Sunset Lust

It wasn’t every day that Kalec found himself pulled back to Silvermoon. His business with that city had long since been brief and largely tied to the needs and requests of the Order of the Blood Knights to which he belonged. The city held too many memories for him, not just of the rampant overrun of the Scourge but of a childhood that had spent many years running through the streets and the bazaar between his former home and the market stalls and shops where his family traded and made their small fortunes. As he walked out from the streets beyond the small shop he had stopped in he held a bundled package against his side and quietly walked his way out towards the front gates and beyond to a small fountain where he took a seat and looked back upon the walls of the city.

     As he scanned over the gilding and filigree work that was inlaid into the stone he drew out a slow breath as his memories of the city raised up into his mind’s eye. No, it wasn’t the memories that bothered him, it was how his memories painted the city in a way that it couldn’t reach again. His gaze shifted and he caught the marks upon the stone, the subtle clues of repairs and patches that had fixed the signs of conflict and conquest that had fallen upon the old stone. Even years later, that fresh coat of paint still couldn’t quite make the facade work to cover it all up for him.

     Kalec averted his gaze from the walls and looked over his shoulder to the fountain which ran a steady stream of water down a series of troughs that spun out from an ornate sun mounted at the center. He took another breath and listened to the sound of the water for a moment as a sense of calm took hold in his chest. Those old memories were pushed back to the darkened cupboards where they belonged once again, and he focused instead on why he found himself in his homeland again.

     Countess Firesong. To be more specific, Countess Jadisara Firesong. A member of one of the noble houses of Silvermoon, one of the few who held on through the darker times that the Blood Elves had been through and seemingly flourished. It seemed that his reputation had come to her notice, though he wasn’t quite sure how.

      He had received a letter in Dalaran that had made a request of his services in locating an item of antiquity. Specifically, a ceremonial heirloom blade that had been taken up to fight and then lost in the panic when the Scourge had come. Months of research had culminated in an expedition to locate the hilt, with a partial blade that looked to have been snapped in half, off the shores of Quel’Danas. Weeks still had been spent working with contacts he knew among the reliquary to find descriptions and drawings of the blade for verification.

     More letters had arrived after every step, each as polite as they were demanding, until finally he was able to trace the smith who had forged the blade and found the man’s students in order to secure the restoration and reforge of the blade to the hilt.

     As of two weeks prior, the restored blade had been returned to Countess Firesong and a handsome payment along with a perfumed letter of grateful thanks had been delivered to him. There had been a moment where a sense of pride had seeped into him, that he’d been able to solve a mystery and utilize his skills to return something to a family that would appreciate it. He’d felt good about that for those two weeks, until another letter arrived and requested his presence at the Firesong estate outside of Silvermoon as soon as possible. Those memories had crept out from their hiding place then, just as they had moments before as he walked out of the city gates.

     He shifted uncomfortably for a moment as if the old stone ledge he was on had suddenly grown jagged and pushed to his feet. As he was about to step away, the sound of a sharp whistle and a light snap of reigns being drawn back made him pause. A small carriage, intricate and partially floating from the sheer strength of arcane power above the old stone road had made its way up towards him, drawn by a harnessed pack of brilliant emerald hawkstriders.

     The coachman, a younger looking Blood Elf with short black hair and a meticulously groomed goatee looked Kalec over for a moment and then spoke, “Knight Sunwhisper?”

     Kalec nodded to him, “Good afternoon. Do I…?” He gestured towards the plush looking interior of the carriage as he reached a hand up to stroke along the back of one of the hawkstriders. The feel of its feathers and the smooth texture of the leather harness at least familiar enough to him to keep him from feeling as though he was very out of place.

There was a wave of the young man’s hand behind him with a polite nod and what seemed to be a practiced, professional smile, “Indeed sir. If you would be so kind to quickly take your seat, we should be able to reach the estate well before sundown. As I understand it, you are to be a guest of the Countess in her gardens this evening.”

Kalec let out another breath as his hand left the back of the hawkstrider and he adjusted his hold upon the wrapped bundle at his side before he spoke a soft word of thanks to the young man and stepped up into the carriage without another word. He had barely taken his seat when the lurch of motion happened and a warm breeze that carried the old scent of the Eversong Forest pushed past his face. He drew in a deep breath and leaned back into the plush cushion of his seat as the path and trees moved by his gaze.

***

Half an hour of travel through the forest later, Kalec leaned over the entrance railing of the carriage and looked out towards the destination he was being taken to. The estate, as it stood,  was less of a gilded thin structure like those found within Silvermoon and more of a flowing building design that spoke of older Thalassian architectural style. Windows of immaculately placed panes of stained glass spiraled up and around the walls to fade into the well manicured shrubbery and gardens that surrounded it. He’d seen other buildings like this closer to the borders of the Ghostwood, but those had long since been abandoned and left to ruin.

     To his relief, the arrival of his carriage was subdued and not met with any pomp or fanfare that he had thought might have been prepared from past experiences with those individuals who could classify themselves as noble. With both feet planted firmly on the ground again, the coachman hitched the hawkstriders into motion and wished him a pleasant evening before disappearing down one of the side-paths towards what looked to be a small stables.

     As he turned to look back at the house, a woman had stepped into view from inside the house and walked down to greet him. She was waifish thin and wore her strawberry blonde hair pulled into a tight bun. From the look of her dress, she was one of the estate’s servants and offered him that same practiced professional smile he had received from the carriage driver.

     “Knight Sunwhisper, on behalf of my lady I would like to welcome you to the Firesong estate. My name is, Cerise and Countess Firesong has requested that I show you to her private gardens.  If you would follow me…” her voice had a practiced polite sound to it, a hallmark of someone well trained and long-standing in their role within a household.

     Kalec watched her turn on one foot and looked back at him to make sure that he had followed and he gave her a polite smile and a slight nod. With an adjustment of the wrapped bundle he had brought with him between arms, he moved to follow and let his eyes wander over where he was led.

     The halls were sweeping, wide and airy which lead off to smooth spirals and other rooms within the estate. Pictures of nature, members of the family line, chandeliers and intricate glass-work were all on display as he was taken through towards the back doors. Cerise turned and opened the glass doors open and gestured towards the ancient looking stone path outside beyond the patio and courtyard. There were large, vibrant hedges that sat along the edge of a smooth stone wall that curved and disappeared further back into the garden grounds.

     Noting the look of concern on his face, Cerise spoke softly to him. “Lady Firesong appreciates her privacy when in her personal gardens as she enjoys the warm breezes and the approaching sunset. You are expected and we have been asked to send you to her alone.”

     Kalec caught an expression that touched her features for a moment that faded as quickly as it had appeared. Had it been the upturn of her lips into a smile? It had happened so fast he had missed it, but he gave Cerise a polite smile of his own and turned to walk along the garden path.

***

The meeting with the countess felt like a whirlwind of experience to Kalec. After he had arrived in the garden he was greeted warmly by the bejeweled and freckled Jadisara and bade to enjoy a small feast of hors d’oeuvres that had been prepared for them in her serene private garden. The bundle that he had brought with him had long since been opened, and the pair of them had shared the exotic sweets and chocolates that were contained within.

     In truth, he had expected someone who was uptight and very formal, but found that his host was far more interested in candid conversation and wished to know everything that he could tell her about his efforts in finding the heirloom. He was more than happy to share the details as he knew them and noted how she watched him speak with rapt attention.

     By the time he was on his fourth glass of sparkling wine the sun had begun to set and cast a deep golden red glow over the garden. They had been talking for a couple of hours by that point, the company found to be quite enjoyable by both. Conversation has taken turns between some of his misadventures, to being asked about his youth growing up in Silvermoon proper as her family had known of the Sunwhisper’s merchant efforts though people who knew people and how those people had talked amongst themselves at parties and galas.

When their glasses were empty, Jadisara looked over at him and cast a slight smile upon her lips. Instead of getting another refill, she scooted closer to him and leaned in close. Her voice lilted a little as she leaned in, almost at the level of a whisper as she spoke to him. “I must admit that I have not been entirely honest about my intentions, Knight Sunwhisper.”

Kalec looked at her for a moment and on reflex crossed his arms before he unfolded them as he realized that might come off rude to her. This seemed to tickle her and she laughed softly before she reached a hand up to pat his arm softly.

“The requisition of that blade was meant to be a gift for someone, but we’ve…fallen out of favor with one another now. Instead I have placed it upon the mantle in my bedroom as a sigil of pride in having helped to recover something from my family that was lost for so long,” the hand that was on his shoulder had not left as she spoke but it had moved lower to wrap around his arm with her own. “You see, Kalec…may I call you Kalec?”

    He gave a nod to her, “You may, if I can call you Jadisara. Saying Countess or Lady all the time is a bit of a stretch for me without a lot more preparation for ass kissing.”

     Jadisara looked at him and laughed again before she tugged at his arm and guided him to stand up with her. As she looked up at him her free hand reached up to adjust the neckline of her dress and push it slightly down the curve of her shoulder. “My, a bit coarse but that’s what I had expected. You see, your -other- reputation precedes you, I’m afraid and I would like to engage…those services as a greater way of expressing my appreciation for your efforts.”

     The warm glow of the buzz from the alcohol had washed over his senses and he looked at her for a moment before he blinked and then stammered a little. “Countess, Lady…ah Jadisara. I’m flattered but is that appropri-”

     The top of Jadisara’s dress fell over her shoulders and her bare breasts bounced into view. Her pert nipples adorned with golden rings glinted in the light of the sunset as she reached a hand up and pushed the pad of her finger to his lips with a devilish smile. “Appropriate? Kalec, you have done me a boon that I would see repaid and in turn you would be helping me yet again.”

     Kalec’s shirt was pulled open and fell down his arms from Jadisara’s busy hands before he could register what to say next. He looked from the gold tiara upon her head, down to the shapely curves of her shoulders and the soft spread of freckles over her skin and swallowed. “Helping you?”

     “Mmmhmm,” Jadisara said as she pushed down her dress as it fell to her feet and gave his belt a tug to have his pants follow suit with her own clothing. Within no time, they stood naked before one another and her arms embraced him warmly. His own hands moved with practice and instinctual feeling to hold her back against him as they looked at one another in the fading sunset’s light.

     A hand took hold of his ass and she grinned at him. “A woman has needs, Kalec. Noble or not…and right now I want to feel wanted, and desired after having had my heart torn apart. So I’m asking you, will you help me one more time and accept the payment of this boon to you?” She drew her lip ring between her teeth and tilted her head as he looked up at him. “Will you fuck the memory of that bastard out of my head until I tell you to stop?”

     Perhaps it was the warm fuzzy feeling of a buzz. Perhaps it was the fact that an attractive Thalassian woman was in his arms and he could feel the heat of her skin against his own and the push of her breath making her breasts graze his chest. He wasn’t perfectly sure, but he found that he pulled her to him and kissed her with an intense, passionate hunger that she matched. The taste of her mouth and the sparkling wine that they had enjoyed mingled into a sweet flavor that turned him on more than he anticipated.

I’ll weigh the consequences of this later, he thought. In that moment all he cared about was the taste of her lips, the feeel of heer skin against his, the warm breeze that blew over both of them, and the soft warm glow of their sunset lust.