"Feel my heart, Ali. I was so nervous getting here and now my heart is pounding like a drum. I can't stop thinking of you. I think I dropped your flowers on the doorstep" whispered Donny.
"I really did want you here so bad. I have done tons of work already I promise. We will spend the next two days together and I will let you know my schedule with Hephaestus. I want to work hard, learn fast and impress him. I have been going through lots of information disks and I feel I am so far behind and have to catch up to the level everyone else is at" explained Ali.
"I understand. That is why you are here and you want to do a good job" he replied. "Just relax with me and pretend we are cuddling in the forest again."
Eventually Donny asked Ali what she wanted to do for the day. She asked if he could show her around the campus and the village.
"You haven't explored that yourself yet?" he asked with surprise.
"No, I have not even left the cottage since I arrived. I have been studying hard and staying out of trouble, like I promised you. You know how hard that is for me" she grinned unrepentantly. "I need to find the entrance to Hephaestus' forge so I know where I am going."
"Ali's private tour of campus, village and surrounds coming right up" he stood up and bowed.
"Do we bring Rom?" asked Ali.
"Maybe leave him this time so you can look around properly without worrying who he is chasing" he chuckled.
"I guess you are right" she admitted.
"No truer words were ever said, now keep that in mind for our next disagreement, woman!" teased Donny.
"Naughty man!" she responded.
"I can get a whole lot naughtier. Just say the word, Ali" he chuckled. "I am so happy we are together again."
As they left the cottage hand in hand, Donny swept up the bunch of flowers that had fallen at the doorstep and handed them to Ali. Ali hugged the flowers to her breast as they walked along chatting happily. They wandered around the village before they stopped at a cafe to sip coffee and eat cake. They wandered around the campus and Donny pointed out sites of his pranks and other exploits. As they wandered down the main quad an elder approached.
"Donovan?"
"Yes, sir" replied Donny.
"How are you, lad?"
"I am doing very well, sir. Busy with managing businesses and making a decent profit" he replied.
"Who is this young lady?" he asked.
"Sir, this is my girlfriend Aliandra. She is now attending at this campus" he replied. "Ali, may I introduce to you Professor Prometheus."
"Attending this campus now? Outstanding! Donovan was one of our top students. Very bright young man. Yes, Aliandra you must come to one of our little gatherings. We hold little seminars with guest speakers during the terms. I have a schedule of the speakers right here. Ah, yes. Here it is. Please do come, it is worth hearing some of the top academics talking about their field of expertise. Very interesting. Between you and me, just call me Prometheus, I was over the formalities centuries ago. Feel free to visit my office any time if you need anything at all Aliandra" he said sincerely.
Ali took the schedule and said "I would love to hear these guest speakers. You will see me there if my schedule allows it, no doubt. Thankyou."
"Must hurry along to a meeting, can't be late" said Prometheus as he continued along.
"Interesting!" said Donny.
"What?" asked Ali.
"Prometheus is a well know seer. Very little he ever does is accidental including meeting us. Be careful Ali" said Donny.
"Donny, you have no idea how careful I have to be already" responded Ali. "Is there a place around here that serves lunch? I am famished."
They sat at a small campus eatery eating their lunch and then sat under a large shady tree sipping ambrosia. Donny told her he wanted to run to the campus bookshop quickly to see if they had some books he had been having difficulty finding. Ali bade him to go and she would be waiting for him under the tree when he got back. Donny raced off. Ali closed her eyes and began to doze.
A niggling sensation that someone was watching her made her look around. As she looked around she noticed the usual collection of students half-heartedly writing or checking their schedules. She could see some special interest groups were setting up in the main quad to attract interest for students to join their groups. A lecturer was walking along chatting with a student. Ali looked to the shadows where she saw a tall dark man, dressed in black, leaning his hand against a wall and talking to a flustered woman who was positioned with her back against the wall. He kept glancing across to Ali as he continued speaking. As he stood back from the woman she leaned into him and stroked his face. He pushed her hand aside roughly and set her away from him. Ali couldn't hear the words but it looked like a lover's quarrel. The man's face was dark and scowling as he turned and furiously stalked away. The woman sunk back into the shadows.
Donny returned "Ali, they had one of the texts in stock and have ordered the other for me. I can pick it up on my next visit."
"That's great, Donny. I just want us to go over to a lady and see if she is alright. I saw her having a quarrel with a man, he has left now but I just want to check on her. She is over there" Ali pointed out the direction.
"Sure" answered Donny as he took her arm and they headed towards the woman. She was in the shadows, facing the wall and still crying.
"Ma'am, do you need any help?" asked Ali gently.
She looked up nervously "Please leave. I am unsightly."
"Donny, got a handkerchief?" asked Ali. Donny produced a large white handkerchief out of thin air and handed it to Ali.
Ali handed the handkerchief to the lady. "I saw your quarrel with the guy. Were you planning a picnic?" asked Ali as she noticed the overturned basket.
"I had hoped to please my mate" she sobbed. "I shamed myself by arriving uninvited."
"He didn't appreciate all your efforts? He sounds like an ass" said Ali.
"My mate is honorable and powerful. He deigned to take us in when we were cast out by our husbands" she insisted in a broken whisper.
"Us?" questioned Ali.
"I am Tana, his senior companion."
"You are obviously lovely and caring. I have never seen hair so dark red or skin so pale. Why would your husband abandon you?" asked Ali.
"We are all barren women. Unworthy and forsaken when our lord took us in."
"It sounds like he got the better end of the deal. A harem, the dude has a harem! At this point, I am unsure whether he deserves a pat on the back or a kick in the nuts. Are you expected anywhere soon?" asked Ali.
"No" Tana answered meekly.
"Then I insist you join with us. I am Ali and this is Donny. You haven't eaten yet so we will find a nice cafe and buy you lunch. Donny, get the basket."
"You order your man?" Tana asked in a shocked whisper.
"Yeah, he loves it" she laughed. "The last argument we had he called me bossy and wilful among other things."
"Stubborn, don't forget stubborn" chimed in Donny.
"All that. It's true and he loves me anyway. I guess Donny loves a challenge" beamed Ali.
"Yep" he grinned and the basket disappeared. "I have stored your basket and will return it to you when you want."
"You are both very kind" Tana said through a watery smile.
"Nonsense. It is nothing" replied Ali. "Let's go and have a lovely afternoon together."
Donny offered his arms to Ali and Tana and led them through the campus as he acted the charming host. Tana ate her lunch while Ali and Donny sipped their coffee. Soon Tana and Ali were chatting about the village shops and the best places to buy goods and services.
"Aphrodite's! That is the absolute best place for hair, beauty and fashion purchases. Customers spend the entire day there and it is exquisite" espoused Tana.
"Have you been there?" asked Ali.
"No, not yet. It is very expensive and my mate has many other bed-mates. We cannot expect such favor" Tana replied.
"How long have
you been married to him?" asked Ali.
"We are not married to our lord. We serve him and care for him as wives but there has been no ceremonies in the six hundred years I have lived with him" answered Tana.
"Explain to me about this harem. Do you all get along?" asked Ali.
Tana explained that the women of the harem were all weak demi-goddesses. Tana was the strongest among them and was in charge of keeping order and scheduling tasks, including the bed roster. Ali shook her head and asked why anyone would want to stand in line for sexual favors. Ali then asked if any women wanted to leave and marry elsewhere.
"We dare not encourage other males and anger my lord. We accept we are fortunate to have any position since we are barren and unacceptable to most men" answered Tana.
"It sounds like a double standard to me if he can take plenty of lovers but you must remain faithful and not even browse around for something better" insisted Ali.
"We know we are fortunate to have any man in our situation. We are very privileged to have such a strong and respected mate" Tana replied.
"He is the lucky one Tana" insisted Ali warmly. "Don't let his tantrums get you down. He should appreciate every minute any woman wants his company. I reckon he has been spoiled for choice and has become blasé. Donny surrounded himself with women before he met me and he has stopped all that because he chose me. I would not have accepted him if he continued seeing any other woman. Our fidelity shows that I am special to him and he is special to me." Donny moved in for a hug and kissed Ali's temple lovingly. "Every woman deserves a loving relationship and to feel special" finished Ali.
"We cannot risk displeasing our lord."
"Are you scared of him?" demanded Ali.
"No, we only seek to remain in his favor."
"I think he deserves some rebellion in the ranks" announced Ali.
"Ok, settle down spitfire. Leave the man and his family be, no rabblerousing from you" said Donny.
"Donny?" Ali said ponderingly
"Yes Ali?"
"If any women find themselves cast out or in need of help, can they be taken in by our tribe?" asked Ali.
"Technically, yes."
"Can Tana have your contact details so that the women have someone to reach out to?"
"Yes, Ali" answered Donny resignedly.
Donny transferred his office contact details to Tana.
"Tana, our tribe has many handsome and powerful gods who seek wives of their own to cherish. We have healers that may be able to sort out the reproductive problems. If a man really wants children and there is no cure then there is always adoption, isn't there? If any of the women are not satisfied living in the harem they no longer need to be afraid to leave and find their own husband. I will leave it up to you. They just need to make contact with Donny's office" instructed Ali.
"Ali, I just feel this plan of yours is going to lead to trouble" complained Donny.
"It is the right thing to do, Donny. Besides, think of all the lonely braves who are waiting to meet the right woman to marry, protect and honor. We need more women to take care of our men. It isn't right that one man has so many women and he doesn't even appreciate them. If Tana passes on the message we will leave it to each woman to decide what they want" challenged Ali.
"I will do that" agreed Tana. "Thankyou for your kindnesses. It grows late I must return now."
Donny passed Tana her basket and asked her where she wanted to be 'ported to. "The house of Brand" said Tana. Donny sent her. After Tana left, Ali pondered why that name sounded vaguely familiar then she recalled Brand was mentioned as a drinking friend of Hephaestus. Donny asked Ali if she wanted to visit a club and go dancing.
"First, am I old enough to get into a club?" asked Ali.
"If you are a college student then you are considered old enough" said Donny.
"Second, am I allowed to drink" asked Ali.
"Yes. I will keep an eye on you."
"I was just asking. I wasn't intending to get drunk. Third, is what I am wearing acceptable in a club?" asked Ali.
"They care about power, not clothing. They will let me into any club you want regardless of our tribal dress" said Donny.
"Ok, I now realise that was a mortal type of question. After all this sight-seeing, I want to go somewhere quieter to sit down and talk in comfort. Somewhere with a relaxed atmosphere but really cool."
"Got it. Take my arm and let's go" said Donny.
The village houses vanished and were replaced by a very stylish and elegant doorway blocked by a doorman. The doorman stepped aside and directed Donny and Ali to enter. Piano music drifted down the stairs as Donny and Ali climbed. They got to the top of the stairs and saw a darkened plush club setting with a vast floor to ceiling windows overlooking the sea. Donny chose a corner table by the window and as they sat he signalled the waitress. The waitress produced a drinks menu and waited.
Ali asked the waitress "I want something frothy and fun to drink. Can you suggest anything?"
The waitress was delighted to help and made her recommendations. Ali made her choice and as Donny gave his order the drinks appeared in front of them. "Thankyou so much" said Ali. As they relaxed and sipped their drinks a small group of rowdy young men entered and quacked at the waitress as she approached them.
"What are they doing?" asked Donny in confusion.
Ali blushed a deep red "That is my fault" she said.
"Please explain" asked Donny in surprise.
"It is so embarrassing. I thought it would be quickly forgotten; obviously not! After my interview I slipped on the polished marble floor. Well, Agenor was walking so quickly and I was trying to keep up but then I fell on my ass right in the middle of the main entrance hall. It really hurt."
"That doesn't explain the quacking" said Donny.
"No-one told me nearly everyone could hear my thoughts. You didn't tell me. I hadn't blocked them then. When I fell I was really annoyed and I just thought 'fuck-a-duck'; hence, the quacking" huffed Ali.
Donny burst out laughing and Ali put her head in her hands and blushed more deeply.
"Only you, Ali. Only you can be that original" he chortled.
"What can I say, it rhymed" snapped Ali. "It now appears to have caught on. You had better warn the braves never to quack!"
"It's kind of a catchy in-joke. It may be around for a while" said Donny.
"Oh, I really hope not" said Ali fervently.
When Donny and Ali finished their drinks they chose to go to an exclusive nightclub with many levels and types of dance music. As they moved towards their destination they heard plenty of quacking and laughter. Donny just gave Ali a big grin. They entered a room where the couples were swaying together on the dance floor to the romantic slow rhythm of the music. Donny led Ali directly to the dance floor and they joined the many slow-dancing couples. "No quacking" sighed Ali after a while. Donny chuckled and pulled her in firmly to swing her into a few turns.
"Do we get to dance all night?" asked Ali.
"If you want" said Donny.
"Yes. I want to. This is heaven to me" she said.
"Me too, Ali" whispered Donny close to her ear.
As dawn broke Donny and Ali 'ported to an empty beach and walked along the pristine white sand hand-in-hand as they watched the sunrise. Once the sun was up, they decided to 'port to the cottage and buy fresh fruit at the marketplace for breakfast. They arrived at the marketplace as the stalls were being set up for the morning. As they were preparing to return to the cottage, a tall dark-haired man in black passed in front pushing two shamed-faced dark angels in front of him. He caught Ali's eye and recognition flared between them. Ali and Donny returned to the cottage for breakfast with their supplies. Brand watched carefully as they entered the cottage together and then continued on his way with the two junior miscreants in his charge.
Donny and Ali went into the kitchen and began cutting their fruit. "Donny, that dark man on the road just now. I think that is Tana's mate, Brand. The guy she was arguing
with yesterday" said Ali. "Do you know who he is? He isn't in any of the god lists provided to me to study."
"Brand is the High Daemon Lord. The highest position in the underworld after Hades and Persephone. He is often left off those lists even though he is a powerful god. Brand was designated the god of dimensions but he has rejected his god family and his god responsibilities because he was left to be raised in the underworld with demons as an infant. He hasn't studied, accepted the mantle of responsibility designated to him or sworn fealty to anyone. He serves himself."
"No-one has tried to change his mind?" asked Ali.
Aliandra: nymph: Book 1 The Nymph chronicles Page 10