The natural way they complement each other, how a simple touch grounds the other when needed, is beautiful to watch. A deeply buried part of me aches for that kind of companionship,but after so many centuries alone, I don’t expect fate to do me any new favors.
I know my purpose in this world, and it’s to help creatures in need, to give them a home when they’re not welcome elsewhere. And that’s where I find my fulfillment. Wishing for anything more than that for myself would be a grand folly.
While Nori and Shinsu continue their quiet conversation, Bodin arrives. I’ve never seen the big orc look as unkempt as he does now. His beard is the longest I’ve ever seen it, his hair unbrushed. Stains adorn his rumpled shirt, but there’s a toothy smile stretching across his mouth as he takes us in.
“Looks like the gang’s all here,” Bodin says, going around the mill to greet each of us with a warm hug.
Once we’re settled around the gaming table, Shinsu runs an assessing gaze over Bodin’s face. “Does having a baby mean you give up on any self-care?”
Nori hides a smile behind her hand but doesn’t reprimand Shinsu’s direct comment again.
Bodin runs a rough hand back and forth over his black hair, making it appear even more unkempt. “Listen, I’ve got three creatures in my home that I care more for than anything in this entire world. Two require very frequent attention, while the other is still recovering from carrying them for nine months and then birthing them. My own hygiene is very low on the list of priorities. I still shower, but anything beyond that is a luxury.”
Nori’s eyes get a dreamy quality to them as she shares a look with Shinsu, who blinks back at her with a soft smile.
“I’ve heard it gets easier to balance your time as they get older,” Ren offers.
Bodin shrugs as he takes a bite of focaccia. “Maybe. Right now, I’m taking it day by day. Their faces are already changing and I don’t want to miss a thing.”
“Are you okay to be here now?” Nori asks, concern lacing her words.
Bodin nods and gives her a grateful smile. “Tillystronglyencouraged me to get out for a while and have adult conversations. She said I needed some friend time to reset my brain. Apparently it did her a lot of good the other day to go to smut club and chat to everyone there. She came back looking really refreshed.”
The grin lighting up Nori’s face is sweet and thankful. It hasn’t been too long since she took over from Lucille at The Dancing Daisy, but she’s made many changes to benefit the community. I’m certain hearing this type of feedback means a lot to her.
“It was a really good day with lots of meaningful conversations,” Nori says. “Audrey brought some insightful topics to our attention.”
Curiosity has me tilting my head.
What kind of things could they have discussed? Would it only be related to the type of books they’re reading? Or could it be about Starry Hill? Surely it won’t be about what transpired between us?
Not that I’m against telling others what happened, though I’m afraid that if we do that they would have a set of expectations for us that would be impossible to meet. I’m simply helping Audrey make the most of her brief stay in Starry Hill, while she reminds me what it’s like to be alive again.
Before I find the courage to enquire more about what topics were discussed, Ren turns to me and asks, “How’s Audrey adjusting to life in the castle?”
I scrub a hand over my shorn hair while I fight the heat rising to my cheeks. “She seems to be getting on well enough.”
“Would you finally like the extra generator we’ve been suggesting you get? Audrey seems like someone who enjoys modern appliances,” Shinsu says.
Despite Shinsu, Bodin, and Ren encouraging me to welcome technology into my home, it has never felt right to me, no matter how well-meaning the suggestion is.
My castle was built to replicate the one I grew up in, the one where I served my clan as their laird. If our castle was good enough for them back then, why would I not be satisfied with it now? To alter my current home would feel like an affront to my former clan.
The biggest change I allowed was when Shinsu helped me set up indoor plumbing throughout the castle. That was a luxury I battled my conscience with for a long time, but now I’ve come to accept it gratefully.
Changing my home to include electric lights, buzzing refrigerators, or other noisy appliances is not something I’m interested in. No matter if it is Audrey’s preference. Soon she’ll be gone and I’ll remain behind with things I have no use for, staring at me as a constant reminder of what once was.
Swallowing, I square my shoulders. “It came up in conversation once, but Audrey said she likes the castle’s charms.” Needing to prove my point, I elaborate. “She’s taken it upon herself to light the sconces in the foyer, the parlor, and along each of our wings each evening before we gather in the parlor to play with Anita.”
“That’s lovely,” Nori says. “Have you given Audrey a full tour yet? I’m sure she’d love to learn more about the castle’s history and discover its secrets.”
“Do you really think she’d like that?” I ask, addressing the question to everyone.
“Yes,” Bodin answers with an emphatic nod. “Make sure you show her the view from the tallest turret. It’s pretty romantic. I mean spectacular.”
I’m sure the first word was a simple slip of the tongue, and not that Bodin is trying to play matchmaker. However, I have to consider that it might be true also.
The view is pretty breathtaking from the turret’s vantage point. The stars look infinite when you’re that high up, and the dark ocean majestic as it stretches south as far as the eye can see until its velvet expanse blends seamlessly into the silky night sky.
