Under the pouring early spring rain, the castle was a miserable freezing shelter.
Assina Mons, knight of the kingdom of San Horn, shifted herself just a bit closer to the wall torch that lit up her table. The temperature had yet to recover from the brutal frost of winter and her armor felt like a frozen shackle. It made writing her report an uncomfortable task as she worked the quill on the vellum, periodically dipping into the inkwell to refill her quill.
She sighed as she finished another sentence. Her hands had learned the feel of a sword before they were even used to being encased in armor. Compared to the energetic swings of swordplay, writing felt like an tiring intricate slog as her hand movements imprinted letters after letter in ink onto the vellum. And she had to write carefully. Word was that some of the noblemen who infested the halls of the court had scoffed at her reports due to her handwriting.
A knock on her door made her look up.”Come in,” she called out. The door opened and a young face clad in a simple iron helmet stuck out.
“Ma’am, Lord Ashford has arrived,” the man announced in a reedy voice.
“Very well. Tell him I will be down shortly. Entertain him for now,” she replied. The man nodded ,closed the door and Assina took a quick second to curse the pampered nobles and their petty demands. Every second spent placating them was a second wasted that could have been used to patrol the borders. The reports she sent to the King held all the important information already but every day would bring another request from another accursed noble to check up on his interests within her jurisdiction. They were waiting, she knew, for a single slip-up that would allow them to replace her.
Defender of the kingdom. It was an excellent title to put on a name and she knew that the nobles were disgusted that such a title would go to a commander of common birth even though she was an ordained knight. In any case, it didn't matter. She would give them as little as possible to complain about. She already had her hands full, handling demon and church intrusions into their lands. Some power hungry noble making a fuss over vellum and ink was a distraction she could not afford.
As she finished off her report and signed off, she thought of her guest. Lord Ashford was a minor noble, one that held little regard in the messy hierarchy of the capital city Hornsthal. Despite his status, he held substantial land to his name, rivaling some of the more memorable nobles houses with in the capital city. It was distance that was his undoing for his lands were far enough from the capital that his produce could only arrive bearing the seal of the house that carried rather than the one that made it. It was one of the prices to be paid in the convoluted webs of noble houses in San Horn.
Assina stood up from the table and let out a slight groan as she felt her body complain at the sudden movement. She kept her body still for a minute, letting her muscles get used to the change before she started moving. Any aches were quickly put down by her armor as they released jolt of numbing chill with every movement, turning everything into a dull frigid sensation that made it a struggle to walk properly.
But she had a standard to keep up. Her first stop was to a mirror to check her appearance where she stared at a woman in her early thirties, with braided hazel hair ringing the back of her head. The rest of her was under armor but she knew her own body. Constant training made her lean and muscular and she like to surprise her troops with an occasional arm wrestle. She shifted a few armor pieces and gave herself a nod before proceeded out the door, keeping a strong posture. The guard that stood in front of her door clumsily snapped to attention from a sleepy droop as she passed by him, his spear clunking on the stone floor even as she left the corridor.
Assina glanced through a window as she descended a flight of stairs. The arrival of the rains meant the onset of muddy bogs for roads and the resulting traffic jams, she thought to herself, but at least it wasn’t invasion weather. That would come during the summer, when the heat had dried the mud into a hard surface suitable for traveling. She had until then to prepare for the expected Church and Demon Kingdom onslaught.
She spent the time traveling to the guest room of the castle planning the defense of her jurisdiction. It helped to make the journey seem shorter and she was only beaten back to her second line of defense before she arrived at the doors to the guest chambers. The two guards outside both gave her a salute as she made her way into the chambers.
Two men waited for her inside and Assina noted the inconspicuously dry clothing on one of them. Lord Ashford was well-known for his comforts and his valet's inversely drenched clothing spoke as to who carried the cloak in the rain. Still, despite his reputation, the man kept an excellent body shape and his clothing appeared to be chosen to emphasize that, barely capable of holding within his muscular shape.
“Commander Assina, I thank you for receiving me,” He spoke after they had exchanged courtesies. “I know this is a busy time for you but I have received information that you must hear. Several of my men have reported sighting of small groups of monsters within my lands.”
Assina took a quick second to glance behind Lord Ashford to the window outside. It gave view to the grounds of the fort as well as the guard house that stood over the gate. Through the windows of the guard house, she could see the shadows of men cast against the wall by the light of torches.
“I see. Firstly, with your leave, I will dismiss my man. You may go,” She said to the man from earlier. He saluted and left the room. Assina waited for the doors to shut before she spoke.” Perhaps these are monsters seeking men instead? The spring thaw is upon us. Several monster mating seasons will begin soon. Perhaps these are simply the first signs of this,” She noted. It was difficult work judging between a monster raid and a Demon Kingdom attack but they had their differences.
“I have judged this theory for myself and I do not find any reason to believe it so. They have refused to meet my men in battle and even avoid easy catches. It is my belief that these monster are being organized and that cannot bode well for my lands and the kingdom,” Ashford answered. “I have come here to call on your aid in dealing with these menace.”
Even the militia of a noble like Ashford paled in comparison to her forces, trained and in strength. If it was indeed a Demon Kingdom plan, Assina knew her men had the power and experience to stop it. They had already dealt with a Demonic scouting force midwinter. “Very well. However, the night is short and I am of a tired mind. I must insist that you stay here for the night. We must discuss this information in deeper detail and fresh minds will help. I will have my men prepare lodging for you if you agree to stay.” Truthfully, she could have easily settled the deployment of her troops in the room right now but she saw no reason to work late into the night.
Ashford smiled. “Thank you. There is much to learn. I hope I will be able to be of help,” he said as he stood up. Assina followed him and they clasped their right hands together in a strong grip.
“I will send a man to bring you to your quarters once they are ready. I must ask that you lower your standards here. This is a fort after all, not a home,” Assina informed once they let go. Ashford chuckled at her words.
“I think I can sacrifice a few comforts for the safety of the kingdom.”
As Assina turned to leave, a tug on the back of her mind made her turn back to the window. Across the rain in the guard house, a shadow clearly feminine crouched low in the light. As Assina watched it, a line broke from the shadow and weaved around like a flag in the wind. If that wasn’t telling enough, the line had a distinct heart shaped bulb at its end.
Assina drew out her arming sword causing Ashford and his valet both jumped at the sudden movement. “What is the meaning of this?” The noble demanded.
“We are under attack.” Assina plainly answered, her mind already descending into battle. She was reaching for the door when a knife embedded itself against it. She jerked around and saw Ashford’s valet pull a dagger from his clothing. Reacting immediately, she charged the man with a swing of her sword. He met it blade to blade with his dagger and the two entered into a fight of strength against each other, their weapons grinding against each other.
Assina found herself losing the struggle as the dagger forced its way forward slowly. She grunted and pushed back harder but the valet seemed to have the strength of a monster, easily holding off her strength and letting out a casual bark of laughter at her efforts. The sound made her grit her teeth in anger and she leaped backwards, forcing them both off balance. Her experienced feet quickly steadied herself and she attacked again, catching the valet while he was still recovering his footing.
Her next swing was barely deflected by the man but it disarmed him and left him on the ground. She moved for one last downward stroke when the door suddenly slammed open behind her. As she looked back, she suddenly felt a jab in her body and her arms became dead weights. Her eyes came back forward as her gaze fell on a spike attached to a tail sticking into a gap in her armour. She fell to her knees as the valet withdrew his tail, pulling the spike out her body. The now revealed incubus groaned as he rose to his feet, his tail raised like an extra arm ready to attack.
Completely numbed by the strike, Assina could only watch as she started to fall forward towards the floor. The incubus valet caught her before she landed and turned her over, letting her look up at Lord Ashford who smiled back at her.
“Traitor…” She forced out through numbed lips. The man gave a quick chuckle in response.
“Yes I am. But with good intentions. This kingdom has been under a false belief for far too long. We feel that it is time for the humans of this kingdom to discard their pointless hardship and to unite together under the common cause of pleasure. No more nobles houses, no more petty squabbles over hierarchy. Just together, in eternal love and pleasure,” Ashford anounced.
Assina tried to spit at him but the numbness was total. Still, the gesture did not go noticed and Ashford chuckled again. "Such will and devotion. Your reputation has precceded you far and wide amongst the Kingdoms. I know of many who are oh so willing to meet you."
"Master. We have taken the fort." Another voice spoke up from out of Assina's view. This one was feminine, with a dark sultry tone and a strange echo that reverberated within her head. She tried to shift her head to get a look at the speaker but her body refused to obey her.
"Very well. Gather the prisoners and begin the preparations. This fort must be in flames by dawn," Ashford instructed while Assina felt the hands of the incubus valet around her as he picked her up into a carry. "I will depart with the lady knight via direct portal to my quarters. Disperse with the prisoners. I want no trace of anyone left here."
"Yes, my lord," The voice answered. Assina struggled in the hold of the valet with what little movement she could, the resistance making Ashford chuckle.
"You should save your strength. You will need it when we show you the true meaning of pleasure," he whispered, running his fingers along her cheek. "Your strength marks you as a magnificent succubus. We depart for my quarters now. I wish to begin the changing before the night is over."
Whatever obscene word Assina answered to the man was mangled by her numbed mouth. The valet effortlessly carried her armor and all as they turned and left the room, no sign of the owner of the sultry voice to be seen. They traversed the hallways of the fort down to the courtyard, Assina despairing at the sight of her men bound up against the walls guarded by sleek succubi with spikes on their tails. The freezing early spring rain fell on her like an ice cold shower but her captors appeared unaffected.
In the centre of the courtyard, a centaur-like monster with a pair of horns and midnight black hair and pelt worked on a sphere of glowing purple magic runes. Her hands danced across the runes as trails of magic streamed from her fingertips.
"It will be ready soon," The monster said when they stopped behind her. "My beloved is preparing the other end. The bridge will be open in a minute."
"Excellent. I will be happy to be rid of this rain." Ashford grumbled. "I am already wanting for the warmth of my wives." A crack of lightning cracked across the night sky, casting a brief white flash on Ashford as he turned to his captive knight. "The spring heat will be upon us soon Commander Assina. It is the time for many mamono to begin seeking their husbands.This land will know true love and pleasure. You cannot stop the march of your own base instincts. No one can"-he waved to the lines of captured soldiers-" not your soldiers and not you."
Once again, whatever answer Assina wanted reply with was numbed by the poison inside her. She sufficed by struggling against the hold of her captor to the disapproving grunt of the incubus valet.
What meagre movement she could do was halted when the floating runes started to whine. With curious horror, she watched as the sphere of runes started to expand, growing in size until it was large enough to fit 2 grown men. A windy howl came from the sphere, eerily moaning across the courtyard. The centaur-like monster stepped back and gave Ashford a bow, a constant stream of magic coming from her hands to the sphere.
"The bridge is ready my lord. I will close it behind us," the monster announced.
"Commander!"
The high reedy cry caught everyone's attention. All eyes turned to the doors of the fort where a man stood, seemingly bristling with what seemed to be half the armoury of the entire fort on his body. Assina recognized him as the one who first notified her about Ashford arrival. She tried to yell at him to run, to warn the rest of her men of the traitorous noble in their midst but the poison trumped any attempt for her to move or speak.
A few succubus guarding the captives immediately turned their attentions to the man. They advanced to him in swaying steps, holding up swords and daggers of strange purplish metal. The soldier was not deterred as he pulled a throwing axe from his armor. Taking aim, he threw it with a cry over the succubus.
Assina tracked the axe and noted with abject horror that it appeared to fly straight towards her. For a split second, she wondered what sort of drinking tale would her soldiers remember her with, killed by a axe from her own men. Then the incubus valet jumped aside and the axe sailed back, finding another victim.
A cry came from behind as Assina watched the man take on the first succubus. His heavily loaded body served to work against him as he fumbled repeatedly for an awkwardly placed axe. By the time he got it free, the succubus was already within striking distance. She effortlessly dodged his clumsy swing and jabbed him with a dagger, making him collapse like a shack of potatoes. The monsterous female immediately started to bound him up, deftly removing his weapons first.
Another cry from behind made the Valet turn, letting Assina see the source. The centaur-like monster moaned pitifully as she reached for the axe embedded in her flank, the rain washing away any sign of her blood. The sphere, left unattended, was crackling, pink lightning arcing amongst the runes.
"The bridge is unattended!" One of the succubus cried out in a silky voice. "We must leave before it becomes--" A ringing shriek screamed across the courtyard as the runes collapsed inwards into a dull pink sphere that crackled and sucked in the rain.
"Save Elbis!" Assina heard Ashford yell. To her surprise, she felt the incubus valet lay her on the ground before running to the centaur, picking her up with a strained growl. The centaur moaned again as the valet slowly carried her away from the portal which had started to release arcs of pink lightning onto the courtyard. Assina watched as one of the arcs struck a post, making it disappear in a flash.
That was when she felt someone else grab her. "You are the Master's prize. I will keep you safe," The echo from before whispered into her ear. Assina felt herself being lifted up, her new handler feminine shape easy to discern over her touch. Like before, Assina tried to break free from her captor.
It earned a her a sultry chuckle and a whisper."I hope you resist later. It will make it all the more enjoyable." Her captor continued and Assina felt her captor hand drift close to her crotch. She growled through her numbness but was powerless as she felt her captor brush her womanhood.
And then she heard an incredible crack that rang in her ears. A strange feeling of weightlessness overcame her as she felt herself rise into the air, looking down to see an arc of lightning connecting her to the sphere.
"No! It's taking her away!" Her captor cried behind her. "It's going to send her somewhe--" The lightning crackled and pulled her into the sphere.
There was a flash and she blacked out.