Note: In this story I use italics to put emphasis on certain words or highlight internal monologue.
Note: English is not my first language so I hope there aren't many stylistic or grammatical errors. All feedback is appreciated.
This story follows „Wishing Upon a Green Star" but is self contained and can be read on its own. I recommend checking the tags beforehand.
Life was easier when you had a pretty face. It didn't matter whether you were highborn noble or a simple ragged wanderer when the entire room turned to stare upon your entrance. You could pick up women, strike better deals or even talk yourself out of trouble if you could muster a shiny-enough smile. Some people just had better luck then others in this way.
Kalver wasn't often the most handsome looking man in the room, but ever since his face got the makeover it was due at his birth, his own life just seemed a shade brighter. People tended to be more willing to pay him for a job, more apologetic when something went awry, more keen to start a conversation. But the most glaring difference must have been his luck with women.
Kalver´s previously non-existent romantic life had suddenly bloomed into proportions he would never have guessed before -- which honestly meant it was about average. As if he was trying to catch-up on his wasted youth (though he was only in his twenties) he traveled the world, meeting new people, seeing great cities and sleeping in someone else´s bed every other week. But as time went on and every lover he took seemed to bring less excitement than the one before, it was becoming increasingly clear to him that his encounter with the Goddess also had a significant downside.
It would appear he had gained a fetish. And one exceptionally hard to fulfill at that.
It was a month ago that Kalver had visited the House of the Scarlet Rose. Though the tales spoken about the place didn't paint a good enough picture of the truth and he enjoyed his stay greatly, he was still leaving with his head down. You knew it was bad when the best and weirdest brothel in history could not satisfy your needs. Despite that, the women there were astonishing (and the giantess especially was worth every penny), which unfortunately meant he had spent there most of his savings that night.
The rain was picking up as he rushed into the little cave and dumped the small stack of firewood wrapped in his cloak. His clothes were slightly sodden, but that would be the least of their problems if they couldn't keep the fire burning during the night.
"That enough?" his client asked, finishing the meat they had just cooked on the fire an hour ago.
"Should be," he said. "There weren't many dry sticks left but we only need to keep the fire until morning"
They were in the middle of nowhere, more than a week of travel from the nearest town of Cassandra. His client needed to urgently get to the western coasts and for... personal reasons they couldn't use horses. Every carriage heading there was slow and they had to go around the mountain in the way so the best course of action was to take the shortcut through. Kalver just so happened to be the only one present who knew his way around and he needed to make money. Desperately.
He ditched his wet coat, spread it out so it would dry faster and started taking off his boots. They had blankets for sleeping so it wouldn't be a problem to get through the night in the cold cave. Better than the cold rain at least.
"You seem quite the survivalist," his client spoke again as she threw the bones of the turkey he had shot for them to the fire.
"I had spent some time in the wild."
"Alone?" she asked and coiled up closer to the fire.
"Yes, that's usually how it goes in the wild. You´re left alone to your own resources."
For a moment she looked like she wanted to say more, but then she looked into the fire instead, quiet. Meanwhile, Kalver got rid of every unnecessary damp piece of clothing and settled down on the blanket, feet towards the flames. There seemed to be tension in the air, so he decided to break the uneasy silence instead.
"You never told me why you need to travel to the western coasts so badly." Mainly because he never asked. He respected his clients´ privacy, but he figured they reached the point where this fell under the casual chit-chat.
"It´sss... personal."
So he was wrong. He shook his head. "I´m not pressing. Just thought I could ease the mood a little."
Talassea shifted closer to the fire again. Cold-blooded as she was, nights up here in the mountains were tough on her. They essentially ended up pressed against each other as they slept, no room for privacy or sentiment in the wilds. Client´s safety was the only thing that mattered in the end. He could always charge her extra if he thought her requirements were unpleasant to him. He wouldn't.
She sighed and looked away before continuing: "It´s the dark lamias´ mating season."
That certainly did not help get rid of the awkwardness between them. He regretted his question.
She side-eyed him, probably gauging his reaction. "Go on. I see your curiosity. Ask away," she said in that odd south-east accent of hers. CH instead of K, problems with R, drawn out S and C... "I´m not normally this uneasy, you know? It's not like us to be shy."
"Ehm... soooo, is that like a once-a-year occasion?"
"Essentialy," she said. "The heat cycles do not match up with everyone. But the tradition says there´s a Fertility festival held in the late spring in Dorissa-Tessara. Children are banned from entering the temple during this time. There are dances, performers, ceremonies... people go there to socialize and then inevitably..."
Kalver stared mouth agape.
"Not in the public!" Talassea hissed. "But everybody knows what it is about. It is not a place known for modesty."
He let that hang in the air while he struggled not to say anything stupid. "Aaah, so that explains why you're in a rush. I wouldn't want to miss my one time in a year." Mainly, he thought, because he had been missing out on it for much longer. He didn't want to go back.
She nodded. "The festival should start in about a week and last a month. But most celebrations happen in the first two weeks. That's when most people have their cycles." She shifted around before she continued. She seemed distressed. "It's not like we can only do it once a year, could be whenever we feel like it. But the heat is unbearable. Weeks of constant urge and we´re not even fertile for most of it! Luckily."
"Well, a few more days and we´ll be halfway. We should make it in two weeks at worst if no complications arise. Ehm... I take it you're also part of this majority? If we´re lucky you might make it till your... cycle... starts."
"Too late for that," she said. "It started two days ago."
More awkwardness ensued.
