Chapter 5: Battling
The storm had broken during the night, so after breakfast Devon went looking for Mr. Vickery, the owner of the Jerrik ranch. Michael Vickery had been the owner of the Jerrik ranch for over twenty years, ever since his father died in a swimming accident on Loch Shinn.
Devon found him working with his Catgirl Maggie and their son Carlysle. Since the Jerrik ranch was located in such a remote part of Blue, practically all of their pokegirls were transshipped down to the gym at Glasgow for adoption.
Airships usually visited this part of Blue twice a year. The airship that was coming for Devon had been specifically arranged by the Harris Conservatory. It was therefore not part of the normally scheduled route, so the Vickery family was hurriedly preparing any pokegirls that were ready so as to take advantage of the visit.
After all, Devon reflected, his family was paying for the flight so it made sense for the Vickerys to ship as many pokegirls as he could seeing as they wouldn’t have to pay any freight costs.
The airship had to land at Jerrik’s ranch. The Harris Conservatory had never seen fit to put in an airship landing site. Oh, any flat place would do to put down, but they’d never put in the umbilicals, anchors, and other associated equipment necessary to prepare an airship to travel farther on its route. Jerrik’s ranch was the closest landing site.
Devon spoke to Maggie, and found out he was in luck. A Tamer had somehow become stranded in Wick, off to the east, and being understandably frantic to leave had rushed here upon learning about the unscheduled airship.
Devon wondered briefly how a Tamer had ended up here. It didn’t make a lot of sense for a Tamer to be out here since the closest Gym was in Glasgow. It was highly probable that he was out trolling for feral pokegirls to add to his harem. Hopefully the people in Wick had warned him about the consequences of hunting on Harris land.
Well there was no better time than the present to see if this Tamer wanted to battle.
***
As he approached the Tamer, Devon looked him over. He appeared to be in his mid twenties perhaps a bit on the old side to be a Tamer. Women would find him handsome, with his even features, artfully tousled black hair and brown eyes. He was taller than Devon, probably a good 15 centimeters taller more than Devon’s 173.
But there was something about this man that felt wrong to Devon. He wasn’t definite about it and hoped this feeling was wrong. However, it usually wasn’t.
“Hello. I’m Devon.” He extended his hand.
The man shook it. “Lawrence Burnside from Bristol” He patted his pokeball belt. “I’m a Tamer.”
Devon smiled. “I’m just getting started.”
“Really? Got any pokegirls yet?”
“Two. Still working to get the kinks out though before I formally start my pokegirl journey.”
“What do you have?” Lawrence looked curiously at Devon. “I’ve got three.”
Devon knew that no Tamer with the smallest clue would give any information to a potential challenger before getting to know the individual a little better. Lawrence’s asking in the first place was considered extremely rude. Devon suspected that Mr. Burnside thought Devon was naïve. He decided to play along.
“I’ve got a bunny and witch.” Truthful enough, but lacking in certain specific details.
“A bunny. How common.” Lawrence smirked. “Still she might be worth something.” He made a show out of turning on the recording function of his pokedex. “I challenge you to a pokegirl battle for salvage.”
Devon hesitated. Lawrence was coming on like a serious heavyweight. He didn’t especially like the idea of starting out with the possibility of losing either of his pokegirls, but it was going to happen sooner or later.
He decided to see how well Lawrence knew his battling etiquette. “I agree with the stipulation of a two on two unlimited battle and salvage is not to be at random.”
Lawrence considered the stipulations, obviously looking for any traps. “Done.” He pulled two pokeballs off of his belt. “Kissa, Marail, I chose you.”
Devon started. Kissa must be the winged redhead because Devon knew the Drow Zee. Marail’s eyes opened wide when she saw Devon and a frantic look crossed her face. She opened her mouth only to close it when Devon gave a tiny shake of his head. She made a small movement with her right hand. Help me.
He released Maeve and Lamya, making a distinct motion with his left hand. Marail gave a tiny nod as a look of relief crossed her face.
Devon pointed his pokedex at Kissa. His pokedex whispered to him through the earpiece. “Armsmistress, the Ultimate Fighting Pokegirl. Type is Fighting and Steel.” Lawrence was busy using his pokedex on Devon’s pokegirls.
Devon stepped up behind his pokegirls. In a low voice, “Here’s what I want you to do. Do not pay any attention to the Drow Zee unless she attacks you. I’m going to be sending you both after the redhead. She’s an Armsmistress. Remember: unless I specifically designate the Drow Zee, each time I call an attack hit the redhead. I realize that we haven’t battled together before, so all I ask is that you listen to me and that most of all trust in me. I’m confident that we’ll do well.”
Maeve glanced back over her shoulder. “Don’t want much do you? OK, we’ll try it your way.” Lamya just nodded, her attention focused on the Armsmistress.
Devon raised his voice. “A Drow Zee, huh? They are protected here. I hope you didn’t get her locally.”
“No way. I caught her in the ruins of London.” He gave a harsh laugh. “Guess she was slumming.” Not a bad lie. Unfortunately for him, Devon knew the truth.
“Well, I like the redhead, she looks hot. I figure I’ll take her when I win.” Devon laughed inside at the look of outrage on Lawrence’s face. “But the Drow Zee looks like she might be fun to Tame.” He grinned. “Let’s up the stakes. Winner takes all.”
Lawrence laughed. “I like the way you think, boy. Sure, I’ll take both of your pokegirls. Now, enough chitchat. Let’s get started.” He took a deep breath. “Kissa, feather shuriken on the rabbit, Marail, shadow teleport on the Witch.”
At the same time Devon was calling out: “Lamya rune chain, Maeve charge and hold mega punch.”
Kissa’s wings whipped at Maeve shooting a spray of feathered darts just as Lamya’s rune chain struck her, the chains dividing to crawl over her body to pin her arms, wings and legs together. She crashed to the ground.
Maeve staggered under the assault of the feather shuriken but kept charging her mega punch. The air began to shimmer around her arm.
Marail stepped into a nearby shadow and disappeared.
Lawrence yelled. “Damn it, Kissa, get free.”
Devon. “Lamya mystic bolt.” Pause. “Maeve now!”
Kissa struggled to get free of the rune chain to no avail. The mystic bolt from Lamya slammed into her, rocking her body. Maeve jumped into the air, bringing her fist squarely down on the Armsmistress’ head as she dropped, shrieking “Die bitch!” Kissa’s armor saved her life, but her head was slammed around inside her helm as it was driven several inches into the ground by the massive blow.
Marail stepped out of the same shadow she’d stepped into and, looking surprised, stepped back into it to disappear once more.
Lawrence, a note of panic in his voice. “Kissa thunderbolt the rabbit. Marail get back here.”
Devon spoke with the quick even pace of a blacksmith going about his work. “Lamya shield Maeve, Maeve megapunch.”
Kissa’s thunderbolt had some of its power stolen as Lamya’s shield formed in front of Maeve. Maeve’s fist hammered down again. Blood began to drip from Kissa’s helmet. She went limp.
Marail stepped out the same shadow again and stood, waiting.
Lawrence: “Marail, hypnotic gaze on the Witch.”
Devon: “Target Drow Zee. Lamya rune chain, Maeve charge and hold megapunch.”
Lamya’s rune chain bound the Drow Zee before Marail could get off her hypnotic gaze. She crashed to the earth. A shrill voice was heard. “I yield.” It was Marail.
Lawrence: “Get on your fucking feet!”
Devon: “One of your pokegirls is unable to battle. The other is unwilling to battle. This match is over.” He quickly stopped the record function on his pokedex.
Lawrence: “You bastard! I don’t know how you did it, but you cheated. I’ll get you!” He charged at Devon.
Lamya’s rune chain bound him before Maeve could reach him and before Devon could get off a word. Lawrence hit the ground face first and slid several feet.
“Lamya, guard him please.” Devon check Maeve over. She had several cuts from the feather shuriken was a little singed from the thunderbolt, but appeared OK. “How are you doing?”
Maeve sucked air into her lungs. “Fine.” She grinned. “You should see the other girl. Oh, that’s right, you can. Step right up and admire my handiwork.”
Devon gave her a look. “Help me with your new harem sister.”
Maeve laughed. “She’s going to think long and hard before messing with me.” She helped Devon pull the Armsmistress to her feet. Devon looked her over. Her open-faced helm had filled with dirt, which spilled out as he pulled it off. Her eyes were glazed, and blood was oozing out of her ears. Nothing a potion and some rest wouldn’t fix.
With a slithering sound the rune chain came apart and fell to the ground. The individual runes began to disappear, sublimating like ice in the sun.
Devon turned to make sure Lawrence wasn’t free yet. What he saw made him laugh. Maeve turned at the noise and laughed so hard she dropped the Armsmistress.
Lamya had a large billet of wood and was standing over Lawrence, who was no longer struggling.
Devon glanced at Maeve as he caught the Armsmistress before she could hit the ground. He tossed her over his shoulder. “Didn’t I ask Lamya to guard the git? Did I say anything about beating him into unconsciousness?”
Maeve gave him a curious look. Devon sensed this was one of those critical moments in the formation of a relationship. “Are you going to correct her for showing some initiative in dealing with an enemy?”
“No.” Devon’s answer came without hesitation. Maeve gave a tiny nod. “As long as he’s still alive and in one piece she didn’t go too far.”
“Go help Lamya.” Maeve grinned suddenly. “Correction. Go tie up our prisoner. Do not help Lamya beat the guy. He’s going to have enough problems. Oh, and strip him of all his gear. Have Lamya bring me Kissa’s and Marail’s pokeballs.”
Almost on cue, Marail’s voice cut through the air. “Can I get up now?”
Devon sighed at another hollow “thunk” from Lamya. Maeve laughed and headed for Lawrence. “Yes. I think the situation is as under control as it is likely to get.”
He grimaced as he watched Mike appear in a nearby doorway and take in the scene just in time to watch Lamya bash Lawrence again.
Devon turned the recorder in his pokedex back on as Mike hurried over. “I thought you were looking for a battle, not for the chance to abuse a guest in my house.” He sounded justifiably angry.
Devon shook his head. Here in north Blue, people took the rights of hospitality very seriously. He knew he would have to deal carefully with the situation. Clan feuds had started over hospitality violations. “First of all, Mike, after the battle was over your guest tried to attack me. Secondly, he’s under arrest until we can get the Sheriff out here to sort things out.”
“Arrest?” Mike looked startled. “What in the blazes for?”
“Let me call the witness over.” Devon raised his voice. “Marail come here please.” She did so. “Marail this is Michael Vickery, the owner of the Jerrik Ranch. Mike this is Marail. Would you explain why Lawrence is under arrest to Mike?”
Marail drew herself up. “Mr. Vickery, I am a Drow Zee in the service of Queen Xantha. I was attacked and kidnapped by Lawrence Burnside within the bounds of the Queen’s lands and on the territory of the Harris Conservatory. I know young Mr. Harris here and asked him for assistance in rescuing me and capturing this lawbreaker, which he was kind enough to give.” She gave Mike a hard look. “The prisoner admitted to me when he raped me that he had been cautioned by the citizens of Wick about the proscriptions against hunting elves and had been especially warned about the consequences of poaching on Harris land. Now he will face the Queen’s justice.”
“Do you have any questions?”
Mike had turned pale at the word kidnapped and red with fury at raped. He began to swear loudly. “No. The man has violated my hospitality and is no longer welcome under my roof.” He peered at Devon. “Will he truly be punished by the elves?”
Devon nodded. “More than likely. The agreements with the local ElfQueen are fairly specific. Speaking for the Harris clan I will admit that poaching on our land is usually strongly discouraged and while we do have a legitimate grievance against Mr. Burnside, the Harris clan is more than willing to allow the Queen’s claim to justice precedence over ours in this situation.” An evil smile crept across his face. “Under human law, the Harris clan’s response is sharply limited. Queen Xantha has much more latitude in her decision as to how to reward Mr. Burnside appropriately.”
Mike nodded. “And what kind of penalty is he likely to face?”
“For the kidnapping he shall receive fifty strokes of the lash.” Marail’s voice was as hard as winter. “Rape is punishable by death.”
***
Kissa’s injuries had been treated and she had been returned to her pokeball to rest. Devon had more trouble with Maeve, who kept insisting that she didn’t need any medical aid. Her protests didn’t stop Devon from giving her a potion; they just drew the whole process out. Then she and Lamya had been put into their pokeballs to get some rest. Before she went in, Maeve reminded Devon that he needed to tame the Armsmistress, and recommended that he do so that night.
Devon had been quietly pleased as he watched Maeve rise to the responsibilities of Alpha.
Devon had also taken temporary custody of Lawrence’s third pokegirl, a Growlie. Marail confirmed that this was the Growlie that had been available at the O’Malley Institute and that Lawrence had lied to them about needing a starter pokegirl.
Lawrence had been bound and stashed in an isolation unit in the delivery building.
Mike had called the Sheriff in Lairg and the Conservatory. Someone from the Conservatory would inform the queen. The Sheriff would arrive in the morning.
Devon had called Poppet and verified that she would also be arriving in the morning. She promised to call the Sheriff and formally verify the precedence of the complaint advanced by the elves over the poaching charge.
The Sheriff had asked for recorded dispositions from everyone involved to be sent to him that evening and deputized Devon to carry out his orders. It was unusual for a complainant to be involved with the investigation, but Mike had thrown such a fit over any interruption in his prepping of his pokegirls for transport that Devon had no choice but to take the job.
When Devon interviewed his pokegirls right before dinnertime, he was pleased to see that Kissa was doing much better. Afterwards he put Maeve in charge of them sent them off to their room to get cleaned and eat dinner.
He still had work to do.
***
With everything that had been going on, Devon didn’t get to eat until long after the regular dinner was over. He had to wheedle some leftovers out of the cook.
She was unsympathetic so he had to settle for some sliced bread along with an apple. By that point he was just glad to get any food, and the cook peered at him suspiciously at his gracious thank you before chasing him out of the kitchen.
Devon let himself into his room. Kissa was sitting on the floor next to the sleeping pallet, but otherwise the room was empty. Devon took a deep breath, and before his mind could start listing all of the ways Maeve could get in trouble running around here loose, asked the question, “Where are the others?”
“They are in the bathroom, my lord.” Kissa’s voice, he noted, was a very pleasant alto.
Devon stopped and listened at the door. There was the sound of splashing. “Now Lamya, if you do like I showed you, then I’ll do this.” Lamya’s response was a low moan.
Devon grinned and leaned his head against the door. “Maeve?”
“Yes Devon? No, don’t move unless I tell you.” Lamya gasped.
“I’ve made arrangements to take Kissa somewhere she’ll be more comfortable tonight. I presume that it’s safe to leave you in charge.”
“Oh yes Devon. I’ve got things very much in hand.” Lamya moaned again.
Devon swallowed a laugh. “Remember she doesn’t have my stamina. Goodnight Lamya.”
“Goodnight master.”
Devon looked at Kissa and jerked his head at the door. She got up and followed him out.
There was another moan as the door swung shut. Devon raised an eyebrow. That was Maeve. Then he chuckled and led Kissa down the hall.
He stopped at another door and gestured Kissa inside. This room had no windows. She looked back at Devon, as with a thunk, he dropped the crossbar into place, locking the door from the inside.
“My lord?” She looked curiously at him.
Devon smiled. “I took the time to look up the pokedex entry on the Armsmistress. It said that, as a rule, Armsmistresses prefer to be somewhere safe before taking off their armor for taming. Therefore I arranged for this room for us.”
She nodded slowly. “At least for me, that is true, my lord. What else does it say about me?”
“You’ve never seen the pokedex entry on yourself?” He shook his head and sat down on the pallet. “Come here and I’ll let you read it. Err, can you read?”
“Yes, my lord.” She settled easily next to him.
Devon powered up the pokedex and scrolled to the Armsmistress entry. She read it several times.
“There is also a personalized entry for you; just at this point it doesn’t have a whole lot of information. Would you like to see it?” At her assent, Devon changed menus. “Here we go.”
The pokedex spoke. “Kissa the Armsmistress. Registered to Devon Harris of Highland County, Scotland Region, Blue Continent. Contact the Harris Conservatory if lost. Taming will be required for further information.”
Kissa frowned and then sighed.
“What is the matter.”
“Nothing my lord.”
“Look at me.” She turned to meet his gaze. “I know something is bothering you. You know something is bothering you. I ask you what is bothering you. At this point you should answer truthfully, because I might be able to help make this thing stop bothering you. Also, if you lie to me again, well I’m not sure what I’ll do, so just don’t do it.”
She gave him a weak smile. “Yes my lord.”
“Would it be out of line for me to ask that you not call me my lord with every sentence?”
Her smile grew. “No my lord.”
Devon put his head in his hands. “Then please don’t.”
“All right.”
“Now. Let’s try that again. What is bothering you?”
“I don’t like the name Kissa.”
“That’s easy to fix. I was going to change your name anyways. I don’t like Kissa either.”
She shot him a suspicious look as if trying to determine if he was just agreeing to get on her good side. He was, but she’d never figure that out. “What were you going to change it to?”
“Almandine. It’s a type of red garnet and the way your hair catches the light reminds me of one I played with as a kid.” He grinned. “Mother was very mad when she found me playing archaeologist and digging up her jewelry.”
“Almandine is better than Kissa, but I don’t like it either.”
“What would you like to be called?”
She sighed. “Tess. Only I know that I can’t use that name.”
“And why not?”
“Because Theresa was my name before I thresholded. My nickname was Tess.” She sounded angry. “And everyone knows that once you change, you’re name gets changed too. You can’t keep anything of your past, so your transition is smoother.”
Devon looked evenly at her for a minute and then pulled the pokedex from her lap. Dixie, access record for Kissa the Armsmistress. Official change of name from Kissa to Tess. Update record and uplink.”
“Name change recorded. Uplinking. Complete.”
Devon handed the pokedex again. The entry had changed. “Tess the Armsmistress. Registered to Devon Harris of Highland County, Scotland Region, Blue Continent. Contact the Harris Conservatory if lost. Taming will be required for further information.”
“There you go Tess.”
She stared at him and then impulsively kissed him. Her helmet banged into his forehead. “Ow.”
“I’m so sorry my lord.” She patted at ineffectually at his head.
“Why don’t you take that off and try that again?”
Tess carefully pulled her helmet off. She gave him an impish grin and banged him lightly in the forehead with it. “Like that?” With a low laugh, she stood and started taking off her armor.
Devon tried to help until she finally slapped his hands away. “Later, if you still want to, I’ll show you how to be my page.” She gave him an arch look. “My lord, if thou wouldst heed the small wisdom of thine humble servant, then perhaps thou shouldst also remove thine raiment whilst I doff mine armor.”
“What?”
She chuckled. “Perhaps you might want to take off your clothes while I’m getting undressed?”
Devon hastily complied.
Once they were both nude, Devon took her in his arms and kissed her. She kissed him back slowly. Then she pulled away. “You taste like apples.”
“So?”
“I like apples.”
“Then why aren’t we kissing?” He kissed her again.
Tess slowly warmed up to him and began returning his kiss. He ran his hands down her spine and she shivered.
Turning, Devon slowly laid Tess down on the pallet and gently took her earlobe in his mouth. She gave a small noise. He nibbled her earlobe as his hands cupped her breasts.
Tess sighed contentedly and snuggled against him. One hand slid down his body and she wrapped her fingers around his shaft. He teased her nipples with his fingers while nibbling on her ear. She squirmed underneath him.
Suddenly she pulled on his shoulders, urging him up on top of her. Devon gave her a curious look but complied. She smiled as she wrapped her legs around his waist and rubbed herself against him. “Methinks my previous lord, Lawrence, had read the same entry on the Armsmistress, because he apparently thought that having a low libido meant that I didn’t want to get pleasure often. I got to pleasure him regularly, but the same was denied to me. And tonight I had to listen to Maeve and Lamya tell me how good you are in bed and then have nothing to do but think about it while listening to them being together in the bath.”
She pulled with her legs. “I’m horny as hell and I need you to do something about it. Help your poor servant, my lord. Bind me to you with your body.” She gave him a pleading look. “Please help me.”
Devon sank his cock slowly inside her. Tess’ eyes slid slowly closed as his cock slid into her hot wet pussy. “Aaaahhhhh.” She arched her back, rubbing her body against his.
Devon slowly began a steady rhythm of thrusting, working his entire length into Tess with each thrust. She moaned with each stroke. Her legs urged him faster. He sped up, increasing the force of his strokes and she lifted her hips to meet each thrust. She was moaning constantly now and suddenly her nails dug into his back and she bit him on the shoulders as her body tightened and her pussy clamped down on his cock.
Devon kept stroking through her orgasm and Tess suddenly threw her head back and cried out incoherently. She then sank her teeth into his other shoulder as her entire body tried to buck him off. Devon held on.
Slowly her struggles diminished. Devon started driving into her again. Her eyes widened. “Didn’t you?”
“Not yet.” He sped up. Her eyes drifted shut and she began gasping in time to his thrusts. Devon could feel his orgasm building and slowed down to draw it out.
Tess made an unhappy noise and urged him to speed up again. Her body quivered beneath him. Suddenly she began to buck again as her nails ripped a line of fire down Devon’s back. He came, his cock pulsing inside her, filling her with his seed. Her body almost levitated off the pallet, lifting him with it.
Slowly they came down together. Tess sighed and stroked his face, her eyes still shut. “Mistress.” Her eyes opened. She giggled and nodded. “Mistress.”
Devon chucked and slid down next to her. She snuggled with him briefly and then frowned. “Arms. Mistress.”
Devon mentally reviewed the Armsmistress entry. “Are you trying to ask if you can get back into your armor?”
“Arms.” She nodded emphatically. “Mistress.” Tess patted his cock and then his chest. “Armsmistress.”
“All right.”
Tess slid out of bed and quickly redressed. When she was done, she looked at him curiously. “Mistress?”
“Why don’t you come back to bed?”
Her eyes widened and she slapped her breastplate. “Mistress!”
“I know. I am certainly not going to try to tame you while you are wearing that, but there is no reason you can’t sleep here with me.” He shrugged. “It won’t be any more uncomfortable than sleeping on a rocky piece of ground, and anyways I don’t want to be alone. Do you think you can protect me from here?”
She nodded. “Armsmistress.” She climbed back into bed. It took a little maneuvering until everyone was comfortable, but soon she was breathing evenly into his ear.