Making Friends

When he awoke, Aarni had to peel his face off the pillow, he had slept hard and could feel the stiffness from laying on the boards. The heat of midday was seeping through the gaps in the wood, his box was heating up, and there were sounds in the cart.

“He’s in here I think,” he heard a feminine voice say, and he swore he had heard it before. Things on top of him were moved away, and before long a pry bar was pulling the nails out of his box. He clutched his sword, ready to pull it, just in case. When the lid opened the light poured in, Aarni was blinded, he shut his eyes, blinking till his eyes adjusted to the light.

“He looks alright enough to me, let’s get him out.” Said another voice, feminine enough, but cold.

“Give him a moment, he’s been shut in there all day.”

Aarni tried to speak, and found himself parched. “Where are we?” he croaked out.

“We just crossed the river, we are clear of the city patrols.” Came the soft, friendlier voice.

“Pfff.” The other woman huffed before climbing out of the cart.

The light was getting bearable and Aarni finally saw the face above him, recognizing her as the young lady that let him into the temple not long ago. He couldn’t help but stare, she looked angelic with the light behind her, especially after being trapped in that dark box for so long.

“Hey there handsome, let me help you.”

Aarni let her help him out of the box, his joints popped as he stretched out. He felt awful.

“You’ve been through a lot, how are you feeling?” she asked as she held him, helping support him as he stood, her breasts pressed into his side, his leg pressed into hers.

“Oh goddess, just fuck him already, we need to get moving.” Came the cold voice from outside.

“Pay no attention to Ania, sit down and let me take care of your shoulder.”

Aarni looked at his right shoulder, it was scratched up and bleeding a bit. He must have scraped it on the boards more when he was sleeping.

“Here, drink this.” She handed him a flask and he drank, it was sweet, light and fruity, he recognized festival wine immediately. It was alcoholic, but weak. It was drank at the festivals, which in the old days were orgies lasting all day, so it had to be hydrating and not get people too drunk. It felt familiar and brought back happy memories.

He took a second drink and grimaced, looking over to see the young lady holding a large splinter with blood covering most of it.

“Oww.” Aarni said, as she bandaged his wound.

“Oh, don’t be a baby, you’re fine.” She said, almost laughing.

“You could have warned me.” Aarni said, rubbing his now bandaged shoulder.

“I’m sorry, would a kiss make it feel better,” she was close to his face, pressing into him, smiling playfully.

“Oh goddess, Darya, just tell him what you want so he can fuck you and I can drive in peace.”

“Shut up Ania you dried up old hag, I swear I’ll **** you in your sleep if you say another word.”

“With the way you are carrying on, that might be preferred.”

Aarni wasn’t sure, but the ladies seemed far more playful than serious in their fight. He was sure, however; about Darya’s flirting, and he couldn’t help but smile.

He looked her over, she was cute, straight brown hair, big eyes, round face and pouty lips. He had seen her in her cloak at the temple, but now she wore a simple travel dress that showed plenty of cleavage. He couldn’t see much more of her as she was right up against him, not that he was complaining, and it wasn’t like he could forget those curves.

Aarni played it cool, putting his arm around the young lady casually as he stretched his legs.

“It feels good to get out of that box, it was like a coffin in there.”

“Sorry it took so long, the patrols were very thorough today.”

“Yeah, I wonder why,” came the voice from the front, “our guest cost us several hours, we’ll be lucky to reach the abbey by nightfall.”

“It’s not his fault,” Darya snapped back. Aarni couldn’t believe how fiercely this girl he had barely even met was defending him.

“No, she’s right.” Aarni interjected, “Any increases in security are likely my fault. I’ve put you both in danger, I’m sorry for that, and I owe you thanks for getting me out of the city safely.”

The voice up front just snorted, but Darya took his face in her hand and turned it to hers, “It was the least we could do for you, prince Aarni.”

“If you are grateful for your rescue,” the voice from up front added, “you could fuck Darya so she can stop trying so hard to seduce you.”

“Ania, I swear.” He could feel the mood shifting in Darya, and headed it off by pulling her face to his, kissing her long and hard.

“Don’t worry,” he said as he broke their touch, “your interest is not one-sided.”

Darya bit her lip and stared at him. “Okay.”

Aarni had been the target of so many of the servants in the castle, trying hard to seduce him and get pregnant, but none of them had been as forward as this young lady. It was exciting, but a little much.

“Your name is Darya?” Aarni started, trying to at least get to know her a little.

“Yes.” She was still staring at him.

“So tell me about yourself, where are you from, how’d you come to join the temple. . .”

“I grew up in stonewall,” Aarni knew the poor side of the city, it had been the workers quarter, and had gotten steadily worse over the years, “I competed in the city contests, but I never got the top marks. When I failed my last time last year I was recruited by Mother Blomte. I never thought I’d join the church, my mother was an acolyte up north, but when I was born I went to my father’s family.”

It wasn’t common for an acolyte to get pregnant, most of the time if that happened the lady had fallen in love and often left and married the man. He was curious, but wasn’t going to pry.

“I had hoped to join the breeding and help redeem my family, they had been merchants, but fell out.”

Aarni filled in the blanks before she could continue. She had joined the church and done her discipleship right after the competitions, so she was still a virgin, and the church could verify that, it’s how his mother had gone from starting her acolyte service to being married to the king, they could verify she hadn’t been with another man.

This young lady had a last chance to get pregnant with a royal blooded child, to fulfil her dream of elevating her family out of stonewall, gaining the connections to restore their business. No wonder she was coming on so strong.

“I see,” Aarni said.

Darya turned red, realizing he understood her situation. “So, will, you. . .”

“I’m just trying to figure out how you didn’t make it into the breeding, I mean, I would have chosen you.”

She blushed again, hard. Aarni reached up and touched her face, steering her lips to his.

“Finally,” came the voice from the front, “now put a baby in her so she can shut up.”

Aarni laughed, breaking their kiss, but Darya didn’t yell back at Ania, she just smiled at him, running her hand down his side.