“It is seriously dangerous that is why the money on the contract is so ridiculously high. I mean, if I wanted any team I could have left it without any reward and still have hundreds of people apply for it,” Salazar smiled.
“Do you have some spare dresses for court ladies or someone? Because I need to look good for this and it will cost a fortune to keep buying new things for every match and event we attend. I mean, it doesn’t need to be for nobles straight but should look good enough. I mean, at least as good as my robes and heels I have now, doesn’t have to be extravagant or anything. Oh and I hate red, so please no red and lightly on pink too. I like blue and don’t mind green or yellow, but dark colors don't fit me well,” Yvonne asked.
“That is the least I can do,” Salazar laughed as he interrupted her.
“For the team preparation and organization, Katherine will handle it. Beware though, captain, I will be very vengeful if you even propose to put me on the bench,” Salazar turned to Katherine.
“As far as the team is concerned, I am the captain, not you, Salazar. You don’t order or threaten me around with it,” she scolded him.
In retrospect, I really should have banned my royal guard from participating in the qualifiers… ah, well… I need a drink.
13
Iowen
As the night fell over Ghalkel, Iowen hid herself under a long brown robes and headed to Lucas’ s hut. She opened the door without a sound and slid in.
The room was simple; it featured a table, an old chair, round stone walls and a bed. On the bed lied Lucas. He was wrapped by multiple layers of bandages and raised his hand in a greeting.
Iowen smiled at him broadly and dropped the robes, revealing the beautiful naked body underneath. She prowled to him with feline grace and slid into the bed, lying on top of him face to face.
“What did the healers say?” Lucas asked carefully.
“That you have no right to live after what you have done, but that you are one hell of a mean bastard and will do so anyway,” Iowen smiled.
“It wasn’t that bad.”
“Not that bad? You jumped into the mouth of a motherfucking kraken, killed it from the inside and then cut your way out of it. I kept a jar of its saliva and it’s the best poison I have seen in years!” Iowen exclaimed.
“It wasn’t a kraken, just a big octopus with a weird mouth and it’s not like I spent too much time in its mouth to get in touch with the saliva.”
“Says the man who sees a twenty feet wide mouth full of teeth and decides to jump into it, because he can’t be arsed to wait for the ships to kill it with ballistae.” Iowen kissed him passionately, using a thick sheet of silk.
“Details… anyway, how is the team looking?” Lucas pivoted the topic.
“It’s alright, I guess, the Albertti brothers seem skilled, Alog’s men are no pushovers either.”
“Albertti brothers? Never heard of them. And the only one I know from Alog’s men is Tal’Sec,” Lucas stated.
“Tal’Sec is there, big mean bald Urushnii with a trimmed grey beard and a greatsword. He looks like he has his best days behind him though,” Iowen answered. “The Albertti brothers, there’s four of them, Erik who is tall and uses a glaive, one bit smaller and kind of handsome named Robert who plays with daggers and wants me to pose him for a painting… I don’t think he expects me to wear clothes for that,” Iowen chuckled as she continued. “Third one is Battista Albertti, brooding and elegant who’s already tried to hit on me, magic user and the fourth one is Alfons, small and sturdy and also a magic wielder,” Iowen filled the list.
“They don’t sound like brothers at all,” Lucas noted.
“Because they obviously aren’t. At least blood wise, I mean Eric is blond, Robert has brown haired while Alfons and Battista have black hair, different eye colors as well. Guess they are just taken in by someone,” Iowen explained.
“I heard Magnus Albertti of Nurnfell had five weird kids, sounds like four of them,” Lucas guessed.
“Do you seriously know everyone?” Iowen asked, amazed.
“Perhaps,” Lucas smiled before she kissed him again.
“Is Alog in the team?” Lucas asked.
“No. Said the council of elders forbid him from entering it,” Iowen responded, “why aren’t you in the team?”
“Similar reason, I am needed to do different things than to mess around the arena,” Lucas explained.
“Ooooh so you are that important, aren’t you?”
“No, I am just lazy.”
“Lazy and too famous to show yourself in there,” Iowen smiled.
“I am not that famous,” Lucas refused.
“We have crossed half of the continent and they recognized you in every single city. Palai soldiers know you, peasants know you, merchants know you, stable boy knows you, ship captains know you, Urushnii know you, mage guild members know you… stop bullshitting me, Lucas… what is it that I don’t know about you?” Iowen challenged.
“And what would that be?”
“I don’t know. I feel like you Palai guys are supposed to have ranks. Merewen is a general, obviously military. Elias is an admiral, highest commander of all Palai fleets, Nashimaeal is the archbishop, which leaves you and Miranda. She feels like your apprentice and the general push-around, so I would guess her to be the lowest rank around and likely your direct subordinate. Judging by the ranks that would make you the head of special forces,” Iowen estimated.
“You sure have done your homework on me. Slipping extra wine into Alog’s cup?” Lucas probed.
“Didn’t even have to since a pretty smile was enough.”
Come on, Alog… you know better than this.
“What did you do to Miranda that she is so angry at you?”
“Nothing,” Lucas replied dryly.
“It really doesn’t look like nothing,” Iowen poked him.
“She believes I should have had,” Lucas complemented his statement.
“Oh… you nasty man,” Iowen smiled viciously and kissed him passionately once more.
“Now that the tournament is near, there is going to be a large festival that kicks it off and also celebrates the end of the year,” Iowen started.
“The Return of the Light festival,” Lucas added.
“Whatever you Palai people call it, anyway, I need a dress, some shoes and jewelry since we have lost almost all of it in that bloody lake,” Iowen announced.
“What about my clothes?” Lucas asked with a huge smile.
“How would I know?” Iowen retorted.
“You have obviously searched all my clothes for money and found nothing. Hence you came in here like a little schoolgirl to ask me for allowance.”
“You fucking bitch!”
“Here,” Lucas motioned his eyes towards his right hand where a fat pouch was now placed.
Iowen didn’t waste a second and pried the pouch from his hand.
“How do you do this?”
“There are secrets only Palai knows,” Lucas smiled. She kissed him softly again.
“Do you still have the golden suit, then? Because I don’t remember seeing you pack it,” Iowen realized.
“I do,” Lucas smiled.
“Are you going to wear it for the festival? I will get something with matching colors."
“I won’t be there,” Lucas denied.
“What? What do you mean you won’t be there? Do you mean I am going there alone?” Iowen snapped.
“I am sure your team will keep you company,” Lucas smiled sadly.
“Oh please, that sausage fest would just stupidly drool over my ass the whole evening. What the hell will you be doing that’s so important that you won’t be with me at the end of the year?” Iowen didn’t let go.
“I will be working… might come around for the midnight though, so if you aren’t too shy to climb on a roof, we can still meet,” Lucas offered a compromise.
“You expect me to climb on a roof in dress and heels? Are you insane?” I
owen challenged.
“Guess you don’t want to see me that badly then.”
“You bitch! You better carry my spare shoes!”
“I suppose I could do that,” Lucas sighed.
“Don’t think for a second that’s enough to make up for it. How many more of the self-freezing potions do you have?” Iowen shot.
“About four, I need them for work though.”
“Then you will need to get more of them because you are about to use one, right fucking now,” Iowen sneered and grabbed Lucas by the crotch, “and don’t even think about turning this into a negotiation.”
Lucas made the crystalline potion appear in his hand and drank its content. Soon after, cold began to fill his body. It washed over him like a wave.
“Tell me when it stabilizes,” Iowen whispered with a satisfied grin.
Cold spread into his entire body; it felt like every single vein will shatter. The next few minutes felt like an eternity as the cold felt like it would kill him any second. But then it got better. The cold started feeling like heat and Lucas slowly regained his senses.
“You seem to be waking up,” Iowen remarked as she felt his crotch growing. She leaned in for a kiss. Lucas struggled for a bit but eventually gave in.
He ran his hands over her back. The smooth texture of her skin drew him in. He grabbed her by the ass with one hand, while keeping the other on the back. Lucas flipped Iowen like she weighted nothing. He pushed herself on top of her and caught her mouth for a hungry kiss. He slid down to her neck, sucked on it strongly and Iowen released a loud moan.
Lucas pinned her hands up above her head and kissed her again while he wrestled his legs between hers to slowly spread them out. With his other hand, he traced the line of her body before he arrived at her crotch. He played around with the wetness before he slowly sank a couple of fingers into her. Iowen released a loud moan. He crooked them and starting exploring the insides, gently and carefully. Sounds of her moaning were a delight to his ears. It was like playing on a magnificent flute. He loved every second of it. When the moans sounded just about right, he withdrew his fingers and went on to softly insert his sex into her. Iowen twitched and moaned, he could feel her excitement, her passion and it made him want her. Not just for a night, not for a quick flick to release some steam, but truly want her. Once inside, he moved it slowly, letting her adjust to his size. He knew better than to rush. He took his sweet time enjoying every tiny bit of her. It was only when a hint of tiredness started showing in her moans that he spend up and finished the job.
“I will recover faster if you let me sleep a bit, you know,” Lucas tried a few hours later.
“You have nothing to do in the day, sleep then,” Iowen smirked. “What will you have me do once the tournament starts?” she asked, while her face suddenly turned serious.
“There are two things I want from each arena. One, find where they keep the crystals that power up the barrier which splits the inner arena from tribunes. Find where they have them and how guarded they are,” Lucas said.
“Thievery? Are you doing this to steal things? Seriously?” Iowen challenged.
“They are relics of the old times; such relics would look great in Palai temples.”
“Second, the arenas are either directly built upon or in near vicinity to Temples of the Ancient Gods. I want to find out what is going on in there,” Lucas added.
“What should be happening in them? I would suspect nothing,” Iowen probed.
“The ancient temples were built at places of great significance; I am sure something is happening there. I expect demons or their followers in each of them and I expect them doing something we do not like. I need to know what, how many and what other exits or entrances are there,” Lucas announced.
“That sounds seriously dangerous,” Iowen commented, trying to hide the rush of fear.
“Nobody said the job is going to be easy. On the plus side, I believe that all the arena crystals are made and defended in the same way. You will likely need to find only the first one,” Lucas countered.
“How the hell am I supposed to do that alone? That’s suicidal!” Iowen tried.
“Be nicer to your team members, so they are willing to go with you,” Lucas smiled poisonously.
“That doesn’t change anything! If I get caught, I will get eaten by the demons, or worse,” Iowen was really scared now.
“I will be around, will save your ass if you fuck up.”
“You idiot! I might like to play with you sometimes, but I am not getting killed over that... or worse!” Iowen shouted.
Lucas said nothing.
“AHAHAHAHAHA! Nice joke, Lucas, so really, what will you want me to do during the tournament?” Iowen laughed desperately.
“Don’t worry; you will do just fine. Although it just might be a good idea to take it easier with all the oils, perfumes and essences… you are very easy to track for anything with a decent sense of smell.”
“Oh my God, you are actually serious,” Iowen looked like she will break down crying.
“Did you think bedding me before asking would soften me up?” Lucas asked rhetorically. “You said it yourself, total lack of empathy is a promotion requirement.”
14
Luna
The journey to Grimdawn was downright horrendous. The entire convoy moved at a snail pace. Rapacious Reavers were singing one insufferable song after another and Raven was locked in a massively covered cage. Luna was bored to tears. Plus the scene from when she tried to get on a horse was still haunting her.
So, the horse got a heart attack once I sat on it; what about it? It was surely old and had it coming anyway!
The second one too!
Now, she was sitting atop of Raven’s cage and taking one hallucination inducing drug after another. Samantha tried to persuade her to stop, but Luna just snarled at her until she gave up.
I know drugs are bad, but massive dancing rainbow bears are way better than whatever is actually happening around here. Because there is nothing, absolutely NOTHING going on! Just like three days ago, two days ago, yesterday, tomorrow and so on for God knows how many days until we arrive at Grimdawn.
The only good news is that there is a large ball before the tournament starts… at least some fun.
Which reminds me, I will need to get some dress for that and figure out what drug to use, so I don’t eat a waitress in the process.
After all, this is once in a lifetime chance to make Raven realize I am not a kid, especially not his little sister. Annoying little sister...
ARRRGH!!!
Grimdawn took Luna’s breath away.
What an incredible fortress. I heard the northern cities were fortified to the teeth, but this one is overdoing it!
Three separate levels of walls, one more massive than another. The city itself was a stunning labyrinth of stone and iron, where due to lack of space inside the walls the buildings were all piled upwards. She had a singular objective though and that was to get a dress and accessories for tomorrow’s event. She went with the convoy to the arena compound to learn where she was sleeping but didn’t pay much attention to the events around her.
Ugghhh… this place stinks of demons.
All participants slept in the compound of the arena, which was mostly made of cells for slaves and monsters. She enjoyed the obvious discomfort and disgust of the Rapacious Reavers, but her mind was just too preoccupied. She made sure Raven is alright after they put him in his cell and she told him not to wait for her.
She found the shop that looked like it should have what she needs relatively easily.
Okay, so what do I actually get? This place is MASSIVE and I have no idea how would a dress look on me. Worse, in which dress I would look both adult and Raven would like it. Which reminds me… how do I pay for it? Stallington’s wage is petty cash compared to these prices and I haven’t been able to loot shit from all the junkie lairs I have been ravaging. It feels really bad to try a dress and return it later�
� guess I will have to steal it. What if they sell it after I try it? Do I sneak in here at night and start trying dresses?
That would be one of the most embarrassing ways to get captured.
Luna went on to examine the dresses and shoes but was just lost. She wondered if she shouldn’t get a shopkeeper to help her.
Nah, this already feels bad. Getting them to help me find a dress, make them keep it until tomorrow and steal it in the night is below even my level. I mean sure, I eat people, but I do that because I am hungry and it’s their fault they suck at running anyway. Plus who cares about junkies, anyway? Not like human life was worth anything, to begin with…
FUCK! Did I just quote James to justify my own behavior? FUCK!
In terms of humanity, this is my new low…
“If you want to lose virginity, those aren’t going to help,” a female voice stabbed her from behind as she was just checking a pair of shoes.
“I’m not a virgin!” she snarled while turning towards her. She lost her voice as she saw her. The woman was a head taller than Luna, had hair like liquid moonlight, bright red eyes and strange shade of blue skin emphasized by indigo lips. She wore tight, rough black leather armor, which looked almost like a second skin. It had no padding or any other filling and she wore no clothes underneath. Over it, she had a thick leather cloak with a cape. Luna didn’t get many more details, because her face looked like from another world, completely alien and hypnotizing, yet beautiful.
She is like a cobra before it devours its prey.
“Paid male courtesans don’t count,” the women jabbed with a vicious smile after measuring her with an inquisitive look.
Say WHAT?
Luna was speechless.
“Spot on,” the woman whispered as she brushed by Luna to pick up a pair of shoes from behind her. Luna was simply too stunned to do anything. The woman threw the shoes back for the assistant behind her to catch. The shop assistant had a set of dresses in her arms with a pile of shoes and jewels on top of them.
Legacy of Dreams: Freedom Page 10