"Who else might take her?" Raykim asked, puzzled.
"Hinrik, you ninny?"
"Oh, I thought you wanted me to take her there. It wouldn't take me long, you know?"
"She might be afraid of flying, Raykim, not everybody wants to be carried around by Sila or half-Fajrulo."
Bellinda smiled despite herself. "I'm not afraid of flying and thank you for your offer, Raykim. I might take you up on it."
Raykim grinned. And then he gasped and brightened, staring at the river.
Bellinda heard the splashing sounds too and turned to look, her heart in her throat.
Hinrik emerged from the river, followed by Dynine. He smiled at them as he climbed onto the shore and sat next to her on the leaf-covered ground. He wore a sleeveless Waiora tunic over his breeches that left his muscled arms bare. He had his Human tunic tucked in his belt, so he took it and put it on a low branch to dry in the autumn sun.
Bellinda refrained from sliding her fingers through Hinrik's wet her.
"Good to see you. How was the trip?" she asked, controlling her heartbeat.
"It was interesting. I met Ashling who took me to my father's and then stayed there..."
"Because she liked Nalach," Dynine added with a giggle. She crouched next to him, eyeing Raykim who stared back goggle-eyed.
"Who is Nalach?" Keneith asked.
"My cousin," Hinrik answered, amused. "And since I'm such a hero for the Waiora, she also had a mating swim with me before meeting my father and Dynine and everybody else. They have quite a nice underwater village down there."
"But you didn't find anyone worth staying there for?" Bellinda finally found her voice again. Of course he'd had a mating swim. In his native river, why not. Why was she so upset at the thought? Hadn't she been thinking he could do it with Wioleta?
"Not really and then Dynine wanted to meet Raykim because I told them of our travels and so here we are." Hinrik's smile dazzled her.
Keneith harrumphed and she realized she was staring too much at Hinrik.
"Is Dynine going home alone?" Keneith asked as Raykim got closer to the Waiora.
"Why not?" Dynine replied. "I went home alone from Baes... And there aren't that many dangers in the Ondan."
She rose and invited Raykim to sit with her.
"Shouldn't you worry about your younger sister?" Keneith asked Hinrik who followed them with his eyes. They didn't go far and immediately started talking in the Old Tongue.
"Are they flirting?" Hinrik asked, worried.
"No." Bellinda smiled. "Both are like children. They only want to play."
"Oh, good." Hinrik relaxed and smiled again.
"So what will you do next?" Keneith asked. "Are you coming south with us or will you take Bellinda to Havenstock?"
"Wait, don't put it like that!" she protested. "Ken and Ray want to see the southern kingdoms," she told Hinrik. "What do you want to do?"
"I haven't seen enough of the north yet to go exploring the south," Hinrik answered. "If you don't mind sharing the saddle, I'll happily take you to Havenstock with Shytur."
"Besides, I don't think the south is good for horses," Keneith said. "They have elephants down there! We might exchange the draft horse for something else once we are in Lakeshi."
"Or you could drop the wagon and fly there," Bellinda said. "Or are you afraid of flying?"
Keneith winced. "I'd rather use instant-transfer spells, thank you. Although transferring myself to an unknown place is tricky. Besides, we need a place where Raykim can hide, so we'll keep the wagon."
"Guys, are you sure Raykim is not flirting with Dynine?" Hinrik asked, staring at the youngsters.
"He's not, Hinrik." Bellinda said. "Not everyone is sex-oriented."
He stared at her, a little puzzled.
"Means that not everyone constantly thinks about sex," Keneith said. "And then there's people like Bel who never think about sex. Which doesn't mean she doesn't fall in love, mind you."
"Ken..." She glared at him.
Hinrik smiled. "After I was raped I was quite disgusted myself. I sure hope it's not because someone hurt you."
Bellinda exhaled before answering. "No, nobody hurt me, I just don't see what all the fuss is about. And Humans make a lot of confusion between love and breeding. It's slightly better with the Magical Races but sometimes I really feel like I don't belong anywhere."
"I think you're much loved and belong anywhere you want to be," Hinrik said with a sweet smile. "I look forward to seeing you in your hometown with your friends and loved ones."
Bellinda's heart started beating faster as she tried to ignore Keneith's chuckle.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
After saying good-bye to the Genn and Dynine, the four went back on the road through the thick Appleyard forest. There was no real road to follow, but Bellinda seemed to know her way through the trees.
"I know which way west is, and that's where we're headed," she said whenever anyone doubted her.
Sometimes Raykim took flight and checked from up above. He usually confirmed that they were steadily going west and soon would meet another river.
"That's the river that leads to Havenstock," Bellinda said. "And it doesn't have rough passages as far as I know. Besides, with a water manipulator we could survive rapids and waterfalls!" She smiled fondly at Hinrik.
He wasn't sure he could actually stop a waterfall or make it go backwards, but it was an interesting thought. They'd have to find a way for Shytur to follow them, though. A barge or swimming or simply walking on the shore... Maybe a little of everything.
"How far downriver is Havenstock?" he asked.
Bellinda took out her map, unwrapped it and made some quick calculations.
"More or less like from the Genn village to Moriana. How long did it take you?"
"Not long, even with the stop for the mating swim," he answered, thoughtful. "But I didn't have a horse to slow me down."
Keneith burst out laughing. "Maybe you should let go of Shytur! We will take care of him if you want!"
"I don't want to let him go!" Hinrik replied. "He's my only old friend!"
"I thought I saw you talking to him," Keneith teased. "Does he answer?"
"Sometimes words are not necessary." Hinrik stiffened on the saddle. "He was always there when I needed him, and I won't abandon him."
"We'll take him to Havenstock," Bellinda promised. "Don't worry. It's a good riding horse, no need to get rid of him. You might need him again."
Hinrik nodded, still frowning. He still had trouble understanding Keneith's sense of humor, obviously. He'd miss cheerful Raykim, but not his grumpy older cousin.
And then they reached the river and parted from the wagon and the cousins. Bellinda took her travel bag and hooded coat and mounted behind him on the saddle. They followed the river shore until they found a small fishing village.
There was an old boat that badly needed repairing. The fisherman who owned it had passed away without heirs, so the rest of the village told them if they could make it float again, it was theirs.
Hinrik had seen many boats and ships pass through Salamar and, after a day's work, the boat floated again. It was very small, though, so they attached Shytur with a long rope and had him following them on the river shore.
It still took them a few days to reach the outskirts of Havenstock. The night before they camped on the river shore and another Waiora came to visit. It was Wioleta, Bellinda's friend, who of course had heard of him and stared admiringly at him.
Hinrik wasn't sure he liked all the admiration the Waiora bestowed on him. He'd never wanted to be a hero, for anyone. He wondered if the Waiora females saw him for who he was or as the half-blood who had cleansed the waters in Maxwetria.
It was frustrating, but it was the opposite situation he'd had in Salamar. Humans had shunned him, Waiora seemed to adore him. Was there no middle way? Anyone who didn't care who he was or what he'd done?
The new town was probably the only hope at that point. And then it appear
ed beyond the forest that opened up into a wide plain where the river flowed. A square stone keep surrounded by timber houses and timber walls that was obviously still expanding.
"In spring the lords bring their men here and plant their pavilions all around the town," Bellinda said. "It's very colorful, but at the same time it's very sad, because it's army colors and one knows they're headed for war, conquest and destruction."
Hinrik nodded, thoughtful. Maybe one day they'd be sieged too. Maybe he should have gone south with the cousins.
"Don't worry, I won't tell them that you're also a warrior when you want to be." Bellinda smiled and patted his shoulder. "We might want to leave the boat here and enter the gates on horseback. It's not far anymore."
He used the oar to push the boat ashore and they both climbed onto Shytur again. The guards at the gate looked bored and let them through without looking at them twice. Bellinda slid off the saddle and led Shytur through the dusty streets that must become very muddy in winter or after rainfall.
Hinrik looked around, but the Varian capital was much newer than Salamar or Moriana and didn't have impressive stone buildings or old architecture. The square keep towered over the little houses, but the smells were very much the same as Salamar – food, shit and sometimes decay.
Bellinda stopped by a two-story timber house. "This is my mother's house, but we need to leave Shytur at a stable. There's one down the road."
She resumed leading the horse to the stable where Hinrik made sure he'd be well taken care of. Then he followed her to the house.
"Why is it your mother's and not your father's?" he asked before she knocked.
"Because she's the Human of the couple, so she's the one who has property here." Bellinda smiled.
"Oh." Hinrik was about to ask more, but the door opened and an ageless Genn brightened at the sight of them.
"Bel!" He hugged her and dragged her inside. "Alina, she's back!"
Hinrik followed, a little unsure, and found himself in a living room with a table for six, a cooking stove in a corner and a wooden staircase that led to the upper floor, probably the bedrooms. Underneath was a back door that either led to the backyard or to the outhouse or both. It was a big but cozy room and Hinrik could imagine it filled with a healthy Human family.
From the back door emerged a woman with graying hair and brown eyes. She looked much older than the Genn, but she probably was much younger instead. This reminded him of Talullah the wingless Sila and her Human husband.
As Bellinda hugged her mother, her father turned to face Hinrik with a big grin.
"And you are?"
"Hinrik Kalineson."
"Bel's boyfriend by any chance?"
"Uh... no."
"Da-ad!" Bellinda snorted. "I'm not Cara, all right? I don't want to get married and breed and all that stupid stuff!"
"Yes, yes, I know, you're a great healer and you have better things to do than breed." Her father chuckled. "I'm Joyrise." He offered his hand. "But Humans usually call me Joris."
"And may I ask how old you are?" Hinrik shook the offered hand, genuinely curious.
Joris winced. "Not in front of my wife," he said with a wink.
The woman chuckled. "Come on, Joris, we knew I'd age much faster than you when we got together," she said, letting go of Bellinda to come over to Hinrik. "Welcome, Hinrik. Joris is over eighty, but since he's Genn, it doesn't show."
"Where do you come from, Hinrik?" Joris asked as Alina led Hinrik to sit at the table.
"Salamar. Bellinda told me you've been there."
"Ah, yes, I lived there for fifteen years... but that was fifty-five years ago. Twenty years later I was still in the Salamar Kingdom, but then I came west and... things changed. A lot."
"Joris spent fifteen years with a man," Alina said, amused. "Who eventually dumped him and got married, which made him refuse any form of long-term relationship."
"I've had lovers," Joris replied. "Nobody wants to be alone! Both men and women. Until Alina put a spell on me... Or maybe it's old age, who knows. When you're young, you're more restless and willing to explore, but at some point you're just sick of it all and stick to the person by your side."
"Oh. I guess my mother was young when she had me and she didn't want my father to stick around," Hinrik said, thoughtful.
He had never considered how old his mother had been when she'd had him. Maybe telling her parents she was in love with a Waiora was worse than not saying anything and raising the child alone.
"Hinrik is half-blood too," Bellinda said. "His father is Woram, have you ever met him?"
"You're the one who befriends Waiora and Sila," Joris replied with an impish smile. "Has he met all your Magical Races friends?"
"Only Wioleta for now. Winged Elsa and Winged Monia haven't shown up on our way here. We might try to meet them in the coming days." She looked at Hinrik. "Outside of town, of course. Sila would never land in a Human town."
Hinrik nodded. He couldn't blame the Magical Races for staying away from Humans.
"I hope you will stay put now," Alina said, holding her daughter's hand. "You've been almost a year on the road! Should I prepare the attic room for our guest?"
Bellinda chuckled. "Actually, I'll take the attic room," she said. "I have always loved it. He can sleep in our room." She stared at Hinrik. "I mean mine and my sister's room."
"I remember how you took possession of my attic room in Salamar," Hinrik replied with a smile. "With Belfi and Keneith laying their magic mattresses in my living room."
"Where did you drop Belfi and Keneith?" Joris asked. "Mostly that wretched half-Fajrulo... Although I liked him, I hoped you'd stick to him."
Bellinda rolled her eyes. "It wasn't meant to be."
"Tell me it was over before you left and you didn't dump him because I happened to like him."
"Yes, it was over when we left and no, I didn't dump him because you liked him. We had what we had and that was it. He's headed south, away from the warring northern kingdoms," Bellinda answered. "Belfi stayed in Salamar until the Blackmore took it, then we saw him in Maxwetria, then I don't know."
"Ah, yes, the Salamar Kingdom is no more." Joris sighed. "And soon Caer Nittak will be under Varian rule too..."
"His lover came from Caer Nittak," Alina explained to puzzled Hinrik.
"He's long dead." Joris shrugged. "He was only Human after all."
"Have you eaten?" Alina asked. "I will prepare something. Show the house to Hinrik, dear..."
***
Bellinda showed Hinrik the house and the city. The attic had been her younger brother's bedroom, since it was quite small, and she'd had to share sleeping space with Cara. Now both her sister and Massimo had moved out of the parental house to start their own families, and she was glad her parents hadn't turned her away, even though she'd come back alone – well, with a friend.
There were no public baths like in Salamar, but she showed Hinrik a nice place where he could use the river as his personal bath chamber. It was also the place where she'd met Wioleta the first time, so she warned him he might have company from time to time. He didn't seem to mind.
It wasn't very clear if he'd enjoyed his mating swim, or if it was just sex or what. She made sure he knew where everything was, brothels included, though. Since he'd followed her, she wanted to be certain he saw all the options to rebuild his life.
He spoke with the royal architect and the royal engineer about the possible works to bring water farther from the river or have a nice fountain in the main square in front of the keep and she was happy to see how seriously he took those works. He even made suggestions for the location of public baths or a specific fountain built for the washerwomen of Havenstock.
He might be a water manipulator, but he had no building skills, so he listened carefully to the masons and other builders when they started considering digging canals. He was very willing to learn another job as long as it didn't involve swords or other weapons.
She introduced him t
o her siblings, nephews, nieces, and then her Human friends, so that he could start to socialize in the new town. Her best friend Lucrezia, who supposedly was married, gushed all over Hinrik as soon as she saw him.
And then there was Fabrizio, who preferred men and couldn't refrain from drooling at the sight of Hinrik. Both were constantly around him, and Bellinda was getting nervous. Not because Hinrik looked interested in either, but because she didn't like the way they tried to get in his breeches.
She assumed sometimes Hinrik didn't react because he didn't understand what was going on. The languages of the northern kingdoms were very similar, having been unified under the Moren Empire, but in Maxwetria they had a very different accent and used different words compared to the Gallian capital further west, almost like a different language.
Salamar was closer to the center, but still sometimes the Havenstock slang must be as incomprehensible as Old Tongue for Hinrik. In work talks he politely asked for words to be repeated, and sometimes Bellinda translated for him, but in private conversations he usually kept his mouth shut, probably thinking they weren't talking about him.
If Fabrizio found all the excuses to touch Hinrik, he just brushed him off or moved away. If Lucrezia became too flirtatious, he looked puzzled or bored.
Until Bellinda had enough. Barely a week back in Havenstock and she already wanted to kill her Human friends, or at least get rid of them! She wasn't going to leave again, she had as much right as them to be in town, but maybe it was time she told them to leave Hinrik alone.
"Lucrezia, aren't you married to the former most wanted bachelor of Havenstock? Fabrizio, don't you see that he's not interested in men?"
She glared at both as she sat with them and Hinrik on the river shore for what was supposed to be a private picnic – except her friends had decided to crash in.
"Well, marriage isn't as they picture it!" Lucrezia rolled her beautiful blue eyes. She had long lashes and a very generous bosom. Her long dark hair was braided and she always wore the latest fashion. She was definitely more attractive than Bellinda, but that hadn't been a problem for either of them so far. "Besides, children aren't coming yet, so I'm thinking of trying someone else, you know?"
Quests Volume One Page 14