A Thieves Reward part 2

A Thieves Reward part 2

Laura stretched her arms as she walked over the trees, the horses below running from the vibrations caused by her footfalls. “I don’t know why I didn’t try this sooner. Using the potions that our father left us not for shrinking and hoping I don’t get stepped on but instead to grow and just take what I want.” She walked over to a small house and ripped open the roof.

“Why this is so much simpler.”

The young man turned over on his straw bed and scratched at his naked belly. He blinked his eyes as stray pebbles landed on his stomach. “Ughh.” He blinked his eyes. “What is going on?”

Laura looked around the house. “Wow, such a score. Look at all this dried meat.” She sighed. “But how am I going to carry it back home? I only have two hands.”

The young man looked up at Laura. “What in the world? Am I dreaming?”

She looked at the man on the bed and his naked hairy glory. “Ugh.” She shivered. “Yes. You are dreaming. Now lie back down.”

He smiled. “Wow. I never dreamt about a giant naked lady before.” He rubbed his hands together. “Now, if I could only make you bigger.” He held his right hand up, trying to touch Laura’s breasts. “And make that bigger as well.”

“Ok, that is it.” She picked him up. “You want me bigger?” Laura narrowed her eyes.

“It’s my dream, isn’t it?”

She snorted. “I am not your plaything.” She tossed him as far as she could throw him. “Ugh. Now, where was I? Ah yes. Trying to get this meat.” She flipped the roof of the house over. “Well, there, now I don’t have to hold the damn thing up. It isn’t like creep of the house will need the roof anyways.” She crossed her arms. “But how will I get all this food back to my brothers? I can’t just carry it all.” She looked around. “And it isn’t like I am going to make multiple trips. The potion’s length is one thing. But at this size, everyone can see me. And who knows how long until I have a regiment of knights coming after me. I don’t need ankle biters tonight.”

She rubbed her chin. “What to do then.” She looked at the remains of the roof. “Ugh, maybe I shouldn’t have flipped that roof. I. . .” She held up her hand. “No, he deserved it. Huh.”

She narrowed her eyes at the wrecked roof. “Wait a minute. I am getting an idea.” She walked around the house and grabbed the wrecked ceiling, pulling it around. “Yes, this will work. It will be annoying, but it will work.” She dragged the wrecked roof over to the side of the house.

“Ok.” Laura reached down and took all the food she could find. “Now I can really bring a king’s ransom back to my brothers.”

She sighed. “Well, now I wish I had waited to visit that castle ball.” She shook her head as she loaded up her makeshift wagon. “Ah, well, I guess it’s for the best. I got to crash it. Those idiot lords deserved the thrashing I gave them.” She shivered. “I will never go near an outing like that again.”

Once the food was loaded up, Laura smiled and looked out over the horizon. “Ok.

Let’s see here. I should have enough room on this thing to make two more stops, at least. Then I can head home and hopefully avoid anyone trying to stop the weird giant lady stalking the lands at night.” She put her hands on her cheeks. “Oh no. There is a giant lady prowling the woods, me lord. Whatever shall we do?” She laughed. “I can hear them now.”

Laura dragged her cargo down towards the riverside. “I can already see my next target.”

She narrowed her eyes. “Hmm. Strange-looking house. Tall stone walls. Is that a stable and an archery range?” She gulped as she approached. “What is this place? I am glad I didn’t come here first.”

She set her roof full of food down by the river. “Ok. Let’s see who’s home, shall we?” She crept along the soft, mushy ground and up to the spire-like building, putting her hands on the foundation. “Can’t they build this thing, right?” She used her right hand to scratch at her short black hair. “How am I going to get into this thing without knocking the whole thing over?” She blinked her hazel eyes. “Ugh.”

“Hey!”

She turned her head to see a small figure in armored clothing by the riverside. “Umm, hello?” She waved her right hand. “How are you doing?”

He dropped the torch he had been carrying. “By the gods. It is a. . . a. . .” He shook his head and dashed for the building. “We have a problem. Help!”

Laura gulped. “This is what I was afraid of.” She snorted. “This is a soldiers’ outpost. I need to. . .” She formed her hands into fists. “Ughh, no. I am not leaving without their food.

They are just tiny little people. Like the dolls, I used to have. What am I afraid of?” She laughed. “Exactly. Why should I be afraid of tiny little scared dolls?”

She watched as four armed soldiers ran out of the spire, three holding swords, the fourth armed with bow and arrow. The one with the bow pointed up at Laura. “See. I told you. It’s. . .”

The others laughed. “Well, it’s a giant lady, but I am not sure we have to be afraid of it just yet.”

“Ya. Maybe she will do a little dance or something.”

“Ya baby. Dance for old Greg. And while you are at it, why don’t you kneel down. I want to give you a kiss.”

Laura snorted. “Is everyone in this blasted kingdom like this.” She threw her arms up. “I start to grow, and you think you can just. . .” She slammed her hand against the spire. “Ughhh!”

The soldier with the bow pointed at her. “See. I told you this was a monster and not some giant lady come to satisfy your wishes.” He shakily pointed his bow at Laura. “Now I shall do my duty for the kingdom. For my. . .” He closed his eyes. “For my. . . king.” He loosed an arrow, but because he had closed his eyes and his aim was so shaky, the arrow flew well past Laura’s head.

She pushed off the spire, sending it tumbling to the ground as she narrowed her eyes at the archer. “You tried to hit me? And what did I do to you?” She looked at the building she had just knocked over. “Oh? Oops.” Laura laughed. “I umm. . . am still getting used to my new strength here.” She looked down at the archer as he fell to his feet. “You have to excuse me.”

The other soldiers raised their weapons at Laura. “Ben was right. The giantess be a threat to the kingdom. So, knock her to the ground. So that we may relish in the glory of. . .” He looked at the ground. “Hmmm. . .”

Greg looked at him. “What is so hard about this man? Just say we are going to tie her up for the good of the kingdom.” Laura crossed her arms and tapped her foot. “Come on!”

The other man in chain mail laughed. “But I. . .” He sighed. “I don’t want our knight superiors to think that we are doing this because we are. . .” He laughed. “We are trying to tie up a giant lady for the kinks.”

Greg put his hand on the man’s shoulder. “My fellow. That is just the bonus of this. We get a giantess all. . .” He held his hand up. “Ohh, all tied up on the ground. And while we wait for our superiors to come and help us clean this up, we can have some real fun.”

Laura shook her head. “I have had enough of this!” She knelt down. “Time to relive you all of your duty.”

Greg and his comrades help up their weapons. “Here she comes, lads.”

Laura rolled her eyes. “Oh, please.” She nimbly evaded their swings and yanked the swords out of their hands. “I have two brothers at home. So, what exactly did you all think you were going to do?”

Greg gulped. “There are more giants amongst us?”

“What? No there—

Another one of the soldiers put his hands on his forehead. “This problem is getting out of control. It was ok when we just had the giantess. Fun even.”

Laura held out her hand. “If you all will just listen!”

The archer jumped to his feet. “I need to warn the king. We have an invasion on our hands.” He turned around and ran towards the horses. “This must be stopped in its tracks. Arugh!”

Laura rubbed her forehead. “Why won’t people listen.” She threw the swords into the lake. “I wish you all were more like dolls. Ughh!” She walked over to the ruined building. “And no food! Seriously I wasted all this time and effort for no stinking food.” She looked down at the trembling soldiers. “You stinking. . . Ughh!” She threw up her arms and walked over to her makeshift wagon. “I just ugh!”

She dragged her cargo across the river and towards home. “I am just not putting up with this anymore.” She watched as the soldiers ran off. “Especially with crazy men trying to alert the countryside to my dangerous giantess presence.” She shook her head. “I need to get home and hopefully shrink down before this gets further out of hand. Then they can search all they want to. They won’t find the giantess in question.” She looked at the moon above her head as she reached the other side of the river. “This really was easier when I was just shrinking down to the size of a mouse.” She laughed painfully.

Soon the rugged silhouette of her home came into view. “Almost there.” She groaned. “I just hope my brothers are sleeping, as I don’t exactly want them to see me like this.”

She blinked her eyes as she took a few more steps toward her family home. “Wait. I just realized I forgot to find Sky after leaving that blasted castle. Huhhhh!” She shook her head. “What was I thinking? Leaving my horse out in the wilderness alone. He is probably worried sick without me. I should go and fetch him. Huh?”

Laura narrowed her eyes to see Sky grazing in the glade where she had first found him. “What? How did he. . .” She dragged the mountain of food up towards the house. “Did that lazy stallion run off when he saw me burst out of the castle, or did he just want to run back here after I went in alone, unable to be away from his grazing spot?” She rolled her eyes. “I need a more reliable steed.”

Laura set the ruined roof full of food down next to her shambled home. “There.

Now I just need to get this all inside.” She laughed. “Preferable without destroying my home.”

“What in the burning hells?” Laura turned her head to see Vector standing in the doorway with a lantern in his hand. “I thought I heard something strange out here. But I never imagined something like this.”

Laura laughed. “Hello, Vector. You are not—

“How the hell do you know my name?”

“It’s me. Laura? Your sister.”

“Likely story. Now get back! Get back, I say.”

Oren walked to the door as he rubbed his eyes. “What is going on?”

Vector sneered at his brother. “We have some giant lady at our doorstep, brother.”

Oren looked up at Laura. “Hey, that’s. . .”

“That is a giant lady that needs to leave.” He turned around. “I am going to get something inside to deal with her.”

Oren threw up his hands. “What is wrong with you? Can’t you see that it is Laura?”

“Shut ye trap. Don’t listen to her venom’s lies.” Laura rubbed her face. “Now help me with this rope.”

Oren rushed inside, the door closing behind him. “What are you talking about? What are you going to do, Vector?”

Laura sighed. “I had hoped not to wake them.” She turned around. “Especially Vector. But I guess it can’t be helped. I should start to unload this stuff.” She began to set the meat onto the ground. “They will thank me in the morning.” She felt something wrap around her legs and slowly tighten. “Hey.” She winced and looked down. “What is going on?”

Vector ran circles around her legs. “I am taking care of you, that is what.” He looked at Oren. “I told you, check and see if that blasted horse is around. Ride and alert people about this. Why are you just standing there?”

“Because you are not listening.” Oren grabbed onto his brother. “How many times do I have to tell you. That is our sister.”

Vector threw Oren to the side and continued to wrap the rope around her legs. “I can’t be fooled. The formula that she uses causes her to shrink. Not turn into a giant. So, this can’t possibly be her.” He tired her legs together.

Laura winced. “Ok, that is quite enough.” She tried to grab Vector, but he ran behind her, causing her to wobble back and forth. “Ughh. Vector!”

“Try and grab me again, and I promise you will regret it.” He twirled around the rope in his hand.

Laura took a deep breath. “Vector. You are trying my patience. Can’t you see all of this food I brought home for you? You begged me to go out and steal it. Is this really how you are repaying me? Trying to tie me up?”

He pointed up at her with his left hand. “You can’t trick me, so stuff it.” He narrowed his eyes at Oren. “Stop standing around already. Go get a knight or something!”

“I... I am not going to.”

Laura sighed. “I have had enough of this.” She hopped around, so she was facing Vector. “Now, come here.” She knelt over and tried to grab her brother, but he was too quick. In her haste to try and wrap her fingers around him, she lost her balance and fell onto her chest. “Ughh.” She winced. “Damnit all.”

“Yes!” Vector threw a rope over her back. “This is perfect.” He used a stake to thrust one end of the rope into the ground before running around Laura as she rubbed her forehead and pulled the rope tight, knocking her to the ground.

“Ughh.” She winced. “What are you doing?”

He put another stake into the ground. “Making sure you don’t get away. And since my brother won’t help after I contain you, I will get the knights myself.”

“One rope won’t keep me down.” She reached out with her hand. “You little worm.”

Vector ran just out of her reach and watched as she trashed her arm about. He then waited until she sighed and relaxed her arm to tie her hand down to the ground. “This is hard work, but I am slowly constraining you.”

Laura winced as she tried to pull her hand free. “God dammit. Can’t you see it’s me, Vector!”

Oren rushed up to his brother. “Come on. This is enough. You can’t do this to Laura!”

Vector laughed. “I can, and I will.”

Laura shivered. “I feel kind of funny.” Her body began to tense up. “Ughh!”

Vector looked up at Laura. “Look, I don’t know what you are trying to pull, but I need to head inside and get more rope.” He turned around. “Don’t try anything.” He took a step and then stopped. “Oren!”

“What?” He stopped short of one of Laura’s restraints. “Yes, brother.”

Vector walked over and grabbed his brother by the collar of his vest. “You are coming with me so I can watch you. I can’t trust a giantess lover.”

Oren cried out as he was dragged into the house. “Please. This is boarding on insanity. Vector!”

Laura closed her eyes as the feeling intensified. “Ugh. What is happening now.” She felt like her skin was made of rubber. “Ughh!”

As she opened her eyes, she realized everything was growing. “Ugh, finally.

This couldn’t have happened a few minutes ago?” Laura pulled herself free of the restraints, now too tiny for such bonds. She smiled and looked around. “Well, I hope Vector will finally see me as his sister.” The rate at which she shrank intensified. “And I am sure Oren will be happy to see I am not humongous anymore.” A smile appeared on her face. “Oh, I can finally wear decent clothing again. Yes!”

Vector left their rickey house with more rope just as Laura shrank down to her regular old size. “Ok. I am ready to. . .” He looked around. “What in the bleeding hells? She escaped.”

He looked to see Laura. “Well, you finally showed up. Oh boy, do I have a tale to tell you.”

Oren appeared at the doorway. “Vector, stop. You. . .” He spotted Laura. “Oh hey.

You finally shrunk back down.” He cheered. “Yay!”

Vector sighed and walked inside. “Don’t be silly, Oren. You know Laura can’t grow. Such a thing is just preposterous. Now let’s get that meat inside.” He looked at Laura. “And what are you doing standing in that giantess impression.” Laura looked down at the body imprint she had made on the earth.

Wow, I really made my mark, didn’t I?

Vector crossed his arms. “Also, why are you naked? Don’t you usually take spare clothing with you?”

“I umm. . .” She sighed as she walked towards him. “Never mind. Let’s get this food inside, shall we?”

They all turned their heads as an armored rider approached them. “Hello there.” He looked at Laura. “Umm, may I ask where your clothes are, my good lady?”

Laura covered her chest. “It’s a long story, my good knight.”

He bowed his head. “I won’t pry any further.” He looked at Vector. “We are hunting for a lady the size of a mountain. Have you seen her?”

Vector laughed. “Ya. I had her here. You can see the imprint she left on our place. But she got away. The blasted giantess.”

The knight looked at the ground and nodded his head. “Well, we will scour the land for her. She destroyed a castle, tossed a noble halfway across the kingdom, and toppled a guard tower. Also, I think she wrecked a farmhouse and stole some meat. Tis lucky you got off so easily.” He turned around. “Have a good night.”

Vector waved as the knight rode off. “You too.” He sighed. “Well, I hope they catch this giantess. I am going to get this meat inside.”

Laura shook her head as Oren walked over. “I didn’t mean to cause such an uproar.”

Oren wrapped his hands around Laura. “Well, it’s over. And you never have to worry about growing again. You are safe.”

“Yes. I think you are right.” She smiled. “We can put this nonsense behind us.”

Laura walked inside and slid into her bed. “I am going to get a lot of sleep tonight.” She pulled the covers up to her head. “Yes. A lot of sleep. Ahh.” Her eyes shot open as a familiar feeling washed over her, her skin feeling like rubber. “Oh no! Not again!”