“Is that all claiming is? To say she is not to seek out any other man?”

Gwenvair struggled to respond properly and was only able to offer a nod. Joe, however, was kind enough to not take offense at her poor manners and continued.

“Huh… that seems to be quite a bit different for my people, but becoming a boyfriend or girlfriend means that you have claimed each other. But, physical intimacy is usually for later… or for those who are traditional, after they are married. For boyfriends and girlfriends and for engagement, the ‘claiming’ is temporary. Marriage makes the claiming permanent, I guess?”

Gwenvair quickly caught on that, “It’s temporary?”

“Yes. Like I said. Couples come to know one another more closely to make sure they are good people. If the man turns out to be an abuser, hitting the woman or treating her very poorly, she will leave and seek out another. The same is true for the man, if she proves to be evil, cruel, or seeking him out only for his wealth or power. Some still continue, but such relationships are… fragile weak things that fail almost always.”

Gwenvair sat back at that, “You… study each other?”

“Of course? How would we know if the other is a good person?”

“You do not have your parents or a matchmaker test them?”

Joe smiled and shook his head, “My people used to do so, but now we do so on our own. Sadly, many young people foolishly do not seek out advice from their parents and friends about what kind of person the other is. If they did so, they would likely make much wiser choices about their partners, but some are too… immature or certain of their own abilities that they do not do so.”

“So… then… this … claiming of Kilniara is temporary now?”

“Yes… as is her claim of me.”

“What would… remove this claim?”

Joe took a deep sigh before beginning, “So much… but truly, it can be something very subtle and minor that will become a great problem through time, or something quite evil of the other.

“If I met a woman that always complained or yelled at others, I would never marry her. Or if I met a woman who only sought me out for my power or wealth, I would not have her. If she… was… selfish, lazy, evil, weak minded, … just… there are so many things. To be honest, it would be very difficult to list them. Just think of everything that would drive you away from accepting someone as a friend, and you have many of the same things that would drive me away from seeking them as my wife.”

Gwenvair sat back at that, eyes wide, “You seek a good person. A morally good person.”

Joe smiled at that, nodding, “Yeah… that … that’s exactly it. A morally good person will make my life strong, happy, healthy, and … good. A morally bad or poor person would likely destroy me or drag me down.”

“Status and wealth… they mean…”

Joe quickly shook his head, cutting her off, “Such things are useless. If I truly wished for status or wealth, I could achieve that easily enough, to a greater or lesser degree. Wealth, actually, would be very easy for me. Status would come with wealth, so…” Joe shrugged at that.

Gwenvair smiled very softly, “It makes sense,” she finished, looking to Kiliniara.

Kilniara, by this point, was staring deeply at Joe and breathed out quietly, “You claim me.”

Joe’s response was blunt, a strike straight to the heart of the conversation, “Of course! I told you, loyalty is absolutely vital to me. Do not seek any other out. If you grow… tired of me, please simply tell me and we will release each other to seek another.”

Kilniara quickly shook her head, “Never! You have claimed me! How could I do such a thing to you.”

Joe smiled brilliantly at that, and Gwenvair quickly saw how important his claim was and she nodded softly to herself. Joe continued.

“Well, you never know. I may turn out to be a very evil man! Do not say never. Wisely consider me and make your choice of me with very careful and deliberate decision. It will only strengthen our marriage, if we … and when… we might marry. This is not a promise… but it is still my end goal.”

Kilniara took a deep breath at that before nodding, and stared deeply in to Joe’s eyes, captured utterly by them. They stared at one another for a bit before Joe began again.

“Do you claim me?”

This statement stilled both girls utterly and Kilniara took a deep shuddering breath, “Can… may I?”

“Of course!” Joe stated bluntly, and quickly, but then continued much more quietly, “Please… please do so. Our marriage must be one of equals. We will both have our own different abilities and strengths, but we must both choose this. For a marriage to truly succeed well with deep meaning and joy, both must have true love and hard work for one another. Both are needed, and I truly wish for a deeply joyful marriage.”

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

Gwenvair felt the air flee her and her mind suddenly blank at Joe’s statements, her mind fluttered without thought, incapable of grasping what Joe was saying, but desperately yearning for it even as her heart soared in desire while her mind soured with bitter loss.

* * *

Joe waited for quite some time for Kilniara to respond and when she did so, it was with a dreamy lost look.

“I… I … claim… you Joe.”

Joe smiled and nodded, “I am yours.”

Kilniara’s breath whooshed at that and she threw herself across the table into his arms. She came to him for a hug, but he mistook it for a kiss, and took it as an invitation. She stiffened in shock at that, but then shyly accepted the deep kiss which Joe was more than willing to take. Joe quickly noticed the spreading shockwave of stunned guests around them as people froze and stared. Joe held the kiss another second before releasing her.

“Well… I guess I should not have done that in public?”

Kilniara flushed deeply and Gwenvair suddenly began laughing, deep belly laughs as she looked at Joe and Kilniara even as her own cheeks flushed a deep red. Despite her obvious embarrassment, she also seemed to be enjoying herself and Joe simply watched her enjoyment. Kiliniara tried to hide, shrinking in her seat and Joe decided to offer her an escape.

“Should we get away from all these stares?”

Gwenvair broke into even greater laughter but nodded quickly herself as she gasped through her laughter, “Yes!... yes… I think it … would be… very wise!”

Joe paid quickly and escaped the dining hall, shielding the two girls as much as possible as the two left. The two girls followed behind him from the guild into the streets, remaining silent for quite a long time before the two began whispering to one another once again, obviously back in good terms and mood with one another. Joe smiled at that, and left them their privacy even as he lead the way to the bathhouse, now very well acquainted with the way.

They arrived and Joe split off from the girls to find the two boys.

* * *

Kilniara shuddered with pure joy, unable to keep herself still or her emotions under control even as they skittered wildly through joy, happiness, and utter intoxication. Gwenvair gracefully and considerately guided her through the hallways of the bathhouse until they had found their way into a private room once more. She peeled off her clothes on autopilot before turning and heading towards the large bath.

“He really does it for you, doesn’t he?”

Kilniara stopped and looked at Gwenvair, a bit confused. Gwenvair smiled at that, then grinned evilly before sniffing deeply, exaggeratingly smelling the air.

“Yup… he really does.”

Kilniara froze, then flushed utterly red, her face flashing to red, then her neck, and then slowly crawling down her chest across her breasts and even past her nipples. Gwenvair laughed at that and turned away, and Kilniara felt a flash of competition, and quickly shifted her nose to increase her ability to smell. She could not, of course, match Gwenvair’s naturally superior ability to smell, but she could still easily catch the smell of excited female.

“I wouldn’t mock too much. I smell more than one.”

Gwenvair froze at that then stared back at her, her own features flushing as quickly and wide spread as Kilniara, her face, neck, chest, and breasts flushing a deep red even as her ears froze in forward position, staring at Kilniara in shock. Kilniara grinned in triumph then walked past her and settled with a sigh into the bath, grateful.

Gwenvair didn’t move, but followed Kiliniara with her eyes before turning slowly, deeply embarrassed even as she pressed her thighs together. She stared for longer before slowly and hesitantly heading to the bath.

“Kilinara… I… I’m … I do not…”

Kilniara looked at Gwenvair and smiled, waving away her fear, “Any woman who heard how he spoke and promised would likely be … deeply affected, especially given all his other… great capabilities.”

Gwenvair nodded, fear dropping even as she pulled in a shuddering sigh of relief, “I’m… still sorry. You are claimed… and… he is claimed as well! I know this,” Gwenvair ended strongly with a bright smile at that, still remembering the promise that Joe had offered Kilniara.

“He is… a good man,” Gwenvair ended with a wistful statement.

Kilinara stared at Gwenvair deeply, her thoughts racing, even as she considered continuing, but then retreating. Wait…

“You are good, too, Gwenvair,” Kilniara offered instead.

Gwenvair looked at Kilniara with a smile and nodded, “Thank you. Truly.”

Kilniara shrugged but did not continue the conversation and the two rested, falling into the restful heat of the bath.

* * *

Joe ended his bath and headed out to the entrance way with the two boys. They were antsy to run off for the afternoon, but Joe held them back as he wasn’t sure if the girls might have plans so all three waited until they exited. The girls proved almost insulting in their unconcern for the guys, offering only a quick wave as both greeting and goodbye before escaping out into the streets. Joe watched this then quirked an eyebrow before shaking his head in humor.

“Well… I guess we’re all off doing our own thing. Sorry for keeping you. Do you want to hang out or do your own thing?”

Garnedell seemed to consider it but Zilnek quickly shook his head, “We’ll see you at the inn!”

Zilnek dragged Garnedell off after him and Joe quirked an eyebrow, laughing as they raced off. Joe waved good bye then found himself alone in the middle of the street.

“Well… I guess this is what they mean when they grow up… but… it’s… kind of nice!”

Joe spoke to himself before shrugging and heading towards the dungeon before pausing. Right… can’t change my char: skills… man… I hope it’s only a daily limit… then… Joe considered then sighed… Well… back to the temples, I guess…

He marched through the streets easily enough and put on his next cloak as he came to the entrance to the temple plaza but then began to slow down, growing a bit concerned. Something… feels… He looked around, thoughtful and wondering what was pinging his concern before slowly entering the square. His arrival at the temple square had proved normal enough but as he crossed the temple square cautiously, he saw an obvious group of priests exit the Saga temple and begin to spread throughout the square, heading to various temples. Some stayed in the square, diligently looking at people while others went into other temples… or wait… they’re not going in… they’re just standing at the entrance watching people! Others that had been standing at the entrance to the other temples and begun returning back through the square once the newcomers had arrived, and Joe recognized it immediately. A shift change… crap!