And this time, when she flopped onto her face on the mattress, no one tried to arouse her or wake her, for which she was grateful.
* * * *
Byram shook Garnet awake. “It’s almost dinner time. We must go to the great hall.”
Shakily, she pushed her hair off her face and yawned deeply to help herself wake up. “Of course. You both have work to do, and I need to supervise Ava and Ysabel to ensure they’re not going to eat too much and make themselves sick.”
“Our daughters. We have two daughters now.” Carlysle’s voice was full of pride.
“And at dawn tomorrow we go to battle to save them from Lord Jeffrey’s men,” responded Byram.
“I still don’t understand why the man who retreated didn’t return with reinforcements,” said Garnet, following them down the narrow stone stairs.
“Unless he was a coward running away because he saw Lord Rhys’s men arriving to defend us,” said Carlysle.
Byram slapped him on the shoulder. “That may be true. I hadn’t thought of that. Be sure you tell it to Lord Rhys.”
The great hall was crowded, with twice as many people crammed onto the benches as usually ate there. Meat and vegetables had been cooked and bread baked to strengthen those who would go into battle at dawn. In usual times the hot meal was served around noon, except when guests were invited to an evening banquet, but it was now midafternoon to give the warriors time to eat a hearty meal, digest it, and get a good night’s sleep before their early battle. Eating a few hours later than normal should mean the men weren’t too hungry in the morning. An edge of hunger helped a man fight harder, but too much hunger was weakening. The art of military strategy was to time everything just right. Garnet also noted only weak ale was being served, not strong. Everyone needed to remain alert. The danger had not passed yet.
Garnet stood and watched Ava and Ysabel. They were in a group with the other children, supervised by several women. Her two new daughters were obediently chewing just one mouthful, then rubbing their bellies, before taking another bite. It was extraordinary such young children, formerly starved and now surrounded by food, could be so disciplined. She’d half expected to find them groaning on the floor, ill from eating too much.
She crossed the last of the distance separating them and hugged both girls to her. “You’re so good. How does your belly feel now? Does it ache?”
“A little. Not so much though,” replied Ava.
“Let’s try this then. Stand up straight and tall and raise your arms over your head, then squat down low on the floor like this.” Garnet demonstrated the movements.
Soon all the children were laughing and playing this new game. Garnet smiled happily for them but was even more pleased when Ava gave several huge belches. Now that the air was being forced out of her belly, there’d be room for her to eat a little more food.
Chapter Three
Byram wanted to go back to bed and fuck some more with Garnet and Carlysle. How would they feel about him fucking Garnet while Carlysle fucked him? Or Carlysle fucking Garnet while he plowed the other man’s ass? Either would be a wonderful way to spend the evening. The very thought of such activities had his dick harder than a pikestaff.
But he couldn’t. He was the steward of the castle, and his place was here, in the great hall, ensuring that the day ran as smoothly and normally as possible. Lady Elinor relied on him to know where all the staff were, what they were doing, and that the next meal, the next activity, was all set in train for a smooth and uncomplicated delivery.
Bandages were ready in case of need.
Soup had boiled in the cooking pots, so there was plenty of warm food prepared for the returning men.
The battle would have begun as soon as dawn streaked the sky, and it might last all day, if both sides fought hard, or more likely, finished around noon when one side yielded. He certainly didn’t expect to hear shouts and cries from the battlements in midmorning. “Victory?”
A child watcher slid into the room and screamed, “Lord Rhys has been victorious. His messenger is near the gate.”
People flooded into the courtyard, Garnet coming to stand at his side and Carlysle and a group of his refugees right behind them. Hammond, who was ruling the stronghold for Lady Elinor in Lord Rhys’s absence, stood hand on hips in the center of the area.
Wade rode into the courtyard, his face split wide in a grin. “Lord Rhys has reclaimed his demesne!” he shouted, to stamping and cheering.
He remained on his horse and raised the stump of his arm in the air for silence. When the crowd hushed, he said, “Our warriors lined up in front of the burned part of the demesne, and the moment the sun appeared on the horizon, the trumpet blasted Lord Rhys’s challenge to the occupants of Lord Rhys’s home.”
There was absolute silence in the courtyard as everyone listened.
Wade stared around the crowd, nodded, then said, “A dozen half-starved peasants came outside and threw themselves on the ground at Lord Rhys’s mercy, but his sharp eyes caught movement far to the left, and he ordered half the warriors to go that way.”
Byram gasped, caught up in the story, and pulled Garnet against his side. Even though they knew the outcome, hearing it told like this by Wade was almost as if they were there, watching it happen.
“Two horsemen fled from the demesne, but they fell straight into the pit trap Lord Rhys had built when he lived there, and were killed. Lady Rhyannon…” Wade turned on his horse until he was looking straight at her, where she stood beside Lady Elinor with Alistair at her back.
“Lady Rhyannon, I regret to inform you Lord Coll is no longer living. He was one of the horsemen. The other was his servant.”
“Good riddance,” muttered Carlysle into Byram’s ear. Byram nodded, and Garnet giggled.
“The leader of the demesne servants insisted no one else remained there, but Lord Rhys sent warriors to scour the area before entering. The servant spoke truly. The reason why no other soldiers attacked us is that they have all left. And now Lord Rhys is owner by law of his demesne once more.”
The people screamed and shouted with joy until Lady Elinor moved forward, then quieted to hear what she said.
“Thank you, Wade, for this wonderful news. Does Lord Rhys have instructions for his people?”
“Yes indeed, lady, I have many messages. To the people, Lord Rhys says this. Those who are landless and are willing to work from dawn until dusk every day from this day until the next harvest is gathered in, Lord Rhys will restore your land to you. The demesne will be rebuilt with a solid stone wall to protect it.” Wade jumped off his horse, indicating his public announcements had ended. The people had much to talk about, but Byram had to get inside the great hall again as those other messages no doubt included some tasks for him to do.
Nodding to Garnet, he hurried inside to arrange refreshments for Wade and anything else that would be needed to carry out the other messages.
* * * *
Garnet checked to see that Ava and Ysabel were safely among the children and then hastened after Byram. How truly noble of Lord Rhys to share his success with the people. As he’d reclaimed his land, so they could reclaim theirs.
The ground was much too cold to dig foundations for stone walls as yet, but a lot of other work could be done. All the wooden supports could be cut into the needed lengths, plans and designs drawn, and the demesne itself would need to be thoroughly cleaned. All the internal repairs could be started immediately. Garnet almost wished she could be involved in it. Cleaning out a property primarily occupied by soldiers for six months would be a huge task but the kind of challenge she’d enjoy.
Garnet shrugged her shoulders, hurrying to Lady Elinor’s side. Wade was already speaking again, “Lady, your lord said as soon as the babe is born he must go to Court to announce his ownership of the demesne. He said Lady Rhyannon, and Lord Devon and Alistair, are to accompany him, and they will ensure any of Lady Rhyannon’s possessions not belonging to Lord Coll are returned to her.”
“The silver plate,” said Lady Rhyannon. “I wonder if he sold that or if it’s still in my father’s stronghold. Since he was still in the valley, he didn’t ever get married, so I don’t even know who his heir is, some other more distant cousin I suppose.”
“Lord Rhys will guide you at Court, and it will be explained,” said Alistair quietly.
Wade had finished drinking a cup of the best mead, and now he turned to Byram and spoke. “Byram, Lord Rhys said you would be managing the renovations at the demesne. Albin will be in charge of the guards and the design of the fortifications, Carlysle will be in charge of the workers, Garnet will manage the household staff, and your word is final overall. In case of dispute between you, Lady Elinor will decide. The refugees are to go to the demesne today carrying their belongings. You and Garnet will decide how much food and fuel is needed, and send messengers who will bring it to you on wagons.”
Wade stood up and gazed around the great hall. Most people were still talking excitedly about the news, deciding whether to go or stay, but Wade didn’t seem to be looking at them. Ah, his gaze rested on Father Augustus. Of course. Lord Rhys would need letters written.
Garnet hurried away. Suddenly she was to be in charge of cleaning the demesne. She needed to make preparations herself. If the people there had been truly hungry, there would be no soap to clean with, as the fat would all have been used for food. Part of the building had been burned to the ground though, so there’d be plenty of ash. She’d manage. Garnet caught her breath. In the past few days she’d been married, bedded by two men at once, and now she was to take charge of a huge project for her liege-lord. Not to mention acquiring two daughters. Everything had happened so fast it was frightening. But she could do it. She would do it well.
* * * *
Carlysle was thrilled and honored to be trusted to supervise the other landless workers in rebuilding Lord Rhys’s demesne. He was determined to do it well, and to build such barns and storage caves so no one would ever steal their food, no matter whether the demesne was attacked or not. It sounded as though Lord Rhys would be making it into a stronghold, which was possibly what he should have done in the first place, but then, it was always easy to see the problems after the battle had been lost. Much harder to anticipate them before the battle began.
He’d sat with his refugee camp people, and almost every one of them had now begun walking to Lord Rhys’s demesne. The first food wagon should have arrived by then, so they’d have supplies to eat tomorrow, and they’d eaten before they left. That was more food than many of them had enjoyed for most of the winter, or until they’d camped there anyway.
Tomorrow he’d supervise the dismantling of all the shelters in the field so the wood could be taken by wagon to the demesne and used there in the rebuilding.
He opened the door to Byram’s room quietly, not wanting to wake Byram and Garnet, but with aching balls and a hungry dick for his two partners. Garnet was alone in the bed, with just a pile of curls visible at the top of the fur she was wrapped in. His dick hardened even farther at the sight of those curls, but it wouldn’t be fair to wake her from her sleep, and besides, Byram wasn’t there either.
Carefully Carlysle slid into the bed, not touching her, just being with her, and relaxed into the soft mattress. Carlysle was almost asleep when the door opened again and Byram appeared, his candle providing enough light for him to cross the room safely, undress, and join them in bed.
Byram ran a hand down Carlysle’s back, and Carlysle shivered in pleasure. “Have you ever been taken by a man?” asked Byram softly.
“Been taken and done the taking myself. Either way is good.”
“The oil is under the pillow. Use just enough to push your way into me.”
Carlysle’s cock grew longer and harder as he slid his hand under the pillow, feeling for the vial of oil. He removed the stopper carefully and drizzled a little oil on his cock, then smoothed it with his fingers, before pushing the slippery fingers into Byram’s ass. It was just the kind of ass he liked, firm and muscular but not totally flat.
Again, he dripped just a few drops of oil onto his fingers before pressing the stopper back into the vial and replacing the container under the pillow. Byram had kneeled on all fours and thrust his ass back toward Carlysle, so Carlysle teased him with one finger, massaging the oil into the sensitive tissues of Byram’s channel. Carlysle could feel how hot and willing Byram was, so added the second finger, gradually widening Byram’s opening and loosening the tight muscle ring.
Both men were fully involved in their play, Byram pushing back onto Carlysle’s fingers while Carlysle tried to increase the pleasure he gave as much as he could by twisting and turning his fingers this way and that, reaching for that special place which would bring a man to a powerful release.
“Not yet,” gasped Byram.
“Oh, good, because I’d like to join you both,” said Garnet.
“What would you like to do, our woman?” asked Byram.
Garnet slithered under Byram. “I could suck your cock.”
Byram lowered himself onto his forearms. “I see there’s something here for me to eat, too. Enter me now, Carlysle. Plow my ass, man.”
Carlysle didn’t need to hear anything more. He rested his oiled dick at Byram’s entry, grabbed the man’s hips in his hands, and slammed inside. His dick broached the barrier, pressing hard, then popped through into the heat of Byram’s channel. The wonderful, hot welcome almost made his dick explode right then, but he held still until he was under control again, before beginning the steady, driving motion that made for good swiving.
As he pounded in and out of Byram’s ass, Carlysle could feel Byram’s reactions to Garnet sucking his dick. She seemed to be trying to keep in time with him. To test this, he deliberately slowed down his movements. She slowed down, too. Then he moved faster. Garnet sped up. The clever woman had found yet another way to unite the three of them. Although she and Byram were sucking each other, Carlysle was the leader in the game, setting the pace of their journey to pleasure.
Carlysle let himself gradually move faster again, building up the tension so they would all achieve their pleasure. Byram’s ass was so tight, it gripped his dick like a gauntlet, dragging him ever closer to fulfillment. Garnet’s little noises of happiness were like a wick, igniting more flames up and down his spine. Desperately, he pulled almost all the way out of Byram then slammed inside, twisting his hips so his dick dragged over Byram’s walls, aiming for that perfect place that drove a man wild.
He hit it. Byram groaned, and seed erupted from Byram’s dick into Garnet’s mouth. The sight and scent of that, plus the ongoing pressure in his own balls, led to Carlysle’s release, and his essence poured into Byram’s ass. Carlysle kept a tight grip on Byram’s hips as his dick spurted again and again.
Carlysle didn’t know what trick Byram used, but Garnet groaned and shook underneath them both, having evidently achieved pleasure as well.
Carlysle pulled his limp dick out of Byram’s ass and let the other two untangle their bodies. The men pushed Garnet in between them, and Byram pulled the fur over them all.
“Tomorrow night, our bed will be in Lord Rhys’s demesne,” said Byram with satisfaction.
You must choose a room with a small room close by for the girls though, as all the women will be working, and I will need to supervise Ava and Ysabel,” warned Garnet.
“Lady Elinor said I should have first choice of the rooms, save only that the solar be kept for her and Lady Rhyannon. It shouldn’t be hard to find a larger room for the three of us and a smaller one for the children,” he replied.
“This is going to be a huge challenge, to repair and prepare that demesne,” Garnet said, yawning on the last word.
“We will succeed. My people are determined to rebuild and reclaim their land. A chance like this comes but once in a man’s life. All we can do is grab at it with both hands,” said Carlysle.
“We will.”
* * * *
Garnet was up before dawn, packing all the possessions from her little, one-room house into a bundle on the lead wagon. Ava solemnly handed her the cooking pot containing the childrens’ few belongings, and Garnet added to them the length of warm, woolen fabric Lady Elinor had given her to make each child a new tunic.
“Are you really going to sew us new clothing, Garnet?”
“Yes, indeed. And while I sew, I’ll teach you to sew as well. Sewing is a useful skill for a woman to know.”
Ava nodded seriously, while Ysabel simply stared wide-eyed at everything.
“Go now and break your fast, with one piece of bread each, then return to this wagon. I don’t know when I’ll be ready to leave, but you need to be here to ride on the wagon, otherwise we’ll all have to walk,” she told them.
“Yes, Garnet.”
* * * *
The first few days were exhausting for Byram. There were disputes over status and who deserved what place where. The keys to the storerooms could not be found, and the door had to be taken down so they could enter the cellars. Even after two days of real food, the servants who’d been at the demesne were still so weak they were of little help. It seemed Lord Jeffrey and his men had not treated them well, often beating them fiercely, and had fed them extremely little for too long.
“Why didn’t you leave?” asked Byram.
“None of us has any food or money to buy food or safe passage elsewhere. It’s winter, not a good time to travel. And most importantly, none of us has anywhere else to go to,” replied the man who’d prostrated himself at Lord Rhys’s feet when the demesne had been won.
“If you wish to stay here, you must earn your place. Only those willing to work hard can stay,” Byram warned them.
“We will work. I am Henry, and I pledge you my word.”
Restoring Garnet's Heart [Elinor's Stronghold 3] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) Page 3