Alphonse loved the hens dearly, even if Sylvie was a bit uppity. The hen couldn’t help it; after all, she was an Ingolan cream hen instead of the rest, who were the hardier Thloegr stock.
“Shoo shoo ladies. Go eat bugs in the garden. I’ll not feed you so much if you get lazy with your tasks. Your room and board are not free; I’ll have you know.” Sylvie laid a generous dollop of dung and strutted off. Alphonse laughed brightly and headed into the cottage proper. She kicked off her yard clogs, which lifted her feet free of mud and debris, and lined them alongside the stoop. It wouldn't do to track mess into the kitchen. Setting her basket aside, she splashed her hands in the basin of clean water and looked around the empty cottage with a soft sigh.
She had gotten many of her chores done already, and so it seemed the rest of the day would be a quiet one. Perhaps she could read the book Etienne had sent in his last package.She had looked at it once and thought it too heavy to be light reading, but now with free time on her hands… Alphonse dried her hands on her apron and tried to remember where she had put the text.
༄
Enyo’s latest errand had been blessedly bloodless.
The Goddess had thrown open the doors of the little cottage Delyth shared with Alphonse almost three weeks prior, demanding that the winged warrior fulfill her oath. Only to send Delyth flying all the way down to Aberdwyr for something no more important than a few bottles of fine coastal wine.
As far as errands for Enyo went, it was almost pleasant. Long days of nothing but flying along the jagged peaks of the Brig’ian Mountains.
Almost like freedom.
And the people of Aberdwyr, used to visitors of all shapes, did not pay so much attention to Delyth’s wings. She’d found them welcoming and generous, though she had not stayed long. Already she missed Alphonse and their little cottage and even the ridiculous chickens.
That had been nearly a week and a half ago.
Now Delyth hurtled down from the great peak on which Thlonandras was being reconstructed, her wings half-tucked and her ears popping from the quick descent. She longed for the warm air of the valley below, the first sign that she was finally nearing home.
She could have crowed when she felt it, but instead, she saved her breaths for flying. It was early yet. Would Alphonse be out in the garden? Or could Delyth surprise her in the house?
Soon, the town of Nyth’draig passed beneath her, gone in the space of a few wing beats. The cottage was just a little further, tucked behind one of the hills to the town’s east.
When she finally landed, Delyth stepped over Bram, where she lay in the path leading up to the door and checked for Margot. She wasn’t letting the creature in. Even if Alphonse said the stoic thing looked like her.
With no sign of the chicken near the front of the house, Delyth flung the front door open, every inch of the sunny interior seeming to welcome her, though it was Alphonse that she really longed to see.
“Aderyn bak,” Delyth said, her voice warm in greeting.
The healer was standing in the kitchen, in a simple, becoming dress and little petals tangled in her tawny hair. Beautiful. As she always was.
Delyth didn’t hesitate to go to her, arms held out for an embrace.
The healer fussed with her apron, blushing even after two years of living together. Her face was lit up with a smile, and she slipped her arms about Delyth’s waist. Delyth pressed her lips to Alphonse’s, the corners still wide with a smile. When she broke away, it was with a teasing squeeze. “You’ve been playing in the laurels.” She lifted one of the delicate purple petals and held it up to show Alphonse. “Did you have to go chasing the chickens through them? Or was it just for fun?”
Alphonse reached up to touch her hair and shook her head. “I would have rather been chasing you.” The healer wore an uncharacteristically sly half-smile and looked up at Delyth through her lashes. Standing on her tiptoes, Alphonse kissed Delyth again. “Did you want breakfast? Or luncheon? I have several eggs here…”
Delyth tilted her head as if considering the question and slipped the harness holding Enyo’s great black blade to her back off so she could lean the thing against the wall. Then she stepped towards Alphonse, sliding up behind her to wrap her arms about the healer’s waist.
“Hmmm… no. I don’t think I’d like breakfast or luncheon.” She moved in closer and brushed her lips against the side of Alphonse’s neck, the healer turning a most becoming shade of pink. “You could always chase me now.”
The healer turned to nuzzle against Delyth’s throat as well. Her hands wandered over Delyth’s ribs and down to her hips. “Should I cover my eyes or something to give you a head start?” she whispered. “Maybe I’ll count to ten. That seems fair.” Her hands were already fumbling with Delyth’s belt.
Delyth laughed, eager and bubbling. “Alright, a ten-second head start, and you can’t peek.”
That was if Alphonse would let go of her clothes long enough to cover her eyes.
The warrior took her lover’s hands in her own and placed lingering kisses on the healer’s soft
