The Deviant Dominant

Chapter 11 - Lucy

Lukas had assumed Lucy would eventually catch on to the team's lewd activities, but the bluntness of her question still caught him off guard. He stifled his surprise, however, and just responded with a smirk.

"Even the Anoran?" Lucy pressed. "She's gorgeous, but I thought for sure she was a prude."

"I'll let her share what she wants," Lukas replied with a chuckle, "but the more you get to know Laera, the more you'll be surprised."

"Damn," she said. "Nice job."

She looked forward to the group ahead, lost in thought. Then she turned back to Lukas. "How would one go about joining the team's sexual ventures?"

"Don't you worry," Lukas said with a devious grin. "I have something special planned for you."

"Planned for me? Do you enjoy keeping me in suspense?"

"I would definitely enjoy keeping you suspended," he replied, "but be patient. You won't have to wait long. You should be fully aware, though, this is more than just casual sex. There's an extra aspect of commitment involved and it impacts our Adventuring."

"More subtlety added to the mystery? I wouldn't expect anything less. I'm game, though. Bring it on." She leaned towards Lukas with a sultry smile on her face. "I'll do anything to be on this team. Anything." She sensually licked her lips for effect.

"Do I look like the type of person that would take advantage of such an offer?" Lukas teased.

Lucy just gave him a wink and then galloped ahead, easily passing Gemma, who was struggling to maintain her feeble lead.

***

They reached Willowdale a tick past midnight. A couple of Adventurers, who will not be named, slowed the group down with their mediocre horseback riding. The town was a small place. Lukas could see the entire layout from atop a small hill that overlooked the town.

It had a small central square that housed a couple large trees and a fountain. A few dozen larger buildings were scattered around the main square in no discernible pattern. Most of them were dark, but light shone through the windows of a scattered few.

The rest of the town consisted of countless smaller houses; like the larger buildings, most were dark, but some still showed signs of activity. The most noticeable structure was the castle-like manor. It was built on a hill at the opposite side of town from where the two teams were looking down upon. Its stone walls glowed white in the moonlight, and its windows all shone with a bright light.

"Alright," Meatloaf announced, "Let's head over to the manor."

At the manor, they met with the lord of the estate. He generously provided them with the best lodgings available in the town, which was in the grand estate itself. The bandit situation was to wait until the next day when everyone was better rested. Lukas spent just a bit of time enjoying a hot bath and some fine food before going to bed.

Early the next morning, Lukas and the others ate breakfast in a dining room that was adjacent and dedicated to their lodgings. The tall Dominant thought his own appetite was large until he witnessed Meatloaf pile a seventh serving on his plate. After the meal, they filed into the noble's office for a quick briefing.

"Greetings," the man seated at the head of the table said. He was portly, with a thick beard. "Allow me to introduce myself, I am Lord Veyron of Willowdale. I am most grateful for the opportunity to host Adventurers from the Chimera Guild." He gave a pair of curt nods to the group of ten fighters in front of him.

The lord then continued. "I'm glad you've arrived so quickly; our situation is becoming more and more dire. A few weeks ago, we arrested Jorg Brunfelt after catching him rustling horses. The Brunfelt clan lives out in the hills and usually leaves our town alone. However, once they caught wind of Jorg' capture, they showed up with nearly a dozen men and demanded his release immediately. I, of course, insisted that he face justice under the law and refused to cave to their implicit threat. The Brunfelt family just laughed and left."

"They've been a problem ever since," Lord Veyron said. "They started by taking livestock from the outlying farms. We tried to protect them, but we can't be everywhere at once. They eventually started killing our soldiers. Just last week, they killed three who were escorting a merchant caravan. Now, they are threatening to raid Willowdale itself if their demands are not met."

"Is it still just a dozen men?" Meatloaf asked.

"Unfortunately, no," the lord replied. "Their vast extended family is spread out across the hills, plus a mesh of backwoods connections; they've congregated into a menacing mob. Their numbers have grown from a dozen to nearly a hundred. An unruly countryside mob would have been bad enough, but they've also become more organized, aggressive, and ruthless. We've tried to negotiate with them, but they've made unreasonable demands. They want to run me out of town and take over. You can see how desperately we need the Chimera Guild's assistance. The whole town is counting on you."

Lord Veyron was visibly worried. He fidgeted in his chair as he spoke, his eyes darted around the room, and his face had a sweaty sheen. Lukas could tell he was not used to having to deal with such a serious situation.

"What about their location?" Meatloaf continued collecting details.

"There's a homestead belonging to the Brunfelt family that they've been using as a base. It's about ten miles to the west, just past a small stream. I'll be sending two of my best men with you. They should be able to help you find it easily enough."

"Is there anything else we should know?" Lukas asked.

"There's a rumor that they have an Adventurer in the family," Lord Veyron replied. "We haven't been able to confirm if any such Adventurer is involved, but it's something you should be aware of."

Having extracted as much information as they could from the manor lord, the group of guild reinforcements thanked him and exited his office. Veyron followed them out and gestured to two of his guardsmen, indicating that they were assigned to accompany the Adventurers. The escort of two led them out of the manor. Once outside, Lukas couldn't help but notice how many people were watching them. He saw a few point at them and heard a couple whispers. To his great relief, what he saw and half-heard was not suspicion or skepticism, but hope. The contingent of heroes wasted no time; they marched out of the town, headed for the hills.

With the soldiers' guidance, the group soon arrived at the bandits' headquarters, easily recognizable due to its prominent location in a small valley. The hills on two sides provided natural barriers, while a small stream ran through the valley, offering a convenient source of water. A large house, surrounded by a sturdy wall made of logs, sat at the center of the valley. A single gate served as the only entrance. Wide enough for a wagon to pass through simultaneously, the gate seemed designed to facilitate ease of access while still providing adequate security.

Lukas turned to Meatloaf with a thoughtful expression. "I've been thinking about our approach," he said. "I hope you don't mind."

"Not at all," Meatloaf replied. "I mainly like to go in and smash things, but I appreciate you putting some thought into it."

The young Adventurer nodded, grateful that the experienced tank let him take the lead in the planning. "I was thinking of splitting us into two main groups," Lukas explained. "You, the two mages, and Gwyn will lead the charge at the front gate. Your enthusiasm for smashing things will be an asset in that situation. Lucy, how's your range?"

Lucy's eyes lit up. "Eager to show it off, sir."

"Good. You see that tree there on the hillside?" Lukas pointed to the left of the structures. "You'll split off from the main groups and position yourself up there. You should be able to target most anything in the complex."

"The rest of us," Lukas said while indicating to himself plus the remaining six, "will attempt to breach the wall on the right side there. That log wall shouldn't be too difficult to climb."

Meatloaf grinned, clearly excited. "Sounds like a plan to me." As the tank readied himself to lead the charge on the gate, his target swung open, and a contingent of forty men rode out of the opening.

"Do you think they saw us?" Laera asked.

"Not likely," Lukas responded. "I think they're going out for a raid. Looks like we've just been gifted a prime opportunity. Let's fall back a few hundred paces and set up an ambush."

The group quickly fell back, using the surrounding brush as cover to conceal themselves from view. The army of horsemen approached them at a brisk speed. On Lukas' signal, Lucy let an explosive arrow loose into the bandit pack. The arrow struck a completely unsuspecting rider in the middle and detonated. A majority of the horde was impacted, throwing over twenty men off their horses. The contingent of bandits barely had time to halt before an enormous mass of flesh and steel barrelled towards them. For how bulky he was, Meatloaf moved with a speed that surprised enemy and ally alike.

Gemma and Lukas charged from the other side, their blades flashing in the sunlight as they cut down any bandits who got in their way. Lucy fired arrow after arrow, taking out several more of the horsemen. Ellie, the elf on Meatloaf's team, produced numerous throwing daggers from inside her cloak. With a quick flash of reflected sunlight, the daggers darted through the air, piercing through gaps in their foes' armor. Fiona weaved through the midst of the disorganized band, her dagger expertly brandished in her fingers. She had opted to save most of her skills for the next battle, but still took down a couple enemy combatants. Despite having the numbers, the bandits were decisively outmatched. With the element of surprise on their side, the Adventures had more than sufficient force.

Four horsemen made a break from battle, racing back towards their base. Lucy's archery, combined with Laera's lightning, easily cut them down. As the dust settled, Meatloaf took a bit of time to catch his breath, while Lukas surveyed the aftermath of the battle, his eyes scanning the field for any signs of survivors.

"This should make storming their makeshift fort a lot easier," Lukas said, wiping his sword clean. "Shall we go finish the job?"

Meatloaf nodded, his massive chest heaving with exertion. "Aye, let's do it."

Lukas carefully led his battle group of seven up a hill to gain a strategic position, but remained concealed. Lucy had snuck off in a hurry in the other direction, rushing to get set up in her perch before the frontal assault.

As they crested the hill, Lukas saw Meatloaf prepare his group. Lukas silently led his squad towards the log wall. Meatloaf charged forward with a mighty roar, his massive frame thundering towards the gate. The two mages, Gwyn, and a Dire Wolf followed close behind, ready to support the brazen and ferocious attack.

Meatloaf smashed through the gate to find sixty men gathering to repel the invaders. Armed with a shield and a battle mace, he fought off the first responders. Magical attacks started flowing through the gate, prioritizing any bandits who attempted to surround the tank.

While Meatloaf's loud and diversionary brawl raged on, Lukas and his group scaled the logs and dropped into the walled compound. A group of bandit archers had started to form a line to support their comrades at the front gate, but failed to notice the stealthy intruders at their rear.

After a quick ambush from behind, the archers were no more. The enemies swarming Meatloaf at the front gate had caused him to fall back thanks only to sheer numbers, but the Brunfelt homestead had already been infiltrated. Lukas sliced through a couple of nearby combatants before an older-looking bandit directed the horde to engage the intruders within the walls.

The bandit leader, a grizzled old man with a scar above his left eyebrow, bellowed orders at his decreasing numbers. "Form up! Take back our home!" Those were his last words, as an arrow flew over the opposite wall and skewered his head, in one ear and out the other.

The bandits charged towards Lukas and his group, who had fanned out across the yard. Meatloaf roared in approval as he saw the gated entrance begin to clear out. He charged through once again, keeping pressure on the enemy.

The battle surged on, and Lukas felt optimistic. The bandits were slowly but surely being pushed back, their numbers dwindling as they fell to the relentless onslaught of Lukas' group. Fiona teleported into the fray, triggered her Ultimate, and wreaked havoc with her dagger. Gwyn's Dire Wolf chased fleeing men around the base as they screamed in terror.

One last challenge remained, though, as a new threat emerged from the shadows. A burly man with a crazed grin on his face stepped forward, his eyes fixed on Lukas with a malevolent intent. He wielded a two-handed longsword crafted from blackened steel, and was swinging it around with great strength before he'd even engaged. He lunged forward, thrusting the impressive blade towards Lukas. The young Adventurer parried and spun to the side avoiding the charging foe.

Lukas swung his swords in wide, opposing arcs, aiming to catch the man off guard. The burly man, however, was no novice, and managed to deflect both attacks with his massive sword. The two warriors clashed, their blades ringing out as they exchanged blow for blow.

Gemma came flying in to help with her flaming sword. Their adversary stepped back and triggered an ability, finally confirming beyond all doubt that he was the rumored Adventurer. A glimmer of magic sizzled in the air as an exact replica of the enemy fighter appeared, standing next to the original.

Lukas and Gemma continued the brawl against their duplicated enemy, sparks flying as the dangerous blades clanged against each other. Lukas triggered his Praise ability, boosting Gemma's fighting strength. The timing was lucky, as the enemy Adventurer let out a heave of his lungs and expelled a green cloud into Lukas' face. The smell was certainly rancid, but the poison failed to affect the tall Dominant in any way.

A glowing arrow flew over the wall and struck the foe, stunning him. Lukas used the opportunity to score a few hits before his enemy's black sword resumed swinging to counter his parries. Finally, the inevitable happened. The remaining bandit army collapsed in defeat, allowing the rest of Lukas' allies to converge on the two-on-two matchup. Coincidentally, the enemy's replicated cohort also expired, dispelled in a shower of purple sparks.

Despite his barbaric and brutish appearance, the bandit Adventurer recognized the impending outcome was not pleasant for him. He took a few giant steps back before discarding his weapon. "I surrender," he declared gruffly. Lukas and Gemma exchanged puzzled glances. Having received most of their fighting experience in the Mystic Forest, the pair of warriors were not accustomed to their enemies surrendering. Luckily, Meatloaf stepped in.

"We are here representing the Chimera Guild," Meatloaf stated firmly. "We will escort you to the Eberlon to face justice, as the guild will be better equipped to handle your situation. Do you accept these terms?"

The rogue Adventurer glared at them with a mixture of resentment and defeat, but eventually nodded his head in acceptance. "Fine," he growled.

After a search of the residence and the numerous tents that were pitched on the ground within the walls, they found an additional two bandits hiding amongst several women and children. "It's getting late," Meatloaf mentioned, "but we should take Black Sword here back to Eberlorn immediately" He gestured towards the captured Adventurer. "You can take the rest of the captives back to Willowdale. Lord Veyron will need to decide what to do with the women and children; we can't leave them here."

Lukas nodded in agreement. Laera approached her tall leader with a whisper. "Hey Lukas, could I potentially go back with the other team? They could probably use an extra hand, and I want to be in Eberlorn in case Elvira returns ahead of schedule."

"I suppose it wouldn't be a big deal for us to be apart for a day," Lukas replied.

Meatloaf approached with 'Black Sword,' who was bound in some chains they had found around the homestead. "We are ready to head out. I want to hand over this guy to the Chimera Guild before nightfall. I'm trusting you not to swindle us out of the reward." Meatloaf gave Lukas a hearty laugh and a wink.

"How about I send my mage along as collateral?" Lukas responded. "She's keen to return to Eberlorn."

"No complaints here," Meatloaf said, affirming the addition to his plan. "As long as you don't tag along. Ellie could probably carry me to Eberlorn faster than you can ride a horse," he jested. The bulky tank mounted his horse, and his team followed suit. Their captive rode on one of the horses that the Brunfelts no longer needed. The rest of the party headed back to Willowdale.

***

Everything fell smoothly into place. The Adventurers debriefed the noble about their encounter and received their monetary reward, and left him the responsibility of handling the remainder of the captured Brufelt clan. The residents of Willowdale cheerfully bustled about, preparing a spontaneous yet sumptuous banquet to honor the brave warriors' victory. The spread of food was so abundant that Lukas was sure that Meatloaf would regret his early departure once he heard tale of it.

An hour or two later, the Adventurers took their seats at the grand table, surrounded by the warm glow of candles and the murmur of laughter. The aroma of roasted meats and steaming vegetables wafted through the air, teasing their taste buds and building their anticipation.

Lord Veyron, resplendent in his finest attire, stood at the head of the table, a warm smile on his face. He raised his goblet. "To our brave Adventurers; may this night be a celebration that Willowdale will remember for years to come." His toast was followed by the clinking of glasses and cheers. Then the crowd dug into the feast, their eyes shining with gratitude and satisfaction. As they ate, the Adventurers mingled with the citizens. Even the introverted Gemma was telling an older couple about her encounter with a Swamp Witch.

Once dinner had concluded, the Adventurers made their way back to their rooms to change out of their combat gear and get cleaned up. The night was not over, though. Lukas still had a plan to execute.

He observed the room he was staying in for the second night in a row. The walls were painted a deep burgundy, with corn molding lining the tops of the walls. There was a large mirror hanging on the wall over the headboard of the bed, and a couple of paintings were situated on the other walls. An opened door led to a small balcony on one side, blocked only by partially closed curtains that swayed gently in the breeze. Finally, the expected knock sounded.

"Come in," he said, turning to the door.

The door opened, and Lucy entered the room. She looked even more tantalizing than Lukas remembered, dressed in a sheer white nightgown. Her caramel-colored skin glowed under the candlelight, giving her an angelic appearance. The thin fabric did nothing to hide her curves, which were so voluptuous that she would have made an hourglass jealous. Her large breasts threatened to burst from her bodice, and her juicy ass stretched the thin material of the nightgown. The 19-year-old's frame was as delectable as any goddess'.

She sauntered over to Lukas, swaying her hips seductively. When she reached him, she wrapped her arms around his neck. "You wished to speak with me?"

"Yes," he replied, running his hands up and down her sides. "I wished to speak with you regarding your desire to be on the team."