Savage

by Robyn Wideman

  “Maybe he got word you were investigating for the prince. The other investigators all died or went missing, perhaps he was trying to cut his losses,” replied Bazur.

  Kyra gave Bazur a quizzical look, like she was surprised, not at the logic but at him figuring it out. “That is very possible. This will be trouble. Grundal has many more men like those, and some are way more dangerous.”

  “We are going to deal with this right now. Take me to Grundal. But before we go, why did you lie about the coins? You already gave me my pay and a share of the bets you made.”

  Kyra picked up her pace and turned up the next street. “Because if they took my coins, Grundal would rip me off. He’d claim they only took half of what was actually there and say I still owe him for the rest. I intend to pay the man, but I’m not going to be cheated.”

  Bazur smiled as he followed her. The woman did have some orc blood in her. She probably could’ve talked her way out of the alley without his assistance if she’d been willing to part will all of her coins, but the risk of that had made her choose to involve him. Not that he minded, the way the thugs talked to Kyra had gotten his blood boiling. Collecting a debt was one thing, but the way they were practically promising rape and death in her immediate future was something he couldn’t ignore. If he’d overheard them talking to some random woman, he likely wouldn’t have reacted so harshly. They might’ve gotten away with a black eye or two—who was he kidding, his mother would've have whooped him for even thinking that. All men who dared such disrespect to a woman deserved the same as he had just given.

  When Kyra led him into a brothel, Bazur’s eyebrows furrowed and a look of mild amusement and surprise was crossed over his face. As Kyra opened the door, she glanced back and read his look. “Don’t look so surprised. Grundal owns half of the brothels in the city, and runs his bookies out of them. You don’t have to like the man, but you have to admire his business sense. Even when he loses bets he wins. Half the time men who win bets just end up spending their winnings on whores.” Kyra paused for a moment. “There is something you should know. Grundal has a weird way of agreeing to a deal. He doesn’t do written contracts or handshakes. He has one of his girls pleasure you… He says it creates a more honest bond. Normally, I get away without having to honor his rituals, but in this case, with so much money involved and your treatment of his thugs, we may have to go along with it. The guards inside are not like those clowns you disposed of in the alley. These are all ex-royal palace guards and battle tested warriors.”

  The thought of seeing Kyra being pleased by one of Grundal’s concubines was intriguing, but not why he was here. He scratched his head. It was a strange custom, but he had heard of it before. Draisha was well known for its casual attitudes towards sex. Draishan courtesans were known to be a revered and respected by their clientele and the envy of regular working women. Brothels were a plentiful and thriving part of Draisha’s business community. That a brothel owner would incorporate sex into his other business dealings was not surprising. That Kyra was willing to participate was. “Would it be easier if I just killed Grundal?”

  “No, Grundal has too many allies in the city. I’d be a marked woman. It would be far better if we could resolve this without further violence. I won’t always have you around to protect me. If you want to wait out here, I can deal with Grundal myself,” Kyra paused and gave a sly smile “But if you do come inside, I need you to follow my lead. Who knows, you may just enjoy it.”

  Bazur gave a grunt to acknowledge he understood. He doubted Kyra understood exactly what he would or wouldn’t enjoy, but he would let her lead. He followed Kyra as she led him down a wide hallway and into a large room filled with couches and recliners. Several of the couches had men on them being served food by naked women. Other couches had only one woman on them. The courtesans draped themselves artfully, seductively. Other couches were occupied by two beautiful and exotic looking ladies, paired off, kissing and petting each other. Other customers were enjoying the favors of the lovely ladies in full view of the rest of the room. The room smelled of lilac perfume and sex. Several guards stood around the perimeter of the room. Bazur could feel their eyes on him as he walked behind Kyra.

  Kyra strode up to the largest couch in the middle of the room. There, surrounded by women, a man sat partially naked, his robe open. His genitalia would’ve been on display had it not been for the dusky brunette with her head in his lap servicing him. Kyra didn’t acknowledge the lewd act or any of the other acts going on around the room, she addressed Grundal. “That wasn’t very nice, sending your lackeys to collect early. They were under the mistaken impression that it is okay to be less than polite to me.”

  Grundal looked up and saw Kyra, a smile crossed his face. “Kyra, how lovely to see you. You managed to avoid Barton and his associates? I simply thought you’d skipped out on your debts, and I sent them to collect. Now I see I may have been a tad rash.”

  “No, I didn’t avoid Barton. He cornered me and threatened to rape and kill me if I didn’t pay soon.”

  A concerned frown crossed Grundal’s face. He didn’t like the look Bazur was giving him as Kyra mentioned the threat of rape and death. “Ah, well Barton can be a little enthusiastic in his methods. You look no worse for wear.”

  “I’m fine. I’m afraid Barton and his associates are rather banged up. I don’t think they will be doing any collecting for you for a while,” said Kyra.

  “I see,” said Grundal as he lifted the brunettes mouth off of his cock, exposing himself momentarily to Kyra and Bazur before closing his robe and sitting up. It seemed they now had his full attention. Grundal glanced over at Bazur, eyeing him up carefully. “I suppose you had something to do with my men being injured. I can’t imagine young Kyra here being the type to dispose of three men by herself.”

  Bazur stepped forward. “Next time you tell your men to take someone’s gold make sure they know who they are dealing with.”

  “And just who am I dealing with? I had no idea Kyra had such rugged companions,” said Grundal.

  “I know this one,” said a voice from behind Grundal.

  Bazur looked to see who was speaking. An orc stepped forward from the shadows of a pillar and walked up to the couch.

  “His orc name is Zargha. He was of the Lagvon Clan until Snagluk banished him for being half-human. Now he goes by his human name, Bazur.”

  Bazur didn’t know the orc, but it didn’t surprise him that the orc knew his story. Being banished was a big deal among the orcs, and the story would’ve been spread among all the clans so that they knew not to allow Bazur on their lands. Nor did it surprise Bazur to see an orc mercenary in Draisha. Orc warriors were renowned fighters and for many orcs who failed to gain leadership in their own clans, going out and becoming mercenaries was a logical choice.

  “Bazur, the badlands savage, king of barroom brawlers,” said Grundal. “I know the name. I’ve organized quite a few bets on your fights. I hope you didn’t go too hard on my men.”

  Bazur gave an indifferent shrug. “I believe they still breathe, but if they make any more threats against my friend that will not be the case. They also took coins belonging to me and did it using your name.”

  “Barton tried to take coins from you?” asked Grundal.

  “To be fair, he took the coins from me,” said Kyra. “I explained to him that I was carrying coins for a friend, and that I would come and see you right away, but he didn’t believe me. Then he was a tad rude when Bazur confronted him about the coins.”

  “So it seems we have a misunderstanding on our hands,” said Grundal with a smile.

  “Exactly,” said Kyra.

  “How much does Kyra owe you?” asked Bazur.

  “Including interest about twenty-five hundred silver,” said Grundal nervously.

  Bazur growled and shook his head.

  Grundal smiled again. “I’ll tell you what. Since we had this unfortunate misunderstanding, I will forgo the interest if you can pay today.”
>
  Before Bazur could say anything, Kyra interjected, “You have a deal.”

  “Good,” said Grundal. “I’m glad we are able to come to an agreement. If that is satisfactory with your companion. I don’t want to offend the mighty Bazur.”

  “If Kyra is happy with the agreement, so am I. However, from now on I expect anyone acting on your behalf to be more respectful of Kyra in the future. If more of your men were to threaten rape and death, I would take it rather personal,” said Bazur. Getting Grundal to agree to forgive the interest was more than he expected, but it didn’t matter as much as making sure that the man understood clearly that Kyra mattered to him and to hurt her was to invite trouble.

  “I can assure you that if Kyra and I have more dealings in the future she will be treated with the utmost respect. I will be clear though, unpaid debts will not go uncollected and if she were to skip out of them would be dealt with in the same fashion as any other deadbeat. Understood?”

  “I’ve never not paid a debt, Grundal, so you needn’t worry about that. I’m grateful that we have come to a mutually agreeable conclusion.” Kyra handed Grundal her sack of coins. “I think you will find all of it there. Any extra can be counted as interest.”

  Grundal examined the sack, and saw that it was filled with gold coins. “That is very kind of you, Kyra. I think this calls for a celebration to bond our arrangement. I expect you both to participate.”

  Bazur had almost forgotten about Grundal’s way of concluding business. It shouldn’t have been a surprise. The man still had three naked women fawning over him even after he’d covered his cock. Bazur had come to frighten the man, possibly kill him, not to lay with a woman. He was here to help Kyra not to seek pleasure. Would it cause trouble for Kyra if he declined? She seemed to believe so.

  “That won’t be a problem,” said Kyra. “I’ll take that lovely little redhead, and my friend needs two companions, no blondes. He likes his women strong, no tiny little things that he has to worry about hurting,”

  Bazur looked over at Kyra. Why no blondes? It seemed a strange request, he certainly had no issues with blondes. Kyra herself had long soft hair the color of straw and honey and she was the most attractive woman he knew. But the entire situation was strange so the request just added to the weirdness of the situation. He would just go with it.

  Kyra turned to Bazur and put her hand on chest, gently pushing him back until he was against a couch. She leaned in and put her cheek against his, sliding her soft skin against his until her lips were aside his ear. “I know you find this strange, but I need you to do this for me. I need you to accept Grundal’s offer and enjoy yourself with his women. In Grundal’s world, sex and power are intertwined, if you are timid or shy, it is taken as weakness. I need him to see you as strong and powerful.”

  Having Kyra so close, her sultry voice whispering in his ear was causing a stirring in Bazur’s loins. He’d always been careful to treat her with respect and not let his base desires take over. But here in this strange environment, she was asking him to act in a sexual manner. He could freely show his desire. Bazur reached around and grabbed Kyra by the hip, pulling her even closer until her belly was pressed against his loin. He nibbled on her ear lobe before whispering in her ear, “I will do what is needed, but it will be you I am thinking of.” He would play along with her games, but he wasn’t going to be timid about it. She would know whatever pleasure he received, in his mind it would be her that he was wanting.

  Kyra leaned back so that she could look into Bazur’s eyes. Her eyes were sparkling and she had a mischievous grin. “I can handle that.”

  Bazur pressed his lips against hers. When Kyra opened her mouth, he slipped his tongue into her mouth. Their tongues danced together. The kiss was passionate, almost frantic. Her kiss tasted of zura melons, sweet, tangy with an aftertaste that left him wanting more. As Bazur enjoyed the passionate embrace, he could feel hands removing his clothing. Too many hands to have been just Kyra. Breaking the kiss, Bazur’s gaze found two of Grundal’s courtesans undressing him. A third was standing behind Kyra undressing her. Watching the woman remove Kyra’s clothes excited him beyond belief.

  Kyra stepped back from Bazur but her eyes never left his. She seductively lifted her arms, allowing the radiant redhead behind her to remove her clothing while she kept Bazur’s gaze.

  Bazur tried to keep Kyra’s gaze, but as the temptress’s clothes were removed, it was hard for him not to take in the beauty of her body.

  When the two courtesans had Bazur fully naked, they pushed him back so that he was leaning back on the couch. Bazur let his eyes leave Kyra for a moment so he could examine his new lovers. One was a lithe brunette with perky upturned breasts with erect nipples that protruded like pebbles. The other was a dusky southern woman, her hair black as the night’s sky and her skin the color of golden honey. Her breasts large and full with large brown areolas the size of silver coins. While her breasts were large, the honey colored woman had a firm and defined stomach, and her long legs were equally taut. As the brunette massaged his upper body, the dark-haired woman focused on his lower body. He could feel her lips and tongue as she kissed and licked up his leg.

  Kyra was now sitting on another couch with the redhead giving her the same attention as the dark haired woman was giving him.

  Bazur glanced to his right. Grundal had removed his robe and was once again being tended to by a trio of women. His attention was divided between the three women with him and watching both Bazur and Kyra. Bazur could tell that Grundal was studying him. Kyra had not been exaggerating, Grundal had the eyes of one watching a fight, like he was studying them for weaknesses and not focusing on the sex itself.

  As the honey-skinned paramour’s tongue found his member, Bazur lost all thought of Grundal. He closed his eyes and tilted his head back, enjoying the sensation as she took him into her mouth. When he opened his eyes again, he found the brunette’s breast being offered up to his mouth. Bazur suckled her, nibbling and teasing on her pert bud. The brunette moaned in approval. Glancing towards Kyra he could see she was still watching him. The redhead now had her head between Kyra’s legs and was licking her tender pink flower. From her moans and the rising color in her cheeks, Bazur could tell Kyra was close to reaching orgasm. The peak of her desire stirred his own. Bazur’s hips involuntarily pushed forward, sending his cock further into the dusky paramour’s mouth.

  “Not yet!” said Kyra from the other couch as she noticed his rising excitement.

  Bazur took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. He wanted to ignore Kyra’s request and lose himself in the moment, to embrace the sensory overload of the wanton public sexual activity and fulfill his base need, but he had agreed to follow her lead, and so he forced himself to not lose control.

  The brunette lifted her knee and turned so that she was straddling him. She slowly slid down his body until she was hovering over his member. Bazur could feel the honey-skinned woman remove him from her mouth and line his member up with the brunette’s entrance. She then lowered herself onto him. Ever so slowly, she let more and more of him into her. Several times she stopped to let her body get used to his girth before continuing to lower herself onto him. Glancing over at Kyra, he noticed her eyes were again on him as she watched the lovely courtesan impale herself on his shaft. When the brunette finally had his entire member sheathed, Bazur started rocking his hips, plunging himself into her warm center at a steady pace.

  The brunette moaned and gasped as he penetrated her. The honey-skinned woman was still between his knees and he could feel her tongue licking both him and the blonde. Bazur started changing up his rhythm, mixing short powerful strokes in with long smooth ones. The brunette was now sweating and her moans were more animal grunts than anything coherent.

  Suddenly, Kyra was sitting beside him, whispering in his ear again. “I could watch you all day, but I want you to finish her now.” She then proceeded to start nibbling on his earlobe. Her warm tongue on his ear flamed his desire
even more.

  Bazur lifted the woman by the hips, giving himself more room for harder thrusts. The sound of their bodies slapping together filled the room, only interrupted by the woman’s occasional grunts of encouragement. Bazur could feel her body tense as she reached her climax. Bazur gave two more long strokes to finish her off, then removed himself. The dark haired woman with the honey skin greedily took his shiny member, slick with the blonde’s juices into her mouth. Bazur gave a throaty groan as he filled her mouth with his seed. He then collapsed back into the couch, spent and satisfied.

  “Well done,” said Grundal as he started clapping. “I don’t believe I’ve ever seen Shauna so thoroughly used. I can tell a lot about a person by the way they have sex. I can promise you this, Bazur Zargha of the badlands. I will go out of my way to ensure Kyra is treated with respect by my associates. You and I will have nothing to fight over. If you will excuse me, I have some business to attend to. You may stay and rest if you like, but I have customers waiting for these lovelies. Shauna, Tesha, leave the poor man be, can’t you see he’s spent.”

  Tesha, the honey-skinned woman, pouted. “But I never got a turn.”

  “Perhaps another time, dear,” said Kyra.

  Bazur glanced over at Kyra, raising an eyebrow. Another time? She didn’t plan on more of these sort of sexual escapades in the future, did she? The idea was incredibly intriguing, she was the most desirable woman he’d ever met and he yearned to have her. Yet at the same time it was disturbing. Not for the lewdness of Grundal’s brothel, but that she was becoming more than just someone he lusted for. It seemed that his working with Kyra was becoming something much more complex than a simple business arrangement, he only wished she would clarify things as a female orc would have done. At times like this, he wished he had listened to his father more. Human females were too complicated.

  10

  DRAISHA

  DONE dealing with Grundal, Bazur and Kyra left the brothel. It was time to start working on solving the mystery of who was behind the attacks on the prince’s businesses and allies.