by Cat Wilder
He caught me before I fell. Then he pointed at a tavern.
"You're thirsty?"
He shook his head. "No. Horses!"
Garikarous took off straight at the line of saddled mounts. It occurred to me that the punishment in Gotari for horse stealing entailed a life of hard labor in the salt mines. Of course, I'd just stolen a much more expensive dragon-shifter slave.
"No!" Izzy cried.
"Yes!" I shouted. "Grab some spares."
Four saddled horses waited in front of the tavern. Garikarous untied the first and second horse, and jumped up into the saddle. I cringed, waiting for him to wail in pain after crushing his balls. No wail, instead he reined the mare around and dug his heels in hard. The mare took off running, with the other horse being led behind.
I reached the horses next, untying both. "Get up onto the blue."
One of the horses was a gorgeous mottled blue-gray. Izzy would look amazing riding it. I mounted the big red and reined him around. My crazy drow girlfriend ignored my orders, and leapt up behind me. Her arms encircled my waist and held on for dear life.
"Get on the other horse."
"I can't ride. I'll fall off."
I didn't have time to argue. Soldiers had joined the slavers. They came charging at us, so I gave the other horse's reins to Izzy and told her to hold them. And then I kicked my mount into a gallop. Their hooves thundered on the wooden docks, warning everyone to get the hell out of our way.
We stormed off the docks with four horses, two being led. Garikarous had a pretty good lead, and I worried he might leave us behind without a second thought when he vanished around the first bend in the road.
"Stop," he called from the trees when we came around that the bend. The dragon-knight had moved off the road, with both horses. He had one of the saddlebags open and a pair of trousers in hand. "Quick. Get into the woods."
I reined in and watched him get into those pants, thanking every AI god in the game that the trousers fit so tight. I heard a wanton growl come from Izzy. Slanting an amused look over my shoulder, I caught her gaze. We shared a knowing look.
"You're welcome," I whispered, and she laughed.
We dismounted. I led my horse into the woods, with Izzy following with the big blue mount. I noticed her giving it the evil eye. Garikarous didn't waste any time. He rushed back out onto the road with a broken branch and swept away all signs of us leaving the road. I nodded my appreciation, and took the lead.
We walked our horses up one game trail and down another for the next few hours. We left the town of Halmstad far behind. Izzy's mood turned dark.
"You knew I wanted a night in a real bed, with decent food," the drow grumbled. "But no, Miss Horny-pants had to go rescue the big dragon dick."
"I can hear you," Garikarous said. "And thank you, Miss Horny-pants."
"You are most welcome, sir knight," I called. I gave his crotch a meaningful look. "And don't forget your swore your 'sword' to service me every night."
"I did?"
"Oh, yes, you did," I replied.
"Before you start bragging about your moonlit prowess, Garikarous," Izzy said. "Carly is a level ten million nymphomaniac. She's quite proud of it, too, and keeps telling me even though I don't give a goblin's ass."
I winked. "Actually, I have a Sex Skill level of 97, Garikarous, but what she said."
He laughed. "I met Carly back when she reigned as Queen of Gotari, Izzy, so we've had diplomatic relations already. But the nympho thing is good to know, too. And my friends call me 'Garik.'"
"Ooh, I just leveled up in friendship with a big, sexy dragon-knight," I purred to myself. Then I spoke loud enough for him to hear. "Forgive Izzy, Garik. She's a pampered princess, so isn't used to such rough travel. I promised her a nice bed in an inn tonight, with real cooked food. You can imagine her disappointment."
"I'll make it up to her, in lots of fun ways," Garik said. "Let me take the lead. I know the area, and I think if we pushed ourselves just a little more, we can make an inn I've stayed at before. It's at a crossroads, and they serve amazing food."
Izzy perked up. So did I, but for a different reason. Accepting Garik's thanks, all night long, would be so much better in a real bed. Oh yeah.
Chapter 9
Garik set a hard pace toward the northeast. Izzy continued to ride with me, even after Garik stopped to change horses. I tried to get the drow woman to at least try riding on her own, but she refused. And honestly, I kind of enjoyed the way she hung onto me so tightly.
We emerged from the forest just after sunset, walking our horses. Moving out onto the trade road, we stopped and looked around. No one to be seen or heard, and elves, drow, and dragons could hear incredibly well.
"This way," Garik said. "Mount up."
While moving through the forest, the dragon-knight found a blue woolen tunic and brown travel cloak in his mount's saddlebags. The cloak did a good job of hiding the collar around his neck.
I climbed into the gray's saddle, and then gave Izzy a hand up behind me. She snuggled up close and rested her head on my shoulder. So cute. Even better, she smelled amazing.
"I swear, baby, the sweatier you became the hornier I get," I whispered.
"Of course," she said rather lazily. "Drow sweat is an aphrodisiac for elves, and vice-versa. Everyone knows that."
I looked at Garik, who stared at us with deep hunger. He nodded. "Everyone knows that."
"No one tells me anything."
If I'd known that, I might've used it to my benefit with drow. Instead, I had stayed dry and avoided the dark elves. My head filled with all kinds of wicked things I could do with that "ability."
"Hey, if the innkeeper is elven or drow, one of us can seduce him to pay for room and board," I said. Izzy gave a tiny shrug. "You don't like that idea?"
"You think with your pussy more than a man thinks with his dick," Izzy replied.
Garik barked a laugh, reined his mount around and kicked him into a trot. I followed, long beyond embarrassment over my avatar's inclinations. For the most part. Anyway, my purse still stung over that piece of amber I had to pay for a simple boat ride across the river.
Everyone in that world stopped whatever they were doing at nightfall. That included travelers, so that left the road to us for the next half hour. We finally topped a low hill to find farmland spread out before us in moonlight. I could see the trade road passed through the middle of the village in the middle, with another trade road intersecting with it in the center of the village.
No walls surrounded the village of dome-shaped huts. From that vantage point, I saw multiple fires encircled by lots of people. As best I could tell, the villagers had gathered huts around different open areas with the fires in the middle. I guessed they engaged in communal gathering and dining every night.
I could see a few proper buildings scattered around the intersections, including a stable and corrals. One of the structures stood two stories tall, with lots of orange glowing windows. I noticed a thatched roof atop the half-timbered structure, with a deep porch running the length of the front. A large double doorway stood open.
"The inn looks like a very welcoming place," I said as we pushed into the village.
I heard laughter. The villagers made a lot of noise around their communal fires, laughing and singing. Then several dogs charged out of the shadows, snarling and barking. They spooked the horses, which caused Izzy to hold on tighter. Silver lining. Children came next, grabbed the dogs, and dragged them away. Well, except for one small yellow dog, who just sat and watched us pass by.
"That's the Trader Inn. It is one of the better inns I've stayed at," Garik said. "I've visited here a few times. The innkeeper is Mais Jait. He's a satyr, so don't look him in the eyes."
"Satyr? Cool," I said. "I've never seen a satyr in the game."
"Stop calling it a game," Izzy said, giving me a painful pinch in the side.
"Sorry," I replied. Garik watched us with bemused eyes. "So I'm guessing satyrs se
duce with their eyes."
"Exactly, and it goes both ways," he said. "A woman can seduce a satyr by catching and holding his eyes. So, he’ll only meet the gaze of a woman he wants to seduce."
"Can you be caught by a female satyr's eyes?"
"Are you an idiot?" Izzy asked. "There are no female satyrs. Their seed is dominant, so anyone they impregnate gives birth to a satyr."
Good to know, but of no concern to me. One of the very few true benefits Artimus ever bestowed upon me was a powerful birth control spell. I could not conceive until he, or another equally powerful wizard, removed the spell. Izzy didn't have to worry, either, since brothels always protected their girls with powerful contraceptive spells.
Up close, I discovered the dome-shaped huts were in fact half-timbered huts with conical thatched roofs. They varied in size from about ten feet in diameter to over thirty. They left lots of room between them, too. No urban crowding in that village.
Garik led us straight to the stable. Six teenage stablehands came out to take our mounts, and didn't ask for any money. We left them to remove the tack and groom the horses, only taking the saddlebags and the sabers.
"We might find a trader inside to buy one of these sabers," Garik said. "That'll bring in more than enough to pay for our stay in this inn, and any others we stop at along the way."
"My idea of paying is more fun, but sure," I said. "Sell all four sabers. We all have swords, so don't need them."
"Sabers are better for fighting from horseback," he said. "And you can never have too many weapons."
"Besides, I prefer fighting with a curved blade," Izzy said.
"We need the money, and I doubt we'll fight anyone from the saddle."
I didn't realize the night air had cooled down until we walked through the door. Yeah, it was hot and sultry in there. Everywhere I looked big, mean-looking, sweaty men looked back at me. It scared me just enough to rile up my libido.
"This could be interesting," I muttered.
Humans made up the vast majority of patrons. I saw a pair of orcs in the corner, their bare swords lying atop the table. A blonde dwarf shared a table with a female goblin and a kobold. And a black-furred satyr stood next to the kitchen door and watched his serving wenches delivering food and drink, bussing tables, and flirting with everyone.
I shifted my gaze, and checked them out.
Satyr. Innkeeper (Lvl 23).
Well, Mais Jait was a player. Interesting. The cloven-hoofed creature stood about my height, but looked powerfully built. Head to cloven-hoof black fur covered his body, including furry pointed ears, but his face and hands remained bare and a chocolate brown color. It wasn't a pretty face, either. He looked fierce and his smile looked lecherous. Perfect for a satyr. Then I noticed the two black horns curling up at his hairline.
I turned my attention to the four serving wenches. Two looked like Arab women, another looked Asian, and the last a platinum blonde, blue-eyed beauty. Surprisingly, I noticed more two players.
Human wench of easy virtue.
Human. Archer (Lvl 14).
Human wench of easy virtue.
Human. Princess (Lvl 9).
The blonde is a frigging princess? Holy cow.
I guess she could have been captured in a war and sold into slavery. Maybe the same war that brought the Arab archer down. The other two NPCs, wenches of easy virtue, were doing what they were designed to do in the game, serve men food and their bodies.
Are the archer and princess trapped in the game like me? I can't imagine them wanting to play serving wenches.
The common room looked bright and welcoming, with whitewashed walls and many candles on the tables and in sconces. Half a dozen small square tables lined the two side walls, with three long trestle tables filling the rest of the room. The back wall had a staircase on the left, kitchen door in the middle, and small bar on the right.
I didn't see anyone obviously a local, which I considered a red flag. Garik didn't share my misgivings. He looked around and smiled.
"Lord Garikarous," the satyr called, hurrying around the tables to greet us with an ingratiating smile. "It is an honor to host you again." He looked over first Izzy, and then me, with lusty eyes. He did not attempt to look into either of our eyes. "And your traveling companions, as well. Will it be one, two, or three rooms, my lord?"
"Hello, Mais Jait," Garik said, as they bowed to each other. "Please meet my friends and traveling companions. The elfmaid is Carly." The satyr and I bowed to each other. "And this is Princess Izzy Szin."
He bowed to Izzy, but she barely gave him a nod. Yeah, she went full princess on him, looking so aloof and dangerous. I wished I could pull off that much attitude.
"May I speak to you in private, Master Jait?" I asked, pulling his attention back to me. "I'm taking care of the accommodations."
I took Mais by the arm and led him away from my friends. Izzy smiled, rolling her eyes. Garik frowned, but took Izzy by the hand and led her to a small table in the corner near the bar. They took all of the saddlebags and sabers, too. I noticed Garik walk over to a table with some well-dressed merchants after he seated Izzy.
Mais Jait glanced above my head. His eyes widened, I suspected he'd never met a Wench of easy virtue who'd achieved such a high level. As a rule, wenches of easy virtue didn't really try to level up.
"Is there a problem, wench?"
I wagged my brows at the satyr. I could see more than a little interest now that he realized I was a wench of easy virtue. Hey, he's a satyr.
"No, and yes. You see, I've been forced to pay for this trip. Don't ask. It's embarrassing. So you can understand I wish to ensure we get the best deal." I paused to glance back at my friends, rubbed my lips together, and then looked him over more closely. My eyes lingered on his undyed cotton trousers. Was that the beginning of a bulge forming? "And, I've never been with a satyr before…"
I tried to catch his eyes, but he kept them averted just enough. Odd. Why play a satyr unless you wanted to score with as many women as possible?
"I see, but I can't afford to let every horny girl have free room and board for a quickie," he said. "I'm trapped in this game, girl. I have to pay for my supplies, taxes, and for some of my help."
"The serving wenches?"
He wagged his brows. "They're all quite happy to be paid with love and attention."
That scared me a little. If I didn't have friends with me, I would never attempt to seduce a satyr. He might keep me as his serving wench. But with backup, I could do anything.
"I hear you. My funds are limited," I said. "My friends are tired and hungry. And I'm super horny."
He glanced at me, and I managed to hold his eyes for a few seconds. It became uber intense, and that brief gaze ignited my libido big time. My pussy throbbed and my skin goose-fleshed. The bulge in his pants stuck out a little more.
"I can't afford to…"
"I'm also trapped in the game," I said. "And I have a Sex Skill, level 97."
Mais' breath caught. I held his eyes, and my breath whooshed out. He palmed the back of my head and kissed me, and I pushed into it and gave him his money's worth. We both pulled away a few minutes later, panting and tingling. I giggled, suddenly super excited to do it with him.
"So, do we have a deal?"
He looked me over, then glanced around the kitchen. His staff covertly watched and listened, but I didn't care. Then he pulled my top off and sighed gustily.
"I'm going to hate myself later, but yes," Mais said. "Room and board for you, Lord Garikarous, and Princess Izzy Szin. I have a room with a large bed."
"Oh, we have four horses in the stable."
The satyr scowled at me. "Then I expect to get around the world."
Wide-eyed. "I'll miss dinner."
He laughed, took me by the hand, and headed toward the back. He had a bedroom off the back of the inn. We entered before I could ask where the serving wenches slept, and stopped. The room was one gigantic bed, more than big enough to hold him and a
dozen serving wenches. Wall-to-wall fur pelts, blankets, and brightly-colored satin pillows.
"This is quite a little love shack you have here, Master Jait."
I pressed up close, loving the feel of his soft fur against my warm skin. It especially felt good rubbing against the sensitive skin of my breasts and nipples. I unfastened his trousers and let them fall to the floor, releasing his erection into the world.
"What a big cock you have, milord," I purred. Wrapping a hand around his shaft, I quickly stroked him to rock hardness. "Where would you like to start your trip around my fun little world?"
He just smiled, before wrapping me up in his powerful arms. Mais squeezed hard, while he kissed me so passionately my toes curled. I opened his mouth with my own, thrusting my tongue in to explore. The higher my Skill level rose in Sex, the more empathic I became with my lovers. I could read them like a book when it came to sex. Their expressions, body language, and the way they touched me told me how they liked it and what they wanted from me. So I knew Mais intended to go for full domination of me in bed, and that's what I'd give him.
The satyr's hands explored every inch of my body, stripping me at the same time. I writhed, wiggled, and giggled within his arms, giving him what he wanted. When he kissed and nibbled his way down my neck, I bowed my back and gave him easy access to my breasts. Mais smothered my beauties with kisses, before nibbling and sucking on my erect nips with relish.
"Oh baby," I moaned.
I sensed when his enthusiasm waned, ready for a new treat. Gently pulling out of his grasp, I wagged my brows and dropped to my knees. His eyes widened, and then he sighed. Yeah, I intended to give him his very favorite thing in the world. Was it every man's favorite sex act?
I crawled up close, wrapped a hand around his long, thick shaft, and then caught and held his eyes. As our gaze smothered, I slowly began teasing his cock's sensitive piss hole with my tongue. Yeah, I made him jump and gasp a few times. He buried his hands deep in my long, black hair, massaging my scalp. And then I rolled my tongue around his cock head a few times, squeezed his dangling balls with my free hand, and finally went down on him.