S1, Chapter 4. Power of the Knight.

Continuing......Wizard Lands, morning.

The air was crisp, the day was bright, the storms were gone. This is what Dawn awoke to in the early hours of morning. She grabbed her sword and stood, going tot he Knight. She found him sitting against a tree and he did not move when she approached. She shook her head; magic. Her mother practiced legal and illegal magic and she was sick of it, no matter that she too was immortal, frozen in time.

She kicked his still foot. “Awake!”

The White Knight creaked and stood. Dawn knew that no mortal man could sleep like that.

“Today we break curses!” Dawn shouted at him. She kicked him and he didn't move. She nodded and led him forward, herself readied.

They approached the castle and the wall of magic was still there, glowing. When they were before the green glowing magic, she ushered the way for the Knight to go forward and do whatever it was she knew he did. He knelt down on the ground at the gates to the castle, with his finger he drew ancient runes in the dirt. They began to glow gold.

A gold glow began to crept along the ground, snaking its way to the base of Star's magic wall. The gold began to slowly over take the green and the Knight traced more gold runes on the gates and stone walls. She held her breath, in awe of his power, of the battle of magic as the gold stopped, the green pushed back, the gold pushed back, and pushed forward. She drew her sword and knelt on the ground, she bowed her head to the hilt, asking the Goddess of War, Appalonia, an old pagan goddess, for power to over turn her mother's curse. She considered this an act of war between mother and daughter.

Suddenly the gold began to glow brighter. The Knight stood and his voice, a deep gravelly thing that was more of a demonic sound than human, echoed louder and louder. He was encouraging the magic and Dawn witnessed the green be consumed by gold as the sun rose in the sky behind the castle. Her eyes lit with the glow of the magic and the dark blue burned a lighter blue. Her heart began to race, just what would she find? As she watched the curse be reversed by the purest magic known to man or woman, she couldn't help but wonder. Whatever it was she was going to defend the Wizard, her mother would get over herself DAMMIT. Dawn put her hand on the hilt of her sword and her knuckles tightened.

The moment the gold magic cleared the doors Dawn burst forward and kicked them down. She raced into the castle and her ears adjusted to the sound of screaming echoing through the castle. Her feet took her where she wanted to go, her will taking her. She flew by the random male servants of the place, she cared not for them. She came to a sitting room, it was dark and candle lit, at first it appeared harmless. But upon closer look she found it to be a torture chamber and what she saw made her put an end to it.

Inside, her mother had the Wizard tied to the ceiling by his wrists, his ankles were tied to pegs in the floor. He had a gag in his mouth and a blindfold on. His manhood was hard and she had a thin silver chain tied at head of his shaft leading to two clamps on either of his nipples. Her mother, in a thin gown of white velvet, loosely tied-Dawn tried not to look, but one couldn't help it- with one hand buried in the panties she wore. Star was holding a soft, tan leather whip in her free hand. It was soft for repeated striking of one's slave without causing them bruising or obscene pain. Still, she made sure each lick made him wince.

The door had been open and the moment Star saw Dawn her face lightened, her dark circled eyes widened and the glowing honey color grew brighter. She threw the whip at the Wizard and he drew a sharp breath in through his nose when it hit his back. As it struck him she fell to the ground, laughing as she withdrew her hand from her underwear and felt her ridiculous curse fade away. She felt the lust and the fever melt into the new day, she felt her racing heart slow to a steady beat. Dawn ignored her mother entirely and went straight to the Wizard, drawing her dagger and cutting the rope ties that trapped him.

“Serves you right Wizard,” Star got to her feet, stumbling and falling. Her knees were too weak.

“What did you do to him!?” Dawn shouted as she took care of him and removed his gag.

“He thought he had me, I HAD YOU!” Her ramblings were mad and she laughed in between words. “I simply had my way darling.” The woman explained. A sudden cramp-an after affect of the magic- shocked her side and she shut her eyes, clutching her body. She tried to laugh the pain away. “I wouldn't call what happened between us love making. Would we dear Wizard one? This? This is nothing,” she shook her head. “Nothing compared to what I've done to him and others of this castle.”

Dawn glared at her. “SHUT UP YOU CRAZY BAT!”

Star laughed.

The Princess was caring as she freed the Wizard, gently releasing the clamps and seeing how red and raw his nipples were. She soon had him leaning against her as they left the room. He directed her to the nearest bedroom and she helped him into the bed. He too felt the release of the curse and it was like he could breath fully again, each breath swept a lungful of cold air into his over heated body. He was glad for it, and thankful for rest.

When Dawn returned to the her mother she saw the woman laying on her back on the floor, content. She wouldn't let her off that easy. As she crossed the room Star spoke.

“I am happy you did it but I am also baffled by how easy it was.”

They both knew she meant her curse.

“The White Knight is more pure than your lust,” Dawn said. She picked up her mother and had her lean on her shoulder.

“Aaahhh, makes sense now. Too true.” Star smiled, thinking her daughter was friendly with her. “Can't wait to return to the castle, we have things to discuss.”

“You are returning. I am not.”

Star looked confused, she looked at Dawn and couldn't stop her to make her talk. “You're not going with me? Where are you going this time?”

“You, you neurotic animal, will return to castle Ao'o ** and get your self together. You will stay away from here mother.”

They approached the two horses and Dawn didn't let Star stop for a moment. They passed the Knight as he finished his job. Star was disheartened by his ease and strength, she felt weak.

“Now Dawn be reasonable! I'm half naked!”

“I know. This is me being reasonable. I'm punishing you for your insolence on my future fiance and husband.” She stopped her mother and they faced each other. “I declare this land under my personal protection against my mother the Queen of Holy Wood and I swear to Gods and devils that if you return here we Will fall into war.”

“Geez Child!” Star shouted. “You need not be forceful! I get it! Trust me,” she eyed the castle. “Where once was love, is only memories. We had our fun, and I secede from our battle over him.” She hated saying it. “Siiiigh, you win child.”

“HAHAHAHA! I KNEW IT!” Dawn laughed in triumph and suddenly drew her sword, whacking the hilt to her mother's head. The woman dropped and Dawn caught her in one arm, branching the sword away in the other. “Sorry for that. Well actually I'm not, you had it coming and it felt good.”

She set her sword down and hefted her mother into the horse saddle. She was light and Dawn was giftedly strong. She tied the woman into the saddle and then tied her arms to her sides and put a stick between her back and the ropes to make her stay upright. The Princess laughed at the sight of her mother looking so foolish in the aftermath of her own curse. Served her right. The woman smacked the horse and it began moving forward, making way to the castle.

&*&*&*&*&*&*

Within the Dark Castle.

With the woman gone the Wizard rested. He rested all day and into the night. Sometime during the night he awoke and the first thing he saw was Dawn, She was watching him, and he noticed the goblet in her hand, the cooling soup on the table across the room. He saw that her leather gloves and shin guards were gone. She was down to the soft under tunic and loose pants. She smiled softly at him, her hair still held up in a tail on her head.

He liked her face. She didn't wear eye kohl or rouge. She didn't need to, her face was unlined and open. It was kind when she smiled and was relaxed, she seemed to relax easily around him. He was calm around her, it made his heart calm.

“How long have you been here?” He asked.

She gave him the goblet, he drank the water.

“Not long. Its only midnight.”

“Why did you stay? Why did you not return to castle Ao'o?” He wanted to know, even though he hoped her answer would be to be with him.

“Even though you kidnapped my daughter I know you would never hurt her. You did it to get my attention, I know that. My mother is the ultimate diva, do you think I don't know a cry for attention when I see one? You didn't have to take Rosie,” she admitted. “But, it worked. Here I am. Now what did you want?”

He stared at her, surprised by what he really wanted. Nothing more than for her stay and to laugh.

“I want you to stay. I want you to spend a while with me, I know of you, and yet I don't know you at all.”

She thought to herself, “He is just as enchanting as they say. And he wants me to stay and talk with him.” She nodded. “Of course.”

He leaned back into the pillows on his bed. Her eyes wandered over his chest, the light down of black hair called to her, she wanted to touch him. He caught her looking, she met his eyes. She smiled and then stood and kissed his forehead. He grabbed her face and turned her to kiss him, he had wanted this moment. Her soul screamed to disrobe them and have their way with each other, but she didn't. He needed rest and she had plenty of time to spend with him. She sent orders from the Kingdom by the Sea for Richi to collect Rosie when Star returned to the castle. Until then, Dawn would go where she wanted, stay where she wanted, and seduce her future husband if she so wanted to.

She hated that for the BOC and Court Houses of Holy Wood to accept and bind her marriage to a magic man, her mother first had to consent. A little marriage law designed to protect women and girls from enchanting magic men trying to lure them into their trap. Magic men, wizards, warlocks, spirits, elves etc and the like, sometimes got bold and would tempt women to their lairs where they kept them as spell bound slaves forever. A parent, or third party must give consent to the marriage to ensure the safety of the women.

She knew that now Star would HAVE to accept though. She would force her mother to make them wed. But for now, the princess was happy to order the men servants around and tend to her Wizard.

&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*

Castle Ao'o, night.

Star sank into the steaming bath tub centered before her bed. She had this large copper tub brought up so that she didn't have to leave her chambers once she awakened in her rooms. Richi drank wine at the table on the veranda, the doors opened allowing the cooling breeze to enter. He was turned away from her, looking out towards the dark lands dotted with lights and fires from the village people.

“You mean she still wants him? After you violated him?” he was surprised.

“Yes that was my reaction too. But she knows it was me who cursed him and found it in her to forgive him of any crimes and help him recover. There must be something there that I don't see. Maybe to marry them will end the feud between the Wizard and me.

“Of course it would you idiot. Why it took you this long to understand that is astounding.”

“Well if it was so smart a marriage why didn't you try to arrange it?”

“I did, once or twice. You rejected. But now you see it is helpful.”

“If I even do it,” she smirked to herself.

“Oh you will...” He looked at her form outside, his eyebrow was raised in skepticism.

She shrugged and then nodded. “Oh all right. If its whom she really wants. I thought she would hold out for that boy to come back.”

“You mean the father of her children?”

“Child.”

“I know you don't like talking about Dawn's Son, but he did exist.”

“I know Richi!” She suddenly shouted. “I know. . . . .The father's name was Appolonio. He came from a land outside the Seven Kingdoms, far to the west. He was called back for a war and we haven't seen him since before Deniel was born.” She sighed and needed to move on quickly over her dead grandson. Boys didn't last long in her family. “I saw Bon.”

Richi turned and faced her. He hated that man. His very name drove Richi into anger.

“In the castle, he came to me.” She said gently, knowing that Bon upset her cousin.

“And what did he want?” He snapped.

“To tell me, Us, about the Boy. He says the group is almost ready and he is doing well in civilized life.”

This made Richi calm and smile. “Our little red devil.”

“I miss him.” She sniffed.

“They shouldn't be too much longer, we'll see our Boy again.”

“I don't mean the boy...although, I miss my little devil too.”

“I told you never to talk to me about Bon.” He said, knowing who she spoke of. He was so cold to her, he had to be.

He knew she couldn't afford a weakness. Anyone or anything other than Dawn and Rosie were weaknesses a woman of power like her couldn't give in to. He knew Bon was her one wish, the one thing that would truly wound her most, the one man who got closest to her.

She frowned and got out of her tub, water rippling across her skin. She wrapped a robe around herself and went to him angrily. She slapped him and he flashed to his feet, he was slightly taller, dressed in his black velvet. He towered over her and she shivered in a small breeze, still drenched from her bath water, but stood up against him.

“Why are you so cold Richi?”

“Because he hurts you. Every time he leaves your side you cry for days.”

She scowled and started to object. “I have not-”

“I hear you Star,” he said. “You don't fool me.”

She shook him off. “I see.” She crossed her arms. “Well then, our boy is returning in a year and my trial begins soon. Tell me about it.” She turned her back to him and returned to her bath.

Richi hated fighting with her, he changed the subject. “Your trial begins in two days.”

“Fuck the trial!” She ducked under the water and Richi wandered in from the outside. His arms were crossed when she came back up.

“We cannot. It's coming and we have to prepare. We should have prepared a long time ago.”

“Richi, I told you not to worry about the Trial. When it comes I'll be prepared. Please stop worrying about it. Like I said before, we've faced their trials before, we can do it again.” She told him with a tone of tired confidence. 

He picked up the cigar box on her mahogany table. Inside were not cigars, but joints. He took one and lit it. He breathed in deep and held before letting out a cloud of smoke. He sighed and had no choice but to trust her, she was right after all. Every trial they went through she found a way out of it, using her wits and hidden knowledge. He wondered what kind of knowledge she would pull out of her ass this time. She sure was going to need it.

                               **********************************************

**((Castle Ao'o, Ao'o translated means Lizard. Lizard Castle.))