Diavla stared at her kanashim. “I don't know whether to have a childish fit of jealousy or to thank you profusely.”

Varga wore a smug smile. “Looks like I seduced him before you did. You're welcome.” Then her smile faded, somewhat. “I wouldn't worry, Dee. I'm pretty sure he was only kissing me as practice for kissing you. At least, that was the excuse I gave him.”

“Devious,” Diavla conceded. “So…how is he, at kissing?”

Varga took in a breath through her nose and tilted her head. “Not bad. He's definitely not a natural, but he learns pretty quickly. I rescued you from getting slobbered on, at least.”

“Thank you. I hope he kisses me soon.” Diavla hoped that Tom's worries about his skill were the reason he had shied away from kissing her the last couple of times they had come close to it.

“He will,” Varga said, confidently. “I'm going to keep him in practice. I told him I would take payment for the lesson in kisses now and then. I'll push that as far as I can.”

“Do you think he wants you?”

Varga hesitated. “I don't know. I definitely lit his fire, but I am wondering if he only wants one person for sex, and if so, let's face it—that person is probably going to be you.”

“Pairing seems to be the usual way with humans mating. That's what I learned growing up. Although, the Carvers were an exception, so other arrangements are possible. I wonder if Tom would be open to alternatives.”

“I thought you wanted him all to yourself?”

“I do! I—ugh! Don't encourage me to be childish, Varga.”

“I was just checking. I don't want you getting upset if I take him for a ride sometimes. He's pretty tasty.”

“He's a lot more than that,” Diavla countered.

“Too true,” Varga murmured. Diavla was surprised at the seriousness in Varga's tone and watched her friend. The redhead seemed to shake off whatever thoughts she was having and refocused. “For that matter, if Tom wants you, is he going to want you to stop having sex with me?”

Diavla frowned. “I certainly hope not!”

“Well, then, maybe make it clear before you pounce on him?”

Diavla sighed. “I'll ask Eubexa for advice. She knows humans and sex. Unfortunately, I don't think talking explicitly with Tom is a good way to make anything happen. It has to be indirect, like what you did with the kissing.”

“It's not very healthy.”

“No, it isn't. Tom's still fairly young as humans go. Maybe we can work on him and get him to be more open-minded.”

“Going to try to civilize a human?”

Diavla shrugged. “It seems worth the attempt. I think I'll go ask Eubexa some questions.”

“Ask me what, in particular?” Eubexa called. The sick elf was directly across the hall, and the doors were open.

Diavla went over to Eubexa's room and sat in one of the chairs. Varga followed, taking the other. “About humans and mating.”

Eubexa carefully set down The Lands of the Kataroche. “Yes?”

Diavla hesitated. Before she could find the words, Varga blurted out, “Is Tom going to want to stick to just one sex partner? How do humans do relationships around sex?”

Eubexa sighed. “Well, first of all, there's a lot more variety among the humans than they will readily admit to. The brothel stayed in business in large part because men were not satisfied with their wives.”

“Wives plural?”

“Usually, no. The reason is financial. The richer the man, the better quality life he can give his partner, and the more room he has to provide for multiple partners. And of course, nobles follow their own rules.”

“What about women with multiple partners?”

“It happens, but it's less common. Remember, there's no Matriarchy here, and less magic. Back home, magic mostly equalizes power between the sexes. Men here tend to be in charge through brute strength, and as a result, they tend to be the ones earning coin to support the family.”

“But what do humans prefer?”

“Well, you know how humans have only one word, love, for several different concepts?” Diavla nodded, and Eubexa continued, “They are like that in their lives, not just their language.”

“Wait,” Varga jumped in. “Are you saying that humans try to find kanashim, erotalsh, tolanor and so forth, all in a single relationship with a single person?”

“Yes.”

“That's impossible! Nobody is that lucky.”

“That's why they make such a big event out of it when they think they have found their ‘one true love’.”

“But don't they notice that that basically never happens?”

“They write a lot of stories and plays about it. And they think it works more often than it actually does. Remember, they only have to make it work for fifty or sixty years, at most. If they manage that, then to them it might as well be ‘eternal love’ as they put it.”

“It's the gods thing all over again,” Varga complained. “Lumping together a bunch of Ideas and calling it one god.”

Eubexa nodded. “That's actually a fair comparison.”

“So, what does this mean for Tom?”

“Well, it depends on what Master is familiar with. Do you know the family structure he grew up in?”

Diavla thought back. “I hadn't really seen the importance at the time, but he did say a single mother and a single father. We got sidetracked talking about children after that.”

Eubexa nodded again. “That's by far the most common arrangement.” She sighed, and her veil stirred slightly in response. “You'll need to sit down and talk it out with him—preferably with me there to translate to avoid misunderstandings.”

They all heard the door downstairs open, and Tom's familiar heavy tread on the stairs. “And, here comes Master now,” Eubexa observed.

“We might have to wait on the conversation if Tom has other work for us, or wants dinner,” Diavla observed.

“I think he'll be happy to talk now, so long as nothing went wrong out there,” Varga guessed. They didn't have long to wait.

The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

“Ah, ladies. Just the three I wanted to see.” Diavla was glad Eubexa translated without waiting to be asked. Her own Western was coming along, but she would not have quite gotten that statement fully on her own.

“Yes, Master?”

Tom stopped and took a deep breath. “I want to talk to Diavla and Varga, together, about…our… relationships.”

The women looked at each other. I guess we don't have to wait after all, Diavla thought, both excited and nervous. Tom also looked nervous, though she might not have been able to tell if she hadn't seen him facing scary situations before.

“Excellent, Master. We were just discussing that we should do that.”

“Oh! Well, uh, good…then.” Tom looked surprised, as if he had been expecting an argument over having the talk together.

“As the disinterested neutral party, perhaps I could lead the discussion?” Eubexa offered. Tom looked surprised again, but nodded. Diavla and Varga nodded as well.

“Please do.” Diavla was curious about what Tom had expected. Actually, he probably has no idea what to expect, that's why he's so off balance.

“Thank you, Master. Stating things simply, I believe that all three of you have feelings for each other, and want to have some form of relationships with each other.” Everyone nodded, though Tom looked guilty and uncomfortable.

We had guessed that he wants us both, Diavla mused. Then, she was startled by a realization. He wants us both, and thinks that he shouldn't. Does he think that it is wrong of him to have such desires?

“Eubexa, could you explain to me how elves handle these things? I don't know what's normal for you.”

“Of course, Master. Put simply, elves do not try to find everything they want in a partner all in one person. It is wonderful when it happens, but it often does not. Instead, elves have separate…I suppose you could call them ‘levels’ of relationship, although that also isn't quite right. Different kinds of relationships, perhaps.”

Tom was looking lost, so Eubexa took the short path. “Elves often have multiple partners and different relationships with each, all at the same time. A woman might have three husbands, or a man might have two wives, and so forth. This is completely normal for us.”

Tom looked stunned. You did ask, Diavla thought at him. Which was nice of you, actually.

“I believe we have already discussed how you wish to be related to Diavla. Would you tell us how you feel about Varga?”

It seemed to take a few tries for Tom to find his voice, but he finally said, firmly, “Varga is a good friend and a very attractive woman. I'm not in love with her or anything, but I like her, and she's really sexy.”

Once Eubexa had relayed that, Varga asked, “What does that mean, ‘in love with’?”

“It's complicated. Roughly, erotalsh and tolanor at the same time.”

“Well, saa, obviously. Tom, I wasn't expecting that from you, and I don't feel that way towards you,” Varga sounded a bit more relaxed. Tom listened to the translation, and looked…both relieved and maybe a touch disappointed.

“Would you like to have sex with Varga?” Eubexa asked bluntly. Tom got that stunned look again. After a moment, Eubexa dared, “I think if the answer were no, you would have said so.” After a few seconds, Tom nodded.

“But…I don't know what that would do to my relationship with Diavla,” he added.

“Told you,” Varga murmured, a little sadly. “He likes you more.”

“He likes us differently,” Diavla corrected quietly, then raised her voice. “Tom, do you want to pursue a relationship with me?”

Tom nodded. “I was going to hold off until we reached somewhere you all are safe…but now, I don't even want to wait that long. If you can trust me to handle challenges we face as a couple, I can trust you to do the same. I promise you, even if we fight, and end up hating each other, I will still work together with you to get you and all the elves to safety. I swear by the gods and my honor. You are safe with me, always.”

Diavla felt herself smiling. “I feel the same, Tom. I feel the same.” She glanced at Varga, and added, “I am eager to spend time with you, and so long as you do not neglect that, I am happy for you both if you and Varga also have a relationship.”

“Wow.” Tom looked stunned all over again. “Are you sure?” Diavla nodded. She did feel possibly a little twinge of jealousy, but restrained it for the moment. He is just learning. Don't complicate things for small reasons, she scolded herself.

“Well, in that case, later I want to…no, wait.” Eubexa caught up while Tom was thinking. “No. I promised myself that I would talk everything out with both of you together, so everybody knew how everybody felt and nobody got any bad surprises. So…one moment.” Tom turned to face the wall and started fiddling with his shirt, probably trying to get at something tucked away. After a minute, he turned back to face them, both hands closed.

“I am…” Eubexa paused, listening to Tom for a few moments, then summarized in Elvish, “farsighted.”

Tom continued in Western. “So, I cannot see if there are flaws. Still, I wanted to get this for you, Diavla.” He knelt down in front of her, and she blinked hard, in surprise. He opened his right hand, to reveal a silver ring. Diavla gave a pleased little gasp. She wouldn't have thought Tom would choose such an appropriate gift to begin courtship. Did he ask Orvan, or Eubexa, for advice?

“ ‘I offer my friendship and my interest in more.’ ”

“Awwww…”

“Shut up.” Diavla slowly reached out to take the ring. Lifting it from his palm, she turned it and saw the piece of amber, and the lovely wave pattern in the metal band. She tried it on, starting with her smallest finger, of course. It was too loose, so she tried her fourth finger, then her middle finger. There, the ring fit snugly.

“Thank you, Tom. It is beautiful. ‘I accept your interest and offer my own.’ ”

“It is a traditional Elvish response,” Eubexa added at the end of her translation. “From here, Tom, you proceed at your own pace. It is acceptable to seek her company the same day, or to wait a decade or two. There are a lot of steps of formal courtship unavailable because we are not in Salathin. For example, you cannot meet her Matriarch or family.”

Eubexa continued to explain basic Elvish culture to Tom, who seemed torn between grinning at Diavla and listening intently.

“Congratulations,” Varga murmured, leaning closer.

“Thank you,” Diavla whispered back, touching her new ring repeatedly and looking at her human. “He seems interested in doing things the elven way. Don't worry, I'll explain that I am still with you, as well.”

“Thank you.” Varga's normally bubbly voice was fairly still and quiet. Diavla took her kanashim's hand to reassure her.

Tom seemed to be checking over and over that courting both Diavla and Varga at once was widely acceptable in elven culture. After a few more moments, Tom turned to face them again. “Man, this feels really weird.” He stared at Varga for a while, and she looked up at him curiously.

“Varga, I like you. You are fun.” Eubexa translated the words he missed, but otherwise he was trying to speak in Elvish. “You smile. You laugh. You joke. And you care about Diavla, and all of us. Thank you.”

“Why is he thanking me? I didn't do it for him.”

“You know I am very interested in Diavla,” Tom continued. “You are willing to share her. This may be normal for you, but it is new and strange to me, and I am grateful.”

Diavla could sense some of the tension leaving Varga, as his words made it obvious that he understood the two women still had a relationship.

“I am grateful, too,” Varga answered quietly. “I remember, you know, how you saved me from the wolf. I don't think I ever thanked you for that. So…thank you. You're a good guy, Tom Walker. And…you better treat Diavla right.”

“I will.” Tom was staring at Varga as if trying to understand something about her. “I wasn't sure about this, but…you deserve to know.” He knelt again, this time facing Varga. The redhead visibly braced for bad news.

“Varga, you are…a great help to the group. You are cheerful, and bold, and brave, and I respect all of that. You are also a beautiful and sexy woman. Any man would be crazy not to want you. And I do want you.”

“But…?” Varga asked quietly. There was a pause as Tom listened, then spoke, and Eubexa reported his words.

“But, nothing. Diavla is not the only woman I find wonderful. I look forward to more time with you. And…”

Tom held out his hand, revealing a silver ring with a tiny emerald. Varga's breath caught.

Diavla felt a churn of emotions—childish jealousy, happiness for her friend, respect for Tom's courage in doing this, and curiosity about whether he would be able to balance his attention between her and Varga.

“ ‘I offer my friendship and my interest in more.’ ”

Varga cleared her throat. “Dee, tolanor, if you object, tell me right now.”

Diavla smiled at her and squeezed her hand. “Of course, I don't mind. I'm glad.” They looked into each others' eyes for a few more moments, then Varga nodded and turned to Tom. Taking a deep breath, she reached out and took the silver ring, which fit on the fourth finger of her left hand.

“You wonderfully crazy human. Yes, Tom. ‘I accept your interest and offer my own.’ ” With that, Varga leaned forward and kissed him on the lips. Diavla watched in fascination. Tom seemed to be enjoying the kiss very much, but he still pulled away first.

“Thank you.” Tom turned and stared at Diavla now. “And, thank you.”

As he leaned in to kiss her, finally, Diavla's heart soared. Where will this go? She wondered. How much can I have with this amazing man? Her joy diminished a bit, a worry of the future giving her a faint shiver of premonition.

And for how long?

Then, those thoughts were swept aside as they kissed. Diavla melted into his arms. His fingers slid up into her hair and she trembled. She didn't care about anything else, then.

Now is all that matters.