Temporal Locum

by Wendie Nordgren

  Shaking his head at them, Gethim started cooking their birds. As he did, it was almost as if she could feel the censure of the eagles. Hunching in on herself, she stayed inside the tent.

  She slept soundly that night between Guto and Eurig, but as morning approached, she thought she’d heard goblin cries in the distance. Sitting up, she met Hopcyn’s eyes. They were the only two who were awake. “Did you hear them?” she whispered.

  He nodded but said nothing to disturb the sleep of those around them. Instead, he left the tent.

  It wasn’t long before the camp began to stir. They’d finished their breakfast when Danior approached them with a grin which made the corners of his eyes crinkle. “No, don’t get up. I wanted to let you know there’s no hurry. We’ll leave whenever you’re ready.”

  Hopcyn said, “Wouldn’t sooner be better than later? It would be safer if we were to outpace the goblins.”

  Danior said, “Surrounded as she will remain by our troops, she may travel at her leisure. When our front lines tire of battle, we will rotate them.”

  Horrified, Bym imagined men engaged in battle with bloodthirsty goblins while she sat sipping tea. “Oh, no! No. I can be ready in a few minutes.”

  “Bym, this conversation is having the opposite effect of what I’d intended.” His face had lost all of its joviality. “There is no need for you to wear yourself out. I know traveling is harder for women.”

  Bristling at his blatant sexism, she asked, “Who told you that?”

  Earnestly, he answered, “Momma did.”

  She decided not to disavow him of what Aurora had told him. Perhaps, Aurora had been delicate. Bym was different. She was a warrior princess, a Valkyrie, a badass. She nodded to herself as she stood, got her toes caught in her gown, and fell on top of Iago.

  It took the army thirty minutes to break camp. Then, they spent several hours in their saddles. Bym’s ass and thighs were killing her, but anytime Danior, Eskil, or Fane rode near, she plastered a smile on her face. Guto handed her his mask. “Put this on next time. It will look sweeter.”

  She frowned at him, raised her fist, and slowly lifted her middle finger.

  Grinning, he said, “I thought you were tired of riding for the day.” She threw his mask at his head. Laughing, he caught it.

  When they next made camp, the landscape had changed from forests and mountains to wide stretches of farmland. While Iago helped her to scrub herself clean inside their tent, they heard a commotion. Tensing, she called out, “Is it goblins?”

  Guto yelled back, “No, a farmer’s sheep are running through camp. What you hear is laughter and grown men acting like children while trying to herd them.”

  One of those grown men returned to the tent with ripped pants. “My robe and cloak will hide the damage, but riding won’t be too pleasant,” Hopcyn admitted with a scowl. He pulled them off and sat on his pallet with a needle and spool of black thread.

  Something clicked in Bym’s head. It was a glimpse of herself and her passions, those from before her entire world had changed. “Let me.” She held out her hands.

  “Goddess, I can’t have you sewing the ass back into my drawers. It’s not right.”

  “It is. It’s very right.”

  Relenting, he passed everything over to her.

  Turning the pants inside out, she straightened the fabric and matched up the torn seam. She poked the needle into the black fabric and pulled it through. The familiarity and repetition soothed her heart and mind to a far greater extent than had the guided meditation through which she’d been led. As her needle flashed, she sensed them, Yeva, Rowe, Nurissa, Aya, Jarita, Alix, Perri, and Vitaliana. “How may we serve you?” they whispered.

  “The goblins force us to the Golden City, but we want to come home. What do you know of the Stones of Luna Ignis?”

  A brief silence followed. “They are a myth.”

  “What if they aren’t?”

  “We will search the ancient texts….”

  Bym’s mind brought her back to the task at hand as she tied off her stitches. She became aware of the silence around her. Drem, Guto, Eurig, Iago, Gethim, and Hopcyn were staring at her chest from which emitted a faint golden glow. Smiling, she handed Hopcyn his pants.

  Chapter Sixteen

  The Solis army moved forward with the Umbra and Goddess at its center. Guto stayed always at her side, but his closeness made Eurig increasingly distant, and it weighed heavily upon her heart. Her agitation and sadness grew each time Eurig looked away from her. At night, he would sleep on his pallet at her side, but it felt as though a mountain was between them, and she didn’t know how to surmount it.

  The farms gave way to grasslands where cattle grazed, and on which Danior’s fortress was located. Small towns were set along their path, and their populations watched as the army travelled along the packed road and into the Barrens, named so for its transition from rich dirt to rock. This was Fane’s domain. Flat and rugged though it was, it had a beauty to it. There were springs which she could see from atop her horse. Oases formed around those springs bringing touches of life to the austere landscape. From those springs, streams ran westward toward the Golden City. It made sense to station an army there to protect the city’s valuable water supply from goblin contamination. Even though the people along the way clapped and cheered, a sense of dread filled Bym.

  “They seem to be faking their joy of my arrival.”

  Danior said, “Word spread of the Goddess Bym chastising the people for calling out to Aurora. They fear they have insulted you.”

  Bym grimaced. “Mother fucking goblin balls! I didn’t mean it that way! I meant that I’m not her and don’t know what I’m doing! I don’t know how to make day and night normal! Shit! So, now everyone is pissed at me? Fucking shit!”

  Everyone within earshot looked ready to fall from their horses in shock, except Eurig. “See? She has some unique ways of expressing herself. Fucking shit still doesn’t make any sense to me at all.” He drank from his canteen and passed it to Bym.

  Then, the men all started laughing.

  They approached the Golden City just as the sun had begun to set. The city had been built on a cliff near the sea. The roofs of each building were made of glittering yellow tiles which caught the sunlight and sparkled. The walls of every building had been painted white. However, every door had been painted a different color.

  “It’s beautiful,” Bym exclaimed as they passed through the gates.

  Bym and her guards were encouraged to dismount, and their horses were led away to the Goddess’ private stable where other mounts already resided. Danior, Fane, and Eskil escorted them through the city. The streets were made of crushed white shells, and people lined them. A breeze blew through the city, and up and down the streets, windchimes made of silver disks tinkled together and reflected the fading light. Then, the commanders parted in front of her. Aurora’s priestesses, dressed all in white, knelt with their heads bowed.

  Bym desperately whispered, “Drem, what am I supposed to do?”

  “I suppose whatever it is you feel inclined to do. Before I’d met you, I’d never before been in the Goddess’ presence. I’ve certainly never before entered this city.”

  Clearing her throat, she tugged on the back of Eskil’s red cloak. “What do I do?”

  In a loud clear voice, he called out, “The Goddess Bym wishes you blessings and thanks you for your kind welcome. The road she has journeyed has been long and fraught with goblin attacks, but now she is safe.”

  There was some cheering, but frankly, she was tired, dirty, hungry, and was beginning to not give a goblin turd whether they liked her or not.

  A child asked, “Why is she bald?”

  Bym was ready to turn around and leave. The priestesses, all smiles and open arms, rushed forward. Half of them were tall, tan, and blonde. The others were older and had hair streaked with grey.

  Hopcyn asked, “Are they your sisters?” He was enthralled by the tall blonde priestesses
.

  “No,” Danior replied. “The three of us are Aurora’s only children.”

  The priestesses tried and failed to separate Bym from Guto, Drem, Eurig, Gethim, Iago, and Hopcyn. Of course, Gethim wouldn’t be separated from Sausage and Potatoes. Therefore, all of them were taken to a high-walled palace within the heart of the city and at its highest peak. Of Aurora’s priestesses, four had been her constant companions. They had probably been tall and blonde decades ago, but now they were grey with age. However, rather than giving off the warmth of grandmothers, they were elegant and refined. They were nice to Bym and respectful but in a professional, dutiful way.

  Eskil, Commander of the Golden City, said, “My brothers and I will serve as your personal guard along with our lieutenants.” He read her expression. “You are not a prisoner. You are safe within your city, and I wish you a pleasant night.” The three men bowed and excused themselves.

  “Goddess Bym, may I help you familiarize yourself with your home?” Tivona was one of the oldest priestesses. She led them forward while most of the women remained behind in the antechamber where they knelt upon colorful cushions near the white walls, waiting to be of service.

  All of it made Bym nervous. She hadn’t signed up for any of this.

  Iago took her hands. “Breathe. Calm down. No one here expects for you to have the answers to complex philosophical discussions or to make political decisions.”

  A smiling woman came forward and eased her hands from Iago’s. “Poor thing. You are absolutely terrified. Aren’t you?”

  Having no reason to lie, Bym nodded.

  “Healer Iago is correct. All we require of you is your survival. So, please, enjoy this place. Eat. Rest. Do as you wish. Food and drink are set out. Explore your home. Should you have need of us, there will always be someone here.” She gestured toward the antechamber. “All within these walls belongs to you. I am Arden. I am not far if you need me.” She kissed Bym’s forehead and motioned for her to walk up a few steps and into the main house. Once the men had joined her along with the hounds, Arden closed the tall doors upon which a brilliant sun had been painted.

  Bym breathed a sigh of relief and removed her cloak, draping it over a bench. Several cloaks were piled on top of hers.

  Gethim declared, “It’s warmer here near the sea. Their winter feels like our autumn.”

  “It’ll be snowing back home, up to the porch,” Eurig said.

  Bym remembered the steps leading up to the porch upon which she’d spied on him and his brother and imagined three feet of snow covering the ground. “If we were home, we could have a snowball fight.”

  “If we were home, the goblins would be waiting for the snows to melt so they could attack,” Drem said quietly. His words were like a snowball of truth to the face.

  “Let’s not talk of facts. Let’s eat,” Iago suggested.

  To the right was a low, circular table surrounded by floor cushions. Upon its surface were more dishes than Bym had the patience to count. Each of them found a place to sit and began sampling everything. Soon, their stomachs were full of fish, prawns, various grilled vegetables, roasted lamb, and lemon pudding which was all washed down with jugs of wine and lemon water.

  The wall to the left of the table was covered by a floor to ceiling cabinet whose larger bottom half had doors and shelves for dishes. The open top portion’s shelves were stocked with jars of pickled fish, vegetables, oils, and wine. The opposite side of the room had an open window. The cool breeze drew her. Benches and curved, backless couches were arranged about the space. Hopcyn placed his pack on one to claim it.

  Bym placed her hands on the windowsill and gazed out over the city and at the sea. Clean air filled her lungs. The moon filled the sky and reflected off the surface of the calm, sapphire sea. “It’s beautiful. Look.” Guto came to her side.

  “It’s not one of our pools, but it will do,” Drem announced from another part of the house.

  Curious, they all followed him through a set of doors and into the next section. To the right was a bathing pool which ran horizontally through the center of the room and to the wall. Bym started removing her boots, but Gethim was already naked and wading in. There were benches along the pool’s sides on which to sit and baskets for soiled clothing, so Bym tossed her things into one of them.

  Drem said, “I don’t know where we go to wash our clothing, but there are toilets through there.” He pointed to the bathing chamber’s far wall and a room there. Next to it were shelves with towels. Continuing to point, he said, “That way is your bedchamber, library, meditation chamber, closet, and private toilet. There’s an open area on the roof for sun worship.”

  Bym stripped out of the rest of her clothing and stepped into the pool. It felt amazing after their days of hard travel. The pool was about five feet deep, so she swam to the end. There was an area hidden behind the pool. It was where they drained and filled it. Deciding to leave the area she found alone, she swam back.

  “Haven’t you ever seen a woman before?” Guto asked.

  “Don’t act so worldly. Bym is the only woman who you’ve ever seen,” Iago retorted.

  “After a look at Bym, I don’t need to see any other ones.”

  Smiling, she let her feet drop. They had all joined her in the pool. Eurig looked guilty. She asked, “What did you do?”

  Distraught, he said, “I saw them. I didn’t mean to!”

  “You saw what?”

  “He saw your breasts. I stare at them every chance I get,” Hopcyn boasted. He lifted his hand from the water and pointed at Iago. “Don’t give me your long-suffering look. I’ve watched you rubbing all over her breasts every night until they are two soft glowing orbs, like twin moons in the night sky.”

  In the voice of a boy caught stealing treats, Iago said, “She needs to stay clean to be healthy.”

  Hopcyn waded over to Gethim, stood behind him, and demonstrated by washing his man boobs.

  Furious, Iago attacked.

  Bym moved to the safest corner with Guto, Drem, and Eurig. Then, examining her shriveled fingers she declared, “I’m done.”

  Panicked, Eurig said, “I didn’t mean to offend you.”

  Rolling her eyes, she showed him her fingers so he’d know to what she’d been referring. Then, she said, “Oh, Eurig, if you had any idea how many times I’ve stared at you naked, you’d be scandalized.”

  “Wait. What?”

  She shrugged, walked up the pool’s steps, and left wet footprints on her way to the shelves for a towel. Eurig’s hair dripped into his eyes. Of their party, he had the longest hair. Bym rubbed her bald head with her towel.

  “Bym, do you mind if I sleep in the library? It has hundreds of ancient texts. I might find mention in one of them of that which we previously discussed,” Drem said.

  “Sleep wherever you want. The same goes for all of you. This is our home while we’re here.”

  Guto and Eurig followed her to the rooms opposite the bathing pool. The bed was on a low platform, covered with pillows and blankets, and it called to her. A window overlooking the sea was in the bedroom wall’s center. Crawling under the warm covers, she unfastened her towel and tossed it. Then, she sighed. The bed shifted to either side of her. Surprised, she opened her eyes.

  “You said we could sleep wherever we wanted,” Eurig said. He sounded stubborn, like he was preparing to be told no.

  Guto lowered his hot mouth to her right breast, pulling a shocked gasp from her lips. Then, Eurig sent her mind spinning when he copied Guto’s actions. She didn’t recognize the sounds she made. They sucked and pulled at her hard, sensitive nipples and sent bursts of pleasure straight to her core. She held each of their heads in place with her arms and ran her feet against their legs. Her sounds were desperate. Guto slid one of his giant hands across her stomach. Then, he reached across her for Eurig, took his arm, and brought his hand to join his own. With his hand covering Eurig’s he guided his hand down between her legs, showing him how to rub the wetne
ss there.

  Bym whimpered with need. Then, she cried out as their joined fingers pushed between her folds. Guto’s mouth left her breast as he lifted his head and looked at Eurig. She watched as Eurig’s eyes met his. Slowly, Guto leaned across her and kissed Eurig’s lips. Gently, he touched Eurig’s shoulder and trailed his fingers down his stomach and to his cock. Grasping him, in a husky whisper he said, “This goes where our fingers were.” He released him and laid at Bym’s side where he circled her nipple with the same hand with which he’d squeezed Eurig’s cock.

  Eurig positioned himself between her thighs. She could feel his tip at her entrance, pushing past her lips. A deep moan escaped her. Guto lowered his mouth and sucked hard on her nipple. Closing her eyes, she fisted her hands in the sheets. Eurig knew instinctively how to work his way into her. He held her under her knees and lost himself in her tight, wet heat. He watched her throw her head back and arch her back. He felt her inner walls squeeze and tremble around his cock and heard her call out his name. His balls seized up against his shaft, tingling. Then, he came in long, hot spurts. He could feel her lips at his base and her chest pressed to his. His heart almost pounded out of his chest. Eurig kissed her deeply, trying without words to express what was in his soul, and she kissed him back. Guto made a strangled sound next to them. Knowing what he felt, having experienced it himself, he pulled free, laid at her side, and watched while Guto brought her to pleasure once more. Afterwards, the three of them held each other and vowed to live their lives as husbands and wife, committed to each other’s care and happiness. Then, they slept the sleep of the satiated.

  As sleep left her, she moved her legs and discovered that she had the large bed to herself. Bym opened her eyes and saw Eurig. He stood in front of the window and stared out at the sun as it made its slow ascent. She drank in the sight of his nude form, from his strong calves, thighs, and buttocks, up to his broad shoulders and muscular arms. Sensing her wakefulness, he said, “You aren’t a boy and never were. You’re a woman. You’re my woman, whether or not you’re the goddess, and I’m a man. It’s time I acted like one. If I’m going to be true to you, I have to be true to myself.” He turned from the window. Then, he dressed and left.