Lisa nods. "I promise, Thanara. But I still believe that you deserve better than this. When you are ready to accept more help, I will be here for you."
She stands to leave. "I didn't bring a change of clothes. I'll get this dress back to you later. I'll be at the cathedral if you need me."
She leans over and gives the sorceress a kiss on the cheek.
Thanara was turning to tell Lisa something just as she leaned down to kiss her, and their lips meet by accident! Thanara gasps and her eyes go wide as she stammers ”I…I’m sorry!”
Lisa's eyes widen as well, and she quickly pulls back. "Oh! It's...it's okay," she says, blushing.
”I…I was just wanting to tell you to keep it. It’s yours,” she says as she stands and takes Lisavet’s hands as she looks her in the eyes. ”It is the least I can do. Especially if you are going to keep pulling me out of jams!”
"Oh! That is very kind. Thank you," Lisa says. She's still blushing as she gazes back into Thanara's eyes. "Well, uh... I should go..."
”I’ll come with you, if that’s okay,” Thanara replies, turning back to the mirror and running her brush through her hair a few more times as she mutters ”I’m ready to get out of here…”
As the two walk further from the manor, Thanara starts to relax a bit more. ”So! How was your daaaate?” she asks as some of her usual bubbly self re-emerges.
"It was lovely. Orik was the perfect gentlemen. He's actually quite funny, too. We ate and talked and strolled through town, and then, he, uh... He kissed me." Lisa smiles and blushes. "It was a very good kiss."
Thanara bounces around in front of Lisavet, walking backwards to face her. ”So I guess he didn’t have any issues with your belly, either!” she teases as she reaches a finger out to playfully tickle the skin just above Lisavet’s belly button.
She giggles and spins back around beside the priestess. ”Speaking of, did you ever decide on how you wanted to wear that armor?”
Lisa giggles and swats playfully at Thanara's hand. "Hey!"
"I'm going to wear the armor as it is, aside from refitting and restyling it. Between that and this dress, I'm getting more comfortable with showing off some skin. It's actually rather liberating, being confident enough to walk around like this. I see why you like it so much."
Thanara smiles as Lisavet appreciates her style. ”I’m glad you understand! It’s less about trying to flaunt as it is showing that you are comfortable with who you are and being confident about it. Just good luck convincing some people about that,” she replies. After a brief pause, she adds ”I’m glad you had a good date.”
”So, when’s Das going to have it finished?” she asks curiously.
"Savah's working on it, actually. It'll be a few more days. Hopefully, there won't be any more goblin attacks or anything until then!"
”Oh,” Thanara says, suddenly going silent and blushing a bit. ”Yeah…let’s hope not!”
As the two women enter town proper, Thanara asks ”So, what do you have in store for the day?”
Lisa shrugs. "I've got no plans as of yet. What do you want to do? Maybe check in on Snow?"
”I dunno,” she replies wearily with a yawn. ”Breakfast for sure. I’ll catch up with you later. And listen, thanks again. Please don’t tell anyone. It won’t help anything. Just make it worse. Okay?”
"Okay. Take care, Thanara," Lisa says, giving the sorceress another hug before parting ways.
Later that day, a contingent of soldiers arrive from Magnimar to take Tsuto, Lyrie, and Nualia into custody. A crowd of gawkers stands outside the Sanpoint Garrison to hurl insults and rotten fruit at the prisoners as they are escorted out of their jail cells and into a heavily armored wagon. Tsuto remains sullenly silent, but Lyrie curses right back at her hecklers, while Nualia's smoldering glare silences those nearest her as they recoil in terror.
Sheriff Hemlock and his guards keep the situation from erupting into violence, and soon, the wagon is rolling out of town, heading south to Magnimar. "Don't worry, those three will get the justice they deserve," the sheriff says confidently. "The citizens of Sandpoint need not worry about them anymore."
The next week herald something of a return to normalacy for Sandpoint. No goblin raids, no kidnappings or sudden fires. Everyone relaxes and life goes on much as it has done for years. People are soon referring to the past few weeks as 'the Recent Unpleasantness' and people congratulate each other on having survived, and thrived, through it.
One thing that has not improved however is the situation between Savah and Thanara. The blacksmith has been waiting, with increasingly little patience, for her submissive to attend her but has been waiting in vain. She summons her other submissive, the dressmaker Rynshinn Povalli, and interrogates her thoroughly but without result.'
Eventually one of her jobs, re-working a breastplate for Lisavet Ambra, provides an excuse for Savah to venture out into town and she does so repeatedly until she finds Thanara and Lisavet together.
"Priestess Ambra, I'm glad I caught you!" She says with a smile. "I've finished your breastplate. If you're not busy you could swing by the shop and take a look. Perhaps you could come too Thanara? Give your opinion? The whole town knows you've got a fine eye."
When Lisa isn't looking Savah gives Thanara a firm look that says quite clearly 'we need to talk!
"Oh, lovely!" Lisavet says, beaming. "Yes, of course. I'm eager to see the final results."
Thanara’s eyes go wide when Savah enters, and her heart immediately starts racing in her chest. And when she asks for her to accompany Lisavet, she shifts her legs as a growing discomfort rises in her gut. ”Umm, I don’t know…if Lisavet wants me to, I suppose…” she says as she struggles to come up with a reason to not go without appearing rude.
"Yes, come with me, Thanara!" Lisa implores, reaching for the sorceress's hand.
Thanara takes Lisavet’s hand and dutifully follows along to the smithy, her mind, heart, and intimate areas in turmoil as she approaches the building.
Savah is nothing but professional as she shows Lisa her work. The breastplate has been burnished and then lacquered with a fine blue colour. The smith has even worked in golden sworls which resemble a sun, arcing out from the centre.
"I hope you like it." She says. "There's a bit more I can do. Adjust the fit and so forth. Why don't you try it on and we'll see what we can do."
"Wow, it looks great! So much better than that horrid black and red," Lisa gushes. The priestess doesn't hesitate to remove her robes and don the padded undergarments that go beneath the heavy metal plates.
"Thanara, will you help me get the armor on?" she asks.
Thanara had meandered away from the two as they discussed the armor, trying to think. But then Lisavet again begins disrobing right there in front of them, and she cannot help but notice her again, biting her lower lip and her eyes darting to Savah nervously.
At her question, she says ”I’ll try. I don’t know much about armor, though,” as she takes a couple steps her direction.
Lisa directs Thanara to tighten this strap, adjust that plate. After a few minutes, the armor is in place. The priestess moves her arms and legs about to test the weight and fit. "It feels good. Tight and secure, but with enough mobility."
She raps on one pauldron with a mailed fist, nods, and turns to Savah and Thanara. She puts her hands on her hips and strikes a pose, the armor revealing the full swath of her midsection. "What do you think?"
Thanara helped her as best she could, trying to avoid making too much contact. Though some was unavoidable, causing her to blush from behind the priestess.
As Lisa put the finishing touches on the armor, Thanara moved back over to stand beside Savah. ”You look amazing! Like the heroine of a bards tale!”
Lisa beams. "Really? Wow, thanks! You certainly know how to boost a girl's ego!" She turns to Savah. "Thank you, Savah. I think it's perfect." She hands the merchant a pouch of silver coins.
"Very impressive." Savah says with a firm nod. Her gaze is entirely professional, although her eyes stray to Thanara more than once. "Let me just check..." She tests the fit, pulling on the straps and trying to get a finger between the metal and the padded jacket beneath it.
"It's a good fit Priestess Ambra. I would recommend though that you wear it out for a while. Get used to the weight and the fit, it might start to chafe once you've worn it for any amount of time. How about you go for a walk, say fifteen minutes, and then come back and we can check it's still comfortable. I'll make any adjustments you need as part of the service."
She chivvies the priestess out of the shop with firm efficiency, locks the door once the priestess has gained a little distance and turns to Thanara.
"So? What's been going on?" She asks bluntly. "Just dropping me like this isn't acceptable Thanara. We are in a relationship, and you have to communicate with me. You've hurt me this week Thanara, badly, and I think I deserve an explanation."
Thanara had tried to follow Lisa out of the shop, but Savah had interposed herself between her and the exit, trapping her! Thanara backed away anxiously, fidgeting with her hands. Then her interrogation begins.
”S-Savah. I’m sorry. I-it’s not safe…” she stammers as she steps over to the counter, her back to the smith.
"Talk to me Thanara." Savah's voice is still firm, but the sorceress can detect a softening of her tone. "I can't protect you if you won't tell me what the threat is. I am your Mistress Thanara. I will protect you, but you have to talk to me first!"
”Dad is getting suspicious. He thinks I’m sleeping with a man in town. He…he…” she stops short of revealing his abuse. ”He’s going to find out and he will kill us both before suffering the indignity of his daughter and her lesbian lover.”
She is trembling at this point, and still not looking her direction. Though the word “Mistress” sends a shiver up her spine.
"If your father tries to come between us I will kill him first!" Savah says firmly. "No offence Thanara but not a single person in town will miss your father, any more than they miss Longjiku. As long as you keep the mill running no-one will give a damn."
She approaches and places a warm hand on Thanara's back. "What happened Pet? What did he do to you? Is that why you've been avoiding me?"
Thanara spins around, the fear evident on her face. ”No! You don’t understand! Lonjiku was an old man! And look what he got away with with Tsuto! My father is still young and really strong and has more influence than Lonjiku did! More men. He would just have one of them tend to us and make sure it got waved off!” she spurts out in a panic!
"Calm down Thanara." Savah says calmly, taking the young woman in her arms. "Yes your father has a lot of men, yes Longjiku got away with a lot but there are things you are forgetting too. Tsuto was a bastard, and everyone knew he wasn't Longjiku's child. That gave Longjiku leeway, and you're famous in town now, a heroine. Everyone knows that you saved this town. I know you've got the wolf girl out in front to do the actual killing and Priestess Ambra is there to keep you in one piece but you've done an excellent job of making yourself appear to be the leader. Your father appreciates appearances and yours is untouchable. I could parade you down the main street in a collar and leash and people would still approve of you. Let him think you have a male lover if you must, I don't want you getting hurt any more, but don't be afraid. You are stronger than him and I am stronger still. Trust me Pet."
She tips Thanara's chin up with two fingers to fix her with a serious gaze. "Trust your Mistress."
Thanara’s breathing was rapid as Savah wormed her way further into Thanara’s mind. As she tilted her face up towards hers, she makes one last plea. ”Please, Savah. Promise me you won’t ever try anything against Father. I’ll do whatever you ask. Just don’t risk yourself like that…”
"I promise that I won't start anything with your father." Savah replies firmly. "But I will defend myself, and you. That is not negotiable."
She pulls Thanara's head down to her shoulder and begins to stroke her blonde hair. "There may be another solution Pet. You know Rynshinn I'm sure. She is a pet of mine as well, and like you she keeps it quiet. Everyone in town knows that she's not into men. I will speak to her, arrange for you to stay with her when needed. She'll cover for you if I ask. Even your father won't accuse her of doing anything with you, he'd make himself a laughing stock. Now how does that sound? It would be good for you to meet your fellow Pet as well."
She keeps stroking Thanara's hair, using enough pressure to stop her raising her head. "I want you to be safe Thanara, and if you won't come here then you will go to Rynshinn and be safe there. Do you understand me?"
With her head buried in Savah's shoulder Thanara can't see the wicked smile that spreads across the smith's face. "If anything ever happens again I'll tell your wolf girl. That should resolve the problem quite nicely."
”No! Please!” Thanara pleads as she raises her head at the mention of roping Snow into this. ”You promised!”
"Very well." Savah says, "Very well. Calm down Pet, you're safe now. I'll talk to Rynshinn and make sure you have a safe place to go. Now, dry your eyes and go upstairs. The priestess will be back shortly and I know what you need right now. Go upstairs, remove your robe and kneel on the bed. I will be up shortly."
Thanara nods meekly, then heads upstairs, still feeling like everything was slowly being pulled down a whirlpool in a river.
Once upstairs, she first moved to close the shutters to the windows, making sure nobody saw her, then removed her robe nervously. She then crawled onto the bed and sat there, anxious and flustered. After their initial few days, her body had grown accustomed to a certain kind of attention, but after nearly two weeks of zero contact, she could feel a hunger she couldn’t deny. So she sat there, legs out to her side as she lounged in the bed, body already responding in anticipation.
Thanara hears the front door open and the faint sounds of conversation from the shop below. Then the bell over the door rings again and a minute later she hears footsteps on the stairs.
Savah comes in with her shirt already off, leaving her in the simple black trousers she wears at the forge.
"What a good pet you are my Pretty One!" She says, eyes raking across Thanara's body and lingering on her prominent nipples. "And so eager. I have just the thing."
She rummages in a small box on the dresser and palms whatever she removes from it before stepping closer to the bed. "Come here Pretty One and kneel, nice and straight for me. Hands behind your back."
When Thanara has adopted the required position Savah tweaks and teases her nipple until they stand out proudly from her chest before attaching the small clips she was holding in her hand. The clips are cold and pinch tightly but Savah's whispered words and wandering hands distract Thanara until the pinch fades into a dull throbbing that mirrors the one between her legs.
"I like this." Savah says, taking a step back. "Binding my Pretty One like this. I should do it more often. Rynshinn doesn't enjoy it, her nipples aren't as sensitive as yours. Now, lie back and keep your hands together above your head. If you don't I might have to tie you up again..."
Then the smith sets to work and rapidly brings Thanara to the peak of a climax before swiftly unclipping both breasts. The resulting rush of sensation tips Thanara completely over the edge and Savah has to clamp a hand over her mouth to stop everyone passing the shop hearing what is going on.
Thanara blushes at the humiliating device attached to her. But she cannot deny how good Savah made her feel with it. As Savah worked her magic on her body, she indeed cannot keep her hands together, repeatedly separating them and clutching the sheets, resting her hands on Savah, or clutching her own head.
She had never been driven to being so vocal, either. And the ensuing ruckus she raises causes her to be even more embarrassed.
Savah doesn't let up, driving Thanara to ecstasy again and again until the sorceress is little more than a limp dish-rag of a person, sated, happy and exhausted. Then the smith takes up her place on the bed and pulls Thanara into her, settling the blonde head between her breasts and holding her close.
"You see Pretty One?" She murmurs softly. "Your Mistress knows what you need. Your Mistress is the one who protects you. I am the one who protects you, I am the only one who can make you feel this way. You don't need to be strong. You don't need your little spells. You just need to trust me. I know what is best for my pets and I look after them. You don't need the priestess or your mutt or those pretty sparks you toss around. You just need me. You trust your mistress and obey your mistress, like a good little pet should. I'll keep you safe, my pretty pet. I will keep you safe. Good girl. Now go to sleep, and dream of me. Then when you wake up you're going show me how grateful you are to your Mistress, aren't you?"
Thanara laid there as Savah cuddled her and whispered her reassurances to her. She very nearly did fall asleep, but fought it. Instead, she shakily raised herself up and on top of Savah, kissing on her neck appreciatively. She slowly worked her way down, taking time to focus on breasts and muscled abdomen as her hands fumbled with Savah’s trousers.
As she worked then down and off the blacksmith, her lips followed. She spent the next thirty minutes or so showing Savah just how much she appreciated her attention.
But as evening approached, Thanara stood and stepped over to the wash basin on her night stand. She cleaned herself as best she could as she said ”I have to get home. It’s the only way I am going to keep father from being suspicious,” she says as she cleans the evidence of their passion off of her thighs and face.
That evening, before sundown, Thanara slipped out of town and made her way towards the river. She followed it until she came to a small creek that entered it from the north before turning and following it. Eventually she came to a small pool with a small waterfall about two feet high emptying into it, with several large flat rocks covered in moss resting at the waters edge. She slumped down onto one of them and sat for some time, alone with her thoughts.
And eventually, the tears came.
Another week passes by in relative peace. Word comes from Magnimar that the trial has concluded. For their crimes against the people of Sandpoint, Tsuto Kaijitsu and Nualia Tobyn have been convicted and sentenced to death by hanging. Lyrie Akenja faces a five-year prison sentence for aiding and abetting.
Life in Sandpoint is indeed beginning to get back to normal. But it is not fated to last...
Chapter 2: The Skinsaw Murders
22 Lamashan, 4707 AR
It is a cold autumn morning when one of Sandpoint's guards comes with a message for the three of you. Sheriff Hemlock wants to meet with you at the garrison as soon as possible. Once you arrive, the sheriff greets you and ushers you into his office, closing the door for privacy.
“First, let me thank you again for all you’ve done for Sandpoint. It’s fortunate you’ve proven yourselves so capable, because we’ve a problem I think you can help us with—a problem I wish I didn’t have to involve anyone with, but one that needs dealing with now before the situation grows worse.
“Put simply, we have a murderer in our midst—one who, I fear, has only begun his work. Some of you doubtless remember the Late Unpleasantness, how this town nearly tore itself apart in fear as Chopper’s slayings went on unanswered. I’m afraid we might have something similar brewing now.
“Last night, the murderer struck at the sawmill. There are two victims, and they’re… they’re in pretty gruesome shape. The bodies were discovered by one of the mill workers, a man named Ibor Thorn, and by the time my men and I arrived on the scene, a crowd of curious gawkers had already sprung up. I’ve got my men stationed there now, keeping the mill locked down, but the thing that bothers me isn’t the fact that we have two dead bodies inside. It’s the fact that this is actually the second set of murders we’ve had in the last few days.
“I come to you for help in this matter—my men are good, but they are also green. They were barely able to handle themselves against the goblins, and what we’re facing now is an evil far worse than goblins. I need the help. But I’m afraid you’ll need the help too. You see, I’m afraid that this particular murderer knows one of you as well.”
Sheriff Hemlock hands Thanara a bloodstained scrap of parchment. Thanara's name is written in blood on the outside of the folded parchment. Inside is a short message: "You will learn to love me, desire me in time as she did. Give yourself to the Pack and it shall all end.” It is signed, "Your Lordship."
"The note was found pinned to the sleeve of the latest victim by a splinter of wood. I believe that this note was left at the murder scene to throw suspicion onto you, and while I certainly don’t believe you had anything to do with the murders, if word of this note gets out, I'm afraid the town’s reaction might not be as understanding. So, to avoid panic, I would ask you to keep as quiet as possible about the murders."
Every inch of Thanara’s skin goes pale as she takes the letter and reads it. ”Wh-who? How? I…I don’t understand…” she stammers as tears begin to roll down her cheeks.
”Wh-who are the victims?” she asks.
Lisa reaches over to squeeze Thanara’s hand as Sheriff Hemlock answers the sorceress. ”Banny Harker and Katrine Vinder. The bodies are at the sawmill, and little has been done with the crime scene itself. You should investigate as soon as possible, so we can get things cleaned up and the bodies buried.
“I’ve interrogated Ibor, but I don’t believe the frightened man knows much more than he’s already said. Katrine’s father, Ven Vinder, is my only suspect—he may have heard the rumors that Harker and Katrine had been having an affair. I’m fairly certain, though, that Ven is innocent and that the murders were committed by someone else. We just have to figure out who that may be.”
Thanara’s knees turn to jelly and she slumps to the floor of the sheriffs office.
Banny…Kat…
”My pet.”
”If your father tries to come between us I will kill him first!”
”I am stronger still.”
Ice runs through Thanara’s veins at the thought of who might in fact be responsible. Which means, in turn she herself could be responsible for Banny and Kay’s deaths, even if by accident…
”Oh gods no…” Thanara whimpers on her knees at her friends feet.
"I understand." Savah says calmly. "Do what you need to do Thanara, but do not shut me out again. If you have to stay away for a while I expect you to tell me, or send a note at least. If need be tell Rynshinn and she will pass it on to me. When you are available..." She pauses and then smiles. "Just come to the shop, if I'm busy you can come upstairs and wait for me just like you did today. But you will not shut me out again! Do you understand?"
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That evening, before sundown, Thanara slipped out of town and made her way towards the river. She followed it until she came to a small creek that entered it from the north before turning and following it. Eventually she came to a small pool with a small waterfall about two feet high emptying into it, with several large flat rocks covered in moss resting at the waters edge. She slumped down onto one of them and sat for some time, alone with her thoughts.
And eventually, the tears came.
Thanara isn't sure how long she's been crying when a gentle yip catches her attention. Standing a few feet away is a familiar snow white puppy, looking quizzically at her. When Thanara doesn't immediately run, yell or throw things the puppy approaches, worms its way under Thanara's arm and cuddles up next to her.
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When the conclusion of the trial in Magnimar is announced, along with the sentence, Snow says nothing. However, a few minutes after the announcement concludes, she disappears completely. No amount of enquiries around town can find her and that evening the pained howling of a wolf echoes from the forest long into the night.
Most of the town pays little attention but the more experienced townsfolk, such as Davian Hosk, share dark looks and mutter "Not been wolves in these parts for years." "Thought Shalelu dealt with the last worg ages ago." "Better not be anything else out there!"
Fortunately, despite the howling continuing for the next three nights, there is no other disruption - no livestock taken or sightings by the children set to guard the various animal pens. Gradually people stop thinking about it, sure that a lone wolf will prove no threat to the town in the long run.
----------------------------------------------------
"Who was first?" Snow asks, "Said more? Keep people out. Ruin scent. Find me first. Next time." She may not be Sandpoint's most popular resident but no-one can deny that her nose is exceptional. If anyone is going to track down a murderer in town, it's her. "Ven knew. Shayliss said. Why kill though?"
The shifter is ready to go at once when she realises that Thanara's heart is pounding. She steps over and places a warm hand on her back, the closest she can come to the nuzzling that Thanara permits Ghost Puppy. "Breathe. Slowly. Breathe." She says quietly, repeating the words slowly and regularly until Thanara's panic'd gasping slows down to match her words.
Once the sorceress has calmed down Snow tips her head up to look Thanara in the eyes. "Better now?" She asks softly. "Focus. Breathe. Stay here. If you want."
Thanara, still standing at the wash basin and unclothed, does not turn to face Savah. She rests her hands on the night stand and lowers her head, thinking.
Thanara raises her head when she hears the yip. Seeing the little form of Snow’s now recognizable puppy form, Thanara’s chin quivers harder and she starts crying hard again. She holds the puppy tightly for a while as she lays on her side, holding it against her torso. After a while, she stops sobbing so much, instead having herself a gentle, consistent cry. As her tears slow, she begins gently running her hands across the puppies fur, from it’s head down to it’s side. Eventually she instead starts scratching its belly as she continues to hold it in cathartic embrace.
__________
Thanara shakes her head, muttering something under her breath that nobody can hear. When Snow suggests her staying behind, her blonde mane shakes back and forth fervently as she lets Snow help her stand. ”No. I have to see this. It involves me, clearly,” she said as she holds up the note.
She hands it back to the Sheriff before looking him in the eyes sincerely. ”Thank you for having faith in me.”