The four of us had booked a week's stay at the inn. L used my upcoming duel as an excuse to the locals to validate our stay and divert suspicion. Kona spoke with her mother at her house before returning to the inn, telling us that it would take several days until he arrived.
The north had adopted the same technology as the capital of instant communication at long distance, though he was in the grand city of Samleby, two cities north, near the great wall where Kona's father sat atop a throne of ice.
L ordered us all into his room, where he explained the new plan. He would be like a shadow in this town, exploring to uncover its secrets. Kona and I would play the part of a distraction; Nigel was ordered to do the same, but more overtly, to act as an overly curious foreigner and play into that. The carriage driver, we were told, had departed and returned to the Capitol. I asked L how he would be like a shadow, as he said, he simply responded by telling me not to ask stupid questions and then ushered everyone out of the room.
The three of us awkwardly stood in the hallway of the inn after hearing the door to L's room lock shut from within. After a second, Nigel turned to Kona, suddenly with a large grin on his face.
"So, Kona. Your mom's crazy sexy, can you introduce me?"
"What the fuck!? You're younger than me!"
"I'm an adult."
"She's in her forties!"
"I like older women."
With an annoyed groan, Kona grabbed my wrist and dragged me through the hall and into our room, and Nigel started to laugh in the hallway. I knew he wasn't entirely joking, but he definitely must have said that knowing nothing would happen. After all, he did sleep with Josephine a few years ago, probably more than once.
As Kona locked the door to the bedroom, I sat down on the bed as she paced back and forth in frustration.
"I mean, should I even meet her? Your mother, that is?"
Kona stopped in her tracks, looking down at her feet as she let out a reluctant sigh. "I suppose, when you win this fight, you'll be my husband. So I suppose you should. It's also part of the mission, I suppose."
"Right, who's this guy I'm meant to fight anyway?"
"Does it matter? You'll be able to beat him easily if you try. In truth, you might just be one of the strongest men alive… so… hold back a bit, will ya? The strong lead here, unless you want to overthrow a country."
"I'm terrified just to meet your mother, so taking over a country is going to be a bit much."
Kona smiled at my remark, which made me smile in turn. "How is she scary? Don't tell me you're 'intimidated by her beauty' because then I would have to hit you."
"I'm intimidated by her kick. I fear she could put a hole in my chest if she kicked me with heels on."
"Well, I would offer to hide behind me, but you need to present strongly to her. Don't be intimidated by her… she can smell your fear."
Kona cracked a laugh as she looked at my expression as I sat there, wondering if that was true, and that was all the more terrifying.
Later that day, Kona left to meet with her mother again. She left Nigel and me to have dinner together, as L was nowhere to be seen. With his room still locked, we assumed he was sleeping, planning to sneak around at night. The two of us ate in a dining hall.
"So, going to meet with your lover's mother now? Do you need a ring, or ah. Ah, what do they do in this part of the world, a bracelet?"
"I don't plan on dropping to one knee if that's what you're suggesting. She actually told me she wanted to wait till I was twenty to marry to avoid all this."
"Well, either way, meeting the parents is a big step, no? You going to take her to meet yours one day?"
"We did already. After leaving, we went to my home to check."
"Wait… really? You went back to Trydent Wood?"
"Yeah, just to check. Though she didn't see my mother, I did. We didn't dare go inside." I looked up from my plate to see Nigel's face full of questions and concern. "There were those church guys there, paladins? Inquisitors? I can't remember, but they were there."
"In your house? And your mother was okay?"
"Last I saw, she was still sick. But she was sent to Vilta before I became a murderer to seek treatment from the church, so I assume it might have been that."
"Ah, I see. Well, I pray she is in good health and good spirits," he raised his flagon to mine in a toast. "So, what does your mother look like anyway?"
I shot him a glance, and he smiled and brushed it off as a joke. I understand that we're at the age where men usually think about sex a lot, and some even start to ponder the idea of having children. I have noticed a lot of changes in him lately. When around others, he speaks more refined and noble; when with friends, he relaxes and speaks casually. Even lately, I've noticed his height grow at an even faster rate than my own; the two of us are the same height now. I suppose it's fair that things like that are on his mind and not mine, after all, I have Kona.
"Hey Nigel. Even been to a brothel?"
He looked at me like he had never even heard the word before. Even back in Trydent Wood, I had heard the word said and knew there was one in town, though it was more a lonely woman's house than anything else. Even when at Red Beach, I overheard some soldiers joke about wanting to go to one. How is it that he had never even heard of it?
"Do you not know what a brothel is?"
"No."
"It's where to go to pay a woman for sex."
Nigel slammed his mug down as he leapt to his feet. "WHAT! We need to go to one immediately!" I couldn't help but feel like I had just made a massive mistake.
Nigel was overcome with a very childish-like excitement as he dragged me out of the tavern where we were eating in on the snowy streets that glistened gold with the waiting sun. He looked around and then locked his gaze onto me, clearly expecting me to lead the way. I know they existed, but I had never been to one. All I had was some inkling of an idea about a red light something or rather. I knew it would be easy enough to ask a local for directions, but the streets were quiet and empty at this hour. With a reluctant sigh, I led the way deeper into town. If I had to guess, it might be somewhere near the middle.
We wandered the snow-covered cobble roads for a time, passing by wooden buildings that all billowed smoke from their chimneys in their eternal war against the cold night. As we wandered aimlessly, I spotted a faint red glow against the dimming light of day down a side alley. Upon approaching, it was a glass lantern hung outside a large two-story building that resembled an inn.
The glass of the lantern was tinted red, giving it its distinct glow. The building's front door was shut, though there was a sign that said it was open. When trying to open the door, however, it was locked. Nigel stepped forward towards the door, taking a deep breath and straightening his coat. He was nervous. He reached out and knocked on the door.
After only a few seconds, the door crept open just enough for an eye to peer through the crack at us. "Oh fuck." A deep and damaged-sounding voice erupted as the door quickly slammed shut. There was the sound of metal rustling and locks being undone, and after a few seconds more, the door swung open wide. At the door was a large man, strong with a face that looked like he enjoyed fighting a bit too much. He bowed slightly as he held his hand out, gesturing for us to enter.
As we stepped in, there was warmth and a pleasant floral smell that lingered in the air. The room was large and open with double-height ceilings and stairs that led up to a walkway that had many doors on it that matched the many doors on the floor below. In the open space, there were chairs and tables, a small kitchen in the back, much like a tavern, and the unmistakable smell of alcohol and wine. Carpets with immaculate details and the flickering warm light of candles. There were also, of course, women. Only three were in the larger open space, two sitting at a table, facing each other, and a third near the counter by the kitchen.
"My my, what have we here. Two young royal guards and quite cute ones at that." A voice rang out from above, a woman tall and older descended the stairs as she looked at us. She wore a corset, a white fur scarf that draped over her shoulders, heels with dark thigh-high leggings that were mostly see-through and clearly visible and lacy black lingerie underwear. Her attire left little to the imagination.
"You may find my humble little establishment a bit simple for your tastes, but I will do my best to ensure young men of such high standing are taken care of." As she spoke, more women emerged from doors, peering their heads out to see who had entered the building. It was clear to me that those rooms were not only where patrons spent their time but were the bedrooms of the workers as well.
As the older woman descended the stairs and approached us, Nigel bowed formally. "Nigel Fenring. A pleasure, furthermore, to call this place simple would be an insult to the work you've done and the beauty you have cultivated."
I couldn't tell if he was being formally polite or overtly flirting, but the owner smiled and chuckled faintly. "Come now, young ones, let us be comfortable and discuss what brings you here."
We were led by the madam to a table nearby and seated as other women came out of their rooms and would offer to serve us wine and meat. I explained that neither of us had ever actually stepped foot into a brothel before, but Nigel was eager to have a look. I found myself surprisingly calm in the situation simply because I had no intention of bedding anyone there, but Nigel was different. He clammed up when a girl approached him, his eyes darting between the woman and the table, as if looking at their revealing clothes was an offensive act. The madam of the establishment also picked up on this right away, feeling he was nervous to be there.
"Young lord." The madam leaned across the table towards Nigel. "I suspect you are more used to being around women who are more refined and dignified, yes?"
Nigel cleared his throat. "I am simply not used to being around so many… loosely dressed women is all."
"Feel free to ogle away, young master. Any woman here would see it as an honour to be stared at so fervently by one as distinguished as yourself." She smirked and learned back in her chair as some of the women came over and placed down mead and meat at the table for us. The helping of food was small while the amount of alcohol was large; after all, mead was cheap and plentiful.
Nigel looked up at the woman who placed the mead in front of him. She had more clothes than the rest and was the only one with red hair. It was long and flowing down her back. She smiled at Nigel, but my attention was ripped away by the madam, who turned her attention towards me.
"And what of you, my young thing, what are your tastes in women like?"
By the time I glanced back over to Nigel, it had only been several seconds, but already he was standing on his feet as he was being whisked away to a room by the redhead woman. I turned back to the madam.
"Well, I like my woman a full head taller than me, not too much older and quite muscular. Preferably a warrior as well."
The madam was taken aback by my request; she stammered to say anything as her eyes fluttered. "I, uh…."
"Actually, never mind that. What can I get for this amount?" I reached down and pulled from my belt a sack of coins, dropping it on the table with a thud. The madam's eye lit up at the sight of the money, leaning in to get a closer look.
"For this amount, if you so desire, you could bed all the women of this establishment all at once if it pleases you."
I took a single coin out of the sack and placed it on the table, grabbing the sack and placing it down on the chair next to me. "I will pay only for this, but I do not wish to bed a woman tonight. Though, I would like more of that meat."
The madam reached out and placed a finger atop the coin, sliding it towards herself as she smiled at me. "Of course, I will have Aisha give you some company as well. I can't rightly have a man in my establishment all by his lonesome now, can I?"
I don't know why I dumped the sack of coins on the table like I did. Perhaps I was bored; perhaps their reaction was my form of entertainment in this place. Either way, the food here was surprisingly good.