The dry underbrush crunched beneath my armored boot. I plodded slowly through the woods, careful to follow the trail of my quarry. Fortunately for me, Errol hadn’t taken much care to cover his tracks. Of course, covering your trail could be challenging when you were dragging a bound barmaid with you. 

The dying embers of sunset filtered through the tree branches, speckling the fallen leaves with glints of orange. I would need to hurry if I wanted to reach his camp before nightfall. I raised a gauntleted hand and brushed my long hair behind my back, before clutching the pommel of my sword and hastening my steps. It may have been scratched and old, but this blade would be my ticket to a better life. The dented metal plating of my armor scraped and clanked loudly as I jogged. 

Stealth wasn’t exactly my specialty as a knight of the Dawn Bringer. Still, I felt confident it wouldn’t matter. If I got close enough for Errol to hear me coming, he would be done for anyway. 

At least that was what I told myself. I could feel a cold sweat gathering on my brow, but I choked down my nervousness. Errol and his victim, Liana, didn’t need to know this was my first mission. Still, I wanted to prove myself to Matron Sienna and my sisters of the order.

This was my last real test to become a full knight, and I wasn’t about to let the Dawn Bringer down. I imagined the looks of joy and admiration from my sisters when I returned with the mage in irons. Finally, they would stop treating me like the runt of the litter and respect me like an equal. No more squire duty or cleaning stables for me. After tonight, I would be somebody. I would be a full fledged knight of the order: proud, noble, commanding. 

As the sky grew dark, I finally reached the end of the trail, a cliff face rising from the ground. It was like the very fabric of the earth had been peeled up to expose the raw rock of this wall. Near its center, a jagged opening scarred the gray surface. A yellow light flickered from deep within the darkness beyond. This cave had to be his campsite. 

I listened for a moment, but could only hear the crackling of his fire. Suddenly, a bright pink light shone from within. The soft oranges and yellows of the distant flame were drowned out completely by the harsh glow. I reached instinctively to my neck and clasped my holy symbol. It was a horizontal line with a half circle rising from its center, the symbol of the dawn, cast in precious gold.

“Please Solaris, it’s me, Mira, your latest acolyte. Let your light protect me in this trying time. May your grace pierce the darkness and bring safety and joy to those in peril. May your radiance set me on my true path. In The Dawn Bringer’s name I pray.” I lifted the symbol to my lips and blessed it with a kiss. The metal felt cold against my lips.

I looked around, waiting for a sign. Perhaps one of the sun’s last beams would caress my cheek. Perhaps a fire of glorious passion would ignite within me. But nothing came, just like always. I received no favor from the divine. I swallowed, trying to push down my own fears, my doubts that Solaris found me wanting or my faith lacking. I had no time for such misgivings. I drew my sword and headed into the darkness.

The ground inside was damp and slick. Stalactites dangled ominously from the ceiling, like row upon row of glistening teeth. I couldn’t shake the feeling that I had stepped into the mouth of a terrible beast, but I forged on. Knights of the Dawn Bringer were no cowards. 

At last, the narrow pathway emptied into a broader section of cavern. I had found the source of the magical light. 

Liana lay on the ground in her simple tavern keeper’s garb. Her blonde hair was tied back in a ponytail. Coils of hempen rope bound her wrists and ankles, while a cloth covered her mouth. That I expected. What caught me by surprise was the look on her face. Her blue eyes looked utterly transfixed. She stared unblinkingly at the otherworldly lights filling the cavern. 

A dark silhouette stood in the center of the space with a hand raised over his head. Above it danced the most marvelous symphony of lights that I had ever seen. It was as though he held the very stars themselves in the palm of his hand. Countless points of light drifted and swirled in mesmerizing patterns, all against a radiant tapestry of bright pinks and purples. 

I opened my mouth to speak, to announce myself and challenge the mage to a duel as honor demanded, but no words came, and my mouth hung agape. The dazzling light captivated my attention. My eyes would lock onto a shimmering star and follow its course until it converged with other spinning pinpricks of light. Then I would lose it and begin again. The weight of my sword suddenly grew heavy and my arms began to droop forward. My whole body leaned towards the light. I just wanted to float into those stars, my noble purpose in coming here utterly forgotten. I only had space in my mind for these beautiful colors. 

The figure was talking, but I couldn’t listen. Listening would mean paying less attention to the dazzling Aurora before me and it held my attention completely. So I just let the words drift through my dazed and foggy brain. I didn’t know how long I stared. It could have been mere seconds or a lifetime. I would have believed either. But eventually the stunning display faded, leaving only the dull warmth of the fire to fill the cavern. 

A man’s voice shook me from my stupor. “I must say, I’m surprised they sent a Knight of The Dawn Bringer after a simple barmaid.” The figure turned to me. He was wearing a dark tunic that blended into the shifting shadows of the firelight. His face was rough, his eyes cold. Streaks of gray ran through his once dark hair. He took a casual swig from a flask after he spoke. 

I snapped to attention. How had I let myself get distracted? “No life is too small for the protection of the Dawn Bringer, you scoundrel!” I answered, doing my best to sound intimidating. In truth, the barkeep had paid the tithe to hire our protection. Apparently, she was his best waitress. But he had only mustered enough to get me, an apprentice. Still, that gave me the chance to prove myself, to be somebody. 

“Well I’m afraid you’re too late. She’s already fallen under my spell. I control her perception of reality now,” he answered jovially, before helping himself to another drink. 

“Then I shall simply force you to lift your foul magics,” I threatened as I stepped forward.

“Oh and how will you do that?”

“With the cold steel of my blade,” I began closing the distance to the mage. 

Errol smiled a wicked grin. “What blade? You’re only holding a snake.”

“What nonsense do you spout?” As if my sword could be so transformed. Then I felt it slither. The scales slid over the metal plates of my gauntlet. To my shock, where my sword had been moments before was now a twisting python. It turned to look back at me with beady, reptilian eyes. Its sinuous body bent in the air as it turned to coil itself around my arm. I flung the beast across the cavern. My heart pounded. “What in Solaris’s name!?” I gasped. 

“Did I forget to mention that you fell under my spell as well? Honestly dear, you couldn’t have timed your entrance much worse,” he smirked. 

“Those lights!” I yelled, my voice bouncing off the walls of the cave.

“Afraid so. Your senses are all completely under my control now. What you see, what you hear, your senses of touch, even the tastes on your tongue. I can manipulate them all now. I’ll even tell you that’s still your sword on the ground, same as it ever was. But you’re incapable of seeing it as anything other than a terrifying serpent. Isn't that right?”

I glanced down to my discarded blade. Part of me wanted to run over and scoop it up, but I saw its forked tongue dart out and couldn’t bring myself to approach it. The cold sweat on my brow dripped down over my eye. Part of me wanted to flee right then. Perhaps I should have, but I was determined to prove myself. “It matters not. I can still vanquish you.” I ran towards the mage with an armored fist raised. 

“How? with your armor? Even though it feels so painfully hot?” He asked playfully. 

As soon as his words hit my ears they took effect. The metal plates began to sizzle against my delicate flesh. I let out a howl of pain. My fingers acted on instinct and began pulling at the leather straps of my bracers. I unclasped them faster than I ever had before. They clanged to the ground. I kicked off my steel boots, letting the cold stone meet my bare soles. I kept going, releasing my breast plate and hoisting it over my head. It had been scorching my tender chest. I tossed the chainmail under layers aside as well. 

It had often taken me twenty minutes to doff a full suit of armor after practice. But racing against the pain, I managed it in heartbeats. I felt a surge of relief as the damp cave air met my skin. Now I stood in only my linen undergarments that barely covered my cursedly heavy breasts and my womanhood. But quickly the relief turned to fear.

Errol must have seen it in my face. “Are we finally realizing our situation? You’ve already lost. You should stop now, before I make it worse. I must say, you seem quite inexperienced for a Knight of The Dawn Bringer,” he said with a chuckle. 

As I stood there shivering in my linens, my confidence evaporated. I knew I couldn’t hope to best him. His magic was far beyond that of an ordinary mage. “It’s. . . It’s my first mission,” I said in a small voice. 

He chuckled at that. “So honest! What’s your name, dear?”

“Mira,” I answered with my head hung low. 

“What a pretty name. That wavy, dark hair is so striking against your skin. And your face, too, with that adorable little mole.” He seemed lost in thought for a moment and then took a long gulp from his flask. I could feel his eyes wandering over my silhouette, and lingering on my face. Self consciously, my hand went to the beauty mark on my cheek. 

“Well, don’t be too hard on yourself, Mira,” he said with surprising kindness. “I’ve been doing this a long time. The result would have been the same for anyone unfortunate enough to interfere with my plans.”

Oddly, that did make me feel a little better. I may have failed, but after experiencing his enchantments, I believed him. He was so powerful, I doubted any of my sisters could have fared much better. 

“Still, that leaves me with a difficult question. Whatever am I to do with you?”  that unsettling gaze of his hovered over my face. 

My blood turned to ice, as the possibilities leapt unbidden into my mind’s eye. “Let me go?” I offered. 

He laughed again. “No, that would set a terrible precedent. Truthfully, I hadn’t expected pursuit. I found this young woman so charming at the tavern earlier, I simply had to enslave her, you understand.”

“She has a name. It’s Liana!” I fumed. Liana squirmed on the ground, unable to move or speak. 

“Oh thank you. I actually hadn’t caught it before. Liana. Yes, that’s very nice,” he said, almost to himself. “But the point is, I just set out to have a little fun tonight. I hadn’t planned on capturing a holy paladin. But now that you’re here, I must admit my wheels are turning.” He raised a hand to his chin in thought.

“W-w-what foul plans  do you have for me?” I asked, my voice trembling and my pulse quickening. 

“Oh yes. Oh I like that. That’s devious. I’ve made up my mind!” He clapped his hands together. “I’ll give you a choice.” 

“A choice?” 

“Yes. You see, I’m going to break Liana’s mind completely. I have several girls like her scattered around Elysia. She’ll be so devoted to me that nothing else will matter to her. The need to obey me will overwhelm every fiber of her being.”

“Why are you telling me this? Just do whatever you’re going to do to me and get it over with,” I sulked. 

That only seemed to amuse him more. “Simple. I’m telling you because I want you to make an informed decision. You see, having someone like you under my control opens up so many possibilities. It’s too good an opportunity to pass up. But how that happens is going to be up to you.” 

“Excuse me?” I clutched my hand to my chest. 

“The choice is this. I can give you the same treatment as poor Liana here. I can break you completely and make you my devoted slave. You’ll be a shell of yourself, barely able to think of anything besides pleasing me, or you can pledge yourself to me and become my servant willingly. You’ll have to obey my commands. But otherwise your life will be your own. You will still be yourself,” he said, looking supremely smug. 

“This is a trick! You’re going to ensorcel me no matter what I pick. You just want the satisfaction of seeing me give up,” I balked. 

“No. No trick. I’m nothing if not a man of my word.” 

My head was spinning. Both options seemed like the end of my life as I knew it. “But why give me a choice? Why not just use your magics on me?”

He stepped right up to me. I could feel his hot breath on my neck. It reeked of liquor. The firelight danced in his eyes. “Who knows? Maybe it’s because the mindless sex slaves don’t make for good conversation. Maybe it’s because you’ll be more useful to me with your wits about you. Maybe it’s because I can’t stand how you holy types act so superior, when really you just want power like everyone else. Or maybe it’s just for fun. My reasons are my own. But you should really be thinking less about what I want and more about what you want, Mira.” 

“W-w-what I want?” I stammered. What did I want? Suddenly my life felt very small. Why did I want to be a knight anyway? The order of the Dawn Bringer ran the orphanage, where I grew up. No one had adopted me. No one wanted me. So, I joined the order. 

“I . . I . . I,” my voice caught in my throat. I didn’t want to run an orphanage. I wanted to be someone respected and powerful. That was why I trained and lobbied the sisters until they let me apprentice as a paladin. 

“W-w-want,” I said, unable to meet his gaze. I worked so hard to get where I had. The other apprentice knights had all come from noble families. The path had been easy for them. They’d come with weapons and armor and money. Only I had to earn it all from the abbey as discarded hand me downs. 

“T-t-to,” I stammered. And all for what? To become some mindless slave? To lose myself for the ideals of this order that never wanted me anyway? Maybe Errol was right about me. I did want power. I wanted control of my life. I wanted to feel wanted. Maybe Errol was a dark mage and a horrible person. But he wouldn’t have given me this choice if he didn’t want me. 

I swallowed. “I want to stay myself,” I finally blurted out. 

He ran a hand gently down my side. I shivered nervously at his touch. “I knew I liked you,” he gloated. “We are going to have so much fun together. Now kneel before your new Master.” 

The word “Master” hit me like a slap in the face. What had I done? The symbol of the Dawn Bringer hung from my neck like a noose as I lowered myself to my knees. 

His hand gently cupped my chin and pulled my gaze up to meet his. “You look wonderful down there, Mira. Now renounce your oath to your order and pledge your loyalty to me.”

The shame welled up in my chest, but my mind hadn’t changed. I had worked so hard to become a knight. I was throwing it all away by choosing this, but throwing away my sense of self would be even worse. “I renounce my . . .” My voice trembled. “I renounce my oaths to The Dawn Bringer and swear my loyalty to you.”

“You swear to who?” He prodded. 

“To you . . . Master,” I mumbled. I pulled down on the delicate golden chain of my holy symbol, snapping it free. I tossed it down by my armor. 

“Excellent.” He released my chin and turned towards Liana. “Though you shouldn’t have broken that. You’ll need it later.” 

I started, still kneeling on the cold ground. “That’s it? You’re not going to magically bind me to my oath? I could betray you.”

He turned over his shoulder and looked down at me. “What would be the fun in that?  Now come here. We have work to do.”

I scrambled up and followed him to where Liana lay bound. She tried to speak through her binding, but it just came out as incoherent mumbles. He leaned down beside her and I followed suit. I could barely bring myself to look at her. 

Errol spoke. “Now Liana when either of us touches you anywhere, you’ll feel the most intense pleasure you’ve felt in your life.” 

I raised an eyebrow in confusion. 

“Not what you were expecting?” He asked. 

“I just thought you’d do something more . . . Evil?” 

He chuckled again. “Oh, Mira. You have so much to learn.” Then he untied Liana’s gag. 

Her voice rushed forth in a frantic stream of words. “Holy knight, don’t fall for his honeyed words! You can’t trust him. He was so kind at the tavern and then he did this. You can’t . . . Oooo” her words broke into a breathy moan as Errol placed a hand on her forehead. Liana’s eyes rolled back until only the whites showed. Her lips opened wider and wider as she basked in the feeling. Looking at her, I wondered if maybe I should have made the other choice.

Then he pulled his hand back. Liana panted from exertion. “More . . . More.”

“Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. If you want more you’ll have to beg for it,” he said with a devilish grin. 

“Please . . . Please. I’m begging,” she gasped. 

“What would you do for more, for me?” 

“Anything. I’ll do anything.” 

“That’s good. She’ll break easily. Mira, you do it this time,” Errol said, turning to face me. 

“You want me to do it?” I asked incredulously.

“Are you disobeying your Master?” he shot back. 

“No . . . Master.” I turned towards Liana. My hand hovered over her face. 

The barmaid’s demeanor had changed so completely. Her eyes watched my hand with a ravenous hunger. “Do it, holy knight. Please, please, please.” She whispered.

I winced. I wished she wouldn’t call me that. I was no holy knight anymore. I think part of me just touched her so she would stop talking, but I did it. I gently placed my palm on her soft cheek. It felt so warm. 

Her body reacted instantly. Her muscles tensed. Her pulse quickened. Her hips squirmed. And then there was the moaning. Her wailing voice bounced across the stone chamber. The echoes overlapped moan on top of moan into a cacophony of pleasure. Without thinking, I touched my other hand to her opposite cheek, and her squirming grew to thrashing. At my Master’s bidding, I unbuttoned her shirt and cupped her pert breast. 

The mewls turned to screams. Her rising nipple hardened against my palm. Perhaps it was just a shadow, but I thought I saw a dark spot forming on her dress. All the while my new Master whispered sweet words of surrender to her, binding the poor girl to his will. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Errol watching me with that self-satisfied smirk of his. I understood now, and he could tell.

Liana would be so addicted to this feeling that she would obey any command for more. Her willpower was breaking beneath the gentle touch of my fingers, and I was the one doing it to her. I had come here to save her, and I would be the instrument of her enslavement. My sisters had trusted me with this mission and I had forsaken it to save myself. Yet, I realized something even more sickening; I was enjoying this.