Serpent's Tooth

[Cherubian]

The one thing Verkul seemed to fer the most for, though, were his private parts, as immediately on Phyliss entrance he took a step backwards and folded both hands protectively over his slowly recovering groin.

Verialyn, however did greet her friend, although not the way she might have expected. "Ah, I am happy to see you back after your spontaneous brief timeout. In your absence I took the time to check for more survivors and bandits. I found neither. But at least you makeup is back in order. That's the most important thing, isn't it?"

 

[Belinda35]

Phyliss wasn't dumb, so she caught that hint again. She was nearly a bit angry that she might ruin the scene she had prepared, but she did not want a fight with her, especially before the two men. So she did not talk back, as it was her first impulse.
"The bandits wanted us and poor Flavius, so that they would be either here or with the ones we finished on the stairs. So our only survivor is that fat quivering mass over there." she looked upon Verkul, and suddenly had an idea how to go on.
"And for my makeup, I wanted Verkul to see something nice before I scratch his eyes off."

 

[Cherubian]

Verialyn let the argument drop for now. The gorgon's logic had more holes that a mesh. If she had learned one thing it was that some quick assumptions, especially without conclusive facts to back them off, were a good route to disaster. It had turned out well enough this time, though, and indeed quarrelling in front of Verkul would not do them any good. Not that she thought he would be of much additional use any time soon.

Speaking of Verkul, the man at the moment took another step away from Phyliss , and almost screamed in his desperation "What do you want from me? What have I dont to you that you want to scratch out my eyes? I could understand if she" his arm gestured towards Verialyn "would want to do that, but you?".

 

[Belinda35]

Phyliss took a step forward.

"What you have done? Trying to kill me and my friend is bad enough, but I could even forgive that. But see what you have done to him!" she hissed as she pointed to Flavius. "This kind old man that had opened his house for us! This alone is enough reason to have you castrated and live on your own meat in a ratshole!" she shrieked.

 

[Belinda35]

Quomor listened again.
He had no idea who intruded the house and why, but he knew he would get killed at the spot if anybody saw him, as he heard the screams. He pushed open the window to the garden, checking an escape. He would not make it, as he saw two men strolling to the garden. So he left the windo open and crawled into the large cabinet, hiding under the clothes as he heard the intruders rushing up the stairs, searching for somebody. Lucky for his mistress she was gone now. What trouble had she gotten into, or rather him? Somebody ripped open the door, people rushed in an out again, searching on. He kept hidden, as there was still noise of people running trough the house, and screams of unlucky servants. Later there was the sound of fighting. He kept waiting, and someone rushed in the room again. Good he had been so patient.

 

[Cherubian]

Verkul lifted his hands in a defensive gesture. "Hey, I did not touch that guy! I have only come along because one of the thugs would have carved me open had I not!"

To all their surprise Flavius suddenly chimed in. "I think he speaks true in that regard. He was pale already when he came into the room and saw the dead, and I'm sure he almost threw up into a corner when they tied me to the table and that mean bastard" he pointed to the corpse at his feet "got out his knife. Got out again as soon as he could."

 

[Belinda35]

"Is that so." Phyliss cooled down a bit as she watched Verkul. Of course she knew all the melodramatic tricks to intimidate the slavemaster, but her anger about what has happened to Flavius was real and she really had been close to harm Verkul, although cruelty wasn't a usual trait of her. She never had tortured anyone before, she just got carried away with her feelings after all what had happened today.
"So, Flavius, what do you think we should do with him?"

 

[Cherubian]

Flavius shrugged his shoulders. "I do not know honestly. What I do know is that we better leave the city, all three of us. Antides might try again, and he might send bigger forces the next time. In a few months that danger should have passed, but until then..."

He eyed Verkul again "We can't let him go back, though. Not sure he'd want to in the first place, but we need every head start we can get and letting him report back soon does not help with that."

 

[Belinda35]

After Phyliss had learned that it was not Verkul who had tortured her friend, she felt less angry about him; and she knew that she did not want to kill a helpless man in cold blood. Nor did she want to loose her face in moving back.
"Verialyn? What do you think we should do with Verkul?"

The thought of Antides made her shiver. She was afraid of his revenge, but she longed for his punishment he same time. Strangeley she was less afraid of his revenge, but of the thought to stand before him and admit she had lied to him.
"I wish Antides would catch me and punish me." she tought, wondering if she really was at her mind to think such a thing. "And then let Ma'ant come and rescue me. And then let Ma'ant decide to punish me. And he makes Verialyn, Antides, Gor and the Bugbear do me to punish me. And then Ma'ant will do me. And then he wil comfort me and dress me nice and I will walk down proudly that big stair with a fantasic robe and sparkling jewelery and they all will gaze on me..." Phyliss shook her head, to get that strange pictures out of her head that made her feal uneasy. Was she loosing control over herself?

 

[Cherubian]

Fortunately for Phyliss Verialyn was currently too busy to ponder Verkul's fate to notice her inner turmoil. Tilted head resting on one palm she kept staring at him with a cryptic expression, before she finally spoke.

"So, we can't just let him go, but I am also a tad reluctant to flat out kill him. Can't lock him up here either, since I think Flavius is right, and we better skip town. That leaves only one option: He has to come with us. And while doing so experience the whole master slave relationship from the other perspective."

Verkul was definitely taken completely by surprise with this suggestion. Mouth half open he tried to think up a suitable response. On the one hand he definitely was not keen on being enslaved, and he was realistic about his chances to escape that sword whirling fiend and her witch friend, on the other hand it would mean he would get out of this alive and in one piece.

 

[Belinda35]

"As there is probably no slave left, this is an option. Although I doubt he can really carry something except his own belly. But maybhe he can drive a carriage. We will need one to transport the things we need while being away - and there is the danger that they might rob this place while we're gone, so we don't leave any money or gold here." she looked around.
"And where will we go?"

 

[Cherubian]

Verkul became a bit uneasy as Phyliss continued to list his future duties, but dared not to speak up or complain.

Flavius, however, chimed in. "I fear that is a good question. For one I would suggest we separate to make it harder for our pursuers. I might have a way to hide, but that will only work for me alone.

I could send you to one of my friends or associates, but I would advise against it. That way you would be too easy to track down if Antides is as interested in your demise as he seems to be. So all I can suggest is for you to travel to one of the larger cities, maybe Gorank to the southwest. Of course I will provide you with as many funds as I can."

Verialyn just listened to Flavius intently, and then added. "A good suggestion. With the gold we got we should be easily able to support ourselves. But I have to check where Qumor is first. I sort of feel responsible for him."

 

[Belinda35]

"Who?..oh. He is not dead?"
Phyliss relized she hadn't thought of Quomor because she wasn't reall concerned what happened with him. Not that she was cruel or did even dislike him, but he was one of the servants, something in the house like furniture, and not even a very pretty one. Of course she did not dare to tell her friend how she feeled about that, and she was sad that Verialyn wouldn't simply understand her position. She hadn't spent most of her life in the houses of merchants and noblemen were there were people and servants and slaves, and Phyliss was really sorry that there would always been that borderline between them.
"Oh, well. I think I pack my things meanwhile. I have my emergency bag always packed, but we need something more if we travel. Verkul, you will better come with me, I don't feel to well to leave Flavius alone with you." She turned around and hugged and kissed Flavius on both cheeks. "It may be some time until we might see again. You don't mind if we take your small carriage along? I think Verkul will be able to control the horses. I really think HE BETTER CAN DO THIS."

 

[Cherubian]

"No, I don't think so. At least I have not found his corpse yet. If only I know where to look for him. But I better pack my few belongings as well before I try and find him." with that Verialyn moved to join her friend on the trip up the stairs, and Verkul, just as he was told, fell in step behind them.

Steering the wagon? The thought caused an unpleasant itch in his stomach. He never had done something like this before. His knack was to find the most beautiful slave girls in all the city and train them properly, that was what he had been paid for. Not dealing with some horses.

But maybe the horses were nice and calm he would be able to pull this off. He felt rather unwilling to admit that particular shortcoming right now.

 

[Belinda35]

"You follow me, big boy." Phyliss steered the fat man in her room, and picked up first her emergencie bag, containing some clothes, make-up, money and few other things and handed it to Verkul. Then she opened a large bag and started to stuff it with clothes and jewelery. Good they had a carriage...
While she was packing, the thought about changing into something else. She had chosen the impressive and a bit sinister outfit to intimidate Verkul, but maybe she was slightly overdressed for a travel. After a short thought she decided against redressing, because Verialyn would probably freak out after her last reaction. If her friend would ever learn the meaning of clothing - probably not after all that years. On the other hand, her outfit wasn't bad at all for a travel at night to an unknown place. She needed to look elegant and menacing the same time if dealing with common people to gain respect. So her look was perfect, and she picked up a black fur cape to complete it. It wouldn't be that long until it would get dark, and they would arrive nowhere sooner then midnight, even if they only went to the nearest city, what would be dangerous.

 

[Belinda35]

Quomor carefully peeked out of the cabinet, listening for every sound. He would take no risk.

 

[Cherubian]

Verkuls face became increasingly concerned as he silently watched Phyliss pile bag after bag of luggage on the ground in front of her. First it had seemed the gorgon even intended to change right in front of him, but then she obviously thought better. Unsure what was expected of him he just continued to stand there and keep his mouth shut.

---

Not long after Phyliss began packing Verialyn entered her room as well. She quickly slipped out of the dress, discarding it thoughtlessly to the floor, and then, standing in the middle of the room, massaging her chin with two fingers, spoke, mostly to herself "Hmm, in which of the cupboards did I leave my traveling clothes?"

 

[Belinda35]

Phyliss finally stopped packing, as she was well equipped for some time now.
"Ok, you can carry them down to the carriage. I'll show you the way." She picked up a light bag, containing some more money, a mirror, and a small, but poisoned dagger, then she opened the door, to lead Verkul down.

-------------


"If I renember correctly, it was the left one from the door, third drawer." Quomors laconic voice came out of another cupboard to the right. Finally, he was safe.

 

[Cherubian]

Verkul stared helplessly at the large pile of luggage in front of him, before he sighed deeply and began to pick them up one at a time, trying to carry as many as possible. He seemed to overdo it though, since as Phyliss was almost out of the door she could hear his surprised yelp behind her as well as the sound of many a bag crashing to the floor.

---

Verialyn's face morphed instantly into ha happy grin as she heard the familiar voice. "Then why don't you get them for me and help me get dressed? Or should I stand here naked all day?"

 

[Belinda35]

"There was a bit of rush out there, so I prefer to stay until things have calmed down."
Quomor climbed out of the cupboard. He had been in the city and got some new clothes, he wore a rather flashy tunic and pants made from the same material, a vibrant red with orange ornamental patterns, high black boots and a daring red and orange soft hat with golden ornaments on it.
"At your service."

-------


"Oh nooo!!!" Phyliss picked up some of the bags herself and piled the others back at Verkul. "Do you want to mess up my clothes? Good for you the bags didn't open! No get moving." Phyliss kept the fat man in the corner of her eye as she went down the stairs. If he would try to sneak away or run, he would not stand a chance. She opened the door to the stable room, waiting for Verkul. At least the horses were still alive - he would have been in big trouble if he had killed them as well.
"So, come down here, load the bags into the carriage and start to prepare everything; I'll guess Verialyn will be here any moment." She knew her friend didn't take much time for getting dressed up, she just put on what was around without thinking much about.

 

[Cherubian]

Verkul's breathing became more strained as he tried to follow the gorgon down the stairs, his field of vision almost completely obstructed by the mountain of luggage his outstretched arms were burdened with. The strain was far too great to leave any room for thoughts of escape, never mind that he had no idea where to run, or preferably walk, to.

So it came as a great relief when he finally could dump the whole load into the back of the carriage, likely not as careful as Phyliss would have liked. That done he leaned his back against it's side, visibly exhausted, and produced a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from his face. The order to bring the horses seemingly had gooten past him without him being aware of it.

---

Verialyn turned and had a closer look at Quomor, her hands placed lightly on her hips. The clothes he had chosen were definitely extravagant, but they had a certain style to it. She liked it, anyways, and showed this with an approving smile and nod.

"Very nice. But why don't you start by welcoming me back properly?" With a wink she waited what he would make of that.

 

[Belinda35]

Quomor picked her clothes from the cabinet.
"Judging from the noises I heard, I wonder if we shouldn't leave without greater delay." He started to put the clothes on her, still stoic, like usual, but there was a certain feeling of some proudness that was new.
"I advice we take anything of value along."

--------

Phyliss looked around, Verialyn had not appeared yet. Hopefully she would not waste to much time to search for her slave. If he did not show up and if there was no corpse, he had escaped and would not come back. It would have been useful to have one more slave or ervant, as Verkuls wasn't of much use, but that was all they did have by now. She bowed down beside him.
"Hmm, maybe you want to stay here or walk away? You know I or my friend are to fast for you, so you would not be that stupid to try to doublecross us? Nono. But maybe you just think if you be a big burden to us instead a helpful servant, we might leave you behind instead of punishing you? We really might do that. Antides wont be to happy that you failed your mission and lost all your men, and this will be rather unpleasant for you. So if you don't want to be left behind, tied up with a big ribbon as present for your former master, you willl better try to make me happy. And you better try hard."

 

[Cherubian]

Verkul became increasingly pale as the gorgon bore down on him. At the end of her speech he was close to a breakdown.

"But ... but ... I am trying. Really hard." he stammered. Weird as it might seem he was indeed not looking forward to go back to Antides. It would be very hard to offer a good explanation why he was the only survivor of that attack squad.

"I ... just never did that stuff before. We had slaves for such things."

Then suddenly his face brightened up as it seemed he had hit a spontaneous insight. "Or did I misunderstand you, and there is some other way you want me to make you happy?" He looked back at Phyliss very expectantly now, hoping that he had guessed her intentions right for once.

---

Verialyn sighed. "You are of course right, time is precariously scarce at the moment. So we will have to celebrate your survival at a later time." That said she aided Quomor as best as she could.

For tonights travel she picked her usual attire for the road, consisting of a short sleeved vest with a decent cleavage and pants that reached a bit beneath her knees, both made out of tight fitting dark leather. It something quite different than an elegant dress, but she still looked definitely sexy in that outfit. To that she wore a light pair of shoes.

Once dressed she began to pour her valuables - mostly their loot from the Mercurious mansion and the reward she had gotten from Flavius - in the large leather backpack that already stood at the ready. Once all that was done she surveyed the room for one last time.

"Let's check that we have not forgotten anything important, and then let's go, Quomor."

 

[Belinda35]

Ohoh, what was he thinking now? Phyliss had no difficulties guessing what he was hoping for, as she had heard that tone and seen that gaze often before. Should she get angry? But she smiled and spoke to him.
"Now let us see what your chances are. I like my men wellshaped, handsome and bigsized at the right place. And none out of three ain't that match, is it?"
She got up.
"But if you don't want to be here when Antides checks why nobody returns, you better get going with the horses. I have travelled inside carriages quite often and I watched the coachmen and grooms often enough to know how it looks what they are doing. So at least I can tell you what you are doing wrong or right."

--------------

"Very well. If we are on the run, as I suspect we take some food and practical things along." He had already gotten a bag that he probably bought from the rest of the money, made of black fur.
"So we stop at the kitchen before we get walking. Or are there some horses left?"

 

[Cherubian]

So he had not understood her correctly. Not the big surprise, the only women Verkul had had over the last ten or so years were slave girls who had no say in the matter. He was not subject to great delusions about his attractiveness for females.

So he just gave a shrug and began shambling off towards the stables. And to Phyliss's surprise he returned with two horses in tow a mere few minutes later. The two animals were of the heavy set sort with a calm temper and unshakeable stoicism, which had worked in the fat man's favor as the offered no resistance when he clumsily applied the bridles. Once back he immediately began to try and yoke them.

---

"I think that there are indeed some horses left, and Flavius has even sponsored a carraige for us. Phyliss seems to be quite happy about that. But a few rations are definitely a good idea."

With those words Verialyn grabbed her bastard sword that had been leaning against one wall and headed out of the room and down the stairs towards the kithcen, or the mess that had been made out of it during the attack. Hopefully at least the storage chamber had been spared.