The Fae Mage

by Whiskey Flowers

  “I don’t have any whores” Mother said. “I have working girls and boys. If you want a whore go to your local tavern, my children make real money, not the few coppers your fighters do.”

  “And my fighters don’t have to worry about being with some old lecher” Samuel said. “Now go find someone else’s life to ruin.”

  “My children get to pick out their own dates” Mother said. “And the money is worth it, they make more in one night than your beat up fighters make in a month of steady dueling.”

  “Get away from her rich boy” Samuel said as he tugged Glen by the arm. “I got you a fight and you need to know a little about your opponent.”

  “You were able to get me a fight?” Glen asked as his eyes lit up.

  “Yeah and against a pike user” Samuel said. “He is shorter than you but he looks like he knows what he is doing. He is one of those thin athletic types, he entire game revolves around speed and precision.”

  “That is what I am good at” Glen replied.

  “Well I think you either need to stay on the outside or get in close” Samuel said. “No way he can fight you up close, you can just drop your staff and go hands on with him. Your staff is longer than his pike as well, only reason he chose you is because he knew you weren’t wearing any armor and think you are an easy victory.”

  “You know his record?” Glen asked.

  “Ten wins and one loss” Samuel replied. “Mostly to new meat like yourself. These schools get people like him and inflate his record so he can have a big money fight down the road with a better duelist. I am not saying the guy you are fighting is a pushover or anything, but pikemen don’t really make it at the next level. I think he is going to get a big amount of coin for a fight later on then toil away fighting in places like this until the next big fight comes up.”

  “When do I fight?” Glen asked.

  “Right after Baberin gets his ass kicked” Samuel replied. “He has been hitting the free ale hard. You don’t see Rupert finishing off drinks like that. He hasn’t touched the stuff, the guy he is going against though is an idiot. He has taken a look at my regulars and doesn’t think he has anything to worry about, he is more focused on his prize after the fight.”

  “The money?” Glen asked.

  “Pit no, the pussy is what is on his mind” Samuel said. “That dumb ass is the headliner, if he wins then he gets a free romp from one of Mother’s girls. Mother does this sort of thing as thanks for letting her girls ply their trade.”

  “She wanted me to sell myself?” Glen asked.

  “You won't be the first duelist to go that route” Samuel said. “Most though actually need the money and work something out themselves with a customer. Coin is good to have, but as for needing it, I don’t think you do.”

  “I wouldn’t do that anyway” Glen said. “I am not going to sleep with some random person, people like me have it hard enough already.”

  “What do you mean people like you?” Samuel asked. “You come from money, how do you have it hard?”

  “I’m half Fae” Glen replied.

  “You are a Fae?” Samuel asked. “I have never seen a Fae before, you don’t look like a Fae though from the stories. Where are your wings?”

  “I don’t have any” Glen replied. “My mother did though. She had to give me up because the others did not want me around.”

  “So maybe that’s why your eyes are a purplish color” Samuel said. “Fae or not it isn’t going to prepare you for the fight tonight. Just get ready.”

  “Glen” Mother said as she drew out his name from across the room. “I am betting two girls against six silver pieces on you. Four people have taken my bet, if you lose I still have a spot open for you.”

  “What happens if he wins?” Samuel asked.

  “Then I will be two gold richer” Mother replied.

  “She really wants you bad” Samuel said. “Anyway let's go get Baberin, he is the first up.”

  Glen watched Baberin enter the ring, his opponent had a sword and shield combo and had a nervous look. Samuel had told him it was the young man’s first fight and he was barely eighteen. Glen thought Baberin’s opponent looked his age and was taking big deep breaths waiting for the fight to happen. The match was started and Baberin went after his opponent. The youth hid behind his shield as the trainers from the Conquest shouted out instructions. Slowly the youth started following them, returning blows from the safety of his shield and using his shield to push Baberin backwards. Glen thought it was a boring fight, the youth was too scared to fight and Baberin was too drunk to do much of anything. Eventually Baberin was sick enough that he vomited and the youth used that time to bash the drunk with his shield and sat him on his ass. Baberin found himself with a sword at his neck and the match was called. Glen stepped into the area next, his opponent had a blunted pike and wore a breastplate and a helm. Glen could see he was a lot bigger than his opponent and could use the reach to his advantage. When the signal was given Glen charged in and jabbed at will, his opponent backed up to look for an opening but Glen gave him none as he increased his speed. Eventually Glen started moving his upper body backwards and exaggerated his forward jab, the first two times his opponent didn’t bite on it, but the third time Glen had the match won. When Glen moved back he could see his opponent moving towards him, Glen changed the attack into a low spinning attack which caught his rushing opponent right in the back. The hit was solid and sent his opponent stumbling forward, Glen followed behind him and gave two quick jabs to the back of his opponent’s knees which made the man buckle to the ground. Glen rested his staff on his opponent’s shoulder to signal victory. As Samuel cheered Glen recreated the match in his head, it was risky setting the trap he did. If opponent was smart he could have just struck where Glen was going to be since it took Glen taking his eyes off his opponent briefly to set the attack up.

  “Kid that was amazing” Samuel said. “I think your staff work is making people do stupid mistakes when fighting you, that idiot should have waited more to see if an opening presented itself or at least used the time he had to back you up when you turned your back. That move you used was risky and beautiful, I just wished I had bet on you too. Don’t matter though, the house gets a ten percent cut of all bets and of that ten percent we get half. It only comes out to six coppers but that is on top of your regular pay. You nearly will make as much as Rupert when this is all over, you better thank Mother for the extra dough. If you can get people like her to bet for you, you can make some serious coin.”

  Glen nodded and walked over to Mother who had a glass of wine and was counting out silver coins on a table. She smiled at Glen as he walked over and picked up a coin and flipped it at him.

  “Thanks for the easy money” Mother said. “If you ever want to make more you should come and find me.”

  “Thank you” Glen replied. “But I don’t think I would be comfortable in your line of work.”

  “Shy are you?” Mother asked. “Tell you what, I can always use a nice piece of man like yourself. My people are always at parties, most of the time they just work as high priced servants to improve the scenery. You can just work the room and if anyone wants your services I can let them know you are just in training and are not for pleasure just yet. Just working the room will get you another silver, if you do decide to make someone’s life brighter you get to keep twenty-five percent of whatever they pay me. I will put away another twenty-five percent for you. If you stay working for me for over five years I will give it to you then to start your life. I know you duelists make most of your money through wagers, at the very least you will meet rich and powerful people who won't mind betting on you or getting you better fights.”

  “And I don’t have to touch anyone or let them touch me?” Glen replied.

  “Not if you do not want to but the clothes you will be wearing are to my customers taste” Mother said.

  “And when is this party?” Glen asked.

  “Tomorrow night” Mother replied. �
��I will have to clean you up a bit first to make you presentable. You won't have to work any longer than half a night and you will have good coin because of it.”

  “I’ll try it” Glen said thinking about the fame he could get from meeting these people.

  “You are a smart one” Mother said as she flipped him another silver coin. “All of my children are well taken of, perhaps you will see that eventually.”

  CHAPTER 3

  Glen was ready to pass out, Mother came for him early and had her people first bathe him which he was real shy about, then work on cleaning his nails and hair. Four different hairstyles had been styled on his head until Joyce, a woman Mother called her fixer was satisfied. Clothing had been given to Glen, it was thin and clingy and hid nothing. Anyone who cared what he looked like naked didn’t have to guess since his body was outlined quite prominently. The top and the bottom were meant to be taken off and underneath were a pair of small clothes that were more like a loincloth. The hardest part about everything is that Joyce had a list of six prominent people Glen had to remember along with their likes and dislikes. Four women and two men, the party was to celebrate a wealthy merchant’s wife’s birthday. The merchant and his wife liked to invite others into their bed, so did the other couple that would be there. The rest were just wealthy friends, friends who wanted to have fun and also wanted discretion. Joyce had told Glen that mother was expecting forty people, mother only had sixteen working children and that was including Glen. Mother only took the best looking people with the best looking bodies. She made everyone keep up their training and everyone had to know many things about the kingdom and be prepared to discuss politics. The physical part they would mostly learn on the job, any one not comfortable would be trained by Joyce and others she brought in. Glen declined that part of training, he was told all he had to do was serve.

  “Okay I think you have everything” Joyce said as she looked me over. “Your hairstyle really brings out your eyes, I think you will garner a lot of attention. Just remember the things I told you.”

  “Smile no matter the insults, serve the people at the party and if I get into any trouble let you know” Glen said.

  “I will move you to another position if that ever happens but I am talking about the other things I told you” Joyce said.

  “Be ready to argue for or against any political matters but keep my responses light” Glen said. “I am supposed to be just a dumb boy. If anyone wants me to eat or drink with them make sure either you or Mother knows about it so you can charge them appropriately.”

  “That is nice Glen” Joyce said with a smile. “For starters I think I will have you doing something simple since you are not helping out with the main part of our business. I want you and Katherine to work together bringing drinks. She is untouched like you are and is waiting for a perfect scenario to go all the way. I suppose she is waiting for a handsome young man for her first time, I doubt she will find one of those at this party.”

  “I don’t know who she is” Glen said.

  “You can find her through those doors with the rest of Mother’s children” Joyce said.

  “Why does she call people her children?” Glen asked.

  “Because that is what she thinks of you” Joyce said. “If you listen to her you can find yourself with a good life married to a rich woman. Mother only has three boys including you, normally around the age of twenty-five most of her children are already gone. Right now there is you, Cyrus and Darius. Both of them will be there at this party but I do not think they will be working long. Cyrus brings pleasure to men and women and normally will begin making his money early in the night. Darius likes women but exclusively goes for men and he has a very slight boy-like build that many find attractive. Darius is most likely going to leave Mother within the next few years, he has been offered the position as manservant for a number of rich merchants. One of which is a rich older man who has been battling sickness. Darius goes over to his home four days out of the week and stands to gain a good inheritance once his customer passes away.”

  “How many people actually make it out of this lifestyle?” Glen asked. “I thought stuff here was different.”

  “You thought we were a bunch of street walking whores” Joyce smiled. “Many do, we do not do anything to change their minds. A lot of Mother’s children make it out, everyone who listens to Mother and makes it of age have always prospered. Those who decide they know it all usually end up leaving and begging to come back once real life has hit them. You are coddled here with Mother, you have a safe zone from nasty people. Leave Mother and she will never take you back, stay and you can make it on your own eventually.”

  “I am a duelist” Glen said. “My dream is to become famous that way.”

  “You could probably do both” Joyce said. “At least for a while anyway. Why would you want to stay in such horrible conditions when you could live here? A nice clean room and activities to keep you busy when you are not in training. Of course you would have to be willing to fulfill our customers more private needs.”

  “I think I am better off as a duelist” Glen replied not trying to insult Joyce. “At least for now. I know some people think this line of work is all that I am good for, especially my stepmother.”

  “Your stepmother?” Joyce asked.

  “My father is a mage who laid with a Fae against her will” Glen said. “Many people see Fae as evil creatures with low morals who just want to lay with whoever. My stepmother has told me many times she plans on getting rid of me and tossing me into a secret brothel somewhere. She feels my presence is holding her family down in the mage community.”

  “You are a Fae?” Joyce said surprised as she looked at Glen closely then stared into his eyes. “I have heard of Fae and I saw one a long time ago, well she was half Fae but her eyes were different. Maybe that’s why you have purple eyes and that body. I thought you looked a little odd but couldn’t place what was wrong. Wait, does that mean you know magic as well?”

  “I am a very poor mage” Glen said as a ball of light no bigger than a dandelion puff appeared in his hand and started flying circles around the room before winking out. “I have great control but horrible power, my talents in magic are next to useless.”

  “Still” Joyce said thinking. “A virgin Fae who happens to be a mage. Why do you want to be a duelist? You could do so much more here, you could do a lot more here than you could hanging out with those men beating on each other. You do know only the top five percent ever make any real money. The head of your school took many beatings and saved up most of his money to get where he is at. When it is all said and done I think some of Mother’s children may make more than he does. If you mess your face up it is unlikely we can use you here. Your beauty is what will keep you with coin in your pocket. Well go find Katherine, I need to have a conversation with Mother.”

  It did not take Glen long to find Katherine, she was about his age and was wearing clothes very reminiscent of what Glen was wearing except with a more feminine cut. Katherine was very pretty, all the women Glen had seen so far were beautiful. Katherine was walking with a tray and two other women were teaching her how to bend over to serve goblets of wine to people that were sitting down. The object was to have them stare down your shirt but make your movements look natural enough that the person serving did not look like they were trying to show off their body. Katherine was thin, she had long brown hair and big hazel eyes. When she smiled, Glen could see she had deep dimples and the women working with her wanted Katherine to smile with her teeth slightly open. Glen watched them go to work on her for what seemed like a long time before one of the others acknowledged he was there.

  “You are the new boy?” a woman with long red hair and pouty lips said. She was more voluptuous and curvier than the rest of the women and the clothes she wore helped show off her figure. It was the same material as the clothing they all wore but it fit her differently.

  “I am supposed to come in here and look for Katherine” Glen rep
lied.

  “You and her are supposed to be passing the drinks” the red head said. “My name is Ruby, I wonder why Joyce would send you to work passing the drinks though. Are you scared to have another male touch you? You know you don’t have to, you can just work with women if you like.”

  “I really don’t want to do anything like that with either” Glen replied.

  “You are a man” Ruby said. “Are you so vain that older women cannot entice you? They need to feel love as well. Luckily for you mother spares no coin when it comes to items we need. We all keep mixtures on us that can make a man stiff. You can either rub it on yourself or eat it. It only works for an hour though. Before you do any of that though you will need to take some of the ripleaf, it will prevent you from getting someone pregnant.”

  “I don’t want to lay with anyone” Glen said. “Mother found me in a dueling school and said all I have to do is serve drinks and be pleasant.”

  “What is your name?” Ruby asked.

  “Glen” Glen replied.

  “Glen do you know how much money you can make at a party like this one?” Ruby asked. “With all of the unease in the kingdom women are looking for distraction. You can find a couple of permanents here if you are lucky.”

  “Permanents?” Glen replied confused.

  “Customers hate to share what they have” Ruby replied. “Some of them pay a monthly fee to ensure you are not passed around too much. Mother will guarantee you will not be physically intimate with more than a certain number if people are willing to pay. Some are so jealous that they pay even more so you will not be with anyone else period and be available to them whenever they need you. No one is going to want that from a man that hasn’t proved he can perform. Katherine has it lucky, many men are willing to pay big money to be the one that teaches her. Men always want to be a young girl’s first when it comes to physical activity. They also want to be her last, if Katherine is smart she can find one as soon as she is ready to share her body. You have to prove you know what you are doing to have the same kind of chance.”