The Fields of Lombardy (closed for me and two others)

[FazilKotuk]

Easter Sunday, 1512, Padua, Italy:

Klaus Weiszacker was one of the principal officers in his phalanx of Swiss pikemen. Like most mercenaries of his day, he looked forward most to the looting and plundering, not to mention rapine, that would accompany a successful campaign. The other side was no different, of course. Both used Swiss troops in large numbers, prized as they were for their quality as pikemen in pitched battles and fierce soldiers in general. These sturdy mountain men lived under the corrupt, but peaceful and orderly rule of their various cantons, so they often looked for adventures elsewhere. Such things, along with steady pay, drew them to the armies of the King of France, the Pope, and the Holy Roman Emperor.

Weiszacker was attached to the Papal service, but it didn't matter. Next month might see him fighting for the French King or the Emperor himself. Little things like official loyalty to a feudal overlord meant virtually nothing to a soldier of fortune like Klaus. The Emperor was a distant figure, living in Austria and a member of a dynasty that had once so oppressed the Swiss that they revolted and virtually gained their independence. Though as separate cantons more than as a single nation. The cantons were ruled by a wealthy elite and were only democratic by comparison to their neighbors, a collection of feudal states and estates.

The main thing was that the war meant money and women, not to mention a good fight. These were the things sought by the free companies. And Klaus was no different. At 30, he had been in the ranks for a dozen years now. He was already hard and had lived more than half of his expected lifespan in these difficult times.

He was just glad that the Pope, Julius II, liked to wage wars. It gave him plenty of action and fortune, not to mention access to fine Italian wenches and peasant girls. Sure, he'd never be noble and bed a duchess or even countess, but who cared? They were said to be rather dull in the coupling business, anyway.

For now, however, he had to face the armies of France, which were on their way under King Louis XII. The old French monarch had little time left, and was desperate to conquer something before Death took him. Well, that was good news at any rate. But with Julius himself probably not much longer for this world, Klaus was already thinking of entering the service of the brash young English King, Henry VIII. Now, that was a prince worthy of the battlefield!

So far the French had done well enough, but men like Pope Julius had men like Klaus for precisely this reason. To counter the growing might of the large kingdom of France.

Until an actual engagement, though, he was billeted in a hamlet so small that he couldn't recall the name. It was a few leagues from Padua, and the French could strike at any moment. Still, that didn't mean no diversions. There was still a good tavern, even if it served wine instead of good beer. And the local cusine wasn't so bad. Nor were the girls.

Bio:

Klaus Weiszacker
30 years old
Swiss Mercenary/Pikeman
Zurich, Switzerland
Catholic
Bachelor
Eldest of 10 children
Dirty Blonde Hair
Dark Blue Eyes
6 feet even
208 lbs.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

OOC:
Bio:

Adalina (meaning noble)
23
Sister of the Holy Order
RedHair ( a sure sign of her sinful nature )
Green eyes
5'7"

She was sent to the church as soon as her monthly cycles began to atone for her mother’s sins against her father. She’s claimed by her father, but in reality she is a bastard. Her mother was raped by an unknown assailant something she had no control over, but was still blamed for, because she had left the grounds unprotected. Adalina was named by her grandmother, who didn’t hold her birthright against her, though everyone else did. When she was born, her head was covered in red curls and she was shunned. Her parents and all her blood relatives are blond and blue eyes. She lived with her grandmother at the edge of the village, was taught the basics of reading and writing as well as medial use of numbers.

IC:

The sound of the city and all the revelers brought a pounding to Adalina's head. Her fingers came up to rub at her temples; she felt a loose curl and frowned, tucked it back under the cap she wore and hoped one of the Sisters hadn't seen the stray lock. The thought of the reed being whipped across her back made her wish for the hundredth time she had been born with the same color of hair as her friend Vittoria. If she had, then life would have been so much easier. But instead God had graced her with a bountiful supply of rich, bright, red locks that were often spilling loose from their tight confines.

Adalina stopped outside the gates of the convent and glanced toward the fence where she was to meet Vittoria. Taking a deep breath, she lifted her skirt and hurried across the field ignoring the looks caste to her from some of the field hands. She knew they would not tell on her. She was a favored being among the people because she never placed herself above their stations, then again she was a bastard child so there was no station for her to rest upon.

She reached the fence and ducked behind the shelter of the bushes that wove their way along the rocks. Vittoria wasn't there and this made Adalina more nervous. It meant one of two things, her friend had gotten caught sneaking out of the Inn without a chaperon or she'd been kidnapped by one of the many blackguards who visited the area.

Realistically Adalina knew the first was more likely than the later. But her imagination wove more fanciful tales than her reality did. The sound of footsteps made Adalina jerk toward the intruder and her lips rose in a smile as she took in the sight of her friend approaching.

 

[Babette_____]

Vittoria
age: 19, Blonde Hair, Blue Eyes, 5'4"

Spoiled girl whose given what she wants when she wants it. She is not used to being told no. The only daughter born to an old man, whose wife disappeared shortly after giving birth and recovering. It is rumored that Vittoria’s mother ran away with a seamen and has giving birth to many bastard children (boys and girls). Vittoria however can do no wrong in her father’s eyes. She is often seen managing his Inn and causing mischief in the tavern below.


Adalina and Vittoria are very much aware of each other though they shouldn’t be. The two women met when Vittoria was small and attended mass one Sunday morning. For some reason Vittoria latched onto Adalina and the two girls are inseparable whenever Adalina escapes the confines of the church and the habit she wears. They have often been spotted walking the banks of the city’s river.

"I'm here," Vittoria said with a huff as she sat down, her skirts settled around her. "I know I'm late, but it was well worth it," she muttered as she took in the annoyed look her friend passed over her. "There are many in the city today, and look what I have pilfered."

She pulled out a small pouch and emptied its contents. "Some great hulk of a man was too deep in his cups to notice me picking his pocket."

She saw the disapproving glance of her friend, but just shrugged her shoulders. "Come on Adalina. You know he'll not hurt for missing it. Don't look at me like that." She dipped into the small piles of coins and took a few for herself. "Give the rest to God and offer up a prayer for me."

Adaline scooped up the coins and tucked them in the pouch she kept belted to her side. "Now I am still full of adventure. Let's head back to the city, perhaps there will be more drunkards to take advantage of." Vittoria grabbed her friend's hand and pulled her up. "Come on, be quick." She tugged her along and soon the two girls were walking hand in hand along the banks of the river.

 

[FazilKotuk]

Klaus Weiszacker

Klaus was a bit ashamed of himself when he heard the noise from the streets as his tercio entered the square. Of course, it was a large crowd and much revelry! It was Easter! He had been so busy marching that he and his comrades had forgotten about the holy day. He was not the best Christian, but this was shameful of him!

"Men, I do believe that it is Easter Sunday, and we have forgotten to celebrate it. Next Lent that we can, we'll have to be especially good boys. I don't fancy going to Hell or staying too long in Purgatory, do you? Alright, let's enter the city, but try to respect the holy festival. This is for the Resurrection of our Lord, so behave yourselves a bit. You know, no rapine until tomorrow and try to hold off on the whores and wenches until after supper. Not that we can't flirt with them, of course," Klaus ordered his company.

He was right, he knew. None of them were very pious, and they were all going to be lucky to make it to Purgatory at this rate. But they didn't have to damn themselves for certain by getting too rowdy on Easter. Tomorrow was less sacred and just as good for debauchery and drunkenness.

As they headed to the nearest taverns for lunch and wine, the men noticed a large number of raucous locals quarreling, each accusing the others of theft in what Italian Klaus could understand. Venetian rule hadn't tamed them very much, after all.

Klaus, being more observant than the others, also saw a pair of young women, one blonde and the other a redhead, who seemed excited and amused by something, headed toward the tavern. He waved at them, trying to see what was the matter. Thieves were something that even soldiers hated and dreaded. They always had to watch their purses for pickpockets and such.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Adalina held her friends hand as they crossed a shallow part of the river. They hopped across stones and rocks, reaching the other side. “Slow down, Vittoria,” Adalina gasped as she felt the pain in her head increasing. The headaches were coming more often than usual, plaguing her now more than ever before. She blamed it on the growing city. It’s borders were stretching out to the convent and so the noise was an ever growing constant in her once quiet life. Adalina’s pleading fell on Vittoria’s ears and her friend sighed, but slowed down. “Thank you,” she whispered, and patted her cap back onto her hair, stuffing red curls under the brim.

“If you are going to steal more coins, then you best pray you don’t get caught. You know the penalty.”

She knew her friend played risky games, some of them Adalina had even played with her. Thievery wasn’t something either girl was new too, both had stolen off and on throughout their lives. Adalina, however was not as good at it. She bore the scars from the beatings the Priest had given her. Yet, she still continued to be seen with Vittoria and she still stood against the wall and took the lashes when she was caught with her friend outside the walls of the church.

They reached the city, moving quietly together against the wall of the business that had seemingly erected themselves overnight. Adalina bumped into her friend’s back when Vittoria stopped suddenly. She glanced across the street and saw the building her friend was scouting out. “Oh Vitty, No,” she whispered, tugging on the sleeve of her friend’s dress. “Anyone but Sebastian’s bakery.” She remembered the sting of the whip that landed across her hands when they were last caught pilfering pies off the baker’s rack.

It was at that moment she glanced at a group of men who had just entered the city. One man was waving to them as if he wanted to garner their attention for some reason. She frowned and turned away as if she were higher born than the bastard girl she was. No need in letting him think we are two simple whores to be bought and bred.

"Vitty, let's go back to your father's Inn. I'm sure there are cakes there to eat, besides it is Easter, surely the Lord wishes us to be free of sin on this most Holy of days."

 

[FazilKotuk]

Klaus Weiszacker

"Hey, you, signorinas! Can you tell us what happened here?" Klaus approached them, closing the distance. He was curious as to what the deal was with the quarreling Italians, and the girls fleeing made him suspicious. Pickpockets? They'd hardly be the first girls to steal.

 

[Babette_____]

Vittoria spun around at the sound of the stranger’s voice and the squeak of fear that erupted from Adalina’s. She tugged her older, but more innocent friend behind her and frowned at the man that was looking down at them. “Calm Sister Adalina,” Vittoria whispered and patted Adalina’s hand. “Adjust your cap and smooth your gown Sister.”

As Adalina did as she was told Vittoria faced the man fully. “We don’t know what they quarrel about. My chaperone and I were running to avoid the men. Adalina is an innocent, a wife of God as you can surely see by her dress.”

Vittoria turned to her friend and took her hand, hooking her arm through it. “If you’d be so kind as to escort us to my father’s Inn, we would be so appreciative. Adalina, look a strong man to protect us as we walk through the market.”

Her attentions moved back to the warrior. “I’m sure my father will reward you with a hearty meal, a cool drink and a place to rest your weary bones.” She blinked becomingly and smiled warmly as she waited to see if the man would be their champion for the trip back to the Inn. She didn’t really want his company, but she really didn’t want to be seen by any drunk men missing coins either. “It’s this way,” she indicated with her other hand, pointing in the opposite direction of where the quarreling was taking place.

 

[FazilKotuk]

Klaus Weiszacker

Vittoria spun around at the sound of the stranger’s voice and the squeak of fear that erupted from Adalina’s. She tugged her older, but more innocent friend behind her and frowned at the man that was looking down at them. “Calm Sister Adalina,” Vittoria whispered and patted Adalina’s hand. “Adjust your cap and smooth your gown Sister.”

As Adalina did as she was told Vittoria faced the man fully. “We don’t know what they quarrel about. My chaperone and I were running to avoid the men. Adalina is an innocent, a wife of God as you can surely see by her dress.”

Vittoria turned to her friend and took her hand, hooking her arm through it. “If you’d be so kind as to escort us to my father’s Inn, we would be so appreciative. Adalina, look a strong man to protect us as we walk through the market.”

Her attentions moved back to the warrior. “I’m sure my father will reward you with a hearty meal, a cool drink and a place to rest your weary bones.” She blinked becomingly and smiled warmly as she waited to see if the man would be their champion for the trip back to the Inn. She didn’t really want his company, but she really didn’t want to be seen by any drunk men missing coins either. “It’s this way,” she indicated with her other hand, pointing in the opposite direction of where the quarreling was taking place.

"Alright, boys. Here we go. I imagine that between us, we can protect this young bride of Christ and her equally lovely companion. And fatten her father's purse a bit, while we're at it. Forget thieves. No one wants to dally in their presence, anyway. Very well, we'll take you up on your gracious offer, signorina. Will you pretty damsels show us the way? And remember, behave yourselves, somewhat, boys. It's Easter and we have a nun with us. No groping a woman of God," Klaus instructed his usually rowdy company. That he was obeyed was due to his established authority and the superior discipline of the tercio.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Adalina frowned as she walked beside Vittoria, who chatted aimlessly with several of the warriors. Her gaze shifted from one man back to another, eventually resting on the one who had spoken to the others and taken her friend up on her offer to champion them.

She felt as if she were surrounded by an army of egos bigger than her God. She should have felt safe, but she knew if she didn’t return to the convent before nightfall her punishment would be severe. Plus, she still had the stolen coins in her pouch, coins she knew she had to give to the Lord as an offering to forgive her and her friend’s of their sins.

They reached the Inn and Adalina pulled Vittoria away. “Thank you, kind Sir, for escorting us home. Vittoria go find your father and pray that he is not angered for our tardiness.” She stressed the word pray. “If you’ll be so kind as to wait here,” she said to the large beast of a man and quickly followed Vittoria’s swaying hips into the back room.

“What were you thinking?” Adalina asked. “Your father is not going to house them for the night for free! Besides it is Easter, he probably won’t have a room for them to stay in!”

 

[FazilKotuk]

Klaus Weiszacker

"Of course, Sister. My men and I shall behave themselves," he doffed his helmet respectfully. He was no knight or gentleman, but he had all of a Christian's respect for a woman of God.

Even so, he couldn't help but notice the ravishing beauty of both women. God help him, but he was flesh as well as spirit, and the flesh was very weak when it came to the fair sex. Klaus wasn't a boy-lover, not even slightly. Nor was he chaste. He, as much or more than his men, was quite partial to pretty women, especially those with red hair. Though blondes like Vittoria had their appeal as well. Still, blonde hair was everywhere in Zurich. Red hair was scarcer, and the taboo idea of seducing a nun certainly appealed to some sinful part of Klaus's heart. Or was that his groin? Oh, well, it was a wicked, but delicious thought. As was seducing both of them....what would come of that?

Perhaps nothing good, but Sister Adalina, even if he did seduce her, would eventually end the affair and feel some relief that he moved on to her friend, assuming that he succeeded. He was sure of himself with Vittoria, though he'd have to make sure that she didn't manipulate him. She was that sort of mischievous and playful lass. Adalina, however, was more strait-laced, so she would be a tougher challenge. Each had their appeal. Ease had its uses, so he would certainly find Vittoria, as a sensual and willing companion, to be worth it. On the other hand, the thrill of the chase could only be sated by capturing the body, if not the heart of a nun. It was the ultimate sexual hunt. But was it worth his eternal soul and hers?

 

[Babette_____]

“Adalina, do stop fussing. We’re on an adventure today, come play with me,” Vittoria whispered, pulling her friend to the far corner of the Inn/Tavern’s kitchens. “Look through there, see they are mere men, simple minded too I bet. Imagine the coin we could pilfer.” Her laughter then bubbled up, “Oh Adalina, don’t look at me like that. I’ll not steal any more this day if you but help me catch up with my chores.”

Vittoria looked pleadingly up at her friend and saw that Adalina was not about to refuse her request. Adalina actually enjoyed helping in the Inn, it was one of the few times the woman was able to behave like a normal girl. She’d not chosen the life of a nun, it had been thrust upon her, all because of her hair color. Vittoria reached up and pulled the cap off the glorious locks. “There, now shake it out,” the blonde temptress said, aiding her friend by running her fingers through her thick mane. “When will you leave the church?” she asked as she turned away and grabbed two empty trays.

She handed one to Adalina and kept one for herself. She then set bowls on them and walked over to the pot of stew one of the cooks had left simmering. “Over here,” she demanded, Adalina followed. Soon both girls carried trays of stew and mugs of ale out of the kitchens and headed toward the men who had found places to rest their weary legs.

“My dear champions. I apologize for us taking so long.” Vittoria began to set her wares on the table and winked at one of the smaller men, before emptying Adalina’s tray. Once both trays were empty she turned back to the leader of the group. “I must beg your pardon kind Sir and faithful champion, but I spoke too quickly. My father’s room is full, but your meals are free for the rest of the Easter celebration.” Vittoria pulled her pouch from her belt and dropped the coins on the table. “However, our lovely Sister Adalina has offered up the sanctuary of the church and its warm rooms and somewhat soft beds.”

She heard her friend gasp and spun around to see her eyes wide in their sockets. “I’m sure the Lord will bless you and the sisters for your kindness.” Vittoria could almost read the anger shooting out from Adalina’s beautiful eyes. She pressed herself close to her and whispered, “It’s an adventure Adalina, just like the fairy tales you tell in your head.”

“Enjoy your meal gentlemen, when you are ready to leave, don’t hesitate to pluck Sister Adalina up and have her escort you to her home.” Vittoria winked and scurried back to the kitchens leaving Adalina standing dumbstruck.

 

[FazilKotuk]

Klaus Weiszacker

While a bit dismayed that the inn was full, the news of a free meal helped console Klaus and his tercio. However, he was still concerned about Vittoria's suggestion of a nunnery as a place to stay. If he was there, he'd have to behave himself. He could trust himself (probably), but what was to prevent some of his men from yielding to the temptation for rapine, if so many women were all around him. Then again, it might not require ravishment. Still, wouldn't that be a double sin, not only fornication but cuckolding Christ? How furious might the Lord be in such a case? Even so, it was bad form to refuse and his men were weary from their march. He supposed that he had to risk his and his men's souls this time. And pray hard to Christ, the Blessed Virgin, and the saints, for the strength to resist temptation as presented by so many nuns.....both for himself and his men.

"Thank you, my dear Sister. I will do my utmost to keep my men's hands to themselves, if only because it's a convent and this is Easter," Klaus replied, hoping against hope that he could succeed at this. Because, if not....he'd be a liar and thrice as damned.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

If Adalina wasn’t a nun she would have screamed every vile curse she’d ever said in private at Vittoria who had the audacity to leave her standing there alone, looking as if Christ himself was standing before her. Her jaw hung slack, her eyes wide. The Priest was going to beat her into next Easter for this, didn’t Vittoria realize what she’d done. She blinked her thick lashes several times, closed her slack jaw and stared at the man who was speaking to her. She studied his lips and tried to hear him. He was saying something about his men and promises about their hands. Her brow furrowed and she shook her head to clear her thoughts.

“Sir... I’m sure within the walls of the church your men will obey your every command, or perhaps they need another to lead them.”

Adalina lifted her chin and spun away, wishing for the protection of her cap to hide her heathen hair. Once back in the kitchen, she sank to a stool and buried her head in her hands. “What have you done?” she whispered and heard Vittoria’s giggles. She looked up and shook her head. “I’ll not be able to sit down for a month,” she hissed at her friend. “Why I call you companion I’ll never know.”

Vittoria made her way over to Adalina and sat down. She touched her shoulder. “Vittoria, you must think before you act. It isn’t always easy for me,” Adalina whispered. She glanced up and squeezed her friend’s hand, then rose. “Here,” she said, taking her pouch and dropping the coins into her friend’s palm. “You’re paying for all their meals this holiday, so you’ll be needing these. The Lord will forgive you as you pilfer others over the course of this most saintly observance.”

She bent down and kissed Vittoria on the corner of her mouth then shook her head in exasperation. “I will always forgive you won’t I?” she asked and then picked her cap up and began to weave her hair back into place, hoping to hide the locks that were the plague of her existence. “We’d best continue to serve the other patrons. You’re father will be in short supply of a calm temperament if you are not seen working.”

 

[FazilKotuk]

Klaus Weiszacker

That comment from the nun was most intriguing. It should that she firmly believed an army had complete control over its soldiers. Mostly, that was true. But, if they were out of his sight....that could be dangerous. Keeping an eye on all of his troops when they were in separate rooms...well, that was the cause of his anxiety. How many extra years in Purgatory would he get if his men lost control of themselves? That could be a very tough pickle for him. He knew that he was probably going to Purgatory for a while, anyway. Aside monks, priests, and nuns, most people could expect Purgatory and punishment upon death. He just hoped that he didn't land in Hell instead. There was no release from there. It was just eternal torment.

Such fears were inevitable for a man of the sword, who had plenty of blood on his hands, not to mention many acts of fornication on his conscience. Possibly adultery, too. He had no way of knowing that the women weren't wed in some cases. He did, however, make an honest effort to avoid that, since it was a mortal sin. He was not especially pious, but he had no idea when next he could confess, and mortal sins meant automatic eternal damnation if not confessed before death. A healthy desire to avoid hell-fire and brimstone kept him out of the beds of other men's wives, not some moral principle. Though he knew that he'd be angry if he was a husband and caught his wife with another man.

 

[Babette_____]

Vittora worried some for her friends well fare, but in general she felt Adalina was due for an adventure. The nun was twenty-three and held her maidenhead as if it were a true gift to Christ. It wasn’t, at least not in Adalina’s case. Vittora knew her friend’s desires and wants. Often Adalina spent hours weaving tales of magic and fantasy, riddled with romance and lust and Vittora had sat willingly at her friend’s feet and listened to them. The longing to live out an adventure was obvious in Adalina’s stories... Vittoria was just providing the means to an end they both wanted.

She watched her friend work, avoiding as best she could the group of soldiers. Vittora served them more often that Adalina. She watered their drinks in hopes that not getting them drunk would save the nuns any foul attempts at seduction. The idea of being bedded by them made even Vittora cringe; well a few of them were passably attractive, she admitted to herself as one man’s hand reached out and pinched her round ass cheek.

Vittora’s father Ardward was seen loitering at the edge of the Inn and she kept her gaze on him and knew he was worrying over the amount of food and drink the soldiers were drinking. The frown on his face told her so. Vittora felt the weight of the coins in her pouch and chewed her lower lip as she made her way to him.

“Damn soldiers, eat me out of all I’ve got,” he muttered when she reached his side.

“Here father,” she replied and handed him four fat coins.

“That’s not enough!” he bellowed and pushed past Vittora. She knew he was about to kick the men out, or at least die trying. She grabbed his arm and pulled him back.

“There’s more,” she hissed and pushed the pouch into his hand.

Ardward’s face turned crimson as he took the coins. “Hiding them from me?” he asked and waited for her to answer.

“Nay, I thought to give some to the church. Adalina’s offered to let them rest there since we’ve no room for them.”

Ardward laughed and put the coins in his pocket. “It’s God’s home. He needs no money from us. You’re a good daughter Vittora,” he said, “but that nun... with her fiery hair, she’s Satan’s child and you should rid yourself of her before she drags you through the gates of Hell.”

Vittora sighed. “Yes, Sir. I know.”

She kissed his cheek and smiled. “I’m going to go upstairs and clean a few rooms. She’ll be leaving with them soon, so Satan’s child will no longer stain your sights.” She giggled and hurried away, knowing her father would, under normal circumstances, follow and lecture her at the mockery of his words, if there wasn’t so much already going on.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Adalina saw the look of distrust coming from Vittora’s father. She sighed, knowing it was a look that many gave her as she walked through the room, serving one group after another. Her cap was now firmly in place, and her hair for the time being was cooperating. Over the course of two hours the soldiers she’d been trying to avoid had consumed far more than she had ever seen any one before them. She’d seen Vittora watering down their drinks and wondered to herself if getting them drunk wasn’t the better way to go. The words of their leader haunted her and she figured getting them drunk would keep her and her fellow Sisters safe, so... she would upon occasion fill their mugs with the strongest and richest of Ardward’s stock. She hated doing it because it meant having to approach the men, but she did it fleetingly.

By the time she was ready to drop, her legs worn, her arms sore, the hour was late and her eyes were growing heavy. Even her back hurt and she knew her daily, or in her case, nightly, chores were not yet done. She had worked hard for her friend and at the convent she would have to work even harder, for she’d been gone much longer than she’d thought she would be. Her absence would have been noted and thus her punishment would be severe. She thought of the hours she’d spend on her knees praying for forgiveness and asking the Devil to release her from his clutches.

Out of all her prayers that was the one that riled her the most. She didn’t feel Satan’s grip, but because of her parentage and her hair she was supposedly his child. A heavy yawn made her shake her head and toss the distressing thoughts away. She leaned against the wall and felt her eyes slowly close, she fought the battle, willing herself to stay awake since she was the escort for the mammoth soldiers.

 

[FazilKotuk]

Klaus Weiszacker

Klaus was not the most sympathetic or chivalrous of fellows. Such nonsense didn't survive a modern battle or war. It was best left to the nobility, who could afford such luxuries, when they weren't raping, killing, and pillaging, too. Not to mention extorting money from the peasants through taxes and rents and tithes.

Even so, he couldn't help but feel empathy for the clearly faint Adalina, who obviously needed rest.

"Come on, Sister Adalina. Let's go to the nunnery. You'll be safe with us, and you need to rest. If the head nun gives you any trouble, refer her to me. I'll take the lecture and explain the situation. Maybe a proper bribe will shut her up. I'm quite willing to corrupt someone in a good cause. You have to do so to live with any kind of safety or comfort in my native country, and I doubt that a city under such complete Venetian domination would be any different.

"Don't worry. It's my soul that will be at peril of a longer stint in Purgatory, not yours. Presumably, the Lord will consider my motives when weighing them against my bribing the abbess of a convent. Now, come on, you need rest. I will keep my men's hands off you, though I can't control their eyes. I don't wish to burn in Hell, after all. Not on top of such a rough existence as soldiering."

He offered to go ahead and take her with them to the convent now, rather than waiting any longer. He just hoped that she wouldn't pay for it when they were gone.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Adalina shook the sleep from her eyes and smiled meekly at the man that had spoken to her. She was tired and knew the trek back to the convent would be long, but she’d be happy to arrive and release the men in the care of the Head Sister and the Priest. She looked around and was unable to spot Vittoria. Shrugging her shoulders she led the group out of the tavern and down the street where she ignored the ribbing of lecherous words and phrases that was tossed at her person.

She took the less scenic route, doubting the men would want to hop and skip across the river like she and Vittoria often did. Instead she took them across the bridge and along the rocky paths that eventually would lead them out of the city and into the properties the church cared for. They passed the holy ground, where members of the church were buried and all the while she kept her face set in stone, hoping to not show the fear she felt.

Once they reached the gates one of the sisters opened it upon seeing her, frowning and then gasping as the men followed through. “Please let Sister Helga know we have guests. I’m sure they can find bedding within the walls or in the stables.”

The one sister bobbed her head up and down and scurried away. “Sir, if you’ll but wait here. I must attend to my duties. Sister Helga will be along shortly to show you to your rooms. I do not promise that all will bed down on cots, some may have to bunk in the barn. But it is a clean one. I can tell you that. Lord knows I’ve slept in worse,” she muttered at the end of her proclamation.

Adalina hurried through the church pausing to kneel and cross herself. “You’re late,” a voice, thick with age came over her. She turned and fought the urge to cross herself again. “I see you’ve brought demons to our walls,” the Priest hissed as he advanced toward her.

“They are here for Easter and needed a place to sleep.”

“They’ll have coin for the Lord then?”

Adalina shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know. I didn’t rifle their pockets.”

“Not that that is beneath you,” the Priest answered back. “Ready yourself in your rooms. I’ll be there within the hour.”

Adalina shuddered and the Priest laughed as he made his way back to his rooms. He knew the demoness was scared and that too him was a good thing. He passed Helga on her way out to the men. “See that they are taken care of, show them nothing but kindness. We don’t need trouble from their sort this most holy of celebrations.” The old woman nodded and made her way to the group of men who still stood outside the doors of the church, but waiting in the small courtyard.

 

[FazilKotuk]

Klaus Weiszacker

The attitude of the priest meant two things: he was corrupt and he was a bit snobbish about soldiers. Well, the first would take care of the second. Few men and women were too snobbish to overlook cold coin.

"Good Father, here is the coin that you seek. It would have gone for an inn, so it's quite ready for you. And here is money that we saved from our free meals at the inn that had no rooms. Keep the latter for your own personal needs, if you wish," Klaus approached him, but withheld part of it to bribe the abbess as well. He was no fool, and didn't wish to pay through the nose.

"I promise that I will behave myself and not force myself on your women in these walls. I have no wish to burn in Hell, after all. I will also make sure those of my men in my sight will be good boys, too. That's all I can say for now," Klaus added, not vowing, of course, not to seduce any of the nuns. Such subtle distinctions might occur to the priest, but he would never credit a mercenary with intentionally making them. He would presume that soldiers of fortune were too brutish for that.

He then went back to where Sister Helga was.

"Here you go, Sister, for your trouble. Some good coin to pay for sacramental wine or cloth, perhaps," Klaus handed the rest of the bribe out, well aware that nuns were as bad at embezzling as priests and monks. How else did they get rich, right? Theft from God was their concern and a problem for their eternal souls, not his. He would give her the money. What she did with it was on her conscience.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

The Priest was surprised that the soldier had not remained outside but had walked into the church itself and not only ignored Helga but bothered him. He stopped and listened to the man’s words, frowning slightly as he spoke, but said nothing as the coins were dropped in his palm. He curled his fingers around them and nodded his head, then glanced back at Helga. “See to them, now.”

He then left Helga to deal with the interlopers as he went to his rooms. There he closed the door and deposited the coins in a safe place, some went to his personal stash, some went into a box for the church. He noted the time. She’d be fretting now, he knew and he felt his smile grow wide. “Better to make Satan’s spawn wait for her punishment,” he whispered to himself. He took a seat at his desk and began to write down his thoughts on the day.

----

Adalina hurried to her rooms, ignoring the whispers from the other Sisters. She knew she was in trouble and no one would stop the hand of the Priest. She bit down on her fear and shut the door of her room and then peeled off her garments, folded them and then went to her knees to pray in front of the cross that hung on the wall.

Time passed as she felt her knees growing tender and sore. She knew she’d dozed and more than an hour had passed. She thought of getting up and going to her bed, but she knew if he walked in and saw her in the bed, her punishment would be more severe. Adalina shook off her sleepiness and began to pray again, repeating the blessings and asking for forgiveness. Eventually her head was bobbing down and she was softly snoring. Only the sound of her door being pushed open and then shut stirred her back to life and her lips moved in prayer. The lock of her room was slammed home, followed by the sound of the Priest walking toward her, accompanied with the scratching sound of the reed slapping his hand.

---

The first strike caught Adalina by surprise and she cried out, then shut her mouth as the second was laid across her shoulders. Ordered to rise, she did so on shaky legs. Her back, ass and legs were treated to several lashes and not once did the fiery redhead cry out. The beating continued, the Priest working up a sweat and growing more fierce the more Adalina held out. When she did fall to the floor and beg, he dropped his arm and grabbed her thick hair. She cried, but faced him as he turned her around. “You’ll not leave the walls of this place for three days. You were idle in your chores for the last time. I don’t know how many of those men you have serviced but whatever coin you gained from them, I’ll find.”

“I have nothing!”she yelled and felt the sting of the reed lash at her hip.

“You may not now, but you’re the daughter of the Devil. You’ll have your legs spread for them before the holiday is over.” He struck her again, wiped the sweat from his brow and threw her toward her bed. “Be ready to work off your sins before the cock crows or there will be more of this in store for you.”

Adalina curled herself into a ball and watched as the Father of her Church unlocked the door and left it open so all could see her shame. She thought of getting up and closing the door, but didn’t have the energy to spend on such an endeavor. She rolled away, and faced the wall, where moonlight flittered in to cover her in its soft, blue glow.

 

[FazilKotuk]

Klaus Weiszacker

Klaus couldn't sleep, in spite of the journey, the fatigue, and the combination of a hearty meal and some wine. Something plagued his mind, and he finally admitted that it was Adalina and Vittoria. Especially Adalina. Vittoria was clearly a thief of some sort, or some other kind of mischievous maiden, but Adalina seemed truly mistreated and oppressed....and eager for pleasure in a way that suggested that she might appreciate it more. Vittoria could wait.

As for the priest and nuns....well, Klaus had ways of dealing with them. Nasty ways. Oh, yes, he had promised not to rape....but he made no promises about blackmail and other such things. And he knew how corrupt such clergy often were. He was no fool. If Christ were alive and present on Earth, the first place to get a thorough cleansing would be a monastery or a church or a convent....where the masses were fleeced by the clergy.

Klaus felt that not being especially good or pious gave him an advantage. And he had an entire company of grouchy Swiss soldiers with him. A whole tercio of men, armed and armored. And quite annoyed that they had to sleep in the barns, clean or otherwise. They'd slept in worse, yes, but they expected better housing in a town. They were Swiss mercenaries, after all.

When it came down to it, the anonymity and violence of his chosen profession and its uniforms would help him get away with things, at least until after death. Then Christ or Satan would get him and do what they chose. At least Klaus could live with knowing that he had satisfied himself and his men of their anger and sense of treachery at the hands of the thieving nuns and priest.

Well, no one robbed and deceived them...not soldiers like Klaus and his men. They were rough men, and if Klaus wanted to poke around...well, he would do just that. Maybe a good dose of cock would shut the sisters up and make them happy enough to let him be alone with Adalina. Aside from Vittoria, she was the only woman that he had spoken to so far that gave him a primal urge to just take her. The others were pretty enough that he might pay them for it or seduce them into it...but while he would seduce Adalina, too...he was determined to be decisive and aggressive about it. As well as cunning.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Adalina opened her eyes, the scrapping of feet startling her. She rolled to her back and cried out as the pain ricochet across her back. She sat up, biting her lip as she made herself rise to her feet and stretch for her robe. She slid her arms in, again wincing and gasping as she pulled it around her. Tenderly she moved as she tied the sash and ran her fingers through her hair. Her slippers rested next to the bed and she eased her feet into those as well. Her back burned as she made her way across the room.

She lifted her hand to push her bedroom door closed when she caught sight of someone moving down the hall. The shadow was large, much larger than any of the Sisters as well as the Priest who had left her room hours ago. She’d fallen asleep and judging from the stars she still had hours before the sun would rise. Adalina thought of returning to bed and letting whoever was lost in the church continue on their way, but then she remembered who the guests were and that it was her Godly duty to protect the Sisters from the soldiers that would do them harm.

Adalina sighed and picked up a candle from the small table by the door. She stepped into the hall and lit it using the flame from one of the wall sconces that were bolted into the rocky structure. “You,” she called out, “you...” she said again as she hurried after the retreating form. Faster Adalina ran, eventually catching up and grabbing the hulk of a man with her slim hand. “Sir!” she hissed and watched him spin around to glance down at her.

“Oh, tis you,” she whispered back and dropped her hand. The glow of the candle illuminated herself as well as the man from the tavern. “Are you lost?” she asked, pulling her free hand up to keep the lapels of her robe closed. Her thick lashed lids fluttered as she tried to not look directly at the handsome features of the stranger. Her emerald eyes stared at his chest as she waited for him to turn away and return to his bed.

 

[FazilKotuk]

Klaus Weiszacker

"Not so much lost as restless, Sister. I can't sleep at all tonight. I do not know what is keeping me wakeful, but something is. There is some matter plaguing me, and I can not put myself to sleep, whatever I do. Drink and a hearty meal should make me sleepy, but it hasn't. It is not even the usual soldier's problem, a thousand deaths remembered at night. A thousand faces of slaughtered enemies. No, there is something else disturbing my attempts at slumber. What of you? Did I wake you, or have you had trouble resting as well?" Klaus explained to her, somehow believing that she could be trusted with such things.

It wasn't because she was a nun. He was as cynical as the next man. Especially among hired soldiers, there was hard-nose practicality and realism that grew with each year, each privation, each battle, each scar....no, this had nothing to do with such things. He was aware that many nuns indulged in many terrible things, such as pilfering coin and seducing novices into Sapphic vice. That was what he had heard, at least, and he didn't have cause to doubt it. The world was full of hypocrites, and the Church not least of all. Its doctrines were true, or so he had been taught and always believed, but his life so far had made him calloused and jaded about religious things, at least institutionally.

No, there was a basic desperation behind the piety and mischief. One that he could recognize from his own hard and merciless life. The same man that could ravish a woman without losing much sleep if she was on the wrong side of a siege now felt that this woman was different. She wasn't a fortune-hunter or hypocrite or shrewish wife.

That didn't change his desire to plunder her virtue, of course. But he would try a different means.....seduction of some sort. Something that was a little more pleasant for her, too. Even if he knew only one way to couple with a woman, and it wasn't gentle. He just hoped that she would forgive him and Christ would forgive him. After all, if he wasn't consummating his marriage to his brides, there was no sense in letting them go to waste.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

“I just awoke, nothing more, nothing less. Perhaps your restlessness is from a sin you’ve need of confessing?” she asked, with a slight lift to her brow. “The Priest is resting, but if the need is upon you he can be awoken and hear your confessional.”

Adalina hated the idea of waking the beast of God’s lair, but she’d do it in order to save a wayward soul. The chill of the hall made her shiver and she pulled her robe tighter around her and held her candle with a firmer grip. “If not a confession than perhaps the childhood favorite of warm milk and a small square of bread?”

What Adalina wanted most was for the man to tell her he was fine and would return to bed. She had her own to seek, for the morning hours would come quicker if she dreamed. A sudden sting of pain rolled along one of the whip marks and she winced, turning her head away and then forcing a shiver to hide her pain. “Sir, it is cold in these halls. I don’t mean to sound rude or unkind, but your decision... The Priest, milk, or your bed?”

 

[FazilKotuk]

Klaus Weiszacker

"Well, I can't return to bed. I am not worried about confessing to a priest who is, to put it mildly, less than honest himself. I saw how easily he took my coin, and clearly not just for himself. As for milk, that's not going to work. Not for this, fraulein. However, I think that I know what is bothering me now. It's a premonition that something isn't right here.....with you.

"For instance, you're wincing from more than the cold, Sister. It's almost as if you're wounded somehow. I know pain and injuries. I've seen my share of them. I won't lie, however, and say that I feel no carnal motives as well. That, however, is a matter of my own time and how eager you are to free yourself from the rules of your order. Though, if you asked 'bed' one more time, I wouldn't able to resist answering, 'yours'.

"I do intend to find out what is the matter, however. That much is sure. Perhaps you would care to tell me just how you got here, to begin with. First, however, I need to see under that robe, in order to know what is hurting you. I can't promise not to try to seduce you afterward, but that is a problem for later, isn't it?" Klaus probed, quite unsure of how this fiery-haired damsel had been confined to this cloistered prison.