I walked back into the shack that had Bongani. He studiously was working on his slate with the basics of mathematics and reading and writing. I had hoped that I had learned enough to start spending experience so I opened my status.
Name: Aphelele Ade
Paladin of Pleasure and Love
Statistics
Strength: 24
Agility: 22
Toughness: 20
Intelligence: 12
Wisdom: 12
Charisma: 16
Mana: 30/30
Skills:
Spearmanship lvl 3 (0/15xp)
Shield Usage lvl 5 (0/25xp) +2 Levels
Tracking lvl 1 (0/5xp)
Lovemaking lvl 3 (0/15xp)
Unarmed Combat lvl 3 (0/15xp)
Blunt Weapons lvl 3 (0/15xp) +3 Levels
Mathematics lvl 0 (0/5xp)
Sumerian Literacy lvl 0 (0/5xp)
Spells:
Healing Light lvl 3 (0/15xp)
Inspect lvl 2 (0/10xp) +1 Level
Binding Roots lvl 3 (0/15xp)
Flood with Sensations lvl 3 (0/15xp)
Feats:
Aura of Pleasure
Instinct for Pleasure
Gift of Pleasurable Tongues
Pheromone Control
Pretzel Grip
Breaker of Bones
XP to spend: 108
I was tired of feeling foolish. I had to do something besides being a fighter. I invested ten experience into each of mathematics and literacy to bring them up to level 2. I could feel everything I had been taught making more and more sense as my brain was rewired by the Gods to be able to comprehend it better than before.
“Bongani, if you have experience, invest in mathematics and literacy. At least to level one. Tell me how you get more experience.” I walked over to him and with a tug on his hair rested the back of his head against my thighs. Looking down into his eyes I could see the joy to be touching me.
“S-s-serving you. Making you hap-p-py. Doing whatever y-y-you want,” His hands reached back and grabbed the back of my calves. His fingers digging in and seeking for anything overly tense.
I stroked his face, dragging a thumb across his lips and hooking it to open his mouth softly. My other hand played with his ears as I thought about all the things that we could do in this blasted city. “Do you want to make me happy right now?”
His head nodded as his lips closed around my thumb and sucked it slightly. His tongue dancing across my tip with fluttering movements.
“Get ready, we are going to look for other ways to get money.” I pat the side of his face very gently before shoving him off my thighs to let him get ready.
I sighed deeply as he covered his delicious body that I truly would want nothing more than to bury myself into to forget the breakdown I had suffered in the alleyway. But I didn’t have time to indulge in such things right now. Not when I had to get more money.
I clutched his hand when he was dressed in a simple tunic and shorts. The straps of his shoes reached just above his ankle, anchoring them in place. I tucked the pouch of coins into my breasts so people couldn’t snatch it from me and then pulled my male out of the hut.
“Did you invest in the skills?” I asked pulling him away from the homes and towards the many markets that littered the city. The people there would be the best source of information. Many of them might need help, and Bongani had skills that suited cities better than myself.
“Y-y-yes,” He mumbled as he kept tucked just barely behind me, moving with my body like he was made for it.
I approached one of the many cooking vendors and pushed Bongani forward. “My male is good at cooking and needs a job.”
“I cook all myself!” Growled the vendor, “Don’t need someone like that.”
“What about cleaning, sewing, anything that could earn a copper or two.” I stepped up clenching my arm around Bongani.
The man stared at the two of us and shook his head, “There are places that need plates rinsing, scrubbing, all that. None of these vendors will hire anyone!”
“Where can I find these places?” I push holding Bongani behind me now as he shuffled.
“That’ll cost you, information isn’t free,” He held two fingers up rubbing them together like he was testing cloth or leather.
Frowning, I pulled out two coppers and placed them on the counter. He gave me directions and I pulled away from the stand. There had to be a better way to organize these cities as my directions were a number of lefts and houses I needed to traverse to get anywhere. Dragging Bongani behind me I followed those directions as the scent of heavily spiced foods.
A great open canopy lay before me. Tables littered everywhere with plenty of people sitting and eating bowls of food dipped with bread. People scooping food with fingers and moaning in enjoyment. I could feel the hunger deep in my stomach rumble but boldly walked forward towards the kitchen in the building on the other side of the tables.
Several identical young girls with floppy boar like ears and slightly upturned noses watching us. A great, half primal man turned with bowls and plates of steaming food. His narrow nearly black eyes took me in as one of the girls took the plates away to another table.
“What,” He snorted between words, “What do you want?”
Clearing my throat I straightened my back and thrust my chest forward meeting him eye to eye. “My male needs a…” I searched for the word. “A way to make money. He can clean, sew, cook, whatever you need.” Once more I shoved Bongani forward, gripping him by the shoulders to keep him from quaking.
His eyes scanned the scrawny male that did his best not to shuffle. Then oinked deeply, “He can wash dishes. He has two days to prove himself.”
Bongani and I looked at one another and shared a small smile, “He’ll prove himself. He will be quiet and out of the way I promise.” Bongani was escorted into the back room and I couldn’t follow.
“How much will he be paid?” I should have asked this before but I hadn’t thought of it.
“I’ll feed him and you once a day. Plus two coppers a week of work. It is a fine wage, more than any of my girls get.” He held out a thick strong hand and we gripped forearms. “He works until he is done. We stay open until we can’t make money.”
I nodded thinking about being away from him for so long. “When should he show up in the morning?”
The boarkin stroked his thick chin, “When the sun rises. We get as many people as possible. I expect him to be as early as he can.”
With a simple nod I started to try and think about what I could do to make money. I could fight, but that was only every three days. Sure I made a lot more money that way than Bongani but there had to be something.
I spotted Neferit the lizardkin from the baths and shrugged. She must have some thoughts and I was still curious about her from the short conversation. Nodding to myself I walked away from Bongani and planned to be back by nightfall to pick him up.
Our eyes met as I approached and through the veil I wondered what kind of face she was making. I still didn’t fully understand why they would hide so much of their bodies when I knew she looked glorious otherwise.
She bowed slightly much to my confusion and started to pull away. With a simple snatch I grabbed her arm and turned her to me. “Neferit right? I recognize those eyes.”
“Savage, I have places to be.” I could feel her go to pull away and I held on.
“Wait, I need to trade questions again. I need some of your time, even if you go now I need you later.” I did my best not to grip my hand any tighter, not wanting to hurt her.
She looked skittish before nodding to herself, “I’ll come to your place. After work for the day.” She shrugged off my arm and I relented the grip on it. Her hand gently rubbed the spot before nodding to me. “Don’t expect much from me. I don’t know everything.”
“I won’t expect more from you than I need. I… I can pay you somehow.”
Neferit shook her head and walked away from me. I stood there feeling somewhat rejected and lost. I had at least found some work for Bongani but I would need something to do soon enough. I had two more days before the fight that could earn me some money. With betting from Bongani I could try and make enough to get us out of debt. I needed to find out how much I owed in total so I knew what I was aiming for. I had to find time to meet with Tala.
