The Ambition of the Dreadlord Raveres
Part V: The Hanil Khar
Episode Thirty-Five (Censored)
Yurin hadn't been as apprehensive, or as petrified, since he fought alongside Raveres on the chaos-tainted ship in the waters of Araby. But now, in a house filled with Druchii, wreathed in smoke, and well supplied with alcohol?
He felt what could only be described as uncomfortable terror. Ever-present in his chest, and poised to swallow him whole, was the situation unfolding around him, in every room, along the walls, and throughout the house the mercenaries revelled.
Though he was officially Raveres' Seneschal Yurin did not enjoy respect from any of the Druchii. He was a servant, but more than that he was a commodified lesser race. To them he was a mayfly.
A Human retainer to a Druchii master whose novelty and lack of a slave collar earned him wary looks, whispers, and private apprehension from the mercenaries; unsure as to what to make of the well-spoken and physically unintimidating man.
They kept their distance, and when he gave an order, it was followed, with a palpable degree of hesitation. Yurin was almost always on edge around them now, and as he looked around, the fact he had no control over the company of Druchii men was unignorable.
He knew he tread a fine line whilst the men were sober; but the last thing he needed to do was earn himself a loss of 'face' in front of them, or to arouse in any of them the desire for violence while they were drunk. So Yurin wisely stood out of the way, doing his best to keep his wide-eyes and fears to himself.
Swallowing tensely and clearing his throat Yurin raised a brow and peered into the house's dining room at the change in music. Where previously there was a rowdy drinking song a more melodical piece had begun. One of the mercenaries had a harp, or lyre, of some sort and had struck up an obviously well-known tune.
After a few bars of the mercenary's playing, Haeloc, the gruff second in command to Lieutenant Salis, raised his flagon high before opening the first verse.
The officer's face was cherry-red, his voice purposeful as he sung and waved his arms in time with the bars of the lyre. Alongside their officer, many of them men clapped and stomped their feet, occasionally one or two of them would jump up and begin to dance.
The long table which was once in the middle of the dining room had been pushed to the far end to allow for such activity, and similarly all the dining chairs were against the walls, occupied by onlooking Druchii.
The new household servants ran about refilling cups or delivering food to the partying mercenaries. And so far, those peasant workers were the only ones who looked at Yurin with a modicum of respect.
With a grumbling sigh, Yurin turned from the dining room and back to the front hall where only one man kept a disinterested watch of the door. Every now and then some mercenaries would leave or return on their respective 'provision' runs. Departing for more spirited drinks, different and stranger foods, or other delights.
On that score, the house's salon had become, to Yurin's chagrin, a smoking lounge. Peering into the hazy room in curiosity he saw five mercenaries, accompanied by five whores, in various states of repose, passing a silver smoke pipe amongst themselves in a circle.
Their eyes were each in a state of glaze; one man was enjoying a fit of laughter, another was scrutinising an empty tankard with great remorse, while a third was exhaling and passing the pipe to the woman at his side.
The fourth of their number piqued up at Yurin's entrance and chidingly invited the Human to partake. His whore companion laughed and playfully slapped his shoulder. While the fifth mercenary of the group was kissing his courtesan quite emphatically.
Shaking his head and laughing awkwardly Yurin exited the room and went back into the foyer, moving past some of the men before entering into the kitchens. The servants were working as fast as they could, throwing meat into pans, stoking the fire, cutting and laying out meals, and all the while yelling at one another in such gutterised Druhir Yurin barely understood them.
One of the kitchen staff was struggling with a keg and as he approached the door to the dining room, then he yelled that more ale was forthcoming. Yurin thought the Druchii boy's voice would be drowned out by the ambience and the roaring of the house's conversation, but applause and a cheer answered him.
Shaking his head Yurin cocked a brow and stood against the wall.
Then issuing a heavy breath he moved towards the backdoor to the townhouse's yard. Exiting the hot, stuffy, kitchen gave him an instant reprieve and Yurin looked upwards while deflating.
Yet even the yard was occupied…
A Druchii had passed out across the middle of the muddy court; his tunic and trousers drenched in dampness. While to Yurin's right side, and nearer the small stable, another Elf held himself against the wall of the house and struggled to stay upright as he urinated against the brickwork.
Shaking his head Yurin put his hands on his hips and closed his eyes. Instead, he focused on the cool evening air, the wind over the city, and the ambience of the night. He almost didn't hear the meek voice behind him,
"Master Yuri? I was sent to fetch you."
He furrowed his brow and turned around. One of the kitchen boys, nearly blind by his floppy fringe of black hair, was standing on the short servants' steps. He nodded his head respectfully to Yurin as he turned around.
Yurin was about to respond when he furrowed his brow,
'Yuri? Wait, only mistress Raveres calls me that, n-no… don't tell me everyone does now! Once a nickname sticks that's it!'
Shaking his head, Yuri resisted the urge to grumble as he cleared his throat somewhat impatiently,
"Yes? What is it?"
The servant nodded his head again, "Master Haeloc sent me."
Images of the grizzled, brutish, Druchii entered his mind and Yurin resisted the urge to shudder. He didn't quite like dealing with any of the mercenaries, but Haeloc was the most visually intimidating of them all.
Looking back at the servant, the seneschal raised a brow and stiffened professionally, calming himself and speaking authoritatively Yurin replied,
"Wherefor? Is it urgent?"
The servant blinked and averted his eyes, "Well, n-no not exactly. He merely requests your presence, sir."
Yurin took another breath of the cool air before nodding, then he steeled himself as he thought soberly, 'Gods, if I'm going to be in Raveres' service I better get used to them and their ways… Yet this air is so cool… so pleasant…'
He scoffed at himself before exhaling. Then, moving forwards Yurin pursed his lips and pointed back inside,
"Lead on then."
The servant nodded and proceeded back into the house, with Yurin following behind.
"He's still in the dining room?"
The servant audibly hesitated to correct his better and his voice came out ever the meeker, "No sir, he's, Master Haeloc is smoking now."
Yurin rolled his eyes, 'Great. Tipsy and high Druchii. Wonderful combination…'
Moving back indoors Yurin followed the servant until he was once again in the salon turned smoking den.
At his arrival Haeloc stood from where he was seated nearer the room's hearth and waved Yurin inside. There were more people in the room now and Yurin had to stop himself from wincing stiffly under the scrutiny of so many elvish eyes.
Grunting and doing his best to maintain a façade of confidence Yurin nodded and tilted his head as he stood at ease,
"You asked for me?"
Haeloc laughed and whispered a joke to his nearest comrade. Then he nodded,
"I did, yes. Come, come sit with us!"
The couch which Haeloc indicated was already occupied with three inebriated Druchii but Haeloc issued a wordless order for them to disperse. Stumbling upwards one of them nearly fell before deciding to sit on the floor nearest the hearth, curling up into a ball. The other two slowly moved towards the far side of the room.
With his discomfiture growing, Yurin exhaled as he slowly stepped past those who were standing and those who were sitting about the floor, to take his seat on the middle cushion of the couch.
Haeloc watched Yurin with a smirk and raised a brow. Beside Haeloc a courtesan handed him a long wooden smoking pipe.
Yurin regarded it uneasily. It seemed in the brief period of time since he was last in the room someone had provided more pipes, and there was several circling around now. And now that he was in the midst of the room, the smells and heady smoke became stifling.
It smelt of shisha, poppy oil, and of Imperial pipe-weed. So many scents mingled together that Yurin did his best to keep from wiping his eyes or coughing as he sat amongst the circle of wolfish killers.
Indicating several of those in attendance, Haeloc leant forwards as he began his playful interrogation of the Human,
"You've been at our patroness' side since she hired us. So, tell me mayfly, how long have you served miss purple-eyes?"
A few men chuckled, but for the most part the Druchii seemed quite keen upon Yurin for his answer. Blinking and raising a brow Yurin opened his mouth in surprise,
"I uh, sorry?"
Haeloc snapped his fingers and growled,
"Where's my manners? Get this man a drink! His job is talking, he'd be the damned thirstiest one here!"
The Druchii cheered and laughed as Yurin looked around uneasily. Then before he could react a man shoved a full tankard of strong ale in front of him. Yurin looked at it uneasily, before looking up to see Haeloc staring him down. The older Druchii's expression left no room for refusal.
Yurin laughed nervously and took hold of the tankard. Then Haeloc smiled and raised his own. Every man that had a drink took a swig in unison, and the Human retainer reluctantly followed suit.
When he winced and coughed at the burn and strong taste of the strange brew it made all the Druchii laugh sadistically. Several of the whores eyed Yurin venomously, relishing the discomfort and embarrassment on his features.
Then Haeloc, having drained his flagon, burped and leant back in his seat before slapping his knee and beckoning a Druchii woman to sit in his lap.
"Now that you're proper wetted, tell us about the Dreadlord we serve, eh?"
Yurin sheepishly nodded and wiped the foam from his lips,
"Right… Well, she, uh." He nearly stuttered before grunting and clearing his throat.
'Gods, just calm yourself. You're fine, you're fine! You've been through worse states, surely!'
Haeloc began feeling up the woman's back, sighing as she scratched his stubble reciprocally, then he interjected,
"I wonder, she's good at lookin' the part. But is our lady quite up to snuff?"
Yurin furrowed his brow, trying to understand the mercenary's meaning. Then he shook his head and blinked, nearly laughing in disbelief. Haeloc raised a brow, clearly unimpressed a Human was chuckling at him, then Yurin stopped.
"No, no not at all! I, I've seen Lady Raveres in combat first hand. I mean… One of the first things I saw her do in battle was leap aboard a chaos-stricken ship. Master Haeloc, I assure you; our lady is quite capable."
Haeloc pursed his lips and his brow rose. The men listening murmured and Yurin nodded. Then Haeloc leant forwards, carefully holding onto his courtesan,
"What was that? A chaos-stricken ship? You mean a chaotic ship surely? Ha-ha! Some translator! Your voice is far too courtly, you speak like a bloody Asur."
Haeloc laughed while Yurin shook his head,
"No, I mean the ship was tainted by chaos. Mutated and twisted. The men aboard had been made foul."
The Druchii in the room began leaning forwards, the character of their conversation quite changed. The Human servant which at first was a perverse curiosity was now a genuine interest. Then Haeloc became serious, his brow furrowing,
"What meaning are you playing at, translator?"
Yurin cleared his throat,
"We were sailing after the man whom Lady Raveres had sworn vengeance. The man in his fear, brokered a pact with the ruinous powers, or he was cursed…"
Yurin took a drink to calm himself at the increasing interest from his 'companions'. Swallowing he nodded and continued,
"The ship was all foul, and we fought these, beasts. They were no longer mortal men."
Yurin blinked and paused as the recollections began to return vividly. Haeloc titled back, his expression surprised,
"You embellish for her sake."
Yurin didn't seem to hear him and instead sat, staring towards the fireplace. As it crackled and burned, he began to remember, Raveres' screams of rage, her sword-strokes, the heads… the bodies and rotten smells.
Snapping his fingers to catch Yurin's attention Haeloc raised his voice,
"Hey! Mayfly?"
Haeloc chuckled as Yurin snapped to. Blinking and looking around in bewilderment Yurin's face reddened and he noticed he was breathing heavily. Many Druchii laughed and were speaking amongst themselves now, but Haeloc continued to eye Yurin.
"What were they? Just describe what it was like and I'll know if you're lying or not."
Yurin let out a breath of surprise, "I'd really rather not."
Haeloc narrowed his eyes and Yurin relented,
"Alright, uh, f-fine."
He grunted and cleared his throat, becoming surprised at his own reluctance to recall that evening on the seas. It seemed so long ago.
"It was foggy and the night had fallen, the ship happened upon us out of an enchanted fog. The crew were twisted forms of blades, with tumours and quills. They groaned as if their windpipes were broken, and they fell like they were made of blubbered fat."
Haeloc remained unmoved while around him Druchii laughed incredulously, and several women scoffed. Many of those present returned to drinking, smoking, or foreplay with their whores. But Yurin retained the audience of Haeloc and several of the more grizzled, veteran, mercenaries.
His voice faltered and Yurin tensed as he shivered, despite the heat of the fireplace he remained chill.
"The ship was being eaten from within by a great beast, with tentacles and barbs, but worst was what had happened to the captain; the man whom wronged and nearly slew Lady Raveres… He was no longer a manly form. But… I, I did not see him, nor what happened below deck."
Yurin shook his head at the recollections and furrowed his brow in anxious discomfort. His chest rose and fell shallowly and he visibly moved under the gaze of the Druchii. Yurin took a longer drink of ale and winced before clearing his throat,
"I… I apologise Master Haeloc. I, I'm not one for revelry, please excuse me."
Standing, Yurin quickly made for the exit but Haeloc grunted, his voice coming out unflinchingly with an order,
"Sit down boy."
Yurin blinked and turned back to watch Haeloc grab back his pipe. Then he offered it and indicated for Yurin to resume his seat.
"We're still talking. Now take this, breathe deeply, and tell us more about our Lady Raveres."
Haeloc's earlier tone was convivial, if a little teasing. He and his men seemed to have wanted something to laugh at, perhaps even to use Yurin for their own derisive entertainment, but after such a brief story their mistress and the most senior of her servants, had become undeniably interesting.
Now when Haeloc said her name, it had a greater weight to it, and was of a completely different tone than when he referenced her earlier. Yurin eyed the pipe hesitantly, but then Haeloc tapped the hip of the woman on his lap and she rose towards him.
"Help him out, why don't you love?"
The courtesan nodded and took the pipe from Haeloc's hands before turning towards Yurin. And as the Human sat back down, she sat beside him, warmly smiling. Gulping and blinking heavily Yurin tensed as she shuffled closer towards him and whispered in his ear.
Her voice was disarming, smooth, and like her smile; warm. His earlier discomfort was alleviated and he felt a premature tingle from the alcohol he'd drank. An excitement permeated the woman and flowed off of her into him uneasily.
Her breath caressed his skin as she spoke,
"It's quite good. They tell me this blend of smoke comes from Arnheim. It's like an autumn wind, warm as you begin, but chilly as you finish."
Yurin swallowed and remained still. Almost entranced by the elven woman. Then she laughed,
"Here, allow me."
She brought the pipe to her rouge-painted lips and took a long draw. Yurin had never been this close to a Druchii's face before, and his eyes strained not to inspect all the minor differences of her soft, makeup adorned features.
With her mouth full, the courtesan lent forwards and closed her eyes, expertly aiming her lips to Yurin's and all but straddling herself against him as she kissed him. Yurin was so surprised and dumbfounded he didn't know how to react.
Much to the entertainment of the onlookers several cheered and laughed as the courtesan blew the drugged smoke into Yurin's lungs, and teasingly ruffled his hair as she kissed him. Before ending her embrace she caressed Yurin's neck.
As soon as he was free of her, he coughed the smoke out, all but wheezing as he blinked and felt his fingers tingle and his chest nearly collapse. Many of the men laughed as Yurin blinked and leant back on the couch fighting for breath.
The courtesan handed the pipe off to someone else and then she began petting her hand along Yurin's shoulder as the powerful intoxicant rushed through his blood. Looking around warily, eyeing each of the Druchii like the predators they were, Yurin lazily protested,
"That was supposed to c-calm me?"
Haeloc laughed and leant forwards, slapping Yurin's leg,
"When you're not being such a bitch about it, yes!"
The mercenaries laughed again as Yurin continued to cough and shake his head,
"B-by the gods…"
The courtesan at his side chuckled before pouting and rubbing his shoulder,
"Now, now, boys. He's still a little mayfly."
Haeloc nodded and leant back. After a few moments he raised a brow as Yurin blinked slowly. Strangely enough, just as the whore had said, he began to feel the warmth in his breath as he exhaled. Haeloc had a knowing expression before he prodded,
"Better? Now, about our Dreadlord…"
Yurin raised a brow and looked at Haeloc as his body continued to tingle and loosen. His fears dulled, and his body relaxed into the plush cushioning and warm fingers of the woman at his side.
Tranquilised, he deflated into the alien embrace and after what felt like several minutes he began to talk, his Druhir was a little delayed, but it flowed freely none-the-less.
"L-Lady Raveres slew, or had slain everyone on that ship. But whatever was below, it… it nearly killed her and tried to tear her in half. It was such a beast, and they said it was but a babe! Ha! Yet, to think she could kill even a young leviathan. It nearly cleaved her in two… I saw the wounds across her belly myself…"
Haeloc scoffed and then Yurin grumbled, suddenly his memories and his eagerness to share all bubbling up at once,
"Then the feud with the knights… I… I never saw someone in such bloodlust before."
Yurin blinked and shuddered, then he exhaled impatiently,
"I watched her fight. So many men… She, she's good enough at it though! Hah! Master Haeloc I tell you; I'd never seen such swordplay in person before. She'd parry, beat, riposte, then she'd lunge, or dive, her blade moving with complete purpose all the while."
Yurin's voice began to rise,
"She drove her blade through castle-forged Bretonnian armour! A-and before that she tortured t-those men at the side of the oasis…" he blinked and stiffened, "For the squire… We rode over so many dunes, despite it all she just kept pressing on. And when we found the knights, gods! The fury…"
Yurin scoffed.
"She twisted, despite the arrow in her shoulder, straight through her plate, Raveres just kept cutting, s-slashing like, possessed! Screaming of Khaine and oaths until… Until, we'd killed them all…"
Then Yurin paused. His free, and scattered, ramblings of his recollections made him instantly uncomfortable, then he blinked and cleared his throat. His audience of mercenaries were divided between those of interest and those preoccupied with revelry.
Haeloc and the scarred, serious-faced Druchii nodded slowly in approval. Despite the disjointedness of Yurin's speaking, they'd been given exactly what they wanted of their patroness. Then Yurin blinked and looked down into his pint.
"Lady Raveres, was… Undeterred by obstacles, and truly undaunted by her foes. But, I… Don't know what else I ought to say."
Haeloc finally seemed to relent.
"Mhmm."
Then he leant back and took a sip of his ale before chuckling, "We'll take an interest in you then."
Several of the mercenaries jeered and laughed as Yurin's eyes widened.
"W-what?"
Haeloc leapt from his seat faster than he seemed able and clapped his hands together,
"Boys, another song! Let's see how light-of-foot a mayfly can be!"
The courtesan at Yurin's side giggled sadistically and stood as well, pulling the Human to his feet with a wide grin.
"After he dances, I've got an idea for a game."
Haeloc looked from the courtesan towards his men and began deep-set laugh. Yurin tried to protest, but he was already within the trap and there wouldn't be any escape or reprieve to come to mercy.
…
Salis stood stiffly at first, then he loudly scoffed and laughed nervously. Eventually he furrowed his brow and turned his head to the side incredulously.
"You're joking, right?"
Raveres' expression remained unchanged from when she'd issued her order and she stared back at him unblinkingly. Her chest moved in the water audibly with each deep breath and the fire continued to crackle ambiently.
After staring at Salis for a spell, Raveres eventually grunted to clear her throat. Pushing herself backwards, Raveres slowly straightened until her shoulders were pressed up against the wall of the bathtub. Then, maintaining her gaze on Salis, she moved her arms and extended them along the rim of the wooden tub, purposefully.
Her chest and breasts were now completely exposed, and the slightest bit of excitement and tension became noticeable in her breathing. But her facial expression and demeanour remained confident.
Salis lasted a little longer than she'd hoped, but his curiosity eventually got the better of him and he looked down at her pale, bare, chest. His already blushed features deepened in colour and he bashfully moved his head towards the fire, darting his eyes around the floor as he smiled and scoffed.
Cocking an eyebrow and tilting her head sarcastically Raveres chuckled and finally replied,
"Did I sound like I was jesting?"
Salis blinked nervously and breathed heavier as he forced himself to meet her gaze.
"My lady I."
Raveres chuckled and interrupted Salis with a shake of her head, "I don't like repeating myself lieutenant. Now, undress."
He merely blinked and remained stiff.
'I… I really didn't think this through…' Raveres worried.
Her heart was thundering and she was surprised not only at herself, and how she felt being so bold, but also at Salis' strange reluctance.
'Is it reluctance? I… He-he's a man! Ha! W-what in Atharti's name is he waiting for? What's wrong with him?!'
Blinking and swallowing a dry breath Raveres pursed her lips, 'Perhaps he just needs a harsher hand…'
Furrowing her brow slowly and carefully, Raveres tried to keep her voice even toned, so as to not betray her own nervousness or impatience, and ordered him more firmly,
"Salis? Take off your clothes."
This time the mercenary blinked and looked down, his lips parted and his chest was all but panting within his cuirass and tunic. He remained still for a handful of seconds before he appeared to give in, then he made one more vocal protest,
"My lady, it is not in my habit to give up my flesh so freely!"
Raveres wanted to widen her eyes in surprise at his tone of voice, but his face, his general uncertainty, and the way his eyes looked at her failed to uphold his words. She wanted to smirk, and her heart danced.
All she had to do was wear him down.
"Is that so? Ha-ha! Salis… you're a mercenary. Your business is to give of your blood and flesh to your employer. Or, am I mistaken?"
Slowly raising her right brow and pursing her lips Raveres watched as Salis' eyes continued to dart downwards and look over her body. He exhaled shallowly and grunted, trying to clear his throat,
"I…" he scoffed nervously, "M-my lady, that, that isn't the same…"
He looked over his shoulder at the door and covered his mouth with his hand. His thoughts clearly racing. Eventually he looked back at Raveres. His eyes did not deceive him… She was still in the bath, still looking at him, and yes, still naked.
Offering Salis a silken smile, Raveres tilted her head to the left and blinked at him. Salis exhaled, and before reluctantly licking his dry lips. Averting his gaze, he looked to the floor and nodded slowly.
Swallowing, he reached to his belt and began unbuckling it from his trousers and cuirass. Lowering his sword and sheath to the floor the heavy blade landed with a dull thud before he moved on to the side straps of his armour.
Raveres' expression deepened and she felt her throat tighten. Her cheeks felt hot, her ears felt hot, and her eyes darted up and down his body. She couldn't help but smile and bite her lip as he gave in.
Taking her arms off the sides of the bath, Raveres moved forwards to be that much closer as Salis removed his armour. Watching keenly as his fingers moved, she listened as Salis' breath struggled to remain steady and even. Once all the steel was off of his body Salis stood hesitantly, he'd just a light cross-stitched tunic, plain trousers, and his boots on now.
Raveres pointed at him, doing her best to resist showing how giddy she was,
"Take off your shirt, slowly."
Salis exhaled and nodded. After brushing his fringe with his fingers nervously he obligingly pulled his shirt from his trousers and began peeling it off. Reaching for her wine blindly, Raveres watched on and issued a low sigh of pleasant surprise as each inch of Salis' abdomen and midriff became revealed.
Blinking rapidly, Raveres swallowed and licked her teeth and lips as she brought her wine up to her mouth, she had no idea just how titillating and exciting this was going to be. Fluttering her eyes, Raveres greedily drank in the sight as Salis' tunic moved along the edge of his trousers and up his pale flesh.
Salis' abdomen was visibly tight and his muscles were practically cut into his frame; he had well-defined curved Adonis belt which Raveres continued to eye up and down, and his small navel filled her with an urge to bite and kiss at his skin until it reddened. So far, he looked as good as she'd hoped, and his lithe, duellists' body was as handsome to her as his scarred face.
Once his shirt reached his pectorals, he pulled the garment off his head impatiently with a breath and a huff. Now shirtless, Raveres looked over the curves and tempting bumps of his ribs until at last she saw his smooth chest.
He swallowed and his throat moved enticingly, catching Raveres' attention as she downed the rest of her wine. Tracing her eyes up and over his neck and jaw, she quickly looked back down towards his nipples. Then in the firelight she saw a metallic shimmer and Raveres furrowed her brow in surprise before she realised; both of Salis' nipples had small silver bar piercings through them.
Blinking and sniggering in disbelief she looked up and saw Salis avert his eyes again and blush. He gritted his teeth and protested,
"There. Is, is that all my lady?"
Raveres let out a laugh and shook her head, "Not even close."
Then she indicated his chest with a finger and cocked an eyebrow, giggling girlishly,
"But that is surprising. I never would have guessed, lieutenant."
Salis' chest was moving up and down as he breathed and he merely shook his head in reply. Reaching over the edge of the bath Raveres refilled her glass. Sighing happily, she nodded,
"Continue; take off your pants as well."
Salis knew where this was headed, and realised that he hadn't any say in the matter. So, he exhaled and stooped to unbuckle his boots as Raveres continued to watch him and sip at her drink gingerly. Kicking the footwear off Salis was about to pull down his pants without any fan-fare, but Raveres narrowed her eyes disapprovingly and he paused.
Then she playfully reminded him, "Slowly, Salis…"
His brow furrowed a little, then his eyes met hers and he stiffened. His body language betrayed his thoughts and how he felt being ordered around in such a way. Then Raveres opened her mouth and gave him a toothy, knowing, grin.
"Is that attitude, Salis?"
He swallowed and slowly began lowering his trousers. His messy hair, red features, and sudden boyish rebellion raised Raveres' excitement and anticipation higher still, and his expression as he shook his head sealed the performance.
"Not at all, my lady."
His pants lowered to reveal a tight and small pair of shorts, the outline and bulge of his manhood clearly discernible through the greyish material. His thighs were just as lean and muscled as his arms and abdomen, but unlike his chest, his legs were dappled with scars.
The shiny tissue caught the light and Raveres' eye and told an interesting story. A blade's cut here, an arrow head there… Each mark contributed to Raveres' carnal hunger and desire to run her tongue all up and over Salis.
Kicking his feet out from his pantlegs Salis straightened his back and planted his hands defiantly on the edges of his hips. Raveres smirked at his expression and body language before she nodded in approval and pointed behind him,
"Lock the door."
Salis furrowed his brow at first. Then he released a tense breath and turned towards the exit. Drawing the iron bolt closed he planted his hand on the doorframe and shivered. His whole body vibrating with each heartbeat. Then he turned back around and looked at Raveres.
Blinking and exhaling she raised her wineglass and offered it to him,
"Would you like to join me?"
Clearing his throat Salis eventually nodded and Raveres smiled. Then she spoke, her voice forcing itself to seem casual and confident,
"Don't think of me as anything other than Raveres. At least right now ha-ha!"
Sighing awkwardly, she nodded and continued, "I want us to merely be fellow Druchii. Enjoying the pleasures and fruits of life."
Salis raised a brow and stepped closer. Then he accepted her wineglass and raised it to his lips. Closing his eyes and waiting for the burn he drank several deep sips before exhaling. Then he blinked and seemed to have decided something while Raveres was talking.
Chuckling and letting his proximity get to her Raveres began rambling, only noticing Salis' movement until he had planted his lips to hers,
"I admit that today has been full of a gre-oh! Mmmph! Mmhmm… mmmhm."
He had dropped to his knees and closed his eyes as he committed to his kiss and pressed his warm, wine-flavoured mouth, against Raveres'. Then she shuddered and let out a breathy moan of approval.
"Mhmm… mmm."
Drawing more air through her nose she eventually closed her eyes and began moving into the kiss more intensely. Salis teased and forced to the edge, put the wineglass on the floor before moving his hands towards her shoulders. Touching his fingers to her wet skin he let out a muffled moan of his own.
Pulling back, out of his reach, Raveres broke off the kiss and chuckled; giggling in surprise she opened her eyes and looked at Salis. His face was beet-red and he breathed heavily before looking at his hands on her shoulders.
"F-forgive me."
Raveres shook her head and leant towards his scar. Salis froze, his eyes widening as she whispered,
"Shush. As I said… we're just Druchii right now. No titles… No authority… No inhibitions."
Then she drew in a breath through her nose, savouring Salis' smell before she closed her eyes and began kissing his scarred cheek. Swallowing nervously, his voice nearly cracked as he shivered,
"Y-you don- n-no… I…"
Giggling quietly Raveres moved her lips off his skin and cooed,
"I love your scar Salis, hah, I wanted to do this the first time I met you."
He swallowed and his hands on her shoulders moved more freely, testing her tolerance as he replied in disbelief,
"You did?"
Licking from the edge of his lip, all along the ridge and deep cut of his old wound, Raveres moaned and nodded slowly. Shuddering, Salis let out a shallow breath as his hands moved along Raveres' biceps before curling behind and gripping the muscles of her shoulder blades.
"I, well then, I… Okay…"
Ending her lick Raveres moved forwards until her mouth was near his ear,
"I want you to fuck me Salis…"
His breath caught in his throat and he stiffened as Raveres moved her arms around his back and the two held each other in a frozen embrace. Licking the bottom of his earlobe Raveres laughed, not only at having actually said what she did, but at the excitement in her body and the reaction she had on him. She knew full well she'd not have been as bold as she was if she didn't have a belly full of wine.
Then with a giggle she kissed his ear and licked the top of the long cartilage, making Salis shiver and let slip a reluctant moan. Kissing down his ear and along his cheek Raveres breathed heavier as her voice, lubricated with alcohol, came out more freely,
"I want you to choke me and fuck me."
Salis let out a low masculine groan and nodded, then as soon as her mouth was in range, he began kissing her lips, his breath coming out of his nose loudly while his hands moved up and down her back. Raveres let out a giggle of surprise at his enthusiasm and moaned as she closed her eyes.
Moving her hands up and down his back she mirrored his actions, until after the long kiss Salis broke off. Swallowing he blinked and the two finally looked into one another's eyes. Raising a brow playfully Raveres smiled before biting her lip.
Then she giggled again and her voice came out teasingly,
"I'm going to get out and lay on the bed. You however, smell like you've been in that armour a while… So, clean yourself up. Then you can join me."
Before he could retort Raveres moved her head forwards and kissed his lips, then she rose from the bath and out of his hands without warning. Water noisily cascaded off of her as she moved, and once she was upright Salis looked up her body slowly and in disbelief.
Raveres was about to raise a leg and exit the tub when Salis moved both his hands to her calves and tightly held her there. He was on his knees, and all but panted as he gazed upwards. Her womanhood was right in front of him and Raveres laughed nervously, realising there might have been a gap in her plan…
Swallowing her dry mouth, she looked down at Salis as he slowly relaxed his hands and began moving his fingers up her legs. His warm palms wetted with the water coating her skin and he began pushing into her skin as he reached her thighs.
Raveres' heart was thumping madly as she watched on, her breath loudly indicating her own arousal and want as her thoughts raced,
'Lick me out. Go on… lick me out! You mercenary fuck, do it! Just do it!'
Salis was breathing unevenly, and he all but stared at her water-covered skin, curves of her abdomen, and pubic mound. Swallowing he made a masculine moan of entranced approval; her womanhood was hidden in the shadow of her legs and under a somewhat wild and ungroomed patch of thick, dark-silver, pubic hair.
With a heavy breath through his nose, Salis slowly shook his head from side to side before looking up from Raveres' groin, taking in her navel and abdomen, and finally meeting her eyes. Wordlessly his expression indicated what he was going to do next. But before he did Raveres opened her mouth and tacitly encouraged him.
Salis straightened his back and began leaning forwards, opening his mouth and beginning by kissing her right thigh. At the same time his hands rubbed the backs of her thighs, making small circles as he progressed towards her buttocks. While his warm hands touched up her damp skin, Salis kissed a line up her thigh.
Cupping and taking firm hold of Raveres' buttocks, Salis continued kissing until he came close enough for her to feel his breath against her vagina. With a low moan he drew in a breath and stared at her for a moment.
XXX
(If you'd like to read this, very, sexually explicit scene, and the chapter in its original format, please check it out on Archive of Our Own. In my personal estimation it's one of the longest, almost 8000 words, and most detailed sex scenes I've ever written. This chapter with the sex scene is the longest for this story so far.)
XXX
Weakly reaching for Salis, Raveres began moaning and shuddering, as she held on to his arms.
Then he stopped, holding his position and moaning Salis blinked drunkenly as he watched Raveres' facial expressions. When she was finished, he slowly and carefully pulled himself backwards. The whole time she was shivering, panting unevenly, and shaking with every throb of her heart. Then Salis exhaled and collapsed onto the bed beside her.
Then, with tired groans he reached towards her and wrapped his arms around Raveres to pull her into a strange post-coital embrace. Tired and practically unable to move, Raveres was limply brought into Salis' arms until she nestled her face against his chest and he pressed his nose into her hair.
Then, as if he could surprise her more, Salis cooed, his voice a soft whisper as his fingers caressed her back and began teasing her skin,
"That was amazing…"
Raveres' eyes practically crossed as she blinked and mumbled. His voice so close to her ears was almost too much, and then Salis let out a vulnerable breath,
"I never been with a woman like you. I mean… I, hah, I… oh fuck it."
He chuckled at himself and shook his head embarrassedly before quieting, and though she wanted to say something back, Raveres only had the strength to focus on breathing. Even if she could talk, her mind was swimming in a haze of sexual bliss, unfocused and dumbstruck at what all she'd just done.
Raveres hadn't cum that hard since one of the last times she was with Elianna, and now with Salis' arms wrapped around her, and their sweat mixing together, Raveres could only moan quietly in satisfaction as her eyelids fluttered heavily,
"F-fuck…"
…