MATRIA 26

PART 6
THE WHIPS OF ZILLAGOLL



“Getting accustomed to it?” Tashmal grinned.
Zusha didnt respond, her face impassive as usual.
“I mean, you are standing at the window, looking out into the sky and to the ground far below. You are really a brave woman, Tra-Ka-Dar.”
“Stop mocking her, Tashmal,” Dana called out from her couch.
The dragons cabin was outfitted with several couches and chairs, fastened to the floor.
The girls were mostly drinking and eating from their provender, some were smoking, as the cabin had a powerful Chruchor – one of the magical smoke evaporators.
For once, Dana didnt smoke, she felt too tired and exhausted for that. Additionally, she had developed a headache over the last hour. With eyes closed, boots off, she rested on the leather couch, trying to sleep.
Directly after reaching the surface, they had left the city, after collecting their horses at the embassy and informing the ambassador witch there. A quick ride to the dragon port followed, where they took the first flight heading for Dartad, the capital of Telestak to the southeast of the Empire. At the port, they had released the weapon maid, even provided her with a horse. The girl had hastened back towards the town immediately.
Once in the air and a good distance away from Weidfeld, everyone relaxed. Megan and Trish were eager to get the codes for the seals places, “coordinates”, they called them.
Armed with sheets of paper and their quills and some ink, they were already at work, Osh looking out between Megans breasts and even Sirf having left his basket and looking down on the papers.
The friends were not alone in the large cabin. Seven other passengers were on board, five Telestaks and two Doranas. The Doranas and 3 of the Telestaks seemed to be merchants, the other two women obviously a telestak knightress with her young squire. The Telestaks were all brunette and had their hair branded to curls, probably the current fashion in the country. Their garments didnt seem to differ much from doranian fashion.
All women seemed to be quite curious about Danas group, which consisted of ladies of different cultures and races and was heavily armed. But no one tried a conversation, and Dana and her friends had occupied the aftern part of the cabin, so both groups were separated.
“Mylady doesnt feel well?” Dana heard Niyis soft voice beside her. She didnt open her eyes and grunted:
“No, not really.”
“Maybe Niyi can be of help. If mylady allows it.”
“I am feeling totally exhausted, but I cant sleep, because of this headache I have.”
“Allow Niyi to put her hands on you.”
Dana opened her eyes after all and starred at the Mayutan, who knelt beside her.
“Very well, why not.”
The assassin put of her gloves, opened Danas from the Wer rat spear ruined corsage and blouse, pushed up her silken top and lay her hands with the long fingers on Danas belly.
“What...”
“Shh, mylady Danadeva. Relax.”
Surprisingly, some kind of heat seemed to emanate from Niyis hands and fingers, sinking into Danas belly and wandering further through her body. The blonde felt her muscles relaxing and her headache retreating.
A sigh left her lips, she closed her eyes again.
“Thats wonderful, uff, aaahh, yes. What is it? Is it magic?”
“No, mylady. Its called Lo Zuki, and it has to do with meditation. Everyone can learn it, although it seems to be unknown outside of Xishaikalor.”
Dana already missed the last part of Niyis explanation, as she had drifted off to sleep.

When the ex maid woke up again, it was dark outside. Some lights under glass had been lit to illuminate the cabins interior. Rowenn, Tashmal and Marule were sleeping on couches too.
Zusha sat cross legged in a corner and sharpened the blades of her axe, while Niyi and Zoet played Kerkor. The two witches meanwhile were still at work over their papers.
Dana felt refreshed, her mind seemed crystal clear. How amazing, this Lo Zuki of Niyi. She reached for some water, drank, ate half an apple and finally lit a cigarette. Only then did she rose and went over to the witches. Sirf pressed himself against her legs. It came to her mind that she never, ever, had stroked his fur, which everyone else did often.
She shrugged, and ignored the tomcat. Sirf remained quiet in her mind.
Megan looked up from the map of Jellrakalor in her lap.
“Ah, Dana. We have fixed four locations now. You still want to go to the seal here in Arankalor first?”
The blonde nodded and knelt down beside the witches.
“Very well, we looked after this place first. Here, a map of Zillagoll. “
While Megan and Trish had a break and mouthed a Malego and Kigumo respectively, Dana studied the map. There, nearly in the center of the country, the capital, Labuggio. In the northeast the Nadras mountains, separating the queendom from Achaia. In the southwest, a black area, like some cancer, the mambakian controlled Kaskat Ungomlo-Lishax. Each Queen of Zillagoll had, as a child princess, sworn to destroy it and reconquer the land for the queendom. So far none had accomplished that. It was constant war down there.
On the east coast, bordering the Central Sea, the cities of Vorenolla, Sanchamella, and Bollelam.  On the west coast, at the Endless Sea, the ports of Quarta Rekedre, Dolgomendre, Vega Adrega and Ukuvio.
From the border to Achaia, down to Labuggio, further west through the city of Neigilla and right down to the southernmost tip of the country with the port of Sutro Tugencia, led the Horo Imperio, the continuation of the Sna Imperelle in Achaia, the old imperial highway.
To the east of the capital, the Montago mountains. Some rivers going from both coasts west and east respectively.
With red ink, one of the witches had made a cross on the map. It was to the southeast of the western port of Vega Adrega.
Dana checked the maps scale. About 30 miles away from the port, and about 150 from Labuggio, the capital, to the east.
“Hows the terrain there?” she asked.
Megan blew out smoke and answered, suppressing a yawn:
“I dont know for sure. We may ask our omnipotent tomcat.”
“At least some people show me the respect I am due. Well, its hilly there, meadows, fields, pastures. If I remember right, both tasty tomatoes and good horses come from down there.”
“What does a cat know about the taste of tomatoes?” Dana asked irritated.
Megan chuckled and exchanged a glance with Trish, who stroked Kleers, her ravens, feathers. The animal had joined them at the dragon port.  The black eyes of the bird were fixed on Dana, but its mind voice was silent. Megan smiled:
“Well, he has probably read about it or heard people speak about the taste.”
There was more to it than that, Dana was sure. A mystery concerning both con-fy-deths and witches, but she wouldnt solve it know, she decided, and returned her attention to the map.
“Going by dragon to Labbuggio and then further to Vega Adrega is probably out of the question, with this queen and her whip mistresses after me. Or can we go to Alba and then fly over the Endless Sea to the zillagoll coast?”
“A bit far for even a large dragon without stop in between,” Megan answered.
“And by ship? The Spica didnt want to take the risk to send us by ship to Medusas head, and now its even farther in winter.”
“Yes, but the weather down there is not as bad as farther north. At the zillagollan west coast there are seldom heavy storms, even in winter.”
It was Trish who said that. The witch continued to caress her raven, holding her cigarette in her other hand.
“So thats an option. We could approach the coast at night and enter the country in secrecy, then travel on foot and during the nights to the seal. Hmmm, the ship must come back for us in agreed upon intervals to take us up again.”
The witches were silent, observing Dana. The blonde rose and headed over to an ashtray fastened at the cabin wall. After killing her smoke, she came back to the two Alborans, but remained standing.
“How strong and frequent are the patrols of the Zillagols navy and dragons there?”
“Not very strong, as far as I know. Most of their war ships and dragons are in the Central Sea, fighting the Mambakas, their hated foes. Furthermore, Alba and Zillagoll are not Allies, but on friendly terms. Add to that the fact that Alboran ships sail down this coast frequently on their journeys to other realms. “
Dana nodded to Megans explanation. This sounded not bad, really not bad.
She paced about a bit, two steps left, two right.
“I think we have a plan here. We will later hear what the others think of it. Sirf? Any objections?”
“No, great general. It should work, under normal circumstances. The only real danger lies in dreamworld, and I have taken the liberty to seal our whole groups as well as each individuals bubbles, so no sneaky dream spy should be able to observe you from now on. It was fun with the Wutandres, the deathknightresses and the Zoraladas, but I think it gets boring now to be greeted by bad girls with ropes and gags at the ready in every place we go to.”
“It occurred to me you could have done that from the start, great lord omnipotence.”
“Correct, Dana, I could have done that, but we, the Spica and I, underestimated the interest others would take in you. Furthermore, we con-fy-deths prefer to use our powers as seldom as possible. But given the danger ahead that all of you, even the dumb women working against you, are transformed into packaged slaves of cruel males, I decided a short while ago to use all means at my disposal, and Osh and Kleer concur with me on that. “
“Well, this news should cheer me up. How come it doesnt?”
“I have not the slightest idea, Dana. You have grown a bit bad tempered of late.”
Danas head turned, as the young squire of the telestakian knightress, who stood at a window, called out to her mistress. The blonde only understood the word “Dartad”. She assumed they had reached their destination.
Curious, she looked out of the cabin and saw the lights of a city beneath, the dragon approaching them fast in a dive. Zusha in the corner grabbed a paper bag and held it under her suddenly ashen face. Tashmal and the others woke up, the Achaian coming over to Dana.
“A bath would be wonderful now,” Tashmal beamed at her lover.
“We wont enter the city, if we can avoid it. I would like to take the next dragon going to Laibech in Moravan.”
“Suddenly in a hurry, my blonde beauty? Whats our next target?”
“Zillagoll, the seal there is near the west coast. We will go in by ship.”
“Will we? So you already have a plan. Care to consult your friends about it?”
“I think its the best course of action. The witches think likewise.”
Dana threw back her long mane, her face taking on this arrogant expression she wasnt aware of herself. She steeled herself for an argument with Tashmal, but the Achaian instead smiled sweetly and leaned up to kiss her on the throat. Surprised, Dana lowered her head, their lips met, Tashmal groaned into the blondes mouth, pressed herself against Dana.
They kissed hotly for a while, and Dana felt her arousal rising. Some pleasure in the sheets would be nice. No, they wouldnt stay in the city tonight. She ended the kiss and managed a smile at her lover.
Tashmal breathed heavily, her cheeks stark red, her eyes wide and her lips quivering. Dana smelled the Achaians love honey.
“We will make up for it once we are in Lashayette. I think we can stop there for a night at your home.”
“That would be wonderful, sugarmouth,” Tashmal commented.
“Well, lets get ready to leave dragon, shall we? What about you put on your boots?”
Dana was puzzled. She looked down and realized her legs were bare, she only in socks.
She reddened and sent a quick glance to the other passengers. Tashmal giggled. In the background, the sounds of Zusha vomitting contrasted starkly with that. Dana hastened to her couch and donned her boots as quickly as possible.
Finished, she returned to Tashmal at the window and looked out. Down there lay Dartad at a river, thousands of lights shining in the city at night. Nestled in a river bend at the city´s center, a mighty fortress rose, the seat of the Kira, rulress of Telestak. About 100 years ago, the city had been razed by the deathknightresses of the Kerke order, but they hadnt been able to take the fortress. Dana remembered playing out this siege with her childhood friends some years ago, she wielding a wooden sword made by an older sister for her. It was not SO many years ago. But it seemed like a lifetime.
Somehow this thought let her mood darken again...



**
“I cant believe we made it from Weidfeld to Lashayette without another bondage episode. Maybe things are getting normal after all,” Rowenn joked.
“Hard to find bondage adventures when one is on dragon nearly constantly.” Megan threw in.
“Here comes the fruit salad with whipped cream, oh Mistresses!” Ugumbe exclaimed and put a huge bowl on the table.
It looked delicious. All helped themselves to some of it, while Ugumbe applied whipped cream to every portion.
Dana felt much better today. It was good to be in Lashayette again, in Tashmals villa, which she already saw as her own home too. And a traditional Ugumbe breakfast was one of the highlights of the location.
It had taken them only two days to reach the city of the rainbow from Dartad, going by dragon to Laibech in Moravan and onwards to Stroubette in Southeast Achaia. There, they had spent an uneventful night in an inn, before taking another dragon in the morning to the achaian capital.
In the colorful city, among the likewise colorful – and cheerful – inhabitants, the adventures in the dark catacombs of Weidfeld seemed ages away, not a handful of days.
Trish had informed the inner counsell in Alba about developments and further plans in dreamworld, and told them this morning that an alboran warship had been dispatched to the achaian port of Cokteaux in the Southwest, to take the group on board for the next mission.
It would reach the port day after tomorrow. They planned to travel by dragon to Cokteaux on that same day, so they now had two full days to relax a bit.
Dana planned to visit “Kerkors beauty” for a game session with the old general. She and Zusha also looked forward to seeing Vimajas the artist and her football player again.
And finally the blonde planned to speak with her prisoner, the Donna Bonda Jalatti again, to see if she couldnt be won over when learning about the real threat to Matria.
As if reading her mind, Tashmal touched her arm and said:
“You still want to talk to this tallavoran bitch and release her?”
“Sure, and I would prefer to do it right away, after we have finished this delicious stuff here.”
Dana put another spoon full of fruit with cream into her mouth. By Samesha, daughtergoddess of cooking and eating, this was unbelievably tasty! Everyone seemed to think so, eating the stuff with gusto. Ugumbe sat at her place at the table and looked proudly and happily about.
“That can take a while. The bowl is huge, and I think no one will stop until its empty,” Tashmal giggled.
“But serious, I dont like the idea of releasing her. From her interrogations we knew she is greedy, cold-hearted and self centered. I doubt she will give a damn about the males and only see an opportunity to get even with us.”
“Anyway, my cute whore, I dont want to keep her forever, and I dont want her enslaved or even killed. If she wants to try abducting me yet again, we will deal with her once more.”
“But in this case I will have had enough of her, if you dont mind. In the ensuing battle there might be an accident, when, for example, my latexa club will hit her head just a bit too hard or at the wrong place.”
“You wont kill her!”
“Accidents happen, my sugarmouth! It wont be on purpose naturally.”
“I would be very angry with you in case of such an accident, Tashmal.”
“I agree with Lady Tashmal here,” Zusha said.
“My weapons might slip too.”
“Obviously you two have already decided on the matter. Very well, lets hope she is prudent enough to not try again.”
Dana was angry about that, but she realized that she couldnt command Tashmal and Zusha about the issue. Even though everyone in the group seemed to accept her as leadress, which was astonishing enough, her authority was not that of an officer in the military.
“And thats a good thing,” Sirfs voice rose in her.
“So? Why do you say that, oh my lord?”
“Because I am not sure how well you would deal with such power. You are developing some tyrannical traits I find more interesting than disturbing, but better your powers in this respect are limited. Power corrupts, my young heroine.”
“This sounds like a saying from Zushas grandmother or grandauntie or whatever.”
“It was surely in her arsenal. Rondakian grandmothers are very wise, everyone knows that.”
“Though I am not sure I understand it.”
“You have at least not grown arrogant enough, to not admit that, thats a good sign.”
“You think I am arrogant? Tashmal said I have to pretend to be, if impersonating a real mylady.”
“Oh, you pretend it quite well. It comes very natural to you, it seems.”
“Are you just mocking me or is this serious?”
“Never mind, somehow I like you that way. Better a tigress than a kitten.”
“You speak in mysteries.”
“Yet another privilege of the old and wise, I am afraid.”
“Privilege or fault? I am no tigress. But no kitten either. Just an inn maid who cant be inn maid anymore. We have to save the world from the males, remember?”
“I remember, but I advise you to forget it sometimes. It would be good for your smile rate.”
“What is my “smile rate”?”
“Well, how often you smile in a given time, obviously.”
Dana starred over at the tomcat in its basket near the fireplace. Tashmal mumbled, between a mouthfull of fruit salad:
“You ARE talking with the tomcat. I always suspected the conn-fy-deths to be intelligent and magical.”
“Okay, yes, I am talking with him. Or he talks with me. He is mocking me, advising me, being a nuisance most of the time. If human males are like him, they have more ways to torture females at their disposal than just extremely cruel bondage.”
Tashmal grinned.
“Must be interesting to talk to an intelligent male. I am intrigued. Can you introduce us?”
“Dont know if he would speak with you. He could have done so at any time. Maybe he is too lofty for that.”
Sirf was quiet. He was playing with a woolen mouse Marule had purchased somewhere on their journeys for him. Just a silly cat playing with a mouse. Who could he fool by that? Dana asked herself angrily. Well, it seemed to work with Marule and some others.
“Oh no, not those clouds on your face again. What do you think, should we go shopping after visiting the dark blades guild house and this Jalatti bitch?”
“Uuuhh... I dont really need new clothing, do you?”
“Dana, love, you desperately need more clothing. You have only two boots/gloves outfits and only one silken dress. Every woman ALWAYS needs more clothing. Thats a law of nature.”
“Seems to me more like an achaian law, my Klishainja.” But Dana had to smile.
“Very well, lets go shopping.”
“Besides, the act of shopping is the real fun. We will take Ugumbe with us, she can carry the bags.”
“The poor thing, cant we carry them ourselves?”
“Ah, Benit, the aspect of love and peace throws her spell on you again, reclaiming you from the dark aspects who seem to fight for you lately.”
First Sirf, now Tashmal. It seems on vogue to criticize her moods lately. She shrugged it off.
“But first we visit the Donna Bonda.”
“As you command, my blonde krosa.”