Crazy

I sit with Colly for a time talking about friends, futures and family in ways we’d never done before. Through laughter and sorrow, victory and tragedy, Colly and I had shared some heart to hearts. But this time was different. For the first time I could remember Collywaddle was talking about her own future as something worth striving for in itself and not as an addendum to her master’s fate. While the decision on kobaloi copulation might still hang in the balance the one pertaining to her freedom took a giant step forward.

“You being free does not change my feelings for you, Colly.” I pet her hair. “I don’t need a piece of paper to tell me I need to stand up for my friends and support them when they need me. We won’t abandon you, Collywaddle. You’re family now.” Leaning down I kiss her head. “You’re stuck with us. Until you decide we’re not.”

“Hm.” Colly whispers as she stares at her own wiggling toes, her resolve softening by the second. A snort from Catalus draws her attention to the canvas curtain that gave us privacy. “You…brought Cat. Even though it wath hard.”

“Yes we did.” I say. “Because he’s part of us too. And because you insisted. I couldn’t break your heart like that.”

She glances up at me with a little grin. “Rotha ith right. For a big guy you’re a thoftie.”

“You know it.” I chuckle. “Just think about it, okay? If nothing else it will be less trouble. No more ‘slaves in the back’ or ‘no slaves allowed’ or any of that nonsense.”

“We could eat together in Grumentum town thquare.”

“That too.” I say. “Not that we’re like to be there again.”

“It would be weird not calling you Thir.” With a little sigh, her hands across her belly while her fingers absently gripped at it, she says. “I’ll think about it.”

“You’ve got time to decide. No hurry.” Just then there is a soft clearing of a throat just beyond the canvas. “Rosa?”

Indeed I had recognized the ‘ahem’ correctly as my Lady pulls back the curtain a few inches. Looking ethereally beautiful in the pale blue light she looks down at us and in an instant picks up on the intimate energy. “Am I interrupting?”

“Not at all.” I say, motioning her in.

“Mathter caught me and Grub…erm…”

“She’s having urges.”

“Baby makin urgeth.”

“Ah.” Rosa says with soft sympathy and comes to sit on Colly’s other side, her lack of sight only slowing her slightly as she moves with care. She slips her arm around her friend. Colly leans into her and rests her head on Rosa’s chest. “Those are powerful urges.”

“Yeah.” Colly nods. “Now Mathter wants to thet me free.”

“He’s always wanted that. You’re not a possession, Collywaddle. You’re our dear friend.”

“Yeah.” Colly slumps into her, feeling the fabric of Rosa’s dress. “That’th what he thaid too.”

Peering through the crack in the curtain Rosa had left behind her I ask. “Where’s Cassie?”

With a smile Rosa pats my arm. “She and I are not attached at the hip, my love. The men won’t try anything with The Wingslayer on board. They’re good men. Nikias chose them well.” She then giggles and glances to the ceiling. “Our baby Lady is growing up quick. Cassie’s taking well to her new celebrity.”

“Celebrity!?” I scoff. “Cassie? Our Cassie? The woman I met plucking crawfish from the river?”

“The very same. And yes, celebrity. For all of us. You most of all, hero.” She says warmly. “The harder you fight it the louder Fama blows her trumpet.”

“Rosa, this is not good. We’re trying to stay out of sight.”

“Good or bad it’s what is happening.” She says. “You can try to reason with them or bribe them or even threaten them, but the moment this crew is in port and they’re a couple of cups into their wine the tales of our deeds will continue to grow. People need heroes, Quin. They need tales to pass the quiet nights and inspire their days. Our visit will be a cherished memory for these men. Who are we to take that from them?”

With a sigh I say. “This is not going how it was supposed to go.”

“Oh?” She tilts her head. “We walked to a port and are now sailing for the East. Seems like things are going exactly according to plan.” Patting my shoulder she says. “Let me talk to Colly, my love. Why don’t you go protect the crew from your fearless Amazon archer.”

“Amazon…!?”

“Just a rumor my pointy ear caught on the wind. These tall tales do take on a life of their own, don’t they?” She boops me, diffusing my panic in an instant. “Go on, pet. We’ve got some girl talk to take care of here.”

“Yes, my Lady.”

“Good boy.” She rewards me with a pet.

I make my way back up onto deck to find Cassie holding court near the front of the ship. Any crewman not actively busy was currently standing around her gawking and peppering her with questions about our adventures. Glancing up onto the top of the aft cabin stands Kreer, his arms crossed tightly across his chest, and an amused looking Nikias. For her part Cassie had the men eating out of the palm of her hand despite not feeding them a thing. With haughty laughter, eye rolls and dismissive shakes of her head the buxom brunette simultaneously soaked in the attention while giving away absolutely nothing. For a common farmer’s daughter more accustomed to wrestling her brothers than giving curtsies my partner could play the inaccessibly ‘better-than-you’ noblewoman with the best of them. It was actually kinda hot in a whole new way for her. Some of the questions struck close to the truth others were downright outlandish. It seems that Buxentum bard had borrowed deeds from other folk tales or made details from whole cloth when he spun his stories the night before. Cassie confirms nothing, denies nothing, but in just her reactions the men were reading exactly what they wanted to.

Using the side railing for support I make my way toward her. She flashes me a smile when she catches sight of me, her amusement at all of this attention shining through her twinkling blue eyes. The sailors hoot as they welcome me into their throng.

“The mighty Quin hisself.” Says one looking as Aeneas himself had stepped out of legend and into the present day. “Pleasure to meet ya, Sir.” He thrusts hand onto my forearm for a shake.

Not knowing exactly what these men had heard I continue to try to downplay the reputation. “Just Quin.”

Another man steps up beside me to touch my arm, which instinctively I pull back from. “Is it true you bed all three every night?”

“Look at him!” The first one says, still shaking my hand. “It would take three of them to slake his heroic thirst.”

Growing ever more amused Cassie comes up to press herself into my side, her hand gliding up my chest possessively. “That is none of your business, you saucy old sea-dogs.” She says. “Though I will say…Quin here does have a hearty appetite.” Cassie stifles a laugh as she watches me squirm. Unable to resist she continues. “And don’t let his friendly smile fool you, he is insanely jealous. Stick a head through our curtain and you’re liable to lose it.”

A ripple of laughs and whispers goes through the men, most of them nodding along as if they’d do the same thing if they were a ‘hero’ like me.

“You mind excusing us a moment?”

“Ahhh.” The men bay as one, as if I might throw Cassie down right here on the deck to have my way, then spread out to return to their duties.

Looking down at Cassie, who was now biting her lips to hold in the laughs, I grumble “You are having way too much fun with this.”

“And why shouldn’t I?” She smiles. “It feels nice to be noticed. Rosa said it’s going to happen anyway, might as well enjoy it while we can. This might be my only chance at fame. Even if it is just a ship full of sailors with over-active imaginations.”

“At this rate the Seren’s are telling our tales over their silk table cloths.”

“Easy there, hero.” She pats my broad chest. “It’s just a passing craze. People are hungry for new stories. We’ll be forgotten about soon enough. Besides, it could end up helping us. If they are looking for Rosa they’re looking for the slave of a farmer, not a hero’s pleasure girl.”

“I still don’t like the attention.” My eyes flit up to Slubbergrub who sat atop the yard atop the mast staring down at me. The moment I look his way his head snaps away and he pretends to be looking at some far off bit of interest. “Also, we’ve got a situation.”

Cassie listens as I explain what had happened down below and that I might be giving Colly her freedom, both for her own sake and so that she could pursue breeding with Grub if she so chose. She listens in silence as I explain my reasoning. When I was done talking she stares at me a moment.

“Huh. Interesting. I see.” There is another long pause before she suddenly spins me so that we were facing out away from any witnesses and exclaims. “Are you CRAZY!?”