Chapter 18: A Bit O' Fun and Plotting
A/N: Another one of my fave chapters. A bit of smut and quasi-romantic action for you fluff and smut lovers out there… hehe :D
Review Replies: Once again, none for this chapter… REVIEW!!!
Amery, now third in line for the Totrallan Throne, pulled away from his friends, trying unsuccessfully to escape from their grasps. The laughed and pulled him along. It was his 21st birthday and probably his last as a full bachelor. Supposedly, his father had a nice noble girl lined up for him, and he was supposed to take over the Lord Marshal's job within the next three years. Even so, he was not happy about them dragging him to a Companion house. Even one as high-class as the Blue Moon was distasteful for him.
"C'mon, Ames, let's go have a bit o' fun, eh? C'mon! You'll love it! It's your birthday, and there's supposed to be a new girl debuting! Maybe you can get her, eh?"
Finally, he gave in, knowing they'd get him there eventually anyway. He sighed and followed them into a small horse-drawn cab.
* * *
Yvete whispered to herself, running over the way the night would go. She would introduce herself to the men in the front-most section of the house, then she would sing a ballad and retreat to her rooms, where men would visit her and sign her roster, and leave her with a small token. When she was done receiving them, she would chose one to be her debut client, and then she would be free for appointments in the nights afterwards. Still, it was nerve-wracking. If less than ten men came to be received, she was doomed, doomed to be forever restricted to the middle-class houses. She paced and paced, waiting until it was time for her entrance. Eventually, she heard the music begin to play. She stopped and stood straight and tall, waiting for her name to be announced. All of the other courtesans were announced first, and they had to be seated with their first patrons of the night before she could enter. Finally, the noise died down, and Yvete took a deep breath.
"Lady Yvete, our newest addition, and, in the opinion of many, the lovliest!"
It was a traditional introduction, and she swept in gracefully, flashing a smile. She took the time to greet those few patrons in the very front, who were usually middle-aged, rich noblemen. These would most likely not be her customers, but they were powerful patrons of the house, and the had to be acknowledged. After this, she mounted the steps and gestured to the musical quartet. They began to play, and she began to sing. The next few minutes passed quickly, and there was roaring applause as she curtsied and withdrew to her rooms.
She met many men that night, receiving small jewels, delicacies and flowers, as well as a few oddities. She was polite to each one, but had not found one to her liking. Luckily, she had passed by ten possible patrons long before, and if many of them returned, she would have no trouble making it past five days. Eventually, the numbers began to dwindle, and she began to loose hope. She had to chose before the first morning bell, or Mistress Isobele would choose for her. She looked around pensively for the next man, but found no one in her antechambers. Before she got the chance to withdraw, however, a handsome young man entered, stumbling and flushed, and turned to leave.
"Wait…"
"I'm sorry, I don't mean to interrupt you, my friends pushed me in here… I don't even really want to be here, but it's my 21st birthday, and they wanted me to have fun." He blushed scarlet, and looked at the ground, causing his black hair to fall into his face. He looked up, and his sapphire-blue eyes caught the light, and they sparkled. Yvete quickly suppressed the strange feelings she felt. She had no time for those.
"Truthfully, it has been only old dodgers in here, and I have had no one to talk to. My name is Lady Yvete. Who are you?"
"Errm…Amery… of… ah… Malorie's Peak, yeah…."
"Right, and I'm the Carthaki Empress. I suppose you would be Amery, the third in line for the throne, eh?"
"How'd you know?"
"Well, you've got the Conte looks for one, and Malorie's Peak has no heir your age. I am not ignorant, Your Majesty"
"Please, call me Amery, or Ames. I have nothing to offer you but this. It was my aunt's. She gave it to me to give to the first truly beautiful woman I met. She's dreadfully unhappy in her marriage, and I think she hoped to be happy through us. Anyway…" He produced a thin band with a diamond, anemerald and a sapphire embedded in it. She slipped it on her ring finger, and shooed him out, warning him that he might soon return.
* * *
"Well? Did you choose? Hmm?"
"Yes, Ma'am. The last one, Prince Amery. I wish for him to return to my chambers."
"Well then, go get him."
Yvete wandered among the men, each looking at her hopefully, then turning towards another woman when she passed them by. She spotted a tall black-haired youth, and made her way towards him.
"Amery, there you are! Ummm… I want you to be my debut patron. Would you follow me please?" His friends snickered and shoved him towards her decisively.
* * *
"They sold you? That's horrible!"
"Not particularly. I was the youngest of many, and they needed the extra money for the fief. And it's not been all bad. After all, I met you."
"Stop trying to lighten it up. I know what many men to girls as young as you must have been. I'm very sorry."
"That's in the past, Amery. I'm with you now. Aren't you going to collect your rights?"
"If you want me too."
"I do, my Prince."
With that, she glided over to him and pulled him up, and led him to her inner chambers. When there, she kissed him, on the mouth. She never did that, or at least, not on the first visit, before a man had ever been with her. Somehow, it seemed right. She led him closer to the bed and kissed him again, kicking her shoes off and wrapping her arms around his neck. Within seconds, her jewelry had been disposed of, and her bodice was unlaced. That was the last thing she noticed before he pulled her into bed and her thoughts hazed over.
* * *
Amery woke up first, watching the light of false dawn making the curtains glow. The faint scent of vanilla hung in the air from her perfume the night before. He debated getting up, but looked at Yvete's peaceful face, and decided to slip down and curl around her instead.
* * *
Two hours later, an hour after dawn, Yvete woke with a start. There was someone else in her bed! Suddenly, she remembered the night before, and even she blushed when she remember certain details. No wonder he hadn't left. She wasn't sure he would have had the strength! She drank from the goblet of water beside the bed and kissed Amery's nose.
"Hrngh? Wha… Who? Oh… Yvete. Time to get up already? Well, alright." He began to get out of bed, but she pulled him back down and shoved a plate in front of his face. Thank the gods for good servants. Once he had finished breakfast, he sat back in contentment, then began to get up once again, before sighing and flopping back down.
"Pah, I've got the whole day. Are you free?"
"For the Prince? Always!"
And with that, they proceeded to pass a very enjoyable day, indeed.
* * *
"Ooooh, I should get that girl! I bet she could seduce the old man! And that boy, let me set him in front of the oldest girl, and she'll be distracted. I wonder how they managed to save the youngest. She should have died from that kind of drain. It seemed like she was going to make things a lot easier for me, then she had that miraculous recovery!"
"Lythi, maybe you should just take the spell off of her, eh? With two of them under the spell, it'll really drain you… That could cause problems later… I don't know about the others though. I don't think those two would do that for you. They're too in love already, Lythi. I think we need to find a better way." Later, as he exited his sister's chambers, Haalen sighed in relief. That had taken a lot of convincing, but he managed to work her around. That had been much too close.
* * *
A/N: *evil, planning-world-domination laugh* Peeeeerrrrrrffffeeeeecccccttt……. Lol… more on the way! Heh… Heh… Writing is a perfect distraction from your problems *pats new stories* I really should work on the ones I've already started… heh… *looks at full copy of WEDoB* crap! I'm almost completely finished posting what I've already written… Must… write… more… argh…