Herald of Shalia 2, page 10
“That had nothing to do with him!” Ena pointed at Frost as her face turned red. “You were just doing a better job than usual.”
“I was barely trying,” Fayeth smiled. “Come back down, I was cuddling.”
“I’m going back to my room!” Ena yanked her arm away from Fayeth and stomped out of the room. Fayeth winked playfully at Frost before the busty archer chased after the furious blonde. Ena yelped from the hall as Fayeth caught up. “I can’t believe you!”
“More for us,” Lysandra said playfully kissing Frost’s chest as Renna wrapped her arms around Brynn. “Do you both need some more encouragement?”
“But you’ve encouraged us so much already,” Brynn whined helplessly as Renna’s fingers slid between her legs. “I’m sweaty, I’m filthy, and I’m covered in…well at this point probably everybody.”
“We could ask Zinnia to clean you up the fun way,” Renna whispered playfully.
“Mmm,” Jasmine grinned as she writhed happily against the mattress. “I’d be happy to help with that too.”
“Do you want us to?” Zinnia’s tail wagged as she stared hungrily at Brynn.
“Frost,” Lysandra pulled his hand between her legs, she was drenched and ready to go if he wanted. “I’m so happy that you and Brynn decided to let us join you. It means so much.”
“It wasn’t much of a decision,” Brynn sighed while slapping Renna’s hand away. “Once midnight hit, I couldn’t pull you off him.”
“When you say it like that it hurts my feelings Lady Brynn,” Lysandra kissed Frost’s neck and reached across his body to grab Brynn’s hand. “I love both of you.”
“And I love you,” Frost kissed Lysandra gently on her soft lips. He could feel blood rushing back to his cock as he slipped his tongue in her mouth. She let out a soft moan and tilted her hips toward him.
“Quiet,” Shael whined from the floor. “I’m trying to sleep.”
“Why are they all like this?” Brynn laughed as Renna kissed her neck. She forcefully pushed the green-haired elf toward Frost. “I can’t. I just can’t. I’m sorry, but I need food, drinks, and more than anything a bath. And this entire room needs to be scrubbed top to bottom.”
“You know,” Frost smiled as he sat up and looked around the room. She wasn’t wrong. Between the bedding and the floor, it was tough to tell which was filthier. But given his own condition he wasn’t really in a position to judge. “I hoped you’d at least give it a week before you started acting like a married woman.”
“Are you saying you don’t want a bath?” Brynn looked at him in disbelief. He glanced down and between the various dried fluids and wet ones, he definitely needed one. “That’s what I thought.”
“Okay,” Frost nodded. “Bath, food, make some rounds socializing, and then?”
“And then,” Brynn leaned in seductively. “I ride you until one of us breaks, handsome.”
“That sounds like fun,” Renna moaned while kissing Brynn’s athletic ass. “Will you still want us around?”
“Renna,” Brynn smiled while guiding the green-haired elf back up toward her neck. Renna leaned in to kiss Brynn’s neck and the black-haired bard turned to take the slender elf’s mouth. “You can join us whenever you want.”
“Ha!” Renna pointed excitedly at Lysandra. “Take that you cavernous old hag! I have a permanent invite!”
“Cavernous!” Lysandra said through clenched teeth. The white-haired priestess turned to Frost and pouted. “If she has a permanent invite, what about me?”
“We’re not about to kick you out of your own bedroom,” Frost laughed while gesturing at the bed. It was really the only one in the village large enough to fit anymore than three people comfortably. “We’ll be staying with you for a while.”
“What about after you move out?” Lysandra said while exaggerating her sad expression.
“Quit fishing for compliments you pointy-eared seductress,” Brynn said sternly. “You know damn well he loves you.”
“What she said,” Frost said while grabbing Lysandra’s plump ass and kissing her neck. “I love you. Now, let’s discuss the bath situation.”
“We’ll get them ready!” Iris said excitedly.
Iris rushed off with Zinnia and Jasmine to help fill the bath while Frost argued with the women about who was going to get to use it first. It wasn’t really much of an argument because he didn’t particularly mind going last as long as there was soap left. All he really cared about was enjoying a nice cool bath.
The elves had a blue gemstone at the well that magically pulled and directed water but he wasn’t sure how to apply that knowledge to plumbing. He understood aspects of plumbing, he could change out a sink and some of those weird curved plastic tubes but he couldn’t do much else without instructional videos.
“Your turn,” Renna said excitedly as the naked elf exited the bath. She was so clean and shiny Frost just wanted to drag her to the other room to mess her up all over again. “Oh? You like what you see?”
“No,” Brynn objected while shoving Frost toward the bathroom. “He needs to clean himself up. And stop encouraging him. He will sit in a room and fuck for a week if you let him.”
“Promise?” Renna said teasingly.
“I’m going,” Frost said as he walked into the bath designed for elves. Everything was cramped and he couldn’t really stand it but it was the only one available. What he wouldn’t give for a place to relax and stretch out. “Bathhouse!”
As he relaxed in the small tub his mind shifted into theory crafting mode. He thought about metal pipes, the well, the blue gemstones that could push and pull water. He didn’t really need fully functioning plumbing. He needed a way for water to enter a bath and a way for water to exit a bath. Although he needed to figure out how to make a huge bath as well. But, two blue gemstones and metal plumbing would probably work for a completely half-assed version of what he wanted.
As for drainage, if he really pushed himself, he wagered he could straight cleave a drainage ditch for the bath to empty into. If he could split multiple trees with a flick of his wrist then creating a small ditch should be easy. They had plenty of trees for wood and making a bathhouse would probably be simple. There was the matter of foundations but he could probably hire somebody from Blackwater for that.
Sure, it didn’t solve the village plumbing situation but a bathhouse would increase the quality of life. And it wasn’t as though the elves were particularly shy about nudity. The only ones who seemed to really care if he saw them naked were Lith an Aila. Although Lith only cared if anybody saw Aila naked and Aila only cared if anybody saw Lith naked.
“This could work,” Frost said as he eagerly washed himself. Metal pipes were probably a basic blacksmith item so he could either purchase it or craft it himself. He’d have to go mining, he wondered where a nearby mining area was. He’d need to bring Sumina, Rania, magic packs, and one of the wagons for transport. “This is a good idea.”
Frost jumped out of the bath and grabbed a towel as he exited the bath. Brynn and the elves were already dressed and waiting nervously for him. He looked down over the second floor rails and saw Lady Grey waiting patiently downstairs.
“Lady Grey,” Frost nodded while double checking his towel to make sure he wasn’t flashing her his cock. “I thought you would have gone home by now.”
“Herald Frost,” Lady Grey took a judgmental tone. “You make it sound like you don’t want me here.”
“Not my intention, I apologize,” Frost said while wondering to himself how that woman always managed to make him feel like an unruly child. “But I am curi…”
“An apology followed by a but is not an apology Herald Frost,” Lady Grey said sternly. “I am here to inform you that you have visitors from Rilia. I felt that it would be inappropriate for Baron Slade or my husband to deliver this message given the possibility you’d still be indisposed.”
“Rilia,” Frost cringed at the unfortunate timing. He knew next to nothing about the country other than the fact it was ruled by a warlord that executed the Herald of Riliandra. The man was also hunting down any remaining worshippers of the goddess. “I didn’t expect to meet with them so soon.”
“Oh?” Lady Grey smiled. “But you expected them?”
“Expected is probably the wrong term,” Frost groaned while trying to figure out why they’d act so quickly. Even if Rilia had spies in Blackwater it was fast. It had only been about thirty days since he killed Prince Erik. “I figured I’d have to talk with them someday. But I thought they’d observe us for a bit and then maybe send an ambassador or something. Who did they send?”
“Ten soldiers,” Lady Grey said. “The highest level is very fine young man named Sir Wildflower. According to Baron Slade he’s a level sixty-two cavalier.”
“What’s Slade still doing here?” Frost asked. “Never mind. That’s not important. A sixty-two cavalier and nine other men. Are we sure it’s only nine and they don’t have other men hidden?”
“No, but my husband said if they intended to do you harm, they would have attacked while you were occupied,” Lady Grey answered. “The messengers have been waiting patiently Herald Frost but I’m afraid they’re growing impatient after losing quite a bit of rel in cards. So, would you please make yourself presentable and meet them?”
“Losing?” Frost groaned. “Your husband should have let them win.”
“That’s what I said,” Lady Grey nodded. “But it’s too late for that now. Can I let them that you’ll be out shortly?”
“Yeah,” Frost nodded at Lady Grey. “I’ll be out shortly. Thank you for delivering the message.”
“You’re welcome Herald Frost,” Lady Grey bowed politely before heading out. The woman was a bit aggravating at times but effective. It seemed he acquired a second talented individual when he acquired Commander Grey.
“Frost,” Brynn followed him to the bedroom while adjusting her yellow and red dress. It was tightly fitted on top with an ankle-length pleated skirt that alternated between red and gold vertical stripes creating the illusion of a swirling sunburst. “You need to wear something nice.”
“I look good in everything,” Frost said jokingly while grabbing one his packs. He reached into the enchanted pack and started pulling out his wyvern leather armor. “But I’m going to wear something that’ll help me if a fight breaks out if it’s all the same.”
“At least wear this then,” Brynn pulled out a regal red cloak covered in strange golden markings. “Lishri brought this over while you were in the bath. She seemed really embarrassed about leaving last night when she dropped it off.
“Hm,” Lysandra said inspecting the symbols on the cloak’s base. “I wonder what she wrote.”
“What?” Frost looked down at the markings and couldn’t make sense of them. He thought his language abilities were all level ten in terms of reading, writing, and speaking. It seemed there were still languages missing from his abilities list. “Wrote?”
“It’s Arachnean,” Lysandra made a face. “But it looks like a more traditional script. Oh well. We’ll have to ask Lishri. I’m sure it’s something sweet.”
“Do I look nice enough?” Frost said while putting on the cloak. The fine black wyvern leather armor was almost completely hidden beneath the lavish cloak. Getting the leather worked into armor cost him pretty much his entire reward for hunting the wyverns down, but it was worth it. “Wife?”
“Tease,” Brynn blushed while turning her head away. “Like you said, you look good in everything handsome.”
“Thanks,” Frost playfully patted her ass before heading downstairs with the others.
None of them were really dressed like they were expecting visitors. Lysandra was wearing a plain looking priestess raiment while Ena and Fayeth wore shorts and loose fitted tunics. Renna decided to wear a scandalously short pink skirt and what was basically a black bandage masquerading as a tube top.
At least the three beast-girls were wearing dresses, although they were the same plain sundresses they always wore. Despite having access to one of the finest weavers on the continent they chose the familiar comfort of the dresses Madam Gardenia purchased them. Although their collection of lingerie was much more diverse.
The elves of the village were going about their business when Frost exited the temple with the others. The village seemed to be bustling more than usual and he quickly realized that several of the courtesans were still present along with one of their wagons at the edge of town.
“Herald Frost,” Zinnia said excitedly pointing at one of the elves. “I know her! Can I go play?”
“Me to!” Iris said. “I want to talk to my friends!”
“Talk?” Jasmine smirked. “I’m going to rub it in their stupid faces.”
“Sure,” Frost said as the former courtesans went to catch up with their old colleagues. He looked around and stopped one of the visiting elves as she walked past. “Is Madam Gardenia still here?”
“The madam left before sunrise,” the elf blushed as she curtseyed politely. “She said any of us who weren’t on the schedule this evening could stay longer if we liked. Was that okay? We realize she didn’t exactly get permission but given the circumstances…”
“It’s fine,” Frost said while looking around at courtesans chatting with the villagers. Some of the same courtesans who eyed them with suspicion before were laughing with them. “Where are you all staying?”
“I’m staying with Phyrra,” the elf said while gesturing at herself. Frost tried not to laugh as he realized that Phyrra used Shael being out of their house to bring somebody home. “Lilac is staying with Lyra. Camellia and a few others are staying with Stormi and Erissa. And…”
“Got it,” Frost said realizing that the elves were probably more than happy to meet new people and eager to offer them places to stay. It was just odd to see the mixture of demihumans wandering around interacting with the villagers. “Thank you.”
“Herald Frost,” the elf bowed politely while fiddling with her skirt. “Um, if you’re wondering my name is Calluna. I didn’t have a chance to meet you in Blackwater. It’s very nice to meet you.”
“Mmmm,” Brynn growled.
“Nice to meet you too Calluna,” Frost said while glancing at the soldiers sitting under the large wedding canopy. Slade, Commander Grey, and several other Zirans were passing out cards to some clearly pissed off soldiers. He politely smiled at Calluna and nodded. “You’re all welcome back anytime you want.”
“Really?” Calluna’s blue-eyes lit up and Frost realized he was so distracted by the visitors he’d barely looked at the girl. Her long azure hair was elaborately braided ensuring her gorgeous youthful face was on full display. “You don’t mind?”
“I don’t mind,” Frost shrugged. He would have actually preferred visitors, even if they were just courtesans. The elves were fairly closed off from the world since the world didn’t want them, so the visits would probably be beneficial. Not to mention he did like Madam Gardenia’s courtesans. “Just make sure to arrange a place to stay with somebody. I don’t want you to visit and then not have a place to sleep.”
“Thank you,” Calluna said while running off excitedly. “That won’t be a problem!”
“Because I’m sure you wouldn’t offer her a place to sleep,” Brynn said sarcastically as the elf ran off. “I saw the way you looked at her. You’re so transparent.”
“He really is,” Lysandra giggled. “But I must admit it’s nice to have friendly visitors.”
“That doesn’t mean he needs to sleep with every visitor,” Brynn said judgmentally.
“I’m not going to apologize for being an awful husband,” Frost smirked as the petite bard possessively grabbed his arm. “Anyway, we have more pressing matters.”
Frost walked with Brynn toward the ten soldiers sitting at the tables beneath the canopy. Lysandra and the other elves trailed behind him as the villagers watched with great interest. Frost started scanning and began collecting data on the visitors from Rilia. They were all high-level with the cavalier two levels higher than him. If a fight broke out it probably wouldn’t end well for anybody.
There were four cloth wearers at the table. Two saints, one elementalist, and one geomancer which Frost figured was a variation on elementalist. More than likely the geomancer would focus on altering the landscape and fortifying his comrades. If something happened, they’d need to be taken care of first.
“Herald Frost,” the cavalier stood up from his seat and the others followed. “You’ve kept us waiting for quite…”
“Don’t give me that,” Frost said. “You don’t get to complain about waiting when you arrive the day after my wedding. You’re lucky I’m even taking this fucking meeting. I should be balls deep in my wife right now but instead I’m balls deep in political bullshit.”
“Fuck,” Baron Slade laughed as the soldiers looked anxiously at each other.
“Herald Frost!” Lady Grey screeched while stomping her foot on the grass. “That is not the way you receive messengers.”
“Messengers?” Frost chuckled while shaking his head. “These look like soldiers to me. A level sixty-two cavalier and nine high-level soldiers. It looks like a military expedition entered my territory without permission. And you want me to what? Welcome them like old friends?”
“This is not a military expedition and I have no intention of making it one,” the cavalier said while glancing around apprehensively. Adamus, Isaac, and Commander Grey gripped their weapons expecting a fight to break out any second. “The soldiers are here as a preventative measure.”
“And what about my preventative measures?” Frost said while staring at the men. “I have a village full of innocent women and children. Does it make you feel big to march soldiers in here? The implicit threat being that you’ll be taking hostages and harming my people.”
“That wasn’t our intention,” the cavalier said as he started to realize that he’d made several missteps. “We came as messengers, not soldiers.”
