Climbing into the bath, we washed clean. The few bloodstains that lingered on my skin came free with some scrubbing. Once we were clean, I drained the dirty water into the jug, ready to be emptied and refilled in the morning.
Eris climbed out first and got dressed, and just as I had thrown on a clean pair of pants, there was a knock at the door. My stomach rumbled greedily at the prospect of food, and I knew Eris must be hungry since she didn’t have lunch.
I opened the door to find Syl standing there holding a huge platter with two mugs of cold ale and plates filled with cubed steak and cheese, along with a steaming pile of carrots and potatoes. The smell that wafted past my nose was heavenly, and my stomach voiced its agreement. Syl chuckled at my rumbling belly.
“Oh, where are my manners? Please come in,” I said.
Syl walked in and set the tray down on the small table in front of the bed. I grinned at the thought of the food. “It looks delicious.”
“Sure does,” Syl replied.
I looked up from the meal to find her decidedly not looking at the food. She was looking at me with a hunger in her eyes and a smirk on her face. I looked down to find I had neglected to put on a shirt, and my heavily muscled chest was bared to her. Oh.
She arched her back to stretch her rather large chest even tighter over the fabric of her thin shirt. Her nipples were hard and poked out prominently.
Syl reached out to place a hand tentatively on my chest. She wants me as a meal—nope, not going to happen. Syl noticed my hesitation and misconstrued its meaning, seeming to take it for excitement on my part as her smile grew even more sexual. Her fingers were rough and calloused from work, but it wasn’t unpleasant.
But I still wasn’t comfortable with her touching me. I backed up as Eris crawled over the bed and sat down beside me. She was staring at me with a smirk peeking out from her hood.
“Ah…this isn’t—” I started to say.
“What? I don’t mind. She's rather attractive in a rugged way.”
Syl seemed to take Eris’s words as confirmation. She hastily unbuttoned her shirt to let her rather impressive breasts spill out. They were large and round, but perky enough to hold their shape as they burst forth and jiggled with temptation. Her chest was tanned as if she spent time naked outdoors every day, and she had rather small nipples compared to the size of her breasts; they were pink and fully erect as my eyes traveled over them.
I wasn’t the only one looking. Eris had her eyes glued to them as well with a curious and somewhat covetous look on her face. She seems wistful of Sylvia's generous assets. Though I rather liked Eris’s chest, even I couldn’t disagree that the pair of breasts in my face were anything short of spectacular.
Eris stood off the bed and walked over to get a better look, nearly pressing her face to Syl’s breasts. She reached out a hand and with a nod from Syl, touched her. Syl let out a soft squeak, likely at the heat from Eris’s hand, but she soon acclimated.
Syl ran her hand through Eris’s hair and dislodged her hood, baring her ears and eyes. Her eyes widened a bit, but she quickly smiled. “I’ve never seen such a cute demi before!”
My sudden panic at Syl seeing Eris was replaced by a pang of jealousy. Eris was enraptured by Syl’s chest, and her fingers played lightly around her bust and nipples. Admittedly it was a provocative scene, but watching Eris with someone else was difficult.
I tried to suppress it, but when Eris suddenly stopped and pulled her hands back from Syl, I knew she’d felt my disapproval.
“Sorry, Syl. I can’t,” Eris said.
Syl looked up with a regretful expression and even seemed a little hurt. “Is it my looks?” she asked.
“Of course, it isn’t,” she said with a shake of her head. “But my bonded doesn’t like to share, it seems.”
A nod of understanding replaced the sad look on Syl's face. Even if she wasn’t happy about being turned away, she could at least take solace that it wasn’t her looks that factored into it. She slowly buttoned up her shirt, giving Eris one final long glance at her breasts, and a mischievous grin. Once she was presentable again, she bowed to us and bid us a good evening, shutting the door behind her as she left.
Soon as the door latched, I sank back onto the bed. It was as fluffy as I imagined and was heavenly after the day’s ride and eased some of my aches and pains. I sat up as Eris crawled towards me, her eyes asking me why. I sighed heavily and leaned back into her shoulder. Her arms came up to wrap around my neck. She leaned over to rest her chin against my collarbone and kissed the base of my throat.
“I’m touched that our bond matters to you, love. At first, I feared you only accepted it out of necessity, and I’m glad that isn’t true. But I really didn’t mind. She was rather striking, and I would have liked it if we both could have spent the evening with her.”
I kissed Eris back. “I did promise you I would give us a chance, and I can’t deny any longer how I feel about you. I care about you, and because of that, I don’t know if I can share you.”
Eris smiled wide at me. Her lips pulled back over her bright white teeth as she attempted to split her face in two with her smile. She kissed me quickly and ran her hand over my cheek. “Took you long enough to figure that out, love,” she laughed.
“What can I say, I’m a slow learner,” I said, but a thought struck me. “Do entomancers normally involve others in their bonds?”
Eris nodded, her chin digging into my shoulder, “All the time, it wasn’t uncommon for a prominent member of the nobility to have several bondmates. It was considered normal.”
“I thought you didn’t want our bonding to be like the others?”
“I don’t, and it’s not. You just admitted yourself that you care for me. I’m not a tool or a plaything for you, so what does it matter if we bring in someone else to spend time with? I see no reason why we shouldn’t.”
I leaned back into her, trying to come up with a reason other than the fact that I simply didn’t like the idea of it, I didn’t think I could bring myself to sleep with someone else, even if Eris wanted it and wanted to be a part of it. A pit formed in my stomach as I considered it. “We just got together, let’s not rush things okay?”
She hugged into my back. “It’s fine, love. I promise,” she said, but she couldn’t hide the slight disappointment in her voice. Eris pulled my head back to kiss my forehead, my nose, and then my lips. “But if I can’t have her and you together, then you’ll have to work extra hard tonight.”
I laughed, and the laughter took away the uneasy awkwardness that had been lingering in the air. “As long as it doesn’t involve any more poisoned rabbits.”
“I think we can do without,” she said.
I leaned over and traced my hand over her scar. “Still, I’m sorry about this. I—“
“I like the scar, Sam. So, shut up and kiss me already!”
Eris straddled me and pushed me to the bed, her lips already pressed against mine. And I relented, giving in to her and returning her affections.
In the morning, I begrudgingly climbed out of bed, covered in dried sweat, and exhausted. We’d spent hours tangled up together and didn’t manage to fall asleep until light was breaking over the horizon. My gaze caught the tray of food left forgotten on the table by the bed. I brought the food over to the nightstand and gently shook Eris awake. She opened her eyes and smiled when they focused on me. She languidly sat up and stretched while letting out a gigantic yawn.
“Breakfast, love,” I said.
She giggled and blushed. “Don’t you mean dinner?”
“Whatever it is, hurry up and eat. We have a meeting in Central at mid-day.”
She performed an exaggerated bow. “Right away, master.”
I laughed at her and kissed her, ‘None of that, my bonded.” I leaned over to feed her a cube of steak and cheese. She opened her mouth and wrapped her tongue around my fingers, dragging the food into her mouth with just her tongue.
“Impressive,” I said whil
e grabbing one of the ales and draining it. It was room temperature and tasted a little stagnant, but ale was ale, and I happily drank it while shoveling a considerable mouthful of meat and cheese down my gullet, washing it down with the second ale. After scarfing down the food and drink, we got dressed. I had to resort to wearing the same set of clothes from yesterday as I didn’t have anything else. Eris or other circumstances had absconded with all of my clean clothes. Oh, well. I planned to buy more today anyway. I wanted to take Eris shopping for some clothes she would enjoy wearing, but I secretly wanted my wardrobe back.
I pulled out a decently clean set of clothes for Eris. This one was solid black with a deep collar. The black was striking against her porcelain skin; it paired almost too well with her shaggy blonde hair. For a second, I was taken back to the memory of Eris’s mother walking to her throne. Eris looked like a younger version of her mother. Albeit much cuter, less prone to acts of genocide.
I had to convince her to wear the skirt while we were in public. She wasn’t happy about it, but had to admit, running around with nothing but a shirt in these crowded streets wasn’t a smart plan. Not when a stiff breeze would show off the fact that she refused to wear underwear of any sort. Her traveling skirt was still short, but it did reach past mid-thigh, at least.
We made our way downstairs to find a much quieter setting than last night. The bar was empty and spotless except for the smoldering coals of a fire that had recently been put out. Syl was operating the check-in station, but she looked too refreshed to have been there all night. Must have caught some sleep at some point during the night, though I wondered who watched the counter if she wasn’t there. She smiled a little sleepily as we made our way down the steps. “Good morning Duran, Eris,” she called to us as we approached.
“Morning,” we both said simultaneously, then immediately laughed in unison.
“How was your evening?”
Eris spoke up for both of us. “A little lonely, if I’m being honest, though D more than made up for it.”
Syl grinned wickedly. “I’ll bet he did.”
The two girls shared a laugh at my expense and exchanged a few pleasantries. Before long, people started bustling around getting things ready for the day, and it was our time to leave. I bid Syl a fond farewell, while she made a not-so-subtle innuendo about coming back soon.
As we exited into the streets, I was grateful that the walls and buildings were high enough to block the harsh light of the sun from blinding us as we walked out. We made our way to the stable, and I fed Lacuna breakfast and brushed her coat while she ate. Soon as I was finished, we climbed into the saddle and rode into the waking city.
We had woken up and set off at the perfect time, as people were going to work and bustling about with chores, but most of the farmers were already in the fields outside the city working. So, we made our way through the cobbled streets without much trouble.
The city had long since lost its charm for me, but Eris was still fascinated by all the new and unfamiliar sights and smells. We rode past many stone buildings and shops while Eris looked with wonder at it all. I could see how amazing it must seem to someone who had never experienced such a thing. She was in heaven, enjoying every little aspect of the trip. It warmed my heart to see the joy and wonder on her face as she twisted her head back and forth to people watch.
Within a few hours, we made our way to the gates to the Central Kingdom. Our progress slowed significantly as we got closer; more and more people were cropping up, trying to accomplish the same thing as we were: gaining access to the trading hub of Nexus.
“What are all these people doing here?” Eris asked.
“The same thing we are. Central is one of the busiest places in the world; it never sleeps, as some markets and stalls stay open twenty-four seven. It is also home to the seat of the Alliance, and where the five kings live.”
“So, the kings don’t live inside their kingdoms?”
I shook my head. “Too much hassle going back and forth since they have to meet nearly every day. Much easier to have a gigantic castle built for the five of them. Besides, the kings are mostly figureheads, squabbling back and forth over every little thing, with nothing much ever getting done. The Merchants Guild is where the true power lies in the Compass Kingdom.”
“Human politics are very confusing.”
I started to reply, but I found that I couldn’t disagree. “Humans are generally confusing creatures,” I said.
“You’re not confusing.”
“Oh, I wish that was true.”
When we finally made it through the mass of people enough to see the gates, some semblance of a line had formed and was moving along at a snail’s pace. Since this was the capital of the Alliance, security wasn’t messing around in the slightest. Three teams of four guards each were at a makeshift checkpoint. There was an additional team of archers with longbows stationed atop the ramparts. They gazed down at us with cold contempt.
After twenty minutes of walking along, it was almost our time to make it through the gate. I noticed one team of guards checking through saddlebags and forcing people to take down their hoods, comparing faces to a sketch of someone—a criminal, perhaps.
“Shit.”
This isn’t good; if they force Eris to take off her hood, it will cause no end of trouble. Even if they let us through, too many people would see her face and know that she’s a demi.
“What’s wrong?” Eris asked.
“They are stopping all travelers and making them take off their hoods. They seem to be looking for a criminal, and if they see your eyes and ears, it will cause an issue.”
“Do you think they will attack us?”
“No, nothing to that extreme, but they will ask all kinds of questions and probably detain us for a while. Demi-humans are a rarity, enough that the guards will probably call someone from the auction house to try and buy you, and I really don’t want the hassle or exposure.”
“What are we going to do?”
I reached into my inventory and pulled out a small bag of gold — fifty coins clinking in the canvas bag. “What I usually do. Bribe them.”
As more and more people were being searched and let through, it was finally our turn. I wrapped my hand around her waist and held her tight. She wouldn’t be going anywhere. The guards stepped forward as lacuna reached the checkpoint.
“Hold up there, sir. Mind if we search your bags?” The guard peered at Eris—the bottom half of her face, at least. “Can you remove your hood, please, miss?”
I put the most conceited voice I could. “Is there a problem here?” I asked in a raised tone.
The guard, a younger gentleman in his mid-twenties or so, seemed startled by the tone of my voice. “Um…no, it’s procedure. There is a dangerous criminal about who escaped custody last night, and we are still looking for them.”
I barked out a harsh laugh. “And you think she’s hiding them underneath her skirt perhaps? Quit wasting our time and yours. I have places to be,” I tossed the bag of gold at him, he fumbled with the bag and peered inside. His eyes lit up like it was Christmas, and he waved us through without further questions.
“Of course, sire. I won’t keep you further.”
He shouted at the gate guards, and it opened slowly. As we went through the tunnel, I heaved a general sigh of relief. “That was close.”
She nodded. “It seems money buys a lot for humans, what a strange culture.”
“Money buys power, and power earns money. It’s a cycle.” I leaned down and kissed her head. “But gold and power can’t buy everything.”
As we made our way through the tunnel, it went much the way of the East Kingdom’s gate, though this tunnel was wider to accommodate large wagons and the like escorting cargo to the markets.
Within a few moments, we had reached the end of the tunnel, and the large metal gate rose slowly to open up the way into the Central Kingdom.
Chapter 22 - Central Kingdom
The gate
opened to a crossroads. The front road led to one of the smaller markets, which in turn led to even more market squares. The right and left cobblestone roads led to the back alleys that housed hundreds of warehouses.
The Crescent Rose was several miles further ahead, past most of the markets. Though our meeting wasn’t set until noon, so we had some time to kill shopping before heading that way.
As we rode through the busy streets, we passed an overabundant guard presence throughout the streets. Several of them popped into back alleys, and all of them kept a close eye on the comings and goings of the customers perusing the stalls.
Must be a dangerous criminal for the guard to be so twitchy; usually, they can’t be bothered to get off their asses. Whatever. Long as they stay out of our way, it’s none of my business.
I ran through the list of things we had to do. Clothes shopping for myself and Eris, and I need my armor repaired before I meet with Phineas, though the craft markets will be further down.
We passed through the first of the weapons and armor vendors. There were hundreds more scattered throughout Central, along with numerous food courts, which piqued my interest. Usually, they had quite a variety of meats and ales, and I’d worked up a thirst.
Eris, for the most part, kept quiet, and people watched as we rode through the bustling crowds. The scents of cooking food wafted towards us long before we’d ever set our sights on the food court.
Our breakfast of meat and cheese could only stave off hunger for so long, and a rumbling from Eris told me she was feeling hungry as well, so we stopped at the first courtyard we rode by. It was large, with wooden stalls crammed tight next to each other, and the gray cobblestone worn smooth by thousands of boots. I stabled Lacuna with an elderly gentleman on the next street over. He ran a temporary stable for merchants and had a reputation for quality. I paid a couple gold extra to make sure he’d take care of her for the day. As soon as she was situated, Eris and I found an unoccupied table.
I paid the woman manning the stall and walked away with two plates piled high with roasted meats and vegetables. We dug in and devoured the food in minutes.
Hive Knight: A Dark Fantasy LitRPG (Trinity of the Hive Book 1) Page 33
