Damon slept in late the next morning. He stirred as a soft tap came at his door, followed by softer footsteps.
“Solas,” called Malon. “I wanted to let you rest, but Telsius just came into view on the horizon.”
She sat down next to him on the bed. He’d been having a dream that he couldn’t remember but was sure had been vaguely sexual. His morning oak was stiff to the degree of distraction. Malon smelled incredible, and he could feel her warmth even through his bed’s quilt.
“Five more minutes,” he said. “You can spend them in here, with me.”
He opened his eyes halfway and groped out at her. Malon let out a whispery chuckle and took his hand, bringing it to her lips to kiss his knuckles.
“You threw your dirty clothes all over the floor,” she said. “Would you have me spend those five minutes laying you out a new set?”
“I have other things in mind, aesta.”
He pulled her onto the bed with a burst of strength that surprised her enough to elicit a squeal. She didn’t push him away as he kissed her, sinking down alongside him, the two of them quickly becoming entangled within the sheets.
“Solas,” she whispered, clearing her throat. Her tone was clearly aiming for authority but striking somewhere closer to reluctant temptation.
“Aesta,” he said. “You came down here to wake me up.”
He pulled her hand down underneath the quilt, setting her impossibly soft fingers right onto his stiff member. He saw her trying not to smile, willing herself to pull her hand back even as she began to caress the tip with her thumb on reflex.
“You’re already quite awake, it would seem,” she whispered. “I would only slow you down by… helping you any further.”
“Just a kiss, then.”
“It always starts as just a kiss, or just a hug.”
She kissed him back anyway, lips parting, tongues sliding, Malon’s hand continuing to touch his morning oak as though tied by an invisible thread. Damon was not subtle in the way he pawed at her, nor with the gleam in his eye as he tipped her onto her back and slid between her thighs.
“This is not a good time,” she whispered, blushing and biting her lip.
He prodded his cock forward against her leg, gently but deliberately lifting the hem of her dress. He couldn’t think of any better way to start his morning off right than with her, any better breakfast than the taste of her lips and body. He kissed her again and sensed the horniness in the way she kissed him back. She couldn’t hide the fact that she wanted it just as bad as he did.
A firm knock came at Damon’s door, which was completely unnecessary, given that it was already open. Lilian cleared her throat a touch awkwardly and waved a hand into the room.
“We’re nearing Telsius,” she said. “Ria told me that they sent a small ship out to serve as our escort into the docks.”
“We’re coming right up.” Malon crossed her legs and pushed him off. “Aren’t we, solas?”
Damon groaned, feeling the blood pulsing in his head and elsewhere to a distracting degree. “I suppose we have to, now.”
Malon and Lilian went ahead of him. It took him a minute or two of deep breathing to relax enough to pull his pants on, but he managed, and made his way up to the main deck after strapping his sword belt on.
Ria and Vel stood near the ship’s bow, staring out at the island of Telsius in the distance. Malon was off to the side, while Lilian was in the main cabin, out of the sun, which dominated the clear blue sky.
Telsius was a small, rather vertical point of land amidst the surrounding ocean. The city itself was clustered along the cove near sea level, surrounded by hulking cliffs in the shape of a horseshoe that extended into a higher, seemingly unreachable plateau.
It wasn’t a beautiful city, but Damon had seen far worse. The limited space meant that the streets were narrow and the buildings were tall, creating the effect of a doubling of sorts, like a second city had been meticulously stacked upon the first. The arrangement only exacerbated the deep shadows cast by the cliffs, and despite the sun being well above the horizon, Telsius was only just having its dawn.
There was no shortage of ships moored in its docks or loitering within the general area of the ocean, and as Lilian had told them, one seemed to be headed toward them with purpose. Damon joined Vel and Ria, who were watching its approach with varying amounts of wariness.
“I’m sure they’re just struck by the size of our ship,” said Vel. “They don’t want an entire army dropping into their city unannounced, and The Reunion could hold a fair portion of one.”
“Perhaps,” said Ria. “Though we were boarded just last night if you recall. There is a chance this Endless King they spoke of operates from upon this island.”
“I don’t think so,” said Damon. “Telsius is governed by a High Council. They have their own militia, or at least had one the last time I came through. They’re as close to a naval power in this region of the Endless Ocean as you’ll find.”
Which, he supposed, did raise the question of why the pirates had been so brazen in their attack. The Endless King might not be running his operation from Telsius, but Damon wasn’t naïve enough to think that he was entirely without dealings with the city.
Malon joined them as the escort ship came up alongside. It was small, no more than a longboat with half a dozen stout rowers and a sail. A man with a shaggy red beard waved to them and began speaking in a bellowing voice over the noise of the waves.
“I am Lord Captain Tyrus Danworth of Telsius,” he called. “I’ve come to inquire your business within our city.”
“My name is Damon Al-Kendras. My family and I are interested in resupplying, nothing more.”
The encounter went quickly after that, with Tyrus and some of his men marveling over the wonderous build quality of the ship and asking how they planned to come ashore. The Reunion had its own dinghy, and after some fumbling with the mechanism, Damon managed to lower it into the water, along with a ladder allowing them to easily climb down.
“Who else wants to head into the city?” he asked the others, back inside the main cabin.
“I would like to spend some time back on solid land, if possible,” said Ria.
“I need to see the style of the dresses here,” said Vel. “It’s important information for me, career wise.”
“I’d also quite like to visit Telsius again, though I’ll admit that it’s not a pressing need,” said Malon.
Damon shrugged and looked at Lilian.
“I’ll stay behind,” she said.
“You’re sure?” he asked.
“I doubt my experience hiding my skin from the sun and prying eyes would be all that pleasant.” She smiled, showing her fangs. “Besides, it’s not as though the ship is uncomfortable, or lacking for entertainment. Another hot bath, some wine, a book. I’ll be fine.”
“Alright,” said Damon. “I suppose we’ll make a family trip out of this.”
They didn’t waste any time climbing down onto the dinghy and setting out. The little boat was at the mercy of the waves to a degree far more severe than the main ship, and Ria’s face took on a paleness within the first minute of their short trip to the docks.
Captain Tyrus and his men watched them come ashore but seemed to dismiss them as the mostly benign travelers they were after a minute. The docks were active, but not so busy that their arrival wasn’t made into an event by a number of dockside merchants.
The main market of Telsius was right next to the water, with dozens of shops and stalls selling as wide of a range of goods as Damon had ever seen. Men and women vied for his attention, shouting slogans and announcing prices.
“Pretty scarf, for your lady!” called a woman. “Five silver for red, two for blue!”
“Swords made of true Argenstein steel! Prices start at ten silver and stay fair all the way up!”
“Boots!” shouted a man. “I got some fucking boots for sale!”
The mood was infectious, and Damon couldn’t stop from grinning as though he’d just walked into a carnival tent. He saw a merchant selling meat sticks that smelled incredible, but Malon set a hand on his shoulder as he took a step in that direction.
“Keep your coin purse close, solas,” she whispered. “It’s not just the vendors who’ll be looking to get their hands on our money.”
“True enough.” He tucked his purse deeper into his pocket, making sure it would be no easy grab for a passing pickpocket.
There were plenty of people walking about, but not so many to form a true crowd. Damon had been expecting a crush of bodies akin to Avaricia during a festival, but Telsius felt more like a small coastal city during midwinter, when the ships died down and travelers slowed up.
“We should tend to resupplying first and foremost,” said Malon. “I have a fair amount of money from the stipend that Seffi provides me. Is there any food in particular that the three of you are craving?”
Vel tapped a finger to her lips. Ria acted as though she wasn’t listening, still chilly as she was toward their aesta. Damon gave the obvious answer.
“Fresh vegetables, cured meat, and anything else that looks tasty,” he said. “I suppose I’ll find us an inn while you’re handling that.”
“I would like to see the view from atop the cliff,” said Ria. She gestured to a thin trail of switchbacks running along the rugged rock. It looked like a long climb, but not overly treacherous, and certainly one worth the effort.
“I’ll go with aesta and help her with the food,” said Vel. “Maybe we’ll also get a chance to stop by one of the tailors here in Telsius?”
She gave Malon a smile, and Damon could all but see her desire to get a new dress on their aesta’s coin in those hopeful eyes.
“I would appreciate your help, seta,” said Malon. “We’ll meet back up at the docks, in view of the dinghy, once we’re finished.”
“I’ll see you there,” said Damon. He hadn’t even finished talking when the others split off, eager to stretch their legs and explore after so long on the ship.