Cat waved it off, "At least I got my hair washed with soap. Rinsing it out in streams just didn't cut it for me."
"Next time we go to the public baths, I’d like to take my time when bathing," Danica said, leaning back against the pool's side. "First, I'll start out in the steam room. I'll let some lucky woman rub me down with the cleansing oils, then lathe them off. Afterwards, a quick dip in the hot tubs before hitting the cold pool. Should take at least an hour, minimum."
Winking, Claudia laughed, "I didn't realize you were such a hedonist."
"Jarlanders have perfected bathing into a fine art," she returned with a wink of her own.
Cat frowned. "I hear they can waste half a day in the public baths."
"True. But bathhouses are where most business and political deals on hammered out. That's why you rarely see a dirty Jarland merchant. Commerce would grind to a halt if we lost our bathhouses."
"Not in the Empire," Claudia said. "Business and political deal-making is conducted in coffee shops, as is most casual socializing."
"Coffee shops?" Cat said. "I had the impression they were just a place to get food."
"Coffee shops are where Amazons go to meet with friends over a steaming cup of coffee," Claudia said. "But they do serve meals at midday and evening."
"What is coffee?" Danica said. "Is it Amazon tea? You said it was drank hot."
Claudia screwed up her face in thought a moment.
"Coffee is best explained with a cup of it sitting before you. Outwardly it does look like a very dark tea, but is brewed from coffee beans," she said. Seeing the other two were confused, "We can ask about it in the coffee shop. Maybe they can explain it better."
"Well, I'm ready," Danica said, lifting herself reluctantly out of the cool water. "My stomach keeps rumbling."
They found their clothes neatly folded on shelves back in the dressing room just off the pool room. Danica and Cat were pleasantly surprised to find their clothes and armor clean. All the leather was polished, too. Their boots had been severely scuffed and worn, and their leather pants sweat-stained from long hot days in the saddle also cleaned. Now they almost looked new. Danica reluctantly conceded that she received adequate service for the fee.
As usual, Cat require patient assistance to get into her Vikon armor. Danica and Claudia quietly listened to her running commentary on the total uselessness of Vikon styles of armor in general, and hers in particular. She especially seemed to hate the half-moon breast cups, claiming day in and day out that they pinched and left her bosom sore.
Once dressed, Claudia took them to the coffee shop. It was a large comfortable place with numerous cubbyholes with tables in addition to all the small round tables scattered about. There seemed to be plenty of room to move around and talk privately. Portraits of smiling women and a few tapestries of serene rural scenes adorned the richly paneled walls. About half the tables were taken by single women or couples. Most engaged in quiet conversation or reading. All had small china cups of some fragrantly steaming black drink. Claudia led them to a table set under a window and between thick columns.
"More privacy here," she explained.
Danica ordered a hearty lunch of beef and potatoes from the matronly woman who hurried over to wait on them, while Cat and Claudia each decided on a piece of coffee cake. And Claudia ordered a pot of coffee and three cups for while they waited for their food. The waitress quickly returned with the coffee.
"Could you tell us the difference between coffee and tea?" Danica said.
"What a strange question," she said, giving her a motherly look of indulgence. "But if you prefer, we can provide you with tea instead."
Danica found herself hesitant to question her further.
"No, thank you," Danica said. "So coffee is a bean tea?"
"I supposed you could call it that," their server said. "Coffee beans are like the beans you eat, though. They are hard little seeds that we bake and then grind up, before making coffee."
"Thank you," Danica said.
Claudia poured three cups, then added half a spoon of sugar to her own and a bit of cream. Danica and Cat received their coffee black.
"Why didn't we get sugar and cream," Danica said.
"Because you don't know if you want it yet. Most people don't use sugar or cream in their coffee," Claudia said, taking a sip. "Try it, then we'll decide what you need."
Shrugging at each other, Danica and Cat picked up their cups and took tiny sips. Danica's face screwed up in distaste, whereas Cat seemed genuinely pleased with the flavor as it was.
"Bitter," Danica said. Turning to Cat, who was happily taking another sip, "You would like it."
"Add sugar," was Cat's only reply.
Danica complied, spooning two heaping spoonfuls into her coffee. After tasting again, Danica went for another spoon of sugar, much to her companions' shock. With her next cup, she immediately added three spoons of sugar, and some cream to see how that would taste.
"I prefer tea," Danica finally said.
"You prefer ale and wine," Cat said.
"Do they serve ale or wine here?"
Claudia gave her a dark look. "No."
Taking note of the usually cheerful Vikon's somber demeanor, Danica turned on Cat. "You've been a bad influence on Claudia. Turned her into a mirror image of yourself. As if there isn't enough doom and gloom in the world."
"You weren't exactly the Goddess of Joy before bedding down with Helene," Cat said. "As I recall, life back in Allaria, before we left on this mission of mercy, you hung out in seedy dockside taverns drowning your sorrows in barrels and barrels of ale. Oh, and starting fist fights with the biggest, meanest looking men in the place." Turning to Claudia, "She never won a single fight, but did that stop her? No."
"But I never stopped trying," Danica said arrogantly. "No curse, I don't care how depraved, will destroy me. I will persevere."
"Since when is getting drunk and starting fights persevering?" Cat asked.
Shrugging, "That's what I did before I was cursed."
Chuckling, Claudia held up a hand. "Enough, my friends. I've been quietly listening to you two for the better part of two weeks now, but never once has anyone offered to explain what this terrible curse is."
Danica looked stricken, and then averted her eyes. Cat just rolled her eyes, and then gnawed on her lip.
"It's...It's too horrible and humiliating to say," Danica said quietly, feeling Claudia deserved more than silence. "Please don't ask."
Claudia glanced at Cat, who quickly looked down and shook her head no. She sighed in defeat. Danica felt bad, knowing Claudia didn't want to cause her any discomfort or embarrassment, but was naturally curious.
After they finished eating, they went over to the open air market. Danica and Cat made several purchases of foodstuffs for their trip to Allaria with Monique, but the first thing both bought was a cloak. Flight inevitably was cold, especially when flying over mountains where greater altitudes were required. They also shopped for new clothes. Danica purchased a red wool shirt and black leather pants. Cat bought a gray shirt and black leather pants. As an afterthought, they purchased Monique a pair of loose cotton trousers, a wool shirt, and a pair of short boots. They just assumed she was average in size and bought everything slightly bigger than needed.
They took their new clothes back to the Vikon tenement. Then they gathered up their old clothes, Monique's clothes, and all their rations and stuffed them into saddlebags. The saddlebags were then taken to the mews, where their warhawks roosted, and attached them to their saddles. Finally, they took the birds up for a little exercise.
By the time they were finished it was growing dark and they were all growing hungry again.
"Where can we find a Jarland type tavern," Danica said as they walked from the mews.
"You mean with naked women dancing, and lots of drunk warriors cheering them on?" Claudia said, face screwed up.
"And fighting and whoring and other such things," Cat said, shaking her head
at Danica. "Danica thrives in such places."
"Gets me horny just thinking about it," Danica said. "They do have places like that here, don't they?"
"Unfortunately, yes. I usually try to avoid them," Claudia conceded. "But I suggest we go home and get something to eat first. Then if you still feel like going to one of those places, I'll take you."
Danica grinned. "I have a better idea. Just drop me off at the nearest one to the tenement. They serve food in taverns."
"Yes, but who'd want to eat in one? They're so nasty!"
Cat said, "They're not that dirty. I've worked as a bouncer in lots of them."
Claudia looked at Cat ashen-faced. "I'm sorry, Cat. I didn't mean anything by it."
"I know," she said, reaching over and giving Claudia's shoulder a squeeze. "But I'm beginning to agree with Danica. I kinda miss the tavern atmosphere. Wild and wicked it might be, I guess it is still the environment I'm most comfortable in. It's never boring, that's for sure."
Claudia took them straight to the largest, most popular tavern in Dahlys. The Crazy Unicorn was a converted public bathhouse, with a vast common room full of wine-stained tables. There were three long bars, and ten stages with nude dancing women strutting about. The place was packed with warriors and scantily clad dancers, laughing, joking, and cheering on the dancers and each other. On easily half the stages the dancers had been joined by one or more patrons eager to dance with them. Danica hadn't taken ten steps inside before someone took a firm hold of her rump, a chorus of kissing sounds erupting from the table of drunk warriors.
Stopping, she turned to slowly look the drunken Amazon over. The caressing hand left her buttocks only once, to explore her thighs a moment. Danica quickly judged the warrior was too drunk to do anything more.
Smiling sweetly, "Thank you for the attention."
Danica stepped up, grabbed the Amazon's head and placed a firm kiss on her surprised lips. Then turning on her heel, she strode into the crowd. The sound of the Amazon's cries for her to return made her smile. She stopped toward the center of the tavern to look around. Claudia and Cat waited patiently for her to make up her mind. She studied each of the stages carefully, and finally decided which one had the prettiest dancer. Working her way over, she found a table just a pace away from the stage. Unfortunately, the table was occupied.
Turning to Cat, and speaking loudly, "Do you suppose these ladies will give up their table without us resorting to magic?"
Slowly turning back to the three women at the table, all of whom were staring at her wide-eyed, she smiled with a mischievous glint to her eyes. The warriors looked at each other a second, then got up hastily. Danica smiled her thanks to them as they hurried away. Spotting a serving girl walking past, she grabbed a handful of firm buttocks. The girl squealed, but didn't try to escape.
"Ales for me and my companions, wench," Danica said.
The serving girl's face twisted in rage a second, then softened. "Jarlander, right?"
"Yes," she said, somewhat confused by her sudden change in demeanor.
With a snort she turned and melted into the crowd. Danica looked at Cat and Claudia with a shrug.
"Never call anyone in the Empire a wench," Claudia said over the loud music and drunken singing of a nearby table. "It's just about the worst insult you can image here."
Nodding understanding, Danica turned her attention to the dancer. She was a tall beauty, with the long black hair and the dark complexion of the desert folk. She wore nothing but a few silver bangles, jingling on her left wrist and black spike-heeled shoes. The wide silver ankle bracelet on her left ankle indicated she was enslaved by one of the nomadic clans. Her dance was slow and sensuous, her oiled brown skin shimmering in the dim light. Danica found herself totally captivated, with a tightness in her throat and her loins beginning to tingle in anticipation. Once the dancer noticed Danica's interest, her black eyes took on the familiar hungry, predatory look of a prostitute.
To Claudia, Danica said, "She's the first woman I've seen in the Empire who's a slave. Are all of the dancers here slaves?"
"I don't know, but probably," Claudia said, scowling as she looked the dancer over. "This place is owned by a Jarlander like you. Amazons don't own many slaves. It's kind of frowned upon and there are lots of regulations and fees involved."
"Good for the Empire," Danica said, still watching the dancer.
"They probably have to use slaves her," Cat said. "I doubt they could find enough women to work here otherwise."
The dancer moved to the edge of the stage, holding Danica's eyes. She thrust out her butt, gave it a firm slap, and ended with a sultry eye wag before dancing away. The elfmaid groaned.
Smiling at Cat with wicked glee, "She likes me. Want to have some fun?"
"Be my guest."
Danica fished out a few coins from her purse and stepped up to the stage. The dancer came closer, displaying her many charms in the most erotic of manners. Danica placed a coin in her lips and offered it to the dancer. She watched breathlessly as the sultry dancer's glistening red lips parted and reached for the coin. Danica clamped her teeth down on the coin and enjoyed the feel of her warm lips a moment longer. As she pulled away, Danica quickly put another coin in her mouth. When she moved in to take it, Danica pointed at her bosom. The dancer knelt before her and took both her breasts in hand. Danica buried her face in the dancer’s bosom as she pressed her breasts together. Danica's face quickly was squeezed out of the oiled bosom, leaving the coin buried deep inside. Before she could stand, Danica dropped the remaining coins on the stage and began running eager hands over her body. The dancer closed her eyes and acted as if she enjoyed the attention for a few moments. Then after a quick kiss of thanks, she scooped up her tips and was away to entice hard earned coins from another horny warrior waiting beside the stage.
"Happy?" Cat said as Danica rejoined their table.
"Immensely."
Claudia, who appeared both shocked and aroused, said, "I see what Helene sees in you, and what you see in that slave, but do you have to put on such a public display?"
"No, but it's cheaper than hiring her for more intimate pleasures in private. Which I still might do later on. First, though, I want to check out all of her competition."
A movement caught her eye. Danica watched as a blonde warrior in all black leather climbed up on the stage. No, another dancer. The raven-haired slave cowered away, shaking her head no. Danica tensed for trouble. Then the new arrival pulled a riding crop from her right boot and pointed to a spot before her. The dancer quickly knelt before her, eyes downcast. The wild sex show that ensued sent Danica's mind reeling with memories of herself in Helene's power, while Claudia gasped in shock, and Cat grinned at Danica.
Danica said, "I think we should move."
"Why, Danica? Doesn't this bring back pleasant memories?" Cat laughed. "If only Helene was here to reminisce with you."
"She is," Danica said, pointing.
Helene had just entered, with a shapely blonde secured to her leash. Helene, like Claudia, had put aside her armor. She was wearing highly polished black leather boots and pants, and a silver studded leather halter, also black, with a collar around her own neck and black gloves that covered her arms over her elbows. The same outfit she’d worn on that night of kinky sex with Danica. The blonde was wearing a lacy pink and white wisp of satin and pink high heels.
"That's Dame Sabrina, one of Helene's best friends and her absolute favorite lover," Claudia said casually, barely giving them a glance. "Despite appearances, Sabrina is really quite intelligent and interesting. She's heir to a Barony, and a Lieutenant in the Votarian Guard."
"Votarian Guard? You mean she guards the Imperial Palace, and Helene's socializing with her now?" Danica said, suddenly scared. Would Helene betray them to one of her kinky lovers? "We'd better get out of here."
"I agree," Cat said, slinking off into the crowd.
Danica followed, with Claudia bringing up the rear. They stayed low and quickly mo
ved outside.
Claudia, disturbed and defensive, "I can't believe Helene would betray a friend. I mean, I don't approve of her lifestyle, but I trust her with my life."
"Do you trust her with our lives," Cat asked. Turning to Danica, "Well, I don't. I say we make a run for it and we need to find accommodations elsewhere in the city, just to be sure."
"Maybe you're right, Cat. We're too close to take any chances," she said. "Like Claudia, I too trust Helene, but not with my life. Not now. The Gods only know what she'll say in the throes of passion to please her lover."
"Or has already said," Cat added. "There could be soldiers waiting in ambush for us right now."
"No," protested Claudia. "Helene wouldn't do that, I swear."
"We'll be extra careful going home, just to be sure," Danica said, casting a nervous glance back at the tavern entrance as they moved away.
Chapter 14
Danica leaned her elbows heavily on the thick wooden rail high over the cobblestone courtyard. The railing and supports were thickly covered with ivy and fragrant Tyrian honeysuckle. She idly watched the iridescent blue and green hummingbirds and yellow and black honeybees exploring the overly large yellow and white flowers. Hidden within the mass of thick, intertwined vines were nests of song birds, joyfully greeting the new day. The first clanging sounds of pots and pans rose from the communal kitchen as the sounds of an awakening city drifted over the tenement walls on a cool gentle breeze. Her stomach rumbled at the mouth watering aromas of cooking foods. From the top floor of the tenement, she could see soaring turrets and domes to the east and the first sliver of the rising sun peeking over the distant, hazy horizon.
The screech and rumble of the main gate being opened for the day, and then shouted greetings, caught her attention. A black-sheathed figure with flowing red hair was striding in, waving and calling out greetings happily. She watched Helene make her way to the stairs before turning back to the open apartment door behind her.
"She's coming up," Danica said, stepping into the night dark room and pulling her sword.
Into Lands Forbidden (The Elfmaid Trilogy Book 2) Page 21