"Just 2 beds?" Patsy said in disbelief. Selwyn beside him staring at the beds. Moravar was putting his pack down and Julian walked around the room with his nose curled. "This is just barely better than a flea bag." He muttered.
"Look if we are going to dance we need gear, that cost money. Do you carry your dancing gear with you Julian?" He eyed the other elf. "No? well then it seems we will need to hit the market." He now smirked at them all.
Julian shrugged. "Very well, we go buy gear. Selwyn you and I will take the bed furthest from the door." He placed his bag down on the bed he just claimed.
"You are not sleeping with her." Moravar said. Patsy stopped mid step and looked between them. Selwyn stopped as well she had begun to settled in as she sat on the bed.
"Why not?"
"Julian, don't play dumb. She is a young maiden." Moravar said plainly.
"So who will share the bed with her? Patsy?"
Patsy went wide eyed a moment. "Uhh you leave me out of this."
"No Selwyn will sleep alone and you and Pasty will sleep on the floor."
Now an argument erupted. Selwyn just glared at them and stood up. "Oy you lot have gone mad!" She screamed at the top pf her lungs which silenced them and they all turned to look at her. "I am quite old enough to choose where and with whom I sleep with." She growled then strode right up to Moravar and shoved her finger into his chest. "You are not the boss of me. I don't even know you but you walk in and start trying to run me. You have me seriously confused for someone else. Back off." She finally pulled her pointed finger back and she spun around and walked across the room.
"No one sleeps on the floor." She turned around and addressed them all. "Apparently we are all going to need to work together right." She smiled and looked to each of them. "Well arguing like children on the playground isn't going to work and the lot of you are acting like children." She looked around the room to Patsy. "Except for Patsy."
Julian opened his mouth to speak and she held up one finger and looked at him. He quickly shut his mouth and swallowed hard. "You and I will take the bed furthest from the door. I trust you to not get handsie. No offense Patsy."
"None taken."
"Again I do not know You Moravar. You have not earned my trust." She finished then dug in Julian's bag. "I need my clean clothes. I need to make use of the bathing room. You all need to clean up before you go to the market. I do not think splattered with blood would be inconspicuous." She snapped at them as she left the room. They could hear her heavy steps moving down the hall way.
Moravar glanced to Julian. They seemed to both feel admonished. Moravar finally shrugged and sighed. "She's right you know. We do need to clean up." Julian nodded but said nothing.
Patsy shook his head and dropped his pack on the floor near the wall. "I know she said no one sleeps on the floor but if it's all the same sleeping next to either of you sounds as about as restful as a night in Mordor." He dropped down and stretched out, his head on the pack. "I think I am going to get a few winks before tonight. Seems I am going to a show."
Leaving Selwyn and Patsy in the room to rest Moravar and Julian went to the market. They browsed the various stalls and even those that just set up on the ground. Julian headed off towards the cloth merchants. He had already resigned to doing the sewing. They wouldn't be selling the types of clothing they needed this far north. As he made his selections he thought about the last time he had need of dancing and shuddered. It was then he realized he had not danced in a very long time. He was sure Moravar had not as well. He made his purchases and carried the bundle under one of his long willowy arms. Walking back towards the main road where he would find Moravar.
Moravar had been sent on the task of buying beads, hopefully already strung, Strings of bells or even small medallions they could string themselves. They would need to look the part. It was then that he came upon another street. This one quiet. The businesses here were ones that thrive at night. Most of the taverns and small bars where closed up but a few were opened.
One in particular had the right look. It was one of the better ones he came across and the sign outside advertised exotic dancing girls. Julian stopped beside him and looked the place over. "Good eye mellon nin. Let me do the talking." Moravar turned his head to look at him. His expression on the foul side. "Moravar you will just scare them. You can be quite intimidating. While you have been here for a while I have lived here all of my life and I did not grow up inside of my own personal gilded kingdom." He smiled gently then and looked to Moravar. "You still have not lost that royal quality."
When he put it that way it made Moravar growl. He begrudgingly nodded and then entered the Red Veil. The light was dim inside. A few windows open letting fresh air in and gentle light. There were young boys cleaning the wide hall before them. Tables and chairs stacked against one wall. To one side was a rather large stage to the other side was fancy bar where one could sit and have a drink. "Hey Maggie we 'ave customers." One of the boys hollered.
Her raven hair was swept up and pinned to the top of her head in a messy bun. It was pinned with sticks and from the ends of them dangled little gold charms. "Good afternoon Sir's what can I get you?" She was fully figured and a bit of age showed at the corners of her smiling eyes. "You advertise exotic dancing girls." Maggie nodded. "Yes but the show doesn't start until tonight." Julian slid onto one of the stools and placed his bundle down on the stool beside him. Moravar sat a few stools away. "I don't suppose you would be interesting in something very exotic?" Julian asked sweetly.
Maggie placed a hand on her wide hip and leaned a bit closer. Her eyes narrowed and she looked him up and down. "like What?" Julian pressed his elbows to the bar. The curve of his chin lay against his knuckles. "My friend and I are performers. Dancers to be exact. Hailing from the far south. We travel and perform earning our coin." Maggie straightened up and looked to the left towards a curtain. "Oy Fulgar you might want to come out here. You have some business to tend." She called out loudly.
He was not a tall man nor was he short. Somewhere into middle age. He had the look of someone that paid his dues in life. He was missing an eye and wore a patch over it and he looked at Julian with that one appraising eye and crossed his arms over his chest. He smoothed his hand down over his salt and pepper beard as he spoke. "Names Fulgar." He spoke in a deep rumbling voice. "Where are your dancers? I would like to see them first."
Julian was under his and Maggie's gaze and he looked between them and smiled widely. "You are looking at them. I am Jules and this is my associate Mablung." His hand swept towards Moravar who's head lifted and looked curiously at Julian when he used that name for him.
"You 2? Seriously?" Fulgar almost laughed but somehow managed to keep himself from it.
Julian leaned forward with his arms on the bar. "Yes I am quite serious. I am sure you have female clientele as well as those that have different desires. Do you not wish the cater to them all? My associate and I are very well skilled in the art of seduction through dance. We learned from the infamous I-lŷg herself."
When he dropped the serpents name Fulgar straightened up and began to listen a bit more seriously. "Alright lets say I let you dance here what kind of contract are we talking about?"
Julian grinned. "You let us dance here for 3 nights. Tonight we will give you 20% of what we personally make. However, if your till is up 20% of normal then the next 2 nights we only give 10% of what we personally make. Does that not seem fair?"
Fulgar thought about it a moment. "Alright, but if you fail to excite my customers, I keep 50% of your personal take. If you agree then we have a deal."
Moravar was going to protest. His lips parted with the words but none came. Julian quickly chimed in. "Deal." Fulgar spit in his palm and held his hand out. Julian made a face of disgust before spitting into his hand and shaking Fulgar's hand.
As they left the Red Veil Moravar smacked Julian in the back of the head. "That was a bad deal." He said angrily.
Julian was rubbing the back of his head and scowling at Moravar. "No it wasn't. Fulgar there is going to make no less than 50% more than he usually does tonight. You will see."
Julian and Selwyn were busy sewing. Patsy was doing his best to string beads and bells. Moravar kept watch. The window open and he stood watching the passers by on the street and looking at everyone that entered the inn.
"Patsy, do you still have the clothing that I-lŷg gave you that night." He said softly.
"Yes why?"
"Give them to Selwyn."
Now everyone was curious where he was going with this and all of them asked "Why?" at once. Selwyn was wondering what these "clothes" looked like, especially if Patsy had worn them.
Moravar now looked at them all. "Look those mercenaries were after one of 2 things or perhaps both. The blue stone or Selwyn."
"Me? why me?" She asked.
"If Strong-Nor has been looking for you for a long time Selwyn, then surely he has someone out there looking for you. He might even know your name and what you look like at this point. We don't know. They were probably after the stone but there is the other possibility too. I would rather you be safe and in disguise." He explain and Julian looked down.
"He is right darling." He said softly and looked to her.
She just nodded and went back to sewing. "Of course." Was all she had to say.
Julian watched her for several moments. Moravar just couldn't understand what was going through his mind where this girl was concerned. He was planning to put her into a very dangerous situation yet he seemed to worry over her. This whole situation was confusing, most of all why he was going along with it.
"Really Selwyn this is a very pretty outfit. It will suit you far more than it suited me I can guarantee that." He was digging through his bag and pulling out all the various layers of the costume he had worn. He had folded them all so neatly. He unfolded them and was showing it all to her and she just blinked and held it as if looking at the fabric.
"I have no idea how to put all of this on." It seemed every second there was another layer to it.
Julian rose and gathered up all the silks. "Come along darling I will show you." He said with a smile and walked towards the door.
"WHOA! Stop." Moravar said rather loudly. Selwyn who was getting up to follow turned to look at him. "There is no way I am going to allow you to dress her Julian."
"And who will?" Selwyn asked. "You? Patsy? I don't think so. Besides Julian has seen me nude before it's not that big of a deal."
Now Moravar looked at her with wide eyes that shifted to Julian and narrowed. "What did she just tell me?"
"It was perfectly innocent Moravar. All I did was pick the entire forest out of her hair and brush it out. You think that I would take liberties with her? Oh Moravar you do not know me at all do you?" Julian smirked.
"Oh I know you pretty well Julian. That is why I am protesting this." He hissed.
"Oh shut up both of you. Moravar sit down and try to pull the stick from your backside. Perhaps it will help better your mood." She turned back to Julian who was smiling at Moravar.
Moravar just went quiet and watched them leave the room. Patsy was grinning. "Dun ask me to help you with that stick." He snickered. Moravar threw a boot at him.
Within the privacy of the wash room Selwyn stripped down to her under garments. "It's silly how Moravar behaves." She began. "He actually thinks you would be attracted to me. Doesn't he know I am not your type?"
Julian was lining up the silks in the order they would be put on. Draping them over the bench he suddenly looked up then over his shoulder to her. He began to grin as he figured out what she believed of him. This explained why she was so comfortable doing this type of thing with him now. Why she was so comfortable sharing a bed. This was truly funny but he wouldn't be changing her mind any time soon.
"I suppose he doesn't. Now let's get started." He turned with a thin slip like dress. "This goes on first. You will need to take the rest off I am afraid." She shrugged and pulled off the rest leaving her naked and unashamed to be so in front of him. She had womanly curves. Rounded hips and a flat belly. Her breast were not large and heavy but more rounded and perky. Then at the apex of her soft thighs was the reddish patch of hair. Something she inherited from the human side of her heritage.
He did find her attractive but he could control himself. He offered her the slip which she pulled on over her head sadly covering her flesh from his gaze. Then he showed her how to wrap each layer of silk. around herself and secure it. The deep blue of it was very pretty and it was almost a shame to cover her fiery hair with the veil for her head. "Then lastly this one." He whispered as he leaned in and placed the veil on her face and hooked it inside the head veil. Her eyes peering from over it. He smiled and urged her to look in the mirror.
"Go on and look." He said gently and stepped back. Slowly she turned around and gasped. "Well no one would know its me that is for sure."
"This is common dress for unattached females in come cultures. They believing hiding the beauty of girls will get them a mate that loves them for them and not how they look. It is only after they are married, that they will remove the veil." Julian explained.
"I rather like that." she said and shrugged. "Well lets get this show on the road."
They entered into an already busy Red Veil. Maggie ushered them into the back to speak with the boss. "We have the dance pit opened tonight too. Go check it out and decide which stage you want to take." Fulgar said and looked over the 2 new ones. "Who are they?"
"Our assistants. Getting into costume requires help." Julian spoke with a smile. "We will go look at the dance pit. It's out back yes?"
Fulgar nodded as 2 of them filed out of his office, Patsy stayed behind with Selwyn. The Hunter and Julian walked back through the tavern and out the back door. There was a lit walk way that lead down to where they could see many people standing. As they got closer they could see a smaller wooden building then the open air dance pit down below. It at the center of a bowl that had been dug out where watchers could sit and see everything.
It was lit with many torches and lanterns. They moved to the front and sat down on a wooden log that had been laid out to sit upon.
She leaps into the dance pit her body a flurry of bright colors. She immediately had Moravar's and Julian's attention. The dancing girl covered head to toe with veils of shimmering translucent fabric, a rainbow of color, blues, reds and yellows. The soft sound of the bells around her ankles chime happily as she settles into the sand pit. The veils clinging to her body and billowing behind her. Showing off her curves and the gentle swell of pert firm breasts. She stops in the center of the pit, breathing hard, nervous. She lifts slender arms her elbows slightly bent. Her fingers opened her palms up. Left hand higher then the other and she holds the pose listening to the beats of her heart, feeling the rhythm of it as the musicians begin to play.
Her lips curl in a smile beneath the sheer yellow veil covering her sweet soft face. Her hips begin to roll flicking as they come fully to one side bouncing the veils on her hips. She takes a step her little toes drawing a circle in the sand before her. She softly places that delicate foot down, her wrists turn flicking her hands palms forward, one little hand lowering to the veil on her left hip and as the music begins to build her hips rock picking up pace with the rhythm fingers holding the veil out. She bounces and rocks her hips the veil slipping free exposing the softness of her hip and the music slows and quiets. The dancer seems to freeze for a moment the muscles tensed in her bared hip.
"A veil dance. This one is well trained." Julian whispered to Moravar.
The music suddenly clashes into a frenzy. She spins the veils fluttering and twirling in a kaleidoscope of color. The sensuous feeling of them caressing her flesh driving her to dance more. She bends back as her arms lift, Then her body twists and she spins around and around twirling as veils twist against her body. Slender arms moving in such a way they seem like waves. The dancer stops suddenly as the music does, her feet stomping to a halt kicking up a little sand. Soft deft hands roam over her body feeling the burning flesh beneath concealing veils. She looks at Julian, the grin under the yellow veil across her face appears again. She begins to rock her hips stalking towards him, The beautiful dancer stops several feet away. Little fingers grabbing the veil on her right hip and with a teasing flick of her hip and a small tug it pulls free exposing the tender hip, she shakes as she flings it in Julian's direction. The bells around her ankles jingle and with a laugh she spins back.
Julian caught the veil and ran it through his fingers. The scent that drifted from it was strangely familiar.
The music slows again and she seems to freeze poised, her hands over her head her fingers splayed open her head tilted back the sensuous hip bared to all. The music crashes, she leaps and twirls her hips free and naked. The veils bouncing and dancing over her hips, seeming to try to hide them from view. She stops, her back to Moravar. Her firm bottom jiggles kicking up the veils giving a hint at the lusciousness beneath. Once more she freezes the music slowing her feet wide apart as she begins to bend backwards her firm pert breast shaking. She grips the veil wrapped around the mocha colored tresses that adorn her head. Slowly she pulls it free and it flows to the ground in a puddle of red at Moravars feet. She smiles at him and lifts forward whipping her hair forward then whipping her head back the ends of her shimmering hair slapping against the curve of her back.
Moravar looks to Julian. Julian's eyes never leaving the dancer. Now he was beginning to see a familiar way to her movements.
The music builds once again, she stalks around the pit, her steps deliberate, her hands roaming over her taut belly. She prowls around and spins again coming to stop in the center of the pit, her shoulders roll back making her breast lift and fall. She places her hands on her hips and rolls her upper body the rolling working it's way into her hips and her shoulders, still focusing each area of her body rolling them separately. She drops to her knees her head back and she stops. The music slowing again tiny hands roaming her form and coming to the veil concealing her face. Her eyes closed, her fingers griping the bottom of it. She seductively slowly begins to pull it free from her face as it lowers so does her head her eyes opening she looks directly at Julian. Her eyes deep dark orbs with a mysterious sexual gleam in the light and she smiles at Him with luscious red painted lips.
"It's Yana." They said in unison. She a student of the serpent as well.
The yellow veil falls down between her thighs and the music becomes a frenzy. She is up on her feet again, she spins and twirls the remaining veils waving like banners seeming to bring focus on what is not shown. Her hands claw at the veil around her neck she pulls at it rolling her head her body swaying as if in agony to no longer be touched by it. She pulls and rolls her torso forward and back around. The veil comes free and she tosses it to the wind as she spins in a furious pace her feet kicking up glistening sand and she stops suddenly and goes as still as stone. Standing with her side to a rather lucky watcher, one hand lowers and bent at the wrist middle finger and thumb touching the other out, one hand over her heart. Her fingers apart her head back the pose showing off the curve of her neck and the jewels that sparkled around it.
The dancer moves again, leaping and twirling then stopping, her body seems to flow as she rocks and sways. A shoulder lifting and rolling teasingly, she grabbing the veil hiding her breast from them. She rips it from her chest baring pert breasts. Dangling from them were golden charms that covered her nipples. She skips around the pit the veil held high over her head waving behind like a flag. Her breast ripe luscious globes bounce and jiggle before she stops, letting the veil go to blow around and fall to the ground. Her arms held out at her sides her torso naked bared to all. She runs her berry pink tongue over her crimson lips as she slowly slinks towards Julian, rolling her hips, the last veil of sheer blue wrapped around her hips covering her heat. She stops standing there in a confident stance before him.
Julian just grins wickedly knowing what was coming and knowing why she chose him to remove the last veil.
Little fingers move to the end of the last veil and she pulls it free, then offers it to Julian. He grinned and looked her in the eye. She, Yana his former lover. He grips the veil, she giggles and twirls away the veil unwrapping from around her, showing a little more a little more until it is free of her lithe body. She wore just a loin cloth that covered her so little that not much was left to the imagination. The last notes of the song played and she stops her spin in the center of the pit. Her small feet kicking up sand on the last drum beat. Ending her dance.
The crowd erupted in cheers, Many whooping and hollering vulgar things at her. She smiled and watched as money was being dropped into the baskets placed a various points around the pit. Each one guarded by staff. She then began to gather up her veils finally coming to Julian. "Can I have that back?" She asked and pointed to the veil he still held. He offered it up to her as offers for her to spend the night with her audience began to come. "How much for the night? Aww come on." She shook her head at the offers. "Meet me in the dressing area." She motioned with her head towards the wooden building.
She made a circuit around the pit, speaking with her fans and coaxing as much money as she could from them. Then she began to leave the pit and those that guarded the baskets picked them up and began to follow her. Moravar and Julian casually got up and wandered back up the slope to the top. "Fancy that." Julian said as they strolled towards the building. "Finding Yana here."
"Oh yes fancy that. How are you going to explain Yana to Selwyn?" Moravar said and Julian stopped mid step and coughed a little. "i shall cross that bridge when I come to it." Was all he said as his pace picked up and he passed Moravar.
They were allowed in the dressing area and found Yana there smiling and waving them closer. "When Fulgar said there were 2 male dancers starting tonight I had a feeling it was you two." She hugged them both and was unashamed to do so naked. "I am curious though as to why you are both dancing." She pulled a robe on finally and sat down on a stool.
"We need the money." Julian said and looked her up and down. "You were always exciting to watch Yana. You have just gotten better and the baskets show it." He motioned to the baskets.
"Hey Julian why don't you work out here with me tonight. You and I always did complement each other when we danced. Moravar I think would do better inside. That is where the ladies will frequent. I am sure Fulgar never said you both had to dance the same stage."
Julian lifted a brow and grinned. "I think that is a splendid idea."
Moravar grumbled as He entered the tavern again and went to Fulgar's office. He found Selwyn playing a game of kings against Fulgar. Patsy lounged on a sofa. "Where is Julian?" He asked.
"He decided to dance the pit and I will dance the stage." Selwyn looked over her shoulder a bit seeing frustration on Moravar's face.
Fulgar shrugged. "So be it. Maggie will show you the dressing room." Patsy got up then and followed Moravar out. He would have to help him with his gear.
Patsy stood there looking at Moravar. He did not even look like Moravar dressed like this. He looked beautiful bare chested and adorned in shimmering beads and bells. His hair pinned back and drawn up under a silk wrap. The long ends of it dangling down over his shoulder. He was barefoot and the pants he wore were tight about his ankles. The ballooned out then came to his slender hips where they were ties very securely. Around his waist was the belt Patsy had made himself with beads and bells in rows. He wore gold bangles around his wrists that made noise as moved.
Patsy was not in men by any measure but Moravar dressed like this made him consider something like that for a moment and the thought wasn't so terrible. With a deep sigh and a growl Moravar moved to the darkened stage. Just the sound of bells told the audience that someone was there. Slow soft music began to be played by the musicians. Then from the corners of the stage lamps were lit and mirrors were used to shine the light to the center of the stage.
He stood there a moment. A hip thrust to the left . His arms lifted elegantly. Then slowly he began to move. Like a serpent he rolled from side to side. The movement flowed like liquid and the crowd was mesmerized. Patsy watched with a slowly gaping mouth. He had never seen a man move like this. It was enchanting.' Wait a moment,' he thought, 'He said something to Julian about using enchantments. It's all a spell.' He was feeling less affected now that he wasn't watching.
Patsy wondered further back stage and found a place to sit. He thought about Moravar snaking around the stage and each movement was part of the spell. He was magic through movement. Then he began to realize the plus side. Each person out there was going to spend more money on booze and give him more money than they otherwise would have.
The music and the sound of bells drifted along the corridor of the back stage area. Patsy forced himself to stay put as others drifted forward to watch the performance. All enthralled by the dance. All this made him want to go see what Julian was doing outside. 'No I can't do that it would be just as bad.' He just sat there quietly.
Finally the music ended and the sound of the bells was getting louder and louder Moravar had finished his first dance for the night and the crowd was going crazy. He was carrying a rather heavy looking basket and one of the guards was carrying another behind him. "Come along Patsy you need to keep watch over the money."