Welcome back!
I find it amazing how many people have commented on Perra's pendant! You will all get to find out a bit more in this chapter.
For those of you reading The Runesmith Chronicles for the first time I recommend going back and starting at Chapter one. Mostly so you have a better understanding of how things like the magic system works and what's going on as I reference events in earlier chapters fairly often.
I update my Bio with the latest Chapters and projects I'm working on each time I post a new chapter!
As always votes and feedback are greatly appreciated!
Enjoy!
Blu
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Edited by: Old Fart
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Kal stepped out of the tunnel from the storeroom to see Felli standing a few paces away. She was gazing out the cave entrance watching a couple of large birds gliding along the stiff mountain breezes. She turned to look at him and blushed furiously as he stepped up beside her.
"A little late for that after what you just saw," he said watching one of the birds tuck its wings and dive out of sight.
Felli blushed even harder "The blue lady and I talked some this morning, she was telling me there's more to keeping a man happy than just..." she motioned towards her bottom half with a wing. "If Rone changes his mind I want to be able to make him happy any way I can."
"What if the only way to make him happy is to let him go back to his wife?" Kal asked.
The harpy's face fell, "I... I don't think I can do that mister... umm... what's your name again?"
Kal sighed, "My name is Kal, I'm a mage from Rone's town," he almost added 'remember?' but thought better of it, she obviously didn't. "Why couldn't you?" he asked.
Her eyes shined like he was on the verge of tears, "It gets so terribly lonely up here. I don't want to live alone anymore. I didn't know that Rone had a wife until we got back here, or I would have found someone else. Once he was here with me I just couldn't take him back, no matter how much he begged. Mister Kal, I think I'd be happy if he kept sleeping in the corner instead of with me, just as long as he stayed," she said looking up at him as a lone teardrop ran down her cheek.
"Let's go talk to Rone, see if we can come up with a solution. No more deals or trades like yesterday. I'll give you both the idea I was thinking of and you can decide if it's worth one of your eggs."
Felli's expression changed to one of mild confusion, "Why?"
"I realized yesterday that even though my intentions were good I was being an ass because I was mostly trying to get what I wanted. It didn't feel good to me and Ikuno was pissed at me for it. So, today I'm going to not worry about what I want and just try to help you and Rone. If my actions are worth one of your eggs, then good for me. If not, perhaps we can come to a different arrangement."
"That doesn't sound much like the man who threatened to steal Rone away."
"Don't get me wrong, Felli. Until he tells me otherwise he will still be rescued in a few days by my rock golem friend." He turned her towards the tunnel leading to her nest, "let's see if we can come up with a better solution."
Her face went from shocked and angry to accepting as he spoke. As they were about to enter the tunnel to her nest she looked up at him, "Who's Ikuno?"
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"It won't work," said Rone despondently as he sat across the stone table from Kal. Instead of resting on her perch Felli was standing next to Rone while he absentmindedly ran his hand down her back.
"Why not?" asked Kal. "I'm sure that you could make Marda see how useful having Felli around could be."
"Marda isn't the problem, Kal. It's her sister, she's supposed to be coming back soon to take over the healing and midwifing as well as set up a small church here in town. Even if I were to convince Marda, Master Jurien and Lady Nina to accept this, her sister never would. Marda told me the church already has issues with apothecaries, calling their remedies 'heathen magic' and saying the only true healing comes from servants of the goddess. That didn't settle too well with her since she plans on following in Lady Nina's footsteps."
Kal rested his arms on the table in front of him, the church was coming to Telsin. This didn't bode well. "Any idea why they decided to set up a church here? The capitol has never cared a whit about our little town as long as they got their taxes."
"Marda's sister, Elta I think her name is, told her about a group of knights coming through last year and suggesting they keep an eye on this area. According to Lady Nina, when they found out Elta was from Telsin they began hurrying her through her training. Who better to keep an eye on things than one of the town's own. No offense intended, Kal, but with you suddenly becoming a mage not long after this supposedly happened along with your blue lady friend, I can't help but wonder if you were the reason for that."
Kal groaned an put his forehead on the cold stone table, bouncing it a few times in irritation. Felli was so wrapped up in Rone running his hands down her back she missed the conversation and was wondering if the young wizard was sick.
"I wish I could say you were wrong Rone, but I'm pretty sure Ikuno and I know exactly which knights you are talking about," said Kal raising his head up.
"It's really too bad," said Rone running his hands through Felli's hair, "even without her magic, her eyesight alone would be a huge help to Marda and her parents."
"How so? Also, what do you know about her magic? I meant to ask her outside, but we got to talking about more important things," he said indicating the two of them.
"A lot of their potions and such they have to go hunting for out in the woods. If she could remember what she is looking for then her eyesight and ability to fly would be an enormous help with gathering plants and herbs. Concerning her magic, she seems to be able to make things lighter when she holds onto it."
"Her 'hands' too?" indicating the small claws at the final wing joint.
Rone nodded, "More than that," he then turned to the harpy, "Felli? Could you give Master Kal a hug?"
"Only if you promise to do that some more," she said smiling at him and pushing her head into his hand.
Rone nodded and Kal stood as Felli walked over to him. He felt the difference the moment her wings wrapped around his body. The constant pressure that he never noticed on his knees and ankles suddenly disappeared as his body became extremely light, making him feel like he was about to fall over or float away. As she released him he couldn't help but wonder how nice it would have been to have her around when the tree fell on the young man last winter. A quick estimate made him think that with her standing on the log, two or three men could have accomplished the same feat as he had with his strength rune. Kal chuckled as he sat down finding it amusing that natural abilities like Felli's and Gerda's were sometimes so powerful compared to his own. He had spent weeks working on the feather fall rune, that still burned far too much energy, just to make himself lighter while Felli could do the same without any effort just by holding onto him.
Rone gave him a quizzical look, "What's so funny?"
Kal smiled, "Imagine felling a tree for firewood then having Felli stand on it as you put it up on your shoulder and carry the entire tree back to the house."
Rone blinked a few times before looking down at the harpy beside him, "That would be handy, unfortunately, it still doesn't help us. I won't put my in-laws on bad terms with the church any more than they already are, drawing the church's ire can get you killed. I will not take that chance, I'm sorry."
Kal's heart broke for Felli as he saw the deep sadness in her eyes as she looked up at Rone. "I understand," she said slowly nodding, "I have one request: spend the night with me in the nest." She saw the look on his face and hurried on, "You don't have to do anything! You can even keep your clothes on! I just want to spend our last night with your arms around me. Tomorrow, after I've laid my egg and given it to Kal, I will take you home," she said blinking rapidly to fight back the tears as Rone accepted her offer and drew her into his arms.
"Felli," said Kal, "I really didn't do anything, my whole idea was a wash."
She smiled across the table at him, "I know, but you did try to help, and you were nice about it this time. Besides, I can just take a couple of extra rabbits or a small boar and be right back to normal in a couple of days."
Rone's stomach chose that moment to growl, the noise seeming very loud in the stone room. He looked down then gave Felli and Kal a sheepish smile, "Sorry, haven't had breakfast yet."