I was stunned. Sylvia couldn't leave the Narimac. It had never occurred to me that her magic could. Or was it the fact that it was Taliesine's spell, first?
Taliesine turned to Aressine. "I am sorry if I caused you undue worry. It was not my intention to harm either of you.""You may have said certain things, in my presence, when you believed that I was dead. I was not expecting to eavesdrop, or to hear sentiments which probably would not have been expressed if you knew that I was alive."- "You don't have to apologize to us. Well, to me, anyway. Sorry." I said, to Aressine.- "I understand why you didn't tell us, Taliesine." she said. "But I was frightened. I really thought you were dead."- "That decision was taken in haste. I may not have made the best choice ... for all concerned."- "She didn't think that I could keep the secret." said Kima. She still looked half furious, and only half relieved. "She was pr- "Well, there is a way to prevent it from happening again." she said. "Ken could buy you the house next door." It wasn't as crazy as it sounded. Sylvia wasn't simply floating an idea that had just occurred to her. - "We have more than enough money." she told me. - "What about the research for your spell?" I whispered. - "We can easily to buy another house. Or several houses. In fact, it would be a wise investment, against the day when the Narimac is no longer here." - "Really?" - "You could sell them, at some time in the future, if you needed money. Or you could rent them to lodgers, and provide yourself with a regular income." - "How do you know so much, when you've never set foot outside this place?" It wasn't a real question; no answer was required. I was just amazed by my partner - again. Pamna and Fhaernala weren't sure that they wanted to be housemates, but the idea of a l
I was scared shitless. There's no shame in admitting it, as far as I'm concerned. How would you have felt, moving silently through a dark, creepy forest in the middle of the night, carrying two magic sticks - while trying to sneak up on a dragon? Not my idea of a pleasant way to spend an evening, that's for damn sure. I'm a street rat, born and bred; I don't belong in the woods. Especially not when there's a bloody dragon involved. Ah, I hear you ask: but why was I moving towards said giant reptile, and not away from it, as quickly as possible? Stupidity can't be ruled out, of course. But mostly it comes from an inability to say no. Also, it was Jim Davis who was asking. Hard fellow to say 'No' to. He got his nickname from the blood which frequently splashed his armour, and then ran down to stain his trousers. - "C'mon, Ken." he'd said, two weeks earlier. "You owe me. You know you do." I did. He'd helpe
If it's so simple, why don't you do it? Of course I didn't say that aloud. It always amazes how people think that my part of my job is something that a trained monkey could do in his sleep. Meanwhile, their task is a matter of the utmost skill and timing ... Jim spoke up for me. "Ken works well under pressure. And if he needs to improvise ... well, there's no one else I'd rather have in there." That makes one of us, I thought. "Well be close behind." he said, to me. "The moment you light those sticks, we'll attack. Believe me: we'll get that dragon's full attention. After that, if you see an opportunity to do something useful from behind, or from the flank ... well, feel free." Jim put a meaty paw on my shoulder. "This is the big one, Ken. If we pull this off, we'll be able to retire, and live in luxury." He gave me a smile and a wink. *** That was how I found myself sneaking through an acid-blasted forest
I could see underneath the dragon, between its legs, as Jim hewed with his sword, and sheered a claw off the monster's back foot. The big fighter had suggested that I might be able to contribute, somehow. I didn't see how my rapier, or my dagger would make much of an impression. It would have to be my pistols. But there was no point trying to put a ball through the dragon's scales. I needed to find a soft spot. Underneath, perhaps? Four skeletal apparitions surged from the ground, directly in front of Sazz. I don't know what Carpon what doing, but he couldn't possibly reload that massive musketoon in time. The dragon retaliated. He clawed at Jim - which missed. Then he spewed acid at the necromancer - which didn't. There wouldn't be much of Sazz left, after this fight, to bury. That's assuming that we would be around to bury him. Somehow, the dragon also found the time to swing his tail again. I wasn't able to dodge completely. It felt
- "Wait." said the redhead. - "I don't trust him." said the one I took to be Syrava. She had pale, reddish blonde hair, and dark eyes. The pout on her lips made her look childish and petulant. If I was not mistaken, there was a touch of the fey about her. When you've a mixed heritage of your own, you tend to see it in others more easily. At least, that's been my experience. - "I'm unarmed." I pointed out. "I know a couple of minor spells, which I can convert to healing. I'm no threat to you. I'm offering to help." - "That's very nice of you." said Earrings. She offered her hand to help me stand up. - "Careful." growled the redhead. We circled the carcass of the dragon. Even dead, it was still impressive - though not so terrifying as last night. Aressine turned out to be the tall warrior I'd seen, charging alongside the redhead. She had her helmet off, and was sitting on a shattered tree stump, still in her armor
Kima's opinion had probably carried more weight. However they had decided, I wasn't about to complain. I was still alive, and I'd be bringing home some loot. - "We'll borrow your wagons until we get back to the city. After that, they're yours to sell, or keep - as you will." she added. - "Thank you." The rest of the day was one long ordeal of lifting and carrying. The dragon's hoard - and it was considerable - had to be separated, and then carried to the wagons. There were coins of every size and shape. Copper, bronze, silver, and gold, plus a few metals I didn't recognize. A numismatist would have been coming in his pants. But then he or she didn't have to bag the damn things, and then carry them to the wagons. It's amazing how heavy coins are, when they belong to someone else. Only one in thirteen would be mine - and then a tenth, or possibly even a fifth would have to paid to the pirate Lords. And I fully intended to pay
That night, I used my tongue to bring her to a climax. She cried out, loudly, as she reached her peak. That brought Fhaernala and Kima running, as if they thought that I was attacking her.- "Pamna! Are you alright?" shouted Kima.- "Better than alright ..." she murmured.- "What happened?"- "What happened? His tongue happened ..." said Pamna.An embarrassed silence followed, which I enjoyed immensely. The redhead and the elf left without saying goodnight.- "You did that deliberately." I whispered to Pamna.- "What? Well, maybe ... a little."We lay together again on the last night before we reached the city. I had just spent between her thighs, and brought her to orgasm with my fingers. We were lying close together. I was well aware, though, that this represented a milestone, of sorts.- "Ken?"- "Mmm?"- "What do you think of me? Honestly - please."
If the Gods really existed, Mehdawi would have been a saint, wielding a magical rod of healing. Instead, he toiled in obscurity. Only the sick and dying knew his name.- "That's wonderful, Ken." he said. "But ... do you have a moment?"An hour later, after casting three healing spells, I left the Gale. Braida and his friend were relieved to hear that we were going uphill.First stop: a tailor, where I bought three new sets of clothes. Then a weaponsmith, to purchase another rapier.Second stop: my old room. I paid what I owed, collected a few belongings, and left. A few streets away, I acquired a new room, depositing a month's rent in advance. I stashed some clothing and the new rapier there. After that, a gun shop, for a little more powder and ball.We dropped in at my second room, where I also paid a month's rent in advance.The next stop was a dress shop, owned by Jim's last girlfriend. I suspected he was planning
- "Well, there is a way to prevent it from happening again." she said. "Ken could buy you the house next door." It wasn't as crazy as it sounded. Sylvia wasn't simply floating an idea that had just occurred to her. - "We have more than enough money." she told me. - "What about the research for your spell?" I whispered. - "We can easily to buy another house. Or several houses. In fact, it would be a wise investment, against the day when the Narimac is no longer here." - "Really?" - "You could sell them, at some time in the future, if you needed money. Or you could rent them to lodgers, and provide yourself with a regular income." - "How do you know so much, when you've never set foot outside this place?" It wasn't a real question; no answer was required. I was just amazed by my partner - again. Pamna and Fhaernala weren't sure that they wanted to be housemates, but the idea of a l
I was stunned. Sylvia couldn't leave the Narimac. It had never occurred to me that her magic could. Or was it the fact that it was Taliesine's spell, first? Taliesine turned to Aressine. "I am sorry if I caused you undue worry. It was not my intention to harm either of you." "You may have said certain things, in my presence, when you believed that I was dead. I was not expecting to eavesdrop, or to hear sentiments which probably would not have been expressed if you knew that I was alive." - "You don't have to apologize to us. Well, to me, anyway. Sorry." I said, to Aressine. - "I understand why you didn't tell us, Taliesine." she said. "But I was frightened. I really thought you were dead." - "That decision was taken in haste. I may not have made the best choice ... for all concerned." - "She didn't think that I could keep the secret." said Kima. She still looked half furious, and only half relieved. "She was pr
No such luck. Cremyne was a crazy bitch - but she'd make all of us suffer if I pushed her too far. - "If ... if I tell you what the problems are ... you'll give them a quick death?" I whispered. - "Absolutely." said Cremyne. Another lie. She was already angry. Boutan and Naomi, Kima ... and Aressine were going to endure torment before they died - all because of Cremyne. I'd been wrong again. All these weeks, I'd been wondering why Syrava hated me so much, and how she could turn, so viciously, on her former friends. But the fey wizard was only part of the picture. Cremyne was just as bad - or even worse. Plan C, then. Three pathetic little spells, and a slim blade in my boot. That's when I saw the shadow on the stairs. Aressine might have noticed it. Boutan and Naomi probably couldn't see, from where they were. Nor could Samadar, who was still standing next to them. Kima, of course, was facing t
- "Denya, you met her. She had the personality of a horned lizard. What was to like?" - "You hated her, then?" - "No, dummy. I respected her. Taliesine couldn't have cared less whether I liked her or hated her guts. Most of the people I've met who didn't care were assholes. But you have to admire someone - who isn't a complete asshole - who genuinely doesn't give a shit what people think of them." - "That's definitely not you." said Denya. "You try too hard to make everybody like you. And I'm not a dummy." - "Yeah, you are." I said, prodding her with my dagger. "When I called you a dummy, you got upset, and you totally missed me drawing my dagger and transferring it to my left hand." - "FUCK!" Denya was seriously ticked off. Not at me - at herself. I went to find Mehdawi. That night was the rarest of occurrences: a quiet time at the Gale. He only needed me to cast one spell. After that, he open
Syrava's spell was broken as she fled. I lurched forward, off-balance. There was no sign of Samadar now, either. He had crawled away, and then melted into the shadows. The gargoyles dropped the dead crossbow-woman to the ground. Thaak stood for a moment, admiring his handiwork. Aacah loomed up beside me. - "Help." I got out. "Help me carry Aressine. Careful -" Aacah bent over, and scooped my girlfriend up in her arms. Aressine screamed as the shattered bones in her hip ground together. Then she passed out. The two gargoyles helped me carry my injured companions to the Narimac. We created quite a stir when we entered through the front doors. Sylvia was there. Thank all the Gods - my partner took charge of us. The gargoyles took us upstairs, where Sylvia had a look at Taliesine. Then she switched her attention to Aressine. Neither woman was making any noise. - "Crossbow bolts.
- "You don't want to hear me trying, sweetheart." - "Please? Just a little bit?" - "Don't ask. You'll regret it. Take my word for it." She wouldn't stop. She continued to plead with me, to harp, to badger, to cajole ... but I knew how to make her quit. I sang four verses of a well-known sailor's shanty. What will you do with a drunken sailor? What will you do with a drunken sailor? What will you do with a drunken sailor, Earl-eye in the mornin' Aressine took it like a warrior. Her eyes watered, a little, but she didn't run away. - "I see." she said. "You were right." There's a first time for everything. *** Aressine and I were entwined, in the spoon position, with my erection buried inside her. We weren't thrashing about, though - it was our third lovemaking session of the day, after all. We were in no hurry. - "HA!!" I heard, from halfway across the
"I didn't want to put you in danger." I said. "I think you already are, though. I'm sorry about that." She took my hand in both of hers. - "What's the alternative, Ken? To live at the Narimac, and never go outside? Or to cut yourself off from everyone you know, so that no one but you is in danger?" She was remarkably perceptive; I'd been thinking along those very lines, only a few nights ago. It sounded sillier when she said it that way. "Your friends would rather support you, and help. You can't expect us to let you face your adversaries alone." We sat in silence for a moment. Then I remembered something she'd said earlier. - "You said that you'd been thinking, too." - "Yes." I didn't press her. I did reach over, with my free hand, to stroke her fingertips. Other than that, I just waited. Aressine was not an impetuous person; more often than not, she was very deliberate, taking her
- "Better." I said. "Who is your employer?" - "Jerian, the Younger." Technically, I suppose, that was true. I decided to let it pass, for the moment, and let Teeshay think that she'd gotten away with one. - "Have you slept with him?" She hesitated for a moment. "Yes." That gave me a sudden inspiration. "Who else have you slept with, in the past month?" Her jaw dropped. "Are you serious?" - "Very. Who else?" - "You, for one." Then, reluctantly, Teeshay proceeded to name nine more men. Three were independent pirate captains; three were members of Inavar's crews. The last trio were one of Ledomir's captains, his first mate, and a man whose name meant nothing to us. Teeshay glanced at Sylvia, quickly, as she finished her list. - "All true." said the Jasmi. "But she left out two men, and two women." Teeshay could only stare at my partner, her mouth open. - "That counts
- "We've met." said the dark-skinned, dark-eyed asshole that I'd encountered at the Eagle - when he claimed that I was sitting at his table. He'd shaved his head for the occasion. His voice was just as cold, just as expressionless as the first time I'd heard it. "I remember Master Ken." he said. "I remember him very well." Had we been meeting outdoors, I would've been reaching for my pistols. They wouldn't dare to try anything at a party, in a crowd - would they? Pirate Lord Rymogo extricated me from what might have become an awkward situation. She threw an arm around my shoulder, and shouted in my ear. - "Ken! I was looking for you!" Then she pretended to catch sight of Jerian's party. "Jerian." she said, coolly. - "Rymogo." he answered, equally cool. "You know my wife, Cremyne." Then he had to introduce the rest of his party. They were - understandably - much more polite to old Rymogo than they'd been to me. She gree