Solstice Castle - Chapter 13

Chapter 13

I barely abated the quaking that stirred within my spine from the glare of this man. His dark eyes glimmered with the sheen of the carapace of a poisonous thayl bug. Those eyes had seen evil; in fact their possessor had ordered its commission, and enjoyed the view. His thick, trimmed beard obscured but did not hide his thick-lipped slash of a mouth.

His demeanor lightened slightly, obeisantly as his gaze swiveled to the face of the Queen. "Ahh, Your Majesty," he croaked in an oily tone. "You will forgive me if I do not ask you to stay, but I am about the King's business, and the presence of the Queen would not be appropriate." He turned to the nearest guard. "Lanceman Walesh, if you would be so kind as to escort Her Highness upstairs, and please be sure to assist her as some dampness can collect and make the stairs treacherous."

Queen Serjeena did not move. "I do not recall that the King's business has involved the torture of young girls, Thaddeo Novan. And I will not leave until there is some convincing explanation for this!"

Novan sighed theatrically. "Your Highness, this gypsy wench and her people represent a threat to the continued reign of your husband, and I am merely seeking information. The King is fully aware of the threat and approves of these steps."

"My husband would not approve of such tactics! You are lying, Novan."

Novan sighed more heavily, as though confronting a wayward child. "Very well. Lanceman, if you will please go up and advise His Majesty that his wife is here and wishes a fuller explanation of our efforts to protect his throne." The guard hesitated. Novan shooed him away, urging, "Go ahead -- he will come." The young guard hurried off.

Just after the guard slipped through the doorway, two other guards came in, gently guiding the prince and princess -- Phrenshraw and the lovely, red-haired Paleem. Lorena, looking only somewhat disheveled, came in behind, wiping her face with the back of her hand; I could not suppress my grin at her predicament, to which she responded with a mouthed epithet apparently likening me to some part of my hindquarters. Phenshraw looked confused, and then grew angry as he saw the stunning Lindea (whose tryst with him in the laundry room several nights earlier I had interrupted) chained to the wall. Paleem appeared stunned, and not a little guilty. Her eyes refused to meet mine, but she did not appear suprised to see me.

A skinny, round-shouldered soldier, the taller of the two, stepped around them and addressed Novan. "Your Eminence, these two were lurking outside the door. I thought it best that you knew." Paleem turned to Serjeena, "Mother, I saw a scullery wench beckon Lorena to meet Jaze, and well, interesting things seem to happen around him. I brought Phrenshaw with me to see for himself... and, well, I was told you were all headed down here."

Novan squinted as if in thought, and finally smiled. "Yes, I suppose it would be best if your children were here as well -- to discover how much they too might have to lose."

Suddenly, the pieces seemed to fall into place, guided by the minimal explanation given me by the Queen. I stepped forward.

"So, Mr. Novan," I sneered. "You have somehow garnered enough of the jewels, and, with the coerced assistance of Lindea, have uncovered some information with which you are... perhaps, blackmailing King Abret."

The Queen turned to Novan. "I believe young Jaze may be onto something. What is the power of these jewels and how are you using them?"

A rasping croak erupted from the floor. The old crone rose gingerly and walked over to the Queen, stopping briefly to glare at Novan with hatred. "I will tell you of these jewels, Your Majesty. For they caused the ruin of my people, the gypsy people." The Queen nodded, and the old woman continued.

---

"It has been passed down from generation to generation, this story, few believing its literal truth. I know now it was not simply some legend. In the olden days, our land knew of wizards of modest but benevolent power, with which they could create animals of grace and beneficience and birds with a song to move the meanest of hearts, and keep the rivers clean and the crops plentiful.

"To enhance their powers, a convocation of all the world's wizards and the finest of craftsmen of precious jewels -- all of whom were gypsies -- was called. They assembled a store of the few truly precious gemstones in our land and carved and embued them with tremendous powers to see sights from both faraway lands and long distant times, as well as to control the powers of nature and even the minds of men. The priests were brought in to bless this undertaking, to suffuse their magic with the purpose of serving God and the deity's creations.

"Alas, at this time the old King, an ancestor of Abret and your two children," she added, nodding weakly at Phenshraw and Paleem, "suddenly passed away -- many suspected poison -- and his sole heir was a boy of only three. So, a regent was selected to govern until the boy was of age. The man chosen, Jackur, was a monster, from Drofnats." The woman spat out the last word, as though to rid her tongue of the taste of its speaking.

"Jackur had designs on the kingdom's powers and sought to turn the wizard's magic to his own uses. Knowing the beast's plans, the mages wisely refused and dispersed the jewels to many corners of the kingdom, although the regent seized some of them and stored them in the castle. To prevent their misuse, the stones' magic was altered so that it could be fully used only in the presence of a high priest, a king or queen of the gypsies, and the king or queen of the kingdom. In revenge, Jackur then had the wizards slain and the gypsies driven into exile. To impede the perpetuation of the power of the priests, he decreed that they should forever after remain celibate."

---

I broke in. "And somehow, Novan, you have collected most of the dispersed jewels, and were trying to force Lindea, who you believe -- as do we -- to be the rightful heir to the throne of the gypsies, to aid in your use of the jewels."

Novan's head snapped to me and his eyes roared in pained contempt. "Who is this ignorant young whelp and how did he get into this castle? What did he do, sleep with every woman in the castle?"

A sudden silence descended on the room. Novan did not seem to understand its significance, but Paleem stood straight and looked around. She looked not at Lorena and Rebca, and I suddenly knew for sure that it was Paleem who had spied on the three of us in our initial tryst in Lorena's bedchamber several nights before. Paleem's eyes lit on her mother's face; Serjeen flushed slightly.

"Mother??!!" the young girl cried. Phenshraw's gaze turned toward Lindea, whose dark beautiful features softened in guilt. "Lindea?" Her refusal to meet his eyes was all the confirmation he needed.

The Queen broke the tableau, muttering unconvincingly, "Don't be silly, dear." I looked for a quick exit from the room, but the stern visage of the guard nearest the door quelled any such thoughts.

Just then, the King burst through the doorway, raggedly dressed in a wrinkled blouse with shirt-tails askew and his breeches only half fastened. The Queen glared at him, and I could only speculate that he and the youthful blonde triplets with whom he had dallied the previous night had been interrupted in yet another visit to the oceanic fantasy I had weaved for them. Abret stopped as if struck in the forehead. His eyes slowly scanned the room, while his face changed expression at each stage -- as he espied his wife, his children, his laundress in chains, me (albeit receiving the least of his attention), the old crone, and -- finally -- his apparent confidant.

"Thaddeo," he roared, "what is the meaning of all of this?"

The assailant's voice increased in its insincere greasiness. "Your Highness, your family and their scruffy retainers unfortunately have descended by surprise upon the Drofnats' private quarters. They have interrupted the interrogation of which you and I spoke last eve. If you would reassure these well-meaning but misdirected members of your family that I am indeed carrying out the business of the throne and ask them to retire elsewhere, I would be quite grateful."

Serjeen strode over to the King, sneering at his incriminating dishevelment. "What is this? You agreed that this inhuman creature could put the whip to a laundress? I will not stand for it."

Abret's features softened placatingly. "Dear, there are serious threats about which you do not know. We -- Thaddeo and I -- are addressing them. Please do not ask further."

The dark-haired queen rose to her toes, and I realized that at her full carriage she was ever the equal in height to her husband. "I fucking well will ask further!" An audible gasp rose from the guards and the Princess, for none had known any queen to use such language. Her stare pierced at Abret's soul. His eyes dipped, and then he lowered his shoulders in defeat.

"Thaddeo," he murmured, "bring out the jewels and show them."

The beak-nosed man strode to a table next to the still-chained Lindea and opened a box. He motioned to the skinny guard, who unlocked Lindea's chains and pushed her over to stand next to the table, her hands still shackled. I remain astonished at the captivating, regal beauty and self-possessiveness which she conveyed.

In the box, I could see the mezmerizing brilliance of a collection of bright-colored stones of all hues. Novan carefully spilled the contents onto the table. Shimmering gusts of sparkle, of colors, of, for want of a better term, magic cascaded throughout the pile. Novan looked up triumphantly, grinning. "I have almost all the stones here. With the assistance of the King and at least the presence of Ms. Lindea here, we can read many things of the past. Most of these we wish to know, and others we would prefer others not to know. Come closer know, as the visions are not altogether clear in that we do not have the full roster of those who should attend."

The royal family stepped closer to the table. Lorena, Rebca and I -- being of lesser station -- remained behind them. Novan mumbled some incantation of guttural words, and a tableau appeared above the table. It appeared to display two figures about as tall as my arm is long -- a man and a woman. It was an astonishing feat, these figures appearing in the middle of the gloomy air of the dungeon, as though they were shadows projected on a wall, but in full color and in all dimensions. I craned my head to the side, and my view of them changed as though I was indeed walking around a couple of dolls. Still, the vision wavered, as though viewed under the surface of a running brook.

Abret took on the air of a carnival barker. "These two are Disproul -- Abret's cousin -- as she was some eighteen years ago; the man is some unknown person, a peasant perhaps, whose features we cannot make out. As you will see, Disproul will engage in some activity one would not expect from the unmarried niece of a king."

At that, Paleem, ever the observer of all things salacious, crowded closer to the table for a better look, leaving me room next to her to gain a better vantage. I stepped up and the figures became markedly clearer. The man was revealed to be a strapping, lantern-jawed, athletic fellow of about thirty-five. The woman, in her late twenties, had light brown hair and striking, firm features. Novan's eyebrows raised in apparent surprise.

Abret gasped in surprise. "I knew that man. He was... No, it is impossible. He wouldn't..." The king left the man's identity unspoken. The couple bore a vague familiarity to me as well, but I could not place their faces to save my soul.

The couple was embracing heatedly. She wore a short, light blue gown, from which long, athletic legs emerged. The man wore a long dark robe, almost a cassock such as those I had seen visiting church dignitaries wear. Suddenly, his strong hands grasped the front of Disproul's gown and kneaded her breasts through the thin garment; her excited nipples pressed against the fabric exposed between his fingers. After a moment, his hands grasped the top of her robe and gracefully pulled it below her firm breasts. Her arms snaked around his neck and pulled his face to hers, where their lips dueled in a passionate kiss.

Paleem squeeked in surprise and not a little excitement; her brother, Prince Phrenshaw emitted out a long, low whistle, which drew a rebuking glance from the king. Serjeena shook her head, muttering, "I don't think the children should be watching such carnality," but made no further move to banish them from the room, paralyzed as she was by her shock at seeing the tableau floating above the table.

Lorena and Rebca glanced at each other and pushed forward to view this taboo scene for themselves. Just then, sounds began to emerge from the couple in the scene, sounds readily identified as the sort of panting and sweet implacations of a couple lustily enjoying the fruits of one another's body. "Oh, Andis," her voice cried in tones that were no less regal for her passionate endeavors. "I know we shouldn't but, oh God I love the feel of you, and your strength."

The King glanced at Novan and accused, "I did not know you could elicit the sounds of the event." Novan shrugged, "I was not aware of this myself. Somehow, our powers with the jewels increase. Perhaps with more than one member of your family here, the use of the jewels is enhanced."

The man, Andis, a name that also tickled the back of my mind, quieted her with a kiss. In a voice of great timbre and obvious power, he admonished, "Hush, my sweet princess, we should not be using His name, and have so little time." He gently laid her on the ground or floor -- one could not see the surface on which they rested. Andis dropped his head to the beautiful woman's breast and began suckling voraciously. As he did, he slid the gown down over her slim hips and down her thighs, revealing her flat stomach and light-brown pubic hair.

His left hand slid over Disproul's stomach and cupped her mons. Her slender thighs sprung open willingly, granting him entrance. I could see his strong hand rub at her flowering cleft, and as her hips began writhing, his middle finger probe at the parted lips and then forcefully enter her. Her hips jerked up to capture his digit, pressing herself against the base of his hand.

Andis sawed in and out of her, bringing her to even greater passion. Her loins rocked mildly from side to side, as though in a dance, but the clenching of her thigh muscles revealed the nearness of her completion at his hand. With a muffled scream, her head darted forward and clasped his thick, dark hair between her teeth, and her hips jerked up and locked against fingers. It was apparent to all watching that her climax was upon her. Our room was filled with the sounds of our own heavy breathing, almost matching the loud breathiness of the stunning Disproul.

As her spasms subsided, she reached up and pulled at her lover's collar. "Come now, my love," she pleaded. "We have limited ourselves to play for too long. Come and take me, at least this once. The future is too uncertain to leave ourselves with regrets for consummations that we have let elude us."

When the man hesitated, Disproul wrestled with the collar and the buttons descending the front of his gown. She pulled it away from him, exposing a pale but heavily muscled, slim body. He was wearing a loose undergarment, a sort of short pair of pants, which was bulging obscenely with his own arousal. He looked down at the tented garment, as though surprised himself at the presence of this creature within.

Disproul leaned forward and wrestled the short undergarment over his hips, carefully drawing it over the tip of his stiff member. Her cry of, "Oh my lord!" coincided with the gasps of the women present: Serjeena, Paleem, Lorena, and Rebca, and even the shackled Lindea. Even though the figures were in miniature, perhaps one-fourth of their normal size, it was readily apparent that the man's cock was huge, larger than any I had seen displayed at the orgiastic festival the previous night.

Disproul grabbed the giant shaft and began to work her hand up and down its length, causing the essence of his seed to trickle out the tip and coat her fingers. "My love," she cried huskily, "I can claim no great experience in the dimensions of men, but this far surpasses what I might have hoped to enjoy from you or any man. Please, impale me with your sword now!"

Disproul again lay supine with her legs spread wide for her handsome lover. He awkwardly lay atop her and allowed her to guide his mammoth cock to the entrance to her tunnel. As the tip parted her flowering lips, instinct took command and his hips pushed forward. "Please, Your Grace," she protested with a wince. "Take your time, as it may take a moment to accomodate you."

Andis nodded and moved back, resting the cock head just inside her. He pressed forward more slowly, and then withdrew. When Disproul smiled, he renewed the motion with a hairsbreadth more force. He was clearly making headway in his efforts.

With five more insertions, each incrementally further than its predecessor, the man slipped all the way into her. Disproul's smile changed to an open-mouthed gasp, stretched as she was. Still, she encouraged him on, raising her hips in invitation. Resting his weight on his outstretched arms, Andis began rocking back in forth in that eternal motion enjoyed by passion-joined lovers. Disproul raised her knees to ease her accomodation of him.

He smiled down at her warmly. "I hope that I somehow am bringing you comfort, my sweet lady."

She grinned back, to the extent she could through the cunt- stretching sweet torture of her impalement. "My love, you are bringing me pleasure beyond my ability to described, and heightened as it is by my love for you." I could see tears of joy well in her eyes, and then Andis' face descended to hers in a kiss born more of true love than of simple passion.

Still locked in the kiss, Andis' hips increased the tempo of their lunges into her. Disproul locked her ankles together behind his ass and urged him to yet greater speed. After only a few moments, their lurching turned into a frenzied coupling, their loins slamming into one another.

With a strangled cry of "Yes, my love!" Andis held his hips to the loins of his lover, and one could almost see him jet his seed into the slender beauty. Her own explosion was just as obvious, but quieter, as she smiled into his dark eyes, panting through her finish. As their storm subsided, their loving kiss resumed.

Novan swept through the tableau with his hand and muttered another foreign phrase that we did not understand. The tableau slowly faded from view. All eyes in the room, save Novan's, were glazed in astonishment -- even those of King Abret, who I had understood had seen this scene before. Apparently, his previous viewings were without the clarity afforded on this occasion.

Queen Serjeena spoke up, her glinting eyes giving away her own excitement at watching the fornicating couple. Yet, her voice remained calm. "Very well, Novan, you have through this magic shown us my husband's long-dead cousin trysting with a man..."

"And quite an impressive one!" Lorena piped up.

"Oh, shut up, girl!" the queen admonished; the blonde blushed and backed away. "So what is your point in showing us this?"

Novan smiled, as though in triumph. "Well, Your Highness, it seems that as a result of this assignation, poor Disproul found herself with child. Her scandalized family sent her off to the Berkan Islands to have her child, to hide their shame."

"Some three years later, old King Wherel passed away without any direct heirs. So, it was left for the sitting cardinals to choose among the most direct heirs for the occupant of the throne. There were two candidates: his sister's son, young Prince Abret, to whom you had been married several years earlier. The other candidate was his brother's daughter Disproul, and a messenger was sent to tell her of the King's death so that she might return to stake her claim to it, if she chose.

"If she were to return, she would have had a very strong claim. Of course, the preference is to place a male on the throne where all other factors are of equal weight. Here, however, she might well have been granted the throne if she had sought it, as she was older than Abret, and exceedingly smart and talented, even musically so. The conventional view of your husband at that time, by contrast, was that he was a pleasant and well meaning young man, but not particularly bright or responsible, inclined as he was to savor the more hedonistic pleasures of life." Abret raised his head as though to protest, but remained silent.

"With this in mind, we come to the events that make it crucial for you to not interfere with the plans that I have made with the King's approval. We will now display a scene of a ship tossed about on the waves one sunny afternoon. On this ship was one Disproul and the twins that she bore as a result of her impetuous afternoon with the..." Novan broke off, as he espied the King standing there, shaking his head, his eyes staring at the jewels on the table. "What is it, Your Majesty?" Novan beseeched.

"I had no idea; no idea at all," the sovereign muttered through his dark beard. He looked up guiltily. "That man, Andis, the one who fathered Disproul's children -- he was the Cardinal for all of our country..."

Continued in Chapter 14

---