"So you missed Human food?" he teased squeezing her.
"Yes, as much as I missed you." She briefly kissed his lips, then pushed him away. Still shy and wary of touching him. He'd give her time. They had all the time in the world.
She rose and started packing. He did the same and soon they were on their way down the slope. Keenan had wrapped Eagle's wings in what was left of Sayla's gown and put them in his backpack, with the blanket.
He took her hand as they strolled forward without looking back.
***
They followed the edge of the forest at the base of the mountain range for a few days then they went under the canopy again. Sayla had seen a river on the map and if they reached it, they'd probably find a town or two.
After two weeks they reached the river and the town of Backeran on its shores. Having hunted throughout the deciduous forest, they had plenty of pelts and furs to sell. They could introduce themselves as trappers for now.
Backeran must have had wooden walls in the past, but it had expanded beyond them. It was average-sized and built around a central bridge that led to the other shore of the river where a twin town was fast growing.
It was a mining town, since the mountains were so close, and the main ore was silver, but there were also many fur traders. The streets were full of stray cats and the buildings had small backyards, but the locals were friendly when asked for directions.
Sayla and Keenan sold the furs for a good price. They had enough to pay for a trip to the public baths and one night at an inn, with a decent meal and an almost soft bed.
During their journey under the stars they had slept close, but always clothed. They had washed themselves in bits and pieces in rivers and streams. Sayla had gotten used to the good night kiss, but didn't dare explore more of Keenan's body yet.
They went to wash themselves first, but Sayla asked Keenan to do it separately. She went to the women's common room, and he went to the men's. She wasn't too comfortable in showing her body to anyone. Not even her mother had seen her naked lately.
The three middle-aged women who were relaxing in the square pool stared at her when she took off her clothes.
"How old are you, girl?" one of them asked.
"Nineteen," she answered.
"And you still don't have hair... down there?" another asked, puzzled.
Sayla hid her body under the warm thermal water and started unbraiding her hair.
"I'm half-blood," she said at last. "Magical Races don't have body hair."
Telling the whole truth was useless. Those women had never seen a Sila from up close and wouldn't know the difference between a maimed Sila and a half-blood.
"So cute..." the elder, who had graying hair, chuckled. "Maybe we should shave down there to look young again!"
The third woman rolled her eyes and shook her head. "Whores do that to look younger! Besides, our husbands know our age!" She turned to Sayla. "Where are you staying?"
"We haven't decided yet," she answered warily. "My boyfriend is bathing in the men's room and then we'll look for an inn."
"Your boyfriend, huh?" The woman chuckled. "You eloped, didn't you?"
"Yes," she answered proudly.
"Ah, youth, passion..." the graying woman sighed. "Have you already... you know..."
"No, he hasn't touched me yet," Sayla replied, glaring at them. "We slept under the stars until now. We want a roof over our head when... you know."
"Smart girl!" the other woman smiled. "We will help you groom yourself for your boyfriend! This is the night, isn't it?"
"I don't know," she replied with a shrug. "We haven't found a place to call home yet."
"So where do you come from?"
"Inex."
"And what do you do?"
"We're trappers. We sell furs and pelts. I hunt, he does the rest. He's a tanner."
"Will you be staying in Backeran?"
"I don't think so. We're headed for the Central Massif."
"That's quite a journey... here, let me help you with your hair. It's very long and very soft for someone who spent so much time in the wild."
Sayla wanted to slap their hands away, but it was very rude, so she let the women touch her.
Five weeks since she'd left her hometown. She considered buying herself a new gown, but if she kept the wandering profession of trapper, breeches were more comfortable. Keenan didn't mind what she wore, and Erina's stitches held better than her own, so they could keep their money for other luxuries – like inn's rooms and public baths.
The women chattered as if she were their daughter, giving advice on what to do and bickering about their respective husbands' faults. Sayla didn't know if she should laugh or scream in frustration. She didn't need their advice. She didn't want it. It was like in Inex when her parents and her brother wanted to control her and her life.
She kept her mouth shut and scrubbed herself clean, nodding politely but barely listening. Keenan is not like that, she thought upon hearing particularly nasty bits about men. Duncan might have done that, but Keenan is different!
"Thank you, ladies," she said at last. "I am now ready to join my boyfriend."
She realized she didn't have clean clothes. Nobody had washed hers while she bathed and she couldn't leave the bath wrapped in a towel like in the dwarves' town.
Maybe they should have spare clothes after all. Maybe they could wash them at the inn – which would mean getting naked. Why not? Maybe it was time to fully trust Keenan with her body and her life.
CHAPTER TEN
Keenan had washed himself and shaved – and realized he didn't have clean clothes. When he met Sayla in the public baths' antechamber, they said it almost at the same time.
"We should buy spare clothes."
They guffawed.
"Tomorrow," he said, taking her hand. "We'll visit the Backeran market before continuing our journey."
"Fine. Did you hear of a good inn in the men's bath chamber?"
"I asked around and apparently there's the Singing Slayer Tavern nearby. It's shady but decently clean. The drinks are somewhat limited, low-priced and potentially lethal, but since we don't really drink, we should be fine. The food is slightly overpriced but decent. And the room pricing is fair."
"Let's try it, then."
The inn was medium-sized and it turned out that most rooms were occupied, but Keenan managed to get them one. The main room was crowded and loud, with about half the patrons drunk, a few openly armed and half of the dark corners occupied. It was a dangerous-looking crowd, so Sayla stayed close to Keenan.
There were card and dice games at some tables, but neither of them was a gambler. They ordered trout with leek, pine nuts and raisins, and watched the drunk singing mage who was winning at cards.
"Interesting place," Keenan commented, amused. "But I don't think I'd want to live here."
"Did they bother you with questions at the baths?" Sayla asked, raising her voice to be heard over the noise.
"They were curious, yes. You?" She rolled her eyes and he chuckled. "I know, well-meaning strangers offering unwanted advice!"
The food came and they ate quickly. The noise of the main room was becoming too much. It was a relief to retire upstairs to the rooms. The door was thick enough that not much noise came from downstairs.
The room had a double bed and a chamberpot under the narrow window. Keenan and Sayla dropped their backpacks. She tried the bed while he closed the shutters, leaving the candle on the windowsill. Outside it was already dark and the single candle made the shadows in the room dance.
"Would you like me to blow out the candle?" Keenan asked.
Sayla nodded, flushing with embarrassment.
He smiled and plunged the room into darkness. One step of his long legs, and he reached the bed, climbing onto it.
They lay side by side for a moment, then Sayla moved towards him, like she had done during those nights under the stars.
"Keenan," she whispered. "Promise you won't hurt me."
"Never," he whispered back, taking her in his arms.
He had gone to a professional years ago, to make sure he knew what he was doing. He had had a couple of flirts – not all the girls in town found him stinky – so he had learned his way around women's bodies.
He had waited forever, but now Sayla would finally be his. He'd make love to her with all the tenderness he was capable of. And then he'd build her wings and watch her fly.
He covered her face with butterfly kisses and heard her sigh. Her hands tentatively touched him and he slowed down. He let her start the undressing to make sure he wasn't forcing himself on her.
Her skin was warm and smooth and tasted good... Keenan could adore her body for the rest of the night. "Ow!" he whispered as both their bodies crushed his wounded arm on the mattress. She giggled and rolled over.
They were naked now. He caressed her back, trying to feel her scars, but they were so old that only his eyes could see them.
Eventually she'd allow him to look at her naked body. For now he touched her and helped her open up to him. I wish I could do this high up in the sky, like a Sila. He let her straddle him and in the darkness of the room he imagined a winged Sayla riding him.
***
Sayla moaned with pleasure as Keenan filled her. He was so good... so smooth... he had shaved and washed for her and now had given her such pleasant sensations...
Sayla lay down next to him again. She hugged his warm body and put her head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat slowing down.
She felt drowsy now. She drifted off to sleep.
Waking up against him was wonderful. Light filtered through the small window, bathing them in golden powder.
He was awake and slowly smiled.
"Good morning, Sayla. I love you."
"I love you too, Keenan... shall we go buy those spare clothes?"
"And I'll make the straps for your wings," he added. He hadn't forgotten. "If Eagle's wings are too ruined, I will build you wings."
She grinned and squeezed him. "Let's go, then."
"Wait, allow me to take a good look at your back," he said as she sat to get up.
She felt his hands touching and measuring. She looked over her shoulder and saw him frown in concentration. He really wanted to fit Eagle's wings on her shoulders! His touch was not sexual this time and it lightly tickled her.
"Right, I think it can be done," he said then, relaxing and smiling. "Let's go."
They quickly dressed and went downstairs. Breakfast was a bowl of fruits and a couple of pastries. Then they packed and left the room, heading for the market. The square was very busy with lots of guards, a few pickpockets and many beggars.
Keenan led Sayla through the stalls, ignoring the permanent structure that sold balms and ritual components, the kiosk with a roof and no walls that had tools and thieves' tools, a second permanent structure with swords and pole-arms, and stopped to look at the robes on the makeshift structure of a distressed male owner.
"Not really what we're looking for," Sayla whispered. "And expensive for the quality and variety it offers..."
Keenan nodded and they moved on. Several tables with goods arranged sold shields, hide armor and ceremonial armor. Then a hand-cart which opened to display wares had nuts and breeches. The owner was nervous and avoided eye contact. Sayla tried haggling for a pair of breeches, but the man didn't budge until Keenan asked for a discount.
They bought two, one for each, and the appeased owner even gave them roasted nuts for free. Twelve, counted, but still free.
"Nice!" Sayla loved nuts, especially roasted with sugar, but even without sugar.
"You can have mine," Keenan said. "I'm checking this other stall."
As she crunched and munched the nuts, Keenan went through several tables with goods arranged, skipping the balms but stopping on the leather-working. Maybe he could find the strappings he needed for Sayla's wings.
The owners were a very feminine but irritable woman and a mournful, half-naked man. The prices were very low, but so was the quality of their goods, so Keenan decided he'd do the straps himself.
They headed out of town and stopped at a bakery to buy a loaf of bread. They found a dressmaker on the outskirts that sold them two new shirts for the last of their money. They shrugged and left Backeran with their backpacks full.
"We will hunt more and have more pelts and skins to sell in the next town," Sayla said, waving her unstrung bow. She still had all her arrows in her quiver, so no need to go to a fletcher either. When she hunted, she always recovered her arrows.
"And maybe we'll find an archery contest somewhere," Keenan said. "With prizes in gold or silver, not a ham like in Inex!"
Sayla snorted. "Don't remind me of that! The butcher always had extra goods to offer as prizes..."
"Which made your family happy, but didn't allow you to get away." He chuckled. "Well, we're well away now. Independent. Free. And we're not starving."
"The summer is coming," she said, thoughtful. "Might be different in winter."
"Well, then, when winter comes I'll build a log cabin and keep you warm."
She giggled and squeezed his hand. "Hopefully you'll build that log cabin on the slopes of the Central Massif..."
***
The road followed the river, but soon they left it to go through the forest again. At least they could hunt.
"We might buy a tent," Keenan said as they camped in a clearing. "Although it's not raining..."
"It won't rain," Sayla replied, turning the makeshift spit where she was roasting a hare.
"We don't know..."
"Keenan, it won't rain unless I call the clouds upon us."
"Oh." He stared at her impish smile and chuckled. "Right. I'm forgetting who I'm traveling with. No tent, then. Are there any other towns around?"
"There's another upriver. And some castles on the mountains slopes." She frowned. "We can be trappers in the woods, but when we get to the plains, we'll have to find other jobs. I don't think there are archery contests everywhere."
"And I wouldn't want to depend on you to earn our bread," he said. "I had fully completed my apprenticeship with my father, I guess I can consider myself a journeyman traveling to gain experience of different workshops. I can help a tanner when in towns or see if there's a place where the tannery is vacant... although I don't want to keep my... odorous profession forever! We can try to earn more money in the next town. We don't have any more expenses – we have extra clothes, we'll use their public baths and then leave..."
"We can afford another night and meal at an inn, but we won't go through their market upon leaving. I'm sorry that my only apprenticeship was at Juliasam's shop. I'm not the perfect wife material, or I'd help a dressmaker while you help a tanner..."
"I don't want perfect wife material, you're perfect the way you are." He leaned to brush her lips with his, squeezing her shoulder and making her giggle. "We'll see. While you cook, I'll see if I can set up those straps. We should go a little further up the mountain to see if you can jump from a rock or something and glide to try the wings."
She nodded eagerly and he moved away from the fire to check the straps he wanted to work on. He had used the gown's wool, but added a leather reinforcement and a buckle. Then he pulled out the folded wings and started to figure out how to attach them to the straps that now formed a sort of harness.
Sayla watched as he tried a couple of things. Stitching wouldn't work.
"I'll need glue," he said. "Let's head for the fir trees, and I'll have these ready in no time."
"Tomorrow," she said, taking the cooked hare off the fire. "Now let's eat."
He smiled and put away the wings and the strappings.
Two days later he climbed a pine tree with his knife and his pot. He delicately scraped large drops of resin and rosin into the pot.
Sayla took out the charcoal they had saved from previous campfires and put it in her own pot. She quickly reduced it to powder with the back of her kni
fe's handle.
They lit a fire and Keenan melted the resin and rosin while Sayla pushed the smoke away from their faces without moving. Keenan smiled, impressed by her growing air manipulation skills.
She grinned. "What a team, aren't we?"
"Definitely," he said with a chuckle. He added charcoal powder to the melted resin, turning it from brownish to black, then took it off the fire. Time to glue the wings to the strappings.
Sayla went to wash her pot in a nearby stream, along with their dirty clothes. When she came back, the wings were ready.
He rose and offered them to her with a proud smile. She brightened and almost dropped everything. She put the clothes to dry and then went to him. He put the harness on her and adjusted the buckle under her breasts.
"You'll need handles to open and close them," he said. "Show me where you reach."
Standing in front of her, he opened one wing and she put her arm against it. He marked the spot and did the same with the other wing.
"Two more little straps and you'll be able to control them," he said. "I will take this off to add them now," he added, seeing her frown as he touched the buckle.
"Can't you glue them while I have them on my shoulders?" she asked. "It's an unexpected weight on the ground, I'd like to get used to it."
He smiled. "You know I can't deny you anything," he replied.
He went to his backpack and took a short strip of wool and cut it in two. He quickly reheated the glue and took the last of it to secure the handles on the wings. Sayla stood still as he worked, but he could feel her eyes on him.
"Thank you, Keenan," she said as he stepped back to observe his job. She looked beautiful with those brown wings. He felt his heart swell with pride as she tried the handles and opened Eagle's appendages.
"Let's find a place you can jump from," he said.
They'd been camping close to the coniferous forest's border, so it didn't take long to leave the fir trees and the camp behind and find a steep slope. He helped Sayla climb a tall rock and watched as she opened her wings and turned slowly left and then right, as if checking which air current to use.
She jumped and slowly glided down. She frowned.
"Couldn't catch the current," she grumbled.
"Maybe we should try another way," he said, pondering. "Pretend to be a kite."
Quests Volume One Page 21