A War Of Traitors( ARTK, Book 2)

Chapter 110

Anug 23rd, 3329 A.G

  The whorehouse was a familiar one- large and open, but with walls that looked like they hadn't been repaired in years. It was meant for both traveling whores and travelers, both of which he'd enjoyed plenty of already- but what was the harm in one more?

He adjusted his tunic, pulling at the continent's thin fabric that often made him uncomfortable. As he stepped through the doorway, a topless whore walked by- nothing but an underskirt on. She wasn't his type, but he could see the appeal. She was beautiful enough and had a kind face.

Inside, naked men and women alike sat in the laps of those who payed. He smiled. If the Uculian commanding family knew of this place- they'd have plenty to say about it, but he didn't intend to ruin a good thing.

Though.... he was surprised they hadn't caught wind yet. Any piece of furniture that could be luxurious was, any table had intricate carvings in the sides and legs.

A trade captain of Cralon recognized him and gestured for him to come sit, so he did. He'd been on his feet for days and was almost too exhausted to be here.

"My friend-" the cralonese captain said as he sat on the couch across from him. "You should visit the Uculians more often. It is always the religious ones who have... certain appetites behind closed doors."

As the cralonese captain finished his sentence, a male whore placed himself in Andre's lap. Andre gulped. He clearly took care of himself- smelling of Lavender and Rosemary. He was attractive enough too, but Andre wasn't in the mood to have a man that day

"I go wherever my lord's trade agreements command." Andre shrugged, gesturing for the whore to get off him. Annoyed, he looked around until he found someone watching everyone else. Then, he let Andre be. "It is a beautiful place- just not somewhere I'd want to stay longer than necessary."

Narene wasn't exactly known for being the most accepting place- certainly far behind Praris, but it wasn't as bad as Uculia. Here, finding a whorehouse where men sat on men was incredibly rare. Back home, there were at least one or two in each.

"Very well then-" The Cralonese captain shrugged. "At least stay the night- let me give you a gift before you go. I've been here a few days- had one of the women upstairs twice now. She does this tongue thing-"

"I know what the tongue thing is." Andre interrupted. "I'm eighteen, not eight-"

  "Aye-" the captain said. "And you still have so much to learn. I already payed for her for the night- but you can have her. In the second room on your left-   She's more your type than mine."

  The Cralonese captain raised his wine glass then took a long drink. Andre raised an eyebrow. He'd been fully prepared to pay, so he'd give the whore his coin on top of the other's captains.

  Andre rose, looking to the stairs on one wall. They took only a few moments to reach, but near them- despite how loud this main room was, the noises were almost overwhelming.

  Upstairs, he wanted to cover his ears. It wasn't that the sounds were unpleasant- he'd listened and watched as others layed with each other before, but there was just so much. He knocked on the door his friend had told him of, waiting on the woman inside to answer.

  "You don't have to do that-" She called. "Come in."

  Andre did as he were told. The woman's back was turned, but already he could tell what the other captain meant. Her hair was long and shiny, stopping just above her bum- where the back cutout also did. But her voice......

Andre could never get sick of that voice. When she turned- that took his breath away too. He could see a pain in her eyes, but it wasn't his place to ask about. Not here. Not yet.

She smiled-

And then Andre woke up.

It didn't hit him for a few dozen moments. He reached over to her side of the bed- only to find it empty and cause the images to play through his head again.

Then- he could not help but sob again.

Later in the day, Andre sat at a table in House Emeric's small hall- staring at a wall again. He liked to tell himself things were better when he moved around, yet he had to force himself to listen. Nara, Maude and Ysmen sat at that same table sipping wine.

"We cannot let House Emeric's gaurd- however small, come out of this untouched. As we've shown... armies can grow by the day when they have the right motivations. "Ysmen sat back while Nara shook her head.

  "They already call me the usurper- and the mad queen. Let them say whatever they wish. I am not without reason, but they're lucky I even allowed them to keep wall guards- let lone all nine hundred of them." Nara sighed.

  "And yet you you know leaving them completely untouched is unwise." Maude added. "And that we have other places to be, but that Valia is more likely to rebel than even Narene or Dedor. You also know.... We cannot stay here forever."

  Maude took a long drink from her wine, letting it wash away the month's stress. She was too young for this..... and yet there she sat.

  "Of course." Nara agreed. "Dedor's rebellion.... taught me to never trust the words of another lord when they're forced into saying them. "The people give them their power. If they start to see that I can be merciful and just with commoners who deserve that- and even those who don't, the Emeric's will have a much harder time growing their army. We're going to steal Emeric supporters right out from under them. Then.... those who despise them can do the rest. Soon we will be rid of all who seek to destroy me."