by Logan Jacobs
within a day.”
“That quickly?” the elf woman asked, and her white eyebrows pinched
together in disbelief.
“It’s true,” I vouched for Kas. “I got injured just a couple of days ago,
and it healed me completely by the next morning.”
“These gashes were fairly large, though.” Kas frowned. “I’d say give it
twenty-four hours just to be safe, but then you should be good as new.”
“I’m sorry,” Asta sighed, and she looked at Kas and me. “I have put a
damper on our travels for now.”
“There’s no need to apologize,” I laughed. “You did nothing wrong.”
“He’s right,” Kas agreed. “Twenty-four hours is barely any time at all.
Besides, I don’t think we’d want to go back into that one.”
Kas gestured to the portal that led to Jotunheim, and I shuddered just
thinking about it. Not only was it freezing in there, but we’d only just arrived
when we were greeted by a monstrous snow leopard bent on eating us for
dinner. I’d always thought Jotunheim would be my favorite of all the worlds,
but now I wasn’t so sure. It was a harsh environment, and if we were to go
back, we’d definitely need to prepare with some protection spells and warmer clothes. Plus, Blar was not a fan of the cold weather.
“Since we’re laid up for the day, let’s head back to my house,” I
suggested, and I looked up at the midday sky. We still had time to get cleaned
up and get some things done before nightfall.
“Alright,” Kas agreed. “I would love a bath.”
“A bath sounds wonderful,” Asta said with an eager nod.
“Hm,” Kas hummed, and she looked down at Asta. “Are you able to
walk?”
“I can try,” the elf girl replied, but she bit her lip and looked uncertain.
“Here,” I offered, and I crouched down next to her. “Climb onto my
back.”
“Are you sure?” she asked.
“Hop on,” I chuckled.
Asta wrapped her arms around my neck and pulled herself up so she
could wrap her legs around my hips. I stood up with her attached to me and
realized just how incredibly light she was.
I could sense the heat of her body around mine, and it made my heart
quicken, but I pushed the feeling down and headed back toward home. I
wasn’t completely sure what to make of that kiss yet, but for the moment, I’d
focus on letting her heal before I broached the subject.
Blar walked on one side of me, and Kas was on the other as we made
our way back to my house. As we broke through the tree line that led to my
home, Blar took off running excitedly, and I heard Asta gasp into my ear.
“This is where you live?” she asked.
“Yes,” I said, and I was proud of my home and all I’d done to make it.
“He built it himself,” Kas bragged for me.
“It’s beautiful,” Asta whispered. “I really love it.”
“Thank you,” I said, and I set her down on the bench outside my
house.
“I’ll draw you a bath,” Kas offered as she headed for the door.
“Are you sure?” Asta asked with a frown. “You wished to bathe before
I did.”
“It’s no problem,” Kas chuckled over her shoulder. “While you’re in
the bath, Rath and I can grab some fresh fruits and vegetables for dinner.”
“Thank you,” the elf girl said as Kas disappeared into the house.
“So, what do you think of Kas now?” I questioned as I sat down next
to Asta and watched Blar whiz around the yard. He’d only been to our home
a few times, but he still recognized it was his, and that made me smile.
“She is not at all what I expected,” Asta admitted, and she pursed her plush, pink lips together. “I think I judged her too hastily.”
“I thought you were starting to like her,” I chuckled.
“She is very kind,” the white-haired woman mused, and her voice was
filled with admiration.
“Neither of us even knew there was any sort of conflict between your
people,” I said. “I’d like to hear about it sometime now that you know Kas
isn’t all bad.”
“I would be glad to tell you,” the elf replied, and she looked up at me
through bright white eyelashes.
The sight of her was enough to make my stomach jump again, and I
remembered the kiss we shared and nearly pulled her in for another, but I
stopped myself and instead stood up and stretched.
“Well, first I’m going to grab some things for dinner,” I said. “Is there
anything in particular you like?”
“I’d love some fresh fruit,” she answered, and she smiled widely.
“You got it,” I chuckled.
“Rath,” Kas called from the door, and I turned around to see what she
wanted. “Could you bring Asta inside? I’ll help her get into the tub, but it
would be easier if you carried her.”
“Of course,” I responded.
I picked up the elf girl, but this time I just scooped her up with one
hand under her knees and the other under her shoulders. She looked up at me
from my arms, and I ignored the warm feeling of desire that overcame me as
I walked her into my house.
“Thanks,” Kas said as I set Asta down near the tub.
I turned to walk away, but I stopped at the doorway to look back at the
two of them. When I glanced back, though, I saw Kas undoing the corset at
Asta’s back, so I looked away sheepishly and hurried outside.
Then I grabbed a basket from the pile of them I kept by my door and
walked over to the garden to fill it and clear my mind.
Blar came up to me then as I picked fresh cabbage, carrots, tomatoes,
squash, and a few other things. He sat down next to the basket and stared at
me curiously.
“Alright,” I chuckled after a moment, and I set a small tomato down in
front of him.
He licked his little lips before he took a bite out of the red fruit, and
then he nodded happily as he took another.
I finished gathering the vegetables, and I brought the basket back up to
the house, dropped it off, and grabbed another one to fill with fresh fruit. I’d
thought Kas would come out to help me, but it seemed she and Asta had gotten to talking, since I could hear their laughs when I dropped the basket by
the door. It didn’t bother me, though. I was used to gathering things from the
garden myself, and I was happy the two beautiful women were getting along.
After I finished gathering the food, I started a fire outside. It was late
afternoon by now, and I needed some time to get dinner prepared. Not only
did I not want to rush the girls, but it was also incredibly nice outside, so I
figured we could eat outdoors. The sun was low on the horizon, but it still
cast the world in a warm, yellow glow, and there was a slight breeze that
made the evening incredibly pleasant.
I cooked over the fire with Blar next to me, and after a while, the girls
came out. They were both freshly bathed, with long wet locks that hung down
their backs. Neither of them had on the same clothes as they’d worn before,
though, now they each wore one of my tunics. Kas was wrapped up in a pale-
yellow colored one that complimented her strawberry blonde curls, and Asta
wore
a deep blue one that was a stark contrast against her white hair, but in a
way that only made her look more beautiful. Both tunics were large on the
women, but I had to smile at them wearing my clothes.
It was adorable. And very sexy.
“I hope you don’t mind we threw these on,” Kas said as she helped
Asta over to the seats around the fire.
“Not at all,” I replied. “Do you need any help?”
“No, we’re good,” the blonde assured me. She had Asta’s arm over her
shoulders, and the elf girl slowly hopped along toward the seats.
“It sounded like you two were getting along well in there,” I said with
a playful smile after they both were seated.
“We were.” Asta nodded. “I’m very impressed with both of you.”
“You’ve been quite helpful since you arrived, too,” I assured her.
“Kas said the same thing,” the elf laughed. “But I truly am impressed,
especially by you Rath.”
“Why by me?” I asked, and my eyebrows pinched together in
confusion. “Kas is the magical one.”
“She told me she gets her magic from you, and I’ve never seen anyone
be able to command a dragon,” Asta said as she stared at me seriously.
“Never?” I asked.
“Never.” She shook her head.
“I didn’t realize,” I said, and I pursed my lips.
“In my home world, I heard rumors about those who have tried,” Asta
said softly, and she looked up at me through bright white eyelashes. “They
have always failed, though. The dragons do not listen to them. Travelers have
come and tried to take dragons for themselves as well, but they die in the
process.”
“They try and take them?” Kas asked. “What do they want with
them?”
“Some want to own them,” Asta answered as she shrugged. “Others
want to put them on display in their own worlds, but dragons are sacred
creatures, and they are not to be kept in cages.”
“That’s awful,” I said with a frown. I’d never thought about that
before, but Asta’s world did have quite a few dragons, so I guess it made
sense some people would try to take advantage of that. In Asgard, we’d heard
nobody had seen a dragon in centuries, but I was slowly learning the worlds
were much larger than I thought, and there was a lot I didn’t know.
“It is,” the elf agreed. “It is part of the reason I was skeptical when I
met the two of you.”
“You thought we stole Blar?” Kas asked.
“I wasn’t sure where you got him,” Asta said with a shake of her head.
“But I wanted to be sure he was safe. I thought for sure he would attack you
at some point, but then I saw the way he listens to you, and how you two are
with each other. It’s obvious there is a very deep magical connection there.”
“Thank you,” I replied, and I looked down at Blar and smiled.
“I am confused as to one thing, though,” Asta said, and she cocked her
head to the side.
“What’s that?” I asked.
“When we first met, you said you had him disguised as a dog to
everyone else,” she said.
“That’s right,” Kas agreed.
“I was suspicious of it, then, but now I just wonder why?” the elf
wondered.
“Dragons aren’t common here like they are in your land,” I explained.
“Even in my home, they are elusive,” Asta corrected.
“Right,” I said, “but in Asgard dragons have been banished for
centuries.”
“Banished?” the elf woman asked, and her yellow eyes looked back
and forth between Kas and me.
“It’s true.” Kas nodded.
We explained to the elf the theories about why dragons were banished,
and she listened intently. The more I spoke about it, though, the more I
realized how strange the whole thing was.
“So, you have him enchanted as a way to hide him in plain sight,” Asta
said.
“Yeah,” I agreed.
“But… how will you continue to hide him?” the elf woman asked.
“Surely, you’ve noticed he grows by the day.”
“I have,” I sighed and looked down at Blar. When he first hatched, he
was only as long as my forearm, but now he was triple that length. We
wouldn’t be able to conceal him forever.
“Maybe it’s time to go to the council,” Kas suggested quietly.
“I think you may be right,” I agreed. I wasn’t sure if I was ready for
that risk, but now that we knew where the portals were, we could always run
if things went south. I wouldn’t let the council take Blar away, but no matter
their response, we had options, and that thought gave me comfort. They could
try and punish me if they wanted, but they’d have to catch me first.
“Asta and I will come with you, too,” Kas offered as she lifted her
chin. “Right, Asta?”
“Of course,” the white-haired woman agreed with a nod.
“Actually,” I said, and I pursed my lips, “I don’t think Asta should
come with us.”
“Why not?” Kas asked, but then her eyes widened with realization.
“Oh.”
“What is it?” Asta wondered as she glanced between the two of us.
“Am I not welcome here?”
“Travelers are welcome in Asgard,” I explained, “but typically they
use the Bifrost to get here, so right now there’s no record of your arrival.”
“This is a problem?” she asked, and she frowned in confusion.
“Yes,” I sighed. “It could bring up questions as to how you got here,
and right now we want to keep the portals a secret.”
“I didn’t realize not everyone here knew about the portals,” Asta
mused.
“That makes sense,” I chuckled. “You would have no reason to. But if
the council decides something we don’t agree with, then having the portals
available to us would be extremely useful.”
“You think we might have to run?” Kas murmured, and her violet eyes
darkened with worry.
“Possibly,” I said with a nod. “Which is why I’m willing to go to the
council myself. I don’t want to put you or Asta at risk. If I have to leave, that
doesn’t mean you do, too.”
“Of course, it does,” Kas protested. “We’re soul bonded. I want to be
with you.”
“What about your father?” I asked.
“We’re sorcerers,” the beautiful blonde laughed. “We’ll figure out a
way to see each other.”
“I’d also like to remain with you,” Asta spoke up. “You’ve saved my
life more than once now, but more than that, I feel you have a great destiny in
your future, Rath, and I would be honored to witness it.”
“Thank you,” I said, and I smiled at both of the gorgeous women in
front of me. I was grateful to have both of them with me at that moment, and
for the journey to come. I didn’t know what the council would say, but I’d
find out soon enough.
“So, we’re going with you to the council,” Kas confirmed.
“Yes.” I nodded. I was still hesitant about Asta coming along, and Kas
could sense that, but then she raised an eyebrow at me.
“You’re bringing a dragon in to see them,” the blonde snort
ed. “I doubt
they’ll be concerned about a traveler.”
“That’s a good point,” I conceded with a laugh. “We’ll go first thing in
the morning.”
“Alright,” the sorceress agreed.
I looked down at Blar, then, and he gave me a small nod as he leaned
his head against my leg. I knew he was trying to comfort me, and it did a
little bit, but I was still nervous about the whole thing. Still, my little dragon
knew I’d protect him, and I refused to let him down.
I dished up dinner for everyone, and we all ate quietly. The sun set as we ate, and I admired the beautiful multicolored sky. It spread out in a canvas
of pinks, purples, greens, and oranges until it turned to a dark sky filled with
stars.
After dinner, I stretched out and decided I wanted a bath myself, so I
headed inside. Blar came with me, and he laid down on the bed while I filled
the tub with hot water. Once it was full, I stripped off my clothes, sunk down
into the water, closed my eyes, and let out a sigh of relief. The warmth felt
amazing on my sore muscles, and I sunk down even further into the water.
Suddenly, a huge splash made me jolt upright, and I looked down to
see Blar had jumped into the tub with me.
“What are you doing?” I laughed.
The little dragon swam around for a second, and then he paddled up to
my chest and laid there, with part of him in the water and part of him out of
it.
“Do you want to be clean for your big debut tomorrow?” I snickered,
and Blar closed his eyes and turned his head to the side so I could wash him.
So, I chuckled and did as he wanted. The little lizard had so much personality
I often forgot he wasn’t an Aesir, but a reptile who could grow to be as large
as a village.
And he was such a good boy.
As I washed his little body, I hoped that day didn’t come too soon. I
would miss him being so small. It already seemed like it would be too soon
that he would no longer be able to ride on my shoulders. As much as I
couldn’t wait to see how large he could grow, I knew I’d miss being able to
scratch under his chin with just one finger.
They girls had already fallen asleep by the time I got out of the bath, so
I just grabbed some blankets from inside, stoked the fire a bit more, and laid
down beside them. It was a beautiful, clear night, so I saw no reason we had