Chapter Eight #2
We climbed a long set of wooden stairs to enter the marketplace proper.
The calls of dozens of merchants shouting out to us in a language that I did not understand floated past my ears.
The plain wooden helmet I now wore exposed my ears.
Glances from people milling about touched on me, their eyes darting to my pointed but shorter and much whiter ears.
They stared openly, many with looks of disdain, others curiously.
Now I knew how the wood elves and Sandrayans felt walking among the mainland elves.
I kept my hand on the hilt of my sword, a silent but clear message, as I walked behind Teryn.
I took note of many wealthy-looking people—men and women in robes, the men with various sorts of facial hair, robes adorned with jewels, milling about with stout men in similar types of light armor at their heels.
Teryn and I did not stand out other than my pale face, for that was all that showed.
Even my hands were covered in weathered leather.
Whoever assessed my size for this armor had done a fine job.
The gauntlets fit well, no small task as I had larger hands than most male elves.
Rich smells of roasted meats and grilled vegetables mingled with the aroma of spices.
Caws of caged birds rang out. We passed several shaded stalls holding several quadoth, the humped beasts of burden used here in the Black Sands.
Smaller cages holding spotted wildcat cubs were found across from the quadoth pens.
The stall next to the cats had ginger monkeys on leashes that danced about for passersby who tossed coins into a cap their owner held out.
The monkeys were entertaining. I’d only seen them in the menageries.
Those did not dance. Those flung feces at people while baring long fangs. These seemed more docile.
Teryn stopped to talk to a heavy woman wearing a patch over one eye. I moved closer to the ambassador, wary of everyone who passed too close. They bartered quickly. Coins changed hands. Teryn walked off without saying a word.
The fat woman spat at my foot. I moved off, keeping up with Teryn throughout the maze of stalls and people.
We climbed tall stairs and then entered one of the gold-domed buildings.
The shaded interior was much cooler. A fountain bubbled merrily as well-dressed Sandrayans lounged on padded chaises, fanning themselves with brightly painted palm fronds as servers carried drinks and foods to them.
A lovely young woman smiled at me from a blue chaise, her breasts easily viewed through the sheer robe of soft rose she wore.
“You are not here to gawk at whores!” Teryn spat loudly.
The terseness surprised me, but then I recalled who we were playing.
I ripped my sight from the woman and lowered my head to offer an apology.
“Stupid mainland oaf.” Those around us tittered.
“Stay at my side, or I shall send you back to the sisters where you can spend your miserable life hauling flower petals.”
“My apologies,” I mumbled as he strode off.
I followed like a duckling waddling after the mother duck.
Teryn did not glance back as he stopped at a desk.
I waited, feeling much like one of the woodland beasts that used to be on display at the menageries of Melowynn.
They had all been freed a season ago, the last cage emptied, the animals returned to their native lands.
That had been a happy day for the wood elves.
When Teryn left the desk, I fell in line at his heels, gawking at the smooth, cool walls as we climbed up four flights of steps.
We stopped at an arched doorway, smaller than the exterior ones.
With the turn of a key in a brass lock, Teryn threw open the door and disappeared inside.
I entered, closed the door, and glanced around the room.
It was pleasant and airy, with only one large bed with soft white sheeting draped around it from four tall posts at each corner.
“Pasil.” Teryn sighed, removing the linen robing from his head. “I am so sorry for the vile way I have treated you so far. Sadly, it is part of the ruse we must endure.”
“There is no need for apologies, Mahouk,” I said just as the door eased open. Turning quickly, sword leaving its scabbard, I looked at the terrified face of a serving girl with two buckets of hot water. Her dark eyes widened in fear.
Teryn rushed over, sliding in front of me, and spoke to the young woman in his native tongue.
I eased back, slid my sword back into its scabbard, and removed my helmet.
Another servant appeared. A stout man with huge ears carrying a hammered brass tub.
Things were said as I eased to the far corner by a set of white open doors.
Teryn joined me, melting into a small space that pressed his arm into mine.
“They are bringing us a bath and then a meal,” he explained as the staff of what I assumed was a hostelry toted bucket after bucket of water in and backed out when the tub was filled.
The big man with the large ears gave me a saucy wink before leaving.
“That is the second man who expressed an interest in you since we have arrived. I’m not sure if I should be flattered that they find my taste in protection so good or upset that so many people are lusting over your milky skin and stubby ears. ”
I stared openly. “My ears are not stubby,” I parried and got a soft, amused laugh from Teryn as he slid his earring back in and gave his head a shake. The charms rang out subtly. “And who was the first?”
“The port master asked if I would be willing to let you pleasure him in exchange for skipping the docking fee.” My mouth fell open.
“Oh, I forgot. There was also the young woman with the large breasts in the lounge eyeing you, and now that hulking man has winked at you. You’re causing quite a stir.
Although I cannot fault my fellow Sandrayans. You are a striking man.”
It would be a lie to say I was not pleased to hear the people found me attractive, even though I had skin the same color as goat milk curd, to quote Porgo.
“I have no interest in any of them,” I stated as I removed my helmet and placed it on a small table beside the steaming bath. “My greatest desire is to soak in that bath while the ground below the tub stays calm.”
Teryn chuckled before waving at the tub.
“Then please, wash the trip away.” He began to shimmy out of his robing, baring a shoulder, then his back, then finally his high, tight ass.
My gaze drank him up. Like a man on the burning sands with no water, I glutted myself.
A glance over his shoulder sent blood coursing to my groin.
“You should bathe first. You are a higher ranking than I,” I replied, glad for the tight bark codpiece compressing my cock. Hopefully, it would squeeze my fattening prick flat.
“Nonsense. That is only for show.” I cocked an eyebrow while working at the lacings on the side of my chest to free the breastplate. The ties were knotted firmly. I cussed at the cluster of thin leather strips. Teryn appeared at my side to brush aside my fumbling fingers. “Let me aid you.”
“That is not a role fitting an ambassador of the Black Sands,” I said.
He rolled those amber eyes as he began working on the knots.
One arm up over my head, my sight lingered on his hair, how black it was, how thick, how it needed to be washed and combed by someone who would do so with tenderness and care.
The codpiece was not working. My cock was firm and aching now.
“You will find the smell there unpleasant.”
He pulled the laces free, his sight rising from his task to my face. There was fire in his gaze. “You smell as a man should smell.”
“Always the diplomat,” I croaked as he lifted the chest plate free.
The sticky air blowing in off the sea felt cool on the thin undershirt clinging to my skin.
Moving gently as a wren, he peeled the undershirt free and lifted it up over my head.
Perhaps I should have moved away or spoken out against this intimacy—we had said we were trying to keep our heads—but I found that I could not.
Teryn tossed the sodden garment to the floor before reaching a tentative hand to the rerebraces covering my upper arms. I nodded; my sight locked on his lips and knew that the notion of remaining composed when in close proximity to each other was faulty.
There was no power on either the mainland or these mystical islands that could keep us apart.
Perhaps we should just acknowledge that weakness in ourselves.
The rerebraces hit the floor, followed by the smoothly carved vambraces.
Teryn glanced up after each bit hit the floor to seek permission.
Each look through thick black lashes made me weaker with want.
“I wonder,” he said in a voice as soft as the whisper of a dove’s coo in their cote, “if our vow to abstain from each other was a foolish one.”
His fingers skimmed my belly as he toyed with the stays holding the codpiece to the thin girth belt.
Loosening it would divest me of my sword as the sword frog was attached to the girth belt.
It would also give him access to the ties of my thin trousers.
He wet his lips again. His sight locked with mine.
“I suspect it was half-witted to be sure,” I replied with candor. How could I be anything but forthright with this incredible man?
He rose to his toes to place his mouth on mine. Without care of the half-hearted pledge we had made, I opened for him, falling into the exquisite taste that was one part tea and the rest Teryn.