by Diana Flame
“Nothing … just business,” he replied.
The bath had gone cold and he eased himself from the tub. Ulrich handed him a large towel in which he wrapped himself. For some time, he paced the room, trying to rid himself of thoughts of the netherbred.
The more he thought of her the more his blood ran hot in his veins. The intense heat inside him from thinking about her, made him sweat with his heart galloping like his stallion. More than that, he badly needed attention of the female species. The tautness in his neck and back was nothing compared to the tension in his loins. Perhaps what he needed was release, that’s why she aroused him so.
The thought brought another spurt of rage coursing through him. Arouse? Try as he might he could not deny that thoughts of her naked body had sent fire shooting through his body. The moment he’d seen her in the river, his member had stood erect like a lamp pole. Even now he could feel the fire coursing through him at the very thought of her.
Dropping the towel at his feet, he looked down at himself and grunted. Yes, if only he could relieve himself, perhaps, he would rid her from his mind. And he knew the one to do it. The Lady Guinevere was the perfect choice.
Donning his night robe, he scrawled a note, which he handed to his manservant with instructions for delivery. She was his latest conquest and the one he liked the most of the women in the palace. He liked her the most because she was obedient and always willing to please him. She would never dare argue with him the way the nether had. Tonight he needed someone to dominate and he knew she would comply with his demands.
* * *
A smile played on Guinevere’s scarlet lips as she took the note from Rulf’s manservant. With deft fingers, she tore the seal with a beam, warmth to her cheeks. Soft baby blue eyes regarded the flashy scrawl on the square of papyrus. As she waved Ulrich away, her blond curls shimmered, tendrils brushing her rosy cheeks. Rulf was certainly the romantic, she mused. As she scanned the contents of the note, a crease entered her usually smooth forehead.
“He wants me to wear a nether’s frock when I visit him tonight?”
This seemed a little extreme. She was in love with the man and would do almost anything for him, but this was beyond what she’d imagined romance to be. Non-the-less, she complied and burrowed her chambermaids frock. It was nothing like the clothing netherbreds wore but that had to suffice. She covered it with her overcoat and snuck out of her room when the halls were quiet.
The yard was dark and lonesome except for a single night guard. The guard ignored her as she waited for her transport to arrive. The carriage pulled up shortly and she entered. Rulf’s residence was walking distance from the palace, but given it was late, she preferred the ride there.
Rulf’s chamber was almost in darkness except for one flickering candle. As she entered, she adjusted her eyes to the dim light. He stood by the bed in his robe with his arms akimbo. She dropped her coat and crept toward the bed.
As she neared him, Rulf dropped his robe and a gasp escaped her lips. The ripped sinewy muscles of his torso always amazed hers. Her eyes drank in his gorgeous anatomy – the dips and curves of his chest and belly, the tapered waist and powerful thighs. Her eyes glued to his manhood, which beckoned to her with its large bulbous tip and long thick shaft.
His tension was severe, sending ripples of excitement through her. Her body throbbed with the need of him. Excited, Guinevere started untying the bodice of the maid’s dress, but Rulf stopped her.
“Halt!” he commanded. “Tonight you do as I say.”
Lady Guinevere nodded in delight as her hands dropped to her sides. She was thrilled at the game he was about to play. In two strides he was before her, his face set in a hard line.
“Tonight your name is Catrain and you will be my slave.”
As he spoke, he grabbed hold of the dress and rent it down the middle. Guinevere’s eyes widened. In a moment, regained her senses and her hands came up to cover herself in mock fear.
“Please, my lord,” she said, hiding her spilled blossom. “No, my lord.”
“On your knees, nether!”
Without delay, she fell to her knees, looking expectantly up at him. Glaring down at her, he placed a hand on her head and guided it toward his erect member.
“Now you will please me Catrain, and you will do it until I am very happy with you.”
“Thy wish is my command, my lord,” she acquiesced.
Rulf shoved her head until her lips touched the tip of his manliness. Taking him into her mouth, slowly she descended its length. Up and down She slid her lips, stopping briefly to lick its tip with her hot wet tongue. Then she circled the ridge with the tip of her pink tongue. Rulf growled as he pictured Catrain servicing him, sending waves of pleasure through him.
“That will teach you!” He murmured.
Guinevere paused, racking back on her heels. “My lord?”
“Continue, netherbred!”
Gripping her head hard he pushed his hips forward, shoving his member into her gaping mouth. She inhaled him deeply, almost gagging. As he hit the back of her throat, he swelled. The lesser born’s smile flashed across his face as her violet eyes bore into him. What unusual color eyes they were. He moved his hips again, as he squirted his hot milt.
A gurgling sound brought his attention from golden waves and deep brown skin. He looked down at the woman kneeling before him and his cock pulsed for the final release. The shock of seeing round face framed by blond curls caused him to shrink. Guinevere’s eyes squeezed shut as streams of tears ran from their corners.
His sudden withdrawal from her caused her to fall back on her backside. He turned and picked up his robe from the bed. Guinevere was sputtering as he pushed his arms through the robe sleeves and tied the string at his waist.
“You’d better return to your dwelling and see about that throat,” he commanded. “Be gone, lesser.”
* * *
As Guinevere returned to her bedchamber in the middle of the night, she pondered what just happened. Rulf was usually an ardent lover, but he was always attentive to her needs. Not this night. He barely looked at her and didn’t even touch her. He’d dismissed her like a common drabbelier (whore).
How dare he treat her this way? She was King Syreus’ cousin who was more like a niece! Everyone considered her a royalite. Her love for him gave him no right to treat her in that manner. Yes, she knew he said it was a game but it felt all too real. She wondered what happened to him to cause him to behave in such a crass manner. As she settled into bed, she determined to find out why Rulf seemed angry. Why was he so cold toward her? Why didn’t he satisfy her the way he used to?
King Syreus paced the expanse of his great room. A pair of eyes followed him as his robe of scarlet velvet and gold fur swept the marble floor. The king felt the eyes of his Second Minister upon him as he pondered the situation before him.
“My king, what troubles you?” the minister asked.
The king turned and strode back to his Dias. “I have been concerned about the responsibility of getting these women betrothed.”
“Yes sire, but what can we do?”
“They have been entrusted to me and I have failed them.”
“No, Your Majesty, we are in the midst of a war, you haven’t even time to breathe.”
Syreus shook his head. “It’s been seven months since they arrived, and with the soldiers coming in from the east, I cannot have them roaming about freely.”
The minister slowly nodded. “The women are not in danger from the soldiers, my king.”
“These men from the east, they don’t know our laws, Aldridge. They don’t have the hierarchy we do.”
“Are you saying they would seek to court our noblite women, sire?”
“Or worse,” he bemoaned.
Minister Aldridge’s eyes widened. “They wouldn’t dare!”
“You can’t be sure of that, Second Minister,” Syreus said. “I need to remedy the situation before they arrive.”
The king
was greatly worried about the women in his care. Three of the late queen’s cousins, two of his own relatives, and daughter of his great aunt’s brother were entrusted to him to find suitors. It’s been seven months since they’d arrived and he hadn’t been able to get any of them affianced. His relatives were looking to him to keep his promise to have them spoken for.
He’d made the declaration when they arrived that they were to be courted by the royalite or noblite men of Kingdom City. So far, no one had announced an engagement.
“I will have to take matters into my own hands,” the king muttered. “Send for the Prime Minister.”
The Second Minister immediately moved away and hurried to the exit. He had just opened the door when the king’s most trusted knight appeared in the entrance. The minister smiled as Rulf bowed out of respect.
“Minister, I was about to seek council with the king,” Rulf said.
Aldridge stepped aside. “I think the king needs you, Sir Knight.”
As Rulf entered the room, the king’s face displayed his delight at seeing the young knight. The minister slipped through the door and closed it behind him.
“Come my boy,” Syreus called to Rulf.
The knight went down on one knee and begun to speak.
“Stand, for God’s sake,” Syreus ordered. “No one is here but us two.”
”My liege….”
“You’re of royalite blood, stop kneeling to me.”
Rulf reluctantly stood to his feet. “My king, you must allow me to do my duty to you. There are those who would use whatever opportunity in order to destroy you. I won’t allow it.”
“You keep talking in riddles, Rulf. Who wants to destroy me and why?”
“I am investigating the matter….”
His speech was cut short when the door opened and a man in red and yellow robe appeared. The king held up his hand and the man stood waiting by the door.
“The Prime Minister has arrived. We will talk about that some other day. Now, I want to know if you have decided to wed any of the women I introduced to you.”
“No, Your Majesty. I have no interest to be wedded at this time.”
“Very well.”
“I have news of the arrival of the troops from Prasia and Kyoden,” Rulf continued. “They are but two days away.”
The king nodded. “That is good news. I must move quickly to get the women out of the city before they arrive.”
Syreus raised his hand and beckoned to the minister standing at the door. The man moved forward, his gait as though gliding on water. Both minister and Rulf sized up each other. It was obvious there was no love lost between the two.
Syreus watched the exchange and wondered why they didn’t get along. The Prime Minister was the chief council of the court, although he trusted Aldridge, the second minister more. There was something about Cronus that Syreus could not put his finger on. Perhaps it was that ever-present smile, or his black beady eyes that reminded him of the Red Witch of Devils Valley.
“I will take my leave, my king.” Rulf bowed.
“Don’t go too far, I will need you hence,” the king replied.
Syreus watched Rulf hurry out of the room. His love for the young man was evident in his eyes. The king wished he had a son like Rulf. He sometimes worried that he would die without an heir. His queen Elspeth had passed two years ago without bearing him a child.
There was ample opportunity while the queen was alive to take a concubine, but he refused. After what happened many moons ago, he had shut himself from giving in to anyone but the queen. Even she didn’t have all of his heart, but he never wanted to feel the heartbreak of losing in love again. Even now that the queen was dead, he hadn’t taken a new queen or lover.
He gave himself a mental shake from the past and addressed the minister.
“Gather the single men of Kingdom City in the throne room as soon as possible. The women entrusted to my care must also be present.”
“What are you planning, sire?”
“A marriage meeting of sorts. As you may recall, they arrived here seven months ago to be courted by our noblite and royalite men. Just do it right away,” he ordered in a gentle manner. “There is no time for delay.”
“Your wish is my command, my king,” the Prime Minster said with a bow.
* * *
Lady Guinevere had been waiting six months for Rulf to propose. It had become clear that his interests lie elsewhere as he would bed a different female every night. Sometimes the woman would be of noblite birth or lower status chambermaids, it didn’t matter so long as he had someone to warm his bed. She’d known that about him, but it hadn’t mattered to her.
The night after he sent for her, the servant of one of the other ladies in waiting was seen coming out of his chambers early that morning. Since then, it seemed that his interest was only in the halabreds. Guinevere knew he would never marry a mere hala since the knight was half- royalite, but still it hurt that he’d basically ignored her since then.
She still had not fully recovered from her night with him. After she had serviced him, he sent her back to her room without much as a goodnight kiss. Her body had ached to be ravaged but he seemed more interested in the help than with her. The man was clearly insatiable. Obviously, she could not please him and had not made him happy.
She was pondering her situation in the private garden behind the palace when a messenger approached. The king had bidden her. Usually, when summoned by the king, he would meet them in the throne room. This was where he took all his public meetings. The private halls were reserved for him and his most trusted ministers. There was one special room where he met with all his knights.
Guinevere followed the messenger to the king’s hall. Six other noble women were present as well as a contingent of army officials, knights and other noblite men.
“Your Majesty,” she curtsied.
The Second Minister Aldridge stepped in front of the gathering. “King Syreus will now speak.”
Everyone present fell silent as all eyes trained on the king. Syreus rose from his chair, turned to the group of women with a smile. He then walked a few paces, facing the men.
“Now, if any of you men wish to take any of these women into wedlock, now speak.”
Gasps rang through the group of women while the men shuffled uneasily. A few whispers went up as the king looked from male to female with a look of expectancy on his face.
“Now, don’t be shy,” the king cajoled.
A Second Class knight stepped forward and strode to the group of women. Once there, he knelt , reaching his hand out to a shocked female. Shyly, she glanced at the king before taking the knight’s hand. Two other men stepped forward and did the same to two of the other women.
The king called for other men to step forward but no one did. Guinevere searched the men for the face of Rulf but he was not present.
“Very well, you are dismissed,” he told the men. “I wish to speak with the remaining women alone.”
The men filed out, along with the three couples who were now proposed in marriage. As soon as the door closed behind the group, the king spoke.
“It is my duty to find you suitable husbands and I have failed you. But, not to worry, I have found the answer.”
“My king, what is your solution?” Guinevere ventured.
The king smiled at her. She was his great aunt’s granddaughter. Therefore, she was like his own niece. Guinevere knew the king loved her a lot and wanted to please her.
“Be ready by sunrise. You will be heading to King Christoffle’s castle where his brothers will court you. Do not return until you have been proposed.”
She had confided in him about her feelings for Rulf. Now why was he forcing her to go on this trip? Did Rulf say something to the king? She knew they were close and the king must have asked Rulf about his feelings.
Guinevere was confused. If the king was sending her away to be courted by one of King Christoffle’s sons, it meant that Rulf did not intend t
o marry her.
There were a few snickers and some giggles, but Guinevere frowned deeply. “Your Majesty…” she started to say, but the king held up his hand.
“No need, my dear. No one has come forward to claim thy troth. Hence, you will obey. This is an order, my dear.”
No one, meaning Rulf, Guinevere interpreted.
They were given strict orders not to return without being promised. This displeased Guinevere and she sought out Rulf after leaving the king’s hall. She must make one more attempt to see if perhaps she misunderstood him. Maybe he was waiting for a sign from her, even though she thought she’d given plenty. What if he didn’t know about the courtship declaration the king had made?
After leaving the king’s hall, she went in search of the knight. She knew exactly where to find him and found him she did. He was in his own meeting room where he and his subordinates often gathered when not on business for the king. As she entered the room, heads turned in her direction. She ignored the eyes and strolled over to him.
“May I have word with you, my lord?” she asked.
Rulf was leaning against the far wall. He seemed to be in deep thought and apparently did not hear her. She paused and waited for him to acknowledge her. A young knight leaned close to him and spoke. He seemed surprised to see her.
“What brings you to these parts, my lady?”
Stepping quite close to him, she whispered, “Save me, Rulf.”
Rulf waved his hand and his men quickly departed the room. “Save you from what, pray tell?”
Her face showed some amount of dismay. “The king has ordered us to go to King Christoffle’s castle.”
“What of it?” he asked, puzzled.
“To marry his sons!” she replied. “Save me Rulf, only you can.” Clinging to his lapel, she rested her head on his chest. “Oh Rulf, you must save me and marry me.”
Slowly, he extricated her hands, which had crept around his neck. “No, my lady. You must obey the king. Marry you, I cannot.”
She stepped back as disappointment rushed through her like a mighty wind. “Pray tell, why not?”