System Break

I leaned down and slid my arms under her legs and back. When I straightened Reyas was cradled in my arms, but she did not protest she placed her arm over my shoulder and her hand on the back of my neck.

"I can walk," she said softly.

I ignored her and swung around. "Where to?" I asked anyone and everyone.

"We have a guild hall," Ailen said.

"We do? Great," I said and smiled. "Lead the way."

"We had to pay for it," Sakaala said.

"Oh," I said and Reyas touched my nose. They talked me into keeping my mask in my pack for now. "Now you have to scratch it. It's itchy. Sakaala why do we have a guild hall? We're not staying here."

Ailen led the way through the winding streets and I followed.

"They made us," she said while she skipped to keep up with me.

I peered at her. "I thought you were an expert negotiator. Tell them to get fucked."

"We had to register to compete and if we registered, we were had to get a hall. It's nice and comes with cooks and cleaners."

I laughed. "Come in sucker. I can't believe you let them railroad you."

She pouted. "I'm never good with government types."

"What's done is done," I said. "I trust you'll deal with it before we leave."

Sakaala sighed. "I realised today it was all for nothing. Even if they sent a guild north, from what you did today, they wouldn't pose a real threat."

I shook my head. "We caught them with their pants down today. You know as well as anyone not to underestimate these adventurers. They will adapt and learn. They can lay traps and are unpredictable. You did the right thing. It all worked out in the end."

She chuckled. "Except that Ailen had his skills reset." We laughed.

"Hey," he said. "It sucks balls. Not funny."

Ailen pointed at the guild hall and smiled. "The whole building?" I asked.

He nodded. 

"Shit. Don't tell me what it cost; I don't want to know."

I entered and looked around. It was nice than any place I'd every stayed in my life. Stone floors with rugs, comfy furniture, fireplace, and bar - it was the Ritz. I placed Reyas gently down in on the largest comfy sofa.

She pulled me in for a kiss and held me tight. I kneeled on the edge and let her run her hands through my dirty blonde hair which grew longer by the day. Most of the time it was sucked up by my mask, but when it was off it flowed down to my shoulders.

She released me and said, "I missed you."

I tapped her buttocks. "I missed you too."

She pretended to be shocked and I laughed. "Quiet, you love it more than me. And that's a high bar."

Barrin wandered out from the kitchen and shouted in mock horror. "The monster, it's here!"

I pointed at him. "Don't you start."

He adjusted his goggles and grinned. "Don't blame me. You're the scary looking one." He came closer and inspected me. "Have you grown while you slept?"

I shook my head. "I just got a lot of thinking done. Working out this qi stuff."

He laughed. "You talk like a novice, but what I saw today was no novice." He frowned. "I was thinking you will not want your polearms. Your hands are deadly on their own."

I shook my head at his jest. "But I wasn't fighting a 40ft cave troll. Trust me, I'll need those spears. Or whatever you're making."

His face turned serious for a moment. "When will we return? I've done what I needed to here; we have many new trading partners."

"Soon," I said and glanced at Reyas. "We want to get home too."

She took my finger and began to suck on it. She got my attention and grinned at me. "I think she's recovering quickly," I said.

There was a tap on the door and a short man walked from the kitchen, past everyone and opened the door.

"Who is that?"

"The butler," Ailen said.

"We've got a butler?" I said and chuckled. I pulled my finger from Reyas' mouth. "We've got company dear, please behave. We're respectable."

Her expression was priceless.

"It's only the ambassador," she said. She pulled my hand back to her mouth and bit it. 

Gisael had finished putting away my gear and brought a pouch full of food. Reyas lay on the couch, I sat on its edge and Gisael sat on my left and leaned her head on my shoulder. Without saying a word, she snaked an arm through mine and place her hand on my leg.

Sakaala pulled the ambassador by the hand. He was short with brown skin and dark brown hair. He wore fine clothes and held what was probably a fashionable hat under his arm and there was a satchel full of documents which hung from his shoulder.

She pointed at me. "This is our guild leader, Benzhi."

He effected a slight bow and said, "Ambassador Larkin at your service."

"Really?" I asked. "Service?"

Sakaala grinned and gave the slightest shake of her head.

"Oh, you mean you serve the duke and are here to fleece us of our hard earned …"

"Qi cores," Ailen said.

"Ailen, what do I do people who steal our qi cores?"

"You rip off their heads and shit down their throats," he said gleefully. It was a bit much but was believable after my display this afternoon.

"Well," I said sheepishly. "Only if I really have to go."

The ambassador was lost for words. We let him squirm in silence until he found his voice. "Sir, we would never. I …"

I raised an eyebrow.

"Sir, I'm here to inform your guild about the presentation and invite you to dinner."

"Is there a charge?"

He shook his head emphatically.

"Good. Explain away."

"Well sir, you can rest until sundown and then make your way to the great hall. The duke will present your first team with medals and …"

"Just me? Or everyone?" I pointed at Nej, Ailen and Sakaala. Then patted Reyas. Gisael just glared at him.

"Sir, five from each guild. We'll overlook the fact that you fought the last battle alone."

"Good." I smiled. "You're doing very good at not making me angry. You might even survive this meeting."

He gulped. "After the best five guilds are honoured then a few will be invited to dinner with the duke. The rest will go down to the docks for a celebration with the locals."

"A few?"

"Um, two." He pointed at me and Gisael.

"Sakaala?"

He shook his head.

"I can't go without my diplomat. We refuse."

"No, no sir. Please. The spaces are limited. Maybe Sakaala can go in Gisael's stead."

I shook my head. "I'm getting angry. Are you trying to make me angry Larry?"

"It's Larkin sir. No, I'm not. Please I cannot change the size of the duke's table."

I smiled. "Gisael can sit on my lap. We don't eat your food anyway."

He gulped again. "Sir. I will enquire on your behalf."

I stood and shouted. "Not good enough."

He took two steps as if he was caught in a gale. He shivered and said, "Sir, I will make it happen. I'm sure it will be accepted as cultural difference. The duke is an accommodating man."

I sat back down and Gisael put her hand back on my leg. "Now was that so hard?" I looked at Sakaala and Ailen. They smiled but with guilty looks.

He bowed deeply and backed away. He was about to speak, and I interrupted him. "Get out already."

When the door closed Sakaala fanned her face with her hand. She looked me in the eye and said, "You know we can't do that."

"What?"

Ailen smiled. "We can't intimidate them like you do."

"Why not? It's just an act."

The butler scampered past.

I turned my head in his direction. "If you tell anyone I said that I'll rip your head off."

Everyone laughed. 

Sakaala grinned. "It may be an act, but you're 7ft tall and scary as hell."

I waved a hand at her. "You're a sexy Svartalfar woman. Use what you got."

"What have I got?" Ailen asked.

I looked him up and down and frowned. "Brains?"

Sakaala laughed and he frowned. She pushed her brother playfully and said, "I'm sexy."

I turned to Reyas and asked, "Are you coming?"

She nodded. "Wouldn't miss it for the world. But I won't go to the docks, I'll come back here when the first part is over."

"Sakaala, is she safe here alone?"

She hesitated.

"Ailen and Nej stay with her."

They nodded.

Gisael rubbed her nose on my cheek. "I am glad you are back."

I cast a glance to my left, and I saw her nipples were screaming for attention. 

"How long before we go?"

Sakaala shrugged. "An hour? Less maybe."

"I only need fifteen minutes," I said. I slid on arm behind Gisael's back and the other under her knees then I stood. She chirped and put her arms around my neck. I looked at the curling long stairs and the ten or so rooms circling the first floor.

I ran up the stairs with Gisael in my arms and kicked open the first door.

Barrin mumbled. "That's my room." 

Ailen smiled. "Do you want to go up there and tell him?"

The door closed and they could hear Gisael squeal. Barrin shook his head, sat, and chuckled. "There are plenty of rooms. I'll get a new one."

I threw Gisael onto the bed but when I pulled her by the legs back towards the edge – and that was the first time she squealed. She put her face down and buttocks in the air and I proceeded to inspect her cave with my tongue.

It was wet and the dragon was hard, so we wasted no time. With my hands on her hips the dragon flew between her legs and filled her up. Her eyes widened and an adorable noise escaped her lips.

"I'm glad to be back too," I said and proceeded to bang her with wanton abandon.