THE SERPENT'S TOOTH, Part 7

Jessica and the girls were silent as we walked back to the inn. They were unarmed and almost naked. The cell-mistress had demanded that they return everything except for the sparse one-piece padding they'd been wearing under their leather armor. I found it particularly offensive that the cell-mistress had taken their weapons - although perhaps the world was a better place without Jessica's particular form of cosmetics.

The common room of the inn was empty except for a serving-girl who was busily cleaning up. I can only imagine what went through her head when three mostly unclad females - two of them not yet women - accompanied Benjamin and I up to our room.

That first night was difficult. Even a terrible home is still home, and to be taken from it is no small thing. Sophie began to cry as she huddled close to her sister in a corner of the room. Jessica covered them both with a blanket and held them until they fell asleep. In the faint moonlight coming through a gap in a shuttered window, they looked like some strange and awkward creature, with twelve oddly mismatched limbs tangled around a single body.

I watched them for much of the night. At one point, Jessica began trembling - her body twitching as she whispered, "Please, mistress. Please don't. I'll be good."

For a moment, I considered waking Jessica, but she quickly went silent. Whatever punishment the cell-mistress was inflicting upon her in her dreams had ceased.

In the morning, they were quietly obedient, but still silent and unable to look directly at either Benjamin or I.

Benjamin loaned Jessica some clothes that were too big for her, but at least roughly fit. Then I gave her some coins and sent her to the market to find something more suitable for herself and the younger girls.

After Jessica got back from the market, she cornered me on the stairs that led up to the room we were sharing. Or, to be more precise, the room that Benjamin, Jessica, Samantha, Sophie, and I were sharing. Frankly, I was beginning to envy Gant his comfortable place in the stables.

One moment I was going down the stairs - I planned on having an early-morning communication with an Angel messenger - and Jessica met me half-way. She was wearing a suitably nondescript dress and a pair of sandals, and was carrying a bundle of similar clothing for Samantha and Sophie. I nodded in her general direction and...

And the next thing I knew, Jessica was on her knees, unbuckling my pants.

"I'll make it good for you, my lord" she whispered to me, feigned desire dripping off every word, and her bright blue eyes gazing up at me in affected adoration. "Anyway you like. Anytime you want. You won't need Samantha and Sophie - they're too young to have any idea what they're doing. I'll be so much better for you than them. I promise."

I think I said something not particularly intelligent. I believe it was, "What?!"

Honestly, I suppose I should have seen something like that coming.

I was still searching for a better response when Jessica's hands became even more ambitiously explorational. Then she kissed me on the only logical place to kiss me given our respective positions.

That was enough. I picked Jessica up, turned her around so she was facing back down the stairs, and then gave my dangerous new servant a firm swat on the ass that was so hard she lurched down a step.

"Don't do that again," I growled as I refastened my pants.

Jessica turned back to face me. "I don't understand... did I do something wrong?" she asked nervously.

"You mean apart from suggesting that I like girls so young that they don't even have breasts?"

"I... I'm sorry. I just..." Jessica was so confused that by then she was stuttering.

"You just wanted to protect those two miniature hellions from me. Well, they're safe, so your mission is accomplished. Now go upstairs and give the girls their clothes. Then get something to eat, and keep an eye out for anyone who looks suspicious. Your former mistress was right, the temple is tricky and smart and they just might have figured out that someone is asking questions and tracked that back to us."

"Yes, my lord," Jessica said quickly - she was now back on ground that she understood.

Benjamin, Gant, and I were out on the street. I'd just sent an Angel messenger back to Ashe. Off in the distance we could see his wings beating as he cleared the town wall and soared away.

"What's wrong?" Benjamin asked.

"Jessica offered to entertain me with her mouth," I told him grumpily.

Gant snorted in amusement.

Benjamin shrugged. "So she's trying to get in good with you. Given her training, that's predictable."

"She promised she would show me boundless carnal delights if I left Samantha and Sophie alone."

Gant was clearly puzzled, "What? Did the cubs do something wrong? Wait! Did they poison more ale?!"

Benjamin just winced. "I imagine that's not the best job of reading someone's personality that Jessica has ever done."

"She's young," I replied curtly.

"But why are the cubs in trouble?" Gant persisted. The furrow between his eyes was particular deep at the moment.

"They're not in trouble, Gant," I explained. "Jessica was just confused about something that involved them."

Benjamin looked at me speculatively. "Forgetting Jessica's misjudgment for a moment, maybe you actually should bed her? You've been pretty distracted lately. A bounce with a young and pretty partner might help."

"Always a good idea," Gant grunted.

"Have you two perhaps noticed that I'm a happily married man?" I asked them.

Which was an interesting thing for me to say considering that at the moment it wasn't completely true. That sudden realization hit me hard.

Benjamin chuckled. "So am I. And yet Faye told me it's okay to wander since she's spends so much time off with Rahne and Rose. I just have to remember who really has her hand on my leash - which were her exact words, by the way. In terms of Jessica, I'd have to say that Olivia wouldn't mind, Emma would probably enjoy a long and energetic bath with her, and Anna would want to do something involving all five of you while a cheering crowd watched."

"Well... yes, that's true, but I still prefer women who don't think they're performing some kind of brave sacrifice by bedding me."

"It's not like you're a youngster," Benjamin pointed out, "and I'd say Jessica has yet to see twenty-five summers. Some would say that she's performing a brave sacrifice by even considering getting into bed with you."

"That makes me feel so much better, Benjamin. Thank you."

Benjamin smiled. "Look, I'm just saying that if she ever gets around to making an honest offer - and you seem to be weirdly attractive to the ladies for reasons only the Old One and the First Spider understand - consider giving it a try. You need to clear your head."

"Buy Jessica a nice joint of meat - and find her some pretty flowers," Gant added encouragingly. "I'll help you make up a poem about your big cock and how you use it to make your women squeal all night long."

"And there's the oddest advice I've ever received from my senior samurai and my personal yojimbo," I announced in exasperation.

"You're welcome, my lord," Gant said proudly.

"We live to serve," Benjamin added with a completely straight face.

I gave Benjamin a thoughtful look. "Speaking of odd conversations, when are you planning to talk to Jessica?"

He shifted uneasily. "Before the day is done. I'm unsure how to approach this."

"Do you have any idea of her family?"

"No. Not yet. She seems familiar, but I can't quite pin it down."

Since we weren't talking about sex, Gant had more-or-less tuned out the conversation. He was now eyeing a group of boisterous young Folk and Wilder who were approaching down the street. An elderly Folk woman was nervously trying to avoid them, but they were - probably inadvertently - blocking her way. Gant let out a low rumble of a growl. The youngsters noticed his gaze and decided to quiet down and shift to the other side of the street.

"Sort it out," I told Benjamin with a shrug, "but keep in mind that she might have some trouble making the adjustment."

"Yes, my lord. Oh, and thank you for backing my play with the cell-mistress. I know that cost you some irreplaceable leverage. It was much more than I expected."

'Backing my play' was an ancient turn of phrase. People from Nyack have the most interesting sayings.

"The point of having leverage is to use it," I said. "Gant is right, the mistress is unbalanced and everyone in her service is suffering for it. Actually, I was going to extract the two girls no matter what. Getting Jessica out of her clutches is a welcome bonus."

I was about to leave for my (hopefully) final meeting with the factors, when Samantha and Sophie caught up with us - they'd just finished breakfast. Then they confronted me.

"Master, may we talk to you?" Samantha asked respectfully. Sophie nodded once in agreement.

"The correct way to address him is as 'my lord'," Benjamin chided gently. "Among the Blood, 'master' is considered inappropriate."

"It took me a long time to figure that out," Gant told the girls.

"Oh... sorry," Samantha said to me. She was slightly taken aback.

"My lord, can we speak?" she tried again.

Actually, the two of them seemed to be adjusting quickly to their new circumstances. Given their youth, that wasn't too surprising.

"About what?" I asked.

"Jessica always wants to protect us," Samantha announced intensely. "We heard her offer to do man-and-woman things with you so you won't do them with us..."

Gant was back to looking puzzled. Benjamin was gazing skyward.

"This conversation is absolutely not happening," I said as I rubbed the bridge of my nose. I was developing a headache.

"My lord, we don't have much experience, but we do know how it works between men and women..." Samantha began again. Meanwhile, Sophie earnestly made a repetitive gesture with both hands to demonstrate exactly what they were talking about. It was terribly graphic.

Now Gant looked shocked.

"Let me rephrase," I interrupted grimly, "this conversation is over. Go help Jessica keep an eye out for anyone following us."

Both girls subsided, gave each other a confused look, and then bowed their way out of my presence.

Benjamin was trying not to laugh.

"Oh!" Gant said - gasped really - in sudden realization. "Oh! They... Jessica... You... They... OH!"

By nightfall, I was finally done with the factors. Frankly, much of the last few days had consisted of me assuring them that they would have a place in what was coming.

It was time to consider my next move. A trip to Alban and a conversation with an old friend seemed in order.

Jessica drifted up next to us as Benjamin and I were headed back to the inn. That was impressively done. I hadn't seen her at all as she approached, and only caught her scent at the last moment. She used the wind and the stray odors of the town very well.

Meanwhile, Samantha and Sophie were circling us as they appeared to play some child's game of pursuit. They were never closer than twenty feet, but never further away than sixty.

"Being followed," Jessica whispered as her posture, facial expression, and body language did nothing to suggest that she was talking to me. And she knew how to throw her voice. To all the world, she looked like someone who just happened to be paralleling me on the street.

I paused to look at some fresh fruit in a nearby stall. "A Blood ronin and Wilder woman with green hair?" I asked.

The stall-keeper gave me an odd look. I suppose from his point of view, I was talking to myself.

"Yes," Jessica responded. "Kill them?"

"No." Then I took a small bag of plums and handed the stall-keeper half a silver. Plums are a luxury this far north.

Benjamin spoke up as we headed back down the street, "Any ideas who they're from?"

I nodded. "The woman walks as if she's used to having a sword at her side. She's most likely an acolyte of the Lady of Blades. The ronin could be from anyone."

Benjamin pursed his lips and nodded. "Yeah, a lot of people are interested in you ever since you killed a god, gave up on being a seeker, and made yourself a lord. Hell, that ronin could be from Shea."

Shea was a particularly talented warlord who was steadily waxing in power and influence. Some even called him 'Great Lord' - a title otherwise not used for a very long time. He was also a friend. However, he would be foolish not to keep an eye on me. And very soon I might give him real reason to be concerned. The local region was simply too disorganized and vulnerable - the legacy of the massive Creed attack that smashed through the area long ago and left it a shambles of interspersed Blood holdings, Creed bands, and the occasional heavily-fortified town or village. The monsters steadily radiating out of from Tronto made the situation even worse. Someone had to take the situation in hand.

And besides, it wasn't like I didn't have vassals of my own keeping watch on Shea.

We took a shortcut that led us past a crumbling watchtower. It had once been part of the old city wall. But since the expanded new walls were completed a half-century ago, the old wall was no longer being maintained and the locals had taken to mining it for dressed stone. I disagreed with that decision - the old wall should have been maintained as a second line of defense within the town.

That part of Nyagra was lightly populated, and our observers didn't follow us. They would be too easy to spot.

I gave the plums to Jessica, Samantha, and Sophie. The two girls were delighted. Even Jessica ventured a smile as she munched on one.

Then I gave a Benjamin an expectant look.

Benjamin walked over to the sheer wall of the watchtower. Turning his head, he looked back at Jessica.

"Jessica, follow me," he told her.

Then he began crawling up the wall. That's a gracefully fascinating thing to watch. Wallcrawlers don't climb as others do. Instead, they seem to almost glide upwards as their hands and feet stick to any surface, yet release effortlessly when needed.

Samantha and Sophie's eyes went wide - and then they looked at Jessica.

Jessica had a shocked hand over her mouth.

"My senior samurai has given you an order, Jessica," I said as mildly as possible. After all, she needed a moment to accept what she was seeing.

Then Jessica kicked off her sandals and followed Benjamin up the watchtower wall. Actually, I'd long ago noticed that male and female wallcrawlers have slightly different climbing styles. Jessica's movements were more precise than Benjamin's, more dependent on dexterity than strength, but she was no less expert.

"I wish we could do that," Samantha said to Sophie. Sophie nodded without taking her eyes off Jessica.

Up on the watchtower's crumbling roof, four stories above the ground, Benjamin sat as he looked out over the town - I think he was gazing at the spray from the distant falls. Jessica settled next to him. She was close, but not too close. And she didn't look like she had the slightest idea of what to say.

For a while, they simply enjoyed the view. A gust of wind rippled over them.

"Hello, cousin," I eventually heard Benjamin say to Jessica.

Jessica smiled.