Werewolf Knight 3, page 21
I decided to steal his approach. But instead of doing the silly little footwork again, I was just going to hand it to him.
Clancy made a move to try and jab at my stomach, but I leaped back. Then, just as he was about to lunge at me again, I brought my sword arm down and struck his sword clean out of his hand. It flew out of his right hand with a satisfying click, and then the sword clattered across the floor to my left.
“Finish him, Hank!” I heard Tabitha yell from behind me.
I felt a smile creep across my face. It felt like things were beginning to go my way again, and it wouldn’t be long until I really brought this fucker down.
For a second, Clancy froze, and I knew it was the moment of truth. He tried to make a run for the sword, but just as he swiveled around to try and collect it, I jabbed him in the lower stomach.
In an effort to avoid my jab, Clancy hunched down and tried to move past me so he could grab his sword. However, the plan backfired against him when I slashed my sword at his throat and made a deep cut.
The nobleman fell onto his back as the crowd gasped. I’d never seen much blue blood before, but now it was pouring out from his throat onto the cold stone floor of the castle. I looked down in horror. Had I actually killed someone during a duel?
Suddenly, the nobleman coughed and sputtered and rolled onto his side. I watched as the blue gash in his throat started to coagulate and close itself shut.
Hell yeah. Good old rapid werewolf healing. I was certainly glad that I hadn’t killed a member of the court, but it was my time to demand surrender. Henry Baker never failed.
“So,” I boomed so that the crowd would hear me, because evidently a grandiose speech was part of the ritual. “Is this a surrender, Sir Clancy? Do you admit that despite your footwork and proficiency with a sword, there is no greater fighter nor more quick-witted knight than myself?”
The knight rolled his eyes, but I knew that he loved the theatricality of it.
“You may win this time, Sir Henry, but I put up an honorable fight for an honorable cause,” he wheezed. “I congratulate you, victor, and thank you for this excellent duel.”
I removed my sword and held out my hand to help the knight up. He took it gladly, and I brought him back up to standing in one strong pull.
The crowd around us started hooting and hollering. Even though Tabitha had obviously shown favor for me, it seemed like everyone else was just there to have a good time, and it didn’t matter who really won. All the oldies were returning to their tables after successfully protecting the King, who was clapping politely on his upper arm. Sybil, Tabitha, and Imelda were doing a little dance with their elbows intertwined, and the squires were jumping up and down with their fists in the air.
I laughed at the crazy scene in front of me. Never in my life did I think that I’d get to party as hard as I did when I was in Lupercalia. The energy in the room was absolutely unbeatable, and I turned from the crowd to face my opponent.
“Great show, Clancy,” I said with a laugh. “I hope there’s no hard feelings.”
“No hard feelings at all,” the knight laughed, and he clasped my fist in his and shook my hand. “You did wonderfully in your first duel, boy. I might as well admit that there was a part of me that wanted to fight you just to see if the rumors were true. Well, you’re a fast learner, and it looks like the King is right about you in every way.”
I felt a smile grow across my face and my heart warm up as he said those things. I really did feel like the star of Lupercalia, and I was glad to know that the King was the one spreading such good rumors about me.
Clancy went to pick up his sword, and I saw Charles rush through the crowd at me. The knight wore a silly grin on his face and held his arms out wide.
“That’s my Hank,” he said, and he wrapped his arms around me tightly in a big bear hug. “What did I say? You didn’t need luck at all."
“I certainly did in the first half,” I said before pulling away. “It took me a moment to understand the difference between this dueling sword and my normal sword. This one is so flexible that you have to hold it softly and let it guide you. It seems counterintuitive.”
“Well, I could’ve told you that,” the knight said with a shrug. “But that wouldn’t have been as fun as watching someone as amazing as you figure it out yourself, now would it?”
“You sly dog,” I said, and I patted Charles on the back.
I saw Sebastian scuttle over with a big black velvet sack.
“Most wonderful victory, Sir Henry,” he squeaked, and he held the velvet sack up. “I will be taking your sword now. We will be needing it for the next duel.”
“Here you go, Sebastian,” I said, and I placed the sword in his hands.
He diligently swept the weapon into the sack and scurried off to gather Clancy’s weapon, too. The nobles quickly parted as the small man made his way across the room, and those that didn’t move quickly enough had their toes crushed as the squire went about his task.
“So what now?” I asked Charles.
“Just wait,” he said with a smile.
I looked around and noticed that a lot of the nobles were clutching metal mugs with liquid in them. I caught a few of their eyes, and they all ceremoniously raised their metal mugs to me. I did a quick spin in place and saw that even the squires and the King were holding metal mugs as well, and they were holding them up to me.
It was totally awesome.
“For his success in the duel against Sir Clancy of Yarikh,” the King boomed over the bustling crowd. “We would like to make a toast to Sir Henry Baker of New Jersey in his very first duel. To you, Henry.”
“To Henry,” the room followed, and the nobles all took a hearty slurp from whatever was in their mugs.
I felt a tugging at my knee and saw a shy-looking squire that I didn’t recognize. The squire held up a mug, and I saw that it contained a thin, white-ish liquid.
“Here,” the squire squeaked.
“Thanks,” I said as I grasped the mug in one paw.
I threw it back in one swig and even felt a little of it trickle down my side. The taste was unlike anything I’d experienced in my whole life. It was alcoholic for sure, but it also tasted both sweet and sour at the same time. It reminded me of the taste of kefir, and it gave me a little rush when I glugged it down.
“Congratulations on your success, Sir Henry,” the squire chirped, and I returned the empty metal mug to him.
“Thanks,” I said. “But what is that stuff? I’ve never tasted anything like it.”
“Fermented sheep’s milk with cinnamon and nutmeg, sir,” the squire explained before running off.
Holy crap. Fermented sheep’s milk? I had no idea that you could get drunk from milk. I felt like the guy in A Clockwork Orange who was addicted to the drugged up milk they drank, even though I had no interest in having another mug. Truthfully, if it hadn’t been handed to me, I probably never would have taken so much as a sip.
“Hank,” Sybil cooed as she ran over to me.
I picked her up and swung her around. Her legs tightened against me as she giggled, and I felt a rush of pleasure race down to my cock. I loved being the biggest stud in Lupercalia, and when we got home later, I was going to show my girls exactly why they hung around with Sir Henry Baker.
“Heya, honey,” I said into her ear before plopping her on the ground. “Did you like watching my first ever duel?”
The witch stared up at me with glowing green eyes, but before she could answer, I saw Tabitha charging out of the crowd straight at me.
“That was insaaaaane,” the noblewoman yelled, and immediately launched herself into me just like Sybil had done.
The bombshell wrapped her arms around my neck and gave me lots of small kisses on my face and ears that sent tingles down my spine.
Yep, this was the life.
I plopped the noble down, and both girls stood and stared at me with obvious adoration.
“So,” I said. “I gather that you two are happy with me?”
“Uh-huh,” Tabitha said with a laugh.
“And you aren’t embarrassed to be seen in public with me?” I asked.
“Nuh-uh,” Sybil responded with a coy smile.
“And so you wouldn’t protest to maybe coming back to my house tonight?” I asked, and I lifted an eyebrow.
“Oh, Hank, stop it,” Sybil said with a giggle, and she spun around on one of her feet. “You’re going to make me blush.”
“Good,” I said, and I realized that someone was missing. “Where’s Imelda?”
“She’s catching up with Timothy,” Tabitha replied. “And I’m afraid I didn’t just run over here because you’re so magnificent, even though you are the best knight here. The King wants to speak with you.”
“Of course he does,” Sybil sighed.
“Come on,” I said with a smile as I started to head for the throne.
It was slow going, since everyone we passed wanted to slap me on the back or offer me another toast. More than one noblewoman winked as I went by, even a couple that I knew for a fact were already married. It was a relief when we finally reached the dais where the King was speaking with Blueclaw.
“Sire,” I said as I bowed. “Thank you for that wonderful toast.”
“Ah, Sir Henry,” the King responded. “A wonderful debut. You really had me on the edge of my throne.”
Blueclaw laughed and slapped me on the back.
“Good show, boy,” he said. “And between you and me, if you’d lost, I would’ve been taking Tabitha back home in our carriage tonight.”
“Funny,” I said with a laugh. “That’s what she told me when I found out about the duel.”
“That’s my girl,” the old knight said and winked. “Only the best for her. She’s a warrior."
“That is all good and well,” the King said, and he placed a hand on my shoulder. “But Sir Henry, there is a very important matter which I think will be of interest to you. Ah, good, Charles is here too.”
Charles made his way over to our small crowd and sidled in next to the King and Blueclaw.
“Sire,” he said and bowed his head in reverence.
“I will be rewarding Sir Henry with an ingot of Moon Silver for his success in his very first duel today,” the King declared and waggled his eyebrows.
“Sire,” I said and tried not to gasp. “That is very generous.”
“I have ulterior motives,” the King said and looked at Charles. “With this amount of moon silver, Henry may have enough moon silver to forge his very own moon sword. Charles, I appoint you as his mentor during this time.”
Charles’ eyes widened, and then he looked at me and nodded proudly.
I couldn’t believe it. I’d been thinking about it all day, and now finally, it was happening. I would have my very own moon sword that I designed and crafted. I’d had a few ideas since I’d first seen the weapons, but now I’d finally get to put it into action, from the stones that would increase the blade’s power to the Lupercalian runes that would protect both me and my blade. I was already one of the most powerful fighters that Lupercalia had ever seen, and now I was about to increase my potential tenfold.
I couldn’t fucking wait.
“It would be my absolute pleasure to assist Hank… I mean, Sir Henry on this quest, Sire,” Charles said, and he bowed his head again in reverence for the King.”
“Thank you Charles,” he said. “I thought that you would be obliging, even though we are in the colder months. I know I can always rely on you.”
“Then I’ve done my job,” Charles said.
“I think that this has come at the perfect time, Sire,” Blueclaw added. “Henry’s learning capabilities are second to none. He will surely learn the ways of managing a moon sword with the same impressive speed as he has learned everything else.”
“My thoughts exactly,” the King said. “Henry and Charles, listen carefully to the information that I am about to give you.”
“I’m listening,” I replied, and Charles nodded in agreement.
The King cleared his throat and clasped his hands together in front of his stomach. He seemed to ponder what exactly he wanted to say, and then he cleared his throat again as he leaned forward.
“Very well,” the King said. “You will voyage to Lake Perig. You will forge your sword on the shore and cool it in the lake itself by the light of the full moon. Charles, you have done this before, so I bequeath the finer details of how Henry will carry this out to you. And Henry, Charles will accompany you to a camp, where you may take your friends and train for your journey. But remember this. You must forge the sword alone in order for it to be successful. The Moon Goddess does not grant her blessing to those who cannot make the journey on their own, as some have learned in the past. I wish you all of the best on your venture.”
With that, the King nodded and turned his attention to the rest of his nobles. He smiled as someone started to sing a drinking song, and then he whispered something to the nearest squire, who quickly ran off to get a cup.
“I guess we’ve been dismissed,” I whispered to Charles as we left the dais.
“We have,” Charles agreed. “And congratulations, Hank. I know that you’ll take well to the training. This is one of the most exciting moments in a young knight’s life.”
“I remember forging my moon sword,” Blueclaw said and shook his head. “It was so long ago, but I can see it like it was yesterday. When I went to cool it in the lake, the entire thing--”
“Henry will find out what happens on his own accord,” Charles assured old Blueclaw, and he patted him on the back.
“Of course he will, of course,” the old knight said and laughed gruffly. “It will be momentous. And then, once the sword is forged, you can have a long and storied career of filling it with the most powerful gems you can find. And then, who knows? The years will pass, and you’ll be able to join me here at the table of relics. Of course, I might just be history by then…”
“You’re getting too sentimental, Blueclaw,” Charles said with a laugh, and he gave him another slap on the back. “Anyway, I have to get home. I have to find a way to explain to my wife that I’m going to be away on official business and leave her with all the cubs.”
“Is that okay?” I asked.
“Of course it is,” Charles said with a low laugh. “We have as many servants just to watch the children as you have on your entire estate. She’ll just have to find someone else to find things to do with all the milk the cow is producing.”
“Oh, yes,” I said with a laugh. “Thank you for all the cheese. It’s delicious.”
“It’s a nightmare,” Charles said and shook his head. “And the animal is eating half of the grass in the Kingdom. Anyway Hank, I’m going to head off. It looks like you have a small army waiting for you.”
I saw that Charles was looking past my shoulder, and I swung around to see what he was referring to.
Tabitha, Imelda, and Sybil were lined up behind me, and they watched me with wide, sparkling eyes. Damn. I knew that the King was sitting right there, but I sure as hell felt like the King of the world.
“We overheard everything,” Tabitha said.
“That’s because you were eavesdropping,” Sybil said and lifted an eyebrow.
“Who cares?” Tabitha said with a cackle. “You’re going to be forging your moon sword, and you better take the three of us to your base camp.”
“Oh, yes,” Imelda added and nodded intently. “That sounds like so much fun. I want to go, too.”
“Ladies, ladies,” I said and made my way over to my gorgeous trio. “I would love nothing more than to bring you to my base camp. But until Charles is ready to leave, I think there’s somewhere else we should go first.”
“I can’t imagine where,” Sybil said and winked.
“I’m sure you could,” I replied, and I took a good look at the green-eyed witch.
Her hard nipples were poking out from under her velvet dress, and I couldn’t wait to wrap my tongue around them. I felt my cock grow harder in my pants and decided that I was sick of waiting.
“Let’s go home,” I growled.
The girls all squealed as I bared my teeth, and then the trio darted across the room toward the exit. I followed close behind, and though several people called out congratulations, I barely paid any attention. I only had one thing on my mind, and I wasn’t going to be distracted.
Dromgoole saw us burst through the door, and he started to run toward the barn before we’d even stepped outside. By the time we’d walked across the courtyard, the little squire was back with Casanova. The pup licked Dromgoole behind the ears, but the big black direwolf’s eyes lit up when he saw me coming, and the squire was soon forgotten.
“Thanks,” I said to the small squire as I accepted the reins.
“He’s had a fun time with his direwolf friends,” Dromgoole said. “But I could tell he was anxious to go home.”
“He’s probably hoping for some leftovers from the kitchen,” I laughed. “He knows if he isn’t home in time, the scraps will go to one of the other animals.”
“He’s a smart wolf,” Dromgoole replied.
“Come on, boy,” I said as I swung onto Casanova’s back. “Let’s go home.”
“Hey, don’t forget the rest of us,” Tabitha called up.
“Never,” I replied and chuckled.
I patted Casanova on the head as the girls took their spots, and a moment later, I felt a pair of arms wrap around my waist.
“I thought that it was my turn to sit behind you,” Imelda giggled into my ear.
I felt my cock grow even harder in my pants, and I couldn’t wait to see her face when we were back home and in my bedroom at the estate.
“Tabitha? Sybil?” I asked and turned to look behind me.
“We’re right here, Hank,” Sybil and Tabitha giggled, and they sidled up so that we were all squished next to each other.
“Then let’s ride,” I said, and I nudged Casanova on the side.
The direwolf kicked off and trotted across the drawbridge. I could see the lights of Stock in the distance, and I appreciated the delicate glow of the small town.
As Casanova headed toward the estate, the wind blew through my hair, and small snowflakes brushed against my cheeks. The direwolf gained speed as we raced across the empty fields, and we cruised across the dark frosty ground as easily as if it were a freshly paved road.
