Chapter 064:
Anton lay on the surprisingly comfortable bed of the Wild Pony Inn. Alfred had pulled through with his promise. This was the largest and most expensive Inn in Nonbu'rn. And they had an entire level to themselves.
The room itself was well furnished for this world; a few landscape paintings, a cupboard for their clothes and some bottles of wine, water and food laid out on a table. It was very comfortable, being far better than any he had seen during his time here. He had offhandedly asked the soldier how much one of these rooms cost for the night and gasped at the price. It was amazing that anyone could afford it. Especially being so far north and near the relatively open border with the Deweth Clans.
However it was not the Clansmen what was bothering him. Before they entered this room Verona said that she needed a few moments with Kal, and refused to elaborate further. When he asked again she told him that it would be fine and he should try his best and take a nap. He could not see what Kal was thinking when Verona dragged her off into the room furthest down the hall, but she went willingly.
That left him some time to think. Think about what he was doing, regarding why he was sent here to this world.
“Is this really the best thing to stop those Demons.” he spoke aloud. “I'm sure that I could influence things more if I were to work with one of the Kingdoms or Empires...But I really don't want to get involved with their politics too deeply. Where I just become a servant of the state and embroiled in their politics, hampered by whomever I offend. Working with one could alienate all the others.”
He chuckled as he shook his head.
“I can imagine that cleaning it up would take quite some work. If Qaiviel is anything to go by. Better to start anew rather than try and fix it...Still, I'll need to work with everyone else for resources and people. I'm guessing that I'll be in a mercenary state for some time while I work my way into their politics, as an outsider. Act as a nexus that holds them together against the Demons. There might be something to that.”
He rose off the bed and moved to the table adorned with food. Most of it he barely recognised, so he picked at some delicate looking pieces of fruit as he poured himself some wine. As the fine glassware nearly touched his lips he forced himself to stop.
I don't know what those Knights are really like, or if there are any sympathisers, if they can be petty. I did kind of embarrass one of them quite a bit. I certainly went too far, but they all seem decent enough one they're off their metaphorical horses. Still, I didn't see any of this being prepared. Just to be safe...
A quick prayer, for immunity and identification to poison, and he sipped the wine again. Nothing told him anything was wrong. He took a morsel from each piece of food, just to be safe, and found nothing. They were both surprisingly good.
I haven't tried anything poisonous knowingly, so I don't know what it would do to me. Hopefully it would just neutralise it and give me some sort of warning. Like a ping or something. I might need Kal to give me something mildly poisonous to test out.
He turned and moved to the wooden slat window, the only source on natural light. A series of crystals hung from the ceiling that also provided light, the same type that Duchess Belinda had in her mansion.
Outside the people were working very hard. Bodies and debris were being hauled away and reconstruction was already beginning.
“I wonder what it's going to be like in Graterious?” Anton said aloud as he continued tow watch the people go about their duty. “Kal said that there were nobles that feuded constantly...We'll need to become friendly with one of them in order to get more people and resources.”
As he lowered his hand the few coins that they had taken from the dead Orcs jingled.
“We'll need to see about getting a good stream of that coming in as well. And it can't just be us using our magic for odd jobs from the nobles. We'll need to think of some sort of business and see about making more money that way...But, what can we make here that everybody will want? Something easy from my world?”
Anton shrugged, moving back and lying on the bed.
“I'll have to ask Kal first about Graterious. I'm sure there's going to be a whole bunch of hoops that we're going to have to jump through. Belinda was initially nice and even talked to us, because we had lots of money. How will that fare in Graterious? How will we do?”
He had no answer. He half dozed, waiting for Verona and Kal to return.
---[]---
A knock on the door awoke Anton. He realised he had dozed off, for how long he did not know. He lightly slapped his face to bring himself to full alert and got up.
“You there, Anton?” Verona asked. It was far more light and hesitant than normal.
“Yeah. The door isn't locked.”
“Right. I...Right.”
Verona opened the door. She looked a little more refreshed than when they parted. All of the grime, soot and dried blood had left her face. She still wore her normal clothes though her armour was gone.
“Just had a bath.” She said, moving next to him. “They even prepared that for us.”
“That's good. You look good.”
A flicker of movement at the door caught his attention. Kal, without her face cloth, peered around. She too looked clean and refreshed. Her loose and scruffy dark aqua hair had been combed straight, reaching below her shoulders. Nervous eyes darted all around the room and behind her.
“Come on in Kal.” Verona waved her in, speaking very lightly and softly. This was not her usual behaviour.
She did so, very nervously. The cloak covered most of her body but she seemed to be holding it very tight against her body. Cloth covered fingers held desperately at the edges.
“Did you have a bath as well?”
Kal nodded. “Yes. I wasn't expecting them to prepare that.”
“I wanted to go with her,” Verona began. “But she insisted that she went alone, even though...”
“Hmm?”
Verona shook her head. “Anyway, I think we should all take a seat for this next bit.”
Verona refused to elaborate, moving a chair close to the bed, waving for Anton to sit on the side. He did as he was bid. Verona sat next to him while Kal slowly, and very cautiously, took the chair.
When she was seated Verona clapped her hands.
“Right. So, after we'd taken our baths, we had a long talk.”
Anton nodded. They had been gone for quite a while, but he knew that he shouldn't say anything yet.
“A very long talk.” Verona continued. “About a great many things. We've finally come to an agreement on it. So long as you agree to it as well.”
“Okay...”
Verona's face reddened slightly, though she fought it down with all her might. She coughed as she fiddled with her fingers.
“Okay.” She coughed again. “So...I'm not really sure how to say it, so I'll just say it. Basically, Kal is open to the idea of being in a relationship with both of us. Together. And so am I.”
What?
Anton was stunned by what he had just heard. Verona had to tell him again before it truly sunk in. He took a quick glance at Kal. She kept her head low but the skin on her face was already a deep scarlet and only getting deeper.
“I, I don't know what to say.”
Never before had something like this occurred to him before. He had no idea what he should be saying. Thankfully Kal remained still at his words. Verona saw him floundering, so she held his hand with a warm smile and continued.
“I may not be the smartest person in this world, but I've seen the way Kal looks at you.” she continued. Kal's shoulders twitched. “It...It took me a little longer than it should have, but I know what it means when she looks at you like that. A sort of longing...Other things too. Not wanting to be apart, and touching that lingers a little too long.”
Kal groaned lightly.
“But.” Verona chuckled, trying to wave down Kal, not that she was looking up. “But I know that there is no harm in what she does. And...”
She turned to him. “I've seen the way you look and treat her as well. Not to the same level but you do care immensly for her.”
She stared into his eyes, giving his hand a light squeeze. He was sure that his voice would break or he would say something stupid so he nodded. Another smile drew on her face.
“And I like her too.” Verona continued. “She's a kind, caring person that I am extremely glad to have with us.”
This time Verona lent over and held Kal's hand. There was just a hint of a twitch, but she relented. Kal looked up as Verona raised their hands. Her eyes were slightly distant. When they landed on him they burst into focus. He was certain that she was blushing even more furiously.
“So, I've been talking to her and she says that she likes me as well.” A smug smile came to Verona's face. “Maybe not to the same level but...Says that I'm one of two people that she's met in the past twenty winters that actually care about Beast-kin...though she did say that me wanting to feeling up my tail is a part of it, and that I'm pretty as well.”
He could not argue with that.
“So...What do you think?” Verona turned to him. Kal was looking intently as well.
“How would this work?” Anton asked. He needed a bit of time to sort out a few swirling thoughts in his head.
“Oh. I've already checked and she's human underneath. Past the elbows and knees is a very soft and enticing brown body.”
“You said you weren't looking.” Kal said quietly, a tiny snarl curling up on her lips.
Verona shrugged. “I lied.”
Kal sighed and lent back into the chair.
“So, there isn't a problem with...that.” Verona said.
“Right.”
It wasn't exactly what Anton was thinking about, but it was one question answered. That very thought was tacit agreement to this proposition. The more he thought about it the less he was worried or concerned about it. Verona seemed very open to the possibility, and he had thought for a moment that Kal might have been interested. At the time he put it down to fanciful thoughts, two women desiring him and working out some sort of arrangement...
“But,” Anton spoke softly. “I meant, how would this work in sleeping? Would it be one at a time...or both?”
Verona shrugged. “I'm not going to be leaving your bed for anything, so it's going to be both.”
Kal remained neutral. She didn't seem to have any problem with that part of this arrangement. As the seconds dragged on Verona became more incensed. Letting out a great huff, she pulled both of them closer to her. Kal was pulled from her chair and landed with a squeak on the bed next to Verona.
“I don't see what the problem is.” she said, an honest look on her face. “We all like each other. There's no bad feelings between us and none of this is by force. I don't see what the problem is. This...This is to be enjoyed.”
Verona sighed and became a little more sombre.
“One of the people that travelled with us, one of the villagers we picked up from the first hamlet where we found survivors, I overheard him talking. Apparently there was a woman in his hamlet that he loved very dearly but he could not muster the courage to tell her his feelings. I found out that she was in the camp as well, and heard the same thing from her.”
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She stopped and looked down.
“What happened?” Anton asked.
Verona shrugged. “The man died in the last battle. He never got to tell her how she felt. And she can never do the same.”
She took another deep breath. “So that's why we definitely shouldn't wait.” Verona smiled apologetically. “It's not that I don't trust your magic, or my own, or Kal's skills, but something could...could, happen. And those sort of feelings should not be kept hidden. We all like each other. So, why not?”
“I...Let's see how this works.” Anton said weakly. He could not believe what was happening.
Verona freed their hands and clapped her own. “Excellent. Kal's already agreed.” Verona looked up and Kal nodded, not with intensity, but like this was some far away fanciful dream that she was living through. “And I knew you would. Besides, you've kind of already agreed to this anyway.”
“How?”
Verona smiled wickedly as hand reached for his crotch and squeezed down hard. Anton winced in the pain as Kal looked on worried.
“See? You've already agreed.”
“Could have done it a little more gently.”
Verona chuckled. “Yeah. But where's the fun in that?”
He made a mental note to make sure that she was punished for that later. Thinking that brought him to the present. He had just agreed to something rather wild.
“Umm, what happens now?”
“What do you mean?”
Verona had already removed her clip and barrette. She moved quickly to the table and placed them gently down. The next moment and she was already stripping. Kal let out a squeak of surprise as she averted her eyes, not by much though.
“Well? What do you think's going to happen?” She removed her shirt, revealing her upper body to the world and threw the shirt at Anton.
“I should close the window at least.” he said as he rose from the bed. “I don't want anyone to sneak a peak.”
Verona chuckled and muttered something underneath her breath. When Anton closed the window, and made sure it wouldn't open again by accident, he turned around and saw Verona trying to get Kal to stand. The shock of this new situation was too much for her.
“Kal?” he spoke softly. She looked over at him. “I...I know that Verona said you'd agreed, but if you are-”
Kal furiously shook her head. “No. I...I agreed to this.” Her face resumed her beet red blushing. “I've had this happen in my dreams. I...want this. But, being here right now, I'm a bit nervous.”
Verona chuckled as she finally convinced Kal to remove her cloak. She wore her usual cloth wrappings, though they were not done as tightly as before. As he moved closer he could hear he saying something, over and over again. “You can do this. You can do this.” she was almost saying it as a mantra.
Anton took her hand in his, it trembled before grasping tight. She slowly stood up as her eyes locked onto his. The strange but captivating eyes that had seen tremendous horror, and lived through it all, stared back into his. A caring, yet fierce, soul lay within. One that he wanted to protect.
“I...I don't know what to do.” Kal chuckled, Verona joined in as well.
“Neither did I.” Verona moved closer. “But it'll come to you.”
He smiled as warmly as he could, Kal took a deep breath, before moving forward for a kiss. It was different to Verona; less fierce and overwhelming but no less passionate. He held her gently by the elbows, and Kal returned it, the claws lightly digging into his skin. The embrace lasted for quite some time. When she parted she was dyed red and completely dazed.
“Kal.” Verona said, looking very smug. “You can't go to bed with us like that. You're going to have to take it all off.”
Kal glanced down at her clothing and nodded. She gave Anton another quick kiss, one she seemed to be enjoy quite a lot, before taking a few steps back and began to undress. Verona took her position at his right side and kissed him deeply, as she started to throw off his clothes. When he was down to his pants she pushed him onto the bed, both of them falling down together. Verona giggled and patted his chest before standing up and moved to help Kal.
Kal's fingers shook as she desperately tried to remove the layers of cloth. Verona gently took her hands and pulled her down for a deep kiss. Kal squeaked in surprise, though her surprise didn't last for long. When they parted Kal was utterly stunned, trapped in a light daze. Verona took advantage and quickly freed her from the cloth wrappings.
Verona let out a gasp, which quickly turned into a giggle.
“I thought they were pretty big underneath there.” Verona chuckled. “Though they're not as big as mine.”
Verona moved out of the way, revealing Kal's naked form.
She was very slim, possesing a delicious toned and mocha body,, each muscle clearly defined. There were no blemishes or marks on her smooth skin. There was virtually no fat on her body, except for two areas. Her breasts were quite large, probably half of Verona's. The small dark nub at the center drew his attention. A delicious body that nearly everyone would be desperate to have in any way. He wondered what sort of woman her mother was.
Her Beast-kin hands and her digitigrade feet twitched uncontrollably. Seeing her naked showed that the soft fur extended to just past her elbow and knees. The fur stopped abruptly, giving way to her smooth brown skin. He thought that he might have been a bit repulsed at seeing something clearly not human, but he wasn't. The claws on her feet scratched and tapped nervously at the wooden floor. He found it extremely adorable the way she was so nervous but undoubtedly eager and excited as well.
She was beautiful. It was such a shame that she had to cover herself all the time.
Kal caught his eyes. “Um...What...What do you think?” she asked quietly. Both her hands fidgeted uncontrollably with each other.
He glanced at Verona, who only smiled, then back to Kal.
“You're beautiful. Utterly stunning.”
Kal blushed even more, coughing awkwardly to cover her surprise. He couldn't help but smile, both girls smiling back. Her tail was still coiled around her waist, though not by a piece of string. Seeing him look she quickly freed into the air,
“What? I didn't think it was going to be this big.” Verona squeaked out, watching the tail wave seductively infront of her. Anton was still enamoured at seeing it. Kal wrapped it around her body like a towel, an awkward smile on her face.
“It's fucking amazing!” Verona cried out. “I'm so annoyed that you got to see and touch this first.”
Verona reached out and stroked the fur on the tail. She bounced in joy as Kal looked awkwardly at Anton, doubly so as Verona rubbed her face upon it.
“I. I am so jealous that I don't have this. Though...not anymore.”
Verona brought Kal down for another kiss.
“Ahh. So pretty.” Verona mumbled, pushing Kal towards the bed and Anton. She made sure to get a hand onto Kal's pert rump.
Kal moved to the edge of the bed, unsure of what to do next. He rose up and held out his hand. Kal took a deep breath and took his hand, gently he guided her to sit down on the bed. This was not something to be done wrong, to be rushed. Kal appreciated the slowing down of the event. She smiled as her hands entwined with his. Verona tossed away her pants and sidled next to Anton. She smirked and whispered to Anton's ear.
“Thought you would be interested.”
“By the looks of things, so are you.”
Verona nodded. “As I said before, why not enjoy ourselves?”
Kal took another deep breath and lunged forward for a kiss, knocking him down. Their lips smacked together as his hand moved around her waist, her own hands gripping . It felt so good to hold her. Her skin so soft. Verona chuckled as she moved onto him as her hands started moving over their bodies.
“This...This is going to be a night to remember.”
---[]---
A ray of sunshine pierced Anton's eye, forcing him awake. His body was light and utterly relaxed. Drained.
It was the morning of the next day. The day after the Clansmen and Orc invasion. And the day after he had started a relationship with Kal alongside Verona. If someone had asked him about such a development the previous morning he would have laughed it off. Two heavy lumps either side of him told him otherwise.
Resting on his right arm was Verona. Her silver hair was completely dishevel and rested loosely over her face. She had been very...enthusiastic during the night, showing and teaching Kal quite a number of things. Things that she had no idea about, but rapidly took on and learned. One of her hands gripped tightly on his arm as she lightly snored, forcing her body onto his.
On his other other was Kal. Unlike Verona, who curled up in his arm, Kal was splayed out over the bed. Her dark aqua hair was thrown about, her brown skin shone in the morning light. One of her legs rested over his, the other was almost visible out the edge of the bed. The digitigrade toes slowly twitched with each breath. One of her Beast-kin hands lay just below his neck, the other he had no idea. Resting across both legs and onto his stomach was her tail. The fan end was in Verona's hand. She had finally relented to her demands, allowing Verona to pat it when they finally finished.
Seeing them both in this dishevelled and exhausted state brought back vivid and exciting memories of the previous night.
I never thought I would get involved in something like this.
His left hand was free holding onto Kal's waist, he brought it around and brushed a few strands out of her eyes.
It's so nice to see her calm and relaxed like this. Her sleeping face is so lovely and peaceful. Now she's no longer alone. I'll take care of both of them, not matter what.
Verona started to mewl as he body started to turn and writhe about. His movement had stirred her from her sleep. As she started to stretch out Kal started to awaken as well. She raised herself up, her Beast-kin hand's claws digging deep into his skin as she pushed against his chest. Verona turned onto her back and threw out both her hands. One missed his chin but hit Kal in the arm, enough for her sleep addled body to buckle and her head hit Anton's chest.
“Ow.” Kal grumbled, rubbing her head as she raised herself.
The covers fell off her body, exposing everything to the light. Her eyes were still closed as she stretched out her arms. With every action she mewled slightly. Just like Verona.
Both sat still as Kal, still half asleep, started rotating her shoulders. As her eyes opened she looked down. At Anton, with an arm still around her taught waist, and Verona, smiling as her body pressed onto Anton. Slowly it dawned upon Kal what had happened.
“That...That happened.” she stammered out. “We had sex?”
Anton and Verona nodded. He could feel that Verona was smiling wildly.
“I...I need to go. I'm sorry I...”
Kal started to throw off the covers but Anton squeezed onto her waist and stopped her leaving.
“Hold on...Where do you think you're going?” he said lightly.
Kal looked at him, not caring that her chest or any part of her body was exposed.
“I thought it was all some sort of dream.” she slowly brought the covers to hide her chest. “I didn't believe it was real. Any of it. That someone would want me..,as a woman.”
“Did you enjoy yourself?” Verona asked, smiling wildly as she gently played with her tail.
Kal stared forward as she picked at her claws. They had made a few marks on his back during the nights passion that still stung even now. Slowly a smile formed on her face.
“I did.” she said quietly.
“I'm glad you did.” Verona said, bouncing her body to the edge of the bed and hopping off. “I know I did, and I'm pretty sure Anton did too.”
Verona, completely naked, walked over to the table of food. They had not touched it during the night and now his was quite hungry. Judging by the way Verona and Kal looked at the food so where they. Verona picked up the plate and sat down infront of them. She started to pick at the food, handing pieces to both of them.
“How...” Kal trailed off, slowly chewing on a dried piece of meat.
“What's wrong?” Anton asked. Verona nodded as well.
“How...How will this work. Later?”
Verona cocked her head as she chewed on a grape.
“Everyone knows you two are in a relationship. So...How do I...”
Verona shrugged. “That's their problem, if they have a problem with us. I don't care what they think. And what they say isn't going to influence how we behave.”
She huffed and folded her arms underneath her large breasts.
“If they have a problem with a harem then they can shove it up their arse's.”
Anton frowned as he looked at Verona. “Where did you hear that word?”
“Which one?”
“Harem.”
Verona looked at Kal. Kal coughed awkwardly. “In Seocuria, a man having more than one...woman...was not that uncommon. Most of the leaders, nobles and rich merchants have one. That's what they called it.”
“Huh.” Anton picked up another piece of food. “But, you do want this to continue?”
Kal hesitated before nodding furiously.
“I do. I really do.” A few tears started to well up in her eyes. “I...I never thought I could have something like this. Someone...”
Anton kissed her on the cheek, Kal eliciting a squeak in surprise. Verona chuckled so Anton gave her one as well. She quickly turned it into a deep kiss before finally parting.
“There isn't going to be a problem with...this.” Anton said, both girls smiling and nodding. “But...”
Kal frowned as she glanced at Verona, her face just as confused.
“Would you like to move into our house?”
Kal tensed immediately.
“Not a bad idea.” Verona mumbled as she continued eating.
“We've got lots of spare rooms. One we could easily give one to you, even if you don't really use it much.”
Tears welled up in her eyes again. She lunged at him, knocking the food everywhere, as she hugged him tight.
“Thank you!” she said, over and over. “I never thought something like this could ever happen. Now I've even got my own room!”
“You've got a house, you know?” Verona said, picking up the bits of food covering the covers. "What's the difference?"
“This...This is different.” Kal replied as she pulled him up. “To a Beast-kin, being invited to live in someone's home is...something very special.”
He gave her another kiss on the forehead. Seeing her squirm in delight was never going to get old.
“I...I will follow you anywhere...Anton.”
She looked at him such earnest eyes, ones he had never seen before. Verona started laughing and broke their moment.
“So, what's the plan once we get this finished?” Verona asked. “Head back to Atros, to Graterious, then to Seocuria?”
He felt Kal tense in his arms. Anton nodded.
“Yep. Kal, on the way we'll need you to tell us everything you know about both of the Empires. I know Seocuria might be a bit difficult to speak about but we need to know.”
“I understand. I don't feel so bad about talking about it now. It'll take some time though.”
“I think we've got time.” Verona said as she hopped off the bed and moved towards the small table again. This time she poured three glasses of wine. She came back and handed one to each of them. “It'll be a few days before we go if Alfred was right, so...”
She raised her glass, waving with her other hand for them to do the same.
“To our weird future.” she said.
“To the future.” All said, clinking their glasses together.
Anton could not help but wonder what their future would bring, this strange little family he was building.
-----------
Hello!
Kal's finally joined in, only took 64 chapters before this story could even start to be called a harem. I didn't want to have it just be a new person every other chapter or so. Anyway, Kal seems to be enjoying a lot. That might make things difficult later, but not caring now.
Just a few more chaps of some wrapping up and then it's onto the next arc.
Thanks for reading! And any and all donations!