“Aye,” the Wolfyn snarled. “Aye, woman, you can!” And before she realized it Vilia found herself impaled on the Wolfyn’s long thick member. Surprised, she almost swooned with the pleasure it was offering her. Well, she thought, I might as well enjoy the ride this creature is going to give me. The Wolfyn groaned and whined with his lust as he pistoned the female in his grasp. He realized she was obtaining pleasures from him from her little cries and he lifted his head, howling as his crisis approached.

And it was at that exact moment that Vilia reached out, her slender fingers wrapping themselves about the brass vase, smashing it down as hard as she could upon her assailant’s head. Then she hit him a second and a third time before the Wolfyn slid away from her, a large gash in his head bleeding profusely. Vilia didn’t stop to see if she had killed him. She headed immediately for the door of the Pleasure House, stopping only to open the trunk in the entry that held outerwear and snatch up a cloak to cover her ripped garment. Then she fled the house.

Upstairs as Ulf continued to labor over the now almost unconscious Gillian his companion grinned hearing Rolf’s howl. “Looks like Rolf couldn’t wait for his pleasures,” Fernir said. “It will be a while before we see that wine.”

Ulf grunted in agreement.

Vilia ran as fast as she could to the gates of the Pleasure District, and roused the guard there. Recognizing her, they snapped to attention. She quickly explained that three Wolfyn had somehow managed to enter Lady Gillian’s house and that the lady was keeping them entertained while she had allowed Vilia to escape to warn the authorities.

“You’ve been injured, my lady,” one of the guards said.

“It doesn’t matter. I’m fine,” Vilia said impatiently. “You must go to Lady Gillian’s and learn how these creatures entered The City. They cannot have come over the walls or through the gates, for they have been enchanted to protect us. You will find the one I injured, killed perhaps, in the front hallway. The other two are in Lady Gillian’s apartment atop the house.”

“I have heard stories about old tunnels beneath The City,” said one of the older guardsmen, a retired mercenary.

“There is a wine cellar in the house!” Vilia cried. “Perhaps this tunnel is there.”

“More than likely,” the old guardsman said.

“If the Wolfyn can enter through those tunnels they can circumvent the walls and take The City. We must stop them. Oil! We need several vats of cooking oil. We can pour it into the tunnel and set it afire! It’s the only way until we can destroy that tunnel. And you must kill the two Wolfyn in Lady Gillian’s house. They cannot be allowed to live,” Vilia said angrily.

Guardsmen were dispatched to fetch the barrels of cooking oil, and others returned to Lady Gillian’s house accompanied by Vilia. Rolf was not dead but before he might get his bearings again the old guardsman slit his throat. Vilia remained in the hallway while the cellar was inspected and the entrance to the tunnel confirmed. The barrels of oil were carefully brought in and taken down into the tunnel to be emptied onto the hard dirt floor. The empty barrels were left at the foot of the staircase. It was then that the old guardsman, a wily fellow, discovered that the steps from the tunnel were not stone at all, but ancient hardened wood. The steps would be drenched in oil and set aflame once the tunnel was fired. It would stop any immediate invading force. They had but to wait until they heard the Wolfyn approaching.

A second party of guardsmen crept up the stairs to the top of the house. Bursting into Lady Gillian’s apartments they slew Ulf, who was sprawled exhausted in a chair, having satisfied his initial lust, while Fernir vigorously rode Lady Gillian, seeking his own glory. Fernir’s throat was slit before he might howl with either his surprise or his emotions and his lifeless body was dragged from Gillian.

“My lady! My lady!” A guardsman sought to rouse the obviously abused woman, but then to his surprise she arose, naked and so beautiful that his eyes bugged from his head. Never had he seen a Pleasure Woman of this rank! He would always remember this if he lived to be a hundred.

Gillian walked slowly across the chamber and opening a wardrobe, drew out a garment that she quickly wrapped about herself before turning a brilliant smile upon the party of guardsmen now crowding into her apartment. “Thank you,” she said simply.

“Are you all right, my lady?” the guardsman who had dared to touch her asked.

“I have in my day entertained far more vigorous lovers,” Gillian said. “Is Lady Vilia safe? She was keeping me company when those creatures burst into the house. Do you know how they got in, guardsman?”

“I believe one of the old tunnels beneath The City was used,” he said.

“Of course,” Gillian murmured. “That is how they would have circumvented the enchantment of the gates and walls.” She moved quickly past the guardsmen and down the stairs into the cellar where Vilia stood with a second part of guardsmen. The two women embraced. “You are all right?” Gillian asked. “How did you escape your guard?”

Vilia’s voice was soft and low. “I let him have his way with me and when he was fully involved I hit him several times with that lovely heavy, brass vase in the hallway. Let that be our little secret, however.”

“Was he as lusty and satisfactory as my Wolfyn were?” Gillian murmured and Vilia laughed softly. “You are obviously a very bad girl, my lady Vilia.”

“I used to help Anora whip Gaius and I must admit to quite enjoying it,” Vilia answered. “What a pity there are no Pleasure Houses for women to visit. While I love Jonah and will be ever loyal to him, I do enjoy a bit of variety now and again. I expect that most women do if they would but admit it. Why should we be censured for it? Men are never censured for desiring change.”

“Now there is something we might consider in the new Hetar,” Gillian replied low. “And it would certainly solve some of the employment problem, wouldn’t it?”

“I hear something,” the old guardsman said softly. He crept down the steps into the tunnel, looked back at them and nodded. Then he tossed the lighted torch as far down the tunnel as he could and scrambled back up the stairs just a moment before the oil in the tunnel blazed fiercely up. Suddenly frantic screams were heard from the tunnel as it filled with flames. One enormous guardsman hacked with a great ax at the wooden landing, leaping back through the door just as it gave way and the stairs to the tunnel collapsed partly, catching fire. The flames, however, were not high enough to reach the door of the cellar, so the house was safe.

“I will leave a contingent of men here, my lady Gillian,” the old guardsman said. “We must report this incident to the authorities. A search must begin immediately for any other tunnel entries beneath the houses of The City.”

“Thank you for all your help,” Lady Gillian said. “Be certain that the emperor will learn of your devotion to duty. And Lord Jonah, too.”

The old guardsman bowed gallantly and left them.

“Come back to my house,” Vilia said.

Gillian shook her head. “It is here we have hatched our plots and here that Lara will come back to us, Vilia,” she said.

“Then I will remain with you,” Vilia answered. “We should try to get word to Lara of what has happened. Perhaps if we just call to her she will come to us.”

“We can try,” Gillian responded. Together the two women walked back upstairs to Gillian’s apartments.

Both women bathed themselves in Gillian’s private bath and then donned fresh garments. They discussed quite frankly their encounter with the Wolfyn males, noting that indeed below the neck they were quite human if perhaps a bit larger. And both admitted to have obtained pleasures with their partners but then swore each other to secrecy with a smile. When they had settled themselves again they decided to call out to Lara and see if she would come to them. She had told them that she would.

“My lady Domina, Lara of Terah, please come to us,” Gillian said. “We need you.” They waited.

And then after a short time Lara appeared in her colored haze. “Why have you called to me?” she asked them.

“The Wolfyn found another way into The City,” Gillian began.

“We believe we have stopped them for now,” Vilia added.

“Tell me,” Lara said, her face suddenly grave. When would this all end?

They explained what had happened and Lara nodded finally.

“There could be more tunnels,” Vilia said. “And we cannot be certain if our oily flames have stopped the Wolfyn from the tunnel beneath this house.”

Prince Kaliq, heed my call. Come to me from out yon wall, Lara intoned.

At once the handsome Shadow Prince was with them and Lara explained her need for him. Kaliq nodded. “We shall seal all the tunnels,” he told them. “I had forgotten about them as they have not been used in centuries.” Then he turned to both Gillian and Vilia. “You were very brave, my ladies. Hetar can be proud of you both. You are heroines.”

“Hetar must never know,” Vilia said quietly and Gillian nodded in agreement.

“You fear what people would say?” the prince asked.

“I am wife to the emperor’s right hand,” Vilia replied. “That Gillian and I saved The City by yielding our bodies to these Wolfyn would not be considered an honorable act. My husband would be embarrassed and it could harm his ambitions. Whatever I may be, my lord prince, I love Jonah. I did not seduce him and cuckold Gaius Prospero on a whim. There is no need for Hetar to know what happened.”

The prince bowed again and nodded to her. “It will be as you wish, my lady.” He bowed to Lara and Gillian, then faded into the shadows of the room.