Chapter 27 - Lady Hilda

Violetta carried Raeyn’s unconscious body down the hill and into the center of the shore town. The central part was dominated by large tents that were made of the furled sails from the twelve longships that had carried them here. Ten of the boats were beached and flipped over to make for the proper quarters necessary to begin establishing a permanent settlement in an otherwise hostile land. No sooner had the two thousand arrivals set about digging into the rocky beaches and excavating the dunes for storage and quarters. Without stone or trees to work with, they had to fall back on more practical measures afforded to the people of Menna who lived in the wastes. The fishing boats had already found issue with the sea between the two continents, the churning waters brought nothing but trouble and anchoring the ships offshore was too dangerous given the swells and the storms. If they had not anchored when they first arrived, it would likely have been the end of them in the storm from two nights ago.

The day before she became an adult. The thought crossed her mind. The Gobbo was surprisingly light, and it really did feel as if she was half-starved. A young child had more heft required, but the skin over her chest and hips was stretched thin. Her arms and legs were spindly, like fragile twigs. Raeyn was exhausted as was she, the only rest they had managed was in that chamber surrounded by the scorched remains of her ambitions. Cade and Huron who had supported her from the outset, and the hireling slaves Wilde and Stirge.

She headed into the large medical tents which were still in the process of being set up. The setting sun cast a strange orange-red glow throughout it, giving the illusion of a bloodstained canopy. Long dark shadows cast themselves from every box and pallet into large pools of relative darkness. Without actual patients there was no need to waste oil or candles or for anyone to watch over the empty ward. Yet, Lady Hilda was there.

One of the few medicants to have joined the expedition and settlement efforts, Hilda was the opposite of those lining the streets of towns in Menna. She was a towering figure that stood a full head over Lady Hightower and her womanly assets were absurd to the point of being lewd itself. This giant of a woman could press any man or woman in a simple hug that could envelope them. Her large, but hourglass shape led into her hips would never know the pain of birth. Her thighs and legs matched her arms, strong enough for two or even three men while still being proportionally beautiful. The type of giant woman able to pluck her up and carry her away like a toddler, even if she violently kicked and screamed the whole way. She would likely not even feel it. Her muscles and soft skin would absorb just about any punch, even from brutes like Marsol.

Such a giant figure could not hide in the tents, and as she entered the setting sun illuminated Lady Hilda’s red curled mass of tentacle-like hair. A mane of dozens of red wild locks swirled and framed by beautiful unblemished skin, high cheekbones and a comparatively small and slightly upturned nose framed by lips that could kiss the whole of your cheek given the chance. Her motherly presence only solidified it, that you were only a toddler in front of a loving and unfairly beautiful mother. Yet, frustratingly so, she was capable of seducing the fiercest warriors with a gentle touch and her natural charms. The air around her could excite even women to jealousy and so her place as a lowly medicant was a sort of shackle against the type of succubus-like woman that Lady Hilda so perfectly was. Even she needed to be on guard around this woman!

“Oh, is someone here?” The warm and slightly deep tone of breathy concern washed over her as Lady Hilda called out.

It was not fair! Did she have a corset on her lungs to do this or was her large body making her voice so unfairly alluring, like a brothel’s top harlot! Her words were dangerous, like a cannon pointed at you, with a single utterance she could obliterate your resolve to her trickery. She knew and yet she could convince you otherwise. Was she wielding her magic so freely? It was unnatural and sickening, but she knew Lady Hilda for what she was and knew tricks to keep from falling into her unnatural charms.

“Yes. I have brought an injured Gobbo. Lady Hightower gave her a test, but she fell unconscious and she’s-” Violetta’s voice cut off as Lady Hilda rose from her chair and moved towards her, crossing in front of the sun.

“Ah. A Gobbo. This is the first patient of Lordstown.” She said with amusement.

The setting sun caught her robe and cut through the thin material illuminating the whole of her silhouette as she turned and carefully walked sideways around the mix of crates and boxes. Her profile and whole figure caught the light, and it might as well have been a robe made of tulle, but any anger she could muster would not linger. Violetta knew for certain that Lady Hilda was wielding magic, but why would she need to? The woman couldn't have kept this strange mind-altering power up at all times, it would be too exhausting.

Lady Hilda stood before her in three simple strides and plucked Raeyn like a little babe from her arms, pulling the Gobbo up to her breast and giving a doting smile of a mother. She had to know what she was doing! This was not medical care; this was a mockery! Why couldn’t she say something? Despite hating everything about this harlot, she found it impossible to sharpen her anger or her disgust. Something dulled the mental knife she tried to hone. She was losing.

“Thank you, I will see to this one now. If you would like, come sit by the bed and tell me what happened.”

“Yes, Lady Hilda.” Violetta found herself smoothing her leather armor and rubbing her hands on the front of her thighs, as straightening an invisible dress, “This Gobbo is named Raeyn and I found her outside of the Akeon.”

“Ah! You must be Violetta,” Hilda seemed to feign surprise as she covered Raeyn in a heavy white blanket emblazoned with a red stitched emblem of the Goddess Astra, “Where are your men? I heard you took four with you.”

“They died.” Violetta found herself answering, but it felt distant and as if the words were pulled from her mouth. She watched as the blanket over Raeyn seemed to react and shift, the cloth pressing itself flat and into the bed. The magic locking Raeyn down. Even if she were to awake and try to flee, she would find herself rooted and unable to move a muscle. The blanket was connected with a series of squares around its central circle of strange runes, capable of being opened if necessary. A surgery blanket. A wonder of imbued cloth, but a torturer’s dream come true. Of course it would be used by a woman such as her!

“Ah. That is so sad. Was Cade able to leave something important with you?” Lady Hilda said as she moved over to a pallet turned bed, laying Raeyn on it with care, “Or perhaps that rugged Dark Elf Wilde.”

Die succubus for even thinking such things! Her thoughts screaming now to try and prevent Lady Hilda from getting more out of her. She was mocking her. She did not have to answer. She must not answer. She had to.

“Wilde attacked me from behind and killed my men. He shot Cade in the eye with his bow. As a priestess I can never know the touch of a man. Do not tempt me with things that cannot be.” Violetta said with all her fury she could muster, yet it came out of her as nothing, but sorrow and longing. She sounded pathetic and as if she had just been widowed. She was playing her like a puppet?! These words were not something she would ever say!

Lady Hilda turned to look at her, “You could still end up with a dozen children if you only try. Though it seems you found one without going through the proper dance.”

Die! Die! Die! How can no one else see you are nothing but a giant lusty harlot! There is no way you will ever dance without crushing your partner to death! The anger seared in her mind, flashes of light filled her vision. She would pull her dagger and demand this toying stop. Mind controlling magic was a crime. How dare she use it like this!

“She is quite special to me.” Another answer pulled out of her mouth.

“Oh my, this one is a gilt! And she’s special to you? A Gobbo gilt. Why… that’s so… forbidden! I will keep it secret, dear. As you are so close then I will give you an insight into her mind. You do want to know what she thinks of you, right?” Lady Hilda’s words pressed on and still suppressed the otherwise unbridled rage within Violetta.

May they tear you limb from limb and cut the fat off you while you scream! You demoness!

“It is not like that. She is going to help me locate Magnesia.” Violetta found herself pulled over to the makeshift bed opposite of Lady Hilda, “It would be really important for me to know everything about her.”

It was pulled out of her. There was no hiding it. Lady Hilda knew now. She did not need to lay a single finger on her to extract the information. It was almost pointless to struggle against such a power, but she fought valiantly in her head up until this point. Bit by bit, the knife she tried to hone was grinded away to nothing and now there was nothing left to wield against the harlot's mental attacks.

“Her abilities?”

“Yes, Lady Hilda.”

“Her sins?”

“Yes, Lady Hilda.”

“Her passions?”

“Yes, Lady Hilda!”

“Her dreams and thoughts?”

“Yes!” Violetta was already mirroring Lady Hilda’s motion to place her hand over Raeyn’s head, “I want to know all of it!"

She did not. This was wrong. Why could she not resist? Why could she not run? Perhaps she wanted to know. Maybe a little, but not like this.

“Good.” Lady Hilda smiled, and Violetta’s heart raced even before the woman’s large hand pressed hers to Raeyn’s warm forehead, “Let’s dive into her mind together. Now, close your eyes and open the channel."

Lady Hilda’s fingers interlaced themselves with Violetta’s and pressed into Raeyn’s head. The strange feeling washed over her as it felt as if her hand, and the whole of herself dipped into that small skull. Swallowed up in a void of darkness; the three of them became one and entered into Raeyn's mind.