“I’m just terrible at jokes, I guess.” Speranzi said when the first light of dawn peeked through the gaps in the door. “Of course this,” she pointed to her face, “doesn’t help. It’s hard to make people laugh when you look like you want to stick a blade between their ribs.”
“Speranzi, I know it might feel good to just blame your face, but that’s not it. You’re just bad at this, just plain… bad. You have no sense of timing and your delivery is flatter than an old and stale beer.” Skana replied ‘reassuringly’ and that fleeting smile returned to Speranzi’s face.
“I suppose so. I’m just in the habit of assuming it’s this, and I shouldn’t be. You don’t seem to mind it after all. Fine, that’s enough of that. Go on and get me a shirt to wear under my armor, then get back here as fast as you can. I need to let Corwin know what happened as soon as possible, preferably before somebody else does. And while I don’t have the same sort of peasant prudery about nudity, walking around tits out will attract unpleasant attention on par with rubbing them raw by wearing my armor unprotected.”
Skana let out a genuine laugh and covered her mouth to stifle it as soon as Speranzi cocked her head. “Did I say something funny?” The fearsome woman asked honestly.
“Very, Speranzi. Very.” Skana said and wiped lingering sweat from her brow, “I’ll be back soon, you just wait here for me, alright?”
“Fine, just don’t take too long.” Speranzi replied and stood up to stretch with her arms above her head. Skana took a moment to admire the woman, the way she moved like a lioness on the hunt, her hands hard and thickly calloused from her work, her body toned and lean with muscles like the steel ropes of ships that hunted coastal monsters. Every inch of her screamed ‘predator’, right down to the casual cracking of her knuckles when her eyes shut and she took a deep breath. The way her straw colored short hair glinted in the soft glow of the light, bathing her in white like a god was giving her a blessing.
In Skana’s own mind, at least, even Speranzi’s face was beautiful in a demonic kind of way. Her narrow eyes made every focused look more intense than those of a more normal pair. Her high cheekbones seemed to exaggerate her mouth whenever it changed expression. And those ice-blue eyes seemed to pulse like a candle’s flame given winter’s chill.
“Oh, and Skana?” Speranzi said, snapping the woman out of her brief reverie.
“Yes, My- Speranzi?” Skana asked, blinking her way back to reality.
“Don’t steal the shirt.” She said and reached for the pouch at her waist. “I doubt you have enough money to pay for it, so here. Make sure to tell them it’ll be worn under armor, they’ll know what to provide.” Speranzi instructed her and drew out a handful of gold coins, she tossed them across the space between them and Skana used both her hands to snatch them from the air. “Hmm, that feels a little light… but still, it should be plenty. Use what you need and don’t worry about the remainder. It’s the least I can do.” Speranzi bowed her head in gratitude at the same moment that Skana bowed her own in understanding.
“As you wish, and… I’ll go by the apothecary and buy a few things to make up for last night. I hope you don’t mind if I don’t outright confess. I’d rather not face what passes for justice in this city.” Skana answered and shoved the coins in her own little pouch.
“That is acceptable. Nobody but Corwin has done anything like that for me in a long time. I won’t let you get hurt over it. Now go, no more wasting time.” Speranzi ordered, and Skana obeyed, turning on her heel and hastening out the door a second later.
Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.
----------------------------------------
Corwin rolled out of bed and began to scratch his belly. It jiggled a little when he moved and he stood up to stretch. Beside him the wealthy courtesan stretched out without rising from the bed. “You always wake up early.” She said in a sleepy, sultry voice.
“And I always find you in the most unexpected places, Melyn.” He said and stretched out from his seated position. “It’s like you somehow know when I’m feeling a little lonely and just ‘appear’ wherever I am when I need you.”
She tapped her nose and rolled toward him, “I have a nose for money, what can I say?” She asked rhetorically and with a sly smile added, “Except for, ‘I’d like some more.’ perhaps.”
He chuckled deeply with his back to her and then turned to look behind him, “You know, if you’d been born a boy to a merchant class, I wonder if we’d have been the fiercest competitors or the best of friends, or both?”
Melyn sat up, yawned, and then reaching out toward him, she flicked his pudgy nose. “Both, silly. Definitely both. And if I’d been born to that class as I am, I’m sure we’d have married and joined two merchant houses into one and rivaled an entire guild just on our own. Buuuut?” She shrugged enough to shake her ample breasts before his eyes. “It is what it is. So come on, tell Melyn what’s bothering you.” She put her arms on his shoulders and then slid them down his chest to press her breasts against his back. “That’s what you really come to me for anyway.”
“How do you know that?” He cocked his head and glanced at her face out of the corner of one eye. Her raven black hair tumbled down over his shoulder when she started to speak.
“Because I’m a high class prostitute, of course. Most of the cheap ones, they’re paid to leave. But ones like yours truly are paid to stay and listen. Someone you can talk to after sex is worth a lot more than the sex itself. So go on, tell this free bird your troubles.” Melyn said and nibbled at his earlobe.
“It’s my… niece. I’ve never taken her on a southern run before, and we’re going to pass through Wenmark. She’s naive, innocent in some ways. I’m afraid she’ll react badly. She barely goes out in public, only interacts with others for business purposes… she’s not used to the way things work in the real world outside of a battlefield and a long march. I’m just worried about her.” Corwin answered.
Melyn patted his chest with her soft left hand. “Is this the girl that you say helped defend Prioche? Do you really expect she can’t handle a little human ugliness?” Melyn asked.
She did not, however, restrain herself from making a disgusted face. “I know that city, I’ll never work there again. Disgusting place. But I could handle it until I got out. If you’re really worried, just don’t let her in, and failing that, just warn her, what’s the worst that can happen?”
Corwin sighed, “You’ve never met her. She can be very… intense. When it comes to that one, ‘worst’ takes on a whole new meaning.”
Melyn pulled Corwin backward, drawing him away from the edge until he lay flat on the bed and raven hair tumbled down against his cheeks. “You worry too much, and besides, you can always relax with me again when you need to. You know that’ll make you feel better, and unlike her, I’ll never stand you up for dinner.”
Corwin was stopped from saying anything by the feel of her lips pressing against his in an impassioned kiss that lasted for longer than he thought it would. “You’re the best, Melyn.” He sighed when she released his captive mouth.
“You’re right, I am the best. Now how about one more round before we part ways again. Though if you’re here for another night, for you I’d make some time." Melyn agreed and made her offer with a smile made of her ruby lips.
“I’d like that.” He said with a little smile of his own, “You’re my favorite distraction.”
“Would you believe me if I said you’re my favorite client?” She asked with one raven eyebrow arched.
“Not a chance, but you can tell me anyway.” He answered. Her laughter rang like silver bells as she lowered her lips to his right ear and whispered.
“You’re my favorite client.” She whispered and reached for his manhood with one hand to give him one more round before he had to leave.