“If you are amenable, I will be happy to teach you,” she suggested. “We can study it in the morning and at night after your sparring sessions.”
“Mandated sparring?” I teased. “Cool.”
She blinked at me once. “Yes. I can summon beasts of shadow and ice that you and your friends can kill with little consequence.”
“Our friends,” I corrected.
“Do you think they will so readily accept me?” she wondered.
“I think so,” I answered honestly. “Truthfully? They kind of already have.”
“I see.” She nodded. “We will study now.”
We spent until breakfast reading through the book that I had. She taught me the proper syllables for different characters and how to pronounce them correctly.
“There is a pause before the next portion, here—if you run it together it becomes incorrect and highly rude,” Maebe explained. “You’re essentially calling them a heifer.”
I groaned, and we continued. I pulled out the coal etching of the symbol that had been drawn by the Celestial in Sunrise.
“Do you know what this says?” I asked, and she took it.
“It is not so much a word as it is a phrase.” She blinked, then turned it upside down. “‘The way is barred to the unworthy.’ I believe it would also count as a familial crest to certain people. Who, I don’t know.”
Did that mean that we were unworthy? Or that anyone who wasn’t them was. I told the others, and it gave them a little to think on.
Breakfast of eggs, toast, and some lightly fried tomato was served, and we all ate heartily. Watching Maebe devour her food and request more was hilarious to me for some reason. She always came off as so sophisticated at times, but she was so surprised that Yohsuke was such a good cook that she wolfed down twice what we ate.
So not the picture of royalty that I had colored with purple crayons as a kid.
Once we had eaten, we cleaned up the camp and continued on our way.
Over the next few days, we rode through small villages and more plain lands. We saw some strange looking birds that reminded me of emus with red and green feathers. They kept their distance, even after I tried calling to them. My guess was that they weren’t social to humans—even Druids.
Finally, we entered a town with an inn that seemed nice enough for us to stay in for the night. Before we had entered and well outside visual range for them, I shifted into my human form. Couldn’t freak them out too bad, and I didn’t need someone gunning for my tails, right? The others took rooms together, Jaken and Muu, James and Yohsuke, and Bokaj was the odd man out. He sighed and began to mutter about missing his best friend, and I understood.
We had dinner there and set up a meeting with local merchants in the morning to resupply. Well—less a meeting and more let us buy your shit in bulk. We mainly just wanted fresh produce like veggies and whatever fruits they had, but they were cool with it.
The food was pleasant enough, and the alcohol was appreciated as the soft beds would be. As we all retired for the evening, the others before us, I noted some strange stares from the people who saw us. Some were curious, like the children who played around us. The adults were wary of us, but that we had a Paladin of Radiance among us went a long way toward them being cool with us. Other than that, I didn’t think much of it.
The room we were staying in had a larger, full-size bed. The mattress was stuffed to the brim with straw, and it was very soft.
As Mae and I prepared for bed, I had to ask, “So, what is courtship or this type of relationship like for you? In your culture? What kind of relationships have you had before? What do you like or prefer?”
She looked at me curiously before answering, “As I touched on earlier, many relationships among the Fae are for power and rarely genuine feeling, but it does happen. That is with most of my kind. I, as a monarch, am expected to play the political games and maneuvering necessary to strengthen my hold over my realm and secure my power and position. I have played those games before, but they never lasted long. I always found the plotting and the betrayal—attempts at betrayal—to be boring. I have taken some lovers out of boredom or to try something different, but no more than would be casual. I prefer to be a little more aggressive than I have been, and I like you. Do those answers suffice?”
“More aggressive?” I looked at her uncertainly.
Look, I’m not clueless—I know that there are people out there capable of being more aggressive and that this includes women, but this whole conversation took place with a Fae Queen who predates me by hundreds of years. Her idea of aggressive could mean a knock-down-drag-out brawl where the winner got their way for all I knew. All that mattered at that moment to me was that I liked her, and I was trying to get to know her. Got the idea? Cool.
“Yes, I also told you that I was unfamiliar with your culture and how you would react to some of my ways.” She thought for a moment before continuing, “I suppose this means that you and I should discuss what we are comfortable with. I must admit, this is my first relationship in this manner.”
“Okay, how about this,” I stood and began to pace slowly. “If either one of us is uncomfortable with something, we can just say, ‘butterscotch’.”
“Why would we say this word? Is it special?” She sat on the bed where I had been. “Is it an activation word for a spell?”
I shook my head with a smile. “No, dear. It’s a safe word. It’s a word that only you and I know, and when one of us says it, the other stops what they are doing.”
“This word, what significance does it have to your people?” she asked curiously.
“None.” I grinned stupidly. “It’s just a type of pudding and a word that no one might expect to hear in bed unless they need something to stop. Pudding is a sweet snack where I’m from.”
She nodded, and the way she came at me was regal, beautiful, and feral all at once. I had no need of a safe word then.
* * *
I woke in the morning—sore—but refreshed. It was nice.
Maebe lay next to me. “Good morning, pudding,” she purred.
I did not tell her to call me that. She did that, and I was as pleasantly surprised as you are. Let me enjoy my life, thank you.
“Good morning.” I pressed my lips to her forehead. “Do you know what time it is?”
“The sun has not breached the horizon yet,” she informed me.
“How do you know that?”
“I am the heir of winter and darkness,” she teased me. “The night is my domain.”
I trusted her judgment in this. She moved her hips just enough to get my attention. “Yes?”
“I know that we must resupply,” her eyes hooded slightly, “but there are things we must discuss.”
“What is that?”
“How is it that these ‘girlfriends’ of your world are treated?” She rubbed her index finger along the back of my hand.
“It depends on the relationship and the people involved,” I admitted. “I’ve had relationships in the past that were great. I’ve had some that weren’t. I’ve been the bad guy in a few as well. I’ve made stupid, stupid mistakes that no one should make, but they happen. I can continue beating myself up for them, or I can move on and try to do better.”
“And this redemption you seek, it is with me?”
“If you would like it to be,” I spoke honestly. I hadn’t thought about it that way. “I don’t think I see this as a need to redeem myself. I’m not perfect. I’ve learned things as I’ve grown older. I don’t want to be redeemed—I want to move on.”
“That was very wisely put,” Maebe observed.
Suddenly, a notification popped into my vision.
CONGRATULATIONS!
You have proven that you aren’t just a rolling ball of death with an axe by stating—and believing—something truly wise!
Reward: +1 wisdom.
“I guess the universe thought so too.” That was super nice of them. Of course, the rolling ball comment
had been a low blow, man. Shit. “Think we should go and check on the others?”
Her ears twitched for a second. “They still slumber. We have time. What is it you expect of me?”
I blinked. I hadn’t expected that question, though to be honest, I hadn’t even thought we would be here.
“All I want is for you to be yourself with me,” I touched her shoulder lightly, “to truly be who you are and to do what you like with me. I want you to be happy, to enjoy yourself. But most of all, I want you to be honest. If you don’t want this—at any time—tell me. Don’t suffer because you worry about losing my friendship. It would take some serious shit to do that.”
She thought a moment that seemed to stretch forever. Her angular features were lost in the introspection, and thoughtful expressions covered on her face. Finally, she nodded silently.
“Mae, I need your word on that,” I spoke softly.
She looked at me sadly. “This means that much to you?”
I nodded back, and she sighed. “I, Maebe, do hereby swear to you that I will strive to enjoy myself in this relationship with you, be myself so long as we both are comfortable, and if ever I should not want this, I will tell you.”
I glanced at the notification solidifying her word to me and dismissed it.
“Thank you,” I whispered against her hair.
We got up after that, dressed and prowled downstairs in hopes of food. The breakfast they served us was fresh. It wasn’t long before we were joined by our friends, and then we resupplied. The townsfolk still stared at us as we left, but I like to think it was maybe because even as she tried to be a normal-looking woman—Maebe was still beautiful.
We traveled with light conversation that day. Muu spoke to Jaken about different fighting maneuvers they could try. And then Bokaj. Finally, he turned his sights on Maebe.
“Forgive me, your Majesty,” he began. “I heard you have a pet Dragon?”
“He is more an… odd and nosey uncle than a pet, but what about Winterheart?” She turned to look at him gracefully. “By the way, in social settings such as this, you may refer to me as Maebe. I implore you to use your best judgment should the social scenery change.”
“As you say.” He nodded. “I was wondering if you might be able to tell us what to expect? Maybe he had told you stories of his kind when you were with him?”
“Winterheart was more a show than tell kind of Dragon.” Maebe’s lips quirked into a small grin. “I remember him telling me stories of great battles he had read about in the swirling snows of his magic. Unfortunately, he was basically raised by my mother until she had me. He has almost reached the age of becoming a great wyrm.”
“What’s that?” James asked.
“The pinnacle of Dragon society,” Maebe explained as she stretched in her saddle. “As Dragons age, their power compounds. Great Wyrms are within the last century or two of their life cycles and have amassed a great deal of their strength, cunning, and they often horde a great many things.”
“So, if we find a Dragon with a huge-ass horde, we need to beat feet,” Jaken proposed.
“If by that you mean to run? That is correct,” Maebe affirmed.
We rode on, stopping every evening for some sparring, food, and rest. As the days ran on, the scenery changed. The plains and hills gave way to forests and valleys. As we walked toward one such valley, I had Kayda scout ahead after we were a few miles out of the last village and summoned Coal, so he could travel with us. Poor guy was so sick of being cooped up.
“I know we’re in a hurry, but let’s slow down,” Jaken ordered.
“Why?” Bokaj asked.
“Potential ambush sites.” Yohsuke pointed to rocky outcroppings along our path and higher above us.
Kayda wasn’t seeing anything, but that didn’t mean something didn’t have a home field advantage. There were plenty of creatures out there that were at home in mountains like this. Let’s just hope that our numbers where enough to discourage anyone from trying some shit.
We made it for another day traveling at a more reasonable pace and having someone watch different angles.
It was the third day within the crags and canyons that trouble finally showed its ugly, lumpy head. We stumbled on to a camp of sleeping… somethings. Giants? Let’s say they were giants. They looked like them what with being all massive and having clubs the size of small trees near each sleeping form.
We stopped well away from them, their prone forms still breathing easily as we began to plot their demise with our earrings. It took a couple minutes to flesh out a plan.
First, I would have Kayda take Bokaj up the side of the canyon to a small landing a little ways up. Once he was there, he would release a volley of arrows straight down into the sleeping giants. Then while they were confused and hurt, Muu would be dropping in on them like a meteor. He would only be able to go for one of them, so that left the rest of us with mopping up the leftovers. Coal would try to do what he could, but with him so low a level, we didn’t want him in the fray until the last of them were close to falling.
Kayda picked Bokaj up and lifted him to his spot for the beginning of it. Before he started the attack, he signaled Muu to leap into the air. He did so, but we had misjudged the distance he would be able to cover in a single leap. As it looked like he wouldn’t make it far enough, Kayda rocketed to him, and I watched—stunned—as the Fighter used the back of my familiar as a springboard to leap even higher and farther.
Bokaj drew his bow and unleashed a torrent of arrows that multiplied in a cone as they sped toward their targets. The volley did as we had thought it would. The giant forms were up and screaming in pain and confusion. We began to close in slowly with Jaken and me in the lead, while Yohsuke and James brought up the rear. Maebe had decided to distance herself from the fight so she could resist the urge to fight along.
I heard the tell-tale whistle of a falling Dragon Beast-kin and watched as Muu connected with one of the creatures furthest from us. I saw the creature fall and watched as the other two looked toward him.
“Go!” Jaken barked. Wind split next to me, and I watched a dark blur speed toward the other two giants from my right. I took Magus Bane and activated Cleave, then Wind Scythe, before throwing it at the creature who looked ready to try and grab Muu.
I cast my newest spell, Stone Weapon. A large hammer grew out of the ground, and I snatched it up in both hands. I whipped it into the kneecap of the other giant. The sickening crack and roar of outraged pain made me grin manically. I let the hammer fall as I bounced back out of reach before grabbing my axe and jerking it out of the skin of the other giant. The blood made the blade visible, and as soon as I touched it, I watched my mana pop up by twenty-five. So it worked on every enemy. Oh, this was going to be a blast.
I felt a rough tug on my axe as the giant I had tried to fell like a dead tree tried to snatch it from my grasp. Instead, I hung on, and as he shook me violently, I watched Muu’s lance drive through his chest, the icy weapon now covered in crimson.
Closer now, I could see their levels.
Giant level 25.
“Take that!” he gloated. The beast turned, and his grip slipped; the weapon left his grasp. “Shit!”
As the impaled giant tried to relieve me of my axe once more, Jaken’s longsword began to slash at its arm. I looked over to see his shield floating behind him as a guard. Jaken had his greatsword out and slashed at the one Muu had stunned with his surprise attack. The Paladin had ordered his main weapons to fight and defend as he focused on trying to end the stunned enemy.
Yohsuke and James were beating the hell out of the other creature, his once flabby, pink skin bruised and bloodied as the two dexterous Fighters weaved in and out of his melee range. It roared wordlessly and charged at them, running straight into me and taking my axe with him.
“He’s got my axe!” I shouted. “I’m going for a fire spell. Buy me some time while I get it ready, and don’t let him hit you!”
“No shit!” Yohs
uke shot back. The giant in front of him whipped his arm out and snatched Yohsuke into his grasp. “Fu–” He gasped as the air left his lungs rapidly. His arms were pinned, and his weapons were next to useless at his sides.
I watched as six arrows burst from the arm, and a huge cat slammed into the creature's chest, knocking him off balance. Tmont had almost doubled in size, but she shrunk after I had blinked once. Kayda dropped on to the creature’s head and began to buffet him with her wings. As the giant opened his mouth to try and bite her, his yellowed and chipped teeth dripping with spittle—she screeched, and a ball of lightning flashed into his throat.
In his hurry to get his hands to the source of his pain, the giant threw Yohsuke against the wall of the canyon. A few large stones and rocks fell down and completely obstructed our view of him. And more fell on top after that—he’d been buried.
“YOHSUKE!” I roared. “Jaken, get there!”
I lunged forward, my axe forgotten, to try and get the rubble out of the way. The giant flailed wildly as I leaped between his legs into a forward shoulder roll. A glancing blow caught me and shaved off ten percent of my HP, but I didn’t care. I pushed one stone aside and caught a giant fist to my left rib cage that sent me careening away. My health plummeted to thirty percent, and Coal was standing over me, protectively growling. I saw Jaken start my way, but I shouted as best I could, “Get Yoh!”
Jaken, pissed off and visibly shaken, started throwing rocks faster, his sword and shield working overtime to drop the fucker swinging near him. I looked at the other one and saw that the lance sticking through him was beginning to put a layer of frost around the wound. Muu was gone, and Kayda was keeping it distracted the best she could.
“Coal, help me kneel, buddy.” He put his muzzle beneath my ribs and began to try and lift me up.
Once I was in a kneeling position, I cast Heal on myself, and my health was back up by one hundred points. I took a moment to collect my will and began to draw my mana into a ball in my hands. I used the tinkering ability I had to make the mana burn, then rotate until it was a small ball the size of a tennis ball that was spinning like a basketball on a Globe Trotter’s finger.
Into the Dragon's Den (Axe Druid Book 2) Page 40