KieranSoares
Literotica Guru
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- Apr 7, 2013
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The next day, almost all of the fighting men of Inverness left the town to face Wick and Sarah, leaving only a small force of guardians headed by Theo, Julia and Brogan's newest fighter from Wick who'd saved the children when they'd been trapped there. It was weeks before anyone returned, but then, Kayla and the other women in charge of caring for those who returned were overwhelmed with wounded men, led home by Boar who'd suffered permanent damage to his knees and a shattered arm among other things. Only ten dead came with them, though, and only three men did not survive their wounds later. Things were at a stalemate, Boar told them, neither side truly losing or winning because Brogan had skilled men whilst Sarah had vast numbers.
Another few weeks, and another wave of wounded returned, headed by a badly shaken Valentina. She was caring for Durban, who'd fallen into a coma from massive head trauma thanks to strange new, unstable weapons Sarah had borrowed from the English. They didn't bring any dead men back with them, they just couldn't carry them. Valentina reported that her father was near death, so much so that she couldn't have brought him home and it killed her inside to be away from the man when she felt he needed her most.
It was after this that Julia, accompanied by her brave and resolute nephews Ruben and Gabriel, headed south to seek allies in Edinburgh and elsewhere. Kayla, Kitty, Selena, Marri, and Emma were left the Keep and the town. Kitty took care of more diplomatic things whilst leaving her daughters and daughters-in-law to focus on their children and the wounded. Selena aided Valentina closely, trying to keep Val's mind off Vincenzo, and her own mind off her young son. Marri and Emma were mostly kept away taking care of their incapacitated husbands. Boar was doing better, but still incredibly weak and having an awful time coping with his ruined knees. Durban finally woke on the third day after returning home, and he'd broken down in tears of relief seeing that he was still alive with Marri. However, something was off about him, and he soon gathered the energy and words to tell them.
Durban reported what he could remember seeing Norsemen and Norwegian banners on the horizon, that he was certain he saw Norwegian Royal Guards. That meant only one thing: Wick's long-time friend and ally Norway and its king Olaf III was there to aid in the destruction of Inverness. Brogan was facing a force that nearly took over all of Britannia in 1066, but was only defeated by sheer luck on behalf of William of Normandy. Many people in Inverness lost all hope, and a few families fled south to Aberdeen or Glasgow.
Durban and Boar, as they healed, took over Inverness with an iron grip on defenses. Durban was once meant to be the king, til he was exiled by his father. He'd never wanted to be king and had been glad to see the mantle fall to Brogan. But right now, Inverness' King was fighting for their lives, and Durban knew he and the rest of the Ghis family needed to act in his stead. Emergency drills were drawn up and Aberdeen was contacted, agreeing to allow Invernessian people to take refuge there if they should need to.
Hope seemed to be regaining its flame, until it was snuffed out by the arrival of a letter addressed to the entire Ghis family:
To the Royal Ghis Family of Inverness,
I am Olaf, grandson of warlord Harald Hardrada who lost his proper claim on this land to the English. I have come to make these lands my own, and use Scotland to destroy England and Ireland so I may take them for my own. I bring an armada of ships, carrying three armies of four-thousand men from Denmark and Norway. Inverness only stands at five-hundred against just one of my armies. The other two will wait. Surrender now and give up your best to my men and I, and you shall live.
I will not negotiate, I will not give mercy if you refuse, and I will not hesitate to destroy you all if you try any tricks. At dawn after the next full moon, I expect to see you all on your knees begging for your lives when I return with your men and King prisoner.
Olaf III, King of Norway, King of Scotland
Another few weeks, and another wave of wounded returned, headed by a badly shaken Valentina. She was caring for Durban, who'd fallen into a coma from massive head trauma thanks to strange new, unstable weapons Sarah had borrowed from the English. They didn't bring any dead men back with them, they just couldn't carry them. Valentina reported that her father was near death, so much so that she couldn't have brought him home and it killed her inside to be away from the man when she felt he needed her most.
It was after this that Julia, accompanied by her brave and resolute nephews Ruben and Gabriel, headed south to seek allies in Edinburgh and elsewhere. Kayla, Kitty, Selena, Marri, and Emma were left the Keep and the town. Kitty took care of more diplomatic things whilst leaving her daughters and daughters-in-law to focus on their children and the wounded. Selena aided Valentina closely, trying to keep Val's mind off Vincenzo, and her own mind off her young son. Marri and Emma were mostly kept away taking care of their incapacitated husbands. Boar was doing better, but still incredibly weak and having an awful time coping with his ruined knees. Durban finally woke on the third day after returning home, and he'd broken down in tears of relief seeing that he was still alive with Marri. However, something was off about him, and he soon gathered the energy and words to tell them.
Durban reported what he could remember seeing Norsemen and Norwegian banners on the horizon, that he was certain he saw Norwegian Royal Guards. That meant only one thing: Wick's long-time friend and ally Norway and its king Olaf III was there to aid in the destruction of Inverness. Brogan was facing a force that nearly took over all of Britannia in 1066, but was only defeated by sheer luck on behalf of William of Normandy. Many people in Inverness lost all hope, and a few families fled south to Aberdeen or Glasgow.
Durban and Boar, as they healed, took over Inverness with an iron grip on defenses. Durban was once meant to be the king, til he was exiled by his father. He'd never wanted to be king and had been glad to see the mantle fall to Brogan. But right now, Inverness' King was fighting for their lives, and Durban knew he and the rest of the Ghis family needed to act in his stead. Emergency drills were drawn up and Aberdeen was contacted, agreeing to allow Invernessian people to take refuge there if they should need to.
Hope seemed to be regaining its flame, until it was snuffed out by the arrival of a letter addressed to the entire Ghis family:
To the Royal Ghis Family of Inverness,
I am Olaf, grandson of warlord Harald Hardrada who lost his proper claim on this land to the English. I have come to make these lands my own, and use Scotland to destroy England and Ireland so I may take them for my own. I bring an armada of ships, carrying three armies of four-thousand men from Denmark and Norway. Inverness only stands at five-hundred against just one of my armies. The other two will wait. Surrender now and give up your best to my men and I, and you shall live.
I will not negotiate, I will not give mercy if you refuse, and I will not hesitate to destroy you all if you try any tricks. At dawn after the next full moon, I expect to see you all on your knees begging for your lives when I return with your men and King prisoner.
Olaf III, King of Norway, King of Scotland