“What’s wrong, Ivor? I just got you back. Don’t tell me you’re dying. I can’t handle it,” she said, tears streaming down her face.

“No, no… Sweetheart, don’t cry. I’m not dying. As long as I keep eating, I’ll be good in a few days. No, this concerns what happened to me. I do not have godly protection. What I have is a skill that The Great Mother taught me herself. And she commanded me to teach it to you and any children we may wind up having, but nobody else,” I said.

“A skill? What kind of skill?” she asked.

“I think I can show you. I think I’m strong enough,” I said.

I produced my little ball of magic, and started to describe what I was doing. Elizabet, to her credit, began to imitate me immediately. She didn’t meet with success the first time, or even the tenth, but she knew what was needed, and she promised to practice on her own.

“I don’t know what it takes to maintain this, but I don’t think it’s much at all. I’m not tired or anything, and I literally just woke from a coma. It won’t stop actual spells from hitting us, but it will stop anyone from leeching our energy. Work on it. Once you can maintain it while, say, talking to someone, you should be able to do it during other activities, too. Start small, and work your way up. I tried to go for a jog after I had it and nearly passed out from splitting my attention too much,” I said with a yawn.

“Sweetheart, you should rest. You’ve eaten quite a bit, and what’s left will keep. Lay down. I’ll join you,” she said, stripping her habit off.

As I watched her climb into bed, I reflected on what The Great Mother told me about us having children. She certainly had the figure to be able to bear and feed children well. She opened her arms, and I snuggled into my usual place in her cleavage, holding her as close as I could. I was asleep in moments.

**********

When I awoke, still buried in her breasts, she was stroking my head lovingly, her smile broad and content. “Good morning, my love. You slept almost an entire day. It’s around noon, and I have food for you,” she said sweetly.

I stretched and yawned, feeling my joints pop and creak. My stomach gurgled at the thought of food, and I sat up. The world spun for a moment, and I leaned back against the wall.

“Yeah. Food sounds good. I think it’s time I showed you what I needed Duplicated. Bring me the Bag, please? A drink, as well. I’m probably pretty dehydrated,” I said.

Elizabet got up and headed to the corner, her hips swaying gently, catching my eye and calling my arousal to the forefront of my mind. And body.

She picked up my Bag and brought it back to me, smiling all the while. “Here's something to eat, and I’ll be back with a drink,” She said, disappearing into the bathroom.

I heard water being poured into a cup, and she returned, handing me the cool, life-giving liquid. I drank it down greedily, and held the cup up for more. After my second cup, I showed her the meal that I had made, and asked if she would try to Duplicate it tomorrow. She nodded and went to get more food as I placed the meal back in the Bag. Upon her return, she laid out several trays of food on the bed, then she sat behind me, pulling me close to her chest and held me while I ate. We sat and talked about my coma and time in Asgard, and how it worried the entire community. Even Walter lumbered back. Apparently he frightened the daylights out of several of the Haarthuu when he tried to get to our door. It took Blainaut and Thaddeus both to convince him that I was okay, and that he would be best off waiting outside. It wasn’t until Elizabet opened the door and he saw me sleeping that he allowed himself to be taken outside again.

After a while of watching me eat, she grew concerned. “Ivor, you’ve eaten several days worth of food. Are you not satisfied?”

I swallowed the bit of greens I had in my mouth. “Not really. I still feel a gnawing ache in my belly,” I said, pulling the covers back to reveal my now mostly flat stomach and pulsing erection.

I heard her heartbeat quicken as she saw my member. “I don’t think I’m strong enough to do anything, but just seeing you again has a distinct effect on my body,” I said, reaching behind to fondle her heavy breast.

“No, I don’t think you are anywhere near strong enough for that, my love. But it is comforting to know that I still hold your favor, even after being held by The Great Mother. Most men would thirst only for her til the day they died. You seem to be different,” she said huskily, idly playing with her chest.

“I thought you knew that already,” I said, snuggling closer to her. I gently reached out and removed her hand from her chest and looked up. “No. I think we should both keep ourselves from succumbing to temptation. At least until I’m stronger, and then we give each other what we hunger for,” I said in a low tone.

She whimpered slightly and nodded. “Okay. I will try. You are tempting me, but I will try.”

“Good. It’ll be worth it, I promise,”I said and kissed her softly.

**********

Over the next week, I made steady progress. I had to rebuild my strength, bit by bit, but I was able to take short trips to the center of town and back by the end of the week. After two weeks, I was going to my workshop to tinker with making a new, much larger bag. Elizabet had gotten proficient at Duplicating my breakfast hash, so I always ate that before I left in the mornings. It took a month, but I was as strong as ever, and I had regained a few pounds, so I felt more normal.

One morning, near the beginning of Winter, the Elder stopped me on my way to my workshop.

“Ivor! So good to see you up and around again. The whole community has been worried, you know. What are you off to do today?” he asked.

“Good morning, Elder. I was heading to my workshop to put the final few stitches in my new bag. I had to get more sinew, first. Is there something I can help with?” I answered.

“Actually, yes. One of our hunters has become ill, and we need to bolster our provisions. A hunting party leaves next week, and I was hoping you would join them,” he said, a hopeful look on his face.

“Of course! No problem. Let me finish this, and I’ll join you.” As I put the final few stitches in, I muttered, “I probably should get a bow first. It’s been a few months since I shot one, and I’ll need some target practice before we leave.”

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

“I was hoping you’d agree. In fact, I was so certain, I had our bowyer build you a truly mighty bow. Even if you didn’t go, we would gift it to you as thanks for your hard work for us,” he said.

“Thank you, Elder. Can you show me the way? I don’t think I’ve ever been to see where practice is held,” I said, standing.

“This way, Ivor,” he said, leading me out the door.

We passed the central feasting area, and I smiled seeing so many of the Haarthuu basking in the colors of the blacklight I’d made. I saw so many happy people, that it put my heart at ease. The Elder led me down a hallway I’d never been, judging from the carvings I saw on the walls. There were metalworkers and woodworkers depicted alongside hunters and clothiers in the reliefs on the walls. I marveled at the skill it took to make the carvings seem so real.

The sounds of hammers striking anvils, of happy chatter between people reached my ears as we turned a corner. I smelled the tang of coal-fired forges, heard the rhythmic pounding, and felt my spirit thrum in time. I had always enjoyed watching the smiths work at the reenactments I went to. Seeing it here was no different.

The Elder led me down a twisting maze of streets until we came to a stone door depicting a hunter drawing a bow. “Here is where I must leave, Ivor. I have some matters to take care of with preparations for the hunt. Lerk-min will guide you home when he has finished,” he said.

I nodded and bade the Elder goodbye, then knocked at the door, calling for the bowyer.

“Lerk-min! It’s Ivor. The Elder has dropped me off here,” I said loudly.

“Coming!” came the muffled reply.

The door swung open, revealing an aging Lizardfolk, his right eye cloudy from whatever injury left the massive scar on his face. He motioned for me to enter, and stepped back.

I entered the large workshop, the scent of various woods and bowstring materials assaulting my nostrils. It was a heady, relaxing scent. Tools and bow staves in various states of creation lay in neat rows on every surface. My eye was drawn to one bow stave in particular. Lerk-min’s keen sense of observation saw it immediately.

“Ha! Not even a minute, and he knows which one we have prepared for him. First, my friend, let us test your draw,” he said, smiling.

Lerk-min handed me bow after bow, testing my draw strength. He corrected my stance a few times until the memory returned, and I was close to my top form. “Very good! Now that I have the measure of you, I think you should be able to pull this bow with ease. I haven’t even tried to string it, yet, such is its power. It may not even be strong enough for your taste or ability, but we shall see,” he said, taking the stout, rough bow stave down from its lofty perch.

As he struggled to string it, I stopped him. “Lerk-min, please allow me. If I can’t string it, it wouldn’t be useful for me,” I said gently.

He handed me the bow, and I strung it with minimal difficulty. It was about a five foot reflex-deflex bow, with around a one hundred fifty-five pound draw, I assumed. I returned it to the smaller man and he placed it on his tuner, taking measurements and marking places on the bow with a small stick of charcoal. He had me help him tune it, and between the two of us, we had the bow tuned, polished and oiled in about two hours. As I had suspected, its final draw weight was one hundred fifty-two pounds.

Lerk-min disappeared around a corner and emerged with a leather quiver of fifteen extra long arrows. He had me knock one and draw, taking a measure of my draw length. He pinched the arrow shaft at a location, then marked it. I let off the bow, then watched as he cut to length, fletched and placed an arrowhead in each shaft. He handed me the quiver, and picked up a second containing simple pointed arrows and led me out to a large open space beside the crafting sector. There was a rough rope forming a line with various targets in the distance, and I saw several of the Haarthuu practicing there.

“Here we are, Ivor. The practice range. Let’s see what you can do with that bow,” Lerk-min said with a smile.

Several Haarthuu stopped shooting and walked over to see what I had. I heard exclamations on its construction and size frequently until one voice rang out above the others.

“What is that? Does that Human have a bow or a walking stick?” she said, snickering.

“Quiet, Liss-ran! Do you know who-” Lerk-min began, but I stopped him with a gentle hand on his shoulder.

“My friend, I have learned not to pay attention to people like that. They exist everywhere.” Turning my attention to the Haarthuu woman, I said, “Yes, this is heavy enough to be a staff. I’ve not shot in two or three months, and I’m recovering from an illness. Lerk-min here was kind enough to assist me in recovering my strength and skill.”

“Clumsy Humans should leave the work to true hunters, like the Haarthuu!” she exclaimed, and quickly spun, knocking an arrow and loosing it toward a target in the middle distance. We watched as it sailed through the air, impacting the bullseye with a muted thock sound.

“That was a magnificent shot, Liss-ran. I think you must be one of the best hunters here. Let’s see if I can even come close. It’s been a while,” I said, knocking an arrow.

“Of course it was a good shot. I am Haarthuu. There are no finer archers in Chaia,” she boasted.

“Fabulous,” I said, drawing the bowstring to my cheek. I sighted the far target, and began the process of stilling myself.

I stood there, arm quivering slightly as I focused on the tip of my arrow, and slowly released all the breath in my lungs. When I felt my aim was right, I released the string.

I watched, as if in slow motion, the arrow leave the bow at a crazy speed. I felt the sting of the slap of the string on my arm. The arrow flexed slightly as it made a graceful arc through the air. I took a breath, watching as the arrow made contact with the far target, making no sound I could hear.

“What. Was. That?” Liss-ran asked.

“That, my dear Liss-ran, was a miss, I think. Let’s take a look, shall we?” I proposed as I hopped the rope and walked toward the target in the distance, followed by the other archers.

I paced out the distance at some one hundred fifty yards before I reached the target. The only part of the arrow I could see was the knock sticking out of the target about four inches above the bullseye.

“Yeah. A miss. I have work to do. I’m just glad I hit the damn thing, honestly,” I said as I turned around, seeing the stunned faces of ten or twelve of the Haarthuu, and the glaring look of Liss-ran.

“What? What’d I do?” I asked.

“Ivor, this target is only here because it has been hit so many times that we’ve decided to allow it to compost. That anyone could fire an arrow this far and that accurately is insane. Just what are you?” Lerk-min asked.

“Wait. You’re Ivor? The Ivor? The Ivor that killed Talah-ahte?” Liss-ran asked.

“Um, yeah. That, uh…That’s me,” I said somewhat self-consciously. I turned around and yanked my arrow out of the target. “I did not enjoy doing so. I don’t like killing people, but I’ve had my hand forced multiple times since coming to this land,” I said. “I don’t like thinking about it,” I murmured softly.

Liss-ran stalked off, muttering angrily. I watched her return to the firing line, and motioned for everyone to head back. Once we got to the firing line, she angrily took up her bow and pounded the targets with arrows.

Turning to Lerk-min, I said, “Look, this is expertly crafted, and I appreciate the gift, sir. However, I’m probably going to need to practice outside. I don’t want to anger another archer. I will only need five of each arrow. I’ll make more on my own.” I handed him the remainder of the arrows, unstrung my new bow and sighed softly. “Would you please guide me back to the feasting hall?”

“Of course, Ivor. Let’s go, then,” he said gently.