Renneth's Side Job
“Good afternoon,” Greeted the male and female pair as the double doors were pushed open. Both were shirtless with blue skirts clinging to their hips. Their pale skin on full display as they assessed the newest entrant to their home. A weathered man in sweat stained clothing gave a guttural response. Both greeters were veterans and didn't recoil from the putrid scent rolling off their guest. Instead the woman inquired, “What brings you to the Dragon's Bloom?”
“This tiny, green thing called Ashrel told me to come here before I could meet with Ru'Sala,” The guest explained.
“Mistress! We have a special one for you!” Cried out the male greeter.
“I see,” A seductive voice emanated from every direction at once. A full figured woman stepped out from behind a privacy screen with a black skirt matching her short sleeved top. As she approached the Mistress ordered, “Turin, go get me a bath drawn. Yuri, go fetch my tools from upstairs.”
“Excuse me, do you know where Ru'Sala is? I need to speak to him, now.” The guest stated flatly.
The Mistress began to circle the man, examining him. As she took each step she explained, “We know who you are, Tzun Kiraten. Your presence alone is enough to tell us that your rebellion against Lord Sus is poised to strike. However, our Commander is busy at the moment so you'll be cleaned up and prepared. After all, you'll be meeting with him soon.” The man stood with his jaw slightly agape at her words.
“Mistress! The bath is ready,” Announced the greeter before she returned to her post by the door.
Tzun stammered, “W-who are you?”
“Oh forgive me. I've gone ahead of myself, haven't I?” With a flirting wink the woman flashed Tzun a smile of perfect teeth, “I am Renneth. Owner and Matron of the Dragon's Bloom Brothel. Now, let's get you cleaned up.” Taking the stunned man by the hand she brought him behind a privacy screen. A block of stone had been carved out and plenty of steaming water filled it.
Renneth's soft fingers tugged on the man's shirt insistently. Submitting to her, Tzun was quickly stripped and then pushed into the bath. He let out a yelp of surprise at the sudden heat. The scalding water finding every bit of sensitive flesh and open wound. Rennth chided the man as he flailed about, “Come now, stop splashing about and let me get you clean.”
Managing to still himself, Tzun watched the woman reach out for a bottle above the tub and poured a yellow liquid into her palm. A drop escaped her cupped palm to land on his shoulder. A shiver ran down his spine at its contrast to the water. Renneth continued to rub the cool liquid against his skin vigorously. While she worked to cleanse the man Renneth asked, “Why come the whole way to us?”
“W-what do you mean?” Tzun stammered under the relentless scrubbing he recieved.
“We're a long ways from the Land of Storms and we're not numerous enough to fight a war,” Renneth clarified as applied the soap to her guest's muscular back.
“A-ah,” Gasped Tzun as the woman continued to work the dirt from his body. He flinched as she moved nearer to his waist and below to cleanse him. His muscles spasmed under the mix of massage and cleaning. With a sigh of contentment he then explained, “I've been asking everyone I could for help between my homeland and here. Though, yes, I did put my highest hopes on finding a way to hire you all. We're being taxed so heavily we won't survive another year under Lord Sus.”
“So, what brought you to us?” Renneth repeated her question more sternly as she worked her fingers between Tzun's toes.
“I've heard that Gods won't fight dragons. We raided a shipment of my Lord's gold. We'll also sell our Lands to Ru'Sala and revere him as a Deity if it means we can survive,” Admitted Tzun.
“And what use would he have for lands that produce so little food as to not be able to provide for themselves and their taxes,” asked Renneth while shooing the male greeter away. Tzun noticed that he had delivered a platter with brushes, blades and a few items he didn't recognize on it. Renneth pushed Tzun's head back while retrieving a comb. Bringing the item through the thick beard, Tzun whimpred at the fierce tangles. No matter how strong, Renneth eventually would work out the snags. She coerced the man once more, “You haven't answered my question.”
Through a wince of pain Tzun said, “We're not wealthy, true. But, we're prepared to offer up our daughters, sisters and wives up to him.”
“You'd have done better to offer yourself, sadly.”
“W-what do you mean?”
“Nothing you'd concern yourself with,” Tittered Renneth as she began to work Tzun's beard with long strokes. Reaching above the bath once more for a different bottle, Renneth worked the new liquid into a foamy lather before applying it to every bit of hair on Tzun's head. Leaning back from the tub Renneth asked, “What are you hoping to get from us?”
“We're prepared to fight, but there are no soldiers among us. We couldn't hope to win in a fight with Lord Sus anyway but even if Ru'Sala himself isn't willing to take us on, perhaps he knows of a Dragon who might,” Admitted Tzun. Renneth poured a fresh pitcher of hot water over his head. Holding up a fresh cloth, Renneth then motioned for the man to follow.
Directing him into a small room adorned with wooden stands, Renneth draped several formal robes over them. Tzun chose a robe bearing the image of a bowed rice leaf. The woman looked over the reborn man. He was clean, with a pleasant scent yet his strong arms made it clear he was a man of the land.
“I do good work. Now, follow me.” Renneth once more hooked a finger towards Tzun. Taking him upstairs, she opened a door to reveal a meeting room with a low table. At it sat a woman with a white and gold dress while across from her was a large man with flesh and dark blue scales.
Tzun immediately fell to his knees. As Renneth closed the door, Ru'Sala mouthed a silent 'thank you'. He'd been waiting for the insurrection and knew if Lady Tsu had been disgusted by Tzun's appearance that it would have been rejected out of hand. Tittering to herself, Renneth said once more, “I do very good work.”
“This tiny, green thing called Ashrel told me to come here before I could meet with Ru'Sala,” The guest explained.
“Mistress! We have a special one for you!” Cried out the male greeter.
“I see,” A seductive voice emanated from every direction at once. A full figured woman stepped out from behind a privacy screen with a black skirt matching her short sleeved top. As she approached the Mistress ordered, “Turin, go get me a bath drawn. Yuri, go fetch my tools from upstairs.”
“Excuse me, do you know where Ru'Sala is? I need to speak to him, now.” The guest stated flatly.
The Mistress began to circle the man, examining him. As she took each step she explained, “We know who you are, Tzun Kiraten. Your presence alone is enough to tell us that your rebellion against Lord Sus is poised to strike. However, our Commander is busy at the moment so you'll be cleaned up and prepared. After all, you'll be meeting with him soon.” The man stood with his jaw slightly agape at her words.
“Mistress! The bath is ready,” Announced the greeter before she returned to her post by the door.
Tzun stammered, “W-who are you?”
“Oh forgive me. I've gone ahead of myself, haven't I?” With a flirting wink the woman flashed Tzun a smile of perfect teeth, “I am Renneth. Owner and Matron of the Dragon's Bloom Brothel. Now, let's get you cleaned up.” Taking the stunned man by the hand she brought him behind a privacy screen. A block of stone had been carved out and plenty of steaming water filled it.
Renneth's soft fingers tugged on the man's shirt insistently. Submitting to her, Tzun was quickly stripped and then pushed into the bath. He let out a yelp of surprise at the sudden heat. The scalding water finding every bit of sensitive flesh and open wound. Rennth chided the man as he flailed about, “Come now, stop splashing about and let me get you clean.”
Managing to still himself, Tzun watched the woman reach out for a bottle above the tub and poured a yellow liquid into her palm. A drop escaped her cupped palm to land on his shoulder. A shiver ran down his spine at its contrast to the water. Renneth continued to rub the cool liquid against his skin vigorously. While she worked to cleanse the man Renneth asked, “Why come the whole way to us?”
“W-what do you mean?” Tzun stammered under the relentless scrubbing he recieved.
“We're a long ways from the Land of Storms and we're not numerous enough to fight a war,” Renneth clarified as applied the soap to her guest's muscular back.
“A-ah,” Gasped Tzun as the woman continued to work the dirt from his body. He flinched as she moved nearer to his waist and below to cleanse him. His muscles spasmed under the mix of massage and cleaning. With a sigh of contentment he then explained, “I've been asking everyone I could for help between my homeland and here. Though, yes, I did put my highest hopes on finding a way to hire you all. We're being taxed so heavily we won't survive another year under Lord Sus.”
“So, what brought you to us?” Renneth repeated her question more sternly as she worked her fingers between Tzun's toes.
“I've heard that Gods won't fight dragons. We raided a shipment of my Lord's gold. We'll also sell our Lands to Ru'Sala and revere him as a Deity if it means we can survive,” Admitted Tzun.
“And what use would he have for lands that produce so little food as to not be able to provide for themselves and their taxes,” asked Renneth while shooing the male greeter away. Tzun noticed that he had delivered a platter with brushes, blades and a few items he didn't recognize on it. Renneth pushed Tzun's head back while retrieving a comb. Bringing the item through the thick beard, Tzun whimpred at the fierce tangles. No matter how strong, Renneth eventually would work out the snags. She coerced the man once more, “You haven't answered my question.”
Through a wince of pain Tzun said, “We're not wealthy, true. But, we're prepared to offer up our daughters, sisters and wives up to him.”
“You'd have done better to offer yourself, sadly.”
“W-what do you mean?”
“Nothing you'd concern yourself with,” Tittered Renneth as she began to work Tzun's beard with long strokes. Reaching above the bath once more for a different bottle, Renneth worked the new liquid into a foamy lather before applying it to every bit of hair on Tzun's head. Leaning back from the tub Renneth asked, “What are you hoping to get from us?”
“We're prepared to fight, but there are no soldiers among us. We couldn't hope to win in a fight with Lord Sus anyway but even if Ru'Sala himself isn't willing to take us on, perhaps he knows of a Dragon who might,” Admitted Tzun. Renneth poured a fresh pitcher of hot water over his head. Holding up a fresh cloth, Renneth then motioned for the man to follow.
Directing him into a small room adorned with wooden stands, Renneth draped several formal robes over them. Tzun chose a robe bearing the image of a bowed rice leaf. The woman looked over the reborn man. He was clean, with a pleasant scent yet his strong arms made it clear he was a man of the land.
“I do good work. Now, follow me.” Renneth once more hooked a finger towards Tzun. Taking him upstairs, she opened a door to reveal a meeting room with a low table. At it sat a woman with a white and gold dress while across from her was a large man with flesh and dark blue scales.
Tzun immediately fell to his knees. As Renneth closed the door, Ru'Sala mouthed a silent 'thank you'. He'd been waiting for the insurrection and knew if Lady Tsu had been disgusted by Tzun's appearance that it would have been rejected out of hand. Tittering to herself, Renneth said once more, “I do very good work.”