If only someone had told Amos that his morning would be so entertaining, he would have prepared some snacks beforehand.
To be fair, it had started like any other day when he was at home.
Amos had awoken to sunlight streaming in through the window, rested and content after a night spent with his wife in which the two of them had made up for their time apart— though sadly not with the ardour they desired unless they wanted to keep Noah awake until the wee hours of the morning. He didn't need a nagging Bunyar grumbling in the morning.
As he had predicted, Ria had taken an immediate liking to Noah and his fluffiness. If she saw him sulking or anything she could take drastic measures. Ria could decide that they needed to calm things down!
It was bad enough with the neighbours complaining every now and then that they were too noisy.
Seriously, by now you'd think they would have got some earplugs if it was bothering them so much.
After getting ready for the day, helping Ria with the daily house chores and learning that their furry resident had gone out for a bit, Amos was already mentally prepared that the rest of the day was going to be quiet beyond helping Noah settle in better.
That notion was somewhat derailed when Little Reinhilde showed up on our doorstep.
Apparently, she had heard that there was a new resident in the Glade and wanted to take their measure herself.
Amos had simply nodded at her demand, knowing that it was not worth mentioning how early he considered it to be to discuss such matters. Reinhilde had always taken her work too seriously.
It was while he was mentioning that Noah shouldn't be taking too long that the aforementioned had made an appearance with his clothes and fur a tad dishevelled.
He was about to ask if something had happened when he noticed how Noah's focus had been caught by Reinhilde, who returned the gesture with an intrigued look until the Bunyar opened his mouth.
“Wow, so pretty…”
Amos' eyes widened in surprise, one that was quickly accompanied by a deep sense of amusement, and he had to make an effort to hold back the guffaws that threatened to burst from his chest; doubly so when he saw Noah's ears fall back until they practically stuck to his back, a gesture that Amos had learned in their days together to associate with nervousness or mortification, which told him that the words had burst from Noah's mouth before he could even think them.
Which made it even funnier!
Now, as amusing as the situation had suddenly become, it was best that he said something in case Reinhilde was offended for some reason and decided to throw him out the window or something equally—
"Mm, thank you..."
—Ohoho~! What was that soft whisper that my half-elven ears had just caught?
Glancing at her, again Amos was startled to notice the slight blush on Reinhilde's otherwise stoic face.
Yet, looking closely, he noticed how she seemed to be averting her eyes slightly from Noah's and how her fingers twitched— barely, but they did —nervously.
Amos' eyes flicked from one to the other and again he had to hold back from allowing a smile to grace his face as he realised how embarrassed they both felt, neither knowing what to say.
Heh, how I'm going to enjoy tormenting— I mean, teasing these two. For a moment Amos' gaze darted to the door, worriedly waiting for Ria to show up to scold him, but he calmed down and sighed when no object came flying instantly.
"Breakfast is going to be ready in a few minutes." Ria said, appearing in the doorway at that moment. "Noah! Welcome back! Have you met Reinhilde yet?"
"Oh, um, no. Noah Howlite, a pleasure." Noah replied, quickly wiping his hand and extending it towards Reinhilde, causing her eyebrows to rise and the blush on her face to become more pronounced as Amos raised an eyebrow in interest.
"R-Reinhilde Embershade." Reinhilde replied after a throat clearing. "Likewise." Before taking the offered hand and blinking. " So soft..." The last was said in a whisper, which with the trio of sensitive ears nearby was as if she had shouted it.
"U-uh, thank you." Noah thanked, fidgeting in his place.
Reinhilde realised what she'd done and, letting go as if she'd been jolted, she stood up straight and coughed into her hand.
"Ahem. Yes. Right. I was just passing by to say hello and see our new resident." He inclined her head towards Noah without looking him in the eye. "So, I'll take my leave—"
This time Amos allowed himself the snort of amusement at Reinhilde's futility.
"You plan on leaving without having breakfast?" interceded Ria's calm voice as she looked up at Reinhilde with her hands on her hips.
After all, no one ran away from home without being fed first.
"A-ah, well, ma'am—" Reinhilde stammered nervously.
"Ma'am?" Ria asked with a tone and expression that could only be classified as maternal disappointment.
Reinhilde flinched. "Sorry, Aunty." Ria nodded in satisfaction. "B-but I have things to do. Patrols to arrange. The Guard—"
"It can wait until you've had something to eat. I know you, honey, and I know you didn't eat anything before you came and if I let you go, you'll more than likely have nothing but a loaf of bread."
As if waiting for that moment, a duo of stomach growls made their presence known and the two half-elves directed amused and vindicated expressions, respectively, at the other pair; Reinhilde's reluctance vanished in an instant, casting a betrayed glance at her abdomen, while Noah ran his hand over the back of his head.
"Looks like you're not the only one hungry." Ria commented with a soft smile. "Why don't you go wash up before you eat, dear? In the meantime, Reinhilde, you can help me finish the preparations."
They both nodded and Noah quickly left while Reinhilde set off for the kitchen.
Amos was about to follow behind when he felt a slight thump in his chest that made him stop and look down to meet his wife's disapproving gaze.
"And you, Amos, behave yourself." Ria said.
"But I didn't do anything." Amos complained, to which his wife simply raised an eyebrow. "All right, all right. I'll behave myself," Amos smiled impishly, "for now."
Ria huffed, but she didn't look annoyed. "I trust you'll know when to stop."
"Obviously." Amos nodded. He might want to joke around and amuse himself, but never to the point of causing any kind of harm or making others feel bad. That just wasn't done. And not just because Ria would be sad, though that was a big part of why. "I've never seen Little Reinhilde behave like that before." He commented quietly to which Ria nodded with a hum, a glint of interest appearing in her eyes.
Heh, like I'm the one those two have to worry about. Amos thought without looking at his wife.
He let out a grunt of pain after a second, stronger, smack to his chest. "And what was that for?!" he whisper-shouted as he rubbed himself.
"You thought something rude." Ria replied with absolute certainty, moving forward towards the kitchen with Amos following her with a grumble, but wisely not saying anything.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
A woman’s intuition was really scary sometimes.
= = = = = Line Break = = = = =
Putting the damp towel aside I let out a sigh of relief and looked up at the mirror in front of me where I could appreciate the reflection of my white fur and light grey hair, free of the light layer of dirt from the early morning activity and that weird 'encounter', before covering my face with my hands and letting out a growl full of personal distress.
Gods before and after! How embarrassing!
I couldn't believe what I had said moments before in the living room.
The words had flown from my lips before I realised and could stop them, sincere as they were.
I mean, I could understand where my amazement had come from. Never before had I seen a woman so imposing, with such an elaborate and clearly powerful physique without it spoiling her feminine features to some extent. If anything, it seemed to me to emphasise them even more!
I shook my head to dispel images of fiery red hair, green eyes and thighs that could pop me like a watermelon.
Seriously, who would start a conversation with a complete stranger by telling them they thought they were pretty?
At least she didn't seem too upset.
I hoped.
I hope she doesn’t think I am some kind of creep.
Carefully, I took a bottle from my grooming case and removed its stopper. A faint herbal scent reached my nose and I carefully dropped a few drops of the oil onto the pad of my palm, closed the bottle to return it to its place and rubbed my hands together a couple of times before running them over the fur of my face and hair.
That should take care of what was left of the fishy smell, as well as keeping my coat shiny and healthy.
At least I could count myself lucky that no one had noticed the smell or decided not to mention it.
I really hoped it was the former and not the latter or I was going to start digging a hole and not come out until next season.
At least Reinhilde seemed to appreciate my fur, which is nice.
At this point, I was going to take anything positive I could get to keep my pride from plummeting.
Finishing running my hands through the rest of my fur, I changed into a more suitable set of clothes and left the bathroom for the dining room.
Time to face the music.
As I approached, I could hear the sound of cutlery and, by the time I arrived, Reinhilde and Amos were already seated at the table while Ria set down a platter full of pancakes.
"Just in time." Ria said as she sat down next to her husband. "Come, sit down so we can get started."
Humming my assent, I glanced around the table and, much to my internal conflict, the only free place was next to Reinhilde and across from the couple.
Still, I let nothing show on my face and quietly sat down with my eyes on the food.
And what a lot of food there was!
Not only were there pancakes along with jars of syrups of some kind, there were also an assortment of cereals, fruits and cold meats.
Glancing at some black puddings, my mind invoked memories of my former life - of family or friend gatherings where these were cooked along with other types of sausages and meats on the grill; but when their aroma reached my nose, instead of perceiving it as tasty as I remembered them to be, I found it completely unappetizing.
Just like all the other meat products from the moment I had left Underhill.
That was one of the things I was going to miss most about my former life. No burgers nor breaded meats for me anymore.
On the other hand, the rest had become tastier than I remembered.
For a while, apart from the sound of people eating, no one said anything; everyone busy and, in my case, appreciating the different variety of food than I was used to.
"So, Young Noah, how did your outing go? Ria told me you went training?" Amos asked as he took a sip of his tea.
"It went pretty well. I took a walk around the Glade before heading a bit deeper into the forest to find a secluded spot." I replied, deciding not to mention the shower of pinecones I got unless I worried them.
Ria still sent me a worried look.
"Into the forest? You have to be careful, sweetheart. It may not look like it, but the forest has its dangerous inhabitants." Ria reprimanded me mildly and my ears flopped to the side.
"Uh, yeah, I've heard about that. That's why I didn't wander far, just a few moments at a trot from the edge of the Glade and kept the stream at my side so I wouldn't get lost." I explained.
"Are you a Warrior?" Asked Reinhilde's interested voice at my side and when I turned to her, I saw her shift in her seat. "Um, you said you went training, didn't you? Do you know how to fight?"
"Uh, well..." I said, a bit self-conscious. "I know how to dish out punches and kicks, and I'm confident I can hold my own in any random fight, I guess, but what I know I learned on my own after experimenting. My people... they're not the kind to deal with conflict." I finished with a slight frown.
Reinhilde nodded, giving me a closer look now. "Then you shouldn't be under much danger as long as you stay close to the perimeter."
I nodded before tilting my head, curious at the way she'd said it and remembering her words when she'd tried to ‘make a run’ before.
"Are you part of the Guard?" I asked to which she nodded.
"That's right." She replied without elaborating further and Amos let out a snort.
"Little Reinhilde here is our amazing Town Warden, our hard-working commander of the Guard and Warrior extraordinaire." He said with exaggerated gestures and pomp.
"It's no big deal." She countered in a soft voice.
"Ah, I beg to differ. I seem to recall that it was you who quickly organised the defences of the Glade, preventing the first attacks from roaming beasts from ruining its beginnings." Amos commented in a firm, yet warm tone in the redhead's direction.
"It's also thanks to your constant efforts that the Glade is a peaceful place to live, my dear." Ria joined in with a small, fond smile.
Reinhilde averted her gaze to the side and fidgeted in her seat. "I’m just doing my duty." She said quietly.
"And you do it more than fine. Few can say the same." Amos declared.
Turning my gaze from the uncomfortable Reinhilde to the encouraging couple, I got the impression that this was not the first time they had this sort of conversation; and despite not knowing if it was right to interrupt, I still raised my hand as I felt Reinhilde could do with a change of subject.
"Yes, sweetheart?" Ria asked me.
"Er, the way you all say warrior, it sounds like you are referring to some title rather than talking about someone who fights, is that so?" I asked, intrigued as it was something I had noticed. Every time they said the word, they seemed to assign it a greater weight than normal.
Ria and Reinhilde looked at me with a quizzical expression; Amos, on the other hand, slapped his forehead and groaned.
"Ah... Dammit, I forgot to explain that on the ride over, didn't I?"
I simply nodded, even more curious than before.
"Sorry, Young Noah. It's just that it's something everyone knows, part of the common sense of the people of the Basin and beyond so it didn't occur to me that you wouldn't know... and saying that I realise I shouldn't have assumed that was the case." He shook his head in remorse. "A Warrior is how one generally refers to a person who follows one of the two regular Paths of Power. Mages would be the other."
My eyes widened like saucers; interest definitely piqued.
"The Mages… They're the ones who use magic, aren't they?" I asked and heard Reinhilde let out a snort of amusement that made me turn to her.
"They all use magic, it's what you use to climb the Steps. The difference is in how you develop and apply it." She explained and I nodded slowly.
"Steps... That sounds like levels or stages of some sort." I commented and now it was Reinhilde who nodded.
"That's right. Starting with the first one, which is the Step of those who begin to use magic, each one is a considerable leap in power compared to the one before it."
"And can anyone learn it?" I asked excited and hopeful.
"With dedication and hard work, yes." She replied with the corners of her lips turning upwards, amused at my clear excitement.
Rather than noticing, I didn't think too much about it, my mind focused on what I had just learned.
I felt restless. The desire to learn how to use magic, which I had tucked away in the corner of my mind for the time being, had returned to the forefront with eagerness.
Previously, I had thought that the only ones who used magic were the typical spell casters, those who threw lightning or flares of fire from their hands or staffs while wearing robes like stereotypical wizards, a mistake that I now realised came from the few accounts around my people in Underhill and the vague information brought back by the few who traded with the outside world.
Thinking back, I remembered that several times I had heard the mercenaries who accompanied us to the Glade say the word Warrior with the same emphasis.
If I can get one of them to point out to me who is a Warrior, maybe I could have better luck and get someone who... would...
My train of thought stopped and I focused on Reinhilde again, this time with much more intensity.
"You... you're a Warrior, aren't you?" I asked slowly.
"I am." She replied.
"That means you know how to use magic, right?" I asked in a louder tone.
"Yes...?" she replied hesitantly before her eyes widened as I leaned towards her.
"Please! Teach me!" I asked fervently, my gaze fixed on hers in an attempt to convey how important this was to me.
However, my fervour quickly turned to concern when I noticed her face reddening.
Damn, had I come on too strong?! No! I don't want to lose this opportunity!
Before I could say anything, a clap sounded and turning around I saw that it had been Ria.
"That sounds like a wonderful idea! Don't you think so, Amos?" She asked in an excited tone to her husband who nodded in agreement.
"Certainly, Love. Little Reinhilde could do with the experience of training others, especially for when the Glade has more people and locals need to be initiated. Hmm?" He commented towards Reinhilde who went from an incredulous expression to a more thoughtful one.
"Not to mention that it would help keep Noah safe, becoming stronger and ensuring his safety if he plans to go deeper into the forest again." Ria continued, this time finishing in my direction with a tone of mild reproach that made me pull my ears back a little and run my hand behind my head, but not being able to refute the point.
"What do you say, Honey? It would put our minds at ease if you could help him." Ria asked Reinhilde and she shot me a look as she bit her lip slightly.
For my part I remained still in my place, expectant to the point that I unconsciously held my breath. I didn't want to say or do anything for fear that it would cause her to refuse.
Much to my relief, Reinhilde nodded slowly.
"Mhm, okay."
"YES!" I shouted with a raised fist and a wide grin, before blinking and watching as I received amused looks around the table. "Ah, sorry." I said in an embarrassed tone as I settled back in my seat.
"Haha. Don't apologise for expressing your passion, Young Noah. Embrace it! Live it! Only then can you say you had a life without regrets." Amos declared with a smile of his own.
"As long as it's in moderation." Ria added with a raised eyebrow and Amos coughed into his fist.
"Sure, of course." He said and gave me a wink that was not at all concealed and for which he earned a gentle slap on the arm along with a huff from his wife.
"I'll be on my way then." Reinhilde said after a moment as she rose from the table. "Uncle Amos, Aunty Ria, thank you for the delicious meal." She bowed her head to the couple.
"Anytime, darling. You know you are always welcome at our house. Don't you want to take something for the day?" Ria asked and Reinhilde looked hesitant. "It's stuffed scones."
"If you insist." She replied quickly and I along with Amos let out snorts of laughter that made her cheeks flush slightly and narrow her eyes, first at Amos who just grinned cheekily and then at me, making me swallow.
Uh-oh.
"Mr. Howlite, I'll expect you at the barracks at sunset to begin your training. Please don't be late." She said seriously in a no-nonsense tone and I nodded quickly.
Ria arrived at that moment with a package which she handed to Reinhilde and she, after thanking her, left escorted by Ria towards the entrance.
"Well, that was entertaining." Amos commented and I shot him a look to which he paid no mind. "Now, we'd better get going. We still have to find something for you to do at the hamlet, don't we?"
"Uh? We?" I asked confused and Amos raised an eyebrow.
"Of course, it's going to be easier if I'm there to introduce you to the rest of the people." Amos replied and got up to gather plates and cutlery. "Come, help me with this and then we'll go."
I nodded and set about clearing the rest of the table along with him.
As we worked in silence my mind went over all that had happened and a small smile came across my face as a feeling of anticipation grew inside me, happy that I had managed to get one step closer to my dreams.
Now all that was left was to secure an income, but I doubted that getting a job would be more difficult than finding someone to train me in the use of magic.