Waiting several minutes to allow everyone to look around, Seth decided it was time to see if they could afford such accommodations. Reading the sign on the counter Seth quickly followed its instructions and pulled on a cord that hung from the ceiling which he hadn’t noticed before. Tugging it, Seth could feel it give, and releasing it emitted a deep resounding dong, dong, dong. From somewhere higher in the building, the bell rang and reverberated through the stone walls to be heard throughout the entire structure.
Immediately from somewhere beyond the wall in front of them, they heard a door swing open and then closed again. Footsteps clicked across the marble floor and around the wall from the dining hall a woman appeared. She was tall and slender, and wrapped in an elegant silk gown that clung to the curves of her body like a lover. No detail was left to the imagination and it was apparent that the woman, though appearing delicate, had a distinctive tone to her muscles. She smiled to them as she rounded the corner showing her flawless white teeth. She had a pretty smile, one that both welcomed them and made them feel at ease. As she stepped behind the counter, she began to speak.
“Welcome to The King’s Herald. I am Sasha, the inn’s director. In anticipation of the celebration of The Choosing ceremony we have temporarily cut our rates to better accommodate those that have traveled from afar to attend. We still have several rooms available if you should like to stay,” she stated with rehearsed perfection.
CHAPTER 76
Seth
Seth stood looking away from Sasha as if to show Sara he was not interested in any other woman but her. A fact that must have been difficult, Sara decided, for the woman was a true beauty to behold. Looking past the man she had come to love, Sara could see that the other two boys were too busy drooling to form words so it was left to her to do the speaking.
“We would indeed like to stay, Miss Sasha, but first may I ask some questions about your accommodations?” Sara tried to mimic the other woman’s word mastery.
“Yes, please do feel free to ask me anything your heart desires,” Sasha replied.
“First off then, do you have bathing facilities, and facilities to launder our clothes? Secondly, what sizes of rooms do you have available? Lastly, what are the current prices of those rooms?” Sara asked all at once to get the questions out of the way.
“Well m’lady we do have bathing facilities, and we can also launder your clothes and dry them while you bathe so they are fresh and warm when you are finished. We have several sizes of rooms remaining as well. We have some large one-bed suites available with a single bed that runs ten silver per night, while on special. We also have some two-bed rooms remaining. They are less lavishly decorated and on a higher floor so run a bit cheaper at seven silver per night. We also have some rooms on the top floor each with four beds made into bunks. The rooms are small but satisfactory and cost six silver per night, from now until the day after the ceremony,” Sasha replied. She then waited patiently for a response.
Sara ran several calculations through her head knowing they could afford any rooms they wanted, but unwilling to spend all of their remaining money on them. Four nights were left until the ceremony, and Sara realized she still had a substantial amount of coin, her purse now totaling one gold, seventy-six silver and ninety-two copper. Taking this into account she had one last question to ask.
“What services are included with a room?” Sara asked Sasha.
“Everything but food, darling,” Sasha replied quickly.
“Very well, then, we would like a one-bed room for four nights, and a two-bed room, also for four nights,” Sara declared, smiling provocatively at Seth.
“All right m’lady. Extended stays must be paid for in advance to reserve your room. Also, if you should wish someone to go to the markets for you, just ask and I will send one of ours servants free of charge. You will only need to pay for the items you’ve sent for.” Sasha spoke once again as if she had been practicing the lines all morning.
Sara dug out the two large silver coins still in her possession and eighteen of the small silver coins. She paid Sasha, who thanked her graciously and asked if they would like to see their rooms or bathe first. All of them decided they would much rather bathe. Sasha led them through the sumptuous building, taking them first through the dining hall and then around a corner into a long hallway. They walked to the end of
The hall where Sasha opened a door, revealing a room like Sara had ever imagined. It was not that the room was excessively decorative, but within the room was a massive metal structure, that drew the focus of her and her companion’s attention. A giant copper tear hung from the ceiling, polished to a golden honey shine, and across its gleaming surface flames leaped and danced. The fire was actually situated below the tear, but its reflections danced all over the object causing it to appear as if it were completely engulfed in flame. Where the giant tear hung from the ceiling, dozens of small copper tubes erupted out in a cascade. They ran across the expanse of the ceiling in all directions, curving this way and that, some of them even doubling back upon themselves before turning once again in another direction. The tubes then flowed down the walls, disappearing behind the semi-transparent glass walls of a dozen stalls. Shadows and sparkles danced around the room making the entire area seem alive. It was an amazing sight, totally awe-inspiring. Sasha watched their expressions as they entered the room and she smiled knowingly.
“The device was created by the gnomes as a weapon of war. They brought several of them here to Valdadore to present to the king as a gift. However, just as most gnome devices are dangerous at best, there was a fatal flaw in their design. The large tank we so lovingly refer to as the god’s tear was intended to hold a large quantity of tar. It would then be heated, causing it to expand and spray out through the tubes. The tubes can be bent to face in the direction of the enemy who would subsequently be coated in boiling tar. However, while demonstrating the device to the king, its tubes clogged which prevented the escape of the heated tar. Pressure continued to build in the tear until the demonstration unit exploded, killing all of its handlers. The king rejected the gift and the gnomes were so upset by their failure they left the remaining devices for the people to do with whatever they wanted. We here at The King’s Herald obtained this one and modified it slightly to heat water for our baths. Inside each stall is a tube with a valve. If you would like to heat your bath further, simply turn the valve and hot water will flow into your bath. Be careful though, it is very hot. After you undress please place your clothes at the base of the door to your stall and one of our people will collect them and have them quickly washed, dried and returned. Please feel free to take your time and relax.” Sasha finished her narrative, and smiling politely, left the room.
Without a word the group headed down between the two rows of stalls. Ashton walked straight into the first one and closed the door behind him. Garret walked half way down the same row and disappeared into a stall of his own. Sara led Seth by the hand to the back of the room. She led him to the next to last stall in the room and kissed him gently before allowing him to enter. Watching him close the door behind him, she stepped into the stall directly next to his, the last one in the room. Sara waited until she heard Seth step into the water. Knowing he was undressed and relaxing, she too quickly removed her clothes. The walls between the stalls were made of the same semitransparent glass as the doors, and being such you could see through them a bit, kind of like looking at a colored silhouette. It was a view lacking detail, thus granting privacy.
Sara walked to the wall she shared with Seth, assuming the closer she got to the wall, the more definition he would be able to see through the glass. She tapped the wall lightly with her fingertips and heard his bath water slosh around. Assured she had his attention, she stepped as close to the glass as she could without actually touching it and turned around painfully slowly, allowing him a less than perfect view of every angle of her naked body. Hearing Seth sigh loudly Sara giggled and climbed victoriously into her tub.
/> CHAPTER 77
Seth
Seth looked around the small stall. The tub was a large copper caldron with a tube protruding through the top lip and out through the back wall. Another tube came out of the bottom of the tub and had a knob on it to close or open it. Above the tub, as promised, one of the copper tubes climbed down the wall, and turning at a right angle ended abruptly just above the tub with another of the knobs. In the back corner of the little stall was a series of shelves easily within reach of the tub. Upon the shelves rested several bowls with salves and creams, small bars of soaps, bottles of differently scented perfumes and a pile each of washing cloths and towels. Plucking both a bar of the soap and a washing cloth, he rested them on the side of the tub. Seth then quickly undressed and stepped into the tub. As his body displaced the water it flowed quickly out of the upper tube through the wall preventing even a drop to overflow onto the floor.
Seth was thinking to himself about how great an idea it was when he heard a tapping from behind him. Turning in his tub he could see Sara’s fingertips resting on the pane of glass that separated them. Seth watched as Sara stepped up to the glass. He could see her, though the image was clouded and dull, and lacked definition. Without realizing he had done it, Seth inhaled sharply and held his breath. Sara stood naked before him and though the vision lacked intimate detail, enough clarity remained to keep his attention fixed. She turned then, ever so slowly, allowing him to see her fully exposed, making up with his imagination the details he could not decipher through the glass. Hers was a body of perfection. Seth tried to breathe and found he still could not as she paused once again, this time facing away from him. He watched in silent reverence as she bent slightly at the waist to give him a better view of her retreating form. However instead of retreating, she again stood erect and continued her slow show. Seth could not help himself. He watched, trying to take in every bit of her, unable to look away. As she finally finished her blood stirring game and stepped away from the glass, Seth’s ability to breathe returned once again and he exhaled loudly. This was responded to by a giggle from the other side of the glass, the melodic sound his angel made when she purposely tested his limits. Seth smiled to himself aware of her little game. She enjoyed his torture, and he could easily admit to himself he enjoyed it just as much. Pulling the cloth and soap from the edge of the tub, Seth began to wash away the dirt and grime of the road.
CHAPTER 78
Sara
Sara enjoyed teasing Seth. She enjoyed enticing him with her body. It wasn’t that she was overconfident about her physique, nor even that she found herself attractive. She imagined herself the plain picture of the girl next door. At least one that had learned a few tricks whilst being raised in a brothel. It was amazing what you could learn just by watching. Although Sara did not think herself anything special, Seth seemed to be intrigued by her. If he thought well enough of her body to pay it such close attention, then she saw no reason not to give him something to look at.
She knew that he wanted to wait, wanted to do the right thing by her. Seth was very old fashioned and she adored that about him. Though his body showed no signs of having the same intentions his mind had, Seth had been able to refuse her advances each time she had applied herself. She knew all too well how to arouse him. She had been raised in a brothel, after all, and Seth was a man much like every other man. Even so, though his body might scream for hers, he had yet to step over that line, and said he would not do so until they were joined. So though Sara did not have the same old fashioned opinions, she would not expect Seth to give in to what she wanted. However, if he planned to make her wait, she would do her best to make him think twice about it. Smiling to herself, thinking about how she might tease him the next four nights that they would be sharing a bed, she began to wash herself.
CHAPTER 79
Garret
As promised, just a few moments after Garret had gotten into the tub, small hands reached under the stall door and collected his soiled and dirty clothes. He washed his hair and body quickly but thoroughly and laid back in the tub letting his head fall back. The water was relaxing and he eased every muscle in his body, allowing the warmth to sooth him. Fully relaxed, Garret closed his eyes allowing his mind to wander. It did not wander long, and soon Garret drifted into half sleep.
Again Garret stood among an army on a battlefield. This time he was watching the black masses of the enemy swarm towards him. The enemy was upon him in minutes and he hefted his sword high and thrust it forward, giving the signal to attack. “For Valdadore!” The battle cry echoed across the plains as steel met steel. The nearest of his enemies sprinted at him in a mass. All of them looked otherworldly with blackened armor and weapons gleaming wetly with blood. Their teeth snapped as they ran at him as if they were some breed of savage animals starved into attacking wildly. Onward his enemy came and Garret let his head roll back on his neck. Whispering something into the sky, his words lost in the sounds of battle, Garret’s eyes gleamed with energy and his body exploded.
Garret sat upright with a gasp. Shaking his head to clear it, he looked around, unsure of where he was. Absorbing his surroundings, he recalled the memories temporarily displaced by the dream. Looking down he saw his clothes folded in a neat pile below the door. Realizing he must have slept for longer than he originally thought he had, he got out of the tub and dried himself in a hurry. Dressing quickly Garret stepped out of his stall.
Ashton was already waiting when Garret came out of his stall and smiled to him in greeting. Smiling at his friend, he couldn’t believe how different his companion looked when refreshed and dressed in his now clean clothes. Each walking halfway the distance between them, they spoke quietly about the giant copper tear hanging in the center of the room.
CHAPTER 80
Sara
Sara, her body and hair already washed, sat on the edge of her tub spreading one of the available salves over the entire surfaces of her legs and other areas of her body where she preferred to not have hair. Allowing the salve to sit until it began to burn, she then quickly wiped it away with her damp washing cloth, along with the hair. Feeling her legs to be sure the hair had been eradicated, she then quickly applied a lotion over them to make the skin soft. Sara then dismounted the tub and toweled her hair dry and redressed. Next she brushed the tangles from her hair with a brush from the shelves in her stall, then pulling it over her shoulder she braided it loosely and tied it at the end with the leather strap. Feeling she had made herself as presentable as was possible, she stepped out of her stall at the same moment as Seth did.
CHAPTER 81
Seth
Seth had washed up quickly, and to be sure he smelled clean for Sara, he washed his body again, three more times in fact. Seth had no idea what all the creams and salves were on the shelves, but he was able to find a small sharp blade and a mirror which he used to scrape away the prickly facial hair that had sprouted across his face in a little over a week since he had left home. He was impressed that he cut himself only twice. Once the bleeding stopped, Seth washed the blood away and quickly dried and got dressed. His clothes smelled exceptionally clean, and he stepped out of his stall feeling terrific.
Sara and Seth smiled at each other. Taking Seth’s hand with one of hers, Sara reached up with the other to feel his face with her fingertips.
“Smooth…I like it,” Sara said with a grin and a giggle.
Looking down at the smaller woman, Seth realized that although she was stunning, she had been no less beautiful an hour before covered in grime from the road. It was both odd and amazing, the attachment he felt to her. Giving her hand a squeeze, they turned and walked hand in hand to meet the others.
Joining their friends, Seth and Sara both greeted them and together they decided to find Sasha so they could take their packs and equipment to their rooms. Exiting the bathing room they walked back down the long corridor towards the dining hall. Rounding the corner they could hear voices. The voices came from the very counter where the
y had met Sasha earlier, and she was there again speaking to a man who was apparently another customer. They waited patiently for the conversation to end, and when it did, the man handed Sasha some coins and turned and left the inn.
Without warning, Sara released Seth’s hand and he watched as she turned to face him. Motioning for them to remain where they were, Sara turned and walked to the counter to greet Sasha. The three boys were still some distance away and so were unable to hear the women’s nearly whispered conversation but they watched as Sara spoke, pausing periodically as Sasha responded with a nod.
CHAPTER 82
Sara
Sara left the boys in the dining hall hoping they would be far enough away to remain out of hearing range of what she was going to talk to Sasha about. She was a bit embarrassed at having to ask a stranger anyway, and did not want the added embarrassment that would come if her companions could hear her too. Walking towards Sasha, Sara greeted her and came to stand mere inches away from the woman.
“Hello Sasha,” Sara smiled.
“Hello again m’lady,” Sasha replied
“It’s Sara. Sorry, I didn’t introduce myself properly earlier,” Sara said, unused to the title Sasha had labeled her with.
Sasha nodded in understanding.
“You said you could send someone to the market for us if we needed?” Sara asked, already knowing the answer to her question.
Age of the Gods: The Complete, twelve novel, fantasy series (The Blood and Brotherhood Saga) Page 19
