Raven Drakomyr, Superwoman
Pushing the Limits


“The questions can wait.”

Four sets of eyes jerked in her direction, but for all Raven could care. Her lethal tone did not suggest an argument, if not the dangerously flickering flames that quenched the objections. Dipping a small cloth in water as cold as the ice melting within, her touch was soft and gentle when she wiped her sister’s flushed face. She let none of her apprehensions change her sedate countenance even when another contraction brought whimpers of pain.

“Steady now, Tanya,” her husky whispers carried only to her sister’s ears in an attempt at reassurance. Women have been giving birth to children since the first turning of the Wheel with few giving in to Death’s embrace. And Raven would be dead and damned before she let the Amyrlin be one of those few.

Besides. It was a known fact that the reason females gave birth was because their counterpart would have allowed the entire specie to face extinction before relenting to the pain. Which was why the Creator gave that duty to women. Tanya giggled softly when she bent over to divulge that secret into her ear.

Straightening, Raven Drakomyr silently appraised the men in the room for a time that must have felt like eternity. The M’Hael sent her a tormented gaze from his position on the opposite end of the bed. “Ariel?”

The woman in question cocked a cold eyebrow. “You got her in this mess, Quince, but I’ll get her out. You did this to her, burn you! If I were you, I’d be praying real hard I get a niece out of all this trouble.” A hint of threat laced her words, while violet fire racked over the M’Hael unmercifully.

“I think I was a willing partner, Ariel,” the poor abused victim remarked dryly, but in an undertone meant only for her sister.

The reply was a hard nudge with a positively wicked hiss. “Hush! I’m trying to make that lousy husband of yours feel guilty, can’t you see?! You can comfort him later; we’re going to have a little fun now.” Tatiana gave a little squeak of shock before hiding her grin in a dramatic moan.

Extinguishing the faint sparkle from her catlike eyes, Raven motioned to the men in a brusque demeanor. “Out. All of you.”

Did it come as no surprise when her command was immediately met by a series of protests, granted each and every one from her twin’s obnoxious husband, but they did come nonetheless. When Tatiana came upon another contraction, a muscle flexed in Raven’s jaw. They were coming faster and faster now; she simply did not have the time to spare arguing with someone in possession of a head harder then a crab shell! Without so much as an onslaught of goosebumps cascading down the black-clad men’s bodies for a warning, the M’Hael was bound, gagged, and shield faster than the blink of an eye.

However, strong as Raven was, she, as a woman, could not hold such a shield on Quince for very long; already, his mental slamming against the unseen wall began excavating for a weakness. The woman made a harsh motion to Rash. “Shield him!” Sensing the Dedicated’s hesitation, Raven harden her tone. “You will do as I order… Now, Rashadin! If you dare disobey me, I quite assure you, whatever Quince might do to you, it shan’t compare to my punishment…” The venomous tone finally got through and it was only mere moments before she felt another shield, presumably with Spirit and Fire, replace her own.

From the corner of her eye, the female Asha’man caught Jerad edging away. “Stay put, Soldier.”

The man stayed.

Thick weaves of Air lifted the greatly feared M’Hael out into the hall and Rash followed reluctantly behind. “Don’t think that lost little boy act is fooling me one bit, Dedicated,” Raven commented dryly. “The M’Hael is at your mercy; if you aren’t relishing that thought, then I don’t know you half as well as I think I do.”

“Ariel? Please don’t leave me…” Came a small voice from the bed.

Raven flashed her twin a firm shake of the head. “Nay, sis. But I need to deal with your blockhead of a husband first. Jerad check her over, make sure nothing, absolutely nothing can go wrong. On the double, Soldier!”

Outside of the Amyrlin’s chambers, she dumped Quince unceremoniously onto the marble floor. His eyes were fierce with a storm that, by rights, ought to have drowned Raven into death and beyond. But this was Raven.

And then there was that little fact that he was at her mercy which didn’t quite make any threat substantial.

Lazily chuckling, Raven caught the M’Hael by the chin and gave him a dark smile. “It goes something like this, big guy. At your desposition,” she glanced over his disheveled and bed-ragged state with distaste - even if half of it came from dealing with his wife – “You’re in NO condition to be helping Tanya. In fact, you’ll do more harm than good, Quincie-boy.”

Beneath heavy-lids, Raven’s eyes narrowed ominously in answer to his sudden jerk against the bonds. “No arguments. Even if you don’t agree with me now, you will once my niece is delivered safe and sound. Therefore you’ll remain in Rash’s custody until then.”

If the M’Hael’s visage grew more furious, the Dedicated’s already mischievous features lit up like a drunkard’s red nose. Raven casually caught one of his braids and idly twirled around her slim hand. “And of course you’ll be behaving yourself, won’t you, hot shot?”

“Will you leave my hair be?” he replied with a glower.

Raven blinked in surprise. “Come now, wonderboy! Can you really expect me to show respect for a man who wears bells at the end of his braids?” Tsking in disapproval, sharp eyes studied the Dedicated for a moment before dismissing him to enter the room once more. “You’re free to do what you will with Quince - within reason,” she added almost in an afterthought. “Try to keep his mind off Tanya, will you? How you do so can be left at your own inclination.” Raven was going to pay for that, and pay dearly. But she couldn't help the smirk.

Finding Jerad caught in a stranglehold grip by his collar, Raven gently pulled the sweet and innocent Amyrlin’s fist to release him. “Now, now, dear. You can abuse Quince all you want. Later. Jerad is simply trying to help.”

“I don’t want help!!! I’m not ready, Ariel!” Tanya wailed in agony.

“But the baby is, so best you accept it, sister.” She sat on the edge of the bed and used the cloth to ease the heat burning within the Amyrlin. In truth, Raven only once delivered a babe. But the fact was best left unmentioned. However, she could more than take care of it. Letting Tanya grip her hands tightly for the long minutes of contracting pain, Raven struggled with an inner pain.

Abruptly, she raised her eyes to meet the Soldier’s. “Jerad. You’ve done all you can. Leave now. Report to Dedicated Rash and fulfill whatever commands he issues you.”

A stiff bow met her orders, but the Asha’man could pay them no heed. “Come on, Tanya,” she whispered to her twin. “Let’s make it through this together.”

“Ariel, will you still love the baby if it’s a boy?” Tanya asked, panting.

“Yes,” Raven replied without hesitation. Then she sighed. “But Quince will be another matter.”