Chapter 14 #3
I wonder if I should get some new underwear, too?
It probably wouldn’t hurt, but if I’m being honest, these jockstraps are actually pretty damn handy.
Not covering your ass aside, they do a great job of keeping all your bits in place, and the straps stay tight, which is more important than you’d think in a fight.
Still not convinced of the combat applications of thongs, though.
Once the pants are off, it’s time to start trying new things on, something else I make sure to take my time with.
I turn to the chair, silently examining the pile like I need to decide what’s first, making sure my ass remains on display.
Of course, I just end up grabbing what’s on the top, a dark brown shirt, but that just means I get to not wear pants a little longer.
I pull the shirt on by its sleeves, slowly buttoning it from bottom to top. I turn as I dress, Khazak’s eyes torn between following my hands and staring at my butt. Good. When I finish with the shirt, I take a moment to stretch, gratuitously enough to make Khazak laugh before I reach for the pants.
It’s not super easy to look sexy while putting on pants, but damned if I don’t try, pulling them up to just under the curve of my ass, lifting it that much more before I finally let the waist slip over.
What? I’ve had this entire flirting “asset” back here for years without knowing. I’ve got some time to make up for.
The outfit gets the approval I wanted, though not as much as the strip tease.
I start to undress again, and as much as I’d love to take my time and draw all of this out, we do have to get back to work at some point.
I still make sure I look damn good doing it, but I try on the next few outfits a little quicker.
Four gold pieces and one new wardrobe later, Khazak places my purchases into his bag, and the two of us bid the shopkeeper farewell.
“We still have some time before we are due back at the station,” Khazak tells me as we exit the shop. “Was there anything else you wanted to purchase?”
There isn’t a whole lot else I can think of supply-wise that I’d wanna get right now. Definitely not anything like food. But there is one thing in the last couple of months that I’ve realized is worth taking with me: books. Or at least, a book.
“Can we stop by the bookstore?” All the time we’ve spent reading by the fire has kinda grown on me.
“Of course,” he answers with a nod. “Perhaps Nylan is working.”
The bookstore is on the way back to the station, not far from the marketplace.
I’ve been there a couple of times in the past with Khazak, just to pick up a book he’s had the shop order for him.
It’s nice, if not a little small, and most of the books are in Atasi.
But I know they carry some stuff in Common too, and if Ny’s working, he’ll help me out.
We walk in the open door to see that Ny is working, currently speaking with a customer.
“Speaking” is generous. It looks more like he’s being berated and is desperately trying to keep a smile on his face instead of yelling back.
The person giving him a hard time is a short, older orc gentleman, and I of course don’t understand a thing being said.
It takes a few minutes, but eventually the man is either satisfied with Nylan’s responses to his questions, or he’s just tired of yelling and decides to leave. He gives both Khazak and me a real stink eye as he walks out for no apparent reason. Real charmer.
“Hey guys!” Nylan greets us cheerfully once he notices us, then looks down behind the counter in front of him. “Are we supposed to have an order in for you, sir?”
“No, we are not here for me this time, Nylan.” Khazak nods in my direction.
“Really?” He looks over to me, surprised. “You didn’t strike me as much of a reader.”
I could choose to take that as an insult to my intelligence, but I won’t. “Yeah, just figured if I’m going to be on the road again in two weeks, it might be worth bringing a book or two with me.”
“Aww, that’s right. You’re leaving soon.” The elf frowns. “Not a bad idea, though. What kind of books are you looking for? Anything specific?”
“Uhh...” I probably should have thought about this more. “I don’t know. When I was little, I used to love reading stories about heroes and dragons, but that’s pretty childish, right?”
“What? No.” He shakes his head. “There’s tons of adventure novels for adults. People wouldn’t write them if other people didn’t want to read them.”
“Oh. Well, I still don’t know the names of any good ones.” I scratch the back of my head, starting to feel like a dumb jock again.
“I can think of a few books you might like.” Nylan taps his fingers against the counter as he thinks. “Give me a day or two, and I’ll pull some and bring them by your place.”
“That would be great.” He’s the one who works in a bookstore, so I’m happy to trust his judgement on what I should read. “Just tell me how much I owe you. I have money now!”
“Oh, I’m sure we’ll work something out.” Ny winks at me, and I learn that I am very okay with trading sex for books. “Is there anything else you might like?”
“Actually...” I look around the shop for a moment, spotting Khazak browsing the shelves against one wall. “There is one specific book I’d like to get my hands on. Can you get me a copy of the book about Khazak Steelrun? In Common if that exists?”
“Yes, I can.” Ny’s eyes go bright at the mention of that particular book. “I can also get you a copy of the steamy and very explicit romance novel loosely based on his and Vakesh’s relationship.”
“People actually write stuff like that?” It certainly sounds entertaining.
“You have no idea, David. There’s a whole series, but only the first has been translated to Common so far.
” He looks very pleased right now. “I’ll tell you what: if you promise to write to me and keep in touch after you leave, I’ll figure out how to send you the second book when it’s translated, wherever you are.
Deal?” He holds out a hand for me to shake.
“Deal.” I shake his hand, promise sealed. “So, how you been doing?”
I don’t want to say anything that might come off as rude, but up close while we’ve been talking, I can see that Ny looks tired, which is not easy for an elf. He doesn’t look terrible, but I can tell he’s not getting enough sleep, and I have a good idea of why.
“I’m fine. A little rough the last few nights, I guess.” He means since the bombings. “The attacks... They bring up some bad memories of my mom’s death, which just makes me miss her a lot. I wish my dad still lived nearby.”
“I’m sorry.” I don’t really know what else to say. I just wish I could help him feel better.
“It’s okay. I wrote him a letter, but I probably won’t hear back for a few more days. He lives pretty far up north now.” Aww, I just want to give him a hug. “I think I understand why he wanted to move. At least I still have Ragnar here.”
He says things are fine, but I can hear the sadness in his voice.
Not even just sadness but fear. I want to tell him that he’s safe, that we’re going to catch who did this, but I don’t know that for certain, and I don’t wanna make Nylan relive all those memories.
It strengthens my resolve about leaving before this is through.
With my order placed, and after a strong hug goodbye, the two of us bid Nylan a good afternoon and let him get back to work.
When we get back to the station, the first thing Khazak does is check for a response from Councilman Murbank to his letter.
There of course isn’t one, and I can feel the displeasure coming off of him in waves as we walk back to his office.
It does seem kind of weird that someone would ignore a message from the captain of the city’s law enforcement, but maybe it’s not.
Councilman Murbank is one of the few people in town with more authority than Khazak, which is only gonna cause us more problems. That settles it.
“I don’t think I’m going to be ready to leave in two weeks,” I tell Khazak as he writes a second message to the councilman. “It doesn’t feel right leaving in the middle of this, not without stopping whoever is responsible.”
“That is very noble, David, but unnecessary.” Khazak is still holding his pen. “You have more than earned your freedom as will your friends. I do not think they are likely going to want to extend their stays in the city after they are released.”
“Then I’ll catch up with them later.” I shrug and cross my arms. “I’m not leaving when the city is literally under attack. I have friends here. If I left, all I’d ever do is wonder if you were all okay.”
“I suppose there is nothing I can do to change your mind?” Glad he’s gotten used to my stubborn nature by now.
“Nope.” I shake my head. “You’re stuck with me.”
“Then we will just have to make sure to solve this mystery quickly.” He smiles and nods to himself before going back to writing. “Starting with you making another delivery.”
“Another request?” I ask, referring to the letter.
“Not anymore. Now it is a demand.” That’s another one of those words that sounds hot when he says it. “One I still fully expect to be ignored, which is why first thing in the morning I will be going down to his office myself to speak with him in person.”
That’s the kind of directness I can get behind. By the time I’m finished with the delivery, I’m already looking forward to the morning.