A Knight and his Squire (Closed for Apollo Wilde)

[Nouh_Bdee]

Albus completely empathized with one of her concerns. He considered the issue of what he would expect of her in their future life together settled. He didn’t mind saying it as many times as it took to convince her, though. If he got his way, there would be plenty of time to come up with the right words.

The fear that she felt that he would change his mind: that he understood. That had been the same reason he had thought she was just being delirious the first time she said she loved him. He smiled at the thought. Seeing her naked had been quite nice. But, he knew now that he had already loved her. He sat back on his leg and thought.

“I would never have called it love, thinking you were a man. But I realize now that I’ve loved you for some time. You’ve been the most important person in my life for years.” He smiled at her, a calm and understanding smile, his mouth just slightly turned up and his eyes wide open to look at her. “Taika, when you started talking about there not being a place for a squire in a marriage, I dismissed it because the very thought of losing you was so abhorrent to me. When your mood failed to get better, before I knew it was your time, I worried you were taking the idea of leaving my service seriously.”

Albus swallowed at the memory of how he’d felt. His smile had disappeared, and his eyes were watery. “Taika, I was ready to call off the wedding. You know how much I’ve dreamed of being married. Yet, even when I still thought you were a man, you were important enough to stay unmarried forever, just to ride around the world with you.”

He reached up to put a hand on her cheek, staring into her beautiful golden eyes. “I wouldn’t have called it love, then, but now I know that’s what it was. I don’t really know when it started. Maybe it’s always been there.” His smile was back. “I’m just glad we’ve uncovered it.” He thought she could do with a bit of teasing, herself. “And if it took your magnificent breasts to knock me out of madness and into clarity, then so be it.”

Albus blushed immediately, surprised at himself for being so forward. But, then again, they were almost engaged now, so maybe he shouldn’t have been. Nevertheless, his confidence faltered, and he continued sheepishly.

“As for your other concern, I would never insist, but there are a small number of changes that I would like to make to our life together after we’re married. One, at least in private, I don’t want you to be my squire anymore. We’ll be partners now. Two, if there’s a way to do it with consequences we can accept, I want to stop pretending you’re a man. I don’t like the idea of you pretending to be someone you’re not. Three…” Albus’s blush intensified until his face felt like Taika had breathed on it. He could barely get the next words out. “I...want to help you...with your Times.”

He cleared his throat, trying to regain some sort of knightly composure. “I hope you can agree to my conditions, because I do want to start treating you a bit differently. We’ll still fight side by side, but after each battle I’m going to want to kiss you.”

 

[Apollo Wilde]

So he did feel the same!

Relief coursed through her, manifesting in that small, special smile that she’d so often use with Albus when they were alone. Her hand covered his own on her cheek, and though everything screamed at her to kiss him, she kept her smile – and her distance.

Then, that languid blink at his comment at her breasts – and a laugh, startled out of her, short and sweet. “Well – I didn’t think that I would ever see the day that proper Albus said something like ‘breasts.’” She was teasing, letting him know that she wasn’t insulted; that she was, in fact, indeed amused at his forwardness, so out of character it was for him. And though her Time, so intense that it was nearly painful was over, and her sex drive was back to normal, she couldn’t deny the physical attraction was there. She’d seen him in various states of dress – but hadn’t seen him naked since they were both children, and even then that was purely by accident. Time had been kind to him, at least, from what she could see.

And maybe what she could feel when they slept together and he woke up in a state of arousal.

She listened intently to his requests, closing her eyes as she thought. “Actually,” she said, once she was sure he was done (ignoring the flare of desire with his last two statements), “The reason why I dressed like a man are according to the rules of this land, only men can be squires, and then knights. I did consider, when I was much younger, running away to my mother’s people so I could be a warrior as a woman, but once mama heard, she told me why she left, and it didn’t seem like it was a good idea. ‘You’ll be killed,’” Taika rasped out, in a fair approxiamation of her mother’s voice. “Not only because mama was exiled, but because I’m a dragon half.” She flexed her tail behind her thoughtfully. Since her family was so close, she’d never really felt slighted that one half of her family she would never get to know. “Mama loved father enough that she left everything she knew.” Now, if that wasn’t romantic, she didn’t know what was. Maybe it would appeal to Albus, hearing that. “So I decided that joining this land’s order would be best for me. It seemed like a good idea at the time.” She gave a slight shrug, additional punctuation to the end of her statement.

“But if we are partners now, then we must shake on it,” she offered her hand, expecting him to grasp her upper arm, in a handshake that was common among equal knights. It had originally started as a gesture to check for weapons hidden up sleeves, but now, had come to stand as an expression of deeper comraderie, as it required more intimacy than a typical hand shake. “As for riding by your side, as long as you are a knight, in public, I will do my best to present myself as a woman – but you realize that this will cause quite a few problems.” She hadn’t realized it, so used to playing the role of a man, but as she spoke the words, she knew how vastly her world was about to change. Drastically, and irrevocably. “I ask that you will help me – and that you must also steel yourself, for your integrity will be called into question once it’s known that I am a woman. They will say cruel things about you, and will possibly attempt to harm you.” Imagine – she would be the first female squire, or knight, that she knew of, in this land. Perhaps she could inspire others. The thought made her smile.

She hadn’t meant to ignore his comment about her Time, and, again, thinking of a gentle way to put it, she put her hands on the side of his face, making sure that he was facing her. “As for my Time…” She swallowed, then, spoke. Fortune favored the brave. “I know you cannot lay with me until we’re married, but should I have a Time before then, I can show you ways to help me that would keep your purity in tact.” It was hard for her to say, since the simplest way would be for him simply to make love to her, but the thought of him leaning over her, watching her face, as he slid that beautiful leather toy in and out of her was irresistable. If he did that, he wouldn’t be jepordizing anything, would he?

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

Albus did his best to keep his emotions in check. It really sounded like, by the end of this conversation, he and Taika would be engaged! To be married! He was going to be a husband! Not only that, but his wife was going to be his best friend, and she wouldn’t have to stay home while he left, pining for her until he could find time to make it back to her. She would be with him, swinging a blade, breathing fire, and curling up with him by the fire at night. This life that he saw for them was a better one that he’d ever hoped he’d have. He failed, utterly and completely, to keep a rapidly widening smile off his face.

Taika was so beautiful, too. Her face had always been attractive, but now that he knew she was female it just seemed to fit her better. He imagined running his fingers over her soft, smooth cheek, twining his fingers in her hair, and looking deeply into those red-flecked golden eyes while he pressed his lips to hers. He should really listen to her while she was speaking, though.

She was right that how people would treat them could be an issue. He’d never heard of a female knight, but Taika was well known as the most accomplished and capable squire in the history of their order. More than once Albus had shrugged at questions from the other knights about why “he” wasn’t yet a knight. Surely they would make an exception for her, wouldn’t they?

Albus locked arms with his fiancé, irrepressible grin on his face and love in his eyes. “I meant what I said. If living among men as husband and wife, both knights, becomes too much to bear, we’ll leave. We’ll find a cave somewhere and hunt for our own food. As long as you’re with me, I don’t need anything else.”

He let go of her arm, unintentionally sighing in bliss as she put her hands on his face. He wasn’t sure what she was describing. It sounded dangerous. If he indulged himself in her touch too much, or even the sight of her, as he had last night, he may not be able to control himself. Even last night, it had taken all his willpower to walk away. If that happened again, he may give in. He didn’t want her to suffer the way she had last night, though. He would help her, and he would do his best to keep his self-control. Hopefully, they could be married before the need arose. That thought gave Albus chills of anticipation. He couldn’t wait to find out what couples did together, and then do those things.

“Let’s just get married before we have to worry about that. Now, I feel like we shouldn’t go to House Visserig. I’m sure the girl is lovely and I have no wish to offend her. Should we ride to the Chevalier estate and send for my parents? Should we meet your parents and write a letter to mine from there? Or, should we rejoin the other knights and use their couriers to send word?”

Albus felt like Taika had a better instinct for these kinds of problems than he, and he would follow her anywhere. Those thoughts were interrupted by an important realization. “The stew! You must be starved! Eat first, my love, and then we will discuss our future.”

 

[Apollo Wilde]

Before she had a chance to respond, her stomach, sensing that all was right with the world (for the time being, at least,) growled audibly, causing her to flush briefly in embarassment. How uncouth.

“I think that will be a good idea.”



Lunch had passed quietly – at least, on her end. She was indeed ravenous, and ate heartily. Once she’d gotten her fill, she sighed in contentment. Finally, her body was back to normal, and the logic she’d applied earlier was kicking back into full gear. Without his saying so, she knew that Albus would rely on her to plan things out; it was what she was good at. And certainly not a thing that she begrudged him; she just wanted to make sure that he fully understood and that they were on the same page, and he wasn’t blinded by his emotions.

Though, in comparison, she would seem to have drastic mood swings; the fevered moaning of the night before, the yelling of this morning to make herself clear; these things were far out of character for her. Something about her nature (perhaps it was the fact that she was a dragon-half, after all) made it easier for her to keep a cooler, rational head. And that’s where she was now, thinking about all of the things she’d never considered before, and doing her best to suss out a good answer for them.

“There should be no rush for us to get married,” the words were spoken plainly, calmly. “For me, I have never considered the option until now, so I am not sure how you would want for it to be perfomed. It seems that it would take a lot of money, and time, and planning – and for both of our parents to attend to be proper? And rings? And a priest?” She said the last, questioning, looking at him for reassurance. They’d stood in a few weddings before – either as protection, or as guests (namely, Albus was the one invited), but she never paid that much attention. Largely, she found them boring, overly long, stuffy and tired affairs, always tinged with a bit of grief that she was unable to put a finger on as to why. “And, there is your father to consider. Not responding wouldn’t be proper. And I want to prove to him that I am a worthy bride.” The words felt strange, bitter, almost. She grimaced, the expression so faint that Albus could have imagined it on her face. “If not in traditional womanly things, then by my merit as a warrior.”

She would have more to worry about from his parents than hers; her own parents were far more concerned with her safety (her father, moreso than her mother). Her mother, though she knew always asked for her to bring home a handsome man, had to be full of pride that her daughter was following in her own amazon footsteps, even if the path was a bit different.

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

Albus ate largely in silence, but the smile that kept jumping out on his face between bites said plenty. He was sharing a meal with his fiancé! They’d shared countless meals over the years, but he knew this simple pot of stew was special. It was the first of many meals they would share as two people in love with each other. He couldn’t contain his glee at the thought, even humming to himself as he chewed the gamey meat. Anytime Taika looked over his grin would just get wider.

Taika was right, of course. The only reason to rush their wedding would be because Albus just wanted to. Weddings were primarily for the families, after all, and not really for the happy couple themselves. There was no reason not to give their families all the time they needed to make sure the event was special. Albus was excited about the opportunity to buy Taika a ring, though!

“Tell me what kind of jewelry you prefer. It’s traditional for the groom to surprise the bride with a ring, but I want to make sure it’s perfect.”

The priest was a necessary component as well. Albus wanted to honor the vow he’d taken years ago, to never lay with anyone other than his wife, and a holy wedding certified by an ordained priest would be required for the marriage to be recognized by the church. The rest, in Albus’s opinion, was optional.

“I’ll need to speak with your father, as well.” Oh, no. Albus just realized that meant asking a full dragon for his daughter’s hand in marriage. That was a bit terrifying. He hoped Taika couldn’t see the blood flee his face. He took a deep breath and reminded himself that Taika was worth facing a hundred angry dragons for. In fact, that conversation might be easier than Taika’s.

“You know my father and I rarely see eye to eye. I honestly don’t know how he’ll respond to this. You will be a more worthy wife than I could have ever hoped for, but whether he sees that or not you are not obligated to endure his buffoonery. Just, do try not to burn him alive.” Albus considered his own words for a moment. “Although, a little singeing may be in order.” That thought brought his smile back, but he felt bad about it. “I shouldn’t have said that. He’s my father, and as much as I disapprove of him I should be respectful. I apologize. You deserve a better husband and knight than that.”

 

[Apollo Wilde]

“We’re already on the road to see your father; we may as well. And once we’re in your homestead, we can write to my family and let them know what’s happening. Mama will be thrilled.” There was a brighter smile from her, a wider thing that, once she showed to Albus, was all too clear as to why she hadn’t smiled like that before. It was wholly feminizing, turning her face from the pretty boy to a beautiful young lady. It seemed to make her eyelashes longer, her lips fuller, the curve of her face smoother. At the comment about burning his father, she actually laughed - a short, soft thing. “I can assure you that I have dealt with worse than your father in my time, and have not had to use my fire on them. It will be fine.”

She longed to reach out, grasp his hand in comfort, but now that she was, well, a woman to him, she wasn’t sure what he would allow. It was all too complicated for her: she was a woman, but his fiancé, but they were still yet unmarried, so…it would be best to keep her distance. Her smile faltered a bit; not out of sorrow, but rather, out of pleasant confusion. He’d been chaste as the highest order of monk - she was witness to that. And she would have to respond in turn.

“And you will be a fine husband, and a fine knight. Perfection only exists in fairy tales. The rest of us bumbling fools make the best of what we have.” Her smile shrank back to the small, quaint thing that she was used to giving him, far more special than what she typically bestowed on others, but not the bright smile as before. Ah; that was right - he’d mentioned jewelry. Remembering, her eyes seemed to glitter with an avaricious nature that was wholly unfamiliar to him. Well, she was half a dragon. “Well…I don’t like to wear jewelry.” It seemed very simple, “Because I like to collect the gemstones.” There was that glitter again; it was almost comical, seeing her light up like this, nearly rubbing her hands together with glee. “I have quite the collection at home…And I try to pick up a piece or two while I’m on the road.” For her, it was far more fun to collect the gems, jewels, and keep them all in one, glittering, marvelous place for her to fondle, admire, and feel in her hands as she pleased. And surely, allowing herself to be fond of gems, wanting to collect more, guarding them possessively - that was human enough, wasn’t it? And she knew her collection, the most precious items she sent home, would be just as possessively guarded by her family. More than once, she’d gotten an addendum in her letters from her family, commenting on the value of one gem or the other.

“Why don’t you surprise me still? Pick a stone and a ring that you think would suit me best. I won’t be able to wear it on my finger, for fear of losing it. But I can wear it as a necklace. I would advise you to do the same.”

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

Albus had never seen Taika smile like that. If he hadn’t been in move with her, he would be now. He promised himself he would keep an eye out for opportunities to make her smile like that again. He knew he was so much happier with Taika than he would have been with the Visserig girl. He was sure she was lovely, but he had been unwittingly building love for his squire for years. How could a stranger compete with that?

Albus was glad that his fiancé wasn’t already disappointed with him. She was right, too, but he also felt that reaching for perfection was a worthy goal, even though he would never reach it. That didn’t mean anyone escaped foolishness, though.

He put his finger on his chin in a thoughtful gesture. “You know, I think despite all your wonderful qualities. your wisdom may be your best one.”

He was happy to hear how much she liked gems. He hoped that now that they were fiancés she would keep opening up more to him. He wanted to know as many things she loved as possible, so he could find ways to give them to her. Hopefully it would make her smile. He had always believed that making his wife smile would be the greatest joy of his life, and now that he knew it would be Taika and he had seen her smile, he knew he had underestimated how much joy it would bring him.

“I will find you the perfect ring.” His face was beginning to feel strain from the constant smiling, but he couldn’t keep it down.

It was midday now, and they should make a bit of progress. “Shall we ride for my father’s house?”

He started readying the packs, stealing glances at smiles and his love as he did. He was just so excited! How could his life get any better?

 

[Apollo Wilde]

Another brief, soft laugh as he mentioned her wisdom. She knew she still had a lot to learn - about the world, the ways of man, of life. But she was flattered nonetheless that Albus did rely on her in such a fashion. “Yes. Perhaps the sooner we get to your father’s, the sooner we can decide what is next to do.”

It wouldn’t nearly be as simple as that, she thought to herself, as she prepped Boy for the ride. Saying their affections was one thing; actually carrying them out quite another. Still, she had faith in herself and her ability as a squire and a warrior. She had the blood of dragons and amazons in her, and, to her, her pedigree was as illustrious as they came, though she never was one to sit on the laurels of her family.

Before they were on the road again, however, she took the time to spruce up a bit in a nearby stream. The water was absolutely frigid (she supposed it had its beginning up in the mountains), and so she didn’t dwell long, keeping herself moving swiftly so not to tempt her system back into hibernation. As she dressed again, she took in a deep breath, calming herself as she redid the ties on her shirt. She had foregone her typical breast bindings - but with a bit of creative rigging, she had created a supportive garment from them, helping to hold her breasts up and offer some protection from the jostling of the road. When she re-joined Albus shortly, she was as proper and as elegant as she ever was - the only difference the healthy heft of her chest, now freed. If one were to look at her quickly, it would be easy to still mistake her for a beautiful young man.

The ride to Albus’s home was somewhat quiet - she was again lost in thought. Preparing, in a sense, for what was about to happen, and to get a better idea of what was going on with her body. Gone was that initial thrill of confession, settled by the pragmatism she was known for. Things like rings and ceremonies weren’t high in her mind - but how her life was going to change. How would she approach Albus’s father and mother? Was Albus not considering the state that he was putting his family in? Sweet, dear, Albus - his heart always was in the right place, and he truly meant well, but…he didn’t think things through clearly all the time. And without her truly knowing this particular opponent, she was at a loss at how to actually win whatever battle may lay ahead for her.

On the physical side, her body seemed recovered. There was still a lingering bit of fatigue she could feel round the base of her tail, tugging on her limbs - nothing a good night’s rest wouldn’t take care of. Her Time, as accelerated as it had been, didn’t appear to leave any ill effects, save for being a bit tired. Rather than condemn herself for not handling it as best as she could, she soothed herself with the reminder that she had undergone quite a few shocks in a short amount of time; of course her body would have been quick to respond. As she flexed a hand around Boy’s reins, she could feel that she was rapidly getting back to normal, and, blessedly, had all of her senses back. Sure, there was still the sweet perfume of Albus, of his joy, that she was able to scent on the wind that would surely addle her if she let it, but that was the main thing: IF she let it. Now she had enough control so that she wasn’t instantly besotted with him.

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

Albus rode in happy silence until evening. Taika seemed to be thinking, and he didn’t want to disturb her. Surely there were many things to consider, and Albus wasn’t knowledgeable about what most of them were. He wondered, of course, what she was thinking about. Was she planning their wedding? Would she have opinions about things like floral arrangements and the design of the cake? Would she even want to wear a dress? Albus had no opinion on the matter. If she wanted both of them to march down the aisle in full plate armor, he would have no objection. The thought made him realize that he really didn’t have any experience with femininity in her. He had certainly noticed that she was no longer binding her chest. This made him happy for multiple reasons: he was sure it had been painful for her to wear that every day for years, and he enjoyed seeing the weight and swell of her chest. Surely it wasn’t a violation of chivalric chastity to admire the appearance of his fiancé’s body, right? Although the memories of stumbling upon her in the forest the night before might be a gray area.

But surely there would be some ways she would act differently now that she was not hiding her gender. Albus was curious to see what they were. He wasn’t worried about the resilience of his feelings for her. He knew her heart and her mind. She was his true love, and now that he had realized it a higher voice and flirtier glances would certainly not change that. If anything, he was excited to see the parts of herself that she had been hiding. He wanted to know everything about her, like he’d thought he already did.

When they stopped to tie Boy and Char to a nearby tree, Albus built the fire and grabbed his bow. His proposal had been heartfelt and true, and he knew he would get a ring for her later, but it still felt off to him not to have given her anything tangible to go with his profession of love. Even if it was only a few squirrels, he wanted to give her something. He hurried off with barely a word, hoping to handle this one hunting excursion on his own before Taika could get the rest of the camp set up. If she followed him, he didn’t see her. He actually was able to get a deer! An arrow in the beast’s shoulder brought the creature down after a short flight. He grabbed the antlers and lifted dinner onto his shoulders, smiling on his walk back to camp.

Just as he was about to put down the animal, a thought had occurred to him. He didn’t know how he’d missed it. It wasn’t nearly as cold as it had been higher in the mountains, when they’d been riding to the dorchalfe outpost. It was cold enough that Albus would have normally offered his body heat to his squire for the night. Would they sleep holding each other, now that he knew she was a woman, and they were engaged? Should they, or would it make remaining chaste too difficult for the both of them? It would be trying, certainly. Albus considered it, frozen there holding his kill as Taika looked at him in confusion. Finally he decided he would not leave her to bear the chill alone. As her fiancé, he couldn’t bear that. He would deal with his pains from overarousal. He’d suffered those often enough, and he could do it again.

He set the creature down, and then explained what he’d been thinking. “I know it will be hard, to share heat as we normally do and remain chaste. I won’t let you suffer the cold, though. If you need it, let’s not hesitate to lay down together for the night. I confess, despite my concerns the idea appeals to me more even than I had thought it would.” He looked with warmth at his newfound gem of a fiancé to see her reaction.

 

[Apollo Wilde]

To be fair, Taika typically was “thinking” on their rides. The reveal of her gender hadn’t changed that much. Occasionally, she would glance over at him, notice the sunbeam smile on his face, and smile a bit to herself, ducking her head. She’d never seen him so happy; it hardly seemed that he was tethered to the ground with Char.

There would be no immediate changes - Taika would go on about her Squire’s duties with the same deftness that had garnered her much praise before. And as they were settling for the night, she could only blink in confusion as Albus dashed off into the forest. Perhaps he had an upset stomach? No; he wouldn’t have brought his bow with him. He could have at least asked her to start the fire (on a few occasions, though she liked showing that she had the skill to start a fire with her hands alone, she wasn’t above breathing a thin stream of flame onto tender). She mused to herself as she rubbed Boy’s neck, the horse whickering softly. He’d held up on the journey well, and that pleased her.

“What do you think he’s up to?” She asked the horse, only to receive a slight headbutt into her shoulder. With a laugh, she scratched the long plane of his nose, the horse’s favorite caress. “Spoiled,” she chided, lightly. She could no more speak ill of the horse than she could stop the sun from rising.

By the time Albus had arrived, she’d made herself comfortable by the fire. Now that there was no need to hide her gender, she had removed her armor, and it was laying neatly by the rest of her things. She was wrapped up under a rabbit trimmed blanket, the fabric and fur bunched so highly around her neck and shoulders that she looked more like a turtle than a person. She glanced up, spotting the deer on his shoulders, and instantly stood, the blanket dropping from her grasp. Beneath it, she wore her usual garb - ankle height riding boots trimmed with fur, baggy black pants, and a pale tan shirt, the collar and sleeves painstakingly embroidered in thin, goldenrod thread. The difference now, with her chest unbound, is that the v-neck of the shirt displayed a fair amount of the tops of her breasts, the skin a smooth russet that looked as fine as marble.

“Oh,” she said, at length, once he was finished talking. She hadn’t quite thought that far ahead - so caught up in everything else. Then, that short, soft laugh - something she was letting out more often around him. “I’m past my Time - so there is no problem in remaining chaste. We could layer clothing and my spare blanket between us as well if that will help ease your mind.” Without passion and lust addling her mind, it was easier to think - and to respect his wishes. In fact, it would sound so easy coming from her that it would come off as complete disinterest. If he wanted to wait, she could wait. Her normal sex drive she was a master of, and as far as she knew, there was no additional risk of her Time coming on so quickly and so forcefully. “If I recall,” she added, hoping to ease his unspoken fears, “Times that come on through trauma and shock are brief - almost like pouring gas on a fire. It’s too fierce to last long. And there are months still before my next Time. You need not worry. I think I can manage on my own, though, I appreciate your concern as always.” In those dulcet, husky tones, it wasn’t quite clear that she was indeed, rejecting his offer to share a bed. Had things been as they were before, she would have thought nothing of it, but now there were his vows - and considering how he typically treated women and the restraint he showed, far be it from her to tempt him.

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

Albus walked over to her, putting quite a bit of effort into not looking at her chest. Poor woman. She was so used to being strong and stoic for him, more than he’d known before yesterday, and probably more than he still knew. He intended to remedy that, but he would need her help. He was thankful that she was slightly taller than him, because otherwise he would have struggled more to avoid looking at her very impressive cleavage. He looked up into her eyes with an odd combination of reverence and amusement.

“My dear, sweet fiancé, it was not your self-control I was concerned about.” He brought his hand up to stroke her face, but when it was halfway there he thought better of it. They would have time to grow more affectionate to each other. His hand shook slightly as he lowered it. He swallowed, nervous so close to her. “Your Time or not, you are beautiful, and I am only a man.”

Saying it out loud was a task that required a few breaths for him to recover from. Once he did, he reluctantly accepted her offer to make it easier for him to resist her. “Perhaps it would be wise to keep your blanket between us, as much as the thought saddens me. It’s amazing: yesterday the thought of laying next to you, holding you as we slept--I wouldn’t have spared a thought to any concerns of chastity or propriety. Now...well, now I’m wondering how much trouble I’ll have falling asleep for the proximity. The thoughts of youuh…” He almost said your body, but he stopped himself. “I struggle at times to think of anything else.”

Albus had always been the type to think out loud, especially with Taika. As he realized what he’d just said and almost said, though, his face reddened. Clearly there were some aspects of their changed and changing relationship that still needed to be navigated. He stood there for...too long...before remembering dinner.

“Oh, uh...I, uh, I brought you a deer.” He gestured behind himself to the animal he killed. At least his bow was more sure than his tongue this evening.

 

[Apollo Wilde]

Finally having her chest freed was a relief for Taika. She’d stoically wrapped her chest since she first started developing, and had told herself not to get too used to the idea of not having them bound up. However, even she could not have foreseen this possibility - and now that it was here, she was going to relax in it. Not that she noticed Albus’s attempts not to stare at her chest as she moved about her typical duties, unaware of how the practiced motions made her breasts jostle and bounce in a way that would have been appealing to even the most devout of monks.

As he reached up to touch her face, she simply blinked at him in curiosity and bemusement. She had expected his restraint, and though she was tempted to kiss his forehead or pat his shoulder, she refrained. Demonstrative gestures had been a thing with her when she was younger, between the two of them, when she’d thought nothing of lavishing her love on him as a brother. As she’d gotten older and then with the Change, her touches to him had been sparing, but always under the guise of friendship and brotherhood. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d actually hugged him. She ducked her head ever so slightly with his compliment, feeling her cheeks burn a bit. She was no stranger to being called “beautiful” - but it was usually in tear-soaked letters from some maiden or the other, and never from a man. Strange how hearing it from him made her chest flutter a bit.

Listening to him, she nodded, somewhat sagely. She hadn’t heard him ever be so open with struggling with his vows, and in a strange way, she decided to be complimented by it. His body language had changed towards her, and it wasn’t in a way that she felt slighted. He came across as wholly nervous and unsure, and that she could not fault him for. “I think you think too little of yourself and your ability to maintain your vows,” she said, softly, meaning it to be reassuring. But she was also encouraged; his speaking plainly, surely that meant he desired her as well. “Perhaps,” and it was said thoughtfully, not meant to coerce him, “would you want to touch me? Would that makes things easier? You were familiar with my body when I was a ‘man’ - perhaps the same familiarity with my body now would make it easier for you to rest? You are unused to being around women openly; I fault you not for that. But it will make things difficult if you are always to keep your distance, for fear of your own desires.”

On one hand, what she was saying made sense: he would, eventually, have to get used to her being her true gender, and the fact that her body was different from his. On the other hand, with the way she was looking at him, that clear-eyed practicality, it was an invitation to sin - and break every vow he held, including those he was unfamiliar with. She was far too intelligent not to know fully what she was suggesting, even if she could hide it behind logic. But, there was the overwhelming feeling of…annoyance? No, perhaps exhaustion. It would make a long trip even longer if he was constantly second-guessing how to approach her. She simply wanted him to get used to her being a woman and be done with it.

But, before she could give it too much more thought, he mentioned the deer - and she looked over at it. “Why? We have more than enough provisions.” She was genuinely confused; not that she would ever turn down extra food - and a deer was a boon indeed.

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

Would he want to touch her? Of course he wanted to touch her! That was the whole problem! He wanted it too much. He wanted to hold her hand, to feel the softness of her skin with his fingertips and let her run hers over his knuckles. He wanted to stroke her cheek and run his fingers over her arm. He wanted to explore this body that he had only briefly seen exposed. He wanted to squeeze her. He wanted to hold her against himself.

It was sweet that she thought he could do that without giving in to the desires of his body to escalate and escalate their touch until he had given up his honor. He was not nearly so sure. She had no idea the pull he felt from her, even now. Fully clothed, without touching, she called to him without words. He had to be strong. He had to resist her for now, until they could stand before a priest. Albus had to be the one to ensure that the union they would have for the rest of their lives would be God-blessed and honorable.

She had a point. If his struggle were too overt, it may be a strain on them. She was wrong about him being familiar with her body as a man, though. Her femininity had been covered by layers of fabric as well as the weight of the lie between them. That body had never existed, even as little as he’d actually felt of it. He wanted to learn her real body, thoroughly and regularly. But, if she didn’t see the danger there then he would have to be the one to respect it. He wouldn’t starve her of contact, though, and he would do his best to maintain a veneer of confidence and joviality on the subject. He reached toward her for a moment, to gently rest his hand on her arm, to show her that he would not avoid all contact. She didn’t notice, though, as she had moved on to ask him about his gift.

He blushed, realizing that she hadn’t considered his, altogether non-practical, reason for hunting the animal. “I wanted to find something, anything, some small thing, that I could give to you. It’s something to make up for the fact that you do not yet have a ring, which I will remedy as soon as I can.”

He smiled, knowing she would accept it even if she thought he was being silly. “I know you’re a much better hunter than I, but I couldn’t find any gems or precious treasures out here, so I’m hoping this will do for now.” He knew it was unnecessary, but it made him feel good. And, seeing her smile would warm his heart, even if it was a smile of amusement at his childishness.

 

[Apollo Wilde]

That slow, reptilian blink - before she laughed, the sound startled out of her as she lightly grasped her sides. Every time she looked at the deer, it would start her laughing anew. Wouldn’t that be quite the tale for her parents!

“Well,” she said, wiping tears from her eyes, “It is a fine gift. I’ll take special care to preserve the hide.” Pacing over to it, she knelt, her breasts pillowing easily against her knees as she leaned forward, offering the hapless knight quite the eyeful. Indeed, if she leaned forward any more, it seemed quite possible that she would spill out of the suddenly deeper cut V of her shirt. “I think there’s enough to make two pairs of boots here - if not matching rings, maybe matching boots.” Not the most romantic thing, sure, but she was, above all, a practical thing.

“In the meantime, we can dress it, and, were we not in such a hurry, we could smoke it.” If Albus had expected an immediate and drastic change in Taika’s personality with his proposal, he was in for quite the surprise: Taika was so aloof as to seem that the proposal almost didn’t take place, so quickly had she fallen back into her typical role. “I am concerned, still, about meeting your family,” she murmured, as she stood up, dusting her hands on her pants. She figured she should at least be standing - but then, seeming to think better of it, she kneeled again, and retrieved a knife from one of the various hidden pockets on her pants. With deft movements, she began to dress the deer, ignoring the faint blood spatter as she continued to speak. “I know that things are easily for you,” a soft grunt as she pulled a part of the hide handily free, “But there are things that you should be concerned about with your family and your Knighthood. I do not want to stand in the way of your dream; only to share it with you.”

She stopped to wipe a stray bit of blood away from her cheek. The gesture only served to smear it. “Little else matters for me.” Back to work as she looked at her hands, moving through the deer. “I am concerned that you are taken up on Cupid’s wings far too much to think practically about the matter at hand.” Kindly, now, without her trademark flatness when she started a fact. She’d purposefully softened her tone as not to seem that she was attacking him, but gently reminding him of the reality of the situation. “Though,” she grunted as she pulled the last bit of hide free (she was an expert game dresser - because of course she was), “if wealth is what your father is after, my family has plenty. It would be a matter of convincing Father to part with it. Or I could offer him some of my own gems.”

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

“Matching boots…I like that.”

Albus smiled, watching her dress his kill. It was comforting, after so much surprise and emotion, to fall back into familiar patterns. Albus still hadn’t completely wrapped his head around his new future with Taika, but working around a campfire and preparing to sleep, at least near each other, out under the stars--this was a good reminder of one of the reasons he was so looking forward to spending the rest of his life with his new fiancé. He would have gotten along perfectly fine with some noblewoman who gardened, and sewed, and oversaw his estate, waiting for him to come home once in a while, but wandering the countryside with Taika, hunting together, fighting together, spending every night in each other’s arms, riding side by side: this would make Albus truly happy. He was touched that she wanted to share his dream with him, but now she was just as much his dream as his knighthood.

Albus had no idea how well-founded Taika’s fears about his father were. He’d stopped paying attention to what that man cared about long ago. There were also other things he’d neglected to pay attention to. “There have been quite a few attempts to explain the concept of a dowry to me. None of them have been successful.” He held up a hand to keep Taika from explaining. Good Lord, he didn’t want to know. “I don’t love the idea of you giving something to my father, though. He doesn’t need any more money, or anything else for that matter. If it eases your mind, I won’t stop you, but let’s try to let him act honorably for once before it comes to that.”

The venison made a fine dinner, and the hide was drying well once they had finished eating. Albus’s armor had long since been put away, and he was lying on his blanket, looking up at the stars. He stretched out an arm to his squire. Maybe it was the full belly, but his ever-present lust, intensified now due to his proximity to what he now knew to be the love of his life and a beautiful woman, had dulled in the cool night air. “Taika, I think I would like to hold my fiancé tonight, if you’ll allow it.”

 

[Apollo Wilde]

She smiled, then - as silly as matching boots sounded, when she repeated back in her head, they would be sturdy. She’d send them off to her family - well, the hide, anyway. For as adept as she was at hunting, being a warrior, and being at home in the wilderness - she wasn’t so great at the more “feminine” arts. She could sew enough to mend the most egregious of holes, but her stitches betrayed her impatience with the art. They were typically large and sloppy - but, to her faint credit, were nearly impossible to sever or tear without the aid of scissors or a knife. The embroidery on her clothing was either purchased, or, in the case of holy days, her brother in law would send her items that he himself had made. The shirt she was wearing, in fact, was one he’d made.

“Less of a dowry,” and when she spoke, it was clear that she hadn’t really thought of it being that, “but more of a preservation of his honor.” The unspoken question was there, but so was the underlying assumption that his father would be less than pleased that his son was marrying not only not someone of his choosing, but a half-dragon at that, with no long, fancy titles and a less than illustrious history. Who knows how people here would take her amazon background as well; in their travels, she’d heard quite a few tales of those encountering the Amazons of her mother’s people, and while there was much awe in talking of their battle skills, there was nothing but jokes about taking one of these women (who could scarcely be called ‘women’) as a wife.

She’d given it little thought as they’d eaten, preferring to query him more about these “wedding” things that she’d cared so little about in the past. There apparently should be cake, and a dress, and music, and dancing, and general merriment. When he explained it that way, his face shining, it did sound like something that would be fun, as opposed to the dry, and somewhat sad, weddings that’d stood in before. Her family’s presence enough would make any engagement lively, what, with her mother’s penchant for drink and dancing, and her father’s immaculate ability as a bard.

Her attention was brought back to the present as he held his arm out beside him on the bed roll. True to her word, she had placed hers close, with a spare blanket between them. Hm. Well…if he thought he could resist what he’d been so afraid of…that was fine with her. So she knelt, neatly folding the blanket up, and tucking it under her arm to set it aside. “Should you change your mind, I can put it back.” She was dressed for “bed” as so much as she would ever be - the bindings on her chest entirely gone, her nipples firm points beneath the looseness of her shirt. As it was still somewhat chilly, she’d opted to keep her pants on, though she’d removed her boots and replaced them with fur-lined woolen socks, a present from her brother in law. Stiffly, she laid down beside him on the bedroll, her arms firmly by her side. She was nervous - not for herself, but more for him. She would allow him to take the first step - she, of course, would have no problem sleeping with him as intertwined as they had in the past, but she also did not take the vows as seriously.

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

Albus had been so worried about laying down with Taika, after the twin revelations of her gender and their love. As soon as he pressed up against her, though, the comfort and familiarity of all those nights they’d spent over the years, laying down just like this, came back in full force. Oh, his brown leather pants were still going to have their work cut out for them holding in his eager, virgin erection, but it didn’t feel awkward at all. He didn’t even feel any more lustful than he had earlier that day, although the likely reason for that was his exhaustion. He had tossed and turned most of the previous night, at least after stumbling upon his squire in the woods.

He put his arm under her head, and scooted his body closer. The only thing between his chest and her arm was their two shirts. His head lay near hers, and her hair tickled his nose. He smiled at the thought. Her scent was warm and earthy. He was sure his wasn’t nearly so pleasant after a day of riding, but Taika didn’t seem to mind. He took a deep breath through his nose, relishing the closeness and intimacy.

He put an arm over her, and a hand on her far shoulder. He had a moment of apprehension when he realized this put his upper arm right on top of the thin, pale fabric covering her magnetic breasts, but he had decided not to be distant with her. Sure, the part of his arm resting on the swell of her chest was the only part of his body that his mind could focus on, but it took him a surprisingly short time to stop focusing on anything, and drift off to sleep. If Taika moved during the night, he didn’t feel it.

 

[Apollo Wilde]

Whatever stiffness she may have felt towards him instantly melted as he curled up against her. She let out a low humming purr of contentment, and wrapped her arms around him as she had so many nights in the past, no regard to the differences in their anatomy. With his head nestled under her chin, she wrapped her tail about the two of them, and was quickly asleep.




She would wake slowly, snuggling closer to him, throwing a leg haphazardly over him, her tail still pulling him close to her, chest to chest, waist to waist, crotch to crotch. He’d kept her wonderfully warm through the night, and now, as the sun was rising, it was easier for her to awake before him. For a brief moment, she had the whim to simply roll on top of him, pressing her body against his, as she’d done as a child. Taking that bit of height difference (not to mention weight; she was far, far more heavier than she looked) to her benefit, she used to playfully trap Albus under her when she felt he'd slept too late. And she was so close to doing it - had begun to unwrap her tail from him, prepping herself to do it - and stopped, last minute, remembering that, well, they weren’t children anymore. And he’d probably have a heart attack if she did it now.

So, for this morning, she tried to wake him up as she had back in the fort - a steady, gentle repetition of his name. She deftly untangled herself from him, tail first, slowly moving the heavy weight from him - though, part of her wished, he’d wake up, wrap his arms around it, stroke it, look into her eyes…Shaking her head, she fought the thought off. Albus would never be so free with her. And she was just waking up; it would make sense that she’d still be slightly lost in the haze of a dream - being so close to him, as herself, felt like something that would never happen. And now it was - and she still was so far away from expressing herself the way she wanted to.

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

Albus woke to see Taika’s face right next to his, her red-flecked, golden eyes staring into his. Their bodies were pressed against each other, to the degree that Albus mentally thanked his leather pants for their fortitude. If not for their stalwart assistance, his own little knight would be rubbing his fiancé’s thigh at the moment. He couldn’t wait until they were married, and such concerns and pants would be behind them.

Now that his exhaustion had largely passed, his desire for her had become acute again. He wanted to stroke her cheek, to feel her soft, warm skin under his fingers. He wanted to kiss her good morning. He didn’t do either. He did smile at her, drinking in her beautiful face in silence for a moment.

“I don’t know how many times we’ve woken up like this, but I’ve never wanted to stay so badly.”

He thought about his feelings, and about where he felt comfortable drawing the line on physical contact. “I think you were right, Taika. I think I can handle this. I want to touch you badly, but I don’t feel out of control. Thank you for pushing me a bit.”

He really did feel okay about it, and he didn’t think it was just that he was a virgin revelling in his first female affection. Part of it was their conversation the night before. Knowing that Taika understood, or at least was tolerant of, how important his chivalric chastity was to him made him feel more secure in their relationship. He felt he could trust her both to appreciate the small progress he felt comfortable making, and to refrain from pushing him farther than he could handle. He still had that part of him telling him to let go and forsake his vow and his honor, to take his fiancé right here on the ground and make love to her, but the fear that he was on the cusp of giving in was gone.

He knew they were in a rush to reach his father’s lands, but he decided to ignore that for the moment, waiting for Taika to get up before he moved. He not-so-secretly hoped she would take her time.

 

[Apollo Wilde]

Luck was on Albus’s side. Taika was sluggish to move - in a way that she knew she could excuse by being cold, and taking some time to warm up, but the reality was she was enjoying the closeness as much as he was. Looking into his eyes, seeing the innocence there, the joy, it was hard for her not to wrap her wings about him and pull him in closer; to dawdle there for hours.

“I’m glad that I did not offend you,” her voice was soft, calming. “There’s no need to rush - but I do need you to get used to my body.” A low bit of teasing there, humor at her own double entendre. She would gladly have him get used to her in a different way, but she was not going to push his vows. Though she was not prone to a cruel streak or trickery, for not the first time, she thought of putting his hand on her breast, just to see how he would react. “Now, shall we get ready for the rest of the ride?”





The morning had passed quickly enough - far from the somewhat sedate pace of the night before, she’d directed him to the stream she’d found, and while he was washing up, she had the horses packed and ready to go. She herself would do little more than splash water on her face and refill her canteen. Back on the road again, she found herself looking around at the woods, looking for anything that was familiar, any sort of marker for her to keep the direction clear. She’d never met his father - as children, they’d met in a training camp - and when the opportunity arose to go home, there was enough leeway with squires so that they could return to their individual homes if their knight allowed. Though even at a young age it had pained her to be away from Albus, it was always nice to go home and be spoiled by her father and then her brother in law - and her sister, in her own begrudging way.

Now, as the day grew longer and their destination was growing closer, she felt a gnawing at her stomach. Rare, but a feeling she had come to know and recognize. “I must admit, I’m feeling nervous.” It would be easier to be honest with how she felt; better to present a unified front. “I’ve never met your family, and I have no idea how they will take me.”

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

Albus reluctantly rose and readied himself, spending as little time as possible in the frigid water of the stream. Taika had readied both their packs and horses, so all Albus had to do was mount Char and ride.

The next two weeks went similarly smoothly. Their days were filled with riding, and their evenings were filled with a little hunting, and a lot of holding one another in their arms as they fell asleep. It was just like Albus had been hoping to spend this time, but better. He had never imagined that his best friend would become the love of his life and they would spend their evenings indulging in the sweet anticipation of chaste affection. Perhaps he should have put more thought into the details of their future together, but he didn’t want to. He just wanted to enjoy his time with Taika, so he did. As they rode, the land transitioned first from the perilous Halverdens into a valley of rolling hills. The warmth that came along with the reduced altitude was welcome, but the two knights still held each other at night. It wasn’t even a question they had to discuss. Albus doubted Taika needed the warmth at that point. But he certainly wasn’t going to bring it up, lest he lose those nights of comfortable closeness.

After a week of riding through the Muino valley, Albus and Taika see the foothills of the Aberatsa plateau, located in the north of Salariche. Albus had explored those hills and cliffs extensively as a young man, with and without his squire. A lush land, rich with vineyards, farms, and ranches, Aberatsa was the agricultural center of Salariche. Chevalier lands extended north into these foothills, and Albus’s father’s vineyard was one of his favorite holdings. Albus himself loved riding around the vineyard. It was a beautiful place, and he would have loved to show it to Taika, but he was impatient, and they did not take the detour to see it. They stopped wearing their armor to travel as they rode into Salariche. It was more than warm enough not to need the extra padding, and the country itself had been long tamed by the knights of Salariche. Albus was happy to see his home. The warmth and joy of the land itself was a marked contrast to his relationship with his parents, and exploring the area had been the seed that grew into his calling as a knight. He would range from the Aberatsa down to the coast, riding atop the northern cliffs and boating between a few of the countless islands that made up the southern region of Salariche.

Albus had been engaged for sixteen days when he finally saw his father’s estate in the distance. It was mid-morning, and the sunlight shining on the whitewashed clay walls reflected back into Albus’s eyes from across the vibrant grounds. The dusty path was empty. The gardeners must have been given the day off. Once they were in shouting distance to the front door of the massive home, they could see a pair of servants busying themselves just outside. They rode up to the fountain just in front of the door, and as they were dismounting Connard Chevalier, Albus’s father, walked out to meet them. The man was tall and handsome, dressed in tight black pants and a loose black vest over a white shirt. He had a neatly trimmed salt-and-pepper goatee, his natural hair color darker than Albus’s.

“My son, what are you doing here? My missive was clear. We were about to leave to meet you at the Visserig estate.”

Right to the point as always. “I know, father. There’s been a change of plans.”

By this point, Taika had dismounted and the servants had taken Boy and Char to be boarded. Albus, wearing his leather pants and pale linen tunic, reaches over to take Taika’s hand in his own. Before he can speak, his father interrupts him. His voice is raised, and his face reddened.

“Who is this, Albus? What have you done?”

Albus takes a deep breath. He wanted this meeting to go well, and it certainly hadn’t gotten off to a great start. He knew his parents would see how wonderful Taika was eventually, but it would be nice to reach that point earlier rather than later. “Father, I’m not going to marry the Visserig girl.”

His nostrils flare and his eyes widen, but Connard is quick to change his tone. “We’ll discuss that later, Albus. First, you must introduce me to this lovely creature.” He puts a hand on his well-formed chest to address Taika. “I am Viscount Chevalier, lord of the Chevalier estate. You may refer to me as ‘my lord’, ‘viscount’, or ‘sir’ will do in a moment of urgency. Welcome to my home.”

After exchanging pleasantries, Connard calls out to Surmene, the servant in charge of managing the household. It’s rare for a woman to be given such responsibility, but she has been with the family all of Albus’s life, and the woman is organized, diligent, and proper to a fault. She must have been just inside the door, because she steps out before Connard can even finish saying her name. She wears a simple cotton dress with a servant’s cap resting on her dark brown hair, and the wrinkles on her face make her look older than her forty-five years.

“Surmene, would you please show Miss Tyga to a guest room and draw her a bath, so she can wash away the dust of the road. Provide her with clothing befitting a guest of House Chevalier. My son will need a bath drawn as well, but I’d like to speak with him first.”

It’s remarkable how clipped and cold Connard’s voice sounds when he speaks to Surmene, and how quickly it becomes honeyed and warm when he turns back to Taika. “Make yourself at home, and Albus and I will see you for lunch on the patio, yes?” He’s already nodding to make sure she knows that, in this house, Connard’s invitations are accepted.

As soon as his fiancé is gone, Albus feels his father’s hand on his shoulder. His grip is strong, but Albus is not the boy he used to be. He remembered the way his father would squeeze his shoulder just enough to cause pain, as a reminder that disobedience would not be tolerated. Now, though, Albus’s shoulders are broad and strong, and Connard will have to find another way to intimidate him.

“What is this, Albus? Is that half-dragon the reason you think you can back out of this match?”

Albus looked across into his father’s eyes. He had to stand firm. His father was the domineering sort, but he respected a strong will. “Father, I love her. I’ve already asked for her hand, and we will be married as quickly as it can be arranged.”

Connard narrowed his eyes, but didn’t immediately reject the idea. “You love her, do you?”

Albus smiled. Maybe this meeting would go better than he’d expected. “I do, father. I can already imagine our life together, and that’s the life I want.” He looked out over the bright fields surrounding the manse. “We’ll travel the world together, righting wrongs and sleeping under the stars. I’m set on it, father.”

Connard took a deep breath. Albus could tell it was hard for his father to accept this news. “How do you know she hasn’t bewitched you, intending to marry into our fortune?”

Albus could forgive the insinuation. His father didn’t know her, and it was a natural concern for a nobleman of his wealth. “Father, she’s a half-dragon. She’s got a hoard of her own. She doesn’t need our money.”

Connard rested his arms against the railing around the landing at the front door. Both men looked out at the green landscape. “Who is she to you, son? How did this happen?”

Albus smiled at the memory. This was the kind of conversation he hadn’t even dared to hope for, between his father and himself. Lord Chevalier wanted to know about his future daughter-in-law, and Albus was happy to oblige. “Father, she’s my squire! She’s been my best friend for years. I’ve written of her to you. She’s been disguised as a man, and I only recently discovered the truth. That was when I discovered that I’d fallen for her as well. It’s been a dream since then, father. I can’t wait to be married.”

Connard looked concerned. “So, she deceived you about her sex to grow close to you, and has needled you into a marriage proposal now, have I got that right?”

Well, that punctured a bit of Albus’s good attitude. “Father, she refused me the first time I asked her. I had to talk her into accepting a marriage proposal. She’s not like you. She’s not concerned with all that stuff.”

“Well, that’s perfect!” Connard slapped Albus on the back. “If she doesn’t care about marriage then just marry the Visserig girl and you can see the half-dragon when you’re away! Problem solved.”

Albus blinked, unsure if he’d just heard what he thought he’d heard. Was his father suggesting infidelity as the “perfect” solution? Had his father been unfaithful to his mother? Lady Chevalier had always been a sweet, if inattentive, mother. Even when Albus was young, Connard’s requests came before Albus’s needs. Despite Albus’s own disappointment with her, she had always been a devoted and loving wife to her husband. That fact made Connard’s words sting all the more. Albus turned to face his father, looking him in the eye with an offended glare.

“I will never be unfaithful.”

Well used to Albus’s principled stances, Connard stood his ground. In fact, he seemed to glower down at his son, despite being an inch or so shorter. “Flexibility is required in this life, my boy. You need to learn that.”

Albus held his tongue, despite the anger he felt. Before his reaction could get more complex, Connard’s demeanor shifted again. The friendly host of House Chevalier was back, with another slap to his son’s back. “But, I’ve taken enough of your time for now. Go, get cleaned up. I’ll see you and your girl for lunch.”

Albus left without a word, afraid he would say something he’d regret if he opened his mouth.

 

[Apollo Wilde]

This land was so different from her own, and each day brought new sights that she eagerly drank in. If it were possible, new sights were something she would horde. As much as she could, she burned each place into her memory, the good, the bad, the way the air smelled. The barren mountains had their charm, even to her. When she could, she would make rough sketches of the various places they stopped in a small, leather bound journal that Albus would recognize as her “log” of sorts. Once they were out of peril or off of a campaign, she would sketch from memory the places she’d seen, the foods she’d eaten. It’d be quite the boon for any traveler if the log happened to fall into their hands, but she guarded it as jealously as she did her gems.

The richness of the land here spoke of a prosperity that she had not seen in a long time, and it did her heart well to know that Albus’s family was not one that suffered. She’d seen enough of that in her travels, and there was no getting used to it. The idea of wealth was solidified as they approached the manor; such a far cry from her own home. It was vaguely ostentatious, she thought, but fitting with the rest of the homes that she’d seen so far. Wealth certainly did seem to increase the further inward that they went, from the modest little homes to those that grew in size and splendor, spat out from the deep browns and greens of the earth, gleaming white and carved and created so specifically, so painstakingly different, that their rise from the richness of the earth struck her as all the more unnatural.

Still, she was able to keep whatever thoughts she had to herself, her face that same placid, pleasant calmness that drew in strangers and often left them either lovelorn or contemplative. The face did not slip in the face of Albus’s father’s comments, his red face, the air heavy with the smell of his displeasure; something that only her enhanced senses could pick up. It was of a particular sharp tang that made her nostrils flare briefly. She would have to be cautious; use the charm that both of her parents had given her by genetics, and further polished by training. Dragons, when taking on the guise of humans, could always be told by not only the strange beauty of their features, the regality of their bearing, but their unfailingly politeness that was always a bit cold and distant; the demeanor of those far too often accustomed to watching the behaviors of others rather than participating.

“I am gracious for your welcome, Viscount Chevalier.” In deference to him, she offered a slight incline of her head. If she were wholly human, she would have bowed, or curtsied - but in deference to her half-dragon heritage, the incline of her head would be sufficient enough. So much to keep in mind, she thought, keeping the slight grimace from showing on her face. She was half-dragon, but still a squire, but a woman - it was enough to make anyone’s head spin. This is what you wanted - adventure, new experiences, the open road! And so you have it - and all that comes with it, she mused silently to herself. New territory, and she would need all of her wits about her, and all of the grace, charisma, and training that she had ever experienced or read about. “And for your hospitality,” she added. For Albus’s sake, she used her natural voice, though she was tempted to slide back into the deeper tones of her male persona. Again, thankful that there wasn’t much difference between the two, and that her own naturally, husky voice gave her words a bit more weight than a noblewoman’s. She would need all of the personal and emotional strength to get through this, knowing that she had already earned the Viscount’s ire. Well, so much the worse for him; she was used to dealing with disdain - and in time, had learned to temper her natural draconic response of serving that disdain back, heaped over with the coolness of regality that only dragons had.

“It is nice to meet you, Miss Surmene,” she said, somewhat warmly, to the woman. So what if her introduction to the Viscount was sour? Each new person she met would be a new introduction. Surmene, surprised that Taika had spoken to her, looked up at her with raised eyebrows.

“And lovely to meet you, Lady Taika,” the title fell from the woman’s lips, and Taika didn’t bother to correct her. She supposed it was just being polite; she had no use for such empty titles, so easily come by, so easily lost, in the passage of time.

Surmene, to her credit, Taika noticed, did not openly stare at her. But there were the constant furtive glances, the puzzlement, that Taika had long recognized as polite curiosity. And Taika was good-natured enough, even in her natural aloofness, to acknowledge it.

“It is quite all right to look; I know I’m a bit unusual.” While half-dragons were rare, they were not unheard of - but they rarely mingled with humans.

Surmene, embarrassed, flushed a light pink, and tried to stammer an apology. “I’m so sorry, Lady Taika- “

“No need for an apology, Miss Surmene. You are not the first to be curious, nor I suspect, will be the last.” A gentle smile from Taika, and a deepening of the blush from Surmene. Surmene felt a sudden flash of giddiness, of the like that she hadn’t experienced since she was a young girl. Feeling instantly warm - and quite endeared to this strange creature that her young Lord had brought home, she felt whatever judgements she had (as she had taken her lead from the Viscount) melt away. She fought away the rash notion of wanting to give the taller woman a hug, and, instead, cleared her throat, leading her further into the estate. She busied her fumbling tongue with describing the inside of the building, pointing out this piece of art or that piece of furniture, all while Taika made the appropriate noises of appreciation. There was a scrabbling sort of opulence to the innards of the estate that she found strangely welcoming. There was money here, yes, but not enough for a kingdom. Perhaps a middling Viscount - and if her suspicions about the arranged marriage were correct, a middling Viscount that would be eager to climb ever upwards. That sort of attitude was strange to her; one that she supposed she could understand, should she try, but it seemed such an empty quest. To scrabble and scratch so hard for a leadership that could be undone by the wrong minister, or the wrong heir, or the wrong alliance. But she supposed it could be admired for that delicate nature when things did go as planned.

“This will be your room, my dear - Oh! I’m so sorry; I was being too familiar!” Surmene blushed deeper. What is wrong with me?

“It’s quite all right, Miss Surmene. I would appreciate it if you were not so formal with me.” Truthfulness from the half-dragon, made all the softer by that small smile of hers. “After all, I have no official title, other than being Lord Albus’s squire.” It was tempting to add in a little bit, a little barb, about how little titles meant to her, but it would be unfathomably rude. A quick glance at Surmene could tell Taika that this woman had worked hard, hard and long, to gain the position that she had, and it would be incredibly crass to make light of that. Not all women had the option of living differently, of their own accord. No, in this land, it seemed that all that one could hope for was being born with the right money and the right title, making the right match, and hoping for some affection from offspring. If anything, a bit of that pity slipped into her small smile, making it all the more poignant, sweetening the expression.

Surmene had seen many things in her life, and had experienced the first, sweet flutters of love but once. Most of her life was characterized by the attitude of “It must be done,” and she’d risen to the occasion gracefully each and every time. But somehow, seeing this strange woman, this half-monster, was enough to make her feel lightheaded, that the ground wasn’t quite solid under her feet. It would be days later that she would start to wonder if that Taika had put some sort of spell on her. Dragons were magical creatures, were they not?

But, in the present, all Surmene could do was gather her wits the best that she could, and quietly marvel at the innate grace and calmness that this woman put off. It hadn’t even occurred to her how strange it was for a woman to be a squire, to ride a horse so brazenly (a woman not riding side-saddle!), or any of the other odd things about Taika that would make anyone raised properly scoff, and busy herself by running the bath, setting out clothing that she thought would suit this young woman best. And as she busied herself, Taika stood, perfectly still, watching and not watching.

Taika, for her part, was all too aware that if she were to directly watch the woman, she would unnerve her. So she took in the surroundings of the room; the deep mahogany of the carved bed, the sumptuous fabrics used in the sheets and pillow cases. The spotless floor beneath her feet, the sight of the garden, and beyond that, stretches of farmland that were outside of her window. The tree closest to it was awash in a foam of tiny white flowers, and, intrigued, Taika moved closer to the window to get a better look. Closer, she could spy fat yellow and black bees lazily going from spray to spray of flowers.

“Ah, the sweet olive is in bloom - it is quite lovely, isn’t it?” Surmene’s voice came from close by Taika’s shoulder, and, turning her head slightly to look at the woman, Taika nodded in agreement.

“It is. Fragrant?”

“Oh, yes, here,” and, bustling as genteely as possible, Surmene slipped past Taika to open the window. Instantly, the room seemed alive with the hum of the bees and the sweet apricot smell of the flowers. To her heightened senses, it was almost like breathing in honey, and Taika couldn’t help but to take one, then two, long, savoring breaths, her eyes fluttering closed in bliss. Quite speechless, Surmene watched, feeling that quick flicker in her heart again.

“It is truly wonderful,” Taika sighed out, in both longing and appreciation. She did adore flowers.

“If Lady Taika so pleases,” Surmene paused, clicked her tongue in embarassment, “If you so desire, I believe I may have some sweet olive perfume that you could use-” Again, it would be weeks later, thinking back on this day, that Surmene had to wonder if she had been bewitched. Offering that perfume - her pride and joy, her one luxury, the one that she had scrimped and saved and stashed away for only the most special of occasions, as if it were any other toilet water!

“Miss Surmene is too kind,” Taika’s smile slipped from the small, calm thing to a genuine glow. It was a truly sweet gesture, and the half-dragon was moved by it. “I think I can take things from here, though. You have been a wonderful help.” How to dismiss without being rude - another thing that plagued Taika, despite her often calm exterior. Small talk and fawning exhausted her. And though she was pleased at Surmene’s kindness, truly, she was looking forward to a bath, and some time to herself. She, after all, still had quite a bit on her mind, and hardly the space to truly mull over things.

Recognizing the dismissal for what it was, and realizing that perhaps she had overstayed her welcome, Surmene flushed, for what she hoped was a final time, and with a quick bow, left the room, allowing Taika some blessed solitude.





She took her time in the bath, careful not only to wash herself throughly, but to indulge in the warmth of the water, of having a moment to relax before the next battle was to take place. Though she suspected that she should be ill at ease, from the strain of all that had happened in such a short amount of time, she actually ended up dozing off in the water for a bit, waking with a start as she slid under the water briefly. Remembering where she was and that she was still on a schedule, she hurried through the rest of her bath and the rest of her toilet. Surmene had laid out various undergarments, fragrances, cosmetics - all of the things a lady would need. It then occurred to Taika, looking at the various bottles, that perhaps she had dismissed the woman too soon. As she picked up one vial and then another, turning them round in her hand, she tried to recall what each one was for. She’d seldomly worn face paint; could hardly remember ever using it other than to play with as a child. Opening a jar of powder, she recalled why - the color was so pale that even if she had attempted it, it would have looked as if she’d thrown white paint on her face. Chuckling, she set them aside, and went about the mundane task of dressing.

When she stepped out of the room, she was dressed as a lady - and hating every moment of it. The heels pinched her toes and made it difficult for her to keep her balance. The corset pinched, but had the added benefit of helping her stand up straight and offered extra support to her bust. The skirts were voluminous, and she was terrified of tangling herself up in petticoats with each step that she took. In deference to what would be proper, Surmene had picked out a deep emerald off the shoulder dress that dipped low between her breasts. She felt that the front cut was a bit too low to be proper, specially with the ornate jade broach that drew the eye to her decolletage, but she supposed that was the fashion now. It seemed that with an off the shoulder dress, the natural hairstyle would be something up, and she had wrangled her masses of thick hair into a surprisingly ornate bun, looking far more complicated than it actually was, due to the coiled locks of her hair. She’d pinned the whole affair back with a black ribbon that she left tied long to trail down either side of her bun. She’d found small green glass ear bobs that she’d put on, hoping that they didn’t look too odd on her long ears. Despite her discomfort, she hoped that she’d at least looked presentable. Without too much additional effort, she’d managed to fold her wings down against her back, her tail tucked away secretly beneath the skirts. At least they were full enough for her to let it trail behind her unseen, thankful for the extra balance it provided her in these damnable shoes.

She was met in the main hall by Surmene, who gasped, and clasped her hands together. “Lady Taika, you are a vision!”

And now it was Taika’s turn to feel her cheeks heat up in embarassment. Why was it so much more flattering to be complimented as a man than it was as a woman? She felt false, far too stuffy - playing pretend at a role she was not adept at in the slightest. If this was what it meant to be a noble lady, she would gladly walk away from it all without one look behind her.

“Only because you have such a good eye for clothing,” Taika responded, hoping that the words sounded sincere, even if they were sour on her tongue. No slight intended towards Surmene, of course; just her own discomfort and ill ease at her attire, at her lack of proper jewelry, the lack of cosmetics, which she felt made her look underdressed and unspeakably plain. Dragon features could only get her so far, and she felt that without the helping hand of a woman’s touch and skill, she looked like a beautiful boy in a dress.

Well, save for these, she thought with a wry grin, looking down at the firm swells of her breasts that the both the dress and the corset displayed in full beauty, even if she did think it was a bit much. Her focus, distracted as it was, soon was brought back to the task at hand as she was able to smell the prepared food. Her stomach rumbled in welcome, and her brain felt like it’d kicked on. Right. The engagement. And, better yet, a clearer understanding of the Viscount and what he expected from Albus. She would weather this storm with every bit of grace and valor that her family had bestowed upon her, no matter how strange and overly complicated she found the whole thing.

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

Albus’s bath was quick and efficient. The way his conversation with his father had ended made him not want to be here anymore. He didn’t want to deal with the expectations that didn’t make sense, or the pressure to be someone he wasn’t. Why did his father have to even have an opinion one way or the other about Albus’s life? Wasn’t it enough that Connard got everything he wanted in his own life? Wasn’t it enough that Albus’s mother and the staff all bent over backwards to give him what he wanted? Albus wasn’t even trying to disrupt that. In his younger years, he’d chafed under his father’s rule, but once he was wise enough to understand he bowed out of that conflict, leaving to join the Order so that Connard could have his way at home. And yet, somehow that wasn’t good enough. He still wanted a say where he had no right to a say. Albus hadn’t given in when his father had asked him to leave the order, and he wouldn’t give in now.

Albus dried off and opened his closet to dress for lunch. He preferred the simple cotton and linen of his traveling clothes, but he didn’t want to turn everything into a conflict with his father, so he dressed himself formally. A pale blue silk shirt, topped with a dark brown woolen vest and worn over a matching pair of pleated pants, would make him overdressed for a family lunch at home, but Connard Chevalier liked his family to be overdressed.

It was a small concession, but Albus would be reminded of it every time he moved and the fabric failed to stretch with him, so it seemed like enough of a sacrifice to him. The buttons were ornate and unwieldy. The collar felt like it was strangling him. The fit constrained Albus’s muscular thighs. The shoes were too tight, or maybe they fit correctly and Albus had just forgotten how these rigid formal shoes were supposed to feel. At least he liked the fit better than he liked the clopping sound they made as he walked down the hall--he practically sounded like Char!

His father was waiting for them on the patio. “Son, stop fidgeting like that. You’re not a child.”

Albus hadn’t realized it, but he had been straining his neck against the collar of the shirt. He tried to stop, but that made him tense. Maybe if he kept talking he would forget about the pressure on his neck. “What are we having?”

Connard waved his hands dismissively. “Oh, how should I know. It’s always good. Your mother should be here shortly. We’ll need to introduce her to your friend--oh, speak of the dragon! Miss Taga! Welcome! You clean up well!”

Albus turned to see Taika step onto the patio. He almost tripped out of his stiff leather hooves. His first several thoughts were about how lovely she looked. Her wild, colorful hair had been tamed into an elaborate construction project on top of her head, framed by her shining horns. Her dress revealed her smooth, powerful shoulders and the tops of her very feminine breasts. Albus worked very, very hard not to look directly at her cleavage, and mostly succeeded, somehow. If his eyes were not deceiving him, her waist looked smaller than usual. Had she been padding it to look more masculine? Perhaps, there was no way she could have passed the way she looked now.

His next thoughts were more conflicted. As breathtaking as she looked, something about it didn’t seem to fit her. Taika was his squire. She was meant to ride into battle next to him, not sit home sewing patches onto his trousers and gossiping with the other ladies. He also knew that that wasn’t the life she wanted for herself, so seeing her wear the costume of that life rubbed him the wrong way. He trusted her wisdom, though, that this was what she needed to do for now. He also didn’t want to say anything about it in case she was worried he didn’t like the way she looked.

Albus walked up to his fiancé and gingerly lifted her fingers with his own. “You look lovely, my dear.” He pulled out her chair for her, and pushed it in once she sat down.

Don’t look down her dress! Don’t look down her dress!

Albus sat himself next to her. Connard addressed his future daughter-in-law with narrowed eyes and a crooked smile. “So, Albus has told me a bit about you, but I would prefer to hear it from the dragon’s mouth. How did a lovely creature like yourself end up with my son?”

 

[Apollo Wilde]

Twice.

This viscount, this sniveling, money-grubbing viscount, had mispronounced her name twice. Though Taika prided herself on keeping her temper even and not showing the more negative aspects of dragons, Albus’s father was quickly wearing on her - the matter not helped by her being extremely uncomfortable.

Calm, Taika. Calm.

Unseen to those at the table with her, she took in a deep breath, held it, and let it slip out from barely parted lips. “Tai-kah,” she pronounced with all of the grace and restraint that a true, blue-blooded noble would use, “My name is Taika.” The unspoken hint there was that she understood that he was but a mere man, and accidents were to happen, but now, after this correction, there should be no need for further butchering of her name.

She met the Viscount’s suspicious gaze with her own - steady, unperturbed. A slight bit of boredom that came with being of a much higher station than most people addressing those that she found lesser. It was petty of her, and she knew it, but she too, had her pride. And the simple fact of the matter was that dragons were creatures not of legend, but of reality - and had deserved each of the fabulous stories, good and bad, that were told about them.

“I met Albus when we were children; I’d left home looking for adventure. I was a dreamy child,” a small smile, that placid thing that was neither welcoming or disapproving. “When I left my homeland to Salariche, it was under the guise of a male, for the rules of this land prohibit women from joining the Knighthood.” There - the simple truth as to why she had pretended to be a boy for this long. She paused for a moment, weighing her next words. It was with a dim realization that she noted that this was, indeed, the most she had talked about herself. Ever.

It’d never come up between herself and Albus - there hadn’t been need to. Their friendship had been fast from the start; they’d been drawn together just that quickly. And as Albus wasn’t one to pry, she didn’t share too many details of the letters she got from home; only sharing the occasional treat that her family would send back - and they were always thoughtful enough to send back enough for Albus as well, and inquire about his health and well-being.

Well, no time like the present.

“I wanted to be a warrior and to see the world. I suppose I get that from my mother - I believe people in this region of the world would call her and her people ‘Amazons.’ They’re from Aotearoa - it’s a series of islands in the south west. While I wouldn’t say that they were isolated, they do believe in protecting their lands and the ways of their people. They’re not war-mongering, but they are explorers. My father, on the other hand, is from the far north - Samara, as he last recalls it. He was born there, and detested it enough so that he traveled, and ended up in the northern island of Aotearoa, Ika-Maui. That’s where he met my mother. She was on a bravery quest to slay a dragon. Their meeting didn’t go exactly as either one of them planned.”

Now, a true, sincere, small smile crossed her face. As a child, she had adored hearing the story of how her parents met - the bravery of her mother, how smitten her father was at first sight. It seemed that every time she heard it, there was something new to discover, something more wonderful for the retelling; not of least of how clearly her parents adored each other. “As my mother did not adhere to the rules of her people, she was outcast. Her and my father moved to another island, Lana'i. Both of my parents favor the island climate, and this one was far enough away from Aotearoa that my parents could live peacefully. Then came my elder sister, Rangi. She’s still on the island - she runs a shop with my brother in law, Daveed. They’ve two children - though, if the last letter I received from home is to be believed, a third is either on the way or recently born. It’s been a while since I have been home.”

Though she was aware that here, in Salariche, her family story was that of undeniable strangeness, she could not help but to feel pride as she spoke of her family. She too, was of an illustrious lineage, even if there were no official titles to go with it. “My parents also run a shop - an armory and a martial arts center. My mother was determined not to let her training go to waste. It caused quite a stir among the islanders to have a woman teach the ways of war, but my mother is very…persuasive.” Again, that small, true smile, thinking of her mother. “She adjusted the teachings of her people. It is hand to hand combat - a combination of breathing techniques and flexibility. I wanted to learn something different. She encouraged it, though my father was reluctant to let me leave. I thought that the Order of Salariche would be a good fit. It was far enough from my own home to allow me to travel in unknown regions, to help others, and to hone my own abilities.”

At least in the telling of her story, she was able to forget her own immense discomfort in her clothing. And she knew that, indeed, it would all be fresh information to Albus’s ears. Certainly, she could go into the politics of human-dragon relations, the stories of relatives from her father’s side of the family (including a dragon grandfather who doted on his grandchildren and spoiled them rotten), or the fierceness of her mother’s family that she never knew, so complete was their outcasting of their mother, or the brutalities her mother had experienced in her leaving - so harsh that her mother still bore the physical scars across her back and legs. But it had taken a quick look into the eyes of the viscount for her to know that none of it mattered. Stories that dealt with true humanity never did phase those of his kind. Feeling the air shift, she knew that she could be in for more questions - so she ended her story on herself, and let a comfortable pause take over, freeing up the conversation for any additional details, within reason, that someone would have wanted to know.

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

Albus listened with rapt attention to his fiancé’s story of her family. He knew some of the broad strokes, but to hear details from her was something to treasure, especially coupled with the brief glimpses of genuine expression of emotion on Taika’s beautiful face. It was a treat to see, and it touched Albus’s heart. Hearing of the difficulty her mother had faced, being ostracized and exiled for deciding to love Taika’s father--it gave Albus a lot to meditate on as he waited to find out his father’s true thoughts about his own choices. It also made Albus excited to meet the Amohangas. He had a feeling he would get along well with them.

Connard was smiling. “You have my apologies, my dear. I will make extra effort to pronounce your name correctly from now on. And thank you, for sharing your history with me.” He spread his arms. “You can understand why you are an enigma to me. My son had written about a squire who is now his fiancé, and I learn this information just after I’d secured an engagement for him.”

“Father, you’ve received all the explanation you need--”

Connard raised a hand. “Yes! Son, I know. Am I not allowed to share my feelings on the matter?”

Albus nodded, acknowledging the point. “Of course you are, father.”

“Thank you, son. Now, I have a proposal to make to the both of you.”

At that moment, Lady Chevalier walked out onto the patio.

“Ah, my wife! Miss Tai-kah, may I present my wife and Albus’s mother, Souzette Chevalier!” He turned to Albus. “Son, introduce your friend.”

Albus stood and walked over to embrace his mother. “Mother…” He took a deep breath. His relationship with his mother was much less strained than that with his father, but it would be false to call it warm. “I want to introduce you to my fiancé, Taika Amohanga. Our engagement has happened rather suddenly, and we’ve ridden straight here.”

Souzette looked confused. “Amohanga? I thought it was Visserig?”

Connard stepped in to clarify. “Dear, our boy wants to break off the Visserig engagement. We’re still discussing it. Why don’t you have a seat?”

Albus held his tongue about his father’s claim that the topic was up for discussion. It wasn’t, but he knew that clearing that up now wouldn’t take for long. They were soon interrupted by the arrival of the food, anyway. It was roast pheasant sandwiches with honey-glazed carrots. Albus took most of his pheasant out of his sandwich to give to Taika, since he didn’t think there was enough meat for her, otherwise. If not for the awkward company, it would have been quite a pleasant lunch. The sun was warm and bright without being harsh. There were a few bird calls in the distance. The scent of flowers from the garden filled the air. Add in the fact that Albus was sitting next to his fiancé, and he couldn’t have asked for a better way to spend a midday meal. Before long, though, it was time to get down to business.

“Albus, if we’re going to seriously consider this, you’ll need to break off the engagement with Visha in person. She deserves that much. Apparently she was quite looking forward to it.”

Albus was shocked at the suggestion. It seemed cruel to him, to meet the girl for the first time only to break off an engagement with her. “Father, no! That doesn't sound like a kindness to me.”

Connard was cool, but firm. “You’re not in a position to argue, son. Your mother and I worked hard to arrange this for you, and you have to consider the impact this can have on how they and other houses may feel about House Chevalier in the future. I think a bit of grovelling is in order. That’s not too much to ask, now, is it?”

Albus could not have cared less about House politics in Salariche, but he wasn’t surprised it was important to his father. “First you’re concerned about the girl’s feelings, and then you’re talking about your reputation? If you cared about doing the right thing by the Visserig girl, you wouldn’t force me to rub my new engagement in her face.”

Connard leaned back, unphased by Albus’s arguments. “So you’ll hide behind a letter, and then run away to avoid the consequences just like you ran away to the knights years ago? Perhaps you’re not ready to choose your own fiancé, if you’re going to act like a child.”

Albus took a breath, trying to quell his anger. When he spoke, it was with a veneer of cool, collected rationality. “Father, my chivalric vows require me to treat you with respect, but I am no child. I am a knight of Salariche, and there are things you can no longer require of me. My knighthood is settled, and if you want me to deliver the news of my engagement to the Visserigs in person, your arguments will need to be more persuasive.”

Connard smiled, still acting the part of the relaxed voice of reason opposite his more hotheaded son. “Well, Albus, if you’re so grown up now, you should know that in a relationship, important decisions like this should be made as a couple. And yet, you have not even thought to ask your alleged fiancé’s opinion on the matter. Therefore, I’ll do it for you. Miss Tai-kah, do you believe Albus should treat his one-time fiancé with respect and break off their engagement in person?”

Albus thought that was rich, considering Connard had likely never consulted Souzette on anything, but he held his tongue and waited to see what his love would say.