Note to readers -- this story is a rewrite and combination of my two previous Eros stories.
Chapter 1 -- the dhows
I wonder who they are, Reenah thought. She lifted her hand to shield her eyes against the blinding reflection of the midday sun. The beach sand was white like the snow topping mount Achnor, and this time of day the sun god made everyone acknowledge his splendor. At least ten triangular sails dotted the horizon of the turquoise waters. It was rare to see any ships off this barren coast. Those that were sighted appeared only as distant specks for a brief moment. Merchants from some remote land headed to some unknown destination. These vessels were different, however, dhows by their shape. They were definitely headed ashore, could it be here? Their sails were full and the wind blowing hard as it was, the first of them would most likely land within the hour.
The leadership role was new for Reenah. This was her first command and she was determined to make it a success. The young women in her squadron were training to become warriors. Reenah was charged with taking them on a three week desert trek and instructing them in the arts of war. The princess Ayl had personally selected these girls and the appointment was not to be taken lightly. It was an honor to be chosen to be a defender of the temple. One had to be strong, athletic and tough. Reenah certainly met those qualifications. She had just turned age twenty-one and could run like an oribi chased by a hungry leopard. She had never lost in the wrestling pits either, winning last year's tournament.
The dhows were close enough now that the men were visible, definitely not merchants but pirates by the looks of them. Her small detachment might need reinforcements and she had dispatched a runner as a precaution. However, it would be at least two moon rises before any assistance could be expected. Reenah fidgeted with her cowry shell necklace. The recruits under her command were unseasoned and raw. Some had never even seen a man, much less fought with one. The few men permitted in the temple were kept only as breeding stock and were not allowed in public. Herself, well, she had seen a man or two but even she had never fought one, especially against a free one.
Her mind worked quickly as she considered all of her options. Even though outnumbered, a stand must be made to repel these uninvited intruders. The temple must be protected at all costs, she thought. And besides, if she was successful in chasing these bandits away, the princess would surely be pleased. Maybe even very pleased, she thought. Perhaps she would be rewarded with one of the man slaves for a night. That would be nice. What would it be like to hold a cock? She wondered how it would feel to put her hand around one, making it hard, making it spurt.
Hopefully these pirates could be convinced to leave without a fight. That would be best, wouldn't it? Reenah was proud of her skills as a negotiator. Her ability to communicate was one of the reasons why she had been made a squadron leader. Yes, definitely, that was best plan. She would take Daphne and wait for the intruders at the shore. There they would be told in no uncertain terms to leave.
Reenah decided to position her novice warriors thirty meters away from the surf. Their arrows would be notched and their bows drawn. In addition to her negotiating skills, the sight of determined young women would surely convince these idiotic pirates that a quick departure was in their best interest. The pirates would not know that her warriors lacked experience.
Before positioning the archers, Reenah again looked about for possible cover. There was nothing but sand and drift wood in this desolate place. There were no forests to escape to if things went amiss. The giant dunes behind them separated the beach from a vast desert. She knew the pirates could see easily them by now. The brightly colored lateens of the dhows were growing larger by the minute. Still no hint as to their land of origin, she thought. She reminded herself that her warriors had coated their arrowheads with a toxin derived from the small red frogs inhabiting the swamps inland of the temple. Just a graze of an arrow would bring quick death to any man or beast. The poison would make up for the lack of accuracy.
"Do not loose your arrows until my signal." she instructed. The warriors were visibly nervous; she needed to build their confidence.
"Be strong! The goddess Aria will protect us and we are warriors of Eros!" she said in her firmest voice.
Several of the warriors raised their bows, ululating a sharp war cry in response.
Negotiations first, she reminded herself. Only if talk failed would she signal for a volley of arrows. She did not want any casualties unless absolutely necessary. The soft, powdery sands separating the shoreline from her warriors would slow any charge by pirates. This was a good plan. She ran through a mental checklist and everything was covered.
Reenah's loose fitting harem pants were composed of a diaphanous material which shimmered with iridescent hues. The low slung pants were fastened above each hip by small clasps. The waistband dipped low in front, barely concealing her feminine charms. The pants legs were slit lengthwise from the ankles to high on each hip. When Reenah walked the fabric parted allowing a glimpse of silky bronzed skin.
Her fluted sleeve top was made from the same material as the harem pants and was tied in the back. Only an opal navel piercing and plenty of bare flesh separated the two garments. Some of the archers were similarly adorned. A few, however, were naked except for hip cloths and still others wore only skimpy panties. Reenah's cowry shell necklace was worn with pride. She was presented with it after winning the wrestling championship in the pits of Ogg.
Curse the gods, Kral thought when he spotted the archers on the beach. They will flee and alert the temple. But as the dhows drew closer the stupid girls had remained in place. Would they stay and fight? The massive dunes behind them had left no line of retreat. This was good fortune, made even better by what looked to be two foolish emissaries coming forward from the group. Time to ready the nets; there was soft girl flesh waiting to be taken.
Kral had planned this raid long before the dhows had set sail. Their ships would first travel to a river delta along the barren wind swept coast. From there, his raiders would hike along the giant dunes, taking care to avoid any guard outposts. The goal was to locate a place called the temple of Eros. This well guarded temple was foretold to be a place where a tribe of beautiful women lived and worshipped their goddess.
An ancient Bedouin trader talked about a tunnel outside the temple, all Kral needed to do was find it. The Bedouin said there was no other way to get past the sentries on the walls. Kral and his men would wait until the darkness of night, and would quietly enter the temple. The nubile young acolytes which lived there would be abducted and returned to the ships. They were not to be harmed; the wealthy merchants who financed this trip were insistent about this directive. The traders needed their merchandise unspoiled to get the best price in the sex slave markets.
Rumors were widespread concerning the unsurpassed beauty of the nymphs who served in the temple. Kral would receive a bonus based on the number and quality of the captives he returned; the payment would make him extremely wealthy.
Kral needed the money too. He had debts, a lot of them. His penchant for gambling had left many interested in his whereabouts and he had run out of time. This raid had better be successful, he thought.
He'd also heard the whispers about the honeyed sex dew of the temple pussy. Every morning, it was told, the acolytes would rub fragrant oils on their bodies. Worship of their goddess required daily masturbation, and the acolytes were experts at fingering their soft pussies until orgasm. Refined by these rituals, the acolyte pussy dew was said to bring immense pleasure to any who tasted it, pleasure so intense it would turn even the strongest man into a slobbering addict. This mystery, fable or not, had generated a lot of front money for the trip and promise of more to follow. Kral wondered if the story was true.
The beach was closer now; the water color had changed from deep blue to emerald green. The defenders had still not fled. Good. Kral signaled a few of the dhows to break course and veer north. The men in these dhows would flank the women and cut them off if they tried to escape. The main group of raiders would continue on straight ahead. At Kral's orders they would charge in a full frontal assault and overwhelm the hapless defenders. The poisoned arrows would be useless unless a mortal area was struck. The Bedouin had sold him an antidote for the frog toxin to render it harmless.
Kral looked over to the dhow on his right. Brindar, his second in command, was concentrating intently on the soft ripe flesh on the beach. Like the other pirates, the huge man was oiled and naked, wearing only a metal helmet with a faceplate. He grasped a net in one hand. There would be no swords or axes brought ashore; the prey was not to be harmed. Kral was not sure, however, how he would prevent a large scale ravaging of the girls right on the beach. Their supple young bodies seemingly begged for sex and were driving his men wild with lust.
