‘In elen Amatulya. In cemen ar Eryn alarya atar-in Zilan Legolnir’*
-
*Formal Zilan welcoming of an Elderborn youngling. 2nd Era court tongue.
Here it translates: ‘The stars (bid warm) welcome. The earth and trees rejoice for the Zilan Legolnir.’
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Whisper Jinx
‘Pretty Nose’
An Ostrich for a kiss
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Mountain-facing jungle
Mid sources of Dragontoe River
Seven kilometers from the Phalanx’s bridge over 3rd Claw (tributary)
Eight hundred meters from the base of the mountains
The ‘Gates to Wetull’ (entrance to Quiceran’s underground road system)
End of summer 194 NC
image [https://i.postimg.cc/SQZX6Rgb/Quiceras-Road-v2.png]
Buzz… buzzy bugs sounds for days.
Germs… toe-eating plants, dissonant singing birds and cackling flying monkeys in the nights.
Jinx poured water on her sweaty tanned face, got some in her eyes and cursed like a sailor whilst twirling around in the attempt to get it all out.
Fat nipple in me ear!
Ever tickling.
“Is everything alright Lady Jinx?” Sam Mathews asked looking back over his shoulder.
“Saw a blue snake moving about,” an anxious Marlo griped from his horse. “And it had another snake half-way down its throat… quite the unsettling shite mate.”
“I’m… fine!” Jinx croaked raising an arm and waving it.
“Something with your horse?” Sam asked with a glare at the intently pointing to the ground Clinton Marlo.
“We need to make a stop at the new road’s turn. The guide said everything else is the same,” Jinx explained and eyed Lith moving ahead with Caruso following after her, the cat going after the snake and Moira missing in action.
“When we find the buildings we’ll know.” Sam agreed sort of. “Which… we haven’t. The jungle changed the scenery a bit.”
Jinx pointed at Lith following the flattened gravel-covered terrain. “That’s it and she knows it. The slopes are very near. This is the spot Glen fell into the old Coina-Olvar mouth. Dug himself out with a dagger.”
“Is that?” Marlo asked furrowing his brows.
“The living plant affair? It has many names.” Jinx elucidated.
“Remember it differently. And in pieces but for the big ole hole. Never bought the story.”
“Pfft yer memory is shot. You never came near it silly. Not until we burned everything. They’re fully carnivores remember?” The Gish argued.
“Sons of dogs! Did the right god darn thing,” Marlo cursed and looked about him alarmed.
“You boys catch up with Lith and Caruso,” Jinx said blinking once to clear her vision. “And I’ll see where Moira went.”
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A brook followed a twisted path between the bushes and the thick tree trunks. Branches and lianas reaching across binding the great tropical trees with each other. Natural bridges that allowed another level of fauna to move over her head.
Moira was sitting down in a lotus pose by the water and shook a small vial with her hand. Paused to stare at its contents, then scooped some green-looking paste from a tiny wooden bowl with a finger and added it to the mix. Then started shaking it again. Some rays of the half-hidden from the canopy sun touching the side of her face and creating different shadows at the nearby yellow trunk where her horse was waiting.
Black and grey colors reflected on the pale bark with a surprise blue hue in it.
The contents of the glass vial murky.
“We didn’t call a stop,” Jinx said and approached the comely Cofol.
“You shall,” Moira replied and examined the vial again. “This is clean water.”
In the small stream was her meaning.
“Uhm.” Jinx murmured and knelt next to her mud-covered legs. “You’re a dirty girl. Maybe you need to take a plunge in it.”
“I have,” Moira replied and gave her the vial. “But I got all dirty again.”
“What is this?”
“It helps with the rashes and combats the living roots paralytic poison. In very small doses. It might cause some other… meaningless symptoms.”
Jinx sniffed at the dubious concoction. “It smells like poison.”
“Um, well it’s toxic in a sense?” Moira puffed out and gathered her bowls and small bottles to place them in her heavy bag.
“Like seriously… that’s a really vile smell. What’s in it?”
“Polluted water from Jade Lake and new orange curved leaves from the thin vines. Fine lime powder and a drip of fresh urine.”
“More like a splash. Where did you find the fresh urine?” Jinx asked her and Moira pouted unsure staring at a black oval-shaped bottle. “Ah. I saw you pissing in it and thought at first it was an Eplas kinky thing. Well then… this makes the whole affair equally disgusting and oddly arousing. Not exactly easy to pull that off at the same time.” She returned the vial carefully not to spill any on her hands. “I’ll pass.”
“Eh,” Moira scoffed a little offended, looked about and then grabbed Jinx’s shoulder to get up. The Gish got a bit of a boob-slap in the process. “Apologies.”
That was too much tit for the space available.
“I can handle much worse,” Jinx retorted throatily and a smiling Moira found it amusing.
Her laughter was incredibly erotic especially with Jinx being all tensed up the past months. Being in her ‘mating seasons’ not helping at all.
“Can you handle my bag? I’d like to walk.”
“Put it on the horse,” Jinx hissed snapping out of the ‘special’ mood.
“Can you do it while I clean some of the mud off? It’s a matter of hygiene,” Moira pleaded and turned to walk into the stream bare-footed.
Jinx pursed her mouth a little frustrated, but then Moira started –seemingly absentmindedly- lifting her dress as high as the round pant-less hips for better reach and to splash with the clean water more areas of concern and she decided to help the poor Cofol girl out.
Damn.
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“Damn,” Caruso channeled Jinx twenty minutes later seeing the giant Nord Hoplite Hobor pushing a merchant wagon with a broken axle out of the way. The rest of the squad watching from a safe distance. Tents were built near the customs building, the latter erected next to the tiled road leading to the underground boulevard. The entrance had been expanded and reinforced with added side stairs. The tunnel and caves beyond it well illuminated.
The whole of the cleared out opening paved and turned into a small bazaar. While the borders had moved to Jadefort’s bridge, this was where Wetull started. The Imperial Hoplites camp the last addition to the scenery.
Lyceron without his helm on was talking with Diryel the female Hoplite, but it was Eldar that spotted them approach. Lyceron stopped and turned to gaze at their colorful group.
“Lyceron, me thinks you’ve put more muscles on,” Jinx teased the much taller and admittedly good-looking Zilan that was always in a flirting mood.
“Ha-hah, marching burns excess lard fast lady Jinx,” Lyceron replied, giving a nod to the adventurers. “Mathews, Marlo.”
“Is the Phalanx moving?” Sam asked after greeting the smiling Diryel that had removed her helm as well.
Sam Mathews was well-liked by everyone. The fact he didn’t take full advantage of it probably one of the reasons.
“The Hallowed and the 3rd Othrim are returning. We left the second Othrim at Dia Castle.” Lyceron replied confidently stealing glances at the silent Lithoniela and the lightly stooped behind the two adventurers Moira.
That girl behaved strangely half the time, either stupid or annoying the other half.
“Anfalon is here then?” Jinx asked.
“Aye. He has to… unfortunately for us,” Lyceron stopped after Diryel gave him a smack on the shoulder.
“Lord Anfalon?” Lith queried in turn and the Hoplite looked at her curious.
“The First Hoplite.” He finally said, a side on his mouth curving upwards. “I’d like to get to know you better foreign lass,” Lyceron added with Diryel rolling her eyes to the white in exasperation.
“I wouldn’t,” Lith replied stiffly. “But I’d like to see Lord Anfalon.”
“Diryel can call on him. That’s his tent over there,” Lyceron replied pursing his mouth. “Lith is short for…?”
“Lithoniela of Baltoris,” the haughty Zilan retorted.
“Right,” Lyceron replied with a toothy smile and gave her a wink. “In my squad I have two good mates that claim Lord Onas bedded their mothers in them woods.”
Lith stared at him in shock.
“That’s Caruso,” Jinx intervened pointing a finger at the frowning warrior. “The aloof big-titted girl is Moira.” Moira made a deep curtsy and then stared daggers at the unbothered Jinx. “And the talking cat sleeping on the saddle is Melon.”
“The what?” Lyceron asked and behind him Diryel returned bringing the imposing Anfalon with Lymsiel. The comely healer, still a bit overweight, had a tiny baby Zilan in her arms, nicely wrapped in dark-blue garbs. “There’s no such thing.”
“How the fuck would you know?” Melon snapped opening an angry eye. “Dick for brains.”
“Eh,” Lyceron gasped and stood back.
“It’s a rare breed,” Moira elucidated and Lyceron glanced her way. His face mellowing.
“You are a rare breed lass,” Lyceron offered lamely raising a thick cobalt brow.
“I know,” Moira replied modestly with a deep sigh.
Oh, fer crying out loud.
“Lady Jinx,” the arriving Anfalon greeted brusquely. “I have two letters inquiring on your whereabouts. The Monarch is concerned.”
“I’m heading to Taras,” Jinx replied.
“You better,” Anfalon retorted gruffly and then pursed his mouth. He glanced at the beaming Lymsiel and the small baby for a moment afore adding in a less aggressive manner. “This is Legolnir of Anfalon,” and the wrapped up baby Zilan sniffled. “He was impatient to arrive, so we named him nimble warrior.”
Aww.
“In elen Amatulya,” Lith said warmly with Moira grinning at the baby and Sam stopping the frowning Marlo from intervening. “In cemen ar Eryn alarya atar-in Zilan Legolnir.”
What she said, Jinx thought genuinely happy for the old Zilan.
Anfalon didn’t appear to share their group’s mood though. He kept his eyes on Lith for a long moment, the proud Lymsiel breaking the awkward silence that had followed.
“Twenty months,” she gushed her eyes beaming. “But strong as pure steel.”
“Well,” Marlo said still unsure on the Zilan reproductive cycles. “Better late than ever I guess.”
“Gods damnit Clinton,” Sam cursed glaring at him.
“Got to leave them blue babies in the oven,” the cat commented licking at his paw.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
“Jinx,” Anfalon rustled staring at Lith. “She is an Elderborn.”
Ah.
Yeah.
“Lithoniela of Baltoris,” Lyceron jested mirthfully. Anfalon pressed his mouth tight for a second and then greeted Lith formally in Imperial.
His stern face a mask not revealing any more emotions.
“Wetull is open to Lithoniela.”
“Gratitude Lord Anfalon.” Lith replied. “I appreciate being welcomed back.”
“That’s for the Monarch to decide,” Anfalon retorted gruffly. “I’m sure he’ll behave appropriately.”
“Of course,” Lith yielded with a side stare towards Jinx. “We shan’t doubt the Monarch’s wisdom.”
The Gish had to bid her lip not to burst out laughing at the latter but no one seemed to get Lith’s hidden jab.
Perhaps for the better.
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First week of Imperial Decimus (Tenth month) of 3400 IC
Quiceran Road
Pale mountains tunnels
Two kilometers from the exit to Merodras River
The lights inside the echoing cleared-out tunnels were blinding. The lightstones used with abundance and constantly replaced by patrols making the rounds when their light dimmed. Not many merchants taking this route as it was much longer but at least one caravan was traveling some kilometers before them for the whole way.
A much different experience this time than most of them remembered. Jinx kept her eyes open for an Arachne to pop out of one of the many chasms still visible at the distant walls, but the rest seemed to take the word of the Hoplite squad escorting them as gospel.
“They fixed this place up,” Jinx told Lith bringing her horse near hers.
“Uhm.”
“Not in the mood again?” Jinx asked and glanced at Moira veering away from the group towards the walls of the tunnel. The ‘road’ they were following forty meters wide and sixty in height (with variations) according to the Zilan engineers they had talked to at the entrance camp.
“It’s a big deal for me seeing so many of my people breathing,” Lith replied stiffly. “Overwhelming. I’m appreciative.”
“It wears off after a while,” Jinx teased. “Nine out of ten Zilan I’ve met are insane idiots.”
“I don’t expect you to understand.”
“Yeah because I don’t miss my home and family,” Jinx hissed before she could control herself.
“You wish to argue?”
“Hard not to since yer being a cunt,” Jinx retorted and puffed out. “What’s going on wit Caruso?”
“None of your business Gish,” Lith snapped and turned her horse to get away.
“Nice talk! Kind of stepping on nails friendly,” Jinx murmured at her back and seeing Sam ordering a brief stop to water the animals turned around to find Moira. It came as no surprise that the woman had approached the edge of the road beyond the light posts and was now looking inside one of the bigger cracks on the walls. While the caves had been cleared and the road network repaired, they were still inside the guts of the mountains.
“Well you sure are a bit nuts,” Jinx said and Moira signed for her to keep quiet. “What?”
“Hear it?”
“The wind coming from the hole? Creepy… but aye.”
“No, the… eh, you’re just a Gish.” Moira sighed in disappointment.
“Why, glad you’ve noticed lowly-human,” Jinx hissed and set her ears to catch any other sounds coming from the gaping hole.
“Arachne,” Moira whispered in her ear and Jinx recoiled so hard, she fell on her arse initially and then made a half-tumble backwards to stand on her head, boots pointed at the air.
Kept the pose for three seconds.
“You’re insane,” Jinx grunted and rolled lithely on her feet again. She gave Moira a shoulder shove. “Don’t stick yer head in there.”
“They won’t come out,” a groaning Moira retorted. “They are scared of the light.”
“Good,” Jinx hissed.
“They have as much right to use this tunnel as we have,” Moira countered and pulled away.
“I don’t really care,” Jinx replied channeling her inner Glen. “They can go find another tunnel.”
“Eh,” Moira grimaced cutely and walked slowly to her horse, which was a spectacle to witness from behind.
“You practice all that arse sashaying or it’s natural? Mayhap a condition?” She teased the Cofol girl.
“You do it all the fucking time Jinx,” Moira replied looking in her bags.
“Does it excite you? It’s moist inducing. It’s okay to admit it,” Jinx said reasonably.
“I find Gish funny,” Moira said but then paused to eye the grinning Jinx thoughtfully. “You need to mate soon else you might lose it.”
“Are you offering?” Jinx taunted.
“Sam is the better pick,” Moira replied in a serious manner. “Then Lyceron but he might break you, so then Caruso and Marlo are also decent.”
“Sounds like you’ve made yer research.”
“Gish need to make babies.”
“Maybe true, but I prefer a female’s touch and Caruso is with Lith.”
Moira nodded and then paused briefly. “Ah.”
“No ah’s and but’s. I’m not jealous. Plus Lith isn’t as flexible in these matters.”
“He-he. Oh my, I think you are mistaken,” Moira replied with a grin and dug two pieces of cloth out of the bags. She glanced over the saddle –the horse was hiding her from their group that had stopped to rest- and then undressed quickly.
“The fuck are you doing?” Jinx asked as the naked Moira quickly stepped inside the new outfit. Unfortunately. A tight cotton top and a skirt she had bought in Eikenport before they departed. Then she wrapped a silk red shawl over her shoulders.
“It’s a female servant’s garb,” Moira explained after she had finished dressing. “Looks expensive but it isn’t. Still it would help out.”
“Wetull isn’t the peninsula you dork,” Jinx argued.
“Goras has no slaves?”
“Not what… sure. I suppose. Glen is working to put a stop to that.”
“Glen-avon?”
“Him.”
“What does working on it means? A Monarch orders. It’s not that complex.” Moira asked a little confused.
Ah, you haven’t seen nothing yet honey.
“I’ll let Glen explain that one himself,” a grimacing Jinx replied and walked away from the gaping hole with a shiver as she had heard something moving in there. Creepy crawlers. “Hey, what’s wrong with Lith?”
“Lithoniela is quite alright,” Moira replied and gave Jinx the reins of the horse to bring it back. Jinx groaned and grabbed them while Moira came on her other side to walk unencumbered. They started walking towards their group that was preparing to leave again.
“I don’t think she is. Part of that arrogance is there but with cracks. Why would she mix up with Caruso? Lith would never do that.”
Moira stopped to look at her carefully. “Sometimes we seek to heal our heart, by setting aside the rules. It isn’t a difficult to grasp notion.”
“Heal from what?”
“We all have traumas we keep inside.”
“I’ll pinch yer fat nipple. Real hard. You’ll scream a lot,” Jinx warned her all serious.
“I see why a skilled huntress picked you,” Moira murmured and taking Jinx's hand placed it on her left breast. Jinx felt the hard nub a second before her palm connected with the thin fabric. Which was weird. Like her breasts occupied more room than what it was visible. “Lithoniela suffered a big loss. We best not talk about it,” she paused to gather herself and then pushed Jinx’s hand away. “No good will come of reminiscing the past.”
Right.
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The next morning Sam Mathews and Jinx exited the tunnel ahead of the others and rode out to check on the road to the bridge over Merodras River. The repaired bridge and road nicely cleaned from the clutches of the jungle. The sun and nature welcoming after the gloominess and dullness of the tunnels.
On their return a Zilan merchant caught up with them as he moved pretty fast. The Zilan was riding a tall ostrich, at least a dozen of the large birds following after him laden with goods. Mainly footwear, belts and various trinkets.
“I’m Samblar,” the shifty Zilan with the fancy pink and yellow robes explained from atop his ostrich. “Samblar and Ryfon. Leather amenities out of Abarat. Since 2950 IC. Half a millennia of quality.”
“Where are you heading mister Samblar?” Sam asked whilst Jinx eyed his wares to see if she could pinch anything sticking out from the heavy bags.
“Eikenport and then across the seas to Aegium,” Samblar explained. “My partner is heading there right now. Big market opening up.”
“Why not take a ship?”
“Too expensive. This way I can fund the journey,” Samblar explained. “I see you like leather, friendly Gish,” he added looking at the distracted Jinx knowingly.
“I’m not exactly sleeping in it,” Jinx defended herself.
“Huh, know that leather panties do exist, at shocking cuts and for all body types. Very tight fitting,” Samblar insisted with a lecherous grin. “I like your pink hair.”
“Thanks.” Jinx replied shaking her ponytail right and left like a dog before snapping out of it. “I like yer pink and lemon-like robes?”
This dude is weird as fuck.
“How about these fine pointy boots then?” Samblar offered raising his leg from the stirrup.
“That’s a lot of boot for me tiny feet.”
“How much for a simple belt?” Sam asked waving for their friends to allow the merchant and his exotic animals through.
“This is a nicely crafted dagger,” Samblar replied with a smirk.
“It’s a gift from Angrein. Not for trade,” Sam retorted and the merchant shrugged his shoulders. He stared at their group when they approached as if evaluating each person individually. “Ladies, sirs.” He greeted them with nods and stopped his ostrich near the fancy dressed Moira. Samblar glanced at Sam and then Marlo. The sober Lyceron after that and his squad of Hoplites before settling on Lith’s neutral face. “Milady,” the Zilan merchant said subserviently. “It’s a lonely journey ahead of me while you’ve reached your destination.”
Lith narrowed her eyes.
“State your reason merchant.”
“How much for the slave girl?” Samblar asked. “She looks well-trained.”
Huh?
“I’ve freed her,” Lith replied evenly. “You should ask her.”
“Pity,” Samblar replied and eyed Moira that had walked near his mount to touch it. “What will it cost me pretty girl of the peninsula?” He asked the Cofol female.
“Hmm,” Moira murmured as if she was considering it. The merchant reached into a side bag and got out an intricately carved gold and ivory comb with very long teeth. Twelve of them like the months. The shaft very thick and flat.
“What is this?” Moira asked hoarsely sounding intrigued.
“A comb for yer black curls and a mirror to gaze at yer lovely face,” Samblar teased and cracked open the shaft of the comb revealing the hidden small mirror.
Moira’s eyes grew large with interest. She appeared almost aroused.
Are you serious shit for brains? Jinx wondered not expecting it.
“This,” Samblar haggled with a confident grin. “A cut of my profits and an ostrich for two years of willing servitude. I can see you favor them both.”
“I want your Ostrich,” Moira hushed in a singing voice looking at him and Jinx felt the hairs on her forearm raising. Samblar blinked slowly and licked his lips. “The comb with the mirror to gaze at my divine face.”
“Aha,” Samblar went along with the small correction still grinning.
“Approach,” Moira purred and Jinx felt a trickle of sweat running down her armpit, the sides of her face burning. Samblar stooped over the right side of the mounted ostrich and Moira reached to cup his cheek with a hand before landing a kiss on his half-parted lips.
Eh?
“What the all-hells?” Marlo grunted caught unawares.
Moira stepped back, her left hand extended and palm open. Samblar dropped the comb and she caught it. Moira immediately secured it at the strained opening of her top and waited for Samblar to climb down from the tall bird. The merchant handed her the reins and then walked with a pleased smile on his face to the second animal in the line. He climbed on the saddle, stared at the comely Cofol one more time longingly and then kicked his legs to get his mounts going.
Five silent minutes later he was lost in the direction of the tunnels.
“Snake-eyed and winking goblin bitches,” Marlo exclaimed colorfully breaking the collective spell for a second time. Moira had climbed on the ostrich in the meantime appearing quite content with how everything had turned out. “What the fuck just happened?” The veteran adventurer asked the frowned Sam Mathews who glanced at the equally stunned Jinx.
“Did she just traded a kiss for a goods-laden ostrich and a fucking gilded comb?” Jinx asked Mathews who approached her. Melon had appeared under the Ostrich’s long legs and leaped on the saddle as well, in front of the seated Moira. The Cofol girl reached to find a leather belt and then tossed it with a wink at the adventurer who caught it with an uncertain smile.
“Gratitude lass,” Sam said, answering to Jinx’s query a moment later. “Aye, she did.”
“Well then,” the Gish muttered scratching the space between her nostrils that tingled something fierce. She then stared at the marching past them Hoplites with Lyceron and followed after them.
“She’s sneakily convincing,” Jinx told the imposingly tall warrior who let out a deep chuckle. “What so funny about it?” Jinx asked him and the Zilan slowed down so she could catch up with his longer strides.
“Nothing sneaky about it milady,” Lyceron replied in his manly voice and Jinx realized she was seriously wet between the legs. Like when you drink a lot of fluids and forget to use the back room or the barrel, only to fall asleep drooling on the pillow and wake up the next morning with yer bladder empty on a soaked mattress. That kind. “This was a hell of a charming spell your Cofol slapped poor Samblar with. Probably a bit of tainted lipstick as well.”
“Tainted?” Jinx asked numbly as Lyceron made way more sense than she expected.
“Priestesses do it all the time. But also girls and guys. Potion merchants sell them and you can mix it with paint, grease or oils,” Lyceron explained. “Especially during Valimae Lilt. You lather yer lips with the concoction and you let it dry. Tastes like piss when fresh.”
It might cause some other… meaningless symptoms, Moira had revealed downplaying it earlier.
You sneaky little cunt.
“Right,” a thoughtful Jinx murmured staring at the slowly leading their group Moira from atop her Ostrich. Melon now mounted on the bird’s long neck, tapping repeatedly with a paw at the hairy top of the ostrich’s head until the giant bird abruptly twisted that long neck around to glare at the cat with huge mean eyes. It then let out a menacing screeching sound that catapulted a meowing and deathly scared Melon over Moira’s shocked head afore crashing hard on the ground.
“BLASTED DEAD-EYED FEATHERED CONVICT!” The covered in mud cat roared, hopping about energetically. “DUMB BALDING UGLY CRETIN TRIED TO GIVE ME A HEART ATTACK! INHOSPITABLE FUCK! Almost cost me a precious life back there! Hey!” The cat continued roaring following after the horses now. “Make some room for me up there you miserable four-legged cunts!”
“Which priestesses?” Jinx asked the beefy Hoplite and Lyceron turned his helmed head around, looming over the smaller Gish like a giant.
“Nesande’s daughter Naossis was a famous seductress and a very compassionate healer. Her schemes and feats revered by her loyal disciples in all realms. She’s obviously worshiped throughout Wetull since the dawn of time just like her mother. But they are not the only ones,” Lyceron explained. “These days if you spent some time with our Soletha and you should, you’ll come to realize that when your famed mother is named after the great Goddess of Magic herself and her Moon that lights our nights in blue hue, then her semi-immortal offspring carries as much weight in their liturgies as the real thing. Some days when the priestesses are talking of them it is very difficult to tell the two daughters apart.”
“Naossis,” Jinx murmured.
“And the Moon’s Daughter,” Lyceron replied. “They are a cult birthed from the same temple.”
Ah.
“Never thought old Soletha had a side to her like that,” Jinx said and Lyceron chuckled.
“You should ask big Soren about it. The old girl must be doing something right.”
I can’t believe Glen was right about the old priestess.
“I reckon she is,” Jinx mumbled and saw the bridge coming to view again over the pregnant river. The green expanse of Wetull spreading out to all directions as they left the mountains behind them.
“Wanna ride on my shoulders?” Lyceron asked a bit later seeing her staying behind.
Jinx realized she wanted to but she was also too wet to take a chance, her mind foggy and unfocused. So she politely refused the invitation and hurried after her empty horse instead. Lith that was holding the reins to drag it along after her, stopped the horse for the small Gish to climb up and returned the reins with a purse of the lips.
“Caruso is a gentle, patient soul that asks for nothing,” Lith told her after a moment of riding in tensed silence. “Which is all I’m able to give at this point. It’s what I need in the present and is enough for him. This might change or it might not for either of us.”
“Best not to talk about it,” Jinx offered remembering Moira’s words and Lith furrowed her brows but then her expression relaxed.
“Jinx,” Lith said.
“We’re good,” Jinx assured her in a friendly tone and Lith nodded patiently.
“That is nice, but you need to wash yourself so the rest of us can concentrate,” the Zilan counseled crumpling her nose regally. “I suggest using the river.”
Pfft.
Jinx was always going to use the river anyway since Gish love water but swallowed the insult to keep on Lith’s good sides in the hopes to dig out more at a later time.
She couldn’t help herself. Gish are very curious.
Um.
Shite, Jinx thought sniffing at the immediate air. That’s some robust aroma yer spreading about girl.