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WARNING! WARNING! This chapter ends with a scene that
may upset many readers! If you are sensitive, do not
read the last two paragraphs.

Chapter 18: A Predicament Met


We re-wrapped the body in the burial shrouds and made
our way silently back to our rooms. I had a lot to
think about. I considered all I knew of Garou.
Admittedly, at the moment, it seemed terribly
miniscule. But one thing I did know was the effect of
the lunar phases on the creatures. The night of the
Baronet's death had been a new moon. Only a Garou of
great age could have shape-shifted that night. Such a
creature was extremely dangerous. Dangerous because age
would give it wisdom and experience. Perhaps even
knowledge of Kindred. It was a problem to be considered
more closely, at another time.

The funeral itself had been uneventful. I'd had a
satisfying visit with the Marquise Eleanor's
Ambassador, and reassured him that steps were being
taken to rein in Terrence. But I was a bit surprised
that no one had arrived to represent the Count of
Gaiford. I'd heard from several reliable sources that
the Baronet had been a strong supporter of Terrence.
And it struck me as odd that he'd neglect to honor
Francis if this was true. Perhaps I'd ask him about it
when we met.


It was the night before we would leave for County
Gaiford. Mystique and I had just finished a long
discussion of strategies and tactics for the upcoming
campaign. And now she was leading me toward my bath.

Mystique had laughing eyes and shoulder length hair.
She was quick with a smile, and her sense of humor
could leave me in tears. She was also the most
accomplished instructor in the art of stealth and
assassination I'd encountered in decades. But at the
moment, it was her eyes and the perfect cones of her
breasts that had my attention.

She stepped into the bath, and sat on the shelf below
the water. She met my eyes and spread her legs apart,
then ran her hands up her thighs to where they met her
groin. I knew she didn't touch her sex, because she was
saving that for me, but she was making certain she had
my attention.

I stepped into the water and knelt before her. One of
the many advantages of being a vampire was the fact I
didn't breath. This proved to be useful as my face
dipped under the surface and I began to kiss her labia.
My tongue slid between her lips and up and down her
sex, until her hands clenched in my hair and pressed me
firmly against her. Then I drove my tongue into her
opening and began thrusting it in and out.

As I fucked her with my tongue, she ground her groin
against my face, rubbing her clitoris against my nose
and starting to whine with pleasure. I was enjoying
myself as well. With my tongue inside her, the water of
the bath didn't dilute the flavors of her nectars, and
as she drew nearer to her climax, her juices became
sweeter still.

When she climaxed, she closed her thighs around my head
and entwined her ankles, trapping me against her
convulsing pussy. And when her orgasm passed, she
released me and lay back with a contented sigh.

I crawled out of the water, and up the length of her
torso. As I knelt on the shelf she leaned against, I
slowly inserted my now erect cock between Mystique's
lips and began to fuck her mouth. She pursed her lips
tightly around my invading shaft, and sucked hungrily
as I slid it in and out.

Her tongue would flog the underside of my cock as it
slid back and forth between her tight red lips. She
would fill her mouth with saliva and swirl it around my
shaft, causing my cock to throb with delight at the
sensation.

Sometimes I would reward her with a powerful explosion
from my loins that she swallowed eagerly. But other
times, like these, I would withdraw from between her
lips and lay her backwards out of the tub.

With her head hanging back and lower then her thighs, I
spread her legs wide and drove my cock fully inside her
eager, wanton cunt. She screamed in delight as I
slammed into her violently, bruising her pussy with
each driving thrust.

And when my climax drew near, I jerked her upright.
Still impaled on my raging organ, I bit her nipple
hard, while my fangs slashed into her breast. She
screamed in pain, even as her pussy convulsed
frantically around the throbbing shaft that filled her
with molten seed. She bucked wildly against me, milking
the seed from the hose that vibrated within her, then
collapsed in my arms as I caressed her injured breast
with my tongue.

Then she kissed me gently before biting my lip and
licking my blood as it oozed out. I kissed her in
return, then pulled her down into the bath. We took our
time bathing one another, then moved to the bed to
snuggle together for a time.

Well before dawn the servants interrupted us, and
Mystique made her way to her chambers to prepare for
the journey to Gaiford.

After some discussion, we'd decided it would be best to
travel by day, and that I should make myself readily
visible to any observers. So the servants were dressing
me. Light cotton trousers and a padded jerkin.

Then steel cuisses were strapped to my thighs, steel
boots were pulled on and greaves strapped to my shins.
Spaudlers across my shoulders and bracers for my
forearms, then the heavy steel cuirass that would cover
my front and back torso. And when it came time for me
to greet the sun, a black velvet hood and a visored
helm would complete my protection.

Shortly after dawn I stepped out of my home. Waiting at
the ready were the sixty cavalry and thirty footmen I'd
told Terrence would accompany me. Next came the six
fine carriages of my Garden and advisors. In dozens of
wagons behind the carriages were the "camp followers",
ready to supply the soldiers with all of their needs.

In reality, the vast majority of these "camp followers"
were the Warriors of the Green. The women warriors each
had her weapons of preference concealed within easy
reach, as well as heavy crossbows and several quivers
of bolts. Terrence was in for a rude surprise if open
battle erupted, and the soldiers he thought he had
heavily out-numbered suddenly gained generous
reinforcements.

I strode to the heavily armored courser that stood at
the head of the column. The huge black mare nickered
softly at me, to be echoed by her sisters among the
exchange mounts at the rear of the column, then stood
quietly as I mounted her. When I was settled, one of my
attendants strapped the heavy shield bearing my coat-of-
arms to my saddle,  and the knight behind me unfurled
the Banner of Warrington from his lance.

Thus we began our journey to Gaiford, and the
elimination of the threat it's Count offered.


Three days later we had a camp set up and we stood
assembled before Terrence's castle at dusk. Although
somewhat smaller than Castle Caradine, the custodial
estate of Gaiford was obviously built as a fortress
ready for war. Laying siege to the place would be a
nightmare. I had no intention of doing so. I sent my
herald forward to announce my desire for parley with
Terrence.

I was a bit surprised when the castle gates opened
almost immediately and a force of soldiers spilled out,
lead by two Nobles. The coat-of-arms on the leader
identified him as the Count. The crest of the second
Noble I didn't recognize.

The Count stopped before me and lifted his visor. The
sun had been low enough that I had already removed my
hood, so when I opened my own visor, my face was
clearly seen. "Good eve, M'Lord. At His Majesty, your
Father's request, I am here to discuss the matter of
your relationship to your Liege Lady, the Marquise
Eleanor of Tellingsworth, and His Majesty's selection
of your Heir-Apparent."

"Yes," Terrence voice dripped with contempt. "My Father
informed me of your arrival, and your reasons. He
informed me that I was to present the daughter of my
last slut to you for His approval. Very well." He
turned to one of the men-at-arms beside him, and the
man signaled the castle.

A few minutes later four burly slaves came jogging
through the open gates bearing a covered palanquin. The
slaves stopped before there master and set the
palanquin gently down. "Your Grace, meet my by-blow,
Cynthia." With those words, Terrence and his entourage
turned and made their way back inside the castle, the
gates sealing behind them, and abandoning his daughter.

I dismounted quickly and noisily and strode to the
covered platform, signaling for Carlton, Kaylene, and
Iris to join me. I knelt and opened the drapes that
enclosed the palanquin, then sat down hard.



Warning!





Inside sat a small girl of perhaps five. Her fingers
were clenched in the folds of her dress, and she face
straight ahead. Her face was covered in blood. Some
still oozed from her empty eyes sockets, some dribbled
from her slack lips, and I could see the hair around
her ears was sticky as well. Iris knelt behind me,
looked inside, and promptly crawled away retching.
Kaylene stayed, but I could hear her sobbing softly at
my shoulder. Carlton opened the side panel of drapes,
and I watched the color leech from his face at what he
saw.

Looking at the girl, I strongly suspected what I would
find, but I had to know for certain. So gently as I
could, I opened Cynthia's mouth. She mewed with pain as
I did so, but I was sickened by the confirmation I
found. The girl's tongue had been brutally torn from
her mouth.

Then I noticed the small alabaster box beside her. I
couldn't believe he'd do such a thing. Didn't he know
how I would have to react? I opened the box, and felt
my eyes fill with tears. Cynthia had beautiful eyes of
turquoise blue. They rested in the box I held, along
with her tongue.


