Sapphic Voices Fantasy

Choices In The Extreme

Amy let out a scream, but no one seemed to hear her. She ran swiftly away from the creature, but soon tripped and fell in her high heeled shoes which weren’t made for running.

As she turned over and attempted to crawl away as the beast came around the corner and stalked towards her. As the creature was reaching out for her she felt a presence, as of someone near her, and the creature was suddenly grabbed from behind and hurled backward into a pile of trash.

Standing before Amy was a woman, armed and armored like a fighter. She was tall and Lithe and had a curly shock of golden hair showing from under her cap. Off to one side a younger woman, about medium height and very pretty, stood with a sword out and ready in her hand.

The creature snarled and decided discretion was the better part of valor. It made a bounding leap back the way it came.

Goldie reached down and helped Amy up as Giselle stood guard.

“Oh thank you mistress, I owe you my life, the beast would have certainly had me.”

“I am Goldie, this is Giselle. What was that thing and why was it after you.” The Golden haired one asked her.

“I am Amy, and that was a kthon, and it is the vile servant of Stephan the wizard. He wanted me this evening, and when I said no he set his creature on me.”

“That seems rather silly of him. What made him think he could get away with doing something like that?” Goldie asked.

“He is a powerful wizard and does as he pleases. No one dares gainsay him, for his wrath is terrible. He runs this town with an iron hand.”

“Great just the sort of setup we need to fall into.” Goldie cursed soft and low.

“I don’t see the problem, we just introduce him to the blade of my sword and be done with it.” Giselle said.

“If it were that simple sweetheart. Mages can be hard to kill. Swords don’t always work quite like you expect them to on them.” Goldie shook her head. “Sometimes you have to kill them more than once before they stay dead. Very nasty foes to have. Listen Amy, do you have some place safe to go?”

“Yes, my friend Rebecca will take me in for the night. I can hide out there until I can arrange to leave town.” Amy said, finally standing up.

She cried out as she put her weight on her left ankle and Goldie went to support her. Giselle went to her other side and helped her stand.

“I seem to have twisted my ankle, these shoes just weren’t made for running, could I impose upon you to help me over to my friends?” Amy asked doe eyed.

“Lead away.” Goldie said in answer.

They exited the alley and took a couple of turnings then walked a little way, then made another turning and came to a fenced in yard. They knocked on the gate.

“Who is it at this hour, ah Mistress Amy, what are you doing calling at this hour?” The gateman said through the portal.

Quickly Amy explained to Gustav, the gate keeper and they were soon ushered into a study. Rebecca was awaiting them and came to check on Amy’s foot as soon as they were seated. Amy made introductions all around and winced as Rebecca removed her shoe and probed her ankle.

“He is getting insufferable, he sent a kthon after me when I spurned his advances, I barely escaped thanks to these two.”

“Yes Stephan has been getting more bold, now that his men have power in the council. I never would have believed he would go so far as to threaten you.” Rebecca said.

“He would have had me murdered if these two hadn’t of come along. Again I thank you for my life, the kthon would have certainly injured or killed me.” Amy said.

“We were passing through town looking for a place to stay, we stabled our horses but were looking for an inn when we ran into you and the Kthon.’ Goldie told her.

“You must stay here, please, as my guests.” Rebecca spoke up.

Goldie looked around and said. “I wouldn’t want to impose.”

“It would be no imposition at all, I just rattle around in this big house since my parents were exiled and would love the company.”

“It sounds like there is a story to be told here, why don’t you tell us about your troubles?”

Rebecca looked kind of sheepish but she began.”There is not much to tell. My father was on the high council and they found some missing funds in his office. He was accused of embezzling the funds and exiled. My mother chose to go into exile with him, leaving me and my brothers to run our mercantile house and keep the business going.” Goldie looked at Giselle who frowned slightly and nodded her head.

“That is an interesting tale, what about you Amy?” Goldie asked.

“My father has been out of favor with the council ever since Stephan’s faction got a majority. He called me to his place tonight, I thought to discuss my father, then he made, untoward advances, and I refused him. That was when he put the kthon after me.” Her voice was steady despite the fright on her face.

I suppose now I will go live with my brother, to get away from Stephan and his creatures.” She pondered.

“Why should you run away?” Giselle asked.

“Because he will try again, and I don’t, I can’t be with him. He is a horrible person. Those he doesn’t seduce he gives to his creatures to get rid of.”

“That is horrible why don’t the watch do something about him. I mean if he has done this before then he needs to be stopped.” Giselle said.

Goldie made a face.” My guess is he has the watch in his pocket, or at least enough of them to keep himself out of trouble.” She looked at Amy who nodded in agreement to her declaration.

“He did this before, and there was a brief uproar, but it quickly died down when the girl’s parents had an ‘accident’ and were killed.”

“Oh yes, poor Sandy, she still is in grieving over her sister’s and parents fate. All the young women in this town are afraid of Stephan and what he can do. Some have willingly gone to him as concubines, until he tires of them. Others, well they leave town or share a awful fate.” Amy said.

Giselle looked at Goldie with a look of disgust. “How can the people of this town let this happen?” She asked.

“Those who speak out find themselves in trouble, of one kind or another. He has a majority of followers on the city council, so he is entrenched in his power.” Rebecca said.

“Well it is late and we won’t solve this at this time, let’s go to bed and sleep on it. Amy should stay here.” Goldie said.

#

Goldie’s hand slid along Giselle’s inner thigh, eliciting a low moan of pleasure from her. As the hand reached the cleft, Goldie started fingering Giselle’s womanhood.

She leaned in and gave Giselle a deep and passionate kiss. Giselle returned the kiss with equal passion and wriggled under her touch, groaning in pleasure.

They spent the next several minutes pleasing each other, then Giselle rose on one elbow and said. “We can’t let things stand as they are here.”

“What, oh, I guess I know what you mean, but then what can we do about it?” Goldie murmured, her lips caressing Giselle’s nipples.

“I don’t know, I just know we can’t leave these women in the life of fear and dread that they now live. We have to stop this man from terrorizing the women of this town.” Giselle said.

“Well I could always challenge him to a duel, and as he turns me into a pile of goo you can come up behind him and chop off his head.” Goldie demurred.

“Well I like the cutting off his head part of that plan, though the rest needs a little work.”

“You know what else needs a little work?”

“You are a wanton hussy, you know that.”

#

They walked together hand in hand, eliciting a few stares and remarks along the way. A quick glance at the tall blond was enough to keep it from turning into any kind of confrontation.

Those who would have made something of it was warned off by the hard stares of both women, who looked capable and deadly with the swords they carried. The taller one had a lean grace that reminded one of a great jungle cat stalking its prey.

The women stopped in at the mercs guild and spent a few hours there, sparring and taking care of business. The word soon got around that they were for hire.

The merchant Helios had need of a couple of guards, so he made inquiries and arranged an interview with the two.

“You Goldie come highly recommended, your partner is an unknown though, and I need a steady crew.” Helios said.

“She is steady enough, she took on a camp of bandits without flinching, it’s a long story but she has proven steady by me.” Goldie defended Giselle.

“There most likely won’t be trouble but I need to know if you can stay cool when things start going south.” Helios said to Giselle.

“I can hold my temper, and know when it is time to draw steel and when it is time to let lie. Discretion is the ideal in so many things.”

“Good, good, you have a head on your shoulders, if you can use your steel half as well then I have use for you.” Helios turned to Goldie. “How soon can you two start? The deal is coming down within the next forty eight hours and there are those who would want to scotch the deal if they can.”

“We can be on the job now if you like, if you are worried about your safety we can join your entourage immediately.”

“That would be good, Crawford and Luke went off duty a couple of hours ago and I have been without protection for the past hour or so, besides the warehouse guards. I really need to go to the Traveling Duck inn to make some final arrangements for the shipment. Can you two accompany me?”

“Say the word, and we are there.”

Helios got up and got his cloak and hat and made for the door, Goldie got there before him and opened the office door, taking a quick glance around the outer room. Giselle stood behind the man, looking calm but ready.

At the all clear they were joined by a bookkeeper by the name of Tulip and headed off to the Traveling Duck, where the caravan master that Helios was dealing with was staying. The trip went smoothly and they made it to the inn with plenty of time. Helios asked after Coburn the caravan master and was directed to a private room.

The meeting went well. The goods were to be transferred to Helios on the morrow. The other merchants in town hadn’t wanted to pay the caravan master’s price, while Helios had a ready market for the goods, though he would have to hold on to some for a season or so.

They shook on the deal and had a drink on it. Helios made to head out into the inn proper when he was confronted by a dapper gentleman of medium height. Goldie took up positions between the two for she could sense the tension in the encounter before it even started.

“What do you think you are doing?” The gentleman asked abruptly.

“Business, something you and your friends were leery of doing Stephan.”

“I thought I had let it be known that if business was to be done, I would do it. Did you pay his outrageous price?” Stephan glowered.

“The price for goods of this quality were not outrageous. Now we have completed the deal, would you get out of my way Stephan?” Helios said in a reasonable tone.

“You know I wanted those goods.”

“Yes but you wouldn’t pay his price, I have, now there is nothing for it, the deal is made and I will take delivery tomorrow.”

“You won’t profit from this, I will see to that.” Stephan said in a venomous voice.

“I believe the good merchant is finished talking to you.” Goldie said in a deceptively mild voice.

“What, who, you think you could stop me if I wanted to do something now?” Stephan whispered in cold menace.

“I don’t think you want it to come to cases with all these witnesses around.” Goldie growled softly, “Now back off and let us go our way.”

The tension slowly faded from Stephan’s face and he smiled, not a very nice smile.

“It will come to cases between us bitch, and you won’t like it.” He said with purposeful menace in his voice.

He stepped out of the way and all relaxed a modicum. Helios and his group headed out the inn door.

“Now that was, refreshing.” Goldie quipped as they made their way down the street.

“If that is what you call it. We must be on our guard, for he is a man who knows how to hate. And I think he has taken a dislike to you.”

“Won’t be the first time, and in my line of work certainly not the last. What did you think Giselle?”

“You should have let me take his head back there, I think that would save us all future trouble.”

#

She felt the stirrings of power around her, and quickly put up a shield around her and Giselle. She didn’t know a lot of magic , but she was good at the protection spells and knew the feel of a powerful maladroit spell when she felt one stirring around her.

The two of them were standing with the merchant and the caravan chief waiting at the ware house for the caravan wagons to deliver the goods.

Across the street a group of six men gathered and glanced their way. All had cudgels in their hands and appeared ready to use them.

As the wagons came around the corner the men stepped out and went purposefully towards the teamsters.

The sing of steel being pulled from the scabbard made the bully boys hesitate, as both Goldie and Giselle moved away from the group and to protect the wagons. The leader of the thugs looked at each of his men and they moved in on the two women.

It was quickly found that the two women were playing for keeps, as two men went down with wounds. The other four saw that they were outmatched and hesitated. That gave Goldie the opening she needed to put three inches of steel through the chest of the leader. The rest immediately scattered, afraid to face the flashing steel of the two women.

Down the street, Stephan had been watching, and saw the rout of his men. In a fit of anger he lashed out with a maladroit spell at the two women, who turned to face him. He had two bodyguards standing behind him, they drew their weapons and made towards Goldie and Giselle.

The two women seemed to uncoil from where they crouched, launching themselves at the two fighters. Stephan tried to use his magic to cast a tangle foot, which tripped up Giselle momentarily, but she caught her opponents blade on her own and riposted, nearly skewering the man.

Stephan tried a befuddle but found it countered by Goldie who quickly disposed of her foe and came up to Stephan before he could get another spell off.

It was all over for Stephan, for he found a razor sharp swords edge at his throat. He was careful to make no sudden moves.

“Who are you that you countered my spells?”

“Just a merc who learned a few things along the way, now you want to move nice and careful over to where Helios is standing, no sudden moves or it will go badly for you.”

Giselle finished off her opponent with a flourish, and came up to Goldie.

“So what do we do with him now?”

“We are just muscle, it is up to Helios to say.”

The small group came up to Helios, the caravan master and the bookkeeper. Helios looked at Stephan with contempt.

“You shouldn’t have tried that, there are too many witnesses to your perfidy, you are ruined in this town. Your high handed ways are past, now even the watch will have to take notice of your dealings.”

“Look it was a bad deal, I got carried away, we can work something out.” Stephan said reasonably.

“Why would I deal with you, you just tried to rip me off of this cargo.”

“Because I can get you twice the going rate for the goods. That was why I wanted the goods, but I was just not willing to pay the premium price and cut in on my profits.” Stephan said in a soothing voice.

Goldie and Giselle exchanged glances, but held their peace. They were hired muscle, it wasn’t their place to speak out. They both knew that Stephan would turn on Helios and cheat him the first chance he got, but it was up to how greedy Helios was, as to what happened next.

Helios signaled for them to put their weapons away and he and Stephan went off to discuss the deal further. Giselle rolled her eyes at Goldie who shrugged noncommittally.

“Some men have a weakness when it comes to money, their sense seems to be overruled by their greed.” Goldie said.

“We owe that bastard for what he did to Amy, you should have cut his throat when you had the chance.”

Goldie smiled.” Don’t worry with his kind we will always get another chance.”

#

Goldie stood just behind Helios, carefully watching the transaction take place. Giselle’s face held a slight grimace as she watched Stephan and Helios sign the partnership document. She thought on what Goldie had said about greed and what with the evidence before her, she tended to agree.

As the contract was signed both men made a toast to the success of their joint venture. Helios seemed to have entirely forgot the man had tried to rob him of these same goods just yesterday. He smiled and acted as if nothing were wrong in the world.

As Goldie kept reminding her with looks and head shakes, they were just muscle and weren’t being paid to think. They had to wait until Stephan made some type of overt act against their boss, before they could even sneeze at the fellow.

Giselle found the restraint hard, but she trusted Goldie to know what to do, as she had trusted her ever since she had left the steading with her. They had been guided by the older woman so far to good assignments, so she wasn’t about to mistrust her on this one.

Though she so wanted to run a half meter of steel through Stephan’s smug face every time she looked at him.

Goldie and Giselle stood guard in the corners of the room as Helios and Stephan started discussing their business and started making arrangements. Giselle amused herself by imagining lopping of different body parts of the mage.

Finally it came time for them to go off duty, and Crawford and Luke came to take their place. Giselle didn’t like the smile that Stephan gave them as they left.

“We are going to come back and find them all dead and that mage gone with the goods, you know that don’t you.” Giselle pointed out to Goldie.

“As long as it doesn’t happen on our shift.” Goldie opined.

“You are taking the probable death of our employer calmly.”

“Well he is the one who put himself in that situation. He knew the type of rodent Stephan was before he signed that deal with him. Don’t get me wrong, I like Helios and he has been a good boss, but it is his own greed that has gotten him into this.” Goldie told her as they made their way back to Rebecca’s to check up on Amy.

“Well don’t forget we have to kill that rodent for what he did to Amy.” Giselle said.

“You worry too much, you just need to let things work themselves out, we will get to kill him and probably be paid for our troubles, if things work out the way I figure them to.”

Amy was getting around better, though her foot still hurt. She had arranged to leave the next day to go live with her brother.

“You don’t have to do that if you don’t want to.” Goldie told her as they sat and discussed things.

“But how can I stay here with Stephan out to get me. He won’t forget and he will send his horrible creatures to kill me if I don’t leave.”

“I think you should at least wait until your ankle is well before making plans. Things just might have a way of working themselves out.” Goldie told her.

“We will keep an eye out for any of those creatures, they won’t get past us if they come after you.” Giselle said.

“Why are you two doing this, I mean you owe me nothing.”

“We are suckers for women in distress, look, Rebecca is letting us stay here, so that is payment enough for a little guard duty.”

“Speaking of which I am going to go have a look around.” Giselle said as she got up and went out the door.

Giselle called to Goldie as she backed into the room, a pair of kthon’s menacing her. She had her sword out and was doing some menacing of her own, keeping the blade between herself and the creatures.

Goldie took in the situation, drew her short sword and attacked in one smooth motion. The first kthon tried to parry her cut at its neck and took the blade in its right arm. It swung a massive clawed left hand and the nails raked across Goldie’s mail, ripping her shirt.

Giselle meantime had lured the second kthon to make a slashing attack at her, and put a half meter of steel through the beasts heart. It was down and dying. Goldie took advantage of the first creatures being distracted by the death scream of its partner to slash the creatures throat.

Both kthon’s were down and dead, bleeding thick ichors onto the study carpet. Both Giselle and Goldie watched the door. As they stood there another pair of the gruesome creatures came through the doorway.

With a yell both women attacked, Goldie swinging high and Giselle going low. The left hand kthon parried Giselle’s thrust which would have eviscerated it, and forced her back with a attack by its clawed hands which streaked across her mail. The right hand creature tried to block Goldie’s overhand blow and lost its arm in the process. Goldie redoubled and spit the beast through the eye and into its brain, killing it instantly.

She turned to give Giselle a hand, but found her lover pulling her sword from the dying kthon’s chest. The room was a mess of spilled blood and toppled furniture. The four bodies looked almost as if they belonged in the tangled mess.

“Damn things have hard claws.” Goldie said as she made to tie a scarf around a slash on her sword arm.

“Now we need to go after that prick.” Giselle said.

“Yeah we can’t go waiting around for him to send another foursome. I guess there is not much to do but hunt him down. So much for letting events mature.” They made certain that Amy and Rebecca were all right, and then set out with a grim expression on their face. One of the first familiar faces they met was Tulip, who flagged them down outside Helios’s warehouse.

“You have to help master Helios, that mage has just gone wild in there. He killed Crawford and befuddled Helios. He is in the office with some of his creatures tearing the place apart.”

Goldie and Giselle rushed through the warehouse, towards the noise of a confrontation. Just outside the office they came upon Luke fighting for his life against two kthon’s.

With a shout they cleaved the skulls of the creatures and proceeded into the office where Helios and Stephan were. Helios looked around wild eyed as two more kthon moved across the room towards the door to intercept the women.

With a shout of power words, Stephan cast a befuddle spell at the two women as they came into the room. Giselle felt her mind get confused, and wondered vaguely what she was doing with a sword in her hand.

Goldie stopped, seemed to shake her head as if shaking off a blow, and promptly slew the kthon who were expecting no opposition.

She sprang across the room at Stephan who raised his hands and mystic fire streamed from his hands. Goldie veered off and halted. She seemed to mumble something under her breath, then leapt forward through the flames to shove her sword into Stephan’s chest up to the hilt.

The mage gurgled and stepped back dislodging himself from the sword, before he could do anything more Goldie swung the sword in an overhand arc that neatly took his head from his shoulders. The body toppled one way, while the head rolled across the floor to Helios’s feet and stopped, the face grimacing up at him. Helios promptly fainted.

#

Things began to make a little sense, at least the nice lady kissed her and made her comfortable on the couch. As Giselle started to come around she thought what a beautiful woman that golden haired lady was.


The befuddle wore off slowly, and Giselle was out of it for a time. Goldie handled the details with the watch and answered all their questions about what had happened here. Helios woke up just in time to verify her events of things, so the watch grumbled and made noises about there being an enquiry then went away. Goldie left Luke to watch after Helios and Tulip, and she brought Giselle back to Rebecca’s to tell the girls the news.

“You mean I don’t have to worry about that horrid man sending beasts after me again?” Amy asked, relief washed over her like an invigorating wave.

“Bad man fall down go boom.” Giselle said, still addled by the befuddle.

“Yes, this town is free of his influence, until the next one comes along.” Goldie said.

“Next one?” Rebecca asked.

“Well this town is wide open to letting these kind of characters setup and run things. Too many of the leading citizens are willing to look the other way, or be led down a path all for their own profit. This town will always attract these types, until the people are willing to change.”

“I think after this a few of the citizens may have learned their lesson, I know I will have a long talk with all concerned.” Amy said.

“It has to go beyond talk, they need to clear out Stephan’s old cronies and elect a council that cares about the city and what direction it is headed in. It will take years to change the basic attitude that allowed this to happen, and it will take someone to keep reminding them.”

“We will do what we can, for both of our families are well to do mercantile houses, with some influence, I know my family will change.” Amy said, and Rebecca nodded her head in assent.

Meantime I have a befuddled girlfriend to take care of.” Goldie said, grabbing Giselle around the shoulders.

“Bad man fall down go boom.” Giselle said again, some reason showing in her eyes as Goldie laughed and gave her a great kiss.

“You said a mouthful sweetheart.”

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