Kintharas Story

Chapter 1


"And never come back here again!"

She felt her scrawny body hit the muddy ground with a violent punch, her tattered linen dress now soaked in the brownish water. It used to be white once. Hadn't it been for that attentive guard, she would've been able to get away with that large chunk of bread she had tried to steal.

Hunger was ravaging her body, almost as if it was raping her. She came to think of her uncle, the hunger was like a manifestation of him. During her early years, how he had... he had.. No, she didn't want to think about it. It was just too much at this point. She needed to focus. She lifted her head, and looked down the rainy streets. Feeling how the rain and mud made her skin tingle. She tried getting up on her feet, but failed at the first attempt, still a bit shaken up after being thrown out of the tavern. She wasn't much of a thief was she? Again she tried, and this time she was successfull. She stood up, tried straightening out her hair a bit. It wasn't much use.

She thought of her uncle again, his hoarse burly voice ringing in her head, and that smile. She hated that smile. After a hard night of drinking he always had that smile on his face. Stumbling through the door, reeking of cheap beer, grabbing her arms and... and.. No.. she needed to stop this. She needed change, no, to transform. Transform into something that one day, would have her revenge. She needed to transform into someone, that could fend for herself, someone strong.

She heard footsteps splashing through the mud, two beautiful Stygian women coming her way. She tried to smile, wanted to be acknowledged, to exist in someone else's eyes. They just passed her, they didn't even look her way. And why would they? She was a mere street girl, living from hand to mouth, filthy and not very pretty either. Why would two beautiful courtesans of the "Dark Desires" notice her
? HER?

She looked down on her dress in embarrassment, then she looked at the courtesans dresses, looked back at her own again. Suddenly, it was as if something changed in her. She lifted her head, straightened her back. It was almost as if she wasn't freezing anymore, as if someone had lit a small candle inside of her. With determined footsteps she walked down the street. And then... the rain stopped.



Chapter 2

She could still feel his stink on her body, the weight of his corpulent body pressing against her, almost crushing her. He didn't even have time to remove her panties, he just pulled them aside and had his way. But she couldn't afford to be picky, she had to eat. She had been with him before, and it was always just as unpleasant. As far as she knew he worked with the local guard, and had a taste for young girls. At least she thought so, maybe he just needed somewhere to empty himself. He always made her say all kinds of weird things, pretending she was a Cimmerian. Strange guy..

But at least, now it was over with. She could go into the nearest tavern and get something to eat, the honest way.

She sat next to the hearth, and dug into her food and ale. The strong ale dulling her senses, making her forget about everything. Not caring anymore of what she would become. Forgetting about her earlier determination. I mean, how could someone like her make anything of herself? She was nothing but a common whore. No, below common.. She was trash, the scum of Hyboria. Desperate enough to do anyone, for a warm meal. She motioned for the waitress to bring her another ale. As the ale came on the table she reached for her pocket, but the waitress just smiled and said "This ones on me, dear. Looks like you need it" Kinthara was almost on the verge of tears, not knowing kindness like this. "Uhm.. Thank you M'am" The waitress just smiled again, and went over to the next table.

As the second ale went down, Kinthara smiled to herself, looked out at the moon peering through the window. "Thank you.."


Chapter 3

Her head pounded, punishing her for last night as the stench of piss and sweat filled her nostrils. She stood up, her arms supporting her weight against the wall. Overcome with nausea she vomited. Her vomit sort of mingling with the rest of bodily fluids, congregating in the alley, at which she had found her resting place. Next to her was an almost empty bottle of bourbon, she emptied it in one gulp. Suddenly the world seeming so much clearer, everything so much simpler.

As she was walking towards the streets a gang of off-duty soldiers was approaching her, obviously wanting something. She couldn't be bothered, there was still coin in her purse. Enough to keep her drunk most of the day.

As she entered the tavern she was met by a disgusted look by the waitress, formerly known as Ma'am. "You didn't get enough, did you?", she said, waving at the guards. Again, she found herself at her knees, in the mud. The hangover forcing her to rise up. The other girls had told her, of a man, able to release her of her pain. Straight forward, and two to the left, and only 10 silver coins for a bottle.

10 silver, her last coin. She didn't have a choice did she? She wasn't able to have one clear thought.

His smile was as disgusting as his eyes. "10 silvers?", he said, "You must have been misinformed, but I do accept other forms of payment."

The cheap liqour dulling her mind, she didn't care anymore. He was old, ugly.. but then again. Anything to escape.