Is'arain
"What now?"
Zalen looked around at the people walking around the narrow street, then turned back to answer Talyar.
"It's probably fastest if we spread out. This city isn't that big but it may still take awhile to find her."
"Her? Who are we looking for?"
Zalen grinned upon hearing the new voice.
"Our last party member, Coryel. She's impatient, can't keep her pretty ass out of trouble and has the table manners of a drunk baboon. Smells just slightly better though."
Zalen turned around to see Coryel fiddling with the hilt of a dagger, looking not so amused. She was a little shorter than Zalen, slim but had an admittedly nice butt and her hair was short and coal black.
"If I didn't know you recognized my voice I'd shove this boot in your pretty ass. But first...'
Coryel suddenly sprinted past Zalen, launching herself at the huge figure walking around the corner. Darnac deftly caught the slender woman in her arms and gave her a kiss in the middle of her chest, drawing a giggle from the slender woman.
"You sure took your sweet time," Coryel chided after giving Darnac a long kiss. "And what's with all those women? Did you fight some slave traders or something?"
"No. Remember the Sheik we were heading to meet? He was killed and Zalen inherited his harem."
Coryel stared at Darnac, then turned to look at Zalen. "Excuse me," she then added, hopping down from Darnac's arms and walked around the corner Darnac had just arrived from.
A moment later a raucous laughter could be heard from that direction.
*
"So, did you find anything?"
Coryel shrugged, looking discreetly around to make sure nobody was close enough to listen. There was still a hint of a smile left whenever she looked at Zalen, especially after Kity and Leilah had joined in on the discussion. Darnac had already returned inside the tavern.
"Just a bunch of rumors about the treasure. But I did find out who those guys were that came after us at the Arden Port."
"The Dusk Claws probably," Kity guessed.
"Yes. How did you know?"
"They killed the Sheikh. Their current leader is known as the Lion of Arkulah."
"And they stole the Rose Cube back," Zalen added.
"We'll need to pay his mansion a visit anyway," Coryel announced, "I found out the Lion of Arkulah also has half of the map to the treasure."
"That son of a goat will be known as the Spit Roast of Arkulah after I'm done with him," Leilah added.
"Sounds good. You can use Zalen's staff as the rod," Coryel replied.
"Hey, Coryel. You've known Zalen for some time, right?"
Coryel answered Kity's question with a nod.
"Yeah, you could say that."
"Is he actually any good with that staff of his?"
"In melee? He can hold his own I guess. The amazons taught him the basic movements and I've seen him and Darnac swinging at each other -."
Once again Leilah's sudden half-snort interrupted the conversation.
"Sorry?"
"Oh, she just wants to face Zalen's staff herself," Kity noted, earning another glare from Leilah.
"Well, it's better to head to the mansion after dark anyway so you have plenty of time to... practice. Have fun."
Coryel left, probably to find Darnac.
"Soo, do we get to test your skills with the staff now or not?"
Kity's question had sounded way too perky to be fully innocent but either way there was only one right option here.
"Sure, let's just head inside."
*
A little later the three of them were standing in an empty storage room. Or actually there had been some sacks and a crate full of old tools but the tavern keeper had quickly cleared those out after leading the group here. "Anything for the esteemed guests," he had said.
Either he treated all guests this well or he figured that a group this unusual had to be rich.
"So, do you think you can take care of him faster than I can?"
Leilah glared once more at Kity, but soon replied: "Of course."
"Well, why don't we make this more interesting then." The darker skinned woman produced an hourglass from her bag and set it on the bench. "The winner gets to be the next one in his bed."
"Why would I want to win
that
," Leilah spluttered.
"Hah. You know you'll lose so any excuse will do, right?"
"Me?
Lose?
Not going to happen! You're on!"
"Deal. You first."
Kity sat on the bench and reached out for the hourglass.
"And time starts... Now!"
Zalen was still trying to process the fact that the women were actually planning to fight him for him but he was still ready to deflect Leilah's sudden swing that tried to knock out the staff from his hands.
Leilah growled, then attacked again. Another snap block by the staff, another attack that Zalen barely dodged.
The short-haired vixen's blows might not have the strength of Darnac's swings and her movements might seem sluggish compared to training against Coryel but there was a ferocity in her eyes that made Zalen unsure if this was truly just a training match or not.
Even after the war Zalen had kept up his 'useless' staff training. There was always a chance that he would again find himself in a situation where he couldn't use magic and being able to use his staff might well be the only thing keeping him alive. And right now he was definitely thankful for that choice. Time and time again he just barely managed to defend against Leilah's darting blade.
Finally his attempt at a block went just a little too wide and the next moment Leilah's sword had stopped just a hair from Zalen's throat.
"Time," Kity yelled and knocked over the hourglass. "Next is my turn!"
Zalen tried to regain his breath as he watched the women switch places. The surprising thing about Kity was not that she fought unarmed but the fact that compared to the slender Leilah she was definitely curvy. Still, underestimating her would be a bad idea, especially considering her current smile.
"And your time... now!"
Kity made a quick leap to the side, then dove forward. Zalen was ready for the move and snapped his staff to block her route. Her forearm met the blow - and the sudden move caused the cloth wrapped around her top to come undone exposing her dark breasts.
Kity's eyes went wide just like Zalen's. She gave a little yelp and moved to cover them up - but switched direction half way and grabbed his staff with both hands.
Zalen tried to yank the staff free but Kity just used the momentum of his pull to launch her body towards Zalen bowling him over. And before he had time to do anything else he found Kity already sitting on top of his chest.
"Time," she announced with a wide grin.
Leilah looked at the hourglass that still had most of the sand left.
"That was a cheap trick!"
"Hey, everything's fair in love and combat!"
"I want a rematch!"
Kity chuckled. "Ok, but on one condition."
"Name it!"
"The winner gets in his bed. The loser has to be there as well but she is only allowed to watch."
Kity turned to look at Zalen who was still underneath her. "If you're ok with this, that is."
"Um. I'm... fine with that."
"Well?"
Leilah glared at Kity for a moment but then nodded.
"Deal. This time you're first."
Kity got up, allowing Zalen to do the same.
"Aaand... Go!"
Kity flipped down her top again. "So did you like these?"
Zalen's eyes automatically moved to admire the pretty shapes that were slowly getting closer and closer. A quick swipe forced her back.
"They're very attractive but I'm not that easy to fool."
Another sudden attempt to grab his staff but this time he was ready and evaded the attempt.
"Besides, I prefer ogling at your butt anyway."
"Oo, you'll get to taste it soon then!"
Kity suddenly burst into action, diving low towards Zalen and kicking at his feet. His sidestep was barely quick enough and she was immediately back on her feet, launching a flurry of blows against his staff followed with an attempted tackle that forced him to retreat again.
"Playing hard to get?" Kity grinned. "Well, I do like going against a hard staff..."
Again Kity burst into action, coming in low and forcing Zalen to hop back awkwardly. She then somehow spun around on the floor and made a tiger leap towards him. His blow with the staff connected and dropped her flat but unfortunately this left Zalen unbalanced enough that Kity managed to roll around, grab a hold of the end of Zalen's weapon and yank it hard enough that he fell as well.
Once again he found his opponent on top of him.
"Time!"
Zalen took a look at the hourglass that Leilah had just tipped. He was fairly sure it now had less time in it than Leilah had needed on the first round.
"Don't worry, I'm sure we'll give you a great show," Kity consoled Leilah as she sat down next to the hourglass.
Leilah just ignored Kity's verbal poke as she walked to her starting position. Her face looked unusually serious and in addition to her sword she was now wielding a dagger in her left hand.
"Now!"
As Kity turned the hourglass Leilah sprinted towards Zalen. Just before reaching striking distance she whipped up her arm, sending the dagger speeding straight towards Zalen's face. He gave a little yelp but managed to dodge the deadly blade. This still left him a little too slow to dodge the next attack as Leilah slammed the hilt of her sword against Zalen's wrist. Unable to swing his staff one-handed he found himself once again with Leilah's sword on her throat.
