“Good morning troll syer,” Era said as she skipped around the pancake stand and clung to my arm. “It is true isn’t it? You single handedly killed a full grown troll?”

  “Melissё helped a bit,” I said with a shrug. “It turned to stone. That means it’s dead right?” The thought of it coming back to life made me shudder.

  Era’s brown eyes beamed even brighter. “I should think so. I heard you saved Meliss? from the shroud. As if defeating a troll wasn’t remarkable enough.” She leaned in so close I thought she was going to kiss me. Her soft breasts rubbed against my arm. “I think you’ve earned a hero’s breakfast today.”

  Era danced back around the counter and began frying batter, thick-cut bacon, and eggs. My stomach growled at the sizzling fats on the skillet. The savory scent of bacon felt surreal after facing down a troll—was this safety something I could ever take for granted again?

  Red haired Brinna offered me a steaming mug of coffee. Our fingers brushed lightly as I accepted it. “Thank you Brinna,” I said, taking a sip. “It’s just the way I like it.”

  She murmured something incomprehensible then looked down with a smile, her face now bright red.

  “So,” Era said, “You were at Melissё’s this morning? Perhaps we should call you fairy syer huh?”

  I ughed. “We were just getting to know each other.”

  “All through the night I bet,” she said with a wink over her shoulder.

  “Jethro!” The voice seemed to come from far away, but before I could turn to see, a purple blur knocked me off my stool.

  Lavendu tched herself to me tight. “I heard you were attacked by a troll!” she said, nuzzling my neck. “I thought you were done for. Are you alright? How’d you get away?”

  “I’m a little bruised now,” I said, petting her purple hair. “I’m alright though.”

  “And Melissё? I heard she was with you.”

  “She’s being restored at Astrid’s, but she’ll be fine.”

  Lavendu hugged me tightly, lingering before we rose. I recounted the details of the troll attack as I ate. Era, Brinna, and Lavendu hung on my every word.

  “Jethro, you did it!” Lavendu cheered. “You discovered you can thwart the shroud with your power. That’s amazing? No one’s ever done that!”

  “I know,” I said, “and I can also turn monsters to stone apparently.”

  “Actually, trolls normally turn to stone in sunlight. The shroud must have shielded it until your javelins broke through.”

  “Oh.” I shuddered to think how the fight might have gone had the beast attacked a few hours before sunrise.

  After breakfast Lavendu and I strolled around the garden.

  “How was your night?” I asked. “Any luck controlling your new power?”

  Lavendu nodded slowly. “Not as interesting as your night. Lots of meditation and focus. But I think I’m getting a handle on it. Watch that couple.” She pointed at an older couple sitting on a bench. She focused her eyes on them with a smile. Within moments they were snuggled up close, kissing with passion.

  I wanted to do the same at that moment. My cock swelled, my heart pumped harder. I took Lavendu’s hand and pulled her close.

  “Wait, are you feeling it too?” she asked, disappointment on her face.

  “I think so,” I answered just as a couple giggling fairies chased one another into the trees. “And them probably.”

  “Hmmf,” she said, crossing her arms and frowning. “I thought I could focus it.”

  Suddenly, both my heart and cock calmed. The couple on the bench stopped kissing and settled into a sweet, wholesome cuddle.

  “At least you can activate and deactivate it at will now.”

  “I’ll need to practice more.” She looked up at me with a wry smile. “So Melissё huh?”

  I nodded with a grin. “It seems I unlocked a power in her as well.” I told Lavendu about the prolonged orgasm and how my hands glowed while pleasing and being pleased by the green fairy.

  “Jethro! This is amazing!” she said, spping her hand on my chest. “You’ve only been here a couple nights and you're vanquishing the shroud, romancing multiple fairies, and revealing powers we never knew we had. We need you to fuck more women without dey!”

  “On that note, I got the colrs,” I said, shaking the satchel. “And I think I found someone else to wear one. We’ve got a date with her tonight.”

  “We? With who?”

  “Saoirse.”

  “The Steward?” Lavendu’s eyes widened.

  I nodded.

  “You are…” she ughed. “Just unbelievable.”

  ***

  We found Saoirse buffing a leather arm guard at the archery range. Her steward’s robes hung loose and open, revealing her high legged body suit underneath. She gave me a bow and I bowed back. Lavendu looked at us askance. It seemed bowing had become a special greeting just between Saoirse and I.

  “So,” Saoirse said, “what are we doing this evening?”

  Lavendu looked at me, but I hadn’t thought of anything. The ‘show me around, I’m new’ bit felt a little tired at this point, but the silence had gone on too long now.

  “I um… well,” I said, straining to come up with something. “What would you like to do?”

  “For someone seeking dominance, you sure are indecisive,” Saoirse said, her stoic expression feeling suddenly harsh despite the fact it never changed. Lavendu tilted her head at me.

  “Alright then,” I said, crossing my arms. “You want me to decide? I was just offering the option to get to know you a bit more. I don’t have any problems making decisions.”

  They both stared. The silence grew. Lavendu raised her eyebrows.

  “Just as long as you understand. Right then. I hear you’re skilled with the bow Saoirse. Why don’t you give us a demonstration? Then we’ll go for food and drink at the tavern, followed by an evening stroll.”

  Saoirse gave the slightest of nods before slipping her robes off. I studied her figure-hugging body suit as she made for her bow.

  “Prepare to be amazed,” Lavendu whispered.

  Saoirse’s bow was dark glossy green and exceptionally long. Covered in engravings simir to the green colr she made, it was safe to assume she made the bow herself. She notched and pulled an arrow back. I didn’t know much about archery but I couldn’t help but think her form was perfect. The trees themselves seemed to hold their breath as she studied the targets.

  With a quick breath, she arched her back and shot three arrows high above in rapid succession. She shot three more at eye level. In the blink of an eye the targets in front of us and three more, a long way behind, each had a fresh arrow thud into the bullseye.

  “The back left is slightly off,” she said, “I must admit I’m a little nervous this evening.”

  “What?” I said, “That was incredible! How’d you learn to do that?”

  “Decades of practice,” she said ftly.

  “Don’t beat yourself up Miss Saoirse,” Lavendu chimed. “You’re still far beyond the best of us.”

  “Thank you for the encouragement,” Saoirse said. “But please don’t think of me as a steward while we are on a date. You may simply call me Saoirse. Would you like to give it a try?” She offered her bow to Lavendu.

  “With your bow?”

  “Think of it as an incrementally more intimate expression of affection.”

  Lavendu ughed. “Alright. Thank you Saoirse.”

  Lavendu was much slower and looked clumsy in comparison, but she hit the targets more often than she missed them. She even nded a couple of the far off targets.

  “You’ve improved,” Saoirse said.

  “I think your enchanted bow is making all the difference.”

  “The bow is only enchanted to improve power and to keep it from breaking. I never enchant my bows to aim for me. How about you?” Saoirse turned toward me. “You may also use my bow.”

  “While I very much appreciate the incremental expression of affection, there’s something I’d like to show you,” I said as I held my hands out and concentrated. They glowed and a bright golden javelin appeared. It didn’t shine as bright as this morning, but I didn’t need to tell them that.

  I threw the javelin into the target. I threw two more. They all hit the target, but none in the bullseye. “I only learned I could do this this morning, so I’ll need more practice when it comes to aiming.”

  “Most impressive,” Saoirse said.

  “Wow! They’re so pretty!” Lavendu said as we watched the glowing spears dissolve into sparkling dust.

  “I heard about your battle this morning,” Saoirse said. “A udable victory.”

  “Laudable?” Lavendu said. “It’s unbelievable.”

  After a few more rounds we made our way to the tavern. I set Lavendu and Saoirse at the corner table by the firepce. It was the perfect spot for a date. Not conspicuous, yet not too dark or isoted. The firepce provided light and warmth. Close to the bar if the need for more drinks should arise and even closer to the stairs so we would be able to abscond to the room discreetly.

  I ordered a pitcher of ale and a dish called pizza. Little did I know I was about to be introduced to one of the greatest loves of my life. When Brinna brought the strange open faced, cheese pie to our table my mouth watered so much I nearly drooled all over.

  A thin yer of bread, both fluffy and crispy, a tangy sauce made from garlic and tomato preserves, topped with peppery cured meats, and melted cheese that stretched for miles.

  It was so delectable and nourishing I began to cry.

  “Jethro,” Lavendu said, grabbing my arm. “Are you alright?”

  “Yes,” I said, sniffing and cleaning my face with a napkin. “I just never knew food could be so good.”

  I gulped the st of my beer. The sparkling, piney fvor was the perfect compliment. Refreshing and satisfying.

  “I’m going to get us another pitcher,” Lavendu said, rolling her eyes.

  Alone with Saoirse for the first time I scanned her stoic, unreadable face. Her sharp features were accentuated in the firelight, her eyes gleamed at me.

  “Did you enjoy the pizza?” I asked.

  “I’m certain everyone enjoys Era’s pizza,” she said matter of factly.

  An awkward silence followed. At least I think it was awkward. There was really no telling what Saoirse was thinking.

  “I’m sorry I haven’t been a good date,” she said.

  “What do you mean?” I asked, shocked by her btant honesty.

  “I can tell you are not interested. It’s clear even the pizza is more appealing to you.”

  “What? No. I was just surprised. Food back home is miserable compared to here.” I had done it again. Just like st night with Melissё, I was being too casual and familiar. I’d have to step up my game, just because Saoirse approached me, didn’t mean I could have her without actually seducing her. I would have to make this night special, romantic, but not forced. I’d need to follow my intuition.

  “I shouldn’t have challenged you earlier,” she continued. “I’m just used to being treated as the dominant due to my status and prowess. Perhaps this was a mistake, maybe I’m not meant to be dominated.”

  “No, Saoirse,” I commanded. “I’m the one who’s been a terrible date. You were right to test me. There’s no other way to know if I’d be a good leader.”

  I offered her my hand and continued, “I admire everything about you, from your skills with the bow to the elegant way you carry yourself, paying such delicate attention to every detail while maintaining such strength and dignity. Tonight’s a special night and I intend to treat it as such.”

  We looked into each other’s eyes, holding hands across the table. A smile grew on Saoirse’s face. A clear and true smile, still subtle, but absolutely real.

  “Aww. Don’t you two look cute,” Lavendu said as she returned with another pitcher of ale.

  We continued to talk but I put a significant effort into getting to know Saoirse. Despite her cool demeanor she was very open about her personal life. I learned she had a deep love for the creatures of the forest. She also shared some of her challenges with life as a steward. Particurly the tendency to attract submissive partners despite her desire to be dominated.

  “I understand it flouts expectations,” she said, “but I would like my identity as a steward to be separate from my role in romantic and sexual interactions.”

  “I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that,” Lavendu said, “What do you think Jethro? Does her position make her less appealing as a submissive?”

  “I like it,” I answered. “Complexity is an attractive quality.”

  I felt a foot slide up my leg.

  “Speaking of dominance,” Lavendu said with a grin. “Can I see the colrs?”

  Saoirse raised an eyebrow at me as her foot continued to rub my leg.

  “Yes,” I said. “Let’s go upstairs.”

  “But what about the evening stroll?” Saoirse said. I was beginning to recognize the subtle inflections in her cool voice enough to understand that as a pyful challenge.

  “Oh don’t you worry. We’re about to get plenty of exercise.”

  I followed them up the stairs so I could watch their hips sway. I was mesmerized by each step. Saoirse’s tight, high-legged body suit, Lavendu’s short, transparent skirt. It was almost too much to handle.

  ***

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