by Kate Hill
Lord Gravely sat up in his chair, his chest puffed up like a strutting cock.
“Filip Garlanzo, heir and rightful Lord of the Manor.”
Lord Gravely sputtered, his face turned red, and he jumped to his feet. “This is preposterous!” he bellowed. “An insult of the worst order. This man is an imposter.”
Filip stood. “Yer the imposter, Gravely. For years, ya have robbed this land and people of their cattle.”
Shockwaves rolled down the table. Startled gasps from her openmouthed sisters mingled with the chilling glares of hatred from the men around the table.
“What lies this imposter tells,” Gravely ranted. “He is the one who wishes ta rob ya of yer title and lands.”
“Believe what Filip says, Father,” Zolona stood next to Filip. “For I have with my own eyes witnessed what he says is true.”
Her father turned to Lord Gravely. “Ya have used our acquaintance for evil, ta make yerself fat off our labor. Leave this house and these lands, never ta return. For if ya do, yer head will decorate the tip of my lance, and my sword will be drunk with the blood of yer kin.”
At the murderous glares of the men, Lord Gravely left the room in haste.
“Thomas, assemble a guard and escort him ta the mountain pass and set a watch.”
“My lord.” Thomas looked with confusion between the two. “It is said the beast rules the mountains at night.”
“Thomas, do not fear the night,” Zolona spoke. Her soft voice seemed to echo in the large room. “The anger of the beast has been turned this day upon Lord Gravely’s house. Let it walk where it will in peace.”
“Would ya say these brave words,” Letty asked, “if it were yer Filip and not my Thomas?”
“Da, I would,” she smiled. “I have met the beast, face ta face.”
The looks of doubt circled the table, but enough had been said already.
“Yer sister does not lie.” The commanding voice of her father quieted the hushed whispers along the table. “The day is wasting and I have business ta tend with the new Lord.”
“My lord, I have nu wish ta remove the title from yer name, nor move yer family from their home.” Filip took Zolona’s hand. “Yer daughter shall make her home with me in the mountains.”
She could see the stark relief wash across their faces. They were not concerned about her, only that their life would not be changed. Catching the notice of her mother, she smiled.
“My dear, there is much ta be done before a wedding,” her mother beamed, “but we should be ready within a fortnight.” Her mother looked around the table at her other daughters.
“There will be nu wedding in a fortnight, nor any other night so long as the beast walks among us.”
“But…Papa just announced yer betrothal?” Letty looked around for support.
Maria, her dearest and closest friend, looked up with a shaky smile, “At least ya will not be leaving us so soon.”
“Dear Maria, I am sorry ta disappoint ya, we will be leaving before nightfall.” She looked up to see her mother grasp her chest. Her eyes rolled to the top of her head and then she fell from the chair.
Zolona rushed to her side only to be shoved away by Charline. “Letty, bring the smelling salts. Mother has fainted.” She turned on Zolona. “Have ya not done enough? If ya insist on bring the family shame, then pack yer things and go. Good riddance if ya ask me.”
“Charline.” The stern warning of her father filled the air. “Tend ta yer mother, and put a guard on yer spiteful tongue. Listen ta me, all of ya. Zolona knows what must be done in these matters. And I will not listen ta any more drivel about her causing shame ta the family. If ya have forgotten that three of ya were expecting when ya said ya vows, I have not.”
“What about Lord Gravely? He will not be taking this laying down.” One asked from down the table.
“Nu, and I hope he does not.” A gleam flashed across his eyes. “Send runners ta every house. We must prepare for war, if we expect ta survive.”
Zolona marveled over the transformation of her father. He had been given a direction, a new challenge to face, and a new enemy to conquer. The mundane chores of the estate suddenly took on more importance. The men sat up straighter in their chairs and offered sound advice in the defense of their home and family. Runners were sent to sound the call-to-arms and gather support against the pending war.
“Father, give Filip ten of yer most trusted archers. When Lord Gravely advances we will seal the pass behind him and attack his rear guard.”
He turned to Richard. “Choose out nine men, fierce in battle, proven in courage and join with Filip.”
“I will also go with them,” Maria announced.
“Come, Maria, I will help ya prepare for we must be gone before nightfall.” She took her hand and left the hall in a flurry of ruffles.
Chapter Five
“Filip, the day is far-gone and there is still much ta do in preparation,” she whispered. “Even now, the beast begins ta waken.”
“Go ta yer room, my wolfen queen. It will be best if yer family sees not the horrors of shadow-time.” His fingers gently caressed her cheek. “Seeing the beast will be difficult enough for them.”
She gave Filip a quick kiss and fled up the stairs. Reaching her room, she closed the door and leaned against it. The pain sliced through her, ripping a strangled cry from her throat.
Lord Garlanzo stood in the inner bailey looking up the closed bedroom door. As tears filled his eyes, he lifted his clenched fist. “Damn yer mother ta hell.”
“Da,” Filip turned to see the stricken face of Zolona’s mother. “Tend ta yer wife, my lord.”
“My lords.” Richard approached, his eyes darting to the stairs. “The men are ready at last. My apologies for the delay.”
“Very well,” he turned to see curious, frightened stares of family members and servants hiding in the flickering shadows of the torches.
“Tell me, Richard,” Filip sighed. “Had ya known what lie ahead, could ya have been ready sooner?”
“Nu, my lord.”
“Then make nu apology for what could not be helped.” He clasped Richard on the shoulder. “I will…” With a heavy heart, he ascended the stairs and stopped at her bedroom door.
Filip opened the door and stepped back. With a vicious growl, the giant wolf sprang from the room and landed in a weary crouch at his feet. As he descended the stairs, the beast stayed by his side.
Children screamed and hid behind the skirts of their mothers. Women fainted, collapsing in a flurry of lace. Their fear of the beast and their barely concealed hatred for him at bringing this curse into the castle walls weighed heavily on him.
He stepped outside and the courtyard erupted into a pandemonium of chaos. Dogs barked, horses reared, dislodging their riders in the dirt, and those whose horses didn’t bolt, fought to bring their mounts under control.
“Open the gate!” Filip called to the watch.
The gate swung open and the beast disappeared into the darkening shadows.
Not knowing when, or if, Lord Gravely would attack, they rode hard through the night. He looked to Maria, and admired her courage and stamina. Dressed in a serviceable riding skirt, she rode beside Richard without complaint through the long hours.
Under the cover of darkness, they passed single file into the small valley. Filip could feel her nearness, but for now, all he could do was wait.
He dismounted and opened his door. “Richard, set a watch and bed the men down in the meadow. There is grass and water for the horses.”
“Right away, my lord.”
Richard led the men, his wife, and the pack animals away. He was left alone in the night. A chill crept up his back and a whisper of wind kissed his face. A smile lifted his worried frown.
He stepped inside but left the door open. The heavy breathing of the beast filled his ears, and all was quiet. “Hunt well, my wolfen queen.”
* * * * *
Horses whinnied in fear of evil as
the gentle mountain currents carried the scent of the beast across the narrow valley. The piercing cry of a tortured animal rent the stillness of the predawn shadows. For several minutes afterward, the silence closed in around him, isolating him from the world. Slowly the birds resumed their morning songs as the skies lightened and the shadows turned to flee.
The dim outline of the open door disappeared and the soft thud of its closing filled the room. “Good morning, my lady. Did ya feast well on the flock of Lord Gravely?”
“Da, my lord.” She lay beside him on the bed. “They are not as fat as those of my father and I was forced ta slaughter several for a meal.”
His arms sought her in the darkness. “What of his fearless knights?
“The ones outside the castle walls were shaking in fear and pissin’ in their boots at the howl of the beast.” Her fingers stroked the hard shaft of his cock and a low moan floated from his lips.
“What of the ones inside the castle walls? Do they prepare for war?” His lips found the nipple of her breast and he drew it into his mouth.
“Da, I heard the sounds…ahh, of preparation all the night.”
Leaving the sensuous peak of her breast, his tongue left a wet trail to the flat plane of her belly. “Then there is little time before the battle is joined.” Sliding lower, his chin brushed the soft curls below her waist.
“Da, ohhh!”
He parted her soft outer folds and blew on the hard nub of her clit. Her fingers grasped his hair as her legs tensed. Filip licked her creamy soft flesh, tiny tremors shook her, and she lifted her hips off the bed.
“Da, oh Da!”
A low whimper filled his ears as he left the sweet musky flesh of her pussy and crept up her body. “I will be gentle my wolfen queen, but there will be some pain.”
“Da, but nothing compared ta the time of shadows, my lord.” Zolona took his mouth in a passionate kiss. Their tongues touched, retreated, and then touched again.
He slipped inside her wetness and again, felt the thin barrier blocking his way. “I’m sorry, my lady.” In the dim light, he watched the pain flash across her eyes and heard the light catch in her breathing.
“Do not be sorry, Filip. What pain I feel soon subsides and is well worth the pleasure of yer cock inside me.”
With a slow, determined pace, he moved inside her, plunging to the limit of his erect shaft and then edging out again.
“Ya tease me, Filip. I am not a new colt ya have ta break ta ride.”
She heard a giggle from across the room and a husky male voice, “Hushhhhh.”
“Maria, what are ya doing awake?”
“How do ya expect anyone ta sleep, with as much noise as ya were making? Course, ya will make more when ya will have yer pussy licked.” The male voice was muffled and difficult for Zolona to hear.
“Maria, what ya doing?” Zolona laughed against his neck.
“Zolona dear, if ya must know…I had me Richard’s cock in my mouth. Now hush.”
She bit Filip’s shoulder to smother her laughter and listened to the slurping sucking sounds coming from across the room. “Ya talk about me making noise, yer as noisy sucking cock as he is licking pussy.”
Deep muffled laughter filled the room.
Filip began moving inside her, harder, faster with wild abandon. Locking her legs behind his ass, she met him, thrust for pounding thrust. Gasping for breath, she turned her face and watched in a blur, her dear friend Maria sitting on top of Richard. Her breasts bounced and her body bucked as she rode his cock.
Masculine grunts and softer moans mingled with the squishy sounds of wet pussy. Maria stiffened, her back arched and her passion-filled cry of release sent Zolona over the edge. Wave after wave of climax ripped through her pussy and spread across her body. She held on to Filip, her nails digging into his back.
When it did not seem possible to come anymore, his fire spread through her, setting off a final climax. Her body shook, her chest burned, and she lay panting, fighting to breathe. Filip covered her with his body and she felt the hard pounding of his heart against her breast.
Filip pulled out of her, stood, and crossed to the fireplace. He stirred the burning coals and a shower of sparks rose up the chimney. Adding more wood, he watched the flames lick along the dry bark. Taking a torch from the wall, he held it to the fire.
“Take this, my love. At the back of the cave, ya will find water ta clean yerself.”
Covering her nakedness from Richard, she stood and took the torch. “Come, Maria, we will bathe and prepare the food. The men will be hungry after riding all night.”
“Da,” Maria giggled. “We had best fix extra, two of the men were ridden hard.” They found the pool of water and waded in. Their squeals of shock at the cold echoed through the cave.
“Tell me…is it painful?”
“Da, pain like ya cannot imagine or describe. Ya think ya is going ta die, and then ya wish ya had.” Zolona washed the blood from her thighs.
“Ya are bleeding, is it that time a month, or are ya hurt?”
“Nu, Maria.” Zolona sighed. “It is part of the curse. Every morning it is the same as the first time.” She stepped out of the water and began to dress. “Enough about the curse and my bleeding pussy. There is work ta do.”
* * * * *
Filip and Richard rode into the meadow and watched the small band of men with their mix of longbows and short crossbows aiming at targets scattered across the field. Very few arrows failed to find their mark.
“Yer men are well-trained, Richard. Ya should be proud ta lead them ta battle.”
“Da, they are the finest archers in the land.” Richard smiled. “Gravely’s men will have more ta fear tonight than the beast. The tips of our arrows will drink their blood and the beast will feast upon their flesh.”
He knew it was going to happen, but hearing Richard put it into words saddened him. “Whither her guilt will be as great as mine for spilling human blood, I know not…but Zolona will carry the guilt all her life.”
“Da,” Richard clasped his arm. “We all carry our ghosts; some are just greater than others.”
Filip sighed, “Da. Come, we shall eat and then rest.” They trotted their mounts to the house. “Tonight will be long and difficult.”
* * * * *
A hurried knock on the door brought them from their beds. “It is time. Lord Gravely’s men approach the pass. The watch has ridden ta warn the castle.”
“Very well, alert the men ta be ready.” Filip dismissed the guard, turned to the fireplace, and took a large sword from the wall.
“Forgive me, my lord, but have ya any practice with the claymore? I mean, it being a Scottish weapon an all.”
“Da. It is a gift from a Highlander for saving his life. He taught me well in its use.” He held the long blade in the air. The polished steel glowed red, blue, and orange for the fire.
“And when was that, my lord?” Richard asked.
“A long time ago,” he sighed. “Before the curse.”
Zolona gasped, “But that was over…”
“Four hundred hears ago,” Maria placed her hand over her mouth in shock.
“Da, I was twenty-four years of age when my mother, Helen Garlanzo, brought the curse upon the family.” Filip belted two short swords to his waist. “It is time.”
“Maria, my lovely wife.” Richard caressed her cheek. “I leave in yer hands the lives of my men. Bind the wounds of the injured and comfort the dying as though it were me.” With a last tender kiss, he picked up his sword and crossbow and went to his men.
“Be careful, my shadow-time lover,” Zolona held him tight. “Come back ta me.”
“I have not lived all these years ta die at the hands of cutthroats and thieves.” Taking her lips in one last embrace, he followed Richard.
“Come, Maria, I will help until the shadow-time and then I too must go.”
Time slipped by in nervous silence as she worked beside Maria, preparing food for the hungry men w
hen they returned, and bandages for their wounds. “Nu!” she screamed. The pain flashed through her causing a moment of blindness. “Run, Maria! Do not look upon the beast.” She collapsed on the floor as her tortured cry filled the cave.
Chapter Six
Lord Gravely’s men spread out in typical marching fashion with the mounted soldiers up front. “Not much of an army,” Filip commented.
“Gravely is not a warrior, only a self-righteous thief.” Richard spat on the ground. “Never did care for him. We will wait to make the first attack. Let them grow lax and tired. They won’t feel like chasing us.”
“If they grow more complacent, they will be asleep.” Filip shook his head in disgust.
“Da, but our arrows will soon wake them up.” Richard smiled.
They returned to their small band of men, hidden deeper into the woods, and followed the advancing army.
A twig snapped up ahead and Filip drew one of his shorter swords. With a flash of steel, the battle with the rear guard exploded around them. He parried the blade and lunged. His sword pierced the thick leather jerkin, and the shock of failure and of his own imminent death spread over the face of the man as he looked at the sword buried in his chest.
Filip heard the heavy twang of a crossbow and looked up to see the fleeing messenger fall from his horse. It was over for now, but would soon begin again in earnest. A hand clamped on his shoulder.
“Well done, Filip. We have the advantage now. Lord Gravely will rely on their rear guard for warning,” Richard laughed. “The only warning they will get is the screams of the men dying in their midst.”
“Da.” He looked down at the man he had killed. “It is time to press home the attack. Ready the longbows, Richard.”
They crossed the meadow, each man bending low over the neck of his horse and spread out riding abreast in a single line. Filip felt his heart pounding. His palms started to sweat and he wiped them dry on his woolen pants.
