“I am sorry. I will do better.”
“I know. I got some pained feeling about it but those will fade with time. Most hurts do. I bought this for you.” He held his fisted hand out. I placed my open one under his. An earring of gold with a deep green stone fell into my palm. I gasped and stared at him as he watched me intently. “It’s forest garnet. You seen it at the jeweler’s stall and said it reminded you of your grandmother’s eyes. It glows just like yours I said and got one of them sweet blushes. Would you wear it as a symbol of my affection for you?”
“Yes, yes, I will wear it forever until you pass over.”
His smile was brilliant. “Good, good. Just don’t hang me in no tree like a gutted deer. Put me in the stone like a good and proper dwarf should be placed.”
“I will. I promise. Will you help me with it?” I handed the gift back to him and turned my head to offer him my ear. “The one that is there is from Click. Push that one through next to it.”
“That’ll hurt, Chirp.”
“So did your cock in my arse but you pushed that in just the same.” He chuckled and pressed a kiss to my cheek.
“Aye, that I did.” I turned to look at him. “I love you, elf.”
“And I love you, dwarf. Now, put that into my ear.”
He did. With a hard shove that brought tears to my eyes. He kissed each tear away. The burn faded after a moment, but the love I had for him would endure. Much like his beloved stone and my holy woodlands. Love was eternal, elemental, and effervescent. Or perhaps that was just how being held in Asdren’s arms made me feel.
“It’s bleeding a bit. Let me find some astringent before it festers into—” His words were cut short by a thumping on the door. “Bugger off. The bathhouse is closed for the night!”
“Sergeant Major, I brought you a message of upmost impertinence!” What sounded like a small boy shouted under the crack of the door.
“Gods of the stone, it’s fucking Pommy. Probably carrying a note from my cousin bitching about us costing her money. Sit there for once. No sneaking off while I get the missive.”
“I will not sneak off.” It was a solemn vow. I ogled his arse after he climbed from the bath. With a mutter, he tugged on his trousers, laced them up, and slapped to the door. Opening it with a growl, the boy squeaked like a field mouse, tossed the note to Asdren and sped off into the night. Asdren read the front, closing the door with his hip, before turning to me.
“Got your name on it.”
My brow furrowed. No one would communicate with me in written form. “That is most odd.” He padded over to the pool to hand off the note. Eyeing it with suspicion, I opened the paper that had been neatly folded into an envelope. The handwriting was slanted heavily to the right. Bold, no flourishes, simple.
Meet Lawful Larry at the Violin. Midnight. Come alone. Info on Cadere for coin.
I handed it off to Asdren, who read it, frowned, and met my curious look.
“Your days of wandering off into danger alone are done. Get your pants on. We’re going to the Violin and no back sass,” he stated with authority.
I rather loved that bossy tone of his, but I would never tell him.
