You Should Never Play With Your Food

Herrold let go of the rope with his left hand to grab at the window ledge. Once he was secure, he did the same with his right hand. He then swung up on the ledge. He landed supine on the massive ledge. He breathed in deeply. He then rose to sitting, twisting around.

A gorgeous raven-haired woman in a tight green dress smiled at him. He returned the smile. "Hello there."

She breathed in and her ample bosom heaved. "I know not who you are, but you have rescued me."

He smiled. "well, that remains to be seen, milady." He looked down at his squire 40 feet below him between the hobbled horses and waved. The boy wiped his forehead and pulled his tunic away from his body. "I'm good, Kes! I'll be down shortly." Kes gave him a thumbs up. Herrold ducked back into the tower. Herrold grimaced dramatically as he turned back to the woman. "So…Laptuca is it?" She nodded. "Excellent. I am Prince Herrold of Tasnia." He sighed. "Well, we're halfway to a rescue, at any rate." He twisted and in a heartbeat was standing before the woman. He shuddered. He exhaled a puff of air; he raised his eyebrows as he saw his own breath.

She sighed, giving him another view of her ample bosom, then lowered her head. "Alas, my prince, for you are now trapped within the tower as well." She pointed to a circle of silver that edged the perimeter of the room. "The circle holds whatever is inside it."

He smiled. "Fear not, milady, for I am sure that we can defeat such a simple trap."

She allowed herself a weak smile. "One can only hope, milord."

He sighed. "Would you happen to have some sort of refreshment, milady?"

She brightened. "Of course." She scurried to a far wall. He cocked his head to enjoy the view. She grabbed a pitcher, put it below the well spout, and pumped. He couldn't help but smirk She grabbed a beautiful crystal glass and the pitcher and returned to him. She poured a glass and then gave him the glass. He gulped down some of the water.

She pulled out her sewing kit. "I noticed, milord,that your shirt is torn." She turned away. "If you could remove it, I could perhaps repair it."

He smiled then hastily removed his shirt, revealing a body with tight muscles, washboard abs, and a sprinkling of chest hairs. A golden chain with a simple hammer lie on his chest. "Certainly, milady." He handed her his shirt.

She allowed herself an appreciative glance at how the skin tightened in the cold, then took the shirt. She patted the bed next to her. "We may as well talk while I sew the shirt."

He nodded and then sat next to her. "Of what would you like to speak, milady?"

She smiled. "Interesting necklace, milord." She threaded her needle. "Of whence does it originate?"

He pulled it off so that he could look at it. "A simple priest in the village a day's ride from here gave it to me when I told of my quest. He said it may prove useful."

"Interesting." She put her sewing down. "Time enough for talk." She pushed him into the bed with enough force that the necklace fell. Her other hand throttled his neck/ "Now, let's try something that doesn't require protection. Milord."

He watched the necklace fall to the ground, eyes widening. Light itself appeared to run from the hand around his neck, encasing it within shadow. He felt the cold emanating from the hand. "I will feast upon your soul, then that of the boy below." She smiled. "I love the care with which you've treated this body. Milord."

His skin nearest the touch was turning black with a grayness spreading quickly. He allowed himself a weak smile. "Much appreciated."

She rubbed his chest with her other hand. This is going to make for a lovely meal. Milord." She smiled. "Oh, and thanks for bringing dessert." She lowered her head closer to his face "So few are as polite in this age."

Herrold grabbed her by the throat. "Guess it's time for pleasantries to end." Her smile disappeared, replaced by surprise. He pushed the two of them off the bed, allowing himself to fall onto the stone floor with a THUD. He pulled his legs into his chest as she fell on him. Her smile disappeared. He then straightened his legs, tossing her into the far wall. Her body was covered by red lightning. She screamed. She ended up in a crumpled pile.

They rose slowly while grimacing. She glared at him, lowered her head, and charged. He stepped into the charge then pulled her past him and let go. "this so could have gone a different direction. Milady." She ran into the ledge. Her top half fell onto it. She was covered in red lightning. She screamed. She tried to rise but encountered resistance. All she could do was scream and kick at the muscular youth who had crossed the distance to hold her down.

In just over a minute the screaming stopped, as did the lightning. The tower shook. Frowning, he unsheathed his sword and decapitated her. He grabbed her head. He inhaled deeply. "I hope killing her was sufficient to depower the circle." He jumped onto the ledge, but almost lost his balance as the tower lurched. He dove out the window but grabbed the rope. He slid down the rope. He still fell to the ground but rolled as he hit the ground and jumped to his feet.

There was a loud crumbling sound behind him. He turned around just in time to see the tower become a pile of rubble. Kes exhaled, closed his eyes, and rubbed his face with his hand. He counted down under his breath. "5. 4. 3. 2. 1." Flame erupted from the pile of rocks. "Ah, there it is." Kes untied the horses.

He smiled as he looked at Kes. "So, the bounty was 500 coins for her head?"

Kes looked at him, frowned, and then looked forward as Herrold tied the head to his horse's saddle. "Well, minus the cost of yet another shirt." He sighed. "Milord."