The alarm came early the next morning, just as the sun was edging its way over the foothills. Sister Augustine rose slowly, stretching her surprisingly well-rested muscles as she lifted herself out of her bed.
As footsteps thundered passed her door she looked down in dismay at the mess between her legs, dried juices clinging to her hair and thighs from the night's torment. Reaching for the bowl of water, which still rested at the foot of the bed, she quickly started to wash away the signs of sin, but as her fingers touched her crotch she felt an echo of the stranger's touch and quickly pulled away.
She was still sensitive, even after a night's unsettled sleep, and even the touch of the water was enough to cause her labia to throb. Carefully she dressed herself in her armour, making sure to pad her crotch to ensure she would not be distracted during the battle, before making her way out into the corridor.
Almost immediately troops surrounded her, "What are our orders? Where do we go? What should we do?" Holding her hands up she quietened them all, trying to seem serene and in control even as her body began to whisper to her.
"It's the same drill as yesterday, we hold the line." Sister Augustine intoned, her voice heavy and inspiring, "They couldn't break us then, and they won't today."
A cheer went up through the crowd and the soldiers continued on their way, their steps seeming just a little lighter for having heard her words.
Making her own way through the throng Sister Augustine found her way up to the battlements where she could oversee the path leading up from the valley. The first wave of daemons were already close, their wild cries and guttural moans echoing off the mountainside.
Turning away Sister Augustine surveyed her forces and was happy to see almost every soldier at their post, the only ones missing those too severely injured to fight on the frontline. It was a good sign that there had been no desertions in the night, morale was high and the soldiers prepared to do their duty.
The time had come, "Archers..." Sister Augustine cried as she raised her arm and paused, waiting just long enough to ensure the full body were ready before swinging it down, "Loose!"
Azul was not happy as he watched the battle, which seemed as much a repeat of the previous day as every other sally he'd launched. Turning to his attendant, who flinched away from his master's angry glare, he asked, "Have we heard from our guest? She said this problem would be solved by this morning."
The attendant cleared his throat noisily as he tried to prepare his reply, "Mi'lord, she said our troops would be needed, not that victory would be ours. Perhaps this is merely part of a larger plan?"
For a moment Azul's glare bore into his underling, who sweated and twitched while awaiting the inevitable beating which was to come. Turning away sharply Azul strode towards the map table which had been set up beside his throne. "You're right," He boomed to the relieved attendant, "She's the Overlords' agent, not mine, and it's quite possible she was sent here by them not to help, but to ensure my defeat."
Staring down at the map Azul quickly counted up the markers identifying his forces, which daemons had been summoned, which held loyalty purely to him and which had been loaned to him by other necromancers, sorcerers and mages across the kingdoms. Carefully he began to rearrange the pieces, moving some to the flanks and others to reserve until finally calling for his attendant.
"I want to ensure our survival should anything... untoward occur. Have my forces redeploy at once, bring them home, to recover from their injuries. Replace them on the front with the reserves and order them to press the attack to the last." He said, his words carefully chosen so no record of any disloyalty could be made.
"Mi'lord, that may leave the reserve inadequate should we need them." The attendant responded, buoyed by his earlier success.
Before he could react Azul's hand was around the attendant's throat, fingers squeezing tightly. "I know that, you fool." He spat in the underlings face. "But this battle must be won soon; otherwise I may lose my place in the Alliance. And if that happens I may become the next target."
Suddenly Azul's face changed, a flash of fear dancing across it for a moment as he realised he'd said too much, and perhaps damned himself in the process. Throwing the attendant to the floor Azul waved over one of the scantily clad female slaves littering the tent. "Did you hear my orders?"
The slave's eyes darted between Azul, the attendant and the map board for a moment, unsure if this was some kind of test or trap as she tried to decide what answer her master wanted. "Yes..." she answer uncertainly, her body preparing to run should it be wrong.
