Tales of the Exalted

The princess was breathing a little sigh of relief when the men decided to move to the other room. She was immensely thankful for Donovan’s consideration because it did seem he had intentional orchestrated their privacy. Still, she had already seen things she didn't think she could forget, even if she had wanted to.


After a moment she respite a white head popped up out of the water near them.

”The eye candy left!” Jill pouted a bit comically, obviously being light hearted about the nudity. ”I wouldn't mind getting to see more of that sometime. Right ladies?”

"I do not think that was the desire they were thinking of when they were looking our way. If you are not into women, fine but I was enjoying the view," Cion laughed and leaned back, enjoying the steam clinging to his body. The heat strangely made him think of his father and he got a touch of homesickness that he immediately cast aside.

Ruby giggled a little at Silver being a mope. "You're kidding right? We get to see that any time we want. Everyone should be jealous of us. Besides, I'm damn sure we'd turn more heads." She nodded to herself as she shoved the Lunar under again, sneaking another look at the retreating forms before her friend resurfaced.

Jill sputter as she came up for air, resisting the urge to change into something more mischievous just yet. "Hold on... which one of those are you getting to see like that anytime you want?" She gaped at her friend. Jill wasn't always around but she thought she would have noticed if Ruby was involved in one of the men.

"That wasn't what I mean at all!" Ruby splashed her friend at the assumption. Then paused and thought for a moment. "But if I wanted to...ooh, choices." She wasn't sure which one she would pick to tussle with under the sheets, but she was sure there would be some sort of surprise no matter the winner.

Callista's attention was quickly brought back to the two women bantering, and was glad no one had noticed to whom her eyes had been drifting again. She couldn't help but be a touch envious at how free they were with their sexuality, Callista having been told for the majority of her life that she would only knew her husband intimately. Hearing that Ruby might be involved with one of the men made her rather curious as to which one. There was a touch of relief when Ruby said that she wasn't involved with any of them but it surprised the princess which man had come to her mind.

"Oh, now you have to tell me which one you'd think would be the most fun." Jill grinned. "I know which one I'd like to take for a ride."

"and ruin the fun of it? No, but if you want to share, be my guest. What about you three, huh? Ruby wanted to get them all to open up a little, they've done so much together and still they felt almost like strangers. "What do you think about the company we keep? Besides, if you count Sanjuro, there's enough for all of us." She winked at the group knowing full well how mysterious and aggravating that man could be when he showed up.

Mayumi didn't care for this line of conversation, but was glad the boys were gone. She did her best not to watch as Pyrrha made her way to the other women and joined in the gossip.
"Cion and I would make strong children, but just for the act itself I'd pick Donovan. Correct me if I'm wrong Mercy, but your men don't seem to know much about the pleasures of the flesh. I bet he'd let me do whatever I like and thank me when I was done." she said scandalously. May blushed at the image. "But my true interests lie elsewhere." her green eyes seemed to fall on May as she spoke and May quickly tried to change the subject.
"Sanjuro hasn't looked at a woman that way since Chagatai slew his betrothed. He will be the last of his line, unless ordered to by the Khal." May interrupted. She didn't want another woman to pick at her brother's wounds like Awilix did.

"Mister quiet and brooding behind the mask? He probably needs a nice romp and he'd lighten up. And you know that's not fair! I asked you first but I'll take your apparent coyness to mean you're actually interested in one." Jill gave Ruby a devilish grin. "Let's see if I can figure it out. Maybe Donovan, he has that strong noble thing going for him but maybe he's too reserved for you. There's the mysterious sorcerer with all his intense tattoos.. but you haven't fallen for my gorgeous ink yet so maybe that's not a selling point. Fighting fire with fire just seems like a bad idea, and the horse has less of an ego than the master which is saying a lot." Jill continued to pretend to ponder while watching Ruby's reactions as she did.

Ruby's eyes just kept narrowing as the curious kitty tried to get an answer from her. Interested, sure. But who wouldn't be with the way his muscles were. She wasn't after anything but fun, so stuffy or haughty didn't matter long as he was willing to walk away. "You know why I haven't shown an interest in your ink? Because you're always something else! Get over here while I can, I'll scrub you down while I'm at it. Besides, who ever said it was just one of them?" She was ignoring May's upset comment, she had only said it as a joke, none of them that she knew of had any interest in a man more interested in anything that wasn't them when he wasn't "testing" their ability. She hadn't meant anything of it.

The princess covered a giggle at the highly inappropriate conversation but she didn't feel that she had to be too proper in their company. She didn't have many female friends growing up besides May, nor did she have any sisters but she felt this was as close as she would ever get.


”I like Eida's tattoos,” she said almost too quickly. ”I mean, they suit him just like your lovely silver ones suit you Jillian and Cion's wild ones fit him.” Callista thought for a moment, woefully naive about the whole subject but she had heard servant women talking and there were things she had read about in Mercy’s book. Even though she wouldn't get a choice in her arrangements she still felt as if she could live vicariously through the women at least a little bit.

”Donovan would agree with you about making strong children, and I am sure he would be a patient and kind lover,” she said, agreeing with Pyrrha while also thinking he would likely still be very formal behind closed doors. His decorum was one of his strong points and she wondered how much it spilled over into his other aspects of life. Maybe he needed a woman to help him not be so formal all the time, and to relax around like he had with her on occasion. ”I don't know much about men, but I don't believe Cion would have any issue pleasing a women. He certainly seems to have the experience.” Experience wasn't everything, she was sure about that but he was at least handsome to look at. Callista tried to picture herself with any of the men and found her comfort level varied greatly with each of the scenarios. She wished she could be as lucky as her mother was to marry someone of her own choosing that she loved and could be herself around.

"You can scrub me down any time you like!" Jill laughed and threw her arms around Ruby, tackling her as if she was eager to be bathed. "It would certainly give my tongue a break. Also, you can't have all of them, especially not the ones with muscles. Leave some for us other girls."

May was very uncomfortable about Callista joining in on this conversation, though she was so far careful not to reveal her interest in Eida. May wanted to leave. She felt like Pyrrha had been offended by May's lingering look, and she didn't want the other women to think she was strange for not finding boys.... appealing.
She wondered if she should make something up about one of them. She wasn't even sure which one. Not Eida, she would make Callista jealous. But if she said something about Cion or Donovan Callista may well invite one of them around more often in hopes they would notice May. May would honestly rather wrestle a Clawstrider.
May felt weird as Pyrrha spoke about making love to Donovan, and worse still when she said she was already interested in another.
"I do not like men with tattoos." she said defensively in the middle of the gossip, clearly awkward and uncomfortable. She figured that was a good enough way to rule all of them out. She began to wash Callista's hair, busy work might keep her out of the discussion.

She isn't far off. I wouldn't be surprised if Donovan was chosen to sire many children upon his return to An-Tir, he would definitely make strong children. she thought on there other comments on her knight though I wouldn't mind seein if Cion lives up to his talk she said thinking of the many lurid books she's read

"Too bad that's all there is here, May." Ruby squirmed her way out of Silver's grip before taking her by the ear and pulling her up. She gave the Lunar a quick joking kiss on the cheek at she finally pried herself loose. "That was cute. Try it again and I'll hold you under. Besides..." She walked past the others to the ledge with her companion, "You're always welcome to jump in."

Ruby lifted herself out of the water to sit on the ledge, pulling Silver up and between her legs so she could reach the girl's back better. She picked up a handful of gritty sand and started scrubbing.

May's comment baffled Callista a bit. Her handmaiden had always shown an interest in the artwork people chose for their bodies but she thought perhaps she only liked to admire it from afar. The Azuma did not decorate themselves so maybe Man had someone in mind from her own people, which would explain her disinterest in the men. Unfortunately, as fun as the talk and bonding with the other women was the subject made her a bit sad. It was scandalous for the men to see her disrobed but she was also feeling a touch guilty that her insecurities had driven the men out of the bath.

"It has been a long trip, I think I shall retire soon," she said as May finished with her hair. Callista waited for her to help her out and towels off, casting glances in the direction of the steam room as she did. It was hard to tell if she was worried about the men emerging at the worst time or looking for a certain person.

... So no shit there I was entered into the tournament by my friend who the night before had been buying drinks all evening. I show up at the field hungover and my visor pushing the smell of stale beer back in my face with everybreath. I barely win the first bout and who should be my next match but the very same "friend" who had been buying for the rest of us the night before. He ends up hitting me so hard with his mace it knocks my helm clean off braking it's straps and just as he rushes me I loose it and puke all over him. It wasn't glorious but it threw him off enough his certain win turned to defeat! . Of course after that display he didn't get knighted for another 6 months but not every goof story was a good story

Cion laughed at Donovan’s story, glad to hear he wasn't always the perfect knight that he appeared to be and it was night seeing him open up. ”It seems like you have learned your lesson, Donovan.. or have you? Perhaps we should try the local drinks here tonight! I tried heavy armor once, I just could not move around enough with my blades so I admire your skill in it. Wearing a visor can be a dangerous thing, once I put one on and gave a rose to what I thought was a lovely young woman in the stands. Turns out she was a he and very flattered at my gift but don't worry, it all worked itself out just fine though,” he grinned.

”Do you know of Terenuthis has contests of skill? I would love to show the ladies what I can do in a real match; except for Ruby of course since she would likely give me a run for it in the arena. I do not think she would be impressed merely by a show of martial prowess. The princess on the other hand seemed to enjoy it and perhaps after seeing a real fight she might be less aloof.”

Terenuthis has many contests of skill. They had a great colosseum devoted to the showcasing of variety of talents. So you can take your pick between foot or chariot races, archery or wrestling, weightlifting and swimming. They have a challenge for almost everything, and although combat of course features these contests with the Temujin, there, there was a fair amount of blood sports- and it becomes hard to divide which of those are a local preference and which have been imported. he furrowed his brow As far as which the princess prefers he spread his hands She hasn’t said, in our short time we’ve been together, but that may be more do to the fact that it seems that real combat has been our constant companion thus far, she has probably had her fill of seeing life and death tests of arms… but what do I know of women? I thought I understood them as well as I needed to – and then I left An-Tir … this time shaking his hands in frustration. Would she really like to see a proper contest? He didn’t think it would be really much of one unless the Solars were pitted against each other? If it would bring a smile to her face though, there wasn’t much of a question about it.