Leila silently urged her father to stop talking so she could leave the dining hall and be done with this boring dinner. Sometimes, she hated being the daughter of Ulric Bronwyn, the most famous merchant in all of the Northern Continent. It was mostly at occasions like these, for once he started talking about his beloved profession, he had a zeal that could not be matched or contained.
When the servant entered with the soup, Ulric was just getting into the story about the time when he’d been nearly bamboozled by the innkeeper of the Unquiet Minotaur, a famed tavern in Tabor, the jungle city.
“So I had me shipment of Elven wine, and you know how hard that is to come by in those Eastern parts, that Elven wine! I’m all ready to hand it over an’make the trade when I get this funny feelin’ in me stomach. So I asks old Bum Leg Benny to show me the “spices” I’m s’posed to be takin’ back to Alvardine. Them Elves sure love their fancy tastin’ food, and I’d hate to disappoint them when they’re bein’ so kind as to pay me so handsomely. Well, it’s a damn good thing I checked them bags ’cause all that was in them was dead flies! There must have been thousands upon thousands of them, each sack was filled right up to the top!”
More servants came in with the main course, a very aromatic venison roast that had been obtained during the hunt the men had shared that morning, complete with potatoes and carrots fresh from the gardens of the Archibald estate. Leila’s educated palate recognized the scents and flavors of the exotic spices cooked into the meat, as she had made many a trip with her father to obtain those spices from the far Eastern lands of Tabor, the very land her father spoke of now.
Ulric swallowed a rather large bite of venison, then took a rather large pull from his ale mug to wash it down, cleared his throat and continued his story. “So I says to the Innkeeper, ‘I know you don’t mean to be givin’ me these bleedin’ bags, all full of dead flies like they are, I’ve got to bring these back to the Elves, and I know they ain’t gon’ be pleased when they sees this.’ Then the Innkeeper gets all indignant on me, ‘e says, ‘How dare you accuse me of being phony! These is the spices we use here! Now I don’t think you have a choice, Bronwyn, you’re going to take these bags back to the Elves, and if the pointy eared bastards don’t like it, they can take it up with me themselves!’ Well, I rolled up me sleeves, and gave old Bum Leg a look that must’a changed his mind, because he kept his dead flies, and let me outta there with my Elven wine so’s I could trade it with the ‘Keeper at the Red Eye Tavern. Got me a fine lot of spices and some Tabor silk to boot. Them Elves was mighty pleased with me and nearly doubled my service fees! Bought my lovely Leila here a perdy new dress with the extra earnings.”
With a wave of his hand, Ulric motioned toward his daughter, who smiled coyly, her eyes fixed on the handsome young son of the Baron who was hosting them. The Von Kemps weren’t one of the richest royal families in the Northern Continent, but they were certainly one of the most handsome, young Rodrick had inherited the good looks of his father, Garret Von Kemp. Leila had heard about the Von Kemps from another royal family they had visited a few months prior, and as a result, had pestered her father endlessly until he agreed to bring them here to do business. Rodrick caught Leila’s honey brown eyes the moment she walked into the dining hall. He had noticed her as well, the “perdy new dress” that Ulric had purchased for his well-endowed daughter made sure of that.
Leila sat back in her chair abruptly, coughing slightly. The light of the oil lamps glistened on her smooth, pale skin, making her appear almost as if she were glowing. Rodrick’s eyes followed her every move, bringing a smile to Leila’s lips, painted red courtesy of a stain invented by the desert dwelling Sirjaness of the south. They loved dwarven ale, cooled with ice from dwarven mountains, and shared all of their beauty secrets to obtain it. Secrets Leila was happy to use her advantage.
“Father, I am feeling quite tired. Our trip, and this wonderful meal has left me near exhausted. Would you mind if I retired to my guest quarters so that you might attend to business with the Baron? I’m sure this gentleman here would be kind enough to show the way.” She smiled sweetly at Rodrick, who flushed deeply.
The Baron gave a chuckle. “I’m not sure Rodrick even knows where the guest chambers are. He may need a servant to show him the way!” The Baron and Ulric were booming with laughter, each draining their ale mugs and waving them at the servants for refills.
“I’m quite sure I know my way around our keep, Father. It would be my pleasure to show this young lady to her quarters.” Rodrick rose from his seat and strode confidently around the table to Leila’s seat, pulling her chair out for her and giving her his arm. She took it, smiling seductively at him, and allowed him to lead her out of the room. She looked back at her father before they exited to the hallway, she smiled at him and he gave a knowing wink. Business finally starting to pick up for them.
The two older men’s laughter carried down the hallway quite a ways, it wasn’t until they had reached the old stone staircase leading to the second floor that they were out of earshot. The silence was only slightly awkward for Leila, as Rodrick was a much handsomer man than what she was used to.
“Milady, apologize me for my inability to hold my tongue, and I do hope you do not find me speaking out of turn, but there is something I simply must tell you.” Rodrick’s voice was firm, though by his words Leila could tell he was obviously apprehensive about what he was going to say. She stopped in her tracks, turned to face him and took him by the hand.
“No worries at all, kind sir! I am a guest in your lovely home, my father and I are here for a weekend of friendship and good company, you are welcome to say whatever is on your mind.” Her smile was warm, her eyes glowing like amber in the candlelight, trapping the young noble in their gaze.
“Yes, yes of course, I did hope you would feel that way, Milady. I just-” Leila cut him off before he could finish.
“Please, call me Leila, I do think I should like to hear - and see - how my name sounds on your lips.” She looked up at him, anticipating his next words, suddenly caught up in the moment.
“Yes, of course, Leila. . .” The sounds came out slowly, almost as though he were holding on to the syllables as long as he could. He took a firmer grip of her hands and stared her in the face, burning her appearance into his memory for the rest of his days. “I just wanted to tell you, that before today, I’ve never met any woman who put a fire into my soul such as you have. Whatever you wish, I am but your humble servant. I feel as though you have enchanted me, you have trapped me somehow, but I don’t mind at all! I, Rodrick Archibald, make a solemn vow at this very moment that I would do whatever you asked, Leila Bronwyn.”
Leila allowed herself the luxury of a giggle, trying not to make it sound as if she was laughing at Rodrick, though the man was starting to sound a little silly. She sighed, then looked up at him shyly. This was becoming all too easy for her. “Oh, Sir Archibald, you certainly have a way with words, you have got me all a-flutter now. You truly say you would do anything I ask of you?” Leila feigned disbelief, though she knew she had the young man clutched tightly in her grasp like the black curl she was twisting around her finger at that very moment.
“Anything at all, beautiful Leila. My mind, my body; they are yours to command. My heart is yours, to do with which whatever you wish.” Leila ran a hand across Rodrick’s chest, clad with a deep blue tunic of the finest silk and linen and it fit his athletic young body quite nicely. She parted her lips, staring up at him, then pressed her chest to his, the smooth silk pressing against her bare cleavage, warming her body all over, even in places that weren’t even touching him - yet.
“Take me, Rodrick. Take me to your quarters, make me yours, tonight! I was watching you at dinner and I was hoping you’d notice me, it turns out the Gods answered my prayers.” She wrapped her arms around him, her lips dangerously close to his, sending chills down each of their spines. “Please, Rodrick, I am yours for the taking.” Her last sentence practically a purr, as she leaned up to whisper it in his ear, her body pressed firmly against his, her breath hot on his ears before she pulled away and kissed him full on the lips.
His hands inched down to her corseted waist, to her firm yet ample buttocks, and he wondered what lay beneath the fine fabrics of her dress. He pulled away, looking into her beautiful eyes, that unusual yet intoxicating shade that reminded him of the jars of honey the merchant and his daughter had brought to Archibald Keep to trade for furs. Furs like the ones he had in his chambers, spread across his bed to keep warm in the cold Northwestern winters, furs like the ones he was about to show the merchant’s daughter. He took her by the hand and led her down the corridor, whispering all that he was going to do for her with every step. Leila smiled and obliged, feeling quite proud of herself. Business was finally starting to pick up, indeed. . .
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