With a slight smile, the Destroyer supported the young woman as she hugged her close. In a tender manner, Ari softly
kissed the unfeeling mouth and then left a trail of soft, light kisses across the princess’ cheek to her ear. Nipping ever so
gently, she suckled on the earlobe before softly whispering to the girl.
“I know you’re in there…somewhere,” she whispered to her captive. “Know this, no matter how far you hide from me, I
will always have this power over you,” the new ruler promised before her tongue darted out to lick the captive’s ear. At
her instant touch, a sigh escaped the princess control as she leaned into Ari’s embrace, the soft, cooing sounds of pleasure
rising from deeply in the princess’s throat as the Destroyer continued to explore her new slave’s intimate region.
“ummmm…you are very skillful, my child,” Alti smiled as she lifted the girl’s skirt up further and watched as Ari’s fingers
slowly entered the woman’s vagina, her thumb slowly stroking the swollen clitoris as her fingers massaged her prize’s inner
walls.
“Dear mother. I’ve learned from the best,” Ari smiled, and then held the girl tighter as she felt the princess’ pleasure rising
higher. Her slight whimpers became a cry of ecstasy when she unwillingly but helplessly spilled her pleasure, yet again,
over her rapist’s fingers.
As catcalls and applause from her troops filled the room, the dark one looked at her mother and glanced to where the
defeated king and queen stood. The guards surrounded the two royal parents and forced them watch as their child
whimpered and sobbed as a part of her numbed mind registered her embarrassment and distress after her public sexual
delight. The king was a broken man who hung in the guard’s arms with his expression slack, but the queen watched Ari
with open hatred in her face and a longing to kill in her eyes. Before the Destroyer could begin stroking her prize again, a
sudden clamor broke through the revelry.
Two of her guards were dragging a body into the room. The man they carried was hog-tied and gagged. As the bound
man glanced around the room, the guards stopped only when they stood in front of their leader. With a slight scowl, they
took the man and dropped him unceremoniously before her.
“This had better be good,” was all Ari said as she stood up, then gently placed the half dazed girl onto the floor by the
throne, and took a step toward her men. The guards looked at each other nervously, before the senior of the two
stepped forward.
“Beggin your pardon, my supreme commander, but this dog was caught trying to spy on our troops,” the burly man stated.
Ari glanced back at her mother who watched with interest. She could tell that she was monitoring her, quietly waiting for
the young leader to make a mistake and prove that she was unworthy of leadership. Knowing this, the tall warrior felt
compelled to prove herself worthy of command. With a slight nod of her head, the destroyer ordered the man’s gag and
bindings to be removed. Once freed, the man rubbed his wrists before bowing before her.
“My Emperor, I come in peace!” his deep, commanding voice brought a slight hush to the room.
“What is your name, and who are you to presume to be one of my loyal subjects?” Ari maintained a deep, neutral voice
as she stared down at the man.
“Why, I am Stallonus, a renowned bard of Greece!”
At the man’s words, Ari returned to her seat as she observed everything about him in a matter of moments. When she
turned her attention to the man’s expression, she felt the princess huddling close to her leg. Like a cherished pet, Ari
absently reached down and stroked her captive’s hair.
“If you are so renowned, why haven’t I heard of you? Mother, have you heard of this Stallonus?” the destroyer asked in
a bored tone.
“Not a word,” Alti’s raspy voice was barely above a whisper. With a look of disgust, the sorceress frowned as she
stared at the man standing before them.
“What? Surely my name has reached this far?” the prisoner protested.
“Are you calling my mother a liar?” Ari leaned forward, her voice deep and threatening as she stared at their captive.
“Oh, no! I beg your pardon, oh great commander!” The prisoner bowed low as he lowered his eyes in subservience.
When he noticed their silent attention, he smiled slightly and continued.
“Perhaps I have been away from the lands of your conquest for so long that your great Queen may not have heard of me,
but let me assure you, I am a renowned bard in Greece. Why, I’ve traveled the country far and wide, recounted tales of
my many adventures. Before that, I studied at the Athens City Academy of the Performing Bards with Euripides, Orion
and Gabrielle, the Battling Bard of Potidaea!”
At the last name, Ari’s attention was suddenly peaked. She remembered the numerous times that this name had come up
throughout her life. Like their archenemy, Xena, her bitch, Gabrielle was the second person on their list that would
warrant special attention. Glancing at her mother, she saw the older woman’s lips grow tight as she studied the man
carefully.
“You learned your craft from the bard Gabrielle?” Ari turned her attention away from her mother and scowled down at
the man.
“Oh, no, please forgive me, she was not a teacher, but a student along with me!” he stated quickly, then added as an
afterthought, “well, she was not exactly a student either, but she did spend some days with us while a bardic competition
was held. We all learned much from the bard, Gabrielle!” His voice was proud.
With a slight smile, the dark ruler leaned back and remained silent. When the man began to fidget, she waited a few
moments more before leaning forward in her seat. The captive gulped nervously as he looked at the half-naked princess
on the floor, then at Ari.
She raised an eyebrow. “So, you are a bard. Why did you try to gain entrance into my compound?”
Stallonus smiled and spoke with great theatrics. “Because, oh great Emperor, I wish to become your bard, to travel with
you and your warriors in order to tell the tales of your conquest and to, uh, advise you of course!”
“To advise me?” Ari’s expression turned dark and she sensed her mother stiffen beside her. The warrior waited for her
to speak, but the sorceress held her piece. The Destroyer turned a thin gaze upon the prisoner. “Advise me, how?”
The man swallowed as he carefully chose his words. “Of many things, my commander; useful things. The lay of the lands
you might be making for, uh, which people you could, ummm, subjugate without unnecessary bloodshed. A-And places
your army could avoid b-because of, um, powerful enemies…” He stopped, the sweat dripped down his brows.
Ari found herself trying to think of what her mother would do in this situation. The destroyer was aware of Alti’s lack of
trust in her, and she knew that she had to prove her worth to the sorceress. It was clear to her that this bard was more
than he seemed to be. She knew that he would be working not for her, but for the people she wanted to conquer. He
would try not to aid, but to dissuade her from her planned campaign of terror and subjugation. As she unconsciously
petted the woman at her feet, her eyes grew thin as she stared down at the man. When a solution came to mind, a twisted
grin crossed her features.
“So you think you will be able to retell the tale of our exploits?” The warrior smiled knowing that her mother would be
pleased with the outcome of this encounter.
“My lord, I could!” Stallonus replied quickly.
