>
>
> Two days earlier
>
> Near Moeras Lake
>
> Northeast of Sugarcanes Woods
>
> Legion widened road
>
> First Legion’s Auxiliary Cohort, 2nd Auxiliary Century
>
> Battle of the Canes
>
>
>
> “STAND STILL!” Decanus Dorm roared as the volley of arrows landed between the Issirs packed lines with a strange buzzing sound turned into a hair-raising rattling as if they had all been transported inside a cargo hold brimming with angry rattlesnakes. The steel tips striking armour, shafts breaking on helms and raised Scutums.
>
> Sticking on shoulder pads or plunging in the grunting men’s faces.
>
> Soldiers went down, screams erupting from the lines and a determined Damascus rushed to the front, where Centurion Damian Dall, an older Issir native that had served with the 2nd Foot, stumbled back clasping at his forearm. An arrow had gone through the vambrace there and exited near his right elbow.
>
> “Cut it out!” Damascus ordered a young Lorian medic that followed after him. “Stop the bleeding.” He turned to Dorm who was watching the strange Khanate soldiers, a mixture of infantry and cavalry stirring three hundred meters up the road. Slave Guards, an injured prisoner had told command a month back. They are out for blood after what happened in the Capital.
>
> Damascus had no idea what had happened in the Issir capital and didn’t much care.
>
> “They’ll charge the flanks!” He roared a warning for Dorm to hear and caught Centurion Dall sprinting near them, now sporting a haphazardly bandaged arm.
>
> “SHIELDS FRONT! SPEARS OUT!” Dorm bellowed hoarsely and the first rows of legionnaires lowered their spears just as the opposite packed lines of the Khanate’s soldiers opened up and galloping horses poured out.
>
> “INCOMING ARROWS!” Another officer yelled a warning but it is too plaguing late to think about self-preservation now, Damascus thought and roared in turn to prevent their inexperienced lines from breaking apart whilst stepping himself in the gap existing after the first three rows of auxiliaries.
>
> “EYES FRONT!”
>
> ‘In war’, Merenda had said to him after he dismissed Damascus’ concerns. ‘A man goes from a mere rookie to a veteran in a single battle. He only needs to survive the initial baptism of blood. Withstand the first blow my dear Damascus and you’ll have yourself a proper unit.’
>
> To see such confidence in a cultured officer and man -a year younger than him no less- was inspiring for the Prefect who had been ‘the learned kid from Sabretooth’ amidst Ligur’s aging risen-through-the-ranks veterans for years.
>
> The arrows rattled as they landed and Damascus slapped one out of his face with the flat of his long-bladed gladius, missing the next that stuck on his chest. The steel tip penetrating the segmented armour’s plates first and then piercing his skin below the left breast. Damascus stumbled back onto a shield and the soldier holding it pushed the high-ranking officer forward again.
>
> Officers and soldiers under the same set of rules when in the battle line.
>
> You kept your position at all cost.
>
> The ruckus of the approaching charging wings of cavalry thunderous and soul-crashing to the younger men in their ranks.
>
> All men.
>
> “Uher’s light shield us from evil,” someone cried out in a strangled voice and then the Khanate’s riders crashed on the century’s flanks. Screaming men were hurled every which way, broken loose helms bounced off of the ground, gore erupted from grotesque wounds like a warm mist and hapless animals neighed in agony’s throes as some of the chargers penetrated two rows deep before stopping abruptly.
>
> Most of them skewered by many spears or missing body parts themselves.
>
> “HERE COMES THE INFANTRY!” The wounded Centurion Dall boomed ten meters away from the struggling to get out of the lines Damascus. Dead legionnaires and Khanate soldiers at his feet, alongside broken up animals. The blood turning the soft ground into a deep brown mud that stuck to his legion boots like glue as the Prefect pushed his way out of the compacted rows.
>
> “Reform the frontline. Get the Decanus over there Centurion!” Damascus ordered Damian Dall and the Centurion cursed once afore marching himself to the center of their extended across the road lines.
>
> Dorm had been killed.
>
> Part of the Decanus’ crushed bloody body half-visible under a gutted horse and its dead rider.
>
> Damascus’ face distorted in a grimace of sorrow and glanced at the partially cloudy sky over their heads –it was a lovely winter day all things considered- before setting his eyes on the marching lines of slavers. Then he raised his right arm high, the tip of the gladius making a circle in the air.
>
> Once clockwise.
>
> Then going counterclockwise.
>
> And finally clockwise again on the third ring.
>
> Giving Celsus’ detachment of Issir engineers concealed in the fortifications beyond their right flank the order to open fire at the Khanate’s packed lines with their six horse-drawn Scorpios. The machines had arrived the previous night.
>
> ‘Never swing a punch early or out of anger,’ a freshly-shaven Merenda had urged his senior officers ending the last war meeting three weeks back with a confident grin. ‘No matter the punishment you may receive or what your pride tells you. Swing at the right time gentlemen. Make it count. It’s a numbers game and we will win it. So go for maximum damage always and I’ll see you all here when this is over.’
-
----------------------------------------
----------------------------------------
Storm Nattas
‘Abominable Cripple’
‘Principal of Secrets’.
Lord of Moon’s Haven,
Ruler of Turtle Isles
Keeper of the Golden Forest
Scorned Hearts
Part III
-The day that refused to end-
----------------------------------------
----------------------------------------
-
image [https://i.postimg.cc/hKd5hkPq/First-Legion-3rd-Cohort-1st-Century.jpg]
First Legion at the Great Lakes of Kaltha.
Here Marcus-Antonius' center, 3rd Cohort, 1st Century under Centurion Reganus (The Mayor's distant kin)
-
> ‘Go forth,’ the former Queen Regent had urged huskily, fully engulfed in the throes of passion. ‘My Lord of Moon’s Haven.’
>
> Long legs wrapped around Storm’s waist and pressing at his abused spine. The sweaty Baron thrusting his hairy hips forward with dogged determination and equal passion to plunge deeper into the royal womb. Flesh slapping flesh. Half the pleasure, he thought between wild grunts in his dream, is in the fucking mind and not the act in itself.
>
> You can find similar pleasure self-servicing your cock with an oiled fucking-fist, folded in two alike some of the lithe circus girls’ -past shady dealings had brought to his bed or of course between the legs of a freshly-minted harlot.
>
> But you won’t commit with the same enthusiasm if the mind isn’t a willing participant and ready to devote the time and blasted back-breaking effort.
>
> Yeah.
>
> ‘Don’t stop!’ Miranda commanded but despite the aforementioned willingness and enthusiasm the groaning Storm had the wherewithal to pull out over the former queen’s protests. Make one mistake and you might get away with it. But do it twice in a row and you might as well look to find a nicely sharpened dagger.
>
> Then use it to slit open your own fucking throat.
>
> Milky seed pooling on the tanned Alden noblewoman’s navel. Some of it spilling down her sweat-covered ribs and braving its way towards the short-cut blond pubic hairs of her groin.
>
> Plug your leaks Lord Nattas, the ancient assassin had told him many years back.
>
> Else a small hole will sink your boat.
>
> ‘Sink your boat,’ Storm repeated with a whisper and the blurry-eyed Miranda stared in his flushed face in a querying manner.
>
>
The squelchy slapping sound came to a stop just as the dream ended and it was replaced by a persistent knock on his small cabin door. When the latter cracked open the schooner’s captain informed the waking up with a grunt of protest wild-eyed Baron that they had reached Cartaport.
image [https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiErfQ6S6Qc0PS6SGx_MgeBDz7wKr9VGGQTabrbT75EPJ0OX74uN-jDhenW0ZZqv-5AaZ3wWhgYpdpAbCgFit0-3d3urztXoqU1pWg5MfrnicZScKw2aTOWz0KrOhLdOUpuIrimCofo73RU3qR8nN8h16JDmfjWHdUNwgNzCMOhpbS6CSkMFt7VN2f2sAw/s2000/Cartagen%20v2.jpg]
The familiar figure of Sudi waited for him at the busy docks. The thin but wiry half-breed stooped over one of Storm’s own canes despite not really needing it. Lotus Sudi had been with the Baron for over twenty years and seeing as Sudi was five years older than Storm, the loyal lackey was now nearing fifty.
“You missed Yanus,” Sudi reported as Nattas climbed the steps of his closed carriage and followed after him. He found a spot on the narrow leather couch across Storm and placed the cane between his legs. “His ship left last night.”
“Not the worst thing. I hate the sight of a hairy arsehole after a day at sea,” Storm commented wryly and burped. “My stomach is messed up. The fucking captain had me drink water from a barrel!”
“It’s always a risk,” Sudi agreed mockingly. “Libanius has secured a large shipment but he asked for time to bring it to Mussel given the latest developments. Yanus left just the same since the journey is pretty long.”
Libanius was the leader of a smuggling ring out of the city of Alden that had brought his talents to the exotic Wetull. The old criminal associate of the Baron named Yanus –his name rhyming with anus- was working with Libanius and local contacts through the ship company Sudi operated. Libanius and Yanus also knew each other for years. As far as the company was concerned, Storm’s nephew Parkor had a share in it as well and another unrelated trade company loosely connected to Nattas –this one out of the distant Turtle Isles- was also a participant.
“D’Orsi controls the port?”
“Took the port but then the wyvern burned it,” Sudi explained. “Libanius writes the beast might have killed more civilians than the mercenaries.”
“Libanius’ partners count as civilians?”
“In a sense,” Sudi replied and poured some cognac in a small glass. “You want some to set yer stomach proper?”
“It’s my own fucking bottle!” Storm grunted irate and grabbed the glass from him spilling some on his sleeve. “Abrakas cock rots in a fucking jar!”
“You’re a generous soul Chief,” Sudi teased and looked to find another small glass for himself. “Our queen arrived in Sandbay Manor?” He asked casually.
Storm glared at him and then downed the strong drink in a go. The liquid burning his throat. “She has. You realize this creepy obsession of yours is unhealthy? She’s the plaguing mother of my child who I still fuck at any opportunity!”
“You are a romantic also,” Sudi taunted with a smirk. “It rubbed off on me chief and I don’t mind sharing her. What’s mine is yours and so forth.”
“We are not sharing… you cunning bastard. Get it out of yer mind and stop being so annoying else I smash in what few teeth you still have,” Storm warned him to little effect as Sudi just shrugged both shoulders afore finishing his own drink off as if to make a point.
“The Consul is visiting by the way,” he informed Nattas as the carriage moved out of Cartaport and took the road towards Cartagen.
“The Consul now visits when I’m away?” Storm grunted. “Doesn’t he have a city to fucking run?”
“He came to see his nephew and Silvio,” Sudi explained. “Their ‘child’ right? He’s a great-uncle in a sense.”
“Can the driver go slower?” Nattas hissed. “I can’t deal with the old prick today.”
“Sirio asked him to stay the night. Do you want to rent a room in the city?”
“That little phallus-sucker thinks he runs the blasted place?” Nattas snapped not believing his ears.
“Well, he married that evil cunt who you pass as your daughter? I won’t comment whether she uses a strapped cock on him or not but it can turn intense when they are alone.”
Just shove two fingers down my throat to vomit the image out!
Storm stooped over the space separating them. “Sudi I was backed into a corner. Once the king learned about her I had no other option. A king declares you my dog, then you are my dog whether you like it or not.”
“I don’t give a fuck about Maya,” Sudi retorted rigidly and then plastered a wide grin on his mouth to soften it. “But you asked and I answered chief.”
“Eh,” Storm grunted and pushed back on the leather couch. “A wyvern you say? Flying turd that spews fire and all?”
“Ayup,” Sudi replied with a grimace. “Once the disbelief wears off this won’t end well for the wine barons.”
“What disbelief?”
“Libanius reported that the locals, Zilan and Humans, were stunned D’Orsi dared to attack Garth. Apparently he’s a nasty motherfucker to cross and vengeful as fuck. Those that have are in the mud or part of the wyvern’s diet.”
“I still haven’t fully accepted there’s a wyvern on the loose in Goras,” Nattas hissed with a scowl of discomfort. “Now it might take a minute for the feeling to subside but I’ll endure it relishing at the thought of Riveras getting his bowels rearranged by Garth’s fucking cock!”
“It might happen sooner than we think,” Sudi added.
“Stop with the tongue foreplay and get to real business. I’m not a blasted virgin!” Nattas snapped angry.
“There’s talk Garth might use his own warships to protect the product and the ships. Ours included of course.”
“The plot thickens. I now see why you used so much saliva to loosen me up,” Storm retorted mockingly. “Who is building him the ships?”
“There’s a big naval yard constructed at the other port near Taras but it’s not easy to get close. They guard it tightly. Only military, authorized crew, bank employees and… sorcerers can approach.”
“I like how we’re now casually throw in magic practitioners,” Storm commented wryly.
“More like hopeful sorcerers at this point according to Libanius. Garth opened a witch academy,” Sudi elucidated.
“The thought of a young witch studying to take her exams just made my cock turn hard as stone. I’ll need a moment to get it back down,” Storm grunted closing his eyes and resting his neck on the couch.
Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.
“We’re talking about Zilan witches here chief. Big ears and all,” Sudi commented sheepishly.
“Don’t be a bucolic bigot. All young cunts are alike,” Storm murmured still relaxing. “What did good Libanius say on this spicy topic?”
“The blue chicks are as hot as red lava,” a chastised Sudi disclosed.
“There you go,” the resting with his eyes closed Baron agreed casually.
-
An hour later
3rd of Secundus 195 NC
Nattas Villa
Cartagen
The timeworn face of Galio Veturius was a map for a long life of service in the armed forces and equally long hard marches over all terrain.
And weather. “He’s a smart kid,” Regia’s Consul commented after Silvio went inside to play with the young couple leaving the two older men on the patio. “Strange ears and with your darker complexion Baron. Those almost Alden blue eyes will capture many a hearts.”
“Mm,” Storm murmured looking at his smiling son through the open doors. “It is good to have a kid around,” he added not really wanting to make small talk with the Consul although one could argue they were sort of family now and have a good point.
“It was brave you accepted Sirio Lord Nattas. I know you opened doors for him,” Galio said. “Your daughter is a quiet young lady.”
She’s not that young and for sure she ain’t no lady, Nattas thought but said something else instead. “Maja turned out better than I had hopes for.”
“Seems knowledgeable,” the Consul added.
“One could put it this way. She has a diverse set of skills,” Nattas croaked and then forced himself to change the subject. “The years have been kind to you dear Consul. What a social climb this must have been! You have been working the gates at Alden six years back?”
“Volunteered. I had retired,” Galio replied. “The years have been kind to you also dear Baron. How did you get the land? Your father worked the stables I’m told.”
“I bought it. I’m a frugal person and economized a lot,” Nattas retorted stiffly. “The Queen Regent was kind enough to consider me for the barony. So that helped also.”
“Where is our old queen? The King asked for her whereabouts.”
Don’t throw old at Miranda’s presence dear Consul. You won’t like it at all.
“I wouldn’t know. Wasn’t she in Alden to visit Jeremy’s grave?”
“She was. But then she disappeared a couple of weeks back,” Galio replied and narrowed his eyes spotting his adjutant talking with a messenger near the villa’s outer gates. “Boarded a small ship and left. She hasn’t arrived in Cartaport yet. We fear the worst.”
“Why is that?” Nattas asked and watched the adjutant walking briskly towards the patio crossing his villa’s garden.
“Considering what happened to her mother,” the Consul elucidated.
Ah.
“Hadn’t the Duke’s wife drown in an accident?”
Miranda’s mother was the previous Duke of Aegium second wife. That would be Doris Alden’s father. Storm supposed both were former Dukes of Aegium now.
Heh-he.
“It is why we fear for her safety Baron,” Galio replied. “What is it lad?” He asked turning to the young Legion officer.
“Several missives about Novesium sire,” the officer replied.
“From the city?”
“Both from the city and Dottore Epolonius,” came the young man’s reply. Nattas narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
“Read them for me,” Galio ordered. “My eyes are tired.”
The adjutant proceeded to give the Consul a whispery overview of the reports about Novesium. Apparently the problem had ballooned instead of going away.
“You were there Baron,” Galio said turning to look at Storm who pretended not to listen but hadn’t missed a single word.
“I was in Moon’s Haven Consul,” Storm replied stiffly. When Moore had told him they have found corpses near the river border with the bigger city Nattas had assumed initially that Tidus’ body had surfaced. It was a shock as the late olive oil aristocrat should have been swimming in the Scalding Sea by then. How the corpse had travelled against the river’s flow a mystery.
“What’s your opinion?” Galio asked interrupting his rumination of the recent events.
“About the corpses found?”
“The sick corpses found.”
“Aren’t all corpses looking sick in a sense?” Nattas jested but the sober expression on Consul Veturius’ face killed that jest fast. “Right. Well I got my men to look into it,” he continued. “Contacted Mayor Reganus to offer my help to straighten this mystery out.”
“Epolonius fears it’s an epidemic,” Galio noted seriously.
“I had my personal Dottore look into it and he wasn’t too concerned…”
“Of Typhus,” the Consul elucidated interrupting Storm’s flow.
“…initially,” Nattas continued without batting an eyelash. “It became clear very soon though what had really happened.”
In truth Nattas had no idea.
“Reganus did a half-arse job,” Galio Veturius expounded with Nattas nodding him along, a constipated look on his face. “The drainage system failed and the city streets flooded. Debris from the burned parts, human and animal excrement swamped the lower lands. Polluted whatever water was available. Disease is spreading.”
“That’s what we thought,” Storm croaked.
“You knew about this?”
“Not with all the odorous details, but I have prepared a… verbal report for the King,” Nattas lied. “Along with a summary of the efforts I’ve put forth to tackle the problem.”
“Reganus’ problem.”
“Of course. The blame weighs heavy on his neck,” Storm agreed readily. “Still it’s too early to have all the facts and uncover what really happened.”
“He had the funds to work on repairs. I understand he fixed the road and the destroyed bridge leading to Moon’s Haven?”
The blasted idiot actually put that in the record?
“Among other things yes. I was firmly against it,” Nattas lied with a strangled grunt. “Obviously Reganus should have prioritized Novesium’s safety first and forget about his old position. He’s a completionist and a trade-first oriented guy.”
“People are dying Baron.”
“I’m as shocked as you dear Consul,” Nattas assured him. “I told you that I immediately put my men on it. We must all give it our all to tackle this catastrophe.”
“I need to speak to the King.” The Consul got up with a frown. “It’s imperative to nip this in the bud Baron. We had this problem last year in Islandport. Almost lost Legatus Sula.”
“How did he manage to pull through?” Nattas asked with fake interest.
“It was a miracle,” Galio replied rigidly and gestured for the officer to get going. “I must bid you farewell Lord Nattas.” He told the standing up Baron tending his hand. “I consider you family and that goes for yer lovely daughter as well.”
Eh.
Nattas cleared his throat, still numb from the shocking turn of events and shook the Consul’s calloused hand. “Likewise Consul Veturius. It goes without saying but I’ll say it just the same. You can count on me to offer help. In fact I’ll mobilize the ‘Reformed’ immediately out of my own pocket.”
----------------------------------------
“I did that already Chief,” Sudi told him ten minutes later after the Consul had departed the villa. “Got Moore and Grin on it. They contacted Reganus and are working to solve the problem.”
“People are getting sick,” Storm grunted raising his cane threateningly. “Fucking croaking all over the place! Pretty soon questions might be asked on those responsible if this gets out of hand.”
“It’s already out of hand.”
“Not it fucking isn’t!” Storm snapped and swung with the cane but Sudi managed to block it raising his. “We must keep the body count as low as possible.”
“Numerius Baro has setup a camp to help the sick—”
“Forget about that!” Storm cut him off. “Assume a quarter of the city kicks the bucket. Thousands. Where I was going afore you interrupted me was that we need to massage the actual numbers like in the illegal games. You know what all normal folk do, gods damn it!”
“I told Moore that Chief. It is standard procedure in our business,” Sudi explained and stepped out of Nattas’ range. “He’ll search for any survivors and make sure they keep the story to themselves. Then pile the dead up and burn the lot of them until they turn to ash. For every ten piles he’ll count one. All you need to do is navigate the crisis and make sure Reganus keeps his mouth shut. Much better to appear an idiot than a truth seeker.”
“Much safer,” Storm corrected him.
“Ayup. Moore will straighten him out.”
“He was supposed to pave the way for me,” Nattas hissed. “Not fuck it up so I have to distance myself from the plaguing city. Like literally!”
“Don’t,” Sudi said with a grimace. “Embrace it. Be a beacon of common sense and decisive action.”
Nattas narrowed his eyes suspiciously. “Are you trying to have me killed so you can sleep with the Queen Regent? Because even if I croak it won’t happen. I’m sorry my friend but on top of being too low-born, you look like shit.”
Storm would have said a cripple but decided it wasn’t as strong an argument.
“I ain’t thinking about that. Few people are as corrupted as you chief or as self-centered.”
“You are!”
“I won’t deny it. Still I never reached your heights.”
“You son of a bitch,” Nattas grunted irate. “After all I’ve done for you! You’ll stab me in the back?”
“Are you finished with the tantrum?” Sudi retorted impatiently. “I’m not jesting. Use the opportunity to play the good guy and repair your reputation. We can deal with Reganus and you have the Consul’s ear through Sirio.”
“Sirio is useless!”
“No he isn’t. He’s a wide-eyed idealist that the old goat loves like a son and is willing to excuse all his faults. And you as a proxy unless you fuck it up being too greedy. Don’t ask for the duchy in exchange. Do it for free like you told the Consul.”
Nattas glared at his lackey. “Are you utterly insane? Have you slipped and banged yer fucking head on a plinth? I was lying you numbskull! Doing that motherfucker Garth’s bidding has bled us dry of plaguing coin! Maintaining the fleet, warehouses and losing ships! The expenses are through the blasted roof! What roof? The roof is gone!”
“I expect us to make crazy profit by the end of the year,” Sudi said calmly.
“It’s a risky business and we might not,” a flustered Nattas hissed and stared at his lackey. “Are you sure we can keep the numbers low?”
“What’s low?” Sudi asked mockingly. “A couple of thousand?”
“Good grief! How about a couple of hundred instead?” Nattas haggled shamelessly.
Sudi set his jaw stubbornly. “That’s too low chief. Nobody will believe it.”
“How about using the homeless?” Nattas suggested thinking on his feet. “We raise the numbers here, leave it vague there and write down only the most known names. If a whole neighborhood is wiped out then nobody is left to remember those that lived there. Right? So we take those out of the count.”
“We can chuck a couple of thousand to Drusus Sula. He did attack the city,” Sudi countered.
“He did. Violent motherfuckers killed women and children!” Nattas agreed with renewed enthusiasm.
“Actually that was us chief,” Sudi argued and Storm stood back horrified and stunned at his words. Not the truth in them but the fact Sudi had spoken them aloud.
“What are you talking about? We did no such thing!”
“Sure, but it might come up if we overinflate Sula’s numbers too much and then there’s Ursus who knows what really happened.”
“Ursus is a treacherous lying murderer!” Nattas growled with righteous indignation, eyes ogling and spittle flying out of his mouth. Then it dawned on him they weren’t that much better.
A case could be made they were actually much worse than the former Duke of Novesium.
After an awkward moment of tensed silence and retrospection Sudi scratched his right cheek with a finger and said in an even voice.
“You might want to be on top of that. In the room. Steer the conversation the right way chief to avoid the reefs.”
“Uhm,” the sweaty Nattas agreed and smacked his lips audibly. “I might have lost it earlier and I can’t afford that, you are right Lotus. Know that I always valued your judgement. Now upon having finished this blasted love letter, don’t go and fucking take this as a carte blanche to screw me over because I’ll crack your skull right open.”
“I love you too chief,” Sudi assured him with a smirk. “Just stay positive and we’ll get through this like always.”
Storm eyed him frostily. “Find the driver. I’ll go visit the King.”
----------------------------------------
That snake-eyed son of a dog is here again, Storm Nattas thought after greeting the guards and the relic servant Cyrus Falx that had reached a new level of pettiness to get back at him for having no influence with late queen Vacia decades in the past.
Fucking old vampire just won’t breathe his plaguing last for crying out loud!
“Earnest salutations King Lucius,” Nattas started going hard in the curtsy despite his spine’s warnings that it was perhaps high-time the petty Baron looked for another leap up the proverbial class ladder.
(...)
-
Three hours later
The Palace of a hundred windows front yard
Right after the meeting with Lucius
“Whoa, what happened?” The standing next to the parked carriage’s open door Sudi asked. “Something in the served food?”
Sudi believed all royal visits came with a lavish dinner, wine in fancy goblets and a visit to the Palace gardens for small talk and aperitifs. Nothing was further from the truth and Storm had spent the past half hour staring at Ramirus’ long face, after gazing at a wall and King Titus’ ‘the Dull’ portrait for over two hours afore that.
“I smoothed things over,” Storm grunted hobbling briskly to reach the carriage and pausing for a moment there to catch his breath. “But it is getting ever riskier trying it.”
“Did you play it safe?” Sudi asked and Nattas nodded spotting a small-bodied female figure rushing to cross the yard and reach the gates. She had come from another wing of the large Palace.
“We might have to take the matters into our own hands unfortunately. Remove obstacles starting low and moving higher up the ladder,” Nattas said in a measured low voice, his eyes on the approaching female. Her face vaguely familiar. Now what brothel have I seen ye before? Nattas wondered ogling at the blond young woman’s shapely body, hidden under the long cloak. A trained eye’s penetrative gaze and a ripe dirty mind would never be deterred by any amount of clothing.
“Who are ye talking about?” Sudi asked following the Baron’s stare unsure.
“The Laudus matter might take a turn for the worse,” Nattas replied a little distracted and still trying to remember where he’d met the lone palace’s visitor. Some clerk’s family member? A local lass sucking a royal Knight’s cock in between shifts? The latter not excluding the former of course. “Might be better for Hik to swallow his tongue.”
“You have people on him chief,” Sudi argued.
“I haven’t gotten an update in months,” Storm hissed and gestured for him to stay quiet as the woman was about to walk past them.
I’m priestess Saena, the bountiful priestess had told him back in Islandport, inside the Fourth Legion’s controlled territory. Her fleshy warm hand massaging Nattas’ engorged phallus whilst talking with him in public. This is sister Vita. Though she is with the temple no more.
Bullshit.
“Sister Vita,” an aroused Nattas blurted out hoarsely and the young woman recoiled probably not expecting him to speak to her much more knowing her name. Tensed as a young mare afore a horny stallion, Storm thought leering reassuringly at the startled former priestess.
Mayhap the lass moved on to a better paying profession? He thought and added in a friendly manner. “I’m Baron Storm Nattas. We’ve met thirteen months ago.”
“Salutations Baron,” the flushed Vita said quickly and bowed her blond head. “Apologies, I didn’t recognize you. It’s a little dark.”
It was. The hour growing late for a social visit.
“I mostly… talked with sister Saena that day,” Nattas replied. “Visiting a relative in the Palace grounds?” He asked with a glance at the irritated Sudi that gestured for Storm to get this over with.
“I work at Salonius Emporium,” Vita explained seeming eager to end their talk. “Had to make a… delivery and see an old friend.”
“How noble… ehem, you want a ride out of the palace grounds?” Nattas asked already succumbing to the young woman’s charms after the difficult and stressful meeting with the King. “A place to sleep the night? I’m a known philanthropist.”
Sudi almost choked on his own spit, even making a strange sound but managed to control himself.
“Ugh? No, I’m heading for the South Gates Baron,” Vita replied a little defensively.
“We are not. But we could leave you near the Main Street and Salonius Emporium as we are heading that way.”
“It’s late, maybe I should stay at Solon District tonight?” Vita said, mostly talking with herself. The address was near the Hippodrome and Uher’s Dome. Right between them almost.
The Temple had bought a building there recently and turned it into a ‘Goddess Hostel’, probably as a way to increase revenue to cover Flavia’s expensive prolonged stay in the capital.
Come to see the horses and bet on the races, the leering Nattas thought reciting the ads hanging outside the Hippodrome. Rest afterwards and unwind in the nearby Naossis’ hostel’s embrace or visit a proper brothel next door! This was the standard practice of the cultured folk living in the Capital. With variations. Don’t forget to visit Uher’s Dome on the way out to cleanse your fucking soul!
Ha-hah.
“You’ll need to find a carriage to take you there sweet Vita else you’ll be walking half the night all by your lonesome,” Nattas said syrupy and sighed deeply as if troubled at the thought. “My own driver will take you there right after he drops us off at my villa.”
Vita smiled but it was a forced one. Nattas didn’t mind that at all. A clenched cunt can take a cock same as a looser one. You just spit on it some more. “Step inside the carriage afore the guards get suspicious,” he told her, now sounding business like. “You can… thank me on the return trip. I’m certain you’ll do a good job.”
----------------------------------------
No sooner the driver had left to take Vita away, with Storm still in the process of fastening his breeches afore the gates to his villa’s gardens, a lithe shadow detached herself from the wall and walked towards them. Sudi paused in alarm half-way through opening one of the large metal doors but then relaxed recognizing the female half-breed Griet.
It’s the feline gait, Storm decided eyeing the female assassin and Maja’s old pupil approach.
“I was just about to head for my bed,” Nattas told her abruptly. “This was a fucking long arse day. It just refuses to end which is never a good omen. Well, at least we’re into the night now.”
If Abrakas keeps a moment dragging be wary.
“Rhys sent word,” Griet whispered and reached to run a hand over the front of the still aroused Baron’s pants. “He found Mister Hik. Hmm. Do I smell spilled seed?” She added knowingly her nostrils expanding.
It was disturbing.
And alas a touch exciting.
“Congrats,” Nattas retorted mockingly and pushed her hand away not wanting to travel down that rabbit hole. “In the spirit of full disclosure, you smell like smoked fish. Sardine is my guess given the odor.”
“I had a job in Cartaport’s docks,” Griet explained leaving it vague.
“How did it go?” Storm asked to keep the light talk cultured.
“It had a moist finale.”
One could draw a number of different conclusions from that statement.
“Great,” Nattas grunted. “With that out of the fucking way, is that old cocksucker dead?”
“Um. Well… wait,” Griet murmured afore pausing and pulling away from the Baron unsure. She had invaded his personal space like a bitch in heat, which was not the safest thing given her true profession and skillset. Live with assassins for long enough and you’ll forget they are dangerous, Storm thought a little annoyed for relaxing around her so much. “What’s that horrid sound?” A thoughtful Griet asked and turned her head to the northwest.
The Baron could now hear the Palace’s bells himself as they weren’t that far away, especially given the size of Regia’s capital.
“That’s a strange tempo they are keeping,” Sudi commented in a guarded manner whilst staring at Storm suspiciously.
Are you fucking serious?
“What does it mean?” Griet asked curious and the worried Nattas, who had also turned around now to stare away from the villa’s gates and towards the distant Palace grounds, mirrored Sudi’s cautious tone in his reply.
“Distress in the royal quarters.”
The last time the bells had rung that way was the night Jeremy was born and Queen Vacia, Alistair’s first wife and Lucius’ mother, had died.