Sapphic Voices Fantasy

Going Through The Motions

She wiped her sweat streaked hair from her eyes and smiled. Lydia gasped with pleasure as Izzy’s hands moved over her body. As always the act of love between the two women was a pure joy that they both experienced.

“I love you.” Lydia murmured as the two women rested after their exertions.

“I know, and I feel the same, let’s go away some place nice together.” Izzy told her.

“Where did you have in mind?” Lydia asked.

“Someplace where we can do this as often as we like. A place where there won’t be snickers from the low browed when we walk down the street hand in hand.” Izzy said.

“Well if you know of such a place please let’s ride there immediately.” Lydia said.

“Well we should get dressed first I would think.”

#

Izzy looked across the table and scowled. This wasn’t going anywhere near as she had imagined it would go.

“I don’t think the two of you are worth that much, I think maybe half your asking price.” Connor said to her.

“I am a top ranked battle mage and Lydia here is one of the best swords in all the realms, I think we are well worth the price I am asking. You can check with the guild, both of us are registered there.” Izzy said.

“Well we do need a mage who knows their stuff.” Landry opined from his seat beside Connor.

“But still, that is a lot of florins you are asking for just the two of you.” Connor said.

“Well if you want a demonstration, that can be arranged.” Lydia put in.

“You don’t look so tough as all that.” Connor told her as she sat next to Izzy.

Izzy snickered. “You obviously don’t know what you are looking at.”

“Okay, let’s go down to the Salle and see what she has got.” Connor said.

“You pick anyone you want as her opponent, she will beat them.” Izzy told him.

“Hey Cletus, hear that, we have a fight for you.”

#

Lydia stood in an easy guard position as her opponent slowly circled. He tried a feint, just to see if he could draw her off but she didn’t budge.

Finally he quit circling and launched a serious attack at her. She blocked and riposted without a wasted motion, scoring a touch on his arm.

The touch angered Cletus, who with a growl launched himself at her again. This time she scored a stop thrust to the chest that shook him to his toes. He stood gasping as he tried to catch his breath after having it knocked out of him.

“Hold.” Connor called as Cletus prepared to attack again.

“So was I lying or is she not one of the best you have seen?” Izzy called out as the two combatants stepped away from the circle.

“Okay, I am sold on her, what about you?” Connor said in a challenging voice.

“Well if your brute feels up to it, maybe we should spar.” Izzy said.

Connor raised his eyebrows and said. “You are pretty sure of yourself.”

“Just have your muscle try me, I will leave him dazzled and confused.”

“You’re on” Cletus said from his side of the training circle.

Izzy picked up a practice sword and took an easy stance on the edge of the circle.

“Lay on.” Connor called out.

Two things happened almost seemingly at the same time. A bright dazzle left Izzy’s raised left hand that flashed in Cletus’ face. Izzy swung the blade up and scored a touch on the dazzled man in the middle of his chest. Cletus backed away from her his hands going up to his now useless eyes. He cursed long and low under his breath as he tried to rub the spots out from in front of his eyes.

“Not bad.” Connor said as he went over and helped Cletus to a seat.

“The dazzle will wear off in a little while, rubbing your eyes will do no good. You’re dead by the way in case you didn’t notice.” Izzy said.

“Yeah I noticed, you are a bit of a hand with a blade yourself, guess that is why you dress the way you do, as a fighter and not in the fancy robes of a mage.” Connor said.

“So I think I have shown we are worth the asking price. Shall we get our business finished, or do you need a further demonstration.” Izzy asked.

“Nope, you are the real deal. We will pay, usual contract half now and half at the completion of the assignment, which will take about a month.” Connor told her. They shook on the deal and Connor handed Izzy a pouch that clinked with coins. They made their way back to the tavern. They discussed the travel arrangements over a mug of ale.

The expedition would leave in two days time, to travel into the orc lands and attempt to reclaim a treasure that was grabbed by a group of renegades. The nature of the treasure was of no concern to Izzy, they were hired to escort and provide fighting ability to the group that was going into the lands after the treasure. Izzy and Lydia were not the only ones. Connor, Cletus and Landry were guild fighters. They would accompany a merchant and his escort as far as it took to recover the treasure, which they only knew wasn’t gold. Izzy and Lydia would get a cut of any recovered riches besides the treasure.

The renegades had hit a caravan just across the border, and had retreated into the orc lands with the cargo of the caravan. The caravan had been carrying the treasure and it had been stolen along with the trade goods. The merchant wasn’t concerned about the merchandise, it was the treasure he was interested in recovering.

#

The day dawned clear and bright and both Izzy and Lydia stood ready before the inn, their horses and pack horses in line and ready to go.

Connor with his three friends trailing him sauntered up and shouted a greeting, which was answered with an equally snide remark. The big man laughed.

“The merchant and his guard should be along shortly, they were busy fussing over some last minute packing. I got to warn you most of these guys are from the east.”

“So we have to break a few noses before they get the picture. It has been done before.” Izzy said, while Lydia looked puzzled.

“Eastern folk don’t believe women could and should fight. They are leery of the western way of things, don’t worry we will back the both of you.”Connor said somewhat gallantly.

“Oh no worries, the first who wants to test us will find out soon enough a woman can fight.” Izzy told him.

“This could get interesting, I haven’t had to thrash a dumb lug for awhile.” Lydia allowed.

“Well don’t start trouble less it comes for you. The merchant keeps his four on a tight rein, so it might never come to cases.” Connor said, half hopefully.

It didn’t start off well.

“Hey Connor, this ain’t a pleasure trip, where do you come off having a couple of doxies in your group.”

The speaker was a tall man, dressed in half plate and carrying a large axe and shield.

“Hey Ryan no need to get fresh about it, this is the mage and sword I was telling you about.” Connor said defensively.

“How would you like to spend the trip a mewling micro encephalic who wets himself?” Izzy asked in a calm voice. One hand held a glowing nimbus of green iridescence.

Ryan glanced sharply at Izzy seeming to see her for the first time. He didn’t like what he saw in those cold grey eyes.

“So you are the spell caster, don’t look like much to me. But there is no use getting off on the wrong foot, I am Ryan, this is Jacoby, Cravitz, and Nathan. The bald headed dude is his honorable merchant Horace Greely. I suppose you are to accompany us to recover what was lost?”

“Couldn’t earn my pay if I didn’t.” Izzy said, a little coldly.

Lydia looked ready to chew nails, or someone’s neck whichever came first.

“As a point of honor, you owe me and Izzy here an apology.” Her voice was low and full of a casual menace that it would be easy to overlook. Ryan didn’t.

“Okay, you are right about that, I apologize to doxies everywhere for daring to compare the two of you with them.”


The next act was as predictable as it was violent. Ryan found himself on the ground and facing naked steel which he hadn’t even seen her draw. Izzy stood guard over her shoulder, hands glowing with power.

“Try again.” Was all Lydia said.

“All right, I apologize to you fine ladies for besmirching your honor.” The blade moved from his throat but still covered his vitals as he stood up from being knocked down by Lydia’s rush.

Everyone breathed easier when Lydia sheathed her blade in a smooth fluid motion. Izzy grinned at her.

“You are going to have to teach me that knockdown, it was spectacular.”

#

“Have you encountered orcs before?” Connor asked conversationally.

“We fought in the wars, and numerous border skirmishes. We and orcs are old friends when it comes to fighting.” Izzy told him.

“So you are not afraid of them.”

“Not unless they are behind me in great numbers, then I might be a bit frightened.” Izzy said chuckling.

They continued to talk of the various creatures they were liable to meet in the orc lands if they weren’t careful. Izzy had fought most of the things at one time or another so she wasn’t too concerned. Those she hadn’t fought she knew by reputation.

As they rode closer to the orc lands Izzy used a simple conceal spell to hide their movement. She also would scry for the position of possible opposition so they could avoid any unneeded bloodshed.

They moved this way across the border and entered the lands of the orcs, called Golnath in the orc tongue. They picked up the trail of the raiders on the fourth day, Izzy used her scrying to ascertain that it was the same group that had hit the caravan.

The raiders were traveling as fast as they could with the goods they had taken from the caravan, which was not very fast. It was a simple matter for the group to follow the trail and catch up to them.

Rather than attacking, the group kept the band of orcs under observation and followed them along. As it was a large band the odds were judged against them for a straight out attack. They would have to wait for their opportunity to get the treasure back.

#

The raiders had come to a spot where they seemed to settle in and stay for awhile. It was on Stone creek and looked to be a semi-permanent campsite. Izzy and Lydia studied the lay out and made plans to raid the encampment.

They wouldn’t be able to grab anything but the more portable of goods from the orcs, for they would have to travel light and fast to the border after the raid. This disappointed the merchant, but he saw the wisdom of it.

The group split into three groups and planned to hit the camp simultaneously from three directions. They would attack during the second guard shift, and awaited Izzy’s signal to start the attack. The groups were the merchant and his guards, Connor and his two men, and Izzy and Lydia.

They snuck down to the edge of the encampment and waited until most of the camp had gone to bed. Izzy cast a deep slumber on the remaining guards, and the groups entered the camp.

They quickly located the tent where the treasure was being guarded and Izzy dealt with those guards in the same fashion. However the spell failed to affect one of the guards, who raised the alarm.

Lydia rushed forward and struck the guard down as he started yelling. With that the merchant and his guards entered the tent to get the treasure while the others stayed outside to deal with the wakening camp.

Izzy hurled a fireball at a large tent and slew all the orcs inside, she then pulled her sword and joined the others in attacking the orcs as they came out of their tents. Soon they heard the signal that the merchant had recovered his treasure and was ready to go.

They did a fighting withdrawal to the edge of the camp and Izzy used a befuddle spell to confuse their pursuers and make their getaway. Orcs seemed to be everywhere, and they killed many as they made their way back to their horses.

Cletus went down to an arrow through the throat from an orc short bow, and Landry was wounded in the arm by a crossbow bolt. One of the merchant’s guards got caught by a group of orcs and was cut down before the others could come to his aid.

They made their way to the horses and quickly mounted and rode off into the night. They pushed on until dawn then had to stop and rest their horses. It was then that Izzy noticed the treasure was a young girl who looked as frightened of the merchant as she would have been of the orcs.

“What is this, you didn’t mention the treasure was a person?” Izzy accused the merchant.

“The nature of the treasure is none of your concern, you were hired to recover it for me, which so far you have done your job well. The rest is of no import to you.”

“It is when she looks as afraid of you as she was of the orcs. Why is that, is she a slave?”

“She is to be my bride if you must know, the marriage was arranged between her family and me.”

“She doesn’t look to be of a marrying age. She looks like she is twelve at the most.”

“Again, that is none of your concern, the marriage has been arranged by the family of the girl.”

Lydia muttered and Izzy looked like she would strike the merchant down where he stood. The rest of the group gathered around and Connor spoke up.

“Whatever the matter, we are still not in the clear, we can’t fight amongst ourselves if any of us hope to make it back to civilization. The orcs will be on our trail and thirsty for blood. We have to stick together.”

“This isn’t over.” Izzy said simply.

#

A band of ten orcs caught up to them right at the border. It was a sharp fight with the orcs attacking them without regard to their own lives. Izzy and Lydia stood back to back hacking and hewing, while the rest of the group stood guard around the merchant and defended him and the girl. Landry and Cravitz went down, with orc spears through their chests. As the last of the orcs was cut down, Connor took a wound to the leg.

The group rode into the village of Rim rock early in the evening on lathered horses. They got down at the inn and settled into the common room, safe back in civilization. Connor was taken to the healers for his wound had gotten infected. The rest of the group sat tired and relieved in the inn.

“What is your name girl?” Izzy asked the still frightened looking child.

The child though begrimed and smudged with dirt was a pretty little thing. She was just at the cusp of womanhood, budding like a spring flower.

“My name is Sara.” She said with wide frightened eyes.

“Well Sara my name is Izzy, and this is Lydia. You don’t have to be afraid of us. Why are you so afraid of Horace.”

“It is that, well I don’t want to be married, I have heard tales and it frightens me, almost as bad as the orcs.”

“This is a free country, you don’t have to marry anyone you don’t want to.” Izzy told her.

“That is not what my family says. They arranged this wedding while I was still young, as soon as I came to my womanhood I was to marry that awful man.”

“Why do you say he is awful.”

“He likes young wives, and beats them when they don’t please him.” Sara said, shuddering at the thought.

Lydia was shaking with fury, her hand clenched and unclenched on her sword hilt.

“We can’t allow this travesty to happen, I know how it feels to be betrothed to someone you can’t stand. If you hadn’t of come along I would have been forced to marry the potter’s son. We can’t let this girl be sold into virtual slavery.” Lydia said in anger.

“Unfortunately there isn’t much we can do, it is up to Sara. If she feels obligated to marrying him then we can’t interfere without repercussion.” Izzy said through clenched teeth. “How do you feel about it Sara, do you feel obliged to marry him?”

“You mean I have a choice?”

“Yes, you have always had a choice, though your family may have told you otherwise. In this kingdom a woman has the right to say no if she wants. There are repercussions though, you can lose your family, and become an outcast in your home town for disobeying your parents. You have a choice, but you also have to be prepared to pay the consequences.”

“I would rather be a scullery maid than marry Horace Greely. He is a despicable man who has always treated me like property.”

Just then Horace came in and saw the women talking, he angrily came over to their little group.

“What are you doing, get away from my treasure!”

“You don’t own her, she is free to choose her fate, and she chooses for it not to be with you.”

“I paid her father the bride price, it was arranged that I would wed her.”

“According to custom she has the right to choose, apparently her parents and you chose to overlook that little fact, or to mention it to her. She doesn’t want to marry you, so she doesn’t have to.” Izzy said, her temper flaring.


“I will ruin her family, I will ruin her life if she doesn’t marry me. She can choose, as I can choose to withdrawal the favors in commerce that I have shown her family. If she chooses to not marry me, then I will act accordingly. Her family will suffer.” Greely said, his own temper flashing.

“What you are talking about is coercion, and that is as bad as buying or selling her. Slavery was outlawed in this kingdom a long time ago, and that includes the custom of selling daughters into marriage. She should have been told of her choice, and treated accordingly. What you and her parents have done is immoral and unethical, forcing her into a marriage and into believing she had no choice in the matter. If we took this to the constable you could be arrested for engaging in slavery. I think you should step away.” Izzy said, her eyes flashing with an inner fire at her anger.

Lydia looked on in disgust, her hand on the hilt of her sword. Ryan and Nathan came into the common room and saw the confrontation. They both moved over to protect Horace, their hands on their swords. With a word the scene could have turned ugly and deadly. Horace saw the determination and resolve in the eyes of the two women and knew that if he said the word, he would die.

“Okay, you win, but she has ruined her future, I will see that she never gets ahead in this world. I will make sure that she is known as an oath breaker.”

“Then you will be liable for slander, for she was not of age when she made any oath, and thus not legally bound by the oath. Do you understand that Sara, you are not bound by any oath they may have coerced you into giving when the betrothal was made.”

“Yes I do, it was an oath given under duress and when I was not of age, so I am not bound by the oath they made me give on my seventh birthday.”

“So, I think you should just step away and count your losses. It doesn’t have to turn into a fight.”

“I will take extreme pleasure in ruining you and your girlfriend too. You have made a great mistake.” Horace signaled to his guards and they backed out of the common room.

“I so wanted him to go for his sword.” Lydia said into the hushed quiet of the room as the customers held their collective breaths, praying that he wouldn’t.

“Well Sara, you have made your choice, but I am afraid that he can do what he says. We unfortunately still have few choices we can make if he decides to be vindictive.” Izzy told the young girl who was looking scared but resolute.

“Drudgery would be better than being married to the likes of him. I am just concerned about my family, can he do what he says?”

“Unfortunately he can withdrawal any support he has given your family, and cost them in business. There is nothing we can do about that. What he can’t do is slander them for your making your choice. He can use his influence though, and I am afraid he will. His is the kind that hates very well.” Izzy said while taking the girl by the arm and giving it a squeeze.

“Now what will I do?” Sara said.

“Anything you have the will to do.” Lydia told her, smiling for the first time.

#

Izzy watched as Sara talked to the other young students of the academy. She felt a warm spot inside for what she and Lydia had done for the girl.

“Well she is enrolled and appears to be very bright. She will go far if she has the mind for it.” Claudia said from beside Izzy.

“Just get in touch with the guild, I will make arrangements for the future” Izzy told her.

Lydia grabbed Izzy’s hand and squeezed it. They had brought the girl to Claudia’s school and enrolled her in classes. It had taken most of the pay they had gotten from Connor to do so, but they were giving the young girl a chance at a future. They smiled with love at each other and knew they had done the right thing.

“What about Greely?” Lydia asked.

“She is sheltered here from his influence. By the time she completes the courses she will have the skills and resources necessary for her to make of her life what she chooses of it. I have no sympathy for her family, they sold her into virtual slavery. But she will get the chance she was never given before.”

“Will he try and get back at us” Lydia asked concerned.

“I hope he tries, then we can reveal him for the toad of a man that he is. He will find it hard to slander us for doing what was right. We have too many friends for him to be able to affect our hiring out. After all mercenaries don’t have the kind of reputation his type can easily ruin.”

“You should have let me run him through.”

“That’s what I love about you, bloodthirsty to the end” Izzy said, giving her a kiss.

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