1 comments/ 3490 views/ 1 favorites Wilhelm By: Objurgation "Mein Gott!" "Lord Kraus! Wilhelm, help me!" "Bernhardt, no!" Wilhelm Kraus spun in the saddle, trying to keep a grip on his man's hand. The vines that had encircled Bernhardt and his other men-at-arms were grotesque and clinging. Diseased-looking, green flesh with thorns as long as Wilhelm's little finger were twining swiftly around their limbs. He watched in horror as one of the vines tangled around Bernhardt's upper arm and pulsed, then ripped away in a spiral of crimson. The creeper whipped back, thorns spraying the foliage with dark blood. Bernhardt was screaming, his ruined arm dangling horribly. Wilhelm was sure that he could see bone under the wash of streaming gore. "What deviltry is this?" he cried at the silent forest. His sword was in his hand, but there were no real targets. He tried to cut away at the vines already entangled in Bernhardt's bridle and legs, but whenever he got close enough to make a sure cut, the living plant would shift and pulse, ripping away at armor, wool and the flesh underneath. They had entered this bizarre wood just before twilight, and as soon as the glow of the evening sun disappeared from the branches, they had been assailed by animated vines. Wilhelm was screaming his hatred at the unholy forest, cutting at any vine that snapped closer to Bernhardt. He had given his other men up for dead. They were either too far away to help, or already gurgling on the loam. After seeing the abomination strip his arm to the bone, Bernhardt had slumped in the saddle. "Come at me, you hellspawn!" Wilhelm screamed into the night. The creepers had not even come close to him or his mount, who was growing increasingly harder to control. The stallion was battle-trained and experienced, but something unnatural and evil was about, permeating the night with malice. Wilhelm swung his sword crazily above his head, trying to intercept a streaming tendril heading for Bernhardt's unarmored face. Just then, his horse bucked in panic, throwing him wide-eyed into the air. Time slowed for Wilhelm as his mouth opened in a wide circle of shock. His arms pin wheeled as his steed sprinted away, churning up the dirt and fallen leaves underneath him. With a solid thunk that took the breath from his lungs, Wilhelm landed heavily on the ground. His head cracked against a rock, helm not able to fully absorb the blow. As the world grew black and hazy, Wilhelm saw four of the vines waving lazily above him, spiraling him sickly down into darkness. § He came to with a start, jerking upright suddenly. Wilhelm heard a roaring scream, the sound of a man being torn apart by ravenous wolves. When he shut his mouth with a click of teeth, he realized that the scream had been his own. Looking about, he saw devastation. Ruined corpses steamed in the cool night air, while the forest itself loomed over him, leaves and debris scattered chaotically around the tableau. The horses were barely recognizable, their flanks shredded and large chunks missing where there should have been muscle and bone and flesh. He couldn't bear to look at his men for long, their humanity stripped as much as themselves, grisly husks that had once been human. Wilhelm stood unsteadily, wishing he had a torch, a light, anything to push back the gloom. In the distance, a keening wail issued, joined swiftly by another and another. This time, Wilhelm knew that those sounds were not his own, of his body or his mind. The depraved sound was something that rocked him to the core. In his life until now, he had been a strong and devout Christian knight, a man who feared no evil, no unholy menace. After watching his men torn apart around him by living vines, Wilhelm was scared in a way he never realized he could be. The wicked howling ceased abruptly, replaced by forlorn laughter, full of sadness and totally lacking in mirth. The sound reminded him of a woman he had come upon once, holding her dead son in her arms as she laughed and screamed, the sound so completely contrary to what Wilhelm knew. It was a horrible thing to bear witness to, and he had blocked that from his mind in subsequent years, until it came clawing to the surface of his thoughts in this forsaken wood. He took stock of his body slowly, his brain accounting for and assessing each muscle and sinew. His armor was all in place still, helm a bit askew, but otherwise firmly attached. He was covered in dirt, dried blood and a black substance that seethed with wicked malevolence. Wilhelm lunged over to the nearest spot of loam that had not been affected by the slaughter and grabbed up huge handfuls of brush and leaves. He began frantically rubbing them against his armor, trying to get the cloying stains to leave the previously shining steel. When he finally calmed down, he realized that he had removed most of the gore and his armor had resumed a semi-normal sheen. Jerking in realization, he thrust the leaves away from him, dropping them to the ground where the seething blackness could no longer infect him. Wilhelm looked around, gauging his chances in the eerie forest. The vines that had massacred his men had seemed to have no care for him, the first time they had even approached him was to wave over his body after he had been thrown from his horse. The trees were thick and jagged, limbs heavy with their summer greenery. As he snatched up his sword, he saw a wolf slink out of the tree line directly before him. The beast was huge, haunches heavy and muscular. Wilhelm crouched, brandishing his weapon as the animal's lips peeled back from jutting teeth. It snarled in fury, the sound like the crack of thunder following a blazing bolt of lightning. Wilhelm back away, watching warily as the wolf stalked closer. It paused near Bernhardt, sniffing at the man's body. Without another glance his way, the sharp teeth tore into his man's neck, ripping bits of flesh away from the already ruined corpse. Wilhelm fell to his knees, heaving and choking. He didn't vomit, but his stomach felt like it was trying to leap through his throat. He stared at his hands, fists pressed into the forest floor. "Dear God, my Lord in Heaven," he began, hardly able to force the words past his lips. "My God, please protect your servant from this profane place. I beseech you, deliver me from this evil!" As he uttered the last word of his frantic prayer, Wilhelm saw an explosion of white in the sky, through the heavy branches. The wolf looked up, regarding him in the flash of light. As the brightness faded, the wolf went back to work, gnawing at Bernhardt's cheek. Wilhelm stood, feeling that the light was a sign, that God was with him, despite his terrible surroundings. From the north, he heard the keening begin again and this time, he set out toward it. He left the wolf, knowing that his men's souls were in Heaven, with the devout and virtuous. The husks of their flesh were just shells, no more their essence than a rock or a hare. He staggered through the trees, freeing a water skin from his belt and squirting the liquid in a stream into his mouth. The cool, soothing water was almost more of a balm than the flash of light had been. Wilhelm pushed past gnarled branches and darkened hollows, his eyes straight ahead. He saw things moving on the edges of his vision, but resolutely refused to look directly at them. If something were to approach within striking distance, he would end it righteously, but he was content to dismiss the ungodly creatures if they did not attack. He felt that something was drawing him, pulling him forward, deeper into the thick trees. Wilhelm thought of his wife, Elise, and their young son. If he wasn't able to survive this test, who would take care of her? Her beautiful, dark face burst into his mind, like a vision of rapture. Bright, blue eyes set above high cheekbones and thin cheeks, her face forming a perfect heart shape. Her hair was lustrous and black, shining with health and vigor. He saw her lips, touched them with his thumb. As the digit made contact, the vision burst into fragmented pieces, blowing away the image. His shoulders hitching with emotion, tears streamed silently down Wilhelm's cheeks. He pounded through the thick foliage, his sword slicing vines, branches and brush from his path. Just when his sword arm began to grow heavy and hard to lift, Wilhelm broke out of the dense woods. Before him, a moonlit clearing, acres in depth, spread out in a huge circle of rolling grass. In the center, there was a house, after a fashion. The building had once been large but now was a ruin, walls shattered by time and the elements. He could see that some of the compound had survived, lights beaconing him from the unkempt place. Wilhelm crossed himself and began his slow approach. When the dismal laughter began again, he realized that he hadn't heard the wails or this unique sound for quite some time. He was halfway across the field when a figure burst from a gap in the wall. He couldn't tell if it was a man or woman, the body was hunched and held awkwardly, like it had been maimed and never fully recovered. Raven hair full of brambles and twigs covered the figure's face, accoutrements of various animal parts making up a weird costume. He stared at the open mouth of a disembodied wolf's head attached to the shoulder of the thing approaching him. Its hand shot out when it was mere yards away, spearing him with an accusatory index finger. "Wilhelm Kraus, Lord Knight of Anhalt, Defender of God's Light," the shrill voice was that of a woman, more like a hag. He couldn't see her clearly, but felt that she must be ancient. "By what right do you trespass in this place?" "As you yourself have stated, I am a Lord Knight of Anhalt, war leader of his Highness' armies and devout servant of our Lord God. I need no more right to go where I please," he responded, the zealousness of his belief present in his intonation. "You are nothing!" Wilhelm spun at this new voice, another hag had approached unseen on his left. He raised his sword, gripping the hilt with white knuckles. "You are Worm! You squirm and flop in the dirt, your ideas as twisted as your actions," said a third hag, causing Wilhelm to spin again. He backed away tensely, hoping to put some distance between himself and these witches. They came together, side by side in front of him. He watched as they began some odd, silent gesticulation. He rushed forward, intending to skewer at least one of them before they finished whatever they were doing. "For Christ!" He stumbled abruptly, his sword skittering away from his outstretched hand. It bounced against the firm, grass-covered ground, coming to rest in front of the hag in the center. His forehead cracked against the same cool earth, his helm absorbing some of the blow, but still making him see stars. This time though, Wilhelm fought back the blackness, knowing that if he lost consciousness now, he would be dead soon, or much, much worse. "You uncouth jezebels! Remove your spell!" "Oh, Wilhelm..." "You don't understand yet..." "But you will, soon. You will understand everything." Wilhelm listened to the broken cadence, each one continuing where the other stopped. He felt strong hands grip him by the shoulders and legs, talons pressing against his flesh where the found their way into the cracks between his armor. He couldn't move, paralyzed in the grip of these witches. He prayed then, fervently and loudly, the cackling of his assailants the only response. He noticed the ground changing under him as he bounced along. The thick grass gave way to cobbles, then more fashioned stones. The rocks were mostly broken and in general disrepair, the same thing he had seen when he first exited the wood. "We're here..." "Somewhere..." "Remove his armor." He protested to no avail as he was roughly flipped onto his back. Wilhelm felt their fingers working the straps, yanking the plated steel away first. When this outer layer was removed, they cut away his woolen priming shirt and pants. They paused, his eyes frantically bouncing around, trying to focus on one of them, or anything. Then he felt cold fingers slide into his breeches, the last layer between his skin and the crones slowly being pulled away. As his manhood popped free, Wilhelm felt his nipples contract, a chill coursing through his body. "Oh..." "Well..." "That is unexpected." "What? What are you going to do to me!" Wilhelm screamed, the last more of a desperate shout than a question. Instead of answering him, they picked him up again, carrying him deeper into their lair. He heard them murmuring amongst themselves in some foreign tongue. It sounded harsher than his native Deutsch, and Wilhelm feared that it was some Hell language, the tongue of the Devil himself. Without warning, they dropped him into steaming water, the scalding fluid shocking him from the paralysis that had gripped him. He flailed about, gaining his feet, the water at his waist. Wilhelm balled his hands into fists and reared back, preparing to smite these harridans with nothing but his body. What he saw when the water streaming past his face cleared though, gave him pause. Standing before the large, circular pool, were three beautiful women. The one in the center had dark, shining hair, her body voluptuous and curving. To her left, a blonde wisp of a girl, with slender strength and firm, upright breasts, was slowly running her hand over her tight abdomen. The other was also blonde, but more like the first, her large breasts full and heavy. She had shocking azure eyes, the orbs holding his gaze until he tore his eyes away. They were either fully naked or barely clothed, Wilhelm seeing plenty of bare skin through their nebulous rags. His eyes went lower and found a collection of animal parts and untreated skins, scattered around their ankles. As he was about to comment on the oddity, the one in the center hissed. "Who are you?" Wilhelm asked, feeling almost like he had been slowly drinking ale for hours. The uneasy feeling of inebriation wouldn't leave him as the women slithering into the pool. He watched their firm bodies slide toward him, his mouth watering when the small one ran her wet hand down her face. The apparent leader approached him, her mouth lush and smiling. Her hair reminded him of Elise, and Wilhelm felt his cock stir. "We are nothing..." "No one..." "Yours." His head bounced back and forth between them as they spoke. He felt that their words, the way they spoke, should give him pause, but he didn't know why. Wilhelm felt the raven-haired beauty encircle his manhood with her small hand. The other two moved to either side of him and began rubbing his body. His dick was throbbing and instantly hard, surprising him with such an immediate response. Usually when he had been drinking, it took a little coaxing to attain a vigorous erection. Wilhelm moaned, feeling all six of their hands on his warm skin, washing him with clean water. "So firm..." "Yes, perfect musculature..." "Mmm, and hard. His cock is huge." "Where are we?" Wilhelm asked as they spoke like he wasn't really a part of the conversation. Instead of answering, they continued their ministrations. He felt the slender, blonde girl slide her fingers between his ass cheeks. The other blonde was rubbing low on his hip, moving her hand steadily between his balls and his leg, teasing his heavy sack. He gasped when the small one thrust a finger into his ass, making him thrust his pelvis forward. "What are you doing? No decent woman would do that..." They threw their heads back in unison then, laughing maniacally for long moments until Wilhelm began to feel a bit uncomfortable. She removed her finger while the other blonde splashed his face with water. As she washed the grime from him, the woman with his dick in her fist was pumping him furiously. He couldn't see her, but lost himself in the motion, feeling her small fingers press into his thickness. His cock felt huge, far more engorged than it normally did. He felt the head press into something soft and opened his eyes, seeing that the woman before him had moved closer, until she was stopped by his jutting flesh pressing into her stomach. Her pink tongue snaked out of her mouth, licking along her lower lip. Wilhelm's own mouth was open, his head leaning toward her. "Kiss me..." "Yes..." "Let me touch him!" The leader slid around his hard shaft, pressing her breasts to his stomach as her arms flew around his neck. She lunged up at him, her wet mouth staggering him momentarily, until he thrust his tongue between her lips. He felt the more voluptuous blonde move around to the front, her hands finding his erection. She grabbed his balls fiercely, stroking him roughly. Wilhelm moaned as he felt her lift half of his cock from the water and then felt a warm, wet mouth engulf it. She slammed her mouth down on him, dragging herself slowly away, her lips sucking hard all the way to the head. Then she repeated the process, again and again. Wilhelm's lips were locked against the dark-haired girl, her tongue fighting his for control. He felt her firm breasts rubbing against him and then she straddled his right thigh. He kicked his knee up a bit, raising her with the pressure. As she kissed him, she grinded her sex on his leg, moaning wantonly. Wilhelm's eyes went wide as the girl behind him inserted two fingers this time, the pressure intense and unfamiliar. Wilhelm had never been with a woman other than his wife and had never imagined being with three at once. He felt that he should be exploding in the mouth of the woman wrapped around his cock, but was somehow able to control himself completely. He wanted to satisfy them all before he sprayed them with his seed. He felt wild and drunk with lust. Suddenly, all three of them broke contact with his skin, floating away from him in the steaming water. Wilhelm watched the leader with hooded eyes. "My Lord..." "Come..." "Quickly," the leader finished, breathless. "Yes," Wilhelm muttered, climbing out of the bath. "Yes, but where will we go?" She smiled then, and Wilhelm saw her sharp incisors gleaming in the low light. Unseen torches illuminated the scene subtly as he followed them through gloomy, crumbling halls. His skin was warm and the cool night air didn't affect him. His throbbing erection led the way as he strode after his shifting guides. They entered a room, candles burning low in a huge semi circle. A bed with bright red sheets pulled back sat in the center of the space, no other furniture visible. The slender harlot stepped up to him, gripping him by the shaft and yanking him toward the bed. Wilhelm followed her, watching as the other two began kissing, falling onto the bed. Their hands were all over each other, firm breasts smashed together. The leader broke the kiss long enough to look at him and wink, her dark eyes alight with mirth. Wilhelm gasped then as he felt his shaft embed halfway into a wet, soft tunnel. He looked between his legs, the blonde girl was spread on the edge of the bed, her folds sucking at his manhood with a life of their own. "Oh, God," he moaned, thrusting himself into her. "No!" "No God!" "He cannot penetrate here, this is our realm," the leader growled. "Don't speak His name here again." "What..." Wilhelm could barely speak, his thoughts spinning crazily. He lost himself in the lust for a time, his hips powering his hard rod into the slender girl while he bore down on her with strong arms. She gasped every time he felt his balls slap against her, the head of his manhood striking something deep inside of her. He lifted her from the bed, her weight slight in his solid arms. He gripped her by the waist, suspended in the air over the bed. He dropped his knees against the edge of the bed to give himself purchase, then began to urgently fuck the girl. As he thrust, he also slammed her down on him. She began gasping, her head lolling backward as he impaled her over and over. Wilhelm felt like his shaft was growing wider and fuller as he stretched the young slit. She can't be more than twenty, so tight, he thought in a haze. Wilhelm The blonde screamed suddenly and he felt her passage clutch him tightly as she shook in his arms. His teeth found her small nipple and he growled as she came, thrusting into her over and over until she slumped back in his arms. He dropped her to the bed then, dismissing her as his eyes found the leader. Her smile was huge and his eyes trailed down, stopping briefly on her full lips, large breasts and perfect hourglass. The other blonde was on top of her, thrusting two fingers into her roughly. The dark beauty slapped the other woman away, crawling toward him. Wilhelm's head went back as her mouth flooded over his manhood. He watched then as she swallowed him slowly, until she was forced to stop as he struck the back of her throat. Instead of stopping there, she bent her neck, laying on her front on the bed. Her throat opened for him and he thrust in, feeling himself penetrate as deeply as he had the blonde girl. Wilhelm looked down at her shining eyes as he pulled back, full of lust for him. He gripped her hair and began to fuck her throat. Wilhelm watched as the curvy blonde prowled across the sheets, burying her face in the slender girl's folds. The girl's eyes shot open and he heard her gasp, then she gripped the woman's hair like he was doing to the other. He thrust himself in time with her, falling into a rhythm as he alternated between watching his shaft sink into the tight throat of the leader and watching the blonde girl hump against the other woman's mouth. Wilhelm felt a surge of pleasure, a physical storm powering through him. Normally he would have spurted then, ejaculating uncontrollably. Tonight though, he forced it down easily, his cock hard and heavy. The raven-haired woman pulled away with a choking gasp, breathing heavily as Wilhelm's erection rested against her cheek. She pointed, her nail a sharp claw encouraging him to mount the curvy blonde. Wilhelm crawled onto the bed, inspecting her wet, spread folds as he approached on his knees. When the head of his cock pushed into her, the woman slammed back against him suddenly, her ass slapping against his hips. She screamed in passion, thrusting him into her with her ardor. The girl she had been licking watched for a moment before rising and laying on her back. She scooted herself under them and Wilhelm felt her plunge one of his balls between her lips. He felt her press the other with her hand, forcing the other engorged organ into her mouth as well. He moaned as he was fully enveloped, his manhood buried completely in the lascivious woman and his sack being sucked roughly, his balls shifting around with the motion of her tongue. Wilhelm felt nails on his back and stayed still, letting the harlots pleasure him. He didn't want to thrust too deeply and accidentally remove his balls from the other girl's mouth. As he knelt on the bed, watching the curvy blonde bury her face between the slender one's legs as she fucked against him, he felt a wet tongue licking up his spine. She stopped at his ear, sucking on it briefly. When she stopped, he groaned, overcome by sensation. Unexpectedly, he felt her hot tongue lick between his ass cheeks. She paused at his lower back and pushed him forward with her hand in the middle of his shoulders. He bent forward a bit, over the woman he was buried in. He felt her tongue pierce his asshole suddenly, the firm organ sinking into him more than he thought it should be able to. She gripped his hips and forced him to fuck the girl impaled on his cock while her tongue penetrated him when he pulled back. Wilhelm was unable to focus, never had he been engulfed so completely, so lewdly. The woman behind him removed her tongue and gripped his shaft at the base. He paused, feeling his balls pop out of the other girl's mouth one by one. The woman behind him lined his bulging manhood up with the thicker blonde's ass, pressing him forward. The girl who was lying underneath them laughed throatily when she saw this, moving her mouth to his target's dripping folds. Wilhelm buried himself slowly in her ass, feeling the taut flesh grip and suck at him. The leader giggled behind him when her fist, which was wrapped around his cock, struck the asshole of the girl he was fucking. Her head was down and she moaned, shaking as Wilhelm began to pound in and out of her. He felt her come, her ass tightening involuntarily against him over and over, firmly gripping his shaft. Wilhelm was surprised by the slender blonde popping up at his left side. She had stopped licking after the other woman came and was now pressing her mouth against his. He tasted the sex on her tongue, reveling in the wantonness of the situation. She placed her hand around the leader's, both of them removing him from the ass of the curvy blonde, who promptly collapsed onto her face on the bed. Wilhelm saw the leader come forward in a haze, her mouth finding his shaft once again. He let her suck him, her saliva leaving a sheen on the pulsing organ. The blonde girls backed away, one going to either side of the bed to lay on the pillows. They watched him intently as the raven-haired head bobbed up and down on his shaft. The leader released him, spinning around to present her ass like an animal in heat. Wilhelm mounted her greedily, slamming his thickness through the slight resistance. She was even tighter than the other two, but she was soaking with slick wetness and her tender slit gave way easily to him. He grabbed the harlot by the hips, pressing her down into the mattress as she arched her lower back to give him a better angle. He was watching her firm ass, mesmerized by the vision of his thick shaft stretching her. It seemed so much larger than normal, so much more engorged, and his balls were almost painfully heavy in his sack. Looking up, he frowned as he continued to fuck her. When he bent down to kiss her full lips, he realized what had bothered him. Her body was twisted brutally at the waist, unnaturally contorted so that her torso and lower body were backward. He grabbed a handful of her breast, kissing her while fucking his hips against her ass. When he pulled back, he shook his head in confusion as he looked down at her tangled body. She grinned up at him and he noticed her flashing canines again. When he began to thrust completely in then out of her, splitting her open with his entire length each stroke, he felt her start to shake and shudder. He saw her eyes close, but was distracted by the twined flesh right above her waist. Something about it was bothering him deeply. Wilhelm closed his eyes as her slit contracted all along his shaft while the head of his cock thumped inside of her. Her scream was loud and long, and he recognized the sound as very similar to the wailing he had heard earlier. Wilhelm pulled out of her slowly, stroking his hand along his length. The other harlots had both come to sit on their haunches beside the contorted leader. Her body snapped and popped as her hips and legs twisted back into a normal disposition. She came to her knees before him, mouth open and eyes blazing. Wilhelm gasped as his lust came surging up his shaft, finally able to release himself. A torrent of white fluid shot from his jutting manhood, splashing against the face of the dark-haired leader. The other two thrust their faces forward, their tongues lapping at the air and the face of the leader. He held the base of his shaft in one hand, his body rocked by the most satisfying orgasm of his life. His come slapped down onto the harlots' faces, their hands scraping it into their open mouths. Their eyes were full of wanton hunger and he saw the two blondes shoving their fingers into each other's mouths. The leader plunged her face forward, her open mouth covering him while his cock continued to discharge in pulsing spurts. Her eyes went wide as he watched her, the dark orbs staring at his chest. As he collapsed with a final shaking climax, the woman fell back, his fluid flowing down her chin. The other two women lunged at her, their tongues catching the it before it could fall away. Wilhelm watched, breathing heavily, as they kissed and licked each other. Their previously lush hair hung in ropes around their faces. They fell back from each other, laying wearily on the bed, their arms splayed out above their heads or across their bodies. Wilhelm's cock had resumed a normal size, drooping a bit but still fairly erect. The leader brushed her hair back from her face, a slow smile breaking her placid visage. "My Lord..." "Wilhelm Kraus..." "You have pleased us, thoroughly." He remained silent, the haze slowly lifting from his mind even if he wasn't sure what to do or say. "For this, we will give you something..." "Some words, information..." "You are the true king of Anhalt, the only Lord worthy of that title," the leader finished. "But there is already a king, God has chosen him." "No God!" "We told you..." "Do not speak that name here again, this is your final warning." As the slender blonde snarled out this last, Wilhelm saw the sharp talons on her fingers curl into claws. "Wilhelm, please..." "Listen to us, we have seen the truth..." "The king has betrayed you, you and all of the citizens of the realm." "You must continue home..." "The forest will speed your journey..." "When you arrive, you will know what must be done," the leader said, her fingernail trailing lazily around her nipple. "Who are you?" Wilhelm asked. "Yours," they said in unison. Wilhelm stood, suddenly full of purpose. He turned and walked away from the three harlots, not glancing back as they laughed and cooed, their voices melting away. He strode through the ruined halls, back to the room where they had stripped away his armor. It was laid out for him in neat stacks, gleaming and bright, repaired and washed. As he affixed the outer layer of plate, Wilhelm saw the pool. It was full of seething murk, the water a nebulous, bubbling morass. His lip curled up involuntarily and he growled like an animal. Wilhelm crossed himself and was about to call upon God for strength, when he remembered the snarled threat of the witch. As his head had cleared, he was now certain that the harlots had been witches, ensorceling him with dark magic. They had been decrepit hags when he arrived, but then when the clean, clear water of the pool had rushed over him, they were beautiful sirens. Now, as he saw the true form of the pool, he felt unclean and tainted. He felt his sack and cock shrink up under his armor and wondered if they had infected that part of him. Wilhelm resolved to get out of this cursed place first, then find a bishop to bless him. He would fast and pray to God for salvation. Seeing a torch through a crumbling gap in the wall, Wilhelm rushed over and hefted the brand out of its sconce. He spun around, stalking back down the hall. When he was almost upon the portal leading into the room with the bed, he felt a weakness grip him. He fell to his knees, barely able to keep the torch from dropping to the stone at his feet. Wilhelm looked up as a shadow fell over him. The wispy blonde girl skipped over, her shaven sex still visibly swollen. Her index finger waved back and forth and she snatched the torch from him with her other hand. Wilhelm felt strength rush back into his limbs as he watched her slender ass disappear around the edge of the portal. He stared at the glow emanating from the room. Shaking his head, Wilhelm remembered what his purpose was and stood, walking briskly away from the sirens' lair. Wilhelm stepped out into the night, the cool air striking his face and breaking the away the last of his torpor. His horse was tethered to a rotted post, the animal perking up as he approached. He untangled the lead and mounted smoothly, kicking the beast's flanks once his toes had caught the stirrups. They rushed across the dark grass, toward the trees at the edge of the forest. The horse galloped forward, its hooves striking massive blows against the ground. Wilhelm cringed as the trees loomed in front of them. The horse didn't slow, but the trunks shifted. Wilhelm watched, heart full of fear, as the trees spread apart, opening a portal for him. When he looked over his shoulder, he saw them closing back behind them, pushing the light away. After a time, Wilhelm got used to the punishing pace and shifting foliage. He hunched over the horse, his thoughts on his family. Explaining this to Elise was going to be impossible, he would have to consult with a priest, find out what the best course of action would be. His son was thirteen this year and impressionable, he would need to be every inch the pious knight for his sake. With the king visiting his keep this summer, Wilhelm would also need to find a way to not reveal his true contempt for the man. King Geoff the Third was the latest scion of the von Albrecht lineage, a weak-willed man who relied heavily on his Knight Lords to keep his realm safe. Wilhelm was lord of the western edge of Anhalt, his keep sitting right next to the border with the warlike nation of Braunschweig. The kings of the two small countries had been allies off and on, when outside invaders threatened their respective lands. Lately, Wilhelm had been patrolling into the forests along the border, trying to get a firm count of the soldiers that had been amassing and raiding farms. He burst through the trees, a village approaching swiftly as his horse's stride tore at the ground. Wilhelm was shaken from his thoughts by the change in scenery. They had only entered the forest to avoid a large enemy patrol, a forest he had never seen in thirty years of exploring his lands. He knew it was officially on the Braunschweig side of the border, but he had crossed frequently as a youth and recently on campaigns. As soon as they had dashed into the bizarre woods, Wilhelm and his men had felt an ominous presence that none could put a finger on. They chattered nervously in the brief minutes until the sun had disappeared, then the denizens ruthlessly attacked. His horse slowed as they neared the main dirt road leading into the small village, finally obeying his commands after their gallop through the dark. Wilhelm saw that the moon was high and the light of fires and lamps called to him, drawing him forward. Townsfolk stared at him, hands dirty and clothing ripped. He knew that he was pristine in his armor and that they would recognize him as a knight or maybe even recognize his crest and know him as their lord. Before he realized it, he had slowed to a stop before the tallest building in the town, the sharp spire of the church piercing the moon from where he sat astride his horse. He dismounted heavily, handing the reins to a peasant who approached him with a scraping bow. A hunched man in a hooded cloak was sitting on the edge of the church steps. As Wilhelm walked forward, his armor shifting noisily, the man looked up. Wilhelm couldn't see his eyes beneath the hood, but the raspy voice cut at his soul. "What evil approaches?" the man croaked fearfully. "The beast has come among us! Repent and make your peace with our Lord God!" "What are you rambling about, old man?" "Sorry, Lord. My father is blind and a little senile. He knows not what he says," a young man said, gripping the arm of the hunched man and dragging him back. "I am Lord Wilhelm Kraus, Defender of Lord God's Light." "My lord," the man said, cowering away from him as Wilhelm loomed over them. "Old man," Wilhelm started, his hand ripping away the hood. "Tell me what you see." He felt his lips twitch in a snarl as the cloudy, white orbs fell upon his face. Wilhelm growled low in his throat. When he realized what he was doing, he made an effort to remain calm. "I see... Evil, unholy. A dark, pulsing, shifting cloud surrounds a beast, jaws spread wide and dripping steaming crimson slobber. I see red eyes, red soul, dead soul, dead eyes." "You hear, Lord? He is crazed, mad." "Shut up, boy!" Wilhelm barked. "Lord Kraus! What is the meaning of this?" Wilhelm looked up at the black frock of the village priest, a man he knew personally. They had met as he toured the countryside, encouraging farmers to produce more during a recent famine. He met his eyes and saw that the man looked terrified, staring down at his hands. Wilhelm followed the priest's gaze and realized that his knuckles were white, his fingers hatefully choking the life from the blind, old man. He let go with a gasp. "Lord Kraus... Come with me, quickly," the priest said, holding out his hand. Wilhelm gripped it, feeling sanity flood back in as the priest's clammy palm touched his. He looked down at the young peasant who was shaking his father. Without another thought for them, Wilhelm turned and followed the priest into the gloriously lit church. "My lord, are you well?" "Father Aldo, you must bless me, immediately." "What has happened?" "It doesn't matter!" Wilhelm shouted, gripping the priest by the shoulder hard enough to make the man turn back to him. "Bless me." Aldo looked scared, his eyes wide and watery. Wilhelm didn't want to get violent with a man of God, but he was desperate. It seemed that Aldo sensed the razor's edge that held Wilhelm in check and he nodded over and over, pulling the knight by the hand to the alter. They passed empty pews, dark-stained oak with richly engraved bibles sitting on the benches. Arriving at the alter, Wilhelm knelt without looking up at the effigy. Father Aldo rushed about, gathering water from a stone basin, wine and bread. He stepped up beside Wilhelm and put his fingers under the knight's chin. Looking up, Wilhelm was struck by a blinding flare of light, so bright and white that he felt that his tender orbs must have burst or glazed over just as the old man's had. He heard Aldo gasp and a thunderous crash. "Father! Father, what has happened," Wilhelm said, seeing bursts of color that were slowly resolving into the effigy, but still unable to focus. "The Christ, he has fallen from the cross," the priest said, fear chasing his words. "What? You lie." "No, Lord Kraus. No, I speak truth!" Wilhelm put his hands up to his face, palms rubbing against his closed eyelids. He tried them experimentally, opening his eyes to see his hands only a few inches from his face. When he looked up, he saw that the cross was indeed missing the Christ. The cross was still hanging, but pieces of the Lord's son were scattered around the alter and pulpit. Wilhelm stared at the cross, looking at the stained glass portrait of Mary and Jesus that was high in the center of the wall behind the crucifix. As he looked on, a snapping sound echoed through the church, the cross coming unhinged suddenly at the top. It swung down heavily, a pendulum that both Wilhelm and the priest watched in horror until it finally settled, upside down before them. Father Aldo screamed and turned to run but Wilhelm's quick strike caught his ankle and he went headlong onto the carpeted floor. Wilhelm crawled to him, clawing his way up the man's frock until he could get a grip on his shoulders. He spun him, looking down at the moaning priest. "Bless me, now." § Wilhelm's eyes fluttered open, the light of dawn streaming in through the long, slim windows. He groaned and clutched his head, trying to make sense of the rush of images that came to him unbidden. He sat up, taking in his surroundings. As he saw the disordered chapel, cross hanging upside down and a number of pews askew, the events of the night came rushing back to him. He stood, groaning, and saw that he had fallen asleep on one of the hard pews, his armor scattered about. A banging sound made him look over his shoulder to the barred portal. He remembered throwing Father Aldo down the stairs after the man had blessed him, slamming the heavy wooden beam across the doors behind him. The townsfolk had apparently gathered their courage with the dawn and were now looking to break down the doors and get some revenge on their lord. Wilhelm's smile would have shocked him if he had been able to see it, his eyes flashing with hate. Wilhelm When he unbarred the doors, the villagers burst through, stumbling and shoving each other. They held rakes, shovels, pitchforks, a sword here and there. Wilhelm snarled and lowered his head. He rushed forward, stabbing four feet of gleaming steel into the stomach of a man, ripping the blade to the side in a rush of gore and intestines. Wilhelm spun the weapon into a cut and smiled as the tip took a huge chunk of flesh from the neck of another peasant. A black-haired man stepped up, thrusting a pitchfork at his side, and Wilhelm laughed as the tool bounced off of his armor. He grabbed the man with his left hand, his fingers digging into the screaming face. His sword was sweeping around and Wilhelm cut heavily through his captive's thigh, the limb severing cleanly to flop onto the carpet. As the remaining townsfolk turned to run, he lunged again, blade skewering one through the middle of the spine. The man fell to the steps of the church, bouncing a bit until he settled halfway down the stone stairs. Wilhelm roared then, the sound huge and booming, shattering the noises of the morning and replacing it with tense silence when his voice fell away. He looked down at his sword, yanking it from the back of the peasant before sheathing it at his hip, not bothering to wipe the blood from the weapon. His horse sidled up, calm and clean, bridle in place. Wilhelm mounted and turned north, kicking the horse into a canter. As green hills and mountains replaced the village buildings, he relaxed, thinking about home. The villagers he had killed did not exist to him, he was unable to really even consider them when he tried to focus. The church and Father Aldo, whom he wasn't even sure had survived the fall down the steps, were a dim memory. Wilhelm sighed in relief as his horse trod over the hard-packed dirt road, chewing up the distance that he had left to be back home, to be with his Elise. § As he approached Ballenstedt, he saw his keep rising in the distance. Seeing the strong walls and heavy stone lent him strength and he kicked the horse into a gallop, rushing from the dirt and onto smooth cobbles. He swept into the city, hammering up the main street. He didn't spare a glance for anything or anyone, his horse streaming past houses and shops, minstrels and workers. It was just twilight, and there were less people in the street than during the day. Wilhelm looked up at the heavy clouds, watching as a long line of blue lightning snaked across the bottom of a huge thunderhead. His horse carried him through well-manicured trees, up the curving road that led to his keep. The white walls loomed suddenly, filling him with hope and warmth. The roof was formed of bright red tiles and sloped back from the third story windows. He saw lights and activity, the king's soldiers milling around his stables and yard. Dropping off of his mount, Wilhelm dropped the reins as a harried stableboy ran up. He strode past men as they nodded and bowed, greeting a Knight Lord of Anhalt as he returned home. Wilhelm shoved his way past a chamberlain who rushed to push the main doors open before him. The man followed after him, tittering in Wilhelm's ear. "Begone," Wilhelm snapped, turning slightly and raising his hand. "Yes, my lord." Wilhelm's boots thumped on marble tile as he came to the main stairs. He took them two at a time, his hand propelling his upper body along the bannister. Once he gained the third floor, he was relieved at the sight of immaculate wooden floorboards, dark pillars holding up little arches of white stone and a perfect, white stained ceiling. He rushed along, barely acknowledging his house guards and servants. When he reached the tower suite, he paused, suddenly unsure. Something heavy was weighing on his soul, something he could sense but not identify. Wilhelm leaned against a pillar, the painted wood smooth against his hair. He was still in his armor, stained with the blood of the villagers he had slain. His helmet was forgotten somewhere, but his sword was still scabbarded at his waist. He took a deep breath, then another, then slapped his bare hands on his face. He had lost his gloves somewhere between the forest and the village and when he looked down, he saw the dull stains, spilled blood and grime. He could not greet Elise looking like this. He turned left instead of entering his suites. The king would be asleep somewhere, or eating, his servants and men-at-arms were underfoot all over this area of the keep. Wilhelm burst into a small privy that was primarily used by the staff and shooed out a couple of men who were gossiping about a kitchen girl. The water in their washbasin was a bit murky already but Wilhelm splashed it against his face, scrubbing his fingers through his trim beard and trying to clean some of the road from himself. His hands were stained thoroughly though, and even after scrubbing them with a thick-bristled brush, he was only able to remove the surface dirt. Wilhelm knew he'd need a long soak later in hot water with some proper soaps to get the evidence of his recent deeds scoured away. He pushed into the hall again, heading for his chambers. As he passed into the tower section, Wilhelm felt an unease and tried to push it aside. He began yanking at his straps, dropping his pauldrons and breastplate to the floor as soon as he entered his antechamber. He stripped the rest of his armor and his malodorous undergarments away, happy that his wife was not reading in their quarters. There was a proper washbasin with soaps and a softer brush for scrubbing. Wilhelm took his time, cleaning away the bulk of the sweat and filth, feeling like a reborn man. When he finally toweled off, he reveled in his clean, naked state. He gently eased the door to the bedchamber open, peeking in so he would not disturb Elise if she had taken to bed early. She was not in the room, but a low lamp burning on the dresser showed him their bed, perfectly turned out, the heavy wood and canopy like a welcome embrace. The feelings that it evoked, just seeing that piece of furniture where he had spent so much time with her, loving, sleeping, burrowed in their heavy blankets on dark winter nights; he was truly home. Wilhelm ran his hand over the blankets as he made his way to his wardrobe and removed a comfortable doublet and pair of breeches. He dressed unhurriedly, slipping into soft house boots that climbed halfway up his calves and covered the bottoms of his breeches. Excited now, feeling more normal and sane than he had since entering that corrupt forest, Wilhelm hustled back through his antechambers, only stopping long enough to strap his sword belt back on. He asked a servant where he would find his wife, and the boy said that he thought she was visiting with the king. Wilhelm thanked him heartily, clapping his shoulder before rushing up to the highest point in the keep. The tower room was reserved for honored guests, directly above his own suites, and Wilhelm thought it was a nice touch. It always seemed to make visiting dukes or bishops a little more pliant when it came time to discuss some business arrangement or another. As he gained the landing, Wilhelm paused, his mouth dropping open in horror. Bernhardt stood at attention to the right of the guest apartments, another of his men-at-arms who had entered the forest with him was on the left. Wilhelm fell to one knee, crossing himself and staring at the confused expressions on his men's faces. Hans stepped forward, holding out his hand. Wilhelm scrambled back, the last time he had seen the man, he had been missing half of his face. "Bernhardt, Hans..." "Lord Kraus! What ails you?" Hans said, concern thick in his voice. "You are dead! You are both dead!" Bernhardt laughed and patted his stomach and chest, "I feel very much alive, my lord, is this some new jest?" "No man! When I saw you last, a wolf was tearing the flesh from your face," Wilhelm croaked. The two soldiers looked at each other and Wilhelm saw them frown, the confusion being replaced by a bit of fear. They had never seen Lord Kraus in such a state. "Bernhardt, how is this possible? How did you come to be here?" "My lord, we were separated in the forest. Hans and I made our way back to the keep last evening. The captain just told us to resume our duties... So, here we are." "I... Yes, my apologies, men. A nightmare then, that is what it was," Wilhelm finished hastily, not wanting to scare them any further. Maybe it was even the truth, although he doubted that. "My lord," Bernhardt said, bowing slightly as Hans helped Wilhelm stand. Wilhelm brushed his knee off self-consciously, not ready to meet either man's gaze. He indicated the guest quarters without looking up. "Elise, my wife, is she in with his Highness?" "Yes, Lord." "Thank you, Bernhardt," Wilhelm said. Wilhelm entered the antechamber and took in the scene, his wife sitting gracefully in an armchair across from Geoff von Albrecht. There was a large fire warding off the chill and he saw Elise notice him and wink. Von Albrecht had his back to Wilhelm and only the back of his head was visible. His wife had a mischievous look about her, so Wilhelm decided to stay quiet and not approach yet. The deep carpet had kept his entry silent so far, the door had apparently not been heard. "How long will you be staying this year?" Elise asked. "Oh, probably less than a month. I need to be seen on the border, especially when we've had so many incursions of late." "Mmm, yes, that is true. Wilhelm will be able to deal with that soon, I'm sure. With the addition of the levies you brought, Anhalt should be secure in no time." "It is always so nice to visit with you, Elise. You know I enjoy your company," the king said, his voice growing steadily more husky. "I enjoy yours, too! You really should visit more, and there are some eligible ladies in Ballenstedt... You'll need to marry soon, King Geoff." "Yes, yes," the king said, exasperated, "That's what everyone is so fond of telling me. I've got plenty of brothers though, no reason for me to breed right away. It is a pity that you married Wilhelm though, Elise. I always thought we had a special bond, maybe it could be something more." "Could have been?" Elise asked quietly. "Could be, still." Wilhelm frowned, meeting Elise's triumphant gaze. She liked to tease him that she could have been a queen, but he usually didn't hear von Albrecht so blatantly state his desires. He was secure in her faithfulness though, Elise had never wanted anything more than him and he knew that she was satisfied, physically and otherwise. The worst complaint she could issue would be that he had to occasionally take to the field for weeks at a time. She didn't complain though, Elise was the best woman he had ever met. Plenty of men had things to worry about, infidelities, gossip, excessive emotions. Wilhelm was glad that he had stolen her away from the capital. It had been one of his finest decisions. "I didn't mean to make things awkward, Elise," Geoff said after a long silence. "It's just, well, you know how I feel." "I do, your highness," Elise responded graciously. "I am flattered, but I'm also very happy with Wilhelm. Our son is celebrating his thirteenth year this autumn, did you know?" "No, that's wonderful, truly." "Do you expect us to go to war?" Elise asked, in apparent earnestness. "What?" Geoff's distracted response seemed like he had not been paying attention. Probably due to Elise's gentle refusal to speak of the topic on his mind. "I asked if you expect that we will go to war." "Oh, quite certainly. I have been assured that we are fully prepared to handle Braunschweig. The men-at-arms I have provided your lord husband will be sufficient to push back the tide." "Do you think they would resume aggressions with us if they didn't have firmer backing than their own army?" Elise asked innocently. Geoff did not respond immediately and Wilhelm knew that he was unsure of the political situation. The von Albrecht lineage had been much better served under his father, and his father's father before him. Wilhelm was severely disappointed with the king's involvement in local politics, foreign policy and the management of Anhalt's armies. Luckily, the other Knight Lords and himself were able to directly handle the ineptitudes of the crown, but Anhalt lacked a visibly competent head of state. Braunschweig's leader was a powerful man who was constantly involved in the doings of his nation. King Harold was what Wilhelm would have wanted for his own country, in personality at least, if not in policy. Deciding to make his presence known, Wilhelm stepped back into the doorway and knocked loudly while pretending to just be stepping in. The king stood and turned his way, Elise's beautiful, smiling face peeking out behind von Albrecht's in Wilhelm's line of sight. Geoff von Albrecht had inherited the attractiveness of his family line, if not their competence. He was on the thin side when compared to a fighter like Wilhelm, but his face was well-proportioned and he had a straight nose. His eyes were bright and green, hair a long, flowing blonde. His tunic was of the highest quality, red and embroidered with Anhalt's crest of golden laurels surrounding an up thrust sword. "Your highness," Wilhelm said, inclining his head a bit. "Wilhelm Kraus! So good to see you, and early, if I'm not mistaken." "We ran into a little trouble on the road. Nothing that couldn't be handled, but it caused an early return." He noticed Elise's sharp look and tried to keep his face impassive. He would explain as best he could later but he didn't want to give any details to the king. "Braunschweig is quiet for the time being. We'll get more information when the other scouting parties arrive." "Good to hear! I'll let you and your wife retire for the night," von Albrecht said with a wink. "I'm going to raid the kitchens for a late dinner." "Your highness," Wilhelm and Elise said in unison. He took Elise's hand and dragged her out of the tower room. She walked easily with him, clearly wanting to get to a private place as much as he did. They pushed past Bernhardt and Hans who did not speak, just watched them with knowing looks. As soon as they reached the relative solitude of the stairwell, Wilhelm spun her in front of him and crushed her mouth with his. Elise kissed him eagerly, tongue fighting his while her free hand grabbed his ass and pulled his pelvis against her. He was glad to feel her comforting touch after recent events and her urgent desire was stoking his own. "Touch me," Elise said as she pulled her dress up. Wilhelm let his hand slide up her thigh. He hadn't even noticed what she was wearing, only her face. Now he saw that it was a long and chaste black dress that revealed nothing except some of her curves. He knew what was under those layers though and the dress was now just a barrier to his desire. Wilhelm released her hand that he had dragged her by and used it to entangle her hair. He pulled her head back roughly and his tongue ran the length of her neck to her ear. Her earlobe went into his mouth as his other hand found her wet folds. She had no smallclothes on, something he appreciated in moments like this. His thick middle finger made circles on her clit and pushed into her a bit as he gathered slippery moisture onto the digit. When his mouth found hers again and he felt her moan, he thrust the finger into her, feeling the resistance when it reached the second knuckle. Elise shook and pushed against him, trying to get his finger deeper. Wilhelm slid it in and out slowly until he could fully insert it. When he did, his other hand moved to her ass and pulled her left leg up. He worked her slit with his finger, feeling the rough stone wall against the back of his hand. Her mouth was panting against his, the kiss faltering as her focus shifted lower. Elise grabbed his bulging pants with a hand and circled the other arm around his shoulders. She rubbed him through the restrictive cloth roughly and he felt her passage opening even more for his finger. "Come, my love," Wilhelm growled into her lips. "Let's get to our chambers." She responded by falling to her knees, his finger sliding from under her dress. Elise placed her lips directly against the straining cloth of his breeches and kissed loudly. Then she stood and grinned at him before turning and moving down the stairs. Wilhelm smiled and followed, impatient to get her dress off. The stairs were more difficult to navigate than normal through the lust haze that had settled over him, and the awkward bulge in his pants. His wife was through the lower door before him and Wilhelm took a moment to try to relax before entering the hallway. It was a short walk to the door to their chambers but he didn't want the servants or his soldiers to see his erection and flushed face. It was his own house and shouldn't matter, but for some reason he couldn't ever let himself be unprofessional in that way. Most of his staff were devout Christians as well, so the breach in decorum might be gossiped about and cause ill will. Wilhelm followed when he was ready, finally able to control his breathing and response to Elise's sensual touch. Ironically, there was no one to be seen in the hall. The guards that were posted around his quarters patrolled regularly to keep awake through the night. They must have been off somewhere else, along with the servants. Wilhelm dismissed his staff and shoved the door to the antechamber open, closing it firmly behind him and bolting it. There was a low fire but not much other light in this room. He could see flames dancing in the open doorway to the bedroom though and knew that Elise had a few candles lit in there. Wilhelm crossed the dim room, careful not to trip on the carpets or bump the furniture. Entering the bedchamber, he paused to take in the image of Elise. She was on her knees, hips thrust wantonly forward. Her dress was in a pile to her right and she was kneeling on a pillow. Her long hair spilled around her shoulders, a dark contrast to her firm, pale skin. He could see that she was wet, her folds spread with desire. She had trimmed her lower hair recently and she was nearly bare around it, affording him a fabulous view. He could see the muscles in her thighs corded as she pressed her hands into her ass, thrusting her pelvis even more. As he approached, she ran her hands all over her stomach, breasts and face. His doublet hit the floor before he was halfway to her and Wilhelm felt a welcome chill on his bare skin. The hair on his chest and stomach seemed more sensitive than normal and his eyes didn't leave his wife's. Wilhelm stopped in front of her, watching as she yanked on the laces of his pants enough to get them down to his knees. In the process, she leaned in and his straining rod struck her cheek as soon as she freed it. He felt her mouth suck at the base, her tongue licking along the shaft. She stopped occasionally on her way to the head to suck at the side of him, making him unconsciously thrust forward. When she reached the tip, he felt both of her hands enclose his balls and watched her mouth slowly engulf his manhood. She took him all and Wilhelm groaned as he filled her mouth. Her tongue worked the bottom of his cock as her mouth moved back and forth. She never let the head exit, plunging back down on him whenever she got close. His balls felt heavy in her hands and Wilhelm smiled, glad to be back at home, with his wife. He looked down and his eyes widened in slow recognition. His mouth twisted in shock and he felt his nostrils flare. Looking up at him, with his cock buried in her mouth, was the dark-haired leader of the hags. Her eyes were glowing with laughter and he growled. His hands snapped from his waist to encircle her throat and Wilhelm pulled her off his hardness. He dragged her slowly to her feet, his fingers beginning to grip her neck. Wilhelm "In the mood for something rough, my lord?" Elise asked, her voice raspy from his choking hands. Wilhelm shook his head in shock. The image of the witch had been replaced by his wife's smiling face, her hands playfully batting at his forearms. He lightened the pressure and pulled her close to embrace, playing along. His mouth kissed hers as his eyelids remained firmly closed, trying to push the image of the other woman away. He felt her face, his fingers tracing the familiar lines and reassuring him before he looked upon her again. "I know how you like that, my lady." She smiled and walked to the bed, leaping up and spreading herself completely. He drank in the sight of her ass in the air and her arms extended over her head. Wilhelm stepped up to the bed. They had leather wrist restraints hidden under the mattress and he freed them, wrapping her wrists while she tried to get his cock back into her mouth. Once he had the second wrist secured, he let her succeed in her efforts, licking and sucking him back to hardness. He pulled away, her mouth leaving his rod with a popping sound. She buried her face in the pillows, shaking her bare ass slowly from side to side. Wilhelm wasted no time, jumping up and positioning himself between her legs. He gripped both of her ass cheeks and spread them, revealing his target more completely. With relentless pressure, he speared his way into her, not stopping until he felt his balls strike her clit. Elise had her lower back arched to keep her ass in the air but her upper body was on the mattress. She moaned loudly into the pillows as he began to ride her, his hands dragging her hips up as he pulled out. Every time he slammed all the way in, she pressed back, her body shaking. Wilhelm continued for a few long strokes but he knew what she really wanted. After one particularly deep thrust, he pulled out and began rubbing the head of his cock against her clit. Elise groaned and pushed back against him, sliding his hardness between her folds. She tightened her ass, gripping him as he slid between her legs. "Fuck me, Wilhelm." He grabbed the base of his shaft and positioned himself against her warm slit. Slowly, he sank deeper until the head popped through. Elise shook and thrust her hips back, impaling herself on his length. His hand reached around her right side and found her hard clit, his middle finger rubbing up and down furiously. She was always soaking wet when he penetrated her like this, her orgasms intense and long. Wilhelm began to push deeper and Elise put her head back into the pillows. Soon, he was fucking her completely again, this time when he pulled back to thrust, she beat him to it, slamming her ass back against him. He leaned his chest against her shoulders and buried his face in her neck, feeling her fine hair tickle his beard as his cock split her. He knew she was close already, her frantic motions building to a crescendo as he met her thrust. Her body convulsed and he felt her passage massaging him as it tightened and shifted. She was bucking against his hand, her wetness coating his palm. Wilhelm couldn't take the pressure and felt his own orgasm release suddenly. He buried himself in her and felt his seed pulse into her womb, his breath heavy against her neck. Elise sighed and collapsed onto the bed as Wilhelm rolled off of her and onto his back. Feeling a wave of inexorable exhaustion crashing against him, he willingly succumbed, finally feeling like himself again. § Much later, Wilhelm awoke to hissing. It was dark in his bedchamber, the candles were guttered and only a trivial amount of moonlight seeped through the curtains. When his conscious mind finally caught up with his body, Wilhelm sat up urgently in bed. He felt for a sword that wasn't there and peered at the other side of the bed in horror. When the image finally resolved, he saw that it was only Elise, her black hair splayed around her head as she lay on her pillow. The sheets and blankets were pulled right up to her neck and had not been dislodged by his abrupt motion. When the hissing came again, Wilhelm realized that it was coming from his wife. He squinted and leaned toward her a bit. A chill ran through his shoulders when he realized that her eyes were open, watching him. "Elise..." "Lord Wilhelm Kraus. It should be King Wilhelm Kraus," she said in a hollow tone. "Are you well?" "I am, my love," she replied, not acknowledging the sound that had woken him. "You will be king. I have been thinking a lot, while you were gone. We are ready." "Ready to murder Geoff von Albrecht?" he prompted. "Of course, how else would we make you king?" "Elise, the Knight Lords would have my head! You can't think that we'd get away with just running a sword through his gut," he said desperately. As much as Wilhelm knew that von Albrecht was a weak leader, he also knew that he didn't want to murder the man in cold blood. Beyond that, his soul was already reeling from the transgressions of the last few days. He hadn't even sought out a bishop to absolve him of his actions while under the witches' spell. "They won't even know that you had a hand in it. Geoff likes to drink and womanize, everyone knows that," she said in the same hollow voice, the words monotone and rational. "If he were to have too much to drink tomorrow night, maybe take a woman to the balcony to watch the stars... He might lose his balance, Wilhelm, and that would be a pity." "A pity..." § "Your highness, a moment of your time?" Geoff von Albrecht turned lazily, the goblet in his hand sloshing wine onto expensive carpets. Wilhelm's mouth tightened as he stared at the stain. He had wasted a lot of coin appointing these chambers to suit royal guests. Lord Krauss gestured to the balcony and preceded the king, not bothering with decorum. Von Albrecht would probably be fuming. "Braunschweig is pressing the border, Geoff," Wilhelm began. The king's face went red, insulted by his informality and livid with drink. "Watch your tongue, Krauss," he snapped. Wilhelm smiled as the door to the bedchamber opened and Elise stepped into the room. Bernhardt stepped in behind her and closed the door, slipping his thumbs into his sword belt. Elise glided across the room while von Albrecht snarled threats at Wilhelm's impassive visage. When she reached the king's shoulder, she gripped it tightly, turning him to face her. "Geoff von Albrecht, you look well this evening," she purred, caressing his chest with her hands. "Well, I..." the king stammered, backing away at the smoky look she gave him. Wilhelm stepped aside and smiled when von Albrecht's thighs touched the bannister. "Your highness, here, let me help you," he said, stepping forward. Elise touched his arm while Wilhelm stood in front of the king, who seemed to sense the danger. He put his hands out and began shaking his head. Wilhelm grinned savagely as his hand shot out to grip the king's throat. As he throttled the squirming man, he heard voices on the wind. He couldn't hear what they were saying, but joy was apparent in their tone. The king's face was beginning to purple. Wilhelm pressed him forward and put his foot behind the king's. When the man was flailing and trying to grab his arm, he felt Elise grip his waist. Wilhelm released his hold. A piercing scream broke the night's silence as von Albrecht went hurtling three stories down to the cobbles. Wilhelm watched as he landed with a splat and blood exploded out of him. He looked like a broken doll, limbs splayed at unnatural angles and a fanning splatter of crimson around him. "Shall we send word to the Knight Lords, my love?" Wilhelm nodded, grinning with triumph and relief, his nation now safe from the spoiled hand of an incompetent ruler. They walked to the door of the chamber, arm in arm. "Your highness," Bernhardt said, inclining his head as he held the door for them. § Wilhelm stepped out of the warm, comfortably lit cabin, into the darkened afternoon light. He smiled and leaned back, spreading his arms so his chest and stomach were struck by slicing rain. The clouds roiled above him and he was happy. He watched lightning rip from the sky and slam into a field in the distance, the explosion of thunder that followed causing him to laugh throatily. Even though it was hours from twilight, the sky was purple, black and gray, clouds heavy with rain. The sun's rays occasionally burst through for a few moments, firing down to the earth like an angel's spear attempting to pierce the ground below. He felt a presence behind him and didn't turn, keeping his arms spread and feeling the clean rain wash him gently. "Wilhelm, your highness," Elise began. "It's so beautiful. You are as well, my husband." "You are beautiful, my love. My world would be much darker without you." He stared out at the plains before him as she gripped him around the waist. The green, tall grass fell away to heavy forests in the distance and then to jutting mountains. Her soft breasts pressed against his back, the nipples firm and erect in the chill of the rain. Even in midsummer, the rains always brought a little coolness with them which could be refreshing after a busy day. Wilhelm watched a hawk swooping for cover in the distance as another lightning strike tore through the clouds. He was content here, the natural environment clean and beautiful. His other desires were also provided for during the month of each year that he and Elise spent here. He brought supplies to brew his favorite summer ale and would spend the first day in the kitchen and yard, preparing a twenty liter batch for fermentation. They would keg the ale after a couple of weeks and during the last week they spent in the retreat, they drank heartily of his summer hefeweizen. "What are the other girls doing?" "They were asleep when I left the bed, I think we wore them out again," she said with a sly tone. "You are quite insatiable when we summer here." "I'm insatiable!" Wilhelm scoffed, smiling as she squeezed his waist. "We can both afford to be insatiable. I always look forward to our breaks here." "Yes, I do as well. This spring was full of war, but we handled that in a timely manner," Wilhelm reflected. "Glad that we didn't have to delay again like last summer." "Mmm, yes. What will we eat tonight?" "Now that you mention it, I am quite famished. It is hard work trying to satisfy even one insatiable woman, let alone three." "They seem quite sated, your highness," Elise laughed, pulling him backward by the waist. "Let's go raid the pantry, and we have that venison we could char!" Wilhelm laughed and turned, his relaxed manhood sliding against her thigh. When she turned, he grinned as his length lodged between her ass cheeks and she arched back, rubbing herself up and down against him. One last look over his shoulder at the majestic rain, then Wilhelm followed his wife into their long, single story cabin. There were four rooms, two bedrooms in the back, a washroom and a large kitchen, with a connected dining and relaxation area. They had brought heavily upholstered couches and chairs when they first had the cabin constructed and they were still arranged around the fireplace as they had been then. He admired Elise's naked backside as she walked into the kitchen and began flipping open pantries. Wilhelm sank into a leather chair and put a log on the embers which were all that remained of the fire they had roaring the night before. He used some tinder to coax a flame back then sat in his favorite chair. He had been king for five years now, and once a year he would let his stewards and chamberlains and the other Knight Lords squabble and scrape and run things in his stead. If there were anything seriously threatening Anhalt, he would probably be forced to remain visible and engaged, but luckily, that hadn't happened yet. These times were some of his favorite, spent enjoying good food, drink, reading and basic chores, and the entertainment of his wife and their lovers. When he had told her the details of his night with the witches and the effect it was having on him, she insisted that they find girls who looked similar. He had been plagued by desires until then, roaring erections and fantasies that seemed almost too real. When Elise recruited the help of two young blondes in pleasing the new king, those dark daydreams had receded. They started taking the girls on vacation with them the second year that they came out to this secluded hideaway and continued the tradition, much to Wilhelm's delight. He had been surprised initially at the ardor with which Elise enjoyed him and the women together, but now that he was used to it, he enjoyed his wife's private wild side. Of the witches, he had heard nothing since that fateful night when they whispered of murder and ascendancy. He had even looked for the forest a few times when in the area and touring his lands, or warring with Braunschweig. Every time though, he could find the area in which they had been just before, but not the forest itself, or the forlorn ruins that housed the harlots. He wasn't sure what he would do if he found them even, it was more for peace of mind. If he could find them, then they were real, not some figment of his imagination brought on by stress. Bernhardt and Hans were still very much alive, and Wilhelm was concerned that he might have created the whole thing in his mind somehow. He had begun avoiding churches in recent years though, and the memories of the witches' touch was always right with him. In the private part of his mind, he knew that they were real and that they were still out there, still watching him. He wasn't worried though, Anhalt was thriving since he took over from von Albrecht and they would be pleased with him, if that was their motivation. Wilhelm stood slowly and walked to the kitchen, grabbing a hunk of bread that Elise laid out. She was carrying an armload of venison in from the smoker he had constructed outside. Grabbing it from her, he laid the meat out on the table and began slicing it into long strips. They would cook it with a meat cage that sat over the hearth, warming the meat and charring it a bit before they ate. The women handled bread making and once per visit, they would all go into the small village nearby and purchase fresh fruit and vegetables for far more than they were worth. The quality was amazing though, and Wilhelm didn't mind paying a little extra for the villagers' complicity in keeping their location secret. He had hired only local workers and drove the wagon with their expensive furniture himself. The villagers knew that he was the king and had never even entered the cabin in their absence, as far as he could tell. They were too scared of his reputation for retribution. Wilhelm had made bloody incursions into Braunschweig, claiming more and more of the rival country as his own over the years. When he had cut the meat well enough, Wilhelm assembled it in the slots of the cage and snapped it closed. He set it in the rack over the flames and spun it slowly, poking at the blazing log. Elise slipped up next to him and handed him a snifter of warm brandy, smiling widely before she went back to the kitchen. It was almost time to crack the keg and celebrate with his ale, but they made sure to bring a stock brandies, meads and wines when they came out. Wilhelm watched the meat crackle and pop, the normally lean animal still a little heavy with spring fat when Wilhelm had shot him. He looked up as a pair of smooth, naked legs came to a stop in front of him. "Hello, King," Carisa purred. "Good evening, my dear," Wilhelm ran his rough fingers up the shaved inner thigh, his thumb turning to alight on her clitoris. She moaned and clutched his forearm as his palm rested on her lower abdomen, thumb flicked back and forth over her firm lips. "Wilhelm," Elise called from the door. He turned at the fear bleeding into her tone. "Some... visitors, to see you." He stood, releasing his hold on Carisa. Three young men stood in the doorway, fit and muscled. Naked blades were gripped in their hands. As his gaze flicked from face to face, he could see the family resemblance and knew that Elise must have as well. The men entered and spread out, lustful gazes alighting on Carisa's nude form. The dark-haired one stepped forward, clearly the leader. "Wilhelm Krauss, King and Lord Knight of Anhalt," he began. "Defender of God's Light, Assassin of Kings." "Impregnator of Whores, Slayer of Men, Widower," as he spoke, the man nearest Elise thrust his sword through her breast. Wilhelm stared at his wife, shocked and dying, her life's blood pouring from her when the man ejected his sword with a flourish. "Father of Dead Sons, Forsaken by Your God," they continued mercilessly. "Wilhelm Krauss," his young doppelganger intoned, stalking toward him. "We're here for our throne."