Dinner was a reserved yet still hardy soup. The adventurer's guild made the most of what they had in the stores while the plains were still flooded, but the clerk at the desk assured them that food was on the way, and there would be little delay in getting the markets back full once the storms had passed. Already it seemed that word was spreading across the kingdom of the intense flooding and flattened crops. It sounded as though there would be no shortage of merchant trains making their way to the cities and towns around Lake Miorenne.
The only upset with the situation was Leah who didn't get her usual two and a half bowls. At least at first. Pelanna and Julia gave over their bowls to her after eating only about half. Vivian, looking a little vexed at her lack of appetite, did the same. Leah happily accepted all the food and a few buns of bread from others. Her bright blue eyes showed appreciation around her full mouth of food.
Micheal asked his lover each night if she was feeling alright, but Vivian only admitted to nerves. It hardly seemed like her, but he scooted his chair close on that second day after the open contracts assignment. After a little prompting she was leaning against him and relaxing a little while the others finished their meals and chatted.
Dexter and Luna seemed to be getting along much better now too, but mostly kept to themselves today as they sat together. No one wanted to disrupt what was going on between them now that it looked to be going well so they were often left as they wanted, but they always included in the gathering for meals and the like. The three Bunnary brothers even brought Dexter in on their talks about trying a few paths they spotted from the walls.
It would be a muddy trip, but they might be able to do some scouting of the supposed closed temple for the water spirit. Dexter seemed to think it might be worthwhile, but also dangerous. In a surprising show of sense Dexter described how the swamp trolls may have pushed in near the walls with the recent flooding. They were mostly immune to drowning, but they hardly went swimming and would have likely come into where the current was either least or where they had something large to hang onto. Worst case they would need to find a new hunting ground where they showed up when washed away by the river; yet they could grow dangerous and assertive when starved.
Their little scouting trip instead turned into a plan to mark out spotted swamp trolls near the walls and the four went downstairs after dinner to speak with the Adventurer's Guild Lead in the office down below to discuss making it into a contract so they would all get paid for the effort and to prepare a way for the information to be spread about the city.
Luna seemed happy to watch him talk, but when he went downstairs she slowly frowned and put down her food. She rose, offered the rest of her meal to Leah, and then went to sit by Jack who had taken up sleeping in the sitting room on his improvised mat. Luna curled up beside the Bear Dog and cuddled into him while she gave him pets until the two of them dozed off together. Lindsey barely contained a girlish squeal that otherwise fully unleashed likely would have sent the two bounding to their feet, but managed it, blushing with her awareness of the mood swing.
Julia and Pel were warming up to Jack too, though Lindsey's condition was obvious enough to Jack now that he often followed her around when she would let him. In recent days Jack seemed to have realized that these people were part of his master's pack and embraced everyone. Even Ted, James, and Fredrick gave him pets and small treats before they headed out or offered him one of the giant rats taken from their hunting trips.
The tall one, which Micheal was certain now was Fredrick, had even asked him about how hard it would be to get Jack to follow scents. Micheal told him the truth in that as long as you could indicate to Jack what you wanted him to follow it was fairly easy. Fredrick's response was positive and he shook Micheal's hand saying he was excited to see what both he and Jack could do working out in the field.
Micheal had some other thoughts though. He talked with Vivian and Eva about it at that dinner after the training with Lindsey had gone so well.
“Do you think I could train him to wear armor and saddle bags?” He asked the two captains.
Vivian was still leaning into him, but was talking with Eva while she ate. He cut in during a lapse of their conversation after Dexter had left, and Luna was snoozing on Jack.
Vivian looked up at him and back at Jack thoughtfully.
“I don't see why not.” Eva said, “He already knows so many commands and you've had him for what two weeks? Should be no problem at all for you to teach him to tolerate a harness and a little weight on his back. He doesn't seem to mind at all supporting Luna's weight on him.” She went on with a small smile as she sipped at some wine.
“Armor would be good too. Maybe you could get that Thadelus or his brother to fit a horse barding to him. Some chainmail over top of that thick fur would be just like your hauberk.” The dark skinned High Elf added a moment later.
Leah had her mouth full of bread, but smacked the table softly with her hand and pointed enthusiastically at Eva nodding her head.
Micheal laughed.
“Don't choke Leah.”
Her response was to smile and stuff another spoon of soup in her mouth which sent Julia and Pelanna beside her rolling in laughter. Micheal just shook his head noting that Sarra's cold gaze was in Leah's eyes again as she took in the gathering.
“Wouldn't he get hot wearing all that though?” He asked.
Eva shrugged delicately holding up her wine glass.
“Maybe. He does seem to keep up fine even in the heat, but that black fur and mail may be a bit much. I would say start with the bags and see how he does. Maybe the armor will be a better winter solution, and you'll have to rely on just his fur and the magic healing for the summer months.”
Eva took another sip and crossed her legs. Even just doing that was provocative in the gown she wore that had a slash up to hip exposing a great deal of her legs. She seemed reserved enough, but also flirted with James and Ted, and appeared to be sleeping with Forgen recently. Though that was somewhat confusing because James and Forgen seemed to be really quite familiar with one another too; even preferring to wash each other in the bath which had been Micheal first clue into their relationship even before Leah had mentioned that thing about their mixed scents.
They weren't really overt about it, but they did seem to flirt too. Eva seemed not to care who washed her back as long as it got done anyway. Last night she had even gotten Micheal to do it.
In spite of her somewhat flawless and haughty outward appearance she had a number of scars on her body that looked like the wounds had been rather deep or brutal. Micheal wondered about it, but supposed there was a reason she was a Captain in the guild other than her looks. She seemed lazy too, but there was a hard woman under her facade of easy going sultriness. Those curves of hers hid muscles that were like iron cables when she tensed.
“It might be good to have him carry a pack of extra supplies or maybe even a tent.” Micheal mused.
Vivian listened and nodded and then leaned in a little more. He put his arm around her shoulder and kissed the top of her head.
“-But I don't like the idea of him just taking hits all the time. He could lose an eye, and I'm not sure if even as effective as the bond healing is if that would come back.” Micheal went on.
He ran his right hand down Vivian's left arm and her right hand found him near her elbow. Their fingers laced together without so much as any hesitation.
“Which makes learning that healing magic all the more hard to learn especially if its just for Jack and Vivian, or the people I have marks on. I care about them too much to want them to get hurt.”
The talk went quiet for a moment and Vivian took a moment to put a hand to his knee and lean into him a little more; both closing her eyes and putting her head on his shoulder this time.
Eva listened and watched with a small smile on her face and broke the growing silence.
“I do say its about time you found someone Vivian.”
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She inclined her head to the two of them when Vivian looked up at her.
“If you were one of my kin I would congratulate you on snaring a powerful husband before he grew out of your reach, but then you are not one of us. I'm not sure how marriage and the like work among your people exactly, but I hardly took you for the type to subject yourself to one of your kin's harems. My people have certain... infidelities we observe commonly, but my people think those open harems are about as scandalous as you think I am.”
She laughed rich and deep at Vivian's flat stare.
“I'm not sure how my mother would take me being with a human seeing as she's older than most of the towns in Ruldanja, but I can have my hopes. Likely we won't have to go see her, but if I take up with child we might have to find out.” Vivian responded in a soft voice.
She looked into her lap after a moment, and then her fingers gently caressed him. She seemed a little glum talking about the topic and both he and Eva picked up on it. It wasn't like her to mope.
“Is that the reason you've been so...” Eva searched for her words for a moment and made her tone friendly. “--Unsteady lately?” She asked, reaching out her free hand to touch Vivian's knee in a gesture of support.
“Your people's cycles are not unlike my own, but I am aware that the duration, intensity, and frequency are much different, yes? I didn't think of that because I thought it was too soon for you to have another.”
Vivian shrugged.
“It happens when it happens.” She said simply and dropped her head back to lean against Micheal's chest.
“That's why the harems work. Women cycle at different times based on when they were born, and often get brought in by the first wife when her own cycle is down, but her friends just started. The men like my father don't seem to worry about the women all that much, but they are all obsessed with the health of the forest. At least that's what my father was like, and why I fight like a Forest Warden, the footmen to what he is as a specialist Tree Singer.” She explained.
She rubbed her face against Micheal's chest and sighed.
“Talking about it does make me miss him and my mother though.”
Eva set down her wine glass for a moment and moved her chair closer. She took Vivian's right hand in both of hers and gave her an understanding smile.
“We are very far from home, the two of us, but even though we argue and fight at times I would rather have you here with me than any of my kin back home.”
Eva's eyes softened as Vivian turned to look at her with surprised fondness.
“Fights between sisters are always the fiercest and that is the way I look upon our relationship. Would you not agree?”
Vivian tilted her head and smiled at the other woman; she was delighted to the point of tears in her eyes.
“Eva...”
She shook her head smiling and chuckling softly.
“My sisters back home would writhe to hear me say this, but I do think the same. We have our differences, but you're steadfast when you're needed and a good friend too when it comes down to it. Never once have you turned your back on me these last twenty years when I asked you for help or aid no matter how we fought or argued the times we met before. Thank you sister.”
Eva smiled and so did Vivian as they clasped hands.
“So–” Eva broke out suddenly, dispelling the moment, “-You don't really think you are...”
Vivian blinked and tilted her head at the woman. Eva moved her hands as if to gesture as she spoke, but the words didn't come out. She did glance over her shoulder to the couple behind her that had their faces together as Lindsey sat yet again on Mike's lap and whispered all sorts of lovey dovey things to him between kisses. Vivian blinked as she looked back and her free hand that wasn't wrapped up in Micheal's own still went to her belly.
“Oh. No, not yet. I mean...” Vivian cut off going red to her ears and Eva's eyes went wide.
“There is a tea you can drink...” Eva began to explain in a carefully moderated tone.
“-It's not the best tasting stuff since you have to make it strong for the effect, but I have some of the leaves that work for my kind. I am not sure if it's lesser cousin would have worked for young Lindsey, but it might have been better than to lose her again for whatever amount of time we'll need for the baby of theirs. There are other options as well...” Eva said, then unashamedly held up her hands to make a ring with her thumb and pointer finger in a classic gesture.
But then while holding up a single finger in her other hand she then suddenly added a second ring with her middle finger behind the first. Next, with a casual smile she put her lone finger in the second hole behind the first. It took Micheal a moment before he got that she was talking about taking it up the back end.
Vivian shook her head and covered her face with one hand. She didn't look back at Micheal either. He just watched, feeling both interested and amazed with the conversation. It was hardly table talk, but with almost all the men gone none of the other women seemed to think twice of the conversation.
Eva leaned close and lowered her voice.
“Zephdin and James have no problems with doing it that way at least. They are very clean about it too. James did blush so having me in the room last time, but he could hardly complain after he had me that way--”
Vivian's ears seemed to radiate heat like an electric heating element all of a sudden, and she half squealed before she put her hand out to cover Eva's mouth blindly still hiding her face against Micheal. She actually squirmed in her seat and pressed back into Micheal who couldn't help but smile at her reaction. That, and be a little amazed that James, Forgen, AND Eva were all fooling around together.
Eva pulled back and laughed, obviously delighted by Vivian's innocent reaction.
“You can't tell me you didn't at least suspect.” She said coming close once again.
Vivian's only response she had left was to turn, cover her ears with her hands, and hide her face against Micheal's chest. Micheal couldn't help but shield her with his arms as he laughed.
“No, no, no, no, NO!” Vivian said into his shirt, still blushing madly.
“You noticed of course Micheal.” Eva said in a protesting voice. “Didn't you tell her?”
“It's not really my business what any of you do.” Micheal said, laughing all the while.
“It's not my place to talk about it unless I'm concerned it will affect the team. You all seem to get along fine though. I wasn't going to say anything.” He explained as Vivian beat her fists softly into his ribs and actually kicked her feet in a little fit.
“You have been teaching her at least something interesting in your room though haven't you? She has claim on you of course, but you seemed to me a man who knows his way around the bedroom.” Eva asked in a plaintiff tone.
Micheal laughed and shook his head amazed with Eva.
“You can tell that at a glance huh?” Micheal asked, getting an approving look from Eva that showed humor in her dark eyes that were a little too large of iris and a little alien like Vivian's.
“Guess I've shown her a thing or two, but nothing too wild yet. I haven't gotten the courage to ask to tie her up yet, for example.” He joked, but Vivian's ears went scarlet making the previous blush seem pale by comparison.
She tried looking up at him, but whined as her ears seemed to wilt and she punched him hard in the ribs making him grunt.
Lindsey was suddenly off Mike's lap and came over to see what the fun was about after likely catching a few words and seeing Vivian's brilliant blush.
“I thought only the Shrouded Kin tied each other up when they..” Lindsey said cutting off to hold up her hands to make a vigorous and overblown lewd gesture with them.
“No one is tying me up for anything.” Vivian tried to shout sternly while not quite able to keep the laughter from her voice and still blushing brilliantly.
“Yes Dear.” Micheal croaked trying to recover his breath from her recent punch to his ribs.
Lindsey and Eva laughed and proceeded to ask Vivian all sorts of questions until she finally had enough and dragged Micheal off to their room to cheers and clapping from the two. Vivian was quite rough with him after that, but he hardly had room to complain. She was blushing so brilliantly and acting so much more embarrassed than she ever had. It only made teasing her all the better.
Later with the sun probably dropping behind the horizon, Micheal couldn't see it for all the clouds, Vivian snoozed on his chest as they lay in bed. Her lovely body was completely naked and she had her legs hooked around one of his, and her arms were tucked up into her modest breasts between them. She had pulled her hair loose and it was tossed across his middle with the sheets. He had asked her once about it and she had never cut it, other than a little healthy trimming, in her close to fifty years of life. She looked so young even for being that age, but that was part of being a High Elf.
Even Eva's people were long lived compared to average human life spans- even modern ones- but couldn't reach the age of the great matriarchs of Vivian's kin. The names of Vivian's sisters made up a list at least thirty names long. Take an average of forty years between cycles and even assuming her mother hadn't skipped a cycle or had dual or triple births that meant for a long life. She had a single living brother mixed in that list too though.
Telvor was his name, he was a renown smith in her homeland, and one of the very few who practiced the trade among her kin. He had made Vivian her spear, and though not specifically for her like the spear, the knife that Micheal now carried. Both weapons had then been enchanted in some way by her mother Alvianna. Some careful questions revealed that in fact Vivian was practically the complete likeness of her mother with many of her sisters favoring their mother in the same way. That meant who he had seen in the memory of the little knife almost looking back at him was indeed her mother.
Vivian moved and cuddled into him a little more as her eyes fluttered open. She stared across his chest and after a moment he found her hand with his and they continued on just laying together quietly like that for a time.
“You probably missed your training with Forgen.” She said making no effort to move from where she was. “We should get our robes on and be ready to go bathe with everyone.”
She was right, but it was hard to get up even as sweaty as they were. They had a change of sheets ready on the foot board for tonight, they always change sheets every other night or so. Almost had to. Sleeping in sweaty sheets was hard when their room was so nice and cool, though oddly it wasn't all that hard to sleep in a sweaty bedroll last time they were out now that he thought about it. Maybe that was just him though or the tiredness that came with traveling on foot.
“You are feeling well aren't you? It's not like it's even been long enough...” He started saying, but somehow lost the words though he knew what he wanted to ask. He could only look up at the ceiling too.
“It's just nerves.” Vivian said, “-At least for now. My appetite at least. Of course I could be, but it's so soon there would be no way to tell even with the way Lindsey had Pel check. Not yet anyway.” Vivian explained, not sounding very convinced herself.
He gulped and held her hand a little longer before he got up. For her part she held on tight to him too. He got Vivian her robes once they managed to get up and they both got them on and headed out into the sitting room. Forgen disappeared just then into his own room doffing shirt and belt before the door closed behind him.
“You just missed it.” Eva said, smiling and raising her eyebrows at the two of them as they came out.
She was already in her robes and had another glass of wine in her hand. She looked tired and a little worried, but that all cleared away when she saw Micheal.
“We've got our mission. Forgen's going to explain in the bath. Apparently he was off at the Mages Guild without us discussing the details. He assured me he took our concerns into account and made them clear to our masters in the Adventurer's guild hierarchy, but he's going to explain it to the others when we get downstairs.” She explained, but a look passed between Vivian and her that Micheal couldn't decipher.