Sacrificial White Wives Club
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The Sacrificial Boy : Chapter 19 free porn video
A cool morning breeze blew through the ancient forest of Wyre, spreading
across the valley as if heralding the approach of a raven-haired
noblewoman. Dressed in an exquisite a black and silver gown, she studied
the lands around her before motioning her mount forward towards the
fortified keep of Dun L?idir. Behind her, a procession of other riders
soon followed, the more heavily armored riders spreading out as the group
passed through the edge of the woods.
Galloping ahead of the escort, a mailed warrior shouted with joy, pumping
his fist high in the air as he held aloft a heavy cloth banner. Many of
the armored riders joined the cheer. To them, the blue and black griffon
banner had always been a symbol of hope, something that had been missing
for many years.
Covered in thick plates of steel and mail, the heavily armed escorts were
not simple swords for hire. The best mercenary companies never were. With
long histories, some reaching as far back as the first kingdoms, the most
sought after commanders held as much power as some nobles who they found
themselves in employment. The heavy horse escorting the Sorceress,
recently employed by the Kingdom of D?l Riata, had at one time been
household troops.
At the end of the War of Succession, nobles refusing to swear fealty to
the new King of Airthir lost their titles and lands. While many went into
exile, others who found themselves without a home, banded together to form
mercenary companies, working hard to keep the martial traditions of their
old household alive. Now for the first time in many years, those men truly
felt as if they were home.
To the commanders of the army of the Kingdom of Airthir, the sight of
heavy horse only brought confusion. For the last week, preparations had
been made to do battle against dark forces, hoards of elementals or even
the undead. Now the officers stood uncertain, facing a rather mundane
group of riders heading towards the fortified gates of Dun L?idir.
Even more unsettling, above the small processional and their escorts flew
a symbol of a family, an enemy that had fought with great tenacity before
it fell. The Captains of the army of Airthir did not know which would be
worse, facing dark forces of the Black Sorceress or seeing those banners
once again flying on the other side of a battlefield.
To the simple foot soldiers, the infamous Black Sorceress' sudden
appearance as the head of an honorable household, who calmly rode in
between the two great armies, brought great relief. Although they stood
ready, many believed and hoped that the day would end peacefully.
To Aislin, the gentle breeze brought the pungent aroma of horse and men,
leather and steel. Anyone familiar with the smell knew that it often
preceded bloody battles. The young woman too, hoped for a better outcome
for the day.
Hiding a smirk, she nodded regally to the Captains and Knights standing in
front of the formations that stood on the small rise near them. As they
passed the long line of troops, a gentle murmur of voices followed,
surprisingly not hostile.
?Not what they expected.?
Aislin turned in the saddle slightly, giving her grandmother a soft smile.
?No, I would think not.?
For a brief moment, Ina could see in the eyes of her granddaughter, not
the powerful Black Sorceress but the frightened child she often found
herself comforting after a particularly troubling day.
She knew what her granddaughter feared most. In the early morning as the
two shared a small breakfast, Aislin spoke of what needed to happen today,
and the terrible consequences of what would go wrong if it did not.
?I believe that you will be surprising a lot more people today. Of course,
to many your appearance itself will give people pause.? Ina rode closer to
the Sorceress. ?I know that I have told this to you before, but you look
so much like Miranda it?s uncanny.?
Aislin nodded, it wasn?t just her looks that would be unsettling either.
From what she knew, her father?s mother had been a formidable woman and a
powerful King?s Healer.
?Of course, back then we were nothing more than two silly girls who often
ignored their apprentice duties to watch the boys practice in the castle?s
courtyard. Our Mistress had other ideas, making sure we were too busy to
find time to look at boys.?
?Sounds vaguely familiar, not the boy part though.?
Ina ginned. ?Yes, well, like her, I have tried to guide my charges with a
firm hand during their apprenticeships. Although at times, we cursed your
great-grandmother for apprenticing us to that woman, we were still both
very grateful.?
?Why?s that??
?Well, being born in a royal house, Miranda had little choice but to
follow a certain path, gifted or not. However, when I first came into my
power, your great-grandmother took it as a sign that the two of us should
remain together.?
?Both of you were apprentices to the same Healer??
?Yes, rather strange; then again Macha has two people teaching her.?
Aislin shrugged. ?She?s hardly my apprentice.?
Ina laughed. ?I beg to differ, nevertheless your grandmother and I
apprenticed under the King Uric?s Healer. Once the two of us passed our
apprenticeship, I remained with your grandmother.?
As Ina continued to tell the story of her long friendship with Miranda,
Aislin?s grandmother, she could see Aislin relaxing. Just like during
thunderstorms when she would entertain the scared young girl with her
favorite stories.
?Now speaking of trouble, your father was a handful. Always curious about
how things work. He made a fine engineer. Sir Henry, the old Lord Kelvin,
was quite happy to allow your father to add some improvements to his
castle and lands. ?
Aislin bit her lip for a moment; the two of them had been dancing around
the topic since she returned.
?Did my parents know Lord Kelvin well??
Ina frowned for a moment. ?Friends and cousins, as you know. The late Lord
Kelvin was a Royal Engineer and the one who sponsored your father into the
Society.?
Aislin nodded, the Royal Engineers were a close-knit group. Not
surprisingly, one would step forward to help another in a time of need.
?So what happened??
Ina closed her eyes for a moment, lost in her memories. ?After the battle
of Rathlind, we found your father, lying in a King?s Healer?s tent,
seriously wounded. With your grandfather dead and Duke Conall forces
holding the field, both your parents would have most likely have been
killed if captured.?
The Baroness paused again. ?Sir Henry gave them sanctuary at his castle,
hiding your father until he recovered. Your parents had hoped to make
their way to King Llwynog?s lands once your father recovered but Sir Henry
had other plans. Since your household still had some allies in the court,
they believed if your father swore fealty to the new king, they might be
able to keep some of their lands and titles.?
?So what happened??
?Sir Henry passed away suddenly, and when his son claimed the title your
parent?s location became known to other members of the court. It was at
that time Duke Blathmac appeared in the village demanding that your father
accompany him and take command of one of the King?s Regiments of Foot.?
?Right, one of King Conall?s first attempts to push into the Gaird?n
valley; of course they called it a rebellion.? Aislin looked towards the
keep; her father had been killed right in front of those very walls many
years ago.
?Well your mother wasn?t too pleased, I can tell you that. But they both
believed that your father?s support would go a long way in gaining favor
with the new king.?
?But he died.?
?Yes, and when that happened support in the court disappeared. Your
mother?s so called allies wished for her to remain a simple villager
healer; hopefully soon to be forgotten. Doubtfully she would have followed
their advice, until she discovered she was pregnant with you. After you
were born, the two of us made other plans. Once you were old enough, we
would help you recover your titles and lands.? Ina gave Aislin a warm
smile.
?So that?s how you ended up in the village??
?Yes, with my husband and your grandparents dead, I decided to go into
exile with your mother.?
?Your husband?? Aislin looked at her grandmother, seeing the shadow of
sorrow in her eyes. ?You never really talked about him much. Just that he
died before I was born.?
?I haven?t.? Ina frowned, and then looked distant with a half-smile on her
lips. ?He was a good man, a good husband; fiercely loyal to his friends
but especially your grandfather. The two of them died along with so many
others at Rathlind. Did you know that your grandfather and my husband were
knighted the same day by the old king himself? ?
Aislin smiled and shook her head.
?Brave fools the lot of them. We loved them all of them so very much. At
least for me, a day does not pass?.?
The two rode silently for a time, lost in their own thoughts.
?Baroness, will you please meet with the King?s Herald when we arrive.
I?ll let you decide how we are to proceed.?
The older woman?s eye lit up before she gave a slight bow. ?As you
command, your Grace.?
+++++++++
Aislin knew putting Ina in charge of the order of precedence had been the
correct decision. As the group approached, she quickly confronted the
King?s Herald. Even before he could speak, the Baroness had already
informed the poor man exactly how things were going to go. Of course, the
two Kings had other ideas, but she would have none of that.
?Burvju, I feel your power here, it overflows in the very stones.? Her
banner-man rode up to Aislin?s side. Adorned in heavy mail and plate and
wielding a large runic axe, the young man, an epitome of a Kareivis
warrior, carried the banner of his Burvju proudly.
Like others who dwelled in the Sorceress?s castle, Aislin came to know the
young Kareivis named Ukko through one of her visions. High above the
clouds, in the snow-capped mountains, the young Runecaster had patiently
waited for the goddess of death or the Burvju to claim him as one of her
own.
With the first rumors of an ancient power awakening in the old forest old
woodlands, the people began to stir. Those who heard the call of the
Burvju began to gather around the ancient meeting places, singing the
songs of her return. They all knew it would be a matter of time, when she
began a search for new champions.
Although the gift was rare, Ukko wanted to stand out from the others.
Leaving the small group at the traditional spot of acceptance, he pushed
upwards into the lands of snow and ice. Climbing so high it became
difficult to breathe. Now high above the clouds, death?s cold touch came
upon him. Knowing that only his craft lore would keep him alive and with a
prayer on his lips, he began to carve fire runes into the very stones
themselves.
If the Burvju had not claimed him the next morning, Ukko knew he would
have perished. Only the strongest would be able to stand by the Burvju
side when the darkness tried to claim the realm, like the ancient heroes
out of legends. Anything else would have been unacceptable to him and the
people.
The banner-man barked with laughter as Aislin only smiled. From the little
time he had spent with her, he knew the Burvju was one to have plans
within plans.
?Yes Ukko, even the two armies are not safe. Ancient standing stones lay
deep under their campsites, waiting for my call.?
Motioning for the young man to follow, Aislin studied the castle?s walls.
Immediately she noticed that many of the ancient black rocks embedded in
the fortification as well. The Sorceress had chosen her meeting place
well. With little effort, she could easily call upon the ancient defenders
that resided in the stone.
However, even with that power at her fingertips, Aislin had little desire
to call upon that magic.
She now stood at the crossroads in time, moments before an event of such
magnitude that it would influence the political future of the realm for
many years to come. Even the smallest action would directly influence
those future events.
She had changed that outcome to a certain degree by arriving under her
House banner and not that of the Black Sorceress. That had been a gamble,
but so far, it worked better then she thought possible. Only as a last
resort would she call upon the stone defenders and if that happened, all
of her plans had already gone terribly awry.
As Aislin dismounted in the courtyard of the keep, she had had to stop
herself from giggling at the satisfied look on Ina?s face as her
grandmother returned.
?Gone well, I take it??
?Yes.?
?Isn?t that nice.? Before Ina could answer, a tall man in black and silver
stepped out of the shadows.
Prince Sc?th almost laughed aloud at the mortals surrounding the
Sorceress. Except for the one called Macha, most of her so-called
defenders backed away in panic.
?Do you wish to test me, girl?? The creature stepped forward threatening.
Macha just stood her ground giving him a malevolent glare.
?Did you do as I asked?? Power rolled off the Sorceress, her voice almost
bringing the creature to his knees.
?Of course, the so called Prince and his troops have been returned to
their lands, unharmed.?
The Black Sorceress raised an eyebrow. ?In the exact location I wish them
to be released??
?Yes? The creature grumbled.
Until last night, Aislin had Prince Rupert and his brigade of horse
wandering around the Forest of Wyre. Like other soldiers, who had entered
her domain, the men and horses had spent their time lost, wandering around
the forest in circles.
If Sc?th did as she asked, the brigade of horse should be exiting the edge
of the forest on the other side of valley, far to the south and away from
any chance of joining a battle that would, if she had anything to do about
it, not take place.
?Foolish?if you want my advice?
?Not really.?
?You should, the mortal Prince was a perfect hostage. Liadan would have
kept him. In fact, she wouldn?t even bother talking to these so called
Kings.?
?I?m not Liadan.?
?Obviously.? The creature rolled his eyes in disgust before disappearing
once again into the shadows, hidden away but still close if needed.
Although the Sorceress had sufficiently awed the Thaumaturgists when she
shattered the bonds of their elementals, they were still a threat.
Ignoring the rebuke, Aislin strode forward with the rest of the
processional behind her. Reaching the large gateway, she found that for
some reason the King?s herald had disappeared.
?The Klarsdales have always been a flighty sort, never understood why
Connell made them heralds.? Ina shook her head, annoyed at the obvious
lack of protocol.
?You don?t think??
Her concern filtered towards some of the others, who looked up at the
ramparts. Finding nothing but curious onlookers, they turned their sight
back to an amused Sorceress.
Aislin understood that the kings, well, one in particular was trying prove
that he was still in charge. She decided to prove him wrong.
?Don?t worry. I have an idea who is making us wait; only problem is I hate
waiting.? With a flick of her wrist, the doorway opened. Turning back to
the others, she smiled. ?Shall we.?
++++++++++
Throughout the long night, retainers and servants worked diligently in the
great hall, preparing it for the two kings? parley with the infamous Black
Sorceress. Along with two gilded thrones, regimental banners hung from the
ceiling, along with large tapestries of various victorious battles.
With the thrones placed higher than the rest of the room, along with the
trappings, the room would hopefully give the illusion of strength and
intimidate the fabled Black Sorceress.
King Llwynog, sitting on one of the gilded thrones, looked upon the great
hall with grim amusement. ?Just an illusion,? He murmured.
At the start of the week, the position of the Kingdom of Airthir continued
to improve as reinforcements arrived almost daily. From the number of
troops now deployed on the field, Llwynog believed that King Connell had
come close to actually stripping the borders of their protection.
With the mercenaries departing the camps the night before, it suddenly
placed Connell in a precarious position. Even that small number of troops
the Sorceress fielded, if deployed correctly could threaten not only the
flanks of the army of Airthir but also the lands to the north.
Looking about the great hall, he didn?t see strength but desperation. King
Llwynog prayed to the gods of battle, that desperation didn?t force King
Connell to do something that everyone would regret.
From his own point of view, nothing had really gone as planned since the
campaign began however after meeting with the Sorceress envoy last night,
if things went well, the day might not end in a complete unmitigated
disaster.
Watching the commotion going on at the front of the hall with interest, he
stifled a chuckle. Apparently, Conall?s desire to force the Sorceress to
wait did sit well with her. Not surprising, he doubted the Black
Sorceress, legend or not, would be one to suffer fools gladly.
Noticing the numerous heralds had approached his fellow king in the last
few minutes, he chuckled. From the way the King of Airthir looked, most of
it must have been bad news.
?Do you find this amusing, Llwynog?? King Conall growled.
Looking over, he simply shrugged. ?So, do you think it?s particularly wise
to have all of these people included in this parley??
?The others are not here at my request.?
Beyond the half a dozen members of his court that stood along the side of
him, numerous other onlookers filled the hall. From Captains of Horse and
Foot, Knights of the Realm along with other Nobles, not including a group
of white robed King?s Healers and Court Healers talked quietly among
themselves waiting for the Sorceress to appear.
For a moment, King Llwynog thought about bringing up the decor of the
great hall but changed his mind. Little could be done about it now. His
choice had been for the three of them to meet in one of the command tents.
Conall wanted to make a whole pageant out of it.
Suddenly two new people entered the hall interrupting the royal
conversation. One easily recognizable, dressed in garish yellow and red
doublet and hose, as Conall?s senior Herald. The the other, an older woman
dressed in a deep green gown with a white and silver sash denoting her
rank of a Court Healer.
With a scornful look towards the herald, the woman stepped forward into
the center of the great hall.
King Conall paled suddenly. ?I know you.?
?Yes, Your Grace, I am Baroness Ina of House D?lseacht and at one time
your sister?s Court Healer.?
?How dare you.? The King?s Herald finally found his voice. ?You present
yourself in front of King Conall of House Armhaighe, his Majesty most High
and ruler of all the lands of Airthir.?
?That remains to be seen.? A voice suddenly called out.
From the doorway, a woman dressed in black and silver entered the great
hall. Behind her, marched a small group of retainers including a warrior
holding the black and blue Griffon banner.
Baroness Ina smiled at the stunned kings. ?Let me introduce to you Her
Grace, Duchess Aislin of House Osraige.?
++++++++++
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