A cloud of smoke and boisterous conversation hit Aurelia's ears the moment she entered the Seaside tavern aptly named, the Cracked Oyster. Men with pipes smoked by the fire and swapped tall tales, while the younger and more virile arm-wrestled on patchwork tables. Unlike the local populace, the sailors didn't bat an eyelash at Zinjo or Aurelia.
“Stay close,” Zinjo said quietly.
One last look around the leathery faces and missing teeth made Aurelia nervous enough to cling to Zinjo's arm. “I didn't plan on leaving your side,” She lifted a drink to her nose, it smells like sour lemons and whiskey, “Eww what is that?”
“The sailors called it Grog,” Zinjo covered his nose, “I don't care for it myself. It befuddles the mind in large quantities, and I can't smell anything else but the accursed drink.” Two men sized him up from across the room. “Let's try and finish this quickly, I don't foresee this turning out well if we linger for too long.”
Aurelia pointed to the bar where a young wench washed the bar down with a rag, her attributes threatened to pop out of her low-cut top. She pulled Zinjo by the hand to the bar. The serving wench completely ignored her and twirled a lock of her hair around a finger, “Well aren't you the healthy one. What can I do for you? Are you here alone?”
“You saw me walk up to the bar with him,” Aurelia fumed. Her anger became a demon eager for the wenches' blood. “Best to keep your wrinkled mitts to yourself.”Aurelia couldn't quite explain the outburst.
Zinjo smiled down at her, “Spoken like a true lioness. Perhaps we could exchange gold for information...”
“Zinjo it is customary to ask the questions first, then offer the gold.” Aurelia scolded.
“I am new to this, dark princess. Money has no value in my society.”
The serving wench caressed her clavicle, leaned forward, and gave Zinjo a good look at her wares, “Listen I'll tell you everything you want to know for one kiss, on the lips. Maybe you'll forget the gothic doll next to you.”
A snarl curled Zinjo's lips, his hand gripped the edge of the wooden bar so tight the wood snapped and cracked under the pressure, “You will show the future queen respect. She has earned it.” while his voice conveyed no threat, his posture did.
Aurelia put her hand on Zinjo's chest and gently pushed him to the side, “You'll forgive my fiance for his rude behavior. He gets a little spirited where I am concerned,” she drew the leather coin purse from a hidden pocket, “Now I am going to lay coins on the table. You tell me when to stop, and then you'll answer my questions.”
The serving wench's eyes opened wide, and she nodded, “Sounds fair,” coins clinked against the grey wooden bar. When the number of coins reached ten, “Stop.”
The soft hands of Zinjo encircled Aurelia behind, “Have you heard of anyone traveling to a place called Kianzangi?”
“What?” The serving wench asked.
“Her heart is steady, she doesn't know,” Zinjo's ear flicked in the direction of the wench.
The observation caused the wench to back up against the wall behind the bar, “How does he know that?”
“I am a werelion,” Zinjo said with a proud cadence.
Aurelia found satisfaction in the wench's fear. Her black lace gloves pulled a rickety wooden stool, she straightened her dress under her and spoke in a conversational tone. “Has anyone smuggled a large group of exotic people with them recently?”
The wench nodded and pulled her shirt up and whispered, “If you know what's good for you, you'll stay away from the foreigners. They came in with Sly Braxton, a second-string smuggler. He and I...well it's over now and doesn't matter.”
“Did the men have large markings on their arms?” Zinjos voice played across the ears like silk. Aurelia made a mental note to have him talk like that when they were alone.
“Yes they did, and they were unfriendly. They bought Braxton a couple of drinks and left. It's hard to say where they went. They laughed, and it chilled me to the bone. It was almost like a call.”
“If you had to guess, where do you think they went?” Aurelia drank in every last drop of the adventure. She wanted more, her thirst for it unquenchable.
“Lots of buzz coming from Brismond, I heard they were having trouble of some kind. I wonder if that's where those foreigners ended up.” The wench saw three men sit down, “That's all I know. If you'll excuse me, I have customers to serve.”
The serving wench gave Zinjo a wistful glance and went about her work. Zinjo turned to Aurelia, “Should we go to this Brismond to investigate. It would be unseemly to leave the hunt unfinished.”
“I agree. It's about a two days ride from here. I can restore diplomatic relations while we are there. Do you think the hyenas are hiding out there?”
“No. The hyenas are respectable hunters, they would seek permission to stay. They can be sticklers for laws. Either way some good will come out of the journey, my dark princess.”
“Why do you call me that?”
“You dress in black, Does it offend you?”
“Do you call me dark princess out of affection?”
“Yes.” Zinjo pulled her close, Aurelia squealed with excitement, “My heart hurts with yours, dark princess, now and forever,” He pressed his lips to her.
Aurelia's senses are overloaded. Something about this kiss was different, her entire body trembled, the knobby knees buckled at his gentle touch. Other parts of her ached to be closer to him. She gripped his face to prolong the sweet sensation.
“My heart hurts with yours now and forever,” she said.
“We should prepare for our journey...” he trailed off lost in thought, “Perhaps we should track down Mashek? He may know more about what's happening in Brismond.”
“We'll look for him on the way home. I know it's weird, but I am enjoying this.”
“As am I. You have grown much in such a short space of time, I am proud of you.”
It's all she ever wanted to hear from her mother growing up. Beautiful, enchanting, and graceful, were all words her mother used to describe Aurelia. The phrase, “I am proud of you,” rarely touched her ears growing up. To hear it from the lips of Zinjo, only cemented how she felt in her heart.
“You flatter me, shall we go.
Before they hit the road to Brismond Aurelia undid the latch on the chest. The lid squeaked open and soft wool and the smell of tanned leather entered her nostrils and she tingled with excitement. Inside was a set of leather armor and a matching outfit. She held up the breastplate and then turned it upside down, “Ummm, how do I...? I've worn such a thing before.” Zinjo grinned wickedly, “I know-how. If it is proper to you, I shall dress you.” “That would imply I have to get naked,” Aurelia felt her loins boil over at the thought, while her mind worried her bare form would drive Zinjo away. Girl “Your slender form pleases me, dark princess.” the werelion blushed,
Aurelia never traveled to Brismond before. As she and Zinjo stepped in unison toward their goal, Aurelia wondered why the goddess chose the large werelion as her life companion? Not that she minded, Zinjo was everything she wanted in a husband and more. Doubt ruled her heart when they first met. Aurelia may have dressed in black after the heart's call failed once, but further inspection revealed she's felt that way for longer than she realized. "Something on your mind, dark princess?" her large companion growled with concern. He stepped next to her and put his arm around her slender shoulder. "You have been quiet since we broke camp." Aurelia leaned against his muscular body, "I was just marking my progress since we met." "Oh?" "I've treated myself terribly for a long time. For the first time, I believe things can get better," Aurelia blushed a deep crims
The guards escorted Aurelia and her companion to the audience chamber of Lord Dawkins. The chamber featured previous lords and ladies who presided over the thriving town of Pallrath. Lord Dawkins commanded respect without words. His looks may have been average, but the way his servants, and guards looked at him, one could conclude Lord Dawkins was anything but ordinary. He scrutinized Aurelia and Zinjo as he approached the caterpillar, thick eyebrows knitted in thought, deep brown eyes affixed on his guests. He kept his hands clasped behind his back, "Please state your business, and surrender your weapons. I do not know you, and armed people make me nervous." Zinjo handed the partisan to a young guard who trembled under the gaze of the predator's yellow eyes, "This is a family heirloom, please care for it." the guard almost dropped. His knees knocked together. "I am Aurelia, heir to the throne of
Lord Dawkins and Queen Charity marched ahead of a small squadron of well-armed soldiers. Their chainmail sparkled in the sun. An air of excitement followed the small band of warriors as they marched. They raised their voices in song and ancient battle hymn known only to the people of Brismond. In the rear of the two columns, a woman with black leather armor, and a savage man dressed in bone armor marched right along with them. "You have done a good thing today," Zinjo commented with pride. "It doesn't feel like it right now," Aurelia fiddled with her short swords, "I can't believe mother tanked a kingdom and ours for a night of pleasure, and we still haven't asked about the hyenae. Have you smelled any?" "Not as of yet, Hyena's will sometimes hide their scent with a stronger one. Back home, they use a special plant to do this. Given the plant's needs, I highly doubt the Hyenas can gr
The death of Horace bothered Aurelia. Horace refused to be decent when he was alive. He drove his kingdom into the ground without a thought about the people. How could his death go undetected? Why was his face blue? Her questions led her right back to her original question; Who was running the kingdom? The bloated corpse of Horace burst the moment a pair of careworn guards tried to move it. Visceral fluid jettisoned from the body at the speed of an arrow. Everyone covered their mouths and pinched their noses against the putrid ooze. Charity sped towards the door, Aurelia followed suit. she could feel the bile building up in the back of the throat, it burned upward through her body and threatened to coat anything within five feet with vomit. Out in the hall, the women gasped for air and spent the next five minutes double over. "How long do you think he's been dead?" Aur
Aurelia began the journey to Shadowfen with confidence, not only had she restored diplomatic relations with Brismond, their neighbors to the east, but she turned an enemy into a friend. Zinjo remained quiet for most of the journey. His face wrestled with the questions known only to him. By the second day, Aurelia grew tired of his silence and sat on his chest, "We are not leaving this campsite until you tell me what's bothering you." "Dark Princess, I worry about Kivuli. I am known to him and who knows what a spiteful creature such as he will do to you just to see me suffer or vice versa," He kissed her hand, "Would you object to being a lioness?" The question rocked Aurelia's inner world. A part of her screamed to do it just to be closer. Her more cynical side knew such power came at a cost. "Will it be painful?" "Most do not survive the first change. Ayasu says the body ca
The afternoon sun warmed the earth with its gentle rays and a soft breeze, made it the perfect day for walking. The savage-looking Zinjo and his wife to be Princess Aurelia entered the Dame of Flame blacksmith shop. Hammer struck steel, the smell of charcoal and smoke, gave the shop an industrious feel. Armor stands with completed suits of armor, weapons of all descriptions hung on the wall. In a glass case lay a pair of swords. Aurelia studied the flawless metal and admired the curvature of the blade. Aurelia looked over at her big companion, "Well what is the quality here like?" A nose pressed against the supple leather on the stand. Zinjo examined the seams and the kirtle. "This forger knows their craft. I'd wear this armor into battle confident of its protective capabilities." "High praise from a foreigner," A gruff female voice said from behind him. The pair turned and saw a
Brothels are an unfortunate part of the world and home to one of the oldest professions known to man. Aurelia didn't know what to expect when she opened the double wooden doors. It was only after she entered did she become privy to the secret world of the working girl. Discomfort ruled Aurelia as she gazed at the naked forms of women enticing men to part with their coins. Something about the way they moved and spoke increased the desire in their targets. She recognized some of the men from the royal guard, most of which had families. A woman wearing long flowing silk robed greeted her, "Excuse me are you looking for work?" She walked around Aurelia, "I can see the potential already, is the leather armor your gimmick?" she lifted an arm, "Decent muscle tone, and chest area. You're Young, the men are all about feeling powerful..." After her face stopped burning from terminal emba