Chapter 27 - Clover
I woke the next morning in the makeshift bed of old blankets and towels at the side of Aamalyn's bed. It was early morning and the earliest rays of sunlight shone through the one window in the shack. My head was in a bit less pain from being choked out the night before by the Non-sorcerer. I knelt and rose unsteadily to my feet.
Without opening her eyes, Aamalyn said, "Clover, my feet are cold." She rose her leg so there was an opening under her blankets.
Suspecting she meant for me to enter, I did so-submerging myself entirely under the blankets at the foot of her bed and curling up as to be able to in order to fit.
Aamalyn pressed one of her somewhat chilly feet between my thighs and then rested the other across my breasts. There, I waited still and entirely under the blankets for a while after. I was pretty sure that Aamalyn had fallen back to sleep.
In the meantime, I considered my new situation and what my friends might be going through. I wondered if Namali was worried about me. And I hoped we would meet up again near Crudehook. I thought about Daava and hoped she was managing to stay safe as she took care of her sick family. At least I didn't have a reason to worry too much about Mystery, Faublien, and Zolreya.
Then there was the person who was currently warming her feet with my body as she slept. Something about Aamalyn's demeanor and her words didn't quite add up to me. From the way she had spoken, I had always been under the impression that Aamalyn had been a top sorcerer in the Other Place ... or at least a formidable one. And she had to have at least been quite skilled in some form of magic, having stolen me away from the Non-sorcerer.
But then ... why was she living in the most lowly of quarters in the Other Place? For that matter ... why had she been assigned to bring sandals to the Temple of Kavtagro? Daava had made sense for bringing the robes; I had little doubt that Kink University would divide tasks evenly among students. In the Other Place, however, jobs were clearly dictated by hierarchy. There was no way that woman with the people-garden or the naga with the zoo were dragging wooden carts full of sandals outside of town. But then why did she seem so confident in being able to increase my magic? And, more curiously, why did I believe her?
I stayed thinking that way until the sun was bright enough for even me to be able to see from beneath the blankets.
Eventually, Aamalyn gave a leisurely stretch and sat up in bed. Again, she lifted her leg, this time to dismiss me.
I crawled out of bed and had a stretch as I finally stood.
"I will be going to get some water to clean ourselves and make breakfast," Aamalyn said, finally stepping out of bed in a very long night-gown with a slit that ran all the way up to her hip. "In the meantime, you will make the bed and fill the stove. You're not allowed to be out of the house unless on a leash."
"Yes, Goddess," I said and moved to make the bed as soon as she stood up. As I moved, I let out an involuntary shudder from the slight morning cold.
"Clover," Aamalyn said, and I turned to face her. Her brow was furrowed for only the briefest moment before turning uncaring once again. She picked up her black robe and normal attire from a shelf. "Look down, Clover, I do not currently wish to be seen."
Confused, I looked down at the ground, obediently. I waited like that as I heard the rustling of clothing being changed.
"You may look now," Aamalyn said.
I looked back up to see that she was in her regular leathers, with her robe over the ensemble.
In one arm, Aamalyn held her nightwear. She extended the garment to me and said, "You may wear this until the house heats up. I don't make a habit of freezing my pets to death."