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Barsoom Tales II: Romance, Revolution and BLOODY REVENGE!!! -- COMPLETE
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<blockquote data-quote="barsoomcore" data-source="post: 4555893" data-attributes="member: 812"><p><strong>What A Woman's Got To Do: 16</strong></p><p></p><p>Collette stared long and hard at the dead woman in the cage.</p><p></p><p>"Are you sure she's dead?"</p><p></p><p>The enormous man beside her shrugged.</p><p></p><p>"She ain't moved in more'n a day, boss. She ain't breathing, far as we can tell."</p><p></p><p>"Give her a couple more days. We'll know when she starts to decompose."</p><p></p><p>The slender, dark-haired woman turned and walked down the stone hallway. She climbed the steps and stood for a second in the half-ruined dining hall of some grand house. One side of the room had been taken up with a sort of camp: cots and trestle tables arranged, around which sat or leaned a near-dozen heavily armed mercenaries.</p><p></p><p>"So? Is she dead?"</p><p></p><p>Collette strode to a table on which was spread a detailed map of the Barony of Lasseux. Various arrows and lines denoted what appeared to be troop movements or battle sites. She studied the map for a second, then slammed her hand down.</p><p></p><p>"Very close. Starvation seems to be working. Once we're sure she's gone, we'll put her in the ground."</p><p></p><p>"Cut her head off first. Cut the heart out and burn it."</p><p></p><p>"Yeah, good ideas, Matthias. We should do that."</p><p></p><p>"Seemed like a nice lady. It's a shame."</p><p></p><p>With a sigh, Collette turned around and leaned back against the table. She was an incongruous sight, a slight figure amongst these burly fighting men, but she obviously commanded their respect.</p><p></p><p>"Yeah, it's a real shame. But it had to be done."</p><p></p><p>"Is she the last?"</p><p></p><p>"Nope."</p><p></p><p>"She had a kid?"</p><p></p><p>"A son."</p><p></p><p>Matthias' face darkened considerably at the news, as though a sudden sadness had struck him.</p><p></p><p>"Damn. We got to find him."</p><p></p><p>Collette shook her head.</p><p></p><p>"I don't think so. Isaac will find us. Let's make sure the cages are good and strong. He's no old woman."</p><p></p><p>*****</p><p></p><p>The Tarn mourned. Of course, in the bizarre world they formed and inhabited, mourning required dance and song and capering insanity.</p><p></p><p>Usually they danced around their beloved King and his beautiful Queen, but today they danced around a new, unfamiliar figure, dark and somber and very, very handsome.</p><p></p><p>Farouk ibn Zaoud stood unsmiling in the midst of frivolity. He did not smile as the Queen of the Tarn approached him, the very picture of seductive glamour and fey passion.</p><p></p><p>"You... come on your mistress' behalf?"</p><p></p><p>The stoic warrior shook his head.</p><p></p><p>"No. I come on no cause but my own. I have no mistress now."</p><p></p><p>The Queen's green eyes widened. They widened still further when Farouk held up his right hand, in which he clutched the amulet that Elena had once used to control him.</p><p></p><p>"I am free."</p><p></p><p>"FREE..."</p><p></p><p>Voices on all sides erupted in thunderous fascination. Farouk nodded.</p><p></p><p>"I hold my binding. None holds me. And I wish a boon of the Tarn."</p><p></p><p>"Indeed? What do you offer? What do you seek?"</p><p></p><p>"I seek the wisdom of transforming my binding, to render myself safe from mortal control forever. You have such wisdom. No mortal control you, despite your binding. Give me that knowledge."</p><p></p><p>He paused and studied the Queen before him.</p><p></p><p>"As for what I offer... I shall bring to you... HER."</p><p></p><p>The Queen laughed.</p><p></p><p>"To this we agree. The Tarn will share its wisdom with you, free one. Once you have brought HER to us."</p><p></p><p>There was more dancing.</p><p></p><p>*****</p><p></p><p>"I'm not doing this, Torokan. This is wrong."</p><p></p><p>"It's the Demon Goddess, Morisawa. Are we ever going to get another shot at her like this?"</p><p></p><p>The two Nahanese women, nearly identical with their pinned-up hair and crimson kimono, sat staring angrily at each other. The younger one shook her head.</p><p></p><p>"No. Not with Shang. He will betray us, Torokan. You are putting the whole order at risk."</p><p></p><p>"Order? What order? There's nothing left, Kari. You're practically the only one left I can trust."</p><p></p><p>"Because Shang has corrupted the rest! And now you're giving him the perfect opportunity to clean up and take over completely. The Blood Council will cease to exist."</p><p></p><p>"I am decided, Morisawa. And I need you there."</p><p></p><p>Morisawa sighed and looked down at her knees, the kimono tucked carefully around them. The room was lit through paper panels on one wall. Outside, cicadas buzzed and the steady crop-crop-crop of a gardener's shears told of quiet labour. It was all very steady and soothing.</p><p></p><p>"F**k, Kimiko, I can't. He's going to betray you. All of us."</p><p></p><p>They locked eyes.</p><p></p><p>"Is it mutiny if I don't go?"</p><p></p><p>Torokan shook her head.</p><p></p><p>"No, Kari-chan. No. I won't do that. I'll take Morikage."</p><p></p><p>They were young women. Perhaps twenty years old. Morisawa wiped at tears on her cheeks.</p><p></p><p>"I will kill the Demon Goddess, Kari. She must be destroyed."</p><p></p><p>*****</p><p></p><p>Water tumbled from a tiny laquered teacup. It spiralled down, breaking up into droplets and dancing tendrils, and splashed into the dusty earth.</p><p></p><p>Etienne sobbed as he poured the water. Arrafin was still screaming, clutching at Elena's body. Isaac stood dazed, his cigar fallen from his mouth. Nevid stared hard and angry at the ground.</p><p></p><p>The ground where suddenly green verdant grass bloomed. Stately walls rose up around them, a well-tended courtyard, low elegant buildings and beyond, a high open pagoda with a raised flagstone floor.</p><p></p><p>Black tendrils drifted past them all and they turned. There stood Yuek Man Chong, the Demon Goddess, in all her unholy glory, and the confused civilians who bore the soul of Tsin Kwan, the last Blood Mother.</p><p></p><p>"So. The b***h didn't make it. We don't have time to grieve, people. Shang is coming."</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="barsoomcore, post: 4555893, member: 812"] [b]What A Woman's Got To Do: 16[/b] Collette stared long and hard at the dead woman in the cage. "Are you sure she's dead?" The enormous man beside her shrugged. "She ain't moved in more'n a day, boss. She ain't breathing, far as we can tell." "Give her a couple more days. We'll know when she starts to decompose." The slender, dark-haired woman turned and walked down the stone hallway. She climbed the steps and stood for a second in the half-ruined dining hall of some grand house. One side of the room had been taken up with a sort of camp: cots and trestle tables arranged, around which sat or leaned a near-dozen heavily armed mercenaries. "So? Is she dead?" Collette strode to a table on which was spread a detailed map of the Barony of Lasseux. Various arrows and lines denoted what appeared to be troop movements or battle sites. She studied the map for a second, then slammed her hand down. "Very close. Starvation seems to be working. Once we're sure she's gone, we'll put her in the ground." "Cut her head off first. Cut the heart out and burn it." "Yeah, good ideas, Matthias. We should do that." "Seemed like a nice lady. It's a shame." With a sigh, Collette turned around and leaned back against the table. She was an incongruous sight, a slight figure amongst these burly fighting men, but she obviously commanded their respect. "Yeah, it's a real shame. But it had to be done." "Is she the last?" "Nope." "She had a kid?" "A son." Matthias' face darkened considerably at the news, as though a sudden sadness had struck him. "Damn. We got to find him." Collette shook her head. "I don't think so. Isaac will find us. Let's make sure the cages are good and strong. He's no old woman." ***** The Tarn mourned. Of course, in the bizarre world they formed and inhabited, mourning required dance and song and capering insanity. Usually they danced around their beloved King and his beautiful Queen, but today they danced around a new, unfamiliar figure, dark and somber and very, very handsome. Farouk ibn Zaoud stood unsmiling in the midst of frivolity. He did not smile as the Queen of the Tarn approached him, the very picture of seductive glamour and fey passion. "You... come on your mistress' behalf?" The stoic warrior shook his head. "No. I come on no cause but my own. I have no mistress now." The Queen's green eyes widened. They widened still further when Farouk held up his right hand, in which he clutched the amulet that Elena had once used to control him. "I am free." "FREE..." Voices on all sides erupted in thunderous fascination. Farouk nodded. "I hold my binding. None holds me. And I wish a boon of the Tarn." "Indeed? What do you offer? What do you seek?" "I seek the wisdom of transforming my binding, to render myself safe from mortal control forever. You have such wisdom. No mortal control you, despite your binding. Give me that knowledge." He paused and studied the Queen before him. "As for what I offer... I shall bring to you... HER." The Queen laughed. "To this we agree. The Tarn will share its wisdom with you, free one. Once you have brought HER to us." There was more dancing. ***** "I'm not doing this, Torokan. This is wrong." "It's the Demon Goddess, Morisawa. Are we ever going to get another shot at her like this?" The two Nahanese women, nearly identical with their pinned-up hair and crimson kimono, sat staring angrily at each other. The younger one shook her head. "No. Not with Shang. He will betray us, Torokan. You are putting the whole order at risk." "Order? What order? There's nothing left, Kari. You're practically the only one left I can trust." "Because Shang has corrupted the rest! And now you're giving him the perfect opportunity to clean up and take over completely. The Blood Council will cease to exist." "I am decided, Morisawa. And I need you there." Morisawa sighed and looked down at her knees, the kimono tucked carefully around them. The room was lit through paper panels on one wall. Outside, cicadas buzzed and the steady crop-crop-crop of a gardener's shears told of quiet labour. It was all very steady and soothing. "F**k, Kimiko, I can't. He's going to betray you. All of us." They locked eyes. "Is it mutiny if I don't go?" Torokan shook her head. "No, Kari-chan. No. I won't do that. I'll take Morikage." They were young women. Perhaps twenty years old. Morisawa wiped at tears on her cheeks. "I will kill the Demon Goddess, Kari. She must be destroyed." ***** Water tumbled from a tiny laquered teacup. It spiralled down, breaking up into droplets and dancing tendrils, and splashed into the dusty earth. Etienne sobbed as he poured the water. Arrafin was still screaming, clutching at Elena's body. Isaac stood dazed, his cigar fallen from his mouth. Nevid stared hard and angry at the ground. The ground where suddenly green verdant grass bloomed. Stately walls rose up around them, a well-tended courtyard, low elegant buildings and beyond, a high open pagoda with a raised flagstone floor. Black tendrils drifted past them all and they turned. There stood Yuek Man Chong, the Demon Goddess, in all her unholy glory, and the confused civilians who bore the soul of Tsin Kwan, the last Blood Mother. "So. The b***h didn't make it. We don't have time to grieve, people. Shang is coming." [/QUOTE]
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