The Pagan Sorceress

By Slave Nano

Sam is about to carry out a strange experiment. She is an archaeology student specialising in reconstructive archaeology and her idea is to recreate an Anglo-Saxon pagan burial ceremony. It’s Samhain eve and the night of a full moon so it’s the perfect time to carry out such a ritual. She enlists the help of her friend, Dan, and together they go off to the site of a burial mound where wonderful swords and sceptres were excavated many years ago. A travelling story teller is at the court of a Saxon king. He recites the tale of two soul-entwined lovers from an earlier, more chaotic, period when king’s warred amongst each other. He tells the tragic tale of Cyneburh, pagan sorceress and daughter of the mighty pagan king Penda and Alhfrith, son of Athelwald the king of Deira, her hero-warrior lover and betrothed. The two kings have formed a mighty political and religious alliance but, more than that, the young woman and man have forged a passionate union of their own. But this new alliance has enemies and before their wedding night is over there will be a tragic outcome. As King Penda stands at the edge of their burial chamber he invokes a curse of vengeance against the murderous act perpetrated against him. But, how many years will it take before he is finally avenged? As Sam stands on top of the burial mound dressed as an Anglo-Saxon pagan priestess with Dan at her side, is she aware of what ancient powers she will invoke as their lives become entwined with those of Cyneburh and Alhfrith from many centuries ago? Will the pagan king’s oath of vengeance be fulfilled? Will the souls of the two lovers be finally released?

• Language: English
• Publisher: House of Erotica
• Release date: Aug 15, 2012
• ISBN: 9781782341918

Slave Nano

Slave Nano is a writer of erotic stories with dark and exotic content drawing on the themes of female supremacy, bdsm and fetish, frequently in fantasy, paranormal or historical settings. Slave Nano lives in Yorkshire in the United Kingdom.  He works full time and juggles his writing with this. His short stories and novellas have been published by Xcite Books and House of Erotica.  His full length erotic novel, ‘Adventures in Fetishland’, a bdsm/fetish re-invention of Alice in Wonderland was published by Xcite Books in 2012. Find Slave at: His website: www.slavenano.co.uk Blog: http://slavenano.co.uk/category/blog/ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/nano.vaslen

Book preview

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