Loket nods, while Gramin and Vorlig both grin.
“Umir’s Forge!” Otrin says, shaking his head, “He’s gone for her, then. We’ll have to take him back to the Taig, too.”
“And her cohort of paladins,” Gramin adds, “She’s supposed to start training them along with some of Atres’s and Kethas’s kin who aren’t here yet. It won’t be likely until sometime next tenday, since they seem to be coming in from remote mountain villages.
“None of this has been easy on Atres,” Loket shrugs, “He’s bonding with our Girlie, and his gift keeps sending him into a protective frenzy. He needs them to keep him calm so he can try to figure out how to get Girlie through this thing with Divaros in one piece.”
“It makes it a bit more remarkable that he’s so patient with her,” Gramin adds, and Vorlig nods.
“That tiger is still in there, but Girlie doesn’t see it often. Those claws stay tightly sheathed when she’s around,” Loket says, “It came out clear enough when he was talking about fighting to keep her, though.”
“If he can learn to fight like a Cymry, she chose well,” Vorlig agrees.
“Astridir thinks he might be good enough now,” Gramin shrugs and repeats his conversation with Astridir.
“Let’s go get everyone settled,” Otrin nods.
The men find Kethas moving another bed into Emlyn’s room and stop to help him.
“This will be good for Girlie,” Loket nods, “She’s been lonely and no one around but her cohort. They’re all male, and that won’t fit well with her Cymry sensibilities.”
A few more bits of furniture get shifted about so that Henga has places to stow her gear and clothing before everyone troops back downstairs.
Kethas gives Otrin a key, “It’s a private room for you and the missus. Dergit can have your old bunk, or I can put him in with the boy."
“In with the boy is fine,” Dergit says, “It seems I have a new sister and a new nephew. I’d like to get to know them both.”
“Easy enough,” Kethas says, handing Dergit a key.
Everyone gets settled in and reconvenes in the tap room.
Gramin pulls out Marius’s Strategic and Tactical Lessons from the Battles of the Renunciates and hands it to Otrin.
“Girlie went book shopping, and the book seller put that into the stack of books she bought,” Gramin grimaces, “It’s an accounting of the battles, and it seems to be pretty accurate based on the ones Girlie told us about already. You three might want to have a read. Vorlig found it, and I swiped it. She doesn’t need that much of a reminder right now. Atres probably needs to read it at some point.”
Otrin flips through the book and sighs heavily.
“Those four kids did all this?” Otrin grimaces, “No wonder she’s having problems dealing with the guilt.”
“She was Melfyn’s protégé,” Loket shrugs, “Seems like the student might have surpassed the master.”
“Best put that away,” Gramin shrugs, “She should be back any time now.”
Otrin goes upstairs and puts the book away.
Everyone is in the taproom talking when the door opens. Emlyn, Atres, and Benger arrive laden with items and are followed by Kluper, who looks slightly dazed.
Kethas looks him over and grins, “You look like a proper young man. Seems she found someone to trim your hair, too.”
Dergit drops to one knee and grins at Kluper, “I’m your uncle, my name is Dergit, and we’ll be sharing a room. Since no one else is handling the introductions, that’s your grandmama, Gendini, your grandpapa Otrin, and your auntie Henga.”
Emlyn’s eyes light up, “Henga! I’d hug you, but I’m carrying too much. Come help me put this stuff away.”
“Gladly,” Henga agrees, “You can tell me all about those handsome men you came in with.”
Dergit scoops Kluper up and sits him at the table where Gendini can fuss over him.
“Now that no one else is here, tell me everything,” Henga says, “Has he kissed you?”
“Twice,” Emlyn grins with a blush.
“How was it?” Henga demands, grinning.
“It was… lovely,” Emlyn sighs.
“Better than that, unless I miss my guess,” Henga laughs, “to make you sigh like that. How did you meet him?”
Emlyn recounts the story of her meeting with Atres at the fair, and Henga laughs, “Umir’s Forge! That was rather saucy. It’s a wonder he didn’t send you running.”
“I wanted to crawl under a rock,” Emlyn admits, “until I checked his motives and realized that he might be suitable after all.”
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“What about the blond fellow?” Henga asks, “Who is he?”
“That’s Benger, a member of my cohort and sword-brother at this point,” Emlyn replies, “After that business with the cowpies, the bandits, and the inn as well as all his kindness, I’d trust him with most anything.”
“Would you trust him with your sister? I admit that I wouldn’t mind climbing that tree,” Henga grins.
“I’ve not seen him go for casual… companions,” Emlyn shrugs, “Some of the others of our cohort do, but Benger’s a bit more serious. I have the distinct impression that he’s hunting for a wife. I know his mother wants grandchildren, and he’s the eldest.”
“Too bad, then,” Henga shrugs, “I wouldn’t be serious about anyone who’s not a dwarf.”
“Wait until the rest of my cohort is back,” Emlyn shrugs, “I’m sure you’ll get to meet them. Urlin or Madil might be more to your taste anyway, and they’re both a bit more casual about that sort of thing from what I’ve gathered.”
“Is the rest of your cohort just as good-looking as Benger?” Henga asks and grins when Emlyn nods.
Emlyn explains, “I’m the envy of all the girls at the Temple. Half of them want to be my new best friend so that they can hang around with us. The other half hate me because I hang around with my cohort, my brothers in arms. At least a third of them think I took my vows to be near Benger, even though nothing could be further from the truth. I took my vows because I made a deal with our Goddess.”
“Don’t you have any friends outside your cohort?” Henga frowns.
“I have a few,” Emlyn explains, “There’s one of the clerics whom I do morning calisthenics with. I get on well with the smiths, a couple of the healers, most of the weapons masters, Gethin, and Ember. Mostly, I try to avoid the other cohorts. They all seem to want to vie for my attention. Rather than create a lot of bad feelings, I avoid them. None of those boys is suitable, and I don’t quite know how to tell them that without sounding like I’m snubbing them somehow. I wouldn’t mind being friends with them, but they’re all intent on being a bit more than that. It makes things with them difficult, so I do my best to steer clear.”
“Once they see Atres, they’ll back off,” Henga grins, “He’ll put them right off you. The way he looks at you… I hope I find someone to look at me like that, one of these days.
“You will,” Emlyn nods, “I never expected to find Atres. With Dian and Gwladus gone and the others missing, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to find anyone to found a new House with.”
“Are you sure he’s not after your money?” Henga asks.
Emlyn hugs her and laughs, “That is one thing I’m dead certain of. He was more than willing to accept me when all I had were my blades and a few silver ducats. If I’d said yes, I think he’d have married me on the spot, standing there under that tree still messy from dressing and skinning those elk. If anything, I think the money frightened him at first because he was afraid that I’d choose someone else, like the prince or the duke’s son. What I don’t want is the Duke or King to find out about it. They’ve already tried to marry me off to their sons. The sad state of my finances was the only thing that put them right off.”
“Then that’s the last I’ll say about it,” Henga nods, “Now tell me what he’s like.”
“He quite enjoys making me blush,” Emlyn grins, “Then he tells me that I’m the most adorable, irresistible thing in creation when I do.”
Emlyn goes on to describe their outings together.
“In other words, he’s working hard to win you,” Henga nods, “Well, he should. I’ll have to talk to Benger to see what his mama’s rules are so we can share chaperone duty. I’m also supposed to help him start learning Cymry.”
“Dwarvish, too, if you can manage it,” Emlyn nods.
Kluper wanders in and looks around at all the new things in his room. Shyly, he looks up at Emlyn. “Does all this make you my mama, then? And does that mean Atres is my Da?”
Laughing Emlyn explains, “Not just yet. At least not officially. We still have a few things to attend to first. Until then, you’re my page, since taking you as a page gives me the right to care for you. Once we’re done with the formalities, so that no one can come and try to take you, then yes, that’s mostly accurate. We’re not blood-kin, but we’ll be kin. Atres and I aren’t married yet, so he’ll not be your Da until then.”
“What did you do, Girlie? Raid a toy store?” Henga grins.
“The poor thing has never had anything of his own, so that I might have gone a bit overboard,” Emlyn shrugs, “but I want him to understand that he’s cared for. I want him to understand that his days of scrambling through the garbage for food or wondering where his next meal will come from are done. I want him to know that his days of hunting for a safe place to sleep are behind him. If he needs something, anything, big or small, I’ll see to it that he gets it.”
“Do you really mean all that?” Kluper asks.
“Wasn’t that all part of our agreement?” Emlyn replies.
Kluper thinks for a bit and nods.
“So come help us put your new things away,” Emlyn grins as the boy launches himself at her legs.
Emlyn scoops him up and hugs him back as he throws his arms around her neck.
“You’re stuck with us,” Emlyn whispers to him, “I won’t let anyone take you, even if that means I have to draw steel, got it?”
“Yes, Mama,” Kluper replies.
“We don’t have a kin-bond,” Emlyn shrugs, “but blood isn’t the only tie that binds.”
“You must be Atres,” Gendini says, eyeing Atres, “Tell me… Why is a man like you interested in my forge-daughter? Surely you could have any number of other women.”
A small smile plays around Atres’s mouth, “I assume that they told you what I am, yes?” Gendini nods. “Why would I want any other woman when she’s willing to consider me? That’s like asking me if I’d be willing to settle for a single candle when there’s a sun, or a glass of water when there’s an ocean, or a pebble when there’s a mountain. I couldn’t walk away from her even if I wanted to. My gift would drive me back to her, even if I were fool enough to attempt it. Having seen her, I’d have to be a bloody great fool to attempt to walk away from such a unicorn.”
“Good,” Gendini grins, “That’s more or less what I was hoping you’d say. Now, who’s this behind you?”
“Benger Bevis, Paladin of Morrighu,” Benger replies with a smart salute, “A member of the same cohort as Nia.”
“Ah, the chaperone,” Gendini grins, “I heard about your mother’s orders.”
“Everyone seems quite suspicious of Atres and his reasons for chasing after my little sister,” Benger shrugs, “but I’ve had more time to observe both of them than anyone else. So far, he has my vote.”
“No interest from you?” Loket asks.
Chuckling Benger shakes his head, “She’s much too intense for me. I don’t think I’d meet her requirements, either. I’ve got no illusions. I’m just a farm boy with a sword. When I’m too old to be a paladin any longer, I’ll likely be a farmer just like my father. She’s my friend, and as close as any of my real brothers. My mother is fond of her. I’ve heard what she’s expecting of Atres. I’m not up for all that. I wish him well with it. I’m content to call her sister.”
“When will the rest of your cohort be getting back?” Gramin asks.
“Over the next tenday or so, depending on travel,” Benger explains, “They’re usually pretty prompt. I certainly hope no one else has had a more eventful journey.”
“How do they feel about her?” Gendini asks.
“Much the same. We respect her skills. We like her, but I don’t see any of us chasing after her like Atres,” Benger shrugs. “A couple of our Weapons Masters are going to be rather disappointed, though. A couple of the Temple smiths, too, unless I misread their questions. Some of our brethren in other cohorts will be equally disappointed. I know that several of them were hoping to catch her attention. I suppose with all four of you back, I should call for Master Ember to come and meet all of you. We’ll have to talk about how to handle Kluper, if nothing else, so if you will excuse me for a few moments.”
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Plot Points of Note:
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The Well-Dressed Page: Kluper is officially outfitted with everything from socks to a leather vest. He says they are the nicest clothes he’s ever had, poor lad.
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The Page's Pin: Emlyn commissioned a silver pin for Kluper featuring a dragon in front of a sun made of sword blades. It’s old-fashioned, but it marks him as hers.
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The "Corset" Coat: Emlyn’s new uniform is so tight it’s basically a leather corset. She’s already planning to use it as bait to catch "the bumpers"—men who think they can grope without consequence.
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Orphanage Outrage: We learn the Harito orphanage kicks kids out at thirteen—or younger if they aren't fully human. Emlyn is already planning a "visit" to the Duke and Prince to fix that mess.
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The Reinforcements Arrive: Otrin, Gendini, Henga, and Dergit have arrived at the inn, decked out in battle-worn steel and ready for a scrap.
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Marius's Book: This is where everyone outside the community of military historians gets a look at what the Renunciates did.
Atres Watch:
Rating: 4.5/5 Stone Tankards
Tall Obstacle is actually doing a decent job of playing "Da." He’s helping with the shopping, agreeing that the boy looks like a "proper young man," and staying patient with Emlyn’s shopping spree. He’s even managing to be useful without being too broody.
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One Copper: For the shop girl Leticia, who survived Emlyn’s rapid-fire shopping list.
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One Silver: To help fund the silver for Kluper’s new pin.
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One Gold: To see the look on the first "bumper’s" face when Emlyn’s spelled coat reveals exactly where he put his hand
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