Wendy would never have thought not moving would be so tiring. Or painful.
The wagon creaked to a stop, the tomboy's "whoa!" heard by the two women in the wagon. Wendy shot a hand out, bracing herself as one final jolt rocked her back and forth. She had never traveled by wagon before, or on anything with wheels. She had always thought, looking on such devices as she trudged through mud and dirt, they were magical, comfortable conveyances.
No.
For one, it was boring. Walking, you had the changing view, the challenge of not stepping in a hole and breaking a leg, tripping over a rock, and other interesting hazards. Riding... well, they had tried, briefly, to get some sewing done. Fabric for a handful of outfits for her had been bought, at a fair price, too, but it had proved to be impossible to keep the needle still enough for the work needed. It would have to wait until evening, in the poor firelight.
Her current outfit was looking more and more like a long term fashion statement.
"We're here!"
The tomboy's cry came as the wagon rocked from those in front dismounting. Wendy looked over at Polly. The older teen leaned back, stretching her back muscles. Wendy could hear the cracking.
"That's not very lady like."
The two swung around to see Samantha's scruffy head sticking in through the back flap of the wagon. Polly just gave a disgusted laugh at her sister.
"So, like you, then."
"Oh, I didn't say I had a problem with it!" Her eyes swung around to Wendy. The witch wasn't sure what to make of this girl yet. Her first thought, to basically ignore her, or treat her like a kid, most likely was not the best idea. "Dad and I have the whole camp routine down, so you can probably help sis. Either that, or gather wood."
"I'll help Polly."
"She needs it."
The face vanished. The long curly haired beauty just sighed to Wendy.
"It's so good to have... well, a real female with us now. And to think, she used to actually be a girl."
"People change." Wendy climbed out of the back of the wagon. No one was there to help, which miffed her a bit. Sure, she didn't NEED help, but Polly... As Wendy's feet hit the ground, Jack was there to raise a hand to help the pregnant woman. His eyes ignored Wendy. Oh, this was going to change. He was hers, and he would treat his Mistress with respect.
Wendy blinked.
Wait... what was she doing? She looked at Jack again. He... he wasn't a possession. She shook her head, trying to clear it. Something...
Polly's warm hand took hers. Losing her train of thought, Wendy looked up at the woman.
"Come on. The sooner we get the fire and dinner going, the more we can work on your dress in sunlight."
****
They weren't in a town. It took her a moment to understand that. The wagon was now in a small clearing, a circle of pine and oak trees surrounding them. Behind the wagon she could see the ruts leading back, she assumed, to the road they had been following. It was obvious this campground was in regular use, although maybe not THAT regular. The other ruts weren't that recent.
Great. Back to sleeping like some poor farmer. It might be a grand adventure to those who lived in the city, as these three had, but for her it was just life. Well, at least she had enjoyed one night in a bed under warm blankets.
Gary came around the wagon. He looked... well, at home. Here, surrounded by nature, his stance seemed different. More confident. Shoulders straight, head high. The village had seemed, somehow, unnatural for him. He nodded to Wendy, smile just on the line between playful and mocking. His eyes showed which side he intended it to fall on, her dark cheeks warming a bit in response.
"The trip wasn't too bumpy, I hope."
"It was," Polly interrupted, reaching back into the wagon. "I'm in a delicate condition, I'll have you know."
Gary's eyes seemed to harden for a moment. Wendy found herself subtly moving between the two, hand going to a posterior that, really, didn't hurt.
"I'm the one not used to this. My bum hurts."
He laughed, eyes returning to her, flicking down to examine her butt encased in his old pants before returning to her face. The gaze he shot his eldest daughter now had none of its previous ire.
"I suppose there would be outrage if I offered any suggestions on how to ease that pain."
"Not from me," Polly scoffed. "Far be it for me to stand in the way of you being slapped by our guest." A longbow, unstrung, appeared in her hands. She tossed it towards him, followed by a leather bag and a bundle of straight sticks. Gary caught them easily, grinning. "Here. Go make some arrows, so you can make yourself useful."
"Thank you, my lady. And you, too, Lady Wendy." He bowed to her, turned, and vanished. Wendy suddenly had a wicker basket thrust into her hands.
"Here. Let's go get the fire started."
****
Jack broke through the tree line and approached the fire circle with his first load of wood. It was mostly kindling, naturally. He had found a good supply, surprisingly dry in the lee of a large rock. Larger branches and such would most likely be wetter from the day before, at least on the top half, but there was nothing to be done for it. Fire would dry them out. As he walked, he did a quick scan of the others. Sam was watering and tending the horses, having unharnessed the two and led them away a bit. Why his eye had first gone to her, he couldn't have said. The darker of the two brown beasts butted his head into her chest, drawing a laugh that was like music. Jack wondered if she could sing...
Gary sat on a log, fletching some arrows. Jack spent an extra moment watching those long hands wrapping the twine, or whatever he was using, around the feathers on the end of the shaft. There was a twinge in his fingers. Had Jack done that before? He tried to think. He... had no memory of making arrows, but he now knew that meant nothing. He might have to try his hand at it at some point, see if his hands remembered things his mind had forgotten.
Approaching the fire, he saw Polly already had a small flame going with some tinder they had brought in the wagon. Wendy just sat there, looking useless. He saw a small flint and steel set on ground near Polly's hand. What, Wendy hadn't called him over so she could use him to conjure a flame? Hadn't used him like...
The stab of pain in his head forced an inaudible grunt from him. Disgusted at himself, at the whole situation, he dropped the wood a foot from Wendy. She almost jumped, giving him some satisfaction. Turning, feeling both girl's eyes on him, he went back for more.
****
"I've been making meals for those two for almost as long as I can remember."
Polly looked over at Wendy, knife in her hand deftly peeling a carrot as she regarded the dark skinned girl. Wendy's hands seemed as familiar around a knife, snipping the ends off of long curly green beans before cutting them in pieces. Seeing her nod for Polly to go on, she looked back down at her own handiwork.
"Mom... well, she worked. Did washing, watched children, whatever other families were willing to pay for. Dad, as a soldier, didn't bring in much. Not as much as Mom thought we needed. She, well, wanted us to have it all. And was willing to do what it took. My first memories are of of being in the kitchen, helping her make the evening meal so she could have more time to get some sewing in. When... well, when we lost her, I was able to step in everywhere except Dad's bed, and he had no problem finding others for that job."
There was a bit of hurt in her voice. That girlish fantasy, of becoming her mother in all ways, was still there. She wasn't proud of it, nor the hurt every time her father was with another woman. After all, the very idea of sharing your father's bed was so wrong...
"My mother sort of, well, forced me to help." Wendy's voice definitely held some resentment. She didn't meet Polly's gaze. "She was a lazy woman. Big, slovenly. As soon as I could use a knife she had me taking over, making food for them and my brothers. Dad didn't care, as frankly my cooking was actually edible. I slaved over the stove, while she... was elsewhere." Picking up the next bean, Wendy proceeded to snap the end off instead of using the knife. The sound was like a small bone breaking. Polly paused, putting the knife and carrot in her lap.
"Did you..."
"I just didn't come home one day."
Polly nodded. Picking up the carrot again, she began cutting it into the pot.
****
Gary looked up from his plate, smiling. Wendy was regarding him warily, food as yet untouched. His smile turned into a grin.
"It's very good. Especially the beans."
Wendy looked down into her food, smiling as she began to eat. He caught Polly looking first at her, then over the fire at him. Gary shrugged.
"Hey, it is good. I'm not going to lie to the girl about something as important as my evening meal."
"Yeah, it is good," Sam added, mouth full. She chewed for a moment, then swallowed. "Needs meat, though."
"That's not my problem," Polly said. Gary grinned.
"Too true." He looked past them into the darkening woods. "I don't think there's much game to be found around here, but I set a couple small snares. We may have rabbit for tomorrow's breakfast, with enough left for dinner. In a day or two we'll set up camp and I'll go hunting."
"Can I come with you?" Sam spoke again with her mouth full.
"We still don't have a bow for you. We'll see." Hoping that settled that for now, he dug back into the stew. It did need meat...
****
"The soldier came knocking upon the queen's door
He said, "I am not fighting for you any more."
The queen knew she'd seen his face someplace before
And slowly she let him inside"
The voice coming from Sam was soft, yet strong. Jack leaned forward, entranced. The song was an old one, known at least to him if not Wendy. He knew he had heard it around evening fires like this, from traveling bards. Maybe it was even one of his mother's songs from childhood. Who could say. From then on, though, the song in his mind would belong to Sam. Her voice held the melody perfectly, needing no music, her body seeming to rock and sway as if lost in the song. Again, and again, he found his eyes drawn to her lips. They seemed to glisten in the firelight.
He would walk along side the wagon forever, if this awaited him each night.
****
Jack moved slowly among the trees. He needn't travel too far, most likely, before stopping to do his nightly duty. They would be gone in the morning, so it mattered not which tree or bush he watered. So long as he had some privacy, all was good.
And, it was good to be alone for a bit. He wasn't a solitary person... at least, he didn't think so. Maybe he was. Which ever, for all he (mostly) enjoyed the company of the others, this was nice too. Just him, the night, the tree before him...
"Jack."
Wendy's voice came from behind. He debated, hands in the act of unbuttoning his fly and releasing his member. She spoke his name again, a harder edge showing itself in her voice. Releasing the fastener, he turned.
She was still in that tied off, oversized shirt and large man's pants. Sam looked good in trousers. Wendy, not so much. The distant fire seemed to highlight her red hair from behind, putting much of the rest of her in shadow, expression hidden. He waited.
"Jack... come here."
He considered the matter. What she had done last night was unthinkable. He was not sure, exactly, WHAT it had been, but it seemed as close to rape as he could imagine. A woman who is unconscious as she is defiled is no less defiled. Jack wanted nothing to do with this creature. Figuring inaction was safe, he stood his ground.
"Come. Here."
Jack's mind exploded in pain. It was like needles, jabbing from every side. He winced, raising a foot to stagger forward.
The pain stopped.
Stunned, he froze, foot still in the air. The pain returned. His foot fell to the ground in the direction of Wendy... and the pain vanished again.
Oh. Fuck.
With gritted teeth, pain gone but the memory still burning through his nerves, Jack slowly walked towards her. He tried not to think. Thinking the thoughts he knew wanted to race through his mind would bring back the pain. Slowly the details of her face formed out of the darkness.
Wendy looked horrified.
"Stop! Stop! Oh, Goddess, what's wrong?" Her eyes were wide. As if this wasn't her doing. He stopped a few feet before her, eyes burning into the girl. She knew. The witch had to know. One of her brown hands reached out. Jack automatically flinched away, Wendy's hand jerking back in reply. Recognition seemed to come to her.
"Oh, Jack... I'm sorry. I didn't mean for it to do this. I didn't know. I've never..." She bit her lip. "I mean, it was for your own good. I had to do it. To save you."
His eyes widened. To save him. He had to be a slave to be saved. To think he actually heard those words pass through a human's lips. Wendy's expression turned from worry to anger.
"Yes, damn it. Believe me or not, but it's for your own good. And, what's done is done. It will be easier on you if you just do what I say. Neither of us can change this, so you have to just..." Her eyes softened. "Just understand. Please. Do what I say, so you're not in pain." She let out a sigh. Jack stayed motionless, not willing to make a comment one way or another. "I was going to cast a small spell. I don't know how often I'll have to do it to keep you safe. But..." Her head turned back towards the fire. Gary still sat there, sharpening a knife in the firelight. "It's not one I need, or really should cast. Even using you, there's often a price for me in all this." She turned back to Jack. "I'm going to bed. I'll see you in the morning."
Wendy turned away, walking back through the trees towards camp. Jack stayed where he was.
She didn't know. Or claimed she didn't know. Did he believe her? Wendy had said she was an apprentice. A novice. Had only a year or two's training in an art that needed a lifetime to master. So... it was possible. Maybe she was in over her head. Maybe it had been an accident.
Did that matter?
As she had said... no, it didn't. It was done.
And he would have it undone.
"I heard."
Jack turned to Sam. She was coming out of the darkness, footsteps almost as silent as an elf's. Her right hand held a knife. As she reached him, she sheathed it, hand going up to touch his cheek.
"Oh, Jack, I'm sorry. You tried to tell me. 'No Trust W'. I didn't make the connection."
Sam's fingers were like fire against his skin. He stood still, trembling. This was magic of another sort, one he was as unfamiliar with. Expression hardening, Sam looked back at Wendy, now back at the fire.
"Don't worry. I'll protect you. She may be right. If the witch that had you captive did something, it may be... but that's no excuse." She looked back at him. Her eyes whirled, outshining the starlight. "Maybe I'll talk to Polly. See if she..."
Jack shook his head. That wasn't a good idea. Sam looked at him, puzzled.
"No?"
Taking her hand, he began writing on the palm. Sam looked back towards the fire.
"Ah. Right." Polly and Wendy were talking, laughing. She sighed, gaze returning to him. "I just thought, after all she went through, she'd know something to help us through this. That warlock boyfriend of hers..." Her head shot back around towards her sister. "She said..." Sam's hand squeezed his. "Damn it. If Polly makes the same mistake twice, I don't know what Dad's going to do."
Jack had no idea what she was talking about. They definitely needed time to talk. Alone. Reaching his free hand out, he cupped her chin and turned her face back towards him. Her eyes locked with his.
"Jack..."
He didn't hear the words. All he saw were her lips. Soft. Red. Glistening in the night. Her eyes widened. She stepped closer, raising herself up on her toes as he leaned down.
They kissed.
****
Gary pretended not to notice as Jack and Sam came back to the fire. They were approaching from different parts of the forest, but, strangely, not the same direction they had gone off in.
After a brief struggle, amusement won out over worry.
****
Wendy lay on the wagon floor, wide awake.
She had slept on rock. Had slept on skins. Had slept on grass and ground. Wood, though, was just damned uncomfortable. The other two in the wagon had it a bit better. Two boards were set up on either side of the wagon, creating beds over bags and barrels of supplies. Sam had offered hers to Wendy, with its thin mattress padding, but she had declined. Something in Sam's voice had been a challenge, asking if Wendy was weak enough to need the extra comfort.
The answer, naturally, turned out to be "yes".
She still didn't know what she was doing here. Two days ago, her life was planned. She had a mistress, a profession, a calling. Now... she was adrift, in a strange land. Over her head...
Also, she was in need of a good long piss.
With a groan, she sat up, blanket falling off her. It was a warm night, luckily. Summer was coming, although not quite there yet. They would not need warm quilts for some time. The idea that she would still be living in a wagon when the snow flew made Wendy shudder. Shaking off the thought, she crawled forward towards the exit. On either side, Polly and Sam remained still. Trying to stay quiet, but not caring all that much, she climbed out and let herself drop to the ground.
That the fire was still going surprised her. What surprised her more was seeing Gary still sitting there. He and Jack had set up beds under the wagon. Had the man not slept at all?
Her bladder once again made its need known. She had been so upset after talking to Jack she had forgotten the business she had gone into the woods for, and her body would not be denied its needed release. Moving quietly, trying not to disturb Gary, she entered the woods. Wendy just wore his shirt, untied, falling down just below where an undergarment would be. The idea of him seeing her like this... well, actually, it was a fun idea. Laughing to herself, she found a good spot and squatted. A warm stream came out.
Relief.
****
Wendy approached the wagon again. She could just make out the dark form of Jack under it. He'd come to understand. He was a tool. A tool that would break unless used, and... well, if someone had to use him, it might as well be her. She'd have to be careful, though. Treat him well. Not... force the issue. Maybe let it build up? Let him finally come to her for relief? That could work. Unless there was no indication that the vessel would notice, no sign of a problem until it was too late. Damn it, she was half a decade too young to be working with human energy!
Gary was still by the fire. Wendy paused before the wagon. She had thought, earlier, to cast a small spell. Something to... well, she didn't know. That was the problem. Magic wasn't the only thing she was inexperienced in. Not knowing what she was doing, or why, she slowly walked towards the fire.
"Can't sleep?"
His voice was concerned. She blushed, or thought she did. It could have just been the heat from the fire.
"Not used to hard wood. Stone, yes, but not wood."
The look he gave her indicated she was missing something. Not a surprise. With a laugh, he indicated one of the log seats.
"If your delicate bum doesn't mind wood seats, please take one. I wouldn't mind some company."
She sat, realizing at once that her shirt now covered nothing. Her full thigh was exposed to him. If she wasn't in fact sitting on the shirt, keeping her delicate bum off of the log itself, she possibly could have rearranged things for some modesty. As it was, she kept her legs closed and trusted that would be enough.
They sat in silence. Gary poked at the fire with a long stick, moving the glowing logs. Clouds of sparks floated up into the night sky, dancing like faeries. Wendy had seen faeries, once. Maybe, now that she was in the world, she'd see them again. She thought to ask why he was up, but it didn't seem important. He was a man, and... well, standing watch like this while they slept seemed like a man thing to do.
"Did Polly tell you much about me?"
His question startled her. She shook her head 'no'. She had not asked his daughter about him, and Polly had not volunteered much, beyond the normal complaints about one's parents. There had been an unspoken agreement between the two women that they were likely to be overheard by others while riding in the wagon. Thus, conversation had been kept to unimportant things. There would be time, later, for meaningful exchanges.
Gary was silent again. He pushed the largest log, a glowing red and black clump. It fell off a smaller log with a thump, clouds of sparks thrown into the air. Wendy looked at the display in wonder... until a jab of burning pain came from her left leg.
"Ah!"
She jumped to her feet, brushing at the now vanished ember. Gary was suddenly beside her, hands on her shoulders.
"You OK?"
She looked up.
His strong body loomed over her. His face, stubble showing on his chin, looked down with concern. His eyes... those eyes. Her hands found themselves on his arms, as if for support, but all she noticed was hard muscles. With only the slightest movement, her breasts pressed against his chest. There was a pause, their eyes still locked. Gary's hands dropped down her sided, causing Wendy to shudder. They came to rest on her hips, only to move on to the ass. Her breath caught as she was caressed for the first time.
"I do not play childish games," he whispered. Body making up her mind for her, Wendy pressed against him even more.
"Then let us be man and woman."
****
He laid her down on the grass near the horses, away from the fire. Her shirt had vanished somewhere between the fire and there, her ample body offered to him. Gary stood, taking her in. It... she felt like a work of art, on display for him. Wendy caressed herself, hands rubbing over her curves, holding her breasts. Gary began to undress.
Before that night, Jack was the only male Wendy had seen. Jack was a teen. Well formed, to be true, but not yet grown. Gary... Gary was a man. His body was lean muscle, his cock long, thick. This... this wasn't magic. Wendy would not be in control. None of the tricks she had learned were of use.
This was sex. Glorious, wondrous, sex.
Gary covered her body with his own, hands grabbing and squeezing, mouth seeming to devour her. Her own hands roamed his body freely, legs spreading more than willingly. Hs hardness press against her. She wanted it. To feel it, in her where it belonged. She wanted to be a woman. HIS woman. That he was a stranger didn't matter. She was free. Free from her apprenticeship, free from family. Free to do as she desired.
She desired him.
With a sudden shift of his body, Gary's hands roughly grabbed her hips. She felt him at the entrance to her sex. With one thrust, he entered.
Her cry was wordless. She was virgin, but had been penetrated before. Pleasuring one's self was encouraged among witches, as it was accepted that mates would be hard to find. One could not use those like Jack for such purposes. Gary, though, filled her like no fingers ever had. When she did not protest, he thrust roughly, slamming into her. She wrapped her legs around him, writhing under his body. She could feel her pleasure building.
This. This was what it meant to be alive. To be human, mortal...
Wendy felt him shudder. Felt his release.
She screamed in pleasure.
****
Polly lay in the darkness of the wagon. The canvas top above did nothing to keep out the last echo of Wendy's scream. Did nothing to stop the tears. Her father... once again, her father had found pleasure with someone other than their mother. Other than her...
"You OK, Polly?"
Samantha's whisper, barely heard in the darkness, brought her back. She turned her head, looking at the lump across from her. She swallowed, throat suddenly dry.
"Yeah. Go back to sleep."
Sleep was a long time coming for both.