Valeria had been out of the tub about as quick as Ameiko and was already using prestidigitation to dry herself off, just as eager to get upstairs.
Noticing where Ameiko's eyes were drifting to, she couldn't help but smile a little wider - after the pain (both figuratively and literally) they'd been over the years, it was nice to know that Ameiko appreciated them.
"Who is it?" she asked, moving over to look past her. "Kasha and Spivey? Don't tell me they're involved too." She gave Ameiko a slightly lopsided grin to show she was joking as she pulled her own smallclothes on and reached for her robe.
"Come on then," she said after cinching her robe's belt, although leaving the top a little more open than she might usually have, "I'm about ready for bed."
"I doubt that is the first time the baths were... used as such, your annoyance is unfounded, but here a few coins for the mess."
"This is the first time they've been used so loudly, though..." The attendant grumbles under his breath, but his mood brightens a bit when Kavell tips him.
*ahem* "Thank you, sir. Enjoy your stay at the Hunting Serpent Inn."
"Hello, we'd like a bath."
The attendant, a young blond man with soft green eyes and a pained look in them, turns to Kasha and the glowing ball of green, winged light on her shoulder. He arches an eyebrow in confusion before clearing his throat.
"Er--yes. Five coppers for the public pool, and five silvers for a private room, ma'am."
"You look confused, is there a problem?" Kasha asks with an amused expression. "Any preference Spivey?" she asks her companion sitting on her shoulder.
The attendant shrugs. "Er... no, there isn't. I'm, ah, just... dealing with a headache right now."
Spivey shakes her head. "Not really."
"Public I suppose, I'm not really shy. Sorry about the headache, you should probably remember to drink water with all the heat down here." Kasha replies handing the attendant the money.
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The attendant nods and waves his hand at the changing room as Kelda takes Kavell's hand and tugs him out of the room. "Changing room's right there. There's towels & robes in the cubby-holes--just change into them and leave your clothes and personal effects in them."
"I'm afraid we don't have robes in your glowing friend's size..."
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Ameiko is visibly fighting the urge to just rip off your robes and take you on the floor at this point. "...yeah. Let's go."
She hurries out of the alcove, half-dragging you with her across the slick stone floors. Once you get back to the changing rooms and manage to get changed, she starts dragging you out of the bathhouse, paying Kasha & Spivey no mind at all.
There was no way for Valeria to suppress the grin plastered across her face as Ameiko all but hauled her upstairs - after how long she'd been fantasising about the bardess, it was satisfying to see that she could work her up so much.
She hadn't bothered to pull her boots back on - aside from how long it would take, she'd barely had time to finish getting her dress back on before Ameiko was pulling her along. Not that she was being pulled for long, Valeria's own enthusiasm had her keeping pace with Ameiko and she was eager to see what she would do once they were both behind closed doors.
Through the halls, up the stairs, along the inn's corridors--Ameiko is alarmingly fast when she wishes to be. She fumbles in her pockets for something, eventually pulling it out--a key attached to a leather tag reading "Room 316."
She barely manages to fit it in the door's lock and twists it before she pulls you against her once more, her lips greedily locking with yours. She pushes the door open with her other hand and stumbles in, dragging you with her. The door somehow closes behind you in the confusion.
The two of you don't even make it to the beds in the room--Ameiko stumbles, pulls away long enough to utter a surprised curse, and ends up falling on the bearskin rug between the two beds, dragging you with her.
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The fall caught her by surprise, eliciting a playful squeal and a giggle, but made the most of Ameiko's shock to quickly roll on top of her and resuming the interrupted kiss while her hands fumbled for the cords holding the bardess' blouse closed...
******************************************************************
The night lasted longer than either probably expected - even discounting the fact it took them a few rounds to actually make it to a bed. It was like Valeria's desire for Ameiko had been kept behind a dam which had finally burst and the flood wouldn't die down until both were left a quivering, incoherent mess.
Kasha lets out a giggle as she sees Ameio and Valeria rush to the dressing room then practically drag each other off to what she assumes is their room."Yup, definitely don't hate each other." she says giving Spivey a grin.
"I'm sure we'll make do." she says to the attendant, she says heading into the changing room and sitting down on the bench to take her boots off. "If you want you could probably wrap a washcloth around you like a towel in place of a robe." she says to Spivey.
Removing all of her clothing and slipping on the robe before heading out into the bathing area proper with Spivey on her shoulder, she selects one of the pools, discarding the robe as stepping into the pool with a satisfied sigh as she feels the heat of the water soother her muscles. After a few moments, she leans back, crossing her arms against her body creating a little pool of water that would give Spivey a place to settle without having to worry about free floating in the large pool. ”Is it okay to get your wings wet? They’re so beautiful and delicate looking.”
After undressing and leaving her things behind, Spivey sits on your shoulder as you settle into the pool's hot water. She's wrapped in a fresh washcloth and giving you a little nervous look.
”Is it okay to get your wings wet? They’re so beautiful and delicate looking.”
Spivey tentatively slides into the pool created by your arms and settles in against the crook of your elbow. "Yeah... they're sturdier than they look, but they still need care when I'm washing them."
She slips the washcloth off of her and sets it on your forearm before she starts splashing herself with water.
"Ahhh.This is nice, a natural hot spring would be even better, but I'll definitely take this given the cold weather this far north." Kasha says happily. She smiles at Spivey reassuringly noting the slightly nervous expression. "Don't worry, I won't let anything happen to you. Let me know if you need help getting between them."
"Maybe we'll find one at some point." Spivey splashes some water in her hair and shakes her head.
"Thanks." She smiles and holds out her hands. "Soap, please?"
With a smile, Kasha keeps one arm against her body, keeping Spivey's little pool while with the other hand she opens one of the liquid soaps, pouring some into her outstretched hands.
Spivey flinches as the soap pours into her hands--even a small amount of it is enough to flood her tiny hands. She lathers herself up and starts rubbing it into her skin.
It's strange... even though you understand she isn't made of glass, she feels quite delicate in your arms. Her radiant skin feels remarkably smooth and soft--almost unnaturally so.
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As it turns out, it really wasn't a dream.
Your coupling starts off rather awkwardly--more so on Shalelu's part than yours. But what starts as a tentative, clumsy introduction soon becomes a more comfortable flow as it goes on. Years of pent-up affection and desire from the both of you are finally expressed in a long, passionate affair, the two of you exploring each other in countless different ways.
In the end, as the lantern's light fades, the two of you lie in each other's arms, spent and happy.
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Haru smiles, her eyes closed as she focuses on her other senses. After all, she's had years to look at Shalelu. Now she can smell her. Feel her. Taste her. Its heaven.
"There's been more than a few nights I've worn myself out, thinking about this." Haru admits. "It turns out I don't have enough imagination to have done it justice."
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Shalelu tenderly strokes your head as the two of you lay together.
"...I didn't think it'd be so... ticklish." The ranger whispers into your ear.
Haru's eyes widen as something about the way Shalelu phrases her words hits her.
"That wasn't... that wasn't your first time, was it?"
Shalelu gives you a bit of an awkward look. "Well..."
She clears her throat. "...it was my first time with a kitsune, darling. I've only had one other, and that was a long time ago."
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Haru smiles.
"Oh. Well. As a representative of my species, I hope it was everything it could ever be. I know my first time nibbling such beautiful ears was a delight..."
Shalelu chuckles and runs a hand along one of her ears. "It was."
She runs her other hand down your back, until it reaches the base of your tail.
Kasha finds herself enjoying both the sight of the beautiful little azata bathing in her arms and the supernatural softness and lustre of her perfect skin. There was definitely something about Spivey that was truly special which made sense given where she was from she supposed.
As she finishes washing, Kasha cups he hands, extending leg to be just at the surface of the water to give Spivey a place to sit as she lathers herself up with soap and begins to wash as well. "So how long were you on this plane before mama and the rest of the group met you?" she asks.
Spivey pauses in her washing in thought. "Oh... about... ten years, I think?" She nods. "I think that's about right--time flows differently here than in Desna's realm."
"I got summoned--or called, considering I haven't been returned to my Mistress yet--to this plane by another priestess of Desna." The azata rests on your leg and rinses the suds off of her. "We had a good few adventures going with the rest of her group."
"Well, until the man-eating plant got her."
Haru shivers at the touch. Her tail. it turns out, is rather sensitive near the base.
"Good. Because there's more. So many more. Lifetimes more. Kitsune are magical, after all."
She tenderly strokes your tail, feeling the soft, downy fur between her fingers. "I think I might like to experience it."
"Oh wow. I'm really sorry to hear that." Kasha says lathering her skin. "And you stayed at that shrine where everyone met you, after that? It must have been pretty lonely all that time."
"Good." Haru says, eyes closed. She isn't a cat. She isn't purring. But its close.
"I want you to know, I'll always respect you as a warrior. Out there, I won't ever try to be overprotective or try to keep you from doing something dangerous because of this."
Shalelu pulls away to look you in the eyes. "I promise to be the same, stór."
The lyrakien shrugs. "Eh, it was for a while. I didn't have contact with any mortals, but I could commune with my Mistress whenever I really felt the sting of loneliness... of course, I could only do so once a week, but that was okay for me. At least, it let me keep track of time."
She dunks herself in the water and shakes her head about. Her grass-green hair flips about every which way, spraying water around. "Then the hobgoblins moved into Brinewall. They thought they could blunder into my shrine and do what they wanted with it, so I gave 'em a few good zaps. They learned."
Smiling at the idea of Spivey proving too much for hobgoblin invaders, Kasha gazes on the beauty of the lyrakien as she shakes the water from her verdant hair. "I'm glad you were able to take care of them, and more so, glad you chose to travel with the carvan. I don't thin loneliness will be a problem anymore." she says with a grin.
Beginning to rinse the soap from her body, Kasha closes her eyes, submerging her head for a moment before popping back up, making sure to keep Spivey above the water's surface while she does.
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Your bathing session with Spivey goes on for some time, most of it spent in deep conversation with your lyrakien bath-mate. Unfortunately, you're interrupted by the sound of heavy footfalls.
You hear an annoyed snort, and turn to see who made it--Ishgha is standing in the changing room, eying you and Spivey. "There you are. A human woman has arrived looking for you. She said she was a tracker. Hurry up."
The hobgoblin turns and leaves without another word.
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...once...twice... three, four times...
...you lose track of the number of times you and Ameiko f%@+ each other senseless. By the time the lovemaking has come to an end, you're quietly surprised you can even think straight, let alone form a coherent sentence. Ameiko has passed out in a giddy slumber next to you. Part of you silently pities whoever has to change the sheets later.
Your thoughts are interrupted by a heavy knock at the door.
"Valeria? There's a lady downstairs asking for you! Up and at 'em!"
It sounds like Sandru's voice. It's swiftly replaced by the sound of fading footfalls.
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As pleasurable as your intimate time with Shalelu has been, it's brought to an abrupt end by a sharp knocking at the door.
"Haru! Your tracker lady's here to see you! Come on!"
Is there a kitsune curse appropriate enough for Sandru to suffer? It's something to ponder as you hear Sandru's footfalls fade into the distance.
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The sound of a sharp knocking at the door jolts you from a peaceful slumber, still wrapped in Zaiobe's wings and arms. The harpy next to you blinks her eyes open and frowns.
"Friday! Lady downstairs looking for you! Let's go!"
<...I wish. I had. My bow.> Zaiobe grumbles as Sandru's footsteps fade.
----------------
You and Kelda manage to get to your room and are just starting to settle in when a knocking at the door interrupts you.
"Kavell? There's a lady downstairs who wants to see you!"
Sandru's footsteps walk next to your door and stop.
As he hears the knocking rouse him from what was probably the most peaceful sleep he ever had in his life Friday lets out a long growl at the door on instinct.
Afterwards he has to stop and think if that was actually himself who had done that. He pushes the odd thought to the side as he takes in the words of the messenger as well as Zaiobe's. "Arrows probably wouldn't even go through the door." he muses to the harpy before lightly stretching in place and kissing the side of her head.
Valeria just let out a weary groan. After all of that, she'd been just on the verge of sleep. Carefully extricating herself from Ameiko without waking her (and using a little pretidigitation to make herself somewhat presentable and the sheets a little more comfortable for Ameiko), she quickly got dressed while her mind ran through a few potential forms of revenge she could get on Sandru. Sadly; all of the good ones involved magic beyond her current capabilities.
She slipped out of the room a few minutes later, surprised that her legs weren't unsteady like she'd been expecting (although she had a sneaking suspicion that Ameiko might not have had such luck, were she awake) and having left a note for Ameiko explaining what was going on and apologising for leaving like that.
Getting dried off and dressed, Kasha gathers up her things. "Well I guess now we can all hear her tale and see if we can help." she says brushing aside some of her hair from her shoulder to give Spivey a place to sit.
He tilted his head and looked completely confused at the beautiful barbarian maiden.
"Huh.... I wonder if that is that guide they hired... I wasnt aware they had given them my name, though perhaps its best I go."
He began with a slight frown. He had been looking forward to the bed... for legitimate reasons of course though he started to blush just having that thought cross his mind.
"I'll be back shortly. He said leaning int to quickly kiss Kelda smiling like a giddy schoolboy just afterwards before making his way downstairs.
"Uuuuggggggghhhhhh...."
Haru slowly moves away from the delicious warmth of bed and lover.
"You rest. I'll go with the others and deal with it."
She dresses, using her own prestidigitation spell to clean up smell and sights before her form ripples back to human. Then the bard goes to join the others.
"Right. Best save those for enemies." Friday thinks as he sets up, happily taking in the view. "Even though I'm completely awake, I don't want to get out of bed. That's a first." He continued to think, the blankness that was his default expression having been replaced with an aloof smile.
Friday closes his eyes and lets a sigh slowly breath out his nose. "You're right." Opening his eyes he smiles at Zaiobe before finally standing up in order to get dressed. "For Sandru's sake you better be." he thinks with a smirk.
Once everyone is up, dressed and presentable, the party converges on the Hunting Serpent's common room.
The common room has cleared out a bit since they were last down here. Most of the patrons have either retired for the evening or are otherwise occupied with errands. Seated at a large table near the performance stage is a lady with brown skin & dark hair, dressed in furs dyed red and green. She's holding a drinking horn in one hand while looking all around the common room.
Her face brightens when she spots Kasha & Haru arriving. "There you are. And these are your friends, I assume?" She waves the lot of you over.
"Yes they are! Uksahkka, these are most of our group. A few of the others are resting at the moment.” Kasha says introducing all those present by name and taking a seat.
Though still a bit annoyed at having been woken up, Friday bows once they approach the woman.
Uksahkka waves to everyone and takes another swig from her drinking horn. "I hear you're all looking for someone to take you over the Crown, right?"
"Yes."
Uksahkka leans back in her seat. "As it stands, I know someone who's more than capable of navigating the Crown, even during this time of year. He's guided caravans through morozko storms, blizzards, whiteouts and more."
"His name is Ulf Gormundr." Her face turns grim. "Unfortunately, he's gone missing."
The tracker takes another swig from her horn. "About a week ago, we got a job offer from one of Kalsgard's local lords. Came as a surprise to the both of us, since Ulf's not exactly in good standing with most of the merchant's guilds around here; it was something about chartering a new trade route of sorts through the Grungir Forest. It was for one of the new thanes here..."
"...Asvig Longthews."
"Ulf went up to Asvig's farm to the north to get the full details of the job. He was supposed to take a day to get back to me so we could make preparations--it was three days before I finally started worrying about him." Uksahkka's tone turns bitter. "I went up to the farm to try to find Ulf, and Thane Longthew's men told be that he never showed up before throwing me off his land."
"Spent the next few days sulking and b@@+~ing out clerks when your pal Kasha here offered her help."
"It's pretty clear that this Asvig is hiding something, and probably behind Uksahkka's partner going missing." Kasha says to her companions.
Already having dealt with the thane's thugs twice, Friday was all too eager to say "Well let's go pay him a visit."