Nexus Chronicles Part 19

Chapter 19
Hunted

“Nexus Chronicles”

By Oni and Piper

Part 19: Hunted.

With her brow furrowed the bounty hunter spoke with a man who had also taken a wanted parchment. “Odd,” Daryn overheard, “It says to apprehend the children as well, and to truss, gag, and blind fold them. Dark magic must be afoot.”

In a polite voice that held just a touch of excitement, Daryn asked, “Excuse me ma’am, but are you a bounty hunter?”

The woman folded the parchment and stuffed it into the top of her armor, against her cleavage. She considered Daryn for a moment, squinting at him under the glare of the sun. “On occasion, if the bounty is right,” she allowed.

Daryn grinned happily. “Wow. I’ve never seen one before is all. I’ve thought of becoming one myself, y’know, when I get older. If you don’t mind my saying so, you must be pretty good, given you being a woman and all.”

She sized Daryn up for a moment, her face expressionless. “Being a woman is not a fault,” she stated firmly. She then smiled patronizingly. “And about bounty hunting... you best tend to your family, boy, unless you fancy sleeping in fields during the winter, wondering if you will see the spring.”

Daryn looked sorry at upsetting her. “Oh, I didn’t mean to offend ma’am. I meant it as a compliment! And as for being a bounty hunter, I’m pretty tough, don’t you worry. I was just wonderin’, wonderin’ if I could get some pointers. Miss Alivari, right?”

The woman tilted her head, before saying, “Call me Gwyn. As for advice, always keep your eyes and ears open, and trust nobody. Know the person you are after, and remember that it is always more impressive to capture them without killing them.” She slanted her eyes slyly at him, causing Daryn an instant of worry, before she added, “Now don’t you go using this to steal.”

“Sounds like good advice Miss, I mean Gwyn. Thank you Gwyn! So, where are you headed now?”

“For the local barracks, where if experience serves me the locals will likely be setting up a search for these strays,” she explained. “Nothing very interesting, I am afraid. You be good, now.”

Daryn quickly held out his hand in farewell. “Well, thank you for the advice Gwyn. I’m, heading to the tavern. I’ll buy you a drink another time, if you’d like,” he grinned.

“Do yourself a favor and save your money for food,” Gwyn advised, shaking his hand as firmly as any man ever had.

As she did, Daryn sent most of his remaining milk energy into her. “Um, right, sorry. I really shouldn’t bother you,” he apologized meekly.

The redhead turned to go as Daryn linked with the energy he’d planted. He sent her a very strong desire to join him.

After a moment the woman halted, then glanced back in his direction curiously.

Daryn smiled and waved, then turned to walk away. He kept trying to make her want to follow, adding to the emotions the feeling that she liked him, even reminded her somewhat of herself. In truth he wasn’t at all sure his newly discovered abilities with the milk magic would work, or how exactly to use them. From what he’d discovered however, it was easiest to feel the emotion himself and then imagine the other person did as well.

“I tell you what,” Gwyn called out soon after. “I will meet you at that tavern over there, in an hour.”

Daryn spun back, a surprised but happy look on his face. “D-done!”

The woman shook her head, an insuppressible smile on her face.

***

Marja awoke to an uncomfortably cold feeling against her loins, and a similar under her cheek. With a soft moan she sat up, tugging her head along for the ride. She was surprised when her thumb tugged at the edge of her mouth and she hesitated, blinking the sleep from her eyes. Drool covered her hand, and had created a small patch of wetness on her pillow. Worse, as she shifted her bottom, she could tell it was not the only such patch.

Feeling mortified, she pulled the thumb out of her mouth quickly and furtively looked around. She was very thankful that the only person there was the soundly sleeping Jenna. It had been such a long time, but memories flashed in her mind of herself as a little girl who had sucked her thumb until she had been six. Having only been youthened to eight thus far, it was something she hadn’t expected to recur. Even less did she expect to wet herself in her sleep. That too had been a childhood issue, though by eight it had been resolved.

A soft whimper escaped Marja’s lips as she considered her condition, feeling sorry for herself. She was an adult! She was past such things. She had raised her own child for goodness sakes. She... realized she’d better clean up after herself or Viola and Daryn wouldn’t take her even remotely seriously.

She quietly stripped until the only thing remaining on her was the pendant, which rested to her sorrow against a completely flat chest. She then moved to the still-full washtub to wash her clothing and the damp blanket. Water and soap was more effective than simple spells on such things. Drying however, was more effective with magic.

Every second she felt terrified she’d be caught and scolded, embarrassed further, but to her fortune she made it. As she folded her clothing neatly at the foot of the blanket a small feeling of triumph fluttered in her tummy... before she sniffed the smell of dried urine on her skin.

“Bath too,” she muttered. She turned and used a concentrated flame spell to heat the water to a comfortable level before carefully climbing in. The water felt wonderful, and the little sorceress relaxed for the first time in proverbial years, releasing a long satisfied moan.

In response there was a high pitched grunt from the bundled blanket which held little Jenna. The bundle shifted, and the chubby faced little five-year-old poked her head up, staring at Marja as she slowly woke up.

“Hi,” Jenna piped after a moment. “Yure ... Marja, right?”

Marja sighed in mild annoyance. “Yes. Sorry I woke you.”

“S’okay,” the other girl yawned. She then stretched and pulled her way out of her blanket to stand. “I think my nap’s over. It was kinda nice actually.” She then looked puzzled at Marjanna’s actions. “Wow, how can you stand the cold water like that?”

Closing her eyes Marja leaned her head back and stretched in the tub luxuriously. “’Cause it’s not cold,” she purred.

Jenna blinked and then frowned. “What? How?”

In a dismissive tone Marja simply explained, “Magic.”

The merchant’s daughter grunted angrily and stomped over as loudly as her slight frame could manage, looking no less threatening for it. “You mean you could’ve made my bath warm too and you didn’t!? And that was after you must’ve watched Daryn lugging water all the way here for it?!”

Lazily opening her eyes in an expression that showed she didn’t much care Marja said, “Sorry. You managed though.”

“Why you - get out!” Jenna yelled, grabbing Marja’s wrist and trying to tug the larger girl out of the tub.

Little Marja’s emotions surged in turn. She felt annoyance, anger, and more than a little childish spite. “No! It’s my magic an’ my tub. Lemme go! You want it so much, here, have some.” With that she splashed Jenna with a solid wave of water, drenching the younger girl’s dress.

Jenna sputtered, looking for a moment as if she were going to cry.

Feeling a wicked satisfaction she hadn’t experienced in many years, Marja pointed and giggled. “Aw, you gonna cry baby?” she teased.

The smaller girl growled and lunged forward, took two handfuls of Marja’s hair and pulled. Marja screamed in a high pitched shriek, then grabbed Jenna’s arms and tugged her fully into the tub.

“You, you stupid little brat!” Marja managed.

“I hate you!” Jenna returned as she splashed water back into Marja’s face. “Yure a mean, mean, poopie head!”

As the pair struggled they didn’t notice that their words and actions were losing all signs of maturity or discipline. They did not even stop fighting when two strong hands separated them and pinned them to either side of the tub.

“Enough!” Viola bellowed, even as the children uselessly struggled against her.

Marja was the first to stop, though not out of embarrassment or better control. It was instead because of stark fear of getting into trouble. “She started it!” the little sorceress accused of Jenna, pointing a small finger at the girl.

“Nuh uh,” Jenna protested. “I jus’ wanted a warm bath an’ she splashed me and pulled me in. She’s bein’ mean an’ not sharin’.”

Viola looked from one child to the other, not seeing any maturity in their faces as they glared and continued to struggle. She couldn’t know the milk magic was active in the children, agitated by proximity and affecting their emotions and attitudes. She certainly didn’t know it was in her as well.

Feeling stern, but also rather motherly, Viola said, “Well then, I suppose this will be a lesson in sharing. Jenna, let’s get this soaked dress off of you. Marja, you will be having company, and to keep the peace I’ll be bathing you both. No buts.”

“Awwwwwwww,” Marja whined in complaint, thumping her heels against the bottom of the tub as she crossed her arms.

“And no jewelry either dear,” Viola added, pulling the pendant off of Marja’s neck before she knew what was happening.

The little sorceress blinked heavily and shook her head clear as Jenna was stripped in front of her. Marja frowned, hating having to share baths, but she wiped the expression off her face when Vi looked back at her.

“Now, no splashing Nana Vi,” the woman warned as she lathered up a washcloth with soap. The matron proceeded to wash the pair as the children they seemed to be, not really noticing as her muscles ached less and her strength slowly improved.

It was a young woman with dark hair who helped the two little girls out of the tub and wrapped them in blankets to dry. Each of the girls was as bouncy and excited to run off and play as children could be. She allowed them to enjoy themselves once their damp hair was dealt with, only insisting that they put on a pair of oversized tunics for some modesty. Marja pulled hers on quickly, then tagged Jenna and ran off, the younger girl scampering closely behind as she loudly giggled.

The pendant lay forgotten on a chair.

***

The bath house was a strange affair for Daryn. When he did manage to bathe indoors, it was usually in a private room. Instead he had been witness to the nude bodies of some ten to twenty men. Still, he enjoyed the warm water and used it to relax and contemplate things.

Capturing the bounty hunter seemed to him to be necessary, not only to take her off their trail, but to find out from her what the other bounty hunters were planning. He knew it was somewhat cruel to have exposed her to the same curse that was in Marja and Jenna, but he felt confident that the Priests Paulos was seeking would be able to deal with that.

It wasn’t the Church’s representatives he was worried about after all, but the reactions of a rural population to the appearance of magic. While it was official policy to turn magic users over to the Church, Daryn knew full well that did not always happen, even in a large city like Falkrie. The bounty he’d heard from the cryer had to have been local, and with no temple in Kerafel he doubted the magistrate would wait for some rumored wandering missionaries to arrive. No, a quick and clean public burning was far more likely.

Daryn shuddered at the thought, sadly imagining such a fate for Marja and Jenna. He was determined not to allow that to happen.

Besides, he felt a strong desire to take the condescending redheaded hunter down a few pegs. He was most definitely not just a ’boy’. Again the image of Gwyn as a little girl flashed into his mind, making him smile wickedly.

Almost an hour later Daryn waited at a table in the back of the tavern Gwyn had mentioned. She was late, and he was getting worried. It was a small establishment so he was sure he hadn’t missed her. Only six tables and the bar filled the moderately sized main room, with a bartender, one drinks waitress, and one food waitress.

The teen sighed in relief as the redhead walked through the open door and looked around. With a broad smile befitting the simple character he was playing, Daryn stood and waved. As she approached Daryn noted that she studied the tavern’s patrons without obviously seeming to, a skill he knew was hard for many to perfect.

“Greetings, thank you so much for coming,” he said, before pulling out a chair for her, “Please sit.” In her hard-soled boots she stood almost a hand taller than he did.

“What a gentleman,” Gwyn responded with a smirk as she sat down.

Sitting down himself Daryn added, “I ordered ale, is that alright?” A serving wench was already approaching them with two tankards.

The hunter looked thoughtful. “I don’t know. Let’s see.” She took a sip and nodded. “Yes, it will do. Are you sure you should be drinking all that, when you can’t even grow a beard yet?”

Daryn laughed. “One mug won’t hurt me, and it’s worth the risk to be with someone as beautiful as you.” He looked embarrassed, as if he’d dared too much.

Gwyn could not help chuckling at the comment. “People do not call me beautiful anymore; they’re too afraid of what I’ll do to them.”

He showed worry. “I - I’m sorry. Would you rather I didn’t call you pretty?”

She ran a hand through her short hair. “You? You can call me just about anything, lad. You are innocent enough.”

Daryn grinned. “So, how did things go at your meeting? Will you be catching the bad guys?”

Gwyn shrugged. “I found out where they are searching. They are heading about thirty minutes out and combing toward the city. I’ll catch up with them when they get closer.” She sighed. “To tell you the truth, I am not too keen on his one. There are children involved.” She took a deeper quaff of the draft, seeming to enjoy it.

Daryn nodded at the information. “I see. What do you mean by ’search?’“

“You know what you do when you’ve lost something? It is a lot like getting a bunch of people together to look for it.” Her voice oozed condescension.

“Oh. No. I meant, how is it done? I’m curious.”

“The people involved fan out,” she said, spreading her fingers to illustrate, “And move forward. They cover more territory with their eyes.”

“Will it continue into the city? Into homes?”

“It shouldn’t need to go that far. The critters should be stopped at the gate if they try to come in. I doubt they can climb walls.”

Daryn looked puzzled. “Critters?”

Gwyn quickly finished her mug. “Children, of all things.”

“Ah.” He looked closely at the woman, to see if there were any changes to her age thanks to the milk energy. Knowing so little about her, he really didn’t see anything though. She looked to be near thirty and in good health. “So, tell me, how did you get into this bounty stuff?”

“Oh, Fate,” she stated. “I never fancied dresses, and I looked like a boy well into my teen years. I could never be the simpering sots that I saw my friends turn into... anyway, how is it that you can afford this?”

“I’ve been saving for a special occasion. This counts.” He smiled at her again.

“Oh?” Gwyn asked. It was her turn to look surprised. “It seems to me that there should be plenty of girls around your age, looking for affection.”

He pretended to swoon. “Yeah, but beautiful, strong woman aren’t common around here.”

She looked about to say something but instead released a loud belch and shook her head quickly. “Wow.”

“They’re just little girls really,” Daryn continued, as if not noticing her skin shift ever so slightly. “All they care about is getting married and having children. It’s like they’re still playing house with dolls. I want a woman.”

“Ambitious,” she commended. “Good for you.” She looked a little different, her face a little softer, less weathered.

“Thank you.”

They talked for a short while about the life of a bounty hunter, Gwyn ordering another mug of ale and Daryn watching as the milk energy within her slowly grew. She only lost a few years at the most, basically returning to her prime, though Daryn knew he could not let her leave his company lest she youthen further and cause suspicion.

Outside the open door the sun seemed to fade away as thick and dark storm clouds filled the sky, making it look like dusk. Deciding to use the coming rain as an excuse, Daryn rose.

“Um, maybe I should get home before there is a downpour. It was wonderful talking to you, Gwyn.” He willed for her to feel worried about his safety.

“Hold a moment lad. You do not live in the best of areas if where I met you is an indication,” she said, rising, “and these clouds will not only provide shadows for the opportunistic but there will be few others on the streets with the threat of coming rain. I will walk you, to make sure you get home safely.”

He grinned. “That is very kind of you, you have my thanks.” With that they left the tavern together.

Outside Gwyn inhaled the cool windy air and belched again.

Daryn chuckled a bit. “Seems you liked the ale.”

“Yes. It was tasty.” Her leather armor was no longer as snug as it had been and her arms and legs were a bit thinner.

“So, what did your family think about your decision to become a bounty hunter?”

“I didn’t stick around to find out.” As she walked slower than her usual stride, her hips swayed considerably. She kept a hand on her sword hilt and an eye on the shadows.

“Wow. That was brave of you. When did you leave them?”

She shrugged, clearly not interested in the topic. “Long ago.”

“So, um, what are you exactly? Not a bard I take it.”

She laughed. “No. I hunt. Game, people... I hunt.”

“Ah, a huntress, most impressive,” he complimented.

She ruffled her hair. “Nary a tress,” she quipped.

“You must be good with a sword.”

She looked at him as if he was daft. “Of course I am! And if the person behind you doesn’t believe me, he is going to lose a body piece soon enough.”

Daryn heard a shuffling recede in the shadows of the alleyway on the other side of him. He looked rightfully worried. Wearing worn clothing to throw off potential thieves only worked if one did not enter a tavern and throw around money. He knew that well from experiencing the other end of the equation. “Um, how long did you notice we were being followed?” his eyes widened with true respect.

Gwyn smiled to herself and continued walking. “Long enough.”

Daryn added seriously, “Then allow me to say again, thank you for escorting me home.” He willed her to feel protective once more.

She smiled maternally and rubs his back. “Not a problem, lad.”

Being close to the woman Daryn magically looked into her and monitored the milk energy. The white glow took up a decent amount of space in her, but did not seem to be strongly active. She had only burped twice after all. Wondering if he could affect how active it was he tried to will the milk energy to work harder.

Gwyn’s stomach gurgled and she cleared her throat. “So, where do you live?”

“We’re about halfway there, down this street and then a left.”

She stopped and bent over, holding her stomach.

“You alright?” he asked, pulling back on the milk’s reins a bit.

A few burps escaped her mouth, and a fart suddenly vacated her rear noisily.

“Um, excuse you.” he said. He willed a bit of embarrassment into her, knowing it would likely make her less vigilant to her changes.

The redhead looked up at him with a concerned expression instead, appearing to be a woman of about twenty. Suddenly, she delivered a sideways kick, knocking him away and drawing her sword!

As Daryn stumbled to regain his balance, wondering what he’d done wrong, he noticed figures clad in dark clothing and face covering cowls surrounding Gwyn. One of the figures turned to him and swung a club. Daryn dodged the blow instinctively. Placing his right hand against the back of the man’s shoulder and swinging his right leg out to connect with the man’s shin he pushed hard, sending his attacker to the ground. He then looked to his escort, ready to help, and found that he was already too late. The other two attackers were already dropping to the ground from the onslaught of Gwyn’s blades, between her dagger in one hand and her long sword in the other.

Honestly impressed, Daryn turned back to his attacker who was rising to his feet. Again he dodged a swing of the club, punching the man in the face. After which he immediately yelled, “Owwwwww!” and held his hand, feigning severe pain.

The attacker grabbed Daryn’s shirt front as he clowned around, raising the club for another swing. Daryn locked his forearm beneath his attacker’s elbow, halting the blow. He hoped Gwyn would come to help before he actually had to do something and break his cover. Before another second passed however, a blade flashed under the man’s throat, splattering Daryn’s face with warm blood.

Daryn staggered back, truly stunned, and fell onto his ass with a thump.

Gwyn limped forward, her ill fitting leather armor hanging significantly lower on her chest. “Are you all right, boy?” she demanded in a higher voice. She had to be in her teens.

Daryn noticed a blood stain on her leg, and figured she had taken an injury in the fight, which the milk energy must have reacted to. “Yes.” he replied, getting up and rubbing his butt. “Thanks.”

“You are a mess. Let’s get you home,” she said. Thick rain drops began to fall to the ground sparingly, spattering the blood of their attackers. The rain was light, but not for long.

“Good Idea.” Looking her over Daryn asked, “Are you hurt?”

She wiped her blades on the clothing of the dead and put them away. “I will live.”

“Aunt Vi might be able to help you. She’s an herbalist. I’m living with her.”

“Indeed,” she said, “best to get out of the rain at least.”

They continued along their way. Concerned over the woman’s skill, Daryn willed the milk energy back into action.

Gwyn farted again, both of them ignoring it. Her walking improved as they stepped along, and her height began to diminish further. The maiden stopped walking and looked herself over as they approached Viola’s house. “What the hell is happening to me?” By her last word she was even younger, looking only a bit older than Daryn. Her voice sounded higher and more innocent than ever.

“What?” he asked. He made her feel very happy, basically drunk. “Maybe you are woozy from you wound. Vi could look at it.”

The redhead tugged at the vest of her armor and her tunic beneath. “My body is... all wrong... can’t you see my clothes are loose? Even my boots!”

Daryn opened the front door. “I think you may be delirious.” he said worriedly. “Please, come inside and my aunt will look at you.” He made her feel even dizzier. “At least you can lie down.”

Gwyn leaned against the wall for support. Her sword belt had slipped from her hips and was hovering around her buttocks. Her high boots were sagging, and the sleeves of her tunic were covering her hands.

He took her by the hand and gently pulled her inside. “Please. You can rest inside, and warm up from the rain.” He made her want to.

“All right,” the teen girl stumbled inside - to a cacophony. Marja and Jenna were running around playing tag and wearing nothing but large tunics. The little girls didn’t seem to notice the newcomers though, and quickly ran from the room happily squealing.

Closing the door Daryn led Gwyn to a large couch, keeping her dizzy. He noticed she was already shorter than him, and certainly thinner. He helped her lay down then unbuckled and removed her sword belt.

“Now just relax.” he advised.

Gwyn released another belch and fart. She shrank further and soon her boots slid halfway down on her dangling feet. Daryn helped her slide them off, dropping them onto the wooden floor with a hollow pair of thumps. Her height had diminished rapidly with her most recent year loss, having passed Daryn’s own. He figured the girl was about fifteen, sixteen at the most, and she was a far cry from the muscled, tall warrior Daryn had first met. Still, she was rather cute in Daryn’s eyes, especially in the men’s clothing she was wearing. He tried to halt the effects of the magic, hoping to prevent her from getting too young, or at least doing so too quickly.

“I’m sick,” the girl suggested, seeking an answer. “What... what was in that beer?”

“Nothing,” he replied honestly. He impulsively kissed her, making sure she liked it.

She sighed when he was finished and looked up at him. “Do you think I will I be all right?”

“I think so. It just made you gassy.”

She closed her eyes, seeming to will the lingering dizziness to go away. “I feel so different. And I sound...”

Daryn untied then pulled off her armor. When it was piled on the floor with her boots he kissed her full again. “Am I moving too quickly?” he asked. He made her want him.

She smiled up at him with dreamy expression. Perhaps she even thought she was asleep. “No,” she replied softly. Yet she gripped his tunic and pulled him down for another kiss.

Daryn reached under her tunic and touched her small firm breasts, giving them a slight squeeze. “Nice. They’re very big for your age.”

She gasped and then giggled, thinking his comment a joke.

He then moved his hand under her loose pants.

She gasped again and bucked her hips.

Marja and Jenna raced back into the room and stopped when they saw the new arrivals.

“What’s going on?” Marja asked Daryn innocently.

“Nothing.” he replied. “Go play somewhere else for a bit okay?”

Gwyn looked over at the girls. “Hello,” she said weakly. The rumble of a heavy rain could be heard as it started drumming against the roof.

Marja crossed her arms and scowled. “What’s going on?” she asked again, louder and in a more accusing tone.

Annoyed at the interruption Daryn made the little sorceress have to go to the chamber pot, urgently.

Marja’s knees pressed together, and she trooped indignantly out of the room in search of a pot.

“Um, Jenna? Could you give us a moment?” he asked the other girl, seemingly a bit embarrassed.

Little Jenna watched the teens coyly for a moment, rocking back and forth on her feet, and then scampered from the room.

With a smile Daryn untied Gwyn’s tunic and pulled it over her head, discarding the garment on the floor with the rest of her clothing. Recalling some of Marja’s own lessons he placed his teeth around her stiff nipple and chewed it lightly. The redhead gasped loudly and moaned even as the energy in her tweaked. It seemed the milk had a certain affinity for breasts.

Daryn then tugged her pants down to her thighs, baring her privates and bottom, before lying on the edge of the couch next to her. She wrapped her arms around him unbidden and kissed him full on the lips. He felt the teen shudder, becoming a bit smaller in his arms. Her bared breasts were reduced to small cones with puffy nipples as she continued to embrace him.

Thinking of toying with her a bit, Daryn made her feel embarrassed at being naked.

Almost instantly she turned her body towards him, huddling against his chest. Her soft white cheeks blushed pink. “Hi!” she squeaked to him nervously.

Daryn kissed her neck, whispering, “Shy? I’d think a big strong confident woman like you would be proud of her assets.” He gave her butt cheek a squeeze.

“I... I am! I just...” Her blush increased. “I’m a little cold, okay?” she finished defensively. She started casting about for her tunic.

“Here,” Daryn said, handing it to her.

She clutched the tunic to her... chest? She looked down, seeming confused.

He kissed her again, distracting her by making her feel contented. She shrank some more, and he could feel her nipples flatten completely into her chest. When he broke the kiss he sent her a massive dose of embarrassment at how far down her pants were.

Her face swiftly turned a deeper red than her hair and she struggled to pull the pinned trousers back up to her hips, all the while stuttering “Um...um...” trying to find something to say to him.

Daryn smirked. He knew he was giving her a paradox. She wanted him, she wanted him to want her, but she was so very embarrassed. He glanced down at her clumsy attempts to cover up. “What is with you? I thought you were an experienced woman? Not like the other girls. Goodness, you’re acting like a child. Do you want me or not?” he asks, giving her a peck on the forehead.

She shuddered again and shrank some more, Daryn guessing she was about twelve. Her blush did not lessen even a little. She stumbled off of the couch, tugging at her trousers, trying to regain balance in more than one way. When she was standing, holding her pants up with one hand and holding the tunic with the other, she turned back to him, barely able to look at his face. “I’m not usually like this!” she squeaked, pleadingly. “I... I like you a lot!”

“Bounty Hunter,” he snorted mockingly. “You’re as timid as a little girl.”

That shocked the redhead. She stood up straight, and sobered, glaring at him with as much menace as her adorable face could manage. “I am not a little girl!” she growled.

Daryn blinked in surprise that the girl had broken out of her magical stupor. In response he spiked the energy in her into overdrive again for a moment.

Gwyn exclaimed, “Eeep!” and her knees buckled. She then dropped to the floor, emitting another fart.

Daryn shook his head and looked for Viola’s paddle as he shut the milk down again, sending more embarrassment to the girl.

While on the floor Gwyn pulled her tunic on over her head. She was beginning to cry, which was something she hadn’t done in a long, long time. She knew something was very, very wrong, though with her clouded mind and jumpy emotions it was difficult to know exactly what. She just knew she needed to get out. “I’m going home!” she cried out, moving to collect her belt.

Daryn returned with the paddle. “Not just yet, it’s raining out, and we haven’t finished. Now settle down or I’ll have to give you a spanking.”

The little redhead whipped out her dagger, pointing it menacingly at him. Her hands were not that much smaller than they’d been as an adult and she certainly knew how to use the knife. “Get away from me!” she threatened.

With a sigh Daryn activated the milk in the girl again in a strong burst.

Gwyn began to tremble and staggered backward, putting her back up to a book case. Her body shook and another loud fart was emitted. She began to shrink again, her head lowering in comparison to the shelves behind her. Her arms were thinning greatly and the dagger looked clumsy in her hand. She was also having more trouble holding her pants up as they dipped to one end, revealing the side of her buttocks. Her face became more innocent as well and her wide green eyes seemed to be getting larger in her head as she youthened to eleven, then younger. The tunic slowly became gigantic, the right sleeve slipping to cover her lowered hand and her right shoulder making an attempt to escape from its confines.

“Put the dagger down child,” he said calmly. “You may hurt yourself.”

The girl’s big green eyes glanced around her desperately. She let go her pants and gripped the dagger with both hands. The foot long blade looked more like a short sword in proportion to her diminished form.

“Keep back, magician!” she shrieked.

Remembering what he’d done to Marja, Daryn made Gwyn need to pee badly in the hopes that it would distract her and get her to drop her weapon. Seconds later urine trickled down the girl’s leg, unheeded. Nothing else happened however, she didn’t budge an inch. Daryn could feel that her embarrassment had turned to stark fear on its own and she wasn’t about lower the blade she knew was her only defense. Still, he knew from experience that she had to be feeling like a child. It was something he could use against the little bounty hunter.

“Gwyn,” Daryn began calmly, “you aren’t going to get out of this by stabbing anyone. I’m not going to hurt you if you put down the dagger, but you have to do it now. Otherwise you’re going to get a spanking.” He wiggled the paddle.

“You... you won’t spank me if I put it down?” the little girl asked hopefully, her voice quivering. From her expression of worry she seemed to fully believe he would spank her, and she feared it as any child would.

“I won’t. Think quickly now.”

“W-why are you doing this?!” she asked.

Daryn shrugged. “I guess I was ’hunting’ you. Did I do well?” he asked. “Y’know, time is not on your side.”

The girl shook off her baggy trousers and edged in the direction of the door, padding softly on small bare feet and keeping her gaze upon him.

When she looked away from him for a second to avoid a small table he lunged, swinging with the paddle in an attempt to knock the dagger from her hands. The little hunter was still very skilled though and she was able to move the dagger quickly, actually nicking the hand Daryn was holding the paddle with. Dagger still in her possession, she then ran for the door.

With a hiss of pain Daryn made the milk hit her very hard once again.

The girl stumbled, falling to the carpet and losing the dagger with a clatter on the nearby wooden floor. Before she could get up she was grabbed around the waist and lifted bodily into the air. A moment later Daryn rested the struggling girl against his hip, his arm wrapped around her. He heard another loud fart escape the child and she lightened in his arm even as she kicked.

As Daryn moved back to the couch the girl shrieked in terror, kicking so hard that he couldn’t keep hold of her with one arm. Dropping the paddle he grabbed the struggling nine-year-old with both hands and sat down, before pulling her across his lap.

“Where the heck do you think you’re going anyway? Do you think you’re safe outside now?” He landed a solid smack to her bottom with his open hand, making her feel pathetic and useless.

Literal putty in his hands, she cried pathetically.

“Now, these are for cutting me.” He added three more sharp whacks.

The girl bawled even louder. “STOP!” she pleaded. “Please stop!”

“Tsk, tsk, such a crybaby. And to think I was actually admiring you. Fine, last one.” He gave her a final smack. “Now don’t even *think* of running away young lady, I’ll know it and you’ll get worse than this.”

Her little bottom reddened with the spanking but just as quickly the color disappeared. As it did, the child shrank a bit further, becoming about the same size as Marja, an eight-year old.

The girl slid off the large seeming lap and scurried off to a corner of the room, crouching there fearfully.

Daryn retrieved the hunter’s sword and belt, trying it on himself. “Very nice.” he commented, loudly enough for her to hear.

He could see that some length had returned to the girl’s red hair. It was beginning to curl cutely around her ears and stick to her sweaty cheeks and forehead. Her big green eyes watched his every move as he collected the discarded clothing and piled it in a corner, finally tucking the dagger into his new belt as well.

“Now, ’little girl’, you will address me from now on as ?sir’. You won’t be killed, so don’t worry about that, though you may find yourself younger and in an orphanage if you piss me off. Understand?”

Gwyn nodded mutely.

“I didn’t hear you.......”

“Yes, sir,” she whispered in a whimper, scrubbing at her face with a long sleeve.

“Good girl.” he said sweetly. “First, I want to know everything that was on that parchment. Where is it?”

The little hunter scurried over to her discarded armor and opened an inside pocket. She then pulled out the parchment and brought it to Daryn. She gulped as she craned her neck upward and realized how tall he was to her.

“Thank you. Sit on the floor,” Daryn ordered.

Tucking her tunic under her butt Gwyn sat on the floor. She then looked at the doorway, where Marja had just returned.

The little sorceress entered with her arms crossed, looking at Daryn for an explanation.

“Hello Marja. This is Gwyndolyn. She’s a bounty hunter and according to this...,” he held up the parchment and read it before adding, “She was going to bind and gag you when she found us.” The parchment contained fairly accurate descriptions of Daryn, Marja, and Jenna.

Marja approached to stand over the redheaded girl, glowering down at her.

“Heh, this thing is dead-on with descriptions.” Looking at the girl he asked, “Gwyndolyn? How in the world did you not suspect me? Y’know, a lot of bounties would have killed you. Guess you really aren’t that good.” He added the last condescendingly.

Gwyn simply looked at the floor, where she tucked her legs into the tunic for warmth.

“I think we should be staying inside for a while Marja.”

Marja barked at the redhead, “Did you kiss my boyfriend?!”

Gwyn looked up, startled. “Huh?”

“Huh?” Daryn echoed.

“Did you kiss him?” Marja demanded childishly.

Gwyn blushed. “Uh... y.. uh.. he kissed me first!”

Marja jumped on the other little girl, and a fight ensued.

Daryn ended up pulling the two children apart by the collars. “Hey! Settle down!”

“She started it!” Gwyn cried.

Marja looked up at him, tears in her eyes. “How COULD you?” She pulled free of his grip and ran off crying.

Daryn sighed, realizing Marja had to have taken her pendant off again. Looking down at Gwyn he ordered, “Okay Red, march. Get back on the couch.”

Gwyn climbed onto the seat and tucked her skinny legs under her bottom easily.

“Okay, now what do your bounty hunter friends have planned?” Paddle back in hand Daryn was tapping the broad end lightly against his palm.

Gwyn shrugged. “They were going to search for you and bring you back subdued....Sir.” Her shoulder again rose out of her gaping tunic neckline.

“Alright,” Daryn pondered, “and when the forest search doesn’t go well?”

“Then they were going to meet back at the barracks and come up with a second plan.”

Daryn nodded in thought. “Fine,” he said. “How long do you think until you are missed? Be honest now, I’ll know.” He wasn’t positive he could sense a lie, but it was a rather good bet given his original talents at reading people and the emotional link he had gained. Regardless, he knew it was best to let the little one think he could.

“I may not be missed at all, certainly not for a few days,” she frowned, looking depressed. “I do as I please; no one keeps tabs on me.”

After a moment Daryn nodded again, satisfied. He then placed the paddle down on a counter and walked over to her. When he approached she instantly shrank away from him, but she did not leave the couch. “Don’t be afraid,” he said, touching her shoulder and pulling as much of the milk energy as he could out of her. “This is so you don’t get any younger anytime soon. If you leave though, you’ll still have a little of the magic in you.”

The little girl just sat there silently as he worked, huddling dejectedly in her makeshift dress.

As he finished, Daryn sensed a pleasant surge of milk power coming from the direction of the kitchen. He quirked an eyebrow, not knowing what it was but intending to check on it in a moment. “There, you won’t get any younger unless I will it. Y’know, in all the time we spoke you didn’t once, not once call me Daniel. You kept saying ’boy’, or ’lad’. So, now I think ’sir’ is more appropriate. Don’t you?”

Gwyn didn’t answer.

“Don’t you?” he asked more firmly.

“No, Sir.”

He frowned. “And why is that?”

The little redhead glanced up at him, defiantly. “Because I am still older than you are, ?Daniel’,” she retorted derisively.

Daryn allowed a small smile at the lingering fight in the girl, admiring it. “Really?” He made her feel very small and insignificant.

“There is nothing you can do to change the fact that I was born first,” she continued in a mumble, looking at her small hands in her lap.

“Oh, that’s right. You’re a big bad bounty hunter who couldn’t even figure out she was walking into a trap. You sure did a lot with your years of experience. Fine then, call me Daryn, but remember that this ’boy’ made you into a fool as well as a child.”

For that she had no response, unable to even look up at him again.

Daryn took her hand and gently tugged her from her seat, finding no resistance. “Now ’child’, let us go see Auntie Vi.”

They walked into the kitchen to find a younger looking Marja, appearing no older than six, sitting on a chair at the table and swinging her legs as she sipped at a hot drink. A much more beautiful, youthful Viola was sitting across from the girl, coddling a three-year-old Jenna who was sitting on her lap. The scene looked uncomfortably familiar to Daryn, though he couldn’t quite place it.

“Uh, oh,” he muttered, before moving forward to check on their milk energies, little Gwyn in tow. At a cursory glance he found that Marja’s energy was calm, while Viola’s was interacting most excitedly with little Jenna’s. It was almost as if the natures of the energies were changing thanks to their proximity, and possibly due to the relative ages of the hosts.

As Daryn wondered if gender was a factor he gasped. The familiar scene nagging at the edge of his memory had come back to him with crystal clarity. It was of the Orphanage, and the unbirthing room. Even as he watched, Viola began to offer the toddler on her lap a nipple to feed on.

In desperation Daryn let go of little Gwyn, moved to Viola, and attempted to pull the cursed magic out of the woman. The white energy resisted however, and he was caught off guard as some of the energy in him was sucked out! An instant later Viola powerfully shoved Daryn away a few feet, her eyes fiercely aglow with the color of white in his mage’s sight.

“Shit.” Daryn said under his breath. “Vi? Are you still in there?” he asked.

Viola stood up with the child in her arm and moved away from Daryn. “Leave!” she bellowed.

“Not without you.” With a renewed sense of determination Daryn grabbed Viola by the arm and pulled at the energy inside her with all the force he could muster.

In response the woman slammed him hard into a wall with her free hand, holding him above the floor with inhuman strength as she continued to glare into his face. As he struggled to absorb the energy roiling within her, Daryn could hear Gwyn’s piercing scream.

 

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