Tangled Webs

Writers: Heather, AL
Date Posted: 30th January 2014

Characters: Leaton, Emalla
Description: Emalla has a surprise for Leaton
Location: Green Valley Hold
Date: month 5, day 4 of Turn 7
Notes: Green Valley Minor Hold

Leaton tugged the gloves off finger by finger as he pondered the news.
Word had spread throughout the hold, despite how much he was certain
Reven tried to hide it. What troubled him wasn't just that something
was taken, but that it was done in a rather unorganised and obvious
manner. Whoever the smuggler was hadn't done a good job of covering
up.

Unfortunately, that could also make trouble for him. There would be
increased scrutiny of the items that transferred between Green Valley
and other holds. Leaton was careful, but he knew that even the most
careful could get caught if too much attention was placed on activity.

Emalla was waiting for Leaton when he came in, quite proud of herself
and the work that she had done. They would gain a_good_ profit from

the crate of fellis that she had filched. There were holdless that
paid a good mark for the medicinal product. "Leaton," her eyes lit at
the sight of the man. It was her luck, she decided, to have gotten to
know such a smart man. He would surely be the next holder of Green
Valley. Reven was good looking and all but what a dud with no
ambition. His brother, the healer, also was not cut from the cloth
that holders were made out of. Leaton, on the other hand, could do the
job.

"I have a surprise for you." She purred, her green eyes gleaming.

"A surprise?" Leaton's eyebrows arched upward, then his eyes
narrowed. He didn't like surprises - Emalla knew that. It had better
be good. "What surprise?"

Emalla stepped aside to reveal the crate of fellis, her eyes still
gleaming, her lips parted over her teeth, "Fellis! Just think of how
much the holdless will pay for just one bottle, and I got us a_whole_
crate!"

"A...crate? Of Fellis." Light flashed through Leaton's eyes and he
took a step closer to Emalla. For a moment he stared down at her,
then lifted his hand and smacked her across the side of her cheek.
"What are you, stupid?"

Lights exploded behind Emalla's eyes as her head was tossed to the
side. Her ears rang, and her mouth hung open in surprise as she raised
a hand to her cheek and looked up at Leaton. He had never treated her
roughly before, although she had seen a flash of his temper from time
to time. "I thought that.... I thought," her voice trembled, her
bottom lip trembling, "I thought it would make you happy?"

"Do you realise what you have done?" His voice shot up in volume and
he grabbed Emalla by her neck, his fingers digging into her skin.
"Have you heard the rumours? They're looking everywhere for these
supplies. If they find them here, we are finished!"

Emalla whimpered, her hands clutching at the vice like grip that
Leaton had on her throat, "I'm sorry, Leaton, I didn't think -"

His hold on her tightened and he remained there, frozen as he glared
down at her. Then, slowly, his grip on her eased and his touch turned
a little more tender. "Emalla. Emalla. Emalla. You really were
trying to please me weren't you?"

Tears leaked from the corners of Emalla's eyes as she nodded her head,
"Y-yes." She really had thought that the man would be pleased by her
actions. It had been a surprise that she thought she had carefully
orchestrated.

"Shhh, shhh...it's all right, I forgive you. But we must do something
about it now." Leaton turned his darkened gaze to the offending
merchandise. "I must think." Perhaps there was a way to salvage the
situation. "And we must hide it and quickly."

Emalla raised a hand to run it gently along her neck where Leaton's
fingers had been, "Tell me, I will do anything to help make it
better."

"Better to split it up and hide it in multiple places - preferably not
anywhere near our quarters." Leaton lifted his hand a second time,
but rather than strike her, he let his fingers trace over the marks
left in her skin. "And, of course, I will exact a price from you."

"What kind of price?" Her voice trembled a bit.

His answer was this crush of his mouth against hers and the rending of
fabric as he tore at her clothes.

Last updated on the March 26th 2014

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Tangled Webs