* * *
Kilniara glided down the street to the bath giddily. Joe had proven to be as adept in his diplomacy as he was in his combat skills and she kept her confidence until they arrived at the privacy of the baths. Gwenvair had returned to her distance demeanor but Kilniara was no longer concerned. She knew exactly what to do and was certain this would solve any and all difficulties, so she simply spoke as she always had with Gwenvair and ignored her distant and short responses.
Kilniara could barely contain her glee regardless, and Gwenvair quickly began to notice Kilniara’s unusual joy. She soon began to engage more freely in the conversation but spent most of it trying to pry the secret from Kilniara’s lips. When Kilniara realized that Gwenvair had caught onto her unusual behavior, Kilniara simply doubled down on it, maintaining her secrecy but bluntly confirming that something was happening.
Gwenvair’s reservation turned to pressing need as she struggled to delve into Kilniara’s secret and her relaxed and friendly banter returned as the two soon reopened their joyful relationship. Despite that return, Kilniara kept Gwenvair in frustrated suspense until they made it to the baths.
In the dressing room Gwenvair finally proved unable to hold on anymore, “Right! We are here. Tell me!”
Kilniara shook her head and giggled at Gwenvair’s obvious frustration, “Not yet. The private baths.”
Gwenvair frowned but then narrowed her eyes, “You are playing.”
Kilniara giggled at that and took off from the changing room into the main baths and down the hallway to the private baths, “I may be, but there is little you can do!”
Gwenvair growled and quickly prepared herself for bathing before sprinting after her. She, of course, could easily catch the Acokzau, but the path to the private baths was not straight, twisting and turning and the Acokzau’s natural agility allowed her to make the turns faster than Gwenvair ever could. Gwenvair growled and almost shifted from her Rest form to her full original form to give her an extra burst of speed, but her sense of propriety stayed her hand and she slipped into the private bath just a few steps after Kilniara.
“OK. Now speak!”
Kilinara nodded, a bright smile on her face, “Of course, but the privacy glyph, please.”
Gwenvair stared at Kilniara, trying to sense if she was playing with her. She continued to stare and Kilniara simply smiled but offered an incentive.
“It is good news, trust me. But it is about Master.”
Gwenvair’s upset quickly shifted cold but polite, her heart thumping sharply at that mention but her logic squashing her emotions flat, dead. She walked to the glyph and enabled it for a quick burst but Kilniara shook her head.
“You will have questions. Many questions,” Kilnaira said with a smile and a hint of glee.
Gwenvair narrowed her eyes but quickly filled up the glyph for a good hour of privacy before she turned back. Kilniara smiled then spoke bluntly and simply.
“Joe gave his approval. He seeks a Queen,” Kilniara spoke gleefully, eyes obviously carefully watching Gwenvair’s face for her reaction.
Gwenvair felt the air rush from her lungs, shock like a punch smashing her lungs as her ears spiked directly upward, twitching rapidly even as her entire body quivered, emotions roiling wildly.
Kilniara stared at Gwenvair as her smile broadened even greater before she took a deep and very obvious breath through her noise, sniffing the air.
“Ah. Yes. That … that was well received, I think,” Kilniara broke into giggles she couldn’t control.
Gwenvair blushed more deeply than she ever had in her life before she growled in response. There was no anger, no embarrassment, nor any upset at Kilniara, only an appropriate response to Kilniara’s statement but her mind could hardly think as she responded more automatically than in any preplanned way. Her body and mind were unable to process even as she quivered in a way she’d never done so before.
She took a deep breath, seeking calm that was impossible to grasp as she quivered with the greatest excitement she’d ever felt in her life. Her entire thought change, and her eyes fell upon her sister. A true Sister. She would have a true Sister. Her breathing shuddered, then a brilliant smile took her face and she, for the first time, freely expressed herself with her now true Sister. She leapt forward and pulled Kilniara into a tight embrace which she held for a few moments, eyes searching deep into Kilniara’s before she found the confirmation she sought and then released her vibrating tension into great belly laughs as she flung Kilniara into the bath. Kilniara simply giggled even louder as she splashed into the bath and Gwenvair dove in a mighty splash after, indulging in wild play in a way she’d never done since long before, when she was a child.
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Kilniara broke the surface with great fits of laughter, looking at Gwenvair and the two simply looked at each other, Kilniara laughing, and Gwenvair desperately trying to breath.
“It’s true?”
Kilniara nodded, “He spoke to me of desiring a Queen. He asked me to be his Queen, but he has never met an Acokzau before, so probably does not know I cannot be Queen.”
Gwenvair searched Kilniara’s face but found no resentment, only a giddy excitement that seemed to resonate with her own. Gwenvair sucked in a breath. It’s already formed?
“You are certain?”
Kilniara laughed, “I’ve told you three times now. Yes, I’m certain. He asked.”
Gwenvair quickly shook her head, “No. You … you are certain.”
“I?”
“Yes.”
Kilniara stared at Gwenvair, her teasing look quickly melting to a look of joy and endearment, “If it were any other. But you? Yes. You are worthy. Certainly worthy since you treat me very well, just as he does.”
Gwenvair cocked her head. She remained silent for a moment before finally giving into her curiosity, “Tell me what happened? Everything!”
“Well, he asked.”
“He asked? You? About me?”
Kilniara smiled, “Yes.”
Gwenvair’s excitement spiked even more firmly at that, “Then … he would ask me?”
Kilniara giggled, “He would ask us both.”
Gwenvair sighed at that, “And you gave approval.”
“Of course! I seek his happiness even as he seeks mine, in every way.”
Gwenvair stared at Kilniara and then grimaced, releasing her jealousy, “It’s not fair! You get to.”
Kilniara laughed, “Yes. But we each have our own skills and benefits.”
Gwenvair rolled her eyes at that and shook her head, “It’s not easy.”
“No, but it still comes with benefits.”
Gwenvair smiled at that, wobbling her head a bit before agreeing with glee, “Yes, you are right!”
Kilniara’s smile didn’t drop, only becoming a smirk as she rolled her eyes. The lack of a response dropped the conversation and the two settled into a comfortable silence for a moment until Gwenvair looked to Kilniara.
“I believe… I would have chosen you as well… if … you … you are worthy and chosen.”
Kilniara smiled at that, giggling before shrugging, “I think I could tell.”
Gwenvair huffed at that, “Still an ego though!”
Kilniara smiled very simply at that, no sarcasm or mockery, simply confident, “No. Truly no. I knew you. I grew to know you too well, and I knew your choice in how you treated me.”
Gwenvair stared at Kilniara with that, a slight blush tinging her cheeks, the embarrassment from praise enjoyed but still painting her a pale red before she nodded, a small smile and a deep piercing look at Kilniara to let her know both her thanks and her acceptance of Kilniara’s assumption. The two fell back into the tub in silence for a moment before Kilniara continued.
“Joe may have a point about this.”
Gwenvair looked up at her, “A point?”
Kilniara looked back and nodded, “He stated that one must get to know others first before making a decision about the kind of relationship to have. To judge others on who they were and not simply accept decisions made, advice given, or suggestions made by others. Friendships or otherwise.”
Gwenvair settled back into the tub at that before replying rather simply, “Huh.”
Kilniara nodded, “In this, he may be wise.”
Gwenvair looked at Kilniara then nodded slowly, “Probably why he offered me a place in your group.”
Kilniara looked at Gwenvair and smiled brightly, “One must be to be known.”
“And to be known, one must be with the knower.”
The two remained silent for some time after that, simply basking in the epiphany before Gwenvair proved unwilling to stay silent and she leapt forward, pestering Kilniara.
“And you cheated! There must be more! Tell me everything!”
Kilniara giggled and huddled forward, both soon whispering in deep conversation filled with gasps, excitement, and erupting giggles. They spoke for a very long time, much longer than the hour of the privacy glyph. Gwenvair was required to refill the privacy glyph two times and send a runner to the boys to leave without them. It was one of the most wonderful times either had ever had in many years.
* * *
Since Joe had offered Gwenvair and her family help in dealing with the monster tide, Joe felt a bit of pressure to understand what he was getting into, and took the time at the bath to question Garnedell on details. Garnedell helped out with Zilnek by asking if he could go on ahead to the baths and Joe and Garnedell found a corner of the room to sit down and have a quick talk, Garnedell beginning with quick overview in hurried low whispers so they could return to Zilnek before too much time had passed.
“Monster tides are just the monsters in the wild mana lands driven to madness against the tame mana by the god of monsters, Fenrir, and attacking sources of tamed mana. Fenrir and Angrboda, the goddess of magic, have a pact to maintain the wild lands against the taming and killing of magic. All the monsters of a region normally attack the nearest area, which is usually the nearest town, city, citadel… well, anywhere where people congregate.”
Joe took that in and shelved the many questions he had, deciding to keep it short and specific to their situation so they didn’t leave Zilnek alone long, “How long does it last?”
“One, two… three days?” Garnedell waved a hand, “But usually only one or two.”
“The whole time?”
“Mmm… more or less, although they tend to come in waves with great lulls between.”
Joe nodded, “Then, how many?”
“Thousands upon thousands. Tens of thousands.”
Joe frowned at that before nodding, “Then I’ll need a lot more arrows. Do you know how much time we have left? How far ahead do people usually know?”
“A city knows usually within a tenday. But, the greater clans may know more clearly?”
So… a week… uh… ten days to get ready. Maybe… I’ll ask Gwenvair tomorrow. Stop by the fletcher today... tomorrow? Joe pondered for a bit and when he saw Garnedell begin to fidget, he quickly returned to the conversation.
“Can you make sure to come home early tonight? Around sunset? I wish to ask more questions.”
Garnedell quickly nodded, “Of course, Joe.”
Joe nodded in thanks, “Thanks. I know you have fun, but… I need to know more. Sorry.”
Garnedell quickly waved away Joe’s concerns, “No apologies! It is always my duty to help you.”
Joe looked at Garnedell at that, planning to reject Garnedell’s statement but then stopped as he realized Garnedell actually wanted or needed this. He watched Garnedell out of the corner of his eye carefully but found him appearing to be excited to be able to help him so Joe decided to let the statement drop. While he didn’t like the idea that it was a duty, helping another was something that one should do when possible, so Joe decided to wait a little longer before getting into the philosophical differences between responsibility and consideration.