The Baker's girl - A tale of Gradzlata

[siobhancan99]

Ulricha rocked against Ziva, quiet, but with that same undercurrent of urgency. She dragged herself along Ziva's thigh, squeezing it between her own. She tugged at the roots of Ziva's hair, pulling her in against her chest. Her nipple thickens and swells, perking at the attention of Ziva's mouth. She says something, soft, but its lost in the slamming open of the door downstairs. There's only the slightest moment, then she's already rolled out of the bed, hand on her sword. There's the singing of the blade as it leaves the sheathe and she bursts out into the hallway. Ziva can hear men's voices, angry for a moment, then the sound of Banimir "Why is it so fucking dark in this fucking house? Light some fucking candles. get a fire built."

Ulricha backs into the room, shutting the door and sheathing her blade as Ziva hears a flurry of activity from the house below, and the opening of Jerina's door down the hall.

 

[DramaNerdette]

"Fuck. Fuck." Ziva rolls to her feet and quickly struggles into her clothes. She's still strapping on her sword belt when she pushes the door open, entering the hall, and turning towards Jerina's door, where she posts up at attention outside, at a respectful distance. Close enough to pick out the tone of voices, a few words... far enough to not actually look like she's eavesdropping. Ulricha arrives next to her a moment later, and they squeeze hands for a brief moment before waiting to see where this is going. Then she shakes her head. That wasn't Banimir going in to see Jerina, that was Jerina going down to see Banimir. "Gods, you somehow shut my brain off." She mutters to Ulricha before heading downstairs.

 

[siobhancan99]

Ulricha smirked and threw a robe on, then left her blade and came downstairs. There Ziva found three of the four men that had set out for the underground. One of the sons of a knight, she couldn't summon up the name... not among those that returned. Banimir had found some candles and was lighting them, placing them out as another of the men built a fire. Their escorts, senior knights all looked on as the young men busied themselves. Once the fire was lit, all three young men relaxed a bit, visibly drinking in the light. Banimir straightened, only then realizing that the others were present. He nodded to Ziva and Ulricha, then gave a pained expression as he saw his wife. He started towards her, then shrank back a moment. She seemed equally ambivalent, unsure as to how much she was supposed to move in. "Milord. I am comforted by your return."

"That makes two of us, Jerina." He moves to a nearby tray and poured a glass of wine, handing it to her, then simply drank out of the bottle himself, drinking deeply "That makes the two of us."

The other two cleared their throats "We will make ourselves at home upstairs Milord." the one offered, and the two and their men moved upstairs past the assembled women.

 

[DramaNerdette]

Ziva speaks up from the stairs. "Yeah. The underground sucks. Glad you made it out, Lord Spoon." she says, leaning against a banister. Then she slowly walks down the stairs, eyes on him. "Hot drinks, plenty of light and heat. Pastries help, weirdly. For me, anyways." Her eyes flick towards Jerina. "Don't let him sleep alone. And if he starts having a nightmare, wake him up." She holds out a hand to the man, offering to shake his. One survivor of the depths to another. "The underground sucks, but you got out. You're not there anymore."

 

[siobhancan99]

Banimir shudders whens he says he's not down there any more "I know" came the reply, harsh. He inhaled, then let out a slow breath. "thank you, for all you've done. I... We can discuss the continued terms of your employment in the morning." He shifts his weight forward and then moved over to the couch "I'll be sleeping down here. Please return to your rooms." he turned, looking back into the fire, soaking in the light. Jerina waves her hands to the girls "let me.." she looks at her husband, concerned, then turns back to them "I... think this is maybe something for me to handle."

 

[DramaNerdette]

Zive nods, and steps up to Jerina. "He doesn't. Sleep. Alone." Then she starts walking back up the stairs, letting out a slow sigh of relief that she felt like she'd been holding for days. Once they're back upstairs, she leans against the wall next to the door, and groans. Then she looks over at Ulricha. "You remember the name of the one they left down there?"

 

[siobhancan99]

Ulricha hmmmed "no. He was the wizard." She lights a candle with a flint and digs a little book out of her bag "Son of Sir Mikkel. Also named Mikkel. Mikkel son of Mikkel what an imaginative family. Weird they were smart enough to pop out a wizard. The other two are both like Banimir. Fencers mostly. Sons of wealthy landowners. One's a baron and the other is just a man of considerable means."

 

[DramaNerdette]

Ziva shakes her head and snorts derisively. "Should have brought a healer. Should have been smart enough to, anyway. How does a person go down into the dark without being ready for the worst?" She blushes, embarrassed by her own hard hearted take on the subject. She stalks back and forth on the floor. "Damnit. I'm restless as hell. I want to... I don't know. I feel like I need to do something. Though I know there's not a damned thing I can do." She glances up at Ulricha, and then back down to her feet as she stalks back and forth across the floor. "I should check on Jerina and Banimir." She glanced at her friend, "Or... should I? I don't know. They want their privacy, I'm sure."

 

[siobhancan99]

Ulricha shook her head and laughed "and how would you feel if one of them were to have intruded on us eh? You're young and I know you can fix everything, but you can't fix everything. Also Banimir had a healer in his train. Lordlings don't go down into the dark without a complete entourage." She shrugged and got back out of her clothes, patting the mattress "come lay down. I can distract you, or hold you in place so you don't interrupt the pair of them. Whichever you like."

 

[DramaNerdette]

Ziva snorts derisively to hide her embarrassment, but she knows damned well Ulricha is right. "Ok, but in my defense, Banimir did interrupt us first." She walked carefully over to the mattress. She let her hands slide onto those beautiful shoulders before straddling Ulricha, kissing her, a slow, eager tasting of the blond woman's mouth, tongue, lips. "Why do I imagine that you holding me in place would be one hell of a distraction?"

 

[siobhancan99]

Ulricha drags her in to the bed, rolling her onto her back and pinning her down "Well lets see how distracted you are." She presses a toned thigh between Ziva's, then takes her wrists and holds them, pushing them into the mattress. She looks down at the little dark haired beauty, then shifts. She presses her breast to Ziva's mouth, insistent, urgent. She licks her lips and moans, keeping the girl trapped beneath her "I bet in a few seconds we forget whatever it was we were talking about" She rocked her thigh side to side, rubbing against the girl's core and pressing her lips to her clit. She moved slowly against Ziva "press your thigh up against me." SHe rocks a bit, grinding down into the girl's skin. She swallows and squeezes her in her strong thighs, looking down at her "see? i've already lost it." Her clear eyes closed, and her body moved slightly more urgently, even as she kept the girl trapped. "Mmmm you're so soft and wonderful Ziva. I'm so glad you're curling up with me tonight. Letting me keep you warm."

 

[DramaNerdette]

She shakes her head, "You're never just warm, 'Richa, you're insanely hot." She moans, matching the motions of her lover, a thigh pressed up tight against the blond woman's slick heat. She arches her back, tensing against her lover's strength. It's not an attempt to escape. Far from it, her only urge to get closer to Ulricha, to drown herself in the statuesque blond's beauty and control. "Fuck, you're so... you're so amazing, oh gods..." They writhe together, bodies flowing against one another as their lips and tongues trade mutually eager passions. One leg between Ulricha's thighs, and the other wrapped around the outside of her hip, driving them tight in against one another. Ziva's head rolls back, her wrists still pinned, as she turns her face and bites one shoulder to stop herself from crying out in pleasure for the whole house to hear. "Please? Please let me cum? I'm so... so close..." she says, voice starting to tighten into almost a whine.

 

[siobhancan99]

Ulricha grinds down against her "maybe I won't. Would you like that? hmmm? If I said no?" She smirks, her leg moving, rubbing, rhythmic and easily anticipated, steady. letting Ziva get herself off against her. She loomed over her in the candle light, her blond hair falling down around her face. Her strong hands grip Ziva's wrists, keeping her held down, using her weight to trap her on the bed "I might like that a little. Being in charge of your pleasure" She rolled her own hips faster, fucking herself against Ziva's skin. Dragging herself along the girl's thigh as she strives to get her own pleasure. "I might like that a lot" she whispered, leaning in, pressing her more generous curves against Ziva's tiny body "Cum for me, my beautiful Ziva. Cum for me and then I'll hold you all night and keep you warm and safe."

 

[DramaNerdette]

She leans her head down, moving with Ulricha, her breathing almost panicked. She finds herself biting her lover's shoulder, not hard enough to break the skin, but enough to stifle her own cries of lust and pleasure as her body is overwhelmed by the blond woman's strength, grinding her clit into the thickly muscled thigh. "oh fuck...oh FUCK..." Ziva tightened and vibrated like a plucked bowstring, her orgasm driving her frantically against Ulricha, "Thank you... thank you..." she gasped, over and over, desperate to share the pleasure she'd been granted.

 

[siobhancan99]

Ulricha came quietly, with her body slowing more showing the result than anything else. She gathered the little baker in her arms and kissed her softly, over and over, exploring her lips, tugging gently at them, brushing them softly over and around, teasing. She kept her big strong arms wrapped around Ziva, clutching her to her chest as she came down. "Very glad to have you to warm my bed." She kissed her neck, her attention soft and slow where it had once been urgent. Her hand roamed a little, touching, more just establishing contact than anything else, running along Ziva's dancer's body. "I am very much enjoying this week." Her breath was a soft sigh in Ziva's ear, then she got up and blew out the candles before sliding back into bed. The howl of the winter wind covered everything but the murmur of conversation from downstairs, leaving them in their own little world, cocooned in blankets and each other.

 

[DramaNerdette]

Ziva chuckles softly, resting against Ulricha's bosom. "Definitely my favorite gig yet, Ulricha love. Thank you." she sighs, happily, relaxed more than she is used to. Most of her life, Ziva walks a tightrope, tension and focus keeping her alive against larger, stronger opponents. But with the blond warrioress... with her, in the chill black night of this winter room, she can let go of that tension, let go of the ever present vigilance. It's an almost addictive pleasure to feel... but as she drifts off, in a worrying, paranoid corner of her heart, she realizes that she can't bring herself to trust it...

 

[siobhancan99]

The week passed uneventfully, the not-exactly-a-couple was mostly snowed in with the actual married couple. Things were tense, and Banimir was not getting any better. If anything worse. Much as he tried to hide it, he couldn't abide being around any patches of darkness whatsoever. Jerina had suggested returning home, and they'd had a huge row over her implying he was a coward. He seemed strained to the point of breaking, and had a drink in his hand nearly every moment, though he was never drunk or violent. He was just very clearly "Not ok." Finally, as the weather lifted and things got a little clearer, Jerina received an invitation to the Simic's. She wasn't going to go, but Banimir insisted. "You have to have a normal life, Jerina." He sighed and poured himself another wine "And I need to become used to the idea of being alone. I promise...I'll be here when you get back."

Ulricha, in private wasn't so sure "He screams you know. He leaves the house in the darkest part of the night and he cries and he screams. I'm not entirely sure he will be here when we get back." She looked over at Ziva "But if one of us stays it will not ... he will not have it. Perhaps we could arrange for someone to come calling after us. Yvginy or Jens-Dieter or something. I don't know. He's your project Liebchen. "

 

[DramaNerdette]

She opens her mouth to objects, and then closes it again, complaint unspoken. Ulricha isn't entirely wrong after all. Whatever is going on with Banimir, for whatever reason, is weighing on her, "Jens-Dieter. I like Yvginy, he's a hell of a guy, but c'mon. He reeks of arrogance. I don't think he'd be likely to help the situation." She finishes strapping on her formal equipment for the trip to Simic's, and sighs. At least two more trips past this one. "Get Jerina into the carriage and settled please? I'd like to go have a word with Banimir before we head out."


With Jerina in the front hall, Ziva made her way to the back rooms. As she expected, the lord of the household was sitting before the fireplace, staring into the flames, some spiced brandy in his hand. Watching the fire, but seeing only darkness. Ziva glanced at the guard near the door, and jerked her head, "Wait in the hallway." she mouthed, before moving to sit next to the man on the couch, watching the same blaze as he did. Thinking of the same darkness he survived, and how she fought it in her own mind after her first trip down there. "You know, the only reason I didn't die of alcohol poisoning in the six months after my first trip down there is because I was too poor to afford enough booze to do the job."

 

[siobhancan99]

Banimir's face twisted and she could practically hear the venomous retort, but it died on his lips. He sighed and drank and stared into the fire. "The whole thing should be sealed up, or the army sent in to clear it out." He leaned forward, wrapping both hands around his snifter. "I understand it ... provides a certain societal release. Malcontents and adventurers that might otherwise disturb the social fabric instead go into the hellish dark to seek their fortunes and improve their station, only to succeed and therefore show they are persons of sufficient quality to be afforded social mobility, or ... more usefully... to die alone screaming in the dark where they cannot bother anyone anymore." He drained his drink and kept looking into the fire. "Its usefulness to the powerful in all countries as a place to send unwanted heirs or worse... more capable second sons..." He shrugs and keeps his lean forward "means that the catacombs will never be closed. The danger will never be past. In part, its as effective a defense of the city as any wall. Men return home haunted at times, to tell of the fell and terrible things that exist in the unyielding dark."

Banimir's face and coloring lent themselves well to brooding, and brood he did. "there are those here as well with outsized influence who send expeditions with unknown and less than patriotic purpose seeking something down there. Vast sums have been committed to it at the highest levels. And so young men will go there to rise, or in my case and the case of my companions... to fail spectacularly, leaving one of their own behind, begging for the sweet release of death. His screams echoing down the cavern as we inched our way back, killing and killing and killing as we made our slow retreat."

 

[DramaNerdette]

Ziva watches him, clear eyed and patient. She lets out a sigh of annoyance, but only in her own mind. WHY does she like this guy so much? What is it about him? Not that there could ever be anything there, she's the help, he's married, it's all a super terrible idea. Heck, she even likes his wife, though her taste in men is ass-terrible. Whatever, those troubles are the ones in her own head to deal with, and laying them onto Banimir when he's so obviously in pain is not a thing that would help.


"It is a special form of cruelty that we are trained to force ourselves to be that which we are not, to the point that it will kill us if we cannot... bend our training. It is a special form of bravery to face the dark at all, much less when we are not meant for such things. The only people meant for such things are madmen and fools, and you are neither Banimir. Do not count yourself as shamed for not being in their number." She puts a hand on his shoulder, squeezes. It's meant as a comradely gesture, but it lingers. It lingers a moment too long, and by the time she takes her hand away they both know it. Ziva stands, and clears her throat.

"You hired me, but you need to understand that I am not... nor will I ever be... your servant. I will not blow smoke up your ass, and I won't sit back and watch you cut yourself to pieces with the million little lies you are telling yourself about your mistakes down there. No one rises. Understand? No one rises from the Dark. It is not a place that gives. It only takes. If you see a young nobleman claiming otherwise, look at the face of whatever grizzled, scarred sergeant he has in his retinue. That man knows the truth of things. Ok, I need to go. Three points of business before I do. First, there is a conman at these meetings your wife attends. He preys on emotionally vulnerable women. I know where he lives. Where he keeps the little letters he uses to blackmail his targets. In case you'd like me to do something about that. Second, I'm going to send a priest to talk to you about your recent experiences. He's not some know-nothing sermon preacher, he's a man who has been there himself. He won't judge. He will give good advice. You'll like him if you give him a chance. Three... Jerina loves the excitement and culture of the city. She thinks you don't like it here. You two should communicate on that subject." Ziva turned to leave, to send the guards back in to keep Banimir company till Jens-Dieter could arrive, though she paused, for just a moment, an opening in case the young nobleman had something to say.

 

[siobhancan99]

Banimir shifted uncomfortably "I'm not sure I need that." But he didn't say no. Instead his haunted eyes darted to the places of shadow in the room, as if expecting something to come out of them.

Jens-Dieter was skeptical at first, of the wisdom of going to visit a man who had at least been present for part of his captivity, but eventually with some prodding by his wife he armored up and strapped on a blade and went off to meet Banimir.

After, she was able to rendezvous with the others at the Simics' mansion, overlooking the valley. It was at the very northern edge of the Western Heights, commanding a view not only of the town, but the Ducal Palace, and indeed the valley beyond. It was this view that got the most attention as the majority of the Simic winery grounds were strung along the foothills of the Stulkin Vid just north of the city. In the snow, they were just lines and lines of barren trellises that would be covered in vines fat with wine grapes come summer. For now, the emptiness seemed to add to the bleakness of the too early winter. Gray skies boiled above, threatening rain if not more snow. Still, as befit one of the richer men of the Duchy, the house was large, warm and well appointed.

Simic had the taste of old money. Everything was expensive but understated, drawing attention not through flash or gold, but solidity and quality. This was a house built to last. Thickly timbered and clad in local stone. It had all the solidity of a fortress with all the comfort of a cottage. Simic had not gone in for magical heating, but each room was cheerfully lit by a warm fire with a fireplace best suited to drive the chill from the room. Each room had doors as well, a luxury that allowed a degree of temperature control.

The house wines were flowing already when Ziva got there, Prabanic and Rkatsiteli. Each bottle was probably a half a week's wages for some poor laborer, but here it flowed like water and lubricated conversation. In the center of it all was Trinthalas, of course. Off to the side, directing some of the servants was Kasia who offered a bright smile and waved. Ulricha stood, sword more prominent than on other occasions, looming behind Jerina like a protective father. She visibly relaxed when the diminutive baker's daughter arrived.

 

[DramaNerdette]

Ziva grins and waves back at Kasia, before stepping up next to Ulricha, and leaning in to mutter, "You know, I think that crazy girl is actually growing on me? I'm starting to get the whole getting stuck in with a rich family thing. They've got fireplaces." She said with a small smile, scanning the room. "Thank you for holding down the fort. I miss anything... fraught?" she finishes, before plucking a canape from a passing serving tray and popping it into her mouth.

 

[siobhancan99]

Ulricha frowned "The elf lord came around and was fawning. Jerina is distracted and he pretended not to care but I think he's actually hurt over it." She nodded towards the corner "Those men over there are talking about forming a municipal government answering to Kazimir and removing his direct rule of the town. It seems popular. Except with Kazimir loyalists" She gestured "almost came to blows. Kasia disrupted it by whispering something one of their ears that made them blanche. Some Homines name. something ending in a us. They all fucking end in an US though."

 

[DramaNerdette]

"Probably wouldn't be to popular with Kazimir either. Means I bet it'll never happen. Not without blood in the streets. Actually talking about forming the new government is so cart before the horse that I'd be surprised to find out they're even in the same town." Ziva shrugged, and stuck the little datum in the back of her head. Something to share in her little report. "Are you ok? I'm not sure I've ever seen you look as tense as you did when I walked in the door. Jens-Dieter agreed to keep an eye on Banimir, try to get the stubborn mule to open up a little." She looked around the room, wondering if the mad bomber guy was hanging around somewhere. Maybe she could sidle over and pick up something juicy to keep the fat eunuch happy.

 

[siobhancan99]

Ulricha frowns "there's something in the air. The place is tense. It's a powderkeg. Everything was relaxed but Jerina put the elf off politely a few times and his mood soured, and when his mood soured slowly over the rest of the hour the mood soured with others. There's a.... there's something. an ... " she struggled with a word "Undercurrent. there's something nasty under the surface here. I think it might just be the elf's mood but... I don't know. When are you planning on having a look round his place anyway? With Jerina not uh... visiting with him... might be more limited in your window to be able to get in there. "