Adventures in the Colonies (closed for Halcyon)

[Halcyon638]

The sorcerer tossed and turned, between the warm air and his wounds finding it a struggle to get comfortable. By the time the morning came around, he was still miserable, more so when his crewmates woke him on their way to the day’s tasks. He felt as if he had barely recovered any of the magical energies he’d expended.

After a while, he sidled up to Osaro. "Good morning to you. Any word on what our share of the take will be?"

 

[siobhancan99]

OSaro shrugged "hard to say, till its sold out after inventory. There's a lot of men on this sloop, but there's a lot of wood and spice in the other. Plus we can get something for the ship itself, or upgrade from the sloop." He stroked his chin "though that merchantman is a slow beast. Probably not much use for pirating eh?" He shrugged "I'm no sailor. I wouldn't know."

Indeed, the two ships were working their way back to port slowly, with the sloop scouting ahead, then working around the other boat, keeping an eye for obstacles. Fortunately, on deck and on the water it wasn't so miserably hot as it was on land, and Desmond was soon taught a little rope work and how to take care of some of the items aboard ship. Fiona and the noblewoman stayed below decks. ordinarily the druid would have added to the scouting, but a man had already been caught sniffing around the young lady, and after Desmond's encounter with her brother last night it was thought best that he not be given reason to run anyone through. Accordingly, Fiona remained below.

When Desmond finished his shift on the deck, he made his way below to find Fiona and the noblewoman sprawled topless in Fiona's hammock. The air below deck was still, and hot. "Oi Des. Avert yer eyes." Fiona called out, raising a languid arm.

 

[Halcyon638]

“No sailor, perhaps. A fine pirate, though,” Desmond said with a grin, clapping the large Uluntu on the shoulder. He had wondered how the man was reconciling his sense of honor with his new role, but had seen how malleable honor could be when substantial sums of coin entered the equation.

Wiping his salt-flecked hair from his eyes, the sorcerer proceeded downward, curious if the druid might be amenable to his presence tonight, though not hopeful given that she was now charged with keeping an eye on Gabriella.

Fiona’s command had the direct opposite effect, as it caused him to stand and stare a few seconds longer than he would have otherwise. “Sorry,” he said, feeling dazed, and stepping away, forearm raised to his face as if shielding himself from the sun.

Given the heat, it wasn’t surprising that the two women had stripped down, but it was a bit odd that they were sharing a hammock. He was certain it was innocent enough, perhaps the younger of the two needing a little comfort, Fiona offering to have her join her in her bedding to help the aristocrat sleep. Still, the sight of the two lying there, breasts bare, excited him more than a little.

He moved away, staying out of sight but pausing. Without quite knowing why, the sorcerer listened.

 

[siobhancan99]

He heard a bit the hustle of someone moving around and then Fiona summoned him to return. She still lounged, pale freckled skin bare, the dim light from the lamp casting strange shadows across her body. The noblewoman was covered in a shirt. She looked over at Fiona "ach, taint nothin Des aint seen before and ain't pawed at more'n once." She looked over at Des, "it's hot as the 9 hells in this fookin boat." She fanned herself "at least on deck ye get a bit of the salt air na? but paradin Gabrielle among them horny bastards. It ain't exactly the best idea now is it?" She looked over at the noblewoman, with a bit of a lascivious look. "She's a bit waifish but she's cute. And pale and exotic among these leathery fucks." She sighed and fanned herself a bit more "any word on return to port? Should be a day or two aye?"

 

[Halcyon638]

Turning his attention to Gabrielle and responding to Fiona’s blunt speech, Desmond said, “You’ll have to forgive my friend. She has many admirable qualities, but a refined tongue is not among them.”

“The moon is supposed to be near full tonight,” Desmond noted, sympathizing with their confinement to the lower decks. “It should be quiet enough on deck to roam about unmolested, even for ladies as fetching as the two of you. Old Fulcio will be on lookout, but I hear tell his parts haven’t functioned in years. You can drag me along if you want a proper escort, as long as I can steal a few hours of sleep first.”

The sorcerer thought he had possibly imagined the look Fiona had given Gabrielle. He had heard stories of women in convents who had developed unusual desires being limited to the touch of their fellow sisters. He supposed druids, some of whom might spend months and months alone, might find themselves in similar circumstances, but…

“I believe another day was the word among the crew.”

 

[siobhancan99]

"Aye, not too bad" Fiona sat in the hammock, sweating and laying listless "Well. some night air will do us both good I imagine. So what are we doing after this aye? I don't think Osaro's rightly taken to the nature of the work, to be frank' She brushed her hand through her hair and sighed, then set the hammock to swaying. "We could take on another few ventures, see how it goes. We could turn coat and start working protection for merchant ships. We could see about the fuckin imperials quest for ancient shite on the continent" She looked over "She and I talked a good bit, while you were strugglin with that chest of her brothers shite."

 

[Halcyon638]

Desmond shrugged. “This is not Osaro’s place, true enough. But I’m starting to take to it. I at least want to count my portion of the haul before making any firm decisions.”

 

[siobhancan99]

The ship limped into the harbor the pirates were using as a home base. Sweaty work went into unloading the cargo. Silk and spices, jade and other treasures of the east lined the beach and merchants from the island swiftly descended, haggling with the pirate captain and his First Mate over the price of this and that. Desmond knew the men were hardly getting market prices, but the merchants themselves had to resell and there had to be a profit in it. Eyes wandered over to the Imperials, and suggestions were made for a price for the girl by the owner of the local whorehouse, but the captain was firm in that he was a privateer not a pirate, and the passengers were inviolate. His letter of marque did not allow the taking of slaves even if it did allow the execution of the crew.

Casks of rum were purchased, and a wild hog was slaughtered. Men began drinking early and prodigiously, and the camp was soon riotous with celebration. the haul was good. Desmond's share was 100 gold, for a few days work it was a princely sum. Fiona at first partook, but after the first time the young Imperial had to skewer a man over his sister's honor, the redhead sighed and led her away from the camp. She shot a look at Des full of mischief and promise "Come find me in a bit, handsome. After i find somewhere to hide this one."

 

[Halcyon638]

Desmond walked the streets with a grin on his face. He had barely touched the gold his aunt had given him, knowing it would have to last him quite a while, but he fully intended to spend much of his take. It had been a while since he’d purchased any garments whose form was more important than their function, and though he wasn’t attempting to con nobles out of their coin, he did miss the finer things in life.

That was for the next day, though. It had been a while since he had been with the redheaded druid, and he found himself stealing glances at her all evening. It seemed she had the same idea. Desmond drank less than he usually would, especially after seeing Rolf fending off a ruffian near camp, and hoping to keep up his stamina for his lover.

 

[siobhancan99]

After a bit, Fiona shot him a glance over her shoulder and made her way for the treeline. The night was hot, as most of the nights were, though there was a pleasant breeze coming off the water which made the palms sway and turned the sultry island palatable. The clear sky above was a field of stars, and as he followed her into the wood, the raucous sounds of the camp stilled and the sound of nature surrounded them. She paused by a large pond and slipped out of her clothes, sliding into the cool waters and beckoning him 'come here fancy lad. lets get you all clean before you make me all dirty, aye?"

 

[Halcyon638]

“If I had known druids had such a relaxed attitude about clothing, I would have joined a circle years ago,” he said, taking his own garments off and letting them drop. Desmond lowered himself into the water, his cock already responding to the redhead’s freckled, naked body. He quickly closed the distance to his lover, encircling her lithe frame with his arms. “You are a vision,” he said, taking in the sight of her face gently lit by the heavens. He kissed her lips, hungry for her.

 

[siobhancan99]

Fiona wrapped her arms around Desmond, kissing him back with equal ardor. She ran her nails along his back, letting him feel the sharp edge of them. She moaned softly into the kiss, then wrapped her hand around the back of his neck to pull him in. She arched into him, pale freckled skin almost glowing in the light of the moon. She broke the kiss and looked up at him "yer a fuckin flatterer and a fancy lad" She laughed and kissed him again, her hand then sliding down, reaching for his cock and stroking it. She wrapped her fist around it, tugging gently at it, feeling it swell to full hardness under the softness of her touch. She bit softly at the nape of his neck, then sucked firmly at the skin.

 

[Halcyon638]

“Can’t argue with the results,” he responded to her “flatterer” comment as the redhead laid her fingers on his erection. The sorcerer kissed her again, holding her tightly, with just enough room to give her hand leave to continue what she was doing. He dropped his hands down to grasp her firm ass, kneading it and lifting her in the water, slowly carrying her toward an embankment around the pond while continuing to kiss her, tongue massaging hers.

Desmond kissed a line down her neck, then kissed her collarbone. He lifted her higher so he could begin licking her perky breasts.

 

[siobhancan99]

"I can fuckin argue with anything." She laughed and wrapped her legs tight around him "yer gonna get me muddy." She kissed him again though, pressing up against him, breath coming through flared nostrils "and hot and sticky" her words breathy, low, almost a moan as she responded to the touch of his hands. She ran her nails along his chest and looked up at him "Fuckin fancy lad" One hand then wrapping in his hair, pulling him in for another kiss, tongue battling with his as they lay in the moonlight at the edge of the pond.

 

[Halcyon638]

Desmond chuckled. As they kissed, he slid his hand down, caressing the smooth mound between her thighs, then slowly letting his fingers play along her folds. “Certainly the fanciest lad you’ve ever let do this,” he teased, playfully tugging on her ear with his teeth as she slipped his fingers inside her.

His digits explored her as he watched her now-feverish-looking visage for reactions.

 

[siobhancan99]

Fiona gasped and gripped his fingers "well most of you fancy lads don't care to do that to a lady" she chuckled and kissed his neck, biting, tugging firmly with her mouth and then ran her mouth up to his ear "I know what you fellas get to aboard ship' She laughed and rocked against him, then ran her hand along his chest. She pulled back a little to look into his eyes, as best she could in the moonlight that was. She bit her lip and made an encouraging sound and rocked against his hand. "keep doing that." Squeezing his fingers again, running her hands along his body. "Make magic with me, magic man" her lilt had that mocking tone all northerners seemed to have, and it was never easy to tell if she was jesting. Still, her body pressed against his again, seeming to suggest she was not.