[[NRPG: this Joint post was written with help from Jill and Kiddo... It's a
post covering several POV's and I want to thank them for ALL their help!!]]

[Also as this story line was already in the works I'm not sure where
Morgie's post comes into it. But as this was already being worked on by
Jill, Kiddo and myself, maybe Morgie's post can be fit in after Katla gets
home after taking Raine to meet up with Telven. Give her something else to
keep her mind on then what's about to happen to Raine...]]

=========================================   

Personal Scarifies


[Raine]
 
She didn't want to do this. Had second and third and even 100th thoughts
about it every since she'd offered... But even then she knew it was the only
thing she could do. After all her life didn't mean anything now. She didn't
mean anything. 

Everything she had hoped to be had been taken from her by her brother and
Kel. She had nothing left... But these people in the Warren.. From the
dragonriders on down to the lowest of kitchen worker.. they still had lives
worth living. 

What she was about to do was more for them then anything dealing with
herself. With the one exception of personal revenge. That small feeling grew
and grew in her heart until it was all she could think about. They would pay
for what they had done. Both to her personally and for the deaths they had
caused in the Warren. 

Oh yes they would pay and she was going to be the catalyst that brought it
about.

[Katla]

"Are you ready?"

"As ready as I can be."

"You don't have to do this you know? We can find some other way of bring
them down."

"No.. I do have to do this. It's where it's been heading since the first
time Saul asked permission for me to stand on the sands," Raine said looking
off over the empty green as the two women stood by 'Tinka, Katla's dragon
who would be taking them to what they hoped
would be the start of the end.

"If I'm ever to get on with what's left of my life," she turned her empty
eyes on the woman beside her. "Then I have to see this through. Not only for
me but for every person in this Warren."

Katla nodded in understanding. Turned back and looked over her shoulder to
where her mate was waiting for her signal.

She lifter her arm up, fist clenched and pumped it once downward to let him
know they were ready to go.

........ 

Telven was waiting for them in the location they had agreed upon when they
arrived. He was standing next to the wagon he would use to sneak Raine back
to his place of business once everything had been agreed
upon.

"Now you understand what your part is in all of this," Katla asked, dark
eyes locked on his.  Despite their association, Telven was neither a good
man nor an honest one, and she had to be sure that he knew that Raine was
like unto any of her children or family.  He called her Vaddon's avenging
angel, and he was right, she would do
anything to protect Raine from further injury, if she could.

Telven smiled his smooth smile, his eyes bright with an almost malicious
glee.  "Hey I'm just the owner of a place of pleasure," Telven grinned with
a wink towards the women. "Doesn't matter to me who what the women do once
they get a man up to their rooms... and what kind of business man would I be
to turn down the employment of a
beautiful woman like the good Lady here.. if she wants to work for
me."

Chance's expression didn't change, though she could see Raine's flush of
shame. "No. I suppose it isn't, so long as it *was* her choice to take a man
up. Raine, you don't have to do this.  We can find another way."

"No. There isn't." Raine's voice was as strained as it was sure. "I have to
do this."

"As you will. Telven --" Katla's words burned in the air, "-- if any harm
comes to her at your hands."

'What more could they do to her that they hadn't already,' Raine thought to
herself, but didn't say anything aloud.

"Hell, death and damnation will ensue."  Telven didn't even smile, and she
could see that he at least took that seriously.  Then he laughed lightly,
glancing at Raine.  "Isn't she adorable when she gets that whole 'I am
Vaddon, you will obey me' thing going?"

Raine laughed weakly and Katla snorted in amused disgust.  "You are a rogue,
Telven.  Are you sure you will be all right?"

"No." Raine said, blue eyes determined.  "But I am sure I will be."

-----
[Telven]

They rode into Marketa in silence. The Lady Raine contemplating the
unknowable and himself contemplating Raine.  She was still a lovely thing,
the vulnerability of her mouth contrasting so dramatically with the steel in
her eyes. The rumors about her activities growing more
ugly by the day, though he could see how a woman with her looks and
unconscious sensuality could be set up for such a fall.

He'd have pitied her if it wasn't so damn funny.  Aristocrats and their
internal plots.  A man calls his sister a whore and soon the whole of
society was repeating it as though it were gospel truth.

"Now, my dear girl, how are you planning to convince people that you've been
working here for the last few days?"

"What?"

His smile was somewhat less than cruel, but it had no kindness in it.

"How do you expect to convince your brother and his friend that you've been
whoring for your supper?  A high class piece like you would become more
popular than food for the starving and firewood in winter. Everyone in town
would know that I had a noblewoman in my stables if one were there."

"Wh-what?" Those lovely blue eyes grew bright and round.  "Why didn't you
say anything to..."

"La Belle Fortuna? Because, my dear, I think this plan will work. It is
disturbing to know that our stalwart protectors have been having such
attacks perpetrated on them. In fact, it's bad for business -- for every
person dancing in the streets there are a dozen others who become fearful
and begin guarding their valuables and their women." Telven shrugged. "If
destroying that little group will return people to complacency, then I am
all for it."

"I see."  He could see her thinking, and brushed a finger lazily down her
cheek. She flinched away and he chuckled.

"Well now my dear the choice is yours, but do you really think to fool them
into believing you work here if no one can say they have spent any time with
you?"

"There has to be some other way," Raine muttered. Working as an actual whore
wasn't something that appealed to the young aristocrat, but he didn't think
she'd like the other solution much better.

"Well there is... one way that might work," Blue eyes raised to his and he
smiled gently, without softening his words. "We occasionally have certain
kinds of.. parties.. for some of our more...important guests..."

"What kind of parties?"  Her mouth curved downward, anxiety darkening her
features.

"The kind where no questions are asked and no one remembers who was there...
Where the entertainment is there to *relax* the guest with any means they
can or are asked to do."

"You mean in front of everyone...?" Raine shuddered, and he could almost see
the thoughts running through her head.  She undoubtedly had never considered
sex in terms of being a performance art.

"No that won't work," she said finally. "I could never pull it off and make
it look like I was enjoying myself.  I hated everything they made me do and
did to me!!"

"Of course there was no joy in it for you," he told the girl soothingly,
running experienced fingers along the tight knots in her shoulders and back.
"And they hardly expect you to spread for them happily. But...  My whores
are the most talented in Marketa and can fake pleasure with the best of
them.  A skill, I'm told, many noble bi-born women would undoubtedly benefit
from." He started working on her neck and scalp, lessening the tension in
her with almost unconscious skill.

"It's different," she said with some heat even as she leaned into his hands.

"How so?"

"I know what I'm getting into by going back to them.  They've hurt me so bad
already that nothing they can do to me any more can hurt me any worse...
only full my desire to see them rot in Hell!! But I just can't deal with
letting any other man touch me.. It's all so dirty and evil."  This last
said on a low moan as his breath barely touched her spine.

"It doesn't have to be that way between a woman and man," he said softly,
pressing a light kiss behind her ear, and she shivered unconsciously, voice
hitching on a breathy little moan. Telven smiled into her neck, hands
beginning to move more boldly. A woman's pleasure was easy to induce, and
this child was innocent of the darker cravings that he could spark in her.
He remembered her, all golden on his couch, empty and hurting. He remembered
the lust that still coiled in him when he looked at her... noble born, her
hands and hair soft and sweet smelling. "Let me show you, Raine..."

"No... I..." but her body was screaming a YES! that could not be ignored.

Turning her gently, Telven looked into her eyes.  "I'm going to kiss you..."

It was all the warning he gave before his lips settled on hers like gossamer
wings...

......... 

It had been an enjoyable diversion.  Raine's fear still dominated her
reactions, but once past that, the surrender had been...  sweet.

Passionate.

All in all, excellent. Any number of men would pay enormous fees to get that
in their bed. Smirking slightly down at her sleeping form, he had to
acknowledge that even though she hadn't initially enjoyed it much, Keltian
Vaddon seemed to know how to train a world-class mouth.
She still hadn't decided if she would go through with turning a couple of
tricks -- and making Telven a bit of extra profit -- but the rumors he had
started were undoubtedly going to start boiling back.

It had taken some thought, but the news that he had *personally* been
training a noble-bitch for the bower would undoubtedly get some response and
would quickly circulate among the lower classes. Offers would begin pouring
in.  Now if he could just get Raine to agree...
Her cover would be set, and the dragonrider set to deliver the girl, well,
what was he going to say?  After all, it would be Raine's decision...

[Raine]

She awoke sometime later and at first had been scared and nearly panicked
when she found herself naked and in bed with Telven. Naked and with his hand
on her breast, caressing the soft mound back to the fullness it had enjoyed
earlier. 

Yes enjoyed. Even if she didn't want to admit it. Not even to herself. But
she had. He had made sure of it. Using skill born from many of past
couplings, he had known just where to touch her body to bring her unwanted
pleasures. 

She had fought both herself and him, but in the end his carefully calculated
caresses had destroyed what will she had left and she had submitted to his
advances like a young lover discovering the pleasures of the skin for the
first time. 

He hadn't hurt her when he had finally entered her. Though she had feared
their joining up till then. He'd been careful with her. Had given her body
time to adjust to being invaded and then showed her how wonderful it could
be between a man and woman. 

The explosion that had come later had been like nothing her past experiences
with Kel or her brother could ever have prepared her for. And that scared
her most of all. 

Was she really then a whore at heart?

She couldn't stop the moan that escaped from between her lips when she felt
his lips replacing his hand on her breast. She felt her body arch upwards
and her legs spread open without thought as his hand moved between them to
start again the fires of passion he had shown her earlier.

"Please...." she could barley get out sometime later after he'd worked her
into a frizzy of need. Maybe she was just a whore at heart. Never before
would she have dreamed she'd be begging any man to ... 

"Tell me what you want Raine," the man above her whispered as his lips
played over hers. She could feel his harness pressing against her and he
knew she wanted it inside her. But she had to tell him so. The choice had to
be hers.... this time... 

"You ... please... now!!"

Telven had been only to happy to oblige them both.

..........

Well the choice had been hers. She knew she couldn't come back later and
blame the man who had set up her introduction to the scum assembled here in
this room. 

He had let her make the choice, but had known there really hadn't been any
other to make. Not if she wanted to pull this off and make it work. 

She saw him coming towards her and reach for her hand. 

"Smile a little my dear," he whispered in her ear before turning back to the
men in the room. "And this is the woman you've all come here today to have a
look at."

Raine felt naked even through the sexy dress he had found her to wear. The
blue silk clung to her naked body as if painted on and she knew nothing had
been left to the imagination of these men. Her nipples were clearly
outlined, aroused by the feel of the silks caresses as they rose and fell
with each breath she took.

"So is she as good as you say Telven?" a man asked as he lounged against a
pile of pillows. 

"Why don't you see for yourself Tagart," Telven told him and led Raine over
to the man. "What would you like for her to do......"

"Get naked," the man leered up at her. "I want to see what a high born whore
looks like while she's doing me....

Raine wanted to run but she stood her ground and with a flick of her wrist
sent the silk sliding to the ground at her feet. Then over the next hours
played the role of the well trained whore to the four men assembled in the
private room. She'd seen N'lin on the far side of the room and was dreading
the time when she was moved to stand before him. 

While she could shut her mind off of what she was doing to the others, she
didn't think she would be able to pull it off doing to him, what she'd been
forced by need to do to the others.  

But unless something happened.. 

"So how much for her time for the night Telven?" a man asked.

Telven turned to the man, his face showing apology. 

"Maybe another time Lord Nester, but the lady has already been spoken for
this evening my young Lord Drezak here," he lifted his hands as if
understanding the mans lost. "Favor I owe the young man's father you
understand."

"Yes well I'd like to book her for another evening then," the Lord leered at
the girl imagining what all he would do to her when she was his for the
whole night.

"Certainly Lord Nester. I'm sure it'll be worth the wait.

He turned back to Drezak who had stood and held out his hand for the girl.
"If you'll be so kind Telven, I think I'd prefer to spend some time with the
lady alone where  we can enjoy ourselves."

"Certainly Lord Drezak," the whoremaster grinned and held out his hand
indicating that they should precede him. "I've just the room set aside for
you to use."

As it had been set up before hand. They never made it to the room. As soon
as they were away from the others, Raine had been given a ratty night gown
to where and then N'lin stepped behind her. 

"Okay we have to make this look real or they won't believe I kidnapped you
away from here to bring you back to them."

"Do what you have to do N'lin..." Raine told him, understanding his
reluctance to go alone. But knowing he would for the good of the Warren.
"This was my idea remember."

"Yes well.." he placed his hand over her mouth and began dragging her
towards a hidden door in the back of the Inn. Outside was a coach N'lin had
hired and as the driver helped him place the girl inside... they were on
their way.....


[The house of Keltian Vaddon] 

"My Lord.. there is a gentleman at the front door who says he has some news
about your sister," a servant informed the two men who were enjoying a drink
in the den after a long day of searching and planing their next move.

"Raine?" Pheran asked, his eyes opening wider as he glanced over at Kel
Vaddon, who smiled coolly.  How delightful.

"Please ask the gentleman in Jacob," Kel ordered and waited until the
servant was gone before getting up and refilling his brandy.

"Do you think this guy may know where she is?" he asked and downed the drink
in one gulp as he waited for his cohort to reply.

"I hope so. With all the reward money we've put up for information on her
where about's, you'd think someone would have found her by now." He sipped
his own drink thoughtfully, watching the other man.  He had
a score to settle with his bitch-sister, and he looked forward to settling
it...  Kel had actually trained the little whore fairly well. The utter
horror in her eyes had been so utterly delightful, and repeating the
experience -- ah, how wonderful it would be to repeat
it!

"What if she's told anyone about what she knows?" Kel asked idly, pouring
another glass and bringing it to the fire.

"Who'd listen to the ravings of a mad woman who'd seduce her own brother and
his roommate... not to mention half the young sons in court?  And all of the
filthy peasants who've seen her bed."

The servant knocked on the door. Opened it and stepped back to allow the
visitor to enter. "Lord Drezak de Shaikur." The servant said, then with a
wave of Pheran's hand, left, closing the door behind him.

"So... You have come with word on the location of my poor mad sister?" he
asked and offered the man a seat.

"Drink?"

"Don't mind if I do," the young man said and thanked Keltian when it was
brought to him. "I've heard word about the trouble you've been having with
the girl... so naturally when I saw her.. in a place.. where no woman of our
status should be seen... I felt it my duty to come here and warn you of the
slur she is making on your good family's name."

"Are you sure it was her you saw?"

"I'm sure," the man's smile left his face and was replaced with a look of
disgust. "I've seen her before at a party a friend was holding some time
ago.  I was a fool like every other man there and though her so innocent a
pure..  But I meant to tell you.. Meaning no disrespect to your good
family...  But something has to be done about her..."

"Why whatever do you mean?" Pheran asked, sitting upright in his chair now
wanting nothing more then the location of the bitch from this man before
they paid him and got rid of him.

"It's just that, if she were my sister, a lady of noble blood, and hanging
out in a place where those damn dragonriders come play their sick games with
Landbound women... I know I'd want to do something about it," Drezak
remarked, shaking his head with disapproval.

[Keltian]

"It's sad to say, but Raine Calarais is no lady, but a dragonwhore of the
first water."  Kel shook his head.  "She looked innocent enough, but would
you believe she tried to fake virginity with me?  When she'd been spreading
for Saul of Whiteriver?"  He snorted.  "I can't say it surprises me though.
They're always trying to sow their perversions deeper into our society, and
what better way then to get someone like her to pretend to be an innocent
girl?  Some poor fool would have married her and she would have tried to
turn him and his kids into
dragon-lovers."

Drezak shuddered. "Far better that she be exposed as what she is now."

"Yes," said Pheran silkily. "Far better. Tell me, Drezak, where did you find
her?"

"At the House of the Seven Veils, my dear sir.  They say that she has only
been entertaining guests for the last day or so -- the proprietor apparently
tired of her after a few days and set the girl to earn her keep."

Pheran laughed and Keltian couldn't resist a chuckle.  How perfectly ironic.
No wonder no one had known where the little bitch was. She'd tried to trade
her rather dubious favors for protection, and not even lowborn scum wanted a
dragonriders whore for his mistress.

"I think that we should retrieve her --"

"Well, actually my lords, I took the opportunity that presented itself...  I
brought her to you." The lordling's smile was just a trace malicious.  "I'm
sure that she and the coachman have been getting along splendidly... or if
not, I'm rather disappointed in him.
He knows just how... available she is."

"Really?"  Keltian rose and gave a yank on the bell pull.

"Yes, my lord?"

"There is a... gift, waiting in Lord Drezak's carriage.  Do be a good fellow
and bring it in."

"Yes, my lord. Thank you. The screeching was beginning to get on my nerves."

"Is she vocal?" Pheran asked disinterestedly. "How terribly entertaining,
she was so... quiet the last time I saw her.  Drezak, my dear man, with
Keltian's permission, I would like to invite you to stay for a while.  It is
so hard to find a man of proper sensibilities.  Most, though they may loath
dragonscum are not willing to discuss it, much less do anything about it."

Kel smiled, sizing the man up. "Indeed, Pheran. I have asked you time and
again to consider this your home. I have no objection to Drezak here --"

"Bastard, let me go --"

"Keep silent, whore," Pheran snapped out.  "Speak only when spoken to."

Raine fell silent, glaring into her brother's eyes with such venom that
Keltian nearly laughed.

"You really are a stupid bitch, aren't you?  No -- don't bother to answer."
Keltian walked up to her, slapping her hard. "I don't want to hear your
whining voice, or your lies. Stupid slut. Not even a commoner wanted you as
his mistress -- dragonrider whore, that is what you will always be.  And no
one wants a dragonriders leavings..."

[Pheran]

"...a dragonriders leavings."  Kel's voice was so wonderfully acidic, and
the mute agony in Raine's eyes was even better than Pheran could have hoped.
He smiled at Drezak and then at his room mate.

"Not so, my friend.  Not so."  Pheran looked on with cold eyes that
glittered with a demonic amusement.  "Look at Drezak, there -- wouldn't you
like a chance at her?  All that lovely white skin, the golden hair, the
brilliant blue eyes?  A whore's a whore, after all, even if she's not worth
maintaining for very long.  I imagine you went
to the Seven Veils to get one, I imagine."

"Of course, but --"

"Tut tut!  This slut interrupted your pursuit of pleasure Drezak!" Pheran
sauntered over to the still-struggling Raine and ripped the tattered
night-dress off of her.  "By all means, she should provide you with the
services that you were denied. Shouldn't you, slut?"

"NO--"

Pheran's hand cracked against her cheek. "Just for that,
dragon-whore, I think we need to play a little game... don't you agree, Drezak?"

"Like what?"

"Like... what would a little slut learn from the master of a whorehouse? I
think she should give us all a little demonstration. Don't you?" He smiled
at the new man even as Keltian buried his fist in Raine's hair, pulling her
head back at an awkward angle to receive a brutal kiss.  "Dragonriders and
whoremasters -- you should be quite
well trained by now, *sister.*"

"Go to hell!!" she groaned in pain and struggled to get away. But he was to
strong for her. 

"Maybe one day little slut," he laughed in her face. "But not before knowing
your sweetness again. I'm looking forward to learning everything you've
learn, and you had better make it worth us keeping you, or you might find
the alliterative is even worse then you could ever imagine. Now you have a
guest to entertain and you had better make him happy."

"No.. please..." she begged but her words were efficiently cut off by a
sharp blow across her face. Then she felt herself falling and ended up on
her knees in front of Drezak. 

"A good position for a whore to be in. Wouldn't you agree Drezak," Kel
chuckled and sat back to watch the show. But ready in case Raine tried
anything. Privately he hoped she would. Then he'd have a chance to show her
what would happen to her if she defied them.... Not that he didn't have
plans for her later anyway.... 

[Tag Kiddo:]

Submitted by:

Raine 
Whiteriver Warren


aka
Barbara... with a LOT of help from Jill and Kiddo!!!!