Two days later, Karl and his entire host arrived at Strongfall. Close to the gates of the walled city, Karl and his men pulled their horses to a halt, and he had his gaze squinted due to the glow of the sun. He looked up at the soldiers on the wall, and he could see they were all staring.
Metals groaned, Karl leveled his gaze to the gate to see it was now opened. Fifty knights on horses rode out and approached Karl.
The knights pulled up at a stone throw from Karl, but one approached. He was well covered in a dull silver armour, and his visor was open.
Slowing his horse, the knight asked, "Welcome, commander Karl. I am general Finley, and the Queen has asked me to escort you inside the city."
Karl curtly gave a single nod, the knight reared his horse and galloped back to his men. Karl glanced Henry's way, and Henry got the silent signal.
Still watching, Karl saw Henry raise his hand, and make a forward gesture, Karl looked ahead and moved his horse, and his company followed.
Eyes from every corner stared at the Night Witch as they rode into Strongfall. Considering their frightful reputation in battle, their very presence seemed to cast dread on the city. Further escalating this fear, and making a few wear an unsettling look on their faces, was the black flag of the Night Witch which had the white outlined drawing of a lady screaming with her eyes closed. This flag was called 'The Screaming Witch,' and it only flew when blood was about to be spilled.
The host rode up to the Palace where thousands of knights in gleaming silver armour stood as in a military parade. The Queen was waiting behind her knights, between two white, huge colonnades with a few of her ministers and another lady, although younger, next to her.
Karl dismounted with General Finley, and together, they made their way through the knights, and walked up the steps to meet the Queen who was arrayed in a white diamond gown.
"Your Grace," General Finley said. "I present to you Commander Karl."
"Thank you, Finley," Queen Iris said. "See to Karl's men."
The General bowed and returned down the stairs.
"Welcome, commander Karl," Queen Iris said. "This is my daughter, princess Alex, and the rest of my court."
Karl looked at the Princess, and indeed, she sure looked beautiful. The Princess, he noticed, eyed him as one would a barbarian.
"Come," the Queen said. "We must have you fed, well-rested, and then we can discuss." The Queen turned.
Karl followed the Queen and her entourage into the palace.
The Queen cornered into a huge gold door with guards outside, and the door opened to her. Karl walked into a spacious room with a gold throne positioned at the end, and lots of comfortable sofas. A female servant gestured to one of the sofas, and Karl moved to sit on that one.
Everyone was to remain standing till the Queen sat, but Karl was already seated. Seeing it was already too late and the Queen's ministers were now sitting, he hoped no one took offense. He was not a citizen after all.
Servants were called in to serve food, fried, boiled, and roasted meat with wine, and Karl enjoyed the delicacy, eating just enough so he could listen to whatever this Queen and her lords had to say.
He couldn't miss the eyes of the Princess coming his way, and the way she looked away each time he caught her watching, it made him smile.
After everyone did have their fill of the food, Karl listened to the ministers' prattle on about threats and possible solutions. Literally, they were all saying the same thing. That it was pointless calling the aid of the Night Witch which could hamper their progress with the neighbouring kingdoms.
"A higher bidder could pay the Night Witch to turn on us," one minister said.
Yes, Karl could very well turn on them. He wasn't denying it. But the fact that they said these things in his presence only seemed to amuse, and not offend him.
"Marry the princess to King Elton," a fat bellied minister said, "and make him an ally."
It was then the Queen spoke, for she had been initially listening without interfering. "I will not give my daughter to a man who doesn't know how to treat his wives, worth more his people, or even foreigners."
"Your Grace! She's only a woman. She can bear whatever comes her way. See it as a useful sacrifice for the good of Strongfall."
Karl didn't believe this stupid ideology in the north was also here in Strongfall.
"So my daughter bears the humiliation, and you think that as an exaltation to Strongfall?" Queen Iris asked.
"It's necessary," the fat lord said and sat down.
Karl frankly didn't want to make any of this his business. He had come here for the gold. However, the respectable side of him he preserved for ladies wouldn't let him agree to what these lords were saying. No. His father had taught him otherwise. If he left this Queen in dire need of him, even though she hadn't said it, he would be haunted by his conscience, and he knew it. After all, there was nothing more he feared than his conscience.
It was why whenever his men did battle on a nation, he never allowed them to rape any lady. Rather, they were to take them in and cherish them as they would any other woman they would lie with. If news reached him that any of his men beat, or mishandled a woman, they would be severely punished, and if she bled, the price was death.
So, while his men were men of valor, and terrible to behold in times of war, they were very delicate when dealing with women.
Karl took to his feet. "Enough," he said, not minding that the Queen wanted to say something. "Apologies, Your Grace, but I grow tired of these trivial talks. I believe more progress would be made should you and I discuss."
He had suggested it. He noted the hint of a smile on the Queen's face.
"I require a private moment with the commander of the Night Witch," Queen Iris said. "Please, leave us."
Karl relished the look of humiliation on their faces as they left. When the doors closed, Karl was alone with the Queen, the Princess, and the two guards posted within the room. He walked closer to the Queen and he asked, "You sent for me. Who should I fight with?"
"You have angered my ministers, commander," the Queen said. "And they will demand blood."
Karl gave a side head gesture. "Then, so be it."
"The princess wishes to see you," one of Karl's guards announced.Karl gestured for the guard to see her in. Gina continued caressing him."Do you want me to leave?" Gina asked."No," Karl said. "I'll like to see how this goes."The Princess entered inside the tent with her maid. Karl saw her gaze avert from him to Gina. This made him smile."You wish to see me?" Karl asked.Alex's eyes darted upwards, and he watched her struggle to compose herself even as she stood erect with her maid doing the same behind her, her gaze returned to him. "Yes," she said.
"Will you marry her?" Lexi asked Karl over dinner.Karl choked on his wine. He hadn't seen that coming. Lexi! She always had a little mystery to her silence. Regaining himself, he asked, "What would make you think that, Lexi? She's a princess, one that should get married to a prince. I am merely a mercenary. I'm too low for her kind.""But you're a soldier.""A soldier of fortune," he reminded his wife. "A soldier of fortune.""Doesn't matter. Court ladies, I've heard do wed knights," she said.Karl shook his head. Would she ever understand? As beautiful as she was, she was also naive about a lot of things in this world. "This particular princess can't just
It got busy within the encampment of the waiting imposing, and the gallant army of the Night Witch. Men walked horses, armours were crafted, and blades were sharpened. Karl set his men to the task of secreting themselves among the citizens of Strongfall in order to bring rebels to heel."This is substantial information," Henry told Karl in his war tent which had been set up to discuss information from spies and strategy. "I believe the men are telling the truth. There's no road there."Karl was resting and on his long sword as he reviewed the map. "Still, their words can't be trusted," he said, looking up at Henry. "These men are citizens of these kingdoms, are they not?""They are.""They are mercenaries. Even if w
Sex with Gina was always a beautiful experience. Karl knew this for with her, there was no rush, and one could try anything.Karl was lying naked on his tummy on a fur mattress in his tent, and before him was a naked Gina, also on her back with her legs propped up and separated, rocking her waist to the pleasurable sensation the thrusting of Karl's fingers caused within her."I'm telling you, she's improving," Karl said, enjoying the wetness of her around his fingers. He used his thumb to caress the cleft of her core.Gina writhed in pleasure."She was talking about war and other things," he continued. "Do you know my scout even confirmed something she had pointed out to me yesterday? It was amazing she had seen all
Lexi thought of him with lust, then. But here he was with her, and he didn't want to let go of her."What do you call this?" Lexi asked."An intimate moment," Karl said."I can hear your heartbeat." Lexi pulled apart from his embrace."Is something wrong?"Lexi shook her head. "I don't know much about lust. That's for those in the south, but in the north, it's a sin. It's evil to feel such.""Do you know marriage overrides all that? A man can feel lust for his wife. Surely, you've seen some of the men of the north moving with bulges in their trousers?"
With his lips on her, Karl tasted her."Do as I do," Karl said against her lips. "Only do it to my upper lip."He returned to her lips, and she did what he wanted her to."You taste sweet," Karl said."Thanks," Lexi whispered."Can I touch you?""Where?""All over.""Yes," came her soft reply as he kissed her.Their lips continued exploring each other, Karl's hand traveled all over her clothed body. He tugged at her laced
"I'm sorry," Karl said, and kissed her lips. "It will pass."Perhaps, she thought this was the rightful pain all women needed to feel. He would prove her wrong with his gentle, and slow thrusts.And Karl was right. Soon, pain turned to pleasure, and Lexi's whimpering became sensual moans. He straightened and looked down between her legs, and on his shaft was the stain of her blood.She was his wife, and the first virgin he'd lain with. From the tales of the countless women he'd bedded, he knew about their first-time experience, and they had advised him on what to do. But this, although it had granted her access to pain the first time, was beautiful. She was tight, and stretching her out was pleasurable.She will fee
Karl rode out of Strongfall with his men. He left behind ten thousand mercenaries to look after the city, and to guard his wife who he thought looked great in her red gown. Her hair was adorn in gold, and although he had woken beside her, she looked like a beautiful stranger to him.The thought of her made him smile, but more to that, he would be returning to her mostly because she told him to. Nothing would deliver his life to the enemy today. Not when he had a wife to return to.Many of King Elton's men were with wives and had kids. And many of them wouldn't be returning home today. This was the way of war. And Karl's men cared little about it.Many of Karl's men had left their families behind because they didn't see themselves running civil lives. All their lives, they ha