Life with Bandits - A Promise to Khusk 1
Story by TikTikKobold on SoFurry
Kret is at the mercy of the bandits and their leader, Khusk, but Kret is a resourceful kobold. While she does as she's told as a slave, her mind wanders towards the revenge she will have once she is free.
CW: Transphobia. The opinions expressed by characters in this story are not mine nor anyone else involved in the creation of this series.
This is part of a series I did with kobold dell'arte. I'm now bringing it to you so everything is in one place. Kret belongs to kobold dell'arte. Story written by me.
Art by Troutsworth.
“You may call me Khusk," the chieftain responds, letting go of the kobold. “You're clean enough now. Finish up how you will and then follow me to the camp. There is much you can do for us before we make our way to Calin."
The lizardfolk left, water coursing down scarred scales. Quickly the battleskirt is donned once more and Kret is left to her own.
The kobold leans back in the water a bit, floating on her back and pondering her luck. Sure, she's enslaved, for the time being, but she's still heading to Calin. That's where that bard who wronged her and who robbed her left for. If there is anything that can grant her solace, its that she still pushes forward in the right direction, no matter the hardships she faces.
So, she plays the part of the good slave, shambling into simple slave garments and doing everything that was asked of her. Most of the time, she is sent to deliver something to the other side of camp. Other times, she uses her small hands to help tinker with things. The whole time, she is without her magic, and things start to feel like the good old days before her power awakened. She has a place to sleep, food to eat, and the men who raped her thank her for her service. Something in her heart swells at her situation, but then she catches a glimpse of Khusk and she remembers what the chieftain told her in the river.
“Oi, there!" A half-elf calls out to her, snapping her out of her thoughts. “Boss thought you'd want your things back, well, what things he deigned appropriate, so here." He tosses something at her, and she catches it. In her hands is the magical egg device, stolen from the Mistress at the Muddy Mistress bordello. She frowns as she looks for a pocket to put it in while here.
“Guess you'll have to find some place to stick it, eh? Good luck with that, since you also need to help me carry these boxes."
In an act of defiance, Kret narrows her eyes, opens her mouth wide, and plops the toy right into it. She sticks it inside one of her cheeks and grumbles, picking up the box with her oppressor.
Soon, the boxes are loaded into the cart. The work is tiring, and her arms ache, but she sits on the edge of the cart and observes the rest of the camp as she has the past few days she's been here. It's quite obvious by their busy work that directly attacking even one of the bandits would be sudden death. But one thing they loved was enjoying the spoils of their work. Boisterous orcs crack open casks of ale while pudgy humans chomp down on links of sausage. Banditry is hungry work it seems, and, despite her time here, seeing Khusk pass by rekindles her desire for revenge. Kret is no poisoner, though. It is not a plan she can pull off on her own. For certain, though, Khusk is not among the revelers. Where did she go?
“Alright then, little lizard," the half-elf says. “This is your ride out of here. Next stop, Vijaya's palace."
So, this is it. Kret scrambles on board and sits in the cart, almost as if nothing happens. As the cart begins its journey, Kret sees the small and unassuming tent off to the side, away from the throng. Perhaps that is a scout's tent, but as the lizard emerges from it, Kret realizes the greatest mistake the bandit leader has made.
She smiles as Khusk emerges, and the bandit leader meets her gaze with that dull expression she is want to give. She thinks she's so tough, turning off herself to her feminine side, hiding behind the mask of masculinity. But Kret already has plans bubbling up from her mind for her. The kobold thinks back on how the elven madame fell into the pool of her own muck. That is a revenge quite ironic, very poetic. Never had the kobold found herself in a position of such power over someone else when she turned someone's desires and devices against themselves. The bard, the bouncer, and now the bandit… each of them are going to face her, one way or another. And anyone else who would cross the kobold's path will one day know the full blow of her calculating mind.
But, unlike the elf, revenge will not come today. One day, she won't have this collar around her neck, stifling her magic. She'll be able to cast her spells freely, and perhaps new ones that will come to her as her bloodline speaks to her. Yes, indeed, it will be an amazing time, and that's what she has to hold onto.
Khusk approaches the cart and stops them. With a few quick words in a language Kret had never heard before, the Lizardwoman gives a few orders. With a nod, the driver pulls a string and curtains cover the contents, including Kret. Her eyes adjust quickly to the darkness, but soon she is not alone, as Khusk hops into the back with her.
“You've been a nice little kobold, indeed," Khusk says. “I think I'll give you a parting gift."
Kret just pouts, the large egg still stuffed into her mouth. She doesn't want any of the bandits to get ideas, after all.
Khusk grips the kobold's shoulders and leans in, looking at her eye-to-eye, the bandit leader's eyes are quite dull, nearly lifeless.
“Perhaps this will inspire you for when next we meet."
Kret's attempt to make a confused squeak is thwarted when snout presses against snout and tongue pushes its way into mouth. Kret's whole body shivers at the strange invasion. It's dominant, yet different than before. She fights to keep her own eyes open, but succumbs. Does Khusk believe this will alleviate her sins? Hardly. Kret may be weak now, but once she perseveres, this paltry attempt to placate her wrath will be forgotten!