“If it’s all the same to you, I’d like to increase my chances of staying alive a bit longer. If that means I have to wait until tomorrow, I’m okay with that. Besides,” I thought as I stifled a yawn, “I could use a bit of sleep.”
I had no idea how long I’d been awake. Station 52’s alarm bell had gone off around 7:30 AM, but how much time had passed as Barodan transported me to Agreon? I had walked for half a day, climbed the hill to the palace, got in two fights, and spent a few hours in jail. I could use a good night’s rest in a comfortable bed.
“Tonight, will you do us the honor of joining the feast for Sir Galfred?” the king asked as he clapped a hand on the knight’s shoulder. “We are celebrating his bravery and beseeching the Three Goddesses to bring him success. You would be welcome to attend. There’s nothing like a good meal to get a man ready for battle.”
“Of course I’ll attend.” The thought of a feast set my stomach rumbling. Dulgin’s soup had come close to being the worst thing I’d ever imagined eating, so I’d be glad for some food to get rid of the nasty taste it had left in my mouth.
“And, of course, you will be pleased to know the charges against you will be dropped,” the king continued. “After all, you did act in self-defense.”
“Thank you, your majesty.” I found myself giving him a little bow. Where had that come from? This world and its medieval customs were really getting to me. As I dipped, I caught a whiff of my clothing and wrinkled my nose. “Now, is there anywhere a guy can take a bath? I doubt you’d want me to show up at your party smelling like this.”
“Ooh, yes,” Nyvea said in a breathy voice. “Let’s get you out of those clothes.”
“Of course,” the king said, and a smile broadened his narrow face. “I’m certain something can be arranged.”
“Starting with these, right?” I asked as I raised the manacles. “If it’s all the same to you, I could do without the clunky jewelry.”
Fifteen minutes later, I stood in a bathing chamber connected to the small room the king had given me. A copper bathtub occupied half of the room, and there was a simple wooden shelf filled with towels of all sizes. A manservant, an older fellow with a prim face and thin lips, emptied the final bucket of hot water into the now-full tub then gave me a little bow before leaving the room.
Another servant, this one a blonde girl who looked about nineteen or twenty years old, added a few drops of oil into the tub, and the smell of roses rose with the steam.
“I’d be happy to help you, sir,” she said as she turned to me and began tugging at my belt.
The sudden movement caught me off guard, and it took me a moment to recover enough to protest. She had a pretty, round face, rosy cheeks, and sparkling green eyes framed by golden hair that hung down below her ample breasts all the way to her curving waist. As she leaned toward me, I caught the smell of lilies in her hair. Blood rushed to my cheeks as she pulled at my belt and the buckle of my pants.
“Er,” I stammered and tried to stumble out of her grip, “I-I can undress myself.”
“Are you sure?” Nyvea purred in my ear. “You should have a bit of fun with her. Just take my advice and let the pretty girl undress you. I can tell she wants to.”
The amulet’s comment made me blush even deeper, but I allowed the woman to loosen my belt.
“You have a very nice body,” the woman said as she pulled the belt out from the loops on my waist. “It’s a rare thing to see.”
“Rare?” I asked as she reached for my shirt.
“Yes,” her eyes flashed to mine, and then she pulled my shirt off over my head. “Haven’t you noticed that you are larger than most of the men in the castle? You must have good food in your homeland.”
“Yeah,” I said.
“Wow,” she gasped as she stared at my chest. “Those tattoos are beautiful. Can I touch them?”
“Oh, please say yes,” Nyvea purred.
“Sure,” I replied to the blonde woman, and she raised her fingers to trace the dark lines over my heart.
The young woman’s face was turning red, and she bit her bottom lip as her fingers ran to my shoulder and down my arm. Her eyes flashed up to mine, but neither of us spoke for a few moments.
“Sooo uhhh, I don’t know your name,” I said to break the silence.
“Lilia,” she whispered as the palm of her hand slid down my chest and moved to remove my pants. “And you are Ethan. Everyone is talking about how you beat up the Gray Hunters in the jail.”
“Word travels fast in the castle,” I chuckled as she opened my pants.
“As I said, we don’t often get a man like you here.” She pulled down my pants so that I was only in my underwear, and I stepped free. It seemed all sorts of crazy that I’d gone from being in a jail cell, to being undressed and pampered by a beautiful woman, but I wasn’t going to complain.
“The Gray Hunters seemed pretty, tough,” I said as I noticed her eyes stare at the bulge at the front of my underwear.
“Huh?” she blinked and then looked up into my eyes.
“Ohhhh, she wants you so bad, Ethan. This is just a taste of what you will have once they all know of your power.”
“I was just asking about… ahh,” I sighed when she slowly slid down my underwear.
“Wow,” Lilia said as soon as my penis flopped free. The combination of her hands on my body and Nyvea’s voice in my head had made me rock hard, and the serving girl’s eyes looked all sorts of hungry.
I could guess what was going to happen next, but it all seemed to be moving too fast, so I turned away and stepped toward the bath.
“Ethan, Ethan, Ethan, what are you doing?” Nyvea tsked in my mind.
“It’s been a while since I’ve bathed,” I told Lilia as I stepped into the hot water. “I dunno if you can--”
“I’ll help you, of course,” she interrupted me as she moved to the edge of the big tub and reached for the nearby soap. “Just let me clean you while you sit back and relax.”
The warmth of the water soon took over, and every part of my body relaxed as Lilia’s hands rubbed the soap over my shoulders, chest, and arms. I slid down into the tub, rested my head on the rim, and closed my eyes while she worked, but my heart was beating double time in my chest, and I began to think about the ways I could get the pretty girl to join me in the water.
“How long have you worked here?” I asked as I closed my eyes.
“My whole life,” she whispered as her hands moved down to my stomach. “It is pretty boring, actually. We don’t get many visitors because of the dragons, and hopelessness is always in the air. That is why the whole castle is so energetic right now. We are hopeful that Sir Galfred and the Gray Hunters will finally put an end to the dragons.”
“Yeah,” I said. “I noticed that the city seems to be in poor spirits and the castle is in need of upkeep. Not that I’m complaining. It is still a really nice place.”
“I understand,” she said. “This is our last chance to beat them. Sir Galfred has a magical axe that should do the trick, and the Gray Hunters are famed for defeating other dragons.”
“Really?” I asked as she moved around the tub and reached for my feet.
“That is the rumor,” Lilia said as she massaged soap into the arches of my feet. The feeling was incredible, and I let out a long moan that made her smile.
“That’s really damn good,” I said after she had spent a few minutes massaging my foot. “Do all the guests here get this treatment?”
“No,” she said with a shy grin as she reached for my other foot. “You are very handsome, and you are talking to me. Most people just ignore servants. You are a nice man, Ethan.”
“I know what it is like to work a hard job,” I said.
“Oh?” she asked.
“Yeah…” I paused as I tried to think of a story that didn’t involve me being teleported to this world by a supernatural guardian. “I used to cut down trees. People need firewood, but they don’t really give much thanks to those
that do the work.”
“My father was a woodsman!” she said with a wide smile. “I agree, it is a thankless and hard job.”
“So is taking care of people.” I smiled at her, and her cheeks blushed a beautiful red hue.
“I am done with your feet,” she said a few minutes later as she set my foot back in the hot soapy water. “There is still an hour before the feast, I can continue to rub your shoulders, or… I can rub anywhere else you like.” Lilia moved around the side of the tub toward my back, and her fingers traced along my muscular arms.
“I can think of another part of my body that needs attention,” I said.
“Oh?” she asked in a breathless whisper.
“This is so exciting. Close the deal, Ethan. I want to see you make this pretty thing yours.” Nyvea’s words were a growl of excitement.
“Well, my lips,” I said to the pretty blonde girl, and she quickly bent down to kiss me.
We moaned together when our mouths touched, and her fingers ran through my hair with an urgent need. We both gasped when we finished our kiss, and her breathing became sighs of excitement.
“Get in here.” I beckoned to her.
Lilia giggled and then bit her bottom lip as she pulled her simple dress over her head and dropped it into a pile beside the tub. She wore nothing underneath, and I felt myself harden even more as my eyes ran over her naked body. She was slim and willowy, with perky breasts, a flat stomach, and the hips of a dancer. A sensuous look filled her eyes as she lifted one long leg and stepped into the tub.
Water splashed as Lilia lowered herself onto my lap, and I inhaled her soft scent of fresh-picked flowers. She leaned forward to press her breasts against my face, and she reached down to guide me where she wanted. She gave a little moan of delight as she pushed herself down on top of me, and then I was fully inside her. I gasped with pleasure at the slickness of her body, and my hands reached around her narrow waist so that I could push deeper into her warmth.
Slowly, we rocked back and forth, our breath becoming faster and more erratic, until water splashed out of the tub and soaked the floor of the bathroom with the force of our pleasure.
Half an hour later, I strode from the bathroom with a towel wrapped around my waist and found that someone had laid an outfit out for me on the bed. The long cotton shirt was a soft blue, and the leather pants were a brown so dark they were almost black. A thick black belt sat folded off to one side, and someone had polished my boots to a mirror shine.
I turned as Lilia strode from the bathroom behind me, and I let my eyes wander over her slim body as she slipped into her dress. It was disappointing when she pulled the straps up over her shoulders and concealed all the delicious contours of her body I’d just finished enjoying, but I reasoned that we didn’t have enough time to go for another round.
“Have you seen my clothes?” I asked as I looked around my room.
“We’ve sent them to be laundered, Ethan,” she replied and gestured to the outfit on the bed. “I hope these are the proper fit.”
“Oh, great.” I was about to drop my towel to get dressed, but hesitated as I felt her eyes roving my body.
“I can help you get dressed,” she said.
“I have a feeling that will just lead to me being late for the feast,” I said with a laugh.
“It probably would,” she agreed sadly. “I don’t want to get you in trouble.”
“I’ll take care of it myself. Umm… Thanks for the bath. I ahhh...”
“I should be the one thanking you,” she said as her cheeks blushed. “If you need anything, please let me know.” She leaned close and batted her long eyelashes at me. “Anything at all.” With a little curtsy and one last glance at my bare chest, Lilia left the room and shut the door behind her.
I let out a happy sigh when she left and then turned toward my clothes. Tomorrow, I would depart to hunt dragons. The thought seemed so strange, but strange was par for the course today. I’d carry out Barodan’s quest and kill enough of the dragons that he could gather the power he needed to send me home. I just hoped it didn’t take him too long. This world was nice, but I wanted to get back home.
Did the guys at Station 52 think I was dead?
That thought was enough to ruin my mood. My parents were the last of the family I’d known, and they’d died four years earlier in the fire. I had no grandparents, uncles, aunts, or cousins, and not much in the way of real friends. Medical school then the Chicago Fire Academy didn’t leave much room for a social life.
Would anyone miss me? I knew the CFD would hold a funeral for me, and they would bury an empty casket with honors. But how long until life went on for Boscoe, Freeman, Mendez, Lieutenant Greene, and the rest of the guys at Station 52?
“If you died, I’d miss you,” Nyvea said. “You’re the best master I’ve ever served.”
That piqued my interest. I sat up and opened my eyes.
“Have you had a lot of masters before, Nyvea?” I asked.
“A few,” she replied coyly.
“Tell me about them. What were they like? What did you help them do? Did you teach them magic like you’re going to teach me?”
“So many questions.” I sensed her trying to dodge the question again. “I’ve served Barodan for many years, don’t worry about the others. They aren’t as fun as you.”
“So there have been others before me? Have they tried to slay all the dragons?”
“Oh no, handsome. Barodan has tried to help multiple worlds, and I have assisted other potential heroes, but I never liked any of them the way I like you. You’re…” Hesitance came from the gemstone, and a long moment passed before she answered. “…good. All of them had things that made them great, but you are better than them. Your character, your strength of will, the desire to do good things, that’s something which sets you apart. I like that about you.” Her voice took on a teasing tone. “The fact that you’re very handsome helps, of course.”
“Thanks, Nyvea,” I said. “I’m grateful that you have helped me.”
“Just doing my job, Ethan. Now, as much as I like seeing you with just a towel on, you should see if those fancy new clothes fit.”
“Sounds like a plan,” I said as I reached for them. The clothes fit surprisingly well. The pants were a bit snug in the crotch, and it took me a few minutes to figure out the belt situation. There were no loops, but the pants had a drawstring to pull them tight around my waist. The belt was intended to be worn atop the tunic, like I’d seen in all those pictures of Medieval Europe. The shirt, however, was made of material far softer than anything I’d felt on Earth, and it felt amazing against my bare skin as I moved.
“Shame to cover up all that good-looking body,” Nyvea sighed.
“You did just ask me to get changed,” I chuckled.
“I know, but I changed my mind as soon as you put the clothes on.”
“I don’t think the king will want me to show up to his party in the buff,” I replied.
“I know I would if I was queen. Especially after I just watched you in the bathtub with Lilia. Hmmmmm.”
Nyvea’s words, along with the thought of me walking naked through the grand chamber brought a smile to my face, and I laughed as I exited my room and made my way to where I thought the feast would be.
My chambers were located in the guest wing of the palace. The furnishings were simple and tasteful, with colorful tapestries and paintings hanging on the wall, ornately carved shelves, and soft, bright carpets. However, the moment I stepped out of the guest wing into the ornate ballroom, I couldn’t help letting out a gasp of surprise.
It seemed a thousand candles twinkled in the chandelier, and the room was filled with a soft, warm glow. The white marble floor had been polished to a gleaming shine, as had all the ornate silver candlesticks, lantern-holders, and lamps decorating the room. Massive wooden tables spanned the length of the grand ballroom, and hundreds of people wearing rich medieval clothing sat on benches on both sides.
; The sound of laughter and conversation filled the room amid a festive melody. A troupe of musicians playing a variety of lutes, guitars, and flutes sat off to one side of the feasting hall, and they played a lively tune that seemed to lend a brightness to the chamber.
My stomach growled at the delightful mixture of smells: honey-glazed hams, roasted suckling pigs, massive haunches of beef, fragrant rosemary and sage-rubbed poultry, fresh-baked bread, spiced wine, and a dozen more. It took all of my self-control not to rush to the table and dig into the food, but I forced myself to wait until a uniformed servant led me to a seat.
I was placed at a low table just beside the grand table where King Obragar sat. A broad smile creased the king’s face as he leaned over to talk to the woman at his left, and I saw his eyes dart toward me.
My jaw dropped as I got a good look at the young woman he spoke to. She had the king’s narrow face and yellow-blonde hair, but the resemblance ended there, so I wasn’t quite sure if she was related to him. Her lips were a rosy red that matched perfectly the flush of her cheeks, and she had a way of wrinkling her button nose as she smiled. That smile could have given Helen of Troy a run for her money. Her heavy, sequined dress clung to her figure with a low-cut front that showed just enough of her perfectly round breasts to fill my head with thoughts that would make a monk squirm.
“She is delicious looking. Maybe she is the king’s mistress? Maybe you can make her your mistress?” Nyvea’s voice practically panted in my mind.
“Who is that?” I asked as I elbowed the person on the seat beside me.
“The princess, of course,” slurred the man, a pudgy, red-faced fellow who had clearly enjoyed too much of the king’s good wine.
“Ohhh, even better. A ripe young princess who will need to be ravished by the heroic dragon slayer…” Nyvea’s voice trailed off.
“Shhh, you aren’t helping,” I hissed under my breath, but I couldn’t help watching the princess as she ate. She was graceful and delicate as she nibbled a bit of chicken, picked at a piece of puff pastry filled with a sweet crème, and sipped her wine.
Dragon Slayer: A Pulp Fantasy Harem Adventure Page 8