The House Of Ellis, Episode 15

Lady Madison and Corlos laughed.  They had shared many stories and jokes over the past few hours.  Who knew barbarians could be so entertaining?  She felt like she understood more about them.

On the other hand, she understood less about Hensley, who got drunk and passed out within the first hour.  He was already a pale man, but he was even paler drunk.  Was this something he did on a regular basis?

She decided to ask Corlos a question.  "I'm new to the whole skimpy armor thing.  I wonder, what does it feel like to wear nothing but underwear into battle?"

He laughed.  "It feels great.  Good underwear and a good weapon are all a real barbarian needs.  Full armor is for beginners and weaklings."

"Not true," Lady Madison said.  "Full armor is for the smart and prepared.  I'm only wearing this skimpy stuff for fun.  I wouldn't be caught dead wearing it on the frontline, where a fatal attack can come from any direction.  A stray attack could also spell doom."

"Heh, heh, I've seen a lot of stuff in my thirty-five years in this world," Corlos said.  "I've seen heads rolling and heads smashed in.  I've seen hearts pierced, torso run through, and bodies sliced in half.  Heck I was responsible for a great deal of those deaths myself.  More often than not, the dead were wearing full armor.  Meanwhile, after seventeen years and countless battles in nothing but underwear, me and my friends are still alive and well."

Lady Madison thought back to Shalista's duel with Lady Glinda and Lady Iocasta and how badly Shalista defeated them.  Then, there were the numerous battles Lady Belinda came back alive from.  "I will admit, the more scantily-clad warriors have a level of skill that can't be denied.  You can even call it courage or fearlessness if you want.  That doesn't mean it makes sense."

"It makes all kinds of sense," Corlos said.  "In combat, it's the most skilled warrior who wins, not the one wearing the most armor."

Lady Madison remembered Shalista said that after she beat Lady Glinda and Lady Iocasta.  Lady Belinda often says it, too.  Even her military instructor said something similar, saying that armor will make you less vulnerable, but it's skill, not armor that will save you in combat.  Maybe there was some validity to it.

Had she been wrong all these years?  Was sexy armor really superior to full armor?  Corlos, Lady Belinda, Shalista, Sophia.  These were all powerful warriors who wore little or no armor.  Did they have it right?

Hensley began to stir.  "Urrrgh...why did you let me drink so much?"

Lady Madison held up her glass.  "You should have ordered water, like me.  But no, you just had to try to outdrink a barbarian.  I don't know what you were trying to prove, but you failed."  Then she drank.

"Welcome back to the world of the living, pale one," Corlos said to Hensley.  "You didn't last very long.  People like you shouldn't drink."

"I don't need a barbarian to tell me that," Hensley said.

Lady Madison was confused.  "Why are you being a prick?"

"I just can't understand what you see in a slovenly barbarian," he said.

Lady Madison was starting to understand now.  "You're jealous?  You think I'm falling for Corlos?  I can assure you I am not.  All I wanted to do was share some drinks with the other side, that's all."

"Your girlfriend is right, pale one," Corlos said.  "I pillage and destroy.  She protects and defends.  We are polar opposites.  It would never work."

"He's not my boyfriend," Lady Madison said, slapping his shoulder.  "Don't say things like that.  I am Lady Madison.  No man can tame me in combat or in matters of the heart."

"That's a pity," Corlos said.  "You'd probably make a good wife for someone.  Your head would make an equally good trophy."  He stood and stretched before setting down some coins on the table.  "That's my part of the bill.  Well, I'm off."

After Corlos left, Lady Madison ordered another water to give Hensley a chance to sober up.  After finishing it off, she asked, "Are you ready to go?"

"Yeah," he said, using the counter to assist him as he stood.  "I think I can walk under my own power."

Lady Madison paid the bill and they walked out.  It was nighttime and warm.  She breathed deep and exhaled slowly.  "That air feels good.  If sexy armor has any benefit, it's this."  She spread her arms and look up at the sky.  "Come, Mother Nature.  Embrace my body with your warmth.  My arms, my legs, my breasts, my buttocks.  They're all yours.  Do what you will with them."

"Can you not say things like that," Hensley said.  "I'm starting to get horny.  It's already hard enough to keep my libido in check while you're wearing that armor, especially being drunk and all.  I don't need that extra push."

Lady Madison stopped.  "Oh.  Sorry."  That was a downside of sexy armor.  It didn't matter what your intention were, someone was sure to misinterpret the meaning behind it.  They only people who could possibly understand it were authors.  She'd read many books and came to the realization that the sexy warrior rarely got the guys.  It was usually the princess or the sorceress, not the scantily-clad female warrior that men fantasized about.  "I love books."

"I know," Hensley said.  "You're a regular at the library in peacetime."

She shook her head.  "That's not what I mean.  I'm saying I like how you can't even guess what the writer is saying until after you've started reading.  Even then, if you don't have the comprehension skill, you won't be able to interpret what's being said, no matter how well you understand the language."

He looked at her with his head tilted.  "No wonder you didn't drink anything.  You're high.  You must have the good stuff."

"I'm not high," she said.  "I'm trying to be philosophical.  Apparently, I'm failing.  I was comparing books to skimpy armor.  The average person will look at someone like Shalista and think she's a weakling or a slut.  In truth, you could very well be staring at a world-class warrior, but you wouldn't know it until it's too late and you've already been run though."

"Yes, I see what you mean," he said, as if he'd had a eureka moment.  "Also, it's worth noting that in books, such warriors are treated as equals, just as capable of winning a fight as a warrior in the sturdiest armor.  They are depicted as mighty warriors who aren't promiscuous.  It's not about whether or not it's believable, but whether or not the author can make the unbelievable believable."

Lady Madison nodded.  "They are taken seriously in the world they exist.  People in the real world may be drooling over such women, but in their world, nobody blinks an eye.  Everybody's too enamored with the princess, hence the sexy warrior is just another woman and just another warrior."

After a brief silence, Hensley said, "My head is starting to hurt.  Maybe it's the alcohol or maybe I'm just thinking too hard about this subject."

It was pretty stupid.  "Yeah," she said.  "Let's shut up now and enjoy the weather."

After dropping him off at he home, she began her own trek home.

The House Of Ellis, Episode 14

Lady Madison and the others look flipped through the photobook, carefully observing the photographer's work.  Everything looked good and was in the order it should have been in.  The order of the sections were Lady Madison, Sophia, Lady Glinda, Lady Iocasta, Wendy, Cordelia, and finally Shalista, each woman with at least ten pictures in her individual set.  Then, the group sets came, with the highlight being some steamy false romance between Wendy and Lady Iocasta.

"You did good work," Shalista told the photographer.

"I always do my best when hot women...I mean, paying customers are involved," the photographer said.  "I only wish you'd included more nude pictures...for artistic purposes of course."

"Ooh, Shalista," Sophia said.  "Someone likes you."

Shalista flipped hair her.  "Heh, heh.  Naturally.  There's a reason my name is Shalista the Siren."  She turned ad slapped her bare buttocks, then looked back at the photographer.  "Isn't that right?"

The photographer moaned with delight.

"Eww!" Lady Glinda said.  "Let's get out of here before her pulls down his pants and starts jerking off in front of us."

So, they left the photographer to his fantasy and walked to the park to browse the book again.  "He really did do good work," Lady Madison said.

"I know, right?" Cordelia said.  "I may have him do a photobook for me someday."

After sitting and chatting in the park for a while, the women left the park and wound up around the library, where they Hensley was floating around.  Naturally, he was entranced by them.  "Well, hello, Hensley," Lady Madison said.

"L-L-Lady Madison," he said, looking away and blushing.  "Nice weather, huh?"

"Well, what's this?" Shalista asked.  "Does Lady Madison have a boyfriend?"

"Sometimes I wish," Hensley said dreamily.

"Don't tell her that," Lady Madison said.

"Heh, let's leave the lovers alone," Cordelia said.

As they all left, Lady Madison tried to follow, but Shalista stopped her.  "Stay.  Talk to him.  We'll just be flitting around."

It couldn't hurt.  She decided to stay.  She'd start by answering his question.  "The weather is nice."  What else could she talk about?  "Oh, I'm almost done reading that book.  I should have it returned by the end of the week."

He didn't dare look at her.  It was almost as if he thought he'd die if he did.  "Oh...that's nice.  I look forward to your next visit.  So...why are you and all those women walking around dressed like that?"

It was the question she expected.  "We're being sexy warriors.  I couldn't help but notice you were eyeing us."  She walked into his line of sight.  "So, which one do you like?"

He looked away again.  "I didn't mean to stare.  I was just surprised to see so many women walking around like that."

"Let me guess," Lady Madison said, preparing to answer her own question.  "It's Sophia, isn't it.  She only half your age.  I guess you like your women young.  You're lucky she likes smart people."

Then, one of the barbarians from the other day came over.  He was about the same height as Shalista and had bulging muscles.  "If it isn't you.  Nice day, huh?"

"Gah!" Hensley scream.  "Barbarian!"  He ran behind Lady Madison.  "Kill him!"

Lady Madison sighed.  "He's not doing anything to anybody.  He's fine."

"We didn't get properly acquainted last time," the barbarian said.  "I am Corlos the Crippler."

"And I am Lady Madison," she said.

"I am familiar with you," Corlos said.  "Your name is known far and wide.  Some call you the Dragon of Empora."

She'd never heard that before.  "That's new to me.  What else have you heard about me?"

"Just stories of your might and conquests," Corlos said.  "I would be glad to share warrior's tales with you over drinks."

She was interested in what he knew.  Maybe she could even learn why barbarians do what they do.  "I don't drink, but I'll still go."  She looked back.  "Feel free to come, Hensley."

"Why are you going with that barbarian?"

"It's a learning experience," she said.  "I know how you like learning, so I invited you.  Will you be joining us."

Hensley started walking, saying, "A drinking we shall go."

The House Of Ellis, Episode 13

Lady Madison and her friends entered the photographer's studio, much to his delight.  "Yes!  Hot women...I mean, customers.  What can I do for you?"

"We'd like to make a photobook," Lady Madison said.

He nodded.  "Yeah, I can give you a good deal.  How many pictures do you think you'll need?"

Lady Madison looked at Shalista.

"About a thousand," Shalista said.

"Okay," he said.  "Got some locations lined up?"

The Ellis family property was a diverse area.  In terms of natural settings, it had everything they needed.  "My family property is the perfect place," Lady Madison said.  "There are trees, farmland, and even a small stream.  That should get those creative juices flowing on both side."

"Heh, heh," Shalista laughed.  "I can't wait to show my creativity."

"I hope it's nothing lewd," Lady Madison said.

Shalista said nothing.

That couldn't be good.  "Shalista…"

"Come on, Maddy," Shalista said.  "We're supposed to be sexy warriors.  That means doing sexy things."

"Yeah, come on," the photographer said.  "I want to watch...I mean, I want to do the most professional job I can."

Sophia clapped and sarcastically said, "Nice save, Romeo."  Then she looked at Lady Madison.   "Can we trust this guy, milady?"

"Of course we can," she said.  "After all, I'm Lady Madison.  He knows what will happen if he enjoys things too much."  She looked at him.  "You're a photographer, so I can't stop you from looking.  But if you touch any of my friends...I'll just let you use your imagination."

"Yeah!" he said.  "Whips and chains for me tonight!  Hurt me bad, baby!"

"Can it, sleaze," Lady Madison said.

They all walked back to the Ellis family property.  The photographer looked around and said, "Whoa!  This place is a photographer's dream."

"Okay, let's get to work."

The women posed and had pictures taken for hours.  The had mock battles, pseudo-romantic situations, group photos, and simple pictures of each individual woman.  With the magic of the photographer's MagiCam, the pictures were available for immediate perusal.  "Well, it's getting late and you have a lot of pictures to look over," the photographer said.  "Just bring them to the shop when you decide which ones you want to use and I'll put together that book."  Once he packed up and left, the women began the tedious job of deciding which pictures would make it and which would get cut.

"I like this one," Wendy said, holding a picture of herself and Lady Iocasta looking longingly into each other's eyes.  They looked like they were really into each other.

"Nah," Shalista said.  "Too much black hair.  You should have taken one with me.  My red hair and your black hair clash beautifully.  Or maybe you and Lady Glinda would have worked.  "I like the long hair/short hair dynamic that could have come from that."

Lady Madison was sifting through the pictures went she came to Shalista's set.  She grumbled.  "Shalista…"

"What is it?" Shalista asked, coming over to look.  "Oh, yes.  Those have to be in."

"None of them are in," Lady Madison said.  "Topless, bottomless, totally nude.  Do you have some weird aversion to clothing?"

"I'll admit, I'm not particular fond of it," Shalista said.

She had to respect her honesty.  "Okay."  She picked out three of Shalista's pictures.  The first was Shalista nude on the farm looking back at the camera, halberd in hand.  The second was Shalista nude, lying at Lady Glinda's feet in defeat.  The last one was of Shalista face down, lying in the stream nude.  "I like these three."

"Yay!" Shalista cheered.  "So, what other ones are you picking?  I have mine all picked out."

"No more nude pictures," Lady Madison said.

Shalista slumped her shoulders and looked down.  "I need more time to decide."

In the end they settled for 200 of the pictures to go in the book.  Each woman would have their own section.  There would also be a group section, as well as pairs and foursomes, including combat and pseudo-romantic pictures.  Lady Madison wore all of her sexy armors, choosing several pictures of each.

"Well, it's time to pick a cover photo," Lady Madison said.  She picked one with all the women posing with their weapons and looking at the camera.  "I like this one."

"Looks good to me," Shalista said.

"No argument from me," Sophia said.

Lady Glinda, Lady Iocasta, Cordelia, and Wendy all nodded their approval.  And with that, it was decided.  "We can take them to the photographer tomorrow."

"No, I'll take them," Shalista said.  "I usually wake up early, so it will get there faster."

Lady Madison crossed her arms and said, "Like I'm going to trust an exhibitionist like you with our pictures.  You'll probably just sneak all of your nude ones in there."

Shalista looked away.  "I wouldn't do that."

"Then look me in the eyes and say that."

"I don't want to," Shalista said.

"I thought as much."

Cordelia stood and stretched.  "Well, I'm turning in.  Have a restful night, everyone.

"I'm coming, too," Wendy said.  "You guys have a restful night."

"We'll met at the photographer's shop tomorrow," Lady Glinda said, standing up.  "Have a restful night."  She took her leave with Lady Iocasta in tow.

Sophia yawned and fell out.

"She doesn't waste any time, huh?" Shalista asked, Lady Madison.  "Man, she really is a cutie."

Lady Madison got up, then scooped up Sophia.  "Yeah, yeah.  You can drool over her in the guest house."

"Aww," Shalista said.  "Can I hold her?"

"She's a grown woman, not a kitten," Lady Madison said.  She carried Sophia all the way to the guest house with Shalista fawning the whole time.

"Let me get the door," Shalista said, going ahead and opening it.

Lady Madison stepped in and walked to a bedroom that didn't have an "occupied" sign on it.  Shalista opened the door, allowing her to get in and put Sophia in the bed.  She took off Sophia's boots and put them neatly next to the bed, then covered her with the bed's sheets.

"You really care for her, huh?" Shalista

"Of course," Lady Madison answered, unable to contain smile.  "She's my tactician.  Intelligent, resourceful, connected, she's everything you could want in a subordinate."

Shalista turned away.  "So, this is the real Lady Madison.  Vicious on the battlefield, but a tender. compassionate away from it.  A woman who will take in strangers and even carry grown women to a comfortable bed.  Empora has a heck of a person in their military ranks.  Have a restful night."