Two Miles Away
The boy was desperate for food. Hunger made his stomach clench violently. His reaction to the pain was rage. He’d do whatever it took to find food. So frail his ribs protruded, he looked through the furtive eyes of an animal, scanning shadows for movement. He’d already crept past most of the guards.
Too lazy to notice a shadow as skinny as mine. He thought.
Busy talking, they’d failed to notice the thin shadow slithering beneath their chairs. Quick as a rodent, he’d leapt to his feet and fled to the darkest parts of the rooms in the NetherHall Castle.
Moving sideways along the cold stone wall, he avoided the light emanating from the fireplace. When close enough to see the food still on the table, his stomach betrayed him. Emitting a drawn-out gurgle. He drew a quick breath, putting his hand to it, as he willed it into silence. A quick glance back at the set of guards near the door, as well as those next to the fire, revealed only he had heard it.
What’d seemed like thunder to him was barely a crackle of the fireplace to their ears.
They don’t see me. Their used to seeing peasants as invisible creatures.
I’m used to being invisible…
Another fierce cramp clenched his insides. Refusing to make a sound or fall to his knees, he leaned against the wall until it passed. Crawling on hands and feet as he rushed to the table, reaching up to the table before scrambling back to the wall with his prize. A thick chunk of bread gripped carefully in shaking hands. Breathing raggedly, he stared at it in wide-eyed wonder. Huddling in the nearest corner, he eyed the guards while he bit huge mouthfuls and barely chewed before swallowing.
A hand on his shoulder very near his cheek, earned the response of a quick bite to the knuckles.
It’s mine! Like a starved animal, he was ready to fight off other scavengers for his reward.
He’d not anticipated the gasp of the smaller boy. The other boy’s mouth trembled and his eyes watered.
“I only came to bring you this.” He held a lush red apple in his tiny hand. So full and fat it gleamed in the dancing glow of the flames. Protruding his lower lip, he plopped his bottom to the floor. Letting the apple bounce across the rushes.
Starved Boy grabbed it greedily and held it close to his chest eying the other boy warily.
The smaller one on the floor sniffled and blinked a few times. “What’s your name?”
“Zierno.” Starved Boy murmured, his nose wrinkling at the other child’s nearness.
He may want to steal back the apple.
This may be a joke of the wealthy… He knew how cruel they could be.
“I’m Prince Eben.” He declared proudly, lifting his chin.
“What do you want?”
“I wanted someone to play with.”
Zierno stared at the prince. About four or five, the boy was far shorter than Zierno at eleven, but probably weighing close to the same. Zierno glanced down at where his torn shirt revealed jutting bones and a sunken stomach.
“I can’t.” Zierno hissed looking from the table back to the guards. Centered on the table where numerous flies had congregated over a thick pork leg. Regardless, it made Zierno’s mouth water.
What I wouldn’t give for a few bites of that meat...
The chubby little Prince’s eyes lit with intelligence. Pointing at Zierno he declared. “Play with me awhile and I will get you those scraps.”
“How?” The older boy’s eyes lit with interest.
The little prince stood. “I will take it. I am Prince of the Neth-eth-Nether.”
“The Netherlands.” Zierno filled in.
“Yes. Who will stop me?” He demanded, chin jutting.
Zierno gave a grudging nod. “Show me then. I’ll meet you out there.” He pointed to the curtain leading to the huge receiving room.
The impudent prince deflated a little when challenged. Then his shoulders set and Zierno wondered if he might really do it. Turning, the prince stomped meaningfully towards the table. He was tugging the huge platter off, sweeping the bones onto the table as Zierno crept through the curtains into the less guarded room.
Zierno moved to the darkest corner to watch. Vaguely impressed when the smaller boy pushed through the curtains. Triumphantly he lifted the platter for Zierno’s inspection.
As a prince, no one had ever dared deceive or disappoint clever little Eben. So, he was completely taken off guard when the other boy grabbed the thick chunks of meat and bolted. Eben stared slack jawed a moment before following.
Zierno fled past the guards barefoot.
He was fast. Too fast for Eben to keep up. Running between the guards in the doorway had caused them to leap to their feet after Zierno, but Eben was there before they moved.
“You!” He pointed at them. “Sit.” He pointed to the chairs, eyes narrowing. “Or I’ll tell my daddy! He,” he pointed to where the boy was disappearing around a corner. “Is my friend.” He announced.
Friend? Zierno glanced back. Startled that the spoiled boy would call him such. He merely caught me stealing…
The guards sat dutifully but watched the child running out of the castle in horror.
He got them to stop. Zierno thought in wonder.
“What do we do?” One cried.
“I don’t know.” The other shouted back as the boy rounded the corner.
Barely keeping Zierno in sight, Eben followed as fast as his little legs could carry him around the next two corners. Finally, breathing heavily, he saw Zierno crouching next to an abandoned booth in the market square.
Eben had never been this far from the castle without guards, and it was very dark. Hesitating he stepped slowly to see what Zierno was doing.
The PackSix other boys were crouched behind that booth. Desperately eating the meat. Much older than Eben, they were dirty and had cuts. Some were large and some looked like they could be brothers. But all of them wore torn clothes and had matted hair.Looking more like feral dogs than children.And, in Eben’s mind, likely equally as feral. He gazed at them warily.They were just the manner of peasants his father had taught him to avoid.Eben was suddenly very scared they would hurt him. Backing away he turned to go back to the castle, but saw clouds had blocked the moon enough everything was hazy shadows. Eben wasn’t sure he knew how to get back.Little heart racing, he started to move but a hand on his shoulder stopped him. “Eben?”He could barely make out Zierno’s face in the dark.“You followed me?” Zierno looked at the little boy blinking up at him. “You’re very brave but you could’ve gotten hurt. I was coming back, you know?”“No, you weren’t! You broke your word!” The smaller
A Prisoner“Don’t worry.” Zierno gestured to the three standing in-front of him, swords drawn. “We have my bodyguards.” He said derisively.Edward blinked hard giving a pleading look. Opening his mouth to speak he was silenced by the arrival of the most massive man they’d ever seen.What the Hell is that?Sputtering Edward finally found his voice. “Z-Zier! Where the Hell did they find a barbarian?”Zierno gave an irritated gesture. How would I know?The lumbering man hopped off his horse with surprising agility.A bad sign. Zierno saw his three comrades eying the giant warily. Their feet moving restlessly.Sirus strode next to the leader and spoke loud enough for their ears. “Do you want me to kill them all or just the three?”Standing next to Demitri mounted on his horse, Sirus’ head was level with Demitri’s shoulder.“The three.”“No.” Zierno declared pushing through the others to stand in-front. “You don’t need to fight them. You need only go through me to get to the noble.” He ges
Liba's Uses“Come! Bring your bloodthirsty lot! We’ll have a banquet to celebrate your return.” Eben slapped him on the back.Zierno’s band had time to leave the bailey to the Netherwood and bathe in a cove near the NetherRunnel before returning to the castle.Zierno was customarily escorted to a chamber to take a bath and get cleaned up.Eben would hear none of him bathing in the woods.He never does.“You’ll use the same chamber as always.” Eben directed offering no time to argue before he continued. “I’ll send you Liba, as I always do.”He waved away Zierno’s objections and left the room.Servants hauled in steaming buckets to fill the tub near the fire.Zierno had just enough time to drop in and begin to soak when Liba arrived.She rolled in rather than walked. Wearing a robe slit up the side and tied with a silk band she swayed her lush hips in a seductive saunter. Making her large breasts sway like pendulums against the silky fabric.She stood at the foot of his tub and unlaced
The StagHe shoved her onto the bed, face first.She gave a little objecting sound but he knew it was for effect.He gripped her hips and roughly hauled her back to meet his length. Without preamble he lowered his hips and caught the tip at her entrance. Delving in without hesitation.She squawked and gripped the bed linens in tight fists. She bit down on the coverlet as he slowly withdrew from her then slammed back in. Feeling something stroking his tip that old him it was a further entrance within her. A sensitized place that could cause her both pain and pleasure.And Liba certainly loves both...He pushed her rounded buttocks open to better watch her inner lips gripping him as he worked in and out of her. Savoring the feel of her soft body gripping him.“You are my little Pet, aren’t you, Liba?”“I am yours. Hurt me. Do as you will.” She begged.So, he caught the back of her knees and hoisted her up onto the bed, pulling her back against her heels so only her little opening hung o
Worth of a Mist MarePounding on the door entered his numbed mind. “The banquet is prepared you’re summoned in the name of the king.” A servant bellowed through the layers of wood.Bloody hell. It was apparent the knock was what had woken him.Knock. That’s a loose word for it. The servant’s thudding had rattled the door.Sighing, Zier rose and straightened his tunic, pulling his boots back on and running a hand through his yellow hair to push wet blonde strands from his face. Blinking blearily.True to his word Eben had laid out a huge banquet in their honor.“I’ve caught nothing yet!” Zier reminded the King.“I’ll hear none of it!” He put up a halting hand. “Sit.” He pointed to the line of chairs across from him.Only Zier sat aside the king. And Captain Dorin on the other. In the honored seats next to the king.Trenchers of glazed vegetables, fish and chicken intermingled with the aromas of bread and fresh cut flowers.What I wouldn’t have given for this when I was starving on the
A Rope to Bind HerWhich you know very well!Eben sighed. “I know my friend. I understand your reasoning for being a knight. You’d be my most trusted defender, my fiercest warrior.”“I would look after the King I consider brother!” Zierno shoved his trencher aside.No assassin could get close enough to look at you, much less kill you. And the Netherlands would remain a free country. Separate from the type of tyranny ruling Nightway and Igonox.“You’re ambitious and your motives rightly set but why do you hunger for it so passionately?”“I don’t trust Dorin. I never have. He’s a man with a price and would offer you up for enough coin.”“He knows his place unlike many.” Eben lashed out.Zier lifted his chin and his gaze turned to a hard glint.Eben gave another heavy sigh. “I can only grant you what you desire if you accomplish a feat worthy of knighthood.”The doors to the Dining Hall were tossed open. “Forgive me your highness. I came at Zier’s command to notify him if word came of a
She Waited for MeZier was already outside mounting his horse when he realized he’d been so stunned at the man’s reaction to his arrival that he’d not introduced himself.Going in search of the animal proved that her ideal climate had settled over Feglen. A mist so thickhe could hardly see the two riders at the back of their pack. They’d gotten off the horses to silence their steps. A sensation that sent Zier’s head to itching and his skin to prickling caused him to gesture for the men to tie the horses. They wound the reins around a narrow stump and left them chomping on grass. The men were obviously as unsettled as Zierno. He wondered if they were picking up on him or whatever wafted through the air. A quick glance at them showed they’d drawn their weapons.Reflexively he’d drawn his dagger. His warriors instinct had chosen the weapon he sensed would be the most effective. It surprised him that without thought that had been the one he’d drawn. It meant he was likely near beast rath
A Most Feared MercenaryLucas did as ordered.Obligingly, she stuck her snout in the bag to chomp at tender granules.Zier carefully wound the loop of rope beneath the bag and flipped it over her neck.He froze. Don’t run.Shaking her mane slightly she shifted but didn’t move away.Stay…Don’t bolt… He willed her. All his visions of being Eben’s Captain of Guard floating before his eyes.I’m so close…Blowing out a quiet breath he pushed the knot tight against her neck, careful to avoid contact with so much as a single hair. Heart pounding, he vaguely registered that he suddenly felt very sad, disappointed in himself, despite his triumph in catching the animal.She’s a rare beast. Meant to be free.A shame she’ll now be stabled the same as any other horse.Brows lifting, he glanced over and saw a wide, heavily lashed eye watching him steadily. Chomping away she remained tensed as she was but still didn’t shy.Eyes flicking to Lucas he shouted for him to stop.Lucas’ hand shook as he re