All watched as Della dropped the bundle of cloth into the pit of fire, then collapsed to the ground dangerously close to the edge of the hole. The girl was only twenty years old, but had been forced to grow up fast once Simon had noticed her.
Rane knew in her gut the bundle had been the baby that Della wished to miscarry. The beating must have brought the babe too early and caused its death. She walked to the girl and pulled her to her feet, then began walking back to the village with her. The entire way Rane kept absorbing the girl’s physical pain.
There was a limit to Rane’s temper. She called on the Goddess to avenge the wrongs done to the girl who was little more than a child. Simon was dead, there would be no better revenge than that. She knew that, but someone had taken the girl after that and beaten her. That person or persons needed to pay for the cruelty.
Rane settled Della in her brother’s hut. Jon had been one of the first to flee with his wife and two children to Tremble Castle. He left his mother and younger sister here, not realizing that Simon would be attracted to the girl, or that his mother would be found dead within days of Simon taking Della into the hall as his mistress.
The place was a mess. Rane shook the sheet on the bed and found a thin blanket for the girl to cover herself. She coaxed a fire from a small pan of coals she got from the neighboring hut. Then took a dusty bucket, and went to the well to fetch water.
Nord would just have to understand she could not leave the girl as she was. Until she knew the girl was physically healing, Rane would stay.
The noise coming from the direction of the hall woke her from a restless sleep. The screams coming from men’s throats could be heard, and when Rane walked out onto the dirt path, she saw other people peeking around their doorframes. No one wanted to trudge down the path to the hall to find out what was happening.
Her mouth dropped open as she stood rooted to the spot watching Ludwig running toward her screaming and crying, as if the demons from hell were chasing him. It seemed her prayers to the Goddess had brought vengeance more swiftly than ever before.
Ludwig stopped when he saw Rane standing in the path. He grabbed her shoulders, babbling something about the gods were after him.
As his hands descended onto her shoulders, she tried to move out of his way, telling him, “Do not touch me, Lord Ludwig.” However, he was too panicked to be offended. His fingers dug into her shoulders painfully, and she brought her hands up to push him away.
When her hands pushed at him in a panic she felt the pain of the villagers wounds, and the vicious tearing pains that Rane had taken from Della, flow into the lord. His hands loosened, and he tried to escape the torture of her touch, but the energy refused to allow him to move away from her hands. The high-pitched screams coming from his opened mouth bore testament to the amount of pain she had absorbed, and now gave to the architect of the misery and pain he felt being returned to him.
Rane felt the last surge of energy flow through her hands, and her body began to relax. Ludwig was a sniveling mass, still standing in front of her until her hands fell away. Then his body collapsed, writhing in the dirt at her feet.
Nord stood several feet from them watching the scene and she blushed. This was the first time she had used her power to deliberately harm another human being, and she was ashamed. The villagers came from their huts staring at her in awe, but no one approached her.
She turned to leave, and felt a hand on her arm, and then thick masculine arms rolled her around and into his embrace. No one aside from Old Erma had ever hugged her like they cared for her, or her feelings, and she clutched at the shirt he wore burying her face in the thick patch of hair on his chest.
He felt so good and his scent was clean. Something was different about him but at this moment she didn’t care. He seemed larger, wider maybe. She drew back just a little and looked up and up more until she was looking into velvety dark brown eyes. The eyes were the same but the shape of his nose and lips were slightly different. This was not Nord.
Chapter Six
Rane pulled away from the man that was holding her captive, and he allowed her to slip out of his embrace.
When darkness had fallen with no sign of Nord, or the woman his men called the Lady Rane, Lion decided they would search for them. He might have shifted into one of his many forms but he did not. He needed to conserve what energy he had so the others shifted and left him and Mouse to find their way to Droildorf Hall.
Mouse tried to navigate the rocks but fell, and Lion became so frustrated that he sliced his wrist and ordered the smaller man to drink from his vein. The blood would heal almost any injury Mouse had sustained, and finished knitting his thighbone within minutes. The loss of blood was minimal, and the results were worth it.
By the time the two men got to the hall, chaos reigned. Nord had shifted to his bear form, slapping men with his huge paws with their sharp claws slicing deep when any of the men got too close.
Fire rained down onto another man who had pulled his sword and was hacking at the air above him screaming, and daring the gods to do their worst. He did not notice when the heavy sword dropped from his burning arm. The arm kept swinging wildly, and the man turned in a circle continuing to scream while he ignored the flame eating his flesh.
The beautiful grey-coated wolf was busy tearing the throat from his victim, as a handful of soldiers ran for safety.
Lion saw Mouse transform into a large rat-like creature with a nubbed tail and fanged teeth. The creature latched his small forepaws onto one of the fleeing soldiers and climbed on top of the man. When the soldier saw what creature had captured him, he screamed and collapsed dead. His heart gave out, and the rat creature ran in pursuit of another of the cowardly crew. Another scream was heard soon after Mouse attacked his prey.
The large bird of prey circled a man who no longer had eyes. The sharp talons ripped bloody slices each time it dropped down on the hapless man. His clothing was in ribbons and he begged to be spared, but the bird continued to strike time after time until he got a shot at the man’s neck. That time when he rose above the man, he left him to pursue another. The man staggered for a moment, and fell into the burning pit. He never made a sound as his body was swallowed by the flames.
Lion watched a figure slip around the back of the hall. He followed the man, and when they got to the village, Lion watched as the man grabbed onto a beautiful young woman with long light brown hair. He felt as if he had been kicked in the gut by Nord. She was the one. There could be no mistake. His blood rushed faster at the sight of the little woman. She had to have given him a taste of her essence while she healed him, or the allure he felt would not be so powerful. He walked at a faster pace toward her. She was so tiny the man dwarfed her in size, until she laid her dainty hands on him to push him from her.
Lion watched, transfixed, as the man began to scream and attempt to pull away. He was fascinated by the way the little woman stood calmly while the man demanded to be let go. When he collapsed at her feet, Lion wanted to cheer even though the man still lived.
He watched her turn around and look at her audience. The blush and then sagging shoulders made his heart thump. Was she truly ashamed of defending herself against the hulking bastard that grabbed her? He went to her and pulled her into his arms to comfort her.
She seemed to welcome his touch, and he enjoyed the embrace far too much. He might not remember the way she labored over him while she attempted to heal his wounds, but his body did. The feeling of her in his arms made his body harden, and his blood flow faster.
When she gasped and stood back from him, he did not want to allow her to move, but he reluctantly let her go.
Her green eyes widened, and her mouth opened to say something, but he was already whirling to face Ludwig. The man had a short sword raised to stab the giant’s back, and seemed surprised when the giant whirled around, raising one huge booted foot and knocking the sword to the ground.
Ludwig stared at the man before him. The man stared back with
a scowl on his face, the knowledge of his own impending death in his eyes. Death at the hands of a giant was acceptable. Especially to a man that used violence and intimidation to gain everything he had achieved. He grinned at the giant, making a ‘come and get it’ gesture toward him.
Lion knew this was the Lord of Droildorf Hall once he saw the man’s clothing. He could tell the man thought to be killed as any soldier wanted to die, in battle. This man did not deserve to die such an easy, honorable death, so he grasped the man around his waist, trapping his arms beside him, and carried him back to the carnage in front of the hall.
Lion remembered the tales from a few of the refugees who came to Tremble Castle about the way this man had been so bored, he ordered a man to be roasted over a fire, until the flesh melted from his bones. It seemed a fitting end for a petty tyrant who was supposed to protect his people, instead of intimidate and torture them as he had done.
“For the dishonor and harm you have caused the people of Droildorf Hall, you will die this day. You and your minions will die today, and no one will mention your names again. The grave you dug for your fallen will become your grave, and should the demons want your worthless soul, they are welcome to it.”
Lion picked the screaming lord up over his head, and tossed his body into the middle of the blue flames. He watched the flames burn higher for a moment, then turned away to find his men.
Behind him stood five or six old men and women from the village, and Rane. He fought the urge to go to her and spirit her away to his Castle. Now was not the time to indulge in carnal thoughts of her compact body or soft voice.
He looked at his men, standing in various states of undress. Nord looked intimidating in his loincloth. Hawk and Max wore britches, Mouse had not changed into his human form yet, and now that there were witnesses he would not change at all until no one was around. The villagers would tell the tale of the pet belonging to Lord Tremble.
Drago walked out of the woods toward the small crowd and stood by Nord. He was dressed in britches and a leather vest. Lion eyed them all, and made a decision.
“I am Lord Tremble of Tremble Castle by the Sea. These men are my brothers, and their word is my word. Your loved ones will be returning to this place to revitalize it and all of your lives. I give this hall and its land and care to one I trust implicitly. He will rule this place with a firm hand yes, but he will rule this place with a fair hand too.
“It is the spring time, a time for renewal. From this day on, this place will be called Wolf’s Den. My brother, and friend, Lord Max Lupine will be lord of this place. He will build a small fortress to house the people during times of war and strife.”
Max came forward with a wide smile upon his face, and accepted his new laurels with good grace. He promised the small group of people they would not know worry about their safety while he was in charge.
The men shook hands and hugged. Each of the other men clapped Max on the shoulder as they filed past him. They turned to leave as the morning light began to peek over the treetops.
Rane squeaked as Lion and Nord came up to her and each man took one of her arms. She looked from one to the other, they just kept looking straight ahead. She looked back over her shoulder and found Mouse waddling in his animal form with Hawk and Drago behind them.
They spent hours walking along a well traveled path. Lion carried the sleepy Rane for a long time until she fell asleep in his arms then he passed her to Nord. They carried her for hours until she woke and insisted on walking. When they reached the dusty hovel, it was too late to change their minds and keep going. The place was barely secure against the night creatures and cool night winds.
Hawk and Max went hunting, bringing back several rabbits while Nord and Lion found a water source fifty feet from the shelter. They built the cooking fire outside in fear of burning the dry wood of the shelter if they built the fire inside. Hawk and Nord cleaned and spit the meat on branches, then left the site to take care of their needs and take quick dips in the stream they found earlier.
After they ate dinner, Nord and Lion took Rane to the stream, and she again made the men turn their backs while she undressed and wadded into the water. The twin splashes made her gasp, and place her hands over her ample breasts before she turned to face them.
She could see no one on the shore or under the water as it reflected darkness and a few stars. She began to wade toward the shore when she felt a hand grab her ankle and tug her down under the water. She had time for a short squeak before her mouth filled with water and she was left to bob back up to the surface. Huge hands grasped her breasts from behind and she could feel his cock sliding between the cheeks of her butt continuing to the small of her back. The hands holding her breasts squeezed the plump flesh, and kept squeezing and releasing the pressure, as his pole slid between her globes.
Another head broke the surface of the water in front of her, and lips kissed her lower belly, as fingers slid up her inner thigh. Fingers strayed into her curly hair and delved into the entrance of her pussy. Two fingers teased her hole rhythmically with just the tips of those long thick fingers stretching her entrance and making her pant, as the fingers on the hands holding her breasts began to roll her pink nipples. Lips caressed the tops of her shoulders, back, and the sides of her neck, as she whimpered.
A thumb slid through her slit until it found her clit and began putting pressure on the little bud. The digit wiggled the underside of her clit and then pushed upward firmly. Her head snapped back and she moaned aloud. The arms around her pulled her bottom half to her knees from the water easily, holding her aloft. Her legs were placed over the man’s shoulders, splayed wide while his hands continued to torment her soft moist center. The hands of the man behind her cradled her body in his arms, clasping the cheeks of her ass, bringing her clit up to his brother’s mouth.
She missed the fingers tormenting her nipples but the feeling of that wicked tongue flicking over her clit and then replacing those fingers at the entrance of her pussy put every other thought from her mind. When the tightening of her muscles began, she was ready for the freefall of her emotions and she cried out making her body’s demands a growling plea for release.
“Please, please help me this feels so wicked and so wonderful. My body is on fire, I need, I need,” the scream escaped her throat as she tumbled into her orgasm. The second softer orgasm surprised her and she cried out as her belly convulsed with the intensity of her pleasure.
Lion’s hoarse voice told her to get on her knees in the shallow water and the men did the same. He took her hand and wrapped it around the top of his shaft, but her fingers did not go all the way around it.
“Place your fingers here under the helmet of my cock like this and let your fingers play with the skin there. Then lick the tip of my cock and take it into your mouth. Yes just like that, lovey. Oh yes, just like that.”
The texture of his cock was like the skin on a baby’s behind. So soft yet covering a muscle so hard that it amazed her. When she bent to lick the thick top of his cock she tasted salty liquid that was not water from the stream. She licked the small hole and let the tip of her tongue explore the opening then kissed the entire thick head before opening her mouth and taking him inside. There was no way for her to close her jaws around the large cylinder so she found that by sealing her lips around it she could suck on him and hear him moan. She felt another cock nudge her unoccupied hand and grabbed it in much the same way she had the first.
The smooth cock in her mouth began to pulse and it startled her for a moment. Then she remembered how her own body had felt as if it was pulsing before the overwhelming pleasure took her to the stars, so she sucked harder and was rewarded with a gush of liquid squirting into her mouth. She tried to swallow it but there was just too much. She unsealed her lips and allowed the liquid to trail out of the side of her mouth and trickle down her chin dripping onto her breasts.
When the liquid stopped coming from his cock she ducked her mouth into the water and rinsed the
saltiness away. She kept hold of the cock in her hand and turned to the other one waiting for the pleasure to come.
She repeated her treatment of the first onto the second thick cock. The notion that she made the two giants so hard and could hear them groaning gave her confidence to twirl her tongue around this one. She sucked the head of his cock as deep as she could and then pushed it out of her mouth with her tongue. Her fingers on both hands played with the skin just under the thick heads and the first cock was moved from her fingers after she felt him flinch and shudder.
The thick flesh in her mouth started the same pulsing as the first, and she held his shaft tight while she sucked strongly until the liquid flooded her mouth and throat. Again she swallowed as much as she could but had to jettison most of the liquid from her mouth or drown trying to swallow it all.
She ducked her head and came up spewing water from her mouth then did it several times to clean the taste from the inside of her cheeks too. She began to giggle and felt her arms banded about her waist before she was hauled up and onto the mossy bank of the stream.
Chapter Seven
Once again Rane was placed between the brothers, this time to sleep. She woke up when a soft kiss touched her lips. Opening her eyes she looked directly into Lion’s eyes and felt shy. He played with the silky strand of her hair that had come lose during the night. He leaned in, kissed her again, and smiled.
“Today we will reach Tremble Castle. Nord has told you that you are now ours to please and take care of as our wife. Things might seem strange to you there. If anyone or anything frightens you or tries to intimidate you, I expect you to call on one of us no matter the circumstances.
“I have seen that you can protect yourself. But should more than one person attempt to harm you, then it would be a sadder ending for you. I trust the people of Tremble and have no fears for your care from them. It is the hundreds of refugees who have flocked to the castle from four of the twelve Halls of Care that I worry over.”
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