Sad Gobbo

With Tiro taking the lead excitedly calling out of our arrival we make our way into the small collection of huts that made up this family residence. People seem to materialize out of the earth itself as they come out of buildings and gardens to gather, curious about their strange new guests. As I looked around at the faces and buildings it struck me how little had changed since I was here last. It reminded me that though it felt like years had passed it had only been months since I had been here last.

I receive many hearty handshakes and back slaps from those I knew but the welcome wasn’t quite as warm as I had hoped as old fears and prejudices reared their ugly heads. Had they known Rosa was Amazon we would have been turned away entirely. It was a good bellwether of what we’d have in store for us tomorrow with my close family, where I knew it would be worse. Tiro’s family had the luxury of simply treating us like overnight guests. Despite the slight chill of the greeting the family gradually warms up to us thanks to Rosa’s natural charm and Cassie’s disarming folksy wit. Cas was one of ‘us’, simple people of the earth, and it did wonders for them to accept us. Their assumption was that Cassie was my woman with the others being our slaves. Technically that was mostly true, and we do nothing to correct their assumptions, though it didn’t even come close to reflecting the true complicated dynamic within our group.

Tiro’s family was large, far larger than my little clan at home, and close to twenty people gather around the fire with about half of them related to me in some way or another. As guests, and rarefied ones at that, we are the center of attention, though thankfully none out here had heard the rumors of the new harpy slayer traveling the land so we don’t have to deal with any sort of hero’s welcome. By this time tomorrow I had no doubt word will have reached here too. Cassie sat with a group of the chattering ladies, looking rather miserable but keeping a polite smile while the kids were focused on Collywaddle who stayed glued to my hip. Otherwise most of the attention was centered on Rosa, as usual. And as usual she accepts the attention with grace, treating the group to a selection of songs on her new flute.

Around the central fire we are fed and kept in good company. As the evening wears on I am even treated by a few stories about my father in his youth from some of the older men sitting close by. I knew the stories well, I’d heard them many times, but I listen as raptly as if it were the first time again. It had been a bit since I thought about my father, that proud farmer turned soldier who died far away in unfamiliar lands for the glory of the Empire. No. No, not for glory. That wasn’t his calling. He went and he fought for us, for a better life for his family. Perhaps he would think that what I am doing is abandoning all he had held precious but in these stories I hear of that man I remembered so fondly, that man of strong frame and stronger values, I believed that he of all people would understand the sacrifices and risks I was taking in the name of my new family.

As dusk darkened we are offered two beds and a dry stable with fresh hay. Among us it is decided that Rosa and Cassie would take the beds while Colly and I would sleep in the berth next to Catalus in the stables. We come together for a private moment as the group begins to break.

“Looks like the great hero will have to wait a night to kiss this **** girl’s dainty little toes.” Rosa runs her slender fingers over my face to feel its features. “A shame.”

What she feels is a smile. “I’ll do it right here in front of the world if you command me.”

She giggles. “I know. And I never would. Your honor is mine to protect.” We kiss, drawing more than a few eyes and causing whispers to start. To these people I had just kissed my personal pleasure **** in front of my wholesome farm girl fiance, it might not be worshiping ‘dainty toes’ in public but it was brazen for even nobility who could afford such mistresses. It was done out of habit, as natural as breathing, but it was a quick reminder that our alternative arrangement was not something to be flaunted. Unaware or unconcerned about the reaction our kiss just caused Rosa continues. “Your family is nice. I can feel their kindness in every word.”

“Mm, they’re distant family. But yes. Good folk once they accept you.” I turn to Cassie. “Sorry about that.”

She grins, knowing that it was her pride I had offended by kissing Rosa. “Quin…you’re family’s nice, but I don’t give a damn what they think.” Grabbing my tunic she pulls me in and kisses me, hard. “Mrrrmmm.” She holds the kiss for a long time before letting it go again. Our lips smack as the kiss leaves us both breathless a moment. “Let them talk about that too.” She pats my chest. “Rosa’s safe with me.”

“I know. Sleep well.”

As they head for the nearest hut Colly and I turn and walk into the dark toward the stable. “How you doin, Colly-girl?”

“Thad.”

“Sad? After the songs and stories and all the kids laughing and carrying on?” I say, bending down to take her hand. “Talk to me.”

“Jutht thinking about old mathter. Never got to meet hith family. He talked about it. Heading Thouth, meeting them all. Never got to do it.”

“You miss him.” I squeeze her hand. “I do to. He was…unique. And the world needs unique people.”

“Yeah.” She sighs. “Thir? Can we have thad thex tonight?”

I have to bite my lips not to smile. Not a cruel smile. It wasn’t that I was callous to her feelings but the question was just such Collywaddle thing to say. It seemed an odd time for fucking but…when you own a goblin woman in their ‘breeding years’ there were certain responsibilities you simply had to accept. “If nobody’s around and we’re quiet…yes, Colly. We can have sad sex if you want. The saddest.”

“Hmmm. You’re the betht, Mathter Quin. Can…we pretend he’th watching?”

Not such an odd question for those who really knew the eccentric Aristocles, who had a penchant for watching his beloved little **** with bigger men so he could claim her again afterward. Letting go her hand I give her hair an slow stroke. “Of course. And…maybe he is watching, Colly. Perhaps his spirit is following his precious green dumpling right now. Watching and waiting.” I could just imagine his shade in its glory watching from beyond the veil. “If anybody would, it’s him.”

“You think he’th actually watching me!?”

“Who can say? Not me.”

“I think he ith. I do.” Her wide eyes glimmer in the moonlight as she peers around the quiet landscape. “He’ll like it…even if it’th thad.”

“I’m sure he will.” I say. “And Colly, it’s okay to cry. Anytime you need. Even during sad sex. Especially during sad sex.”

She leans her head against my hip and whispers. “Thank you, Thir.”

I pull the big wooden door open and we slip inside. A small lamp had been left burning for us at the opposite end of the building from the hay and feed near the stalls. It was meager light but warm and enough to see by. As Colly crawls into the hay of our stall I stop to visit Catalus and note that a clean new binding had been wrapped around his ankle. Beside our our proud black war steed in the stall opposite ours was a donkey and a pig. Patting his sinewy neck I say. “Keeping strange company these days, young warrior.” My hand slides down to feel the invisible wound at his shoulder. “Get used to it.”

With that I head over to my bed for the night of dry straw and warm goblin.