Prologue: The Oracle's Words

Note: Thanks to b0b for beta reading this!

King Edward IV – Shesax, the Kingdom of Secare

The scented, anointing oils still glistened on my forehead, slowly drying as I stared up at the winding stairs climbing the Lone Mountain. Behind me, the city's bells rang in celebration of my coronation. It was tragic that my father had died young, but it meant my reign would be spectacular.

I was twenty-five, in the prime of life. I had forty or more years as King of Secare ahead of me.

Visions of glory and greatness danced through my mind as I took the first step up the Maiden's Stairs. They were carved out of the very dark stone of the Lone Mountain, set with statues of frolicking maidens every tenth step, their budding breasts and nubile bodies perfectly captured in pure marble.

I stared up at the stairs, excitement trembling in my chest. My reign now truly began.

Shesax, the capital of my great Kingdom, was built on the eastern slope of the Lone Mountain, sprawling out from the upthrust of stone rising out of the surrounding farmlands. Every king of Secare since my great ancestor General Sekar carved our great kingdom out of the corpse of the High King's failed empire, had climbed these stairs. Once on their coronation, and then every five years thence to seek the Sekar Oracle's advice.

My family had long credited the Oracle's prophecies and advice for keeping our Kingdom strong.

The other nations that rose out of the High King's empire had suffered turmoil and civil wars. The High Kingdom of Hamilten had fractured into dozens of petty Kingdoms and Princedoms. Many had fallen, been conquered, splintered into lesser nations, or fallen to lesser men, like the mages who ruled Thosi.

But Secare remained strong.

The spring sun warmed my rich, red cape trimmed in ermine, and my velvet doublet and hose seemed to trap the heat. It was the height of fashion, right down to the cod piece that demonstrated my virility. But it was damned hot. The golden crown weighed on my forehead. It was heavier than it looked, made of gold and amethyst.

Halfway up, I paused to admire my city laid out before me and not to take a rest.

My city looked grand. The palace was a breathtaking construction of blue-swirled marble and the great Chapterhouse of the Knights Deute stood resolute before my palace. The city spread out for miles, a thriving metropolis. The land fell away into haze. I could just make out the green blur that must be Blath Forest. The view from the heights was spectacular.

Rested, I turned and continued my climb.

My legs were sore when I reached the mouth of the Oracle's cave. I trembled as the heady perfume wafted out of the cave's opening. I strode into the incense and entered the cave, my body shaking with excitement.

Maidens moved inside, young and budding, dressed in sheer robes as they attended their mistress—the Oracle.

I trembled in the presence of a demigoddess. She was the daughter of the wise God Cnawen and the Goddess of Art, Rithi.

"Welcome, King," the Maiden of the Voice smiled as she strode forward. She was nubile, her breasts only budding, her blue robes revealing her small, hard nipples and the tight lips of her shaved pussy. She spoke for the Oracle.

The Oracle herself was a stunning creature, dressed in a wispy robe of lilac that contrasted with her burning hair. Her eyes were a green deeper than any human, shining like emeralds, and her skin was as white as alabaster instead of the light-beige of a Secaran. She was almost pure white. Her face was beautiful and alien, wholly inhuman in the most subtle ways, the shapes of her eyebrows, the curves of her cheeks.

She whispered in a musical language.

"My Mistress is ready to gaze into the future," the Maiden of the Voice purred.

I nodded. "By ancient treaties I, King Edward the fourth of my name, have come to have my future uttered so I may rule my kingdom with wisdom."

The Maiden of the Oils stepped forward. She was the tallest of the three young maids that served the Oracle. All were fourteen, chosen from among the most beautiful maids of the city to serve for a year caring for the Oracle. She wore a red robe so thin I could see every line of her lovely beauty.

Her smile was sultry as she untied the golden tassels of my ermine cape. She carefully folded my ropes and set them in a wicker basket. My cock throbbed as the Maiden of the Tongue—wearing green robes that showed off a pair of small, ripe breasts—added more incense to the smoking braziers.

Purple haze filled the cave.

The Maiden of the Oils quickly disrobed me, her hands rubbing across my muscular chest as the Maiden of the Tongue did the same to her Mistress. My cock ached as I watched the young maiden's tongue roam the Oracle's body, bathing her. The Oracle moaned as her maiden's tongue swirled about her nipples before the maiden moved down the Oracle's body.

"She is preparing the Oracle for your cock," purred the Maiden of the Voice who watched with rosy cheeks.

The Maiden of the Oils finished undressing me and then undressed herself. She was lovely and flawless, her pussy shaved and just the hint of her labia peaked out of her tight slit. My cock thrust hard before me as she lifted a clay jug and poured scented oils across her nubile body.

She glistened as she approached and pressed against me. I groaned as her arms wrapped around my neck, her lips gluing to mine. Her body undulated, rubbing the oils into my muscular chest and stomach.

I moaned into her kiss, my hard cock throbbing against her stomach. I held her, my hands sliding down to grip her firm ass. She had no hips yet, and she was lovely and slim in my arms. She moaned into my lips as I pulled her against my cock.

"Remember, King, she must remain a maiden," purred the Voice. "Your cock will find all the satisfaction in my Mistress."

The Oracle let out a purring moan.

I broke the kiss with the Maiden of the Oils. The nubile girl worked about my body, rubbing her hard nipples and hot pussy against my side and back as she continued anointing me. My eyes were locked on the sight of the Oracle, who appeared no more than sixteen despite being an immortal being, writhing upon the tongue of her maiden.