Sitting in this war room with my father the King Oden at the far end of the table and other officials and the head of the army General Lincon and I to he's left discussing on what we were going to do with our new acquired kingdom and its slaves, I probably zoned out thinking of the blood battle we had in kashdere a small city with the rumors of gold a terrain he had set he's eyes on to expand and make use of the strategic location of its location closest to shore but they refused to surrender since they were already in business with other major countries, but my father was never one to listen but gets what he wants at all costs that's the price for staying at the top to show power and fearlessness even with knowledge of other existing countries interest in Kasdere.
We Vikings show our power by our possessions and ruthless takeovers looking at him talk seeing myself as the younger version of him with a striking resemblance of long brown hair cascading to our shoulders mine in a bun and he's loose with the striking deep blue eyes that show our power and linkage to the gods the drawings on our skin the ripped muscles and towering height but despite the striking resemblance and our strength and victories in battle we were nothing alike.
The blood fest wasn't new to me I have seen my fair share of battle and was trained since I could walk to be a warrior and have brought many successful takeovers home at 26 summers of age including the kasdere victory, but it didn't sit right with me and I couldn't get my mind off of it.
The mention of my name took me out of my thoughts, prince Claven do you have any more words? No father. We were all excused and I took asked a servant to get my horse ready I was itching to go for a ride like I wasn't just riding a few nights ago in battle. I rode to the House of Gricth the house of my closest friend Earl Varlka strikingly handsome rebellious young and charming man but which took women as serious as he's duty but wouldn't dare bring them to the house of Gritch.
The red wine in he's hand and the smile on he's face upon my arrival was a sign I wasn't going to like what he had in store for me as a welcome but I wasn't complaining I needed more than a distraction.
" If it isn't my friend, The man of war and victorious town slayer who leaves no survivors the ruthless and merciless prince Claven born to the caves but rules the earth" see who has come to pay his long lost brother a visit".
His antics never get old I laughed and walked in with him to the large manor it could almost pass for a wing at the royal's house. He continued speaking one thing about the Earl was that he could talk for hours and never be tired.
"I wish I was as courageous as you brother but let's leave war and battle for another day today we are celebrating yet another victory in Vigridsborg a great surprise awaits you but let's begin with the drinks" a hearty laugh left my throat, I didn't expect anything less.
He stopped midway took a letter with a red bound I didn't realize he was holding and sent through one of his servants.
I could feel the stares of his servants who never fail to gawk at me as I stepped pass the hall room entering the hallway leading down to his private quarters, as they whispered impossible fairytales about love to the tall broad handsome fearless prince some even whisper about my tales with women and my strength not only in the battle field, but in the sheets but I have heard it all and I couldn't say they were lies, I smiled mentally at my own escapades as I strolled down the hall way to the double sided large doors leading to his private quarters. upon reaching for the handles he caught up with me mid stride and opened the doors.We kept on talking about battle and the town of Kasdere and the gut feeling I had since we stepped foot there and how it didn't sit right with me. As I lift up my eyes they are greeted with a sight that I wasn't expecting surprisingly they weren't naked women but rather artist who played violins and other musical instruments ohh! It came as a shock to me but once I glanced at him I knew this was just the beginning.
they were other lords and counts present,spread across the long dinner table a banquet was setup with drinks, music and dance they all rose to their feet took their mugs and put them in the air "HAIL PRINCE CLAVEN "eating at the long table celebrating and having a feast for their greed on the win of Kasdere like they weren't at the big feast at the royal house just few nights ago when we returned home with victory they just couldn't seem to get enough. Nothing brings joy to Vikings than victory and power the thought of gold deposits and coastal trading meant more money and land for them to expand and more money for tax collectors, slaves and cheap labourers what made every Viking man happy. I took my sit at the left hand of my friend and raised my jar to my people "FEAST ON VICTORY IS OURS".
I kept on talking with my friend and he sure had a lot to say about the plans he had for us later tonight at the Silk Red house a common brothel for the rich and luxurious though prestigious but not for royalty. We had women taken in as mistresses to the royal house and concubines if need be, but I wasn't married yet and played around with the daughters of Lords who couldn't wait to please the next King hoping to be queen someday, hahaha what a joke like I would, I thought to mysel.
He knew I wasn't buying going to a whore house where my soldiers recited and fu**ked their women after battle with the little coins they have made, all the lords and viscounts waiting for a chance to see the prince in a brothel where he shares women with his men in court they sit together, drink and jest
and start to think that they are now more than acquaintances and Lords which brings room for disrespect in the court room and rebellion and as our lineage speaks the throne is promised only to he who fights for it is respected and fearless in the eyes of his men and because I am not yet on that throne as king I cannot slip up and the Earl's persistence was becoming un bearing.
Speaking of the plans he had set up and he knew all this, reason why I never follow him on his escapades because it is different for them the brothel is where he makes the biggest allies in the mist of the liquor and women, the common traits the fellow lords and viscounts share.
Witj the town of kashdere on my mind I might take up on his offer specifically because he insisted on the discreteness of the Silk house which was in great contradiction to what I had in mine but he's the man of the night and would probably know better.
We exit through the back door of his quarters and alongside some guards we make our way into the carriage entering the city in the late nights which still seems to be more alive than during the day with the loud noises from taverns and we take a narrow road which leads into a secret passage wa.
we are welcomed by a tall buff man with blonde locs who ushers us in and guards our carriage. Is there anything the young earl dosen't know in this town? I laughed he always was the fun one.
He was very confident taking the lonely passage, it did not seem like the first time he took this route maybe this could be very discrete as he said.
These are you're masks my Lords" he said with a slight bow the buff man hands us our mask to conceal our identities and we step in we are not he only one in mask guess this is a theme party and looking at the garments it was for exclusive officials only the place was as sensual as it could be deem red lights the smells of arousal and an floral scents was captivating and soothing to the nose almost relieving my
soo tensed muscles.
The last time I came in here to pick up a drunk varlka it didn't look as so.
They were intimate drawings of naked women on the walls small beds with white sheets separated by see though red sheer cloths, exotic naked dances with women moving their body to the sounds from the music softly played below the upper left side of the room it was sensual but I have seen my fair share of exotic dances and I was good.
An aged lady maybe in her mid to late forties walked up to us like she could recognize us through the masks but the smile she gave the earl told me they knew themselves alit bit too well. "C'mon gentlemen the real show is this way" she led us through a dim partway that led to many rooms and before a certain gold door she stopped.
'My prince with a little bow a little gift for your victory we heard you like them soft pure and primed and that is just what we have in store for you today" when she was done talking I looked to the left and I couldn't see Varlka anymore must have gotten himself already acquainted and settled in a typical move he will make. Upon sensing my body language she finished 'I am governess Agatha not to worry you have nothing to worry about and your mask conceals you're identity no one will know it was you in here today not even the fine young lady, no rumors! we pride in secrecy even your father comes here sometimes she smiled coyly handed me a key and disappeared in to the dark hallway.