Forest Keep 8
#10 of Forest Keep
Jack and Eric, two of the other novices in training at the keep watched as James came down the stairs for breakfast, waiting for him to fill his plate and mug before beckoning him over to their table. "So young James, still with us and with all your parts too?" Jack laughed coarsely as he looked slyly from side to side. "I know it makes a man mighty horny, all this hard training, and no women to help him relax" He nudged Eric who said, "Though if one did meet a woman round here, why... he should tell his friends so they could share in his good fortune", this last accompanied by a sly wink "Especially if he is on good terms with her father". James colored, knowing they were just baiting him but he also felt a surge of amusement well up in him. "Well Jack, I don't think you'd be man enough for her. She'd just chew you up and spit you right out", he said with a grin. Jack scowled, "We've been watching you, sneaking out o 'days ... T'ain't right, your keeping a doxy in them woods" James frowned but controlled himself, "Just keep thinking like that Jack and you'll make a poor knight. I don't have a doxy nor am I sneaking" He took a bite of his breakfast, forcing the lumpy porridge down his throat, and feeling it land in his stomach with a thump. They believed in good, solid meals at the keep, his apparent sincerity had caught the men off guard and they turned to one another to mutter briefly. "We'll be keeping an eye on you and your tricks", Eric said finally, "Though if she looks anything like her father, you'd better keep your dagger handy in case she decides to cut herself a trophy" James just grinned at them. "Her father said he knew my intentions were honorable and that I would comport myself as a gentleman around her and not take advantage of her generous nature". He then tried to look serious, "I don't think he'd like it if you two availed yourselves of his daughter's charms, and he would take action promptly" The pair looked nervously at one another as they recalled the aura of danger and hidden strength the man had radiated and shivered. Jane appeared at the table with a flagon to refill their mugs and the pair turned their attention to her and proceeded to annoy her with many flattering comments about the size of her breasts and the lush curves of her rump until she threatened them with porridge for their dinner as well. James chuckled, finished his breakfast, and went out into the keep to think. Jingling the loose coins in his pouch, he thought of what to get Cill for her lair, remembering her size he did not think he could find furniture large enough for an eight-foot tall dragoness with an equally long tail to use. Not without asking seriously dangerous questions at least. He wandered towards the market area, whistling softly as he thought. Marre ducked quickly beneath his bench as the seething purple liquid in the alembic suddenly turned brown and thick, violently reacting with the last ingredient. There was a loud boom and splinters of glass shattered on the walls of his laboratory along with the smoking remains of the potion. Sighing he stood up from behind the bench and got another alembic... this spell would be his masterpiece - if it worked. He crossed his talons for luck briefly and started to check his calculations once more. James moved from cart to cart, idly looking at the wares of the peddlers and trying to ignore the desperate pleas of penury and various incurable medical conditions they displayed. He could not see any jewelers anywhere but as he strode past one of the last carts, he caught sight of a corner of bright crimson cloth, shot through with what appeared to be gold threads shoved beneath several other plainer fabrics. He paused by it and leant over the cart, tugging on the edge until it came into view. It was some sort of banner or bunting and he wondered where the peddler had gotten it. "Would you like a better look, young sir", the peddler asked, a moon-faced man with a wine-bibbers bulbous red nose emerging from the shadows behind the cart "What is it?' asked James as the peddler gave a heave and pulled the fabric free of the cart, wheezing a little. "I got it off a traveler from the east", he said "Worth a pretty penny too", he said, getting into a bartering mood and grinning a gap-toothed smile at his newest victim. James unrolled the long supple cloth and smiled to himself, not only was the color stunning it had a serpentine dragon embroidered in gold thread upon it! He knew he had to have it for Cill and trying not to let his enthusiasm show on his face, turned to the peddler. "Well, I'm in need of a new horse-blanket; this might do if the price were right. What were you asking for it?" The peddler bobbed a bow towards him "I was told a guinea would be a right price for this beauty your lordship, and I'm sure a rich young man as yourself would be easily able to purchase it at that price" He stroked the fabric slowly with a fat finger and grinned at James who had drawn himself up in disbelief. "A guinea? I could buy your whole wretched cart for that!" he exclaimed, "three shillings... And I'll throw in some wine as well" The peddler blustered "3 shillings? I've not seen the like of this cloth anywhere else and you insult me by offering me a pittance?" he held the cloth out and shook it. "Feel it lordship. It would look grand on a Ladies bed or atop a Knights steed, but as I am forced to beg with you to feed my four daughters and pay their dowries I must reconsider my demands...10 shillings..." James grinned, if this fat one had daughters he certainly was not the father. He fondled the cloth and grinned as he imagined Cill lying upon it in her lair. "Perhaps I was a little penurious", he admitted "5 shillings" The peddler looked up at James and wondered if he could push his luck, he had seen the look in the boys eyes before many times in other customers and knew he could get more. "Please Sir, think of my poor wife, pregnant with our sixth daughter and hungry. We need to be able to put something aside for our old age; surely you could spare 7 shillings for such a fine piece" James grinned, "I thought you only had 4 daughters?" he murmured. The peddler blanched but recovered quickly "It's the wife sir; she never was much good at counting..." James grinned and reached down to his belt for his pouch. It would take a sizable chunk of his month's money but he knew Cill would appreciate it, "Done then...," he said while counting out the money into the man's sweaty hand as he bobbed and puffed with gratitude. "Thank you Sir, if there is anything else I can get you, just ask for Marlow" After rolling up the banner and tucking it under his arm, James nodded. "Thank you Master Marlow", he was about to move off when a thought struck him "Do you know any jewelers Marlow? One that can do good work while not asking too many questions?" Marlow rubbed his puffy nose with a greasy hand before answering. "I know some jewelers sure, if you want something made special though. There's only one I'd trust to keep his mouth shut, and he aint cheap" James nodded slowly, "I'll let you know if I want to commission him for something". Marlow nodded and smiled as the young novice walked back to the keep, his new crimson and gold banner carefully rolled and hidden under his arm . Cill woke and yawned widely while she looked round her lair. It needed to be larger she thought, her talon idly tapping on the floor as she got off the bed. She felt strong today so perhaps she should try to enlarge the interior a little more. Her cave lair seemed to be a natural fissure that opened out at the base of a cliff and she was not sure how far back it went. Tapping at the walls carefully she listened to the sounds of the rock until she found a hollow sounding area and after digging at it slowly with her talons she found another cavity. After ensuring it was strong and safe, she carefully raked it clear then swept the dirt outdoors with a quick spell. Feeling proud at having added another few feet to her domain she returned to her bed and thought of James. Perhaps he would visit today and she could show him her lair, suddenly she blinked in surprise - where had that come from she wondered? A dragon's lair was its best-kept secret, where it hid its carefully gathered hoard, its final hiding place from danger and here she was going to invite a human right into it. She shook her head, perhaps her mother was right and she shouldn't be seeing James, it was interfering with all sorts of traditions and customs, wiping a piece of dirt from her tail she smiled inwardly. She trusted him, and besides, she thought, sucking on a talon, one day he would be in here, alone with her... then they could...Without realizing she bit her paw at the surge of emotion and heat she suddenly felt rush through her and then yelped at the pain. Flushing with embarrassment she looked around in case anyone had heard then caught herself doing so and felt even more foolish. James was in his room when he thought he heard something shout in his head "Cill?" he threw out silently, before he had realized he had done so, "is that you?" Back in her cave Cill jerked her head up and looked round guiltily, *James?* she said silently "I thought I heard you call out", James said, suddenly awakening to the fact he could talk to her while she was far away. *I hurt my paw* Cill admitted, a tinge of embarrassment making itself felt through the tenuous link. "Are you alright?" James asked with concern. This was great! He could talk to her anytime this way. Even if he did not know how he was doing it. Cill nodded and he felt her affirmation *Its ok, I was just surprised, that's all. Will you be at the lake today?* she asked, trying to keep the eagerness from entering her thoughts. "Nay dear, I have to train this morning, But we have a days break tomorrow and unless I get lumbered with some duty I'll be able to come and visit with you" As he was less experienced at controlling his emotions, Cill felt his eagerness and a feeling of accomplishment at something he had done. "I had a good talk with your father too" he added, Cill nibbled her talon nervously at this. "He didn't threaten to toast me like your mother did, and I get the feeling he isn't that happy but he is willing to let me keep seeing you", there was a definite sense of elation that Cill could pick up now, what had her father told him? She wondered if she should tell him about the council and decided it could wait for another day. "This is a great way to talk", she heard him say, "Can we do it anytime?" *If the other is willing to talk at that time yes,* she murmured, letting a few of her affectionate thoughts leak down to him. "Mmmm...then I hope we can talk again soon" he replied, suddenly feeling as if a large bucket of warm water had been poured over him, sending a surge of pleasure running down his spine. He felt his body responding and echoing it back to Cill. "Until tomorrow then", he murmured, resisting the urge to suddenly rip off all his clothes and run to the lake. Feeling her mind let go gently he relaxed then looked down at his abruptly tight breeches again 'damn" Cill stretched luxuriantly on her bed, she had felt the immediate response in him, and it had felt good. Perhaps there was more to this mating thing than she had thought. She sucked on her sore talon again, hadn't he called her dear too? Bounding out the door, she frolicked down to the lake for a swim. Marre's housekeeping dragon Janna sighed as the lair shook to yet another eruption from the old dragon's laboratory. "The ceiling", she muttered to herself as she walked up the ramp slowly, wondering if the old fool had finally done himself in properly this time. Tapping on the door with a talon, she called out "Elder Marre? Are you alright?" Not hearing an answer, she pushed the door open slowly. There was dust and debris over everything and no sign of Marre amidst the wreckage. Pushing aside a broken lounger, she saw something glimmering on the table then suddenly she found herself caught up in Marre's arms and spun vigorously around the room. "It worked! It worked!" Marre roared, letting the bemused housekeeper go and holding up the alembic to peer within it. Spinning in slow circles was a glittering emerald scale, lightly glowing and seething with hidden power. "What's that?" The housekeeper huffed while frowning at the scale. "It isn't going to blow us up is it?" Marre chuckled "That, Janna, is the hope of the future", his wise eyes narrowing as he watched the scale slowly rotate of its own accord.