by MJ Schutte
Nervously Imlan climbed down to the lower deck at the back. He looked around the sails and remaining barrels but could not see his furry friend anywhere.
Breathing a slow sigh of relief, he wondered what had happened to the panther, but his thoughts were cut short.
‘Imlan, move it! We don’t have all day!’ a soldier called from behind.
‘Sorry,’ the big man mumbled as he put a barrel on his shoulder.
He picked up another one and made his way to the dock. He did not know where to go so he followed the other soldiers carrying empty barrels.
They walked only a short distance before the soldiers put the barrels down in front of a shop.
‘Provisions Master!’ one of the soldiers called.
‘Yes?’ an old man said as he came out of the shop.
‘Here are the empty barrels,’ the soldier said.
‘I see. When will Father Zaconis sail again?’ the Provisions Master asked.
The old man was completely cross-eyed making it difficult to see who he was talking to.
‘Ask him yourself,’ the soldier spat, assuming the question was directed at him.
‘I see. So, you don’t know then?’ the old man said with a shake of the head.
‘Don’t get clever with me, old man. I’ll bash your head in,’ the soldier said in a threatening tone.
‘I see. And tell me, who will fill these barrels if you do such a stupid thing?’ the old man frowned.
‘Don’t tempt me old man,’ the soldier threatened, wagging his finger in front of the man’s face.
‘Tempt you? Am I a young girl with big breasts with which I can tempt you? Can you see up my skirt? Is this why you are tempted?’ the old man chuckled.
The soldier drew his sword but Imlan’s strong hand closed on his wrist.
‘Enough,’ Imlan instructed in a soft yet menacing tone.
‘Who are you to command me, coward?’ the soldier demanded as he spun around.
‘Stop it before you get hurt,’ Imlan said, still keeping his voice calm and even.
The soldier unsheathed his sword but before it was fully out of the scabbard, Imlan’s hand closed around his throat in a death grip.
‘I will crush your throat before that sword clears the scabbard,’ Imlan growled.
For a few moments the soldier stared at Imlan in disbelief, then released his grip on the sword letting it slide back into its resting place.
Imlan shoved the man backward.
‘I will kill you for this,’ the soldier sneered.
Imlan did not answer. He did not even give the man another look.
Slowly, keeping his eyes on Imlan, the soldier walked away. The other soldiers, also watching Imlan closely, followed their companion.
‘So, a protector of the old and weak, you are,’ the old man chuckled.
‘No, not really,’ Imlan shrugged.
The old man looked Imlan up and down a few times, squinting his eyes as he was doing so.
‘A pure spirit, you are, but lost,’ he whispered.
‘If you say so. I just don’t like seeing soldiers bully people who are defenseless,’ Imlan replied.
‘Mmmm, I see. So, a pure spirit who protects the weak, but blind also,’ the old man said.
‘Blind? My eyes are probably better than yours!’ Imlan exclaimed.
‘Yes, perhaps, but having good eyes does not mean you can see well,’ the Provisions Master chuckled.
‘What?’ Imlan frowned.
‘What you see in front of you may not be everything there is,’ the old man answered.
‘You…’ Imlan tried but the old man cut him off.
‘Do you know when Father Zaconis will sail again?’ he asked.
‘No,’ Imlan said with a shake of the head.
‘I see. Well, run off then. You have work to do and so do I,’ the old man responded.
Before Imlan could say anything more, the Provisions Master shuffled back into his shop.
‘Strange,’ Imlan said to himself as he turned and walked back to the ship.
On the way there, Imlan passed a few other soldiers who had already collected the rest of the barrels and were on their way to the Provisions Master. His thoughts returned to the panther until he spotted Alexi.
‘Alexi, where to now?’ he asked after walking closer.
For some reason he did not think it was proper to shout at Alexi.
‘We will stay the night in the city, then travel home,’ Alexi replied.
‘Where is home?’ Imlan frowned.
For a moment Alexi looked at Imlan in confusion, but then burst out laughing.
‘Sorry, I forgot you were new to the army. Palentis is our home. It is about twenty five days by horse north-west of here. It is where Father Zaconis lives when he is not traveling. Since we are in his army, we also live there,’ Alexi answered.
‘If Father Zaconis travels so often, why does he live so far from the harbor?’ Imlan frowned.
‘It is necessary for Father, and us, to be in Palentis,’ Alexi replied.
‘But why? What is in Palentis that is so important?’ Imlan pressed.
‘You ask a lot of questions. Perhaps you should think before you speak,’ Alexi warned.
‘Sorry,’ Imlan mumbled, wondering why Alexi suddenly became so defensive.
The two men walked in silence until they reached a large building.
‘This is the inn where all the Elite Corpse stays when we’re in the city. The soldiers resides at another inn closeby’ Alexi told Imlan.
He held out five silver coins to Imlan and said, ‘Here, this is your allowance. Every man receives this after a long sea voyage.’
After handing Imlan the money and giving directions on how to reach the other inn, he went inside.
‘Alexi, come here,’ Father Zaconis called as soon as the warrior stepped through the door.
Alexi went to Father’s table and sat down. He waited patiently for the old wizard to speak first.
‘Alexi, I have a small task for you. Go to The House of Ladies and speak to Madam Jenneve. Tell her to send a pretty young girl to Imlan for the night. I will pay for the service,’ Father said.
‘Why would you do that, Father?’ Alexi stammered.
Before Father could answer, Alexi dropped his eyes and said, ‘Forgive me, Father. It is not for me to question your will. I will do so immediately.’
‘No need to apologize, Alexi. I will tell you why I want this done,’ Father smiled.
‘Thank you, Father,’ Alexi said respectfully.
‘I trust you will not mention this to anyone. When I took Imlan’s memories, a single memory stayed intact. This is a memory of love, the hardest to destroy. There is a woman named Lily that Imlan loved very much in his previous life. We need to make him forget her, but the only way to do this is to replace the love he felt for her with something else,’ Father explained.
Alexi nodded slowly. He vividly recalled the first time he had been with a young girl from The House of Ladies. He was very young and unsure of himself, but as soon as he tasted the pleasures only a woman can provide, he instantly fell in love with the girl. He did not understand then that she was simply providing a service for which she was being paid. He thought she was also in love with him and wanted her to run away with him. She agreed but the following morning she was gone. Some time later he saw her again at The House of Ladies. When he asked her why she had left, she said that she had to but that she will run away with him some other time. He frequently visited the girl and she made continuous promises to run away with him. One night, when he had no more money left, he went to The House of Ladies, but Madam Jenneve refused to let him see his love unless he paid first. It was then that Alexi realized that the girl was nothing more than a prostitute and very skilled at her profession. She never loved him but rather all the money he spent on her.
‘I understand, Father,’ Alexi said as he got up.
Father caught his arms and said, ‘Make sure
Imlan gets a room to himself tonight. He is already at odds with the other soldiers and I don’t want them seeing him with a pretty young thing. It will only serve to make them jealous and possibly start a fight.’
Alexi nodded and left. Once outside, he did not need to get his bearing first. He knew Celonis like the back of his hand.
Walking at a brisk pace he made his way to The House of Ladies.
Imlan lay on a bed in a small room. He did not understand why the inn keeper had given him a room to himself instead of making him sleep in one of the common rooms with the other soldiers. He was very grateful for this although it troubled him a little that the room was on the third storey of the building. He would have preferred to have had a room on the ground floor.
Imlan shot up as someone knocked on his door. Before he could say anything the door swung open.
A young woman entered holding a tray with some food and a glass of wine.
‘Are you Imlan?’ she asked shyly.
‘Yes, I am,’ he confirmed.
‘I have some food for you,’ she said, looking down at the tray.
‘Thank you, but I did not request any,’ Imlan frowned.
‘Oh. Well, I’ll take it back then. I just thought…’ she said.
She turned around while speaking so Imlan did not hear the rest.
‘What did you say?’ he called after her as she headed for the door.
She turned back and said, ‘I thought to bring you some food since you haven’t eaten yet, but if you don’t want it, I will understand,’ she said despondently.
‘Why are you so sad about this? It’s only food,’ Imlan asked.
‘If you don’t eat it, I will have to pay for it since I brought it here without you asking. I made a mistake, I’m sorry,’ she said.
She turned around to leave but Imlan called her back.
‘Please, bring the food in. I am quite hungry,’ he lied.
He fished in his pocket for the coins Alexi gave him earlier.
‘I don’t know how much these are worth,’ he said, looking down at the silver coins in his hand.
‘A copper is all I need for the food and wine,’ the woman replied.
‘I don’t have any of those. Will you take a silver instead?’ Imlan frowned.
‘A silver is worth a hundred coppers!’ the woman exclaimed.
‘Well, pay for the food and keep whatever is left. I don’t have much use for money,’ Imlan said as he held out the coin to her.
The girl put the tray down on the small table and took the money from Imlan.
‘Thank you,’ she said with a wide smile.
She picked up the tray again and held it out to Imlan. He took the wine, placed it on the floor next to the bed and then took the plate. The food did not look very appetizing but Imlan did not want to disappoint the girl so he decided to have the meal. After a few mouthfuls, he said, ‘What is your name?’
‘Lani,’ she answered.
‘I’m pleased to meet you, Lani,’ he replied.
Lani giggled shyly but did not reply.
Imlan took another bite of the stale bread. He looked up, straight into Lani’s big brown eyes. She dropped her gaze but Imlan knew she had been staring at him.
‘Uh…Imlan…would you…’ Lani said hesitantly, but then stopped talking.
‘Would I what?’ Imlan asked.
‘Forget it, I’m being too forward,’ Lani said shyly.
‘No, please ask what you wanted to,’ Imlan prodded.
‘Well, I was going to ask if I could sit with you for a while. It is very crowded in the dining hall and I don’t like the soldiers very much. They are a rude, barbaric bunch. I would much rather stay here for a while, if you would let me,’ she said without looking up.
‘I would like the company,’ Imlan lied. He would have much rather preferred to be alone, but did not have the heart to tell Lani this.
She sat down on the far end of the bed and said, ‘Thanks. I won’t stay long.’
‘Stay as long as you like, I don’t mind,’ Imlan lied again.
She gave him a shy smile in response.
Imlan stole a few glances at her between mouthfuls. She was an attractive, petite young woman although her breasts seemed a little large for her body. She wore a short red dress with a low neckline.
‘Did you arrive with Father Zaconis?’ Lani asked.
‘Yes, I did,’ Imlan responded. He took a sip of wine before continuing with his meal. Suddenly he felt impolite for eating and drinking in front of Lani. Picking up the glass, he held it out to her.
‘Here, have some wine,’ he offered.
‘Thank you,’ she said as she shifted closer and took the glass. She took a small sip and offered it back to Imlan.
‘You can have it. I don’t like the taste very much,’ he declined.
‘Shall I fetch you some beer?’ she asked.
Imlan shook his head as he held out his plate towards her.
‘This is too much for me. Please have some,’ he said.
Lani again shifted closer until she sat right next to Imlan, her leg touching his.
‘Thank you,’ she said as she took a small cube of meat.
The two ate in silence until the plate was empty. Lani took the plate, placed it on the table and sat down next to Imlan again, the wine glass in her left hand. Lani turned to face him, but knocked the glass against his leg spilling wine in his lap.
‘I’m so sorry!’ she apologized profusely as she tried to wipe the liquid away.
‘It’s fine,’ Imlan assured but Lani furiously attempted to dry the wine with her bare hands.
Imlan took her hands in his and said, ‘Really, it’s fine. I will wash these pants tomorrow.’
For a moment the two sat looking at each other, Lani’s hands resting in Imlan’s. Suddenly he realized one of her breasts was pushed up firmly against his arm. He dropped her hands and shifted away from her.
‘Your hands are so big and strong,’ Lani said as she reached over and placed her hand on his.
‘Uh…thanks,’ Imlan mumbled.
Tracing slow, circular patterns on the back of his hand, Lani moved her hand up his arm, softly stroking her way to his shoulder.
‘Do you like this?’ she asked.
Imlan did not answer, but he did not pull away from her either.
‘I love the way your skin feels under mine. Here, try it,’ she said softly as she took his hand and put it on her leg. Slowly she guided his hand up and down her leg.
‘I love the feeling of bare skin under my hands. Do you like it?’ she breathed in his ear, guiding his hand a little higher up her leg.
Imlan could feel his heart beating in his chest, his breathing growing shallower and faster the more Lani guided his hand higher and higher up her leg. She parted her legs a little, enough to fit his hand between them. Slowly she pushed his hand upwards. When his fingers were a hair’s breadth away from the place where her legs met, a vision of a woman with long blond curls suddenly flashed before his eyes. He could not see her face but instantly knew it was the woman who had been haunting his dreams.
Imlan yanked his hand from between Lani’s legs.
He shot up and said, ‘Please leave.’
‘Are you sure?’ Lani said as she lay down and pulled her red dress up to her waist.
Imlan’s eyes never left hers. He did not allow himself to take even the smallest glimpse at her body.
‘Leave! NOW!’ he growled at her.
‘But…’ Lani gasped. Seeing the hard look in his eyes made the words stick in her throat.
Silently she got up and left the room, slamming the door shut behind her.
Imlan watched form the shadows as Lani entered a building with no name or any other markings identifying it. After she had left, he swiftly slipped out of his room and followed her. He looked at every window in the building. Although there was light inside each of the rooms, curtains were drawn shut obstructing his view. Patiently he waited. A man walke
d up to the building, stopped in front of the door and looked around before he entered. A while later another man approached, looking around constantly before he also entered the building. A shadow fell on one of the curtains on the second storey. Imlan watched carefully. He could not be sure, but he thought the shadow looked like two people embracing. The shadows separated. He continued watching until he saw what looked like a woman slowly undressing. Suddenly it was crystal clear what this place was. Quietly he made his way back to the inn.
Lying on his bed, he wondered why Lani was trying to seduce him, and who paid her to do so.
‘Madam Jenneve, I could not get the man to lay with me,’ Lani said to the older woman in front of her. They were in a small room at the back of Madam Jenneve’s House of Ladies.
‘Lani, you are the best we have. Why did you fail?’ Madam Jenneve frowned.
‘I don’t know. I tried the shy, clumsy girl routine but moments before he succumbed to my advances he simply got up and ordered me to leave,’ Lani answered.
‘Interesting,’ Madam Jenneve said pensively.
‘I will try again,’ Lani offered.
‘No, you won’t. I will tell Zaconis they need to stay over one more night before returning to Palentis. Tomorrow, I will send Cathlin to him. Perhaps he prefers long blond hair and smaller breasts,’ Madam Jenneve replied.
‘As you wish,’ Lani said.
With a casual wave of the hand, Madam Jenneve dismissed Lani.
Chapter 16
Father Zaconis sat eating a breakfast comprising of fruits, cheese and salted meat when Alexi entered his room.
‘Father, Madam Jenneve reports that her girl was not able to get into Imlan’s bed,’ Alexi said.
‘Disappointing,’ Father sighed.
‘Madam Jenneve also requested that we stay another night in Celonis. She will send another girl to Imlan,’ Alexi added.
‘That suits me. A daraghna is due to arrive here tonight. If we stay, it will give me a chance to talk to it. I need to send it back to Mendin for Al’taish. Tell Jenneve we will stay,’ Father replied.
Alexi bowed his head and quickly left Father’s room to go tell Madam Jenneve she had another opportunity with Imlan.