece of rope, and the cut remains of a silken blanket.
Dana saw she was making an improvised sack for a captives hands. As expected, she put it on Dana, trapping the blondes hands and fingers inside.
Without a word, she leashed Dana and led her to the door. Dana could not kick her, as her knees were bound, with some rope between them, allowing her normal steps, but no kicks. Trish struggled on the bed, mmmpphing in her tight gag. The witch coldnt  issue a spell as she was gagged.
The blonde thought about her options. They were few at the moment.  She had to wait for a good opportunity. It wouldnt be easy for the killer to get her victim out of here. How did Niyi got free? With a witch constantly guarding her and spells around her cell? Probably the same way Tashmal had accomplished her mission in the witches academy. It was unimportant now.
Seemingly docile, she followed the Mayuta on the leash as they left Trishs sleeping chamber.
Quickly they reached the end of the corridor. In a corner, the two guards sat on the ground, back to back and bound and gagged. They squirmed in the ropes and screamed in the gags. As the gags were huge and tight, their "mmpphh" was very weak. 
Niyi and her captive passed them and entered the staircase, going down.  In the hall they turned left.
Suddenly a voice said:
"Going somewhere, yellowskin?" It was Tashmal.
She leaned at a pillar and smoked a cigarette.
Niyi said nothing. She took Danas leash and tied it to a ring holding a curtain of a window. Tashmal threw her cigarette away and slowly drew her sword.
The Mayuta was armed with the sword of a guard. She drew it likewise. The two women approached each other.
Danas heart was racing. No, Tashmal, no! she thought and started to struggle in her bonds. A scream escaped her, muffled by the gag.
The women were about two meters apart, as Tashmal pulled out one of her tiny crossbows from behind her back and shot.
Paralyzed instantly, Niyi dropped to the ground.
Dana let out a sigh of relief. Tashmal turned to her and said:
"Silly one, do you think I am stupid? Or suicidal? Would face this Daemona with swords like a heroine in a story? I know my limitations, dont worry."
She approached her bound and gagged lover,  took her face in a hand and pressed a kiss on Danas latexa gag band over the lips.
"Have you found out something useful in the dream world?"
Dana nodded. With the danger gone, her bondage aroused her as usual.
"You look cute as ever when packaged. Oh, well, not cute, gorgeous. This will be a really interesting night. But first, let me secure our mayutian friend here. We will have to think of ways to keep her in her cell without wandering about and packaging the odd blonde."

***
"Dont be afraid, Zusha. I have heard from Megan that the big dragons nearly never fall out of the sky."
Zusha sent Dana an ice cold stare, but her black painted lips were quivering. Dana eyed her for a moment longer, then she approached the dragon.
It had been decided by the Inner Council that they had to travel to Medusas Head in the north, to visit the old ruins, and to speak with the machine of the Ancients - if it still functioned. Dana and her friends would go, but they would not go alone.
There was no "deal" between the witches and the elves of Medusas head, like in Achaia. For hundreds of years, long before the witches took power, there had been war between Alboras and elves. More than once the Alboras had set out on a campaign of extinction against the bloodsuckers, but they always failed. Finally, the witches had decided that it was enough. They had erected a high and thick wall at the smallest point of the island, to keep the elves from coming south and robbing humans. It was heavily guarded by troops and combat witches.
Since it stood, only very seldom elven bands had been able to cross it and abduct women or children.
At first, Dana hadnt understood why the elves were a problem at all. Why could they not fly by dragon to the ruins?
But she had learned that dragons, of every kind, didnt fly over Medusas head. Be it because of some elven magic, or because of the ruins of the Ancients, the dragons immediatly turned after being a few miles into the airspace above the peninsula.
Tashmal had proposed to go by ship, but now in winter the storms in the north were so heavy that this posed an even greater risk, as the witches thought, than encountering elves on the journey. 
And so they would only fly to the wall in the north, called Elven-en-Woll, and proceed on horseback.
But as said, the friends wouldnt go alone. Four witches and her knights and two dozen weapon maids would accompany them. Megan and her knight Rowenn, and Trish and her knight Zoet, would be among them.
Dana climbed the ropeladder and entered the cabin on the dragons broad back. Marule was already sitting there, stroking the fur of the last member of the team - the Spicas own Con-fy-Deth, a black tomcat with green eyes named Sirf. Sirf purred languorous and yawned. He must be very old, as the Spica was it too.
She sat down and a deep voice said in her head, like the voices in dream world:
"What tits on this one. They need to be fondled and squeezed, I can see that."
Dana stopped dead in her tracks. "Who is speaking there?" she "said" in her mind.
"I am, big tit. My name is Sirf, as you already know."
"You - are the Tomcat. You can speak? You are intelligent as a human?"
"Obviously. You seem not very bright. Sure you are the great heroine everyone was waiting for?  On the other hand, heroines are seldom very bright."
"Are all animals of the witches able to speak and think like you?"
"Yes, they are. But we only do it with our witch - under normal circumstances."
"But you speak with me."
"Yes. Thats the reason I was sent with the team. I am now your temporary Con-fy-Deth."
"Is the Spica as old as everyone says? Nearly two hundred years?"
"A gentleman doesnt answer such a question about his lady."
"What is a gentleman?"
"You will have ample time during our journey to find that out."