loupNoir

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Loup Noir

The stench of burning wood and flesh assailed her senses as Venom continued riding silently in the direction of the thick gray smoke. It was a smell the tall dark woman remembered all too well from her days as a bloodthirsty pirate roaming the seas searching for helpless prey.

Those times were gone, though the voices of her victims even now still echoed in her mind. Her ice-blue eyes burned with an inner fire upon observing the carnage before her of the devastated town. The charred shells of the buildings were crumbling into black ash. These raiders had been complete in their devastation.

Silently dismounting from her steed, she led the animal with a modified horse's tether Ellie had created for her. It had been nearly three days since her companion had left riding ahead to the Great Kingdoms while she tied up a few matters in Sidanthra. She had planed to catch up with her beloved companion in another day or so.

The voluminous crimson cloak danced about her muscled form as she somberly proceeded down the silent street head slightly bowed as if in a funeral procession. A tear trickled down her cheek, imagining what the poor souls who once resided here must have endured. Her ever observant gaze continued to scan the wreckage, looking for any sign of movement that might indicate a survivor, or perhaps a straggler from the band responsible for this massacre.

One young man among the slain, lying partially out in the street caught her attention. Venom noticed he held an object with a leather thong attached, tight within his grasp.

The tall dark woman made her way to where the body lay, prying open the stiff dead fingers freeing a small metal medallion, lifting it up to examine it.

The medallion was stamped with the crude image of a wolf's head. She recognized it from her own days as a raider. It was the type of necklace worn by successful bands of raiders and bandits. Her own had been a coiled serpent ready to strike. Venom stood up to her full six foot two inch height slipping the necklace into her bright crimson sash wrapped around her waist as she continued her solitary trek.

Farther down, on the outskirts of the town she spied a pale figure tied between two posts. Approaching closer, Venom could discern the person was a nude middle-aged woman with mousy brown hair. The woman had never been what one would have called a beauty and the ravages of time and childbearing had taken their toll on her now flabby figure.

The raiders apparently had decided she would not have fetched any sort of decent price in the slaver markets to the south. As such, the brigands used her for a particular gruesome and barbaric form of entertainment. The raiders had taken turns shooting her with arrows, seeing who could come closest to a vital organ without killing her outright. It was a game she knew well, the recollection causing her to shiver involuntarily.

Drawing closer, she noticed the chest of the woman rose and fell slowly. Incredibly, the woman was still alive. Dropping the rein of her mount Venom ran towards the woman, drawing her sword 'Havoc's Tears'. With two quick slashes of her sword, she severed the leather straps holding the woman captive.

The woman's limp form collapsed into Venom's strong arms. The woman opened her brown eyes staring up into Venom's lovely oval face framed by her raven black tresses.

"Loupe Noir," she gasped through ragged breaths in her native Sidanthrian tongue, which translated to black wolf, "Loupe Noir."

Venom soothingly pressed her finger against the dry cracked lips indicating for her to save her strength. Though in her heart, she knew woman was dying. It had been a miracle she had lived this long. Perhaps she had hung onto each scrap of life greedily, praying to survive long enough to name her executioner.

Having completed her goal, the woman's eyelids slowly closed as her ravaged body gave way to deaths sweet embrace.

Venom's ice-blue eyes suddenly began to blaze with a cold inner fire. Her lovely face briefly twisted in silent rage then returned to an inexpressive mask.

"Someone will die for this," Venom stated in a cold deep voice.

Before setting out, Venom completed the grisly task of seeing the bodies of the slain were properly cared for as best she could in a stoic silence.

She was not a good tracker, certainly not in Ellie's league, but the band had not bothered to cover their tracks. She could discern the band had taken several wagons with them. They were also dragging a few people behind them. It would be an easy task for her to follow. Venom began determinedly on her way.

After about a day or so, Venom came upon a roadside tavern, tucked away in the heavy coniferous forest a fair distance from the trail with a few mounts tied to the posts outside. She decided to take a brief rest and inquire of her quarry within the confines of the unnamed business.

The tavern itself was dark, consisting of a few old tables and chairs. The bar on the far right side was little more then a few planks of wood propped up by a crudely carved stanchions. The motley patrons inside were garbed in patchwork armor. Obviously, this was a hang out for the rogues and thieves that had spawned after the end of the terrible war between the forces of Velia and the minions of the Great Kingdoms.

The patrons glanced up at the tall dark woman upon entering the tavern. The patrons soon returned to the business of drinking and plotting without another thought of her. The bartender continued to polish one of the few crude metal steins, among the wooden ones stacked behind the bar on one of the poorly constructed shelves.

"What will you have," The bartender asked Venom, as she strolled through the door heading for the bar.

"I'll have an ale, " Venom answered.

Putting down the stein, he poured some dark brown drink into the mug banging it down in front of her. "That will be four sovereigns," he informed her.

Venom plopped a Trione on the bar taking a sip of the brew. It was crude with a bitter taste. " I am looking for the band with this symbol any idea where I might find them?" She asked holding out the medallion for the bartender to inspect.

"Sorry," he said not bothering to look up, " never seen it can't help you."

Before Venom could continue her interrogation, a few crude and slurred voices caught her ear issuing from the corner.

"You want to ride with wolf then hold still pup," one gravely voiced man warned a trembling young man, whose back was shoved against the wall. There were already several daggers imbedded next to the boy's head, as the man prepared to throw another.

"Why don't you pick on someone more your size?" They heard a commanding female voice announce from behind them.

The three burly men turned around to see Venom standing behind them. A red cloak drifted about her well-proportioned form as she towered over them, her eyes blazing with an eerie light. The man whose turn it had been to throw the next dagger turned giving her a slimy smile displaying his rotted teeth.

"He came to us, " the man said, "but seeing as how you are here now, you can take his place, although I can think of a lot better games to play with you."

"Besides," one added, " you shouldn't be carrying a sword, a pretty thing like you could get hurt."

"You don't get out very much do you?" Venom said in an even tone.

"What do you mean? The man standing asked.

"Nevermind," Venom sighed. She noticed the men where wearing the medallion of Loup Noir. " Get out of here boy," she ordered the youth motioning towards the door. The trembling lad obeyed her command scurrying away as fast as he could.

"Now, " she continued in a pleasant tone after the boy had gone. " I'd like you to tell me where your boss is."

"And if we don't." The raider standing challenged her.

"Then," Venom replied calmly examing her nails, " I will start to break things till someone does."

Her response caused the three raiders to break out in loud laughter. " There are three of us girl he told Venom who was apparently nonplussed by their reaction.

"True," Venom agreed, " but I don't think you'll find anymore men to back you up."

"Don't make us laugh, " the man standing chortled moving closer to her. " However we might tell you," he said reaching his filth-encrusted hand to grab her ample breasts, " with the right incentive." He leered lustfully.

Venom grabbed his outstretched hand in a vice-like grip. The man screamed in pain as the bones in his hand were crushed. " You are not my type." Venom said off-handedly, tossing the man nonchalantly into the wall with a loud thud. The man slid down the wall unconscious.

The two remaining men jumped to their feet. The closest one struck her with his fist as hard as he could. Venom's head twisted slightly from the blow. She looked at the astonished man with an amused smile upon her full lips.

"Ouch." She said, boring into him with those ice-blue eyes chilling him to his very soul.

The man made another desperate attempt. Venom caught his hand stopping him in mid-swing. She bent the man's arm around his back, grabbing him by the neck. She slammed his face several times against the table. He fell to the earthen floor, his face a bloody pulp.

The last man had finally managed to draw his blade with his fumbling frantic fingers. With a sudden shout of bravado, he swung at Venom. She sidestepped the clumsy attack with childish ease, while her own blade seemed to leap into her hand.

Before the man could ready another swing, Venom sliced through his grimy neck severing the head of the raider. She batted the head with the flat of her blade sending it flying across the tavern into the stack of steins behind the bar. "I am not in the habit of repeating myself," she stated yanking the necklace off the torso before it flopped to the ground, striding towards the bar.

She could hear the scraping of chairs as she sheathed her blade. " Don't even think about it." Venom warned, not bothering to avert her eyes from the bartender trembling violently at his post. The other customers returned silently to their drinks.

"Now," Venom continued pleasantly, taking a swig of the vile potion in the mug. "I think maybe you didn't have a very good look at this medallion."

Not waiting for him to answer her query, Venom threw down the mug taking hold of the man's collar yanking him across the bar. The bartender stared fearfully into her ice-blue eyes as she dropped the symbol between them.

Shortly, Venom was riding in the direction the bartender had informed her the raiders had headed. Apparently, the leader had a slavers camp near here. Venom wasn't much for subterfuge. Ellie had stated long ago, she was more of the keep hitting till they fall down type, though the method had held her in good stead up till now. She planned to do a great deal of hitting on this Loupe Noir.

The directions she had been given led her deeper into the Black Mountains, a region known for its boxed canyons. This made it very popular with the raiders who had been spawned by the great conflict. Venom began riding through one the many valleys keeping a wary eye peeled for a possible ambush, when she caught sight of the young boy she had rescued in the tavern lying on the narrow trail apparently injured.

"What are you doing here?" Venom demanded halting her Nagla, Redeemer.

"I tried to join Loup Nor," the boy gasped looking up at her, his face smeared with blood. "I was ambushed before I even got close."

Venom glanced about the high canyon walls surrounding them looking for any sign of a trap. " Please," the boy begged looking at her his eyes filled with tears, " you got to help I don't want to die."

"You should have thought of that before you tried to join a bunch of killers," Venom chastised him, dismounting from her Nagla. She attempted to scan the area despite the desperate cries of the youth. She sensed something was amiss, but she could hardly refuse the poor lad help.

Kneeling down to examine the injured boy, she suddenly noticed the blood on his face and clothes was not his. It was a trap. Before Venom could react, a large net dropped over her followed swiftly by another.

The tall dark woman struggled in the woven mesh, attempting to break free. Just then, she felt a sharp blow to the back of her head dropping her to her knees.

"That blow was enough to knock out a horse," She heard someone remark as she struggled to remain conscious, forcing herself back to her feet. She could hear the heavy feet of Redeemer running off to safety.

"Dragperg I don't believe it," one exclaimed. " She's trying to get back up smack her again." After two hard blows, Venom finally dropped to the ground unconscious entangled in the nets.

Venom painfully forced her eyes open. She could see a group of men clothed in piece meal armor standing in a rough circle. She discovered she was suspended in the air, her arms chained between two posts.

"Dragperg," she cursed herself, "a simple trap and I fell for it like an amateur." She had allowed her emotions to overrule her head, never a good idea.

"So you are the mighty Venom," she heard a silky smooth male voice comment." Somehow, I thought you would be much harder to capture.

"Sorry to disappoint you," Venom gasped.

"No need to be, " Loup Noir answered stepping forward. He was a man dark skinned like herself with a stylish mustache. His armor was black leather adorned with brightly polished silver studs. Strapped to his waist was Venom's own sword while her crimson cloak adorned his shoulders. "I've often found the legend rarely lives up to the reputation," he continued strolling casually forward.

"And you must be Loup Noir, the black wolf, " Venom replied, "Looks more like a rabid dog to me."

"Really," the Loup Noir said calmly sliding on a heavy metal gauntlet. Grinning evilly, he punched the helpless woman in the stomach with the metal hand. " I take great pride in my appearance. The cloak of yours is a nice addition by the way."

"You are still no more then a mangy jackal," Venom sneered," darting in and out of your little hole to maim and rob."

"Much like yourself at one time, " Loup Noir countered.

"Not anymore," Venom answered coldly.

"True," he admitted, " so tell me what put the great sea-bitch on my heels?"

"You destroyed a town awhile back, " Venom said, her ice blue eyes burning accusingly into the raider. " You left a woman tied up there for dead. She lived long enough to tell me who did that to her."

"I see," Loup Noir, said faking concern, " so you came all this way to give the dead satisfaction, what a noble and pathetic idea. The town brought the destruction upon themselves. During the war, I used to offer protection to small towns for a small fee. Now that the war is over they no longer need my protection, they are actually reluctant to pay. I mean can you imagine the ingratitude."

"So you destroyed them," Venom said accusingly.

"Actually I even gave them a chance after that, " Loup Noir replied, " I was willing to take a few of their younger people for the slave market and they had the nerve to reject my generous offer. So you see they left me no choice."

"I see that you are insane," Venom shot back. " I see that you are little more then a small rodent scrambling for crumbs trying to prove he's king rat."

"Really," Loup Noir answered sounding mildly surprised. " I may be a rodent, but I've captured the great Venom, something no one else has ever done. All thanks to one young boy," he continued pointing at the lad standing amidst the crowd. " Getting a conscious has made you weak Venom."

"You're not the first to say that," Venom warned, " the others are dead now."

"You got her and I warned you she was coming," the young boy shouted out," now I get to be a member of the Pack right?"

"Indeed, "Loup Noir turned staring at the boy with a toothy evil grin, " I haven't forgotten you. True you did me a big favor helping capture Venom. That's why I am going to ensure that you are purchased by a good master."

"You said I could ride with you if I helped," the boy pleaded desperately as two of the raiders began to drag him away.

"I lied," Loup Noir, answered shrugging his shoulders," nothing personal we didn't get many for the block from the town. Now where were we," he said turning back to Venom.

"You were just about to drone on about how great you are," Venom chided, " do you plan on boring me to death with your endless talking."

The remark earned her a left cross across the jaw with the metal gauntlet. Venom spat out the blood in her mouth from the savage blow, onto his washed face."

"I will kill you sea-bitch," Loup Noir growled, "people will pay well for your carcass but first I am going to make you scream in agony, I am going to make you beg me for mercy."

"Don't hold your breath, " Venom challenged him.

"We'll see, " Loup Noir said smiling coldly, "my whip, " he ordered.

Venom felt the harsh barbed leather whip rip into her flesh repeatedly. Venom gritted her teeth as the abuse continued, tearing into her body. She was determined not to cry out. Finally, the pain became so blinding she could no longer endure it, passing out from the torture.

Venom moaned slightly regaining her senses, as a damp cloth was applied to her brow. She glanced up to see the young lad who had betrayed her to Loup Noir treating the savage wounds inflicted by the wicked barbed whip as best he could.

"I am sorry," the lad repented noticing Venom was conscious once again. " I only wanted to ride with the Pack, get away from the farm."

"There are worse things then being a farmer boy, "Venom replied grimacing slightly as he attempted to cleanse the wounds. "The likes of Noir and his ilk are hardly bold adventurers."

"I see that now," he confessed. " I guess I ruined everything."

"It's not over yet," Venom stated looking about the room. Apparently, it was some sort of small cave the raiders had converted into a crude holding pen. She studied the frightened unwashed faces of the young men and women in the pen. Obviously, these were the people from the town captured by Loup Noir and his men.

"Do you have a plan then?" The boy asked hopefully.

"I am making it up as I go along," Venom replied with a weak smile.

"I heard the guards say some of the slavers from Camora have arrived," one young woman with raven hair suddenly said moving cautiously forward. Her eyes were red from crying, dreading the fate awaiting all of them.

"How long have I been out?" Venom asked.

"Nearly an entire day," the boy answered, " I was certain you were going to die."

"Not yet," Venom replied grimly.

"Do you really think you can help?" A muscular young man challenged her stepping forward. "You are a prisoner too. How can you do anything?"

"A prisoner yes, but not dead yet, " Venom amended with a determined stare. Without giving the man a chance to reply, the tall dark woman closed her eyes to rest. She would need to regain as much of her strength as possible to deal with whatever was to happen next.

A hard kick to her side jolted her awake. She was about to react when she noticed there were at least three more raiders with him, who had weapons leveled at the captives. She couldn't risk a confrontation.

"Loup Noir wants you outside," the raider ordered, "he has a surprise for you."

"I can hardly wait," Venom rejoined sarcastically rising slowly to her feet. The raider instinctively stepped away from the tall dark woman glaring menacingly at him.

The raiders led the woman out of the pen. She found the makeshift prison opened directly into an arena, surrounded by a poorly constructed wooden fence. A few wooden bleachers were filled with raiders and perhaps a few other local thugs who had come to watch the spectacle as well, ringed the outside of the arena. Loup Noir squatted on a large chair raised above the rest of the crowd, attempting to appear regal as he gazed down upon Venom.

"Welcome back Venom, " Loup Noir gloated, " I was afraid you might not survive our last encounter with my guests," he said gesturing towards the Camoran Merchants seated beside him, "might miss out in the entertainment I've planned in their honor."

"And what might that be," Venom retorted, " watch you bore me to death with your idiotic ramblings."

"What a clever wit," Loup Noir responded gripping the arm of his chair. " No I have managed to capture a few wild wolves, I should mention they haven't been fed for some time so I imagine they should be ravenous. I had planned to use one of the more virile young men for this exhibition but seeing as how you were so kind as to fall into my hands."

"You might as well let those slavers watch me get ripped to shreds instead," Venom added.

"They will appreciate it more," Loup Noir, remarked, " seeing as you and your little breed girlfriend have caused them so much distress over the past few plantings."

"Always good to hear," Venom said with a cold smile.

"Defiant to the end," Loup noir laughed wickedly, " still I might be willing to provide you with a weapon, " he said displaying a rusted pitted sword. " All you need to do is ask me for it, a little begging might even get you a better one."

"Would you please just shut up and get on with it," Venom sighed.

"In such a hurry to die," Loup Noir smirked, " very well then open the gate, " he ordered the men holding the rope to the cage.
The raiders lifted the gate up. Three wolves bounded into the arena rushing towards her.

"This could be a problem, " Venom observed.

Fortunately, the wolves were half-crazed by hunger. The condition made them more ferocious, but also reckless, losing the deadly precision of the pack.

The nearest wolf leaped for Venom's throat. Venom dropped to her back jutting out her legs catching the beast on the stomach, hurling it overhead. Venom rolled out of the way avoiding the next wolf's lunge. Before the creature could recover, Venom landed a vicous kick to its head sending it reeling backwards.

She managed to lock her powerful legs around the midsection of the last wolf. Suddenly, the wolf she had tossed back sprang at her, sinking its sharp teeth into her arm. Venom screamed in pain at the unexpected attack much to the joy the crowd who cheered even louder.

The tall dark woman bit into the foreleg of the beast causing it to howl in pain, releasing its grip on her arm. Continuing her assault, she grabbed the beast by the head twisting the neck, snapping it. Venom swiveled her hips, breaking the back of the poor beast trapped between her legs.

Leaping to her feet, she took hold of the lifeless body of the wolf with the broken neck battering the last one just now beginning to recover.

Before the now stunned silent crowd could react, Venom lifted the remaining wolf squirming helplessly over her head. With a loud battle cry, she flung the flailing beast into the crowd. The pain-wracked animal began to lash out at the audience in the bleachers causing a massive panic as they tried to escape.

Venom leaped into the bleachers, wrenching two swords away from a couple of men in the crowd frantically attempting to defend themselves, slashing them across the torso with their own blades. She struck with the twin blades cleaving bone and flesh in every direction.

Loup Noir could scarcely believe his eyes. This woman had been his prisoner. She should be helpless, certainly incapable of launching a sudden attack upon his raiders. Loup Noir drew 'Havoc's Tears' warily approaching the fray to end this woman's life once and for all. Suddenly, the sword ripped out of his hand flying into the waiting hand of the former pirate.

She beheaded three of her would-be foes in a sudden flashing arc as the sword screamed for joy at being in her possession once again. She glared at the raider leader with a cold cruel smile gracing her lips. " Your turn," she stated, her ice blue eyes burning with a maniacal light.

Cold sweat streamed down his face as the raider scurried out of the arena away from this insane woman. Meanwhile, the remainder of the raiders and the guests had gathered enough wits to amass a counterattack on Venom.

Just then, they heard a loud squawk from the other side of the enclosure as Redeemer crashed through the ranks of the raiders followed closely by a petite young half-elven woman her twin blades flashing as she tore though the mob astride a light gray stallion.

"I thought you would never get here," Venom remarked to the young woman she knew to be her companion Ellie.

"It was a good thing your bird caught up with me outside of town," Ellie replied wheeling her horse expertly by applying pressure with her legs as she slashed one raider across the face slicing off his nose. " Me rescuing you, " she quipped," now this is a switch."

"Change is good," Venom answered making her way to the door of the pen. " Now you know what its like to be on the other side. "Besides, I had everything under control."

"Sure you did," Ellie remarked sarcastically, " by the way I saw the guy wearing your cloak run off to the east."

"He's mine," Venom declared kicking open the door of the pen. " Grab a sword, she shouted at the stunned group of captives," its time to go home."

Venom turned around even as the prisoners rushed past her to join the fray and began whistling for Redeemer.

The Black Nagla obeyed without hesitation rushing towards his mistress. Grasping the thick-corded neck Venom vaulted upon the war-bird racing after the fleeing Loup Noir. She managed to catch up with the raider leader with ease. Loup Noir glanced back at the pursuing woman, his eyes bulging with fear.

Approaching closer, Venom leaped from Redeemer upon the fleeing raider. The two tumbled to the ground. Loup Noir brandished a sword he had grabbed during his flight in a feeble attempt to defend himself. Venom disarmed the raider leader with ease sending the sword flying through the air.

"Please," Loup Noir begged cringing before her, " don't kill me."

"That's my cloak," Venom stated in a cold icy deep voice.
Nodding wordlessly, he handed her the crimson cloak with trembling fingers.

"I surrender, " he said smiling pathetically as she threw the cloak about her broad shoulders. " You're one of the good guys right," he stammered, " You wont kill an unarmed man."

"You're right," Venom replied, "I am one of the good guys."
She gave Havoc's Tears a quick spin then with lightening speed plunged the sword into the chest of the stunned raider leader.

"But, I am not that good," Venom stated, staring into the dying face of Loup Noir.

Venom ripped her sword free, allowing the now dead Loup Noir to fall, his eyes still open, frozen in a mindless terror. Venom spun wordlessly about to join the ongoing battle.

THE END