WARNING: This is a violent story. Please do not read any further if bad language, rape, torture, and nasty characters upset you. Be 18 or be gone.

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THE RIDDED

by Phair

Part 17

Dayne did not argue with Abel when he commanded she go see Mistress Pia. She merely responded with a viscous glare. The little man went running for the safety of the villa.

"I think Abel shit himself when I looked at him," Dayne whispered in Becca’s ear as they walked arm and arm out of the sun into the chilly shadows of General Felix’s villa.

"I don’t think so," Becca appeared thoughtful as she considered the possibility. "I mean how could he get anything out of his hole after you beat his ass so badly. The poor man must be swollen shut."

The pair chuckled softly as they strolled into the gardens. Dayne stopped suddenly and pulled Becca behind her. The stink of death was in the air. Dayne recognized it well before she spotted the body slumped on the grass. Becca started to gag when her eyes focused on Varna; laying on the ground and drenched in blood and guts and gasping and trying to die.

Dayne spoke on instinct from the bottom of her heart, "Mama?" She pushed the mug she carried into Becca’s hands and raced to the stricken woman’s side. "Mama, Mama?"

"I think, you’re directing your question to the wrong person, Dayne," Pia stepped out of the shade of the overgrown tree and into the harsh sunlight of the garden. Varna’s blood covered her fine robes and soft skin.

"Why? Why would you do this?" Dayne asked as she hopelessly looked for a way to put Varna’s belly back inside her body.

Pia swayed about like a dancer as she moved closer to the pair on the ground. Giggles erupted as she attempted to sing an ancient song for the dead. It came out more like half humming and half singing. Pia settled herself against the low wall surrounding the garden in order to face Dayne.

"Don’t try to tell me you’ll mourn the hag. Don’t pretend. You couldn’t have cared for her. I saw the scars on your body the day you passed out. Somebody beat you down ever chance they got and I’ll wager it was this one. Don’t try to tell me she was kind to you or in the least bit caring." Pia snorted, "And, don’t you dare defend her. Not after she comes into my home to expose you and your lies! She says you are the ridded. Are you the ridded?"

"You didn’t?" Dayne asked Varna in disbelief.

She held the dying woman with infinite care so as not to cause her additional pain. Dayne could see the truth in Varna’s defiant stare She searched the dying eyes of the only mother she had ever known and saw the true depths of Varna’s hatred for her. Even still, on the brink of death, Varna felt no sympathy for the child raised in her home. Dayne felt her heart shatter. She was lost in a much different forest this day than on the night of her birth but lost just the same.

"You vile thing. Damn you to eternal misery," Becca cursed and spat on Varna. Becca was not lost. She was very angry, "Dayne, she’s not worth one tear drop. Don’t give her an ounce of your salt," Becca wrapped her free arm around her lover.

"So, you knew. Both of you knew Dayne was the ridded," Pia spoke with a hint of irritation in her voice.

"Yes, we knew," Dayne admitted.

"Did this witch tell you who your sire was?" Pia asked.

"No, never. I don’t think anybody knows who my parents were," Dayne shrugged her shoulders. "Senecos, told me he found me before the wolves found me. More than that, I don’t know."

Pia laughed, "You’re lucky I’m a better interrogator than you are, my darling. You are also blessed that Felix is checking the border to our north today. If he had to suffer this creature’s plotting none of you would’ve survived. With me, you have a much cooler head with which to deal. I’m your only real chance to live to see the next sun."

Dayne stood and Becca stood up right behind her. Before she could speak, Dayne felt Becca run her hand down her back. It was meant as reassurance and it eased Dayne’s wounded heart.

"Did Varna tell you my sire?" Dayne choked on her tears. "Did she tell you the name of the coward who left me to the wolves?"

"Tread lightly, girl. Your father will not be as indulgent with your ignorance as I am. I guess, that’s what makes us such a good pair, Felix and I," Pia said with a broad smile. "We compliment each other."

"General Felix? You?" Dayne stuttered.

Her legs started to buckle and she stumbled as she spoke. Becca staggered with her trying to steady her. The two ended up in a huddle of sorts: one supporting the other but neither standing on her own.

Pia ran her hand through her hair in an effort to gather her thoughts. The woman before her might have been hatched from her own body but Dayne was weak. Elos has no room for the weak. In spite of Waur’s plan, Pia concluded a death at birth would have been the better option for Dayne.

"My husband applies the strictest interpretation to the rules of Waur. He believes no soldier should settle for daughters in his prime. Sons are the stalk of soldiers. Daughters can be sired on your death gurney by a wife or whore or on your retirement bed by a second wife, slave, or whore. Prime of life daughters are the puny man’s faithless attempt at immortality." Pia grinned, "Five daughters I sacrificed at Waur’s alter and look how strong Felix has become. He’s in a position to rule all Elos. With my guidance, Felix will be king!"

"Five?" Dayne could not hold back her tears, "You gave him five babies to murder? What kind of mother are you? What kind of woman let’s her babies be eaten by wolves? I grew inside you. Yet you were able to bare me and hand me over for slaughter. How?"

"FOR WAUR!" Pia screamed and raced toward Dayne.

Dayne shoved Becca to the ground, away from the frenzied approach. Pia slashed at Dayne’s face with the edge of he bloodied blade. Dayne tumbled back but regained her footing. She fended off wild blows as best she could from the infuriated Pia. The fateful move came when Dayne raised her left hand to protect her eyes. Pia grabbed her by the wrist and smashed it hard against the wooded door frame. The knife easily glided between the two narrow bones in the Dayne’s forearm. Her screams of pain brought a pleasant smile to Pia’s sweaty face.

"Let’s discuss this as if you had any manners whatsoever." Pia spoke in a reasonable tone as she went to a nearby table and removed the knife hidden in its draw. "You, for some purpose, were spared by Waur. My god speaks to you about weapons and such. I won’t interfere with his plan and I’ll make sure Felix doesn’t either."

The knife in Pia’s hand seemed to take a life of its own as she guided it through the air. It gleamed from side to side in blinding flashes of sunlight as it glided to Dayne’s side. Pia let the knife’s edge trail along the bloody line from Dayne’s wound, down her left arm, across her heaving chest, and up to the shoulder of the other arm. Pia stopped long enough to grab the right wrist and pull it to the opposite side of the door frame.

"No, please don’t," Dayne manage to whisper around her suffering.

With little more than a grunt, Pia drove the blade into the fragile tissue nestled between the thin bones of Dayne’s right forearm. Dayne’s agonized scream shook Varna’s dead frame to the core and the new corpse fell over face first in the dirt.

"Now Dayne, you need to listen to me," Pia advised as she covered Dayne’s mouth with blood stained fingers to dampen her cries. "Shhh, listen to your mommy, hush little girl, shhh."

Dayne’s body trembled involuntarily from the pain and blood loss. She remained aware enough to be able to quiet herself. Swallowing hard several times, Dayne finally brought her tears under control. She gave Pia a short nod that she was ready to listen.

"Good girl," Pia patted her cheek. "Here’s what’s going to happen. You are going to pledge your loyalty to me. I’ll cut you done and have your wounds tended. Maybe, I’ll even give your slave a new dress. Won’t that be nice? Hmm? None of us will speak of what the hag told us. You’ll continue on here as a prisoner of Waur under General Felix’s command. You’ll make the weapons that’ll give my husband an edge on his enemies and we will all enjoy the comforts he provides." Pia asked, "Agreed?"

Dayne mustered her ebbing strength and spit in Pia’s face.

"I guess that would be a ‘no’ then," Pia’s voice remained calm but her face went bright red with rage. "So, now you’ll die like the hag as you watch me make your slave my own." Pia stepped back and almost fell over Becca kneeling by her feet. "Stupid girl, what are you doing there?"

"Mistress, please, wait a moment before you make a terrible mistake," Becca clutched at Pia’s leg.

"What are you blubbering about? You’re gonna get to live. Let me go!"

"Mistress, I can make Dayne obey you. She’ll do what you say. Don’t kill her and ruin the General’s chance to become king." Becca felt Pia’s resistance fading with her words. "The weapon is not ready yet. Dayne needs two days more and it will be done. You’ll be pleased with her work, I’m sure of it." Becca looked up at Pia and made direct eye contact, "I promise, you’ll never have need of another weapon again."

It was tempting. Pia stopped to consider the possibilities. Her hand went to Becca head and idly stroked the soft hair.

"You make it sound so easy," Pia said.

Becca got to her feet and lowered her eyes, "Mistress, you are overwrought. If you sit for a moment and think about it, it is easy. All that’s required is to bend Dayne’s will. I’m the key to that. There’s no need to destroy a gift from your god." Becca took Pia’s hand and lead her to a nearby chair. "Sit and I’ll get you something to drink."

Pia sat in the chair taking care to smooth her blood soaked dress, "Dayne, you should listen to your slave. She has learned much from me since her arrival. Becca knows to respect her betters. You’d do well to follow her example."

Pia took the mug of wine from Becca without giving it a second look. She was too busy watching Dayne suffer. She took several quick gulps of the wine. It stung.

"Mistress, may I let Dayne down. She’ll obey all your future commands. I’m certain of it," Becca said and a small grin spread across her face.

"Go ahead," Pia coughed slightly. Something had caught in her throat so she took another gulp of wine.

Becca went to Dayne’s side. She braced her shoulder against her lover’s chest. With one firm tug, she pulled the knife from Dayne’s left arm. Ignoring her scream, Becca turned and did the same with her right arm. Gently, she lowered Dayne to sit with her back against the door frame. Becca immediately began to wrap Dayne’s wounds in cloth torn from the hem of her dress.

"What have you done?" Pia gagged. Blood was dripping from her lips and nose, "Have you murdered me?"

"We have," Becca answered without a backward glance.

* * *

The gray eyed wolf smelled him. The Master had returned. The wolf’s furry head popped up from the rest of the sleeping pack. He gave a short yap. All the others began to stir. All, except the old man. Senecos remained motionless on the floor. The wolf let out a long bay of mourning. The Master was too late.

TBC

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