FREE USE in a Fantasy World

"I’m sorry, miss, but all updates on that patient must go through the Silver Griffons. And there are no visitors permitted in the quarantine ward," the head nurse said, a woman who looked like she sucked lemons recreationally. "That goes even for girlfriends."

"Fiancée," Ava corrected, showing off the ring on her finger.

"Even that," she said, scowling jealously at the gemstone on the ring. "When Paladin Sigmarten is moved to the recovery ward, then you can visit him. Until then... wait. You said you were his fiancée? I thought all paladins of the Silver Griffons take vows of chastity."

"Oh, um, right," Ava said, fluffing her collar nervously. "Well, it’s a down the road sort of thing. When he retires from being a paladin, then we’ll get married. Anyway, um, I need to get going. So give, um, Sigmarten my best..."

Ava blushed at her silly mistake and started backing away.

"Don’t they make a lifelong pledge to Orrin!" head nurse called from behind her desk.

"Chaste marriage!" Ava said quickly. "Yeah, it’s a whole thing now. A new thing. We’ll adopt a cute little goblin or something. Anyway... have to go. I have, uh, a prayer meeting."

She disappeared down a side hall before the head nurse could interrogate her further.

Ava pressed her back against the wall and sighed. Bluffing her way in was not going to work.

Damn! Those nurses were too smart for her. She pouted, arms folded as she wracked her brain for another option.

Idly, her eyes happened to land on the a door across the hall. One labeled Nurse’s Wardrobe. One look inside at the stacks of starched, folded uniforms and Ava knew she’d just found her way in.

Unfortunately, and perhaps hypocritically, none of the nurses working at Our Lady of the Healing Bosom were quite as endowed as Ava.

When she finished squeezing herself into one of the uniforms, she looked like an over-proofed cupcake trying to explode out of its cup.

Her bra and the tops of her breasts were clearly visible at the unbuttoned collar and the skirt left most of her slender legs on display.

She was fortunate she had decided to wear stockings, but she wished she hadn’t chosen a black lace garter.

The red high-heels didn’t exactly match the white uniform either. But they would have to do.

Ava stole back out of the wardrobe as she pinned her blond hair into a bun under her cap.

She peeked around the corner at the nurse’s desk and saw the head nurse trod away, off for her rounds in another part of the hospital.

She had turned over the desk to a much younger half-orc, who was busily reading a trashy novel about a cheating elf and her cuckolded boyfriend.

Ava picked up a clipboard and started walking. The key, she told herself, was to act like she belonged there and knew what she was doing.

She stood tall and proper. Her high heels struck loudly on the tile floor.

The half-orc nurse didn’t even look up as Ava walked right past her desk and through the double doors into the quarantine ward.

Ava glanced back as she went, then giggled into her clipboard. Being sneaky like this was always so fun!

But back to work. Ava kept her eyes peeled on the doors as she went by.

The names of patients were hung on clipboards, and the thick scent of medicine hung heavy in the air. Pungent herbs with a hint of sorcery, which was becoming quite common these days.

Apparently medicine used to involve bleeding people for humors or something.

Ava didn’t really understand how laughing at bleeding people helped, but then, she wasn’t a doctor.

Maybe she should train as one in her next century? Elves always had so much life to spend.

Her musings were interrupted as she came upon the name Julian Sigmarten, and she eased the door open a hair.

Sigmarten certainly looked like he belonged in the hospital. Wasted, drained. His cheeks were hollow and he lay heavily on the bed, arms slumped at his sides.

Sandy blonde hair was cut short in military fashion (although Ava heard female paladins often kept it long), but he still had a certain youthful handsomeness about him.

In fact, his paleness and vulnerability made Ava’s sympathy ache. He was like a wounded bird.

Ava slipped into the room, crossing to the bed. She leaned over him, listening. His breathing was even, but he looked pretty out of it.

"Julian?" Ava said softly.

Julian’s eyelids fluttered and slowly slid open. He blinked blankly at her. "Who..."

"I’m Nurse... um... Nightingale," Ava said sweetly. "Just coming by to see how you are."

"Feel... weak," he said.

"Uh huh. Can you tell me why?"

"Remember..." his brows knit with concentration. "Remember... like a dream..."

"What was?" Ava said, leaning in closer.

Julian’s hazy eyes locked on the breasts fairly bursting from the starched uniform. "Breasts..."

"Breasts?" Ava prompted, sensing something big.

So was Julian. He licked his lips sluggishly. "Mmm... Big... so lovely... So... sexy... Woman needed help."

"Help with her breasts?" Ava said, frantically jotting down notes, leaning in closer, her bust nearly pressed into Julian’s face.

"Ooooh..." the paladin groaned. "Yessss. Had to... had to k-kiss her..."

"Kiss her?" Ava said.

Julian whimpered, tilting his head away. As he did so, he exposed his neck, and the small wounds there. Ava squinted, leaning forward, Julian gasping as her large breasts dangled over his head, threatening to pop out of her top. Teeth marks? They looked oddly singed...

"Yes," Julian groaned. "K-kiss... Came out of... the Hot House..."

The Hot House? Ava knew that one. It was a club for strippers, one run by Boss Green.

Well, one of many run by Boss Green. He had his fingers in every business across New Larrin that dealt with sleaze. But she’d never heard of a paladin going to a place like that. Not that she had a problem with it.

Everyone should have a chance to appreciate naked women.

Ava froze, her long ears flicking as she heard the heavy tread of armoured feet in the hall.

She bolted upright, leaving the young paladin laying on the bed in a daze. She looked around quickly, panic rising.

The closet! Without a moment’s hesitation, Ava dashed across the room and slipped inside, but left the door open a hair. After all, she was still a reporter.

Hunkered down in her hidey hole, Ava peered out the crack as the two figures walked into the room. She recognized the first immediately and winced. Gallave Brightmore, captain of the Silver Griffons. Dressed in shining armor, his helmet under his arm revealing stern features, handsome in a hard way. A violet cape hung down his back, his silver armor engraved with holy scenes. Seemingly impractical, but it was said he could channel the blessing of his god Orrin through it and his blade.

Beside him was a young woman, trying to look as serious as her captain, her blonde hair falling down her back in a ponytail. She too carried her helmet, her armor plainer but as polished as Gallave’s.

"Julian?" Gallave said. "Julian? Are you awake?"

Julian moaned and turned over weakly. Gallave looked to the woman with him and nodded. She stepped forward, holding her hands out. A golden glow began to spread from her palms, washing over Julian. Ava had heard of the healing powers of the Silver Griffons, but seeing it in action made her suppress a gasp as colour slowly returned to Gallave’s cheeks. The sick man’s eyes slowly fluttered open, clearer than before.

"Huh?" Julian said, blinking blearily. He looked towards Gallave. "C-captain?"

"It’s me, lad," Gallave said. "How are you?"

"Feeling a little... drained, sir," Julian said. "I think I was talking to a nurse. She had amazing breasts..."

Gallave frowned and gave Julian’s shoulder a shake. "Less of that. What happened last night? Do you remember?"

"I... it’s hazy, sir. Like I was dreaming..."

Gallave leaned forward. "Dreaming about what?"

"There was..." Julian began to blush. "There was a... a woman, sir. I... She was with me. She was so beautiful."

Gallave looked to his companion, their expressions grim. He turned back to Julian. "Lad, can you remember what you and this woman did? Where did it happen?"

"I..." Julian stared at the ceiling, and then slowly began to flush. "I... I think I was off duty, sir. I was heading home when I... I heard something..."

"It’s okay, lad. How much do you remember?"

"The... the woman had me in her arms. Her lips were... were so hot and on me. I... I remember red. The colour swirling around us. And I was falling. And..." Julian’s eyes opened wide. "Sir, I... my vows! I... I didn’t mean..."

Gallave held up a hand. "Rest, lad. You need to recover first."

Julian nodded weakly, the effort of conversing seeming to exhaust him. He fell back once more, head sinking back into the pillow, eyes fitfully sliding shut.

The female paladin took away her hands, the glow dissipating as she did so. She looked to Gallave, grim. "What do you make of it, sir?" she asked.

"Little good, Rola. Come."

Ava watched the pair leave the room, their heads already together, talking in low tones.

Once they were gone the elf opened the closet and stepped out. What was that about?

She glanced back at Julian, but the paladin’s spell appeared to have put him to rest.

Ava tapped her finger against her lower lip. Well, looked like she was going to pay a visit to a certain orc crime boss.

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!