Summersday 9:41, Wednesday, Dragon
There are scenes of male to male sex. graphic.
I was walking inside the Town Hall. Vast. Pristine. Gold lined marble tiles. Platinum plated statues. Paintings embroidered in silk. The black head scarf I wore hid all but my eyes behind black lace, gold embroidery, and diamond droplets. The purple chiffon wrap accentuated my lithe curves, dragging in the air with every step. My hands were painted crimson with decorative markings. To everyone here, I was an Antivan Crow, skilled at the crafts of seduction and stealthy murder, an assassin. Every noble present skirted away from my path, clearly frightened and intimidated. I scan the crowd for the Duke, wishing to mark my target early. I see another figure, dressed similarly to me. We exchange glances of confusion, quickly shifting to steely determination. We size each other up, knowing exactly how our introductions would play out in the next few hours. I feel a heavy weight on my back, suffocating me. A presence behind me. Filling my lungs with dread. I turn around, the duke, looming over me. Steely grip piercing my wrist. Knife at throat. Singing Steel. Smell of blood. Flash of fire. Back burning. I drop to the floor. I claw at my wrist. Flailing to free myself. I draw my knife and-
"Tevasta!"
I woke with a fright; sweat beading, hands shaking, knife in hand, poised to stab. My eyes dart from my hand to the woman in front of me. I drop the knife, jump back two feet and grasp the arm where the claws had dug into my flesh.
"A-A-Arielle! I-I-I'm so sorry! I don't know what came over me. I was just sleeping, and uh-uh I didn't know you were here. I'm so sorry. I-It won't happen aga-again."
Sister Arielle, all humor gone from her eyes, rushes over. She pats my forehead dry with a towel, putting a hand on my shoulder, concern in her voice.
"Tevasta. You've been dreaming again! Why didn't you tell me? Mother Isabella can help you! We have medicines that can aide your sleep!"
"I'm fine! I don't need your-"I collapsed as I retched and hacked, the saffron bun from the morning spilling all over the honeysuckle bushes.
Arielle patted my back, consoling me as I continued to empty the contents of my stomach. Hunched over, with Arielle kneeling next to me, we remained for a good fifteen minutes as my body began to calm from the violent reaction.
I fought to calm my racing heart and breath. Sweat was rolling down my face. I looked up to see a crimson sunset, violet clouds streaking the sky. I swallowed, breathing still labored and strained. I looked to my arm seeing no claw marks. I felt my neck for a wound, and found none. I reached around to feel my back, No new wounds, but the leather like scars still striping my back. I turned to Arielle who had unveiled a wine skin of ginseng tea and dry rye bread.
"Your dreams are returning Tevasta. I thought you said that you were getting better. You need to go see Mother Isabella. Your scars are reacting again. Please, Tevasta, I know you don't like going to her, but you need to get help. Your back is killing you."
I chugged from the wine skin, coughing when I had downed the contents. I regained my composure and breathed in deep.
"No. No, Arielle, I don't need help. I just… I just need some time." I managed.
Arielle turned away, staring at the descending sun. The odd symphony of crows and carriages of returning farmers filled the air as the eighth hour was struck by the Chantry bell. None of us spoke as the Orlesian moon began to paint the sky violet. I took another swig of the wine skin and ripped off a piece of the bread. Not knowing what to say, I continued to repeat the same steps over and over as my stomach began to settle. Sitting here, in the Chantry gardens, everything seemed to be at peace. The evening stars began to twinkle in their places in the heavens, the shadows stretching further; the night was quiet. The crows in the aviary raised a ruckus as the Bird master closed the windows in the East Tower, and as if prompted, Arielle stood up suddenly. She took a deep breath and turned to me. She opened her mouth and froze, no words coming out. She remained like that for a few seconds, as if unsure of what to tell me. She closed her mouth and breathed in again. She exhaled and spoke:
"Justinia chose me, Tevasta. Justinia has invited me to join her as her second advisor at the Conclave."
I stared at her. A long second passed where none of us spoke. The gravity of the situation had yet to sink in.
"Oh my gods, Arielle! You got selected?"
Her face was glowing as she bounced in glee.
"I know right? Out of all the people, she chose me! I get to choose an escort and the kinds of meals I want and everything! Oh, Tevasta, I'd be the luckiest girl in the world if you would come with me. We'll get to see the new Temple of Sacred Ashes, we can go see the town of Haven, and we can go hiking in the mountains! I hear the snow this time of year is fluffy." She bubbled.
Her excitement turned to wordless babbling as she bounced and gripped my arm in a steely vice. Then as rapidly as she started her joyous celebration, she stopped; her arms dropping to her sides. I glanced over in confusion over the abrupt change and saw her face falling to a flat line of apathy, then to worry.
I don't even know why she chose me." Arielle clasped her hands together, wringing them in anxiety and doubt. "There are other Sisters more qualified than I am. Even then, they should have selected a Mother to go with her. A-And so late too! The Conclave is in three days! I have to prepare and get ready. I'm far too inexperi-"
"Stop rambling," I cut in, as I grabbed her hands. "Look at me, Arielle. Who cares if you're not experienced enough for this job. Clearly someone more important than any Mother saw the potential in you and chose you to be an advisor at the Conclave. No one can boast that."
Arielle smiled briefly, squeezing my hands slightly in response before clasping her hands again, muttering things about studying and packing her books.
"You know, you'll get as wrinkly as Mother Isabella the more you worry like that," I quipped at her. "But," I said in all seriousness, "if you want me to go with you to the Conclave, I'd be honored to go as your escort."
I turned to the sunset in the distance watching the violets turn to orange, the yellows to crimson, and the reds to rust. I heard a sigh next to me: Arielle's.
"Beautiful isn't it? Summersday is ending, and with the sunset comes a period of prosperity and fertility. Maker bless us all," she said with a bow towards the horizon.
We stood there for a brief moment, Arielle bowing towards the sunset, with the nightingales waking on the Chantry steeple, the cattle lowing as they migrated to their barns. A gurgle from my gut interrupted the serene ambiance.
"Yeah, sure, it's beautiful." I said dismissively "But come on! We're going to miss all the good food. Merchant hour just started and the veal on Mason's Street is to DIE for. Come ON!" I exclaimed as I pushed Arielle towards town square.
Perhaps it was the lilac colored sky, or maybe the scent of rosemary veal on Mason's Street, or maybe the news of her appointment, but whatever it was, the usually talkative Arielle was silent as we made our way to the tavern.
From a street away, I could smell the scent of summer squash pie and turnip fritters. As we approached the oaken double doors, we could hear the sound of laughter, music, and singing.
I looked over to Arielle who was shifting and wringing her hands.
"Stop looking so scared," I spoke to Arielle. "This is your night! Have fun! Loosen up!"
I pushed aside the door and called out: "Hey, Amber! Two steak specials and a bottle of your finest ale! Arielle's just been selected for the Conclave!"
I turned to Arielle, put an arm over her shoulder, and gave her a wink. She started to blush as the entire tavern got up, cheered, and each in turn came over to congratulate her and give her a big hug.
We walked across the threshold into the homey tavern. A crimson hemp rug was laid out for the Summersday Festivities, and the Summersday murals were hung up on the walls. The lanterns hung up on the ceiling swung, shining their dancing flames around the room, making the murals jump to life. I looked over to the kitchen and saw Amber barreling toward us with a child's excitement on her face. She practically tackled me and lifted me in a bear hug.
"Tevy! Oh my gods, it's you Tevy! Gods on high, you are getting taller every day." She shouted excitedly as she gave me a vice grip of a hug.
Amber owned the Mason's Street Tavern. She was stocky and smart of mouth, but everyone loved her. She built the tavern herself from the pines of the Val Forest. From then on, her tavern was an unofficial sanctuary, safe housing travelers, crooks, and royals all the same. Here, a man was as equal as another.
"It's been too long Amber," I managed as she swung us side to side.
"Well, you could have bothered yourself to visit me more, you ungrateful cretin," she said with a punch to my shoulder.
"Well now, Amber, I wanted to surprise you! I even got you a gift!" I said, pulling out my bag of pastries from this morning.
"Oh you are a devil, aren't you? Master Baker's not going to take kindly to this," she said with a smirk, grabbing a pumpkin biscuit and munching down on it. "Well, Tevy make sure you stay for the whole night, I have a big crowd and you are not off the hook young man!" She managed as she bustled back to the kitchen to continue cooking.
I looked over to see how Arielle was doing and I smiled contentedly. While Amber was monopolizing me to herself, Arielle was getting quite the crowd as people gathered around to see the Sister that Divine Justinia had chosen.
The worry on her face disappeared as she shook hands with everyone and their mother. Young, old, townsfolk and tourists, they all were as excited and joyous as Arielle was. As everyone shuffled us right up to the front of the bar, I sat down right in front of Amber and took a good look around the place. For a Summersday crowd at around the ninth hour, the tavern was actually pretty tame. The chronic drunks were pretty docile drinking themselves to a stupor. The Templars who were off duty were pretty tame as well, which surprised me. I remember a few years back when this place got so rowdy the Provost had to shut the place down for two days. Rumor has it that a fist fight between a Templar and a drunk beggar turned into a tavern brawl. What rumors won't tell you is that I was the one who picked the Templar's pocket.
"Eat up! Drink up! It's time to celebrate! This is a joyous occasion!" Amber proclaimed. "All drinks are on the house for the next hour!" To which the assembly erupted into applause.
I turned to Arielle and saw that she was smiling. Her brow was no longer furrowed and she was reclining back in her chair. She grabbed her silverware and began digging into her portion. I smiled as I downed the last of my ale.
I bit into my steak, the rosemary and thyme butter melting into my mouth. The peppercorns burst making me pucker my lips.
"Amber, whoo! This steak is the best! Another round of ales!" I shouted.
I looked to my left and saw Arielle wolfing down her portion as other Chantry sisters started arriving and flocking towards her. Her face lights up yet again as she sees all of her Chantry sister friends.
"Tevasta, this is the best night ever! You were right, I'm just in my head too much. I have to learn how to relax more. Thank you." She says sincerely.
"Stop thanking me," I managed as I looked down in embarrassment. "You thanking me is strange. Stop it."
She proceeded to ruffle my hair as she returned her attention to her friends gathered.
I take another mug of ale from Amber as I look around the room. I scan the room as more and more people file in and I see some of the rogues I've done business with in the past over by the darts and knife throwing boards.
"Hey Arielle, you want to go over and shoot some darts? Some of your old patients are back." I said with a chuckle. Many rogues in the Court of the Rogue knew that Arielle was trained in medical treatment, and they didn't need to pay her with money per se. Let's just say that she doesn't need to buy another hunting knife ever again.
We walk over and the group of rogues near the shooting boards all shouted a welcome and a congratulation to Arielle.
"Hey! Tevy! Nice ta see you, man! Ohh an' Ari! Girl, congratulashun!" shouted one of the youngsters drunkenly. "Man, I ne'er see you around. Why dun you visit the Court anymore?"
"The Court of the Rogue?" I ask. "Man, I haven't had business with His Majesty in a while. And to be honest?" I leaned in to whisper, "He kind of creeps me out."
"Man, Master George is gonna have yo ear fur that." The youth said in a stupor. His head slumped backwards as a snore crawled out of his throat. The woman next to him moved his head to her lap and began petting his head. I didn't fail to notice the Templar's crest on the front of her jerkin.
I smiled and chuckled. Summersday was one of the only days where questions were not asked about strange occurrences amongst friends and enemies, especially the Templars.
I look over to see that Arielle had already beaten one of the youngsters at a round of darts. Apparently, they had bet steak specials and the youngster had begrudgingly handed her a few coins after Arielle hit a double bull's eye.
I picked up a dart, focused on the dart board. I squinted my eye in the amber light and threw my dart. The missile landed squarely in the center circle.
"Nice bull's eye….Tevy, right?" A voice said over my shoulder. I turn around and beheld a handsome young man standing a little too close to be a darts admirer. I gave him a look, up and down. He stood at six foot at least, a head above me easily, with auburn hair and emerald eyes. I took a breath as I took his whole frame in. He smelled of spruce and his clothes were spread thin on his broad body. His shoes were polished and he stood with a presence that was infectious.
"Yea. I'm…Tevy. How can I help a sexy beast like you?" I say.
His eyes size me up, taking in my features and eventually settles on my own. We both smile. His ruddy looks, and tanned complexion were illuminated in the tavern fireplace light.
"Can I not appreciate a good shot?" He asks with a smile. "Not many people shoot that straight and true, you know." He finishes with a smirk.
"Oh really now?" I ask with feigned amusement, my pointer finger tracing my lower lip with a sly smile. "To shoot this straight takes much practice and experience. I hope that you can keep up." I finish with a chuckle.
Arielle, who had returned with her winnings, another steak special, bursts out in a fit of laughter at my response while tugging my sleeve; trying to catch my attention.
I turn back to Arielle, and she is looking at me with amusement in her eyes.
"Arielle, yes, I'm almost done. Just another suitor I have to turn down. Don't worry love, I'll be right there to have another drink with you." I say to her.
Arielle looks at me with humored eyes, shifts her eyes to my tall, handsome friend, and cracks a wide smile. She considers him for a few seconds and then returns her eyes to me.
"Go." Arielle says. "He's been eyeing you all night."
"What?" I ask in surprise. "No Arielle. This night is celebrating you! I can't leave you. Besides, don't we have a Conclave that we have to prepare for?" I replied.
"Tevasta, when we're at the Conclave we're not going to have any contact with the rest of the world for an entire fortnight. You might as well have as much fun as you can have now." Arielle reasoned.
"You're such a bad influence." I shot at her as I drained the rest of my ale.
Arielle pinched me on the arm and made her way back over to the bar to talk with Amber. I looked over to the mystery man next to me.
"So, you know my name, and that I can shoot well…It's only fair if I know your name." I say to him, handing him a dart.
"My name's Gil." He said. He declined the dart saying, "I'm a pretty bad shot, but I am a stable hand and can ride a horse as well as any other man."
I chuckle at the course of which this conversation is going. I rest my elbows on the high table and motion to Amber for another round of ale.
"So…Tevy, how has your Summersday been?" He asks.
"Well… other than being harassed by Master Baker," I said with all the irony I could muster, "My day's been pretty good. My best friend…" I looked up to see that Arielle, who had finished her plate from her darts winnings, had ordered herself another steak special and was already halfway through it already. "Who is currently pigging out, got selected to be an advisor to the Conclave."
Damn, that girl could really put it away if she wanted to.
"And you?" I ask Gil. "How has your Summersday been?"
"Well, it is Summersday. The horse master let us have the day off to enjoy the festivities." Gil said with a smile. Arielle had finished her third plate and had ordered a dessert special. I shake my head while chuckling. She was not going to have to eat for another week.
I feel his arm over my shoulder. Gil had placed his hand around my shoulders and he pulls me closer. I turned to face him to find him looking at me intently. The warmth from his body and the softness of his tunic felt almost erotic against my skin. I take his hand and place it around my waist. I smile up at Gil, who smiles back and squeezes my navel slightly.
"And what brought you to the Mason Street Tavern? Being the town's most wanted thief and a former Antivan Crow wouldn't do you well to show your face here." Gil said as he nuzzled my ear and kissed the side of his neck.
I turned to him and smirked: "I live life on the wild side."
Gil smiled slyly and put his hand on my face. He pulls my face to his and locks lips and we kiss for a good few minutes. His lips are soft despite hours of work in the sun, and his strong frame encapsulated me in a cage of warmth and raw passion. I broke off the kiss gasping: "Let's get out of here. We can go to my place." I said. "It's not too far from here."
"I'd like that." Gil said as he hooked his arm around me and planted his lips on mine again. I moaned into his mouth as he grabbed my rear, squeezing gently.
I break the kiss off laughing. "Gods Gil, can't you wait?" I ask exasperatedly. Gil chuckles at how uncomfortable I am and I roll my eyes. I take his hand and quickly drag him to the Tavern's back door. We exit the Mason Street Tavern with Gil's hand in mine as we jogged in the crisp evening. The sky was black now, the stars just starting to twinkle and the moon bright against the dark backdrop. Despite night falling on Lydes, the festivities had just begun as pubs and markets prepared for the magic firework shows at night. We jogged around the busy streets where crowds had gathered, avoiding the crowded areas where tourists had gathered to get a good viewing spot. Down two streets and a right turn from Mason's Street, we arrive at the street where the apartment Arielle and I share is located. I fumble for the key to the lock, and Gil presses his body onto mine, kissing my neck repeatedly.
"Gil, stop" I chuckled. "You're distracting me."
"Well, hurry up then," Gil whispers as he nips my neck.
The key turned with resistance as we barreled into the living room, kissing like madmen. We managed to close the door as Gil started pulling his clothes off. What his clothes were hiding was everything I had hoped to find. I could see solid muscle lining his frame, giving his tall frame an athletic, almost bulky build. His back and shoulders were broad, rippling with every move he made. His neck was thick, accentuating the thick jaw that sat on his face. His arms, thick from working in the stables daily, reached down to his waist to start pulling off his pants, when I stopped him.
"Oh my gods, wait until you're in my room," I gasped.
Gil laughed as we hurried off into my room. I shut the door behind me and turn around to find Gil taking his pants off. I see that his butt is rounded and full, supported by massive legs and thick thighs. He turns around and my eyes widen. His penis is as healthy as the horse that he tended.
"No wonder you're the stable hand," I say while laughing. I pull my tunic up over my head as Gil walks over and undoes my trousers. Standing there, naked, we both take each other in, pushed Gil onto the bed. I strip off my clothing rapidly, throwing the articles of clothing around the room and I jump into bed next to Gil.
I feel his hand on my face as I lay down. He pulls my face close and I feel his full lips on mine. I breathe in as we kiss, smelling the spruce and raw lust on his body. Our hands like scavengers, search and explore each other's bodies feverishly. My hand travels down his torso; his, across my back. I feel the hard muscles of his torso and abdomen meeting my hand. Our tongues duel in a heated dance as the carnal desire between us shortens our breath. I break the kiss to gasp for much needed air and I sit up on the bed. Gil curls around me and kisses my neck, sending tremors of pleasure and anticipation down my left arm. I turn around and grab his shoulders and push him onto the bed. Pinned to the bed, he smiles up at me with a seductive glint in his eyes as he rolls over, and shoves me to the bed, pinning me down.
"Last I checked, I was the stable boy," Gil said with a devilish grin.
"Oh shut up and fuck me already, come on," I said hungrily.
I propped myself up and opened up the nightstand drawer and grabbed a small cube of bee's wax. I gave it to Gil who rubbed it over his penis.
I laid back down and felt the tip of Gil's member at my entrance. I shudder as he begins to push.
"I haven't done this in a while. Go slow," I tell him, my arm on his chest.
With that, Gil nods and pushes forward, stretching me open.
"Oh my gods," I moan, gripping the sheets, eyes closed shut from the mix of long forgotten pleasure.
My eyes roll to the back of my head as I see fireworks from behind my eyelids. I feel his hands on my torso feeling me up and down, tweaking my nipples.
He leans forward now, now that he has entered fully, kissing me on my neck.
"Fuck. You're so tight and hot," Gil says to me, his cheerful voice now gruff with lust.
"Oh gods, Gil, fuck me." I managed to groan.
And fuck me he did. Gone was the nice charming stud of a man at the bar; Gil was now a beast, ploughing away with no holding back. For the next few minutes the only sounds that were heard were the shifting of sheets, the groans and moans that escaped our lips, and the rhythmic slapping of flesh on flesh. His movements were fluid and practiced as we continued to fuck. The springs in the bed creaked in synch with our rocking as his strokes became deeper, and more frantic.
"Oh my gods, Gil, fuck… right there! Yeah. Oh!"
Like a dam ready to burst from too much pressure, I gasp, feeling the end coming soon.
"Gil- oh my gods! Yea! Almost there- Right there!" I manage to say between my moaning and groaning.
"Ahh! Me too! Fuck. I'm almost there." Gil managed through my moans.
His tempo increases I feel a rush of euphoria in my groin and I feel myself buck, arch my back, and bury myself in Gil's chest as waves of pleasure ripple through my legs, and my back.
"Gil! Oh, gods, Oh fuck!" I shout as climax overcame my senses. Like fire injected into my very nerves, the pleasurable spasms echoed through my limbs, curling me into a ball, hugging Gil tightly as he rammed himself deep into me with the guttural grunt of his release.
Panting, we stayed like that, him, remaining in me as we savored the blissful afterglow. I was absently caressing his broad chest with a finger while he was snoozing from the intense moment we had shared. Our sweaty bodies glistened in the moonlight that streamed through the window. I got up out of bed, carefully extricating myself from his arms and grabbed a towel to clean the mess that we had made.
In the bliss of the afterglow, the last of the fireworks had been fired, coloring the sky in a fluorescent, iridescent emerald. The stars, twinkling in the sky, were dyed verdant as the green fireworks that symbolized fertility and fortune exploded in the atmosphere. As I threw the towel into the laundry basket, I look over to see that Gil was awake now, looking at the same emerald sky with a look of innocence and awe. He turns to me, his eyes glitter like Antivan pearls, and a smirk is on his face.
I smile back at him, feeling as good as any on Summersday.
"Happy Summersday, Gil." I said as I climbed under the sheets with him.
"Happy Summersday, Tevy" Gil says with a laugh. I feel him kiss my neck and my back as we spoon in the bed. I feel his arms wrap around me, warm and muscly, and as the last minutes of Summersday passed, I fell into a deep sleep.