Sacrificial White Wives Club
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The Sacrificial Boy : Chapter 5 free porn video
Macha walked back and forth at the edge of the herb garden, watching the
road that led into the village. Biting her lip, a habit her mother had
unsuccessfully tried to break, the young apprentice finally sat down.
"You're nervous."
Looking up, the young girl smiled. "A little, Aislin seems to be taking
her own sweet time coming home."
Ina put her hand over her eyes, blocking the rays of the setting sun;
the carriage that had taken her grandchild away had been gone for most
of the day.
"Mistress Ina, this morning, I insisted we call Aislin a girl especially
after the village elder's proclamation. Really, it was all just a bit of
fun, and I'm ashamed to say to get back at Rowena. But now I feel as if
I forced it on her."
Ina frowned, deciding whether to tell her young apprentice what had
transpired early in the morning. The proclamation had been entirely her
doing. Unknown to either Macha or Aislin, before the sun even broke the
horizon; she had already confirmed her grandchild's lineage with the
village elders. Thankfully, none of the men recognized the coat of arms
displayed on the Patent of Nobility, such recognition would have raised
far too many questions.
"What did she say?"
"She said it doesn't matter." The young woman looked thoughtful. "I mean
it should, shouldn't it?"
Ina shook her head. "That child has a habit of not complaining even if
it's painful. However, I believe that right now it's in her best
interest, especially with the eyes of some very powerful men on her."
"I know, and that's what scares me. Still, what do you mean she won't
say anything even if it hurts her?"
"Aislin never complained when the village children picked on her.
Usually, they left her alone, mainly because of Rowena, but I knew that
it happened."
Taking a seat next to her apprentice, the Wise Woman also kept a close
eye on the road waiting for her grandchild's return. "When she was, I
believe nine years old, my grandchild walked into the cottage limping,
with a number of bruised ribs, and blood running down the side of her
head. She passed me without a word."
Macha eyes opened wide.
"Without a tear in her eyes, although I knew she had been crying, she
simply cleaned herself off. When I asked about it, Aislin refused to
tell me what happened, instead she said it was nothing, just pain."
"That's awful." Macha rubbed her own tears from her face; she couldn't
fathom why anyone would want to hurt Aislin. "But why didn't she say
anything?"
"She didn't want me to worry, after that; I wouldn't let her leave my
side unless it was with someone I trusted. When the village elders
explained to me why she received such a beating, I began to understand
my grandchild a little better. See, Aislin had been protecting Renn."
"Renn?"
Ina smiled. "Aislin will ignore her own pain, but she will not tolerate
another to suffer. To her usual tormentor's surprise, she leaped on them
to help her friend. What I was told later, one of the men had to
actually pull her off one of the larger boys."
Macha looked shocked for a second and then giggled. "Still..."
"I know, that's why when the notion of being called up in the levy came
up, she didn't complain. Aislin explained to me that if she didn't go,
then someone else would have to take her place."
"But that won't happen now. Even if she insisted on being male, none of
the gentry can be forced into the King's service."
"True, but she won't be any less happy about it. Macha, now that you
know my grandchild's secret, does it change your feelings for her?"
"No why, should it?"
The Wise Woman smiled, reached over and gave her apprentice a kiss on
the head. "By the goddess, you are indeed a treasure."
Macha smiled at the compliment. "I will say though, since Aislin has
started wearing her mother's clothes, something is different about her."
"In what way?"
"When I opened the door in the cottage, and saw her in the dress it was
like seeing her for the first time. When she walked across the village
green, that too seemed so out of place. Have you seen the way your
granddaughter holds herself now? You know how she complained at first,
fought it even but the entire time her eyes burned liked the sun."
Macha shivered a little, feeling it all over her body. She had always
been drawn to Aislin's eyes.
"I do agree, I told her something similar."
The young apprentice smiled. "And she denied it."
"Of course."
Laughing, the two missed an older woman, running across the village
green making her way directly to the healer's cottage.
Nora, the wife of the village's Ferrier, stood before the pair in an
obvious state of panic, said. "Mistress, I need your help."
**********
Slowly making their way back to the village, after a long day, Aislin
decided that she truly loved the birds. Although in truth, she couldn't
find pleasure in the hunt itself, the birds were magnificent. Having no
problems with controlling the animals, the Lord falconer even praised
her himself, Aislin had spent the entire afternoon with a small sparrow
hawk on her arm. However, not everyone enjoyed the day's outing.
Aislin sadly noted that Rowena's lack of enthusiasm and interest had not
pleased the castle's servants. People who someday, she knew as wife of
the Castle's seneschal worked with her friend on a daily basis. A number
of times, Aislin wanted to take her aside, but felt it would have just
made matters worse.
"I'm sorry that your mother insisted that you come out with me today."
Rowena had been surprised herself. Last night, as soon as her family
walked through the door to their cottage, her mother left to speak with
the village elders. From what her father said, her mother planned on
going to the Castle's Constable in the morning.
Although Rowena tried to get her mother to change her mind, someone else
obviously did. Before breakfast, Elder Argyle took her outside to talk,
coming back inside a few minutes later visibly shaken.
"Don't worry; I did have a good time, well watching the birds anyway."
Once again, she felt silent. For almost half the trip, the two didn't
speak again until Rowena suddenly asked. "I do have a question, why did
they bring up their lineage?"
Aislin smiled. "At first I thought Nevan and Miles were trying to decide
if we were all related, afterwards well I'm surprised you didn't figure
it out. I don't know why but I believe they were trying to impress me."
"Impress you? Why should they impress you...?" The young girl looked
away then quickly changed the subject. "It sounded like Sir Nevan and
Sir Miles are related to King Conall."
"Most of the nobility are related through one line or another. Sir Nevan
grandmother, the Countess of Moyry, is the King's sister. Sir Miles'
grandfather, our own Duke Blathmac, is the King's brother."
"But they are not directly in the line for the throne."
"Correct, only through a male heir. As Duke Blathmac had three
daughters, including Miles' mother, he cannot inherit. Neither can Sir
Nevan's; his father being the only son of Countess Moyry."
Although at times a bit confusing, Aislin could see where this was
going. From commoner to noble this topic was one of great concern.
"So what happens if the Crown Prince does not have an heir?"
Prince Burin, with his second wife, a much younger woman had been
married for almost five years but still without an heir.
"Hopefully, he will proclaim another. Otherwise, I'm afraid we will see
fighting among the noble houses once more."
Twenty years ago, when the boy King, William the Younger died he left an
empty throne. Three families, the Ciannacht, Osraige and the Armhaighe
all took to the field. The largest, the Armhaighe, made an alliance
through marriage with the Ciannacht. Less than a year later, with the
last male heir of the Osraige family slain at the Battle of Rathlind,
the eldest son of the Armhaighe line took the crown.
Rowena shook her head, had her friend always known these things? Again,
she felt that distance between the two of them growing. "You know, I'm
jealous of you."
Aislin gave a half smile. "Why?"
For a moment it looked, as if Rowena had planned on saying something
else but instead pulled on her dress. Giving Aislin the first real smile
of the day, she said. "Compared to mine, all of your clothes are all
beautiful."
"Not true, I have seen your clothes and that outfit is very nice too."
"But yours are so much nicer." Turning back around, the young girl
leaned against her friend. "I'm sorry, it's just I wished nothing had
changed between us."
As the carriage rolled into the village, Aislin didn't reply, not
understanding what she didn't want changed, and too afraid to ask.
After releasing the guards and drivers, Aislin found the cottage empty.
Deciding that she needed to learn how to disrobe herself, the young
woman stubbed her foot on the corner of her mother's trunk. Strangely
enough, it sounded surprisingly hollow.
**********
Ina watched as Macha rubbed her temples; the healing had taken a lot
more out of her than usual. In bard's tales, the King's Healer would
wave a hand, and magically all of the hero's wounds were healed.
However, such things only happened in stories. A healer's job was to let
the body do most of the work, only strengthening its natural healing
ability. Poultices, potions and herbs simply made their job easier.
Chatting softly, both Ina and her apprentice found Aislin, sitting in
the middle of the front room fully dressed. In her hands, a small gold
disk attached to a long golden chain.
"Oh Aislin," the Wise Woman said, turning to her apprentice she asked.
"Can you leave us alone?"
Macha nodded; with a worried look at her friend, she left the room
closing the door behind her.
"Gran?"
"First of all, I cannot tell you everything; it's for your own safety."
Pulling up a chair, she took a seat by her grandchild's side. Reaching
down, Ina took the medallion into her hands. About the size of her fist,
the disk bore an image of a golden sun. Surrounding the sun, in ancient
script it read. "In these hands shall she heal a kingdom."
"Where did you find it?"
"In a hidden compartment inside the clothing chest." It took a little
effort to pull back the false side, but what she discovered surprised
her even more. "Was my mother really the daughter of a merchant?"
Ina smiled. "Yes, however when her family discovered that she had the
gift, they sent her away. Still, a daughter of a rich and influential
family does not simply become a Wise Woman."
"No, they become one of the King's Healers." Aislin took the medallion
back, studying the inscription once more.
"Yes, that is how I met her."
"Like Macha's grandmother, you were a Court Healer." Aislin already
surmised this information, as her grandmother had stood on the Wise
Woman Council for some time.
Ina just nodded, unable to speak, afraid of what her grandchild might
ask next.
"My father...did you actually plan on allowing me to join the levy?"
Caught unawares by the sudden change in questions, she answered
truthfully. "No."
"I understand." Slowly rising from her chair, Aislin headed towards the
back of the cottage.
"Are you angry at me?"
The young woman turned around and smiled. "No, why should I be. I know
you and my mother were just trying to protect me. Oh, why were you out
so late?"
"Master Jaralth came down with the Summer Fever."
"So early, and didn't he have it last year?"
The summer fever came out of the O?che Foraoise, the swampy forest
region that lay for miles south of the town, every year. Hardly ever
fatal, most only caught it once or twice in a lifetime.
"Perhaps it's because all of the men worked deep in the woods the last
few days. Macha did the healing; she is coming along quite well thanks
to your teaching."
Aislin smiled. "She's your apprentice."
"Others might disagree."
Clutching the medallion to her chest, Aislin asked. "Will you ever tell
me the whole truth?"
The Wise Woman flinched; they had been lying to her the whole time but
it was for her own good. "Aislin..."
Reaching over, she kissed her grandmother on the cheek. "Good night."
**********
Standing in the small bedroom, which smelled more like a stable then a
cottage, the three women regarded the sick man's illness. Master
Jaralth, who had been feeling better the night before after the healing,
once again took to the bed ill.
"Did I do something wrong?"
The Wise Woman shook her head. "No Macha, even Master Jaralth said he
felt better last night."
What the three of them didn't understand, why did his wife Catlin and
both of their boys fall ill. The Summer Fever never reacted this fast,
normally it started slowly peaking sometime in the middle of the summer
and disappearing totally before harvest.
"By all of its symptoms, it does sound like the Summer Fever?" Aislin
said worriedly, while mixing another poultice.
All three women looked up when Mistress Clar stuck her head through the
doorway. "Ina, I'm afraid to say this but there are two more whole
households sick."
The Wise Woman sighed. "I will get to them once I am finished with the
Ferrier and his family." Turning to Aislin, her grandmother asked. "I
need you to go into the forest. We are not ready for this."
The young woman nodded. Unfortunately, she knew the medicinal plants
needed to help with the symptoms had not bloomed. Perhaps, she could
find some of the lesser-known alternatives deeper in the O?che Foraoise,
she thought to herself.
Ina seeing what she planned in her grandchild's eyes said. "No, keep out
of the marsh. It's not safe."
"Then I'll escort her." A male voice spoke from the front of the
cottage.
"Miles?" Aislin walked into the other room, surprised to find the Knight
standing at the cottage entrance.
"I was told that the there was an illness running through the village."
Sir Miles said, behind him stood a half a dozen armsmen.
"You shouldn't be here Miles."
"Neither should you, I came to take you back to the castle."
Aislin sighed, funny just a week ago, she had dreams of rescuing Rowena
and now it seemed a Knight came to rescue her. "I'm needed here."
"Not right now." Ina came out of the back room. "Sir Knight, if you wish
to help then please escort my granddaughter into the marsh."
"Gran."
"If you insist on going Aislin, I would feel better if you take your
Knight along."
Miles smiled at that, giving the women a courtly bow. "It would be my
pleasure."
"Alright, you need to get out of the village anyway. You haven't had
this illness have you?"
The young man shrugged. "No but I never get sick."
"I'm sure." Aislin smiled. "I'm going to borrow a few of your armsmen."
The young Knight looked confused for a moment. "If you wish but why?"
"We need to see if the illness has spread to the other villages. If not,
then perhaps they have some of the medicines that we need."
Sir Miles nodded. "Perhaps the castle might as well."
"Thank you Miles, if you can send a rider up to the Castle and the
villages I will tell them what my grandmother needs."
**********
Just as the sun began to set on the horizon, five very tired riders
entered the village Aislin, Miles and three armsmen. Two armsmen, seemed
to be injured, one with a bandage on his arm, the other on his leg.
"Your skill at riding has improved." Sir Miles said gently, as he helped
Aislin off her horse. He could sympathize as she made faces, obviously
sore in unusual places. At least having a knack with animals, she
learned quickly but it didn't make her any less sore.
Squeezing Miles arm, she walked over and checked the two wounded men.
"I'm sorry you were hurt on my behalf?"
"Not true Milady; it was Hamish here that fell into the nest." The
armsmen with the bandaged leg pointed to his partner.
"Biggest damn lizard I've ever seen, I never thought I would ever see a
real basilisk. Of course it was almost my last time as well." The large
red headed man banged his bandaged arm on the pommel of his saddle as he
laughed.
The lizard had struck out at the two men, poisoning both. Thankfully,
the Basilisk, being nocturnal, had been half-asleep allowing the rest of
the armed men to dispatch it with ease. If it had been at night, the
day's events could have turned out much worse.
"And if you had not been there, we should have died from the poison."
"Strange logic Ross, since the only reason why you were in the marsh was
because of me." Aislin smiled. "You both need to take it easy for the
next three days."
"Yes, Milady." They both nodded their heads.
"I will see to it Aislin." Sir Miles said, coming up to stand next to
her. "Perhaps you should come to the castle tonight, you haven't even
had dinner."
"No, my grandmother will need me. I also need to make medicine with the
plants we gathered today."
"Then tomorrow, I will come by after lunch."
"Miles, I told you. You have to stay out of the village. Getting the
Summer Fever for the first time as an adult can be very serious."
"Then, I'll send a carriage for you."
"Miles."
"She will be happy to accept your invitation for lunch tomorrow Sir
Knight." Ina stood at the cottage doorway.
"Grandmother."
"Macha and I are more than capable. Moreover, we were able to get more
of the Solas leaf from two of the villages and the castle. Thankfully,
the illness has not spread. If you would please thank Sir Nevan for us,
Sir Miles, the medicine will be of much use."
"Then I shall send a carriage, tomorrow then, Milady." Reaching for
Aislin's hand, he gently kissed it.
Thanking the armsmen again, the young woman retreated inside the
cottage.
"Were you able to help everyone?" She held her hand to her chest.
Ina smiled at her granddaughter's reaction to the kiss. "Yes, I ended up
healing while Macha administered the medicines. The illness seems to be
acting a little different from usual, perhaps because it's so early.
Hopefully, we will have good news tomorrow."
Aislin nodded, but not really paying attention anymore. She could still
feel Mile's lips on her hand. She knew she had feelings for Macha, but
did she also have the same feelings for Miles? With what happened with
Rowena two summers ago, she stopped thinking about it entirely.
Pushing the thoughts away, Aislin walked into the kitchen. First food,
then a long night making medicine and after everyone in the village was
feeling better, she decided that perhaps she would sort through her
feelings.
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