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Post by Brandwyn on Oct 4, 2010 21:39:59 GMT -5
Lea, wearing the green and white tunic, picked up a box from the courtyard and carried it into the house through the back entrance. Inside the two crates were had been stacked in a large store room just down the narrow hall. Lea slipped into the room after checking to make sure it was empty. The room was full of crates and barrels, but Lea had marked the two in question and she made her way over to them quickly.
She was about to remove the cover off one of the crates when she heard voices coming down the hallway. She looked around desperately but there wasn’t a place to hide where she wouldn’t be caught. Quickly she picked up the box she had been carrying and stood in the middle of the room with a look of bewilderment on her face, her mouth held in a rather lopsided leer.
“Who the hell are you?” A loud voice demanded from the door behind Lea’s back. Lea did not turn around, but continued to look around the room, as if in total confusion. A hand grabbed hold of her shoulder and pinched it and she cried out as if in surprise. “I said, who the hell are you?” A greasy fat man in a stained apron and terrible breath demanded.
Lea played dumb and just looked at him in confusion. She looked around the room as if looking for something. “Big man said put box with other boxes that look just like it.” She said dumbly. Tears started to well up in her eyes and her lip trembled. “But no other boxes just like it!” she wailed and then started crying.
The man was taken aback and his companion, the driver of the wagon, butted in. “Take it easy on her Bill.” He held up his hand and whispered, “This one hasn’t got all her horses in the shed if you know what I mean.” Out loud he tried to sooth Lea by patting her on the back. “There, there, girl. It is ok. What’s in that box anyway?”
Lea abruptly stopped crying and looked at the box in her arms which was growing heavier by the second. She shrugged and then the tears started to well up again. She’d learned long ago that men were always suckers for a woman in tears. “I don’ know!” she wailed again and started crying again.
The fat man, whom Lea assumed was the head cook or Chatelaine, glared at the other man. “You never mind what is in that box.” Then he turned to Lea, “put the box there on top of that crate.” He pointed to a stack on Lea’s right, not far from the other two crates she was trying to get a look at.
Lea sat the box down and looked at him to make sure that was right. At his nod she broke into a dazzling smile and then toothy grin. She stood swinging her arms like an idiot and waited for her next order.
The cook looked at her in exasperation, and then asked again, “What is your name?”
Lea stopped smiling and looked up at the rafters as if trying to remember. Then she broke into a grin again, “Annie!” She said very loudly.
The Cook eyed her suspiciously. “I don’t know you. Who are you?”
“Lea frowned and repeated, “Annie. You got bad ears? I jes’ tole you – Annie.” She was really having some fun now and so she grinned again. “I new here!”
The Cook threw up his hands in exasperation, “I ask for help, and look what they bring me?” He muttered to the wagon driver. “Now what am I going to do with her?”
“Put her to work.” Said the wagon driver. “She looks like she wants some work.”
The Cook saw his friend was right and looked around for something for Lea to do that wouldn’t over tax her simple mind. Then he beamed, the two new crates had to be sorted and it was a dangerous job. He pointed to the crates that had recently been opened, so the tops were loose and then said, “Move the swords on the top to the floor right here.” The man pointed at the floor.
Lea looked at him in confusion for several minutes and he tried to explain further. Finally she relented and smiled at him and began to pull a rather substantional pile of rapiers from the top crate. Her smile was genuine this time as she was going to be able to see everything that was in that crate.
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Post by Ringulf on Oct 11, 2010 18:58:42 GMT -5
Omensinger watched the wagon that he had come in on as it was unloaded. The cargo was being unloaded into a courtyard that was just outside the doors of the warehouse. If he moved as far as possible to the left he could just see where they were piling them.
Many of the household servants in green and white livery were taking boxes and crates into that mansion.
Just then a familiar set of shapely legs with black boots caught his attention as a pretty young servant bent over to pick up a crate.
"That little Vixen!" Omensinger said to himself as he recognized what could only be Lea's lovely form.
"Well as long as she has the house under control let me see what I can find out here." he mused.
He took his jug and his sack and and laid them down, he removed the sword and put it back on and put the hat and clothing back in the sack and stuffed it in the crack between two boxes.
"This will be the more believable of disguises if I am caught." he thought to himself and poured some of the rotgut on himself and mussed his hair. He took a swig of the liqueur and actually dabbed some of the foul stuff in his eyes to make them red and irritated.
He stood up behind the boxes made sure no one was coming the slipped out into the warehouse.
As he went deeper into the large building and the light and activity became more scarce it seemed as if this was the area to start his investigation. He opened whatever was easiest and could be done quietly and found many different trade goods, mostly luxury items. If he had been in the market to line his pockets with some money from fenced goods this place would have been a treasure trove. It came from many countries around the known world and many items from Gaullica including a large area of Gaullic wines.
As he got to the end he noticed an opening far to the right that was rather dark. he found his way around a maze of crates and boxes till he found himself in an alcove that was rather dim.
His eyes adjusted to the light and he proceeded to check out the walls as he did he realized that there were many suites of armor, mail hauberks (the kinds used by the Skandians), Helmets weapons of all description and then on the floor there were many bins of neatly arranged swords, axes and in one box he even found crossbows.
"There is enough armament in here to supply a small army!" he said to himself.
Once again from the look of the writing on the boxes, it seemed as though they were from a variety of different countries but Gaulica was heavily represented and the goods from there were of the highest quality over all.
He left the room and moved out toward the back of the warehouse were he could see light shining through an open door. He made his way to it and peeked out from the side so as not to be seen. There was another courtyard but this one was adjoining the stables in an "L" shaped pattern and was to the rear and inside the compound. To get to the stables one would have to drive through the warehouse or go around to the left of it till the reached this area. All was quiet and it seemed as though everyone who could be spared was helping with the loading.
He poked his head into the stable and went through a door, he passed down through the many stalls of very fine horses, once again noting to himself that they were breeds from all over this part of the world and some he had not even seen before. He noticed one heavy horse that was unquestionably a warhorse that was entirely whitr with black speckles and spots on the gat was a coat of arms that was a feild of gold with a black double headed eagle.
He finally found the tack room and saw the many saddles and gear all around him. But just then he saw a harness set that was upon the wall for a team of six that was very lavish and bore the coat of arms of the owner of this grand establishment on it.
Omensinger took in a surprised breath when he recognized the arms he quickly put it down and started to make his way around the outside of the warehouse and back toward the house.
Just as he was leaving the stable area he heard several moans and a sharp movement to the left of him that set him whirling his hand on his sword.
He came face to face with a red faced young man about Preston's age and he would have challenged him except that he seemed as startled as Omensinger had been. The young man sheepishly reached to his ankles and drew up his breeches as Omensinger looked down and away he saw where the moans had come from. A girl with straw in her hair and over most of her green and white livery smiled up at him her eyelids heavy with passion. She put an index finger up to her mouth to chew on as she giggled wantonly reclining in a very exposed position.
"Shshshshshsh!" she said to him as she put the index finger to her lips. "Say nothing and you could be next!" she said mischievously.
"Heh heh, no worries Cherri I will not interrupt your tryst," Omensinger said with a knowing smile, then he looked at the young man and back to her, "But it would have been a measured difference I assure you!" And with that and a slap on the youths shoulder he was off again.
As he rounded the corner of the building, he just about collided into the stablemaster and the cart driver coming back from loading.
"Hey! Who are you! The stablemaster said in alarm.
putting on the affectations of a drunken suitor he took a step back and acted as though he was trying to focus on the two men in front of him.
"What do you mean who am I?...Who are you and were (hic) is that little worm that ran off with my strumpet?!"
The two men looked at each other questioningly.
"I say, the young whelp ran off with my morning entertainment! I was promised a diversion this morning from the master of the house and I had fully expected to have been properly serviced, now if you are both not presently occupied I would appreciate you finding her! She had golden blond hair and a voracious looking mouth with very plump and attractive lips..." at this he swayed a bit unsteadily and looked dreamlike into the air above them and to the right.
"I am sorry sir but what did you say your name was? The stablemaster said in a mousy voice.
"I am Sir Reginald Vanderveer and you are a witless dolt! Now go find me my tart and the plucky little Snot-ling that found his way between her legs before I did or the master will know about it do you hear?" He said loudly as he started to get a bit red himself.
"YYes sir right away we will look in the stables most times when they get the hankerin most of the...uh ladies end up there..."
"Fine! you do that, that's using your head!" And at that Omensinger leaned in and put his arm around the carter and said conspiratorially so they could get a wif of the spirits on him.
"I bet you have found many a whore in your loft I dare say!" and he staggered away chuckling to himself.
He listened as the two men quickly headed around the corner saying in harsh whispers "Did you see the sword on that fella..I know man was he soused."
Omensinger straightened when they were out of view and headed toward the house wiping a drop of sweat from his forehead.
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Post by Brandwyn on Oct 12, 2010 10:33:56 GMT -5
Lea, with the exaggerated care that a simple-minded person would take, removed the rapier swords from the first crate and set them gently in a pile on the floor. Beneath them was a false floor to the crate so that if someone just glanced into it, they would think it was completely full of swords. There was a tiny hole in one corner of the false floor that was barely big enough for her to get her pinky into.
She had not failed to notice that the cook had pulled the driver back through the doorway and left her to move the swords and she had not missed him say what she was doing was dangerous. So far Lea didn’t see anything dangerous, but she would bet once she lifted the false floor, she would find out.
“Pull up that board in there and put the pots into this here crate.” The Cook said, sticking his head through the doorway. He shoved a larger crate toward her with his foot. Lea looked at him in confusion for a moment and he pointed from the crate she was standing over to the one on the floor. Lea beamed at him and nodded and moved to drag the second crate over. This crate was compartmentalized and had straw nestled in the compartments. Each layer was separated by a wooden panel.
She opened it up until she got to the bottom layer and then went back to the crate with the false floor and pulled it up. She nearly gave herself away when she saw the contents but managed to cover her look of surprise with one of confusion again. The Cook seemed to be hiding around the edge of the door, watching her. He pointed again from the crate to the new crate. “Put one pot in each compartment in that crate.”
Lea looked at him doubtfully but then shrugged her shoulders and very gently picked up one of the sandy colored clay pots and set it down in the straw filled compartment, nestling the straw around it. She looked up for approval, but the Cook was no longer watching and she could hear his voice fading as he ushered the wagon driver back toward the door. She caught, “…hope she doesn’t blow herself up,” and then the outer door closed behind them.
Quickly Lea examined the pots, though she was very careful not to shake them or drop them. There were 6 black pots, 4 sand colored pots and 8 gray pots. She poured a tiny drop of the contents of one of the sand colored pots onto a tiny piece of wood and flung the wood across the room toward the entrance of the storeroom and ducked. When it hit the wall, there was a loud SNAP! followed by a puff of smoke and it left a scorch mark on the wall.
Lea’s hands began to shake as she realized her suspicions were confirmed. If she hadn’t been part of the Special Warfare Corps, she would not have any idea what these pots were, but since she was SWC, she did know exactly what they all were. The Sand colored ones were the most unstable and could blow up if dropped. The black ones also would explode, but they took a flame to do so. The gray ones should only make a thick smoke with a noxious fume that would choke anyone who breathed it in.
Lea gently flipped over one of the gray pots and examined the maker’s mark on the bottom. It was the familiar honey bee that she had seen many times before. She considered taking one of the pots as evidence, but decided against it. Quickly, yet carefully she moved all the pots into the other crate and then checked the second crate the driver had brought into the storeroom. It contained identical items and Lea quickly moved the contents into the other crate. She then took out some of her face paint that she carried in her satchel for disguises and made a mark in red on the bottom front edge beneath the printed seal of the crate. It was inconspicuous, but she would be able to identify the crate again if she got close enough.
Listening intently at the door for a moment, she didn’t hear anything and so she slipped out of the store room and made her way to the back door. She opened it peeked out. The Cook and the wagon driver were nowhere to be seen, but what she did see nearly made her choke in surprise. Omensinger was sauntering up toward the house, plain as day.
Lea quickly assessed the situation, knowing they had to get out of there without attracting suspicion. She looked at her green and white servant’s tunic and at his rather unkempt, yet noble clothing and decided that her usual modus opperandi would be just the ticket. The baskets laden with food set by the back door gave her an idea. She flung the door open and ran out into the yard straight for Omensinger, squealing with delight.
“There you are, Sweetie!” She slid up to him, trying to slip her hand into the crook of his arm, the tunic slipping down and baring her shoulder seductively. “You said you were coming back,” she said accusingly, “but you didn’t and my bed was getting very cold and lonely!” She pouted cutely.
“Look!” she held up the basket containing bread, cheese and wine. “Perhaps you would prefer a little picnic by the stream to a roll in the hay, My Lord?” She waggled her shoulders at him and smiled coquettishly. She winked at him and gave him an almost imperceptible nod toward the front gate.
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Post by Ringulf on Oct 12, 2010 11:00:28 GMT -5
“There you are, Sweetie!” She slid up to him, trying to slip her hand into the crook of his arm, the tunic slipping down and baring her shoulder seductively. “You said you were coming back,” she said accusingly, “but you didn’t and my bed was getting very cold and lonely!” She pouted cutely.
“Look!” she held up the basket containing bread, cheese and wine. “Perhaps you would prefer a little picnic by the stream to a roll in the hay, My Lord?” She waggled her shoulders at him and smiled coquettishly. She winked at him and gave him an almost imperceptible nod toward the front gate.
"There you are you saucy little tart I saw some boorish waif run off with a girl who looked just like you and immediately I got jealous!" Omensinger said and when he got close to her grabbed her by the waist and bent her back in a long passionate kiss.
Several of the other servants looked at them and grinned or shook their heads.
"Oh Sir Reginald we found them..Sir?...yoo hoo!" a voice came from behind them and Omensinger looked back from his embrace without lifting Lea from her reclined position in his arms. Her basket of bread swinging precariously in one hand as her tunic dipped even further off her shoulder.
Omensinger let out a breath of exasperation as the cart driver and stable master came toting the other strumpet and her paramour by the arms. The boy must have gone back for seconds as he was again fishing his breeches into place.
"Figures, the one time I wanted the servants to be slackers they end up being industrious!" he muttered under his breath.
"Make for the gate teasingly." He said to Lea in a whisper, then set her on her feet and turned to the group.
"Ah you two are truly on the ball but I am afraid I have found my trollop these two were merely shagging on their own time, mistaken identity I'm afraid, let them carry on if he still can, Mine is getting away again and that simply won't do! Not twice in a morning!" he called over his shoulder as he caught up with his curvy companion as she sauntered sensuously through the gate.
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Post by Brandwyn on Oct 12, 2010 13:51:33 GMT -5
"There you are you saucy little tart I saw some boorish waif run off with a girl who looked just like you and immediately I got jealous!" Omensinger said and when he got close to her grabbed her by the waist and bent her back in a long passionate kiss.
Lea giggled and tossed her hair artfully and tried to dance out of his grasp, but he grabbed her around the waist. She wasn’t expecting his next move, however and was surprised by the sudden dip. His lips sought hers and she opened her eyes wide for a split second and could see the mischievous look in his blue eyes as he kissed her passionately. She closed her eyes and let herself go, giving into her feelings as she kissed him back.
"Oh Sir Reginald we found them..Sir?...yoo hoo!" a voice came from behind them and Omensinger looked back from his embrace without lifting Lea from her reclined position in his arms.
Lea was actually a bit miffed at the interruption, having momentarily forgotten how precarious their position was right now. Her arm holding the basket had drooped lower and now her tunic and the shirt she was wearing under it were so low off her shoulder that most of her breast was exposed.
Omensinger let out a breath of exasperation and Lea giggled in response, looking deeply into his eyes. “Sir Reginald?” She whispered softly and giggled again, a mischievous look on her face now. "Figures, the one time I wanted the servants to be slackers they end up being industrious!" he muttered under his breath. "Make for the gate teasingly." He said to Lea in a whisper, then set her on her feet and turned to the group.
As soon as he set her on her feet she danced away from him making it look as if she had slipped out of his grasp. She giggled, covering her mouth with the back of her hand as she backed toward the gate.
"Ah you two are truly on the ball but I am afraid I have found my trollop. These two were merely shagging on their own time, mistaken identity I'm afraid, let them carry on if he still can…”
Lea moved a bit slower, reeling him in but keeping just out of his reach, teasing him. “Oh Sir Reggie!” She called sweetly to him, “aren’t you coming, My Lord?” She looked up at one of the gate guards, “or is one of these fine gentlemen going to have to take your place on this little picnic?” She giggled loudly again so the stablemaster could hear her.
“…Mine is getting away again and that simply won't do! Not twice in a morning!" he called over his shoulder as he caught up with his curvy companion as she sauntered sensuously through the gate.
As Omen wrapped his arm around her again and they moved seductively through the gates, she screeched again in delight. “My Lord!” she cried out indignantly, “watch what you are grabbing ‘hold of!” She laughed and saw the wagon master and the cart driver looking after them. She heard the Cook’s voice, “Hey, she hasn’t finished her job yet!” and Lea laughed again at his protest and the wagon master’s reply, “Tell that to Sir Reginald if you dare. I think she is going to be occupied for a while.”
Once outside the walls, Lea led the way through the city streets and down to the river that ran lazily through the grassy meadow in the city park. There were a few trees scattered about to give some shade and the large bend in the stream offered a sandy beach on the near side and a deep swimming hole just this side of the shipping lane. It was obvious that it was a favored spot of many within the city and it was hardly private. There were several couples and families making use of the park and the swimming hole.
“I figured we would come here, just in case they are watching.” She looked up toward the huge house, which was one of the most grand and elaborate in the area, and could see its battlements from there. It appeared as if there were two people up on the walls, so they may very well be watching Lea and Omen. “We can slip away after they lose interest.” She set the picnic basket on the ground and pulled off the green and white tunic and spread it out for them to sit on.
As she got close to Omen, a tuft of wind blew off the river from a passing ship and Lea wrinkled her nose at the spirits emanating from Omen. “What is that dreadful smell? You crawl through a brewery or something?” She smiled teasingly at him. She figured that she probably smelled a bit like fire and brimstone herself now, after the little experiment in the storage room. The smoke from that tiny drop of explosive compound had filled the room for several minutes.
She wished they were in a private area so she could strip down and take advantage of the water and this handsome young entertainer at her side, but they could hardly do that on the rather public beach. Still her lips were still tingling from that kiss and she wished that he would plant another one on her.
“I have some interesting news.” She said glancing around. This wasn’t the place to discuss it though as there were far too many ears to overhear them. “But it will have to wait.” She pulled her skirt up seductively high and began to peel off her boot. To those watching from the battlements, they ought to think that she was continuing to seduce the Lord of the estate’s house guest, Sir Reginald. However she was rather enjoying the fact that she might just be getting under Omensinger’s skin as she flirted with him, paying him back for that surprise kiss by driving him wild when he could not currently satisfy his urges due to them being in a public park.
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Post by Ringulf on Oct 12, 2010 14:42:41 GMT -5
“I have some interesting news.” She said glancing around. This wasn’t the place to discuss it though as there were far too many ears to overhear them. “But it will have to wait.” She pulled her skirt up seductively high and began to peel off her boot. To those watching from the battlements, they ought to think that she was continuing to seduce the Lord of the estate’s house guest, Sir Reginald. However she was rather enjoying the fact that she might just be getting under Omensinger’s skin as she flirted with him, paying him back for that surprise kiss by driving him wild when he could not currently satisfy his urges due to them being in a public park.
Omensinger sat on the bank and sniffed at his clothes self consciously, he never liked to render himself unattractive to any woman and this particular woman least of all, the kiss he had with her moments ago had started his blood boiling and now as she bared her legs to him seductively those juices were starting to boil over!
"Well balls to that my dear! As long as they are watching we may as well give them something to watch!" At that he started to peel of his weapons belt and cloak and then his boots. He made a little pile of them and in his tunic and breeches headed toward the water. "I prefer not to offend!" he said humorously back at her as he ran a few steps and made a shallow dive into the water.
It was brisk as the mid morning sun was just starting to warm it now but he dove under and frolicked a bit then he stood in the waist deep water and stripped off his tunic and shirt and threw them on shore. He stood naked to the waist the backed out a bit and sunk down. when he stood he was wringing out his breeches.
The water came up just below his navel but he was sure Lea could see from what of his body that was exposed that the water was cold.
"You did very well up there Lea I am sure the information you got will add to my own and we may have some idea what is going on around here, I particularly admired how well you were able to act like you wanted to seduce me and that you were enjoying my advances! and to add to it all...you even had enough presence of mind to secure lunch! My dear YOU, are a remarkable woman!"
He looked at her as he continued to dunk and wring out his breeched and every now and again as he spoke he looked at her mischievously his blue eyes peeking out from his well groomed eyebrows.
I assure you this swim had several purposes he chuckled, and then leaned back in the water again to slide his breeches back up his legs. He stood and waded to the shore he was aware of the fabric of his garment clinging to him, but Omensinger was well beyond the stage of shyness or embarrassment and fortunately the cold water had not done much to affect his ardor.
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Post by Brandwyn on Oct 13, 2010 9:28:28 GMT -5
"Well balls to that my dear! As long as they are watching we may as well give them something to watch!" At that he started to peel of his weapons belt and cloak and then his boots.
Lea gave him a sideways look as she finished taking off her other boot, wondering if he was planning to have his way with her right here and now. “Umm… this is a public park you know.” She began to lay out their lunch.
"I prefer not to offend!" he said humorously back at her as he ran a few steps and made a shallow dive into the water.
Lea laughed then as she watched him frolic in the water and noticed that some others in the park were averting their eyes while an older lady was openly watching him with a grin on her face. He was standing just deep enough in the water to tease her much as she had been teasing him while taking off her boots. ‘Oh boy is he good at this game!’ she thought to herself as she settled on her tunic cross legged and began spreading some preserves on the foccacia bread that had been in the basket she’d lifted. She thought about joining him in the water, but it looked quite chilly and it was a public park…
"You did very well up there Lea I am sure the information you got will add to my own and we may have some idea what is going on around here, I particularly admired how well you were able to act like you wanted to seduce me and that you were enjoying my advances! and to add to it all...you even had enough presence of mind to secure lunch! My dear YOU, are a remarkable woman!"
“Why, thank you, kind Sir!” She held up the bottle of wine in salute. There had not been any goblets in the basket so they were going to have to share the bottle. “One should never pass up an opportunity of free food.” She chuckled. “I must say when they came out calling “Sir Reginald” and you looked so exasperated, I nearly lost it right there.” She laughed. “My hat goes off to you, Sir Reginald, for your most excellent performance!” she took a swig of the wine that had a pleasant fruity taste.
She openly admired his physique as he stepped out of the river, water streaming from him and reclined on the ground next to her. She smiled to herself, knowing that she’d definitely had an effect on him, as she handed him the chunk of bread and the bottle of wine. She glanced up at the fine house they had just left and saw the figures still on the battlements so she leaned in and before he could take a swig of the wine or a bite of the bread she planted a kiss on him. The only part of their bodies that touched was their lips.
This time she directed the kiss and was rather forceful about it, not that he was putting up much of a resistance. The kiss was as pleasant as the first one and set her own blood to boiling. ‘This is a dangerous game we are playing.’ She thought, but she wouldn’t have it any other way. Omensinger was a very fine looking man and she found him exhilarating and very sexy. She was having so much fun, it was very hard to remember that she was on a mission and had a job to perform.
She glanced up at the battlements again as they separated and noticed one of the figures had left. “One down, one to go,” she whispered. She sat back and smiled at him and then daintily took a bite of bread. The cheese was on a napkin on her tunic between them and she had found some freshly roasted chicken doused in a bourbon soaked breading in the bottom of the basket which she had put out next to the cheese. All in all it was a delicious lunch. “My compliments to the Cook, even though he didn’t care if I blew myself up.” She giggled.
Although she wanted to share her information and could not because it was too public here, she was content to enjoy his company on the impromptu picnic. She flirted lavishly with him, every movement and word suggestive and laden with double meanings. She hoped she was working him up into such a state as to match her own. She was looking forward to the likely outcome of their flirtation but didn’t want it to come too soon. Flirting was half the fun anyway.
As they were finishing up the food, a mischievous smile flitted across her face, “So, Omensinger, do you actually sing, or is your name a misnomer?” She chuckled. She was actually dying to hear him sing, but didn’t want to come right out and ask him to do so. She glanced up at the battlements again, and their watcher was nowhere to be seen.
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Post by Ringulf on Oct 13, 2010 10:27:46 GMT -5
“I must say when they came out calling “Sir Reginald” and you looked so exasperated, I nearly lost it right there.” She laughed. “My hat goes off to you, Sir Reginald, for your most excellent performance!”
"Thank you good lady A Bard's life is the stage, I serve at the behest of the Muse, I am afraid I go to great lengths to play a part well!" he said teasingly.
she leaned in and before he could take a swig of the wine or a bite of the bread she planted a kiss on him. The only part of their bodies that touched was their lips. This time she directed the kiss and was rather forceful about it, not that he was putting up much of a resistance. The kiss was as pleasant as the first one and set her own blood to boiling. ‘This is a dangerous game we are playing.’ She thought
Her kiss was a surprise to him and as he had his back to the battlements Omensinger did not know if this was still for their benefit or an actual spontaneous act of passion.
Judging from the rise in his spirits and the fact that the wet breaches did nothing to reinforce his modesty, he realized that he was quickly being betrayed. He decided after his speech that the muse was certainly gonna be proud of this characterization as he added method to his acting, if you could call it that. He forgot the battlement or the food and wine in his hands and kissed her back with ardor exploring her and tasting the wine upon her lips.
She glanced up at the battlements again as they separated and noticed one of the figures had left. “One down, one to go,” she whispered. She sat back and smiled at him and then daintily took a bite of bread. The cheese was on a napkin on her tunic between them and she had found some freshly roasted chicken doused in a bourbon soaked breading in the bottom of the basket which she had put out next to the cheese. All in all it was a delicious lunch. “My compliments to the Cook, even though he didn’t care if I blew myself up.” She giggled.
He gave her a puzzled look and knew she was not going to elaborate any further here, but as long as they were here and his clothes were drying and they had yet to finish their delicious lunch, Omensinger set about flirting with the comely vixen with increased intensity. Romancing this gorgeous creature was like fencing with a master every lunge was parried every parry to her advance a repost. IT would had been exhausting had it not been the very exercise he loved the most and this fox was most definitely worth the hunt!
A part of his mind started working on the logistics of how, where and when he would end this hunt and take the prize, for he wanted her now with tremendous passion.
"Think with the proper head my student", came the voice of his instructor in his mind, " of course she is voluptuous and it seems she is also willing but her verbal fencing is not her only skill, have a care and keep your wits about you or this fox will ensnare her hunter!"
“So, Omensinger, do you actually sing, or is your name a misnomer?” She chuckled. She was actually dying to hear him sing.
"Of course I left my accompaniment back at Preston's Loft but I think there may yet be a number of tunes I could sing to you "a Capella" That might suite your mood let me think a moment...."
He moved closer to her till his face was was inches from hers and he looked deeply into her eyes and started to sing in a sonorous high baritone in as an impeccable Pictish Broagh as she had ever heard...
"Because they told me I can't behold ye till weddin' music starts playin'; To ease my longin' there's nothin' wrong in my standin' out here ans sayin': Come to me, bend to me, kiss me good day! Darlin', my darlin', 'tis all I can say, Jus' come to me, bend to me, kiss me good day! Gie me your lips an' don't take them away. Come, dearie, near me so ye can hear me, I've got to whisper this softly. For though I'm burnin' to shout my yearnin', the words come tiptoein' off me. Oh, come to me, bend to me, kiss me good day! Darlin' my darlin', 'tis all I can say. Jus' come to me, bend to me, kiss me good day! Gie me your lips an' don't take them away."
(oog note: "Come To Me Bend To Me" is from the musical Brigadoon by Lerner and Loew)
As the last notes were sung he had moved closer still till his breath could be felt against her lips.
when the last musical word floated off, his lips met hers.
There was no acting now he kissed her with his true heart and bared it to her without his customary veiling.
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Post by Brandwyn on Oct 14, 2010 12:52:30 GMT -5
Lea nearly held her breath through the romantic love song as she was mesmerized by Omen’s amazing voice. He sang so sincerely that she wondered if he was just acting, just trying to seduce her, or if there might be some deeper feeling behind his actions.
As his voice trailed off she let out a breath, right into his mouth as his lips found hers and he kissed her with the most passionate, heart-felt kiss Lea had ever experienced in her life. She forgot about her mission and the men who might be watching them and was lost completely in the kiss. Nothing else existed, not even the old woman who was still watching them with a grin on her face that grew wider as the kiss went on and on.
Lea returned the kiss with feeling, knowing she was likely going to fall for this handsome minstrel and he would probably break her heart, but sometimes the journey was worth the pain. She decided she would take whatever Omen was willing to give her and be happy no matter how it turned out.
After a couple of minutes they parted and stared into each other’s eyes. Lea was cupping his jaw in her left hand and she reached up with her thumb and caressed his cheek ever so gently as she tried to recover from the kiss, her heart thumping madly and her head reeling.
She didn’t want the moment to end or the spell to be broken, but as she tried to determine from his eyes what he was really feeling, she herself felt the pressing of time and the sense of duty so drilled into her during her training came back and nearly spoiled the moment.
“Thank you!” she breathed in a sultry tone. “As much as I would like to keep this up all day, I think we had better get out of here while the coast is clear.” She leaned back from him slightly, regretting that they had duties to attend to. “Perhaps we can take this up in a more secure location.” She lowered her voice so that only he could hear her, “I have a room in the castle for the next couple of days still. We could go there and compare notes.” She smiled invitingly at him. She was sure he would catch the double meaning in her words.
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Post by Ringulf on Oct 14, 2010 14:24:52 GMT -5
Omensinger reeled with passion and when they broke their kiss he looked again into her eyes deeply forgetting everything else as though he were just dropped newborn upon the earth at that very moment.
“As much as I would like to keep this up all day, I think we had better get out of here while the coast is clear.” She leaned back from him slightly, regretting that they had duties to attend to. “Perhaps we can take this up in a more secure location.” She lowered her voice so that only he could hear her, “I have a room in the castle for the next couple of days still. We could go there and compare notes.” She smiled invitingly at him. She was sure he would catch the double meaning in her words.
"Lead on my Lady," he said rather breathlessly, "I look forward to all that we have to exchange." Omensinger winked at her and sprung up offering his hand to help her to her feet.
"Just let me reclothe myself and we will be off!"
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Post by Brandwyn on Oct 14, 2010 20:47:37 GMT -5
Lea took his hand and let him help her to her feet. She held onto his hand for a moment, caressing his fingers with her fingertips. Then she reluctantly let it go and squatted down to gather up the remains of the picnic and her purloined green and white tunic which she stuffed in the now nearly empty basket. She put the basket over her arm and smiled back at Omensinger.
“This way, My Lord!” She laughed and bowed to him, then slipped her hand back around his arm at the elbow and steered him toward the side gate of Castle Araluen. Since she had spent the last three weeks living in Castle Araluen before and during the Yule ball she had gotten to know quite a few of the guards around the castle.
This night the guard on the side gate was one she had only met in passing, but he recognized her and waved her on through. Lea nodded to him and then led Omen through a maze of corridors and up four flights of stairs. They passed several people and many waved or called hello to her. “So much for trying to be inconspicuous,” Lea shrugged as she opened the door to the very small, sparsely furnished guest room. There was a wardrobe in one corner, a dressing table with a mirror in the other corner and a rather large bed pushed up into the corner opposite the door. There was one low-backed bench that could possibly sit two people if they sat very closely together. The bench was sitting in front of the dressing table.
Lea hadn’t planned for company and so some of her clothing and several knives were lying on the bed when they entered the room. “Oh! Let me tidy up a bit.” She flushed a bit and gathered up the items on the bed and set them on the dressing table, the knives clinking together. There were five of them and they were each different and varied in size from a tiny two-inch blade bosom knife to a thirteen inch long, narrow bladed filet knife. Two seemed perfect for throwing and one was a very heavy, wide blade with a wicked curve to it. The tip flared out thicker than the base at the hilt and there were Arridi markings scrawled down its blade. The handle was carved ebony with inlaid gold accents in a spiral like a Unicorn’s horn. Lea set that particular knife down carefully and lay its sheath next to it.
“I am going to have to take some time to clean and sharpen those things.” She muttered, ‘but not right now,’ she thought to herself. ‘I have more important things to attend to.’
She turned back to Omensinger and swept her arm wide across the room, “So welcome to my humble little abode – well temporary abode anyway.” She smiled and her eyes were glittering as she watched him.
Recalling their mission, she felt they should get business out of the way first, then maybe they would have time to relax for a while. She had to admit that the last 48 hours of no sleep were beginning to catch up with her, but she had no intention of wasting such an opportunity as was before her by falling asleep prematurely.
“So, I bet you would like to know what was in those two crates, wouldn’t you?” She asked him. “And I am dying to know what you found in the warehouse.”
She bounced onto the bed and pulled her legs up, wrapping her arms around them and resting her chin on her knees. “Why don’t you have a seat and tell me all about it?” She asked him and nodded to the bed with her chin.
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Post by Ringulf on Oct 15, 2010 16:05:37 GMT -5
“So, I bet you would like to know what was in those two crates, wouldn’t you?” She asked him. “And I am dying to know what you found in the warehouse.”
She bounced onto the bed and pulled her legs up, wrapping her arms around them and resting her chin on her knees. “Why don’t you have a seat and tell me all about it?” She asked him and nodded to the bed with her chin.
The invitation to her bed was one that Omensinger had been thinking of for most of the day. Unfortunately this particular invitation required that they would talk shop.
Omensinger was not at all surprised to see the assortment of weaponry she had about the room, but he was wondering to himself if he searched her person right now how many nasty little surprises could be found hidden upon her supple body.
"I think I would rather enjoy that search as long as I was careful!" he thought to himself the lascivious sneer tugging at the corner of his neatly groomed mustache.
"I think I will...join you that is, If you don't mind the company of a man you have newly met upon your bed." He said with a chuckle and a flashing of his eyebrows.
"Actually I did find out who the place belonged to, it is the abode of one Lord Thornberry and rumor has it he is a central figure in the criminal picture of Araluen, a kind of "Noble Kingpin" if you will. I found a plethora of luxury items legal and...slightly less legal all through the place. I also found a special room that was stocked with enough weapons and armor to provision a small army, all very nice stuff, from many countries, but most of the very best was Gaulican." He looked at her to see her reaction then continued.
"Next I entered the stables to find out what I could and saw a wide range of mounts of several breeds including one I had never seen before. It was a heavy horse, sizable, long coupled, muscular but at the same time it looked much more adroit than many warhorses I have seen, and this was absolutely a warhorse make no mistake, the look in the beasts eyes alone would make the avarage man at arms shyte himself! (I was terrified). It was of a snowy white color with coal black dappling and its fetlocks were clean, no feathering. The horse was impressive enough but he seemed to be accompanied by his own tack which was all of black leather and bore a recurring coat of arms that was a Sable Saliently Bicapitated Eagle, Displayed Inverted on a Field of Ore. And I am telling you it was everywhere around this stall and horse. do you recognize the symbol?" he asked
It was as I left to try to rejoin you, I did see you pick up that case and bring it in the house and by the way you look breathtaking in green, I met up with the horny hayseed and his lusty companion. I almost ran the cloddhopper through and would have if the pointed object he was proffering me had been a real weapon! However he was more worried about pulling up his breeches than any aggression toward me. I left them alone and continued around the corner to run headlong into the stablemaster and his freind which is where Sir Reginald was concieved and enflamed by my previous meeting!"
As he listened to her reply he could not help but allow his eyes to drift down over her form and felt a swelling of amorousness as he saw glimpses of the lovely white skin of her legs beneath her skirt as she sat in her most innocently relaxed but provacotive manor. He had a very difficult time resisting the temptation to reach over and ravish her, so with great strength of will wrestled his eyes up to meet hers and look deeply into them as she spoke.
His will power however was weakening and the clandestine relationship that had begun was losing out to the sensual one they seemed to both be longing for.
"She is not who I believed her to be at first," He thought to keep his mind of his physical preoccupation as he set a part of his consciousness to listening. "She is much to well trained in covert situations to be a civilian and though she uses her looks and her body as a very effective weapon, the presence of actual ordinance suggest her being able to use them. she has to be some sort of paramilitary group and if she is here in the palace most likely working for King Duncan in some way, Hmmm we will have to find out if she talks in her sleep or in the midst of passion, actually the hell with the sleep!"
She had finished talking. He reclined on his elbow toward the head of the bed looking rather thoughtful. However his physique again was starting to betray him he knew he was flushed and was most likely also breathing rather deeply.
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Post by Brandwyn on Oct 15, 2010 18:28:50 GMT -5
"I think I will...join you that is, if you don't mind the company of a man you have newly met upon your bed." He said with a chuckle and a flashing of his eyebrows.
Lea laughed and tossed her head, making her hair bounce and flow around her shoulders as she considered a reply. “Well, oft times, those that are newly met make the best company.” She arched her eyebrow once back at him, a purely mischievous grin on her face.
She’d noticed that he had made note of her weapons and he had smoothly covered his reaction. ‘He seems a bit too polished in all this sneaking around and he definitely is skilled in acting.’ Lea thought, ‘I wonder if he is more than just a simple bard. He certainly is good at improvising.’
"Actually I did find out who the place belonged to, it is the abode of one Lord Thornberry and rumor has it he is a central figure in the criminal picture of Araluen, a kind of "Noble Kingpin" if you will. I found a plethora of luxury items legal and...slightly less legal all through the place. I also found a special room that was stocked with enough weapons and armor to provision a small army, all very nice stuff, from many countries, but most of the very best was Gaulican." He looked at her to see her reaction then continued.
“Lord Thornbury,” Lea mused. “I don’t believe I’m acquainted.” Lea was a bit surprised at the armament he’d found in the warehouse and it certainly went well with the items in the crates. She looked thoughtful for a moment and then concerned. “A small army, huh, I don’t like the sound of that,” she said, thinking that Dougal wouldn’t like it either. She was definitely going to have to leave a message for him tonight. She looked at Omensinger and saw his eyes roving her body, ‘well perhaps in the morning,’ she amended.
The horse was impressive enough but he seemed to be accompanied by his own tack which was all of black leather and bore a recurring coat of arms that was a Sable Saliently Bicapitated Eagle, Displayed Inverted on a Field of Ore. And I am telling you it was everywhere around this stall and horse. do you recognize the symbol?" he asked.
Lea’s eyes widened a bit when he described the coat of arms. “You say a lot of the stuff in the warehouse was from Gallica?” She asked and at his nod she looked even more thoughtful than before. Finally she saw that he was waiting for her to tell him what she knew so she filled him in on what little she did know. “I have seen that device in the Capitol of Gallica. It belongs to some noble, a Baron I think, if memory serves me right, who is rather high up in the inner circles of the Gallican Court. Unfortunately I do not know the man’s name, but I would recognize him if I saw him again. He was rather good looking and from the cut of his clothing and weapons, I would say quite wealthy. He had other attributes as well, some good, some not so good, depending on your point of view.” Lea was remembering her last mission in Gallica after they had defeated the Aslavian commander and the Araluen Army was about to return home. She had spent a week at the court of the King of Gallica disguised as a noble woman listening to gossip to get an idea of the political scene in Gallica. It had been quite fun, dressing up in the finery, but she wasn’t so sure that she had pulled off the act of being a Lady. She remembered that Baron had seemed to be watching her rather intently at one of the feasts and she had felt very exposed, as if he could see into her soul and knew all her secrets. He had shaken her up badly enough that she had extricated herself at the earliest possible moment without it being suspicious.
“I do believe he would recognize me just as I would him, should I ever run into him again.” Lea said, thinking out loud. “That could be a problem.” Then she flushed, realizing that she may have given Omensinger some further insight into who she really was and why she was watching those ships in the first place. If he learned about the SWC from her, she was going to be in serious trouble with Dougal and the whole company for that matter.
Lea laughed at his description of the couple that were caught playing pattycakes in the stable and then launched into her discoveries after he finished.
“I figured the direct approach was the best one and so I just donned the tunic, and thanks for the compliment,” She winked at him in reference to her looking good in green. “Then I grabbed that crate and headed into the house since I heard that Cook tell the wagon driver he was going to find someone to carry them inside.” She smiled. “It had seemed like a good plan until right after I got into the storeroom, that Cook showed up, and there I was holding the goods with a dumb look on my face – so I went with it.” She laughed. “Funny how people with simple minds are treated,” She quipped. “He just accepted that I was a new servant that had more looks than brains and told me to unload the crates.”
Lea shook her head. “There were rapiers on top, not much to worry about there.” She said, “but under them was a false bottom and under that were a bunch of clay pots.” She debated how much to tell him about those pots. “I saw some of those things in use during the war last summer.” She said, hoping he wouldn’t probe too deeply into how she knew what they contained. “They have something inside that makes horrible smoke or sometimes actually explodes with intense fire and a loud noise.” Her eyes were round, it only now sinking in how one little mishap in that wagon could have taken out huge sections of the city street it passed through on the way to Thornbury’s estate.
As she had been talking, she was well aware of Omensinger’s assessment of her. His eyes ravished her body, though he kept his hands to himself. She had to commend him on his will power as she was deliberately making slight movements that would offer him up some tidbits of her legs.
She watched him recline back on the bed and ran her eyes all over him, just as he had been doing to her. His body language told her that he was definitely feeling the same attraction as she was. So, since the business was out of the way, she felt it was safe to explore these sensations coursing through her.
She artfully maneuvered herself next to him to where she could lean down over him, her face inches from his, her breathing soft and sensuous on his cheek. With a light fingertip she traced his brow and then down his cheek, over his lips and down his neck to make lazy circles on his chest.
“Well, my handsome Bard,” she said huskily, nearly in his ear, “Now that the business is concluded, whatever shall we do with the rest of the afternoon and evening?” She smiled coquettishly at him.
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Post by Ringulf on Oct 15, 2010 19:21:29 GMT -5
“Well, my handsome Bard,” she said huskily, nearly in his ear, “Now that the business is concluded, whatever shall we do with the rest of the afternoon and evening?” She smiled coquettishly at him.
There were so many responses, quips and clever little turns of phrase that ran through Omensinger's mind as the amazingly sensual woman gave the obvious invitation to take her.
Only one good response was needed and Omensinger, being a man of many words, chose the obvious.
Omensinger made no reply.
He merely reached around her delicate body with his strong left arm, put his right hand up and entangled his fingers in the golden strands above her left ear and gently but firmly drew her to him joining their warm bodies together, drawing her angelic face to his. Their lips pressed hungrily against one another, their breathing became as one and Omensinger, even now understanding it's full impact, but determined to continue, knew that this woman was going to change his entire life as he knew it.
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Post by Brandwyn on Oct 16, 2010 22:11:36 GMT -5
Lea woke late the next morning and stretched catlike and rolled onto her side. Omensinger lay next to her sprawled across the bed. She was a bit chilled, since most of the covers had been kicked off the bed during the night. She snuggled up next to him and rested her head on his bare chest and listened to his breathing.
She could tell when he was awake for the steady beating of his heart changed and she looked up at him as he began to stir. With a big smile she said, “Good Morning, Love!” and reached up to caress his cheek. The activities of the night before were fresh in her mind and she smiled even broader. “You are truly amazing!” she said and she really meant it too. Last night had been the best night of her life. She hoped he would be willing to have many more such nights and not just cast her aside now that he’d had what he wanted from her. She could hope.
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