Page 83 of Dragon Fight

A very pretty young woman with long blonde hair was curled up at Marcus’ side, while a young man, with matching hair was reclined on the other side. Marcus stabbed the tip of his knife into the wooden tabletop, then leaned back and wrapped an arm around each one of them, idly caressing their skin as the door was jerked closed.

“So to what do I owe the honour of this visit?” Marcus asked, watching us closely as he nuzzled into the girl’s hair.

When the door was closed, a kind of quiet settled over the room, enabling us to hear just how the two young people felt about Marcus’ attentions. I heard her little sigh, and it reminded me of the sounds I’d made last night. The lad moved to pluck at Marcus’ shirt, opening just enough buttons to slide his hand in and making a low noise of appreciation. But the man himself seemed to pay them little attention, his focus on us.

“We need information,” Ged said.

“And I need gold.” He turned a heated look to each of his companions. “Pretties like these are expensive.” I heard a giggle, although I wasn’t sure from which of the two, followed by the rustling of clothing.

“I’ll get you your gold, but you’ll need to be discreet,” Ged replied, shifting to block my view of the proceedings.

“I’m always discreet.” Marcus let out a ragged gasp at what his companions were doing to him, explaining why Ged felt the need to protect me. “Except when I’m not. Well, out with it. I’ve got my hands full. Or rather I will have, the moment you piss off out of this room. These two tell me they’re twins and I love discovering all their similarities and differences.”

“Tell your whores to wait. This is important,” Ged insisted.

“It always is, Rider Ged.”

The sly intonation in Marcus’ voice felt too much like he was threatening my dragonrider. Forgetting Ged’s instructions, I stepped forward, not that I would’ve been much use. Once I’d moved to stand beside Ged, I saw that Marcus and the ‘twins’ were more than transfixed by each other. Marcus had the lad’s head tilted up, waiting until the younger man strained against his grip before bestowing a kiss on his lips.

Being aware that men loved other men was one thing, but seeing evidence of it was something else again. I watched the two men kiss each other thoroughly. On Marcus’ other side, the blonde girl shifted, pulling at his shirt, running her hands over his body, as if stirred by the sight while also demanding some of the attention be bestowed upon her. Marcus responded readily, drawing away from the lad and giving her just as lusty a kiss. When he was finished, his eye glittered dangerously as he smiled up at Ged.

“So what seems to be the problem?”

“Some cadets from the keep have gone missing,” Ged told him.

“With their dragons?” Marcus leaned forward, intent, the twins swiftly forgotten.

“Not with their dragons. The king would have us out hunting them night and day if they’d tried that.”

“A pity,” Marcus sniffed.

“These lads were taken from the keep the night of Zafira’s heat.”

“Oh, we remember that night well, don’t we, pretties?” Marcus’ voice was a feral purr as he turned his attention back to one twin, then the other. “It's the night I found the two of you. Damn near wore my dick down to a sore nub with your rutting.”

“If we could just focus on the matter at hand,” Ged said with a sigh.

“Continue.”

Ged shook his head at the other man’s theatrical gesture, then forged on.

“Four lads were taken from the keep during the chaos of Zafira’s heat. Their dragons are fading away, seeing only darkness and refusing to eat.”

“Dying dragons.” A small line formed on Marcus’ forehead. “This is a serious thing. But what has this to do with me?”

“The lads were moved, that much we’ve been able to glean, and if it's anywhere in the city—”

“I’d know.” Marcus’ smile was smug. “The news hasn’t filtered down to me yet but, knowing my little mice, someone will have seen something. Twenty gold pieces and I’ll find out.”

I blinked at anyone asking for such a staggering amount of money, but Marcus obviously knew his worth. Ged stared at the other man’s outstretched hand and for a moment said nothing. Marcus simply waited, his smile growing broader until finally Ged let out a huff of breath.

“Fine.”

Marcus wiggled his fingers, indicating he expected to get paid now, but Ged produced only one gold piece, minted with the king’s image upon it, before flicking at the man. Marcus snatched the coin from the air and bit down on it, satisfied it was genuine when he saw a small crimp in the edge.

“I am a simple man,” Marcus said, “but even I know this here ain’t twenty coins.”

“You’ll get the rest on delivery of useful information,” Ged said. “Send a bird to the keep as to when and where to meet if you find something.”

---