It began on a dark and stormy night... (Closed)

[IvoryValentine]

A bright flash of lightening lit of the room of the Rusty Mug, followed quickly by a thunder so loud that it shook the tiny building, dust rained down on the crowd. Each table was packed tight with travelers of every race taking shelter from the storm. Six elves sat next to the fireplace ignoring all others. Two tables of dwarves played dice by the bar. The barkeep had already broken up a fight by threatening to toss the whole lot out into the rain. Three hob goblins grumbled, snarled and hissed at any that got close to their table by the door. A group of locals sat in the middle of the room laughing and making more noise that even the storm.

In the corner farthest from the door, Vale Nightshade sat in the shadows, deep in thought in her third glass of wine. She had traveled for months to the ruins of a long forgotten temple in the mountains north of the Inn only to find the place had been cleared of all artifacts. No doubt some white robed do gooder took them to keep them out of the wrong hand. The black robed magess took another sip of her wine as she contemplated her next move. Should she go back to the port city and confess her failure to her master or let the old man run find another understudy. This had been the third wild goose chase he had sent her on. She had learned all she felt she could from him and the sex had become a chore a long time ago.

A large drunken man stood from two tables over. Stein and courage in hand, the man stumbled over to Vales table and pulled the empty chair out from across from the black robed magess. He smiled down at her and was about to take a seat when her green eyes looked up at him from deep in her hood. The man paused as Vale whispered, "Go before put a spell on you. Your manhood will light on fire every...." Before she could even get the words out, the man retreated back to his table. It was an empty threat of course but it had the right effect without wasting any of her strength.

Another flash of lightening lit up the room followed quickly by another clap of thunder rocked the room as the door swung open.

 

[salty_sailor]

Benton Hourglass strode along the raised wooden sidewalks that ran along the rutted muddy track that passed as a main thoroughfare in these parts. He was sick of the provinces, of being made to feel so damned provincial, facing it at every turn. Moreover he was tired of sleeping rough, of serving his own board, he was ready for the comforts of an inn. Thick stew, a room, even a shared one, a straw mattress, hopefully not too lousy. Thunder boomed overhead again and Ben had to try hard not to cringe away from the almost visceral noise.


Hourglass for short or simply Hour to those who knew him least well, paused outside the Rusty Mug. For once he prayed that there was no truth to that particular monicker. Hourglass didn't know precisely where his name had come from, but it had developed a certain cache over time. He was a thief-taker, a body guard, a bounty hunter, an assassin at need, and 'your Hour has come' was something that had often been heard ringing in the ears of some escaped convict or other miscreant before being dropped roughly on his knees before some appointed magistrate or noble.

While not always noble work, it did paid well enough. And clutching at the purse that hung at his belt, he weighed it, thinking he had the chink. He looked upward to the wooden sign, swinging somewhat drunkenly from its bracket above the door of the inn. Water streamed off the brim of his broad hat and cascaded down the back of his oiled cloak. He pauses only momentarily before stepping inside and pushing his tall and broad shouldered form through the crowd who had also gathered to avoid the storm. Looking around there was no room at the long table, people packed shoulder to shoulder with their neighbor. In a corner though, there sat a woman alone, and around her the seats were all empty as if sporting a reserved placard. Or perhaps it was just her air of not wanting to be bothered

 

[IvoryValentine]

The crowd seemed to cower as the door swung open, letting the storm in with the tall traveler. Rain poured in till the heavy wood door slammed shut and the patrons of the Rusty Mug resumed their loud conversations. Behind the bar the bar keep rubbed his hands together and smiled from ear to ear. Nights like this made keeping the shack of an inn open. "Come in! Come I'm! Find yourself a seat and my daughter will bring you something to wet your whistle and fill your belly."

Vale let her head drop as she looked down into the bottom of her empty glass, her wine long since gone. The barmaid had not been by since she first filled it. The black magess hoped she would return soon for she had not eaten since early that morning but just as the patrons avoided her, so to did the inn staff.

 

[salty_sailor]

Benton's eye swept over the room. He paused only momentarily as his gaze passed over the dark magess stooping over her mug in the corner. He knew what she was, and had no real desire to draw her attention. Perhaps that was why she had such a wide open area about her, despite the rest of the bar being full to crowded.

As if he hadn't even noticed her glowering there, he continued looking around until his somewhat grizzled countenance came to face the round ruddy one of the barkeep. He was babbling on about food and drink. Surely nights like this one weren't too hard on his purse.

He was starting to leave a small puddle on the floor around where he stood, the rain still dripping off his cloak. A youngish woman was tugging at his shoulders, trying to unclasp the garment. Surely this was the daughter of the barkeeper in question. He waved her off as she stretched upward to help him out of his wet layers.

He heard the hot sizzle of stones as they were dropped into his mug to warm the ale. He sipped contentedly, but knew he wouldn't be able to relax in a room with so many people in. Even so, he could be gratified at least temporarily by finding an empty place to put his feet up. It seemed however, he saw from the corner of his eye, that the magess occupied the area of the room that had even a few vacant chairs.

 

[IvoryValentine]

The bar keep looked over the crowd from behind the bar, He smiled widely. He rubbed his soft hands together, imagining all the coin that would flow into his coffer before dawn. All he could see were gold coins until his eyes reached the dark corner. Empty chairs resounding a woman with an empty wine goblet.

"Herda!" shouted the bar keep to his daughter.

She turned quickly from where she stood next to the tall bounty hunter. "Yes Father?"

"Go serve that dark bitch in the corner. She hasn't paid near enough to take up a whole table." The portly bar keep snarled as he fulled another goblet of wine, slamming it down on the bar.

All the enthusiasm drained from the young woman, "Please father! Anything but that! She scares me." she whined. The sound the woman made was like nails on a chalk board.

"You can either take her the damn wine and get paid for it for you can ask her to remove her carcass." The barkeep barked.

 

[salty_sailor]

"I'll take the wine..." said Benton, impulsively. He wasn't sure where the inspiration came from, or what it might lead to, but he wasn't one to turn down a small chance at adventure. Nor was he one to shy away from anyone or any thing. At the very least he could learn what all the fuss was about. Failing at that, he could have a place to rest his sodden bones while he supped on something hot. He glanced around the taproom again and couldn't find any openings and he firmed up his resolve as he collected the goblet from the bar and turned toward the dim corner.

He headed to the empty table, and suddenly he seemed to be doing so in a vacuum, as though all the air had been taken away, or that the room was collectively holding its breath to see what happened next. He set the crock down before her with a solid and audible thunk and waited for her to look up and meet his eye.

"The bartender bade me bring you another drink." Laughingly I add, "Seems his daughter was too timid to be up to the task. Seems she's afraid of you." Gesturing to the empty seats that surround her, "and it seems like other folks are too... You wouldn't know anything about that, would you?"

 

[IvoryValentine]

As Vale sat gazing deep into her empty mug considering not only what her path should be for the rest of her career but where she would sleep that night a dark shadow blocked the light from the lanterns in the center of the room. Slowly the dark magess looked up, her gaze sizing him up as she did. The heavy purse at the man's hip was of some interest but so too was his frame. The heavy well warn sword at his hip and dagger slipped into his belt explained how he had filled his purse and his callised hands said he was not afraid of hard work. His well trimmed beard paid testamony to the mans good hygiene and is eyes showed no signs of fear of her but rather curiosity. Vale had to confess she was curious herself and planned to find out more about him..... or at least if that purse could pay for a both for both of them and possibly a warm dry bed to share. The week had been a disaster. Vale hoped to end it with a little pleasure.

"If you come baring wine and meal to share then please join me." The dark magess said with a smile. "As for the issues of the patrons and staff? I have chalked it up to simple minds." With that she kicked out the chair across from her, inviting the warrior to sit.

 

[salty_sailor]

Not showing any fear, he uses a boot to pull the proffered seat into a more accessible position. He sets the goblets down on the table, one closer to the magess, and one before his own seat. Still not sitting, he looks down at her, sizing her up, and far too experienced to underestimate her.

Not afraid, but unsure if he was taking his life into his hands Benton sat then, and pulled his own mug closer to. Lifting it in a toast of sorts, he muttered something about dry beds and warm food before downing fully a half of his ale.

 

[IvoryValentine]

Vale watched the warrior as he sat and couldn't help but smile as he raised his mug in silent toast. "To warm nights.... that leave us wanting for nothing." she gave the tall stranger a wink and took a sip of the cold wine.

Benton felt a soft body press up against his side as the barmaid leaned her large breasts against him as she placed the bowls of stew on the table. "Thank you." She whispered trying not to make eye contact with the magess.

 

[salty_sailor]

Benton had to restrain himself on two fronts as the timid barmaid brought over their food. On the one hand he had to keep from laughing outright at her simple minded terror. On the other hand he had to keep from enjoying too much the feeling of the soft pressure of her large breasts against his arm, and from staring too intently down her decolletage.

When the girl made her retreat, Benton raised his tankard in a mirror of what the woman beside him had done, saluting her as he parroted back her words. "to warm nights, that leave us wanting nothing." As he dug into his stew he thought to himself that that was just one craving being satisfied. He still maintained a man's hunger that food wouldn't fulfill and the barmaids obvious invitation had rekindled some long suppressed feelings.

 

[IvoryValentine]

Vale smiled and took her bowl of stew and sat a little but another hunger was much stronger. After a few mouth fulls of the rich meal went down Vale leaned across the table and spoke softly," Well you have proven you are brave enough to share a table with me, as well as a meal and wine.... what else shale we share tonight brave warrior? What other.... hungers shale we satisfy? What other thirsty shall we quench? " with a wink Vale took another sip of her wine.

 

[salty_sailor]

Benton couldn't help but glance back at the now retreating barmaid--her swinging hips drawing his eyes. The corner of his mouth twitched upward into something that might have been mistaken for a kind of smile. He could only suppress his baser desires for so long before they rose to the forefront of his mind again and again--the longer he was out, the greater the frequency of a wandering eye and mind. When he turned back, he met her eyes, but not long enough for her to invade his mind.
He was looking over what he could see of her form now, trying to imagine what was beneath those layers of wool and boiled leather. He was trying not to be too obvious, but he was pretty sure he knew an invitation when he heard one and he was fairly certain she could see into his head somehow. Benton shook his head as if trying to leave behind a daydream. This one was dangerous. He knew that. It was one thing to share a table.... but wouldn't she just assume leave him pegged to the earth spread eagle in the cold rain for the crows to finish what she herself didn't use up?

 

[IvoryValentine]

Vale smiled then took another sip of her wine. Her soft lips lingered on the edge of the clay vessel for a moment then she raised her hand, waving to the barmaid. She had seen how the mercinary's eyes had wondered to the young woman's frame as she had passed. The magess was far from threatened by the young blond. She was nothing more than a mouse but if she could use the creature as foreplay, then why should she pass on it?

"We want a room... and run a bath as well." Vale's large green eyes turned back to the man sitting across from her. "I will wash you're back while you wash mine." She gave him a wink then brought the wine to her lips as the barmaid made a quick retreat up the kitchen to fetch the water for the tub up on the third floor.

 

[salty_sailor]

The barmaid scurried away and was seen a moment later ascending the steps to the landing and struggling to keep from sloshing a matched set of wooden buckets filled with steaming water. Benton watched her briefly before turning back to his dinner companion. Her forwardness excited him and perhaps the fear he knew he should felt was part of the excitement coursing through him. He met her eyes again, this time with more intent, still careful about losing control of his soul. Finishing chewing a mouthful of thick stew, Benton said quietly. "mistress you surprise me. Though you greatly tempt me. It's been too long since I've seen a bath, let alone someone to help with the scrubbing."

 

[IvoryValentine]

Vale raised an eyebrow to the mercinary. Was he trying to back out of her invitation? "Despite what the simpltons think, I have no interest in using my powers til warm my bed." She gave him a smile and a wink. "You have free will and do as you please. If you wish to share my bath and my night then let us go upstairs." The black magess stood, the mercinary getting his first real gimp of her frame. She was petite and slender. Her long red hair fell from her hood as she dropped it to her shoulders. Her ample bust raising and falling with each breath. "If you'd rather stay down here with this lot, then go ahead." As she began to walk towards the stairs her hips swayed slightly with each step.

The bar maid rushed to the kitchen for a second set of pails of hot water.

 

[salty_sailor]

Benton absorbed her words slowly, watching as she got up to leave--his eyes wandering over her body as she very intentionally revealed precisely as much of her body to him as she wanted him to see. He sure didn't mind watching her walk away. Looking around the room, he knowingly sized up the other bar patrons. His eyes were drawn magnetically back to Vale however. Enjoying the thought of the challenge and risk and potential pleasure she represented. He pushed back from the table as the barmaid was emerging with more steaming buckets. He went to the stairs and made his way slowly up behind the magess.

 

[IvoryValentine]

Vale's hips swayed with purpose as she climbed the flights of stair slowly behind the barmaid who rushed to get ahead. By the time time she and the mercenary reached the third floor, they could hear the sound of the hot water pouring into a large basin. She rounded the corner of the doorway as the pair made their way down the long empty hallway. All the doors were closed and from the lack of sound, they rest of the floor seemed to be unoccupied.

"Only a few more trips, I promise." stammered the barmaid as she rushed passed. The sooner she finished with the water, the sooner she would be away from the magess that struck a deep seeded fear into her very soul.

"Don't bother." Vale said comely over her shoulder. "That will be enough." The barmaid didn't need to be hold twice, nearly tripping down the stairs as she made her hasty retreat. "Simple minds scare so easily." the magess commented to the mercenary as she sized him up once more before entering the room.

The room was somewhat spacious and likely would have been reserved for nobles but Vale assumed the barmaid had picked this one to keep her as far away from the others as possible. This was one time when the superstitions of the simple played easily in her favor. The room had a large fireplace on the right wall with enough wood to heat the whole in stacked beside. On the far wall, between to windows sat a very large, down filled bed, covered in heavy linnons and 4 lush pillows. Against the left wall stood a large table with two high back chairs. In the center of the room stood a large half barrel, steam wafting out of it into the cool air of the room. It was only a quarter of the way full and only big enough for one person to bathe in. No matter. That was easily fixed.

"Light a fire while I prepare our bath." Vale said as she closed the door behind them, locking it and leaving the key in the hole so that no other could be used to open it.

 

[salty_sailor]

Benton followed Vale up the steps, trying to get a sense of the woman under the dark heavy robe. Certainly she wasn't displaying the playful curves of the barmaid, and yet her very feminine shapes could not be denied. He watched as she shut and locked the door and he had to tamp down whatever nervousness he may have felt at being locked away alone with her.
He turned to look at the barren fireplace, confused and dismayed that the innkeeper hadn't gotten around to lighting yet, though perhaps it had just been forgotten when Vale had chased off the barmaid. The room was chill and the bathwater was steaming invitingly.
At her command, Benton turned his broad back to her and went to crouch before the hearth. Arranging some.kindling and adding atop a few larger pieces from the stack, he picked up a straw from the tin above the mantle and goes to light it from the candle beside the door, it's flickering light casting interesting shadows over the half timbered walls. After a moment, he has a small flickering flame in the grill and is coaxing it to start eating up the larger pieces of kindling before adding on a couple larger logs.

 

[IvoryValentine]

Vale pulled her hood back, her long red braid fell down her shoulder. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She reached her hands out over the basin of water and began to move then back and forth, humming softly. After a few moments, a soft blue glow emanated from the water. Vale pushed her hands out to the sides slowly and the oak tub began to stretch out wider, creaking as the magic changed it's shape and size. She then turned her hands palms up and slowly began to raise them up, and the sides of the tub grew till they reached just above her knees. The water level raising half way to the top.

The magess snapped her fingers and the tub stopped growing. As the Barmaid had made her hasty she had dropped on of her water pails by the door. She had paused to pick it up but decided it was best to retrieve it the next day instead of remaining in the same room as the witch. Vale slowly over and picked up the pail and placed it on the floor.

Vale placed her hand in the warm water and wiggled her fingers, whispering "Wentra dfsoign, soo." and dipped her hand into the empty, the water followed, a steady stream continued. She then stood up, pulling the water straight up as high as she could reach and then straight across to a spot way above the tub. She ficked her fingers downward and the water began to rain down from above. when Vale stepped back, the cycle continued: water from the tub deposited some debree that the barmaid hadn't cleaned out of the tub into the pale and clean water continued up and rained down into the tub.

Satisfied with her work, Vale unclasped her cloak and dropped it on the bench at the foot of the bed. Her nimble fingers unfastened the belt about her hips and gently set it on her cloak, her deep green eyes, inspecting the mercenary as she did. His broad shoulders. Firm ass.

When he stood and turned towards her, Vale reached up slowly slipped her heavy velvet robes off her shoulders. The slowly slipped from down her body and pooled at her feet. The magess remained still for a moment, gauging his reaction then reached up and began to upbraid her hair. "I think there's a bar of soap on the towels by the mantle." She commented as she stepped towards the water.

 

[salty_sailor]

Benton deposited his still damp cloak over the back of one of the high-backed chairs near the hearth, hoping that it's warmth would dry it the rest of the way out before morning, or perhaps before he was encouraged to flee this room for one reason or another. He had just turned his back to the mounting flames and started to feel the heat soak into his tired muscles when his attention was drawn to the muttering voice, the creaking of wood, the heavy flooding sound of water pouring from somewhere in the enclosed space.

It was all he could do to keep his jaw from dropping open when he beheld the sorcery before him. Where before had stood a half full barrel of tepid water was now a monstrous sized bath actively filling up with scalding water throwing off billowing steam.

Through the clouds of steam, Benton bore witness to the Magess shedding her cloak and then unbelting her robes before letting those too drop to the floor. She stood before him nude, as she thrust out one hip and drew her arms up over her head to let fall her braid, in a way he imagined she must have known would be sultry and seductive.

He felt compelled to do so when she called for soap and towels, and he turned to find them neatly stacked above the mantle. Benton collected them and brought them nearer the tub as he too started to unbelt his tunic.

 

[IvoryValentine]

Vale reached out at took the towels from his strong hands and bent over, setting them on a small stool beside the tub. The air was still cool and she shivered slightly as she turned back to her new found playmate. They stood much closer than they had yet. He looked even taller now. Her desire for him grew.

Reaching out, Vale took the bar of soap from his hand and, without looking, tossed it over her shoulder. It landed softly on the stack of towels. Her eyes never left his as she reached out and assist him with the belt about his waist.

 

[salty_sailor]

Her hands worked deftly and nimbly and his belt quickly fell away. His tunic thrown open, and finally she was afforded the view of his body that he'd been enjoying of her for several long moments now. It was hard to hide his growing excitement. Was this part of some complex spell working, or was this the more mundane animal lust at work?

 

[IvoryValentine]

Vale ran her hands up over is strong chest, then under the edge of his tunic shoulders, pushing the fabric from his body. She Inspected him, running her fingers gently over each scare, taking in the roughness of each, gauging how long he might have had each. There was a deep, rather rough one along his side. The mercenary did not move as she pressed on it, save for a slight twinge of his left eye. It was healed but still fresh enough to cause him pain. From it's length and the amount of scare tissue remaining, it was likely cauterize else he might of bled to death.

As the tunic fell from his shoulders, landing on the floor behind him, Vale began a slow walk around him, her hands continuing to explore his upper body. On his back she found a maze of scares, slash marks made in a diagonal direction. They were very old, likely caused by a whip of some sort. Her hands traced each of these. Though he tensed and her fingers gently traced each scare, Vale doubted it was pain but more emotional discomfort that caused his reaction.

Once she had traced each scare on his back, Vale continued her inspection of the man. He had a long slash along his left shoulder that had been crudely stitched and as beginning to heal. She ran her fingers gently over the wound. this time the man did wince. Vale slid her fingers along his skin, away from the slash.

Again she stood in front of the mercenary. He was a strong man, who had seen battle. Vale reached down and untied his britches. She yanked on the fabric, loosening it around his waste then reached down and took his balls in her hand, cupping then gently at first, rolling then around a bit as she continued to stare up at him with her big green eyes. With her other hand, Val reached down and grabbed the base of his cock and let out a sigh. She could barely get her hand around it. "My! This will be an interesting evening." she commented as her hand began to slowly stroke his manhood.

As suddenly as she had reached down his pants, Vale released her grip on him and turned towards the tub. "Kick off your boots and join me." she invited as she stepped into the very warm water of the basin.

 

[salty_sailor]

Her inspection was as detailed as it was completely dispassionate. A part of his brain suggested he ought be humiliated by her judgement--as though he were a side of meat to be graded before heading to the slaughter house. And while maybe he ought to feel that way, there was no judgement in her. Her inspection was out of curiosity and care---finding each and every one of his old wounds. He wondered abstractly if her touch would have an effect on him.

Then her touch did have an effect on him as her fingers gripped the base of his cock, trying to encircle it, tugging slowly after cupping his balls, feeling their weight. His excitement was impossible to disguise now. Whereas his cloak his his body from her gaze (as far as he knew...) without it he was quite literally naked to her eyes.

It didn't offend him to be on display in such a way. If anything his proud form stood tall---fully worthy of the appreciation she was lavishing on him. And while his inspection wasn't as overt as hers, Benton was absolutely absorbing and creating a memory of the form in front of him.

When suddenly she stepped away, leaving him stiffening, he followed her motion and watched as she stepped into the nearly scalding water. He kicked free of his boots and disentangled himself from the remainder of his clothes and followed her.

He was momentarily shocked by how warm the water still was. Typically water drawn so long ago, even if boiling at the time, would have had plenty of time to become nearly tepid. Not this. This water was still steaming to fill the room. Standing up to his knees---another novelty---Benton slowly lowered himself into first a kneeling and then a sitting position across the small pool from the Magess. He sat there and locked eyes with her through the fog.

 

[IvoryValentine]

Vale stood under the showering water, rinsing away the days grim. The hot water running down over her shoulders and across and around her firm breasts, cascading over her flat stomach and between her legs. A soft moan escaped her lips as her gentle hands slipped down her shapely body. Their eyes locked for a moment then Vale’s head tilted to the side a moment and she asked, “Would you pass me the soap?” as she pointed to the bar on the three legged stool beside her bathmate’s arm.

As he passed it to her, their hands touched, lingering for a moment before she stood back up and began to rub the bar with it’s lather over her chest then around her breasts, eye eyes never leaving his. Her nipples became harder than before and she let out another soft moan as she turned her back to him. The water ran through her red hair to her round ass. “Would you mind washing my back?” Vale asked over her shoulder.