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Lord Storm Nattas
Way easier going down
Part I
-You gotta love them girls of Aegium-
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The heat coming from the open windows was suffocating to Lord Nattas. The palace had a high ceiling in its main Hall, but living in the city of Alden for almost a year with small intervals had him forget that summer came early at Regia’s south coast. As the locals said, Springs smell of Summer in Aegium.
“I had the man sleeping in my home, Lord Doris,” Lord Brakis protested in his booming voice, face flushed and sporting another layer of lard gained during the winter. “For a week! It’s not a hostel and my wife is a mean inhospitable woman for crying out loud! Why, praise be the gods Primus Molders got out while he still could!”
“I wanted him in Illirium for a reason, Lord Brakis,” Doris hissed. His head had gone purely grey in a couple of months after his son was killed and never stopped losing its color since. The man appeared to have aged ten years in that period. “So we can have the time to work on a solution. The Queen’s mourning time is running out. This needs a careful resolution.”
“It’s what he said, so my wife spared him,” Lord Brakis deadpanned.
“And now he’s here,” Lord Doris grunted.
“Lord Sula will support the war against King Antoon,” Sir Cato said standing up and Storm grimaced having an ulcer in his stomach that bothered him these past days. More like a fully formed hole, given all he had to deal with.
“This a decision King Jeremy should make,” The man representing Lord Ursus argued. “And not the Queen Regent.”
“Has Lord Holt sent the reinforcements for the First Legion?” Lord Brakis queried with a sigh.
“He hasn’t sent us anything yet,” Lord Doris replied. Lord Holt had made a huge fuss over the loss of the King’s sword and despite agreeing on Miranda’s ascension, Storm didn’t believe the old goat was fully committed to her. “We are in communication.”
“Shouldn’t the Queen’s Shield be where the Queen is?” Ursus man argued again, faking outrage. Sir Will Turner, a former orphan from Lesia who’d managed to elevate himself near the Lord of Novesium. Ursus favors the young man so much is the word, Sir Turner might as well be his son and perhaps the lad is, Storm thought.
Or he knows how to suck a mean cock.
“The Queen Regent hasn’t named a Shield yet, Sir Turner. We must consider Lord Holt’s advanced age given this opportunity.”
Hmm. What opportunity?
“Can we repel another attack from the High King?” Lord Brakis asked and the conversation went for another round of endless arguments either in favor of continuing aggression, or opting for a peace treaty. With the King dead, someone had to make the decision.
Sir Lucius ‘New Duchy’ up in the North had shook Kaltha and combined with the ever expanding war on Eplas with the Khan’s forces, it had probably saved them. Storm could see no other reason for Kaltha retreating to Riverdor.
Officially it was done to honor the passing of King Alistair and obviously they had taken a hard licking from the late King.
But you had to be dumber than a bag of hammers to believe either of those reasons.
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“Lord Nattas,” Doris said stopping him from getting out of his Hall. “You were quiet.”
No I wasn’t. I was breathing heavily, trying not to die in your furnace.
“I was listening to all sides, Lord Treasurer,” Storm replied glancing at the White Tower of Aegium that dominated the central square and was clearly visible from the large open window. Miranda staying there for security reasons, until the defense of the city was strengthened.
Another fallacy, as Aegium had no outer walls.
“There are no other sides, Lord Nattas. Only Regia,” Doris replied poignantly.
Haha.
Why don’t you just drop dead and spare me the coin and temptation of killing you?
“Will Regia fight the High King?” He asked instead.
“There will be no fight. We can’t afford it.”
Obviously Lord Doris confused Regia’s purse with his.
“What if he invades? Can we afford that?” Storm asked mockingly.
Doris grimaced. “What is this? Suddenly you’re for war Nattas?”
“I thought the Queen Regent hasn’t decided yet, nor talked with Antoon’s man,” Storm dodged. “You appear certain on her mind, Lord Doris.”
“The… Queen Regent will need help. A helping hand, to navigate this transition,” Doris explained and Storm nodded blankly.
“What about Lord Holt?”
“The old man is all bark, but what can he do? He’ll fall in line,” Doris explained. “We must all work together.”
“Antoon might find himself in a bind right now, but he has more forces at his disposal,” Storm said. “The Queen Regent can’t show weakness Lord Doris. What does Lord Ruud say?”
“He wants Prince Jeremy on the throne,” Doris replied.
Of course.
“Will he fight the High King?”
“He’s on our side Lord Nattas.”
“That’s not what I asked Lord Doris,” Storm retorted and Doris Alden pressed his mouth tight.
“You’re not a Lord, am I right?” He said looking at him sadly. “As a matter of fact, you’re at this position in the Council out of a dead Queen’s whim. When a new Council is formed, I’m not sure if that same goodwill would be there Nattas.”
You rotten piece of shite!
“That dead Queen is Prince Jeremy’s mother Lord Doris and I was installed by a King,” Storm reminded him, his face tensed.
Lord Doris nodded. “Hmm, you were that’s true. That will be all Lord Nattas. You may leave my palace.”
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Fucking retarded and bloated pig!
Storm thought furious, walking towards the expecting Secundus.
“How did it go?” His man asked and Storm snarled, before managing to control himself. He breathed slowly for a full minute, staring at the happy-faced young women going about their morning visits to Aegium’s market. The locals loved to walk, since animals were a bother and a drain on resources. Water was expensive in Aegium.
The first Aldens’ that reached the spot between the two raised plateaus were impressed. The first of the flat-top rises hollow and containing the bottom of an ancient salt-water lake, the other raised comfortably on its southern side to stop the worst of the scalding winds from reaching the Salt Coast, the fine white sands there hugged by palm trees enticing. They built a tower first and it now protruded like a sore thumb at the center of the city and made plans of walls reaching from one plateau to the other, but everyone wanted to stay near the coast, started building there and the city planners gave up on replicating Alden.
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The city grew around its different sprouting neighborhoods, following nice straight lines and traditional Lorian well paved roads. Spacious villas and many shades of white to combat the heat, dominated the large open city. Abundance of clean water being the only thing it lacked, despite the creation of large reservoirs at each of its eight neighborhoods. The finest salt in all of Jelin the product that made its citizens wealthy. More people worked the ‘Salt Fields’ at Aegium than corn or barley.
Ah, there you fucking go, Storm thought eyeing a bronzed blond woman, dampening her legs with a wet cloth near a well, after she paid the well’s manager. That’s just what’s needed to get a man going. The visage of the famous cock-throbbing enactment of ‘naked girl cleans dirty toes thoroughly’ in the mid of the city’s square!
“It went nowhere,” He answered his patient lackey’s query and stared at the mass of the square White Tower to calm himself and cock down. “Is the man paid?”
“He is,” Secundus said and returned his eyes on the washing and thinly dressed woman. It has to be noted Secundus and Storm were the only people present gawking at her. A fact not lost on the drenched in sweat Lord Nattas, who cleared his throat and pulled himself together.
“Well get us moving for fuck’s sake!” He blasted Secundus. “The cursed sun is bouncing off of those stupid marble tiles and is roasting my face from both fuckin’ sides! I’m about to go blind here, afore I die of sunstroke!”
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Sir Arthur Tatum eyed him as he approached, the climb up the narrow staircase tiresome and dangerous if one attempted it without a steel helm. Storm made to greet him, but a pretty handmaiden opened the door leading to the Queen Regent’s temporary quarters and ushered him inside afore he had a chance to attempt it.
Nattas paused to get his breathing under control and the young Lorian girl found her seat at this antechamber. The large third floor of the White Tower had been split in two unequal parts, with a thick blue ceiling-high curtain playing the role of a short-term divider.
“You can enter, Lord Nattas,” The servant said with a husky Aegium accent, tanned face making her blond curls pop out more. Storm grimaced, not likening being easily recognized in a city he hadn’t set foot in a decade, but remained silent and pushed the opening aside to enter Miranda’s quarters.
The Queen Regent raised her head, gold hair gathered in an elaborate bun and the silver bejeweled tiara she wore blinking in the strong light. There were four large windows on this ‘unsafe’ tower fully opened and with their curtains drawn, offering a great view of the main square, the market at the distance, Lord Doris palace in the west and the old palm trees copse that hugged the edge of the plateau Aegium was half built on.
Eh, Storm thought, eyes on the royal bosom struggling to keep itself in the tiny confines of Miranda’s reinforced corset-type top that left her shoulders bare. You don’t see them beauties for a week and they loom way larger than you remembered them.
Abrakas you horny dog.
Have a modicum of shame for crying out loud!
“Lord Nattas,” Miranda said and approached him, those Alden eyes ravenous and shameless. “We feared you left us for the Capital.”
Would if I fuckin’ could.
“Queen Regent,” Storm replied and kept his distance, when she came dangerously close, her breathing testing the silk material to its limits. “That will never happen.”
“We are amongst friends Storm,” Miranda said dropping the act.
“New friends. In fact I’m certain I wasn’t introduced—”
“Marcela is loyal.”
“Does she know?” Storm asked not convinced, having heard the same answer from people moments before they got betrayed by close family.
Most of these hapless fools had ended up dead.
“No she doesn’t, but she might,” Miranda replied and reached for his right hand.
Storm gulped down. “Let’s keep it that way.”
Miranda brought his hand on her heart, but all Nattas got out of the experience was a handful of soft and swelled flesh.
Darn fingers squeezing at it unwittingly.
It started a mere spasm and had turned into a mini-grip.
Let go of her god-darn tit ye buffoon!
“Can you feel it?” She asked him, as if he could feel anything else at that moment, though her words admittedly went down a different road. “My heart is racing with excitement, see?” Oh, there is plenty of fuckin’ excitement honey and an unyielding, rigid hardness. “My-my, your hands are shaking as well Storm,” She continued and stared into his eyes hypnotically. “You are positively teeming with excitement. There’s no point denying it.”
Truer words had never been spoken dear, but half of it is fear and I ain’t denying shite.
You are missing the darn point!
“This isn’t Alden Miranda,” He murmured instead and removed his hand, an impression of it remaining on her sheeny flesh. “Even the windows are wide open.”
“This isn’t a social visit Lord Nattas?” She asked him coolly.
“You are to meet with Lord Molders. The High King’s man of sorts,” Miranda raised a finely painted brow. “It doesn’t matter the latter. What will you say to him?”
“You want to talk politics?”
Ugh.
Storm sighed, the breeze coming through the open windows quite soothing on his sweaty face.
“Will Regia sue for peace?” He croaked.
“They killed my husband. The King,” Miranda said, the moment a little awkward between the two lovers. “You think I should offer them one?”
“Is there an alternative?”
“Make them pay for their insolence.”
Storm nodded and used a hankie to wipe his face under her smiling eyes.
“You’ll need to attack Riverdor for that, hope Lord Ruud denies the Mudriver crossing to Antoon’s army.”
“That’s Jeremy’s land,” Miranda argued.
“Yes, but Sir Rik controls Forestfort and the bridge. It’s a small piece of land, but very valuable strategically.”
“You don’t believe the army could do it?” Miranda asked him.
“You don’t have an army at Alden. You have parts of a Legion and the city guard.”
“So ask for peace, is this your advice?”
“If you do that you’ll look weak and Antoon might ask for more than a cease in hostilities,” Storm explained and realized she had taken his hand again into hers.
“Like what?” She whispered.
“Denounce Lucius claim publicly,” Nattas replied without hesitation. “Without a doubt. Kill him politically afore the High King’s allies can kill him in the field.”
“Antoon will support Jeremy?” She asked paling a little.
“I don’t think he will. That’s Lord Ruud’s candidate, Antoon wouldn’t want him on the throne. He might tolerate him, but I don’t see it. He’ll prefer you remain.”
“Because I’m weak,” Miranda hissed and pulled her hands away. “Will the Lords support me, if I was to remain after the year is out?”
“Lord Holt might, as it buys him time and he has a beef with your brother going back years. Your brother and Lord Ruud won’t be happy, they are already—”
“Curse Lord Ruud and my brother will support me!”
“Your brother wants me removed from the Council,” Storm told her keeping his calm.
“Why?” She asked him surprised.
“I was hoping you’d react differently,” Storm replied.
“What… speak clearly,” She admonished him visibly hurt. “I thought we are in this together. Was I mistaken?”
“Shut him out,” Storm said and glanced around them, the room empty but for the servant waiting behind the dividers. “Don’t let him remove Lord Holt as your Shield, or take me out of the Council. It’s your decision. Make it publicly and he’s done.”
“Where is Lord Holt?” Miranda asked him thoughtfully. “Where are the men he’d promised King Alistair?”
“Miranda,” Storm said hanging his head.
“You’ve bought that land outside Novesium,” She said her tone changing. Storm raised his head a little surprised at the change in topic.
“Aye, there’s only a village in it. Lots of coastline, forests and a small fishing port,” He described it. “I’m thinking of building an estate there. Something to leave to my… daughter I suppose.”
“A castle,” Miranda said blushing, "For your heritors."
“Ah, I wouldn’t go that far,” Storm argued. “It’s insanely expensive to build in the South. Stone I have aplenty but you have to carry quality wood—”
“A castle,” Miranda repeated. “Makes a small Barony. Your port named after your family.”
“It’s a Cove really.”
“Natta’s Cove,” The Queen Regent said looking at him warmly. It affected Lord Nattas, her stare. It didn’t escaped him that here he was in his thirty seventh named year, talking with the Queen about properties and titles. The boy whose father ended up working the stables and became a cripple afore he’d turned fifteen. “It has a nice ring to it, wouldn’t you say?” She pushed her left leg forward, the thin dress splitting and letting it bare, but for a gold anklet. “You should be rewarded Lord Nattas for your commitment we think.”
Well…
“Should I kneel your grace?” Storm asked unsure, but hopeful. He didn’t want to prematurely take the dive sort to speak on a bad knee. It was difficult climbing up, way easier going down.
The latter also had an ominous ring to it, behind all the lewd undertones, but it was lost in the passion of the moment.
“Thou should, it is how these things are done,” Miranda teased him, her pretty toes wiggling enticingly and whispered in a huskier voice. “I had them cleaned.”
Ah, you gotta love them girls of Aegium.
Storm Nattas had kneeled to pleasure the flushed Miranda’s toes all but a common man with an uncertain future and had risen a Baron and the Queen Regent’s Shield.
As everything given by the Gods in disproportional large quantities, his string of 'good' luck was about to run out.