My dark lover, a bizarre magician and stone killer

Rita stopped by a little stream, she got off to wash up some, pick up fresh water, and grab some rest. She had been riding hard and the horse needed to cool off. Galloping across open land had felt good. She didn't know exactly where she was going but there had to be a town somewhere, and towns meant jobs. If Rita knew anything, she knew how to work. Worthless men had taught her that...but no more men, just work. She bent down to get a cool drink and splash water over her face. It felt good against her throbbing nose. Rita touched it.."ouch. Damn fucker, you hurt like hell."

Rita stripped and proceeded to take a proper bath. She liked being clean...unlike some assholes she knew, including the one she had just recently dumped. The pretty ex-waitress was almost finished when she sensed someone, or something, was watching. Deep inside the girl knew that was impossible because this was flat land and there was absolutely nothing for miles in any direction. Rita had checked before she stopped...still. She forgot about the bath and glanced at the black stallion. He had gotten his fill of water and was pawing the ground...nervously. Why was the animal acting so weird. At last the girl got up enough nerve to peek over her shoulder.

"Pissin! How the fuck did you get here?" Rita jumped up and made a grab for her dress, only to stop in mid reach. It wasn't Pissin at all. It was Soul. Rita felt a familiar shudder but tried to act cool. "Oh, its you....what are you doing here ghost-boy?"

Soul came closer and held out his hand. He had a wine bottle with some words scratched on the label with what looked like charcoal. Tentatively she took the bottle and tried to decipher the nearly abstract looking scribbling. It took awhile but finally the words came together. They said, "Reda com bak-I nead u a lat P"

Rita hesitated for a moment and sighed ever so slightly. Her lower lip started to tremble just a bit before she suddenly cursed and hurled the bottle against a large rock. It landed with a loud crack and shattered into hundreds of broken shards. For several seconds the girl stared at the broken bits...each glowing brightly with reflected sunlight.

Rita turned to Soul. He stood there apparently unimpressed by the naked girl's angry display. He had no expression that she could see...fuck, he had no face that she could see either...only a blurred something with some darkened places where his eyes and mouth should have been. "Get lost you creepazoid.....and tell Pissin to go somewhere where somebody cares and fuck himself really good. Got it freak?" She tried to make the words sound as cold and calculating as possible. Soul bowed and tipped an imaginary hat...then he raised his hand as if to wave goodbye before disappearing right before the girl's eyes. Rita put her hands on her hips, forming a determined posture. She stared at the ground briefly then returned to finish her bath.

About an hour later Rita prepared to move out again. It was good to be clean but somehow she still didn't feel all that great. She was about to throw herself on the back of the big stallion when something made her hesitate. The girl shook her head as if chastising herself before walking over to the big rock where she had broken the wine bottle. Being careful not to step on something and cut herself Rita carefully picked away the bits of glass that were clinging stubbornly to the embellished label. She read it once again and folded the paper carefully. After making sure the memento was securely crammed into the bottom of a pocket, the girl mounted the big horse and rode away to where she had no idea.

That night Rita made camp alone. The depressed girl prepared a meal and ate slowly, barely tasting the food. She felt empty and very tired. After sitting and staring at the stars for a very long time the girl walked over to the horse and rubbed him gently. "I guess its just the two of us big boy," she said before adding some sticks to the fire. At last she gave in to her physical and mental exhaustion and fell into a long deep sleep.

*Y*Y*Y*Y*Y*Y*Y*Y*Y*Y*Y*Y*Y*Y*Y*Y*Y*Y*Y*Y*Y*Y*Y*Y*Y*Y*Y*Y*Y*Y*Y*Y*Y*Y*Y*Y*Y*Y*Y*Y*Y*Y*Y*

Rita's eyes finally opened with reluctance. She stretched and sat up, surprised to see the fire was still going. Then she noticed something that made her blood run cold...a strange man!

The startled girl was stunned by the sight of the intruder. "W..who are you?" Rita finally managed to ask stupidly.

"My name is Rubaco," he answered. He was about forty, dressed rather nicely if one ignored the muddy boots. He wore a funny little hat with a feather stuck in it...a long sword similar to the one Pissin wore was at his side. His black vest was decorated by gay patterns sewn into the fabric with silver coated thread. He had a rather thick black mustache curled slightly at the ends. His smile seemed friendly but Rita was scared, damned scared!

"What do yo want?" The girl asked tentatively...."take what you will, just leave me alone."

The man rolled his eyes. "I don't blame you at all for being afraid Miss. Were I in your position, a woman all alone out here, I would be afraid also. And such a pretty girl too! Still, if I had meant to hurt you in anyway you would have been dead long ago and I would have taken whatever you have and been on my way."

"Then what do you want?" Rita asked, still feeling very uncomfortable to say the least.

"Well, actually I was traveling and my horse stepped into a rabbit's den and broke his leg. I had to put the poor creature down. I have been afoot ever since, not something a horseman takes well to...ah! my poor feet are killing me lass. Anyhow, I saw your little camp and fine horse and naturally wondered where you might be bound. If I might ride along with you I could offer you some protection from bandits and the like....my ability with the sword is not insignificant if I might be a bit immodest. Also, I have coin that I can use to pay you for your trouble."

Rita began to relax...he was right, he could have already killed her while she slept..or worse. She decided to take a chance and trust him for the time being. There was something quite sincere in his way of speaking, and he sounded educated, not a likely candidate for being a common bandit. "Would you like a taste of wine, I have a little?" The girl inquired of her new acquaintance. "My name is Rita by the way, I'm afraid you startled me somewhat."

"Of course, I'm very sorry about that dear lass, but where is that drink you so graciously offered. My throat is parched with dust and thirst I fear. Finding you way out here appears to be a stroke of rare good fortune for old Rubaco!"

The girl used one hand to smooth out her hair and proceeded to seek out one of Pissin's bottles of wine. She found it and passed it over to the eager hand of Rubaco. He quickly turned the bottle up and drained at least a fourth. Rita reckoned all men were born to drink, at least it seemed that way to her. "By all the noble Gods, that was a rare treat," the man said before smacking his lips happily. "I could never thank you enough."

Rubaco passed the bottle back to Rita and she took a sip. Sensing the man might be starved as well she started breakfast while they became better acquainted.

"Where were you bound for mister.?" Rita asked after her straightforward fashion of speaking.

Rubaco shrugged curiously, "I was bound for Fakkum-Kair of course, where else would one be headed way out there....its the only city within a hundred leagues."

Rita almost dropped the bread dough she was kneading, "Fakkum-Kair! I had no idea we were near there....I had half thought that place was mostly legend. Tell me more..please?"

Rubaco's first instinct was to ask Rita where in hell was she bound if not Fakkum-Kair but he decided to let the matter drop. "Fakkum-Kair is no legend, oh no! It is the most fair city of the entire kingdom...albeit it lays on the fartherest fringes and could rightfully be called an independent state all on its own. It is the best city in the world, where a man can walk free and determine his own fate...the Gods willing of course."

"Of course," Rita replied eagerly. "I would love to go there and see for myself."

"And so you shall my dear, we'll be off immediately....after a bite of course, and a little more wine. We should make it by sundown riding that wonderfully fine animal you have there. Indeed, perhaps sooner, even riding double."

"Oh my! We are that close?" The girl's depression had lifted, replaced by a rare anticipation. "Tell me more if you please Sir?"

"Well," Rubaco begun hesitantly, scratching the stubble on his chin as if there was so much to tell he couldn't quite decide where to begin. "Fakkum-Kair is protected by a powerful army, one that even that dog Manslynne fears. He and the Emperor leave us along for the most part. They could bring the city to heel but it would destroy far to much of Manslynne's precious horde of cuttroats. I suspect he will try something eventually but hopefully not for some time. For now we leave in peace, and the ruling council is fair and astonishingly honest when one compares them to most governments. There are many great markets selling wonderful things that merchants bring from all over. Silks, artwork, fine furniture, precious stones, and lots of good things to eat....and drink!"

"I..I can't wait to see it all," Rita stammered.

"And you will my dear...with me as your eager guide. What say you to that pretty one?"

"I think I would like that very much," the girl replied shyly. She dropped her eyes but couldn't stop smiling. Could it be that her luck at turned at last?

Rita finished preparing breakfast as quickly as she could. Rubaco drank and smoked, and told her wonderful stories about the most fantastic city in the entire world. Despite herself, and a bit to her chagrin, Rita wondered if Pissin had ever been to Fakkum-Kair. She half wished he was coming along. "How utterly stupid and pathetic?" She asked herself and rolled her eyes.