- "Well, there is a way to prevent it from happening again." she said. "Ken could buy you the house next door."
It wasn't as crazy as it sounded. Sylvia wasn't simply floating an idea that had just occurred to her.- "We have more than enough money." she told me.- "What about the research for your spell?" I whispered.- "We can easily to buy another house. Or several houses. In fact, it would be a wise investment, against the day when the Narimac is no longer here."- "Really?"- "You could sell them, at some time in the future, if you needed money. Or you could rent them to lodgers, and provide yourself with a regular income."- "How do you know so much, when you've never set foot outside this place?" It wasn't a real question; no answer was required. I was just amazed by my partner - again.Pamna and Fhaernala weren't sure that they wanted to be housemates, but the idea of a lI was scared shitless. There's no shame in admitting it, as far as I'm concerned. How would you have felt, moving silently through a dark, creepy forest in the middle of the night, carrying two magic sticks - while trying to sneak up on a dragon? Not my idea of a pleasant way to spend an evening, that's for damn sure. I'm a street rat, born and bred; I don't belong in the woods. Especially not when there's a bloody dragon involved. Ah, I hear you ask: but why was I moving towards said giant reptile, and not away from it, as quickly as possible? Stupidity can't be ruled out, of course. But mostly it comes from an inability to say no. Also, it was Jim Davis who was asking. Hard fellow to say 'No' to. He got his nickname from the blood which frequently splashed his armour, and then ran down to stain his trousers. - "C'mon, Ken." he'd said, two weeks earlier. "You owe me. You know you do." I did. He'd helpe
If it's so simple, why don't you do it? Of course I didn't say that aloud. It always amazes how people think that my part of my job is something that a trained monkey could do in his sleep. Meanwhile, their task is a matter of the utmost skill and timing ... Jim spoke up for me. "Ken works well under pressure. And if he needs to improvise ... well, there's no one else I'd rather have in there." That makes one of us, I thought. "Well be close behind." he said, to me. "The moment you light those sticks, we'll attack. Believe me: we'll get that dragon's full attention. After that, if you see an opportunity to do something useful from behind, or from the flank ... well, feel free." Jim put a meaty paw on my shoulder. "This is the big one, Ken. If we pull this off, we'll be able to retire, and live in luxury." He gave me a smile and a wink. *** That was how I found myself sneaking through an acid-blasted forest
I could see underneath the dragon, between its legs, as Jim hewed with his sword, and sheered a claw off the monster's back foot. The big fighter had suggested that I might be able to contribute, somehow. I didn't see how my rapier, or my dagger would make much of an impression. It would have to be my pistols. But there was no point trying to put a ball through the dragon's scales. I needed to find a soft spot. Underneath, perhaps? Four skeletal apparitions surged from the ground, directly in front of Sazz. I don't know what Carpon what doing, but he couldn't possibly reload that massive musketoon in time. The dragon retaliated. He clawed at Jim - which missed. Then he spewed acid at the necromancer - which didn't. There wouldn't be much of Sazz left, after this fight, to bury. That's assuming that we would be around to bury him. Somehow, the dragon also found the time to swing his tail again. I wasn't able to dodge completely. It felt
- "Wait." said the redhead. - "I don't trust him." said the one I took to be Syrava. She had pale, reddish blonde hair, and dark eyes. The pout on her lips made her look childish and petulant. If I was not mistaken, there was a touch of the fey about her. When you've a mixed heritage of your own, you tend to see it in others more easily. At least, that's been my experience. - "I'm unarmed." I pointed out. "I know a couple of minor spells, which I can convert to healing. I'm no threat to you. I'm offering to help." - "That's very nice of you." said Earrings. She offered her hand to help me stand up. - "Careful." growled the redhead. We circled the carcass of the dragon. Even dead, it was still impressive - though not so terrifying as last night. Aressine turned out to be the tall warrior I'd seen, charging alongside the redhead. She had her helmet off, and was sitting on a shattered tree stump, still in her armor
Kima's opinion had probably carried more weight. However they had decided, I wasn't about to complain. I was still alive, and I'd be bringing home some loot. - "We'll borrow your wagons until we get back to the city. After that, they're yours to sell, or keep - as you will." she added. - "Thank you." The rest of the day was one long ordeal of lifting and carrying. The dragon's hoard - and it was considerable - had to be separated, and then carried to the wagons. There were coins of every size and shape. Copper, bronze, silver, and gold, plus a few metals I didn't recognize. A numismatist would have been coming in his pants. But then he or she didn't have to bag the damn things, and then carry them to the wagons. It's amazing how heavy coins are, when they belong to someone else. Only one in thirteen would be mine - and then a tenth, or possibly even a fifth would have to paid to the pirate Lords. And I fully intended to pay
That night, I used my tongue to bring her to a climax. She cried out, loudly, as she reached her peak. That brought Fhaernala and Kima running, as if they thought that I was attacking her.- "Pamna! Are you alright?" shouted Kima.- "Better than alright ..." she murmured.- "What happened?"- "What happened? His tongue happened ..." said Pamna.An embarrassed silence followed, which I enjoyed immensely. The redhead and the elf left without saying goodnight.- "You did that deliberately." I whispered to Pamna.- "What? Well, maybe ... a little."We lay together again on the last night before we reached the city. I had just spent between her thighs, and brought her to orgasm with my fingers. We were lying close together. I was well aware, though, that this represented a milestone, of sorts.- "Ken?"- "Mmm?"- "What do you think of me? Honestly - please."
If the Gods really existed, Mehdawi would have been a saint, wielding a magical rod of healing. Instead, he toiled in obscurity. Only the sick and dying knew his name.- "That's wonderful, Ken." he said. "But ... do you have a moment?"An hour later, after casting three healing spells, I left the Gale. Braida and his friend were relieved to hear that we were going uphill.First stop: a tailor, where I bought three new sets of clothes. Then a weaponsmith, to purchase another rapier.Second stop: my old room. I paid what I owed, collected a few belongings, and left. A few streets away, I acquired a new room, depositing a month's rent in advance. I stashed some clothing and the new rapier there. After that, a gun shop, for a little more powder and ball.We dropped in at my second room, where I also paid a month's rent in advance.The next stop was a dress shop, owned by Jim's last girlfriend. I suspected he was planning
I would have liked to have had my silence spell, but I'd used up my magical energy at the Gale. Stealth would have to do. I slipped out Polenek's side door, and crept up on my quarry. One wore a hat; the other was bareheaded. Bance was balding, and a bit vain - he was the one in the hat.Thank goodness for low-light vision. I saw Bance's gun - a short-barreled fowling piece - leaning against the wall. I kicked it away, to get their attention.Both men whirled about.- "I have two pistols." I said.I didn't know who the second man was, but he took his lead from Bance.- "Ken?" said Bance Rayner.- "Please sit down. Both of you."Bance was a professional. "Do it." he said, to his companion. Then he sat down himself.- "Stretch out your legs." I said. I was still quite confident that they couldn't see me very well.- "I wouldn't have killed you, Ken." he said. "You know that."