PART  5
THE CATACOMBS OF THE EMPIRE

They left Thy-Web-Rell in the early morning by dragon, the now nine women, Sirf, and last but not least Osh, Megans tiny black snake, and Kleer, Trishs raven. 
At first the weather was clear, but as they were about one hour out to the snake sea, a heavy storm came up. The dragon seemed to rise and fall in the sky like a rubber ball bouncing on a Shagjat floor.
Poor Zusha had to vomit again. After two hours, the worst part of the storm had passed. From now on, the flight was quite pleasant, save for the suffering Rondaka. The women sat about and chatted, and as the cabin had a powerful Chruchor, were smoking.
Zoet, who was a good dragonrider herself and used to ride fighter dragons, stood at a window and looked out into the sky. Suddenly she said:
"Uh-oh. Trouble ahead."
"What is it?" Tashmal asked and rose. The others came to the window too, looking out.
"There" Zoet pointed. "Fighter dragons. By their dark red painted wings I take them for Wutandres."
"The pirates of the snake sea. Wonderful." Tashmal said.
"Can we escape them?" Marule asked.
"Hardly so. They are much faster." Zoet answered.
Rowenn mused:
"I wonder why they are out here. In winter, in this weather. Hardly the time for operations this far out over the sea."
"They are probably after Dana," Trish said. "Nearly all people have dream wanderers, the Wutandres too."
Dana sighed: "So, just another group after me. Cant they all form a line and wait until I am ready to deal with them?"
"What will our pilots do?" This was Marule again.
"They will surrender. They could be killed by arrows, or poisoned arrows or spears could kill our dragon. The Wutandres will guide us to their base." Zoet explained.
As she explained that, their dragon made a sharp turn to the right, now surrounded by 8 fighter dragons, and flew in a new direction. Dana could make out two women on the back of each dragon. Due to the cold in this height, in winter to boot, they were packed in polstered leather and furs, but their long blonde manes were waving behind them in the wind like banners.
They discussed what the Wutandres motives were. Tashmal said:
"I doubt they want to abduct and enslave us. I am sure its about our blonde beauty once again."
"What will they do with us?" Dana asked.
Tashmal anwered:
"First, they will package us. Then they will transport us to their settlements. The various tribes of the Wutandres live in small towns at the end of the deep, narrow fjords of Wutandria. The country is no political entity, each tribe is independent, but they will form an alliance if someone from outside should attack them. Anyway, they will bring us to their settlement, which wont be very far from the dragon base. Lets hope they transport us in a coach, and not on foot bound by a leash to the stirrup of a horse. Or even worse, suspend us from their fighter dragons and fly us there, we dangling down from the dragons."
Zusha beside Dana gulped and her escaped a small fearful whimper.
Tashmal surpresssed a little smile and Dana knew it was only one of her cruel jokes.
They could do nothing but wait, and so they smoked some more cigarettes, as there would be no possibility to do so once the Wutandres had packaged - which included a gagging - them.
After about one and a half hour the dragon went down, landing on a large, snow covered field. The fighter dragons circled above them. Outside was a large group of Wutandre warriors, about 60 - no, 63. They were all large, muscled women with long blonde manes in brown leather, armed with big axes, long spears and bihander swords. Dana could see 3 Magas among them, who carried long staffs with magical crystals. 
It would be pointless to fight.
Tashmal grinned and said to Dana:
"Ready to get the treatment?"
"We are used to this kind of thing. Lets hope they are civilized enough to use lustcream. Taking some pleasure out of it would be nice."
Sirf said in her head:
"You females are always thinking with your pussies."
"Oh, not asleep for once", Dana answered in her mind.
"Any advice, Lord Sirf?"
"Yes. Before you receive the gag, ask what is about me, Kleer and Osh. "
"I will do so. Anything else?"
"Have fun. And dont be worried. I think your Tashmal is right. They dont want to enslave you. The leadress of the tribe is maybe only curious about you."
"Wonderful. Will it be that way everywhere I go from now on?"
"Possible, but you wont be bound and gagged as a welcome everywhere."
"Thats very reassuring."
"Oh? I thought you would be disappointed. I knew how much you like those bondage games."
 "Did you watch me when I make love with the others?"
"What do you think? Most naturally. I am your Con-fy-Deth now, I am always with you."
Rowenn said to the others:
"Lets remove our weapons and leave them here in the cabin. They would disarm us anyway."
They did so, opened the door and climbed, one after the other, down the rope ladder. On the ground, they shivered in the cold. The snow on the ground reached above their ankles, despite they all had high heeled boots, apart from Zusha, whose boots had flat heels. Even Niyi, who now where black long boots and gloves like Dana did today, had chosen high heeled ones.
Their two dragon riders joined them, asking forgiveness that they had surrendered. Zoet assured them quickly that it was alright, as there had been no other option.
They stood in a tight group, the Wutandres around them. The large blonde women eyed them with interest, curiosity, and barely hidden lust.
One said:
"Welcome to the realm of the Drejnshliege, the mightiest tribe of the Wutandres. Please come out of the cold, there is a dwelling over there for new arrivals."
She gestured with her hand towards a building of wood nearby. The friends didnt hesitate for long, as it was very cold outside. Surrounded by the big warriors, they went over to the house.
Inside, a big fire in the fireplace warmed the large single room. On a long table, several items were arranged.  Bright red ballgags, coils of white rope, colored latexa gloves and stockings and a big pile of furs. To one side stood several pairs of fur boots.
Kleer, Trishs raven, had flown away into the clear sky, Sirf was carried in his basket by Marule, and Osh was hidden somewhere at Megans body.
The speaker of the Wutandres grinned broadly and said:
"Please be so kind to gag yourself all with this nice ballgags."
The friends hesitated only shortly, then Tashmal went to the table first, followed by the others. Dana, her gag in hand, said in Alboran:
"What about our animals? The cat, and this witch here has a small snake hidden beneath her clothing."
"The animals will not be harmed. Dont fear for them."
Dana nodded, opened her mouth wide and worked the large ball in, buckled the gag shut at the back of her neck. Yes, it was heavily impregnated with lust cream. A heavy "UMMPPH!" escaped her, her love tube filled with her honey. She looked at the others, who looked all delicious with the large, bright red balls in their mouths. All were mmpphing heavily, already aroused.
"Splendid! Now strip completely. Dont fear for your clothing, we will take it with us. And then don the latexa gloves and stockings. You may choose your colors for yourself."
The Wutandres  Alboran had a strong twangling accent to it. The friends stripped and started to jerk the latexa sheeting over their limbs. Osh, Megans snake, sat on top of Megans clothing on the ground.
"What a cute little dragon! Is it poisonous?"
"MMMPPH!" Megan nodded.
"Will it bite us?"
"NNMMMPPH , UMMPPH!" Megan shook her head.
"Thats good. I trust you in that, witch."
When the nine women were naked and their limbs sheeted in latexa, several Wutandres started to tie them up with rope.  The friends were bound quickly, tightly and expertly.   
The Wutandres helped the captives into the fur boots, than wrapped everyone into the fur cloaks, including large hoods. The cloaks were tied about their bodies with more rope, and after this they were all leashed.
The packaged friends, all mmmpphing constantly in their gags and squirming inadvertently in their bonds, were led outside again, and ladden into a coach. It was quite cramped inside, the women were packed like sardines.
Sirf sprang into the coach and lay down on the furs, craddled between Marule and Zoet. Tashmal and Niyi were already cuming. 
She had to learn that from Tashmal, Dana thought.
The coach started to move...

***

It was a sight to behold. Danas 8 friends and the two dragon riders, all with rubberized limbs in different colors, all with red ballgags, all bound with rope, writhed and squirmed on the thick furs on the ground, while two dozen Wutandres, their large, muscled bodies stark naked, fondled, stroke, kissed and licked them everywhere where it mattered. The packages were all very aroused and screamed into the squeaking gags.
They were in the large feasting hall of the Champonna, the first warrior and chieftain of the Dreijnshliege, in their settlement, called Shliegehusen. At large tables, more Wutandres, these clothed, sat, drank warm ale and feasted upon large haunchs of meet.
Dana, still packaged like the others, knelt beside the Champonnas wooden throne, her leash fastened to it. The Champonna, a woman in her forties with even larger muscles than most of the tribe in brown leather and a waist long thick blonde hair mane, cheered the naked Wutandres and the prisoners on with loud screams. To Danas other side, a smaller blonde woman, her hair in two plaits, wearing clothing of white linen, sat. It was the Champonnas wife.
The Wutandres were socially split into two groups, the warriors and sailors, called Vrousassen (free women), and the Ohnesassen, who tended to home, children and slaves. Ohnesassen ment "without land". Vrousassen could only marry a Ohnesasse and vice versa. The children of the Wutandres could choose which group they wanted to belong to after their First Pleasures.

The Champonna, she had introduced herself to the captives as Gulunde, stroke Danas hair. 
"I think its time we get to know each other better. My wife and I are very curious about you. Oh, you seem quite hot. Look how much you have dripped on the floor. Well, we have to get you some relief. It will be a pleasure to make you squirm."
She and her companion rose, and Gulunde exclaimed, raising her strong arms:
"Feast on,  Vrousassen and Ohnesassen of the Dreijnshlieges! And dont let our guests get bored. They should remember this night fondly."
Dana was conducted on her leash to the pairs sleeping chamber. Gulunde and her Ohnesasse  Pagede made it a worthwhile night for their captive. In the next four hours, Dana came repeatedly, and after her gag had been taken of, she served both women to their satisfaction.
Afterwards, all three smoked a cigarette, Dana still bound, but ungagged.
Gulunde, stoking her wifes now open hair, said:
"Well, you really are a very hot young woman, Vrousasse Dana. You seem not surprised I know your name."
"I assume you have been told it by a dream wanderer."
"Thats right. My Wutandra priestress has seen you in her dreams. Two hundred miles to the north, there is a settlement called Thingbu. Its the central trading and contact point for all wutandrian tribes. There is also the seat of the Ambassador witch of Albor, who had informed all Champonnas of all our tribes about the danger of the Males return. After learning about that, and about you, my priestress was able to see you in the bubbles of the dreams."
"So you saw too when we would pass your realm by dragon, and you decided to abduct me. Out of pure curiosity about the strength of my heat?"
Both Wutandres laughed. Gulunde slapped Dana on the back, took her cigarette away and ashed into the tray, then gave it back to Danas lips.  
"That was part of it. But as we now know how important and in the center of destiny you are, we thought you might be able to help us with a little problem."
"So? What might that be?"
"For some weeks now, our outlying villages, our herds and our hunters in the forests are attacked by a large marauding band of orks. We would normally easily have dealt with orks, as the wild kind living farther inland is no match for my warriors. But these orks have had massive aid by humans. They are clad in steel armor, armed with steel axes and swords, and have magic healing potions and strong combat spells at their disposal. I suspect this aid comes from another tribe, one of my rivals."
"Do you expect me to defeat the orks singlehandedly? Thats a bit too far out."
"No," Gulunde chuckled. "We have learned that you are a very powerful  dream wanderer. I would like you to find out who aids the orks. And secondly, if you have ascertained that, to take her out by an  abduction."
"And if I say no? We have a mission to accomplish, after all."
"In this case, I will use your friends as hostages. I am afraid I will have to sell them one by one into slavery."
"Thats not very kind. And totally unnecessary. I can easily find out who is behind the orcs, but for the second phase of the operation I will need the help of my friends. So please release them now. They need to rest if we are to conduct the operation for you. I dont want to waste time."
"So you will do it for us?"
"Yes, I  and my friends will do it."
Gulunde took Dana in a bearlike hug. "Be careful, my cigarette." Dana mumbled.
"Oh, yes. I knew you would help us. I hope you have no bad feelings because of your treatment. Its custom to treat foreigners such in our lands."
"I see. Well, its okay, I had fun, and I think it wasnt different for my friends."
"Wait, I will untie you."
"I will need Trish, the white blonde witch, to assist me in dreaming."
"You will do it right now?"
"Yes, lets get it started as soon as possible."
"Splendid, young vrousasse. You are a woman I would be glad to have at my side in battle and at the ships rudder."

***

Danas friends had no objections to her decision to help Gulundes tribe. It was the only way to be able to continue their quest soon. 
Trish and Dana visited the ocean of events, and Dana found out that the young Champonna of the Kleverlistes, a neibhouring tribe to the north, was behind the orc assaults. She wanted to weaken   the Dreijnshlieges, to make war against them in the coming spring the easier.
Dana knew that the daughter of a Champonna followed her on the wooden throne, but she could be challenged by any other vrousasse of a tribe. It seemed odd to her that this young woman held the throne, as Champonnas were normally older and more experienced. Curious, she looked into another bubble and then another. Buttomline was, the young chieftain, Raskitande her name, was in love with the Wutandra priestress of the tribe, a young brunette named Shojunde. They had killed Raskitandes mothers in "accidents", and the priestress had ascertained with her magic that Raskitande won the duells for the throne. Shojunde had had contact with a priestress of Kerke from the empire, who had  delivered the military equipment for the orcs. The motives of this woman were unclear,  as Dana tried to raise a bubble with her, the bubble turned out to be dark and empty.
Trish had explained to the blonde that the bubble had been "erased", a technique of dream wanderers. 
After waking up, Dana had met with her friends and they had started to plan the abduction of the two mischieving Wutandres. Megan had proposed to also destroy the armory with the supplies, which was, as Dana had seen in dream world, located in the settlement of the Kleverlistes.
They had slept during the day to regain strength and energy, and in the evening, donned the black tight fitting silk garments out of their luggage which they carried along for occasions like these, painted their faces black, rearmed themselves and spoke a last time about the plan Tashmal and Rowenn had came up with.
They would go near the settlement, Asjenstejn, by dragon, on a medium dragon ideal for such purpose flown by a Wutandre, continue on foot, enter Asjensteijn over the palisade, and abduct the two ladies in question, evading sentries, if possible. Before thy would leave again with the captives, Megan would set a magical fire, which only destroyed dead material, no living tissue, to the armory.
After nightfall, the dargon with the team started and headed north, flying low above the thick forest of evergreens.
Marule, who would be of no use, and Trish, who didnt specialize in  abduction and commando spells like Megan, remained back at the settlement of the Dreijnshlieges.
The flight lasted about 45 minutes.  The cabin of the dragon fast fastened at its belly. They animal hovered over a small clearing about three miles from Asjensteijn, and the group of seven left it over two rope ladders.
Dana sent a quick glance to Zusha, but her friend seemed ok. They headed into the dark forest and made way towards their destination. 

***

"Aaahhh, thats good, yes, by Wutandras might! Ooohh, deeper, yes, aaahh!"  -  "Yes, uuuh, I am cuming again! AAAHH, so hot!"
Raskitande, the young blonde Champonna of the Kleverlistes, and her lover brunette Wutandra priestress Shojunde, were not asleep. They were heavily engaged,Shojunde laying on her back and Raskitande sitting above her, as Dana could see through the key hole.
They had climbed outer as well as inner palisade of the settlement, evaded guards, and entered the Champonnas large domicil, where they encountered two pairs of sentries. All four women were now securely bound and gagged in a corner of the hall downstairs, additionally guarded by Zoet.
Dana gestured in sign language to Megan: "The cigarette gag spell?" - Megan nodded.
A few moments later they heard:
"Uff, cigarette, quick." - Yes, yes, one for me too, ooh!"
Both mouthed sticks, and the second part of the spell was whispered by Megan.
Immediately the friends entered and overpowered the magically gagged pair, who was so perplexed and even aroused by the sudden gagging, that they continued moving until they separated and bound them. The magical gags were replaced with ones of latexa, the tightly tied women leashed, and without further ado, they left the chamber again with their two packaged captives.
Outside the dwelling they made way to the armory. It was guarded by two sentries. Tashmal and Niyi took them out with ease, and these two Wutandres were quickly bound and gagged too.
Now, Megan spoke another spell inside the Armory, which was packed full of weapons, armor, and magical potions, and green, cold flames flickered along the supplies, consuming everything they touched, leaving behind a fine green dust.
It required some work and sweat to get the two packaged captives over the two palisades, and involved pulling them up the palisades on a stout, thick rope, but they managed it. 
They marched with the captives back into the wood, to the clearing where the dragon was waiting. 
As they hauled the two Wutandres up to the dragon on ropes, Tashmal said:
"That went very smoothly. I wish every operation would be this easy."
Megan added:
"Mission accomplished. Now to get some more sleep and tomorrow morning we will be on our way again. We have lost two days."
Rowenn sniffed in the air and said:
"Hopefully so, a storm is coming. That might ground our dragon tomorrow."

***

"As I told you already, mistress," Niyi said in her quiet, soft voice, "I am a Takizu, an assassin of my culture, and I was hired last spring by a masked and hooded woman who paid me in advance to travel to Arankalor, to the city of Tallavor in Liganor, to assist the Donna Bondas in your capture. You were described to me in great detail. I was to ascertain you would be delivered to Tallavor, and afterwards, I was to visit the house of a mayutan merchant, a spy of my country I assume, for further instructions."
The yellow skinned woman, meanwhile with fresh white makeup, her hair in a big knot at the back of her head, mouthed a cigarette and lit it. Blewing out smoke, she continued:
"I wasnt told you were a Krosa and a dream wanderer, nor what was the purpose of your abduction."
"I see. Any ideas who could be your employer?" Dana asked.
"I think it was the high minion of a Rukeima, a noble woman of my country."
They were sitting at a large table in the hall of Gulundes dwelling. Outside, a heavy snow storm raged, their dragon being unable to take off.  They would lose another day.
Marule sat over at the fireplace, playing on her lyra, supported by two Wutandres with a flute and a drum. Several Wutandres, Vrousassen as well as Ohnesassen, had gathered around them and listened.
Tashmal was reading in a book she had purchased in Albor, a juicy love story again - she seemed to prefer those for reading. 
Trish, Zoet and their two alboran dragon riders where playing Wor-ley-gess, "word laying", an alboran game where one tries to form words with letters carved into little shagjat plates. Trish always won in that.
Megan was hand feeding Osh, her snake, and Rowenn and Zusha played Kerkor, with Rowenn winning.
It was already late afternoon.
Raskitande and Shojunde, the two captives, had been sex interrogated and revealed even more murders and other crimes. They would be brought to Thingbu and would have to face judgement their before the assembled Champonnas and priestresses. If they were lucky, they would be sentenced to slavery, to be sold outside the country. If not, they would be bound to trees stark naked and left to freeze and die.
Dana, who somehow had pity for even these evil women, hoped they would be enslaved, and had even sent a short prayer to Benit for them.
Gulunde and her tribe where delighted by the help of Dana and her friends. This evening, there would be a big festivity to honor them.
The blonde lit a cigarette of her own and leaned back. Idly, she watched Rowenns and Zushas game for a while, until Zusha conceded the game.  Rowenn was really good. She herself had yet to beat her, only one time able to achieve a draw.
Tashmal, her eyes in the book, fumbled blindly for her cigarettes on the table. Dana smiled and took her hand. The Achaian looked up, leaned over, and they kissed. Niyi averted her eyes, as if ashamed. Different cultures, different customs, Dana thought.
From the large kitchen in the back their came delicious smells. Danas stomach groaned loadly. If she could wait till evening? No, she needed something to eat right now. She reached over for the basket with toasted bread. 
"Hungry?" Tashmal asked and smiled. "I am hungry too, but for something else."
"Oh? What might that be?"
"She wants to fuck you again," Sirf said dryly in her head.  The tomcat was in his basket near the fire, at Marules feet.  He had had fun last night himself, with the cat of Gulundes youngest daughter. 
"Your manners are lacking again, dirty old male."
"You all dont think of much else than that. The human males will be delighted."
"Did you have to say that?"