Amazon Apocalypse 2: Chapter 14 (Patreon)

I couldn’t tell if Kyrina was holding me so firmly as a show of her personal strength, her wariness around spellcasters, or just because she was every bit as handsy as her daughter. It was probably a combination of all three. Whatever the explanation was, I felt very much like a mouse caught in the grasp of a cat.

Did she want to eat me or play with me? Thinking about it, I realized those might not be mutually exclusive.

“It seems I owe my daughter an apology,” Kyrina began. “You’ve got a good head on your shoulders and good spells to boot. You’ve earned a debt from my clan today. We have little to spare right now, but when the integration is over and we put this rebellion down, I promise you’ll have a dozen of our finest warriors to help you establish a clan of your own on your home world.”

My eyebrows crawled into my hairline. What she promised was no small thing.

“Until then,” she continued, “ask for any boon. If it’s within reason and within my power, I will grant it.”

“I’m very flattered. I understand Myrina brought me in without your permission. Please don’t blame her for it. That’s boon enough for me,” I replied.

Kyrina looked at me and smiled. “Charming and loyal. My two favorite qualities in a man. If only you were about a hundred and fifty levels higher. Very well.”

She loosened her hold on me to meet the eyes of the host of Amazonians that surrounded us. “Let it be known here and now, any contempt I held for Myrina for her recent activities is officially rescinded.”

Myrina and Cyra returned, holding the bound and gagged prisoner overhead.

Kyrina looked at her daughter. “If any elders give you trouble, I will deal with them personally.” That last bit she added with the air of an official declaration. With the words spoken, it felt as if a weight had lifted off my shoulders. And yet, it felt like Kyrina’s arm around my waist pulled me in tighter.

Myrina saw her mother holding me and gasped in indignation before rushing toward us. “Mother!” Myrina complained as she grabbed me. “Get your own childhood friend! This one’s mine.”

Myrina grabbed me, but even her strength wasn’t enough to free me from her mother’s grasp.

“No, I think I’d much rather tell him all about the silly things you did as a little girl. Did you know she cried for weeks when we took her home? Apparently, she didn’t know how she’d survive without the Internet. Ridiculous!” Kyrina laughed, and Myrina puffed out her cheeks, face flushed red.

“Apparently, there was a certain someone she was talking to on it. And now I’m pretty sure I finally know who that was. Let me tell you the story about when—”

Myrina covered my ears before her mother could reveal any more of her secrets.

What followed was a lot of yelling on Myrina’s part, followed by smug laughter from her mother. Eventually, she released me from her grasp, and I was quickly pulled into Myrina’s, who posted herself protectively between me and her mother. She eyed her mother warily the whole time, as if afraid Kyrina might try to steal me again.

As soon as Myrina put some distance between her and her mother, she turned and pulled me in for a tight hug.

“Carter! That was awesome! You were awesome! Yes, yes, yes!” She lifted me off my feet, giggling and twirling all the while. “I just knew you could win my family over, if they met you in person. And you did! In fact, I’m afraid you just made a little too good of an impression on my mother. I will have to hide you from here on out for an entirely different set of reasons, now.”

“Myrina…can't... breathe…” I managed to choke out.

“What? Oh! Sorry.”

She set me down, releasing the vice-grip hold she’d had on my ribs so that my lungs could expand again and I could breathe once more. Myrina’s grip was even tighter than Sakura’s. I felt this would only get worse as I gained more levels.

I would need to sneak more levels into Strength at some point, just to avoid getting the wind knocked out of me when my girls snatched me up in a hug.

“I’m glad things worked out,” I panted, still catching my breath.

Cyra wandered over while Myrina and I were chatting, wearing a big grin on her face. “The prisoner is being taken back to the castle. She’ll be locked in the dungeon beneath the west tower,” Cyra explained.

Myrina arched one eyebrow, eyes darting left and right before whispering just loud enough for me to hear. “But didn’t Mom convert that one from a regular dungeon into a sex dungeon?”

Cyra’s smile fell. She turned back the way the guards had gone, disappearing towards the castle with their prisoner in tow. “Hold on one moment. I’ll be right back!”

Myrina and I returned to the castle, where everyone was gathering in the dining hall. The place had been empty when Myrina had shown it to me, so I had thought the castle was nearly empty. But it seemed most of the castle’s residents must have been up and about, because now the place was packed from wall to wall.

“Looks like we’re having a victory feast!” Myrina grinned at me. “I hope you like ale. Try to go a bit easy on it, though. We have a pretty strong brew. And after the show you put on, I suspect quite a few will want to share a toast with you!”

She clapped me on the back, and before I knew it, I had a plate in one hand and a drinking horn as large as my head in the other.

The plate was little more than a wood plank, but the horn was a finely sculpted and carved chunk of antler from some enormous beast. The fact that it was far more decorated than the plate told me something about what the Amazons valued most—at least when it came to their food and their drink.

Arrayed along long wooden tables were platters of boiled roots. I couldn’t name them, but calling them turnips, carrots, or potatoes wouldn’t be far off. Besides the vegetables, there were generous portions of meat, including chunks of herb-seasoned beef and venison roasted over an open flame.

Baskets of buttered bread were being passed around, and I took one of them. The rolls went well with the rest of the food, which was being served buffet style. I found that a lot more comfortable than some stuffy, formal affair. It was interesting to see that the main family of the Samhain Clan, including their matriarch, feasted side by side with their guardswomen.

It was all a little much for a victory over what had been nothing more than a single, enemy caster, but I bit my tongue and kept such thoughts to myself. The Samhain Clan was clearly doing their best to celebrate the day’s victory.

Everyone looked to be digging in, so I did so as well. Halfway through my plate, I felt a tap on my shoulder. When I turned to see who it was, I found Myrina’s mother, the matriarch of the Samhain Clan, looming over my shoulder.

“Mind if I take a seat?” She asked.

I slid over. “Not at all. It’s your bench and your feast, after all.”

“Ah, but you’re the hero of the day. It’s only polite that I ask.” Kyrina laughed and then met my smile with one of her own. When she did, it reminded me far too much of Myrina. I couldn't believe that the gorgeous redhead sitting next to me was not only my best friend’s mother, but likely at least a century older than me.

She had a timeless appearance. It looked like she could be anything from a senior in college to a thirty-something-year-old career woman.

“It was a team effort.” I shrugged, not wanting to steal much of the glory in this victory for myself. Many had fought harder than I. I just had the right class for the job.

“Don’t be so humble. That would have been a much more difficult fight without your aid. And either way, it would have been humiliating for me and my family,” Kyrina explained.

“I was happy to help. The combat experience alone was worth it for me.”

Kyrina smiled. “Still. I will not see you go unrewarded. That boon you asked for was for my daughter, not for you. So here, let me give you something as a personal thank you.” Reaching behind her she pulled something from her belt and then slid a book across the table.

It was a skill book. And one I recognized. Arcane Blade.

“I heard you were at the auction today looking for this when our spy so rudely snatched it from your grasp. It only seemed proper that I right that wrong.”

My eyes went wide as I accepted the book. Gratitude welled up within me, and I gave Kyrina a genuine smile. “Thank you. I promise to put this to good use.”

I spent the next few seconds fiddling with the front cover. Should I learn it here and now, or wait until later?

“You know,” Kyrina continued, “I don’t think Myrina told you what exactly we’re up against, did she?”

I shook my head, eyes darting from my food to the book to Kyrina.

“War or rebellion, whatever you call it, the Shadefall Clan was raised from the mud in my great-great-grandmother’s day. The Samhain Clan nurtured them like they were kin—for many were. They weren’t skilled fighters, so we protected them while they delved into crafting arcane trinkets to aid us in battle. Our partnership made us strong. We led, and they followed.”

Kyrina let out a long sigh. “But now the Shadefall Clan has decided their skills are too great to remain subordinate, and they’ve turned their enchantments against us, their former rulers. Ordinarily, this would be no great issue for a clan such as ours. The Samhain Clan is an old one, and though I am its matriarch, I am far from its most powerful member. Some of our elders are more skilled than I, though I have the birthright to lead.

“But it’s our ancestors who truly keep the Samhain Clan strong. Unlike my name, theirs stretch beyond Themyscira. They are heroes of legend and power, far beyond the norm. Most left our world behind to stay with their husbands, each a warrior or wizard king strong enough to hold a planet in his iron grasp. But one or two always stay around, to look after our ancestral home.”

She shook her head. “The trouble is, the one staying behind right now was particularly intimate with a crafter of the Shadefall Clan many centuries ago. She has just as many descendants within their branch as within the main family and, therefore, refuses to lift a finger during what she calls this ‘civil war’. We’re on our own.”

The heavy sigh she let out seemed to age her before my eyes. “And the Shadefall Clan’s initial strike to wipe out our unaligned crafters and destroy our armories of magical weapons was expertly calculated. We’re hard-pressed right now, between their attacks and manning the garrisons along our borders against the usual threats.”

“I don’t envy you,” I replied. “That sounds difficult.”

I was glad she’d felt comfortable enough to tell me all this. And I felt a bit guilty for keeping things from her. I still hadn't told her I was the one who had made those Mana Bombs she’d used to such good effect today. And at this point, I wasn't sure I would.

As good a host as they'd been, I couldn't forget that they had a lethal tradition that would end with me dead on an arena floor should I get too close to Myrina. While I already planned to help them, I had to look out for myself, as well. It was a potentially deadly balancing act.

How much to tell? And how much to keep secret?

Kyrina shrugged, then clapped a hand on my shoulder. “Well, that’s our tale. Enjoy the skill book, lad.” She turned her head, searching the hall until she caught Myrina’s eye.

Myrina had been watching the two of us chat with a wary expression.

“Myrina!” her mother shouted.

“Yes, mother?” Myrina asked.

“What’s your guest here doing with an empty tankard? Get the boy some ale!” Kyrina Samhain laughed, her jovial expression returning despite her grim words moments ago. “Here, I can share.”

Kyrina poured out half her drinking horn into mine, which was easily three times the size of my horn, until it overflowed with foamy ale.

“Drink up!” Kyrina said.

The tiny sip I took nearly knocked me off my feet. Myrina hadn’t been kidding when she’d said they made a powerful brew.

You are intoxicated!

+4 Charisma

+4 Strength

-4 Vitality

-4 Agility

-10 Intelligence

“Bah, you sip like some sort of spell caster!” Kyrina barked a laugh, then remembered the person she was talking to wasa spellcaster. “Well, I suppose it just means the clan will save money on ale. But feel free to help yourself to as much as you can drink, if you manage to polish that off.”

I muttered something incomprehensible. Just that one sip made left [QS1] head pounding and my legs felt ready to give out from underneath me.

Myrina frowned, looking me up and down. “I’m going to get you some water. Be right back!”

Shortly after Myrina vanished, Cyra appeared with a massive horn of her own. It was every bit as large as her mother's, but due to her larger scale this one appeared closer to normal size.

“Carter! Lots of guards want to toast you. Come! But first, a toast from me. To victory!” She clanked her cup against mine, then looked at me expectantly.

Gingerly, I took another sip from my still-overflowing drinking horn.

You are very intoxicated!

+6 Charisma

+6 Strength

-6 Vitality

-6 Agility

-12 Intelligence

The second sip wasn’t as bad as the first. In fact, the flavor of the ale was starting to grow on me.

“Now let’s introduce you to all the guards you helped today! They are all eager to meet you outside of battle,” Cyra clapped me on the shoulder. I swayed unsteadily in my seat. Cyra seemed to realize I’d have a tough time walking, so she slid one hand around my back beneath my shoulders, and carried me along beside her.

“Woah, Cyra, your ceiling… moves…?” I said, suddenly dizzy.

I would have to be careful not to drink too much of this stuff. The Mana Bombs were one of my best cards to play, and I wanted to keep them close to the vest as long as I could.

“Ha! I guess that means the ale is kicking in. You’re lucky! Most of us won’t feel as good as you until we’re three horns in at least!” Cyra congratulated me.

Cyra presented me to a dark-skinned Amazonian warrior with curly black hair. She had tribal war paint across her face, though they might have been tattoos. While the main branch of the Samhain Clan was mostly redheads, likely due to the powerful bloodline of Kyrina Samhain herself, their guards were from all over.

They seemed to have an even wider range of complexions and appearances than people did on Earth. A few guards looked human in form, but were shades of blue, green, or gray. And their hair was even more exotic than their odd complexions. Perhaps they were a race like humanity, seeded on a world that had integrated long ago.

This one might have been the guard Myrina and I ran into first, the one who had joined my party early on. She’d been wearing her helmet and armor at the time, of course, so I couldn’t tell.

“You there!” she said, eyes wide with delight.

She took a knee so the two of us were at eye level, then shifted the drinking horn in my wobbling hand so that it rested on her impressively well-endowed breasts. She must have had a very special set of armor to hide a rack like that. “You really saved my ass back there! Your fighting skills were impressive, and you saved my ass. A toast to our victory!”

The large-breasted woman puffed her chest up as she drank. Man, what a view.

“Need help?” she laughed as she positioned my drinking horn between her breasts with a raised eyebrow.

I nodded dumbly, and she used her breasts to lift my drinking horn to my face, where I took another sip.

You are extremely intoxicated!

+8 Charisma

+8 Strength

-8 Vitality

-8 Agility

-14 Intelligence

“Whoops. Looks like we’re starting to lose him! I’ll hang on to our spell caster friend for a bit while you enjoy the party, Lady Cyra.”

“Thanks!” Cyra handed me off, and the guard carrying me set about introducing me to the rest of the Amazonian warriors.

Your intoxication level has reached blackout drunkenness!

Your memory is impaired!

Everything that happened after that was a hazy blur. Visions of wild dancing and drunken revelry filled my mind, though I couldn’t quite be sure what was real and what was a dream. While the hazy specifics were lost to my mind, I had a terrible feeling that everyone else could remember them quite clearly.

I awoke from the haze with that one thought, dreading figuring out what exactly had happened these past few hours. A message flashed before my eyes before vanishing.

You are no longer intoxicated.

I dismissed it swiftly after finding myself in a very unusual scenario.

I was shirtless, hands bound to the table I was lying on top of. I was bound to something narrow and made of black leather. From how it cradled me, I suspected it had been crafted specifically for this purpose. The cuffs that held my hands were built into the padded leather cushion beneath me.

I moved my head around, and looking up found myself in a dark, torch-lit room. The stone walls and the cold iron bars around me reminded me of a dungeon. Above me and to my left, I heard a familiar voice.

“Be gentle with him, mother,” Myrina pleaded.

“Oh, please. I’m sure he can take it,” Kyrina Samhain replied from somewhere behind me. I felt her place her hands on my bare back.

“Are you sure that isn’t too big?” Cyra asked nervously. “That is a pretty big one…”

Kyrina laughed. “I heard what you said in battle today. The boy’s no coward. He’s taking my best and biggest one right away. Isn’t that right, Carter?”

Alright, what the hell is going on?

“Mmff?” I tried to call out, but all that came out was a muffled cry around my gag. There was a wad of cloth in my mouth. My cries became more frantic.

Kyrina stroked my bare back. “Hear that, Cyra? He’s angry at you for doubting his abilities. What a brave lad. Alright, let’s get started!”

“Mmmmff!”

I felt a sudden piercing pain… on my left shoulder.

Kyrina hovered over me with a massive pen in her hand, brow dripping with sweat as she drew something on my back. Each stroke was agony, and if I hadn’t been tied to the odd device I was bound to, I probably would have jerked out of the way, ruining whatever Kyrina was doing.

“Almost done…” Kyrina said, finishing the final strokes. “There we go! Finished. Myrina, dear, hand me some healing salve.”

You have received the Lesser Mark of the Samhain Clan!

This mark is given to fellow warriors held in high esteem by the Samhain Clan's main family. This mark shows you have fought alongside the Samhain Clan, and they recognize your abilities!

Your reputation with the Samhain Clan has increased from [Burden] to [Associate].

Reveal this mark to members of other factions, and their opinion of you shall increase or decrease based on their opinion of the Samhain Clan.

Improve this mark to the Greater Mark of the Samhain Clan to gain additional bonuses and favor with their clan!

This mark can be concealed by unequipping the associated title.

I worked the cloth in my mouth around a few more times and eventually spat it out. I worked my jaw back and forth a few times before speaking. “W-what is happening?”

“Look, Carter. We match!” Myrina showed me the back of her hand, and a symbol flashed into existence on it. It depicted a stylized version of the castle we stood upon resting above Valkyrie’s Watch. Her mark was about the same size as mine, but brighter, more vivid, and with greater detail.

“That you do,” Kyrina replied. “I used the rest of the ink bottle on him that I used on you, daughter. It helped me tie his mark to yours. You’re his main connection to the family, after all, so it only makes sense.”

“Yay, it worked!” Myrina jumped on top of me. She rubbed a bottle of salve on my shoulder, which soon went from feeling like someone had just jabbed it with a red-hot poker to something approaching normal.

“Hey, it looks pretty good,” Cyra nodded appreciatively, peering around Myrina. I turned my head as much as I could to get a good look.

It looked similar to the mark on Myrina’s hand that she’d shown me, but over the top of Valkyrie’s Watch, a rain of mana bolts circled like a halo. Beneath it, the dark energies of Eldrich Blast seeped from the ground.

“It does, doesn’t it?” Myrina said. “Look, the Mana Bolts are appearing on mine, as well. We really are connected!”

“You will be for as long as you both bear the mark. Your mark and his will slowly come into synchrony,” Kyrina’s mother said.

“Friendship marks!” Myrina wrapped her arms around my bound form and pressed her cheek against mine.

Kyrina sighed. “I just wish you’d let me put it on his ass instead. It would’ve been funny if he had to drop his trousers every time he wanted to prove his identity!” She stifled a laugh.

Myrina scowled at her mother and held me tighter. “Don’t touch my Carter, Mother. Get your own!”

“I’m sure it’s very nice,” I replied. “But I have a few questions. Ah… but before then, is there any chance somebody could untie me?”

Though it seemed I was no longer intoxicated, my head was still pounding. Inwardly, I swore never to drink again.

<Note>

I really wanted to end the chapter on “I felt a sudden piercing pain…”

It would have been a funny cliffhanger for me with all of you worried over the fate of Carter's butt.