the Leathermines

Back to Chapter 1 - The beginning of the series starts with The Slave Warrior

 

“The river is topping the bridge and we are not sure if it is going to last past the next rainstorm.”

The Spring thaw had brought a flood with it that year.  Once the weather had changed, it had stayed warm, the pockets of snow and cold disappearing over a few warm weeks, not the good cool month it usually took.  Hunter and the squad from Nestwood had come back for the almost bi-weekly personnel change with news that was not heartening.

“Well, if the bridge has to go, it has to go.  Or it needs to be properly rebuilt with better foundations that don’t block the river.”  Laun was sitting on a log outside the keep of Salam-Dir, talking with the men who had just traveled two days back to the land.  It was early afternoon and she was reveling in not having to have cape and mittens on.  Or boots.  Her toes were covered with cold mud and she was squishing it around as the men were reporting on the last two weeks.

“After the floods have come down, but I am not sure that we will be able to get across at all if the bridge goes out.”  Hunter was sitting on the log with her, one of his large hands on her leg and a smile on his face, even with the dire news.

Laun smiled at Hunter and saw the humor in his eyes that had always caught her and made her blush without her knowing why.  She cleared her throat and said, “How much rope do we have?”

The large man blinked and had a sideways smile.  “I don’t think we have time for-”

Laun smacked his hand and many of the men around them laughed.  “I mean for over the river.  There used to be the ferryman with a flat bottomed boat and the rope.  Could we recreate that?”  Laun tried to not have a flash of the ferryman go through her mind.  She could not repress it and she closed her eyes, thinking of his kindness before the bandits had killed him and left him on the beach.

“I understand.  There may still be a boat at Nestwood and we could rig something up...”  Hunter saw the slight sadness in Laun.  “What’s wrong?”

Laun flashed a closed smile and shrugged.  “It never gets easier after you have seen death, does it.”  Hunter put his hand on Laun’s shoulder and shook his head.  “The ghosts are not as bad, but they have been catching me more lately.”

One of the protectors who had come back with Hunter said, “We remember them to keep them in our lives.  You have been saying that for over a year, Laun.”

She nodded.  “I have to remember that.”  Her smile broadened and she looked at the men around her.  “So, did the peaches survive the winter?”

There was laughter and a grimace from Hunter.  “Still thinking with your stomach, I see.”

Laun nodded and said, “At least I am the only one who has anything to say about it.”  She rubbed the tunic where the babies had been inside her, the tightened muscles only slightly rounded by the remnants of baby fat.

Hunter leaned into her and whispered, “We could try changing that...”

She raised her eyebrow and had several things she wanted to say, some not so nice.  Laun wrinkled her nose slightly and whispered back, “Should I scrub your back, first?”

The large man took the hint as he subtly sniffed at himself.  His eyes went wide and he nodded, saying, “I didn’t realize it was that bad, Love.”  He turned to the others in the group and motioned towards the keep.  “I think our Princess would like her nose to smell the croci and fireweed, not us.”

Laun blinked.  “You had Erin at Nestwood, didn’t you?”

Hunter stopped getting up and sat back down, looking at Laun.  “How the hell?”

Her head didn’t tip to the side as it usually did when she was thinking or making a point.  She pointed with a finger at a cluster of the white and purple flowers in the leaf mould and mud.  “No one but Erin would call a group of crocuses croci.  What have you been doing over there?”

Hunter turned to Laun after waiving the others on.  The look on his face told Laun that he wanted to not say anything, but knew she would get whatever he had out, eventually.  “He came to see if he still had some seeds and some of his stuff over there.  He has been home for a week...”  His dark grey eyes went to the log they were sitting on.  “He showed up with one of the Fourth’s messengers.  It was hard not to flatten him on the spot, but he...  Erin’s not that bad of a guy.  He’s still there, doing something with the plants.”

Laun leaned back and laughed.  “I never thought you two would be able to be in the same room without something happening.  I just didn’t think you would get along.”

“Love, he is a self-centered prick, but he knows a lot more about growing things than anyone else I know.  He was able to uncover some stuff in the garden that he says had been there for years.  I asked him if...  That is, if you don’t mind-”

“When is he supposed to get here?”  Laun’s head went to the side and she smiled, the large man’s eyes catching on the knowing glint in her hazel eyes.

He shook his head slightly and said, “In a few days.  He wants to do something here for you.  He wouldn’t say what.”

Laun’s smile became wistful.  She looked to the mud between her toes and thought of the garden at Salam-Dir.  The wall behind the arbor had been fixed, the catch basin replaced after decades of being broken and hidden away.  The roses had been destroyed in the process.  The roses that Lady Hellon had shown Laun the value of when she was young.  The roses that were turned into jam each summer. The rose hips harvested and dried for tea in the winter.  The rose arbor had been hacked down to let the mason fix the wall.

“I hope he can do something...”  Laun looked up again and sighed.  “We’ll have to see.”  She grabbed her boots and started to stand from the log.

Hunter held out his arms and she was on his lap, legs going around his waist.  “Do I have to wait until later?”  His arms were around her, his face nuzzling her neck.

Her arms were around his neck and she breathed in his scent.  He smelled of the road and horses and mud and sweat and old wool.  She breathed out and leaned back slightly, brushing her lips across his.  “Yes.”  She smiled and he laughed.

The roads were still muddy, but solid.  Laun kept walking with her boots in her hands, the boot socks rolled up and pushed into the toes.  She loved the feeling of the cold mud, but knew Orgia was going to give her the stare if she came into the keep without her boots on.  Hunter and Laun walked along until a few paces from the cleared area around the keeps wall.  Laun motioned to her Love and they skirted the lightly green clearing to where the outside stable had been the year before.

Laun had been doing this for several days.  She was prepared.  A wooden bucket with mostly clean water was under a canvas, a basket with some rags with it.  She sat on a straw bale and washed her feet, dried them and then put her socks and boots on.

“Orgia never knows?  You’re getting smarter.”  Hunter had a wet rag go past his head and he laughed.

The Great Hall was busy.  One of the fireplaces was being completely cleaned out, the ashes and grit that had built up over the Winter being hauled out, some to go to the back kitchens to help make soaps, some out to the fields to help fertilize.  Those not involved with the sooty mess were trying to stay clear, especially the household who were in charge of the babies.  The youngsters who were starting to walk were the most dangerous, and hardest to keep track of.

Orgia knew Hunter was coming and was standing in one of the kitchen’s doorways, her arms crossed and the look that no one wished to have on them for too long directed at the ex-military man.  He bowed his shoulders slightly and went to the chatelaine, knowing that he was going to get both a bath and a talking to, but he was not sure about what, this time.  Laun smiled and looked around at her people.

Laun took the time to go and sit with one of the women watching the babies, including Laun’s own.  Her son had taken a fever and died over the winter, the haunted look on her face open to anyone who would look when she took another of the still nursing babies to her breast.  Laun could not imagine loosing either of her twins, but knew the feeling of loss that death that close brought.  It only took a few moments and a hug, but Laun saw a smile on Gretchen’s face before she left the bustle of the main gathering place of the keep to head up to her room in the tower.

Her room.  Laun had a small smile as she thought that she shared her room with anyone from the household, just about anyone who asked.  They may not be bed-mates, but even the soldiers and the mercs who had never left from the summer before felt welcome enough to share the warmth of her room over the Winter.  Also her Loves and Husbands...

Edgar was coming down from the walkway as Laun was coming up to the room.  They met on the landing and embraced.  Laun felt him start to talk, his rumble coming through his chest, his voice going right through her.  “My Lady, how are the lands today?”

She had to close her eyes and felt the wave of a thrill go through her.  Her voice was breathy as she said, “Thawing and blossoming, My Lord.”  She gasped as his breath went across her ear, his nose taking in her scent.  He had always known how to go right through any of her defenses, known how to thrill her.  Laun was glad the Spring had let her shed the malaise, the depression that had settled on her over the Winter.  His rumble of a voice could touch off her core quickly again.

The Lord of Salam-Dir, First Husband and Royal Companion of Princess Laun Dresden, Lady Salam-Dir took a slight step back, holding onto Laun’s hands as he looked at her.  “May I distract you for a while, my Lady Love?”

She nodded and let herself be drawn to the room she was headed for, anyway.  The door was open, the Spring light coming in and making the room glow.  Gem was sitting on the rug by the windows, reading one of the story books they had brought from the Hawkwell manor the year before.  She looked up and smiled as her Mistress and Lord came in.

Edgar motioned to the blonde and said, “A little time with my Wife?”  Laun giggled lightly, the notion of being married to this wonderful man still seeming slightly unreal.  Gem nodded and took the book with her as she left, closing the door behind her.  He took Laun into his arms again and held her, standing in the room with no one else there and just embraced his Wife and Love.

Laun’s head was on his chest, listening to his breathing and heart.  It was comforting, relaxing.  She felt her own breathing starting to match his, the rhythms between them flowing and building.  His hands started to move up her back, her braid being lightly pulled to bring her head back.

Edgar looked into Laun’s eyes and smiled.  “Time with you is precious.  There is so much I wish for, but this is what I truly want.  Just to hold you and be with you.”

She smiled and brought one arm up between them, putting her fingertips to his jaw, stroking lightly on the day-old stubble.  “Moments like this are what make the rest of my life worth living.  You complete a part of me that would die without you.”

He pressed his hands to her back and she raised up on her toes slightly to be able to kiss.  It was a slow, leisurely kiss, tongues and lips gently sliding across each other as they shared breaths.  There was a spark of passion under the comfortable actions, but this was not for raising lust.  This was sharing Love and companionship.  This was connecting with each other without anyone else to color or push the moment.  A kiss to let each other know that all was right between them and the world.

Laun’s head jerked slightly and Edgar pulled back, a concerned look on his face.  She glanced at the door and he sighed.  “Any bets as to who?”

Edgar heard Gem talking to someone outside the door before the scratch came.  “How does the boy know?”

Laun smiled up at Edgar and said, “He’s your Love, too, you know.”

He nodded, a sideways smile on his face as they relaxed their embrace slightly.  He rumbled out, “Yes?  Who is it?”

Fount did not wait to be asked in.  He opened the door and smiled at the two hugging in the room.  He came in and closed the door behind him.  “Looks like you two are having fun.”

“We were...”  Edgar’s tone was not exactly biting and he caught himself before he went any further.

Laun tilted her head and leaned on Edgars’ chest as she raised a hand, beckoning to the younger man.  There was a smile and Fount came to them, an arm around each.  “Husband, I thought you were with Ali today?”

His smile faded slightly.  “The baby is making her very cranky and no matter what I do...”  He shrugged and made an exasperated noise.

A hand came up and Edgar ruffled the younger man’s black hair.  “It will get better.  Remember, Laun still is cr-”  There was a pained sound as Laun stepped down on Edgar’s foot.

There were a few grumbled words, but the three of them grasped each other and laughed.  They parted slightly, still with hands on shoulders and waists.

Fount looked like he wanted to say something, but then changed his expression, and what he was going to say.  “I came to tell you that there is a messenger caravan at the barrier.  Supplies, someone from your Father and someone from Liam.”  Fount’s face twitched at the mention of the last messenger.

Edgar responded as Laun watched the face of her Second Husband.  “Are they being brought in and have they been checked?”

Fount nodded and looked just at the older man, trying to not glance at Laun.  “All were checked for the mark, the papers are right.  Even-” Fount moved his head slightly and looked at Laun sideways, “the smuggler’s man.”

She nodded.  “I have to do it, Fount.  I am in debt to him and I need to clear the debt.”

A tug on her waist and Fount’s lips were pressed to Laun’s, a heated, rough kiss from him showing her that he was full of a mixture of jealousy, anger and concern.  It was not the gentle, companionable kiss from Edgar.  Laun felt the stubble scratch and burn on her chin and lips as he tried to show her how he felt.  He was getting better with his words, but the shyness he had still caught him when he tried to express how he felt when it was strong in him.

“Enough, boy.  Let her breathe.”  Edgar’s hand was on the younger man’s neck, a not so gentle grip making Fount break off his kiss of their Wife.

A gentle hand was on Fount’s cheek and Laun looked into his eyes.  “I am paying the price for not negotiating.  I understand that.  I will not be indebted to Liam for what he helped us with.”

Fount nodded and scowled.  “I just wish you would take us with, too.”

She looked down slightly and then back up to his eyes.  “Love, that was not part of the deal.  We have talked about this.  I will be gone for about two weeks and then I will return.”

Edgar put his arms around both of them and said, “At least you are taking Gem with you.  If anything happens, I know she can take care of anything.”

Laun nodded.  She closed her eyes and took in a deep breath.  “It is time to meet the messengers.”

The door to the room was left open, Laun motioning to Gem to follow them down into the keep.  The blonde rushed to put the book back in the room and followed, her dark green tunic and breeches rumpled and dusty from sitting on floors while waiting for her Mistress.

By the time the messengers were escorted into the Great Hall, Laun had sat by the wall with the children, Sable on her knee looking at those in the room around her and Ash in Fount’s arms.  There were people sitting with them, talking with Laun about things that they needed her opinion on and everyone who could was holding a mug of tea.

Many people came in, Protectors and soldiers surrounding and among the people who had just arrived at the border of Salam-Dir.  Laun saw the thinning red hair of the dark Gyrip, a smile coming to her lips knowing that Marie and Markle had been keeping them well supplied with things, as she had been keeping them well supplied with peridot crystals from the Grey.  A man with a large scroll case slung on his back looked around at the room more than the people in it as they were being escorted in.  Behind him, Liam’s messenger, Nesil, with his plain, dark clothes and slightly knowing smile.

“Sergeant Osil, Ma’am.  Guests for your attendance.”  Laun saluted back and smiled at the pale man.  He stepped back and Gyrip stepped forward, very used to this part of the ritual.

“Your cousin gives you greeting, and hopes that you are well.”  He bowed, the road showing in the stiffness in his legs, but his hand was quick as he took her hand to kiss it and slipped a wrapped handful into her palm.  Laun nodded to him, her smile changing slightly, taking the coins and coded message from him and moving it to her own pouch as she seemed to fuss over Sable when Gyrip moved back.

The man Laun did not recognize was prompted to step forward.  He refocused on Laun and blinked a little before stepping forward and taking the offered hand.  “Highness, I wasn’t expecting such a good example of the second construction period here.”

Laun tilted her head slightly and narrowed her eyes.  “Gentle, I have no idea what you are talking about.”

“The building-”  He broke off his touch with her before he kissed her hand to motion around them, an enthusiasm in his action that brought her smile more into Laun’s eyes.  “Most of the good examples are under so many layers at this point that it is hard to see.  But this...”  He stood up and looked up at one of the beams.

Laun looked up, seeing the patch that was done on the roof in time for the snow to fall last year.  “I guess that is a good thing to know.  I do wonder one thing.”

His eyes went back to her and he nodded.  “Yes, Highness?”

Laun raised her eyebrow and said, “Who are you?”

There was a small round of laughter as the man was caught with a raising red on his face.  “Oh.  I’m sorry.  I am Jake Redweir.  I was sent by the King to sketch you for the Hawkwell manor.”

“Why would- oh.”  Laun’s voice showed some sort of disappointment.  “For the mural in the hall.”

“Yes, Highness.  There is a new generation and it is tradition.”  His eyes drifted up and followed a line of slightly different colored stone from one of the repairs the Masons had done.

“That may be a little difficult, Jake, as I will be leaving for about two weeks, if I can guess why this gentle is here.”  Laun turned and held out a hand to Nesil, the messenger stepping forward and taking Laun’s hand.

He bowed crisply and kissed her hand lightly.  “Yes, Highness.  My master wishes to fulfill the agreement, if it is convenient.”

Laun nodded slightly.  “I will need to pack a few things, but I am ready.”  She felt Fount next to her, and then Ash started wiggling as he was holding the baby just a bit tighter than the child wanted.  When she had her hand back from the man, she put it on her husbands’ knee, both man and child settling slightly.

“At your convenience, your Highness.  There is time, and my Master does not wish for you to feel rushed in your travels.”  He stepped back and then reached into a pouch at his belt.  “I almost forgot, Highness.  Deni sent a message to you, too.”

He had a good smile on him as he handed a small envelope to Laun, the look of someone remembering something good, not the controlled mask he used for his duties with Liam.

Laun took the message and smiled.  “You stopped at the Castle before coming here?”

He looked down slightly before saying, “I needed to make sure you weren’t already in the City, Highness.”  He did not look back up before he bowed slightly and backed away a step.

Laun turned Sable on her knee and looked into the baby’s eyes.  “You are going on another trip.”  Sable reached out for Laun.  She leaned forward and Laun let the child take her nose for a moment.  There was a light giggle from the dark haired baby and Laun smiled.

 

Onto Chapter three Where the Sand Castle is Launs sanctuary, and an illicit assignation occurs