Pagan Sorceress , livre ebook

Title Page
THE PAGAN SORCERESS





By
Slave Nano



Publisher Information
The Pagan Sorceress Published in 2012 by
Andrews UK Limited
www.andrewsuk.com
This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise circulated without the publisher’s prior written consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published, and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.
The characters and situations in this book are entirely imaginary and bear no relation to any real person or actual happening.
Copyright © Slave Nano 2012
The right of Slave Nano to be identified as author of this book has been asserted in accordance with section 77 and 78 of the Copyrights Designs and Patents Act 1988.



The Pagan Sorceress
“Come on, get up lazy, it’s time we were going.”
Dan, still wallowing in post coital warmth and laziness, his arms wrapped around Sam’s naked body, did not feel like moving.
“Do we have to?” he complained, “Can’t we just stay in bed?”
“No, tough. You’ve had enough sex for one evening. Besides we have to be there for midnight,” she said uncoiling his reluctant arms to release herself and slipping her toes out of the bed onto the floor.
“So, what exactly is it you’ve got planned for the evening?”
“I told you. You’re going to help me with my research. We’re going to do a little re-enactment.”
“Oh yeah, and what exactly does that involve?” he asked, knowing there was no point in arguing with Sam.
“We’re going to reconstruct an Anglo-Saxon pagan burial ceremony.”
“Can’t we just go to a Halloween party like normal people?”
“No, certainly not. Anyway, this is way cooler. Where’s your sense of adventure? This’ll be much better than getting dressed in a naff costume and getting pissed with a room full of morons dressed as ghosts and witches and zombies. I’ve prepared everything. This is going to be awesome. Do you know what it is tonight?”
“Halloween.”
“Samhain,” she corrected, “that’s its real name, but apart from that obviously.”
“Of course, Samhain, but no, I don’t know.”
“It’s also the night of a full moon,” Sam said turning to gaze at him meaningfully, “it’s an opportunity I can’t afford to miss and I’m not going to.”
***
Lo! Hearken all to me. Greetings most worthy and noble king. Lord of mead hall and giver of rings. This humble skald offers greeting and proffers thanks for the hospitality of your fabled hall. Hearty of fare and potent of ale, the warmth of your hearth is most welcome to a travelling story teller seeking shelter from wind-blown wastes of moor and fen. Noble heroes and retainers, arraigned with gifts and loyal of heart, I also partake of the generosity of your lord. No debt of wergild or threat of blood feud disturbs the harmony of his hall or the peace of his lands. But it was not always thus. Albion’s blessed shores were not always so united in loyalty and bound by kinship.
I bring you a tale from a dark past when warring thanes fought and fierce retainers clashed with bloodied sword in angry feud, when great kingdoms and noble lords battled for land and treasure of victory in war to distribute to their loyal thanes, when old religion and new were locked in deadly combat for the faith of their people. I bring you a tragic tale of two soul entwined lovers cut down in the prime of their youth; of Cyneburh, pagan priestess, daughter of Penda, king of Mercia and Alhfrith, hero-warrior, son of Athelwald, lord of Deira.
My lord I take you back to a time before your noble reign when, nation divided, the land was torn asunder by bloodied conflict. Behold Penda, pagan warrior king, strong of arm and fierce of heart; ruler of the mighty kingdom of Mercia. Savage war-like lord and butcher of kings he held sway over lands from the Border hills to the Wash up to the borders of Northumbria. Given fortitude by war-like gods and protected by pagan goddesses he built up his war-like tribe defeating foe after foe and subjugating his enemies with savage mastery. Supported by the spoils of war, great treasures he accumulated and bestowed amongst his retainers affording him strength and loyalty in war. Victor in battle and skilled in diplomacy he sought to secure his power through military strength in conflict and alliance in peace.
Butcher of King Edwin of Northumbria and slaughterer of King Egric of the East Angles, Penda’s fearsome and war-like reputation cast fear and dread across the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. Who amongst them dare face him in open conflict? So it was that Athelwald, King of Deira, fearing for his kingdom, sought alliance with the mighty pagan warrior. Though rich in golden rings he had something far more precious to offer in parley with the pagan king.
Broad of shoulder, strong of heart and handsome of feature, Alhfrith was the king’s hero warrior and adopted son. Summoned back from the Germanic lands where he had been sent to fulfil mighty quests he now stood alongside his father. Formidable was his reputation. Legend spoke of his bravery and fearlessness and he was called by the names ‘serpent strangler’ and ‘dragon slaughterer’. On beholding his muscular frame and rugged good looks who amongst them would doubt the truth of the tales about him.
And so it proved as, standing alongside his lord in fierce battle wielding mighty sword and slaying many enemies, he achieved great honour in battle defending their kingdom. More dear to Athelwald was this young man and his chosen heir than any golden ring or mighty sword. Now the king sought a suitable match for him to secure his kingdom. What greater or fairer gift could the king offer to forge a union between kin and tribe than his own son? What mighty line of kings would this strong-armed warrior sire if matched with the right woman?
Athelwald knew that Penda possessed a beloved daughter and Cyneburh she was named. She was the king’s most treasured object, more precious and magical than any glittering gold from dragon hoard. Dark of hair and blue of eye her beauty was awesomely ravishing. But more than beauty this young girl possessed as she was mighty of power in her own right, for she was a priestess of pagan rites. Rune reader and spell weaver and potent practitioner of mystic arts, Cyneburh was spirit balance to her father’s war-loving warrior. Wielder of ancient magic and interpreter of wyrd, she read the fates for her beloved father. Between them they forged a powerful partnership leaving enemies afeard of slashing sword and biting axe and of mystic force from potent female imbued in dark arts and befriended of fierce deities. Against this potent alliance of sword and spirit, kingdoms succumbed to Penda, all-powerful and all-conquering pagan king.
So, pact was drawn and Penda and Athelwald, through union of beloved daughter and revered son sought to join their two kingdoms. Far greater than political alliance was this union of two kings. In homage to Penda, mighty pagan warrior, Athelwald offered fealty to the old religion and conversion from Christianity to create a mighty pagan alliance against the Northumbrian kings. This being no sacrifice for the lord of Deira for, being captivated by his future daughter-in-law’s daunting beauty and mystic power, he willingly returned to the old religion, seeking protection afforded by the pagan priestess’s magical spells.
But no marriage of political convenience was this. No unwanted or unsolicited suitor could any man, even powerful king and father, force on mighty pagan priestess against her will. Many suitors came and, weak in body or deficient in spirit, all rejected with cruel disdain as unfit to share ravishing Cyneburh’s bed. But in Alhfrith she discovered her physical and spiritual partner. For unlike his father who, in interests of alliance and expediency, surrendered the old ways for the new religion, Ahfrith, raised in Germanic traditions, was honour bound to the pagan gods and goddesses of the land of his birth and his forefathers. Fierce Thor and war-like Freyja he revered. In Cyneburh he discovered his soul mate and spirit guide. Thus joined by ardent belief and drawn by mutual attraction a bond of incandescent passion was forged between two heart stricken young people.
Now worthy thanes, it is well the children of the hall have retired to slumber for some understanding of the burning sexual desire between pagan priestess and hero warrior must form part of the tale of our two lovers. For this union between pagan sorceress and battle hardened warrior was consummated by ardent desire. No flame of hearth or breath of dragon burned with stronger flame than desire between this young man and woman.
And this should come as no surprise for, in their different ways, their physical presence was striking. As beautiful as the Nordic goddesses themselves was Cyneburh and more rugged and handsome than any hero that stepped out of myth and legend was Alhfrith. No more stunning a couple was there to be found in the whole kingdom. All were awe-struck by their striking looks and fearsome presence. Cyneburh, of ebony flowing hair and daunting beauty balanced against Alhfrith, blonde of hair and rugged of visage. Dark midnight moon balanced against bright mid-day sun. Long into the night tales of sorcery and bravery were exchanged between them and a mutual bond of respect flourished.
Two kings planned a glorious wedding to celebrate the happy union between their children and a fruitful political alliance. The magnificence of their feasting and exchange of rich gifts and golden rings would act as a symbol for the power of two mighty rulers and the union of their two families. All would look on in awe at the wealth of the two kingdoms. For spells Cyneburh