Revenge Princess Downfall Ch 05

Warning: This is a very dark story containing many disturbing themes such as noncon, humiliation, degradation, corruption, sexual slavery, misogyny, sadomasochism and more. Do not read this story unless you are okay with extreme content relating to the listed themes.

I do not condone or endorse any of the activities described in this story. Sexual fantasies can be a fun and safe way to explore fetishes but always treat real people with respect. Fantasize responsibly. ^^

~~~~~

The second negotiation proceeded very differently from the first. Dread met with Wreven beforehand, apologizing for destroying part of the Wild Lands, and explaining his intentions.

King Anthony and Princess Aelodi had been forced to the table and were guarded by Viyana when Dread walked in. Wreven arrived soon after.

"You're a monster!" Aelodi said. Her face was screwed up with rage. Tears cut through dust to form clear lines on her cheeks.

"Yes," Dread said proudly. "I am." He leered at the princess.

Anthony studied him from narrowed eyes, the nostrils of his bent nose were caked with flakes of blood, and he cleared his throat before speaking. "What do you want?"

"You have no army anymore," Dread said, sneering. "Your Silken City is undefended and your territories lie vulnerable to invasion."

Aelodi's face broke and her rage transformed to despair. Anthony steeled his features.

"What will you do if a force attacks?" Dread asked.

"We are certainly exposed," Anthony said. "You have us in your grasp already."

"We have allies," Aelodi said. "We are not defenseless. We have Wreven, of course, Barbarian King and longtime ally of the Golden Lands. Isn't that right?"

Wreven nodded solemnly. "Of course, princess, the Wild Lands stands with you."

The princess regained some of her arrogance and her eyes flashed as she turned on Dread. "See?"

Anthony studied Wreven closely but gave no sign of his thoughts. Finally, he spoke. "We have allies overseas though they will take time to arrive. We already sent word to the Cloud City. The Valkyries have long been our partners in trade and war."

Dread put on an act of being flustered and rose suddenly. "It doesn't matter," he spat.

"I'm going to march on the Silken City. The Dark Lands will claim the Golden Lands as our own."

Anthony sighed and his shoulders slumped. He, at least, understood Dread's power after witnessing the horrific acts of destruction born from pacts with dark gods.

"Am I to believe," Anthony said, "that you are not taking us prisoner here and now?"

Dread gave a short, cruel laugh. "Of course not. I care nothing for you or your idiot slut daughter. I want your lands, your throne, and your city." Dread lied effortlessly but he wondered if the king believed his words.

"You won't find the Silken City so easy to take," Anthony said. "Is there nothing we can do to reach an agreement of peace?"

"Your word holds no weight, betrayer," Dread said.

Dread opened a portal to the forests outside of the Silken City. This portal was much larger than those he'd made before and it had to be this large to carry out his plan. Wreven's host needed to be able to travel through. The Silken City itself had been warded against portal magic so he couldn't open a gateway inside the walls. This would have to do.

"You will travel through with Wreven's host," Dread said. "I will arrive on the morrow and we will resolve this conflict forever."

Dread turned away and opened a separate portal back to the Damned Citadel.

"You're too confident, Dreadhex," Anthony said. "Why are you letting us go?"

Dread didn't bother turning around and gave no answer. He slipped through the portal away from the windy plains of the Wild Lands and stepped into the forever dark realm of his home.

~~~~~

Dread led his collection of criminals, killers, rapists, and thieves through a portal at dawn. They stepped out of the cold, dark, shadowed lands of his home and into the idyllic forests outside of the Silken City. A short trek lead them out of the forests to camp on the outskirts of the city walls.

The Silken City stood as a symbol of privilege and prosperity. The city walls were formed from polished marble. Tall, masterwork towers jutted up over the walls, crafted by the most skilled masons.

A cursory count placed the number of Dread's men at roughly two thousand, though they weren't so much an army as a loosely organized mob. Wreven's host camped outside the walls as well, adjacent to his own camps, and outnumbered them five to one. He had no need to speak to Wreven. Everything had been decided the previous day after he'd annihilated the Golden Land's troops.

Just an hour or so after Dread made camp, they received word from a messenger. The king wanted to meet for a final negotiation. Dread had been expecting this. Anthony was no fool and now knew the dark power coursing through Dread's veins. He'd seen it firsthand. Pragmatism dictated he try again to talk his way out of his predicament.

Dread traveled into the Silken City with Elaxia and Viyana to meet with the king. Oddly, nerves bubbled in his stomach. This was a key part of his plan and he needed to execute it to perfection. He reminded himself of his goal. He cared not for the Silken City or the Golden Lands territory. Dread cared only about driving King Anthony mad with sorrow.

The gates rose and Dread walked the Silken City's tiled streets, weaving through tightly packed buildings. Merchants hawked goods and citizens moved in a river of motion and energy from place to place. The sun hung in the sky overhead and gave brightness and warmth to every inch of the city.

Dread pushed his way through the crowd up to the middle district. The Silken City was divided into three general districts. The outer district was where the majority of the citizens lived. Small, densely arranged homes and shops lined narrow, winding streets. The outer district was separated from the middle district by a wall.

Many of the merchants and citizens who acquired wealth by one means or another called the middle district home. This section of the Silken City also offered many places of entertainment and relaxation such as brothels, taverns, and theaters.

As Dread moved deeper into the city, he noted no small number of city guards. They were almost as many as his collection of criminals and scum. The army of the golden lands had been destroyed but King Anthony still possessed a numerous and thriving city guard.

Beyond the middle district, gates blocked access into the inner district which contained mansions for nobles and merchant princes alongside the golden palace itself. These gates were guarded even more heavily than those that came before. For every guard at an outer district gate, there were a hundred at each inner city gate. Dread passed through after displaying his note sealed with the king's crest, and made his way up wide golden, gem-encrusted streets towards the palace proper.

After entering the palace, Dread introduced himself to a servant adorned in silk and was escorted into a large meeting chamber with many windows. An impressive wooden table, expertly engraved, dominated the center of the room and innumerable chairs surrounded it.

Dread sat and Elaxia took her place at his side. Wreven was already seated on a chair that appeared tiny under his monstrous bulk. The Barbarian King winked at him and Dread grinned back. A few minutes later, King Anthony and Princess Aelodi arrived. They were alone save for a few guards in their retinue.

They sat across from Dread and wore solemn expressions. Viyana whispered in Dread's ear. "There are many armed men outside." He noted this but felt no fear. Simple martial men had no chance of neutralizing him.

"King Dreadhex," Anthony said. "Thank you for agreeing to meet with me."

Dread grunted in response.

"I see you've managed to corral your criminals and vagabonds into an actual fighting force," the king said.

Princess Aelodi scowled at Dread.

"They were eager when I promised them free reign to pillage and plunder the Silken City," Dread said. He smiled at the princess.

"That is why I proposed this meeting," Anthony said. "You are a formidable mage but Wreven's forces outnumber your own."

"The forces do not matter," Dread said.

"Perhaps," King Anthony said. "But you can't just destroy the Silken City. Fighting in a city is very different from an open field. Your magic won't discriminate from enemy and citizen. I think even you will hesitate to slaughter innocent folk. Wreven's forces will make taking the city with your small host of men a nightmare."

"I am of two minds," Wreven interjected. "Of course, I have long stood with the Golden Lands, but Dread is a dangerous opponent. I fear many of my host will die if we engage in war."

Anthony nodded. "I understand your fears Wreven."

Princess Aelodi's pouty mouth dropped open in shock. "But you said you stood with us!"

"After witnessing the aftermath of Dread's magic on the battlefield, I'm leaning towards caution." Wreven shrugged. "I am not sure what I stand to gain by aiding the Golden Lands in this conflict."

"Know the Dark Lands hold no grudge against the Wild Lands," Dread said. "Not yet, anyway."

Dread pinched Elaxia under the table and she nodded at him. She focused her gaze on the king and he knew she had begun casting a charm.

"What can we do to earn your favor?" Princess Aelodi asked. Desperation painted her features. Dread thought she was more attractive when she was scared. He realized such a thought was deranged but he wasn't surprised. Forming pacts with ancient, evil gods had no doubt stained his soul.

The king cut in. "Surely, we can reach some arrangement Wreven? We'd be most willing to offer generous terms in exchange for your host of wild men." His eyes widened as the sound of his stomach filled the chamber. Loud, tumultuous gurgling. The king stood, face tight with pain, and he held his middle. "E-excuse me a moment."

The king ran out of the room. Elaxia shot Dread a satisfied smirk.

"Well, princess," Wreven said. "Perhaps I can be convinced but I wish to negotiate with you. You are the future of the Golden Lands and I would like to hear what you have to say. Meet with me this evening in my tent and we can discuss terms."

The princess nodded solemnly, eager to take on the responsibility. "I will tell my father and meet--"

"Leave your father out of it," Wreven said. "I don't wish to negotiate with him but with you. I think you possess a shrewdness and flexibility inherent to the young which your father has lost. Do not tell him. Come and meet with me alone and we may yet find common ground."

The princess appeared confused and uncertain. She didn't understand but she would. Finally, she gave a tight nod and brushed a lock of white blonde hair behind an ear. "Of course King Wreven. I will see you this eve."

Dread detected doubt on her face and he thought she'd probably tell her father anyway. He wanted to avoid that.

"Oh Wreven," Dread said airily. "I highly doubt this pretty idiot possesses the nerve to meet with you alone. No doubt she's going to run off to daddy as soon as this meeting ends and beg his help."

Aelodi flushed with anger and embarrassment. "Silence, fiend. I am much more capable than you know."

"Everything you are and have is due to your father," Dread said simply. "It's plainly obvious for all to see. You will not act without him. I know this for truth."

"You don't know me," Aelodi snapped. Her anger and shame had been replaced with resolve. "I agree to meet with Wreven."

Dread shrugged, rose, made a show of stretching, and started to leave. "None of this concerns me, but thank you for inviting me to this meeting. It's been most amusing watching Princess Aelodi play at a competent diplomat."

Aelodi sputtered, face turning red, and Dread didn't wait for her to find words. He simply left. The trap had been set, plans stirred to motion, and now he only needed to wait until night.

He pushed his way through the city guard tightly packing the hall outside, feeling no fear, even as hundreds of hostile eyes studied him. After all, a lethal bladedancer lurked in his shadow.