“Hey Winna, do you have a minute?” Arden asked as he carried Marri back down the hallway.

The woman he loved had had herself a nice long soak and a bath. He’d also changed into some clean clothes,and gotten a good bit of the grime off himself with just a quick wipe down with warm water from the sink as Marri had been draining the tub.

“I have lots of minutes! And I’m happy to share them.” Winna smiled at them. She now had a box of sewing supplies out and was embroidering some floral designs on a shawl. Diana was still sitting beside her mistress, but Lou was stretched out on the floor, comfortably ensconced in a sunbeam that spilled through one of the front windows.

Rowan was back inside and seated comfortably on the ground beside the couch, but Mira wasn’t around, likely having gone back home. It looked like he’d washed some too, probably using the kitchen sink, and had changed into his own borrowed shirt.

Arden nodded. “Thank you. Oh, did Tark and Willowdown come by yet? If not, I can take care of the outside chores for you.”

“Rowan said did while he and Mira were out there, but thank you!” she nodded as Arden set Marrina in the loveseat and then settled down beside her.

“Good.”

“Now, what did you want to talk about?” she asked, putting a stitch in the floral pattern she was working on.

“So, the way Marrina and Rowan, and all the fey folk, were kept captive are by these metal bands.”

“Oh, I’d noticed them in passing. They have runes on them, yes?”

“Yes.” Marri nodded, holding her tail up for Winna to see.

“Arden, can you move Marri closer? I’m not sure I can get up right now, and I want a look at that band.” Winna grimaced.

“Oh right, pregnant lady.” he grimaced, then stood and easily scooped up Marri, who giggled, and put her back down on the couch beside Winna.

The human mage sat her project aside, “Let me have a better look. Is it okay if I touch your tail?”

“Yeah.” Marri smiled, lifting her tail and letting Winna reach out to steady it so she could have a good look at the metal band that hung near her fins.

“Hmm.” Winna reached out and turned the ring around slowly, studying the runes. She sighed, “I’ll be the first to admit that my knowledge of runes isn’t great. Do you have any thoughts, Diana?”

Diana maowed.

“Yeah, I guess runes aren’t your thing either…” the human mage sighed. “But from what I do know, some of these seem really nasty.”

“They are.” Arden muttered, leaning forward. “These ones are runes of strength, preventing it from being broken. These are runes that bind the wearer to the will of the creator of the runes, and anyone who’s been given power over them as well. They’re finicky, and I was able to bamboozle the second set of runes with magic in order to get her and Rowan away from the camp. Once we were far enough away, they stopped working, but it’d be better if we got them off.”

“Especially if Bellows managed to follow us so far.” Marrina murmured, frowning.

“That’s another thing. He was on our trail for at least a while, and I have a feeling he wasn’t alone. I’m hoping we did enough to lose him, and then we went through some rain that I hope helped mask our trail too, but there’s every chance he managed to keep on us somehow.” Arden grimaced. “I’m a little worried that Lear isn’t here.”

“Well, we have other friends here that will help us if it comes to that, so don’t worry too much.” Winna told them, smiling warmly.

They were quiet for a few moments.

Winna shot little bursts of magic into the band.. “Hmm…”

“What do you think?”

“I think that we should take it to Dern. Or…will being around another dwarf bother you? It would be totally understandable, if so.”

“I don’t expect so. Normally dwarves are nice, aren’t they?”

“Yeah. And Dern is a good person. A little blunt, but very good.” Winna replied.

“It’ll be fine, then, I’m sure.” Marrina shrugged.

“It’s early yet. We can make a trip into town to see if Dern can help, and have lunch at the tea shop, my treat!” the human mage suggested, smiling at them. “It’s been a little while since I’ve been into town, so it’ll be a nice change of page.”

“Will everything be okay here?”

“Yes, I expect so. Diana keeps a good eye on the place.” Winna smiled.

Diana maowed again and shifted from her loaf position, and stretching out on the couch cushion she occupied.

“Yes, you’re an excellent caretaker, despite being a kitty.” the soon-to-be mother giggled, reaching out and scratching the sweet, diluted grey tabby’s chin.

“Can you handle the drive into town? It can be kind of bumpy.” Arden frowned.

“It’ll be fine.” she waved away his concern.

“I just don’t want you going into labor without Lear here.” the white-haired soldier muttered.

“Me either. But it’ll be fine. Besides, I’m tired of being cooped up here. I need a nice trip to town.”

“Alright.” he sighed, shrugging a little.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

“Do you all need some actual rest, though? I know you traveled through the night…”

“I want this band off.” Rowan said firmly. “I don’t care how long I have to stay awake.”

“Me too.” Marri murmured.

“I’ll be fine.” Arden shrugged.

“Then we’ll head out!” Winna started to struggle to her feet.

“No, don’t. I'll hitch Poppy up to the cart and then you can come.”

“Thank you, Arden.” she murmured gratefully. “I could do the hitching, but-”

“No, no you couldn't. You don’t need to be doing too much right now. Going into town will probably prove to be more than enough.” He said sternly. Gods, Lear better get his ass home soon.

“Alright, alright.” the pregnant mage sighed. “Thank you for helping, Arden.”

“Lear would kill me if he knew I hadn’t helped you.” he grimaced, then smiled, “Besides, this is…home now, really. And you’re family, to me.”

“You’re family to me, too.” Winna smiled back, rubbing her belly. “Baby is kicking! Want to feel, Marri?”

“Sure!” the mermaid giggled, and Winna was guiding her hand to where the kicking was happening as Arden left the cottage.

Soon he had Poppy, Winna’s mild-natured pony, hooked up to the cart, and had it pulled around into the little drive by the house so Winna didn’t have to walk very far.

The half-fey soldier went back in to get Marri, and Rowan helped Winna waddle outside, down the steps, and to the cart.

The centaur climbed in, and then Arden carefully settled Marri in the back as well, then joined Winna on the driving bench.

“Ready?” she asked.

“Yep.” he nodded.

“Alright.” she shrugged and flicked the reins to get the pony started.

They rumbled along slowly.

Arden stared out at the scenery as they drove. He’d never dreamed that he’d have fallen in love with a mermaid by the time he returned home. Now he knew a little better what Lear had gone through with Winna, falling in love away from home, then having to tell everyone what happened when he returned. Only it was a little less awkward for him, given his people at home were Lear and Winna themselves.

After a little while, Marri laughed, “Rowan is asleep!”

“I can’t say I blame him!” Arden snorted.

“Why don’t you try and get some rest too, Marri? It’ll be a little while before we’re there, so you might as well nap.”

“That’s not a bad idea.” the mermaid stretched, then lay down, seeming comfortable enough.

Then again, it wasn’t like they weren’t used to making themselves comfortable in wagons.

“Arden, honey, why don’t you go lay down and sleep too? I know you have to be as tired as then.”

“I’m fine.” he shook his head. “I’m too awake to sleep, but I do know I’ll sleep really well tonight.”

“I’m sure!” Winna nodded, shrugging slightly.

They were quiet for a little while.

A glance back told him that Marri was fast asleep, which made him smile. When he turned again, Winna was smiling at him, watching him briefly before turning her eyes back to the road.

“What?” he tilted his head to the side curiously.

“You two are so sweet!” she giggled.

Arden felt his face turn bright red. “I…uh…”

“Oh, don’t try to hide it! I can see it whenever you look at one another!” she laughed, “And there’s nothing wrong with it, you know that, right? Falling in love is so normal, honey!”

“I…I know. I’m just…not used to it. I…no one has really wanted me before.”

“I’m sure that’s not true.” Winna rolled her eyes, “Plenty of the women in the village would be willing to throw themselves at you, if they thought you were interested. Some even if you weren’t!”

“I mean…I guess. I meant no fey person though, given I’m only half.” he grimaced. “And I never…considered marrying a human woman. I don’t know why…Maybe I should have.”

“It’s alright, Arden. No one said you had to. I also think the women in the village probably aren’t your type, somehow.” she laughed a little, then sighed. “And then there’s the issue of their lives being far shorter than yours.”

“Yeah.” His thoughts strayed for a moment to his mother, her life lengthened so unnaturally that it drove her insane just because a fey man couldn't handle her dying sooner than he wanted her to. Of course, that had been about power and control, not love. He didn’t think he’d ever be tempted to do the same to someone, even if they gave their permission, but it was better to not ever be in a situation that tempted him to find out. Although it seemed he wasn’t going to need to.

“But you found your person now.”

Arden managed a smile. “Yeah.”

“I like her. She’s sweet.” Winna murmured approvingly.

“She is.”

“And a little feisty, I think! But that’s good. You’re too gentle, you need someone feisty!” the pregnant mage giggled.

“That’s part of what attracts me so much to her. I love her confidence.” he smiled sheepishly.

“Good.”

“By some miracle she has confidence. I’m shocked that how she was treated didn’t drain it all out of her.”

“People are surprisingly resilient. Was she born into captivity?”

“No. She got caught in a fishing net when she was young and was eventually sold on to Bellows. Rowan was captured by fey slavers that Bellows had hired specifically to get him a centaur.”

Winna shuddered, “What a nasty piece of work.”

“Indeed.”

“Not that I needed to know that to make up my mind about him. I saw the markings of the whipping that he gave her.” the mage muttered disapprovingly.

“It was horrific and brutal. I accidentally saw the scars when they were changing her bandages at one point, and that made me realize I had to get her out of there faster than I’d planned. I suspect she was picked on because her spirit wasn’t totally broken, and she did have a good deal of confidence and will left in her.” he sighed, “I’m just glad I could get her out of there.”

“And once Lear is home, you two will go free the rest of them.” Winna said firmly, reaching out and patting his arm.

“If we’re not too busy with someone delivering a baby!” Arden grinned at her.

“Well, it might need to come after that, that’s true.” She admitted, grimacing a little and rubbing her tummy. “He better get home soon.”

“I agree. Did he say anything about what he’d been called in for?”

“No, but the higher ups do know how late it is in my pregnancy, so…it must have been something important.”

“Yeah, it must have been, especially if he went despite your due date only being a little while away back then.” he frowned. “It worries me. If it’s anything too big, I hope he thinks to come back and see if anyone is back from their missions. I can go and help him with whatever, if I need to.”

They drove along in silence for a little while, both frowning slightly and feeling troubled.

Finally, Arden couldn't suppress a yawn.

“Oh, go have a rest, Arden. You have got to be exhausted!”

“I…am.” he sighed, “Are you sure you’ll be alright being the only one awake?”

“Sweetie, I lived alone for a long time before I married your captain. I’ll be just fine.”

“Yeah, but you weren’t pregnant until after you married my captain.” he snorted, but turned around and clambered into the back.

“I think you’ll find he’s the cause of that!” she giggled.

“Not something I like thinking about!” he groaned, shaking his head but smiling a little as he managed to find a space in the cart to lay down amidst the already slumbering fey folk.

“Well you brought it up!” Winna laughed.

Arden snuggled down as best he could, and let the slow rocking of the cart lull him to sleep.