Chapter Eleven: Kestian

The forge where David worked and trained was easy to find. The mark of the master he studied under had been emblazoned on the crate their bracers had been delivered in. David's own maker’s mark was on the inside of the bracers against the soft skin of their inner wrist. The smith's street was noticeably hotter than the surrounding city the heat from each forge radiated out. Kestian stepped into the heat of the shop.

"Excuse me!" They called above the sound of clanging metal.

A woman looked up from a red hot piece of metal she was hammering and plunged it into a bucket of water with a loud hiss of steam. She lay the tongs and hammer aside.

"May I help you?" She asked.

"I’m looking for journeyer David." Kestian said.

The woman's gaze swept up and down evaluating them. "And you are?" She asked.

"Kestian Cere Thaedra." They replied.

"Oh yes" the woman said her gaze alighted on the bracers. "I see you've received his gift. They're quite exceptional don’t you think."

"That is the perfect word for them." Kestian said.

"Farrier!" The woman called over her shoulder into the shop. There was not an immediate response. She whistled and a young boy who had been sweeping in the corner came over promptly. "Yes Master Esandra?"

"Go get journeyer David. Tell him his friend is here."

The apprentice nodded and went further into the shop.

"He'll be right out" she said and extended a hand "Esandra Smith, by the way."

"A pleasure to meet you." Kestian said.

"So you're the oath knight?" Esandra asked.

"Yes." Kestian replied.

"Who works at a pleasure house?" Esandra asked.

"Yes" Kestian said again.

Esandra hmmed thoughtfully.

"You needed me master Esandra?" David said emerging from the back of the shop with the apprentice.

"Journeyer David, you have a visitor." Esandra said gesturing to Kestian.

"Kestian." He said. Suprise registered on his face.

"David why don't you take your guest somewhere more private to talk" Esandra said.

"Yes Master Esandra." David said, overcoming his shock. "Kestian here this way." He extended his hand to take theirs and lead them deeper into the shop. Kestian heard Esandra behind them. "Apprentice, what is wrong with this picture?"

"The bellows need tending master Esandra." He replied.

"Oh do they?" Esandra asked.

"Right away master Esandra."

Kestian laughed. "Are there others that work with your master or is it just you and the apprentice?" They asked.

"I’m the only journeyer but there are two more apprentices. One has the day off and the other is out on an errand. Ed is the youngest though. Can't make much more than nails just yet but who could when they started."

"You’re not bad at something till you've been at it for months." Kestian said

"Exactly" David said "here, come in" he opened the door to his room and Kestian walked inside. They were met with a waft of cool breeze coming in through wide open windows.

"Goddess, look at the view." Kestian said as they walked towards the window.

"It’s great right? We’re technically below the shop and hanging off the side of the terrace. I try not to think about that part too much. But the view and the breeze are worth it." He joined them at the window. The city stretched out in terases below them reaching out finally to the sea.

Kestian turned to face him.

"I wanted to come by and thank you in person." Kestian said "for the bracers, they're perfect."

"You like them?" He asked. The excitement in his voice was clear. "How do they fit? He asked. He took Kestian's arm and turned it over and back inspecting it.

"The fit is perfect." Kestian said "and they're beautiful."

"You’re beautiful" David said.

Kestian pulled him closer by the shoulder and kissed him.

"So you like them?" He asked.

"Yes" Kestian said with an exasperated laugh.

"Alright, good, then I want to show you something." He said as he crossed over to a desk. He picked up a roll of paper and unfurled it on the desk pinning it down by the corners. He stood to the side for Kestian to see. On the paper were designs for a full suite of plate armor. There were some smaller designs as well for extra pieces Kestian assumed could be worn on their own. The designs were elegant, graceful, powerful.

"Is this for your master work?" They asked.

"Yes, and also for you." David answered.

"For me?" they asked.

"Yes." David said resolutely pushing through obvious nervousness "I want you to wear my master work. Because you inspire it."

"I inspire it?"

"You inspire me." He said flustered. "I mean the other day when we met, and we talked and then after…"

"When we worshiped together." Kestian completed for him.

"Yes." He repeated. "When we worshiped together. And then when I saw you at work. I admire you. I admire your passion and strength and you’re beautiful and I know you'll actually wear it and use it and appreciate it and—”

"Be worthy of it." Kestian said.

"I would have sounded like an asshole if I had said that."

Kestian laughed and reached out their hand to his. "I would be honored to wear your armor."

"I'd be honored to have you wear it, to have you as my muse."

"Your muse?" Kestian asked with humor in their voice.

"That sounded better in my head, please forget I said that."

"Not a chance" Kestian said. They leaned in and kissed him. He returned their kiss deepening it. He turned so they were backed against the table. Kestian pulled away.

"Will your master have need of you any time soon?" They asked

"No" he replied.

"Perfect" they said. Kestian pulled him closer by his shirt and pressed their mouth to his in a kiss. He eagerly wrapped his arms around them and turned so they were backed up against the table. He lifted them up. Kestian let out a gasp of surprise as he set them on the table. They continued to kiss him hungerly. The attraction they felt in this moment was like fire, eager to consume. Kestian let their hands roam down his body to start un fastening his pants. He began untying their skirt. Kestian hooked their legs around his pulling him in close to them. The split sides of their skirt fell open as he finished untying them. He reached behind for the lacing of their stays. A few pulls had them loose enough to open the busking at the front. Kestian did not pause in their kissing as they took them off and put them beside them on the table. They began pulling up at the hem of Davids shirt and he pulled it the rest of the way up and over his head. It was only a breath of pause before his mouth was on theirs again and then trailing down their neck and collar bone. Then he got on his knees. He began kissing their lower lips. Kestian let out a gasp of pleasure. They nestled their hand into his hair as he continued to pleasure them. They could tell they would not need to finish themselves this time. Their orgasm built in them like running up to the crest of a hill and then finally seeing the great surrounding vista. Kestian cried out as they felt their legs spasm and clench as their orgasm rocked through them. David came back up and lifted them down off the table. Kesian’s skirt fell on the floor and they quickly pulled off their shift. David used the moment to step out of his trousers. And just like that they were naked together in nothing but their shoes. Kestian wrapped their arms around him and again pulled him into a kiss. He put his hands on their hips and began walked backwards guiding them towards the bed. He turned and Kestian went down first onto the bed. David climbed on top of them. He kissed the side of their neck “my I?” he whispered in their ear.

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“yes.” They answered breathlessly. They said the quick spell for their barrier. Their pleasure bloomed again as he trust inside them. Kestian wrapped a leg around his waist eager for him to go deeper. He scooped their other leg up on to his shoulder and continued to burry himself in them. Kestian felt their pleasure growing again with every thrust. It was all they could do to keep from screaming with pleasure. As their pleasure grew they could feel his grow as well. He began trusting faster and harder till he trust deep and shuddered spilling forth inside them. Kestian let their own orgasm take them again. They had been holding back from it waiting for him and now it rushed over them again like a flood. They took heavy wonderful breaths as they enjoyed the tingles of pleasure left in every inch of their body.

The heat of their bodies had warmed the small room and the breeze coming in through the window chilled the sweat on their skin. Kestian sighed contentedly.

"That was fantastic," they said, "but may I get up?"

"Oh of course" David pushed up from on top of them and stood then offered them a hand. "Sorry, the bed really is just for one."

"No need to apologize." Kestian said. "Besides if we ever want to actually sleep together, we can do so at the temple."

"Would we go back there?" He asked.

"I would like to take you back there." Kestian said as they retrieved and put on their shift, and then reached for their stays.

"Have you taken other people there?" He asked.

"Many" Kestian answered honestly. "Some only once, others multiple times. But I think you have a question you’re not asking."

"Are you seeing anyone else right now?" He asked.

"Yes." Kestian said "would you like details?"

"Maybe?" David said "I haven't exactly been in a lot of relationships. I've had my journey and before that my apprenticeship and before that I was a kid. I don’t know what the expectations are."

Kestian smiled. "Well despite a lack of experience you don't lack for skill."

David blushed. "There are a lot of ways for a relationship to be.” Kestian said as they gathered their skirt up off the floor. “I often worship with Egeria; she is my best friend and a priestess of my goddess. There was a woman in the city guard I saw and worshiped with for a time but she found someone she wanted to start a family with so the intimate part of our relationship ended. There is Dominic who works at the Gilded Vine, though I do pay him for his time. There have been many people that I have worshiped with only once." Kestian paused "and now there is also another woman I am seeing; she is with the circus that is in town."

"How do you have time for all of that?" David asked.

Kestian laughed. "Multiple partners have always been a part of my life. I think I might go mad if I had only one person to love, or goddess forbid, was on my own."

"Why wouldn't you want to be on your own?"

"Life is meant for living with others. Whether in worship or other loves souls cry out for one another. It is not good to be alone."

"So what are we?" David asked.

"I believe you said we were artist and muse." Kestian said.

David smiled. "And that’s enough for you?" He asked.

Kestian took a step to close the distance between them and kissed him sweetly.

"Any relationship can only be what it is. I will cherish what I have as I have it."

"I don’t remember you being quite so philosophical the other night." David said.

"I don’t remember you teeing up theological truths the other night." Kestian said.

They both laughed. David wrapped his arms around their waist.

"I’m really looking forward to this, to working with you."

"I’m looking forward to it too." Kestian said and kissed his lips.

"Ferrier!" Esandra called from the workshop above.

"I have to get back to work." He said.

"Of course" Kestian stepped back and fasten the front and then back of their skirt as David hurriedly dressed.

They followed David back up to the workshop. They bid him goodbye and walked back towards the Gilded Vine.