Another One? Really?

4th Domusdae, the 27th day of the month of Semens (Sem), the 3672nd year of Salvation's Landing

Reglin woke in an instant, feeling alert and full of energy. He remembered dreams of fighting once more. All kinds of scenarios. Sometimes not even fighting against human armies. Having not heard of any kind of armies outside of humans ever, that was surprising to his subconscious. Was there a time when there was? Apparently.

Realizing that he was in the bed of Tabitha and that he held her in his arms. She slept peacefully with long, steady breaths. As beautiful as she was, Reglin could only watch her for so long before he found himself restless and made his way out of the bed, wandering over to the reading chair and table. It felt very early still so he took a lighting stick, lit in the embers of the fireplace and then lit a reading lamp. Grabbing one of the books that Tabitha had recommended, Reglin settled in the chair and, enjoying the warmth from the hearth, began to read about auras and mana.

He read for roughly an hour when he heard the toll of the tenth Smallbell, meaning the ninth was more than likely what woke him up. And the tenth did it for Tabitha, causing her to stir. Getting up and going over to the bed, Reglin crawled over to her and kissed her good morning.

As he held himself over her, she reached up and wrapped her arms around him, “You did something last night, didn’t you?” Reglin gave a wry smile as she continued on, “It was like everything you did was like lightning striking… It felt incredible. I think I’m going to have a long way to go to be able to withstand you, Reg.” She lifted her head and kissed him, “Your lips do amazing things… Your hands do so many things to me… And now…” slipping a hand down, she cupped his manhood, “Now this is doing things I’ve never felt. It’s like you have become an avatar for desire, or love, or…” Her eyes shown with curiosity at the thoughts.

Leaning in to kiss her once more, with a good deal of passion, “I’m not certain what the meaning of it all is yet. I just want to make you feel incredible whenever I get the chance to be with you.” Descending a bit of his weight on her, she rolled with his hips as they met, bringing a groan from Reglin. “I would love to have an encore from last night, but…”

Tabitha rolled her hips up, trapping his manhood between himself and her quickly moistening pussy, “We have a little time. I am warming up the bath right now. It will take about ten or so minutes… More than enough time…” She gave him a seductive smile, ending Reglin’s trivial resistance, and so he pierced her wettened slit.

About ten minutes, and a few orgasms later, Tabitha purred deep in her throat. Reglin indulged himself in her soft skin in their afterglow. Sighing deeply, “I suppose the water should be ready?” Tabitha’s reaction was to crush herself into him in a brief embrace.

“It’s ready, yes…” She let go of him and rolled over to get out of bed and languidly walked into her bathing chambers. Reglin had no problem following that ass of hers in the stone room. When he looked at her, Tabitha had a bottle in her hand and looked to him, “I almost dumped my oils in. I suppose I should refrain on your behalf. Don’t want Asha or the boys giving you any more grief, do we?”

With a snort of amusement, Reglin just shook his head, “Please, put it in. Asha will be disappointed if all she can smell from your sheets is our nighttime activities… I think.” Pausing to think about it a moment, then shrugging, “As far as the boys go, the damage is done. No need to avoid it really. Might as well lean into it.” They both found amusement in that course of action.

Soon they were in the large pool of water washing each other, speaking about what the day may bring. Seemed as though Tabitha had a light day in respect to her responsibilities and was going to get into some research. She also gave Reglin a scolding, guilting him over his lack of practice with aura reading. Reglin pled his ignorance of what he had to do today, as most days on the guard things that needed done were just done.

There was something that was nagging at Reglin and he had to ask, “When we fell asleep last night… Well, you were in my arms this morning. So I guess it wasn’t like the night before?”

She nodded, answering the awkward question, "Yes Reg. You had a few moments right when you first fell to sleep, but they subsided quick enough... And I got to lay where I had wanted to be the night before." She leaned in and gave him a soft and loving kiss then, causing that flutter in his chest that was still so new to feel.

After some time Reglin was ready to make his way to the Watch room, while Tabitha was able to get back into her bedrobes and lay back down. Giving her a longing goodbye kiss, among other things, he made his way up to the roof and over to the servants’ stairs, making sure to lock everything behind him as he did.

Gaining entrance to the Watch room, the shit came flying his way instantaneously. Reglin took it all with laughter and made jabs back at the men. It was all good natured in the end. Once dressed in the uniform of the day, Reglin strapped his flamberge, adjusted his baldric, and made his way over to the formation area.

It was not long before Grahm came out of the Sergeant-of-the-Watch’s office with his parchments containing announcements and assignments. He got into it quick enough befitting his gruff demeanor. They were ten days out now from a Council of the Duchies meeting and there was to be a practice day for all the guardsmen to attend, barring those that were absolutely needed. That was to be in three days’ time.

Assignments followed, and the usual tandems were given their place of duty for the day. It didn’t change much day to day. Reglin found out that they were on a four-week cycle unless necessity demanded flexibility. Once all the duty assignments were called, Reglin couldn’t help but notice that his name had been absent.

Grahm held his parchment up and read it again and shook his head with an exaggerated sigh, “Reglin! I’ve got to know… Do you have a cock of gold? Or can it perform some fuckin’ miracles?”

The laughs were to be expected from the ball-busting. Reglin laughed himself before saying, “Wasn’t the last time I pissed. Sergeant. Can I ask why you are wondering about my prick? Should I be concerned or flattered?”

The laughs came again, including from Grahm, who then shook his head, “I dunno lad. If I were you, I’d lean toward the concerned side of things. Not sure getting orders to attend a Princess twice in as many days would be terribly settling for my tastes…”

The room of course filled with ooohs and laughs, but Reglin was perplexed. He didn’t think Katya would call on him again so soon. She really didn’t like him, but she also didn’t dump on him yesterday as he would have expected. His ears picked out a few calls of ‘Golden-cocked man-whore’ or the like from some of the men, responded to with derisive calls of jealousy from others. But soon enough it seemed that Reglin had picked up his first nickname from the unit. Pretty much all of them started to refer to him as ‘Goldy’.

Grahm appeared to enjoy the ridicule sent Reglin’s way. Soon though, he shushed everyone, “Don’t worry too much, Goldy. Today you get one of the nice ones. But you got to change over into your ranging gear. And don’t forget your bow! After that, report your whoring ass to the stables.” More laughs at his expense, but Reglin was thinking. And after that they were dismissed.

‘One of the nice ones… That means Asha or Cirsha. The stables were no clue to either of them as well… I guess I will just have to see since Grahm didn’t want to share.’ He thought while everyone got their last jabs in on him, commenting that he still smelled like a lady or the like before heading out.

Reglin went to his lockers and began to change over to his ranging gear. Personally, he preferred that set. It was studded leather, dyed black with painted crimson studs and pauldrons. It was very much like what he wore as a witchhunter. It felt comfortably to him. He was never that great of a shot with a bow. Good enough, but he would be interested to see how his channels affected his shot now. Finishing up his change, he went to the gear locker and grabbed a recurved longbow and a hip quiver of arrows. He wondered if he would have been strong enough to shoot such a bow with any kind of efficacy before, but he was pretty certain he could now. Even in his hands he felt like he could draw it and shoot with great accuracy. He secured the hip quiver and the pouch that Tabitha had given him, with the scroll inside, to his belt. Finally, a black waxed raincloak with a crimson liner. Looking in the mirror to make sure he was presentable, Reglin nodded to himself and turned to make his way north, out of the palace.

Getting to the stables, there was no one to be seen upon initially. Once again, it was early so he made his way down the stable stalls looking at the horses. Unsurprisingly, the stoic warhorses caught his attention. Just looking at them called up memories, or dreams rather, of commanding a mount to charge down an enemy or using them to outflank the opponents. He’d ridden a bit of course, but he always felt more comfortable with his feet under him. He wondered if that was still the case. So many new concepts in his mind, it was hard becoming difficult to separate his own experiences with the ones that the artifact had granted him.

It was when he was inspecting a particularly large charger and imagining it battering a front line that footsteps caught him off-guard. He turned nonchalantly in their direction but kept his mind alert in case of any surprise. Luckily for him, there was no surprise. There was only a diminutive woman approaching him with an inquisitive look on her face.

She was small, perhaps only a couple inches over five feet. Her dirty blonde hair was not braided but pulled back in multiple ties creating an elaborate ponytail. Without any braid, Reglin could see that her hair was naturally wavy, but not quite curly. Her eyes… They were the same pale blue eyes he remembered from so long ago, “Princess Yelena.” Fist to heart, he bowed.

The Princess paid the ceremony no mind and stepped up right in front of him, peering into his face. Taking his face in and then looking him over, up and down, her eyes returned to his, “It is you… I thought for certain that Katya was getting lazy and trying to dig up old sore spots.” She squinted as she peered further, “But no, it’s you… As hard as I find that to believe.” Her voice was soft, almost ethereal… It was oddly comforting in its way. Like nothing would bother her.

Shaking his head in bewilderment, “Your Highness, I knew I would eventually see you again, but I must say, it is good to see you.” A smile grew wider on his lips the longer her look on her. And looking on her Reglin realized that the Princess was wearing leathers meant for riding through foliage, something completely out of step with royalty, “Your attire speaks of some backcountry riding. If that is the case, I still find it hard to believe that they let you leave in such ‘ignoble’ garb.” He hoped that she would catch his intonation.

Quirking her head to the side, the Princess looked like she was puzzling something out. But finally, a soft smile came to her pale lips, “You will find that I am still the proverbial black sheep, Reglin. I get away with quite a bit these days…”

The soft smile paired with the eyes said something of sorrow to Reglin and found himself struck inside, “Your Highness, is there anything I can do? I remember back to our youth and recall a Royal Princess who didn’t think anything of playing with a farmboy. Who was incredibly generous and thoughtful…”

Waving off his words as if they were embarrassing her, she turned away, “No more of that. And no more of the ‘Your Highness’ either. We will not be on the grounds. Please, just call me Yelena… Please?”

The situation was sad to Reglin in a few different ways, but he only nodded and said, “As you wish, Yelena.”

She turned back to him and smiled wide this time, “Much better… Now, let’s get you your mount. Is there any particular temperament that you prefer? I believe we can accommodate most preferences in out stables.” She looked him up and down appraisingly once more, “And it will have to be on the larger side, for certain…”

Shaking his head slowly and thinking for a moment, Reglin answered, “Not a temperament exactly. But if you have a combat-trained mount, I know the commands and the ways of various cavalry.”

With one brow raised at his answer, a small upturn at the corners of her lips, Yelena’s eyes looked once more like they were working a puzzle, “Come. I think I know the one for you… And we are going to have much to catch up on it seems…” With that, the Princess turned and was striding down the stables.

After a short time, a dark brown and white destrier seemed to match the criteria needed for Reglin. He was an awesome beast from the Northern Duchy that was named Vredii. The animal paid Reglin no mind as he was saddled and harnessed up. And once in the saddle Vredii did exactly what Reglin wanted him to do.

Yelena had her light gray dappled mare saddled already and hopped into her seat like a well-seasoned rider, “Come on, let’s head out the North Gate to the woods.”

Reglin followed her out of the stables and then was startled briefly by the appearance of Yelena’s handmaiden. She was riding a mule equipped with saddlebags and the woman was doing needlework in the saddle! ‘Of course, she would have her handmaiden. Why hadn’t I thought of her?’

Smiling at Reglin’s reaction and at utter lack of reaction from her own handmaiden, the Princess spoke, “Come Oliyah, I know of where I want to lunch at and it will take us a bit to get there.” She gave her dapple a kick and they were off.

When they came to the North Gate a couple of the boys from Reglin’s watch were waiting for them, Halern and Nimit. They saluted the Princess with full courtesy. As Reglin trailed behind her for the moment, Halern looked at him, “Oy Goldy! You best take care of Her Highness… She’s my favorite Princess. Something happens to her, you and me are gonna have words.”

Reglin nodded and chuckled at the guardsman, “Aye Hal, trust me. If something happens to her it’s because I’m dead. Dunno what your words will do to me then.” He gave the man a salute though in respect for his sentiment. As Oliyah followed well behind, Reglin sped up just enough to get even with the Princess and caught her smiling broadly.

“I know it shouldn’t matter, but it does make my heart lighter to hear things like that from those the serve House Polivander. It’s good to know some of us are not tyrants in their eyes… But… why did he call you Goldy?” She spoke to him.

The look of innocent interest and the tone of her voice told Reglin that there was no way that he was sharing that story, “We have lots to talk about Yelena. That story can wait… For a long time, if I have my way.” The last part he muttered and didn’t think she heard it.

And so their morning trek had begun…

~This is knowledge for the Reader~

The Affection Multiplier

~Mana: 186 (+40) 226~

~Mana Channels: ~Labiae Passionii (Lips of Passion) free, ~ Corpu Vigorii (Vigorous Body) 100, ~ Uirtau Proelium (Martial Prowess) 100, ~Mensu Lucidae (Bright Mind) 100, ~ Tactu Beatae (Blissful Touch) 100, ~Plurem Amatrixae Normalii (The Normalcy of Many Loves) 500, ~Corpu Libidaem (Lustful Body) 100, ~Corpu Spectabilum (Intimidating Body) 100, ~Mentulae Potencii (Potent Cock) 150

~Tabitha~ Affectionae: 100 Erosii: 84 (+4) 88 Libidae: 100 (Effective 33)
~Lim~ A: 33 (+4) 37
~Boll~ A: 20 (+3) 23
~Grahm~ A: 29 (+4) 33
~Day's Shift Guards~ A: (+19)
~Lina~ A: 34
~Asha~ A: 68 E: 15 L: 24
~Princess Katya~ A: -52
~Maiden Caterina~ A: 18 E: 1 L: 2
~Maiden Gwynfuir~ A: 15
~Maiden Erynna~ A:5
~Lady Wilmyna~ A:17 L: 5
~Maiden Freighla~ A: 11 L: 3
~Lady Falina~ A: 12
~Maiden Deela~ A: 9
~Lady Vidala~ A: 6
~Maid Camilla~ A: 6 L: 4
~Night's Shift Guards~ A: (+6)
~Govren~ A: 2
~Princess Yelena~ A: 25 (+5) 30
~Maiden Oliyah~ A: 0 (+1) 1