The Adventures of Yaiil (NakedTea and Cherubian)

[NakedTea]

The sun shone down upon the coastal city-state of Arlun with all it's usual relentless, cheery diligence, bound and determined to bring just a little more light and warmth into everyone's day, even to those who might well feel they've had quite enough attention from the sun already. Oh yes, summer is in full bloom upon the eastern shores, the very waves of the Emerald Sea settling into a sluggish lull under the mounting heat.

But boiling as though the conditions might be, business goes on as ever. In the streets of the sprawling markets wares merchants clamor to be heard over their competitors, hawking their goods to the people walking by, promising the freshest produce, the finest wares, the cheapest bargains. And if the sun brought perspiration rolling down the backs of buyers and sellers alike, then it was doubly harsh upon the 'cattle' sold in the great slave auctions, the skin of the poor girls chained to the trading posts glistening with sweat as nobles and merchants appraise them like so much meat.

Arlun sits upon one of the few safe routes through the stormy Emerald Sea, a gate into the unmapped eastern reaches for the few brave or foolhardy enough to venture into those savage lands. Bordered on one side by the brilliant white sands of the shoreline and the other three by untamed jungle, Arlun is surrounded, reachable only by a long sea voyage, yet still it prospers by the sheer value of the exotic goods ferried to and fro. A shining jewel of civilization in the vicious wilds.

The people here were as mixed a lot as you can imagine, merchants and explorers, pirates and fishermen, nobles and common laborers, the tan olive tones of those who had lived their lives on the shores and the silky white of those fresh off the boat from southern lands. Even elves. In fact, it is one elf in particular who concerns us now, for she is the hero of this story, freshly embarked upon a grueling journey into the jungle in search of adventure and in pursuit of coin.

Work are in no short supply here, always a few dangerous beasts from the jungle that need slaying or barring that, at least good employ unloading ships at the harbor. But nothing truly high paying. Nothing truly challenging. Doing busywork around town was getting boring fast... So it was good then she had just received a job offer that promised to be a tad bit more interesting.
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The bathhouse in which Yaiil's employer has arranged to meet her is a bustling place in this sweltering heat, fresh, cool water pumped in from from nearby rivers providing much needed relief to many. Bare flesh is on display in all directions, the slave girls bathing and oiling the patrons the only ones wearing anything at all, even if it only see-through veils. There's no privacy to be found in the main baths, but one of the slaves soon directs Yaiil towards a private room, where her employer is waiting.

Already nude and basking in the pool, Sir Anthony Delusie is an imposing figure, if not perhaps the image of good health he once was. Even at it's deepest point the water barely reaches just below the giant of a man's chest, but ten years of rich food and little exercise have stripped that towering physique of the muscle it once had and left him with a slight, but noticeable paunch. A broad smile breaks over his face as the elf enters and he waves away the servants, leaving them alone.

"Ah, Yay-el, was it? So glad we could meet." He says, tongue stumbling over the foreign syllables of her name.

 

[Cherubian]

„The pleasure is all mine, Lord Delusie.“

Yaiil smiled back at the older man, her face beaming with that deceptive innocence that came so easily to her, especially when she was trying to leave a good impression. Being directly hired by someone of Sir Anthony’s standing was no ordinary event for a freelancer like her, and she intended to make the best of that. And she had all the physical attributes for that.

As the slave was departing the man had ample opportunity to scrutinize those attributes. Yaiil sported the slender frame considered archetypical for her Elven kind, making her appear almost frail in human eyes despite her tone and definition, not giving away into what a deadly instrument of destruction that same body could turn at a moment’s notice without any implements to aid it. Aiding to that helpful deception was her face of almost angelic beauty, extraordinarily so even by the high standards of her race, framed by a mane of golden locks that cascaded down over her shoulders, pierced only by a pair of pointy elongated ears.

She had not had opportunity to disrobe yet. The slave she had asked upon entry into the bath halls had immediately guided her to that private compartment, barely giving her enough time to slip out of her sandals at the entrance. And so she still wore her white, sleeveless tunic that reached to about mid thigh, sewn of light cloth. It still did not much to hide her long shapely legs or arms, her skin of a light, almost eerie complexion, and even though the garment was not exceptionally close fitting two very prominent mounds spanning it on her chest indicated that in this particular region her body was formed quite atypically for the average elf, sporting an enormous endowment that had withstood even the most strict physical exercise without waning.

The meeting place itself had been chosen very carefully, she had to admit. The usual dress code of the baths would make it very hard for any would be assassin to bring weaponry, until that weaponry was the body itself, like in her case. Only that she did not harbor any ill intentions, to the contrary. And so, once the two of them were alone in the room, she continued their conversation.

“May I inquire what fortunate circumstance has prompted Mylord to seek my acquaintance?”

 

[NakedTea]

The slave girl who had led Yaiil into the private chamber, as well as the one standing by to attend to it's occupants, do not need telling that they are unwelcome in these matters. Setting down fresh towels and a clay urn of lilac-scented oil by the bath, they quietly depart to let the two talk in private. Discretion is one of the many services they offer, these baths ranking among the safest places to talk in all Arlun.

"I would hardly call the circumstances fortunate, I am afraid, although the exquisite pleasure of meeting you does somewhat lessen the dark cloud under which this meeting is held." It would seem the Lord Delusie fancies himself witty, or at least verbose, the size of his words easily matching the rest of him, no mean task for a man who even in his middling age towers well over most others. "But, ah, we shall not rush into things. Business, like all unpleasant topics, should be approached slowly and only when entirely unavoidable, don't you think? Come, make yourself comfortable."

He pats the edge of the pool beside him with one thick, calloused hand, indicating that she should sit beside him. It would be entirely inaccurate to say the Lord is unaware of his prospective employees charms, oh yes, he lets his eyes run over her form without any shame whatsoever, taking in the elegant curves of her legs and the more prominent ones of her chest. Not with the normal slobbering list though. Indeed, he's quite dispassionate, business-like about the whole thing, paying as much attention to her muscles as to her charms.

"Now, I doubt I need inform you that what we are about to speak of is a matter of utmost delicacy. In fact, I am positive I need not explain that, nor that the consequences for speaking to anyone of this would be... Most severe. Because you of course already understand all that. Right?"

 

[Cherubian]

Yaiil eyed the spot indicated by the heavy set merchant as she took a few steps closer to him, beginning to circle the basin on the dry tiles to the right. Her last step not fully completed left her left leg slightly pulled up, the foot touching the ground merely with the tips of her toes, as she halted and tilted her head to look down at her prospective employer. In the end, it seemed, he did underestimate her as well, not able to see what lied underneath that gorgeous surface he so eagerly scanned. All the better for it, she would take any advantage she got.

“Mylord, throwing around such blunt threads does not behoove you well, for a variety of reasons. But you can indeed rest assured I will handle properly whatever information you intend to divulge.” Her melodious voice was something of a contrast to the rather serious content it just delivered.

Once more her eyes demonstratively looked at the patch on the edge of the basin right next to where his broad shoulders rested against it, and now her expression matched her voice, as she teased good naturedly “But I fear I can not sit there. If I did my garment would become wet, and I am not sure the soft thin fabric will take well to that.” Whether this was denial, a challenge, or even an invitation for further suggestions was not immediately evident.

 

[NakedTea]

Did the Lord Delusie underestimate the mercenary girl? Certainly he was appreciative, but hardly to the point of slavering at the mouth over her. No, if asked directly and found in the mood to answer, the merchant baron would claim to be merely acknowledging the beauty before him, as any aficionado would take the time to appreciate a work of art in their field of enthusiasm.

Besides, her looks could well be an asset in the mission he has in mind. One should always review potential assets.

He turns to face her, leaning against the edge. "In that case, surely one of the towels graciously provisioned by our hosts would serve to shield from unwanted, lustful gazes. I doubt they will mind you wearing one into the bath." It's a comment that could easily be taken at face value, but there's just the tiniest playful spark to Delusie's tone to let on he knows full well what Yaiil is playing at.

It's just he'd rather play his way, if it all. He did have more experience at it. Plenty of girls tried the same before, wanting something or other out of him, although he cannot guess just yet what it is Yaiil desires. Perhaps she merely wishes to secure her employ. Or maybe she's simply teasing an old man with no intention of letting it go further. Either way, he feels no need to jump at the slightest bait and make himself a fool.