Book One: Chapter Nine
Brown liquid and half-digested carrots fell to the ground. Suetaera coughed and sputtered in the shadow of a tree. When she heard humming, she hid behind a bush. A tickling caught the back of her throat as she held back a cough, but could only do so for a moment. The source of the humming was on the other side of a vegetation. The humming stopped when Suetaera coughed loudly.
"Mistress Suetaera is that you?"
The sick young woman looked up to see a tall woman holding a bundle of sticks. She had small light brown eyes, thin lips, wavy dark brown hair and a fleshy nose. Suetaera stood, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand.
"Hello Heilgi. Sorry, I-"
"Are you alright mistress?" the woman asked with concern.
"Yes fine, thank you," she replied with a dismissive hand as she suppressed another cough.
"Are you sick again?" Heilgi asked.
"A... again?"
"Yes I heard you throwing up yesterday morning as well, although I didn't say anything. Wait.. are you... are you with child?" she asked with slight joy in the discovery.
"No...no I.. I can’t be," Suetaera said with wide-eyed denial.
"I wasn't sick at all with my first, but I threw up every morning for almost two weeks straight with my second. How many days have you been throwing up? And your blumfealvoach has been late?" Heilgi asked curiously.
"I've been sick for three days. And it's been over two months since my last blumfealvoach," Suetaera said with a heavy sigh.
"Congratulations," Heilgi smiled. "I know you've both had quite a time of it. You'll make a great mother."
"Uh… thank you Heilgi, but please… don't tell anyone. I'm sure that… my husband will want to make the announcement."
"Oh by all means. I will take my leave." The woman bowed slightly.
"And Heilgi, please don't mention anything to him either. He may get cross that you found out."
The peasant nodded and smiled in agreement. She carried her bundle of sticks deeper into the brush, bending down occasionally to gather more as she started humming again. Suetaera darted past her, back to the manor. The sun began its ascent as she entered quietly into the tall edifice. She walked toward the fire where she noticed Femuh bouncing Gienmeid, the lord's grandchild on her knee. Her husband, the bailiff Ishdermein, entered the main hall and adjusted his jacket.
"Suetaera, come here," he ordered.
She approached obediently.
"You're up early this morning," he remarked.
"Oh yes… I was helping Heilgi collect wood. I… I don't think she was feeling well," she lied. "I... I should help in the kitchen now." She turned away from him with haste.
"Wait, my wife," he said.
"Yes?" She paused and bowed her head in a obsequious manner. He took her hand and looked into her eyes.
"Are you alright? The servants say you have been frequently away," he said softly.
"I was feeling dizzy again, but it was… nothing more than old bread."
"I see. Is it not because of m-me?" he asked, his voice trembling slightly.
"You? Why… why?"
"Do you… Do you despise me?" he asked, suddenly forlorn.
"N-no," she said with a surprised expression.
"You must… I'm sorry I cannot give you a child." He closed his eyes and turned away. "I curse that horse… every day for causing my impotence," he groused.
"It was only awful luck," she countered.
"I have thought about asking the priest to grant us a divorce, but I don’t think he would. And even so, I have grown too fond of you," he said with a smile. "Till death do us part it is."
"Yes," she replied weakly.
* * *
The aging priest’s wavering voice echoed in the fane as he continued a sermon in the late autumn morning.
“What Fareik has combined, man should never sunder. The marriage of a husband to his wife is sacred. To remind us, I read from the fifth chapter of the Faitome." He paused for only a moment before continueing. "On the 5th of Weiterbstmonat we will celebrate Herbleichsundai. There will be a festival in village square. Everyone should wear dark orange and red colors to match-”
A woman in a blue robe, a hood and wimple over her head, rushed to the priest's side and whispered in his ear. He stopped talking. She opened the tome on the lectern to a place marked with a yellow ribbon, then she walked off before he began.
The father of all… Jemein begot Seiver. Seiver begot Wotai. Wotai begot Antai. Antai begot-
The woman zipped back to the dais and pointed to a place on the opposite page to where the priest was reading.
"Ah," he said with a nod. Again she walked off, this time with a pained sigh and a shake of her head.
My faithful servants, do not give in to the temptations of others. You shall rebuff the romantic advances of all save your wedded.
Husbands, do not stand idly by your wives. Women are fertile soil of desire for a man’s seed, and must be guarded and controlled to prevent the corruption of their flesh by others.
Husbands, if your wife cannot conceive a child, only then may you lie with another to produce an heir. This arrangement must be blessed in a temple. To do so without the blessing is considered a grave offense and equal to infidelity, punishable by death.
My faithful servants, to allow others in your bed for reasons of pleasure is a grave sin. You must lie in bed with only your wedded. It was by my blessing that you were married. To lie with another is an affront. Those that defy the blessing of Fareik are equal to the lowest animal and shall be publicly put to death. Your neighbors are to carry out your execution. They shall tightly lash you to the tallest tree with heavy rope or bonds so that you cannot escape. Your neighbors shall gather stones no larger than a dew-melon in a pile near the tree. Those in attendance shall throw stones until you are dead.
"So says the the book of light,” he droned, finishing the reading from the large tome on the lectern.
“Fareik illuminates all,” they said in response. Suetaera had turned quite pale.
The priest closed his eyes and the congregation did the same. He began a short prayer entreating Fareik for good fortune in the coming week. After, the men filed out of the fane first and then the women. Ogunof began speaking to a man with graying hair, glancing to the entrance of the fane. When Suetaera appeared in the doorway his eyes brightened and he said goodbye to the man that was barely holding his attention. Ogunof stared at Suetaera, and he made a big motion as he scratched the top of his head. He looked for her recognition, but there was nothing, she simply strolled forward to her husband’s side. They began to walk towards the manor across the village square. The peasants, except for those servants working in the manor, went back to the village. Ogunof trailed far behind Suetaera and Ishdermein. He coughed and did a big stretching motion again, and again. Once he was so loud that Ishdermein turned around. Ogunof immediately turned towards the village.
When they got back to the manor Ishdermein instructed the servants in their daily work and asked his wife to help oversee food preparation in the kitchen. Suetaera entered the small cooking area, and immediately grabbed a few radishes from a shelf of vegetables and a knife and took them with a cutting board to the counter in front of a small window.
Heilgi entered the kitchen with a smile, a shorn ewe on her back. Her daughter entered right behind a few logs in her arms.
"Hello Lady Suetetara," Heilgi said.
"Hello. Hello Sanga," Suetaera said to the young woman.
"Greetings m'lady," she said with a smile.
"How are you?"
"Good. Uh... congratulations on your baby."
"Uh..." Suetaera looked at Sanga solemnly. The girl covered her mouth in regret.
"Oh dear, I'm sorry m'lady I..."
"I told you not to tell anyone," Suetaera said to Heilgi in consternation. Her breath quickened and her eyes darted to the doors and windows as if she wanted to find the best exit.
"I'm sorry m'lady,” she said sincerely. “I swear my daughter is the only one I told."
"It's alright, yes," Suetaera’s said with dubious confidence, gripping the knife tightly.
"But it is such a joyous occasion, your first child. If I may ask, why haven't you announced it yet?"
"Uh.. I don't know, I suppose Ishdermein is waiting till the right time," she snapped.
"Yes, yes I'm sorry."
"Sorry," Sanga repeated.
"Don't tell anyone else," Suetaera said acrimoniously.
Heilgi nodded and bowed her head. When the moment had passed she and Sanga prepared the kitchen fire with the sticks they had brought.
Suetaera went back to cutting vegetables. Sweat rolled down her forehead. She heard the door open and her husband stepped inside.
"How is everything coming along?" he asked.
Suetaera turned to face him and wasn't paying attention to what her hands were doing.
"Ow," she said loudly.
"What happened, are you alright?" Ishdermein asked. “I’ve told you before, to let the servants do the work.” Heilgi handed Suetaera a towel.
"Yes, it's just a little cut. Uh... Heilgi, could you handle the soup while I tend to this?" she said, indicating her hand.
"Yes of course, Sanga and I can prepare it."
"Can I help yo-" Ishdermein started.
"No, I'll gather the herbs to mend it," Suetaera said stubbornly. She left the kitchen and entered the main hall. A few girls were learning how to sew from Geinga in a corner, but everyone else had left to work outside. Suetaera went into the bedroom. An old man with thin gray hair was getting dressed on a small cot in the corner.
"Good morning uncle Yaeter," she said.
"Hello my dear. How are you?"
"I just cut myself, slicing the vegetables," she explained.
"Oh my, is it serious?"
"No, it’s not very deep."
"Oh that's good," he smiled. He used a cane to amble closer. As he approached, she kissed him on his wrinkled cheek. His back was hunched and he looked like a withered prune, but he still moved pretty well for his age. "I'll see you later then," he said with a smile. He walked out the bedroom with his wooden cane thudding against the ground.
Suetaera sighed and leaned against the wall. She cried softly there until she heard something.
"What are you doing?" came a loud whisper from behind her. She turned, but saw no one. She dried her tears quickly.
"Hello?" she said.
Ogunof popped up from the window.
"Is everything alright? I got worried when you didn't even look at me today,"
"I told you not to come back, we’re finished. And, well... today's not a good day."
"Just half an hour."
"No I'm busy," she said, grabbing a leather satchel from the bottom of the wardrobe and putting a few dresses inside.
"Where are you going?"
"I'm not going anywhere."
"Then why are you packing?"
"It...it doesn't matter."
"Suete, what's the matter?"
"Just go, we aren't going to scrump today," she retorted.
"What's wr-" he ducked before he finished his sentence as the bedroom door squeaked open.
Suetaera turned around to face the door, her face red.
"Are you talking to someone?" asked a man with a high forehead and thick black hair.
“No master Martein,” she replied. "I'm-"
“Are you changing? Oh I’m sorry,” he said looking at the clothes and then closing the door. After a few moments…
"Suetara, please. Just tell me why you are leaving," Ogunof whispered, his head popping back up into view.
"I can't."
"So you admit to leaving."
"I didn't say that."
"Where are you going?"
Suetaera sighed.
"I don't know actually," she confessed.
"Packing without knowing where your destination is?" he asked incredulously. “Would you like me to go with you?"
"What? No." she quickly replied.
"Do you have food and water?"
"Uh…"
"Where will you sleep?..."
"I-"
"Even if you have food it will eventually run out. How will you get more?
She looked at him blankly.
"I'm going with you," he said firmly. “It's dangerous for a woman to go alone,” he warned. She looked at him pensively. He smiled and then furrowed his brow, his expression changing to confusion. "Do I have something on my face?" She laughed.
"Alright, you can come," she relented.
"Good," he said with a serious nod.
“Do you want to meet after the sun sets? The moon will be full tonight, it’s a good omen.”
“Yes, behind the stables. I will come when everyone is asleep,” she said.
"I will be waiting."
"Alright," she sighed.
"Mistress Suetara," she heard from afar. “Mistress Suetara, are you alright? Did you bind your wound?” said Heilgi, approaching her bedroom door.
“I’ll be back to the kitchen in a minute!” she called back. Ogunof retreated into the woods.
Suetaera waited until she heard footsteps walk away and then took a hat, a pair of leather traveling boots and a couple changes of clothing. She searched through another wardrobe until she found a large leather satchel. She put everything inside and cinched the leather bag shut. She hid the bag beneath her skirt, and then walked outside, a towel still wrapped around her hand. She peered around the manor as she walked to the back. She walked towards the trees and behind one of the bushes she hid the satchel. With fear she looked from around the tree, and then walked back around the manor towards the front.
* *
That night Suetaera held her eyes closed, listening for the telltale signs that her husband and uncle had fallen asleep. It had taken them many hours past the setting sun. Her brother Aldageir's bed was empty, which wasn't too strange. She noticed that there were times he didn’t come home till the early morning. She wondered what errands Sir Edvin had given him. Or, she hoped, he had finally found a girl he could marry.
She slowly slipped out from beneath the sheets, an inch at a time, but suddenly her husband turned over and placed his arm across her. He snored loudly in her ear. She pushed him gingerly back over and sat up in bed. She looked back at him for a minute, breathing softly as a tear escaped from her eyes as she closed them. She sighed and stood up from the bed. When she opened the door, it squealed loudly. Her husband stirred, but went back to sleep. She sighed in relief and moved down the hall. She made her way quietly through the great hall and as she opened the small front door she heard a soft whisper.
"Mistress?"
Suetaera turned and saw Heilgi approaching her in night clothes.
"Are you alright?"
"Uh- yes I'm just going to the privy outside."
"Is your chamberpot full? I can empty it.
“No, I… I’m not feeling well and I…I…”
“Let me help you Mistress,” she said.
“No it’s alright,” she said with a shake of her head.
“It’s no trouble,”
“I’m fine,” she said loudly.
“Oh what is that?” came the voice of someone from the hall. “I’m trying to sleep.”
Heilgi turned towards the dark corner where she heard the voice and Suetaera took the opportunity to rush out the door and close it behind her. She moved towards the stables, where a dim light shone from within. She looked back towards the manor before she spoke softly through the crack in the door.
"Ogunof?"
"Aye."
The stable door creaked as she entered. Inside, a hooded lantern rested on the floor, illuminating the young man with furrowed brow, sitting on a pile of hay. He was dressed in a gray wool hooded cloak over a linen tunic, leather pants and scuffed leather boots. Laying next to him was a closed woven basket with a strap so it could be slung across the back. Strapped to his belt was a knife and cocked against the enclosure of the horses was a bow and quiver filled with several arrows.
"I was beginning to think you weren't coming," he said with relief.
"I was nearly caught as I left. We should hurry," Suetaera warned.
"Which horse should we take?"
"None of them," she replied.
"We'll be able to go much faster and easier with a horse."
"We aren't going to steal horses."
"Just one," he pleaded.
"No," she said firmly. "I left my satchel in a bush behind the manor, come with me."
"Fine. Let's go."
They walked quietly to the back and easily found the satchel. Suetaera draped it across her shoulder, before they moved back to the path. It ran north towards the dirt road.
"The other way," Suetaera said as Ogunof turned East at the fork.
"Towards Meikell? Why?" he asked.
"I want to say goodbye to my cousins."
"Cousins, cousins? What if you wake the whole manor? We'll get caught."
"They have their own separate room on the side. We can talk to them without waking anyone else."
"Fine, you must be very close," he sighed with exasperation, turning the other way.
"We spent so much time together when we were younger."
The moon, high in the sky, shone brightly along the trees and bucolic environment. They walked for half an hour or so along the path, mostly silent, when Suetaera turned towards Ogunof.
"I'm glad you are here with me tonight, these woods can be scary at night."
"Well there are a few wild animals to worry about. Not to mention kabrates."
"It's not that. Something in the woods between Bausheiv and Meikell makes weird noises at night."
"All forests are like that."
"This one is different, I've heard- what's that sound?" Suetaera asked.
"Horses. Hurry, let's get off the road."
They went to the side of the beaten path and Ogunof pulled Suetaera behind some trees, just as the source of the clopping hooves came into view.
Horses and their riders galloped to where they had just left and one pulled to a stop. The other two kept on going.
The rider looked into the forest.
"What is it?" said another after riding back to the one that stayed behind
"I think they see our lantern, go farther," Ogunof said, grabbing her hand.
They ducked their heads behind a tree trunk as the unknown riders took a closer look. One pointed towards the forest.
"Taxiau's teeth, this lantern will betray us," Ogunof complained, watching them approach.
"Let’s leave it," Suetaera said, moving deeper into the forest.
"No," he said, “I’ll just…” Then he blew out the lantern.
"There!" the stranger exclaimed.
"Run," Ogunof said, grabbing the lantern in one hand and her arm in the other. Suetaera grabbed her skirts and pulled them up so she wouldn’t trip. They ran in a direction roughly away from the road for nearly two minutes until they collapsed behind a tree.
"Rest here," he said. Suetaera didn't reply with words, she just breathed very hard. Ogunof peered around the trunk. "I think we lost them," he whispered.
"Ogunof!?" she said fearfully.
When he turned back he saw a man pointing a sword at Suetaera's chest.
"Stand up, slowly," the man said in a gruff voice. The two complied. "What are you doing here?"
"We... we're just passing through," Ogunof replied.
"In the middle of the night? Do you think I’m daft?" he asked threateningly, as he pressed the blade against the skin of her neck.
"Of course not. Just take it easy.”
"I.. I'm running away."
"With your gallant boy?" he asked mockingly.
"Uh..." Ogunof muttered
"What is it?"
"There's some- something behind you," Ogunof stuttered.
"Me mate most likely," he said.
"I - I rather doubt it," Ogunof said, his face pale.
"Cassara my dear, is it your countenance I see?" came an echoing voice.
"Who by Taxiau is that?" the bandit asked incredulously as he turned. There floating in front of him was a distinguished, but translucent man wearing a doublet. An ethereal blue light composed his form.
"Thief," the ghost spat. "You must be the Demou savage that has stolen my Cassara." The ghost drew a fell looking rapier from a thin scabard and thrust it forward. "Have at you ruffian!" The bandit attempted to parry, but the blow went right through him.
"Agh!" the bandit cried in fright, staggering back, and spitting blood.
"Run!" Ogunof cried. The two scattered, going nearly opposite directions. When Suetaera had realized their mistake she looked back towards where she had come from, but she saw an eerie glow that frightened her to the core. She ran and hid next to a tree.
"There you are," she heard behind her.
She cried out, but then felt comforted as he embraced her from behind.
"I didn't mean to scare you," he said. "I was afraid he had found you again," he said comfortingly, as she felt his hand going through her hair. She closed her eyes, feeling safe. "I'm glad I found you Cassara." Suetaera opened her eyes, which appeared vacant as a blue ethereal hand brushed her hair. The spectral man was young and ruggedly handsome and wore leather armor compared to the other spirit who was dressed in clothes of a higher class. He began unbuttoning her blouse with a grin. He exposed her breasts and began kissing her neck.
"We should hurry before your husband returns," he muttered, unlacing his breeches. Suetaera was languid as if half asleep as the man took out his dick and pressed it to her lips. It was already erect and parted her lips easily, as the ghost grabbed the back of her head and began thrusting back and forth, fucking her mouth with abandon. She struggled and gagged.
The rocking back and forth lasted for only a minute or two, then Suetaera felt him cum in her throat. She choked and spat out his cold ectoplasm, shaking her head as if waking from a dream.
“What, no. I…. you’re not. I thought-” the man said, looking at her full in the face.
"What?" Suetaera asked.
"You aren't Cassara, but you look like her. I'm sorry I... why didn't you say that you weren't her? Are you a whore?"
"I am not. I am the wife of Ishdermeim," she said in a timorous voice as she buttoned up her blouse. "Bailiff of my lord Edvin's manor, Bausheiv.” She was trying to be strong. “You, sp..spirit of a Demou knave!"
"Spirit? Why do you address me as such?"
Suetaera backed up from the ghost and then ran to where she thought was the direction of the road. She covered her mouth when she found the bandit there dead. The now familiar glow of a spirit came deeper in the forest, so she approached carefully.
*
Ogunof ran into a branch shortly after he left Suetaera and collapsed, unconscious. An unseen force pulled him by the legs towards a burnt out house. It stopped inside and the faint form of an attractive young noblewoman could be briefly seen smiling over him. Then her corporeal image disappeared. Ogunof was still unconscious, as his belt unlatched. A cold ghostly hand pressed down into his trousers to grab his genitals.
"Wake up Deiden, I want to play," her chill voice said. There was a flicker of blue flesh above him as his eyes opened. He could barely see a ghost sitting on his chest. He couldn’t get up. He moaned softly as her cold spectral lips enveloped his entire member. He quickly became hard despite her frigid fellatio. His eyes were vacant as she pulled up her dress and sat down on his dick.
"Let's see if this will wake you my love," she giggled.
* *
Suetaera approached the glow with trepidation, hearing panting and grunting as she saw what appeared to be a burnt home. Stones were overturned and the thatched roof was completely missing. She walked slowly to what was once a window, now an open hole in the remaining wall. What she saw inside shocked her. A spectral female figure was on top of Ogunof. He lay on the ground, his eyes partially open, while the translucent ghost rose and fell upon his throbbing cock.
"Stop!" Suetaera called out as she went into the home. She tried to grab the spectral figure, but her hand passed right through.
"Yes Deiden, I love your Demou dick. It feels so good. Give me your seed!" the spirit cried with an eerie echo as she faded away.
"Ogunof!" Suetaera shouted as his cock erupted into the air, spraying cum onto her face. The sudden release must have jarred him awake. His eyes fluttered open and he smiled. "T-that felt so good," he said. “Thank you.”
"You pig!" she swore, wiping his seed from her brow and nose.
"What, you didn't like it?" he frowned.
"Seeing you scrump a ghost? No," she said with disgust.
"A ghost? No, I was with you," he said. "I think…," he said dubiously. They heard shouting from afar.
"Jaicobe, did you find those two?"
"Taxiau's teeth!” Ogunof swore, pulling up his trousers. “No time, we better go." He and Suetaera ran out of the burned ruins of the house.
"Which way?" Suetaera said as the young hunter stopped at a tree.
"This way," Ogunof said, pulling her ahead. They traveled for a few minutes until they broke through the edge of forest.
"Where are we?" Suetaera asked, pulling her hand away from his.
"We're going the right way towards your cousin's manor, based on the position of the moon in the sky. Did you still wish to say goodbye?"
"Yes."
"Alright then, let's hurry, but we should travel just inside the treeline. I don't want to be surprised again."
"Do you think those men will be back?"
"Likely not, since they were going in the opposite direction."
He went to hold her hand, but she pushed it away.
"Are you alright?"
"Yes..." she said dubiously.
"Why are you being so quiet?"
"I... I thought we were going to die," she replied. Ogunof stopped walking and she did also. "What?" she asked.
"Come here," he replied. She complied and when she was next to him he hugged her. "I'll protect you," he promised.
"Thank you," she replied. They stood like that for a minute, and then she broke the silence. "I'm still angry at you for scrumping that ghost.”
“I couldn’t move,” he said. “It was like a dream.”
“Fine, let's go."
They walked in moonlit silence towards Meikell Manor. When they finally reached the large building they went around to the side where the twins’ balcony was. Suetaera balked. The twins, her brother, and another young man were out of the house beneath the balcony. They looked harried and hurt.
“Why are you here?” the twins and Suetaera said in unison.
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