The Heartstone Saga by Archibald Bradford (pdf to ebook reader txt) 📗

for them. Never mind the pretense about openness and generosity. Half this lot don’t give a damn about any of those girls.”

The increasing sounds of passion coming from the monster girl garden was doing nothing for his libido now that he had sussed out what was bothering him about it.

“All too true, dearheart. Most Flutterby I know live in high society and this is one of the roles they play.” Ophelia said sadly; “As for the Blomma, well, have you ever known a flower girl to turn down sex?”

“Milly told me such good things about the neighbour’s garden.” Erica remarked in a bid to inject some levity into the situation.

Her attempt fell flat.

Ophelia took Nameless by the hand and squeezed it tight.

“Can we leave? This spectacle will continue for some time. And I doubt anything else productive will get done now that it has begun.”

Nameless nodded.

“Yeah. I’ve seen enough.”

He felt a swell of pity in his heart for the Blomma and their Flutterby lovers, but ultimately they had chosen this life for themselves.

It reminded him very much of the Cat-House in the wilds, a brothel full to bursting with Katje prostitutes.

Sex and corruption went hand in hand just as readily as sex and love.

“I can hear you judging us, Aegis.” One of the wealthy women nearby said suddenly with a biting tone as she turned away from the show, annoyed at the distraction.

“You should be judged.” Nameless muttered back.

Her chin turned up as she glared down her nose at him.

“I won’t be lectured by-”

Nina leveled her hammer at the haughty lady, nearly bowling her over just with the strength in her glare.

“Keep talking and I pull out your eyes. You’re not worthy to look upon my mate with your disgusting face.”

The suddenly pale-faced woman swallowed nervously as a faint rumble shook the building, accompanied by a high pitched tinkling noise from a nearby table where a pyramid of fluted glasses stood vibrating precariously amidst the giant’s ire.

A few of the other people muttered to each other worriedly at the disturbance but the orgy continued, the monster girls far to engaged with each other by then to notice the minor quake.

“Nina, enough. We’re leaving.” Nameless said firmly to prevent a scene.

Milly bent down to kiss the little Gigas on the top of her head and coax her towards the exit.

“Yeah, I’ve seen how the other side lives. Kettering is better.”

Thinking back on the boisterous and joyful flower-girls in Janet Skinner’s garden neighbouring their cottage, Nameless agreed whole-heartedly.

Disturbed far more than he cared to admit, he and the girls made their escape.

But whatever discomfort they faced at the party was completely forgotten when they returned home that evening to find a familiar face waiting for them.

Chapter 16:Telling Tales

Kaylee was standing at the front door of their apartment building under the light of a street lamp, and when she caught sight of the young Amazon, Milly let out an excited low and started running towards her.

“Escrya’s back!” She enthused, her cheeks rosy with uncontainable excitement.

Erica’s face likewise lit up, as did Ophelia’s, albeit with more poise.

Having heard the Minotaur coming, the Amazon shook her head in wonder.

“And so too is Kaylee!” The young warrior objected with a laugh.

But any offence she might have taken was forgotten when Milly embraced her fiercely, even going so far to kiss and lick at the side of her face.

“Euagh! That tickles!” Kaylee giggled as she returned the hug; “I am glad to see you as well!”

It had been weeks since any of them had seen her, so there were more hugs to follow.

And when Escrya and Helena returned from the market district with packs full of provisions, they were given much the same treatment.

Once the greetings were finished they hurried the three fatigued Amazons inside and up to their apartment.

They expressed some concern at the state of the door before entering though; Nina had reattached it before leaving for the fundraiser, but it wasn’t hanging properly at all.

Nameless had very little desire to get in touch with the landlord about it.

Soon they sat in the living room, Erica purring beside Kaylee as she combed and braided her hair with fresh Valkyrie feathers, and Milly behind Helena making the Amazon groan with a vigorous shoulder rub, the two of them having exchanged such favours on multiple occasions in the past.

When Volka returned Nameless shot a questioning look at her, but she simply winked at him rather than explain the situation with Lilly, her focus quickly turning to Escrya.

While her sisters were being spoiled, she knelt before the Dominar, just as she had in Lipton Falls, to give her report on their journey.

“We have set things into motion, as you asked Dominar. There should be several more war parties arriving in the coming days.”

Volka nodded.

“Yes, I’ve met with a steady stream of Amazons since last we spoke, as well as others. It is small, but we have enough now to call it a reactionary force.”

“You three seem exhausted.” Ophelia fretted, bringing the Amazons each a large glass of Milly’s milk from the icebox and urging Escrya to stop prostrating herself and rest on the couch.

If they were, none of them were saying it.

“Our quest remains unfinished. We have gotten the word out, so there are runners from every tribe in the region calling our people to the Dominar’s side.” Escrya shook her head and sighed heavily; “But they will be few, nowhere near the numbers we fielded before the world was broken.”

Nameless sat down beside her, setting his hand on the back of hers as she drank, sensing that there was more to what she was saying.

“What are you going to do?”

She turned her hand over to interlace