by JD Franx
“What exactly do you think you are doing?” he asked, though he already knew.
Kyah’s slight smile grew even wider. “I thought maybe it would save time if I joined you,” she lied, trying to be sly.
“Oh, you did, did you?” Kael asked, as he stifled a yawn, still exhausted from another night of no sleep.
“I was hoping you would wash my back for me,” she suggested, as she turned around in the large tub and lay back against his chest. She took his hand, and placed a square of soap in his palm before she slowly placed both on her belly.
“That’s, ah, not your back,” Kael stammered. Sliding her hand on top of his, she used it to guide the soap up the delicate skin of her stomach to between her breasts.
“Mhm. I do not mind. Do you?” Kael felt his face flush red.
That familiar feeling of helplessness he had felt on the boat before the storm, hit him again, and he knew there was no way he’d be able to resist her.
“Why do I have a hard time saying no to you?” he asked, as his heart raced with desire. She turned around and slid up his chest until she was face-to-face with him. An all too familiar feeling rose to the surface between them.
She caressed his cheek, kissing him. “Maybe somewhere in there,” she said, trailing her finger over the death-flower markings above his heart, “you love me the littlest bit. You must be lonely, and I am falling in love with you more every day. I am here, now, right now, and I will never leave you. We were both so tired on the ship, I remember very little. Be with me now, love me now, so we both remember.” She climbed back onto his lap as the last of his willpower faded away.
Kael knew part of what she said was right. Though racked with guilt, he didn’t want her to stop. He wanted to feel something. Feel anything that was not guilt, regret or pain. The feelings he had for her had begun months ago, though he tried hard to ignore them. The dream with Ember had silenced them for a while, but they had started to return again only days before arriving in Dasal.
Kael gasped as he felt their bodies come together, and his thoughts scattered, replaced by need and desire. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close as he eased into her warmth. Kyah leaned forward and kissed him softly as she rocked back and forth in his lap. It was different this time, not urgent and needful like on the ship sailing across the Sea of Storms.
Their pace remained slow and his hands roamed across her body exploring, until his right settled on her hip and he used it to slow her movements further. The fingers of his left hand teased its way to her breasts. Soft like a feather, he tickled, squeezed and pulled gently as she sighed. Time seemed to stand still as Kael lost himself in feelings and emotions that brought no pain and carried no suffering.
Kyah pulled him closer, nuzzling into his neck. Her own moans of pleasure brought him to the brink of ecstasy and then over as they held each other tight and finished as one. Kyah relaxed into his body and he could feel her muscles trembling. He wrapped his arms around her and realized he was shaking as well. Neither said anything, instead enjoyed the glow as they relaxed in the warm water.
Someone banged on the door to their room and entered without their consent. Kyah jumped from the bath, her chains already in hand, as she prepared for an attack.
Instead, a young woman blushed bright red and apologized. “Oh, Blessed Inara, I am so, so sorry. I didn’t realize you were back yet. I’m so humiliated, please forgive my rudeness,” she begged. Kyah grabbed a towel from the table and tossed it to Kael, but stood there stark naked, inducing even more embarrassment in the young girl as she finally spun on her heel. Turning her back, she looked out the balcony doors.
Refusing to even look over her shoulder as she spoke, the young woman shook her head. “Please forgive me, Mistress, my name is Kittrix Dawn, or Kit if you please. I am Master Seifer’s apprentice. He asked that I wait for you in your room so that I may bring you to the city leaders the moment you both returned. The city council wishes to speak with you now.”
“Very well, Kit,” Kyah acknowledged. “Let us dress and then we will follow you.”
Turning back around, a new shade of red brightened her cheeks as Kit stuttered. “T...Thank-you... Mistre...” She stopped in mid-sentence. Kael had only managed to get his new pants on and the young apprentice was unable to take her eyes from the black vine and barbed thorn markings that covered his back, chest, arms, and neck.
Realizing that she was staring, she bowed to a knee. “Please forgive me, Master. I was told of your markings, but I didn’t understand. I apologize for my poor manners once more, please forgive me.”
Kael walked over and took her gently by the arm. “Get up. They’re just tattoos. You have nothing to be sorry for. Now take us to the meeting.” He grabbed his new shirt before walking out the door.
Kyah, after giving Kael a wink, took Kit’s arm and smiled at her.
“Worry not, Kit, most young women look at him that way, the first time. They cannot decide whether to run or whether to chase.” She snickered and soon both young women were laughing as they started down the stairs.
Chapter Ten
“Illusion magic is one of the few practices of magic rarely studied. Those who have sought to perfect their skills in this discipline quickly learn that the greatest illusionists can fool even the most alert minds, whether or not they actually use magic.”
Kamen Astrick, Cethosian Wizard’s Council Representative
4918 PC
DASAL, FREE LANDS
It took only minutes to cross the market square and arrive at the city guard barracks, where they were to meet the city leaders in the dining hall. Seifer and Jarvis Kern, the city watch Captain, were already present. As were the city council members.
Kit started the introductions with a well-muscled, bronze-skinned man with long, braided black hair.
“Kael, Kyah, this is Salisar Pollondo, a Salzaran merchant who controls most of Dasal’s import and export businesses. He is a businessman, who, until the last few years, spent most of his life on the ocean with his ships.”
Kael nodded and shook the man’s hand when he offered it, remembering that Southern Kingdom citizens did not shake arms at the elbow. Wealth dripped off the man like a physical attribute. Gemstone earrings, several in each ear, and numerous chains hung around his neck, one with veins of orange and purple blazed with brilliance. Kael recognized the metal immediately. It was kinrai, the steel of the gods. The chain stood out above all the others as an excessive showcase of wealth. The fingers on both of the man’s hands were adorned with gold and silver rings, all embedded with large gems. Kael was shocked the man could even walk under all the weight and chuckled to himself, thinking the weight contributed to the merchant’s impressive physique. As it seemed to be the custom, Kael bowed to Pollondo after shaking hands, and Kyah quickly did the same, getting a nod in return as Kit approached a smaller built man dressed in flowing, exotic robes.
“Kael, Kyah,” she began. “Please meet Lircang Yorcali. Before moving here many years ago, he lived in the Southern Kingdom country of Kariya. He is owner of the local gentleman’s clubs and the inn you’re staying at, as well as being the co-owner of Dasal’s slave market and auction.”
Kael took an instant dislike to the overweight little bald man. He had sleaze ball written all over him, from his expensive silk robes to his lecherous smile and fancy carved bone pipe. The heavy, rancid smoke that curled up from the bowl was the worst smelling weed Kael ever had the displeasure of having to endure, but the noxious stench of cheesy, fat ass that swarmed the man deadened the pipe’s odour as he approached and shook Kael’s hand. A prominent Adam’s apple jiggled in his throat even though the man didn’t speak. Kael realized that on Earth, Lircang would be from Asian descent, but on Talohna, his people were from Kariya.
He remembered Lycori telling him the country was the home of mercenaries who were trained from birth, and when ready, were always auctioned off to the highest bidder. These men and women were loyal to the point
of death once the sale was contracted, whether the death was their own or their employer’s. For all intents and purposes, Kael believed it was just another form of slavery. Kariya had no king or emperor. Instead, a council made up of representatives from the one hundred training schools ruled the country by committee. Kariyan parents literally bred children to sell to the school for a living. Mercenaries were Kariya’s only real natural resource Lycori had joked once. He shook his head in disgust that such people could even exist.
Kit introduced an older woman last and Kael wrangled his wandering mind.
“This is Nessedra Vantaur, our Elvehn mystic and scholar. She is originally from the city of Kyll’Darhen in the Elvehn country of TaCeryss, but now she owns the financial institution here in Dasal. She has a reputation throughout the Free Lands as a fair woman.”
Kael nodded. “Mistress Vantaur.” His respectful reply earned him a generous bow from the powerful woman. Nessedra reminded him of a strong businesswoman from back on Earth. Considering she owned the bank in Dasal, it made sense. He found himself admiring her even more as he noticed the woman’s strong dislike of Lircang Yorcali. It hung in the air between the two like the rancid stench of fat ass permeating the chubby man, and it solidified Kael’s own first impression of the man.
Kit introduced them last. “Everyone, this is Kael and Kyah. They arrived this morning and have offered to help with our pirate situation.”
Kit took a seat beside Seifer when he stood to speak. “Now that you have met the city leaders, we would all like to know what you think might be gained by sending you to speak with Captain Havarrow?” Though Kael hadn’t been in Talohna for very long, he was starting to understand how things worked, and felt it was only fair to warn them.
“If you send someone from the city, my guess would be that you get that person back in pieces, unless you plan to give Havarrow what he wants?” he asked.
Salisar spoke first, and Kael wasn’t surprised by the boast. “We plan to do no such thing, young man. The Suns of Blood will pay heavily for even trying to enter this city.”
Kael smiled and nodded as if agreeing with his assessment. “Then it harms no one for us to go see why he wants into the city. There has to be a reason. These pirates don’t normally threaten cities, do they?” Kael asked, hoping to gain some practical knowledge of the pirates.
“You are correct in your assumption,” Lircang Yorcali offered. “But you will likely be killed should you wish to speak with him on his ship. I believe it is a bad idea. He most likely bluffs. Only a fool would enter this city by force. I vote we wait, no more, no less. It would be a waste of such delicacy and beauty if your wife was harmed while on that ship. Why not let the guards deal with the ocean scum, and you and your wife come enjoy the pleasures of my establishments instead?” A violent desire to choke the sweating, funk-ridden fool surged through Kael, but he didn’t need Kyah’s hand squeezing his own to know that he was being tested.
“Perhaps we will take you up on your offer later, Master Yorcali, but for now we should discuss whether you would like our help,” Kael said, as politely as he could muster, swallowing the urge to do bodily harm to the slave master.
Yorcali’s lecherous smile returned. “If that is the case,” he said, licking his swollen, greasy lips and eyeing Kyah up and down, “then you have my vote to put an end to these threats as soon as possible so that you may join me at my club.”
Again, thanks to his extreme lack of knowledge, Kael had no idea what had just occurred, but soon figured it out when Seifer gave Lircang a strict warning. “These people are our guests, Lircang. I expect you treat then as such.”
“Oh, fear not, wizard. We have our hands full with the postponement of the auction yesterday. I was only having some amusement at the young couple’s expense,” Lircang said, smiling as he waved his heavy pipe around in the air, spreading more of the vile stink through the room, both his own and the pipe’s.
Nessedra Vantaur clearly heard all she was willing to listen to, bringing everyone back to the topic at hand. “Would it not make more sense to decide whether this young couple will speak on our behalf as opposed to listening to Yorcali’s disgusting deprivations?” she advised. Lircang snickered, blowing her a kiss as he rubbed his crotch. Kael checked their dislike away for later when it might come in handy.
Nessedra shook her head as she frowned at Kael. “One must learn to ignore the stench and sounds a pig makes if one wishes to keep them around for their few benefits, and then remember such things when the butcher’s hammer falls. I’m afraid the same applies to Mister Yorcali, Kael. Now, to the matter at hand, do you believe the pirate may talk to you? I would hate to send you and your wife to your deaths on our behalf, though you may convince the pirate you’re a Northman long enough to get him to talk.”
“I assure you, Mistress Vantaur, my wife and I can handle ourselves if need be. I don’t think they want to attack your city or they would have already. Maybe we can at the least get a couple extra days for you to prepare for the fighting, and with luck, maybe even find out exactly who or what he wants, preventing an attack all together,” Kael offered.
Jarvis Kern, the city watch guard captain spoke for the first time. “I believe it may be worth the try,” he said, more to the city leaders, before turning his attention to Kael. “If you succeed, though, you must return to us here with the names of the men he wants. We cannot allow you to grab them and turn them over to Havarrow if they are respected members of the city, you understand.”
“Of course,” Kael agreed. “If you like, and he doesn’t try to kill us, we’ll return here first with what information we gather,” he agreed.
The others deferred to Seifer Locke.
Nodding, the Master Wizard agreed as well. “Kael, you have our permission to try. At least it may save the life of the representative who was chosen to go at noon. Come, I’ll walk you out and show you where Havarrow’s rowboat and man are waiting.”
As they left the dining hall and entered the front of the barracks, Seifer looked around. When it was clear no one was close by, he touched Kael’s arm to get his attention. “I wanted to walk you out, to make you aware of what Lircang Yorcali was up to in there. You were informed that he is the proprietor of both the local entertainment dens and co-owner of the slave market?” he asked, still looking around for prying eyes.
“I’m well aware. Why?” Kael asked, the hairs on the back of his neck tingling.
“Be careful, both of you. Lircang seems to have an unhealthy interest in Kyah. I’ve never been able to prove it, but it would not be the first time a young couple disappeared in this city after Lircang Yorcali expressed an infatuation in someone. I can warn you both, but proof is something Yorcali hides too well,” he explained.
“Thank you for the warning,” Kael whispered. “My wife and I are often unaware of the intentions of others; having both been raised in seclusion, we sometimes miss the subtle hints others are aware of. I do promise you, Master Wizard, that we can defend ourselves, much better than most.”
He hoped his explanation would cover some of the suspicions he knew Seifer was having. Most of those questions likely rose from their lack of knowledge about Talohna and their shallow etiquette when dealing with city officials.
They followed Seifer through one of the city’s smaller markets closer to the docks. An artist on the end of one of the aisles was opening for the day, giving Kael an idea. “Master Locke,” he said. “I’ve an idea that may help us. Do you have a couple of silver or gold coins on you?”
“Yes, why?”
“Follow me. Kyah, this way,” he whispered, as he headed for the artist’s tented market stall. Seifer said nothing as he followed, a frown of confusion on his face.
The artist had no customers at such an early hour, but was cleaning brushes and preparing for the day when they arrived.
“Excuse me, sir,” Kael said, addressing the young man. “Do you speak the common tongue?”
“I do, Master,�
�� he said, bowing. “How may I be of assistance? A portrait for your beautiful lady, or perhaps a sculpture instead?”
Kael smiled at the sales pitch. “No, but I do have an offer for you,” he began. “I want to borrow your finest brush, some black paint and the privacy of your closed tent. I’ll pay you two gold pieces,” he said, looking at Seifer. “Is that fair?”
The Master Wizard rolled his eyes and leaned into Kael’s side, whispering, “Ridiculously fair, unless you’re planning to kill him afterwards.”
“God, no,” Kael sputtered. “What the hell is wrong with you? Ugh... Never mind.” He turned back to the artist. “Two gold, and we’ll be done and gone in thirty minutes. Deal?”
“For two gold pieces, Master, you can use my belongings all day, thank you. Thank you so much more than you know,” he replied, overly excited. He was already collecting the things Kael asked for when Kyah finally figured out what he was up to.
“You are going to try and bluff the pirates. Are you not? It is a good idea,” she said, smiling. “I will describe to you the symbols used by many witches. They will not harm us if they believe your wife is a witch. So long as they do not kill us the moment we step aboard. Very clever, my dear.” She chuckled.
Seifer didn’t agree. “You two are crazy. You walk on to Havarrow’s vessel with a witch, Kael, even a fake one, and he’ll kill you both. Slowly.”
Kael shook his head. “I don’t think so, Seifer... Sorry, Master Locke. He wants something or someone in this town bad enough to threaten invasion. If we offer to bring him what he wants and have the capability to actually do it, it’ll save the lives of his men. He might not be happy about it, but he won’t kill us.”
“That’s a big gamble.”
“I don’t think so. If I’m wrong, we’ll have to fight our way out, and the city will be dealing with the invasion anyway,” Kael said.
