A Mutually Beneficial Arrangement

Afdaninna dismounted and handed the reins to her squire.  Fortunately they had camped nearby this morning so she had not suffered a full day in the saddle before meeting with the High Commissioner.   She wore a modified version of traditional full battle dress.  Though her chainmail was light and afforded her a high degree of movement, it still felt suffocating.  The mail was a holdover from the time of her parents and used mainly for ceremony now.   It was still expected, even in times of peace, that someone of her station present to her equals as a Queen of the old days would.   She only wore a filmy silk tunic underneath to protect her delicate skin instead of heavy wool.  Wool would have been a more practical choice but the appearance of femininity was a priority for this meeting. 

As she walked through the castle courtyard she felt all eyes follow her.  Even though it caught and ripped in the mail, she wore her long blue hair loose today.  She knew she presented a rare sight to the people of the Plains as it was not often one of her kind came calling.  The Plains people were dull, sleek and and grey and her ivory skin and bright blue hair must appear very strange to all that watched her go by.

There was a time when the King’s men would have rode out to meet her and brought her through the gates feted with much ceremony.  The High Commissioner was in no way her equal.  He was, at best, a sycophant to the King of the Plains.  Unfortunately, the King had become ruler in name only, allowing his military advisors to assume most of his duties.  Her spies had informed her that the High Commissioner was acquiring power at an alarming rate as his fellow council members met with a series of “accidents”.  Now he was after land.  Her land.

It had started with a few peasant settlers, small farms slowly creeping up the valley.  Alfdaninna had offered them her protection but they insisted on humbly remaining neutral.  As their numbers grew they became a strain on the resources.  They diverted water from the river and cut the forest which caused havoc downstream in her lands.  Deciding to take action, she petitioned the largest landowners only to find they had been granted use of the land from the High Commissioner.   Within days of her first visit,  a small garrison was built and stocked with armed soldiers.

 There was no formal border, merely political understandings.  It has always been understood that the valley belonged to her people.  No monetary tribute had ever been paid as she was a Queen in her own right.   Three hundred years of peaceful coexistence had made more of her people farmers, not warriors.  As the Plains pushed, the more obvious it became she had inferior resources to push back against such uneven odds.

How far things had come in just one generation.  The relationship her parents had with the King had crumbled.  The council  had no interest in honouring treaties from generations past.  And now she had been summoned, like a vassal to report to the High Commissioner. 

            Alfdaninna was brought to the High Commissioner’s formal chambers.  She had been in the castle before but never in this area.  Her past dealings had been with the King in the Great Hall.  This area was too secluded for her liking.  She almost lost her way as the guards led her through twisting and turning corridors.  She tried in vain to get her bearings but could only deduce that she was heading further and further away from the public areas of the castle.  A chill crept down her back.  Entering an anteroom she was met by a huge, unflinching green orc.  He was massive.  The sight of him startled her.  

To her surprise, the orc grumbled and waved the guards away.  Then he grabbed her wrist and led her into a large reception room.  The room was impressive and richly appointed, though furnished more like private rooms, adding to her discomfort.  Sitting at a large table was, she assumed, the High Commissioner.

            He was an attractive man.  That eased her a bit.  She had pictured far far worse.  Though his skin was dull as granite his eyes looked as though they had once held some humanity.  His forehead was streaked in the dark lines of a  man who indulges in too much vice.  His lips were thin and cruel but at least physically, he was fit and in top form.  He had not run to fat as so many men of power inevitably do. 

She wanted to distance herself as much as possible for what was to come.  Even though the orc released her wrist and sat down at the table pouring himself a large draught of wine, she remained standing as tall and as proud as a Queen should.  She straightened herself and opened her mouth to deliver her prepared speech.  But the High Commissioner spoke first.

            “I have here, a 12 month lease to be signed by you,” no ceremony, no pleasantries, he got right to the point.  Alfdaninna did not quite know what to say so she kept quiet and let him speak.  “It grants you use of the valley for your people in exchange for tribute of 30% of your annual harvest payable to the King of the Plains and to be collected by the High Commissioner of the Exchequer.”

            30% was outrageous, they barely scraped by their existence as it was, with her water being poached, even less so.  People would go hungry.  This was far far worse than she imagined.

            “High Commissioner, I realize that land is finite, but isn’t there enough fertile land on the plains that my rocky, overgrown valley would be of little interest to the crown?” she stared at the orc.  For some reason, watching him while she spoke was easier than looking the High Commissioner directly in the eye. 

            “Your majesty,” the High Commissioner used formal address but his tone was laced with condescension, “In the past, your people have been graced with the King’s noble charity, unfortunately the King’s enemies have pressed us backs to the wall.  We simply can’t afford to continue to protect you gratis”

            “We are capable of protecting ourselves if need be.  In fact I am willing to pledge a militia of our hard working young men …....”

The orc snorted a laugh.  He abruptly got up, drained his cup and slammed it on the table before stomping off out of the room leaving Alfdaninna alone with the High Commissioner.  How rude!  Savage.

“My lady, your free ride is over.”  The High Commissioner pushed the parchment towards her, “It is time to pay to your dues”.

Alfdaninna exhaled.  So it was done.  She had one last thing to offer before her lands would be forever enslaved.  Now she looked at the High Commissioner and licked her lips.  “Perhaps we could come to another, mutually beneficial arrangement.”

            Would he take the bait?  She tossed her long aquamarine hair gracefully so the waves tumbled down over the shiny silver mail covering breasts.  She was a Queen.  She was sought after by men throughout the lands for her beauty and strength and she was about to offer herself to the most self-serving reputedly depraved man in the realm to protect her people.

            He smiled.  He was considering it.

            A door slammed and the orc returned.  Damn it.  The moment was lost.  The High Commissioner scowled, “Karguk in em darp em gup lack tugh raf!” 

            The orc grunted out a chuckle.

            “Karguk finds you very amusing lady,” the High Commissioner informed her.

“By Karguk, I assume you mean this orc?” she was off balance now.

            “He’s not an orc, he’s a half orc.  Pureblood orcs do not have the capacity for complex grammatical structure, I would not be able to understand him if was all orc”

            “Yes well I do not speak orc or half orc so ….”

            Karguk snickered.  He obviously understood her perfectly fine but chose to speak in a fashion she could not understand to ridicule her.

            “Karguk says you are very spirited for such a tiny creature.”  Alfdaninna was indeed small to a Plainsman.  Where their people were lean and tall she was small and round.  In comparison to the massive orc she seemed like a child.  He continued, “Have you ever seen an orc’s member?  It is rumoured even the lowly half orc sports a sexual organ of 14 imperial increments or more!  I would imagine crossbreeding would be most uncomfortable for the female in question.”   

“Perhaps to the women of the Plains, orc cock seems over large but where I come from our men are full grown, tis a shame your ladies have to settle for less,” she spoke without thinking and immediately regretted it.  Fool.  Well damn it anyway. 

“Well then my Lady!” his eyes lit up, “Do you fancy some orc cock? I’m sure that would be good sport indeed!”  He stood up excitedly, his chair scraping loudly on the floor.  He looked suddenly very pleased with himself and slammed his fist down on the table in exclamation. “How is this for a mutually beneficial arrangement …..today you are in luck!  We just happen to have some fine, half orc cock for your pleasure.  You will let this green beast give it to you.  Yes I would like to see that.  I bet Karguk’s massive cock will be more than enough to satisfy you.  Yes i need to see that right now.”  His eyes narrowed and his gaze roamed up and down her body.  His breathing was a little heavier, he was absolutely serious.  He expected her to mate with his orc while he watched.  “And just to make things fair …... when he is done I will send you back to your people with a year’s grace from your 30% obligations to the crown.   Of course,  no man will ever have you again.  But I am sure you are willing to make that sacrifice for your subjects, your Highness”

Alfdaninna hid her shock at his proposition.  This was a most unexpected turn of events.  She came here with the intention of offering herself to the High Commissioner..... she was desperate and willing to do anything to help her people, but this, this was …. but gods what else could she do?.

There was an uncomfortable silence.  Alfdaninna felt heat race through her body.  Her blood boiled with rage.  She could still win this.  She would have to.

“I accept,”  she said simply and firmly, and turned to Karguk, and affirmed again, “I accept”. 

Karguk looked rather astonished but not as much so as the High Commissioner.  He tried to hide his shock but she could see the lust in hold firm in his eyes as he spoke.  “But does Karguk accept you I wonder?” 

Karguk was silent but his hand strayed to rub between his legs.   "Ha!  Still half man indeed.  Come here little one come kneel before us and show Karguk how valley women appreciate a full grown cock", throwing her words back in her face.

More than anything Alfdaninna was proud.  No matter what, she would not be humiliated by this fool.  Yes the orc was half man and as a man she would let him have her.   She could feel the High Commissioner watching her and she steeled herself and walked towards the orc.  His eyes met with hers and for a moment she saw there a surprising kindness. 

He is half man. He is half man,  she said over and over to herself. 

Alfdaninna knelt down in front of Karguk .   Slowly with trembling fingers she started unlacing his codpiece.   She drew a deep breath at the first sight of the orc’s green cock.  It was not so bad!  she convinced herself.  She grasped the shaft and guided it to her lips.  Wrapping her lips around the tip, she sucked tentatively at first until she felt it pulse and grow in her mouth.  Karguk groaned.  She kept tending it, wetting it, feeling him grow bigger and bigger.  She had to strain her neck and lean back to prevent it from ramming down her throat.  He was huge and still not even fully erect.  Now it was stretching her lips and she was panicked as she felt it go too far.  Soon she would not be able to breathe.  She gasped, drooling saliva down her chin as Karguk pulled her back by the hair saving her from gagging.  She was amazed at his control and care.  

The High Commissioner was watching, she could feel it.  She looked up at Karguk towering over her and swirled her tongue once again over his now rock hard cock.  She opened her mouth as wide as she could and enveloped the tip of him in her wetness.  He was panting with pleasure.  She sucked and he groaned.  Relaxing her jaw, she let him thrust back and forth in her mouth, fucking her face.  She briefly thought she might be able to make him spill himself in her mouth and then perhaps it would be over but he never lost control.  He pulled out again and she gasped, panting for breath then thrust back in giving her his cock. 

Alfdaninna looked up to see Karguk watching her and she pleaded with her eyes.  He abruptly stopped and reached down, his big hands grabbing her under the arms and pulling her up.  He spun her away from him and pushed her facedown, bent over the oak table.  His feet coaxed her legs apart and he lifted her skirt, gathering the heavy chain up to her waist.

“No no.....take her like a dog Karguk!”  The High Commissioner broke the silence.  “Get up on the table and make her take it on all fours.” 

What a pig.  Alfdaninna climbed up on the table and obeyed shooting the High Commisioner a look of regal contempt.  She wasn’t about to be some kind of freak show.  She was a Queen and she knew she looked like one.  There was no dog here, she positioned herself on all fours with pure feral feline grace, tossing her silky hair and glancing back at Karguk with invitation.

The big orc kneeled behind her and she felt his gnarled fingers, wet with spit, slip over her slit coaxing her pussy lips open.  He found her clit and massaged it sending little shivers through her body.  She was stunned that he was trying salve her and arouse her.  Her body was responding to his touch.  Her arousal was building.  When she felt the wet head of his fat cock rub against her clit she was even more surprised to find herself arching her back to guide him down to her tight little hole, wanting to take him in.

The first push was too much.  Karguk was so huge she cried out.  But he stilled, giving her time to accommodate him.  He slowly advanced giving her just a little bit more with each thrust.  When she was taxed overmuch with his size he paused rubbing her clit, making her moan in pleasure and giving her incentive to take still more.  She was amazed she could take him at all but slowly he stretched her open and her pussy tingled and throbbed with a pleasure she had never felt before.  She had never had anything so big and by the gods it felt so good.  She had no idea how much more there was but she did not care.  He started moving in and out of her now and each thrust felt simply amazing. 

            She forgot herself completely.  All she knew was she was building up faster and faster and release was so close.  When her orgasm hit her she whimpered and purred like a satisfied tigress.  Karguk kept on fucking her relentlessly and now she was wet and slippery and he could pound her with more intensity.  She felt the waves of pleasure crash over her again and she still wanted more. 

            In her pleasure, she almost forgot her audience.  Glancing over her shoulder she saw the High Commissioner watching while he rapidly stroked himself shamelessly.  He caught her gaze and it was enough to fuel his desire still further and he came around to face her giving her a show of his hand pumping furiously.  

He climbed up on the table and presented his cock in her face.  Grabbing her chin he barked, “Suck it!”

Karguk stilled.  Slowly Afdaninna opened her mouth and took in the High Commissioner.  She pushed her hips back against Karguk to indicate that he should continue but his enthusiasm was waning.  She could feel his cock start to soften. 

No! This couldn't happen now!  She was so close.  She feverishly serviced the high commissioner with her tongue, her lips ….. sucking him and then taking him deep down her throat.  He was moaning and panting and mumbling, “Yes Yes,” over and over while she serviced him. 

Karguk went limp and slipped out of her.

The time was right.  Carefully, Alfdaninna reached into her bodice and pulled out a tiny sheathed stiletto.  She swiftly stabbed it into the High Commissioner’s thigh.  She could feel hot blood spurt out and run down her hand as he screamed “BITCH” at the top of his lungs and roughly pulled her hair jerking her neck painfully back.   He backhanded her jaw so hard she saw black but she shoved him with all her strength sending him tumbling backwards off the table.  Her hair still caught in his hand she went over with him, cracking her head hard against the stone floor.

            The twitching bloated form of the High Commissioner convulsed and gasped for breath, succumbing to the torture of the poison.  Mistrova spider venom was a very painful way to die.  Alfdaninna’s head hurt and she was very dizzy.   She wanted to get up but she couldn’t lift her head off the floor.  She wanted to sleep but first she wanted to watch him die.  As he took his last breath she sighed, “I win” and blacked out.    

           

            There was pain.  It pierced behind her eyes.  One side of her body was pleasantly warm but the other was icy cold.  Her muscles ached.  She tentatively opened her eyes a crack to see bright orange flames of a fire. 

Alfdaninna was outside.  It was dark but for the fire.  The fire-facing side of her body was wonderfully warm but her back was bitterly cold to the night.  Her mail was gone and she lay naked, wrapped in layers of soft fur blankets.  She took a deep breath.  It smelled like forest.

A crackle of dry leaves alerted her to approaching footsteps and she froze instinctively.  Where was her knife?  Where was her sword?  A huge shadow entered the clearing.  Alfdaninna Sprang to her feet and braced to steel against the intruder.

Karguk.

He tossed a piece of wood into the fire and the glow briefly dimmed.  He walked towards her, “The time for a militia has passed.  You need a professionally trained fighting force,” and then, very slowly, lowered himself down on one knee and looked up at her intently, “My Queen.”