Part Seventeen

Vielyn and I, along with Shadow Nine and Shadow Thirteen, made our way towards House Fret’tar. Malice caught up with us once we were about halfway there. “Good work, boys. Perhaps next time you won’t even need me!” she said sarcastically as she stepped in front of us and walked as though she led us.

I looked to Vielyn, who just shrugged and waved his hand dismissively. I sighed and followed Malice. It’d be easier to get into her house this way anyway.

“Malice, where are your soldiers?” I asked.

“Where are yours?” she replied.

“Durdrin will take ours back,” I retorted.

“Do not worry yourself with House Fret’tar’s business,” she snapped back.

“I am House Fret’tar’s business, Malice,” I said with a smirk. “I made your mother moan my name, and my brother and I just helped her get promoted to Matron of the third house.”

Vielyn, ever wiser than his baby brother, looked at me with wide eyes.

Malice stopped in her tracks and turned to face me, shooting me a deadly glare. I smirked at her. “Jealous?” I asked, and her lip curled up into a sneer. She raised her hand as if she meant to strike me, but when I took a quick glance down, she did likewise and noticed Deathsbite in my hand, the same blade she saw me put to use against Matron Thraeyanna.

Her face softened, and she smiled. “Perhaps I’ll have to have a talk with Mother about sharing her new toy… I like this one,” she said.

Thinking quickly, I pointed to my brother. “You’d like him better, I bet,” I said without missing a beat.

“Hey!” Vielyn said while Malice looked at both of us and shook her head with a laugh before turning and leading the way to her house. I noticed I never got an answer to my question, but I figured I no longer cared.

We marched all the way to the House Fret’tar throne room where we found the two Matron Mothers waiting. “Mother, congratulations on becoming Matron of the third house,” Malice said proudly as we stood in front of the two powerful women.

Mother looked to Vielyn and me, so we both stepped forward. “Yes, congratulations, ladies, on your promotions! You both deserve them,” Vielyn said proudly. I nodded my head in agreement. “Masdrin keeps his promises,” I said with a crooked grin, referring to my promise to topple houses if the need had arisen.

“Oh! And ‘Big Bad’ Naraun Dhalmaerth was too afraid to fight Vielyn!” I said proudly. “But that didn’t stop my brother from killing him!” I said as I reached up to pat Vielyn on the back. He smiled wide. The first part of what I said was at least partly true, and we always claimed to kill those we recruited, even if the person we were speaking to knew otherwise.

I watched as Malice walked over to her mother and leaned over to whisper something to her. Vasiira looked to me, then Mother, then back to Malice and shook her head. Malice was about to protest, but Vasiira just looked at her with a straight face. “I said no,” she reiterated firmly.

Both Vielyn and I stifled giggles, knowing what Malice was after. Matron Vasiira looked at me, and I could see the desire in her eyes. I was covered in the blood of her enemies, though, and she didn’t want that in her bed, no matter how much it turned her on.

Vasiira waved over a couple of female Drow who seemed to be only a few decades older than me. The two young ladies rushed to Matron Vasiira’s side and waited for their orders. “Take him to the hot springs and get him cleaned up,” she said as she pointed at me. She turned her head to me and smiled. “You’ll stay here with me tonight,” she said, and I returned the smile and bowed my head slightly.

“Come with me,” one of the young ladies said softly as she gently grasped my arm. They led me out of the throne room and through the halls of House Fret’tar until we came to the hot springs, a steamy room similar to our own hot springs at House De’Endar.

I began to unclasp my armor when one of the ladies pulled my hand away from the clasps and out wide. “Allow us, please,” she said as the two of them began to remove my armor. I held my arms out wide as they carefully removed my clothing after my armor.

“Relax in the warm water,” one of the women said as she pointed to a bathtub-sized pool of warm steamy water. I stepped into the water and sat back, resting my arms on the edge of the pool. The two ladies poured pleasant-smelling oils into the water and then began to clean me with soft cloths. It was pleasant, more than I’d admit, having these two looking after me. We bathed ourselves at the compound, though occasionally Zeera and I assisted each other.

I felt much better when they finished, and as I relaxed back in the water, one of the two ladies looked down at me as she stood at the edge of the pool. “Can I get you anything?” she asked.

“Some brandy would be nice, thank you,” I replied.

She nodded her head. “Right away,” she said before bowing slightly and then heading for the door.

Vasiira showed up with the bottle of Cloud Nine Brandy a short time later. “Good evening, handsome,” she said as she handed me the bottle.

“Good evening, Matron Vasiira,” I said with a smile as I reached for the bottle. She stood at the edge of the hot spring I was relaxing in and dropped her satin robe onto the tile floor. “Stunning…” I said quietly as I gazed upon her naked body. She was indeed very beautiful; most of the Matron Mothers of Felynafay were quite beautiful.

With a crooked grin, I reached up with my left hand so she could hold it as she stepped into the warm water of the stone pool. She sat in my lap, and we spent the rest of the night together. In the morning, I was still awake with Vasiira sleeping happily in my arms. We had moved from the hot springs to her bed chambers at some point in the night.

As I lay there holding Vasiira while she slept, the door opened, and a man stepped through carrying my armor and clothes. “It’s time for you to leave,” he said firmly but quietly, a hint of jealousy in his voice. He was bigger than me but not nearly as big as Vielyn or Rylzt.

“You must be Malagyln, Malice’s father,” I said with a wide grin.

“That’s right, and if you don’t leave my bed… I’ll have Malice remove you,” he whispered harshly.

I wanted to leave. Hours ago, I was ready to leave and fall into my Zeera’s arms. This man was challenging me, though, trying to be dominant over me. My warrior pride and Drow ego would not allow me to comply with this man who was trying to threaten me.

“I suggest you go get Malice then because if you intend to remove me from this bed, from the arms of the woman who apparently longs for me, then you will have a fight on your hands, one you will not win alone,” I replied arrogantly. Malagyln straightened his back and pushed his chest out proudly. He threw my armor and clothes on the ground and stormed out of the room, though he was careful not to slam the door, I noticed.

Vasiira stirred a bit before opening her eyes and looking at me. “Good morning, beautiful,” I said quietly as she looked up at me.

“What was that noise a few moments ago?” she asked.

I shrugged my shoulders. “Some man came in here and threatened to sic Malice on me like she was his attack dog, so I told him to go get her,” I answered.

Vasiira smirked. “It was probably Malagyln...” she said with a smirk.

I nodded my head. “It was definitely Malagyln, and he does not like me,” I said with my own smirk.

Vasiira shrugged her shoulders. “You boys will figure it out,” she said in a tone that indicated she didn’t really care. She didn’t care to bother herself with a petty squabble between two men.

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Sure enough, a few moments later, the door burst open, and Malice hovered through, glowing fiercely and looking quite angry. When she spotted me and her mother lying peacefully in Vasiira’s bed, she stopped in her tracks. “Malagyln, you lied to me,” she said in a tone bordering angry.

“No! He said he’s going to kill your mother!” Malagyln insisted quietly as he pointed at me.

Vasiira looked over to him and then to Malice and shook her head. “He said no such thing,” she clarified. She had overheard the exchange between Malagyln and me and had simply pretended not to, trying to find out if I’d lie to her or not. She placed her hand on my chest and pushed herself up into a sitting position before glaring at Malagyln. “I don’t care if you boys want to fight each other, Malagyln, but do not presume that you get to choose who is in my bed and when they are there… and never… ever… use my favorite daughter as your attack dog again…” she threatened dangerously.

Malagyln swallowed hard and looked back and forth from Malice to Vasiira, both women looking none too pleased with him.

Malice turned to face the man directly. “Is that all I am to you? An attack dog? Perhaps you’d like to see what happens when you anger an attack dog.” Malice threatened her father angrily. Vasiira looked on with a smile as she leaned on me. Malagyln looked to her with a pleading look, silently begging her for help.

Malagyln, like myself, was a warrior. He was weapon master of the third house of Felynafay. Unlike Viezere, Mother’s man, Malagyln was strong. He had a reputation of having earned his rank by fighting ferociously against Matron Vasiira’s enemies. Malagyln was confident, rightly, against any man. These two women terrified him, though, Malice much more than Vasiira.

Malagyln eyed me as I flashed him my crooked grin. “She scares me too; I’ve fought beside her,” I admitted.

Malagyln smiled wide. “She doesn’t scare me as much as the idea of fighting me scares you,” he said boldly, trying to regain a little bit of his pride.

I shrugged my shoulders and smiled at him. “Perhaps we should take a walk out to the yard. See who’s really afraid of who,” I replied.

“Get dressed. I’ll see you out there,” Malagyln barked angrily. I chuckled as he turned and walked out of the room.

Vasiira looked at me. “You know he’s going to try to kill you, right?” she asked.

With a shrug of my shoulders, I showed her how worried I was. “Perhaps I try to kill him too,” I said as I sat up myself. I quickly threw my clothes on and then began to strap my armor on as Vasiira watched from the bed. When I finished, I stepped in front of the mirror to check myself out and make sure everything was in order.

I noticed the hole in my shirt and armor, from where I was struck with the arrow, had been mended. “Thank you for repairing my armor,” I said as I adjusted the collar to make sure it was centered. Vasiira nodded at me and smiled as she stood up and grabbed her robe.

She walked over to me and wrapped her arm around my waist as she kissed the back of my neck. “Remember what you’re fighting for…” she purred as she grabbed at my groin. Drow women enjoyed pitting us men against each other. I smiled at her as she walked towards the balcony and leaned on the railing.

I briefly considered throwing the fight, letting Malagyln win and perhaps relieving me of my obligation to visit her bed chambers. My pride wouldn’t allow that, though. I couldn’t simply lay down and let someone win. I had to fight, and Vasiira knew it.

When I finished in front of the mirror, I looked to the door and then to the balcony where Matron Vasiira was standing and broke into a sprint, heading towards Vasiira. Her eyes went wide when she realized I wasn’t slowing, but her look turned to one of awe as I leapt up high, over her head, and off the balcony. “I’ll take the fast way, thanks!” I shouted as I dropped towards the ground.

I activated my levitation ability to bring myself gently to the ground and smiled as I stood there with my arms crossed. “Aww, come on old man! I thought you’d have been out here by now… or are you afraid of Masdrin De’Endar?” I asked loudly. “I don’t think it’s fair for me to fight an elderly fella, it’s the same as beating up a child. Nothing to be proud of,” I said playfully. In truth, Malagyln wasn’t that old. He wasn’t as old as Mother or Vasiira, and even men their age were considered to be still in their prime.

“Old man?” I heard Malagyln say indignantly as he stepped through the front door of the house with his sword drawn, though I noticed he wasn’t wearing any armor. “So, we going to first blood or to the death?” I asked him. I kept my arms crossed in front of me as he approached. He grinned wide and didn’t answer me. “To the death it is then,” I said with a shrug.

“Draw your weapons,” he sneered.

“I will, if I need them,” I said with a confident smile, my arms still crossed in front of my chest. “In fact, I’ve heard of you and your reputation, and I’m so confident I may even take my armor off,” I said as I winked at him.

“I’ll cut you in half…” he growled as he moved swiftly towards me.

I kept my arms crossed in front of me as he put his blade through a series of slashes and thrusts meant more for show than to actually cause any harm. I easily avoided them, dancing around the older Drow and ducking under his arm at one point. “Impressive!” I said sarcastically. I kept my eye on the blade in his hand; it would cut through my armor, and the magical enchantment on it, whatever it was, would allow it to cut right through my shirt, even with the protection of the magical cufflinks. That was my mistake, focusing too much on the blade.

Malagyln reached out with his free hand and grabbed me by my neck. With one arm, the man lifted me off my feet and held me in the air. “Haha! Now what!” he asked triumphantly, thinking the fight to be over. I heard his sword hit the stone and then felt his other hand wrap around my neck. I couldn’t breathe, and I struck at his arms with my fists to no avail. He laughed as he squeezed my neck as hard as he could.

I wasn’t beaten yet; I had a few more tricks up my sleeve, or rather… in my boot. I stomped the heel of my left boot down on Malagyln’s thigh, and he laughed at me for the effort. “Is that all you got, little man?” he asked as he called forth another surge of strength and tightened his grip even further. I shook my head; the stomp wasn’t meant to hurt him; it was meant to deploy the blade in the toe of my boot. I kicked out twice, slicing both his inner thighs deep and opening his femoral arteries. He dropped me immediately, and his eyes went wide. The way his heart was pumping, he’d bleed out in no time if he continued to fight.

“Yield!” he cried, but I wasn’t finished. I backed up a step and launched a roundhouse kick, opening his stomach wide before jumping back another step. He was done. “Yield…” he said again weakly as he fell over.

I summoned my blades to my hands and took a step forward. “You want the physician or my blades?” I asked him, still none too pleased about being choked.

“The physician… please…” he gasped. I looked up to Vasiira, watching from the balcony. She nodded at him and turned to walk away.

I sighed and sheathed my blades. “Come on, let’s get you to the physician,” I said as I reached down and grabbed one of his arms to pull it over my shoulder. I lifted him onto my shoulder and carried him back into the house.

Malice was there to meet me with the physician, and I set Malagyln down in front of them and pointed to the three obvious wounds. “Did you have to do this?” Malice asked.

“He tried to kill me,” I replied before turning and heading for the door. I’d had enough of these people and just wanted to go home. “See you next time Matron Vasiira summons me to her bed, Malagyln,” I taunted my rival as I walked away from them.

I left the house without issue, and before long, I was walking into the Barra D’aron compound through the magical stone barrier. It was still morning, so Zeera would most likely be in the armory at the currency counter. I made my way there and smiled wide when I set my eyes on the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen. I strolled forward confidently and leaned on the currency counter and smiled at her. “Good morning, Zeera,” I said softly.

She was working on something and had her back to the counter. The sound of my voice got her attention, though; she spun immediately and moved for the counter. “You’re back!” she said happily. As she neared the counter, her eyes went wide when she noticed the blood all over my armor. “Are you okay?” she asked.

I smiled at her. “No… I’ve fought two battles since yesterday and nearly died twice,” I said with a shrug. “And then I didn’t get to hold my Zeera all night,” I said sadly as I put on a pouty face.

“Are you hurt?” she asked.

“Just my heart,” I replied, and she rolled her eyes and pointed to the blood on my armor. “Oh, that… that belongs to Malagyln Fret’tar,” I said dismissively.

“Was he injured in the battle against House Dhalmaerth?” Zeera asked.

“No, he was injured when he decided to pick me up by my neck,” I said proudly.

“Why did he pick you up by your neck?” she asked.

“Because he is the patron of House Fret’tar,” I said as I leaned close to the bars that separated me from Zeera. “He was jealous that he has never heard Vasiira moan his name,” I said quietly.

“Oh, we’re bragging now?” she asked, sounding rather annoyed. I smiled at her and moved towards the door.

“You’re not allowed back here, I can’t let you in…” she said, though I could tell she wanted to by the way she was smiling. She liked it when I pursued her, she liked it when I flexed my muscles, or what little power I had as the leader of Shadow Nine and self-proclaimed second in command of the company. She liked having a powerful man who was kind to her, and that was me.

I pulled a key from my pocket and let myself into the treasury room before locking the door behind me and turning to Zeera with a wide grin. “You’re gonna get us in trouble!” she warned. I shook my head and walked slowly towards her, removing my armor as I crossed the room.

“Durdrin! I tried to stop him!” she said half-heartedly into her comm implant.

She heard him laugh in reply, so she shrugged as I wrapped my arms around her waist. “Nobody can stop me!” I said confidently so only Zeera and Durdrin would hear me. Durdrin laughed again; he didn’t care that I was back here. I could have anything in this compound that I wanted. I wasn’t going to steal anything, and he knew it.

“So, I take it the treasury is closed for the time being?” he asked.

“Yes,” Zeera replied.

Zeera leaned back against me, and I nuzzled her cheek with mine as I held her around her waist. I could feel her heartbeat against my chest. “I missed you,” I said before kissing her cheek.

“I missed you too,” she replied.

That made me smile.