Crown's Keep was bustling. The streets were clamoring with the usual collection of merchants hawking their wares, children playing, and the ever-present whispers of court intrigue. Amidst the chaos of the morning, there was a lone rider upon a tall, chestnut horse. The rider--much like the horse itself--appeared muscular yet tired, his imposing figure drawing the attention of some town folk, but in a manner as if he didn't want it. His sapphire blue eyes scanned the crowd, always alert, always observant. What must have been the sigil of his house, a golden dragon with his back arched encircled by his tail, stitched into his blue cloak. This lone signifier marked him as a member of the near-forgotten order, the Covenant of Cloaked Knights.
The knight made his way through the streets methodically. He remembered them, but only vaguely, as it had been many years since his last visit to Crown's Keep. After the Dark War, the kingdom had experienced an era of peace and economic stability. Buildings that he last saw destroyed had been rebuilt, even taller than before. The street market stretched on for what seemed like miles, but he finally reached his destination. Though so much of the city had changed since he left, the inn's name remained unchanged. Queen's Rest was to be his home for the foreseeable future. He dismounted and tied his steed to a post.
Queen's Rest was large, formidable, and would make a perfect headquarters for the knight. The many patrons would provide enough cover for him to come and go somewhat unnoticed. The inn would also provide ample information regarding Crown's Keep, although he would have to weed out the truth from the gossip. As he pushed open the heavy wooden door, he was greeted by the comforting aroma of roasting meat and freshly baked bread. It had been a long journey for him, and his muscled torso was leaner than usual. His arms arched. He couldn't imagine wielding a sword right now, but he knew his strength would return after a few meals some restful sleep.
The knight scanned the room. A large, arched bar made of dark oak rose from the stone floor. Intricate carvings of vines adorned the wood, making it look like a wall of trees being overtaken by ivy. Bottles lined the shelves. The knight licked his lips subconsciously, it had been weeks since he enjoyed the spiced Dragon's Breath or smooth Serpent's Kiss. He approached the bar, leaned over its solid counter, and cleared his throat. The sole man behind the bar glanced over his shoulder, acknowledging the knight.
"Give me a minute, hear?" he said gruffly. The inn seemed busy, as expected, but the barkeep seemed to be managing the pace.
"Take your time," the knight replied. "I've had a long ride, I'm sure this'll be well worth the wait."
He heard his words and almost didn't recognize his own voice. It had been many weeks since he'd spoken to anyone. The road from Castle Vayn was long, grueling, and seldom traveled.
The man behind the bar placed a bottle back on the shelf and turned around to face the knight. He was of average height, with a manicured beard and light brown hair that fell in waves to his broad shoulders. His hazel eyes met the knight's as he cracked a smile. The knight quickly looked him up and down, noting the man's muscular arms and chiseled jawline, and smiled in return.
"How about a Serpent's Kiss, then?" the barkeep asked. "Nothing like peppermint to shake off the toll of a long journey."
"A good choice," the knight replied. "And a plate of venison if you have it. I'll need a room, too. Do you have one facing the castle?"
"Aye, a large apartment looking directly north to it. Bogan! Get a plate of venison up here. Hell, make it two plates," the man yelled in the direction of a doorway where a kitchen must be located. "That is, if you don't mind if I join you?"
The knight nodded his head before he could even give the question a proper thought. Normally, he would prefer to keep to himself, but something about this mischievous smile of the barkeep had disarmed his senses.
"Let's have another glass" he said as he pulled a stool from the side and sat down, pouring another round for the knight and adding a glass for himself. A dowdy, sweaty dwarf with red hair fumbled through the doorway with two plates in his hands, nearly dropping them one of them before placing them on the counter. He mumbled to himself as he returned to the kitchen.
"Don't mind Bogan, he just talks to talk. And welcome to Queen's Rest," he said as he took a sip from his glass. "The name's Connor."
The knight, surprised at the candor on display from the barkeep, smiled back. "Jace," he replied, "of House Arch Back.
"I surmised, from the seal," Connor gestured towards the knight's cloak. "Haven't seen your family in these parts since the Dark War, but I imagine you don't want to speak on that."
"Aye," Jace said, wondering now if he'd chosen an inn with an all-too-knowledgeable barkeep.
"Well not much has changed in The Keep," Connor said as he reached for a pitcher of ale. "Buildings get taller but the streets stay the same. If you need a guide for anything, I've got a boy I can lend you."
Jace took a long draught of the ale, savoring the flavor. "I'll keep that in mind, but a more experienced man like yourself may be more equipped for my...assignments," he said, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
Over the next few hours, Jace listened as Connor told tales of his time running the inn. Jace, though careful not to divulge many of his own details, enjoyed the informality of the conversation. As the night wore on, the inn began to empty. Patrons stumbled out into the cool night air, and Jace found himself reluctant to make his way to his quarters. He was drawn to Connor's magnetic presence. When the large door closed behind the last patrons, Connor stood up, his eyes locked onto Jace's.
"Looks like it's just us out here," Connor said softly. The jovial tone now replaced by something deeper, breathier. "I still even hear Bogan clamoring back there--I'll have him put your horse in a stall."
"Many thanks. I may as well make my way up to my room, I have a busy day tomorrow." Jace replied, finding himself reluctant to get up, but aching from his long journey.
"Up the stairs and down the hall, fourth door on the left," Connor smiled as he handed Jace a key. "Candles, blankets, and a basin for washing up should be in there as well."
Jace nodded as he stood up and made his way up the stairs. Once in his quarters, he stepped onto the balcony, setting his sights on the castle. For a moment, he felt disappointed in himself for letting Connor distract him for so long. He needed rest, and he needed to ready his plans.
As he lay in the bed, tired muscles began to relax. He breathed in deeply, the scent of the ocean wafting through the window and filling his nostrils. He had grown up here, by the sea, but hadn't realized how much he missed the smell. Memories began to flood his thoughts. He thought of his friends from his past--now long gone, he was sure--and then his thoughts drifted to Connor. In another life, he thought, they might have been friends. The man seemed genuine, clever, and easy to converse with. Jace knew he had no time for making friendships now though, as he had work to do in Crown's Keep.
His plans would begin tomorrow, he thought, as his hands traced circles over his pectorals. His chest moved up and down as he breathed deeply, his nipples hardening. His hands moved absentmindedly down his body and his fingers began to trace the ridges of his abs. His toned stomach was tight and tanned from time spent under the sun. He shifted in the bed, stretching and straightening his legs. His hard thighs tensed and relaxed. His left hand moved even lower, from his abs to his groin. He felt his cock stiffening. It had been a long time since he had been in a comfortable bed. He closed his eyes, his hand gripping his cock as it grew in length and girth. Measuring 8 inches, his cock was thick and heavy, and his hand pumped up and down as his breathing quickened. His chest tensed and relaxed as the cool ocean breeze from the window drifted over his hard nipples. His pace increased. It had been far too long since he had an opportunity to pleasure himself. As the moment drew near, his thick muscular neck stretched out, pressing his head back into the pillow. His long legs tensed up, and he pumped his hard cock furiously as the pressure built up. With his eyes closed, he emitted a guttural groan as a thick load erupted from his throbbing cock, covering his abs and chest. A smile formed on his lips as he wiped his load on a rag and tossed it aside. He laid back down as his thoughts drifted to Connor, wondering if he also found a similar release in his own quarters.