Podcasts about Soule

The Time Riders: Part 5 A Labyrinth Palace. Based on a post by BiscuitHammer, in 16 parts. Listen to the Podcast at Explicit Novels. The non-descript carriage had indeed made its way through Paris' winding streets, taking well over an hour to finally stop in front of the palace and allowing Mark to get out of the cramped cab before it rattled off. The sun had set some time ago, and night hung over the city heavily, the cloying air of Paris carrying the city's growing pains to his ears. Even at night, the city was not silent. Mark adjusted his outfit and marched toward the outermost gate of the vast palace, its arms spread wide and encompassing a massive courtyard. Two men wearing ornate red uniforms and holding pikes crossed their weapons at his approach, barring his entry. One of them gruffly asked him to state his business. Trusting to the plan, Mark said nothing, but merely held out one of his sealed letters, this one bearing the emblem of Richelieu. The guard examined it for several seconds, consulting with the other guard before handing it back and then opening the gate. Mark shot them both a dirty look for holding him up in his errand and then swept inside, doing his best to look haughty and full of bravado, which is what the Musketeers were apparently renowned for. He couldn't help but reflect that they seemed a lot less heroic than history let on and were more dickbags than anything else. Oh well. Faking being a dickbag was probably significantly easier than pretending to be a hero. He passed through another gate that got him closer to the palace, this one also manned by the Swiss Guard. He arrogantly presented them with the Richelieu missive, which once again satisfied their scrutiny and he was allowed to pass. He forced himself to not look around in wonder at his surroundings, instead heading straight to the great doors that would give him admittance to the palace. Alex once again presented his letter, but this time the guards squinted at him suspiciously. "Qui es tou?" demanded one of them. His throat was dry, but he answered as readily as he could, trying to sound authoritative and even haughty. "J'mappelle Benat de Ferres, of Soule, Second Company of the King's Musketeers under Monsieur de Treville. Let me through." "Fucking Basques and Gascons," muttered one of the guards in irritation. "Why would a musketeer be bringing a missive to his excellency, the Cardinal?" he demanded to know. Mark concealed his anxiety by looking pissed and rattling off one of the phrases Alexandra had given him, hoping it had the desired effect. "I have an idea, why don't we all go ask the Cardinal and you can fucking explain to him why you held up his envoy on an important errand? Does that sound good to you?" The two men looked at one another warily; the visitor was certainly obnoxious enough to be a Musketeer and a Gascon. Sighing and shaking his head in defeat, the one man handed the sealed letter back to Mark and they opened the doors, allowing him entrance. He swept by them, calling them shitheads in Spanish before the doors closed behind him. He knew he shouldn't, but he couldn't help Gawking as he stared at the palace around him; its splendor was beyond anything he had imagined. Walls of white plaster, carved in exquisite shapes and edged in royal purple, along with gold filigree, and incredible paintings and artifacts lined the walls. Endless numbers of servants scurried by, hardly noticing him. He shut his eyes for a moment and composed himself, remembering the details Alexandra had shown him, the way through the palace. He turned and began his search for his teacher. Lisette walked primly through the halls of the palace, bowing her head deferentially to just about everyone who passed her. Wearing an elegant gown, she seemed to almost glide along the hallway, walking with a practiced ease that her mistress had taught her. She had, in three years, only been in the royal presence twice before, in attendance to Lady Alexandra. The king had barely noticed her, but Lisette didn't mind one bit, because this was far more of a life than she ever could have hoped for. She had, of course, spent much more time in the presence of the queen, because her mistress served Anne directly. Anne of Austria seemed mostly amused by Lady Alexandra's quirky servant, but she was kind to Lisette, often sending her home with gifts of chocolate. Her devotion to the queen, while not equal to her fanatic love for Lady Alexandra, meant she would die in Anne's name if necessary. She hoped it wouldn't come to that tonight, but she had made her peace with God and the Lady Mary all the same. Alexandra had set her with the task of removing or distracting every guard she could from the route Mark would take through the palace. She was not to kill anyone, nor was she to be seen in the mayhem, if at all possible. If things went wrong, she was to retreat to the queen's quarters and be seen protecting her. It was the best alibi she could hope for. A guard up ahead. He was a sullen-looking brute, not carrying the long pikes of the gate guards, but a much more practical halberd, along with a short rapier on his belt. She knew he'd be trouble. She ducked into an alcove and pulled a small phial out of her cleavage, drinking the strong red wine from it and sloshing it around in her mouth, to make sure the aroma was on her breath. Replacing the phial, she lurched back out into the hallway and sauntered toward him lazily. "Hello, beautiful," she said drunkenly, giving him a lopsided smile. "You must' be off-duty by now." "No, I am not," he grunted, not looking at her. "Go away, slut." "C'mon," Lisette persisted, leering at him as she leaned against the wall to his left. "We could be having fun. Don' you like fun?" "Duty is not meant to be fun." "But these are fun," she drawled, as she stepped in front of him and leaned forward, using her hands to pull down the front of her bodice and exposing her perky tits to the man, whose eyes went wide at the sight. "These are all the fun you'll need;” He didn't stop her as she sidled up to him, stood on her tip-toes and put her arms around his neck. Her breath was sweet with wine, her dark eyes glassy with the lack of inhibition it brought on. Her tits pressed to his chest, her hips flat to his crotch. "Take me into that room and fuck me;” she breathed huskily, her lips no more than an inch from his. "I want to feel you inside me;” The man was rather pale at her suggestion, but nodded readily and turned around to open the door. The parlor behind was empty, the perfect place for a rendezvous with this slattern. She took him by the hand and led him inside, closing the door behind them. Mark walked down the hallway, trying to not look like he was hurrying, and staying alert. He was entering a difficult part of the operation, because he was no longer in an area of the palace that led to either the king's quarters or those of Cardinal Richelieu. If anyone stopped him now, he would probably be redirected rather forcefully, and he had precious little time to waste. He walked by a door, from which he heard a moaning noise. Then he heard a familiar woman's voice, gasping and urging someone on. His translator bud wasn't close enough to hear what was being said, but he was fairly certain he knew what was happening. He subtly pushed the door open and peered inside. Mark gaped as he watched Lisette, leaning over a small table, panting while a member of the House Guard fucked her from behind, her layered skirt bunched over her ass as he pushed in and out of her. The guard remained oblivious, but she noticed the door open and flicked a glance his way. She gave him an annoyed look and jerked her head, indicating that she had this covered and he needed to keep moving. He nodded and pulled the door shut quietly before heading down the hall again. He turned a corner and then headed up some stairs, leading up to the next floor, which was apparently where Becky was being kept. He was so busy thinking about what he needed to do next that he blundered right into two guards, who grunted and then glared at him angrily. "Stupid shit!" the one man he had smacked into spat. "Watch where you are; who are you?" Mark went wide-eyed, not having expected them. His mouth seemed to work, but no sounds came forth. They blocked his ascent and continued to glare at him. "Who; are; you?" the man demanded again. Mark regained control of his voice and tried to speak. "My name is; my name is Benat;” Fuck, he'd forgotten his last name. "My name is Benat DeFlepard," he managed to say. "I am from Sully and I have' "What sort of name is DeFlepard?" snarled the one guard. "I have sealed orders," Mark interrupted, not liking where this was going. "From the Cardinal!" "Is that so?" sneered the man. "Let's see them!" Mark handed him the sealed missive scroll. The man examined it and frowned. "This is the king's seal," he growled. "What is the meaning of this?” Before the man could finish his query, Mark punched him in the face and then pulled his crème-colored tabard over his head and threw him down the stairs. The guard cursed loudly as he rolled at least two floors. Mark was too late to stop the other man from drawing his short rapier, but managed to grapple onto him, keeping himself from being run through. Mark might have been taller, but the guard was a veteran of many wars, strong and cunning. It wasn't long before he had Mark's back pressed against the wall, both men fighting for balance on the stairs. "Little shit!" he shouted, trying to press the edge of his blade against Mark's throat and slit it. They tussled, and Mark managed to wedge his arm between his neck and the rapier, feeling the sickening cold pain of the keen edge creasing his forearm. His free hand, however, snaked down to the pistol on his belt, twisting the leather until the muzzle pointed down; The stairwell echoed with a thunderous crack as Mark pulled the trigger and discharged the weapon, the iron ball punching a hole in the guard's boot and then his foot. The man groaned and staggered, releasing Mark. His ears ringing, Mark managed to shove the man down the stairs, following his comrade. He shook his head and began sprinting up the stairs, knowing the whole palace would be coming down on his head any second now. Alexandra was concealed in a secret closet in a parlor not far from the queen's quarters, listening carefully. She was wearing the red uniform of the Cardinal's personal guard, her impressive bust flattened and pulled tight with linen straps. Her golden hair was held in a ponytail while a black mask concealed her facial features. Her rapier sat on her hip and three customized pistols were concealed around her person, along with several knives balanced for throwing. She heard the discharge of a firearm, followed by shouts of alarm and fright. She hung her head and sighed. She'd been hoping it wouldn't come to this, but there seemed to be nothing for it. She would see her obligation met. Alexandra crossed herself and exited the hidden space, heading toward the Cardinal's quarters, determined to cause a distraction for Mark as he went in the opposite direction to rescue Rebecca. It was all in God's hands now. All she could hope was that Mark had remembered what his name was. Mark raced down the hallway, ignoring people who poked their heads out of various rooms and parlors to see what all the commotion was, before closing their doors and locking them in panic at the sight of him. He had his sword in one hand, his pistol in the other. Having discharged his shot already and having no idea how to readily and safely reload the damn thing, the pistol was mostly for intimidation purposes at this point. Thankfully, if he pointed it at people, they tended to make themselves scarce. A guard rushed around the corner, his halberd in hand, but Mark smashed the ornate swept hilt of his rapier into his mouth, which dissolved in a welter of blood, lips and gum before he burbled and fell over. Mark kept running. He shoulder-blocked his way past another guard, but then found himself confronted by a small group of angry servant girls, who kept swearing in French and throwing bread rolls and potatoes at him. Covering his head, he sprinted past them, resisting the urge to take a swipe at the uppity wenches. There was the room! He raced up to it and tried to open the door, but it was locked. Given the amount of noise and commotion he was causing, he shouldn't have been surprised. He stepped back and then slammed the heel of his sturdy boot into the door with all his might, knocking it out of its frame and falling to the floor. He rushed inside, looking around for his teacher, but she was nowhere in sight. That's when the heavy vase smashed into the back of his head. He was on his face on the floor, reality swimming around him. He heard someone hissing at him as he was handled roughly by his neck and his tunic. He was turned onto his back and someone was straddling him now, their supple legs on either side of his throat and their heavy skirt bunched up between their legs, allowing him to goggle up at his assaulter. "Becky! Stop! Stop, I; Ow! Jesus! Quit Hitting Me! It's Me, Mark!" The flurry of fists halted and then there was a pause thick with confusion. He felt his cheeks being gripped tightly, immobilizing his face and then his neck pulled up so that whoever was sitting on him could look at him. "Mark?" Becky exclaimed in disbelief. "Mark! Oh my God!" She began smothering him with feverish kisses, still straddling him. Still dizzy, he was in no particular shape to stop her, in spite of the fact the whole palace was on its way to kill him. His eyes finally managed to focus, and he looked up at her. "I've missed you too, Becks, but can you let me up, please?" Becky blinked and then jumped off him hastily, helping him to his feet. She still seemed stunned to see him, not that he blamed her. "How?" she asked, her eyes wide with disbelief and wet with emotion. "You; you were." "Dead? Yeah, kinda." "The how are you here?" she asked, trembling. He shrugged. "To quote Neil De Grasse-Tyson, science, bitches." "Oh, it doesn't matter," she exhaled, crushing herself to him and hugging tight, her body shaking with raw emotion. "You're back, Mark. You came back for me;” He smiled and hugged her back, his hand on the back of her head. "Well sure I did. You're my time-travelling partner, aren't you? Can't leave you here with these smelly savages." She laugh-choked back a sob and look up at him, her eyes leaking tears onto her scarlet cheeks. "And we're gonna get out of here and; Becks, are you, like, really drunk?" Her expression of delight warped into a scowl at his query and she pushed herself away from him. "Well what do you expect? I only spent the past month trying to kill myself with alcohol while you were taking your unscheduled nap, you jerk!" "I'm sorry," he faltered, knowing that this couldn't possibly be the right time to make her angry, on so many levels. "Let me get you out of here and then I'll explain everything." "Hang on;” she huffed, stomping over to a table and grabbing her bottle of wine, tilting her head back and taking a stiff pull from it gulping loudly. Mark made a wan face and fidgeted, acutely aware of the time they were losing. "Becks, no offense, but I'm pretty sure every guard in Paris is looking for me right now, and I' "Sounds like more of a you problem than a me problem," she grunted, attempting to drain the bottle with several loud glucks. "Nobody was trying to kill me while I was here." "No, you seem to have that covered;” he said dryly. She shot him a nasty look, but didn't stop drinking. "Look, we need to go," he insisted. "Pretty sure Alexandra's risking her neck to make sure I can' "Alexandra?" Becky interrupted, stopping drinking to look at him pointedly. "The gorgeous blonde I want to fuck?" "I; sure," Mark replied, trying to keep up. "Pretty sure she and Lisette are' "Who's Lisette?" Becky asked suspiciously, lurching toward him. She was quite a bit drunker than he'd initially thought. "It doesn't matter," he declared, determined to get moving before Richelieu arrested and shot his ass again. "We need to get' Mark winced in fear as she surged toward him, the bottle raised over her head. She flew by him and smashed the bottle down on the head of a guard who had barged into the room. His eyes rolled up into his head and he went to sleep. "Weren't you drunk moments ago?" Mark asked in disbelief. "Looks like you're the one who need rescuing." Becky shot back. "You were half a second away from having an exit wound the size of an airport runway in your chest just now." Another guard sprang around the corner. Becky, who was closest to the door, kicked him savagely between the legs. The man staggered to a stop and stiffened, but didn't fall over, the impact of her foot cushioned by the many layers of baroque skirt she was wearing, not to mention the dainty, padded slipper. As the man gaped at her, she kicked him between the legs again, but her skirt interfered, softening the blow to the place where he merely doubled over from the ache. Becky snarled angrily, lunged in, grabbed him by the neck and DDT him, almost as smoothly as ‘Jake the Snake' did to fellow pro wrestlers. This time he stayed down. "Jerk!" she muttered, glaring at the man. Without a second thought, she used a knife on the man's belt to tear layers of skirt away, leaving herself clad only in the bodice and skimpy underwear, with garters holding up the silk stockings she wore. She knelt on the unconscious man's back and pulled his boots off, replacing her slippers with the sturdier footwear. She then stripped his rapier and pistol from his person before turning to look at Mark. "You ready now?" she asked pointedly, standing there in what basically amounted to negligee and musketeer boots, while holding a rapier and a wheellock pistol. He gaped at her for a moment, unable to say anything. "You have no idea how stupidly sexy you look right now, Becks." Mark managed to say. "I'll believe it when Alexandra says it to me," she sniffed, turning and heading out the door. "Let's go, hero." Mark sighed and trotted after her, leaving the two men lying on the floor in a spreading pool of wine and broken shards of glass. Lisette made sure the guard was arranged comfortably in the plush chair, snoring, his breeches still around his ankles, his soft cock oozing cum all over his balls. She shook her head in exasperation as she rearranged her skirts; no sooner had the man cum than he yawned and began to fall asleep. She'd been nowhere close to climaxing when he'd finished. Typical male. At least the boy from the future liked to make sure she came first, even if he was a naïve school boy. She left the door open, to make sure his shame was on display and then hurried down the hallway, holding her skirt up and allowing herself to run. The palace was ringing with shouts of alarm, anger and panic. Everything seemed to be going as planned, whatever that entailed. She just trusted that Mistress knew what she was doing. Guards from various regiments were racing around now, getting one another's way and shouting orders angrily. She passed through them virtually unnoticed, merely a servant girl looking for shelter. She made a beeline right for the queen's royal apartments, and she was stopped by no one, since she was known to the guards and stuff. She nodded hastily as she passed two guards outside the ornate doors and headed inside the boudoir. Anne of Austria looked up from a book to see Lisette scurry in, closing the door behind herself and then pressing her ear to the door, ignoring everyone else in the room. She then saw the queen, blinked, curtseyed hastily, and went back to eavesdropping on the frenzy of activity outside. The monarch shook her head wearily and went back to reading her book. "You may not pass through here!" shouted the house guard, blocking Alexandra's passage forward. She had identified herself as a member of the Cardinal's guard, using her well-practiced man's voice to give credit to her guise. Thought he believed her, the man remained unmoved, barring her way. "I told you, I need to reach the Cardinal!" she insisted, knowing full well he would not let her through. "That is no concern of mine," he said coldly, glaring at her, his hand on his sword, ready to draw it. "Find another way to reach your Cardinal, because if you come another step closer, I will run you through." "So be it!" she growled as she lunged in, her own rapier flashing in her hand. The man drew his weapon and thrust at her, but she parried and then drove the point of her blade through the shoulder of his sword arm, pinning him against the wall. He groaned as his sword fell to the ground, but then her foot slammed into his face while she pulled her rapier from his shoulder. He was unconscious, but he would live. She had no cause to kill these men. She ran down the hallway, listening all the while to the commotion that echoed through the Louvre. A young guard barred her progress at a juncture in the hallways, and before he was even ready, she struck him across the head with the basket of her rapier, knocking him out. Alexandra continued along the corridor, but then saw several guards rushing into the other end of the hall, outside of an ornate door that led to the king's royal apartments. Upon seeing her, the six men pointed their muskets at her, three kneeling while the other three stood behind. A series of barks shook the area as she ducked around a corner hastily, avoiding their barrage. She could hear them shouting orders to reload. She leaned her head back against the wall and sighed. Idiots. Before they had reloaded, she had pulled a small device made of two pieces of flint out of her pocket, along with a tiny clay pot out of the other. From the hole in the top of the pot hung a thin strip of rigid paper. She held the pot by its flat bottom and snapped the flint pieces against one another, producing sparks that caught on the paper and began to burn. As the flame made its way down the paper wick, she counted slowly and calmly before leaning around the corner, tossing the pot, which skated on its flat bottom along the floor toward the guards who opposed her. She then ducked back, waiting grimly. There were shouts and the sound of boots stampeding, but then an unreal hissing shriek and a bright, flaring white light as the magnesium powder inside the container ignited. Cries of pain followed. Ten seconds later, the light died, and she rounded the corner and strode down the hallway. Four of the six guards had fled before the grenade went off, while two were writhing on the ground, clutching at their eyes from the flash blindness. She stepped between them and kicked in the door toward the king's apartments before turning around and walking away, knowing that this would create additional confusion as they sought to find the assassin in the red tabard who sought to slay the Sun King. There was more chaos to sow. Mark and Becky sprinted down the hall, ignoring the pell-mell going on around them. Inevitably, though, they were confronted by a soldier of the Cardinal, one that Mark recognized. It was the captain who had shot him. Marks teeth clenched as he rushed forward, ready to run the sonofabitch through, but Becky was faster. She threw herself into a skid, sliding along the polished floor, hurtling straight toward the man. He gaped at her in disbelief, but by then, she had slammed her foot into his crotch, doubling him over with a grunt of unreal pain. With a roar, she surged to her feet, grabbed the man around the middle from behind and yanked him over backwards, suplexing his family jewels with zest. Mark had by now skidded to a halt and watched in disbelief while his teacher stood over the supine officer and kicked him in the ribs. "Bastard!" she raged. "Teach you to kill my students!" She knelt and yanked his head up, making sure his eyes were open as she pointed at Mark, her voice dripping with vitriol. "See that? He's alive! You can't even kill something right! Your life means nothing! Nothing!" She smacked his head off the tile floor and gathered up her weapons before looking at Mark, composing herself now. "Sorry," she said with a flush of embarrassment. "You probably wanted him, didn't you? I thought you were dead, so if I ever saw him again, I'd have to avenge you." Mark shrugged. "No harm done. Except to him, and I don't really' Mark stopped talking and stared down the hallway behind Becky. Three men in flamboyant uniforms, trimmed in blue and white like himself were now approaching them. One had a grim, patrician air and about him, the second a handsome boyish charm, while the third towered over the others by a head and shoulders, a contemptuous smirk on his face. "That can't be good;” he thought. Becky didn't even blink. Without turning around, she pointed her pistol backwards over her shoulder and pulled the trigger. The bark of the shot echoed around the palace and the giant staggered backward, eyes wide in shock, before he fell over like a redwood. The other two gaped at her in astonishment as she turned around to glower at them. They hastily took hold of their downed friend and hauled him out of sight, their duty to the king forgotten. "That's right, ladies, run!" Becky called out, her chest heaving. "How's it feel to get beat up by a girl?" "You are so sexy right now, Becks." Mark chuckled, approaching her. She turned back to face him; covered with gunpowder smudges, scratches and the occasional bruise, she'd never looked more attractive to him. Heedless of their surroundings, she threw herself against him and kissed him shamelessly. His hands found her ass and squeezed as he returned the kiss and she moaned into his mouth. If there'd been a rhino horn on his crotch, he'd have been impaled on it. She broke the kiss and looked at him hungrily, her eyes shouldering with desire. "I'm so glad you're not dead, Mark," she breathed. "I can't wait to prove it to you when we get the fuck out of here." Mark took her hand and pulled her down the hallway, breaking into a run. They weren't out of danger yet. "What're you laughing about?" she asked, scowling while she allowed him to lead her through the palace. "I think that was Porthos you shot," he said almost cheerfully. "Becks, you ganked Porthos." "Oh, I did not," she hissed, trying to not feel disgust at her student's lack of historical knowledge and basic temporal mechanics. "Porthos doesn't die until 1670. So if that guy dies, it wasn't Porthos. If it was Porthos, he isn't dead. Read a book, Mark." "Ha, you said bookmark!" he laughed as he pulled her around a corner and down another hallway, trying to reach the point Alexandra had designated. "Uh!" Becky groused. "Why was I so damn happy that you lived? I swear, Mark, I; Ack!" They both whirled in panic and threw themselves back around the corner as a withering hail of musket fire peppered the plaster of the walls where they'd been standing mere seconds before. They scrambled to their feet and began running back the way they'd come, determined to not die in some baroque version of Bullet Hell from the Matrix. "Fucking shit!" Mark yelped, yanking her around another corner as more soldiers appeared and filled the hall with musket balls. "This sucks!" "Ya' think?" she hissed as they kept running, their options becoming increasingly limited. "I'm in this too, Mister Spotlight!" "Yeah, well at least you don't have the Goblin City Battle music from the Labyrinth soundtrack stuck in your head while they chase us around and try to kill us!" "I do now, you fucker! Thanks a lot!" Becky raged. A lone house guard skidded to a stop near them and prepared to fire. Mark flung his pistol at the man, striking him in the head before knocking him aside as they continued down the corridor. "What did you throw your gun away for, dumbass?" she exclaimed, wondering if blood loss after getting shot had permanently damaged Mark's brain. She hoped he could still get it up, if they made it out of here. "It had no ammo in it." Mark grunted, trying to get his bearings, thinking back to the plans of the palace Alexandra had shown him. "Why were you carrying around an empty pistol?" Becky asked in disbelief. "Intimidation purposes? Were you gonna hold it sideways when you pointed it at people, hope you looked all gangster?" "I plugged a guy on my way to find you, okay?" he sighed as they kept running. "The first shot fired that started this whole mess, it was me shooting some jackoff in the foot as I tried to find you." Becky skidded to a stop, halting Mark's flight as well. She looked into his eyes and then hugged him in relief. "Thank you, Mark," she said quietly. "You came for me, after you nearly died, and we both could today. You're very brave." When she ended the hug, Mark found she had put her own pistol in his hands. He frowned in confusion. "Why'd you give me your pistol?" he asked. "Because let's face it, I'm a lot more likely to snag another one than you are," she sighed. "Let's go, I'm done with the Sun King's France." Out of breath, they settled for trotting down a hallway, surrounded by the echoing sounds of chaos. Things had gotten so confused that the guards were all fighting one another now, thinking the enemy in their midst. Panting, the pair stopped suddenly as they came to a major intersection of hallways. Not far away, a confused brawl consisting of house guard and the Cardinal's guard blocked their passage. Upon their appearance, though, both sides paused in their fight and stared at them. Then a captain raised a call to kill them. Without even thinking, Mark pointed his pistol at the huge iron chandelier over the soldier's heads and fired. The plaster ceiling broke as the iron ball struck at and the chandelier plummeted, crashing into the dozens of men before while clouds of plaster dust filled the hall. "I can't believe that worked!" Mark laughed as they ran down another venue. "Yes, it was very impressive, Gene Kelly," Becky sighed, shaking her head. "Next, you'll be swinging from the damn chandeliers or using your knife to ride down tapestries." Soldiers surged around the corner, charging into the couple. Mark shouted in fury as they tried to skewer him while they attempted to wrestle Becky to the ground. He dodged a blade and slashed his foe across the arm before leaping back to try and give himself room. He looked around in a panic and saw Becky kicking a soldier in the nuts before punching another in the face, her eyes flashing with fury. Someone slammed into him from behind and he tumbled forward, scrambling to gain his feet. More bodies joined the fracas and he realized that they were not only trying to kill him but fighting one another as well. It was difficult to breathe. There were too many bodies smothering him. He gasped in panic and strained to find room for himself. His shaking hand gripped a sword and she shoved it forward indiscriminately, feeling something soft give before him. He focused all his effort on crawling forward, finally emerging from the churning pile of men, locked in combat. He dragged himself along the floor but then grunted in pain as something speared into his thigh from above and behind. He turned to look, his eyes watering in pain, seeing a man in red, glaring at him, raising his rapier for another strike. Then a sword point burst through the man's chest from behind. His eyes widened, and he dropped his sword and crumpled to the ground. The man who had killed him was already moving on to another target. Exhausted and dull with pain, Mark dragged himself to a wall and slumped against it, looking around for Becky, but she was nowhere to be seen. No. Not again. He ignored the maelstrom of violence and pushed himself to his feet, limping down a hallway, sword held loosely in his hand as he went to find his teacher. Alexandra strode down the hall with purpose, her senses keen for trouble. She had caused as much trouble as she could, all the while keeping the fray well away from the queen's quarters. She regretted that men would die today, due to their poor judgement, but she understood that the girl Rebecca could not remain here in Paris. A deep foreboding warned her that almost any price was worth paying to see her safely away. Sparring with D'Artagnan. She stopped as a lone figure came into view, blocking her way down the corridor. He wore the blue of the king's mousquetaires, his young face etched with determination. His hand rested on the hilt of his rapier while he observed her. "So," he began, tilting his head. "You must be the cause of all this mayhem, oui?" "I am not who you seek." Alexandra said plainly. "I do not truck with liars and I do not appreciate being lied to!" the young man snapped. "I would have your name before I run you through in the king's. Are you an agent of Buckingham?" "No." "Charles of Spain?" "I have no time for this," Alexandra said testily, putting her hand on the hilt of her blade. "Move aside and let me complete my task, musketeer!" "Then it is death you crave!" he hissed, his rapier flashing in his hand now. "I shall happily give it to you in the queen's honor!" Alexandra drew her blade as her foe rushed forward. She parried his initial thrust and then counter-thrust, which he swatted aside. A flurry of thrusts and ripostes followed, the two warriors measuring one another, vying for advantage in the narrow hallway. Steel rang and flashed. Alexandra's sword point tore a vent in one of her foe's sleeves, and she followed up with a swipe at his eyes, but he dodged away nimbly. He lunged in with the speed of a striking serpent and she caught his blade on hers before it pierced her stomach, turning it aside. They pressed blade-to-blade, moving around one another in a slow, deadly circle, their eyes locked. He danced away again as a main-gauche flashed in her hand, nearly shearing his throat open. He spun around her next attack, and when he was facing her again, a pistol had appeared in his free hand. At point blank range, he pulled the trigger. The thunderous bark of the firearm rattled her teeth as she bent backwards, the bullet passing harmlessly overhead. Alexandra somersaulted backward gracefully, coming to her feet with her rapier guarding against a follow-up attack. A lot of bemusement crossed his face. "Very pretty, good sir," he said. "But it will not save you." He darted in again and another furious exchange of swordplay followed. His blade kissed the top of her thigh, leaving a shining crimson thread on her skin. She paid him in kind with a nick across his cheek, followed by cutting the red plume from his hat. He was nearly as fast as she was, and his recklessness made him dangerously unpredictable, even to one as skilled and experienced as Alexandra. Their blades grated as they strained against one another, teeth clenched and eyes flashing in fury. With a cry of effort, she shoved with all her might and threw him back. He kept his feet and remained on guard, irritated by his foe's grit and skill. "D'Artagnan!" shouted Athos as he and Aramis dragged the unconscious Porthos across the hallway behind the combatants, disappearing from sight. This distracted the Musketeer, who turned to look behind himself in confusion and then disbelief. He glanced back at his foe and then sighed, sheathing his blade. "Until next time, enemy mine;” he said, before darting around the corner to catch up with his comrades. Alexandra waited some seconds after he was gone and then sagged against the wall, sighing heavily. She rubbed her face for a moment before returning her rapier to its sheathe and continuing on. She had to find Mark and Rebecca. The door to the room swung open and Mark staggered inside, panting in pain. His entire leg felt like it was on fire, and it was maddeningly sticky. He had lost his sword while searching for Becky, but it mattered little if he couldn't find her. He tumbled into a sitting position, propping himself up on his hands and trying to breathe. Everything hurt now, and it was getting to the place where he couldn't move. His head throbbed and he was getting dizzy. With extreme effort, he managed to tear one of his sleeves off, and tied it around his leg, hoping it would act as a tourniquet and perhaps staunch the bleeding. It stung like fucking Hell and to his distress did nothing ease his pain. He sat there panting, when a solemn figure in red moved slowly by the door. There was a pause and then the person came back into view, peering at Mark quizzically. Clad in red robes and a little red skull cap, his tight, lemony features creased in recognition and then disbelief. "I know you," the Cardinal murmured, his eyes never leaving Mark. "Yes, you are the boy from the field, the one who claimed to be a Spanish noble and had the pretty girl with him." He stepped closer, still scrutinizing Mark, who tried to move backwards, his body screaming in protest. "But you died," the elderly man stated. "My captain shot you. You died in that field. What witchcraft is this?" Annoyance flashed in the Cardinal's eyes now. "So, you are the cause of all this tumult. The girl I was to give to the queen, she is missing and now I know why." He pulled a pistol from within the voluminous folds of his red robes and cocked it before pointing the muzzle down at Mark's face. "I think it is time I dealt with this problem myself, once and for all." Too hurt and exhausted to fight back, Mark squeezed his eyes shut; "I Kick You In The Nuts, Richelieu!" shrilled a voice from the doorway behind the Cardinal, the shout followed by a sickening thump as a musketeer's boot appeared beneath Richelieu's groin. The man stiffened for a moment in confusion, but then his eyes crossed, and he bit his lower lip as his skin turned a sickly shade of green. While Richelieu slumped forward and then fell on his side, trembling and holding the family jewels, Mark goggled up at Becky, who stood indignantly in the doorway with her hands on her hips, glaring down at His Eminence. "Asshole;” she muttered as she stepped over the Cardinal and came over to Mark, who was shaking with the effort of holding himself up. Her eyes welled with emotion as she knelt next to him. "Oh, Mark," she said in a gentle voice. "Look at you, you got stabbed, baby. I'm so sorry;” "I'll be alright," he managed to say as she hugged him to her. "At least you still look amazing, no matter how badly your ass has been kicked." Becky's laugh choked back her sob and she smiled at him, tears in her eyes. "Smart-ass," she murmured. "C'mon, let me bind your boo-boo properly and then we'll get out of here, before everyone in Paris is dead." She fixed his makeshift tourniquet and then helped him stand. Once he was upright, he took a deep breath and smiled at her. "I think I can walk, I was just in need of a breather, ya' know?" She giggled. "How the Hell are we gonna explain a rapier wound through your thigh when you get home?" "With any luck, Chester will have a little something' to fix me right up." Mark replied. "Let's go. If we are where I think we are, then our ride isn't that far away." They walked cautiously down several smaller hallways, avoiding any and all encounters. They chaos seemed to have abated, at least for now. Alexandra had predicted that if fighting broke out, there was be lots of confused violence, followed by the various guard companies withdrawing to their assigned wings of the palace, to directly protect their charges, such as the king, queen and cardinal. "Bet the Cardinal's guards are gonna be upset," Mark chuckled. "He's nowhere near his quarters, and they let him get kicked in the freaking balls." Becky giggled as she walked alongside him, her arm through his. "You have no idea how good that felt, Mark. A girl could get used to that. Maybe we should visit Berlin, see if I can kick Hitler in the nuts." "One grand adventure at a time, teach;” he said wearily, causing her to laugh. But her mirth was brought up short when a solitary figure appeared in front of them, wearing red and clad in a black mask, a rapier and several pistols on their belt. Becky scowled, getting ready to step in front of her student, when Mark seemed to sigh in relief. "I am glad to see you are both well," said the person, walking forward, pulling their golden hair out of its ponytail and removing the mask. Becky's heart leapt as she came face-to-face with Lady Alexandra once more. "Thank the Lord." She stepped in and embraced them both, all three of them trembling at being reunited. Alexandra finally smiled at her friends and nodded. "We must still get you out of here, before the guards return to some sense of normalcy. Mark, do you still have the place name I gave to you?" Mark smiled wearily. "I; it's in the little pocket in my pants here, but it's probably pretty red and unreadable by now." "It's a good thing, then, that I wrote a copy, non?" Alexandra lilted, pulling a small piece of vellum out from beneath the sash she wore and handing it to Becky. "Go to this place," the noblewoman instructed. "By carriage, it should not take more than three days. It is a sanctum I use on occasion and it will be safe. Lisette and I will find you there a day or two after you arrive." She then handed two small, round jars into Becky's palm as well. "Use these to salve your wounds, until I arrive. I promise you, they will work." "How can we thank you?" Becky asked, staring at Alexandra, enchanted. The French woman smiled and then pulled Becky to her, kissing her deeply and passionately. Becky shuddered and moaned, her arms wrapping around Alexandra and returning the kiss passionately. Mark smiled as he watched the blondes make out for almost a minute before Alexandra reluctantly pulled away. "We need to stop, or we will be fucking right here in the halls of the palace," she breathed, wiping at the corner of her mouth with a finger. "We will see one another soon, and celebrate then." She turned to Mark and smiled before leaning in and kissing him gently. "You are a brave man, my friend. Never doubt it, no matter what travails Heaven provides." She walked them through several secret passages now, until they emerged into a small courtyard, under the cover of night. Standing nearby, a non-descript carriage awaited them. Alexandra wrapped Becky in a cloak and then spoke to the driver while the clambered inside. His instructions were clear, and he would not deviate from them. Becky and Mark looked out a small window, smiling and waving at Alexandra, who held up her hand to bid them farewell. The carriage exited the Louvre via a small gate where the guards asked no questions, and then they were on their way through Paris. Mark sank back into the surprisingly plush seat and sighed heavily. "Try not to get kidnapped again, Becks," he said lazily. "I'm not sure how much more of this my body can take." "But being rescued by you is one of my favorite reasons to use tawdry sex as a thank you," she protested, turning to smile at him and tracing a fingernail up and down his chest. "You wouldn't deprive me of that joy, would you, hero?" "Perish the thought, teach;” he chuckled tiredly. A time to recuperate. Mark had Lisette pinned beneath him and rocked back and forth on top of her, his cock plunging in and out of her molten cunt, while she groaned in pleasure. It felt so good to have this boy's tool inside her again. Her legs were wrapped around his strong waist and her hips moved in time with his, taking him in as deep as she could. Lisette rarely kissed anyone who wasn't her mistress, but in this case, she was making a willing exception. Their tongues tangled wetly as they fucked, exploring one another. The tingling heat was overtaking her, and she knew it would not be long now. She crossed her ankles behind him and she bit at the skin of his chest, shuddering in delight. Mark arched his back, pushing as deep inside her as he could, before shaking and allowing himself release. Her wanton cunt gripped his cock while he came deep inside her, his whole being awash with unreal pleasure. They moaned through a frenzied kiss and then sagged together, spent and sated, at least for now. Moans, pants and sighs of bliss attracted Mark and Lisette's attention and they looked off their side; also on the huge bed with them, Becky and Alexandra were sitting together, with their arms and legs wrapped around one another, kissing hungrily as they squirmed their slick pussies together. Their matching golden hair was damp with the sweat of their exertions, skin slick and shining. The greedy smacking and sucking sounds their slits made as they mingled made the four lovers shiver in delight. Alexandra and Becky were groping and fondling one another with unreal need, their nails leaving red marks and their fingers gripping tight enough to leave welts. Neither relented, though, desperate to cum together. The moans became groans and they were panting as they gyrated their hips, churning rhythmically in a sensual dance of bliss. They pulled tighter against one another, clenching their teeth and craning their necks as they peaked, then crying out and pressing their molten, gooey pussies as they came. More feverish kissing punctuated the climax and the finally both collapsed backward, chests heaving, their legs still scissored together. Steam seemed to be rising from their bodies, skin flushed pink. The four lovers lay silent for some minutes, just basking in their shared bliss. Mark finally pulled himself out of Lisette and then knelt over her face, allowing the dark-haired girl to slide his cock into her mouth, cleaning their mingled cum from his cock, which she did with great delight. Becky and Alexandra finally clasped wrists and pulled themselves up into a sitting position, hugging tiredly, but not willing to relinquish their most intimate contact. They kissed deeply and contentedly, fondling one another's tits. Lisette looked over at them and giggled. Alexandra looked over at her servant, her eyebrow raised. "What is so funny, girl?" Lisette turned on her side and rested her head on her hand while Mark spooned in behind her. "I was just thinking, Mistress; you and Miss Rebecca look so much alike. What if you are her ancestor?" Becky and Alexandra both thought about that, looked at one another for a moment, shrugged and began kissing again, their tongues tangling loudly. "And if that was the case, think about what we discussed the other day," she continued, smirking mischievously. "You said you had wondered what it would be like to Monsieur Mark's child, yes? Wouldn't that also make him Miss Rebecca's ancestor?" Mark burst out laughing while Becky choked on her shock, interrupting the kiss she had been so enjoying. She looked at Lisette in disbelief. Alexandra just sighed and shook her head, used to her servant's twisted humor. The moment of metaphysical terror passed for Becky and they all cuddled together in the center of the bed, kissing tenderly and caressing. Alexandra had told Becky all about Mark's efforts to find her and reach her, what he had undergone and risked. Becky's eyes shone as she looked at Mark at promised to make sure he was properly thanked until the end of time. "I wish you could stay," Alexandra almost moped, regretting that she had to give her new friends up. "I enjoy your company, and I am not ashamed to say I love you both." "Feeling's mutual, Alexa," Becky lilted, tracing a fingernail across her generous tit. "But maybe we needn't end our association. If we designate a consistent place, when you know you are available, you can leave a message there. Mark and I will check for messages, and when we see one, we can visit you at the appointed time. No conflicts or dangers presented, as long as we're all certain of the clear lines of communication." "I like that idea," Alexandra said, grinning. "And I have a gift for you both." She climbed off the bed and went to retrieve something. She returned shortly with two bottles, which she presented to them. "A new type of wine, invented in my native region of Champagne," she said, kneeling on the bed as they examined the bottles. "Twice fermented and sweet on the tongue, not unlike my darling Rebecca." Becky blushed and Mark grinned. "You'll be glad to know that in our time, champagne is one of the most expensive and sought-after drinks in the world, used in every important celebration." "That does please me, Mark." Alexandra said, nodding her head and deciding to not chide him this time about telling her the future. "And now that I think of it, literally, I've got a present for you, Alexa." Mark mused, getting off the bed. The three women watched as he walked into a large closet, rummaging around loudly. When he returned, he was holding what appeared to be several unusual books, which he handed to Alexandra. "What are these?" she asked, puzzled. "Well, the graphic novel is a pictorial history of Wonder Woman, who you may recall I told you a little bit about," he explained, sitting on the bed again. "And the other three books are all written by a man named Alexander Dumas and are fictional works about the Three Musketeers. I figured they'd be humorous reading for you." She looked up at him incredulously. "But; why were they in my closet here in my chalet?" He grinned again. "Well, just a moment ago, I decided to give them to you. So in a few days, I'm gonna gather them up, bring them here to just before Becky and I arrive, and bury 'em in your closet, where I know they are. That way, I don't run into any of us. And clearly it worked." Becky made a wry face. "Ya' know, I'd say you're getting the hang of this whole temporal travel thing, but I'm pretty sure you're only getting the hang of abusing it." Mark smirked at her and pinched her nipple, making her shiver and bite her lip. He then looked back at Alexandra. "And when you're done with 'em, you can just leave 'em in our drop-off spot and Becks and I'll pick them up. That way, there's no anachronistic copies of nineteenth-century novels or twentieth-century comic books lying around to be discovered by archaeologists." "I take back what I said just now, you're gonna get us all clock-hammered right out of existence." Becky sighed, causing her lovers to laugh. Mark and Becky lay side-by-side in her bed and holdings hands, back in their own time and generally none the worse for wear. They'd learned some valuable lessons and had made some important contacts along the way. "Do' you really think Alexandra's my ancestor?" Becky mused, looking at her bedroom ceiling. Mark shrugged. "You sure look a lot alike, and you're both Hell on wheels. I'm still amused by the notion of me being your great-great-great-whatever grandfather." She sighed and shook her head. "I can handle the notion of fucking and falling in love with my great-whatever grandmother, but the notion of you as my whatever grandfather gives me the jibblies. Just promise me you won't impregnate Alexa and make that come true, Mark." He chuckled. "I promise. I have no idea how trans-temporal alimony or visitation rights even work." Becky giggled and turned in to face him, cuddling close. "So, who're you gonna save me from next, hero?" she purred, nipping at his earlobe and making him shiver. "Oh, God, Becks, can we start out with some really ferocious kindergartners from the Roaring Twenties taking you hostage? I can probably handle that right about now." She giggled again and crawled on top of him, staring down into his eyes and kissing his nose while she squirmed her tits against him. "Take me to New York in the Twenties and I'll show you how liberated a flapper girl I can be," she whispered. "Deal?" "Deal." Mark replied, pulling her down and kissing her soulfully. Count Mark and Becky in! I Think I'm Getting The Hang Of This! Finally home. Mark sat at his dining room table, eating dutifully. His mom had prepared short ribs and mashed potatoes for dinner, one of his favorites. What she didn't know was that Mark had substituted several herbs and spices into her collection, items he'd brought back from his temporal travels. At the very least, this meant they were technically several hundred years old, or sometimes that they didn't exist in the modern era at all. "I'm enjoying this particular batch of thyme that I put in the braise," Dhallyla Pritchard remarked as she gently stabbed some green beans with her fork. "Mark, where did you say you got it for me? The flavor is so; special." Mark shrugged. "Another shop I thought I'd try out," he replied. "Nowhere near our usual places." "Well, keep it up, son," his father said, sitting at the other end of the table. "No offence to your mother's cooking, but the spices we were getting before weren't helping the cause. Now this is flavor." "Such a good little minion," his mom said sweetly, reaching over and pinching his cheek. "First, you did amazingly well on your Physics exam and boosted your overall grade to the place where the university accepted you, and now you're an herbs and spices guru. Talk about an unexpected change." "Yeah," his sister Roxy said, sitting across from him, and trying to keep the suspicion out of her voice. "Unexpected is right." "Now Roxy, be nice," their mom chided. "You should be happy for your little brother, he'll be going to university with you." "As long as she pulls her grades up," grunted dad, pausing in eating to waggle his fork in her general direction. "You promised us you'd keep your grades up and we'd let you live here rent-free as a result, Rox. We're living up to our end of the bargain, what's so difficult about yours?" "Maybe I should study more and party less," she grumbled, scowling at her food. She hated to admit it, but her mom was right, the spices were great. Where had the little trouser-snake bought them? "Ya' know, open my mind more and my legs less?" "Dear!" Dhallyla gasped, looking at her daughter in shock. "Nobody said you were behaving licentiously! There's no need to use language like that!" "Sorry," the dark-haired girl sighed, putting down her fork. "Just been on edge lately. Seems to have been The Mark Show around here recently,

The Time Riders: Part 4 A daring attempt to rescue Becky from Cardinal Richelieu. Based on a post by BiscuitHammer, in 16 parts. Listen to the Podcast at Explicit Novels. “Your Becky sounds like a very strong woman." Lady Alexandra reflected when Mark told of their conflicts in the time journey to old France. "Actually," Mark said, blushing again. "She reminds me of you, or you remind me of her. You actually look quite a bit alike." She smiled sweetly and reached forward to touch his knee. "High praise for me indeed, then. Am I right in assuming that she speaks French since you do not?" Mark nodded. "Then she should be safe inside the Louvre, which is where my mistress the queen is currently staying," Alexandra concluded. "So his Eminence is playing another little game, to make my mistress feel bad by bringing beautiful women into her service? We shall see to this, Mark, I promise you." "Thanks," he said. "I really, really appreciate this. You have no idea." "She must be very special to you." Alexandra said slyly. "Well, we're not in love, or anything," he said hastily, wishing he didn't have to keep explaining this. "But yeah, I guess you could say we're fond of one another, and she's the only person I time travel with." "Were I you," Alexandra said, sitting back now and taking another sip of one while crossing one leg over the other. "I would try to keep it that way. It has been explained to me, and it seems perfectly logical, that things just get more complicated when you involve other people or try to do too many things?" "You don't look at all like you're from this time," Mark admitted. "Are you actually from the Sun King's France?" She nodded. "That I am, to a noble family of ancient lineage, going even back to the reign of Charlemagne. But in service to my queen, I take very good care of myself and am in the peak of health." "No kidding," Mark breathed, earning a smirk from Alexandra. "Chester said you're good with a sword?" She shrugged in a non-committal manner. "Suffice to say that I am not afraid to take on Les Troi Inseparables." Mark assumed that she meant Athos, Porthos and Aramis. "D'Artagnan too?" She laughed, a beautiful, crystalline sound. "Aye, even the irascible Gascon. Nor do I cringe before the Duke of Buckingham, who is said to be the greatest swordsman in Christendom, barring possibly my brother." "No recognition for you?" She shook her head. "I dare not, my service to the queen would be compromised. I am not driven by fame, Mark, but devotion and duty. Secrecy is all that allows me to continue in my task." "You're like Wonder Woman." Mark laughed. She looked at him and tilted her head. "Comment?" "A fictional heroine from my own time," he said, waving it off. "She's powerful, she's brilliant, she can fight, she can fly, she's compassionate. They've been writing and drawing stories about her for about seventy years now." "It sounds fun," she sighed. "But I do not wish to be ensnared in these time troubles, and I do everything I can to avoid them. The less I know, the better. Protecting my queen is enough." He nodded. "I promise to try and not add to your troubles in this, and I'm sorry." "You needn't be," she said easily, draining her glass. "The debt I owe Chester for this is many years old, I am surprised that he has not called it in before now, to be honest. How long has Becky been at the Louvre?" Mark thought about that. "Uh; a week to get to the palace from where we were; then three weeks; and then it took me a week to get here, so best guess is four weeks." Alexandra nodded and considered. "The initial intense scrutiny she would have been under will be relaxing after a month. They are no doubt still training her, but she sounds very bright, so they will be eager to move her into the court." Mark nodded. "Alright, what do we do? Run in with pistols blazing and swords unsheathed?" She paused in her ruminations and looked at him for a moment before shaking her head slowly, saying nothing. She poured herself another glass of wine and nocked it back before sighing and returning to her thoughts. "Uh, may I ask a question?" Mark said somewhat meekly. Alexandra looked at him and waited. "If; you're one of the queen's ladies-in-waiting," Mark said somewhat awkwardly. "Shouldn't you have at least seen or have heard of Becky by now? I gotta admit, she's like you, she's really hard to miss." The French woman smiled prettily. "I have been away some two months now on a delicate errand for my queen, one that took me south to Spain." "Pretending I was from Spain got me shot." Mark grumbled. Alexandra raised her eyebrows. "Ah, tu hablas español?" "Nope," Mark said, holding up his hands. "Not goin' through this again. So, what do we do, Miss; uh, Miss;” "Just call me Alexandra, cher," she said easily. "And if we become friends, you may call me Alexa." He nodded. "Okay, Alexandra. What is our plan?" "I shall think on that," she replied. "We will not be doing anything until at least tomorrow, I assure you. I only returned this morning and even the queen does not know I am back yet. That being said, you will be my guest here in my private apartments." "Uh, okay," he said. "That doesn't sound too bad, I guess." "It is convenient, for one thing, but another is perhaps a bit more personal and selfish on my part," Alexandra added. "Be honest with me, Mark." "Okay." "Would your Becky be hurt or jealous if you and I were to fuck?" she asked plainly. Mark thought about that for a moment and then shook his head. "She'd probably think there was something wrong with me if I didn't; to be honest. Besides, if she thinks I'm dead, what's the harm?" "Bien," the woman stated, nodding and standing. "Tonight, you and I shall, oh, what is that English saying; ride below the crupper." "Never heard that, but I'm in," he said, chuckling. "And do not worry, unlike most people of this day and age, I bathe daily, so you should not find my closeness offensive." Alexandra added. "I'm pretty sure you could smell like a federal stimulus pork bill and I wouldn't notice," he laughed. "Don't you have quarters at the Louvre?" She nodded. "Oui, but my mistress allows me to stay here when possible, since I am closer to the people of Paris this way. I can look out my window, see them and remind myself of my duty to them." "You're pretty complicated for a noblewoman." Mark admitted. "History doesn't think much of your class of people." "A deserved indictment, no doubt," she sighed. "Alors, I did not keep you here to bore you with such ephemera, I intend to pleasure you before making you risk your life again in the days ahead." The French Art of Feminine Disrobing. He watched from his chair as she slowly turned around and began the French art of feminine disrobing. She began by removing the rather poufy blouse she was wearing, revealing her shapely back. She was beautiful, but now he could see the lines of athleticism in her shoulders and torso, and still somehow with the affectation of being delicate and womanly. Alexandra then lifted one leg and removed her short boot deftly, then reversed her pose as she removed the other boot. Her feet were surprisingly dainty, but they seemed to be planted firmly on the floor. Undoing the tie of her breeches, she wiggled them down over her lovely hips, exposing her incredible behind. She bent over to push the article of clothing down the rest of her statuesque legs and in spite of the dim light, he could almost see her cunt just below those temping cheeks. She stood up straight and stepped elegantly out of the pool of her breeches, putting her hands over her bust as she turned her head to smile at him coyly. As he watched, she slowly came around so she was facing him now. If Mark's jaw could have literally fallen off, it would have. In the flickering candlelight, she was bewitching to behold. Her skin was creamy and flawless, fair and yearning to be kissed. Her womanly hips carried strength, melting into her glorious legs. Her snatch was hairless, something he didn't associate at all with the period; especially the French. "So, do you like what you see?" she purred, enjoying his reaction. He nodded dumbly and she allowed her hands to fall away from her tits, revealing them. Large and perfectly shaped, sitting high no doubt because of her strong back and shoulders, and crowned with small, pink nipples that made his mouth water. "Now perhaps it is time for you to show me the man I will enjoy?" Alexandra said softly, smiling. "Stand up and let me see you, Mark." He couldn't do a thing about his hard-on, so he didn't even bother trying to conceal it. Still sitting, he removed his boots and socks before standing. Without any of the grace displayed by his anticipated new lover, Mark fumbled off his shirt, revealing his chest. He wasn't overly muscular, of course, but he had more than enough tone and definition because of the sports he'd played. She smiled and just watched quietly. He undid the tie of his breeches and bent over to pull them off. When he stood back up, his cock sprang to full attention, wobbling in front of him slightly. Alexandra nodded, apparently in approval. "Men of days to come seem to be gifted." Alexandra stated in a sultry voice as she stepped forward, moving toward him. “Or, perhaps today, for you; my dear Alexandra?” Mark flirted in a manner even he found uncharacteristically competent. He could feel his heart thundering in his chest as the blonde goddess stepped closer and closer to him. She was then standing directly in front of him, her glorious pelvic mound almost touching the tip of his pulsing erection. He thought he might cum right on the spot. Her elegant hand slowly reached out to take hold of his turgid shaft, the fingers wrapping around gently and giving him the lightest of squeezes. "And now," she said in a whisper. "We shall' The lock on the door clunked before it flew open and in stepped a young woman with wavy dark hair and eyes, apparently not noticing the activity within. "I am back, mistress," the girl chirped as she shut the door and locked it again. She seemed cheerful and energetic, her green dress twirling about her prettily. "I bought some wine and also the soap packets that you; oh! My apologies, mistress, I did not know you were busy!" "Do not worry, Lisette," Alexandra said easily, clearly not at all surprised to see the girl while Mark just gaped. Her hand was still on his cock and stroking gently as she acknowledged the newcomer. "You're just in time to share dessert with me;” Cirrhosis Of The Louvre Mark blinked as he stared at the young woman who had just sauntered in. About his age, she was rather short, but cute in a quirky kind of way, with wavy dark hair that reached her jawline and cheerful brown eyes, over which she wore small round spectacles. Her green dress looked like elegant and well-maintained peasant wear. She seemed rather surprised to see him as well. "A new playmate, mistress?" she asked in French, clearly not surprised to see Lady Alexandra naked on her knees and stroking Mark's cock. "For now," Alexandra said easily, smiling at her servant. "He actually is an associate of Monsieur Edgeworth and needs our help." "Oh, not that pain-in-the-ass again," muttered the girl named Lisette as she walked into the dimly-lit room, clearly put off by the mention of Chester Edgeworth. Her accent was distinctly different from Lady Alexandra's, more coarse and unsophisticated, even to Mark's untrained ears. His translator device was having trouble keeping up. "Like our lives are not difficult enough." "Perhaps, but we have time for some fun, I am happy to say." Alexandra pointed out, not at all bothered by her servant's mutterings. "You will be delighted to know that in helping this young man, we will be putting the spurs to the Red Duke." "Well, there's that at least," Lisette admitted, dropping the linen bags she had been carrying and coming toward them, beginning to shed her dress and underthings without batting an eye. "This one is tall, Mistress. And he has a blank expression about him. English? A colonial?" "Close enough, my love," Alexandra giggled, watching as her beloved servant removed the last vestiges of her modesty, standing naked before them now, except for her spectacles. Her tits were small, her figure trim, but rounded in a youthful way; and devoid of fat excess fat, but not skinny. Living and fighting alongside her Mistress meant Lisette had no time for being indolent. She was probably also the best marksman outside of the Sun King's army with a caliver. "He is indeed from the colonies." "And probably from some other time, if he's involved with Edgeworth, but I have learned not to care," the brunette sighed as she joined Alexandra in kneeling in front of Mark. "Very well, let's fuck this one, before he gets killed, or unavailable like the others." "Wait, what?" Mark asked, his eyes widening and his erection threatening to retreat into his abdomen and his translator bud did its job. "Ignore her," Alexandra said easily, smirking at her companion. "She is just being salty about a boy she liked to fuck down at the market, no longer being available." "He die of dysentery or something?" Mark asked. Alexandra shrugged. "No, he got married." "I'm still going to fuck him the next time I see him;” Lisette said sullenly. "Oh, sorry," Mark said, somewhat embarrassed. "I guess I'm in the habit of assuming that you're the only person in this time I'm ever gonna meet who isn't riddled with a pox or sexual disease." "A fair assumption, my friend;” the blonde woman cooed as she began kissing along the length of his veiny, rippled shaft and making him shiver. The fireplace kept the room warm and also gave it an amber glow that was so comforting and conducive to their current activities. Lisette nestled in closer, smiling and fondling his sac gently while watching her mistress pleasure their new plaything. "He is large, Mistress," she mused, smiling slyly. "Nearly the size of Buckingham, I think." "Umm, the men of days to come do indeed seem to be gifted," Alexandra murmured as she tilted his hard cock up and traced the tip of her tongue along the vein on the underside. "Mark here is no exception, it would seem." Lisette's surprisingly well-kept fingernails grazed along his thighs while she edged inward, wanting to be closer to her mistress. Alexandra now swirled her tongue around his throbbing head before putting it inside her warm, wet mouth. She opened her eyes and looked up at him before slowly sliding in his length in one slow, steady motion. Mark shuddered in pleasure, feeling her tongue swirling around his length, even as she kept her mouth on him. His fingers found their way into her lush, golden hair, kneading at her scalp, and steadying himself while she began to bob back and forth expertly. In the back of his mind, he realized that she was as good as any girl from his own time at sucking cock. He shouldn't have been surprised, but sex seemed to be the one human endeavor that didn't really progress as time moved forward. People were either good at it, or weren't, and the best techniques had probably been around for thousands of years, needing no refinement. Alexandra was living proof of that theory. Lisette moved in and began kissing her mistress' neck and collarbone, her hands now wondering and caressing the noblewoman's body with a practiced ease. Alexandra continued to suck on Mark's cock readily, not at all distracted by her servant's touch, but rather excited by it. She squirmed as her cunt grew moist, yearning to feel this man's tool inside her. Alexandra's strong lips held his glans and her tongue rolled around his purple tip. Lisette's mouth now joined Alexandra's in sliding up and down the sided of his length before they kissed around his cock tip, tongues flickering and sliding wetly as they moaned. His hands were on the back of their heads and he shivered again, lost in the unreal sensations. He felt the brunette girl take over sucking on him, while her blonde mistress nipped at the skin of his waist. "Umm, he has a big tool, mistress," purred Lisette before bobbing along his shaft again. "A pity he will not be available to us regularly." "I think my friend is pleased with you, Mark," Alexandra said, smiling up at him slyly. "Do you wish to fuck us both?" "That; sounds great;” he grunted, closing his eyes and concentrating on not cumming so damn quickly. These two were a wicked tag team. "But what if one of you;” "Fear not, cher, we will not," Alexandra assured him. "I am classically trained, including in Roman medicines and can prevent unexpected complications from arising. Or our bellies." Mark didn't know exactly what 'Roman medicines' had to do with contraception, but she was the expert in this time, so he'd take her word for it. From what he'd read, the alternative in this era was a condom made of linen, which wasn't even meant to prevent pregnancy so much as inhibit pleasure. Hell with that. "Are you any good with that tongue, man of the New World?" she asked now, smiling at him wickedly. "Becky seemed to think so." Mark replied, trembling as he fought to hold on. He would welcome a chance to lick cunt if it would keep him from embarrassing himself before he had properly fucked either of them. "Then Lisette will continue to see you your needs down below, while I become acquainted with your face." Alexandra breathed. Mark sighed as Lisette stopped sucking on his cock long enough to retrieve several large, plush pillows and lay them on the floor near the fireplace. He was almost in a daze as the blonde noblewoman led him to the scarlet and gold oreillers, plump with down and feathers, and then rested him on top of them. Without more ado, she nestled over his face, looking down his body, allowing him to examine her while Lisette knelt between his legs and resumed wrapping her lips around his cock loudly. He marveled at her shining, slippery cunt, so tempting in the flickering orange light of the hearth. He had now fucked a few French girls in this time period, along with Becky, and they were all completely natural, often unusually hairy between their legs. This glorious woman, however, kept her twat completely smooth, a total aberration from the norm. Lisette was almost shaven clean, which he could only assume was at her mistress' behest. He could see Alexandra's tiny, pink clit just peeking out from under its hood, begging for attention. The wet, exquisite heat of Lisette's mouth made his belly groan. He pulled the blonde down onto his waiting mouth, needing to distract himself. His tongue snaked between her wet nether lips and inside her. Alexandra sighed shamelessly and squirmed on his mouth while fondling her opulent tits. His fingers gripped her thighs tightly, flexing into her delicate flesh. She was not kidding about taking care of herself compared to her contemporaries. Her scent and her taste reminded him of Becky more than anything. He pushed his tongue deeper inside her, massaging her walls and core and making her gasp and shudder in delight. She pulled at her nipples as she rocked back on forth on Mark's mouth, enthralled by how skilled he was proving to be at pleasuring her orally. He was quite possibly as good as Lisette, which was no small feat in her opinion. Her calves pressed in around his ears, her pert derriere bumping against his face. Mark's tongue flickered inside her and he buzzed his lips on her, sending jolts through her whole body. "Mistress, he is ready for you," Lisette said, pulling her mouth off his cock and looking up at her lady while pumping her tiny hand along his shaft. "Would you like to fuck him now?" "Non, ma couer," breathed Alexandra, her body now showing a sheen of sweat. "You may fuck him first. I assure you he will bring you bliss. I am fine where I am for now." Lisette nodded and moved to straddle Mark's hips, facing her mistress. She took hold of his cock, biting her lip as she toyed it against her cuntlips and clit. Finally, she pushed down, taking the head inside herself. She sighed while Mark shuddered as he penetrated hervery tight cunt. She then groaned loudly as she sank down, taking him all the way inside herself. She was very tight and Mark made an incoherent sound into Alexandra's twat, making her gasp and shudder violently, cumming suddenly. She leaned forward and grappled onto Lisette, kissing her greedily as she came. Mark could feel her wetness soaking his face, the heady aroma enthralling him. Enveloped in a type of pleasure he had probably never experienced before, even with Becky, he simply fought to control himself, lashing Alexandra's inside with his tongue while Lisette squirmed up and down on his cock, fucking him. Her cunt flexed and clenched expertly around him. He made a guess about the blonde noblewoman above him and took hold of her ass cheeks, pulling them apart before sliding a thumb through her puckered knot. Alexandra wailed in unexpected delight at the intrusion inside her back passage, pressing down and back against his hands and face. She rocked wantonly, genuinely thankful for the meddlesome Chester Edgeworth on this occasion. Mark showed no signs of relenting in his carnal assault. Whatever courtesies men of days to come were taught about a woman's pleasure, she envied the recipients. "Uh, mistress," whimpered Lisette as she squirmed, leaning backward while pumping her cunt on his cock. Alexandra could see the burgeoning shaft splitting her servant-girl's puffy cuntlips wide, glistening now with her wet desire as she squeezed around him. "Mistress, he's going to make me cum!" "Then cum, my dearest," Alexandra cooed, eager to see her beloved Lisette in the throes of unbridled passion. "And then I shall fuck him and we can cum; all of us, non?" The mere mention of cumming with her mistress made Lisette moan loudly, gyrating on Mark's cock with wild abandon. She was fairly bouncing as the liquid heat washed through her, followed by the unreal tingles of la petit mort. She leaned forward and kissed her mistress passionately, her cunt clamping around Mark like a silken vise as she came. "And now you, mistress!" she panted as she regained control of her body, sliding off Mark's throbbing tool to make room for the blonde woman. Somewhat reluctantly, Alexandra pulled her gooey cunt away from Mark's mouth, shivering as his finger popped out of her ass. She leaned down his body sensually, leaning over to take his cock in her mouth, moaning in pleasure as she tasted Lisette's cum on his rigid staff. Her head rose back up and her mouth left his coc,k and she smiled back at him while she stroked his length. "Perhaps you could take me from behind, my friend? It has been some time since I have felt it done properly." Mark nodded and clambered up to his feet, moving around while Alexandra arranged Lisette, lying the brown-haired girl on her back. She then sank down onto her, their arms wrapping around one another and they kissed deeply and passionately, the mere sight of it driving Mark wild. They were so total in their devotion that he wondered if they were in love. Lisette then moved around deftly, so that her mouth was beneath her mistress' dripping cunt, while the blonde woman hovered over her servant, on her hands and knees. Mark stood behind Alexandra and settled onto his knees. Lisette confidently reached up and took hold of Mark's pulsing cock, guiding him closer, until he was holding Alexandra by the hips. She placed the knob of his cock against her mistress' cunt lips, teasing it up and down for a few moments. Alexandra's response was to sigh and kiss her servant's cunt lovingly, making her shiver. Mark pursed his lips as Lisette finally guided him inside the aristocrat's snatch, with a slow, steady push. Already wet and ready, Alexandra's cunt yielded before him easily, but he soon groaned as he realized that further in she was as tight, if not tighter, than her servant, who was considerably smaller in frame. Alexandra moaned into Lisette's cunt while Mark trembled at the exquisite, wet heat. Once he had sunk in right up to the hilt, he paused for several moments, adjusting to the wicked sensation. He already understood he was no match for this woman's sexual prowess, and he was thankful for her indulgence. Once he was inside her, Lisette released him and wrapped her hands around her mistress' thighs, holding them firmly while she began kissing devotedly at her cuntlips, clit. Mark's visible shaft and balls bounced upon her forhead. Clearly she intended to facilitate their mutual climax and make sure they both experienced as much pleasure as they could handle. Knowing not to wait any longer and to simply take cues from Lisette, Mark made sure he had a firm grip and began pushing back and forth inside Alexandra, using long, slow, and deliberate thrusts to begin. The blonde moaned in appreciation of his efforts. "Hmm, you are very skilled with your phallus, my friend," she sighed, smiling back at him before returning to kissing Lisette's cunt and sliding a slender finger inside her. "You do not just fuck, like so many men of this day, but you know how to make love. Your Becky is a lucky girl." "Thanks;” he managed to say, praying for endurance as he felt her rhythmically squeeze herself around him with every thrust, even while she pleasured her servant girl. This woman was a succubus. Hadn't she said she was an agent of Anne of Austria? She'd be formidable indeed. And if she was one tenth as good with a sword or pistol as she was at fucking. Alexandra giggled at his inability to speak in full sentences, resolving to go easy on him and simply enjoy herself. A small allowance, perhaps, since she was obligated to help him. She pushed back slightly until her ass cheeks met his hips and her wet cuntlips pressed against his skin, enveloping his cock entirely. Beneath her, Lisette kissed and slid her tongue all over them, lost in a dutiful reverie. She realized Mark could take guidance and instruction without words, if she made her intentions known. She made him fuck her a little faster now by not only moving back and forth, but by squeezing him inside her more quickly, a technique she had taken years to perfect, but always to advantage. Soon, he was sliding in and out of her rhythmically, almost pulling his cockhead out of her before pushing all the way back in. Given his ample length, this was a wicked delight for her; fucking his cock was even better than sitting on his long eager tongue! Lisette was not only pleasuring them, but helping to regulate their coupling, something she could now do instinctively. Her devotion to her mistress was total. If Alexandra was fucking a man, Lisette was not jealous (usually), but simply played her part in making sure everyone enjoyed the experience as much as possible. They were practiced lovers who knew one another's needs and desires completely, and Lisette now fulfilled her role in the tryst with sublime skill. Mark shuddered as he felt Lisette's fingers massaging beneath him, along his balls and even his taint. To his surprise, it served to help distract him from the unreal pleasure if being deep inside Alexandra, allowing him to last longer than he had any business hoping to. He began pushing in and out a little harder, asserting himself and making the blonde goddess moan in pleasure. Soon, Mark was slapping his hips against her ass cheeks loudly, increasing the tempo to the place where Lisette couldn't readily use her dainty fingers on him. She instead continued lapping at her mistress' clit and massaging the split lips as he fucked her. Lisette trembled as Alexandra pushed two fingers deep inside her now, finding her pleasure points with unfailing skill while she sucked on her servant's clit, moaning around it. Alexandra squirmed back against Mark lustily and onto Lisette's mouth, panting in delight. "Oui!" she gasped, gyrating her pelvis expertly, the rings of her cunt muscles rippling along Mark's throbbing cock. "Right there! So good!" Mark was finding his body trembling, the familiar tingle starting to well up within him. His thrusts were faster but less controlled now, his hips performing an almost shoving and scooping motion as he dug inside the French noblewoman. Lisette was massaging her Mistress' cunt eagerly, delighting in the mingling taste of desire on her two lovers. She watched as Mark's glistening shaft slid back and forth, pulling wetly at Alexandra's nether lips. "Gonna cum!" he grunted, stiffening, trying to hold on while making sure that was what she wanted. "Yes!" Alexandra purred, her body flushing with warmth at his words. She heard him groan and press as hard as he could against her. She obliged by pushed back against him and squeezing for all she was worth. She sighed loudly, sliding her fingers as deeply into Lisette as she could, shivering in pleasure as her orgasm blossomed through her. Her wanton cunt fluttered around Mark's cock as she felt it pulsing and spurting his pearly cum deep inside her. They heaved and ground against one another for nearly a minute until Mark sagged back on his haunches, while Alexandra slowly laid forward, his cock sliding out of her with a wet pop. She rested her tits now on top of Lisette, who busied herself by tilting her head up between her mistress' legs, kissing her cunt and then lapping at it hungrily, her tongue finding the creamy globules of Mark's cum inside her, thrilling to the tangy taste. Alexandra sighed in contentment, her eyes closed, squirming gently. Not long had passed before the dutiful girl had cleaned her mistress thoroughly, ending her task with loving kisses of devotion. Alexandra rolled gently off to the side while Lisette got on her hands and knees, moving over to between Mark's legs, He was serenely staring at the rafters and trying to catch his breath. Without waiting for any particular permission (not that any was forthcoming or needed), she took hold of his still-swollen but softening cock and laved it with her mouth, once again thrilling to the taste of his cum mixed with her mistress'. She cleaned him off readily, loving how responsive he was to her touch. Finally, Alexandra rose to her feet and came to stand beside them. She pulled Lisette to her feet and wrapped her arms around the shorter girl, kissing her deeply and lovingly. Lisette melted into her embrace, submitting completely and with reverence. The kiss finally ended, and the patrician smiled down at Mark before offering her hand to help him up. "I found Lisette in Provence maybe three years ago, trapped in a tiny chapel and being disgraced by a priest. I ran him through with my blade and took her under my wing." "Mistress has had my undying devotion and unconditional love since then." Lisette added in very thick English, the first sounds of it she had offered. The phrase sounded almost practiced or rehearsed to Mark's ears, then he realized it probably was. Alexandra had taught Lisette what to say about herself once she had initiated a beginning statement she'd recognize. It was how they protected her in English, because it demonstrated the depth to which they were devoted to one another; Alexandra would kill a man of God for Lisette, and there was nothing in creation she would not do for her mistress. "I believe it," Mark replied, nodding. "I'm glad she saved you, Lisette, and Alexandra's lucky to have you." Lisette was taken off-guard by what Mark had said once her blonde mistress had translated for her, and she blushed and looked at the floor. It occurred to Mark that she probably wasn't used to anyone aside from Alexandra expressing any concern about her life or safety. She was just another peasant, after all. "Let us clean ourselves lightly and then prepare for a light meal and then bed, shall we?" Lady D'assaut suggested. "Mark, I do not know if you are a man of faith or not, but Lisette and I usually have about an hour of devotional time just before we turn in. You may join us or do as you please, as long as you're respectfully quiet." Mark nodded and joined the pair in going to another room that was clearly dedicated to bathing, something he doubted was all that common in this time and place. Lady Alexandra really was out of the ordinary. He watched with interest as Lisette helped her mistress into the large, round wooden tub, under which a contained fire was glowing. Easily big enough for the three of them (no doubt by design, he thought), he allowed himself to be helped in before the two women began washing him, giggling as they used tiny packets of powdered soap and their bodies to make sure he was clean all over. "Normally, to come across water like this is rare and expensive," Alexandra explained as she knelt patiently and looked at him while Lisette squeezed her tits into her mistress magnificent orbs, lathering her. "But this particular building has an underground stream running below it, so retrieving water from a well in the courtyard is comparatively simple. And I do love to be clean." "I can get behind that." Mark agreed. "Maybe in the morning." Alexandra quipped readily, winking at him. They finished bathing and then Lisette dutifully dried them both off. Linen shifts were provided and then Mark sat with his host in the study while Lisette prepared a light meal for them all. He'd never eaten a pigeon before, but it was surprisingly good. Small nibs of sweetened chocolate comprised dessert, and of course there was the wine. Once they had finished, Alexandra and her companion excused themselves and went into another small room to say their devotionals for maybe an hour. Then they invited Mark to come and sleep with them in Alexandra's massive, plush bed, covered in crimson sheets threaded with gold. Everyone removed their linen shifts and clambered into bed. Alexandra and Lisette kissed one another and then Mark goodnight. In spite of having two naked women nestled into his sides, he slept surprisingly well. A Louvre Incarceration. The moon was a bright white orb overhead as Rebecca looked out the window from her stately bedroom. A tear glistened on her cheek, as it had every night since her abduction and arrival in Paris. Not only was she stuck here, in the Sun King's France, with no method of returning home, but she was the unwilling 'guest' of Cardinal Richelieu, who was seeing her trained to serve Queen Anne. Worse still, and what truly broke her heart, Mark was dead. Killed by the Cardinal's men and no doubt still lying in that fateful field, his body ravaged by scavengers. She bit her lip as tears started to roll down her face, willing herself not to break into sobs that everyone on this floor of the palace would hear. She buried her face in her hands and surrendered to the grief, shuddering as she wept, not caring about the moon framing her in rays of silvery light. She was so alone. Mark had to exercise patience that morning, since they were eating a leisurely breakfast and casually discussing matters. But the matters were nothing of import, at least not from his point of view; they were not improvising plans to save Becky, which was foremost on his mind. Alexandra was well aware of the agitation just under his calm surface and she finally sought to allay it. She smiled and put a hand on top of his as she sat next to him at the table. "My friend," she said gently in her impeccable English. "Worry not for your Rebecca." "How can you say that?" he asked, trying to keep any exasperation out of his voice. "It's all that really matters to me, not that I'm not grateful, of course. But I feel; I feel like we are dawdling." "I understand," she allowed, smiling her beautiful smile that would drive the clouds away. "But I assure you, she is in no immediate danger, now that she is in the Louvre. And as you have already noted, she has been there for a month. We cannot simply rush in and storm the palace, because we would be risking her life, along with many others, not the least of which is my queen, Anne." He sighed and nodded. "But you are helping me rescue her, right? As in, we free her from the palace and she and I can get away, find my time machine and go home?" She smirked and nodded. Maybe she didn't blame him for his suspicions. "Yes, Mark. That is the only end here. I cannot remain indebted to our mutual associate Chester Edgeworth, especially not since this is one of his temporal matters. I want nothing to do with them, so leaving; oh, what is the term; 'loose ends', if you will, does not suit me. It pains me to say so, since I like you, but with any luck, I will never see you again once we have rescued your Rebecca." She smiled and squeezed his hand again. "Please trust me. And exercise patience. I already have a plan in mind, I just need more information from the palace." "Oh, okay," he said finally, hoping he wasn't being unreasonable. "Just out of sorts, I guess. Not a lot of experience with the Baroque Period." She tilted her head slightly and smirked. "Baroque Period? Is that what people in your time refer to this era as?" Mark shrugged. "Yeah, I dunno why." "In my language, baroque refers to an oddly-shaped pearl," she mused. "You might have a better understanding of my time and history than I do, in retrospect." "I doubt it," he chuckled, put at ease once again by her gracious manner. "I never really had much of a head for history. Might actually be pretty skewed, since everything I know comes from movies and novels written by people from your future." "I don't know what a 'movie' is, but I think it's best I not either," she mentioned, stroking his wrist. "Once Lisette has finished serving dejeuner, she will proceed to the palace to see what she can find out. While it is known that I am back in Paris, I do not want to appear just yet for my royal duties. Maybe later today or tomorrow. While the Cardinal cannot absolutely confirm that I am more than a lady-in-waiting for the Queen, I wish to not give him any reason to start looking." "Fair enough," Mark allowed. "So, what'll we do until then?" "While I could indeed provide endless hours of pleasant discourse for you, I think that would not be the best idea, since you are a man of tomorrow." Alexandra pointed out. "And, to be honest, I am rather smitten with your lovely cock at the moment. So, I was thinking that we might continue to fuck one another until it is time for us to undertake your mission." Mark laughed. "Yeah, I'm good with that. "Becky would think I had gone totally stupid if I didn't agree to kill time that way." "I do not know her yet and I think I love her," Alexandra mused, smirking. Her sapphire eyes glittered with delight. "We shall make the most of our time together." They went back to eating their breakfast, prepared by Lisette, and if Mark found the fare unusual, he certainly couldn't complain about the taste. Sausages, hearty bread, along with some vegetables and a broth. A new delicacy to the Sun King's France, Chantilly cream, rounded out the meal, and she promised him that later they would share of bottle of a very special new type of wine, from the region of Champagne. Lisette had dressed and excused herself, heading off to the Louvre to find out information for her Mistress. This left Mark alone with Alexandra, and if he was feeling any awkwardness, she certainly wasn't. She smiled and shed her clothes, exposing her glorious body. She took him by the hand and led him back to her bedroom, smiling at him. "Not to seem indelicate, Mark, but; have you ever fucked a girl in her behind before?" she asked. He nodded. "Done it with Becky more than a few times recently. And yeah, I'd really like to fuck yours." She smiled, pleased with his response. "Excellent, it has been a while for me, at least since a man has done it to me." "Lisette certainly has her uses." Mark chuckled. "More than you can ever know, my friend," she agreed as she stood in front of him and helped remove his clothing. She was close enough that her tits pressed to his chest, her hips touched his and her cunt was nestled against his cock, which was beginning to swell. She looked up into his eyes, her own glinting with desire. "I look forward to feeling you in my ass, Mark." She put her arms around him and pressed her lips to his, kissing him deeply. He was thrilled by her assertiveness, even if she wasn't being dominant. His own hands rested on her hips before starting to wander around her divine form, finally finding her ass cheeks, squeezing and massaging them, making Alexandra moan. "What I am starting to appreciate about you men of the future is that you enjoy lovemaking and carnal activity for its own sake," she purred, one of her hands now sliding down to find his cock and stroking it. "You seem free of the confines of the church's strictures, proscribing pleasure through sexual activity." "Not much point in doing it if you don't enjoy it," he agreed, shivering as her nipples poked against his chest while she squirmed her tits around. She bit his lower lip and tugged back on it, wiggling her ass cheeks against his hands. "And you seem to enjoy it a lot for someone from this time." She broke their kiss to look up at him again, her eyes flashing with her growing to fuck. Her hand was fondling his cock, which was now rigid and pulsing. "In my service to the queen, sex is often a weapon I employ. I am required to be proficient in its use to defend her and the realm." "Lucky me," he breathed as she knelt in front of him, dragging her opulent tits down his torso before arriving at his phallus. He shuddered as she began kissing his cockhead before slowly sliding him into her mouth and down her throat. "Uh, God. Beck; I mean, Alexandra." She giggled and pulled her mouth off his cock to look up at him in amusement, her hands still stroking. "Our techniques are that similar? It took much training for me to be this good, if the women of your time are this competent with ease, then I am jealous." She buried his cock in her mouth again, bobbing back and forth lustily and making him shiver and grasp at her golden locks. Her own hand snaked down between her legs and began playing with her increasingly wet cunt, teasing it. She knew they had at least a few hours before Lisette's return and she intended to make the most of them. Mark groaned and fought to control himself, little or no match for her exquisite technique. He knew he'd have to fuck her soon, or he'd be cumming in her mouth. And he was really looking forward to fucking her ass, as she intended. "Hmm," she purred, popping her mouth off of his cock and smiling slyly while sliding her tongue up the underside as she held it up. "Would you care for a chance to reciprocate, lover?" He nodded, and she stood before pulling him onto the bed. She laid him on his back and then crawled over him, facing down his body. She didn't suck on him again, so much as she toyed with his cock to keep him hard, while allowing him to kiss and lick her slick, pliant snatch. Mark buried his tongue inside her and Alexandra moaned loudly, pumping his cock. Mark slid his tongue in and out of her, marveling at her taste. He also began teasing her little knot, slipping the tip of his finger into her ass, making her groan shamelessly. She wriggled back against him, her glorious behind swaying above his face while her cunt pressed to his mouth. His finger pushed further inside her ass, wiggling about, exploring her. He gently added another and she keen as his fingers stretched her knot, preparing her for his cock. She was gasping now, her body incredibly warm and her skin flush with desire. She lunged his cock back into her mouth again, bobbing up and down hungrily. She pulled herself off his tongue and fingers, squirming down his body until she was straddling his cock. She eagerly slid his throbbing cock inside her cunt, causing him to stiffen and arch his back. She rode up and down lustily on him, while reaching back and pulling her ass cheeks apart. Mark took the hint and began fingering her puckered hole again, making sure it stayed limber and ready to receive him when she was ready. He shuddered as she squeezed herself around him, rippling her cunt wickedly until they were both sweating and shaking. Then she looked back at him and he nodded. She pulled off his cock and spun herself around, now facing him. She put on hand on his chest to steady herself, while the other reached back and took hold of his tool, helping to guide it to her quivering notch. Her felt it press against her ring, slippery with her cunt juices and then popping through readily. Alexandra sighed as she slowly but steadily settled down, taking him inside her back passage. Within seconds, he was buried to the hilt inside her. They both sat still for several seconds, just reveling in the feel of their union. Alexandra began slowly moving up and down, Mark's cock sliding inside her ass. She pulled up until only the head was inside her, then sank back down, taking him all the way back in. Mark's hands moved up to her opulent tits and began caressing and squeezing them. She murmured in pleasure at his touch and clenched her cheeks, squeezing him tightly inside herself. "Yes, I will certainly miss this," she breathed, her eyes closed. "You are so deep inside me." He pushed his hips up and down in rhythm with her movements, his fingers now rolling around her nipples, pinching and tugging on them, the sting sending taboo thrills lancing through her. Her fingernails pressed against the skin of his chest before she leaned down and kissed him heatedly, their tongues tangling. The change in the angle of penetration meant she rocked back and forth along his length now. His hands moved down to cup her ass cheeks again, massaging them in circles and pulling them apart, making her whimper in delight. Their bodies churned and writhed against one another heatedly, mingling in pleasure. Their kissing became more fevered as tingling warmth enveloped them both. Then panted through the kiss, with Mark bracing his legs to thrust himself up deeper inside her while she braced her hands outside his shoulders and pushed back against him, burying his cock deeper in her ass than ever. Sweat shone on their skin as she pulled back from the kiss and started down into his eyes. Mark shook uncontrollably and groaned loudly, pushing up with all his might. Alexandra sighed and sat up tall, sinking onto him as he began pumping his cum into her ass. Her knot clenched greedily, throbbing around him as he filled her tight confines with his essence. She massaged her cunt frantically, her fingers flying over her clit. She bathed his groin with her cum. Colors swirled behind her eyes as the climax permeated her being. She couldn't remember the last time a man had made her cum so hard. Not since; She shuddered and collapsed on top of Mark, trembling. He lay beneath her, his hands tiredly coming to rest on her lower back. They lay in exhausted bliss together, unwilling to move. His cock throbbed in her ass, which gripped him possessively, unwilling to relinquish his prize. He showed no sign of softening, which she was thankful for, since she was deliciously pinned to him. A full hour-hour passed before they stirred. She smiled down at him before kissing him again. She rocked on his stiff cock before slowly pulling off and then laying on her side, pressed to him. She kissed his jaw, whispering words of gratefulness to him. She felt the need to do so, since there was a distinct possibility that these might be his last days alive, given the danger they would face in rescuing Rebecca. Alexandra had sworn to try and help him, and she would do everything she could, so long as it did not compromise her service to the queen. She couldn't tell him exactly how much planning and detail this required as a result, since letting the silly boy know the extreme danger he was about to face might make him balk at a crucial moment and then death was inevitable. She could only hope that his excellent physical health and desperation would see him through. It was all they had. Lisette would be back soon, and it would time to plan their mission. God help us all. Rebecca sat in her chair at the small desk of her bedroom, scowling as she drained her glass of red wine, the fourth she'd had in the past hour. She knew she was drunk, but she was too sullen and angry to feel it. She'd done little except drink since she'd been brought to the Louvre. Except for when she was heading to bed, she was rarely alone, surrounded by women who dressed her as a lady of the court and attempted to train her in her duties. She proved predictably reticent, although she had stopped punching her handlers over the last week or so. It wasn't their fault, after all. A few of them seemed worried about her well-being if she continued to prove so difficult, but Becky was mostly beyond caring. What did she have to look forward to, now? Life amongst these backward, stymphian midgets? She had a distinct feeling she was better off dead. She sighed and opened another bottle, pouring her fifth glass of the evening. Oblivion in wine was all she looked forward to. "Oh, there you are. I was hoping to meet you;” lilted an attractive voice from her door. Facing away from the entrance to her room, Becky looked up into the mirror on the wall, and saw a striking silhouette standing in the entranceway. A tall woman in a burgeoning gown stood there, apparently waiting for permission to enter. Slowly she turned around, hoping her eyes weren't too bleary with wine and grief. She rose from her chair and stood quietly, holding her hands primly in front of herself. She dipped her knees slightly in a curtsey, just in case this was Anne of Austria. The figure came into the room slowly, approaching her. The lamps and candle finally illumined her, and Becky's breath was taken away; the woman was stunning! Golden blonde hair spilled down her back, while her sapphire eyes gleamed with a sensual intelligence. Her face was classically beautiful and her impressive bust sat high inside her dress, the cleavage prominently displayed, as was typical of the court. Becky felt a tingle inside herself as she approached. "You are Rebecca, oui?" the woman asked, her voice glorious in Becky's ears. She stopped in front her and smiled dazzlingly before returning the curtsey. "I am Alexandra D'assaut, one of her majesty's ladies. I am pleased to finally meet you." "I; it is a pleasure to meet you, too, my lady." Becky said falteringly. This woman was more beautiful than she thought possible for someone of this era. "I know you are new to the palace, and it is rumored that the circumstances of your arrival were less than ideal," continued Alexandra. "You are even more beautiful than I have been told, Rebecca, and I sense a great sadness in you." She stepped even closer to Becky, who bit her lip and swallowed slightly. Their tits were almost touching, and she could feel her heart thumping in her chest. "But I say to you now, my friend, despair not and take heart," Alexandra said in a voice barely above a whisper, as if what she was saying was a secret meant only for Rebecca. "The days to come will give you hope." Becky didn't know what this woman meant, but she wanted to believe her. The ache in her heart lessened slightly. They stared into one another's blue eyes quietly, lost in what they saw. And then Alexandra leaned in and pressed her lips to Becky's, kissing her gently. Becky did not retreat from the kiss, although it was a second or two before she could react. She then moaned slightly and returned the kiss. The two women moved closer, tits pressing as they held one another by the arms and continued to kiss. Becky trembled, thrilling to the intimacy they shared. Alexandra pulled back from the kiss, a tempting strand of desire hanging between their lips. They both breathed as they stared, but she finally smiled and delicately used her finger to wipe the strand from their lips. "You will see me again soon, my friend," she cooed, her fingers gently caressing Becky's cheek. "I look forward to our reacquaintance." She backed up two steps and curtseyed gracefully, compelling Becky to hastily do the same, before she turned and glided out of the room, like a vision. Becky unsteadily sat back in her chair and let out a heavy sigh. Her heart was still pounding, and for the first time in weeks, she felt something other than heartache. Becky turned back to her bottle, trying to distract herself from the unexpected throb in her loins. "Your majesty." Alexandra said reverently, her curtsey deep and formal. "I have come to speak with you about a matter of some concern." Sitting in an ornate chair in the lavish boudoir, Anne of Austria, probably the most famous woman in Christendom, smiled at her trusted servant. "You have only just returned from Spain, my dearest Alexandra, and you have yet another matter to bring before me?" Alexandra nodded humbly, her hands in her lap. "Yes, my queen. Though it pains me to do so, I must beg a boon and ask you to trust me." "My trust in you is implicit, Alexandra D'Assaut, and needs no confirmation. Has it ever?" the queen intoned, gesturing for Alexandra to approach her, while waving for her attendants to live them alone. The two women curtseyed and exited quickly. Alexandra knelt in front of Anne and put her hand on the queen's knee in supplication, not looking up. "Your majesty, a beautiful young woman has recently been added to your retinue, and is set to enter your service within the next few weeks." Anne smiled and nodded. "I have not met her, but I am told she is quite possibly the only woman in France who rivals you in beauty. Her name is Rebecca, oui?" "Just so, my queen." Alexandra confirmed. "Do you wish for her to serve directly under you as a lady of the court?" Anne asked, knowing full well that Alexandra also enjoyed the company of woman, not merely men. "She is indeed breathtaking to behold, my queen, but no, that is not my request of you. The girl, Rebecca, do you know how she was brought to Paris?" Anne considered. "The rumor is that she was found by the Cardinal, who was convinced she would make a magnificent addition to my household. She did not come willingly, initially, and has proven somewhat intractable since." Alexandra nodded. "It is as you say, your majesty. But I know something about this woman that not even the Cardinal knows or can begin to guess at." The queen frowned slightly. "She is not a danger to us, is she?" "Not as such, no," Alexandra admitted. "But please accept my word on faith that we have no right to her and must not keep her." Anne tilted her head. "Is she secretly a member of a royal family?"

Send us a textThe prairie doesn't forget—and it won't let us forget either. We follow a chilling thread from a 96-mile irrigation scheme called the Eureka Canal to a vanished laborer whose story was buried in snow, silence, and someone else's balance sheet. What begins as a Halloween ghost story widens into a study of hubris, place, and the quiet power of naming the lost.We unpack Asa T. Soule's rise from hop bitters fortune to Western empire building, and how the canal promised a new Eden but ran headlong into the Arkansas River's fickle flow, upstream diversions, and soils that drank hope dry. Cimarron's resistance to Soule's political muscle frames the stakes: when capital treats geography and democracy as obstacles, the land and its people push back. Alongside the spectral sightings at the ditch, we track records, letters, and courthouse files to a name—Silas Croft—whose ruined farm in New York and final steps into the 1886 blizzard turn rumor into history.When the storm returns and a haunted rage rattles the Cimarron Hotel, brute force proves useless. Truth does what bullets can't: we write the obituary Silas never received and publish an expose that rebalances the ledger. The wails fade, the canal goes quiet, and a simple cross on the prairie replaces fear with remembrance. From there, the story pivots to legacy and choice: fame back East or roots in a town that values ground truth. We choose the pressroom over the spotlight, because progress isn't measured in ditches or dollars—it's measured in decency, accountability, and the names we refuse to lose.If you believe stories can right old wrongs and that journalism still matters when the wind starts to howl, hit play, follow the show, and share this episode with a friend. Then tell us: whose name needs to be spoken next?Support the showIf you'd like to buy one or more of our fully illustrated dime novel publications, you can click the link I've included.

"Ça te saoule si… ?" Les Pachas réagissent à des situations imaginaires, cette fois autour de l'éducation de leurs futurs enfants… et ça a déclenché beaucoup de débats !!

Send us a textA storm-torn trench. A vanished name. And a legend that clings to the Cimarron plains like dust to a boot. We follow the rise and ruin of Soule's Eureka Canal—hailed as progress, mocked as folly—and the night the sky split open and swallowed a worker named Silas Croft. What started as an audacious plan to force water through stubborn Kansas earth becomes a ghost story that refuses to settle, stirring questions about pride, loss, and the memories the land won't release.We trace the arc from Asa T. Soule's grand decree to the shovel-scarred ditch that cracked under weather and will. Along the way, we sit with the unsettling details of that gale, the mud-choked banks at dawn, and the whisper that Silas never left. The tale opens a wider window on Western folklore, where frontier ghost stories double as cautionary tales—reminding us that ambition has a cost and landscapes have their own laws. Whether you hear a restless spirit on the canal's edge or see only wind teasing the reeds, the mystery pulls you back to the same question: what truly happened when the ditch took its due?If frontier history, haunted legends, and eerie prairie nights are your kind of campfire, this Halloween special delivers a chill with a heartbeat. Press play for a tightly told story, rich atmosphere, and a few goosebumps, then tell us what you believe. You can subscribe to more Western ghost stories, share them with a friend who loves good haunting, and leave a review with your theory about the Phantom Canal. Click Here Support the showIf you'd like to buy one or more of our fully illustrated dime novel publications, you can click the link I've included.

Welcome to another episode of Questions From The Italian Football Podcast Patrons where you, our patrons, decide what the show is about by sending in your questions. Topics include: - Should Italy Call Up Argentine born winger Matias Soule? - Are Juventus The New Manchester United? - Is Newcastle's Sandro Tonali The Best Midfielder In The Premier League? - Roma vs Inter Milan Preview: Serie A Lineups, Team News, Odds, Predictions & More? - Who Is The Best Italian Player Today? And much, much more. Thank you Vansh B, Mohammed S, Adamo P, CJ, Jack H, Gio L, Sanat, Dylan M, Akbar P, Mohammed W, Jonny M, Jamie D, Vito C, Scot M, Cesare M, Kevin, Sergio L, Jesse S, Jacob D, Giuseppe DB, Jordan B, Carmine S, Darren O, Matty SM, Matthew E, Steven B, Kunal, PC88, Nick P, Alex and Aristodimos K for sending in your questions this week. Remember to keep sending us your questions via DM on patreon. This is an extra free bonus Q & A episode of The Italian Football Podcast which is available to patrons on Patreon and YouTube Members. Check out our friends on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠101GreatGoals.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ To listen to this & all other full episodes of The Italian Football Podcast with no ads (and support the show), go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/TIFP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ OR ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ OR ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube Memberships⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and sign up. Your support makes The Italian Football Podcast possible. Follow us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠TikTok Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Should Italy call up Roma star Matias Soulé? Are Juventus the new Manchester United? What is the best ever goal scored by a defender? Three patrons send in a question for Nima Tavallaey and Carlo Garganese to discuss, debate and analyze. What do you think? Should Soulé be called up to the Azzurri? Are Juve the new Man Utd? Which defender scored the best ever goal? Do you want to buy tickets for a Serie A match but don't know how? Well, Live Football Tickets is THE best place to find Serie A tickets. Tickets are often available for as little as £25, and sometimes for even less. Buying from LiveFootballTickets.com is totally secure and they even offer a 150% refund guarantee on ticket authenticity. So if you want to watch Juventus, or Inter, or Milan or Napoli, OR if you want to join Nima at a Pisa vs Lecce relegation dogfight, then Live Football Tickets is for you. To buy tickets to any Serie A match, simply click ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LiveFootballTickets.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ This is an extended clip from this weeks Q & A episode of The Italian Football Podcast available only to patrons on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/TIFP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube Memberships⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. To listen to this & all other full episodes of The Italian Football Podcast (and support the show), go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/TIFP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ OR now also available on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ OR ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube Memberships⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and sign up. Your support makes The Italian Football Podcast possible. Follow us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

durée : 00:21:04 - On s'en parle en Béarn Bigorre - Les bons plans pour votre épargne avec un banquier Laurent Delaunay président du comité local des banques en Béarn et en Bigorre. Comment s'y retrouver dans les différentes formes d'épargne et laquelle choisir suivant nos besoins. Et du nouveau qui concerne nos virements bancaires. Vous aimez ce podcast ? Pour écouter tous les autres épisodes sans limite, rendez-vous sur Radio France.

Teatime with Miss Liz Presents Nancy Soulé “Notes That Float: Music, Travel, and the Waves of Change”SouléSoulé September 30th • 7 PM EST Introduction: Returning to the Teatime table is the dynamic Nancy Soulé, a woman who turned adversity into adventure. Divorced, over fifty, and without a home, Nancy chose to rewrite her story. From her foundation as a fashion college teacher for nearly two decades to moonlighting as a singer in cover bands, her life transformed when she was offered the opportunity of a lifetime — performing as part of a trio on cruise ships. With the sea as her backdrop, Nancy embraced freedom, passion, and connection, building a life that blends music, travel, and community. She now shares her experiences as an author and mentor, encouraging others to live boldly, explore their passions, and discover the beauty of diversity and teamwork through her book and upcoming course. Description: This episode delves into the transformative journey of Nancy Soulé — from redefining her identity later in life to creating opportunities for musicians worldwide. Her book, “Work at Sea, See the World: An Insider's Secrets to the Working Life on a Cruise Ship,” unveils the behind-the-scenes reality of ship life, and her course, “Notes That Float,” takes this wisdom further by teaching musicians how to explore international opportunities, embrace cultural connections, and live a life that flows with creativity. Listeners will gain insights into resilience, the power of music to connect cultures, and the importance of embracing change at any stage of life. Closing Summary: As the evening draws to a close, Nancy reminds us that life is about embracing the unexpected — finding new paths when doors close and turning challenges into opportunities. From the decks of cruise ships to sharing stages worldwide, her journey is a reminder that passion, resilience, and connection can chart a new course in life. Tagline“From heartbreak to high seas — disSoulé how Nancy Soulé turned the tides and found her true rhythm in life.”#TeatimeWithMissLiz #NancySoule #NotesThatFloat #WorkAtSeaSeeTheWorld #MusicAndTravel #Empowerment #SecondChances #InspiringJourneys #HealingThroughMusic #GlobalConnections #MissLizTeehttps://marvelous-pioneer-7361.kit.com/e9bbc19838You can also use these websites for book info: "Work at Sea, See the World" & "Notes That Float": http://NancySoule.net for Musicians interested in the Global Musician Academy, where I help them get connected: connected:https://NotesThatFloat.net

From Inter Milan crash back to earth in Udinese shock loss, Juventus hero Dusan Vlahovic silences haters, Matias Soulé magic for Roma, Atalanta stumble to Parma who look like a Serie B side already just like Lecce who lose to AC Milan, Napoli beat Cagliari at the death, Cremonese win dramatic 5 goal thriller over Sassuolo as Jamie Vardy joins, to winners and losers of the transfer window, rating every clubs mercato, and final Serie A prediction as well as this week's Baggio, Serie ASS and Premface of the week plus much, much more when Nima and Carlo break down all the main talking points from Match Day 2 of the 2025/2026 Serie A season. Timestamps:00:00 Intro - Match Day 2 Overview02:45 Inter Milan - Cristian Chivu & Co Crash Down To Earth With Shock Defeat13:30 Udinese - Keinan Davis Shines As Kosta Runjaic Exposes Tactical Weaknesses21:10 Juventus - Dusan Vlahovic The Hero Again Against Defensively Tough Genoa30:50 Napoli - André-Frank Zambo Anguissa Wins It At The Death As Kevin De Bruyne Struggles40:18 Atalanta - Another Draw As Ivan Juric's Side Fail To Create Much In Attack46:05 Parma - Sooner Carlos Cuesta Sacked The Better Chance To Avoid Serie B52:01 AC Milan - Deserved First Win For Max Allegri After Dominant Performance59:00 Lecce - Salentini Preparing For Serie B & Lose In Front Of Superfan Helen Mirren01:00:54 Roma - Matias Soulé & Paulo Dybala Link Up As Gasperini Era Off To A Flyer01:04:00 Best Of The Rest - Davide Nicola's Cremonese Win 5 Goal Thriller, Riccardo Orsolini Bologna Match Winner Again, Valentin Castellanos Magic For Lazio01:08:47 Deadline Day, Mercato Analysis & Ratings - Winners & Losers01:41:47 Nima & Carlo Final Serie A 2025/2026 Predictions01:47:52 Italy Vs Estonia Preview - FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier Lineups, Team News, Predictions & Much More01:57:54 Baggio, Premface & Serie ASS Of The Week Check out our friends on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠101GreatGoals.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ If you want to support The Italian Football Podcast and get every episode, simply become a member on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/TIFP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ OR ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ OR ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube Memberships⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Your support makes The Italian Football Podcast possible. Follow us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠TikTok Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this powerful episode of A Voice and Beyond, we sit down with Matt Soule—survival self-defence expert, breathwork leader, one of the first certified Wim Hof Method instructors in the U.S., and now creator of his own unique training system, "The Cold Club."Matt takes us on an extraordinary journey through the science of stress mastery. From teaching self-defence and martial arts to leading breathwork retreats around the world, Matt's mission is to empower people to take control of their stress response and unlock their highest potential.Together, we explore:The healing power of cold exposure and breathworkWhat the Wim Hof Method really is—and how it's been changing livesHow Matt helps people manage trauma, autoimmune conditions, and anxietyThe balance between discipline and surrender in building resilienceHow ancient survival skills meet modern-day scienceWhy emotional mastery is the key to peak performance and joyMatt also shares deeply personal stories—from his own challenges with childhood trauma to the breakthroughs he's witnessed in special forces veterans and everyday people alike. This is a must-listen episode for anyone ready to reclaim their power, cultivate clarity, and ignite their inner fire.Find Matt Online: Matt's websiteMatt's InstagramMatt's FacebookMatt's LinkedInMatt's TwitterMatt's YouTube Find Marisa Online: Marisa's websiteMarisa's InstagramDownload your eBook: Thriving in a Creative Industry on her website Ready to reach a global audience with your product or service? We offer multiple opportunities for advertisement sponsorship on A Voice and Beyond. Email info@drmarisaleenaismith.com or visit the sponsor page to learn more.For more go to https://drmarisaleenaismith.com/179Like this episode? Please leave a review here - even one sentence helps!

Transhumance sonore en Soule, la plus sauvage des sept provinces du Pays basque. En quête d'un chant qui célèbre le sauvage et que seuls quelques bergers continuent de faire résonner dans les montagnes. (Rediffusion) Dans les hauteurs des Pyrénées Atlantiques, sur le côté français du Pays basque, la province de la Soule ou Xiberoa est connue pour abriter un chant aussi fascinant que confidentiel : le basa ahaide. Ce chant ancestral, sans paroles, s'est transmis oralement et il traduit l'émotion du berger-chanteur face à la splendeur, la grandeur des éléments en altitude, quand il se retrouve seul, là-haut dans sa cabane ou cayolar après avoir transhumé à pied avec ses bêtes. Ce chant célèbre alors ces retrouvailles mais aussi une relation intime entre l'homme et son environnement, vivant, avec lequel il fait corps. Traditionnellement, il se dit que le basa ahaide se chante seul, en extérieur ; car la montagne, avec son écho puissant, chante le reste.  Intriguée par ces chants du sauvage, Jeanne Lacaille est partie à la rencontre de bergers et de bergères qui continuent de partir avec des troupeaux en estive à la belle saison ; mais aussi des artistes souletins qui entretiennent, partagent ce répertoire du basa ahaide. Dans une terre de forêts, de gorges vertigineuses et de montagnes, où la vivacité de la culture pastorale fait la fierté de ses 13 000 habitant.e.s qui ne manquent jamais de célébrer en chansons leur langue, leur identité et leurs montagnes. Un voyage sonore de Jeanne Lacaille initialement diffusé en juillet 2024 En savoir plus : - Sur La Soule, l'une des provinces les plus sauvages du Pays basque - Sur Julen Achiary, artiste de basa ahaide et membre du quartet Haratago - Sur le festival Errobiko Festibala qui se tient chaque année en juillet.

Transhumance sonore en Soule, la plus sauvage des sept provinces du Pays basque. En quête d'un chant qui célèbre le sauvage et que seuls quelques bergers continuent de faire résonner dans les montagnes. (Rediffusion) Dans les hauteurs des Pyrénées Atlantiques, sur le côté français du Pays basque, la province de la Soule ou Xiberoa est connue pour abriter un chant aussi fascinant que confidentiel : le basa ahaide. Ce chant ancestral, sans paroles, s'est transmis oralement et il traduit l'émotion du berger-chanteur face à la splendeur, la grandeur des éléments en altitude, quand il se retrouve seul, là-haut dans sa cabane ou cayolar après avoir transhumé à pied avec ses bêtes. Ce chant célèbre alors ces retrouvailles mais aussi une relation intime entre l'homme et son environnement, vivant, avec lequel il fait corps. Traditionnellement, il se dit que le basa ahaide se chante seul, en extérieur ; car la montagne, avec son écho puissant, chante le reste.  Intriguée par ces chants du sauvage, Jeanne Lacaille est partie à la rencontre de bergers et de bergères qui continuent de partir avec des troupeaux en estive à la belle saison ; mais aussi des artistes souletins qui entretiennent, partagent ce répertoire du basa ahaide. Dans une terre de forêts, de gorges vertigineuses et de montagnes, où la vivacité de la culture pastorale fait la fierté de ses 13 000 habitant.e.s qui ne manquent jamais de célébrer en chansons leur langue, leur identité et leurs montagnes. Un voyage sonore de Jeanne Lacaille initialement diffusé en juillet 2024 En savoir plus : - Sur La Soule, l'une des provinces les plus sauvages du Pays basque - Sur Julen Achiary, artiste de basa ahaide et membre du quartet Haratago - Sur le festival Errobiko Festibala qui se tient chaque année en juillet.

We've never made an episode quite like this… There's many ways to improve at miniature painting, but nobody explains it quite like Tommie Soule!In this essential episode of Paint Perspective, we sit down with the miniature painting tutor himself to challenge everything we've ever thought about how we approach the hobby… Expect insights into:

The market for ag biologicals is projected to grow significantly according to Grandview Research – making the leap from $11B market in 2024 to a $16.8B in 2030. One Indiana company has recently created a strategic alliance to drive biological innovation at every stage of the crop nutrition cycle. Dr. Tanya Soule, Vice President of Microbiology at BW Fusion, joins us to talk science, producers and the farm. We get into: What biologicals are and how they benefit farmers How they work in tandem with other fertilizers and modes of crop protection to drive yield BW Fusion's approach to scientific discovery and innovation How the company got into the agbioscience industry – it wasn't its first vertical Bain Capital Double Impact's support that led to the strategic alliance between BW Fusion, Biodyne USA and Agronomy 365 and what that has allowed them to do from an innovation perspective The farmers' role in advancing innovation at BW Fusion Why Tanya, a career academic, made the switch to working with the BW Fusion team and coming to the agbiosciences Her advice for young scientists What's ahead for BW Fusion

The market for ag biologicals is projected to grow significantly according to Grandview Research – making the leap from $11B market in 2024 to a $16.8B in 2030. One Indiana company has recently created a strategic alliance to drive biological innovation at every stage of the crop nutrition cycle. Dr. Tanya Soule, Vice President of Microbiology at BW Fusion, joins us to talk science, producers and the farm. We get into:  What biologicals are and how they benefit farmers How they work in tandem with other fertilizers and modes of crop protection to drive yield BW Fusion's approach to scientific discovery and innovation How the company got into the agbioscience industry – it wasn't its first vertical Bain Capital Double Impact's support that led to the strategic alliance between BW Fusion, Biodyne USA and Agronomy 365 and what that has allowed them to do from an innovation perspective The farmers' role in advancing innovation at BW Fusion Why Tanya, a career academic, made the switch to working with the BW Fusion team and coming to the agbiosciences Her advice for young scientists What's ahead for BW Fusion 

-> Cet épisode est l'extrait d'un entretien. Vous trouverez l'entretien entier sur ce même compte.Dans cet épisode, nous rencontrons Xavier Soule, directeur de la Galerie VU et entrepreneur à la trajectoire plurielle. Architecte de formation, docteur en histoire de l'art et pionnier de l'imagerie 3D dans l'architecture, il revient sur son parcours riche et les différentes étapes qui l'ont conduit à investir le champ de la photographie contemporaine.Nous explorons la naissance de la Galerie VU dans les années 1990, son positionnement unique, ses relations avec Libération et ses choix stratégiques face aux évolutions du secteur (numérisation, mutation du marché de la presse, enjeux de visibilité et de vente). Xavier partage les coulisses de ses nombreux projets ambitieux comme par exemple son musée privée dans l'ancienne maison du réalisateur Claude Lelouche.Un épisode qui mêle inspiration, analyse du secteur et conseils pour mieux comprendre les défis (et les possibles) du milieu de la photographie.Bonne écoute !Lien vers mon questionnaire pour vous aider à faire un point sur votre carrière artistique : https://bit.ly/carriereartistiqueMon site : https://marinelefort.fr/Pour vous inscrire à la newsletter du podcast : https://bit.ly/lesvoixdelaphotonewsletterLe site du podcast : https://lesvoixdelaphoto.fr/Et vous pouvez retrouvez le podcast sur Instagram, Facebook et LinkedIn @lesvoixdelaphotoLes Voix de la Photo est un podcast produit et réalisé par Marine Lefort. Hébergé par Acast. Visitez acast.com/privacy pour plus d'informations.

Dans cet épisode, nous rencontrons Xavier Soule, directeur de la Galerie VU' et entrepreneur à la trajectoire plurielle. Architecte de formation, docteur en histoire de l'art et pionnier de l'imagerie 3D dans l'architecture, il revient sur son parcours riche et les différentes étapes qui l'ont conduit à investir le champ de la photographie contemporaine.Nous explorons la naissance de la Galerie VU' dans les années 1990, son positionnement unique, ses relations avec Libération et ses choix stratégiques face aux évolutions du secteur (numérisation, mutation du marché de la presse, enjeux de visibilité et de vente). Xavier partage les coulisses de ses nombreux projets ambitieux comme par exemple son musée privée dans l'ancienne maison du réalisateur Claude Lelouche.Un épisode qui mêle inspiration, analyse du secteur et conseils pour mieux comprendre les défis (et les possibles) du milieu de la photographie.Bonne écoute !00:01:20 – Le parcours pluridisciplinaire de Xavier Soule00:07:00 – La reprise de l'agence VU' et les débuts de la galerie00:13:00 – L'organisation de la galerie et le rapport aux photographes00:20:00 – Marketing, salons, communication : les choix et constats00:26:00 – La reconnaissance excessive et ses effets pervers00:28:00 – Le déménagement de la galerie prévu pour septembre 202500:30:00 – La place de la photo dans l'économie actuelle et les relais à inventerLien vers mon questionnaire pour vous aider à faire un point sur votre carrière artistique : https://bit.ly/carriereartistiqueMon site : https://marinelefort.fr/Pour vous inscrire à la newsletter du podcast : https://bit.ly/lesvoixdelaphotonewsletterLe site du podcast : https://lesvoixdelaphoto.fr/Et vous pouvez retrouvez le podcast sur Instagram, Facebook et LinkedIn @lesvoixdelaphotoLes Voix de la Photo est un podcast produit et réalisé par Marine Lefort. Hébergé par Acast. Visitez acast.com/privacy pour plus d'informations.

This week, we're recapping Chips Cookout at the beautiful Soule Park Golf Course. What started as an unknown golf getaway turned into a weekend packed with incredible golf, wild formats (yes, we're talking full-blown muni madness), and the friendly competition that reminds you why we love this game.From sunrise tee times to sunset hangs, this wasn't just about low scores. It was about community, connection, and building friendships that last far beyond the final putt. Whether you were there in person or just living vicariously through the chaos, this episode captures the spirit of the event and the people who made it special.Grab a cold one, settle in, and let's relive the Cookout.

From Napoli taking a huge step towards Scudetto after MVP candidate Scott McTominay scores a brace against Torino, Inter Milan risk Zeru Tituli, Matias Soulé continues to shine for incredible Roma, backstory of sad passing of Lecce physio, Atalanta closer to securing Champions League amid Gian Piero Gasperini's future unclear, to Kenan Yildiz stupid red card could cost Juventus top 4 spot, and AC Milan cap off wonderful week with win over Venezia and preview of the Champions League and Conference League semifinal leg 1 against Barcelona + Real Betus, as well as this week's Baggio, Serie ASS and Premface of the week plus much, much more when Nima and guest host Patrick Kendrick break down all the main talking points from Match Day 34 of the 2024/2025 Serie A season.Timestamps:00:00 Intro03:38 Napoli - Huge Step Towards Scudetto: Is Scott McTominay The League MVP?21:55 Inter Milan - Is Zeru Tituli A Reality & How Big Of A Failure Is It?45:44 Roma - Special Matias Soulé The Hero In Top 4 Race: Did Juventus Make A Mistake Selling Him?56:38 Lecce - The Sad Passing Of Physiotherapist Graziano Fiorita & Backstory Of What Happened01:05:31 Atalanta - All But Secure Champions League Football As Gian Piero Gasperini's Future Remains Unclear01:09:27 Juventus - Will Kenan Yildiz Stupid Red Card Cost Juve A Champions League Spot?01:14:26 Fiorentina - Beat Empoli To Keep Pressure In Top 4 Race Ahead Of Conference League Semi Final Against Real Betis01:16:15 AC Milan - Good Week Winning Derby & Beating Venezia: How Do We Rate Sergio Conceicao & Rossoneri's Season If They Win Coppa Italia?01:23:25 Barcelona Vs Inter Milan Champions League Semi-Final Leg 1 Preview - How Do Nerazzurri Stop Lamine Yamal?01:39:43 Baggio, Premface & Serie ASS Of The WeekListeners in the UK & Ireland: Click here to watch Serie A LIVE on OneFootball.If you want to support The Italian Football Podcast and get every episode, simply become a member on Patreon.com/TIFP OR Spotify OR YouTube Memberships. Your support makes The Italian Football Podcast possible.Follow us: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

¡Volvió la serie de Daredevil! Mejor dicho, renació, así que nos juntamos con Mario de Hablando en Globitos para hacer la RE: seña de la primera temporada de Daredevil: Born Again. O la cuarta temporada de Daredevil, algo así. El Kingpin es alcalde de New York City, hay un asesino en serie suelto, y Matt dejó de ser Daredevil por una pérdida personal importante... ¿como saldrá todo? Además, reseñamos el arco de los comics de Daredevil "Mayor Fisk" (de Soule, Landini, Garney, y otros), en el que está principalmente basada la serie, tratando de no hacer comparaciones, pero no lográndolo. Como si esto fuera poco, hablamos sobre catolicismo, bautismos, comuniones, y el Papa Francisco; porque claro, Matt Murdock es católico. Con música de The Newton Brothers & John Paesano, Imagine Dragons, y The Dramatics. Próximo programa: Historia de Editoriales de Comics Independientes (Parte II).

Charles Soule (author of the Star Wars: The High Republic series as well as some of the best Star Wars comic books) joins the show to talk all about one of the most controversial and heavily debated Steven Spielberg films: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. We all know co-host Josh Robert Thompson goes to bat for this one, but does Soule? We dive into the George Lucas of it all, a topic that Soule has a lot of insight into considering how closely he has studied Lucas's output while he plays in that massive Star Wars sandbox. There's a healthy range of opinion on this title and you're going to get some unfiltered opinions that range from "are you crazy?" to "don't be so mean" as three self-identified Indiana Jones nerds break down the fourth installment (and final Spielberg-directed entry) of this iconic series. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Lorinda Van Newkirk talks about building western fashion brands and businesses. Listen In...Guests and Links Episode 105:Hosts: Mike Donnell, Kacee Willbanks, and Sophia JagellaGuest: Lorinda Van NewkirkLink: Lucky ChuckVisit the WESA Website

I had the privilege of sitting down with my friend Christine Soule, whose incredible life story will fill you with hope. Her story is a testimony that even the darkest moments can lead to the brightest futures. From a childhood surrounded by dysfunction to being trafficked as a young mother of three, Christine's story of transformation is nothing short of remarkable.During our conversation, she shares the turning points that led her from her lowest point to founding Providence Heights, a nonprofit that's launched 14 businesses and helped countless women discover their worth and potential.Whether you're facing your own struggles or leading others through theirs, Christine's insights give us practical wisdom for own journeys. Her story reminds us that no matter where you start, it's never too late to build a life you're proud of.---You can connect with Christine at: https://christinesoule.com/ and https://providenceheights.org/---P.S.: If you have a brand, and you want to learn exactly how to transform it into a game-changer in your industry, then Legendary Brands Academy was made with you in mind. The online program will teach you the same exact systems and strategies we've been using to transform brands for the past 20 years. No more wishing things could be different -- no more theorizing without action -- no more saying "that's for other brands, but not for me." With Legendary Brands Academy, everything is designed for you to take action and see transformation in real time. You'll learn the step-by-step systems you can begin to implement today. So if you're ready to see real change, real results, and real Raving Fans for your brand, then you can check out Legendary Brands Academy here: www.LegendaryBrandsAcademy.com---Sign up to have Scott email you a weekly shot of energy, with 1 Cool Quote, 1 Deep Thought, and 1 Useful Tool. This is original content, not a repost of the podcast. You can find the sign-up section at the bottom of my website www.ScottWozniak.com Learn how Scott and his team of consultants can help you build a legendary brand at www.SwozConsulting.com Connect with Scott on social media: linkedin.com/in/scottwozniak/https://www.facebook.com/scottewozniak------  Bonus: check out his other podcast (Alpha Pack): https://kite.link/alpha-pack-podcast If you like this podcast you will probably like that one, too. Who knows, you might even like it better! :)  Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Thanks for joining, today we're talking to Ray Paczkowski. LaMP has a brand new album out this week and tour dates, check it all out here: https://www.ilikelamp.com/ We're back next week with our Mt. Rushmore episode on "Light." Vote for your top four versions here: https://osirispod.com/rushmore Please give us a call at (484) 416-0488 and leave us your thoughts and questions! And give us a review wherever you listen to podcasts.  The Helping Friendly Podcast is hosted and produced by Brian Brinkman, Megan Glionna, and RJ Bee. Original music by Amar Sastry. Brought to you by Osiris Media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode SummaryIn this episode, Maribel Lopez interviews Kate Soule, Director of Technical Product Management for IBM's Granite products. They discuss IBM's third-generation AI models, their focus on efficiency and enterprise readiness, and the latest advancements including vision capabilities and reasoning features.GuestKate Soule - Director of Technical Product Management for IBM's Granite productsKey Topics & Timestamps00:04 - IntroductionMaribel introduces the show and Kate SouleBrief overview of IBM Granite as fit-for-purpose, open-source enterprise AI models00:48 - What is IBM Granite?Designed as core building blocks for enterprises building with generative AIFocus on efficiency with smaller model sizesMonthly innovation updates to keep pace with rapidly evolving field02:19 - Understanding AI ReasoningExplanation of reasoning capabilities in AI modelsHow allowing models to generate more text at inference time can improve performanceCost/benefit tradeoffs of reasoning features03:13 - Enterprise AI Model Selection CriteriaMoving beyond "one model to rule them all" thinkingImportance of fit-for-purpose modelsWhy smaller models can be customized more easilyTrust and transparency considerations05:38 - AI Governance and SafetyHow to evaluate models for governance requirementsSafety evaluations and benchmarks as table stakesSystems-based approach to safety with guardrailsIBM's Granite Guardian and protection mechanisms08:55 - Benefits of Smaller ModelsWhy size matters: cost, latency, and customization advantagesSmaller models are easier to customize and require less computing powerIBM's transparent approach to training data10:13 - Future of AI EvaluationPerformance per cost becoming the key evaluation metricThe growing importance of flexibility in model selectionHow the "efficient frontier" between cost and performance will differentiate providers12:41 - IBM's Vision ModelsIBM's pragmatic enterprise focus for multimodal capabilitiesVision understanding (image in, text out) for practical business use casesSpecialization for documents, charts, and dashboardsDelivering powerful capabilities in only 2 billion parameters15:25 - Understanding Model Size ContextEvolution from millions to billions of parametersPractical considerations of deploying different-sized modelsFinding the right cost-benefit trade-off for specific use cases

Hell's Kitchen just got a little darker. This week on the Major Issues Podcast, we're diving deep into the first nine issues of Charles Soule's Daredevil run, where Matt Murdock is back in black, back in New York, and—somehow—his identity is a secret again?! With a mysterious new sidekick, a dangerous new foe, and a whole new status quo, Soule takes the Man Without Fear into uncharted territory. How did Daredevil pull off the impossible? What makes this run stand out from what came before? And does Matt ever catch a break? Join us as we unravel the secrets, the action, and the legal drama that makes Daredevil one of Marvel's most compelling heroes. Tune in—justice is blind, but you don't have to be! Please leave us a review on ITunes so we can grow our audience and grow as podcasters! Rate us wherever podcasts are found. Don't forget to check out our merchandise! All episodes of Major Issues are brought to you by ComicBook Clique, the only stop for the latest and greatest things to come to comic books and comic book media. Send us feedback at ComicBookClique@Gmail.com! You Are Worthy!  ComicBook Clique Facebook ComicBook Clique on Instagram ComicBook Clique on YouTube Major Issues on Twitter Shop ComicBook Clique DirtSheet Radio Link Tree

Today on Confessional we celebrate the life and work of David Lynch, with writer Pat Storck, and Tarot Card reader, Sarah Sherman Soule!  We get into all the greats: Twin Peaks, Lost Highway, The Elephant Man, and pretty much all the rest! With Confessions from Virginia, Cambridge, UK, and more,  

After 1-1 draw away to Porto in the first leg of the Europa League playoff clash, Roma coach Claudio Ranieri exploded at the referee and UEFA managing director of refereeing Roberto Rosetti, where Nima Tavallaey details the backstory between Roma and Rosetti.This is an extended clip from this week's free Monday episode of The Italian Football Podcast which is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube podcasts.To listen to this & all other full episodes of The Italian Football Podcast (and support the show), go to Patreon.com/TIFP OR now also available on Spotify OR YouTube Memberships and sign up. Your support makes The Italian Football Podcast possible.Follow us: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube

Matias Soule secured Roma's third consecutive away victory in Serie A on Sunday evening, guiding the Gialllorossi 1-0 past Parma. The guys discuss the youngster's performance, Ranieri's approach to the game, and break down Thursday's return leg against Porto in the Europa League.- - -Thank you to our Patrons who make this show possible. You can support RomaPress by going to Patreon.com/RomaPress, benefits include: early access to episodes, extras episodes, and plenty more.- - -Our websites:RomaPress.netItalianFootball24.com

From Chico Conceicao and Randal Kolo Muani gifting Juventus 4th consecutive win in all competitions, Inter Milan fail to make first half dominance count as per usual, Napoli lucky to get a point after comical goal, Boulaye Dia equalizer for Lazio who deserved win, to Santiago Gimenez saving AC Milan, Matias Soule scores beauty for Roma and preview of Europa League and Champions League second leg playoff rounds as well as this week's Baggio, Serie ASS and Premface of the week plus much, much more when Nima and Carlo break down all the main talking points from Match Day 25 of the 2024/2025 Serie A season.Timestamps:00:00 Intro02:13 Juventus: Hunger & Grit Decisive In Second Half Turnaround17:01 Inter Milan: Groundhog Day - Cant Make Dominance Pay42:11 Napoli: Third Draw In A Row After Again Dropping Points When In Lead57:03 Lazio: Boulaye Dia Equalizes At Death But Deserved To Win01:03:42 Atalanta: Scudetto Chances Scuffed?01:09:14 AC Milan: Jimenez & Gimenez Save The Day01:13:55 Roma: Matias Soule Freekick Stunner Wins Three Points01:16:23 Best Of The Rest: Bologna Win Despite Eljif Elmas Stunner, Nico Paz Como Show & Udinese Smash Empoli01:19:07 Champions League & Europa League 2nd Leg Playoff Preview: Atalanta & Milan To Overcome Deficit, Juve Defending Lead & Roma Home To Porto01:21:33 Baggio, Premface & Serie ASS Of The WeekIf you want to support The Italian Football Podcast and get every episode, simply become a member on Patreon.com/TIFP OR Spotify OR YouTube Memberships. Your support makes The Italian Football Podcast possible.Follow us: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube

Tarkin's Top Shelf reviews the first issue of Charles Soule's Star Wars: The Legacy of Vader. In this episode, your hosts discuss Soule's newest comic series about Kylo Ren after the events of Star Wars: The Last Jedi. But first, Mark and Becca go over the Star Wars news. Help us spread the word about the show Click here to subscribe via iTunes Click here to subscribe via RSS Click here to subscribe via Stitcher Click here to subscribe via Google Play Music Feedback and Promotion Follow us on Twitter @TarkinsTopShelf Like us on Facebook: Tarkin's Top Shelf Follow us on Instagram @TarkinsTopShelf Follow us on Threads  Follow us on Bluesky  

Sexologist Alexa Andre (@sexwithalexa) sits down with Jacqueline Soule, a system disruptor who feels everything—literally. From experiencing orgasms on bumpy roads to planning her life around her menstrual cycle, Jacqueline shares how deep body awareness has shaped her life. We discuss how to be more mindful and make everyday moments more pleasurable, how she taught her kids about cycles and sex education, and what it's like to navigate relationships with mismatched desire levels. Plus, she reveals what life is like without a negative internal voice—and how you can start silencing yours. Topics include:✨ Tips on becoming more in tune with your body✨ How to bring more pleasure into mundane daily moments✨ Why she plans her entire life around her menstrual cycle✨ Teaching kids about sex ed, body image & self-awareness✨ What it's like to have no negative self-talk✨ Navigating a higher libido than your partner✨ The power of sensory awareness & pleasure If you're curious about deepening your connection with your body, tuning into pleasure, and embracing your natural rhythms, this episode is for you!

Véritable Souletin, Beñat grandit bien au cœur du Pays Basque intérieur ! S'essayant d'abord simultanément à la pelote et au rugby, c'est à l'adolescence qu'il décide de se consacrer au ballon ovale.Champion de France Balandrade avec ses copains de Mauléon, il en devient équipier Premier à tout juste 17 ans.International Jeunes, il file par la suite du côté de la Section Paloise et paraphe son premier contrat Pro en 2001, à Tours ! Scruté par le « Sorcier Gersois » Henry Broncan, il s'engage à Auch l'année suivante et en devient une pièce maitresse jusqu'au titre de Pro D2 en 2004.2004, année qu'il choisit d'ailleurs pour s'éloigner du rugby pro et suivre sa compagne prof d'EPS en région Parisienne !De promu en Top 16 avec Auch, il passe en Fédérale 1 avec Domont où il jouera 2 saisons !  Il retrouve le monde pro en 2006 à Mont de Marsan où il jouera pour la suite de sa carrière, à l'exception d'une incartade d'une saison à l'Aviron Bayonnais. Buteur émérite, il remporte 2 finales d'accession au Top 14 sous les couleurs Montoises, et raccroche les crampons en 2014.Toujours prompt à sortir une blague bien sentie, Beñat a une véritable âme de meneur, sur mais aussi en dehors des terrains. Pour preuve, il est aujourd'hui un entrepreneur à succès et, de retour en Soule, il est engagé dans l'ombre pour le club de ses débuts, le Sport Athlétique Mauléonais.J'ai passé un super moment avec Beñat ! Riche d'anecdotes improbables, mais surtout porté par des valeurs simples, mais fortes, j'aurais pu passer la journée à discuter avec lui !Bonne écoute !-----------------------------

Produced by Karl Hughes (https://twitter.com/karlhughes)Special featureInterview by Daniel Willcocks (https://www.danielwillcocks.com/)With Dan Soule (https://dansoule.com/)Dan was born and raised in Nottinghamshire, England, growing up in a small cathedral town called Southwell. At aged 19, he moved to Glasgow, Scotland and met his now wife, a Northern Irish girl. Hence, he now lives in Northern Ireland on the beautiful Antrim Coast, with his wife and two children, Cassie the cat and Jessie the dog Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The writer and artist behind the recently launched The Lucky Devils, Charles Soule and Ryan Browne, join the show to talk about the year their new Image Comics series and the path to bringing it to life. Browne and Soule discuss new release anticipation, how their projects evolve, the rules of these worlds, what they learned from Eight Billion Genies, how they balance each other out, the structure of 8BG, its Wishworld one-shot, what made them want to develop The Lucky Devils, its leads, the darkness of the series, how their collaborations evolve, the sins that tempt them, promotional efforts, how they continue to build, and more.

The League vs. Parademons, Hawkman in Limbo, Selina drops a life, Soule has Lucky Devils, Geiger's out of control, Simon Pure runs into serial killers, and The Lightning Round.

Soule gets his shot at the brass ring of "Star Wars" comics and gives Lando the story he's been waiting for.

On today's episode of The Coffee Break, Russ spoke with Kim about the upcoming event, Project Prom.  The Coffee Break is the daily Christian talk and local events program on Hope Radio KCMI 97.1FM serving the Scottsbluff, NE area. Tune in for interviews with authors, musicians, pastors, and others in the Christian community and our local area! Visit our website: www.kcmifm.com Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/kcmifm

Silas Soule moved to Kansas as a teenager. He and his family helped out with the underground, and when it came time to arm up against the border ruffians, Silas didn't hesitate. Later, during the Civil War, he was commissioned as an officer in the Union Army and served with distinction during the battle of Glorietta Pass. Afterward, he did all he could to protect the Colorado frontier from hostiles. At least, he did until Colonel Chivington ordered him to attack the peaceful village of Black Kettle at Sand Creek. Silas Soule may not be a household name or the subject of movies, but I think you'll be pleasantly surprised and inspired by his story. So please, join me today as we recognize a true American Hero, one who wasn't afraid to spill a little blood but at the same time was willing to sacrifice it all for what was right. And in the end, this integrity cost him his life. Also discussed are Bleeding Kansas, John Brown and the raid on Harpers Ferry, the Colorado gold rush, Tom Tobin and the murderous Espinosa brothers, the Cheyenne and Arapaho, and finally, the Sand Creek massacre.  Check out the website for more true tales from the Old West https://www.wildwestextra.com/ Email me! https://www.wildwestextra.com/contact/ Buy me a coffee! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/wildwest Free Newsletter! https://wildwestjosh.substack.com/ Join Into History for ad-free and bonus content! https://intohistory.supercast.com/ Join Patreon for ad-free and bonus content! https://www.patreon.com/wildwestextra Silas Soule: A Short, Eventful Life of Moral Courage by Tom Bensing - https://a.co/d/6K9IyRh Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stress is an important issue in people's daily lives, it drives poor health and poor behavior choices. Coach Eric sits down with stress expert Matt Soule on how to use stress to manage stress. His approach uses cold water, breath work and fasting to increase stress threshold and expand our window of tolerance. Learn more about his stressors that he uses and teaches to help better your health and take control of it. Start using stress to lead you to a healthier, happier life. To learn more about how to leverage your stress visit https://www.mattsoule.com/   Looking for Personalized Fitness solutions? On-site and off-site Solutions Available. Visit www.thinkfitnesslife.com for more information.

Ka-Pow the Pop Cultured Podcast has comic books on the brain this week. Along with special guest Jesse Starcher of The Source Material Comics Podcast, we recap an enjoyable convention trip, dish on the biggest news coming out of New York Comic Con and watch a few comic-inspired TV shows. Length - 01:31:51 Language - PG-13. (Contains mild adult language.) - 0:01:40 - TRIP REPORTS Jordan and Cliff recount their visit to this year's Cincinnati Comic Expo, meeting Kevin Eastman, Dr. Peter Weller and Tinker Bell herself, Margaret Kerry! - 0:45:05 - COMIC BOOK NEWS Diamond Comic Distributors downsizing their warehouses, New York Comic Con announcements include Loeb and Lee reuniting for "Batman: Hush 2," the return of DC's Vertigo imprint and a sequel to the Monsterverse hit "Justice League vs. Godzilla vs. Kong," the "Absolute" continuity a success, "Ultimate Wolverine" joining Marvel's lineup, Soule and McNiven preview "Daredevil: Cold Day in Hell," the summer event "One World Under Doom" and "DC versus Marvel" omnibus edition arrives reprinting the classic crossovers. - 1:02:25 - TV RECAPS & REVIEWS Aaron Pierre cast as John Stewart for HBO's "Lanterns," our thoughts on the Disney+ series "Agatha All Along," the dark and gritty Batman spinoff "The Penguin," revisiting "Ash vs Evil Dead" and the "Cloverfield" franchise for spooky season, and recommendations for the CBS sitcom "Ghosts" and Kathy Bates' new version of "Matlock."

Bringing in new customers and expanding your market share takes work and a certain approach to sales. In this episode, Shane Soule, President of ProTec Panel & Truss, shares practical strategies for proactive selling based on his recent experience.

All-ACC Women's basketball player and, now professional basketball player, Taylor Soule joins us in the cave. Taylor brings the energy as she talks about the current state of the WNBA, players to watch, and what she's looking forward to. Then, Soule talks about NIL, AAU, and egos. Lastly, she gives some great advice for aspiring professionals all around the world. All this in episode 57 on Bro Cave Sports!

After nothing short of a disastrous start for Matias Soule and Douglas Luiz at Roma and Juventus respectively, Nima Tavallaey and Carlo Garganese discuss why things have gone wrong, and whether or not if either of them can turn it around. The Italian Football Podcast patrons Leo and Igor send in a question wondering what Nima Tavallaey and Carlo Garganese think of the two marquee signings who have been underwhelming for respective club so far.This is an extended clip from this weeks Q & A episode of The Italian Football Podcast available only to patrons on Patreon.com/TIFPTo send in your questions as well as listen to this & all other full episodes of The Italian Football Podcast (with no ads), go to Patreon.com/TIFP OR Spotify to become a Patron for only $2.99 USD per month (excluding VAT).Follow us: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube

It's YOUR time to #EdUp In this episode, #972, brought to YOU by the ⁠⁠MSCHE 2024⁠⁠ conference, & the ⁠⁠InsightsEDU⁠⁠ 2025 conference YOUR guest is Whitney Soule⁠, Vice Provost & Dean of Admissions, ⁠University of Pennsylvania YOUR host is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dr. Joe Sallustio How is UPenn approaching holistic admissions in an era of increasing applications? What strategies is UPenn using to ensure equity & access in its admissions process? How is the university adapting its application review process in response to AI & other challenges? What role does the "thank you note" question play in UPenn's comprehensive review? How is UPenn balancing institutional needs with applicant expectations in a highly selective environment? Listen in to #EdUp! Want to accelerate YOUR professional development? Want to get exclusive early access to ad-free episodes, extended episodes, bonus episodes, original content, invites to special events, & more? Want to get all this while helping to sustain EdUp, for only $2.99 a month? Then subscribe today to lock in YOUR $2.99/m life long founders rate! This offer will end on December 31, 2024! ⁠⁠⁠BECOME A SUBSCRIBER TODAY!⁠⁠⁠ Thank YOU so much for tuning in. Join us on the next episode for YOUR time to EdUp! Connect with YOUR EdUp Team - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvin Freytes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dr. Joe Sallustio⁠⁠⁠ ● Join YOUR EdUp community at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The EdUp Experience⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! We make education YOUR business!

Episode #240 Matt Soule, Wim Hof Breathing And Cold Therapy Hello Health Heroes!  This week I interviewed Matt Soule, who is Wim Hof's Top Instructor and an amazing human being. Matt educates us on the profound fundamentals of optimal health and gives us simple impactful strategies in the areas of breath, fasting, relationships (do not overlook this one for longevity!) and cold therapy. You will also learn about Matt's amazing retreats he hosts around the world to break free of the mundane and launch yourself into a new life in one weekend! I am definitely going to one of those myself… so excited!!! Enjoy the show! Love & Light Coach Tim  p.s. Please like & subscribe to my show for more great inspiration and education so that you can become your own doctor and learn to self heal! p.p.s. To contact Matt go to: https://www.mattsoule.com/ Tim's Favorite, HIGHEST QUALITY Health Product Recommendations: Best Detox & Nutrition Supplements: https://www.chemicalfreebody.com/  Best Hydrogen Machine: Tim's personal unit - CLICK HERE Best Infrared Saunas & Healing Lamps: Tim's personal unit - Save $100 CLICK HERE Water Purification/Restructuring System: Book FREE Consult CLICK HERE Best Home Air Purification Unit : Tim's personal unit CLICK HERE Best Non Toxic Home Building Materials: CLICK HERE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Anita from Wild Thistle Kitchen shares her journey from hobby to full-time food blogger & food photographer. She dives into her not-so-linear but incredible path to Mediavine (hello, 50K sessions!) and the importance of knowing your audience, writing helpful blog posts & insightful emails, and staying consistent. Don't miss her advice for aspiring food bloggers!Follow Anita: @wild.thistle.kitchen→ BOOK A CONTENT STRATEGY INTENSIVE // If you're a recipe food blogger & want to book a 1:1 Strategy Session to refine your niche & revamp your content strategy (like Anita & I did), DM me on Instagram! Together on this Content Strategy Intensive, we'll create a strategic roadmap that boosts your visibility, attracts more clicks, and builds a solid blog foundation that stands the test of time. Spots are limited!→ JOIN THE EMAIL LIST HERE // Get weekly-ish emails that help you scale your food blog & elevate your business by diversifying beyond the blog with multiple income streams.→ MORE ABOUT JAMIE // I'm a multi-six-figure digital entrepreneur and online educator with 13+ years of digital marketing experience. In the last 8+ years, I've successfully scaled my food blog into a sustainable, profitable multi-six-figure business with multiple income streams. My business has afforded me the freedom & flexibility to work for myself on my own terms and manifest the life of my dreams. Now, my mission is to guide experienced food bloggers down this same path.→ LET'S CONNECT // Instagram • LinkedIn→ RATE & REVIEW // Apple Podcasts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Roma's transfer market heated up this week as they landed Matias Soule, who arrived in the capital late Sunday, and ramped up negotiations for Girona striker Artem Dovbyk. John and Andy discuss the recent updates and debate what the Ukrainian's arrival would signal ahead of the upcoming season.Thank you to our newest Patrons, Antonio Cucciniello, Marc Yang, and Christopher Fung, and to all our Patrons who make this show possible. You can support RomaPress by going to Patreon.com/RomaPress, benefits include: early access to episodes, extras episodes, and plenty more.Our websites:RomaPress.netItalianFootball24.com

The transfer saga involving Roma and Matias Soule is drawing closer to a conclusion, with the player nearing a switch to the Italian capital. John and Andy discuss the latest surrounding the Argentine along with the bombshell news that The Friedkin Group have pulled out of negotiations to acquire Premier League side Everton. Finally, they reminisce about Riccardo Calafiori as the ex-Roma man closes in on a big-money transfer switch to Arsenal from Bologna.Thank you to our newest Patrons, Nicholas Esarte and Momchil Petrov, and to all our Patrons who make this show possible. You can support RomaPress by going to Patreon.com/RomaPress, benefits include: early access to episodes, extras episodes, and plenty more.Our websites:RomaPress.netItalianFootball24.com