Authors - Ch 7 Arrival
#208 of Prequel
Quill-Weave finally gets to Casta's house in Chorrol.
When she awoke, she found herself extremely thirsty for physical companionship. She was going to rock Casta's world today!
The sun was well up by the time she had gotten dressed, and she was happy to open her door to a nice breakfast, left by Augusta she was sure. She took full advantage of it before she strapped on her backpack and went back down to the tavern.
She quickly settled up with Augusta and headed out into the morning, if anything even happier than she had been the day before. She was back on the road and actually started singing a song the Bard had played the night before.
It was about midday when she got to Chorrol. She decided she'd head straight to Casta's house. By now she knew the guards at the gate well enough that they recognized her and let her right in.
Casta's house was a decent place - bigger than her own, but that's what writing a hundred romance novels will get you. Quill straightened her clothes and took a deep breath before knocking on the door.
"Quill!" said the familiar face of her friend and love when she opened the door. "Come in! I've got lunch all laid out for you!"
"Great! I'm famished." Quill smiled, setting her pack down just inside the door. Let me use your restroom and get freshened up a bit.
"Sure," said her friend. "I'll be in the kitchen."
Once in the privacy of the bathroom, Quill set about removing the special strap she wore under her dress at the base of her tail and doublechecked the rings were still there, then hid them at the back of the cabinet along with the strap before washing herself and applying a bit of perfume.
"Never hurts to smell nice," she thought.
She stepped into the kitchen but didn't see Casta. Then something tackled her to the floor and the kisses began.
"Oh Casta, I've missed you so!" she said, trying to return the affection as best she could.
"Not as much as I have! You sure you don't want to eat lunch in bed?"
"Lighten up, Casta. We'll have plenty of time for that tonight."
Casta climbed up off of her and pulled her back to her feet. "Maybe not, I have a special guest coming by tonight! Come on, sit down and let me tell you all about it."
Quill felt a little dejected. She'd hoped to have Casta all to herself. But she'd surely find some appropriate time to pop the question.
"Now, I know you don't much care for the lovey-dovey stuff I write..." Casta began as Quill sat at the little kitchen table.
The steak that was set in front of her looked like heaven, with some vegetables and a huge slab of bread and butter. Casta poured her a glass of dark red wine then sat beside her, taking Quill's tail in her hands.
"Casta this looks delicious! But aren't you eating?"
"Already ate. Sorry, I thought you might get here a little earlier," Casta said as she began to stroke Quill's tail.
"Okay, but you've seen me eat before."
"I love to watch you eat. You know that! You're so... sincere!"
Quill laughed. She had never understood why Casta liked her so much, but she was certainly grateful for it. She always felt so comfortable here. Not that the two hadn't had their disagreements on occasion, but they were few and far between.
"Well, okay!" Quill said, and set-to with a vengeance.
"So, let me tell you all about our guest tonight. Like I said, I know you don't really care for my love stories much."
"Pedantic and derivative," Quill noted between bites.
"So you've said. Fortunately it seems not everyone agrees. I got the most interesting letter late last month. Here, let me go get it..."
Quill felt the stroking stop and watched her go into the other room.
"Who was it from?"
"Wait, wait. Read it first," said Casta from the other room.
When she returned, she held a paper of high quality. Quill noticed that right off. It obviously didn't come from some Legionnaire!
Casta handed it to Quill, who paused in her eating to drink a sip of wine while she looked at the letterhead. It had an insignia. She put the wine down and stared at the logo.
"Oh my! House Hlaalu?"
"You're versed in the Vvardenfell houses then?"
"Not the minor ones, but who doesn't know of the Hlaalu, Redoran and Telvanni?!"
"Indeed! Now don't look straight to the signature. Read on first."
Quill began to read. The script was written well, by an experienced hand. In perhaps a bit over-florid terms the writer expressed his appreciation for Casta's work, and particularly in a book titled 'Woman Gone Wild'. Quill had begun to read it once, but it had gotten a little too risque and she'd not finished it.
"Well, you certainly have a fan here. And one of high regard!" Quill said as she continued reading.
"Sure do!" Casta said, taking Quill's tail again and resuming her stroking. Quill liked that.
"Oh! Is this...? Oh no."
"None other. Curio himself!"
Quill confirmed at the signature.
"So. The great Crassius Curio likes your books?"
"He does. I wrote back to him and he's coming to visit tonight. Incognito, to be sure, but he confirmed he's coming!"
"Casta..." Quill started.
"Now Quill, I'm sure you don't like his work. I already know what you'll say. Sexual innuendo, themes of master-servant relationships, infidelity, all that."
Quill set the paper down and looked at Casta disapprovingly.
"But Quill, he's still the most famous writer in all of Tamriel."
"Casta, that damn Argonian Maid thing..."
"I know. But you can't deny it's probably the most popular book ever written."
"Technically a play, but I grant you that - though it's only because a bunch of horny men think they can get any Argonian to polish their spears. Casta, that work has done such damage to Argonian women like none other. You know I don't like it. Not one bit."
Casta stopped stroking her tail. "I knew you'd think that way. And yet, in bed you're as wild as me!"
"In private! But no, I may not like his books, but I'm still looking forward to meeting him Casta."
"You're not going to start an argument with him are you?"
"I'll tell him what I think of that book - of that you can be sure. But I'll be respectful. He must have something going for him to have risen to his level in House Hlaalu like he has."
"Just be respectful of that. You can do that for me, can't you?"
"Now Casta, when have you ever known me to be disrespectful?" Quill-Weave protested.
"Shall I list those on the receiving end of your caustic tongue alphabetically, or by date?"
That got Quill laughing again. "Well, okay - but certainly not to a member of such a great House. I'll be good. I promise."
"You better be. He expects to be here by nightfall. Now, speaking of your caustic tongue..."
Quill eyed her lover. "Are you making a Curio-style sexual innuendo?"
"Me?! Oh, Quill, you surely jest!"
"Uh huh..." Quill replied, downing the rest of her wine. "See, already you've begun to imitate him."
Casta feigned indignation. "I have not! I can make my own sexual innuendos just fine."
"That is true!" Quill admitted.
"So now, if you're finished with your lunch?"
"I am. And a very good lunch it was."
Suddenly Casta leapt from her chair and once again tackled Quill to the floor.
"You'll be wanting dessert I expect."
"Yes, your innuendo is working just fine. I concede! As for dessert, indeed, I do! But perhaps in bed would be a more comfortable place?"
"Fuck the bed! That's for sleeping. Right here, Right now!" Casta demanded and began applying her kisses again while fingers worked their way inside Quill's tunic.
"Well, if you insist!" Quill laughed, and unbuckled her belts.