Herald of Shalia 2, page 13
Frost wondered if he should have inspected the bedrooms before he paid the reptilian innkeeper, not that he didn’t trust him. Frost had come across a few Diathen while wandering through Zira and he had nothing but positive things to say about them. They were always polite, intelligent, and honest.
“I’ll sleep in the wagon,” Slade said irritably as they finished tying up the horses.
“You absolutely will not,” Hestia objected while grabbing his arm and tugging at him to follow her inside. “We’re sharing the second room!”
“Like fucking hell,” Slade yanked arm away. “I’m not…”
“Slade,” Frost sighed at the clearly ill ninja. “You’re clearly sick as fuck and she’s excited to be helping. Just take one for the team and let her keep an eye on you.”
“See,” Hestia said while trying to snag his arm again. “Even Herald Frost says it’s okay!”
“Fine! Just shut up and come on,” Slade snapped while heading inside. “We’ll share the fucking room.”
The Diathen barkeep nodded politely at them as they came back inside. The patrons of the establishment were less polite. Several of them made rude comments under their breath, but none of them seemed to have the guts to say it to their faces so Frost decided to leave them alone. He hadn’t slept in two days and was looking forward to getting some rest.
“Let’s go!” Hestia said practically shoving Slade up the stairs toward the rooms.
“Does that mean we’re all sharing the other room?” Renna asked excitedly.
“I’d have preferred my own room,” Ena snapped as her face turned red. “How are we all going to fit in one bed?”
“She has a good point,” Lysandra grumbled. “It’s bad enough when it’s only four.”
“Frost and I can always move out,” Brynn said. “Now that we’re married we should get our own place.”
“I didn’t mean you Lady Brynn,” Lysandra said pleadingly. “Please don’t leave. I love sharing the bed with you and the herald. It’s other people that are the problem.”
“You have something to say?” Renna asked belligerently.
“No fighting,” Frost sighed. He turned to the reptilian tavernkeeper. “Is it a big bed?”
“Big enough,” the Diathen said while looking at the five women and Frost. “Not promising it’ll be comfortable. Six is really pushing it.”
“Herald Frost could always sleep on the floor,” Ena suggest with as smug smile.
“Or you could,” Renna said while snagging Frost’s arm. “There’s only so much room next to Frost anyway.”
“We’ll figure it out when we get up there,” Frost said rolling his eyes. He shrugged as the scaly green tavernkeeper stared at him. He was slightly smaller than Frost and extremely lean. His black glassy eyes looked almost too big for his serpent-like head and every now and then his tongue flicked out. “Don’t worry, we’re not going to cause any trouble.”
“It’s not that,” the lizardman said. “I was just thinking, you’re really the Herald of Shalia, aren’t you?”
“You might be the first person to believe him,” Brynn laughed while gripping his free arm possessively. “What gave it away?”
“Well,” the lizardman gestured at Lysandra and Renna fighting over his arm. “His reputation.”
“You know I’ve killed a dozen giants, five wyverns, and a chimera, right?” Frost laughed.
“And the eight slayers of Blackwater, a prince, and a duke,” the tavern keep nodded. “But…and I mean no offense…” the Diathen looked around to be sure none of the patrons would overhear him. “Is it true that you fucked a Durra?”
“A Florenne and a Myrran as well,” Frost laughed as the elves tugged on him. “Let me ask you this, if I slay a dragon will people talk about that or about me fucking a Durra?”
“Definitely the Durra,” the lizardman laughed. It was a strange laugh that sounded almost like a bird chirping rapidly. “It’s just a really strange situation all things considered.”
“All things considered?” Frost asked.
“Well,” the tavernkeeper shrugged and flicked his forked tongue. “The Herald of Riliandra never took any wives. The Herald of Ziralia has eight wives and hundreds of priestesses but they’re all human. The Herald of Tarr is rumored to lay with her officers regularly but they’re also human. But a human herald who lays with demihumans is a new one.”
“Does it bother you that we’re followers of Shalia?” Frost asked since it was unusual for him to find people who weren’t at least somewhat bothered by it.
“Nah,” the lizardman chuckled. “I run a tavern. In my experience, stories have a way of getting exaggerated over time. Take our king for example. If you listen to the stories the man tortures and murders any follower of Riliandra he comes across but I’m a follower of Riliandra. Open practitioner and neither he nor his men give a damn.”
“Tell me about that,” Frost grinned while hoping to gain insight into the king. “What’s the king really like?”
“No!” Renna whined. “It’s time for bed!”
“She’s right,” Brynn said grumpily. “I haven’t slept in days.”
“Fine,” Frost sighed. “You all go up and get ready. I’ll be up in a few minutes.”
“Promise?” Lysandra said while running her hand up and down his back.
“Promise,” Frost said as the women rushed upstairs. He turned back to the tavernkeeper. “So, the king.”
“I’ve never met him,” the lizardman shook his head. “But his soldiers are polite, they pay their tab, they don’t bust anything up. They’re nice fellas so I’d have to think if they’re nice fellas then the guy they respect probably isn’t a monster, right?”
“That’s a fair point,” Frost said. “But you’re a follower of Riliandra and he killed your herald.”
“That certainly doesn’t thrill me,” the bartender sighed. “Nobody really knows what happened there. He walked into the temple one day and just executed the herald. No explanation. The most popular rumor going around is the goddess cursed him and he wanted revenge.”
“And the former king?” Frost continued probing. “Why kill him?”
“Well,” the lizardman tapped the countertop suggestively and Frost threw down a few rel that the bartender quickly pocketed. “I can’t say for sure but it seems the soldiers aren’t looking for just any followers of Riliandra. They’re specifically hunting for nobles and followers that benefitted from the herald’s decisions. Ones that benefitted a little too much, if you know what I mean. When they questioned me, they were more interested in my bookkeeping than my beliefs.”
“Your bookkeeping?” Frost grinned. “So, the herald was being bribed?”
“That’s the strange thing,” the bartender shook his head while sliding Frost a drink. The dark-eyed Diathen tapped the counter again as Frost sighed and slipped him another rel. “Think about it. If a herald wanted rel, all they needed to do was ask. Like if you asked your followers for everything they owned, they’d probably give it to you. You can’t really bribe a herald. That’s what makes everything so strange. Why kill the herald if it was about rel? Why kill the king if it was about the herald? None of it makes sense.”
“Good questions,” Frost nodded while mentally putting the pieces on the board. A king could tax the people if he needed rel, a herald could just ask for donations. Something strange must have been going on that forced King Asmund to act. “One more question. How did King Asmund assemble his army?”
“That one I’ll tell you for free,” the lizardman laughed. “Before he was King Asmund he was General Darius Asmund. The real surprise is that none of his men turned on him even after he killed the herald. But if you think about it, that means his men trust him more than they trusted their herald. That says something about his character. Kind of like you.”
“Like me?” Frost asked. “What’s that mean?”
“Rumors from Zira say you’re evil just like your goddess,” the Diathen said. “All sorts of horrible things. But then I hear you’re sleeping with demihumans and it doesn’t add up. I just don’t think a man who fucks elves, Durra, and everything in between is running around killing people for no reason when it’s obvious he’d rather be fucking.”
“That’s some sound logic,” Frost laughed while finishing the drink the tavernkeeper poured him and got up from his seat. “Do you have a name?”
“Rathe,” the bartender nodded while sliding a rel toward him. “I have a question for you Herald Frost, if you don’t mind.”
“Okay,” Frost nodded while grabbing the rel. “Spit.”
“Well,” Rathe stroked his long serpentine neck as something crashed upstairs. “Let’s say I knew a man who had access to, well, more unique sorts of women. Is that something you’d be interested in?”
“By have access do you mean ownership?” Frost asked politely.
“Nothing like that,” Rathe chuckled as another bang echoed above them. “The man just occasionally meets with these women. Women who, if they ever entered the city limits would be killed on sight. Women that some men might call monsters. Is that something you’d be interested in?”
“If you see this man,” Frost smirked at Rathe. “And if these women are looking for a place to call home. Feel free to send them to my territory. I’ll kick them out if they cause trouble, but I’m not the type of person who’d kill them without cause.”
“I’ll be sure to pass the message along,” Rathe said as another loud boom resounded. “Speaking of trouble. Can you take care of your entourage before they cause any permanent damage?”
“On it,” Frost laughed. “Pleasure talking to you Rathe.”
“Pleasure’s all mine,” the lizardman smiled.
“We’re sharing the bed!” Ena’s voice echoed as Frost walked up the stairs. “So put some damn clothes on! You’re not going to fuck him with me right next to you!”
“I’ll wear what I want!” Renna screamed as something crashed against the wall. “And you can sleep on the floor you repressed brute!”
“Stop it!” Lysandra yelled. “Both of you!”
“I’m not repressed!” Ena shouted “And nobody is fucking in the bed I’m sleeping in!”
“How about Fayeth just acts as a divider?” Brynn suggested while laughing. “That way you don’t have to worry about any of us touching you.”
“You know what,” Ena snarled. “Fayeth and I will just sleep on the floor!”
“I’m sleeping in the bed,” Fayeth said cheerfully. “You can either join me or sleep alone.”
“Dammit!” Ena yelled.
CHAPTER 10
“You need to stop this right now,” Slade growled under his breath as the brown-haired elf undressed. “What are you doing? Keep your fucking clothing on!”
“Why?” Hestia said excitedly while setting her dress on a chair. Slade wasn’t sure if the green-eyed elf was toying with him or if she was just oblivious to what she was doing. “We’ve already made love once and I thought we’d…”
“I already told you…” Slade clenched his teeth. “That was an accident.”
“Don’t be silly,” Hestia laughed and placed her hands on her narrow waist. She playfully jutted out her hip as she modeled her red lace panties and matching brassiere. “You accidentally came back to my house, removed your clothing, and spent hours making love to me? You said I was beautiful and that it was the best sex you’ve ever had.”
“I didn’t realize you were an elf,” Slade growled. “I’m not some elf-fucking degenerate.”
“You are literally an elf-fucking degenerate,” Hestia smiled while plopping down on the edge of the bed. She patted the bed suggestively while staring at Slade. “And there’s nothing wrong with that! Besides, you enjoyed it. So why not enjoy it some more? Don’t worry, I decided that we can even keep our relationship secret until you’re ready to tell everybody.”
“Relationship?” Slade quieted his voice as he heard footsteps passing the room. “Listen, this isn’t going to happen. I am a fucking Baron. If it gets out that I fucked an elf, I’m going to be the laughing stock of the entire fucking country. So, get this notion that we’re going to be some type of couple out of your head.”
“Don’t be mean,” Hestia said as her face contorted. “Be nice like you were at the wedding or I’m not going to make love to you tonight.”
“I don’t want to make love to you,” Slade said coldly.
“Yes, you do,” Hestia grinned smugly while crossing her arms and legs. “You said I was beautiful and that you liked me. And I’d have to be blind not to see the way you’re looking at me right now.”
“I don’t like you!” Slade snapped while averting his gaze. The damn elf was right, he was staring at that voluptuous body.
“That’s a really mean thing to say,” Hestia sniffled as tears filled her emerald eyes. “And you did things that somebody only does if they really like somebody.”
“Stop crying,” Slade said unsure of what to do. It wasn’t the first time he’d made a woman cry but normally it took more vicious statements that I don’t like you. “Just stop crying.”
“I can’t,” Hestia whimpered while moving to lay on her side. She grabbed a pillow and curled into a ball. The surprisingly sensitive elf brushed her long reddish-brown hair out of her face and let the tears flow unapologetically. “It hurts.”
“What hurts?” Slade said while glancing anxiously at the door.
“That you don’t like me,” Hestia sniffled as the tears kept coming. “That was a mean thing to say.”
“Mean?” Slade bit his lip in frustration. He’d said a lot worse things throughout the day. “All I said was I didn’t like you.”
“But you do like me!” Hestia said insistently while raising her voice. “You even licked my butt!”
“Quiet down,” Slade said worriedly. “And don’t tell people that.”
“You know what,” Hestia sat up and glared at him angrily. “If you don’t like me, I’m going to leave.”
“You don’t have to leave,” Slade said knowing full well that if that dog-fucking herald saw one of his elves crying he was bound to react poorly. “I’ll sleep on the floor.”
“No,” Hestia said stubbornly. “That’ll just make you not like me even more. I’ll go sleep with Frost.”
Hestia’s words grated on him and he didn’t like it. Why did she have to phrase it like that? Did she do it on purpose to get a reaction? She could have said sleep in the other room but no. She had to say sleep with Frost. She couldn’t be that oblivious.
Slade’s muscles were tensing up and his heart raced, he was aggravated. He told himself she was an elf. She was no different than a sheep. But as she laid in his bed crying all he could see was Hestia. It was a real fucking problem for him.
“It’s fine if you stay in here,” Slade said calmly. “I don’t want that rabbit-fucker to…”
“I don’t want you to sleep on the floor,” Hestia said obstinately through her sniffles. “If you’re worried about me telling on you for being mean, I won’t. I’ll just tell him I want to cuddle.”
There it was again, that familiar rising anger. Slade knew what jealousy felt like and the idea of Hestia cuddling up next to that dog-fucking bastard was causing it to flare up something fierce. He bit the inside of his mouth hoping to snap himself out of it. She was just a fucking elf. He had no fucking business getting worked up over a fucking elf.
“We can share the bed,” Slade said. As soon as the words left his lips, he was pissed at himself for saying them. He needed to get away from the elf, not share a damn bed with her.
“Really?” Hestia said excitedly as she wiped away her tears. She smiled cheerfully as if she’d already forgotten why she was upset. “Can we cuddle?”
“If you want,” Slade answered. He told himself it was just cuddling and he’d cuddled with plenty of animals, it wasn’t unusual at all. He knew it was a fucking lie but he needed to tell himself something. “But you can’t tell anybody.”
“Okay,” Hestia nodded enthusiastically. She started adjusting herself in the bed and began looking around confused. “What side do you want to be on?”
“Either side is fine,” Slade said while removing his shirt, revealing his scarred back. He was a bit surprised that she hadn’t said anything about it the previous night, but it wasn’t unusual for women to avoid the topic. The scars were a constant reminder of the effectiveness of Zira’s justice system. “Just pick a fucking spot.”
“Is here okay?” Hestia asked cheerfully while making room for him. The green-eyed elf smiled as she stared at him adoringly, completely unflinching as he sat on the edge of the bed. “Do you want more room?”
“It’s fine,” Slade grumbled as he waited for her to turn around, but she never did. She just waited for him to lay down next to her until he reluctantly gave in. He turned so his back faced her and he immediately felt her arm wrap around him. She adjusted several times pressing her hips and chest into him as if ensuring every inch of her body was touching his. Then, out of nowhere he felt her lips on the back of his neck. “Just cuddling.”
“I know,” Hestia whispered as she continued to press her body against him, stopping every few seconds to kiss the back of his neck or his shoulders. Slade found himself unable to move as he told himself it was no different than having his hand licked by a dog. But he was just lying to himself. He knew it was fucking different. “Do you like me?”
“No,” Slade said as he felt her warm breath on his back.
“That’s a lie,” Hestia said while squeezing him. “You like me and you’re nice.”
“The fuck I do and the fuck I am,” Slade growled as he pushed her away and rolled onto his back. She wrapped her leg around him and ran her nimble fingers up and down his chest, stopping to trace the outlines of his scars as she went. “There are hundreds of men who’d vouch that nice is the wrong fucking word to describe me.”
“You’re nice to me,” Hestia said as she kissed his shoulder. “You’re letting me cuddle with you because you like me.”
