Innocent (29 page)

Cianna swung round, thighs wide, her hand between them, masturbating as she watched Sulitea buggered. Unable to resist, she leant forward, pulling the full white bottom cheeks as wide as they would to, to expose the junction between cock and bottom hole, with Sulitea's straining anus a tight pink ring around Aglat's penis. He was getting faster, Sulitea more urgent, gasping and mumbling in her ecstasy. Cianna pushed her face in, licking at Sulitea's bottom as they masturbated together.

Sulitea came, screaming aloud, her dirty buttocks tightening in Cianna's face. Aglat grunted, jammed himself hard up Sulitea's bottom, to make her scream again, and pulled back, his cock sliding free, filthy with dirt, to jerk up, full into Cianna's open mouth. Sulitea's anus stayed open, the contents squeezing out, all over Aglat's balls as Cianna sucked in desperate eagerness on his penis. He came, full in her mouth. As he did so, so did she, in utter rapture, swallowing down sperm and slime as she snatched and clawed at her sex. Her clitoris was burning, her vagina and anus pulsing and winking behind her, her eyes staring wide as Sulitea emptied herself over Aglat's cock and balls.

Only when her vision went red did she stop, to sit back, gasping, with mess running from her open mouth. The men were silent, staring. Aglat sat back, to let Sulitea finish what she was doing, her dung coiling into a pile beneath her on the black earth. She began to pee, sobbing with shame as it all came out. Her hand slipped and she sat down in it with a loud squelch, but made no effort to rise, only turning an accusing look at Aglat.

‘I said not up my bottom!' she told him.

‘What matter?' he answered. ‘a little more is no great harm.'

‘More?' she demanded.

‘In the black earth,' he explained. ‘Dung is thoroughly rotted, in a great pond, then boiled, to cleanse it. It thus becomes black earth, which is put into beds to dry…'

‘It becomes black earth?' Sulitea repeated. ‘Black earth?'

‘What you are sitting in,' he said.

Sulitea's eyes and mouth went wide, an expression of utter horror as she looked down at the black muck.

‘This, ‘she said quietly, ‘is dung?'

‘Boiled down dung,' he answered, ‘well rotted too. Black earth.'

Her face set in utter disgust. Slowly, she lifted herself, dirt falling from her breasts and belly, her bottom coming up with a sticky, pulling noise.

‘You made us!' she gasped. ‘You tricked us! In this!'

‘You enjoyed it, hugely,' Greifal pointed out.

‘Girls often react this way,' Aglat commented, ‘but there is no sense in it. The black earth is healthy, and improves the complexion.'

Sulitea climbed slowly from the pit, to stand dripping on the shed floor. Cianna joined her, unable to find words, either for what she had been made to do or for what she had done herself. The men ignored them, but walked to a line of spigots above a long trough, to wash their genitals and legs. With little choice, Cianna joined them, Sulitea last, both suffering jocular comments and the occasional pinch of their bottoms in silence. Clean, the men watched the girls douche with amusement, after which Sulitea finally found her voice.

‘So,' she said coldly, ‘you have had your pleasure with us. Now for your half of the bargain. Describe how nitre is obtained.'

‘It comes from the black earth, as you may have guessed,' Aglat said.

‘The details,' Sulitea said patiently.'

‘No,' he answered casually. ‘Take them.'

Instantly Uthos' grip fixed in Cianna's hair, twisting hard and hurling her down. Sulitea screamed, then again, an odd, ululating note. Cianna kicked out, hitting Greifal hard, only for Hubaln to catch her other ankle. Uthos came down, a knee on her chest, even as her nails raked his face. Then his full weight was on her, more than she could lift, pressing the breath from her body. Still she fought, kicking frantically, clawing and biting at anything within reach, but achieving little through the tough canvas of their clothes.

At last they had her pinned, Uthos sat across her body, her arms crushed under his knees, her wrists in his hands. Hubaln was on her legs, his massive arms wrapped tight around her knees. To one side Sulitea was also down, held tight by Greifal and Aglat, spitting curses, her face a mask of fury. Uthos blew out his breath, and quickly raised a hand to his face to wipe away the drops of blood welling up from one cheek.

‘She cats!' Aglat spat. ‘But we have them!'

‘You do not,' Sulitea answered him.

The door exploded, torn from its hinges, splinters of wood showering down on them. Hubaln screamed, hurling himself to the side as a vast grey hand snatched out. Uthos was torn away, gibbering in terror. Cianna scrambled to one side, on her belly, beneath the raking claws. Clear, she bounced up, turning to find Sulitea raising one shaking hand to the grotesque face visible beyond the door. Hubaln lay in a black earth bed, his face contorted in fear. Uthos had struck the wall and was unconscious, with blood trickling from his head. Greifal was pressed to the wall, wide eyed, a wet stain spreading across the front of his trousers. Aglat was clutched in the demon's hand, his face a dark ash grey. Sulitea pulled herself up from the floor, shaking, her mouth set tight as she turned to Aglat.

‘Treacherous pig!' she spat. ‘You have less honour than a goblin! We made a bargain, which I kept. You gave your word!'

‘She,' Aglat babbled, glancing at Cianna, ‘is worth a thousand standard in Kea. The supervisors would have given us girls, meat in our apatta, wine… What is it? Have it release me, I beg!'

‘I should have it eat you!' Sulitea stormed. ‘I will, if you do not tell me what I need to know, now!'

‘I can not!' Aglat whimpered. ‘It is forbidden! I will be drowned in the dung pond!'

‘You tell me. We leave,' Sulitea said through clenched teeth. ‘You live. That or die now. Choose.'

‘It is not simple!' Aglat said weakly. ‘It would take hours to explain. Guards will come soon!'

Aeisla appeared in the doorway, both swords held ready, Babalyn behind her.

‘Keep watch, Babalyn,' Sulitea ordered. ‘Aeisla, in here.'

‘There are noises from beyond the wall,' Aeisla answered. ‘The guards are roused.'

Sulitea cursed and spat at Aglat.

‘Kill him, Aeisla,' she ordered. ‘We'll try another.'

‘No!' Aglat yelped as Aeisla swung a sword up. ‘But it is long, complicated. It will also be beyond your understanding. First black earth must be made, then it must be leached, the saltpetre concentrated a number of times, converted to pure nitre of potash, crystallised and refined. All requires exact knowledge!'

‘Guards are at the gates!' Babalyn called from outside. ‘Opening them!'

‘We'll take this one,' Sulitea said, ‘and another, for the proportions. Where do the men from the mixing mill live, Aglat, speak!'

‘I don't know!' Aglat babbled. ‘We never leave our compound! I know nothing of this!'

‘It's true,' Cianna supplied, ‘but Supervisor Maerdrhen runs the mixing mill. He will be in his villa.'

‘Not now, hewon't,' Sulitea said as a crash rang out from somewhere outside, followed by yells of anger and fear. ‘Come.'

They ran, Aglat screaming as he was snatched from his feet. Outside, the night was illuminated in a brilliant silver wash, White Teimis shedding its full glare on the scene. The gates in the compound wall stood wide, guards pouring through them and up the slope. Sulitea spoke a string of words. The demon dropped Aglat and turned on the guards, bounding down at them. Bows came up, a swarm of arrows striking into the demon, to no effect.

‘Up,' Sulitea ordered, ‘I'll call it back as we reached the wall.'

She turned and ran. Cianna followed, snatching the sword offered by Aeisla. A hideous din rang out behind them, screams and yells, mixed with an inhuman wailing. Ahead was the small gate that led towards the main mill, securely shut. Cianna reached it, throwing herself down, panting. Sulitea called, to no effect, the demon dancing below them in a maddened frenzy, clawing and snatching, its great body bristling with arrows.

‘Summon your winged creature, Sulitea,' Aeisla demanded.

‘I cannot hold two,' Sulitea answered, ‘and I cannot banish if this one will not respond.'

They had been seen, two groups of guards moving towards them, beyond the scope of the demon's fury, Hubaln and Greifal gesturing frantically in their direction. The gate behind them groaned, swinging wide.

‘We meet in the Feat Hall then,' Aeisla said, and swung round, slashing into the opening with her sword.

A man screamed. Aeisla hauled the gate wide and threw herself through the opening. Cianna followed, aiming a wild cut at the first man she saw, who staggered back, clutching his shoulder. Others were beyond, a third guard, and mill staff, unarmed. Aeisla stood to her full height, towering over the guard to cut down with all her force. He parried desperately, as Cianna lunged, sinking the point of her sword into his thigh. Dropping his sword, he ran, hobbling off into the night after the retreating mill staff.

They ran, up the slope towards the dark wall of the jungle. Ahead were villas, the windows bright with lights, men standing out on the balconies, shouting questions. Cianna ran on, glancing back only to see that Sulitea and Babalyn were following. Aeisla was ahead, already by Bulzar's villa, from which a blaze of light shone down on them.

‘Aeisla, no, the troll!' Cianna screamed.

A figure stepped from the villa, full into Aeisla's path, holding a sword. She cut up once and he fell, but a second man was behind. Cianna slammed into him, recognising him as Raigos an instant before her blade caught him in the stomach. He went down, falling back into villa, across the massive body of Voqual, which lay still, stuck with arrows and with a hole blown in the chest.

She hesitated, her head coming up at a movement, to find Nairgren staring at her in astonishment. In sudden fury she lunged forward, missing him as he leapt back. She followed, stabbing viciously through the bead curtain.

‘Cianna!' Aeisla screamed, following. ‘Away!'

Cianna took no notice, hacking the curtain aside to spray beads across the floor of Bulzar's main room. Nairgren stood within, his men Telak and Aqual also. To the side was Bulzar, dead, his body roped to the couch.

‘It's her! It was true!' Telak exclaimed.

Screaming, Cianna hurled herself at them, her foot landing on beads, to send her sprawling across Bulzar's body. Aqual brought up his sword, laughing, only for the sound to turn to a choking scream as Aeisla's blade embedded itself in his chest. Cianna struck up frantically, parrying Telak's cut, even as Nairgren thrust at her, driving the point of his sword into her shoulder. She screamed, clutching as his sword wrist as Aeisla's punch took him in the face, driving him back. Her sword was snatched from her hand, driven into Telak's body as she rolled to the floor.

Nairgren had risen, facing Aeisla across the couch, both ready. Cianna crawled back, clutching for a weapon. An oil lamp stood to the side. She caught at the handle, hurled it, full at Nairgren, who dodged, the lamp exploding against the wall to spray a sheet of burning oil across the window drape. Aeisla struck, and Nairgren's head jumped from his shoulders. Cianna stood, clutching at her wound, blood seeping from between her fingers. Aeisla caught her around the middle, pulling her up, as Sulitea and Babalyn appeared behind them in the doorway.

‘Get his books,' Cianna gasped. ‘Bulzar's, from the workroom.'

Babalyn moved immediately, only for a huge man to dash from the workroom, cannoning into her to send her sprawling.

‘That's Maerdrhen!' Cianna exclaimed.

He hit Sulitea, knocking her aside, and dashed into the night. A burning drape collapsed, catching another lamp, which sent a flood of burning oil across the floor. Babalyn scrambled quickly away, Aeisla pulling Cianna through the door.

‘The books!' Sulitea protested, but stepped hastily back as the oil caught another drape.

They retreated onto the lawn, moving for the jungle as flames shot up in the villa. Men were coming up the slope, shouting, then yelling in fear and panic as they saw the fire. A girl darted from the burning villa, then another, Bulzar's two Vendjomois, who fled screaming down the slope. Weak and dizzy, Cianna struggled to use her feet, half-carried by Aeisla, through the flickering light, to the first of the trees.

‘Stop,' Sulitea said, ‘the lank demon, it is dissipated. I can summon.'

‘Not now!' Babalyn exclaimed. ‘The mill may catch.'

Sulitea ignored her, sinking to her knees, her hands moving, mumbling incomprehensible words. Behind them sparks were already rising from the burning villa, catching on the breeze, directly towards the main mill.

‘We must run!' Babalyn urged. ‘It will be terrible, you have no idea!'

‘Shh!' Aeisla urged, ducking down into the foliage.

Men were visible, plenty, but no longer paying them attention. Orders were being screamed, to form bucket chains, to open sluices, to evacuate the villas. Cianna stayed low, trying to ignore the sick feeling in her stomach and the pain of her wound, her good hand clutched to her necklace as she prayed for strength and courage.

A crack sound above them, fresh screaming, a malign croak as a great blast of air swept down on them, hurling the flames of the villa into sudden, searing fury. Not twenty paces from them, Sulitea's winged horror alighted, turning to stare at them through eyes as red as the fire beyond.

Cianna ran forward, clutching at her arm, leaving Aeisla to help the frightened Babalyn. Sulitea scrambled up, onto the broad, hairy back, Aeisla boosting Cianna behind her, then Babalyn. Sulitea began to whisper to the demon even as Aeisla joined them. It rose, padding forward, trotting, running, the beat of its wings sending a fresh burst of sparks across the landscape, heedless of the Makeans scattering under its great claws. Cianna clung tight, mumbling prayers, then crying out in joy as the motion suddenly became smooth and they shot over the nitre plant wall with no more than her own height to spare.