| Oh boy, a bonus vignette? These vignettes for the HMG are shaping up into one very interesting overarching story. Looking forward to the follow up. |
| The Maltese Harpy Part II I followed the Lonely Knight to what the residents of Alnor generously called the Artisans’ Quarter… but I’m from Zarom. I know a slum when I see one. Compared to the buildings in the harbor district these were smaller, more worn, and a lot less colorful; nobody here could waste money on decorative paint. And while local law didn’t let people dump trash or empty chamberpots into the street, there was no missing the foul stench of outhouses. Even that was sweet perfume next to the odor of hopelessness that hung over the entire neighborhood. Smelled like my childhood. Sir Colin led me to an apartment block on the edge of the district. The dwellings here looked slightly better than the ones further in -- “tenements” instead of “rat traps” -- and some of the streetwalkers were bathed rather than perfumed enough to hide the funk. The knight led me to a four-story stone cube that was the tallest and sturdiest looking building in the area. “My informant lives here,” Sir Colin said. “Stay on guard. The local thieves aren’t normally bold enough to bother me, but with the recent crackdowns they might be desperate enough.” “I can handle myself,” I answered. Sir Colin nodded and preceded me inside. We walked up to the top floor to the door of the southwest corner room. The knight knocked, and we waited for the occupant to answer. It took a while, and my keen ears detected voices within. I was about to warn Sir Colin when the door opened a crack -- and I noted that the chain was still on. I couldn’t see the occupant but for one pretty brown eye and half a head of black ringlets, but my symbiote perked up at the unmistakable scent of young male. The eye darted from the knight to me, and a sweet near-musical voice said, “I’m sorry, but my mother isn’t here. You’ll have to come back tomorrow.” “We know your mother’s not here, Matthias,” Sir Colin said. “We came to speak to you. May we come in?” “It’s… not really a good time,” the young man replied. My eyes narrowed at the sound of his voice. My instincts warned that it was more than mere shyness or wariness of strangers. There was definitely a note of fear. While Sir Colin tried to talk our way into the apartment I reached out with my magic to discover the source of the young man’s fright. Most people think electromancy is just hurling thunderbolts, but experts can put it to subtler uses. With concentration one can see electrical fields -- including those of living bodies or masses of metal. My Sight revealed six people inside the apartment. The one at the door was the boy Matthias. The other five were mamono, probably criminals, possibly connected to the murder and kidnapping, and definitely armed. I leaned next to the knight’s ear and whispered, “He’s a hostage. Get us inside.” Sir Colin nodded and shoved hard. The chain came loose from the wall, probably due more to shoddy construction than the Lonely Knight’s strength, and Sir Colin shouldered his way through the door with me close on his heels. The knight moved to defend Matthias as a clutch of vamp mosquitoes in matching outfits surged forward to attack. I released my annoyance in a strobe and crackle of chain lightning, and the five thugs fell to the floor senseless. Sometimes electromancy is hurling thunderbolts. I relieved the would-be assailants of their stilettos while Matthias gave me a look of awe that I felt in my nethers. Mind on the job, Underwood, I chided myself. To Matthias I said, “I’m sure the neighbors heard that. How likely are they to call the police?” “Very. We look out for each other on this street,” he answered. “A patrol should be here within half an hour. They know my mother.” “Impressive,” I said. “Let me guess, they use mind mages to contact patrols already in the area? In that case most of the wait would be the neighbors sending a runner to the nearest station house.” “Exactly,” said Matthias. “You seem to know a great deal about police procedure, Miss… ?” “Underwood. Call me Sara.” I brutally quashed the inner voice whispering how wonderful it would be to hear him calling out my name. “Mind if I ask a few questions while we wait?” “Not at all,” the young man said, “Especially if it will help find my mother.” “Find your…” I stopped mid-sentence as realization hit and then glared at Sir Colin. “You didn’t tell me your informant was the oracle’s adopted son.” The Lonely Knight shrugged and said, “You didn’t ask.” *** The patrol arrived in just over fifteen minutes -- the runner had been a werecat, so it hadn’t taken her long to reach the station -- and took statements from Matthias, Sir Colin, and me. By the time they finished and hauled the vamp mosquitoes off in shackles Chief Ruthless had shown up with Sergeant Criseis in tow. “Frost my nipples, Underwood, do you have any idea what time it is? Don’t Kaorians ever sleep?” “With one eye open, chief. I don’t suppose you know who those girls work for?” Ruthless glanced at Criseis, who responded, “Their colors match a local gang called the Sisterhood of Needles. They’re a small outfit without much clout, so they often do jobs no one else will touch -- kidnapping humans, smuggling slaves, that sort of thing -- for larger gangs. I doubt those five know anything, but their leader might.” “Let’s run her in for questioning, then,” said the chief. She nodded at Matthias and said, “Nice to see you again, Matty. Sorry it’s not under better circumstances.” “That’s all right, chief. Any word on my mother?” “I was hoping Miss Underwood would be of help with that.” She turned to me and added, “I’d like to know what the Lonely Knight is doing here, though.” “Duly deputized to represent Kaorian interests,” I said. I saw no reason to mention the unofficial nature of that deputization. The chief shrugged. “Well within your rights. But in light of the diplomatic situation I must see to it that Amarantine interests are also represented. Sergeant Criseis will be accompanying you for the remainder of this investigation.” “Well within your rights,” I acknowledged. “Well, then, after tonight’s events I think it wise to take Matthias into protective custody. With your permission, I’ll take him aboard the Sanguine Storm. Between the security I have in place and assistance from the sergeant and my deputy I think it’s the safest option.” “The only alternative is to put him in a cell, and I’d rather save those for criminals,” said Ruthless. “I’ll have a patrol escort you to the ship, and I’ll post guards on the docks in case you need backup.” “Thanks, chief. Sorry for waking you up. Get yourself back to bed.” I grinned and added, “If you have a husband, wake him up so he can unfrost your nipples.” The chief returned my grin. “I intend to, detective.” *** The patrol accompanied us as far as the pier and then hid around the docks. At a signal from me the gangplank retracted, and my companions and I went below. “Weigh anchor, Stormy, we have an oracle to save.” “Aye aye, skipper,” said the the ship as her humanoid form materialized before me. “What’s our course?” “Take us to Starpoint Island. I’m sure we’ll find the oracle there.” I turned to Matthias and asked, “What can you tell me about the place?” “Starpoint was the home of the previous oracle’s predecessor, Miss… Sara. She sought her visions in astrology, so she had an observatory built far from the city’s light pollution.” “The previous oracle was a spheromancer, so she didn’t need to live so far from the city,” said Criseis. “Starpoint has mostly been empty for two-thousand years.” I arched an eyebrow. “Mostly?” “There is an order of nuns that maintains the telescopes,” Sir Colin said. “The current oracle told me about them once.” “You seem pretty chummy with the oracle and her family,” said Criseis. “I consulted her often on… personal matters,” he replied. “We’ve grown somewhat close over the years.” “I see.” I turned to Stormy and said, “Let’s get on with it, then. Set sail for Starpoint.” The captain winked. “Already have, skipper. Those cop ladies looked pretty mad about it, too. We should be there within three hours. I suggest the lot o’ ye grab yourselves a nap.” “Will do, Stormy,” I said. “Come on, you three, I’ll show you to some cabins.” Once my shipmates were settled in I returned to my own bunk. I stripped down to my underwear and lay down, but sleep eluded me like a shy groom with a good head start. I often had pain episodes after channeling magic, and tonight was no exception. I’d already eaten an opium cake, but it wasn’t enough. I shifted to the lotus position and tried to meditate, but that peace kept shattering into visions of Matthias’s face. I could have powered through the aching in my joints or the burning sensation on my skin, but the cramping in my loins was new. I’d resigned myself to another sleepless night when there was a knock on my cabin door. I guess the sergeant wants to ask why we’re going this alone, I thought. Nice of her to come to me in private. I called, “Come in,” and immediately regretted it when Matthias peered inside. “Sara? Can we talk?” he said. “You can’t sleep either, huh? Come on in, kid. Have a seat.” I patted the floor beside me. Matthias stepped inside and closed the door. I was torn between the urge to cover myself in the presence of a stranger and my desire to let this very attractive young man have a good look at how sexy I was. Hopefully the tension didn’t show on my face, but the fact that he was only wearing a sleeveless short tunic wasn’t helping. As he sat down beside me I asked, “How old are you, Matthias?” “Eighteen,” he said softly. At my wry expression he amended, “Well, seventeen. But my birthday is in three months.” “Congratulations. With any luck your mother will be there to celebrate with you.” I leaned back on my arms and, purely by coincidence, arched my back. The sudden gulp told me that Matthias noticed how this accentuated my breasts. I allowed myself a small smile at that. “I… wouldn’t mind if you were there, too,” he said. He reached out tentatively and ran a finger along the tendrils on my shoulder. Surprisingly and pleasantly bold of him, that. “I’ve read that the filigree keeps you in almost constant pain. Is that true?” “Afraid so. Some days are better than others.” Matthias rested his hand on my shoulder, and where his skin touched mine the hot needles feeling gave way to pleasant warmth. “I’ve had some training as a healer. I can help if you’ll let me.” At my nod he said, “Lie down on your front.” As I complied he knelt at my side and started gathering up my knee-length tresses. “You have a lot of hair. I’ll try to work around it.” I focused a bit of will into my hair, wove it into a single thick braid, and heaved it off to one side. “Oh! Uh, that’s handy.” “I’m a kejourou. My hair is pretty dextrous.” Matthias started massaging my shoulders, and the burning on my skin stopped. “Oh, that feels good.” “Massage is great for relieving stress.” He gradually worked down my left arm, eventually massaging my fingers one by one, before shifting position to do the same with the right. Then he moved to slowly knead the tension out of my legs complete with massaging the ball of each foot and working the kinks out of each toe. With that done he straddled my hips and caressed my back in circular motions. His hands went lower with each circle. By the time he reached my hips the pain in my joints was gone… but the throbbing in my loins rang in my ears like the sound of a blacksmith’s hammer. “That’s enough, Matthias.” I looked over my shoulder and smiled, I hoped not too sultrily. “As much as I’m enjoying this, if you go any lower I’m going to remember that I’m a mamono.” “I’ve never forgotten,” he said huskily. I groaned as he massaged my butt, but I couldn’t bring myself to push him away. He worked my hips and upper thighs until they felt like liquid, then he turned me over and gazed into my eyes… and I was shocked to see a desire there that matched my own. “If you take that top off I can massage the front,” he said. I don’t remember removing my bra, but somehow it was across the room and Matthias’s hands were on my breasts. The only pain now was the ache of emptiness where I wanted his cock to be. I moaned and writhed under his ministrations so enthusiastically that the moment when his lips joined his hands on my bosom caught me by surprise. Stormy was going to tease me unmercifully about the noise that wrung out of me. “Matthias,” I croaked, “I need…” “Shh, I know.” He raised himself up to a kneeling position and peeled my panties off with excruciating slowness. “You’re very beautiful, Sara. I’m a lucky man.” I giggled like a tipsy schoolgirl at that. “Where did you learn to be such a flatterer?” His face fell. “Sorry, I though you’d like it. I don’t have much experience with women.” “I never said I didn’t like it.” I used my hair to take his tunic off, then I reached out my arms to him. Matthias smiled as he fell into my embrace. We kissed, gently at first but with increasing hunger, and when we came up for air I said, “I should warn you, I’ll probably want more of this.” “We’ll talk about it after we save my mother.” As our lips met again I used my hair to guide him into me, and the persistent throbbing melted into a pool of bliss. For the first time since my mother’s death I thought, This is what love feels like. That was the last coherent thought I had for some time. |
tygertygerOct 30, 2022 8:11 PM
| "When you have bought your own load of hooey, you know exactly what it is worth." -- Bruce Sterling |
| Well, well Matthias really going on the offensive. Seems quite grateful for the safe and/or was quite impressed with Sara's performance. Can't help but wonder what he's doing in the slums though, if his adoptive mother is the oracle (und probably not destitute). Anyway, really looking forward to seeing how it all comes together in the end :) |
| Oh boy a three-parter. Count me excited! I liked that Toph moment where Sara used her electromancy to see what was going on inside. A clever find and one that makes a hella lot of sense for a top detective to have mastered. Now Mattias, on the other hand, has me a bit puzzled. He seemed awfully prepared to woo and bed Sara. A case of love on first sight? The invisible hand of the oracle at work? Or perhaps an ulterior motive? Whatever the case, I'm curious to learn more of their budding relationship. Have to concur with Mugen on the question of what he was doing living in an apartment complex in one of the poorer districts. Perhaps being the oracle doesn't pay as handsomely as the title suggests, or perhaps there is more at play. Lastly an observatory that is being unused? That should be a crime by itself! #jailtheoracle |
| The Maltese Harpy Part III I awoke in my hammock with my limbs intertwined with Matthias’s, and for the first time since taking the symbiote I wasn’t hurting. I reveled in the lack of pain and the feel of a young man’s breath on my breast as I gazed at his face and stroked his body with my hands and hair. The only thing spoiling the moment was the tiny voice in the back of my mind that whispered, “Mine.” A chill at my shoulder announced Stormy’s appearance at my side. “I’d ask if ye had fun, skipper,” she whispered, “But by the sound of it I’d say ye had a grand time. Made me want ta shiver me own timbers, it did.” “I hope you didn’t pop in just to tease me about my sex life,” I whispered back. “Nay, skipper. I came ta tell ye that we’ve arrived,” she said. “Currently keeping station outside the reef. There be powerful weather magic at work, probably repelling clouds and such so the observatory has a clear view. We be hidden in the ring of fog around the island.” “Thanks, Stormy. Wake the others, then take us in along the stealthiest path you can manage.” “Aye aye, skipper.” She started dropping out of sight, but before she was completely invisible she added, “And congratulations.” “Bit premature, Stormy. I haven’t proposed yet.” “Ye’re a fool if ye don’t. Then again, he might beat ye to it.” With that she finished disappearing, and her smug grin was the last thing to fade from view. I shook my head and chuckled. Maybe they should’ve named this ship the Cheshire Cat. I carefully -- and reluctantly -- extricated myself from my lover’s embrace and started getting dressed. I wanted to watch Matthias sleep a while longer, but the rustle of clothing was enough to wake him. The sight of him reaching for me even before he opened his eyes made me want him again then and there, but we had more urgent business to attend to. “We’re there. Get dressed.” After a beat I added, “We’ll be heading into danger. If you want a weapon Stormy can provide one.” Matthias shook his head. “I’m a healer, not a warrior.” He climbed out of the hammock with a landlubber’s grace and almost face-planted on the deck. I caught him with my hair and stood him up, then I stretched my tresses across the room for his tunic. As I handed it to him a small rectangle fell out. I snatched it out of the air with my hair, and Matthias’s face contorted in shock and embarrassment. “Don’t look!” But it was too late; I already had the object before my eyes. It was the size of a playing card, but it looked more like the cards used for telling fortunes. The figure on it was a woman with a luxurious mane of blond hair wearing a trenchcoat. The fedora pulled low on her brow hid half of her face, and the exposed half displayed one eye and a knowing smirk. The label above the image read, The Relentless Eye. I looked at Matthias and asked, “Where did you get this?” Matthias hung his head. “My mother seeks her visions as a cartomancer, and the cards change according to her visions.” He shrugged into his tunic and continued. “She gave that to me when I was nine. She said it was someone who would love me when she wasn’t with me anymore. I’ve kept it ever since, usually inside my shirt close to my heart.” He looked up at me then, and his eyes glistened. “When I was little I thought something would happen to my mother, and you would be like a mother to me, but as I grew my feelings changed to something else. When you saved me back at the apartment I knew that I had to be with you, even if it was just one time. Somehow I knew that everything would be all right if I could share my first time with you.” I muttered, “Of course it was your first time.” I sighed, then I reached out with my arms and hair to pull Matthias to me. “Look, right now we have to rescue the oracle. After that, we’ll have a few days while the diplomats argue about the murder to discuss our situation. Okay?” “Okay.” Matthias hugged me and said, “Let’s go save the day.” *** The Sanguine Storm got us within arrowshot of shore before the water was too shallow for her, then we took a longboat the rest of the way. Criseis rowed while Sir Colin and I kept a lookout and Matthias manned the tiller. We made landfall without incident and dragged the boat up past the treeline; Stormy had wisely chosen a landing where the forest came close to the water. With the boat safely hidden I turned to the one who had been here before for directions. “Which way, Matthias?” “Follow me,” he said. He set off down a mosaic path with steps both sure and quiet. “Don’t step on the square rocks. They’ll turn under your foot to cause a fall or even a sprained ankle, and in some places start a rockfall that will give away our position.” “Those nuns like their security,” the sergeant said. Matthias shook his head. “Not the nuns, the old oracle. Mother said she brought in an architect from Charisse to design the paths and some of the buildings.” “Let’s hope we don’t have to go into too many buildings, then,” Criseis said. “Those Charissi tomb builders came up with some nasty traps.” “Amen to that,” I replied. I noted that her steps were just as sure as Matthias’s and almost as quiet. “We should keep the chatter to a minimum,” the Lonely Knight declared. And it turned out that Sir Colin also moved better in nature than I did despite wearing full plate. Even the symbiote found that unfair. He had a point, though, so we all fell quiet. It took half an hour to reach the compound. The observatory stood proudly atop the highest hill on the island. At the foot of the path that led uphill lay a scattering of buildings of suitable size and shape to be dormitories and storehouses. Off to one side stood a newer building in a style that marked it as a chapel, and next to that was an open-air amphitheater carved into the hillside. A large bonfire burned there, and I could see people gathered around it. Voices raised in song were barely audible at this distance. I motioned for my companions to huddle up and whispered, “Those are probably the nuns, and the oracle is likely nearby. We should sneak into the chapel. If she’s there, we free her and make a run for it. If not, we search other buildings.” They all nodded in agreement, and we pressed on. We stole carefully up to the chapel. The door facing away from the amphitheater was sealed, but my symbiote extruded a pair of tendrils to pick the lock. Criseis oiled the hinges as I worked, then we went inside. The interior was dark but for a single shaft of moonlight shining through the window behind the altar, and by that light we saw the oracle slumped in a chair. Before I could stop him Matthias ran over and embraced her. “Mother! We’re here to rescue you!” The owl harpy struggled to raise her head, and even before I reached Matthias’s side I could see how bleary her eyes were. She managed to mumble, “Matthias?” before her eyes fluttered closed and her head sank back down. “She’s been drugged,” Sir Colin said, “And considering how easily we found her, this is probably…” “A trap?” said an unfamiliar voice. “Why, yes, it is indeed.” A crow tengu glided down from the rafters followed by five devil bugs, two hornets, and a beelzebub. The doors opened to admit a mixed group of ten zombies and skeletons. “Lay down your arms. I do not wish for any of you to be harmed… but I will harm you, if necessary.” “You wouldn’t dare, Lady Elmas!” Matthias yelled. “I remember you, though I haven’t seen you since I was a child. Mother says you’re a first-rate administrator and a second-rate mind mage. Chief Ruthless calls you a third-rate astrologer. None of those make you a criminal mastermind.” “Perhaps not,” said Elmas, “But I was clever enough to ensnare a master detective, a police sergeant, and a Lonely Knight.” She looked Matthias over and bit her lip. “Not to mention a foundling who has grown into quite an attractive young man.” “I do wonder how you knew to set this trap,” Criseis mused. “Exactly what you think, sergeant. There’s a leak in your department,” I said. “Yes, my informant has certainly earned her pay,” said the tengu. “Now, will you surrender, or must I order your demise?” “Three of us against eighteen opponents, not counting the bird? And with two non-combatants to protect? Not good odds,” said Criseis. Despite this pessimistic declaration she wasn’t laying down her twin cutlasses. “How do we handle this?” “Six each,” Sir Colin said. The runes on his upraised sword began to glow. I stepped forward and addressed the leader. “We might not have to fight at all. Tell us your demands. Maybe we can make a deal.” The tengu laughed. “Instead of fighting? How Amarantine of you, Kaorian.” She glared at me and continued. “My demands are simple. This pretender is unworthy of being oracle. Once she surrenders her mantle to me, the true successor, you are free to go.” “All this because you want to be oracle?” I said. “Why not just kill her and take the mantle?” Matthias shook his head. “She can’t. The fates conspire to destroy anyone who kills an oracle. The mantle can only be passed voluntarily by its current holder or claimed after her death by other causes.” “Alas, the boy is correct,” Elmas said. “Much as I would like to twist Sophia’s head off, I would not live to claim the mantle if I did, and there is reason to believe that her death by another’s hand at my behest would be no better. For that reason I sent my agents to kidnap her son; surely she would relinquish her mantle to spare him the eager attentions of my minions.” Said minions leered or licked their lips as if to emphasize the point. While Elmas spoke Matthias surreptitiously took something from his cloak and fed it to his mother. “Thanks to you, detective, that plan failed, but you were considerate enough to bring him to me so all is forgiven. Now, once again, lay down your arms. You cannot win this fight.” “What I don’t understand,” said Sir Colin, “Is why you think Lady Sophia unworthy. She has been an excellent oracle for all the time I’ve known her, and you are the first person I’ve met who believes otherwise.” “Because she fails to realize the potential of her position!” Elmas screamed. “The rich and powerful should be throwing fortunes at the oracle’s feet to receive good news about the future! The seer’s house should be a mansion surpassed only by that of Lord Amarante herself! Instead this laggard lives in a hovel and calls herself a generous landlord. Instead of bidding wealthy supplicants to come to her she tells fortunes on the street like an itinerant player for whatever pittance the destitute can scrape together. And the fool who passed the mantle to her approved of this, while my teacher’s great work fell into neglect!” Elmas began to pace as she ranted. “Only my foresight in founding the Order of Starseekers prevented this observatory and the writings within from being lost. I, not this self-proclaimed philanthropist, preserved that knowledge. It is the stars that hold our future, not mere hunks of glass or worthless pieces of cardboard, and it is I, Elmas daughter of Aylin, who will bring the stars to Amarante!” The tengu took a deep breath to compose herself and glared at me once more. “Now detective, for the last time, lay down your arms. I promise that none of you will come to harm. Once the drug wears off I will present my terms to Sophia, and I am sure that she will see reason. You can all be back in Alnor in time for brunch.” “‘All?’” said the Lonely Knight. I gave him full credit for the expressiveness of his voice; I could actually hear the raised eyebrows hidden inside his helmet. “Well… not quite all,” said Elmas. “Sophia has many supporters who might object to her being replaced. Having her adoptive son as my husband will ease the transition.” “Thank you for the generous offer, Lady Elmas,” said Matthias, “But I’m afraid I must decline.” Elmas bared her teeth in a parody of a smile. “Oh, you dear sweet boy. It is so cute that you think I was asking.” The tengu sighed and said, “I am clearly wasting my time arguing.” She turned to her minions and commanded, “Bring me the boy and his mother alive and unharmed. Kill the rest.” The thugs started to advance, but before they reached us the oracle raised her head and speared the tengu with a deathly glare. “Elmas… you talk too much.” She stood on shaky legs and faced her would-be usurper. “Let’s settle this like noomancers; meet me in the Arena of the Mind. If you win, I give you my mantle. If I win, you turn yourself in.” Elmas snarled, “Deal.” She turned to her minions and said, “Do not kill them just yet. A beating will do.” The two of them stiffened as they locked eyes, and Elmas’s thugs leaped to the attack. The insect girls took to the air as I moved to defend Sophia and Matthias. I yelled, “Deal with the dead, I’ve got the fliers!” I needn’t have worried. The Lonely Knight shattered a skeleton with a single stroke of his sword and felled a zombie with the backswing while his opponents’ slashes failed to penetrate his armor. Criseis spun into the midst of our enemies alternating strikes with her swords and her tail, and while she took a few hits none was enough to fell her. I threw a handful of sparks into the air which three devil bugs dodged easily… right into range of the St. Elmo’s fire I had painted onto the rafters. In just a few heartbeats we’d cut the number of attackers by a third. The beelzebub must not have liked the odds, for she wrapped herself in shadows and faded from sight. The owl harpy’s eyes blazed with blue light while the crow tengu’s glowed a sickly green. The oracle swayed on her feet as she faced her opponent, while Elmas was breathing hard but stood firm. “Your mind is as strong as ever, Sophia,” said Elmas, “But not strong enough.” “It’s not strength alone that matters, Elmas,” Sophia replied. The glow from her eyes shifted in color from azure to sea blue, and the tengu cried out in pain. “Not very nice causing me to relive an old injury,” Elmas said. “For that I give you a taste of a mother’s death.” The light in her eyes went from lime to emerald, and the oracle wailed in anguish as she was driven to her knees. I took another bug out of the air with a burst of ball lightning while Sir Colin brought down one of the skeletons. I caught Criseis’s eye, and we nodded to each other. As a hornet bore down on me and two zombies charged the sergeant we pretended to meet them, then switched targets. Criseis knocked the hornet cold with the pommel of her sword while chain lightning stunned the zombies. The sergeant crossed blades with the last zombie while the remaining hornet circled me. Elmas looked visibly tired now, but the oracle looked worse. “Give up Sophia,” the tengu said. “We have dueled many times, but you have never beaten me before!” The owl harpy stood shakily and declared, “I was never defending my son before.” The light in her eyes flared blue-white, and Elmas screamed. The oracle crumpled to the ground as the tengu toppled onto her back and lay still. As the sergeant and the knight dispatched the last of the thugs the beelzebub appeared in a cloud of shadows and placed a blade made of darkness under the salamander’s chin. “Killing the Lonely Knight would be great for my rep,” she said. “But my little shadows might not pierce that armor, and besides… I don’t like cops.” But before she could slit the sergeant’s throat Matthias jabbed her in the neck with a hypodermic needle. “You let the sergeant go,” he said calmly, “Or you find out what’s in this syringe.” Panic showed briefly on the beelzebub’s face before she dismissed her conjured weapon and put her hands up. Criseis turned around and punched her out with one blow. “Thanks for the save, kid. Do I even want to know what’s in the syringe?” Matthias smiled and said, “Saline solution. Sometimes the best medicine is a placebo.” He didn’t wait for the sergeant to start laughing before we went to his mother and helped her up. I went to her other side, and between us we got her back to the chair. “Are you all right, mother?” “Well enough,” she replied. “But Amarante’s grace, I won’t miss this headache. Elmas has gotten better since I dueled her last.” I glanced over at the astrologer, who appeared to be not merely unconscious but fully comatose. “Not enough better, it seems. What did you do?” “Oh, I just opened the door to her subconscious a tiny crack,” said the oracle. “Few of us can withstand being faced with the contents of our own souls.” The awe on Matthias’s face shone as brightly as that which was probably on mine. “I didn’t know you could do that,” he breathed. Sophia chuckled. “Nor did I, until I tried it.” “While I understand the impulse to congratulate each other, I would appreciate some help getting the still-living enemies bound before they wake up,” Sir Colin admonished. “Yeah, yeah, coming, dad,” said Criseis. I moved to help as well. When I reached the salamander’s side I asked, “So, how long before the chief gets here with way too much firepower?” “After the exit we made? A couple of hours,” the sergeant said. “And she’ll be hopping mad, so it’s a good thing we caught the murderer and the conspirator who hired her.” “Nothing says, ‘I’m sorry’ like a closed case,” I declared. “I’ll drink to that,” said Criseis. “Off duty, of course.” I grinned. “Of course.” *** The chief had been so impressed with how we handled the case that she put me, Sir Colin, and Criseis on house arrest for a week. She graciously allowed the sergeant and the Lonely Knight to serve it aboard the Sanguine Storm, and the oracle and her son were kind enough to keep us company. The morning after the last night I awoke alone in a nest of bedclothes that still smelled of lovemaking. I dressed and went topside to look for Matthias and found the oracle saying a sooth for Sir Colin. The Lonely Knight stared rapt as the owl harpy dealt a spread of cards. “First comes the Wily Fox,” she said, “Pursued by the Savage Arrow. Then follows the Climbing Vine, and their paths converge in the house of the Changing Moon. Find these, and…” -- the oracle dealt a card that displayed a woman-shaped pile of gold labeled Home -- “…they will lead you to quest’s end.” “Many thanks, oracle,” said the knight. “Though I wish that your tellings were less cryptic.” “When the time comes all will be clear.” She turned to me and smiled, “Good morning, Sara. I’d ask if you slept well, but I know you did… even if you slept but little.” I grinned sheepishly at that; a week wasn’t enough time to get used to innuendo from the mother of the man I was sleeping with. “We seem to be a couple of people short,” I said. The oracle’s smirk told me that my indirect way of asking after Matthias hadn’t been as slick as I’d hoped. “Matthias is running an errand,” she said. “He had Criseis escort him.” “They’d best be back soon, the chief is due any minute.” My hands reflexively started rolling a cigar, but I found that I wasn’t craving one. It seems the addicts were wrong; dreamweed isn’t better than sex. Not even close. I sighed -- I was really going to miss Matthias when I went back to Zarom. I put the cigar fixings away just as the chief strolled up the gangplank. “Kaori’s codpiece, Underwood, it’s a good thing you solve more problems than you cause.” She gestured, and a quartet of patrolwomen carried a coffin that glowed with preservation runes aboard. “I finally cut through the bureaucratic tangle of arachne silk and got your clearances. It’s time to take Councillor Bayalag home.” “I give you thanks on behalf of her family.” To the pallbearers I said, “You can take her below.” They nodded and proceeded to the hold. “I guess this is goodbye, eh, chief?” “Damn right, detective. You’re a loose cannon. You play your cards way too close to your vest, you don’t share information with your allies, you’ve been a pain in my ass since you got here… and all of Amarante is in your debt.” She extended her hand, and I shook it. “Amarante’s grace be with you, Miss Underwood. Lords know you’ll need it where you’re going.” “Kaori’s a rough place, but it’s home.” I turned to find the Lonely Knight standing next to me with his hand outstretched. I took it and said, “It was nice working with you, my good knight. If you’re ever in Zarom, look me up.” Sir Colin said, “I’ll do that.” The oracle walked over to me and held her arms out. “Don’t you dare try that formality with me, young lady.” I smiled and folded myself into her embrace. Despite standing head and shoulders taller than her and being more heavily built being wrapped in her wings somehow made me feel like a child again. “I wish you could stay, dear one. Amarante needs someone like you, but Kaori needs you more. Just know that my gratitude -- and my love -- go with you.” I managed to hold back a sob, but I couldn’t stop a tear. “Thank you. I’ll take all the love I can get.” We stayed like that long enough for me to regain my composure. When we broke the hug I looked around and said, “I was hoping to say a couple more goodbyes, though.” “Don’t worry, we’re here,” said Criseis as she ran up the gangplank, carrying a pair of duffle bags, with Matthias close behind. The young man wore a backpack and carried a healer’s kit. Though the salamander was barely winded the fact that Matthias was panting like an overheated dog told me they had run here. “Glad we got back before you got kicked out the country.” She dropped the bags and clasped my arm. “It’s been fun working with you, you crazy bitch.” “Same to you, Cris. But what’s with the bags? Surely you’re not planning on coming along?” Criseis laughed. “No way, it wasn’t that fun! I’m just the pack mule.” At that she shifted over and let Matthias, who was still catching his breath, come to my side. I had been dreading this particular farewell, but first I had a little mystery to solve. “Matthias? Are these your bags?” “Of… course…” he said between labored breaths. “Everything… I own.” “And you’ve packed up all your earthly possessions because… ?” Matthias straightened up and looked me in the eye. “Because I’m going… to Zarom,” he said, then he reached out and took my hand. “With my wife.” I managed to keep the symbiote’s pleasure at this development off of my face. Out loud I said, “Just one problem; I never proposed to you, so we’re not married.” Matthias gave me a smile that practically flooded my shorts. “I know. But whenever you get around to it, what we’ve been doing every night for the past week was me saying yes.” He squeezed my hand and then went over to the oracle and wrapped his arms around her. “Goodbye, mother. I’ll send word when I’m settled in.” “Goodbye, my darling boy,” said Sophia. She reached out to include me in the hug. “Take care of each other.” She winked and added, “And don’t waste any time giving me a grandchild.” “Yes, mother,” Matthias and I said in unison. “All right, that’s enough,” said Ruthless. “As if you hadn’t caused enough trouble, Underwood, now you’ve gone and broken the hearts of half the women on the force.” She sighed and gestured for Amarante’s finest to disembark. “Get out of here, detective. Go get justice for the poor and downtrodden.” “Always, chief,” I replied. The police, the Lonely Knight, and finally the oracle left the ship and Stormy pulled up the gangplank. I turned to Matthias and said, “Zarom is very different from Alnor. Less friendly, a lot dirtier, and it’ll never be safe for you to go out alone. Are you sure you want to do this?” “I’m sure I want to be with you,” he answered. “I’ve loved you since I was twelve. Now I get to love you for the rest of my life.” We kissed, and as our hands roamed over each other I felt the ship begin to move. When we broke the kiss Matthias said, “Stormy? Could we maybe take the long way around the island?” The ghost hastily pulled her hand out of her breeches as she appeared in mid-air next to us. “The long way around? Why’d ye want ta do that, laddie?” “Well… I’ve always wanted a honeymoon cruise.” “Yeah, I see how that’d be fun… but whether we do it or not is up to the skipper.” She threw me a we’re-doing-this-right look as she floated there expectantly. I looked from Stormy to Matthias and saw that I was outvoted. “Okay, fine, we’ll do the honeymoon cruise! But we’ll have to put in some overtime when we get home.” “Not me, lass. As soon as I get paid I’m going home to Kioko.” I sighed. “Fine, I’ll have to put in some overtime.” I turned a loving smile on Matthias and said, “At least I have someone to help with the filing.” My not-quite-husband smiled back. “You’re terrible at filing, aren’t you? Lucky for you I’m really good at it.” “Let me guess… your mother had you learn?” His smile growing even broader was all the answer I needed. “Of course she did. Damn oracles and their spoilers.” “At least I work cheap,” Matthias purred. He pulled me close and gave my butt a squeeze. “But since you’ll be working overtime when we get home, I’ll need some of that pay in advance.” “Okay,” I said as I placed his hands on my breasts, “But you’ll have to count it by hand.” “Twice,” he growled. Then he picked me up in a princess carry. “I’d say, ‘here’s looking at you,’ but I plan on doing a lot more than looking.” “Just don’t drop me.” A thought occurred to me then. “You know, this cruise is an opportunity. If we stop at a few ports along the way we could solve cases in every nation on the island. How’d you like to help me make a legend?” “It’s a way to keep busy while we make a baby,” Matthias answered. With that he carried me below to start solving the greatest case of my life. |
| "When you have bought your own load of hooey, you know exactly what it is worth." -- Bruce Sterling |
| A very worthy finale to the story. Didn't see the reveal coming for why Matthias was so quick to enter our protagonists embrace, though in retrospect it makes perfect sense. I hope Matthias won't come to regret his move to Zarom. Though considering no story has actually taken their characters there as of yet, we don't really have a clear idea of what the place is like. I would very much guess however that it is indeed a fair bit less safe than Amarante in general and Alnor in particular. |
mugen91 said: I hope Matthias won't come to regret his move to Zarom. Though considering no story has actually taken their characters there as of yet, we don't really have a clear idea of what the place is like. In point of fact KamikadzeTM's story has a couple of chapters set in Zarom. One of his companions -- Carol the lizardman -- takes part in a tournament there, and the protagonists take a number of precautions to conceal his nature as a human male while they are in the city. So there's shared-universe canon for Zarom not being a place where it's safe for humans to travel alone. |
tygertygerNov 19, 2022 7:18 AM
| "When you have bought your own load of hooey, you know exactly what it is worth." -- Bruce Sterling |
tygertyger said: mugen91 said: I hope Matthias won't come to regret his move to Zarom. Though considering no story has actually taken their characters there as of yet, we don't really have a clear idea of what the place is like. In point of fact KamikadzeTM's story has a couple of chapters set in Zarom. One of his companions -- Carol the lizardman -- takes part in a tournament there, and the protagonists take a number of precautions to conceal his nature as a human male while they are in the city. So there's shared-universe canon for Zarom not being a place where it's safe for humans to travel alone. |
| "When you have bought your own load of hooey, you know exactly what it is worth." -- Bruce Sterling |
tygertyger said: tygertyger said: In point of fact KamikadzeTM's story has a couple of chapters set in Zarom. One of his companions -- Carol the lizardman -- takes part in a tournament there, and the protagonists take a number of precautions to conceal his nature as a human male while they are in the city. So there's shared-universe canon for Zarom not being a place where it's safe for humans to travel alone. Strange, seems my comment has disappeared somehow. Mostly just said that the tournament didn't happen in Zarom, but the arena was somewhere close. Also found a quote from Kami's story for his description of Zarom, which did not make it sound like the most appealing of places :) "I half-raised my eyelids at those words and looked to my right. In the far distance something resembling a giant metal cage was proudly defiling the landscape in the middle of the devastated remains of the land. Tall impregnable walls, designed to hold back or more likely contain hell itself, were encircling what seemed to be a dark grim-looking city. In the middle of it was an edgy fortress built entirely of black stones and even looking at it was somehow intimidating as if it was radiating negative energies." |
| Better late to the party than not at all. Also is that title a Maltese Falcon reference? This was a nice finale to the trilogy Tyger. And must say that is was a most welcome surprise to see these bonus vignettes for Sara. Let's hope she will enjoy her honeymoon with Matthias. I especially liked the KO by sensory overload by flooding their subconscious into their conscious brain. Also an F in the chat for the nameless goons who get killed, but the big baddy being spared. It's a hard knock life for a redcoat. @tygertyger , @mugen91 As for Zarom, we need not fully follow the old stories to the letter. With the changes to the map, the lore for Kaori's domain has also changed substantially over the last few years. Especially the switch from an Aztek inspired to a Babylonian inspired domain is bound to create some inconsistencies. WIth Zarom now potentially being a ziggurat city. Nevertheless, given her occupation, Sara sure has made plenty of enemies, but also allies, within the city, so pre-emptive measures will have to be taken to assure he won't get kidnapped a second time. |
MetallumOperatur said: Better late to the party than not at all. Also is that title a Maltese Falcon reference? Of course. A good thief only steals from the best. :) |
| "When you have bought your own load of hooey, you know exactly what it is worth." -- Bruce Sterling |
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