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The Beauty of the Street of Leering Whores
Tomes of Amaxathroth > Ink, Blood and Parchment |
For a time, at the end of the age of the Black Palace, the fetid Street of Leering Whores in the port of Piryus held a certain attraction to men other than low born thieves, murderers and lesser vermin of the Meddin cities. For amidst toothless hags, cripples who dragged women upon chains and painted poisoners, within huts and ruins built upon middens, a beauty of true measure was hidden.
Tales were told about the Meddin shores, and even by the lustful, inventive sorcerors of Magak, they who would barely stoop to consort with man, woman or beast in any common manner. They spoke of the graceful, sweet-scented blossom who offered herself to all cravings upon the cribs of diseased harridans - yet always she had a beauty and nature to match the opal-necklaced maidens of far away Thaiy, and about her wrists and ankles were bracelets of gold. So came men of means to the Street of Leering Whores, and the thieves rejoiced. Many were the corpses stealthily placed by night upon the great midden that slumped into the Piryus harbor waters, their eyes and softened parts food for ragged crathegull and poisonous climbing spine-crabs.
Who, then, was this high courtesan amongst low whores? I am given to think it was the witch Arthymaste, who haunted ruins and forests upon the slopes of the mountain called Pentayl. Once, she bowed before the Demon-King and gave her heart in trade for sorceries - in return, the hearts of ten demons pulsed and bubbled within her slight frame, each one a fountain of wanton craving, strange thought, pain and cruel urges. How much more advantagous her position had she followed my path, cast the fortunes and carefully roused the Demon-King's ire! In the long years I followed the apex star and journeyed far from the Black Palace, Arthymaste screamed and leaped about the Pentayl, consuming, babbling and coupling as cackling demons so directed. Well deserved was the mountain's dire reputation in that age.
But wrists and ankles cased in gold were the sign of Arthymaste then, and even before her thrall to the spawn of the Demon-King. A women can tame any man, given but enough time and length of rope - perhaps even demons are not immune.
[ Posted by Reason on November 12, 2006 ]
