An Arrangement

[slippedhalo]

Her work on his cock grew more intense as Fira put her all into it now,happy to express her feelings for Edmund in this way, happy to see him enjoy her.

 

[Otto26]

Edmund's body tensed, forcing the air out his chest with a drawn out hiss, and he came. After the first moments he relaxed slightly and smiled broadly at Fira, hand stroking her cheek as he praised her and treasured the affection in her eyes.

 

[slippedhalo]

A knock on their door startled Fira, who crawled back up her lover's body and covered them both with the sheet they had slept beneath. She looked lovingly at Edmund and waited for him to answer the knock.

 

[Otto26]

Edmund swung his feet out of bed and padded over to the door.

<Yes?> he asked.

<It's Iskinder,> a voice replied.

Edmund opened the door and shook the Captain's hand as he came into the room.

<Your hospitality, Iskinder, is very well appreciated.>

<Good,> Iskinder replied. <I sent one of my men to make inquiries. There is a ship sailing for Good Harbor tomorrow on the evening tide. They have space for you and your wife,> he smiled at Fira. <They'll give you passage as a favor to me, but it would help to ease matters a bit if you were willing to, ah..>

<Express our appreciation in a financial way?> Edmund asked. <That's not a problem, Iskinder. That is, it's not a problem if you can help me liquidate two jewels I have. We'll need money to purchase some clothing anyway.>

Iskinder smiled. <I have some friends.>

Edmund walked over and retrieved a couple of jewels from the collection of rags that had once been his jacket. He handed them to Iskinder who gave them a quick glance. <Uncut. That will reduce the price somewhat. I suppose cut jewels are hard to swallow though,> he said slyly.

<Rather more difficult to.. retrieve,> Edmund replied and Iskinder chuckled.

<I'll be back in an hour. Perhaps you'd like some breakfast?>

<That would be nice, Iskinder. We'll come out shortly.>

The Axxumite nodded and walked out of the room. Edmund stretched and smiled over at Fira. "Feel like shopping?" he asked.

 

[slippedhalo]

Fira moved languidly as she rose from the bed, "I love shopping." she admitted. "I just never get to do enough of it. But, today is a fine day to get some new clothes." she said agreeably. Meanwhile, she found a basin with water and washed her face, trying to get herself somewhat presentable even though what she really needed was a long, hot bath with good soap. She then put on the second hand clothes from their hostess and turned to Edmund, "What do you think? Will it do for now?"

 

[Otto26]

"I think," Edmund replied, "that people on the street will wonder what a ragamuffin such as myself is doing in your company. You look lovely."

He pulled on the remains of his clothing and struck a mocking pose. "Behold, this season's fashion for unsuccessful cut-throats, ne'er-do-wells, and the indigent poor. Accessorize with a minor skin disease and the always fashionable consumption. Not working?" he asked as she laughed.

"In any regard, our first stop needs to be for clothing. Silk knickers and leather corsets will have to wait, I'm afraid, until we reach the relative safety of Good Harbor. You're entirely too memorable, my dear, to be properly measured. Did you catch Iskinder's comments about the ship, by the way? Departing tomorrow on the eventide for Good Harbor."

 

[slippedhalo]

Fira laughed and agreed they'd need more to wear in better condition that what they currently owned but it was true they didn't need anything which would make them more conspicuous than they already were. Breakfast was a cheerful affair in the comfort of a large, happy family. It warmed Fira's heart to see and feel the coziness around her of people who truly loved each other. She eyed Edmund with a smile several times that indicated her typical womanly desire for home and hearth and happy children just as much as her earlieir greed for coins and survival.

 

[Otto26]

Iskinder's family seemed nice to Edmund. Certainly they were a cheerful lot. He caught Fira giving him the eye and almost laughed.

'Still, why not?' he thought. He certainly didn't mind children and he no longer had any concerns about carrying on the family name. Then, there was the idea of getting a child upon Fira... It was a very stimulating thought. He smiled privately and continued eating his breakfast.

Shopping was not a problem in Bossasso; the port was a center of trade between the Sultanate, central Africa, and the Indian subcontinent. The problem lay in finding European clothing. Burgundian traders, such as there were, went directly on to the Sultanate while Anglian traders went round the Horn by way of Drakesland. The Batavians had a trade delegation clustered around a couple of warehouses by the docks, but Edmund wanted nothing to do with them; like as not they were also agents of the famed Batavian intelligence service and he wanted to be well established in Good Harbor before anyone knew where he'd gone.

That left local styles, Sultanate styles, or Indian styles. Given the options, Edmund elected on the Indian styles. He found the dhoti suprisingly comfortable while the long, ornate shirt and jacket were not as hot as he had feared they might be. Choosing the Indian style saved them some money and made it possible for him to have more than one set tailored on the spot by members of the Maharashtran expatriate community.

 

[slippedhalo]

Fira had also chosen Indian styles favoring the intricately beautifully designed patterned clothes in rich colors and many styles. She was able to get a full wardrobe of brightly colored dresses and saris for very little money and only didn't bother with any sort of head coverings as were usually customary and were often offered with the clothes she chose. She took one, a black scarf, and packed it away in her bag just in case they needed to hide their identities from anyone.

 

[Otto26]

Iskinder's family was more than hospitable, treating Edmund and Fira like visiting royalty. They feasted them that evening and, more than once, they had to endure the fulsome praise of Iskinder's brother's family. The oldest child, no more than nineteen years old, pledged himself their service and no amount of protestation could dissuade him. Iskinder, in a brief moment of quiet, explained that the young man's actions would bring great credit to his family and refusal to accept would bring an equal amount of shame. Unwilling to insult his host, Edmund reluctantly agreed to the arrangement, though it would mean an additional burden on his purse.

The feast lasted long into the night and they ended by sleeping most of the morning and into the early afternoon. Indeed, they hurried to make the ship before the tide and had barely settled into a tiny cabin before the ship was away from the dock. They went topside and watched, for a while, as Bossasso disappeared behind them, before going forward to watch the sun set before them.

Edmund reflected, again, that this was not the life he would have chosen. But now that he was living it, he couldn't think of another life he'd prefer. He hugged Fira a little tighter. "I wonder what sort of adventures we have before us, my heart," he pondered aloud.

 

[slippedhalo]

Firenzin's response was soft as she nuzzled against him. "Whatever they may be I know I will be alright with it if I have you by my side." she said with heartfelt honesty, kissing him with tenderness.

 

[Otto26]

OOC:

Thanks for reading folks. That's all for now. If you enjoyed this thread then you might enjoy some of our other threads.