The Stolen Valkyrie: Broken Bonds (Part One) (Fantasy Erotic Romance Novelette) (5 page)

As darkness threatened, Asta hunched her shoulders against the chill and quickly gathered dry brush and wood for a fire. Along the way, she kept a sharp eye out for small game. Retrieving her bow and arrows from the satchel, her mind flew back to Johan taking them from her. Apparently, he had seen fit for Nikoli to restock the arrows.

Although she gave him grief, Asta knew he was a great Master and Chief. She held no ill feelings about Tani and the woman lavishing his cock. After all, his offering of seed to them was a rare thing and to be cherished. The memory still stung her pride but she kept that to herself. When she allowed herself to reflect, she felt closer to Johan because of the aftermath. Asta only wished she could taste him in that fashion.

Chapter Three

Later t
hat night, the three women sat around the small fire and spoke of a banned subject. Kelci, always curious, was full of questions, “Do ye think the rumors are true?”

Tani shot a glance at Asta as she told Kelci, “Asta slept through the meeting, my friend. She knows not what ye speak of.”

Normally, Asta would have put a stop to such talk but mention of a morning meeting drew her undivided attention. “Speak to me. What did the meeting entail?”

Tani stared into the fire, carefully answering, “It is rumored that a war cry was heard near the border village of Western Shire. They say the leader is as massive as Johan…”

“’Tis impossible. My Johan is the biggest around.”

Tani insisted, “Mistress, claims of rival women having partaken of this rogue leader’s shaft…”

At Asta’s intense gaze, she lowered her face in embarrassment. Having none of her friend’s discomfort, Asta blurted out, “Psssh! Rival jealousy. Many females would lay claim to enjoying a cock as big as my Master’s, Tani. Be sure that these are rumors and know that I will clear them upon arrival.”

Kelci’s hand covered her giggle before she blurted out, “Tani sure enjoyed the greatness of the Grand Master.”

Tani gasped and slapped at her, “Heed your Grand Mistress with respect, woman!”

Asta rolled her eyes and ended with a frown at both, “Enough with the title of
Grand
. Within this journey, I ride the same as ye.” With a guilty look, she added, “I would enjoy a taste of his greatness too if allowed.”

Both lower clanswomen’s jaws dropped before they all collapsed with laughter. Asta was the first to recover. Blushing furiously, she bit back another giggle and asked, “How does my Grand Master taste?”

Sobering immediately, Kelci squirmed in place before eagerly leaning forward. Tani’s laughter abruptly turned into a gasp. She stared at Asta as if the Mistress had lost her mind. Asta arched a brow and urged her on, “Oh come now, Tani. Since I will never get the chance, ye
must
inform me.”

Anticipation drove Kelci to blurt out, “Yes, Tani, show your Grand Mistress her due respect and answer.”

Even though Tani’s cheeks reddened, Asta could tell that her friend was duly honored by the request. With a regal nod, she finally said, “The elixir of Grand Chief was…um…”

Lust vibrated in Tani’s voice. Asta leaned toward her and whispered, “Did ye wash my Master’s seed from your breast, Tani?”

Unbelievably, the girl blushed harder and slowly shook her head. Asta’s loud gasp rent the air. Her hand shot out and pulled at Tani’s sleeve, “Disrobe so that I may have a taste.”

Both women gaped and shook their heads, unanimously agreeing, “Nay, Mistress, ye mustn’t!”

Asta refused to be denied. Leaning toward Tani with a predatory took, she urged, “The seed of Jihn is already spent.” With a threatening tone befitting a warrior, she growled, “I can smell my Master Johan on ye, Tani.”

Fearing Asta was about to attack her, Tani leaned away. Asta yanked at her sleeve, “Must ye make me tear the cloth from your back? Ye know that I will.”

The eat-you-alive look on their Mistress’ face was enough to convince Tani. She pulled her tunic over her head. Kelci’s whimper stole Asta’s attention for a second. Kelci looked so eager that Asta immediately told her, “Ye cannot partake without the Grand Master willing it.”

Tears flooded Kelci’s eyes but she bit her lip and muttered, “May I kiss the mouth which graced him?”

Asta thought for a moment before nodding. Kissing another clanswoman was nothing new. Many women honored each other in this fashion. Although there was nothing sexual about the kiss, Kelci savored Tani’s lips for a full minute. Asta cleared her throat when Kelci moaned. The girl reluctantly broke contact and breathed over Tani’s lips, “’Tis a taste of the Gods. I thank thee, Tani.”

Leaning away, tears slid down Kelci’s face. Her breath hitched as she told Asta, “Thank ye for the honor, Grand Mistress Asta.”

Amusement flitted over Asta’s face. Tired of waiting for her own taste, she pushed Tani backward and fell on her. After dragging her tongue down the woman’s torso, she leaned back and licked her lips. Frowning, she ran her tongue over her teeth and licked Tani once again.

“My Master’s brew wears a coat of dust.”

Tani bit her lip but the giggle emerged before she could stop it. Asta told her to get dressed and added, “Breathe not a word to Master Johan or suffer my wrath.”

Both women eagerly nodded. Once Tani was clothed again, Kelci turned the conversation back to the rival clan, “What of the leader with the longness fitting our Chief? The cry…”

Tani had spoken of such with Nikoli but had no idea where he had heard such news. Knowing she could not tell them her source, she made a face and interrupted, “I hear they are barbaric, taking women hostage for their own sexual amusement.”

Kelci waved her hands, irritated at being interrupted, and hastily added, “The cry was from the
Vojihn
.”

At Tani’s scowl, Kelci insisted, “It was them. The war cry was
Kneel to…!”

“Johan would have gone himself instead of sending us if this were true. After all, Clan Vojihn is our sworn enemy and lacks a Chief. They have not rallied for battle in long and long. The act would invoke The Mighty One.”

Kelci’s eyes widened as she breathed, “Will ye speak of what happened to Vojihn’s leader? Can ye tell us, Mistress?”

Asta thought about Johan’s father, Erik the Mighty One, before carefully saying, “From what my mother told me, a Jihn Master similar to The Mighty One…” She winced. Tradition forbade speaking given names of mighty fallen warriors. She picked up a stick and wrote
Galti
in the dirt. Both women’s eyes widened on the word while Asta continued, “He was the first barbarian. As legend was told, he fought Master Johan’s father and stole babes to feed them to his clan…the Vojihns.”

Tani had been riveted when Nikoli had spoken of the legends, swearing her to secrecy. Forgetting this, she blurted out, “Then what of the fabled Chief…?”

Asta shook her head, “Empty your head of such talk, Tani. The Vojihns have lacked a Chieftain for long and long.”

Since Asta was adamant, Tani changed the subject to their task at hand, “Mistress, we are to gather information and observe the village. Johan said himself that if ye deem it so, Western Shire warriors should line up at the border and prepare for battle.”

Asta nodded, beaming over the knowledge that her Master had entrusted such power upon her. She told them, “We should retire then. A matter of this importance requires us to be well-rested.”

The women rose to check the horses before snuffing the fire. Pulling heavy fur coverings from their supplies, they huddled together and fell fast asleep. The next morning, Asta was difficult to awaken again. When she finally came around, Tani laid her palms against Asta’s cheeks, “Ye were murmuring in your sleep, Asta. Are ye not well-rested?”

With heaviness in her limbs, Asta crawled out of her furs. She did not get far before her stomach lurched. Tani gasped, assuming her friend may be with child. Before Asta could pull herself into a sitting position, both women were on her. Tani pressed on her stomach, sending a pained moan through the air.

“Oh, the Goddess has blessed us, Mistress!”

Asta pushed them away, “I am well. I simply need a moment alone.”

She forced herself up and headed toward the grove of trees. Other than the bit of nausea, Asta did not feel bad. After relieving herself, she headed back to camp. The women started to fuss over her again but she shooed them away, “I am not with a phoenix babe, Tani. Don’t ye think I would know if I were?”

Her adamant tone froze Kelci. Asta quickly covered, “It is my bleeding time. That is all.”

Understanding flooded over both her companion’s faces. Tani quickly grabbed a packet of herbs from her satchel and created a mixture. Unwilling to confess her secret, Asta drank it and accepted Kelci’s help climbing atop the horse. Besides crossing two rivers, their journey was uneventful with intermittent stops once again.

By the time they agreed to camp, Asta was exhausted. She forced herself to hunt, gaining a rabbit for their meal. She picked over the meat, forcing most of it down her throat by sheer will. The talk turned again to the Vojihn Clan. Fearing she would lose her dinner, Asta remained quiet and listened.

The conversation turned to mating and babes. Tani tried to outdo Kelci by saying, “Our Chief Zajihn has double phoenix in his blood. I tell ye his seed is the most potent in the world. His twin’s spirit…”

Asta’s head jerked up, “Enough! Tani, do ye dare rile the Gods by speaking of my Master’s lost twin?” She shook her head and uttered a disapproving sound before ending the conversation by telling Kelci, “Gods forgive me but, if ye must know, his twin babe was killed by the Vojihns. If ye ever yearn for a swift death, speak of the matter to Grand Master Johan. He does have the strength of two. I can vouch for that.”

Kelci remained quiet, darting a glance at Tani who had a peculiar expression on her face. She swiftly rose and grabbed the furs, “Mistress, I beg your forgiveness. Ye are right.”

Asta frowned at Tani’s back, wondering who was filling her friend’s head. At the moment, she was too exhausted to find out. Motioning toward their horses, Asta told Kelci, “Check them while I snuff the fire.”

Afterward, Asta curled against Tani and said, “Take care with what ye think ye know, my friend. Some rumors are best left alone.”

The Mistress’ last words, uttered with extreme exhaustion, alarmed Tani. With her front to Asta’s back, Tani wrapped her hands around her friend and said, “Asta, your stomach is overly hot. Have ye taken the mixture recently?”

Asta did not answer. She had already fallen asleep. The next morning, Asta knew she was becoming ill. She had never felt so thirsty in her life. Watching Tani prepare the mixture, she rasped, “Hurry!”

Kelci’s hand rose to her forehead. Frowning, she told them, “A fever. Tani, get the tonic and add a drop to her water.”

Once the drop was added and Asta drank some, they thrust a fresh canteen of water into her hands. Asta nodded, “Thank ye.” Trying to alleviate their anxiety, she motioned toward the horses, “I’m able to ride. Let us journey forward.”
 

Over the next two days, Asta kept them from seeing the true extent of her illness by force of sheer will. When they were within hours of the village, exhaustion overcame her. For the first time in her life, Asta fainted. Her horse pranced, whinnying nervously when its owner’s body slumped sideways.

Tani saw her go down and called to Kelci, “Halt! Something is very wrong with Grand Mistress Asta!”

Together, they carefully lowered her from the horse and onto a fur. Working quickly, they transferred supplies from the back of Tani’s horse and onto Asta’s stallion. Tani mounted before pulling Asta in front of her.

“Gods be with us, Kelci, she is burning with fever. We must ride hard for Western Shire.”