Disclaimer: Lecherous thoughts, General Snobbery ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Aril waited patiently for Duke Lorthington at the practice grounds. He was in the midst of several stretches when His Lordship finally arrived. Not for the first time, Aril sighed inwardly at the duke�s choice of apparel; as usual it was more fashionable than functional. Today Lorthington was wearing skin tight leather breeches and a sky blue leather tunic. The tunic had a deep �V� cut down the center, showing off the duke�s chest. �Umm, Your Lordship�Shouldn�t you wear something a bit more�concealing? If my rapier manages to defeat your defense, you could be scratched quite badly.� �Come, come now Aril,� laughed Lorthington. �You haven�t managed to beat me in a dog�s age and I don�t expect you�ll fare much better on this day. For you see, we are going out this evening. To that fine tavern where the only man present was that monk who couldn�t talk.� Duke Lorthington gave a quick salute and began dueling, barely giving Aril enough time to get his dueling sword up and parry the lunge from His Lordship. Despite Aril�s earlier concerns, he couldn�t manage to do much more than continuously retreat, giving up ground to the lunges and feints, barely riposting each time. �He�s doing incredibly well today,� thought Aril. �Such a shame it won�t last. He could be a more than passable duelist, if he could just keep his mind on what he�s doing.� Almost as if the duke could read Aril�s mind, he slowed the pace considerably and began to chat with his manservant. �So Aril, what do you think I should wear this Eve? It�s got to be something suitably impressive, for tonight my friend; tonight I will be bringing home the most comely of all the commoners. And it won�t be just for a late drink! What say you, Aril?� �Oh boy,� thought Aril, �here we go again. If he put as much thought into the Isles as he did into trying to bed the lasses, he�d be king by now!� Aril cleared his throat before he spoke, �Well Sir, you�re the one with the fine fashion sense. I�m sure you�ll know just what to wear. I�m hoping His Lordship won�t be disappointed though, should we come home alone. Not that any lass wouldn�t be glad to share your company, Sir.� �Not to worry dear boy. I�ve already been thinking about that, and not only am I certain we�ll be accompanied home tonight, I�ve a feeling it will be more than one peasant girl who wishes to �serve her Duke.� Eh, Aril?� said Lorthington with a lecherous grin. �Perhaps,� continued the duke, �we can even use one of our theatrical ruses to further melt the hearts of those poor serf women. Perhaps the one where you run in and insult a peasant�s honor and I rise to defend it?� �Oh, please Sir, not the �Damsel in Distress.� I�ve just only recovered from the last time we tried that.� Aril closed his eyes, groaning inwardly. �Oh stop your complaining. How was I to know she was an Amazon mercenary? Besides, the scars have all but disappeared. Well, since you�re too cowardly to try that one, how about the one where I am a masked bandit? The common women love that hint of danger.� �Oh Sir, not the �Zorro.� Remember how long it took to convince the city guard you were a Duke, especially after that woman turned you in.� Aril tried to smile at his employer, but the weak grin looked more pained than particularly happy. �Quite true, quite true. Well, I suppose I will have to win the peasants over with my charm instead, then.� Duke Lorthington flashed a bawdy smile. �And do not worry my friend, tonight should you hear a commoner - or a number of them - calling out to their Gods or to her Lordship, there will be no need to send in the guards.� _________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com. Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at http://profiles.msn.com. -- To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] with "unsubscribe dragontales" in the body of the message.
