Written by Fulgur
Illustrated by Crosschan

Chapter 4

A Matter of Mind

It was an ugly fall.
I grabbed Merta and shook her. "Wake up! Please!"
She was burning up.
"You have high fever! How is that possible? You were all right before!"
She opened her eyes and smiled weakly. "I'm... not... sure..."
"Can you land this thing safely?"
"I'll... try..."
I didn't see her do anything, but the fall subsided, it changed into something more like controlled crash-landing.
I remembered when she tried to do this before. She was only flying herself and yet she didn't get very far.
Weight of five people had to strain her strength immensely.
When the octahedron landed and made a deep slash in someone's field, she finally lost her battle to keep conscious.
The lines holding the octahedron together gleamed and then it was gone.
For a while, there was a silence.
Then, May said: "It wasn't a good time before, but now I want to know: What is going on around here?"

It took me a few minutes to feed her the shortened version.
"So basically, we are on the run from that bastard Feltar and his people, right?"
"Well, we are, yes, but you didn't do anything!"
"Bro, tell me one think: Does this guy care?"
Feltar didn't, that much was clear. I thought about my parents and what Feltar will do if he gets them.
"Maybe we should check," I started, but Soot interrupted me.
"No."
"You don't know what I was about to suggest."
"Yes, I do. But either your parents escaped - and you would put yourself in danger for nothing - or they were caught, and in that case, going back for them is exactly what Feltar wants."
"He could torture them!"
"Is there anything you could do to change that?"
There wasn't. People like Feltar don't stop what they are doing until they are dead. And I wasn't the killer. I didn't think Soot is, either. I was beginning to know her, she would boast with it if she was.
"Are we on the ground now?"
Soot turned around. "Yes, Grace, you can open your eyes now. How do you feel?"
"Terrible, madam."
"Grace, do you see a house anywhere around here? No? That means you are not a maid now. So behave normally."
Grace paled. "I was always a maid, madam. I don't know how to do anything else."
"How could I be a 'madam'?" cried Soot. "I'm barely older than you!"
"What about Miss?"
"Call me Soot or I... or I... oh..."
Soot was quick one to resort to violence, but in Grace's case it somehow wasn't appropriate.
"Miss will be fine," she conceded. "How does your bottom feel?"
"Oh, Miss Soot, you really shouldn't use words like that in mixed company..."
"What do you mean I shouldn't?" she cried out. "Mixed company? With HIM? He spanked mine and Merta's, you know. And he saw you when we found you." She looked at me. "And yet," she continued with a sigh, "he blushes when I say the word. That guy has issues."
Grace resolved the conversation. "I feel... fine, Miss Soot. It still hurts a little, though."
Soot sighed. "It will get better... I hope. Now, Zack, where are we going now?"
"What? why do you ask me?"
"Because you are the leader."
"Excuse me?"
Soot sighed again. "We will go in some town eventually. Look at this group! A guy and four girls? You have to be the leader, otherwise it will be even more suspicious."
"Four girls? But you..."
"I'm tagging along, remember? You are a fine guy but you have absolutely no street wits. And you are probably honest, too."
"And?"
"If someone asks you who you are and what are you doing there, what will you say? The truth? You really shouldn't."
"Well, you mean we make up a cover story?"
"You just say that May is your sister..."
"She is my sister!"
"So that should make it easier to you. Merta... I think she could be your fiancee, you're as good as engaged anyway..."
"What?"
"If you won't permit her a relationship with you, she will be the target of every single man she sees. This way, it will only be about a half."
"OK, I understand. What about Grace?"
"I can be your maid," offered Grace.
"I think maids don't generally travel much," said Soot diplomatically. "And you don't have any costume anyway..."
That was true. Grace was still dressed in my Mom's old clothes. But I noticed that they are rather big.
"We will be his sisters, too," she decided. "People here have large families, they won't notice."
"You don't look like my sister, Soot." I protested.
That was true. May and I were fair-haired and grey-eyed, and Grace's hair were blonde, too, but her eyes were green. She could be considered our sister. If she had longer hair, she would look quite similar to May. But Soot had black hair and blue eyes.
"Can I be a cousin?" she suggested.
"Cousin is fine, I think," I said. "And can you tell me why are we travelling? Maybe I should know, after all."
"You want to marry Merta, but she wants to tell her parents first," said Soot promptly. "So you are searching for them."
"Now wait a minute..."
She sighed. "Guys always make things complicated. She loves you, OK? You love her, OK? And anyway, it's just a cover story so you shut your mouth and stop complaining!"
"Don't take that tone with me, Soot!"
"It's for your own good. If you don't notice things like that by yourself, someone ought to tell you!"
"Excuse me..." That was Grace.
"Sir, I don't wish to interrupt, but..."
"From now on, call me 'Brother'," I sighed. "Some conspiracy stuff, apparently."
"Very well... Brother. We are out in the open and it's already dark. And Miss Merta is ill! We should get in some village!"
I blinked. "Oh dear. You're absolutely right, Grace. I forgot!" I bent and picked Merta up. She was surprisingly light.
"My village is to the west. So is Ceris. So... we should go to the east?"
Soot nodded. "There is a little village called Stoma," she said. "There's an inn. Owner owes me... one. He lets us stay."
I nodded. "Let's go, then. To Stoma!"

"Why did you spank them?"
I turned around. Grace was next to me.
"What? Those girls? Ummm..."
"Yes?"
"How should I put it..."
"We were naughty," said Soot, calmly. "Don't ask him about such things, Grace. He has issues."
"I was spanked a lot when I was little," nodded Grace.
"It's OK now," I said hurriedly. "You won't get spanked ever again. My word on that."
"Ah. OK, then," said Grace brightly. "When will we be in Stoma, Brother?"
"Ask Soot. She's navigating."
May, in the back sniggered.
"Anything funny, May?"
"We really do seem like a family, don't we?"
"Now, that's not fair..."

The Stoma Inn was an oasis of light in the sea of darkness. And, apparently, the innkeeper was still the same.
"Soot!" he gasped. "What are you..."
She pushed him in. "I need a room for one night," she told him. "Five persons, one of them sick. He's the party leader."
"I have nothing free, Soot, I'm sorry, you should make a reservation..."
"I am not a reservation person," snarled Soot. "I am not very reserved person, either."
"There is a contingent of Ceris guards in town," said innkeeper. "They took the whole inn. I'm sorry."
Soot blinked. "I see. Well, in that case, is there a doctor in this village?"
"Old Mrs. Tain. A small hut behind the village."
"Perfect," smiled Soot. "Bye."
"So?"
"We will visit an old lady, Zack."

The term "old lady" was exactly right. She lived alone in a small hut and she was apparently still awake. In fact, she opened the door even before I could knock.
"What would you like?" she asked.
"I'm sorry, but this girl..." Suddenly I felt a sharp jab in my ribs. "Ouch! M..my fiancee is sick and the innkeeper told us..."
"I see," said the old lady. "And you don't really want to stay in the town, with all the guards and so..."
"What?"
Wrinkles on her face reconfigured. I guess it was her way of smiling. "Put the girl down on bed. I have a look at her."
After Merta was laid down, she examined her. The rest of us was kindly, but firmly sent out.

"She's just weak," said Soot. "It's nothing more, trust me."
"I didn't know she was so frail!" I cried out. "Otherwise I would never spank her!"
"Oh, don't feel guilty about that," said Soot. "I'm sure it has nothing to do with it."
"But..."
"Excuse me, Brother?"
"Grace?"
"I'm not an expert, but I think you are afraid that you are harming the girls you spank, right?"
I nodded. "Right."
"Are you afraid you will end up like Feltar?"
I didn't say anything. Ever since I met that man, I was aware that some of my parts like the thought of giving a spanking. Some quite definite parts. But if I allowed them to take control... I could end up a monster like him, couldn't I?
Grace smiled. "I was spanked a lot in my life, Brother. By my father... then the matron who trained me as a maid... then by mayor and his other maids, as I was the youngest one there... Every one of them was different. May told me how you spanked Soot yesterday. And I tell you one thing. You are much better man than my father was. Or the mayor. And if I hear you one more time comparing yourself to Feltar, even thinking you might be like him... I will be really sad!"
She had nothing to threaten me with, but it worked.
"But Feltar likes to do that," I said. "And I..."
"Feltar doesn't like to spank," said Soot. "Feltar likes to cause pain. But you... you like the justice of it all. You like it because they are good girls again afterwards. You use your desires, but Feltar's desires use him."
"And that is," said Grace and blushed, "why I want you to take back what you said earlier."
"What?"
"You said that I won't get spanked ever again. Please, take that back."
"But I thought... after you came through..."
She shook her head. "I want to forget it," she said simply. "It was worse pain than you can imagine. And you probably shouldn't try. But it's over now. It wasn't a punishment because I didn't do anything. I don't think it will help me to be a better girl in the future. And all the other girls here are subjected to your discipline, right?"
"She is right," said May who was silent up to now. "I told you that I'm willing to accept punishments from you and I meant it. And you have a deal with Merta. And Soot..."
"You need my permission," said Soot hurriedly. "Don't get used to the idea you can turn me over your knee any time you want! But maybe... in exceptional cases..."
She actually blushed.
May put her hand on mine. "I promise I will take my spankings from you whenever you deem it necessary," she said.
Grace put her hand on May's. "I promise too. After my bottom stops hurting."
Soot sighed and joined them. "I promise too. Conditionally, of course."
"But..." I hesitated. "What if I will abuse it? I might..."
"We are not children," said May. "We have a good idea when we need a spanking - or when Soot needs a spanking, for that matter. And we know you won't disappoint our expectations."
All three girls nodded.
And the door opened and old Mrs. Tain came out.
"I want to speak to the boy," she said. "You stay there."
Merta was still laying on the bed, but she looked better.
"She's asleep," said Mrs. Tain. "She was exhausted. What did she do?"
"Well, you know..."
"It's not something an old lady should know in case somebody would ask me?" she offered.
"Well..."
"I can tell you this is probably not the last time this happened," she said. "The girl is fighting inside."
"Fighting inside?"
She sighed. "I know some things that not many people know, young man. In this girl's head, there is someone else. And that person desperately fights to get out. And I have a feeling... that you shouldn't let her get out."
"What does that mean?"
"She mustn't get so weak anymore. If she is strong, she can hold that other person back. She can push her back. If she keeps at it long enough, the other person will eventually disappear. But if she won't... she might be the one to disappear."
"Why is the other person there?" I whispered.
Mrs. Tain reconfigured her face into a frown. "I'm not sure. It's not natural, that's all I know. Her mind was manipulated, and it was done by someone very, very skillful. What do you know about her? How long do you know her?"
"Two days," I said.
She nodded. "She didn't tell you about her past, did she?"
"I think she can't remember. Or if she can, she won't tell."
"Don't force her," said Mrs. Tain. "Do you love her?"
Again that thing. "I... I don't know."
She looked at me and I had a feeling she is gazing deep into my soul.
"Men are always the last to know," she said. "But she loves you and she needs love to be comfortable. I saw in her mind something about... the Knight and the Lady?"
I blushed. "It was her idea!"
She put her hand into her pocket and she came up with two pieces of wood on the string.
One of them was shaped as a little sword. The other one was a teardrop.
"Take this one," she said, giving me the sword. "Wear it around your neck. At all times. She will wear the other one."
"What is that for?"
"Did you took the Pledge of the Knight and the Lady?"
"What? I don't know... we probably did, but..."
A sound of something breaking was heard from the other room. Mrs. Tain ignored it.
"Then this will work. It will help you protect her as long as you will both honor the deal. As long as you will protect her when she needs protecting - and spank her when she needs spanking."
"Spank her? Won't it..."
"It won't make her worse, trust me. Protecting and spanking are two sides of the same coin. Both show you care for her and right now she needs care more than anything."
She smiled. "Don't be too hard on her, of course. But you shouldn't tell her that."
I nodded. "When is she going to wake up?"
"In the morning. You and the girls can stay here until then."
"Somebody might seek us."
"They won't find you."
Merta moaned. We turned towards her.
"I'm not coming back..." she whispered. "No... Raia..."
Mrs. Tain gave me the teardrop amulet.
"Put it on her neck," she said. "It must be you."
I lifted Merta's head a bit and put the amulet on. Then I took my own amulet. I hid it in my shirt.
Merta's breathing leveled, but I suddenlt felt a sharp pain in my heart. I gasped.
"Don't worry," said Mrs. Tain. "Comfort her. She will hear you."
I took her head in my hands. "Merta," I told her. "It's OK. Everything is OK."
She opened her eyes and smiled. And then she was asleep again, but the pain from my chest was gone.
"You did well," nodded Mrs. Tain.

When I exited the room, Mrs. Tain sighed. "Oh, girls..."
Two sheepish girls were standing around a broken cup.
"I'm sorry," said Grace. "We were thirsty and then we sort of... quarrelled about who gets to drink first..."
"I told them it's not worth the ruckus," yawned Soot. "I just wanted to sleep."
"Will you spank us?" asked May. She looked a bit scared for all the things she said before.
"You shouldn't use things in other people's houses without permission," I said. "And you shouldn't definitely break them! What should I do with you..."
"Excuse me," said Mrs. Tick, "I think that girl doesn't feel well."
We looked towards Grace. She was swallowing tears.
"It... started to hurt again," she whispered.
"Come with me," said Mrs. Tain. "I might be able to help you. As for you," she looked towards us, "go to sleep now. I don't want to hear any more noises around here."
Soot has already taken the table and May took the bench.
I settled on the floor.

This time Grace woke me up. She was smiling.
"It doesn't hurt anymore, Brother!" she exclaimed. "Mrs. Tain gave me some herbal lotion and I feel fine!"
"That's great news, Grace," I smiled. May and Soot were still sleeping.

I joined Mrs. Tain outside the hut.
"She was very lucky," she remarked. "A week without proper treatment and she would have scars for the rest of her life."
Grace came out. "Thank you for everything, Mrs. Tain!"
Mrs. Tain smiled. She had something in her hand. It was a shard of the broken cup.
"I would strongly discourage any form of spanking for next seven days," she said, smmiling. "However, I strongly encourage you to start spanking her after that - but this time, she should be raised properly."
"That's OK, Brother," smiled Grace. "I made a promise, didn't I? I won't mind."
May and Soot came out, too.
"Mrs. Tain?" said May. "I'm sorry about the cup."
"People should be respectful of others' property," said Mrs. Tain with a sigh. "Including you," she said towards Soot who sniggered.
"You, girls, can you make it back the way it was?"
Grace and May lowered their eyes. "No, Mrs. Tain."
"Grace, you're forgiven. You only wanted to have a drink. It was you, May, who tried to take the cup away from her so you could drink first."
I didn't ask how she knew. She could answer me.
May blinked. "Yes, Mrs. Tain. That's what happened."
"Well, girl, you know what you have to do."
May nodded. "Yes, Mrs. Tain. I know."
She came to me and she took a deep breath.
"Bro, I broke Mrs. Tain's cup. I shouldn't do that. I shouldn't try to take it from Grace. I ask you for your forgiveness... and for your punishment."
"Shouldn't Mrs. Tain punish you?" I asked.
"No," said Mrs. Tain, smiling. "You are responsible for her. You must do it. You can do it here. We will go back into the house and make breakfast."

After we were alone, May looked at me. She had small tears in corners of her eyes. "Well?"
"Is it right?" I asked. "It was just a cup, after all."
May smiled. "I'm a big girl, Bro. I know when I need a spanking. Even if you don't."
"OK, then," I sighed. "You are going to get a good hard spanking with my hand. On your bare bottom."
She nodded. "Thank you, Bro."
I sat on the bench and she lifted her skirt, pulled down her panties, and went across my knee without a moment of hesitation.
And I spanked her bottom until she started to cry. And even after that, for a while.

When we entered the hut again, May was holding her bottom, shuffling her feet and had tears in her eyes. Mrs. Tain nodded approvingly.
"Well, you've been punished appropriately, girl. I forgive you."
"We could hear everything," snickered Soot.
"Don't tease her or you're next," I said. I didn't know why. It was just proper.
"I'm glad you are all all right."
I turned around. In the bedroom door stood Merta. She was smiling.
"I'm sorry I fainted," she said. "I disappointed you, my Knight."
I ran towards her and hugged her. "Never say that again!" I cried and emphasised it with a single slap on her behind. "You did something astonishing! And we were all worried about you. It's good to have you back."
"Breakfast is ready!" called Grace.
This time, she ate sitting, like everyone else. Even May, although she was fidgeting a bit on the hard wood.

"Go through the wood," said Mrs. Tain. "There's a town of Cant. The lord there doesn't have good relationship with Ceris. He will help you. Just tell him that Mrs. Tain is calling the old debt."
"As for you," she continued, lowering her voice, "I don't think the other girls must know what I told you about Merta. They have enough of their own problems. I told you only because someone must know. Someone must be there for her."
I nodded. "I understand."
"No, you don't," she chuckled. "But you will, in time. Don't worry"
Soot was first one to go and May, Merta and Grace followed her. May was still walking a little stiff, I noticed.
"How much do we owe you?" I asked. "I mean - you had so much work with us, the cup and everything..."
Mrs. Tain smiled. "Do you actually have any money?"
I blinked. "Well... I don't think so..."
"Then let's just say you owe me a favor. I will collect it the next time we meet."
"We might not meet anymore."
She chuckled. "No, I'm sure we will."
"You know," she continued, "I never liked that cup anyways. Pink flowers? Never my favorite."
"But you said..."
"As I see it," she continued, "your sister wanted to know if you would actually spank her. She wanted to know if you would spank her well. I guess she knows now."
"I will to get her her own hairbrush," I smiled. "Thank you for everything, Mrs. Tain."
Last thing I saw of her was the closing door of her hut.

***

Mrs. Tain returned into her hut. Fine young man, she thought, but he doesn't know what trouble he's heading into. Four girls? She chuckled. She was from a family of eight children and she knew how much work it takes.
Then there was the other thing. The thing she didn't tell him. About something Merta said in her sleep.
"Raia..." she whispered with a shudder. "The Witch Queen..."

End of Chapter 4

  May's Retrospective Readers' Corner:
And yet the journey continues...
I'm still not sure what happened to our parents. I hope they survive... Fulgur is not a person who would just let people die for the sake of story... right?
I got spanked in this chapter - again. This time, I didn't even do anything, I just wanted to try it. Baaaad idea. And that was only a hand spanking!
I've often wondered about the spankings. I don't really mind them - when they are far away. But once I know I'm going to get one, I start to really hate them. As a kid I always teased when my friends were about to get it, of course, but do they really have to do likewise when the disaster is about to struck my bottom???
After I joined Zack and Merta, I saw (or at least, knew about) lots of spankings. I can't decide what I hate more - the waiting, the baring of my bottom, the scolding or the burning touch of stern hand. And yet...

I need the spankings, and that is the worst thing of them all. Because as long as I need them, I'm going to get them.
One would think that the guys grow tired of the spankings!

May, signing off!