“This one does,” Theseus cut in in the background.
Going for broke, I laid it all out, “My female holds herself back with her Earth magicks. She is afraid to practice on me for fear of injuring me. I am interested to hear your price, Ogre, if you are willing to aid us in this.”
“No price,” he said simply.
“That is a no, then,” I grumbled tersely, adding, “I respect your answer.”
“No,” he rumbled right back, “I will aid you and your female, but I will name no price.”
“You’re just going to work for free?” Morgan spluttered, incredulous. “Thees, surely you two can name a-”
“No price for the Troll King and his Queen, who shelter the underdwellers in Helms.” The Ogre sounded resolute. “It would be an honor to assist Helm’s King’s Queen.”
“Much appreciated,” I got out gruffly, touched by the gesture. I’d never expected anything in return when I’d thought to turn Helms into what it’s become—a refuge to many—a sanctuary.
“I’m missing something,” Morgan whispered, but let it drop.
“It is Ogre and Troll things,” Theseus said with a sniff, I assumed to get the puffy huff from the Morgan he worked for or with. Was she aware she’d won an Ogre’s favor? Much like a Troll, once they set their sights on a one, or mind to something, that was it.
“The number?” I asked crisply, changing the subject.
Jotting the number down, I reminded her to remain ever more out of my Queen and I’s business from this point out, a gentle reminder more than a threat, for now, and with no hard feelings and a tentative plan to meet with this Theseus for a few training sessions for my Queen, the call ended.
Glancing at the number I’d written down, I began to enter it into the contacts of the fancy phone my female had acquired for me.
Chapter 10
Vivienne
Iheard the phone ring from the bathroom, the familiar ringtone I’d set for my sibling going off. We’d been texting and talking, but I got evasive when she tried to set up a hangout date. She had a whole slew of friends now, Kat and Alfie and all their friends, and Ben, she wouldn’t be lonely for company without me. I just wasn’t comfortable enough to be around her just yet. My stomach coiled into knots at the thought of coming clean to her. Would I ever be ready, I wondered.
“Greetings, fair Penny!” The sound of Segrid answering my phone sent me into a panic. I hadn’t told her about Segrid and me, either.
Shooting up in the tub to hop out, slipping and sliding about the smooth, tiled floor, I squawked for Segrid to stop, but he either couldn’t hear me or wasn’t listening.
Scrambling for a towel, I had it slapped to my chest, quick-drying myself off, when Segrid came barging into the bathroom.
“You have not told your Penny of our mating, my sunshine. She is worried for you. Now she is screaming and squealing, with the sniffles. Her Cyclops is demanding to know what’s wrong but she struggles to speak. I was not aware we were being a secret. I fear I have broken your sibling!” His hand lifted and he waved my phone at me, for his hand to drop again. He almost looked panicked. Distractedly, I caught a glimpse of the picture I’d used as her ID, but it looked funny to me. His hand moved too fast to get a good look. Had he changed it? And if so, why?
“Did you tell her I’m pregnant?” I blurted, wondering at her freak out. I’d barely taken note of my absent menses, I’d been so caught up in begrudgingly attending my first Ogre ran Earth magicks lessons. Theseus was a tough teacher but surprisingly kind. I was still iffy on meeting up with the water casters, as I thought of the Merfolk Seg was still trying to work me up to meeting with. I kept thinking if I worked on my Earth magicks the water ones would fall in line, but all I got was a puddle-o-Viv for my efforts and a very concerned stare down from my Troll-squatch over there.
“Oh my god, you’re pregnant?! Me, too! Oh, this is so exciting! Hold on! I gotta...” Penny squeed, the sound long and loud.
Grabbing Segrid’s hand and jerking it up to gape at the image of my sister dancing around her towering husband, then rushing off out of the room, I blinked, then blinked again uncomprehendingly.
Ben’s gaze dropped and he brought a hand up to his eye. “Congratulations. Maybe put on a robe or something and I can look you in the eye and say it.”
“Segrid!” I hissed, turning the phone to press it to his bare chest. My treasured Troll was channeling his inner furry, a thick patch of chest hair now covering his chest where it had pre-mating-to-me been bare. “You didn’t tell me it was on a video chat thing! I’m naked!”
Segrid looked sheepish for all of two seconds, taking hold of the phone so I could finish drying off and snag some clothes. “I was not aware I was to tell you of these things.” Thick eyebrows shot up, bushy red caterpillars on his thick face. “You were not telling me of not telling of our mating. We are the Evens of Stevens now.”
“Not the same,” I muttered, but then laughed, shaking my head as I stuffed my legs into yoga pants. Jerking my favorite band shirt over my head, I heard a muffled, “Oh, what happened? Did they get disconnected?” my sister’s squeaky voice coming on.
“No,” Ben grumbled, “they started arguing and I got shoved into a forest of Troll tits and chest hair.”
“Ben, don’t be gross.” Pen burst out.
“It ain’t being gross if it’s the truth, sweet wife,” Ben reasoned. “That, my lucky Penny, is a vast expanse of Troll chest hair.”
