The Barbarian Page 11

  He sensed Makas neared his release. Eleanor was making meowing sounds and frantically moving on his cock looking for her own as she sucked harder on Makas cock.

  Slipping a hand into her hair, Makas moved more firmly into her mouth. Moving faster. Eldron matched it from under her.

  “Now,” Makas breathed.

  Eldron knew his brothers seed was coming. He rubbed hard at Eleanors pleasure zone while ramming up into her. Her climax slammed into her as Makas cum jetting into her mouth and she swallowed him down. Makas released her and stood back on shaky legs.

  Eldron smiled. He would not forget this in a hurry.

  Covering himself up Makas stood back as Eldron continued to power into her. They weren’t done yet.

  “You came for another reason?” Eldron asked him as he piston fucked the female that belonged to him.

  Makas laughed. “I did but my mind is elsewhere.”

  Eldron grunted as he fucked her harder. “The reason Makas?”

  “We are ready to leave tomorrow.” Eldron gave him a curt nod and he walked out closing the door behind him.

  He grasped her tighter and found her pleasure. Her body moved to meet his. Her own pleasure riding her once more. He spanked it and rubbed hard.

  “Come now.” Eleanor exploded around his cock as he rammed up into her, pulling free to spill his seed once more.

  The sight of the spent female caged in his arms made him smile.

  Gods he’d never felt so good… The feeling of her tight hot pussy on his cock had called to him. Needing him to claim and dominate. He felt possessive of her and knew that it had been like that since the moment he’d met her. Shaking his head to clear his thoughts he wondered how this had happened. He’d always been so careful not to be involved with the women he fucked.

  The alliance. He knew he’d have to take a wife and it didn’t bring him any pleasure. In all honestly, he knew he’d do his duty and no more.

  He brushed his hand down her front relishing in the feel of her skin covered in his cum. A wave of dominance hit him. The female was full of passion and bite. He would have her one more time before leaving. Lifting her gently, he walked to the bed and placed her forward in front of him. Exactly how he’d said he’d take her before in anger.

  “Our time has run short little female,” he whispered pulling her legs wider and starting to drive into her core once more. Long deep strokes that she responded to, grasping his hand and squeezing.

  “Dear god, yesss.”

  “Do you like that my beauty?” he asked striking home and slowly receding.

  “Yes, don’t stop.” Eldron chuckled.

  Who knew what delights had been in that frozen shell he’d found on the turret?.... Had the Gods been generous or were they laughing?....

  Either way, he needed her to remember. He needed to brand her as his. He needed the memory of her gloriously sated body laid out before him.

  “You. Are. Mine.” He told her as he drove in deep. Her meowing sounds pushing him on once more. “Mine,” he told her slamming home. “Mine alone.” As he stamped his mark on her. Slamming into her harder and harder, her body taking it. “Tell me your mine.” He demanded.

  Slamming home faster. “Tell me!”

  “Yes….. Yours….. only yours,” she whimpered.

  He grasped her hips and pulled them wider. “Yes female, take it all.” He felt his control slip, the red haze creeping in.

  “I’m…..” her nailed bit into his hand and his control was back.

  She cried out her release and collapsed on the bed in exhaustion. Satisfaction and elation swamped him. He gripped her harder, sensing the cum about to spill, he rammed up into her only just pulling from her body and releasing across her back. He staggered and braced himself. His own emotions raw. He turned her so he could take his fill.

  “Eldron. Thank you,” she whispered.

  He chuckled as he looked on her sated face. “You do not hate me now wife?”

  She stroked lazily down his body and cradled his semi hard cock, now hardening once more. “How could I hate this?” she asked with a gleam in her eyes.

  He laughed and stroked her, kissing her breasts and playing with them. Mouthing her nipples with his tongue and lips.

  “Ummm. Have I created a monster?”

  Eleanor sniggered. “I don’t know. How much time have you got?”

  Eldron bellowed with laughter pulling her into his arms.

  “Enough time to show you how beautiful you are and how I crave you.” he told her kissing her lips hungrily.

  She pulled back and looked at him. Both hands coming up to rest on his face. She gazed into his eyes. “I will kill any woman you take but me.”

  He brushed lips across hers then he put his forehead on hers. “I am truly sorry Eleanor, I wish I could take it back and if I have to spend the rest of my life proving that, I will. No one but you.” He’d kissed her hungrily and tried to show her how much he meant that.

  She’d driven him to the edge and back again. Eldron looked down on her in wonder. No one had ever been able to do that. She was his now. No turning back. No more arguments. His….

  And for the first time in a very long time, he felt at peace.

  ***

  She woke a little sore and tucked up in blankets, a used bowl and cloth lay nearby, and a nightgown on.

  Had he washed and changed her?.....

  Eleanor blinked in surprise and sat up. It was well into the day. She glanced at the bowl. Her blood was in that bowl.

  How he’d done all that and not woken her was a mystery. Had she been so tired she’d not even noticed him cleaning her, dressing her? She stretched like a cat in a new day. She was sore, tired and boneless but not complaining.

  Had anyone’s wedding night ever been like that?

  Eldron had been a most attentive lover. She had never known it could be like that with a man. It was so….. freeing. She tried not to smile at the memories and failed, she had never imagined it could be like that. Her body warmed and tingled at the images it relayed and the words he’d told her.

  Had she really done those things?... Had she encouraged Eldron to take her so?... Had asked, no begged for more and more?.... Her face flamed as she knew she had.

  He’d laid her bare to his touch and eyes and she’d encouraged it. Eldron had shown her nakedness to Makas while touching her and bringing forth her need once more, she’d opened her legs to show him Eldron fucking her with his fingers. Eleanor’s face flamed. She’d acted like a whore would. Then Eldron had turned her and slipped his cock in while encouraging her to fuck him in front of the other male, telling her to suck his cock and enjoy it. A man who wasn’t her husband.

  Eleanor moaned, with the tightening of her stomach and a pulsing need in her nether region.

  It had been so good….

  She lost count of how many times, Eldron had brought pleasure to her body. It was true that Eldron liked to dominate, liked to take and be in control but he’d been gentle and caring too, loving almost and part of her didn’t rebel as she’d expected, she wanted it. Even now but it would have to wait until his return. He’d branded, he’d said. So any man would know that she was his.

  A knock brought Kate into the room carrying a tray.

  “Good eve. You missed dinner. Lord Eldron said to bring you up a tray after dark and to let you sleep in the meantime.” Eleanor sat up gingerly. Parts of her were sore indeed.

  Kate smiled knowingly at her. “Our Lord is demanding. It is their way.”

  Eleanor’s face flamed again. As Kate placed it over her lap. “Do not be embarrassed, it is married life. The master had a knowing look when I saw him.”

  “Has he gone?” She asked clearing her throat.

  “Yes. This morning at first light.”

  “Do you know for how long?” She just realised he’d not told her anything about where he was going or why. That sucked all the joy out of her waking. He didn’t include her in his business. Eleanor frow
ned.

  Did he not think she was worthy of his trust?....

  Kate moved around the bed to take the bowl and cloth. “He took care of you as he should.” She nodded positively. Then turned taking it with her. “No. I believe about three weeks.”

  “Weeks?” Eleanor asked shocked. He’d given her no instruction, no orders for the people. “Did he leave instructions?”

  “Not that I’m aware of my Lady. He said to ask you. The men go about their work as we do. The master is often away.”

  Damn the man. What was she meant to do now?....

  Four

  Three weeks Kate had said he’d be gone. Three weeks.

  It had been nearer three months!.... Where the hell was he?.....

  She was worried sick. No word. No message. Nothing. The worst of winter had broken, and she was becoming more and more concerned as each day passed with no sign of them. A pain struck her in her chest as it often had when stray unwanted thoughts hit her.

  Were they dead?....Was she a widow….

  Eleanor hitched a breath and shook her head, refusing to accept that once more.

  He wasn’t a man to die on her!.......

  By the end of that first week, she was sick of her own thoughts, even her books gave her little comfort and she’d needed something to do. She missed the feel of him on her body as it healed from his touch.

  Each day, she would go up to the wall morning, noon and night and talk with the watch. She would see to the Keeps needs, talking to Kate and the people listening to their concerns and worries, making sure there was always enough food available. She’d take trips out to the different villages around the Keep taking gifts of food, Kate with her and an armed troop. She’d speak with the elders and listening to their woes and told them if war came, they should come to the Keep. They seemed to listen to her, and she was glad.

  And she’d watched the men of the Keep as they continued with their training.

  She’d paid particular attention to the sword work. It had always interested her, and she missed her own training at the castle. She needed no reminder that war was coming and that no one, including her, should be vulnerable.

  She’d asked for the Sergeant at Arms who met her in the great hall. She told him what she wanted to do, and he’d looked at her shocked and tried to dissuade her, but she wasn’t having it. Her weapons had not come with her and she needed them. They all did. Against his better judgement eventually he’d agreed once she laid out her argument. It was sound and he could see the truth of it.

  She’d called a meeting of all the staff within the Keep. War is coming, she’d told them. There was no point in trying to ignore it. Sooner or later, it would come to these walls and everyone would be affected, possibly attacked.

  “The master and his men,” she went on, “were some of the best fighting men a Lord could want.” She saw them puff up at this. “But even they, would not be able to protect the walls and the people if their enemies got through.” She knew by shocked faces that most were not considering it at all.

  That made her angry. They were too complacent in their belief that Eldron would always be there to protect them no matter what.

  She knew how vulnerable they’d felt at the castle to know that wasn’t true and wondered how they expected the soldiers to protect them when they would be fighting for their own lives. She’d asked that very question and no one answered.

  “If we are at war,” she told them, “the last thing you will be worried about is your job. But these walls and these men,” she pointed to them, “will save your life if they can. But if they are breached, who do you think will be cut down first? Those without weapons and nowhere to run. There is more you can do to protect yourselves, to do your part to make sure that doesn’t happen. So,” she’d told them, for three hours everyday everyone including her, would be training with weapons. Every cook, maid, metal worker, carpenter, stockman and man servant would learn how to protect themselves and the person next to them. They were to pick a weapon and join the soldiers in training and if war came, they were to pick up that weapon and defend themselves.

  She gave over to the Sergeant at Arms who, had she thought, had given her a bit more respect by the end of it and told them what to do.

  They trained every day.

  She more than most, to keep her mind from fearing where Eldron was.

  Three weeks in and no sign or message from Eldron and she’d started to worry. She’d stood on the parapet and looked down on Kate with her bow and arrows amongst other members of the household that had joined her in their own troop. Her aim had been good.

  The staff had grown in confidence. Many of the household were simply not strong enough for hand to hand, so they’d made up a arrows battalion of their own making with Kate leading them. Eleanor had smiled. Most already had some experience with killing game to live, it was a natural progression.

  The Sergeant at Arms would come to see her each day on that first of her visits to the boundary wall that day. They had formed somewhat of a friendship and she stayed long enough to receive his report. This day was no different.

  “They look good Miles.” She told him honestly using his first name.

  “You need to have them face an oncoming threat. See if they hold or break,” she told him.

  He’d nodded. “It will be soon, I have it planned. There’s no sign of him yet my Lady the scout is in.”

  Eleanor nodded sadly holding back her fear each day he told her the same news.

  A few days later they stood recalling the day when he’d held out a wrapped cloth. “My Lady,” he half bowed. “I had these made for you. I know you do not have your own and miss them.” She opened the cloth and two small swords lay within. “They will be better for you to handle, give you more scope should you need to use them.”

  Eleanor hadn’t hidden her surprise. She took them, feeling their weight. He was right they were better, lighter; she could move easier and wouldn’t be so taxed. They were similar to her own.

  “You should use them, let them become part of you.” He’d told her. She’d nodded thankfully looking at the blades and the intricate work in both the hilts and blades themselves.

  “They are beautiful. Were they made here?”

  He shook his head. “No. The Lord found them in his travel’s. They were with the other weapons bounty stored here. I remembered seeing them and had them reworked and sharpened.”

  Putting them back in their scabbards, she wrapped them back in the blanket.

  She’d asked quietly. “Still no word?” He shook his head.

  Eleanor had stared out over the horizon.

  If he was gone….. if they were all gone…..

  Her chest tightened and she forced back her fears for them once more. For him and his people. They were her people now she’d recalled. They needed a leader, not a lovesick child. Eldron would come or he would not, but war was coming. She needed to be the leader they needed in his absence, that was her role here as his wife. She needed to lead not wallow.

  And suddenly she’d known her purpose. She’d checked the horizon again and took note that there was way too much ground to cover for their small army and for the enemy to take root or camp in. If the war came, they would need help and diversion to keep them at bay. She’d read many books on war and she’d recalled them, her excitement had gained footing.

  “Miles,” she’d told him swiftly before she lost her nerve. “You are a man who knows his business. I look out there and I fear that we could be better protected if the land was in our favour.”

  He looked out and then back to her and nodded. “I want those trees cut down another 50 paces back. From the trees every 50 paces I want a 3ft pit dug and a trench connecting them all to each other surrounding the outer wall. Oil and straw are to fill them. If it’s needed, one arrow will light the lot.”

  He looked at her in surprise. She smiled. “I have war knowledge. Send word, I want the biggest cook pots available and all the oil this county
has.” She looked at him sternly. “We pay for it and we do not take from the people, surplus only.” He nodded.

  “Along the walls, I want the cook pots braced on stands that will allow them to be poured over the wall without, burning us, a fire is to be ready to light under them at all times. If they make it to the walls, that oil will help to keep them out.”

  “Do you have any other suggestions?” she’d asked. He looked surprised at being asked.

  He looked around assessing. “Our biggest weakness is the gate. It’s mainly wood and will burn eventually and allow them in. A layer of metal shields attached to the metal framework will prevent that.”

  He looked at her hesitantly. “Good,” she told him. “Do it. And have it soaked in water each night. Anything else?”

  He became more confident. “Yes, they will use a battering ram to get in. There is no moat here. We should build one across it, fill it with spikes. A system of pullies can bring out a bridge to allow access.”

  “Good, excellent I’d been thinking the same thing,” she walked on with him following her. “What next.”

  He had some good ideas and some she expanded on. They were lucky they had access to ore, rock, wood and water. They called in more people who wanted work. Metal workers, stone workers, wood workers and arrow makers. Roofs were reinforced, straw removed and replaced with wooden planks a layer of stone laid over them. Stone didn’t burn like wood or straw.

  Barrels of water were stationed on all roofs and walls. Miles told her they would use trebuchet to break the walls and she agreed. There wasn’t much they could do about that but if they couldn’t get near enough, the damage would be minimal.