WARNING: The following story is made for fans of modular/natural body magic/detachment/non-lethal dismemberment/etc. If you are not a member of that community, I strongly advise that you turn back now. Things will get freaky.
SECOND WARNING: The following story is a hypersexual fetish story written in the style of a gothic fairytale. This was a terrible idea as it's by design difficult to properly parse. But there is good news!
1- Next week a part 2 is coming that will explain in plain English what the hell this was.
2- It's also a game/contest! In this story, I have hidden 25(+1 bonus) references to song lyrics. Try to spot them and DM me a list of the songs you think I referenced. eg. If you read the line "you me you be a wall most wondrous!" And you guess that's a reference to "Wonderwall", list Wonderwall in the DM as one of your guesses
Whoever gets the most by November 30th gets a Christmas present!
(that present being a free story commission. One written by me to your specifications. I promise it'll be better than this damned mess!)
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"Nay ye remember? Ten days 'fore ninth month's end, near now eight winters past, this very spot then as now we stood; 'twas here you did reveal such wicked wisdom in Radiance, here 'twas blast mine crucible with fiery tongued sermon and as iron 'twas the slag of flesh 'twas rent of mine soul and lo was it made pure; father time would harden and sage wisdom would beat this iron unto a key and abolish I did mine shackles. Nay, 'twas neither time nor wisdom did yours render 'yond lone night. Scholars and students more eager would I call fellow, and lo would bountiful knowledge of flesh and of Radiance and of mysteries countless more be shared. That fickle heart yours saw fit to offer but one titillating tease 'fore you did take flight 'pon first Radiant ray of morn, and marooned 'twas mine virgin soul to the Blackness Beyond the Material."
Say Sybela, a smoldering gaze of that lone eye did burn mine flesh and sodden mine brow with sweat so that it fell dripped down as tears 'fore mine eyes.
"Long did I ponder what I would do should our paths cross anew; what vicious words would let thy blood, what mocking lash would open thy back, what torture most poetic in its irony would abolish thy hubris? Nay have you need of worry, old friend, for long has it been since I did abolish such childish fantasies; the cool of time and the beatings of wisdom have sated me; mine power is neither hidden nor spared, but vengeance is for the young and full of fire. Bless yourself a fortunate son, for no malice do I bear but curiosity in abundance for your return to such ancient land."
Say Sybela, and cooled 'twas her gaze but yet did mine flesh burn hotter still.
"This curiosity is shared 'tween you and I, for mine purpose does elude all."
Say I, with soft words frayed about their edge. Mine eyes did I downcast, and anew did I bear witness to that hideous skirt of Sybela the Matron; nay cloth nor leather did it comprise, but mens' hairs woven to braids interlocked; such hairs did still bear mens' heads but relieved their corpus. With Radiant magics 'twas stolen life bestowed 'pon them, and lo did the heads gnash and cackle and howl as fiends; a circle of eyes aflame, souls burned black with multitude Radiant flashes, among the heads all kind and creed hung as one 'bout the ample waist and fatty rump of the Matron; man and woman, vivacious and elderly, dark and fair, noble and lowly. With wild cry a fiery head of red hair and gold skin did shock me so, and in hasty retreat 'twas lost mine footing.
Sybela did stand astride mine corpse felled, eye of sapphire alight through hair of raven; offer she did her bared and sinister hand, for the right hand gloved in alabaster 'twas held a cord of leather; such cord did bind a beast of Radiance, one with body and head of a woman most beautiful, aged 'round 50 years; lo 'twas this beauty cut short, each limb halved 'bout the midpoint, stumps dressed in effigy of hounds' paws; yet false did click and clack true as the beast did bound and slaver and lap at the matron's boots, the ample buxom of the beast dragged 'neath it, cross the dirt and filth of the cellar floor. Too did bear the beast a thick tail of yellow, which did shake 'bout the hind, as too did ears large and formless and yellow atop the head. 'Yond features of the body, the mind too 'twas as any hound which did beg its master's affection and beg on ever more and more still then and on.
Above such boots of onyx made moist with spit, Sybela's skirt of heads did hang but to mid thigh, granting view to men low as I a womanhood shaven but for devilish dark thorn. Such beauty bared 'neath shield of raw and pulsating muscle of so many truncated necks, whose visages now lived but to serve the Matron, with bodies sacrificed for naught but hideous garment and abominable beast and pleasures carnal and perhaps too platonic. Where once did shoulders bear tumults and pains and burdens and obligations, now did they bear but a note to denote their cost; Sybela did make of her cellar a butchery of men, flesh and gold exchanges as any hog. Relieved those burdens of shoulders, now did the heads find ultimate purpose in submitting to a Matron of Puppets; for the puppet, its singular purpose was fulfilled in but its own existence.
With panic I did tear mine gaze from Sybela's belt; such wicked praise 'twas but the bewitching of the Matron. I rejected her hand and alone I did rise.
"Of such cruel accusation, I do confess; indeed 'twas thoughtless, indeed 'twas selfish, indeed a most poor teacher and a friend poorer still a friend 'twas I; but nay 'twas mine most hurried flight one of spite but duty most great! Most grim omen did tear me from slumber, doom and desolation 'pon Farshore, nay heroes most worthy did herald ascension of the Swine Queen. Such vast territory 'tween here and distant Farshore, to traverse in such little time, a labor befitting Heracles 'twould be; yet 'fore doubt did sow, mine merry band did assemble about this estate yours. Such strength of constitution, such swiftness of foot, such readiness to risk life in desperate battle, nay could I bear to be that weak link which did shatter the chain; nay bite of bread nor moment to clothe mine nakedness 'twas given, I did join unclothed and did carry 'pon first caught ray of Radiant morn mine merry band. I do swear it, 'pon all lives natural and stolen and false which I have had, if but a moment could be spared, the fondest of farewells and the kindest of care would I have gave to ease your return to the lands of the flesh, but 'twould Farshold hold out for its heroes so long as to allow it? Nay."
Say I, and with exertion did I meet Sybela's monocular gaze; speak truth had I, yet heavy as lies did guilt weigh 'pon mine soul.
"Mine pity do you beseech? Bless, nay could it been helped, nay did you wish it, nay 'twere you but poor pauper of cruel home; this does so absolve entrapment of mine virgin mind in the Blackness Beyond the Material, you do believe it so? Nay, that silvered tongue shan't again be mine deceiver!Understand; 'twere not for chance arrival of mine father's caravan 'pon that ritual site yours, very well may I been forever lost; nay food nor water did avail, no air had I to breathe nor way to which I could relieve, no sensation but for silken waves, and lo did time unravel. Even saved, the scars of scorn do I still bear; shame and humiliation for mine father's pride forever lost, for so pious a man as he did discover his blood bound in flesh-pact with heretics as you.
Say Sybella, and blue flame did flicker in that eye, to betray a fury she did deny.
"Fiend! Matron, I beseech, return to me mine fists, but for a brief while! Should you, I do swear it; naught but the harlot mother of that wretch shall recognize him!"
Say a head hung 'bout Sybela's rear, one bearing no clear sex but a clear viciousness and thick accent.
"Neither 'twas this shaman alone; two shamans did divorce flesh of mine Matron's soul, two psychonauts did hoist such fragile thing 'yond the veil, two stewards did forfeit that soul to Blackness. Where then be this accomplice? Be they greater coward still?"
Say a head of hard countenance, whose copper skin did glisten and who's visage did bear studs of silver and whose voice did cut sharp and cool as iron blade.
Words unspoken did then choke me, and cold did beset me, and loose became form about me, and distant became all voices, all did the stinging pulse of this deadened heart consume.
"Indeed! How fares the Shaman Anthos? For your time apart concludes today yet a reunion with Anthos remains a dream."
Say Sybela, who did stroke the cheek of that metal head and polish the silvered studs with spit of her beast; with content sigh and a catlike purring did the bronze bust revel in her Matron's approval, whilst the dogged beast 'twas swatted to heel with a whimper.
"Anthos... to Anthos I am dead, so too that merry band whom once did I call family but for blood. I am a hero felled, a pariah, a hermit cowering in that decrepit ruin of mine father's estate; for in most implacable pursuit of Radiant starlight 'twas I burnt to cinder. Laugh, Sybela, for you have made a Matron of yourself whilst that first and most cruel of your Masters lay a wreck. I implore you, laugh, lest I weep."
Say I, and release did I most unmanly tears; whilst men shan't cry, so shall I; and so pitiable a sight it did fell that sneer of cold command borne 'pon Matron's cheek; observe she did mine ragged garb, ancient as our voyage 'yond the veil, and too mine ill kempt countenance with wild hair and salt stained skin and the harsh and bloodied eyes of death, and too did she recoil then from mine deathly miasma, a sharp stench of medicinal herb and incense kissed by infernal lips, which did but fail to conceal the rot of mine bloated corpse. Whatever vengeance the Matron did devise, the gods did inflict a more wicked fate 'pon I.
"I say, laugh; I do beseech, laugh and be merry; this pity does cut more deep than jibes. I beg of you, mercy, spare me of this pity and rightly rejoice."
Say I, and carve mine pallid flesh did tears of ice as I did turn to away; but then 'twas I arrested about the wrist, by a hand warm and kind.
"Avik."
Say Sybela.
"That man who did wound me, Avik, he is gone; he who did rile mine fury has not today arrived, for a stranger then 'twere you as now, one whom I did glimpse but in shadows past and one whom did whisper but a secret or two and one whom in moonlit serenade did so tenderly touch mine heart. I receive you, Avik the stranger, in gracious Radiance, and invite you sup at mine table and unburden thine heart."
Say Sybela, that wicked fire snuffed from her eye to reveal a soft and gentle blue.
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"This labor you speak of 'twas no dalliance; eight years did you away, and had I not been witness to your magics I would so presume you dead 'yond death."
Say Sybela, as she did stroke the bared limb of a slave who did pour her tea. Tanned of skin, short and broad of shoulders, the eye could not help but rest 'pon that empty place where once there was a head. For a collar frilled with a glittering bow 'twas drawn so tight it did mark that tall and shapely neck. So did such macabre beauty entrance, no heed did I pay that cup and saucer 'fore me; but whence did I hear water 'pon wood did I recognize mine saucer 'twas filled and floweth over. I then did move mine cup 'neath the spout, but then did the slave cease to pour, leaving but a drop in mine cup. Witness did I Sybela's mirth, and taken by sudden madness I did bow forth and lap once at the saucer as would a cat, and lo did Sybela laugh; witness she did mine grim visage split apart in a smile, and laughter did then become a playful snicker. I did shrink, for surely did she delight in so hideous a smile. Then though she did rest her hand 'pon mine, and in her eye 'twas naught but sincerity. Now 'twas rekindled those memories lost, those naive melodies which did arouse her interest and did away her to what must be the place, that place of wildest fantasy.
"Your aim has improved, yet does it remain wanting, dear Mirabel. Pour mine guest a proper cup, and pay heed now to your training; and you Avik, do you want for honey or milk 'fore you do regale me your tale?"
Say Sybela, as her hand did slip 'neath the table and with snicker and leer there soon 'twas heard sound of hair and skin, the murmur of heads, a giggle here and the lapping of an eager tongue there, too.
"Tea alone does suffice, and that damning tale shall I begin with the conclusion of that Farshore quest; arrive we did without moment to spare, yet so did we rally the people and secure the 'pon her brow the Swine Queen's crown. With great mirth did I and... did Anthos and I, we did abandon ourselves to drunken revelry with most gracious hosts, and so too did tutor three starstruck maidens in the ecstasies of Radiance; I do swear, these maidens did Anthos and I care for most graciously, and again I do swear that 'twas not with cruelty I did spite you; 'twas then I but a fool, then did I know nothing, but a clown most gay 'twas I."
Say I, and soon as those words were let slip from mine cool purple lips I did bow low mine head and clasp together mine hands in deepest embarrassment; what madness did possess me, to boast of mine triumphs and declare then my care did extend to all but she? A fool I am, a most impossible fool!
"So nimble a tongue, but pity it does serves so empty a head."
Say Sybela, most mirthful.
"I do beg pardon, Avik, for Mirabel did distract me; nay did I hear this final remark of yours, may then you repeat it?"
Say Sybela, her cheeks red with lust and her brow stained with sweat and with a most scandalous wink she did deliver to me a stay of execution.
"Such drawling preamble, I shall spare; for as final preparation 'twas made for that long journey home, did a short figure in commoners clothes yet royal regalia hail us. Then but trivial baron of meager land, this man did introduce himself as Hiro of the royal house Edol. Perhaps y-"
Say I, 'fore I recoiled from Sybela whose hands did slam down 'pon the table and heads did gasp and shout. Sybela did but pitch from her seat, yet 'twas her fall arrested and her body 'twas drawn again to the table; yet did that slave short and stout stumble, and let let fall her steel teapot, and its handle and its spout did shatter tile 'neath it. Sybela again did lurch, and Mirabel's body did fall to her knees as its head 'twas rocked to and fro. 'Fore more damage 'twas done, I did calm Matron and slave, seating Sybela 'fore hoisting Mirabel; 'twas not licentious mine intent, to lay hands 'pon bare skinned slave, yet did I receive caress 'pon most erogenous piece of mine corpse. Away did I of the harlot, and so did I busy myself to gether rag and mop at tea spilt.
"Speak true did mine Matron, for you are at once boor and gentleman; so queer a pair, I do wonder then what more pairs you do bear."
Say one 'neath the table, unseen but assuredly Mirabel. Nay do I recall her visage from such brief witness in the flesh market, but of her body she bore skin flawless and smooth, tight 'round a hardy physique of one aged 'round 30 years.
"Your Matron alone shall thine tongue serve, Mirabel; so too, Avik, do spare thine hands her labors! The slave shall make tidy and the stranger shall rescind such lies; you do wish of me to believe that Emperor Hiro of Edol did hail you, at so odd a place as Farshore? Little do I know of the great heroes nor the banners they do serve, for the worldly affairs nay do trouble me; yet so deep and so far is the Emperor's presence felt, even one so ignorant of the world as I does know you lie."
Say Sybela, and adjust she did that belt of heads and relieve me of mine rags did Mirabel as sound of tongue more furious did assault the ear.
"Then 'twas Hiro but a baron in disgrace, cast to distant colony and not to return to the Easterlands lest he did bear fine quarry; so desperate he was to return, he did sing praise for the greatness of this merry band of mine. A tongue of gold did Hiro command, one which did conjure mirage of greatness and glory and riches; all but mine dearest Anthos did Hiro bewitch and Anthos did scar those gilded words and expose then lead hidden 'neath. Still mine merry band did swear fealty to Baron Hiro, and 'twas then did the fate of all fall 'pon I alone. Mine band were as kin, yet so 'twas dearest Anthos mine only love; other women did come and go 'tween us, for Anthos and I did share a corpse not so discerning as the hearts we did bear, yet never a love did I feel for any but Anthos, and so too did Anthos proclaim; Woe betide all others, for none shall have as I a man so great as thee!"
Say I, bitter vanity tasted 'pon each word.
"Nay word of your great deeds have rung in mine ear; as in so many a play, am I to hear you did rebuke Hiro, and cast aside your fellows but forsome great betrayal then to abolish thine love?"
Say Sybela, 'fore her form did slump and her eyes did roll back in throes of passion and her brow did rest 'pon the table buried 'neath cloack of black hair and she did sing a strained aria in grand symphony with the moans and titters and lapping tongues and smacking lips 'bout her belt. No puritan 'twas I; the flesh I did acquaint in all places and in groups and 'fore audience and with implements magic and medicinal and mechanical and with strangers and with those known to me since youth; a decade past after raucous Feast of Janus did Anthos grip mine rump mid slumber, and I did for I to awake for her to beg for first lesson in carnal ways; too did Anthos and I tutor Sybela in the jolly cooperation of coitus among three, 'fore our lesson in Radiant magics; yet so, to witness a maiden once so innocent as Sybela enact such licentious display without shame, it did stir both mine envy and mine loins.
Then did I near pitch from mine seat, for damp hand of Mirabel did fall 'pon mine shoulder. I did then turn and face nay the face of Mirabel, but the emptiness left for loss of her head. 'Twas a great beauty with a collar tight and thin. This collar did beg of Mirabel mercy to spare it, as Mirabel did beg the rod to destroy it. The slave did seat herself 'pon mine thigh, and the sweat of her rump did pierce mine trousers and deliver a chill most warm through mine flesh embalmed, and the slave did give silent command with gestures of the hand to be thrown 'pon the floor and made most rough.
"Where then was I? Yes, the choice of Anthos or mine merry band; nay would I choose to go one way nor another, in youthful hubris I did swear to claim Anthos and glory too! With a wicked silver tongue mine own did I abolish the fears of Anthos, and she did journey with her love and his merry band to Hiro's estate in the colonies, where then we did train to have glory and legend. Lo did we languish, and did accept meager labors, and did beg as urchins 'pon the streets, and did sell of us our bodies and those pieces less needed, for legend did come at most ponderous pace. Such hardships did strip to her bones dearest Anthos; withered and decayed as I then was and now again I am, she did drown despair in drink and in games of chance and in long pilgrimages to the Blackness Beyond the Material where she did she search for those fleeing soul. For pride 'twas I deaf to her cries and too delusion did blind mine eyes to what sacrifices she did offer in pursuit of mine own pursuits, and such great suffering I did feel for the fate of mine self that it did numb me to the pains of all others."
Say I, 'fore then howls and the clatter of false paws disturb me. Two Radiance-borne beasts did emerge, one that well aged woman with the features of a yellow hound, the other one alike in form but with gray hair and gray fur and a tail more bristly and erect triangular ears; so too 'twas the beast's manhood erect, for a well matured man did comprise the body and the face with hair short and sharp and a chest wide as a riverboat and limbs thick as the trunks of trees and a tailed rump of such astounding musculature that even one as fond of the female form as I could not help but admire the aesthetic perfection as this rump and its tail did bounce and sway in play as the beast man and woman did chase and wrestle. Then enraptured did I observe, rings of holy matrimony did sing as glittering bells 'pon the she-beast's collar and the man-beasts silver linked chain; so awesome 'twas the power of this love, mine deadened heart did convulse in gay resplendence!
"Lord and Lady Oslin, you will be calm of countenance and meek of voice, lest I relieve you your carnal anatomy as those urban hounds! 'Tis nuisance both to ear and eye, mine guest you do disturb."
Say Sybela, and with ire did these hounds obey; softly did they skulk to a near cushion, whence did yellow beast rear back 'pon her hind legs and lay to rest her great bosom and front paws 'pon that cushion, whence did gray beast rear back 'pon his hind legs and rest 'pon arched back of his mate. Both did meet mine gaze as flesh most firm 'twas maneuvered to flesh most soft, and a most disquieting silence did sound, nay but subtle roll of beastly flesh did disturb stillness; so compelled 'twas I to speak, if naught but to breathe 'neath so crushing a discomfort.
"Trimming fat from mine tale, I resume two years past introduction to Hiro; madness alone did stoke hope in our most rotten and crumbling corpses, and in madness too did Hiro bring to us without notice a personal consul of the Emperor of the Easterlands. With tongue of gold did then Baron Hiro persuade the consul to witness a performance of skills. Mine merry band and I did call death a friend, and with peril we did each day break bread, yet 'twere out nerves so seized in this ambush of the consul that naught but flail most impotently could we. The consul did tut and make to leave, yet he did pause as I did fall to mine knees before him and grovel most pitiably but for one chance more. With mercy of the angels he did relent; six nights would pass 'fore the consul did board his ship and make for home, and on his travel to the harbor he would make detour for us to impress him still. Hardly had the consul left earshot did mine merry band and I squabble most fiercely, 'fore we did resume our training with newfound fury. From dusk to dawn, hardly eating nor caring for the hunger which wracked us, naught 'twas done but practice and study. 'Twas these half dozen days I do declare the harshest days I have yet endured. Anthos did beg and plead for mine health and mine love to take pause from mine madness and let rest mine burdens, and most harshly would I rebuke these affections. Of her flesh I would not enjoy, of her company I would not know, of times we shared nay would I remember mine lover. 'Til then one day in most austere study, dear Anthos did rap 'pon the door; no answer did I offer, yet did she intrude; nay greeting nor glace was spared her, yet did she sidle up to mine ear and crow most loudly, and as a gale this cry did blow away some great epiphany from mine mind then did all pains suffered, all toils endured, all countless terrors and doubts buried in deepest pit of mine heart, all as one did they erupt."
Say I, the weight of it breaking me anew. The quadriplegic beasts did cease fornication, the heads which did tease now quieted, the body of Mirabel became as a statue 'pon mine lap, Sybela did but look in silent horror.
"No harm did come of her body, but with words bitter as poison and sharp as blades did I assault her heart. I did demand why Anthos did feel so owed mine time, why what little I did earn she did burn with game and drink, why she did foist herself 'pon mine journey only to urge time and again I surrender, for grievances true and delusional I did berate 'til mine did give out, whence did mine body take up the great ancestral weapon of mine house and shatter it 'pon the ground. I was then still, and Anthos had gone. Where she did stand, now sat a plate bearing chicken, potatoes julienne, an elixir for mine weary head, a dessert cake broken twain, and wrapped in glittering textile 'twas a false egg which did contain toy chicken. This meal 'twas same as that last meal in Farshore, that day we did depart for Hiro's colony. There did Anthos eat that sickening Farshore delicacy, lightning-quick jellyfish, and too did she eat half mine cake. Unremarkable 'twas that last supper, yet most precious a place it did hold in the heart; for she did then pledge herself to me, and I in kind did pledge to immortalize Anthos among the stars and the heavens, but she did say that the only star she would ever have need of 'twas I."
Say I, and felt hand 'pon mine cheek the hand of Mirabel, which did brush away tears unfelt. This bare fleshed harlot did wrap mine flesh in platonic embrace, one which I did melt into and weep. Tears pained, joyed, sorrowful, and emotions beyond words did pour unto the shoulder and breast of Mirabel, and more tightly did we embrace.
"Six years remain unaccounted, surely not six years spent in unending self flagellation and languishing in blood drawn of thine own hand."
Say Sybela, her countenance betraying both sympathy and scorn for such wasted youth.
"Nay, 'twas more than lashings indeed. Whence mine merry band and I did arrive in the Easterlands, a great feast did we share in the Emperor's court; such queer sight we must have been, ragged beggars seated with highest nobles as equals, and as equals too did we enjoy drink and concubines most-"
Say I, but for Sybela to silence me so soon after offering audience to mine tale.
"Cease! Naught but moments ago you did say that your ancestral weapon 'twas destroyed, that this heart you bore 'twas hewn, that all purpose in your various lives 'twas lost; now you stand behind the walls of the Great Palace, in audience with the Emperor himself?"
Say Sybela, then certain I was mad and all mine tales be delusions.
"Nay do I speak lies; after brief pursuit I did find Anthos and I did prostrate before her feet, yet whence she did return words as wicked as mine own and away, I did resolve to train as never 'fore. Sacred or humble, any axe well assembled and well maintained shall serve, and many an axe had I in reserve; I did so sharpen both tool and technique with mine merry band, and lo did we awe the consul. Then did Hiro present us to his Emperor to witness firsthand our glory, and lo did he assign this band to Shogun Kaise's vanguard, and lo 'twas our winter campaign most triumphant, and our legend 'twas mad known among the Easterlands at the siege of Sidecity."
Say I, whence did one and a second and soon a rising chorus did cry out from 'neath the table, and too from cabinets and shelves about the kitchen and even 'yond walls which did now appear thin. At once did Sybela the matron lose her command, and the heads did shout and cheer over her.
"Naught once in any account did the Matron divulge, this most vile 'Avik' 'twas none but Juke Aviksen, Hero of the Boxton Band!"
Say one slave, who did emerge to make mine audience; such slave 'twas but the bearded head of a man middle aged, mounted 'top willowy legs and hips of a woman but half his age; though the slave did bear in flesh a womanhood hairless and petite, in spirit he did a most pendulous manhood swing 'tween his legs, for without question nor permission did the slave leap 'pon that thigh of mine which Mirabel did leave vacant, whence both legs of mine trousers were given fresh stain.
"Most gallant Juke, we do beseech your forgiveness for our most terrible scorn; we knew not what we did! Forgive too our Matron her ignorance, for though in magic she is among the greats, and in carnal skill and in the rule of her domain she is without equal, yet is our Matron all but contemptuous toward the worldly. She is ignorant and uninterested in the myths and stories and epics of man nor the histories made of them, even those in near country does she hardly take heed much less those in lands so distant as that paradise 'neath the red sun, the Easterlands."
Say another slave, whose golden skin of the Calisur coast I did recall from the cellar of Sybella; such gold flesh 'twas made portions to be sold as any other meat, and all which the Matron did intend to keep of her did now hang as a trophy stag, high 'pon the wall overlooking the table; soft visage with cheeks which did beg for caress, feet round and delicate as a collection of bubbles, and a womanhood which did leave 'neath it a discolored stain down the wood of the plaque and masonry of the wall, all this did hang from oaken plaque, naught more.
"You will be silent, all! You who dare to speak out of turn, to speak above the voice of your Matron? Such blasphemy shall not stand; you will be silent lest your Matron does command you speak! Be there one among you who does dare to discover a punishment beyond nightmare?"
Say Sybela, her eye aglow, and she did pound the table with such fury as to buckle and groan; 'twas then all as still and silent, as though the Matron did abolish her magics and allow death to reap these unnatural lives. A great weariness did then take her and she did return to her seat and grip her own head in her hands.
"Your slaves do vex you, shall I remove thine weary head, lest vexation become migraine?"
Say I, and I did relieve mine lap those fawning slaves to produce from mine purse a most robust collection of tinctures.
"You stand amid mine works and so presume I have need of your magics?"
Say Sybela, and with sharp tear she did remove her head and rest it 'pon the table, whence she did make straight her hair and as a child she did show her tongue.
"Indeed I beg pardon, for your collection is beyond mine wildest dreams; so loyal a harem to bequeath their flesh, naught but for your use but for you to trade away. Have you even the clay of life to cast their flesh anew, or 'tis what's lost forever more?"
Say I, as the Matron did idly gather up those raven locks and form of them a nest 'pon which her head did rest.
"Matron of great domain am I, yet is mine purse most modest; but once each moon 'tis market held, and the prices I do command for the flesh of mine slaves do beggar a balk; 'tis all but part of the game for these slaves, the danger and the terror of loss which does excite these hearts, and so do these hearts thrum eternal, be it at hand or in distant land. They do enjoy to bear witness to their bodies' appraisal, by eye and hand and perhaps more intimate anatomy, and they do delight in jolly haggle, to sing praise of their flesh and convince those buyers of their worth. What pieces do sell are parted with but at the consent of the slave and with coin enough from sale to buy the clay to recast that which is lost; yet so, 'tis no rarity for market days to conclude with more stock than I did bring to offer, for to serve so great a Matron as I 'tis an honor which does call to men as the siren song."
Say Sybela, that she did relieve of her head then did perform a most arousing display with but subtle shift of weight and twitch of few muscles. Truly she did bewitch, of that natural magic of her body's allure and by Radiance and by magics I do not guess; animal magnetism or mesmerism or something in the tea or in the air which does so infect this frail flesh mine.
"Perhaps then mine siren song did call to you, then 'twas no serendipity which did compel you cross barren field, compel you ignore sign which did say 'puritans and fools, do away!' yet obey sign which did announce a market of flesh a days' travel away. For mine slaves did hawk their flesh to you, yet did you disregard them; so 'twas not purchase which did return you to this place of pleasures, of tender embrace and of softest kiss, of vigorous dances and virile copulation, where the heat of bodies in motion does make the garments too hot to wear. Nay, 'twas as all the slaves the beat of a heart captured which did return you to me; for nay is the slave bound to this place by chain, they do come and away and attend to duties their own and perform works for their own and engage in the facade of a free life to spare friend and family the humiliation to call a slave their peer, yet wherever does the slave go, all do in time return here. Laid low, your days of glory but a memory, now does the Hero of Boxin submit as Avik the slave?"
Say Sybela, aglow her eye most brightly.
"I beg your Pardon, Sybela, but fallen as I am, a hero I remain."
Say I, giving great relief to the assemblage and much consternation to one Matron.
"What madness is this? Nay did you proclaim, this world holds naught for you; your comrades did take leave of you, a refugee you are in your ancestral home, your heart 'tis dead and beats now for none, your purpose 'twas lost to you; now you do amend and declare yourself hero ever more?"
Say Sybela, as did all swagger take leave and a childlike petulance did take hold.
"No japes nor lies do I speak; a great depression does take me, for I know not what I do. A pit does gape within mine soul, with flight of Anthos 'twas this pit dug, and lo all effort to pave over this pit have thus been failures; those highest peaks I did conquer, all lands which Radiant sun do kiss I did traverse, no fortress did I halt 'fore, honeyed women did I kiss, nimble fingers did make of mine flesh hardy and new time and again, most fiery passion and the tongues of angels and the hands of devils have I made acquaintance, cold coin and hot roasts and blinding drink and all vivid hallucination by substance did bequeath jovial madness; all this and more, yet still I do search for that which will make whole this body mine. No peace has mine legend brought, and without such peace am I made ragged and rotten as now. This body is weary, drink and herb does pollute mine thoughts, that soul which once did animate such things does now flicker and fade. For this, I did last year take leave of mine merry band, to search not without but within. A hero forevermore I am, but no good 'tis hero of blackened heart nor one inanimate; whether months, whether years, whether lifetimes, however long it shall take, I do resolve to nurse this hero back to health, and whence healed shall new legends be made of him! None shall this hero call Master, save for the hero reborn!"
Say I, and then did breath of life escape mine cold and purple lips; nay 'twas life stolen nor false, but life of the red heart. But had I to reach out and take one more.
"Very well."
Say Sybela, that wicked eye downcast and cool.
"Though none but himself shall the hero call Master, perhaps still one he may call Matron."
Say I, sparing the legend of the irresistible Matron.