Deathstalker 03 - Deathstalker War

suppose the boys do have their uses."
    They looked over at the sleeping pair. Alice fondly. Jenny entirely unmoved. Kit farted in his sleep. Neither of the girls flinched.
    "He's all right, is David," said Alice finally. "He's good-looking, considerate when he thinks of it, and rich as hell. And he's always there for me. He isn't always going on about the local elections, or the rebellion, as though they meant anything in a backwater dump like this. He isn't all work and duty and politics. He's good times, and laughs, and a bit of fun now and again. Why can't the local boys be like that?"
    "Peasants," said Jenny dismissively. "They don't appreciate us. Never have. None of them can see past the next lambing, or the next harvest. They don't care about style, or sophistication, or any of the things that really matter. And none of them know how to treat a girl like a lady. God, I hate this place! I want out of here, out of this dump, this town, and off this whole stinking planet. Kit's taking me to Golgotha. He doesn't know it yet, but he is. He's my ticket out of here."
    "I don't know how you can stand to be near him," said Alice. "I mean, he's David's friend, so he must have some good in him somewhere, but I swear, sometimes I look at him and I just go all gooseflesh. He's trouble. Dangerous.
    They say he killed a lot of men in the Arena."
    "So did David," said Jenny. She drank the last of her ale and slammed the mug down on the table. "God, I'd love to go to the Arena! See men fight and die for my pleasure. Right there, in the flesh, not on the screen. And Kit's not so bad,
    really. He's generous enough, and he doesn't make any demands on me. A bit kinky in bed, but then, he's an aristocrat. Not that I mind. I could teach him a thing or two."
    "Kinky?" said Alice, grinning. "What do you mean?"
    Jenny grinned back at her. "Well, let's just say Kit's always glad to see the back of me."
    "Jenny!" Alice tried to look shocked, but couldn't hold it. They giggled together, shooting glances at the boys to make sure they were still safely asleep.
    "What about David?" said Jenny, eventually. "Any little… likes or dislikes?"
    "Not really," said Alice. "I don't think he's had much experience with girls, to be honest. He can go all shy at the strangest moments. But I think he cares for me. I mean, really cares for me. The dear."
    "Kit doesn't," said Jenny. "For which I am decidedly grateful. Emotions would only complicate our relationship. I'm out for what I can get from him, and he knows it. We have good times, good sex, and no demands either way. I don't think Kit would know what to do with love, or even affection, anyway. Probably just confuse him."
    "He's very close to David," said Alice, frowning slightly. "As much as David likes me, even loves me sometimes, there's a closeness between him and Kit that I can't even touch. It's like… neither of them ever really had a friend before.
    Still, I'm the one David really cares for. I'm the one he's going to marry. Even if he doesn't know it yet."
    Jenny looked at her sharply. "Marriage? Forget it, girl. Forget it. A peasant girl and a Lord, the head of his Family? That kind of thing only ever happens in
    bad soaps on the holoscreen. We're not marriage material, Alice. We're good-time girls, with all that implies. Out for a few laughs and whatever goodies we can pick up along the way. Aristos might party with girls like us, but they never marry us. They only breed with their own kind."
    "Well, all right, maybe not marry, exactly," said Alice. "But I could be his mistress. Concubine. Whatever the polite word is these days. Aristos marry for politics or Clan-breeding reasons, not for love. It's all to do with alliances and advantages and preserving bloodlines. Never love. Some other woman might have his name, but I'd still have his heart."
    "Even if he isn't that good in bed?"
    "I could teach him," said Alice.
    "Does that mean I'm not really your little stud muffin?" said David.
    The girls looked round sharply to see David sitting up on one elbow and looking at them blearily.
    "How long have you been awake?" said Alice sternly.
    "Long enough," said David. "Very revealing, what girls talk about when they think no one's listening."
    "What about Kit?" said Jenny. "Is he still asleep?"
    "Who can sleep with all this talking going on?" said the SummerIsle, sitting up and running his fingers through his tangled hair. He smacked his lips a few times and grimaced. "I swear every night