I watch her leave before mounting up on Pale Horse and heading towards home. My evening goes smoothly and I get confirmation that we are overloaded with people for the dance. I started with thirteen but now I'm looking at twenty and there are females on board. I smile and make sure my plan is set before heading to bed.
School sucks when you have big fucking plans for the evening and this Friday is no different as the day drags on and on. Kori and Matty are excited for me as we chat during lunch and I'm informed that there will be pictures and a full story on Saturday at Rachael's house as all my future wives will be coming by to see everything. School mercifully ends and I am directed to the Gym as I discover that there is a small team of people doing some final touches on our 'costumes'. Our school colors are black and bright green and with a Panther as a mascot my new 'horde' is assembling everything when I'm pulled aside by Lou and have to strip my upper body as he takes some fine ink pens and starts to draw on my shoulder.
"You've come to every single game and you've been a real leader for a lot of us so what I'm doing now isn't permanent but if you want a real one my Dad will put one on you," Lou tells me as he starts to draw a tribal tattoo on my shoulder.
"I'm honored Lou, but there is one problem. Where is your girlfriend," I ask, noting the girl he took to our dance isn't assembled.
"She was my date that night, we both wanted to go so we went together," Lou tells me as he continues his work.
I make a note of that as he takes an hour to finish and then comes the best part, people stripping and war paint is applied. I notice that Lou has a real version of the tattoo he drew on me on his shoulder and I must consider his offer if I want one like his, it looks fucking sweet. Our war paint is green and blue and I see some drawing symbols when Lou comes back to me with Tania who is in a leather top that lets you know that conventional bras suck and leather styled pants with a little fur. They paint me up on my back and on my clean arm but nobody touches my face, stop them from that. Everyone is decked out and I'm dressed in some thick leather pants, I mean leather the way it was traditionally. No curing and leather stitching with some furs and what I'm told is a kidney belt around my waist that has to be tightened twice till it fits properly, I make note that I won't be bending over. Some leather and cloth bracers and we start to leave, my horde assembles into five vehicles when I show Lou why I didn't want my face painted and pull out my Mr. Grimm skull mask and put it on. Masha and Devin let everyone know what the plans are as we ride over. I'm leading with two trucks, a van and an SUV all full up with my barbarians. We arrive late by a half hour thanks to prep time, for me that's perfect so we can park and as Devin and Masha meet me on my bike I make it a point to say a few final words in English.
"From here on in we are savage in nature but try not to break anything, some of these people are 'sensitive'," I joke, getting a laugh from everyone," Don't break anyone up, don't start a fight and above all else when I signal you get to me fast."
I hear everyone yell HAAAAOUH like off 300 and I smile behind my mask as I dismount Pale Horse and lead my horde to the entrance. Devin hands the very nervous ticket taking our stack of paid tickets to the teacher and we enter the dance. I'm inside and we note these rich kids went all out and talk about ren-faire garb is one thing but they are drinking from goblets and I see a few walking around in faux armor, at least I think it's faux. As my group is now fully inside to say we are noticed is an understatement as the small group of orchestra members who were playing have stopped and I figure it's time to speak and motion Masha to the front.
"We have come from Pine Rivers to see the civilized lands of the Olympic Forest. We who are warriors and conquerors to see kings and knights before we engage in battle in one night's time, we come to sample your refinement and your hospitality before you come to our lands to sample our savagery," I state in Russian as Masha translates loudly, very loudly," We will honor you later but now we are hungry."
I motion for my horde to disperse and as they walk a lot of people move out of their way, first impression goes to us. I however move around in search of my sweet little princess, sadly I'm pulled aside by another man wearing a crown.
"I am Reginald, King of this Event and bid you welcome to my halls," the tall black male states before he shifts his regal nature to a subdued excitement," just so you know you guys look awesome and I want you to sit with my table."
I nod and we are lead to a large semi circular grouping of tables where I sit as Devin and Masha stand behind me, Reginald is in love with the authenticity of what we are doing and in between bouts of light laughter I stand and Masha excuses us as I decide I want to find Rachael now. It almost takes five minutes before I find her, the Gym holds three basketball courts and more in space, but when I do I pause for a moment of appreciation. Rachael's hair is down to her shoulder blades but it's braided in an old style and her gown is one of the nicest things I've seen her wear and that says a lot. It's flowing and in the deepest forest green color. I see Amy next to her in a similar blue gown and when Amy sees us approach their table all mouths are open a little and Rachael is staring at me hard.
"I have found you my love and light, I knew I would find you, a woman with hair like fire and a spirit pure like snow," I state moving to Rachael and taking a knee while Masha continues to translate," No female deserves to see my face before you and I wait to accept your touch and fire on my face."
Yeah it's sappy and cheesy but Rachael is glowing and slowly she pulls my mask off and once it's off I don't smile but she does. I'm lifted up by her gentle touch till I'm standing and Rachael is standing with me when I get an idea. I point to Amy and she slowly rises from her chair as I turn to Masha and ask for Lou. It takes a moment before my favorite Samoan is there and I almost want to laugh at his face paint as it looks like something out of Lord of the Rings only in brighter colors.
"My champion Lou I present to you a prized woman Amy, she has a suitor yet I find him unfit and without honor. She is here and he is lacking as such I grant you right to claim her and her right to claim you if she finds you to be suitable," I state with Masha still translating the Russian," Bring her to our tables and see she is cared for."