Hammer's War 1: Forging the Hammer Read Online Free

and couches.  However, what impressed Marcus most was the exquisite crystal chandelier.  It was unlike any chandelier he had ever seen, as this one floated unsecure by any visible means.  It had to be held up by some kind of antigravity field, but what he couldn’t figure out was what would keep it from crashing down if the power failed.  Marcus stood there trying to figure out how it worked when it turned and shifted shape. The outer most part of the chandelier expanded and a third row of lights appeared making it a three-tiered light instead of a two tiered. “Now there’s something you don’t see every day,” he said softly to himself. 
    At the desk, Marcus was met by an older woman.  Once upon a time, she must have been very attractive, but time and harsh living had washed most of that away.  Her long gray hair was rolled up into a tight bun on the top of her head.  Her body still had the curvy womanly shape of a younger woman, but Marcus wondered how much of that was due to body shaping lingerie he suspected she was wearing under her black and orange dress.  One look at her attire and he got the picture, it was styled after the dresses of the 1890’s. It was clear that these people were trying to capture the feel of a very long bye-gone era.
    The woman at the front desk smiled, “Welcome Sir, welcome to The Nymphia.  So, tall dark and handsome, what can I do you for?” 
    Tired from his long trek, but not so tired that he missed what she was asking him, “Ah,” he hesitated , while he struggled to find the right words.
    “Oh come on now, such a fine gentleman as yourself doesn’t come walking through my doors not looking for something.”  She rang a bell and about a dozen girls of different ages and quality of looks filled the sitting area of the lobby.  They were all in various states of undress, some were adorned with short dresses and low cut tops, which revealed plenty of flesh.  While others wore short silk robes, thigh high stockings, and high heeled shoes.  “Take a good look, any one of them is yours, for the right price of course.  If you like, you can have more than one.  It all depends on what you’re willing to pay.  You can rest assured that they are all one hundred percent human girl, none of that love bot crap for my customers.”  She could tell from his face that he was not particularly interested in the girls.  “Or, if you prefer, I can round up a few boys for you.”
    “Ah, no!  No, thank you.  I’m not here for that, I just need a room for a few nights.” 
    “Oh, okay.  P ardon my shock.  We don’t get a lot of customers in here just looking for the room, if ya catch my drift.”  She winked, “I hope I haven’t offended you?”  She waved the girls from the room.
    “No.  Not at all,” h e paused to look for something that had her name on it.
    “ The name’s Xandra dear, as in Madam Xandra,” she said.
    “Xandra , a lovely name for a lovely lady.  No offense taken, really.  I just want to get a room,” he said with a warm, but tired smile.
    Instantly warming to the compliment, Xandra responded, “ Not a problem Mr.,” pausing as she likewise waited for a reply.
    Not wanting to give any information that might lead to his real identity, he answered “Smith.”
    Xandra smiled, raising her eyebrows with mild appraisal at the gentleman standing before her, “Well okay Mr. Smith,” she laughed at the use of the name.  “We get a lot of Smiths in here, if you know what I mean.”  Given the nature of the establishment, he understood perfectly.
    “Here is your key Sir.” She turned to a young blonde girl who seemed to appear out of nowhere, “Dorothy here will show you to your room.” 
    He handed Xandra cash for a week’s lodging.  “Thank you,” he said as he took his key.
    “Right this way Sir,” Dorothy said.  She was pretty, in kind of a plain way.  She wore a black one-piece dress that stopped just below her butt.  The tight