Edited by: tommyjl7

Three days of travel are just as monotonous as it sounds. Nothing happened, absolutely nothing, there was only sweat and road dust clinching onto our bodies as we kept driving onward. We would sleep at the sides of the path, but as nights were fairly warm we didn’t care much about this inconvenience, even more, it was actually quite relaxing and refreshing, at least for the mind.

You know, I actually preferred sleeping outside. Don’t get the wrong idea – nothing beats the softness of a bed and warmness of Gis after a hard day, but there is something magical in those beautiful nights. The serenity covering mystery, the storm hiding beneath the cover of peace. Far away, in the distance, I could hear it – the cries of life. Predators hunting their prey, the night creatures attracting potential partners inviting them into mating dances. Wolfs, bears, owls, crickets… they were all crying, singing, dancing… so far yet so close.

Though my mind was calm my heart was pounding. I wanted to cry to sing and to dance with them. I felt it under my skin, like a fever begging to rip through my chest in a savage call.

But, except for those few nights, it was boring. As boring as it sounds. But after those three days and three nights as we reached the end of our journey, my jaw dropped to the ground in awe.

- “I thought it was supposed to be an inn…” I managed to utter when my gaze fell upon

- “Well… there is an inn within the complex, I guess.” Lana said cheerfully.

Complex. That’s the best word to describe it. Most nobles had smaller mansions than this place. It was like a small city climbing up to the top of a single, lone mountain.

- “What is this and why are we here?” Gis managed to regain her composure few seconds after me

- “Well, it’s a quite sophisticated resting place for nobles… higher tier nobles. You can’t really enter it without an invitation... Oh. Don’t look at me like that, of course I have one! It says sooo… by accompanying people they meant servants, but as they didn’t specify it… Yeah, they should let you in.”

- “But what are we supposed to do there?!” Gis didn’t like the sound of that. The two of us have a little allergy when it comes to dealing with nobles. Especially those with an oversized ego. And guessing by what Lanele just said, this resort is a true den of such people.

- “Relax! Enjoy ourselves! Treat our bodies with soothing oil! Get a message… or two! Or three!” her eyes were shining.

Lanele, even if we could forget about it from time to time, was still a woman… or actually a little bit a spoiled girl. Which made me start wondering why Giselle didn’t like the idea of getting spoiled a little… No, she is quite boyish in behaving, I bet that she considers showing her girly side as a sign of weakness – quite troublesome when you pose to be a reckless hero.

Just to be sure I quickly inspected her, and to be precise – I looked at her tail. The tip was twitching to the sides slightly. Yup, she is really looking forward to entering the building… buildings… city… whatever.

Ok, let’s make her day.

- “I don’t mind going in, actually, quite a nice idea. I bet they have baths in the open. Resting in the mountain hot spring will be quite relaxing, not to mention that we deserved it, after this whole mess with that devil.”

I said massaging my chin.

- “Well, if you insist…” Gis spoke in proud tone rolling her eyes as if she did us a huge favor, yet at the same time, her tail started waving so hard that it caused even more road dust to soar.

- “It’s decided then!” priestess yelled cheerfully while pushing the two of us toward a huge gate. The whole complex was surrounded by a tall wall made of wood similar to bamboo, though much wider and denser.

The first things I noticed were watchtowers raised here and there, masked quite skillfully pretending to be some random utility structures, yet, under ivy which tangled the building you could occasionally spot a solid reinforced brick, and if you would pay attention to “staff-worker” walking over its balcony you could notice a pattern in his movements, the soldiers like march and a bow or crossbow hidden in a tube-like package strapped to their backs.

So, they masked security workers as regular workers so their clients wouldn’t be bothered by the site of brutes taking care of their peace? That’s some next level customer-service.

Few of such workers gazed over us full of suspicions, mostly because our cart didn’t look like a noble’s carriage, our traveling robes definitely weren’t sold at the same shop as silky robes, and mostly because Gis was carrying on her back big-ass sword. Vagabonds and thugs you could say. The only reason they didn’t act yet was the fact that we were heading toward the reception building using the main path – if they had brain they would think that we had some business there, maybe even wanted to hire ourselves as additional guards, but regardless of that, the people working there would deal with us, and if their assistance was required, they would simply be summoned by administration workers.

- “We stand out quite a bit, don’t we?” Gis noticed it too

- “I bet that the only reason why we weren’t packed with the whole quiver of arrows yet is that we are traveling with Lana.” I joked under my nose making priestess show us apologetic smile.

Grass all over the area of the complex was shortly cut, the paths were curved, made of little-decorated rocks, as we walked toward huge building we moved past little ponds. You could say it after taking one short glance - one night here could make a medium-tier merchant go bankrupt. If Lanele thinks I will pay for it, she needs to think twice, I most likely could afford it, but – I admit it with no shame – I am a cheap ass, I hate spending more than necessary, even now though I could buy the highest-tier robes, armors and traveling clothes I am using those of medium quality and price.

After a good four or five minutes of such walking, we finally entered the first building on our path. From the inside, it looked even more colossal and massive than it did from the outside, mostly because of a dozen or so mirrors which made the hall look even more spacious. And I will allow myself to remind once again – mirrors are quite expensive.

The lady sitting behind the counter gave me chills just with the air around her. She was shorter than me, her jet black hair were tied in a perfect ponytail hanging from behind, the small-framed glasses were reflecting light in such a manner, that you couldn’t see her cold, blue eyes unless you were standing directly in front of her. She looked like a workaholic and perfectionist overly proud of her job. I hate this kind of person, no – I don’t have anything against them, putting it simple – their whole presence was enough to make me suffocate.

She looked at us coldly quickly appraising and measuring our worth, I was almost sure that she would call guards to kick us outside as soon as she saw us, yet apparently working in this job for god-only-knows how many years (though she looked fairly young, even very young) gave her an ability to see through disguise. She would recognize a king dressed as a beggar and a double pretending to be a king in a split of a second. And I really mean it. She has the skill listed on her profile.

[Merchant's Gaze - level 8] [Passive]Appraisal-kind ability. It allows its user to see through lesser tier illusions and disguise.

By observing someone's behavior, the way they walk or act, the user is able to qualify the target's social status, class and/or job.

Here it is.

Her gaze fell upon Gis first, she didn’t even flinch, then she shifted her gaze on Lana, her brows slightly raised, and then, finally, she looked at me, and I could swear that for a split of a second she smiled with the corner of her lips before she once again turned into an almost lifeless robot.

- “Greetings travelers, I have the honor and pleasure to welcome you into our humble resort…” yeah, humble my ass “… may I ask if you have an invitation?”

- “Of course, just give me a moment…” Lana started turning insides of her traveling bag before she was politely stopped

- “Oh, no need for that, staff workers are simply required to ask this question, but in certain situations, we are allowed to skip some procedures.”

- “May I ask in what kind of situations?” I raised my voice calmly from behind Lana’s backs.

- “When we recognize possible clients as an outstanding individual, even among the rest of our clients.”

- “I am quite flattered that…” priestess started, yet once again was disturbed

- “I was talking about Mister Whiteraven, pardon my rudeness, but may you state your identity, madam?” Oh, her face, Lana’s speechless face.

Secretary, let’s call her a secretary for now, rolled her sleeve for a moment showing a mark on her forearm. It was a burning scar, as if someone marked her like a cow with a molten-hot emblem. A snake with a slightly opened maw.

Same snake, only black, was the official symbol of Syndicate. So, once again I am among “family”. That’s how she recognized me. Not with a skill, I am just a phreak running company for Syndicate, you don't need the skill to recognize an albino with heterochromia.

- “Well… I… We.. Ummm…” Priestess still had problems regaining her composure.

- “How can I help you? One day stay or, perhaps, you are willing to book a mansion for a longer period of time, a separate building for each of you or will you stay in the same one? If the second option, do you wish to share a room or/and bed, or seper…”

- “WHAAAT?!” elf blushed furiously

- “Separate room then….” Secretary quickly scribed something down on her notepad “… You must forgive me for jumping to conclusions, many different clients come to our humble facility with many different tastes… let me just inform you that we guarantee discretion regardless of your…”

- “We are going to stay for a single day!” Lana burst

- “Very well.” Ice-cold lady corrected her glasses “… may I interest you in our services?”

- “That’s the main reason we came here.” Gis stretched her arms behind her head.

- “Hoo?” once again, she corrected her glasses, this time even the air in the room became colder “… let me see…” she approached Lanele.

Evil glasses-lady started walking around her, every now and then she allowed herself to slightly touch her skin.

- “Perfect skin, flawless complexion, well groomed and silky hair despite traveling for… a few days?” she quickly guessed. “… not much to be done here, I would advice a relaxing massage with softening oils, a bath… maybe also herbal wraps? Elfs, so naturally perfect….” In her tone, for a split of a second, you could clearly hear a note of envy.

Then she once again look at Gisele.

- “Dear goddess…” shock and awe painted on her face “… I beg your pardon, by are you even a woman?!”

- “W-w-what?” Dragoness started stuttering after seeing the attitude of a secretary

- “Skin on your hands is as rough as the hands of an elderly blacksmith! Your nails! Broken, split and… uhh! Your skin is… and your hair! Tangled! Glued together! May the divines have mercy upon us. Dina! DIIINAAAA!” she yelled over her shoulder.

No even ten seconds passed before the room was entered by another maid-dressed staff member, with blonde hair and carefree-happy eyes.

- “You called me, head-maid?” she asked curtsying politely.

- “Look.” She pointed at Gisele as if that single word could describe everything she wanted to say.

Gaze of the second maid traveled obediently toward my love and…

Once again. Shock and awe.

- “I see… I will call the body-beauty squad, hair-beauty-squad, and..”

- “No, Dina, not this time. Call HER.”

- “A-are you sure? That's bit extreme...”

- “Yes, also, tell her that there is quite a challenge awaiting for her.”

Blonde maid looked at Giselle with pity.

- “May the divine have mercy upon us…” she moved toward the other exit of the room, and as she was moving past Giselle she quietly whispered “… and upon you in particular.”

She vanished behind a corridor, in the next minute around a dozen more maids re-entered the lobby.

- “My lady, please, follow me.” one of the maids asked politely to Lanele

- “My lady, please, follow us…” remaining eleven maids addressed Gisele

- “What, all of you?!”

- “Drastic needs requires drastic measures… please, do not resist.”

- “Resist? To what?”

- “The less you know the better…”

- “Zari…” Gis turned toward me, her eyes were begging “…help.”

Head maid look at me asking a silent question.

- “Giselle, my love, do you remember the mess you caused on the bald mountain? Druids wanted to make a sacrifice out of you in order to calm the goddess… I promised them that I would punish you through and through… “ I looked back at maid “… Do your worst.”

One final time she corrected her glasses.

- “And you sir… just tensed muscles and minor... corrections needed to be made. May I interest you in massage first?”

- “I would love to receive a good massage.” I nodded

- “Do you have any specific requirements about the gender of a person responsible for your session.”

- “Well, I don’t like the idea of a man touching me so…”

- “ZAAA-RIII-ELLLL” I heard a threat in Giselle’s voice as she was carried toward other corridor by a mob of maids “…Don’t you fucking dare!’

- “Man, it is then…” I saw approval in eyes of dragoness, but when she was about to vanish behind a corridor I made sure to add loud enough so she could hear “… Make sure you will send a cute one thought.”

- “ZARIEL!? WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY ?! ZARIEL!? ZARIEL!? ZAA-RIII-ELLL!”

Worth. That for sure earned me a punch or two, but it was definitely worth.

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Chapter RSS About the author 2 Fictions 0 Posts 0 Threads Anuel Follow Author Saturday, December 8, 2018 11:43:32 AM

Bio: Some people want me to write with Style, some people want me to write with Passion, some people wish to see me using logic, yet I... I find madness to be much more alluring.

Srsl tho, I am kinda crazy, ya know?

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