Author's Note:
Dear Ducklings,
Yeah, I know, it's been a long time... but I'm back with a story that I dare say I'm proud of. The story tags included in publication apply to the story as a whole. Extra tags that may or may not act as SPOILERS or TRIGGER WARNINGS will be given for each specific chapter, which for this first one are: first time, inexperienced, small penis. I hope you enjoy reading
Fangs of Hatred
as much as I enjoy writing it.
With love,
Infatuated Duckling
*****
"One must be either stupid, arrogant or simply ignorant to want to go to ShĆuliÇn," the captain of guards said, a mean burly man arboring a silly mustache. "City's taken. The Dragon Emperor's minions broke down the gates and tore the place to shreds. Every building has been burned down, every coin has been plundered, and every woman has been raped. Best to forget the city even ever existed."
ShĂ© glared at the man. He wore the black-and-gold uniform and the ox insignia of the people of LĂmĂngniĂș. Of
her
people.
"I don't care about your opinion," she said coldly. "I need to know if there are ships bound for ShĆuliÇn." Her tone did not leave any room for argumentation, yet she dared not speak too loudly. They were at the harbor's inn, where there were many ears, some of which might not be friendly.
"My ships will not bring you over there, young lady," the captain said gravely. "I need them to defend ZhÇi GÇng in case the Emperor sets his evil eyes over here next." Anger contorted his mouth uglily. "And merchants will avoid the damned place too. Any living man with a grain of judgement knows not to dwell too close to the wake of the XÄ«nghĂłng Army. Those corrupted minions destroy everything that stands in their path and leave only ghosts to tell the tales of their terrible deeds."
ShĂ© had walked for six days and six nights in order to cross FÄyuĂĄn Island and reach ZhÇi GÇng, its only actual city, which she didn't know if it would still even exist, and was not about to give up easily. She glanced around the busy room, where men in robes ate smoked salted fish and drank fermented rice ale.
"What is your name?" she asked the burly man in front of her.
"Name is FĂ ngsĂŹ," he answered cautiously. "I have been the captain of the guards here in ZhÇi GÇng for nearly twenty years. I speak with knowledge."
"Well, dear FĂ ngsĂŹ, I think we can make an arrangement. There is surely
something
I could do for you."
The large man made a pause at the intended innuendo and considered her for a moment. "I will certainly not send any of my ships to ShĆuliÇn, however generous the offer, but I could help you find someone who might."
Her fingers thightened their grip around her purse's shoulder strap. FĂ ngsĂŹ was a disappointment of a man. He was a disgrace. Yet, he might be her only chance.
"Maybe
I
could take you over there," a voice suddenly announced behind her, taking her by surprise. "My
Palemaiden
is bound to ShĆuliÇn."
ShĂ© pivoted on her heels, her heart jumping in her chest. A man had stood from one of the tables, wearing strange leather clothes and a large traditional straw hat that hid his features. Once he got closer, he took off his hat and revealed his skin, as pale as a mare's milk, and hair the color of a gold coin. The sight sent a shiver down her spine. There were no white men in LĂmĂngniĂș nor in the Empire, and the presence of one could only be an ill omen.
"Don't bother the young lady," FĂ ngsĂŹ snapped once he found his composure. "She doesn't need you. Nobody does. Go back to your wretched lands, ghoul."
The white man did not acknowledge the affront. He simply smiled, an enigmatic smile that hid terrible secrets. "I'll bring the lady with me, if she wants to. If she can pay. She will find me upstairs, waiting by my room." The man did not wait for an answer and quickly vanished out of sight.
"A liar and a thief, this one," FĂ ngsĂŹ spat once he knew he wouldn't be heard. "As bad and cruel as any of the Emperor's minions. I'll find you someone more trustworthy, someone who--"
The captain gasped loudly as Shé ignored him and ran up the stairs behind the stranger. She didn't trust the white man much more than she did Fà ngsÏ, but this man had a ship, and that's all that mattered to her. She found him leaning against a wooden pillar, and when he entered his room she followed.
The inn's room was small but cozy, with a single bed and a low table. The curtains were closed and a lone candle lit the room. There were branches of incense too on the table, but none was burning.
"You are sailing to ShĆuliÇn," ShĂ© said to the man who sat on the bed. "Take me with you."
The white man stared at her with a crooked smile. Shé took time to study his ugliness. Older than thirty, he had a sharp jawline, a thin nose, wide pink lips and two eyes that shone as blue as the sea. Those were the eyes of a demon. "Close the door," the man instructed her. "There must be as many men in this city who are still loyal to your king down in the south than men who would welcome the arrival of the Emperor from up in the north. Rather stay hidden and safe."
Shé obeyed, but her gaze never left the stranger. He seemed suspiciously calm for a man who had wandered this far from his home.
"Do you have gold?" the man asked with hunger.
"No." It was the truth.
"Expecting much from a stranger, are we?" the man chuckled, shaking his head softly. "Surely, you must have a coin to spare from your purse, don't you?"
Shé tightened her grip around her purse at her hip. "There is no coin in there," she said defensively. "Don't even bother." This was also the truth.
"I should have expected as much. You come here, all dirty, wearing torn rags instead of clothes. You reek of poverty... and much more."
Shé disregarded the offense. "I am willing to pay in a different way, if that suits you. I promise I won't be much of a bother while we travel."
The white man's eyes gleamed with lust. "I did suspect you couldn't be much more than a whore. You seem young, though. How old are you?"
"Eighteen years old, sir. I am a virgin."
She expected the fact to prove enticing, but the man burst out laughing. "I should be more quiet," he admonished himself, hushering his voice before he continued, "but your offer seems a little out of place, don't you think? For a virgin, to offer sexual services... Do you think so highly of yourself, that you expect your inexperience to suffice to pleasure me?" He stifled yet another laugh.