In Defence of the Keep
Copyright© 2025 by James Girvan
Chapter 15: A Return and Rough Treatment
Action/Adventure Sex Story: Chapter 15: A Return and Rough Treatment - Laird Nathanial was once a Hero of Chaos and Crossroads but tonight is under attack in his family’s Keep by his brother and a small army of mercenaries. No longer welcome on Crossroads after breaking the rules of chivalrous combat, he hatches a plan to both defend his lands and travel back to Crossroads. Can he survive in either world?
Caution: This Action/Adventure Sex Story contains strong sexual content, including Heterosexual
Nobody was home.
I led the group to where I knew the healing boxes were. “Billy, get in. I may not be able to work the boxes, but I do know that anyone alive placed in them will live if the lid is closed, and you are pretty injured.”
He grunted and stepped up to lever himself over the side. “I know we didn’t keep your lost hand, but if they need any material to rebuild you a new one, I will just tell them to take it from your cock, alright?” I shut the lid on his angry face and extended middle finger while grinning myself. A light flashed rhythmically and I hoped I’d done it correctly.
“Colleen, have you ever seen one of these wondrous machines before?” Came a calm, confident woman’s voice from behind me.
“Despite our numerous requests Greeter Diane, Cassandra has none of these devices, though we have stories of just how well they work.” Colleen answered.
I turned, careful not to jostle my arm or finger. Greeter Diane stood at the door, dressed rather conservatively, maybe even formally. It was hard to tell, not being familiar with their culture beyond what happened on Crossroads.
“Well, Hero William is stable now and we will get him started soon. Now we need our punctured arms-man here to climb into the other tank. Nathan, if you will?” She phrased it as a request, but none of her normal expression and playfulness came through. Formal speak and formal clothes for a formal situation perhaps?
“I am also ‘stable’, perhaps running the others quickly through...” she cut me off.
“I am afraid it not up for discussion at this time arms-man.” She cut in, with a little acid to her voice.
With nothing else to do I levered my own body into the big coffin-shaped box and lay down.
“Am I correct to assume that he has a sucking chest wound? And it is self sealed with his own finger?” Diane asked to someone I couldn’t see.
“Yes, right hand ring finger was washed as clean as possible under the circumstances and his arm was bound down with rough bandages that were quite filthy. Honestly, it is a testament to his original state of health that he is even alive.” another voice came back, sounding like Damsel Colleen.
“Sit up then Arms-man. Scalpel please.” Diane ordered me and the magic of Crossroads simultaneously. I managed painfully to sit back up far after her little knife had been delivered, and she went about removing all the rags tied across my arm and torso with vigour, leaving more than a few thin bloody cuts.
“Damn it woman! Watch that blade!” I swore as she cut me again.
“Terribly sorry, but time for you in a Healing Chamber is just moments away anyway...” Diane retorted, as though dealing with a petulant child, then reached across me and roughly ripped my hand off my side and my finger out of my lung. I screamed and fell back, hearing dimly the slam of the lid, then the next moment I was aware of, Ellen was peering down at me.
“How long? I asked casually, feeling about on my left side and right ear, knowing that the box would have done the job, but needing to reassure myself.
“Seven weeks. Up you get sleepyhead.” She said with a smile.
“What on earth was wrong with me?” I asked incredulously. The longest I had ever heard of was six days someone had spent in the ‘tank’ and that man had far more serious injuries than Billy and I did together.
“Not you, them. We have to go, now. Damsel Colleen is about to make an announcement.” Ellen urged me up and out. The underclothes I had worn on the way in were shed on the way out of the room and I emerged to see a small pile of the regular old leather armour in the corner. I grabbed it all up, hopping ungracefully as I climbed into the pants.
“Colleen really is a sweety,” Ellen giggled. “I am so happy for her. She and I talked quite a bit, I mean, when she wasn’t busy with her William of course.” Ellen kept up the chatter while I simultaneously tried to put on the upper pieces while processing the idea that I had been that box for nearly two months. We emerged into the sitting room, it was crowded and extra chairs had been added since I had last seen it. Billy was sitting and speaking to his Caretaker Julie, rubbing her back and putting his fingers through her hair. Rupert was sitting leaning back onto the giant mammeries of Caretaker Sharon, his hand reaching back and caressing her cheek. I recalled how I had asked him to learn as much as he could from her. Tom and Ben bracketed Greeter Diane and it looked like Tom was massaging her one hand while Ben was working the other.
All the men were dressed in leather armour while Ellen had on a wonderful blue velvet dress. At least they still were holding the pattern of loading up with as much as we could get away with. I was hoping that they kept up with their martial studies and physical conditioning as well, we needed them fit and trained if we were going to have a chance of them managing to kill my brother and defeat his rabble and mercenaries.
Just then in walks the end of all my plans. A formal suit of clothes, a holier-than-thou attitude projected way in front of ‘Caretaker’ Sharon. Stories of demons with hellfire in their eyes did not accurately describe the look of hatred I received from this (albeit beautiful) bitch.
Her opening salvo was as pretentious as the last time we crossed swords, and again she was without subtlety or style. “It has come to my attention that this man has been allowed to enter Crossroads against my specific orders!” She shrieked while pointing a finger at me.
“Oh boy...” muttered Greeter Diane.
“Wonderful news everyone! I’m pregnant! Oh thank you thank you thank you...” Damsel Colleen exclaimed, rushing into the room and leaning over Billy and kissing him.
The room erupted into a loud chorus of congratulations, with men and women all standing up and trying to hug the Damsel. It looked random but effectively blocked me from Sharon and the two heavies on either side of her. Ellen grabbed my hand, making a short dash that looked like we were approaching the throng gathered around Colleen. At the last second she swung across the front of me, straight into the portal to the Keep.
The twisting was abrupt, and the two of us were in the hall outside my study. Two of the Thatcher boys were standing guard with swords in sheaths, but short spears at hand.
“I am sorry my Lord but certain elements in the hierarchy of Crossroads were conspiring to trap you on Chaos for previous sins and sleights. Greeter Diane put together a plan once she heard of their treachery to hide you and pass you through quickly and unnoticed. It seemed it was only partly successful.” Ellen reported, pushing the door open to my study. As she did so, four other men in armour appeared behind us and the two guards moved to intercept with spears.
“HOLD!” I shouted, stopping any possible bloodshed before it started between the two groups. “Hero William, Tom, Ben, report to the father of these two men here. Sir Thatcher is organizing defence of the Keep in my absence. Describe your training and experience and he will find a position for you.”