Morning After

While Tadd searches for Rick, Jevon begins his mission for the Bitter Dregs.

8.

Morning After

 

The sound of someone pounding on his door and the definite voice of Tadd hollering for him brought Rick out of a very deep sleep.

He sat up bewildered, unsure what day or time it was and for an instant, where he was.   Looking down onto the bed, he was momentarily surprised to see the lovely yellow eyes of Shel looking up at him sleepily.   For a moment he couldn’t remember what had happened the night before, but then the memory returned as the sleep driven cobwebs slowly cleared away.

“Who is it?”  She whispered, sitting up on her elbows.    He was stunned at how amazingly sexy she could look the first thing in the morning, but he shook that thought out of his brain.

“I think it’s Tadd - my Lord, I’ve overslept!”   He rushed to the door, then paused and looked back at her, putting a finger to his lips.    She nodded and slipped back down under the covers and turned to one side, so only the very top of her head would be showing if the Halfling came into the apartment.

Rick opened the door a crack, “No need to tear the door down, Tadd!”

“Rick are you alright?   We were worried " you are never late!”

“Yeah, I’m fine, I just overslept, that’s all.”

“Did you have a late night or something?”  The nosy Halfling inquired.

“Yeah, and the storm didn’t help.   I’ll get dressed and be down there in a little bit,”  He tried to close the door, but Tadd had his foot in the gap.

“Hey, guess what?   Jevon has gone to Losahome!”

“Yeah, I know; we saw him last night.   He came by and told us about his trip.”

“We?”   Tadd as usual picked up on his unfortunate slip of the tongue.

“Yeah… look, I’ll be down there in fifteen minutes if you’ll just-“

“Did you have a date last night, Rick?” Tadd’s eyes gleamed with the joy of discovery.   He tried to look through the crack into Rick’s room, but Rick kept his body in the way.

“If I did, I don’t see how it’s any of your business!”  

“Who is she?   Anyone I know?”

“Tadd, take your foot out of my doorway before you get me mad.”

“She’s still here!”

“Tadd!”

“Look, it’s none of my business, Rick, but we’re short staffed with everyone gone, so we need you.   Otherwise I’d say just take the afternoon off.”

“Since it’s none of your business, take your hairy foot out of my doorway so I can close the door and get dressed!”

“Not until you tell me who she is!”

“If you value your toes, you’ll-“

“Hi Tadd!”   Shel’s voice came from behind him and to Rick’s horror, she stood there, holding a sheet over her as if she was naked.

“Shel!”  Tadd said with a gasp, and then he grinned from ear to ear at the implications, “I’m sorry to disturb you two!”

“I’m sorry I kept him up so late - I have the day off at Flapjacks, so…”

Tadd held up his hands, “No need to apologize, Shel, that is quite alright!   I’ll let you two get dressed!   Rick; I’ll see you in a bit.”   Still grinning like a washerwoman who had just learned a juicy bit of gossip, Tadd bowed slightly and pulled his foot out of the doorway then hurried off, almost running.

Rick shut the door with a groan, “Oh, Shel, you’ve done it now!    Everyone in town will know about us!”

Shel laughed and went back over to the bed and sat down, “Hon, let them talk - we know nothing happened last night and that is all that matters.”

“Yeah, but don’t you worry about your reputation?”

“No, but are you worried about yours?   Everyone will think you went wild with an Orc.”

He frowned at her, “You are not ‘an Orc’, Shel!”

“Sure I am, hon, look at me!”

“I don’t mean it like that!   You keep degrading yourself by imagining that it is something shameful for me to be seen with you.   I’m not ashamed at all, Shel!”

“Maybe not to be seen with me, but what if everyone thinks we are intimate?”

He thought about that for a second, then grinned nervously, “I think everyone will think I’m pretty lucky, Shel.   You are gorgeous, and I’m not the only man who thinks so.”

She smiled prettily, “You are a sweetheart, Rick, but people can be rather racist and ugly about mixed couples you know.”

“If they are that ignorant, who cares?   It won’t change anything I do or the way I feel for you in the least!”

Shel stood up, her yellow eyes twinkling as she came over to him, “What do you feel for me, Rick?”

Immediately his tongue went numb and in spite of himself, he blushed like a foolish teenage boy, “Uh…w-well, I-I…”

His response caused her great amusement, which only made him frustrated, since he hated to stumble over such an important question.

The truth was; he had not consciously thought about his feelings for her.   There was certainly a strong attraction and this surprised him as he had not been fond of Orcs before he had met her.

But she was far different than any Orc he’d ever met and just the thought of her made his pulse race and a smile to creep onto his face.

“Shel… um…”

She touched his lips with her fingertips, “It’s alright, hon, you don’t have to explain anything.   I understand completely.”

“I don’t see how you can when I don’t really understand myself.”

“You’re confused, Rick, I can see that.    Human relationships with Orcs take effort.   That’s why there are so few mixed marriages between our races.”

“Shel, it’s not that at all.    I’m confused because this has happened so fast and you are so wonderfully different than the Elf girls I’ve dated in the past.”

“So we are dating, then?”   She teased with a mischievous look.

“Yes,”  He said firmly, “That is okay with you, isn’t it?”

She wrapped her arms around him, “I wouldn’t have spent the night with you if it weren’t all right.  Which leads me to confess something to you, so you will understand me a bit better.   Most humans don’t realize what Mavaumn Avime is.”

“What is it?”

“Mavaumn Avime… is part of the biology of Orc women.   You see, in most Orc communities -the uncivilized communities- Orc women are treated as property by Orc men.    For an Orc woman, motherhood is what guarantees her worth in these brutal communities.    For centuries, the women who were the most eager to bare children and who were able to withstand the savagery of Orc men, were the ones who lived longest.”

“Okay… go on…”

“Well, naturally this meant that the hardiest women, who were eager to enter motherhood were the most successful wives and many generations of this bred into most Orc females an extremely powerful desire to mate and procreate as soon as they mature physically.    In Marksylvania, the Orc communities are much more civilized, and women are treated far better, but this biological urge still strikes us when we are young.    We all have a hunger to begin the process and this tends to lead to young marriages… or at least unions… between Orc men and women.   This is what Mavaumn Avime is - a physical instinct to mate and produce children.   It is primitive and rather embarrassing for Orc women in civilized Orc communities, but it is there.   It is different than what some Drow women go through and not as powerful as that, but it endures until the desire is fulfilled.    As I am an Orc woman of that age… I wanted you to understand.”

 

Shel looked at her feet as if ashamed and Rick nodded grimly.

“I see… so you are telling me that while you are dating me, you are experiencing powerful physical desires to… um… mate with a male of your people?”

Shel smiled slightly, “Well, not exactly, Rick.    It isn’t specific to the Orc race, you see.    I want you to understand that I will be very... open… to any advances that you might make.    I don’t want you to think that I am cheap and loose of morals, but physically any intimacy will powerfully appeal to me.    I just don’t want you to take any intimacy in a casual way.    Orc women going through this time have dreams of large families and motherhood, not brief romantic encounters.    I don’t mean that I think you’ll take advantage of me, I just…”

“You just don’t want me to hurt you,”  Rick finished for her and she nodded.

“Shel, I promise that I won’t make any move without considering the consequences.    To be honest with you, I’m happy just enjoying your company and getting to know you better.   I don’t believe in frivolous affairs.    I saw too much of that growing up in the brothel where my mother worked.    To be frank with you, those cheap sort of relationship disgusts me.  Love always seemed to me to be an elusive thing, but that was what I always longed to experience.   That’s why I had so much trouble with Elven girls - they didn’t understand what I was looking for.”

“You are looking for a lasting relationship with a woman, and Mavaumn Avime motivates me into a sort of ‘nesting’ instinct.    We have slightly different motivations, Rick, but they aren’t completely dissimilar.”

“When did you first notice this… instinct?”

“When my parents set up a potential marriage, I began dreaming of the life of a respectful Orc Matron.   But when that didn’t work out, and after my parents were killed, it went dormant and I just focused on surviving.   I guess I channeled these instincts into my jobs in the royal kitchen and then getting Flapjacks started.    Then I met you and… well…I started thinking of things…”

“I won’t take advantage of this new information, Shel.     I’ll be a perfect gentleman.”

“I may not be a perfect lady, Rick.     Just promise me that any… progression of our relationship will be toward a goal, not just a frivolous attraction.”

“I understand, and promise that, Shel.    Who knows, I may surprise you!”

She smirked, “Perhaps you will - do you like children?”

Rick shrugged, “I don’t know, I haven’t thought about ever being a parent.    I’ll have to think about that.”

 

“Poor Tadd is probably hanging around outside waiting for you.   I’ve detained you long enough; I’d better let you go.”

“I’m sorry I couldn’t stay so we could talk some more.    What are your plans for today, since you have the day off?”

Shel sighed sadly, “Oh, I don’t know… I guess I’ll go home.”

“Well how would you like to make me dinner - here, this evening.”

Her eyes brightened, “You want me to cook for you?”

“Yes, I do.   I know you are a great cook, and I want to see how well you do with an assignment.”

“An assignment!   Oh, I love a challenge!   What do you want to eat?”

“A chicken dish - something fancy, not just everyday fare.    You plan it out.   Here, I’ll pay for the ingredients,”   He went over to a table next to the bed and tossed her a coin purse full of gold.

“Goodness, hon, how much do you have in there?”

“I really don’t know, Shel.   Muld pays well and I don’t have a lot of expenses, so feel free to use all that you want.    Buy anything your heart desires.”

“So you really want me to cook you a fancy dinner?”

“Absolutely!   I always imagined that good wives and mothers were great cooks and since you asked me what I thought about children, I wanted to see how you feel about filling a matron’s role.    If you want to, that is."   

 

"I’m presumptuous, but from what you were saying about Mavaumn Avime, I thought this might help by having you focus on my ‘nest’.”

Shel nodded happily, “I like this sort of thing, Rick and it thrills me that you want me to do this.    I have an idea of something nice - do you have any idea how late you’ll be?”

“I’m sure it won’t be early - with a late start and Jevon gone, it will be a long day.   Let’s say that I will be home by dark… is that too late for you?”

“No; I’ll go by my house and get a few things.    This sounds fun!    I usually just sit around in my house feeling blue on my days off --- maybe this could be a solution.”

Rick took her hands in his, “Shel, please understand, I’m not making you into a maid or servant.   I thought this idea might help you.    I want you to feel happy.   If this isn’t fun for you-“

She squeezed his hands, “Rick, this is wonderful!   I love cooking special meals and you are extremely appreciative.    I could do this on all my days off.”

“I don’t want you to have to work for me every day you are off work.”

“I like it, Rick!    That’s part of the Mavaumn Avime - serving others fulfills some of the longing.”

“Well, I will repay you for it.   I have a surprise for you.”

“What is it?”

“I’ll show you after dinner.”

“Oh, now I’ll be wondering all day!”

“Something to look forward to.”

“Well, you’d best be going.   I’ve got a lot of stuff to do!”

“Feel free to spend as much money as you want - buy yourself anything you want.”

“Just ingredients this time!”   Her yellow eyes twinkled and she reached in and kissed his cheek, “Get going; I’ll be waiting for you this evening.”

“That’s something for me to look forward to.     Have fun, Shel.”

“You too, Hon.   Bye!”

“Bye!”   He nodded and gave a brief wave as he slipped out the door, smiling unconsciously as he thought of that evening.

 

***

 

Jevon stood shivering on the Airship docking platform, glad that the sun had finally come out and had managed to melt the sleet from the night before.    But the air was cold on the platform and the Silver Pegasus had not yet arrived.

 

Neither had the Changeling girl, Ant, and Jevon stood there wrapped in his cloak, wondering if he’d made a terrible mistake in agreeing to help the Bitter Dregs.    He certainly believed in the brotherhood, but he was older now and had embarked on a new career as a Practical Magician.    With Muld and Syndi missing, he’d be needed to keep up with their workload (not to mention the backlog of orders that they still had).    Even working on a few orders for the Losasidhe while helping the Dregs would not make up for the stress his absence would put on Rick, Tadd and Mutt.

He had nearly talked himself into leaving the platform and returning to the guild house when Antheeya arrived.    She now appeared as a pale blonde Losasidhe girl with lovely blue eyes and almost translucent skin.   The look was extremely attractive in a passive sort of way.    She even smiled demurely as she approached him.

*My assumed name will be Syl Botanus, both of which are Losasidhe names.*    She sent to him telepathically, which made him jump  at first, for he had forgotten her natural ability.    Quickly he purged his conscious thoughts of The Dregs, the guild’s workload and even those of the Changeling female.

“Good morning, Syl,”   He spoke aloud using her chosen name, while wondering why she had not just told him verbally.

*Because the Losasidhe spies working with Gelden will most likely have people watching Muld’s guild.    He is indirectly responsible for Gelden’s death, and our Bitter Dreg informants in Losahome believe he may have family there.   We don’t know who they are, but they may seek revenge for his death, so logically they would have their people watching Practical Magician activity.*

“It’s afternoon now, sir,”   Ant answered to mask her telepathic communication with him from anyone watching.

“Well, good ffternoon, then.    I’m not sure where the Silver Pegasus is, but it is definitely late.”

“Do you have all the equipment to fill the orders nearby?”   She asked, though they both knew he had loaded the supplies the previous evening before the storm had moved in.   She was just making casual conversation, apparently for any listening ears.

“I loaded it up last night.   I just can’t figure out why the airship is not here.”

“Maybe it was damaged in the storm.”

“Surely they would have told us.”

“Someone must know where it is.”

“Maybe there is someone at the businesses next door that knows what happened to the ship.   I’ll go see what I can find out.”    Jevon was halfway to the stairs when Ant called out to him and pointed to the east.    An airship could be seen approaching.

“It’s about time,”  Jevon commented as he returned to wait with the Changeling girl.

It was indeed the Silver Pegasus and it hurried to the dock where they were waiting.

Two crew members quickly pushed the gangplank across to the platform and motioned for them to hurry on board.

“Sure, now they are in a hurry, after keeping us waiting,”   Jevon mumbled to Ant as they rushed on board.

“What happened?”   He asked one of the crew members as they almost pushed them toward the captain’s cabin at the rear of the ship.

“The Captain will explain everything,”  The crew member responded, with a hint of annoyance in his voice.

*Something’s not right, Jevon!*   Ant sent to him telepathically.  

Before he could respond to her, the door to the captain’s cabin opened up and at the same moment they were both hit with something from behind.    As they slumped down onto the deck in the entranceway, Jevon could hear some coarse laughter over the loud ringing in his ears, and then consciousness left him.