I pause. “Coming from you, that’s a BIG deal. I don’t want to do it if you feel that way.”

Tasii had felt trouble coming so many times. Had an almost uncanny ability to sense when something wasn’t normal. I… I still remember that night… with the Murtaziq. If we had just… listened. Ran instead of even engaging. Things would have been better.

I would still have my leg, I assume. From the little horrible memories I can call up sometimes. Most of it is just... kinda gone. Just a few painful flairs I honestly try to not think about.

I lay my hand on hers as they curl around a mug of steaming… something, It smells really good. “We have a day. And if you don’t feel good about this before the carriage arrives I’ll back out. No questions.”

That surprises her. Yrelia sighs, but I don’t even turn to look at her.

“Now, get me a mug of whatever stew you have there and let’s go over this!”

We do, and when I convey the final thoughts of Kque and Jevita about the Rell family that seems to help her settle a lot. Even Yrelia relaxes. It’s late now, and we’re almost alone in the little tavern's main area. Bellies full and thoughts adrift at the promise of sleep.

“Let me sleep on it?” Tasii asks after a long silence.

“Of course.” I agree, bleary and exhausted. “I meant what I said. Even if you can’t explain why you don’t like this, just tell me. Communicate it!” I giggle at those last words. Her words. Gifts to me to help smooth out my easing into this wonderful family.

We all but collapse into the bed together after changing into night clothes and removing my Arudian leg. The healing… Well, my leg is longer than before. The songs I sing every morning keep the pain down to a dull thrum at the worst of times. And all our walking helps grow back the muscles. But… I can’t help but flinch at the twisted ugly nub before my lovers help me hop into bed and slip into oblivion.

It’s so real that I don’t notice it's even a dream. For a second I can only look about in confusion. Muse gently… How did I get here? It’s so pretty!

I stand at the edge of a forest. One that creaks and groans with such old age. Silent save the occasional tittering of birds and other friendly creatures. Vibrant with color and warmth and wonder, I can’t help but move forward and long to explore its winding pathways.

It’s only as I begin to hum along to the Dream's Song that I pause along the little overgrown trail. Consider… who am I?

“Ina. That’s right. I’m… I’m going to my last lover!” I grin and can’t help but quicken my pace.

I find her waiting in a little grove of wiggling flowers and twisting winds.

Despite my best efforts to tackle Her into the soft earth, her infinite arms are strong and always ready. She pulls me close and begins to plunge herself into my spirit. I giggle and kiss her, lose myself in her glowing violet eyes and wondrous touch. Then I’m sharing myself with her. Bubbling up with memories of the past day as she holds me close. At some point I realize I’m in a dream and just… stop.

Worry. Cold and horrible. It has no place in our dream. But… there it is. Sitting in our lap like a foul mess.

“I was wondering…” I speak up as I peer down at the unpleasant thing my mind has dragged up. “Why have we not… um… well… Is dream sex even a thing?”

She murmurs a giggle into our neck. A promise. Dream sex is the best sex.

“Oh.” I can’t stop the shutter that I can feel rolling right out through my sleeping body. “Then… why haven’t we… um…”

But she sighs… pulls back. Need to be careful with my Challa.

“Why?” I look back at her wonderful eyes. “Isn’t like… this all just a dream? What could–”

A flash of fear and pain and–

She’s pressing my eyes closed. Sealing me from a sudden storm that whirls and rages around us at the memories. I try to shout to Her, grasp at her hands, pull her close and comfort her. But I find only sharp talons and horrid teeth and gnashing roiling–

I’m laying on my back, lovers curled around me as I snap awake.

I sigh. Realize that’s the third time I’ve had a dream like that just this past week. One where I ask a question and have to be shielded from… well… I’m not sure if it’s Her memories or just… like… Her in general. She's trying to be more gentle with me. Wanting to shield me from… something.

I carefully work myself free of my lover’s embraces, kissing and hushing any soft complaints as I pull myself to the edge of the bed. After dropping to the floor I cast about blindly for my–

There it is. Cold Arudian stone. My temporary leg. My flesh throbs horribly this early, but if I risk my morning melodies I’ll wake them. So I endure the pain as I hobble to leave and go downstairs into the basement to enjoy a warm shower.

Once there, I make sure the other entire big shared room is empty. It’s early, so I’m lucky and find myself alone. I undress and hang my night clothes and a towel on one of the many hooks, unlatch my leg, and carefully hobble beneath one of the little knobby things. I fiddle at a metal handle, and after a little spurt of cold, I am rewarded with intoxicating warmth.

And so as I enjoy the experience, I sing the melody my dream teacher taught me. A wondrous morning song of comfort to shield me from cold and pain. I shudder beneath the euphoria of it, the warmth threatens to lull me down into a slumber as I rest my head against the stone wall beneath the flood of water.

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Normally I’d have ended the song. Leg already numbed and body encouraged to speed up its reweaving. But… Tasii’s worries have become my own this morning. So I just… stand there. Let the song help my mind chew on the problem. I can’t shake the feeling that there is something about this evening's event that’s off. Like… like some subtle tune of the World Song I’m poking at is trying to–

I hear shuffling behind me, jerk to see a pair of women just… staring at me. Both with deep purple skin, vibrant eyes, and even little sparkles dotted about their mains of midnight blue and reddish hair. Those green and cerulean eyes are wide and transfixed on my naked form. And only as my song jerks to a halt do they seem to realize the blush on my face isn’t from the hot water.

“Sorry!” One of them sputters, but… doesn’t look away. “We just… uh… heard your singing and uh…”

Fuck. I… I need to keep my song magic private. Why didn’t I just… stop the song!?! I reach for a forbidden word, and pause before grasping at the pain it would bring. Just… Deep breaths, then my training kicks in, and I force a tired smile in an offer to them.

“You're fine.” I nod toward the dozen or so places open throughout the big room. “I’m all finished. Just… didn’t feel like moving. Not used to being up this early!”

I turn off the water, then I try to focus on hobbling along the wall to–

“Oh!” One of them suddenly bursts out, and I watch as she first notices my maimed leg Face goes pained and so very sad. Then she sees the Arudian foot I left by my clothes and doesn't even hesitate to go and get it for me. As she approaches, her own blush rises. “Is… I hope this is okay that I um…”

“No, it’s very sweet.” My smile turns natural then, “But… I kinda need to sit down on the benches beneath the racks to get it on.”

Without hesitation her friend comes over and offers a hand. “Would you let us help?”

“Sure.” And once they finish helping me wobble over to the bench and sit, there is an awkward pause.

“Um…” I point to the Arudian stone leg she still holds. “I kinda need–”

She looks down to it, confused. Then a sudden horror and–

“Fuck, sorry sorry!” And before I can say more she’d kneeled down and is trying to awkwardly help me get it latched on. It’s not tight enough. But… I just hope they’ll leave before I need to rise so I can adjust it.

“Are um… Are you the Hetaera we heard was staying here?” The second asks as her companion rises from ‘helping’ me.

“No,” I tap my unpierced ears, pointing to the lack of jade rings. “Just her apprentice.”

That seems to surprise them.

“Oh… Well…” She finally looks away, blushing again. “I um… once got to listen to a Hetaera performance. Some famous singer and…well… anyway, she didn’t sound half as good as you just did.”

That makes me freeze for a moment as I was reaching up to pull my towel down to begin drying myself. I can feel a bit of a rush of… well not worry, but anxious concern. If word of my fuck up get’s around… and an actual Hetaera comes to check on the rumors… Fuck. Fuck fuck fuck.

“It’s just the walls in here.” I try and brush her compliment off, “It creates a wonderful echo. Makes anyone sound much better than they probably are.”

“You shouldn’t sell yourself short like that.” The second adds with conviction. “I’ve heard plenty of women try to sing down here, and it makes them sound worse!”

My chuckle is fake, but Yrelia’s helped me ensure it’s always at least polite.

“Can we get your name?” The first nearly pleads. “So we can… um… maybe keep an eye out for your work? Once you get your rings? Would love to tell people we met you before you take Arudia by storm with that wonderful voice!”

I look down. Debate lying or… but no. They can probably just ask around to find out my real name. Even though I’ll never get my rings I can’t risk my name getting out. Too many years as an ‘apprentice’ will get even our most loving clients suspicious. Not to mention the re-grown leg.

“Inamatorii.” I continue drying, hoping they’ll take the subtle hints I’m trying to send and leave me be. “But… Singing isn’t my passion or focus as a Hetaera. Just… a happy little part of my morning routine. You won’t find me on any stages or in front of crowds. I’m too shy for that.”

They laugh, but don’t seem to move on.

“So, what is your passion?” The second asks, “If not that?”

Well… I’m not embarrassed to admit it… and… maybe… maybe I can turn this into a good thing! Maybe these two will want to hire us later.

“Pleasure.” I reply with a little more… well I can’t match Yrelia’s sultry voice and mischievous smile. But my warm informative tone seems to steal their breath for a second. So I press it a little. “My teacher, Yrelia. She has us doing a bit of a… a string of clients to help me get better. Says I’m a natural at it and wants me to get as much experience as possible as we move through Arudia.”

I swear I can almost hear their hearts quicken. Fuck… really? That more than anything cracks through my training. The supposed pressure of two random strangers suddenly getting really excited at the unspoken offer of such intimacy with me...

Is… Is this what Yrelia feels like when she flirts?

I glance up at them, find eyes locked on me. “I’ll be… um… busy today. But if you catch my teacher later today while I’m with an old friend she can probably work something out?”

The women take a second, then both nod and glance to each other. Before this can get any more… intense, I push out a smile. “But I’ve really got to get dressed and head out.”

They blubber out some words, and soon I am able to let out an embarrassed sigh and finish drying, dressing, and re-adjusting my stone leg. By the time I’ve grabbed a few early bits of fruit from the overnight table in the tavern and head back upstairs. Tasii and Yrelia are already stirring, but only a little.

I lean over the bed and kiss Tasii on the head, “Morning love.”

As I pull away to move around to do the same to Yrelia there is a… a spark before my hand pulls from her shoulder. And next thing I know she's caught my wrist. And she’s pulling me down onto the bed with her, rolling, and is now on top.

For a long second she just… hangs over me. Lips a second from mine. Eyes seem… a little confused.

“Well?” I smirk up at her, then whisper… “Did you actually want me on top for once or–”

Then her lips are at mine. Aggressive with morning horniness and… fuck she’s normally more… restrained. At least at first! Takes me a bit to help her gauge just how fast we should go.

Tasii will never hurt me. but… she’s also kinda a big girl who loves pretty aggressive sex. There is a ton of her when compared to our lovers and I can see how it could be a little... well scary if someone wasn't ready for her.

So… over half a year ago, when I worked up the courage to ask her to Fuck Me alone for that first time, she made sure to um… talk to me about that. Asking and checking on me. Making sure that none of my little wiggles or sounds were things of pain or fear or just… uncomfortable indulgences for her sake.

It was so sweet and very sexy, and made our first time this wonderful mixture of quiet whispers and careful questions betwixt fast-breathed intimacy. Bouts of her slowly pushing to see just how much of her I could handle, but never ever making me feel like I had to push anything for her.

But… something is different right now. She’s not hurting me. No... quite the fucking opposite! She’s suddenly and perfectly right where I’d love her to be! Like… like… How is she-

As her Amwella bucks and kicks and pushes against me I lose the thought. Find a moan rolling into her mouth as my wandering hands are caught and gently pinned above my head. I don’t know when Yrelia wakes up, but it couldn’t have been very long into Tasii’s work. This bed is not really big enough for three and I just... can't be quiet during sex this good.

She murmurs, seems to kiss at Tasii’s hips just before getting off the bed. “I want a shower. Save some of her for me, okay?”

Yrelia giggles, then is gone. Tasii pauses through our kiss as she leaves, pulls back. Face… odd.

I’d reach out to touch her face. Buuuut she has me pinned and all I can do is ask. “Love?”

“Did… Did you…” She loosens her grip on my hands, shakes her head back and forth, voice husky with desire. “Is this alright?”

Leaning up, I bite her nose gently. “Perfect.”

She lets out a… well it’s a really sexy growl, then is back at it. Whatever worry that was lost in a storm.