My dark lover, a bizarre magician and stone killer

Rita and Rubaco were soon on their way. Her new companion made good company. The wine and good meal had set him to singing and his voice wasn't bad at all. He sat behind her on the big horse with his hand on her slender shoulder in order to steady himself. His touch was warm and soothed her. She came to the conclusion that he made a fine friend...if nothing else.

At last the travelers climbed a rather steep hill. At the apex they paused. Below lay a long green valley. The city lay nested there at the far end of the valley with a vast sea lying just beyond. Rita gasped and her heart beat wildly. She had never seen anything like it, the magnificence was almost to much. Great marble spires capped with golden domes and proud tall monuments reached high towards the bright sunlight. The air was warm and smelled of the sea. The city was surrounded land side by a well constructed wall that rose high and wide. Rita urged the horse onward and they began their descent into the valley.

Rubaco laughed at the poor girl's eagerness. "Whoa lass, we'll be there soon enough, and you have the rest of your life to explore and enjoy the charms of great Fakkum-Kair!"

This did little to quench Rita's excitement. She felt new again, clean and filled with light. "I'm so sorry Rubaco, you must think I am a silly fool, but I have been waiting all my life for something truly good to happen so don't expect to hold me back now!"

Rubaco laughed loudly and slapped the girl playfully on the rump. "On then with all haste, on to the city and my home. I must admit there were times out there in the wastes when I wondered if I would ever see it again. I was dead tired and dying of hunger and thirst when I found you lass. At first I thought you might be an angel sent from paradise itself. On then! Shall we see if this fine horse can fly or what?"

"Don't worry on that account, I will make him fly well enough....just hang on my drunken friend!" Rita was virtually shouting and she wiped away a tear that fell on her flushed cheek. As they rode the city loomed larger and larger. The couple laughed as the hoofs of Pissn's great horse pounded the ground with a frantic rhythm.

*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

Fakkum-Kair was everything Rubaco had described it to be and more. As they entered the city Rita's eyes marveled at the bright clothing the people wore. It was clean and well fitting with gay patterns sewed into the fabric with bright thread. They passed bustling markets. Rita smiled as eager merchants called out for her to sample their goods. An old woman simply gave her a small but tasty pastry. Children played everywhere with happy faces and plump limbs, flushed with anticipation of what the day might bring. Young lovers walked hand in hand, unafraid to display their affection for one another. Unlike other cities in the kingdom, there was no sign of armed men glowering out from behind shield or mail coif. Rita suspected that this was not just a different sort of city. Nay, it was a different sort of world; one the excited young woman intended to explore to its fullest. Squeezing Rubaco hand, she giggled and pointed first at this wonder and then that one.

"There seems to be so much wealth and activity here," Rita exclaimed.

"Indeed, my young miss," Fakkum-Kair is a city that flourishes. "Even a layabout like myself has managed to turn a few coins hereabouts. But hold Rita, here is a most familiar place where we can rest for a moment."

Rita reined in the horse before a handsome tavern called the Blue Hog Heaven. "I'm well known here, they have fine food and even finer drink. Shall we enter my dear, allow me to treat you if I may."

"Absolutely my handsome friend. My back and rear end are in agony, anyplace fain atop a horse shall be delightful I have no doubt."

After tethering the horse the two weary companions entered the Blue Hog Heaven. It was cool and dark inside. Two musicians played a relaxing tune as the patrons of the tavern washed away their thirst. The chairs and tables were clean and well tended, unlike most watering holes Rita has been privy to. "It's very nice Rubaco. I can see why you like it so much."

A smiling waitress smiled and greet Rubaco by name. He slipped her a small coin and she waved them towards a secluded table in an isolated area. Rita found herself admiring the tapestry above their spot. It was embroidered with the image of a smiling blue hog holding a tankard. She giggled as Rubaco helped her with the heavy, well made chair. The waitress quickly brought them wine. "Oh, it tastes wonderful," Rita said as she wiped her wet lips.

"Not nearly as wonderful as the color of your hair," Rubaco said, making Rita blush.

"Oh dear," she replied. "You really do lay it down in heavy layers don't you Rubaco? This light brown color is nothing unusual as if you didn't know."

The man touched her hand lightly, "its very nice, especially when the light plays in it."

Rita felt very relaxed. She had no problem with her companion's flirting. He was older but actually very charming and not at all bad looking. A girl in a strange place could do a lot worse...a lot worse. They continued to drink and make small talk. The musicians were very good, Rita hummed along with the notes. Suddenly she recalled how much she loved to sing...and how long since she'd had the chance. And all in such fine company and with such a handsome gentleman.

Rubaco playfully pounded his empty flagon against the stout tabletop. "Where's that waitress of ours? Slipped off somewhere to dally with some fancy I'm sure. Must a man die of thirst?"

Rita smiled and rolled her eyes at her friend. "My word, good lookin', she will doubtless return any moment now. Do you really find my company so boring you must get drunk all at once?"

"I'm so sorry Rita, its just that my trip was so long and difficult. My nerves are quite shot. I'm sure after another drink...or two, all will be well again with the world my pretty. Later, I know of a fine bath house where we can cleanse ourselves. In the meanwhile, I shall simply go and fetch our refreshments myself...I'll be right back dear girl."

Rita shrugged...whatever. Rubaco disappeared into what had developed into a fairly heavy throng of drinkers. As he worked his way towards the bar she lost herself again in the sounds of the instruments. One of the musicians began to sing a familiar tune. She quietly sang along.

Rubaco was absent a bit longer than she had expected but at last he returned with freshly filled cups. "Now this is some real wine here...drink up lass, I swear its some of the best Fakkum-Kair has to offer!"

"If its any better than the last, it must be fit for royalty," Rita replied, and the pair make a salute to good fortune.

Time passed and even more drink was brought. Rita began to realize how tired she was, the comfortable chair seemed to be embracing her and requesting that she take a nap. "I really need to take a pee, can you show me to the water closet?" The weary girl asked of her friend.

"Of course Rita."

She rose and stumbled clumsily. "Let me help you my dear...the wine is very strong, I'm afraid it might take you a while to get used to its effects."

Rita grasped her gallant friend's arm and held on. Her legs were very unsteady, she would have immediately sat back down but the need to go was urgent. "This way Rita," Rubaco said as they made their way slowly down an empty hallway. "We're almost there, just a bit more," he laughed at her and she tried to frown, but even that was to difficult. At last they entered the end of the seemingly endless hallway and passed into a very darkened room. There Rita was surprised to see a large brawny fellow with a shaved head scowling down at her in a most unsettling fashion.

"Dammit Rubaco, this is the men's room you drunken fool, and now we've made this fellow mad...."

Then the girl felt herself collapse into the arms of her new friend. A weird sort of blackness enveloped her as her face brushed against Rubaco's handsome gilded vest. The last thing she remembered was the pleasing sound of his deep rumbling laughter.

*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

Pain brought Rita back into the conscious world. Jarring pain. She became slowly aware that her face was literally bouncing off a very unyielding wooden surface. Her body ached, her mouth was incredibly dry, and she had difficulty focusing. Somehow the girl became aware that she was moving...moving over rough ground. That explained the bouncing sensation but what in fucking hell was going on?

Rita was not alone, there were several others in fact, all females. Young pretty females...this was all so strange. With difficulty the girl tried to focus. She wiped the grit out of her throbbing eyes and felt something hard and cold rubbing against her ankle. Rita realized at that shocking moment that she was literally chained to something...a post! She was chained by her ankle to a metal post built into the center of a wagon's bed. It appeared that she was being carried somewhere and obviously not somewhere she wanted to be. Rita struggled to sit up. A pretty dark eyed girl with a dirty face sat beside her. "Where am I? Where are we going?"

The dark eyed girl's face displayed no emotion when she answered. "We are on our way to the slave markets I fear."

The wagon was filled with young women. Each was chained to the post by their ankles. None of them looked very pleased as they stared at nothing in particular. Several showed signs of having been beaten and most were filthy from exposure to the elements. Rita noticed armed guards riding beside the wagon and the bald headed man from the tavern was sitting in front glaring at her. "Where's Rubaco?" She asked him.

"No doubt getting good and drunk from the coin I payed him for your tender ass, or perhaps he is giving his wife a ride on that fine horse you used to own...if of course he hasn't already sold it too. Now shut your mouth bitch before I come back there and cram my cock up your sweet tight asshole...got it?"

Rita felt her body become numb with shock. Oh please no, this couldn't be happening...please no. She placed her head in her arms and sobbed...and wished she had been killed by the wildings.

"No need for all that," the dark eyed girl whispered stoically. "The men will only cuff you and we girls are in the same position you are. Time to find some backbone and prepare yourself to enter hell my friend."

Rita did stop crying but she kept her face in her arms. "Oh shit, I'm fucked...just really, really fucked for good this time," she groaned to no one save mostly herself.