Chapter 13
Windhelm
They settled down and made camp near one of the smaller springs. Rona was still brimming with excitement from her recent kill and couldn't seem to sit still. Bishop got fed up with it and said, "Just go wash up already! I'll put the tents together, roll the bedrolls out and get dinner started."
She was bouncing on the balls of her feet and said, "No, I can help!"
"GO!" he barked, pointing at the spring, "Before you drive me mad woman."
She rolled her eyes, he wasn't angry, just annoyed. She stopped partway through the camp, and just to mess with him, kicked her boots off and then undid the button on the back of her dress and let it fall right there in front of him. Rona knew she was being a tease, but she enjoyed every second of it. She glanced back and saw him drinking in the sight of her. He mumbled something which sounded an awful lot like, you temptress.
She walked away with a saunter in her step, just to drive him a little more crazy before dipping into the hot spring. It was incredibly soothing and she loved how hot the water was on her skin, it was a nice change from the constant cold she'd experienced all over Skyrim. She could have done without the awful stench of sulfur though.
Rona rested her back against the rocky wall of the spring and closed her eyes, trying to relax and calm down. Her heart was still racing. A lot had happened today, she killed a dragon and rescued a little boy and she'd passionately kissed the man she was falling for... Am I falling for him? She started to wonder how she really felt about Bishop. What exactly were they to each other? Traveling companions? Mercenaries in arms? He certainly wasn't courting her, at least not in any of the ways she'd been courted before by proper noblemen. And yet, something was different about him.
Sure he was kind of gruff and rather moody at times, she could be quite moody herself. And yes, he was a bit off-color...okay, very off-color. No, that wasn't accurate either... he was down-right obscene and vulgar. Did she really like that? She could feel the heat rising in her cheeks. Yes, she loved it. It was different. He was honest. He never pretended to be someone he wasn't, he was just himself and that person just so happened to be someone who really, really, really wanted to have sex with her.
She wanted it too, but...
"Wow, you've been so quiet over here."
Rona practically jumped out of her skin. Bishop had sat down, his bare feet dangling in the spring right next to her. He was shirtless and leaned over, his bulging arms resting on his knees. She was so lost in thought she hadn't even heard him come over. I really need to stop doing that, she thought, kicking herself for spacing out so hard to the point of going deaf.
She took a deep breath and sunk deeper into the warm water, "Just trying to relax."
"Mind if I join you?" he said, a sensual overtone to his voice.
Her heart beat harder. Yes please, she thought, but meekly said, "Sure."
She heard him stand and unbuckle his trousers which fell to the ground behind her. They'd already been like this once before, in a brisk pond hidden among the Rifts forests and yet she felt just as embarrassed as the first time, if not more so. Her face was burning, though she could simply blame it on the hot water, certainly.
Bishop slipped in right beside her and wrapped an arm around her shoulder, pulling her closer to him. She turned her face up at him and looked into his dusky amber eyes. He spoke so clearly, and gently then, "Have I ever told you just how sexy you are when you blush?"
His remark just made her blush even more. But before she could protest and blame the hot water he chuckled lightly as he leaned in to kiss her. His wonderful mouth pressed against hers and then his tongue entwined with her own and she grasped his shoulders, pulling herself in for more. He wrapped his arms around her and she around him, feeling his rippling muscles on his back. Somehow, she'd ended up straddling him and he was kissing her neck up and down, nipping at the softest spots and making her moan. Why did this feel so damn good? Why did he have to be so good at this?
She felt his hardness pressing firmly against her inner thigh as his hands roamed up and down her back. She was startled when her bra came unclasped and fell into the water. Instinctively she pulled away, covering herself.
Bishop laughed lightly and said, "Are you alright?"
She stammered, "I...I'm not ready...for that..."
He cocked an eyebrow, "No? You seemed pretty ready when you climbed on top of me."
She sunk into the water some more, trying not only to hide her naked breasts but the burning shame all over her face. He looked at her curiously, before it dawned on him, "You've been with a man before...haven't you Ladyship?"
Why did he have to phrase it like that? Although outright asking if she were a virgin wouldn't have been any better. She wanted to drown herself right then and there. She diverted her gaze and mumbled, "No...never."
He threw his head back smacking a hand to his forehead, "Ah...wow. Well then. I feel like an idiot."
She stammered, "D-don't! It's...it's my fault. I should have told you and you're right, I was getting...frisky..."
He tossed her delicate, lacy bra over to her and said, "Well I certainly won't force you to do anything you don't want to do…but I won't hide exactly what you do to me anymore." He stood up, the water dripping over his muscles, accentuating his physique in the low light of the sunset. She got a full view of his perfectly erect manhood through his bries as he climbed out of the spring. He collected his clothes and turned to walk the short distance back to their camp when he called over his shoulder, "By the way Ladyship, wearing white in water doesn't leave much to the imagination."
She pulled her bra on and clipped it, then looked down, realizing that it had become shear in the water. She groaned inwardly at how stupid she was. After pulling herself together and using a spell to dry herself and her underwear she wandered back over to the campsite and saw that Bishop had been kind enough to drape her dress over a clothesline nearer to the spring. He was sitting on the ground, his back turned to her, as he sharpened his dagger. Karnwyr snoozed by the fire, tuckered out from chasing rabbits, though it looked like he caught one from the mess all over his paws.
Rona threw her dress over her head and buttoned it. She grabbed her lute, from Karinda's saddle and took a seat across the smoldering fire and began to strum it, playing a song which had no words, trying to hide her embarrassment from what just happened.
Bishop didn't even look up from his work when he said, "Soup's almost done."
"It smells good," she replied.
"You smell better," his eyes flickered lasciviously through the firelight.
"That's because I bathe regularly," she joked.
He scoffed, "Oh and you're saying I don't?"
She shrugged, grinning. He shook his head a smirk playing at his lips as he kept sharpening his blade. They were quiet for a while, both lost in their own thoughts while listening to the sounds of the wildlife around them and the gentle tune of her lute.
She kept glancing at Bishop, half expecting him to ask her something, anything. Instead he just examined his blade and sheathed it. She watched as he slowly pulled it in and out of the sheath, perhaps rubbing rust off of it, but then he moved it faster, in and out and her eyes met his. He was smirking at her and she scowled and grabbed a piece of half eaten bread and chucked it at him. He caught it and said, "Got something on your mind Princess?"
"You're ridiculous," she chided.
He put his dagger away and laid down on his side propping his head up with a hand and said, "So..."
Here we go. She inhaled quickly, expecting a bombardment of questions regarding her virginity. Instead he asked, "...you gonna sing me a lullaby or not?"
She exhaled and said, "Sure."
She sang a quiet, sleepy song which by the end of it she noticed Bishop had completely passed out, snoring lightly on his bedroll. He hadn't even eaten yet so she stood up, and took the time to put out the fire and put a lid on the uneaten soup. She was quite tired herself after a long and eventful day and curled up on her bedroll. Her thoughts were racing but finally settled on the pleasant thoughts of kissing Bishop.
When she woke up the next morning Bishop and Karnwyr were missing. Whiskey was still saddled nearby and all of their things were still in camp. She figured he must have gone off hunting or who knows what whenever he disappeared.
She pulled on her boots and armed herself with her bow and dagger and took a walk across the plateau. She didn't have to go far to reach the dragon remains from the day before.
Rona looked them over, eyeing a few good pieces. She knelt down by one of the beast's enormous claws and tugged on it. Some of the tendons remained, holding it in place. A few strikes from her dagger set it free. She pulled hard on one of the ribs, she'd only need a piece of it for what she planned to craft. With a loud snap! It splintered and separated from the body. She gathered the bones up and turned around to see Karnwyr bounding towards her, Bishop following close behind with a black wolf's pelt thrown over his shoulder.
"There you are!" he said as he came up to her.
She smiled up at his grumpy expression and asked coyly, "Were you worried about me?"
He scoffed, "Worried about the Dragonborn? Hardly." He looked at the pile of bones in her arms, "The hell is all this?"
"I was thinking of crafting a pair of swords," she replied, "These bones are really strong, I think I can make some good weapons with them."
He crossed his arms and said, "You won't be crafting much with a regular forge. We'll stop by the Skyforge in Whiterun, see if one of the Gray-Mane's would be willing to make you something with those."
She nodded and he took two of the bones from her, helping her carry them back. As they packed up their camp Bishop made her put her cloak on, insisting it would be getting cold fairly quickly on their way up to Windhelm and remarking that he didn't want to listen to her teeth chattering the whole way. As he draped it over her shoulders and fastened it for her she leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek.
He nearly leapt backward and sputtered, "What was that for?"
"For being so cute," she replied as she pulled herself up onto her mare.
"Cute!?" he grumbled, "Ladyship, sometimes I wonder just how your mind works."
They made their way northeast from Bonestrewn Crest towards the road and headed north. Bishop's assumptions proved true shortly as they trod over snow strewn steps and light flecks of white drifted from the sky. Rona watched as her breath turned icy in front of her.
She'd wanted to play her flute but her fingers had gone numb in the cold. She pulled her cloak tighter around herself and rubbed her hands together, breathing on them. It wasn't too long before they arrived at the steps of one of the most broken down holds she'd ever seen. Windhelm was a dreary dark gray, blending dismally into the white landscape. It reminded her of High Hrothgar and although she had the sudden desire to dart as fast and as far away from the place as she could she pressed on, taking Bishop's lead. They stabled their horses and carried up the steps to the icy front gates.
There were two guards posted at either side of the gate and one of them sneered under his helmet, "Damned knife ear..."
Before Bishop even had a chance to bark at the man, the other guard shouted at him, "Hey! Watch it! That's the lady Dragonborn."
"You're kidding," the first guard said skeptically.
The second guard pulled his helmet off revealing his wispy blonde hair. It was the young man from the day before. He grinned at her, displaying slightly yellowed, but even teeth, "Welcome to Windhelm Lady Rona! Good to see you again."
"Oh! Hello!" she said returning his smile.
Bishop glowered at him and he chuckled nervously scratching his head as Karnwyr sniffed his legs. "Ah, I see you brought your friendly wolves with you."
"Watch yourself boy, my bite is much worse than my bark," Bishop growled at him.
The man boldly stepped around Bishop and held out a hand, "I didn't get a chance to introduce myself the other day, my name is Benon," she shook his hand despite Bishop's clear disapproval.
"So, uh, I just want to warn you miss, we've had some trouble here in Windhelm as of late."
"What kind of trouble?" she asked.
"Murders," the other guard said snidely, "of pretty little lasses like yourself."
"That's horrible," she gasped, "Is there anything I can do to help?"
Benon laughed and said, "Well, if you happen to catch The Butcher in the act you could always shout him to pieces for us. I'm sure Jarl Ulfric would certainly appreciate it."
She grinned, "I'll keep that in mind if I happen to see any suspicious characters murdering people."
"Thanks...well, uh, gotta get back to guard duty, see you later!" he pulled his helmet on and they entered the city. Rona was utterly underwhelmed by the dilapidated city before her. The entire place was covered in snow and seemed to be made of very old and broken stones. The city needed some serious renovating. She wondered if the war had depleted the city coffers and that's why it was so run down.
She was also disturbed by the scene playing out before them. Two nord men were verbally harassing a poor dunmer on the side of the road. Bishop leaned over to her, his arms crossed and muttered, "Told yah."
One of the men was very clearly drunk as he said, "You come here where you're not wanted, you eat our food, you pollute our city with your stink, and you refuse to help the Stormcloaks."
The woman protested, "But we haven't taken a side because it's not our fight."
The nord man in rags suggested, "Hey, maybe the reason these gray-skins don't help in the war is because they're Imperial spies!"
The woman scoffed at him, "Imperial spies? You can't be serious!"
The drunkard threatened her, "Maybe we'll pay you a visit tonight, little spy. We got ways of finding out what you really are."
The two men spat a few more racial slurs before wandering off to the inn, most likely for another drink. The dunmer woman sighed loudly and Rona went over to her and asked kindly, "Excuse me, miss, are you alright?"
The woman took one look at her and said, "Do you hate the dark elves too? Are you here to bully us and tell us to leave?"
Rona brushed her hair back behind her ear, "Of course not."
The woman looked surprised, "Oh! An altmer...or are you?" She stared at Rona trying to discern her heritage which seemed to confuse everyone in Skyrim.
"Something like that," she said.
"Huh... well you've come to the wrong city girl. Windhelm's a haven of prejudice and narrow thinking."
"Those men threatened you," Rona persisted.
Bishop cracked his knuckles and said, "I don't normally offer this service to strangers, but I wouldn't mind splitting their heads open for you."
The woman smirked, baffled at a nord suggesting such a thing and said, "Don't bother. Those two aren't worth it. Rolff comes by the Gray-Quarter each night to harass us, but he's a harmless oaf otherwise."
Bishop shrugged and turned away, heading towards the inn ahead, Karnwyr at his heels, but he stopped the wolf and said, "Sorry buddy, you've gotta stay out here. Stay," leaving the wolf out in the snow. Karnwyr obeyed and laid down next to the door whimpering.
The woman stared after him and said in earshot of Rona, "Never thought I'd meet a nord willing to stand up for us."
"I hope this doesn't sound haughty, but I'm the Dragonborn," Rona said introducing herself, "My name is Rona Lightfoot. I've come here to see how I can aid the people of this city."
The woman cocked her head, "Really? Dragonborn eh? My, my, that certainly explains your heritage then doesn't it? By Azura what a mix you are. Well Dragonborn, there are plenty of folks around here that could certainly use help, though I don't know what kind of luck you'll have in swaying the nords to change their ways. I wish you luck."
The woman turned, leaving her. Rona shivered, standing alone in the cold and went to find Bishop at the inn. He was seated at the bar drinking a pint of mead and eyeing the two nords from before. They were seated at a table in the corner by the door drinking their own pints. As soon as Rona stepped inside the drunker of the two complained loudly and slammed his mug on the table, splashing it everywhere, "Gods be damned! Another fucking knife ear - even worse than a gray-skin, this time it's some Thalmor cunt!"
Bishop was on his feet in seconds, slamming the man's face into the table and snarling fiercely, "Apologize to the lady you filthy shit!" He pointed a finger harshly at the nord in rags as he pressed his back to the wall, "And don't you fucking move or you're next."
The man under him sputtered as Bishop was throttling his neck, the inn keeper shouted, "Take it outside! I won't tolerate that kind of behavior in here!"
The bar patrons all came round to see what was happening and Rona screamed, "BISHOP! Let him go!"
"Not until he apologizes for treating women like trash. Filthy racist pig. I say we just kill you and throw you out like the garbage you really are!"
She yanked on his arm to stop him from strangling the man, "STOP!" she shrieked.
Bishop reluctantly let go at her cries but made sure to spit on the man. Everyone stared at them as Rona turned and started telling Bishop off someone shouted, "Milady! Behind you!"
Rona spun around to see that both drunks had armed themselves with small shivs and were coming right at them. Rona shouted, "ZUN HAAL VIIK!"
Their weapons flew from their hands, shunting and sticking straight into the wall behind them. Their faces fell as Rona's eyes burned with a dragon's fury. Both men backed away and bolted out the door.
The crowd in the room was quiet for a moment before someone started cheering and clapping and the rest of the tavern joined in. An Imperial man dressed in classical bard's garb came down the stairs and took her hand, kissing it. She looked at him bemused as he bowed deeply, bringing his arm inward to his waist as he dipped and said, "Milady I am so glad you are safe! Forgive me, have I the honor to speak to the Dragonborn?"
She nodded stiffly and he cried, "By the Divines! It is delightful to be standing in your presence."
Rona could hardly believe how silly and formal this man was. She hadn't experienced this level of pompousness since she was in the Mage's Guild years ago. She laughed and before she could get a word in edgewise the bard declared to the crowd, "Today, we witness a living legend among us, none other than the Dragonborn herself! Our hero, our hero indeed who claims a warrior's heart. I told you, I told you and the Dragonborn came!"
Bishop's head rolled heavily along with his eyes and he groaned at the ridiculousness of the bard. Rona truly felt his pain and promptly said before the man could interrupt again, "Thank you, but who are you?"
"How foolish of me not to introduce myself! My name is Alec. I am The Prince of Song. I am pleased to make your acquaintance. You are the Lady Rona, are you not?"
"Yes," she was surprised he already knew her name until he started rambling.
"I have spent so much of my time studying your adventures. From the terrors at Helgen to your endless eradication of the Dragon menace. You are our hero! Your strength and humility brings hope to every heart in Skyrim. We bards sing your songs so that our children's children may remember the glory of the Dragonborn, savior of Tamriel!"
She realized then that word had started traveling about her and much like Bishop predicted, the tales of her deeds were being woven and twisted as they spun along from person to person.
Alec finished his monologue as he took a step closer to her, forcing her to lean back awkwardly, "Milady, meeting you I see no account of your beauty has ever given you the justice you deserve."
He winked at her and she had to stifle a laugh, "Thank you, that's very kind."
"Kindness holds no place over honesty," he turned away from her, trying to look brooding and failing miserably in his costume, "I speak only the truth. You are truly inspiring, a beautiful muse for the beating heart of a musician. Pray tell, I have heard stories that you too are a bard? Is it true Lady Rona? Do you not only have the gift of a powerful voice but one of beauty and song as well?"
She looked around at the crowd staring intently at her before slowly saying, "Um...yes?"
He placed a hand to his chest and gasped, "That is wonderful my lady! Would you do me the honor of singing a song for us? I would love to hear your voice."
She glanced over at Bishop, pleading for help with her eyes, but he just fed into it even more, "Go on Ladyship! Give the people what they want!"
She scowled at him then looked over to Alec again and awkwardly said, "Well...I suppose I could -"
"Oh! Wonderful!" he grasped her hand and lead her up the stairs to a room that looked as though it were in an attic, with sloping ceilings on either side. He stood her in front of a fireplace and the crowd gathered round. She'd never really experienced stage fright in her life, but the crowd was much larger than any she'd had before and she suddenly felt nervousness creeping up her spine.
"Would you like me to accompany on an instrument for you Milady?"
"Er...I'll take lute if you can play flute," she said giving him direction and then asking, "What do you want to hear?"
"Oh anything that comes to mind Dragonborn, please! I heard you are from Cyrodiil and I am sure these kind folk would appreciate something other than the Age of Oppression!"
Rona glanced around, her heart flitting nervously in her chest. She caught sight of Bishop leaning against a post, his arms crossed. He was watching her and when their eyes met he gave a faint glimmer of a smile.
She breathed deeply and asked Alec, "Do you know the song, The Willow Maid?"
"Ah! An old but good one, yes I can certainly accompany that."
Alec began playing a solemn tune on the flute, she was surprised by how perfectly he played each note. Rona started to strum the lute, matching the rhythm while another woman, a dunmer, pulled up a seat and joined them on drums.
Rona looked out at the crowd and sang with jubilance.
(The song is The Willow Maid by Erutan)
A young man walked through the forest
With his quiver and hunting bow
He heard a young girl singing
And followed the sound below
There he found the maiden
Who lives in the willow
He called to her as she listened
From a ring of toadstools red
Come with me, my maiden
Come from thy willow bed
She looked at him serenely
And only shook her head
See me now
A ray of light in the moondance
See me now
I cannot leave this place
Hear me now
A strain of song in the forest
Don't ask me
To follow where you lead
A young man walked through the forest
With a flower and coat of green
His love had hair like fire
Her eyes an emerald sheen
She wrapped herself in beauty
So young and so serene
He stood there under the willow
And he gave her the yellow bloom
Girl, my heart you've captured
Oh, I would be your groom
She said she'd wed him never
Not near, nor far, nor soon
See me now
A ray of light in the moondance
See me now
I cannot leave this place
Hear me now
A strain of song in the forest
Don't ask me
To follow where you lead
A young man walked through the forest
With an axe sharp as a knife
I'll take the green-eyed fairy
And she shall be my wife
With her I'll raise my children
With her I'll live my life
The maiden wept when she heard him
When he said he'd set her free
He took his axe and used it
To bring down her ancient tree
Now your willow's fallen
Now you belong to me
See me now
A ray of light in the moondance
See me now
I cannot leave this place
Hear me now
A strain of song in the forest
Don't ask me
To follow where you lead
She followed him out the forest
And collapsed upon the earth
Her feet had walked but a distance
From the green land of her birth
She faded into a flower
That would bloom for one bright eve
He could not take from the forest
What was never meant to leave."
The crowd cheered, clapping loudly when she finished. A few in the back even yelled out, "Encore!"
Rona smiled softly at Bishop who hadn't taken his eyes off her the entire time she sang. She was broken out of her reverie when Alec suddenly clasped her hands and looked into her eyes, "Milady, that was inspiring! Your voice! You sing like an angel. Please, you must come to a special performance I'm arranging here in Windhelm tonight. I would be delighted for you to be my guest."
"That sounds...wonderful," she said through a fake smile.
"Just you wait, my dear! I am so pleased to share the experience with you. I will see you at the palace my muse."
He kissed the top of her hand and left. As soon as the bard swept out the door, with a group of women giggling and chasing after him Rona was bombarded by several patrons shaking her hand and greeting her.
"Dragonborn, it is an honor!"
"So kind to meet you Milady."
"If you're ever in the market, please stop by my stall miss."
She was kind but short with each of them. Her attention was elsewhere as she scanned the room for her ranger. He'd disappeared from the place he was standing so she wandered down a nearby staircase looking for him. As she rounded a corner someone grabbed her arm pulling her hard against them. She inhaled sharply and looked up to see Bishop staring down at her, passion burning in his eyes.
His strong arms wrapped securely around her waist and back as he planted a fiery kiss on her lips. She wanted nothing more than to do this forever with him. Her hands traveled up to the back of his head and she ran her fingers through his soft strands. They parted only for a moment to breathe before it was her turn to take the lead and she buried her face in his neck, biting lightly at the nape of his neck. He groaned and muttered, "Ladyship, if I didn't know any better I'd say I'm starting to rub off on you."
She gave him a parting nibble and looked up at him, biting her lower lip.
The innkeeper happened to walk by and glanced at them, entwined in her hallway and barked, "Ten gold pieces for a room you two! I don't care if you're the Dragonborn or not, I'll not be having any funny business in the middle of my hallway."
Rona blushed fiercely and apologized. Bishop chuckled and handed the woman a ten piece. The woman pointed to the room and narrowed her eyes at them, "Try not to be loud. The walls are thin."
Bishop grasped Rona's hand dragging her into the room with him and closing the door behind them. She gave him a smirk and said, "I don't know what we're doing in here, but it's definitely not what you think."
He growled low and pushed her against a wall, grasping her hands and pulling them up over her head, "Just kissing right? I have plenty of that to give, Milady," he drew out the word with a mocking tone and kissed her tenderly, playfully, holding her hands at bay. He was being careful not to go too far, only stroking her arms and back, though he was incredibly forceful otherwise. At one point he let her arms go free and grasped her legs, lifting her and forcing her to wrap them around him.
She gasped under his mouth as she felt his rigid manhood press against her through his clothes, he chuckled and whispered, "Ah, too much Ladyship?"
"A bit," she said smiling at him and he set her down. He pulled away from her and laid back on the full sized bed, throwing his hands behind his head.
"Wow, this bed is tiny! Shall I get the bedroll and sleep on the floor tonight?"
She rolled her eyes at him, "Keep trying ranger. And yes, you should."
"Oh I'm trying Ladyship. What I wouldn't give to see what's under all those clothes of yours."
She sat down on a chair facing him and said, "So, what do you think of Alec?"
"Hm? You mean that pompous little jester? Ugh, bards. As if he'd know anything about letting women come for anything. His voice alone is enough to send them running in the opposite direction."
"Oh, you've got something against bards now do you?" she teased.
"All of them but you Ladyship. The way you sang back there...you really know how to mesmerize a crowd I'll tell you that much."
"Did I mesmerize you?"
He looked over at her, dead serious, "You always mesmerize me Rona."
Her heart fluttered at the sound of her name. He rarely ever said it considering he had an infinite number of nicknames for her. But she knew when he said it, whatever he was saying, he was being sincere.
"So you're going to his little show tonight are you?"
"And you're coming with me," she said adamantly.
"Oh no I'm not," he argued, "There's not enough mead in all of Skyrim to make me even consider going."
"Aw" she whined and pouted, "You'll make me go all alone and leave me with all those people?"
He rolled his eyes at her, "You're the Dragonborn, just shout them off if you have to."
She got up suddenly and threw her leg over him, straddling his waist.
"Whoa!" He looked up at her taken aback then smirked and said, "I like this...yeah I'd definitely rather do this."
She pressed a finger to his lips to quiet him, "I'll make you a deal."
He gave her a wry look, but kept silent.
"Come with me to the performance and I won't make you sleep on the floor tonight." He licked her finger and she pulled it back shouting, "Eugh!"
He grabbed her waist and sat upright with her still in his lap. She yelped as he was suddenly inches from her face, "I'll agree to that deal if you promise not to sleep on the floor instead and no sleeping outside, or renting another room either," he added quickly and gave her a devilish grin, "We share this bed tonight, just me and you."
She pressed her lips together. Damn, he saw that one coming a mile away. Still, it couldn't hurt to just sleep next to him, she'd done it before.
He seemed to know what she was thinking and he said, "And no kicking me in the snowberries this time."
"Okay. Deal," she agreed and pulled away from his reluctant grasp.
"Where are you going now?" he implored.
She was fixing her dress as she said, "I'm going out to mingle. Want to come with?"
He groaned and rolled over, "Nah, you go. I'm going to take a nap. Take Karnwyr with
you and keep him busy for me."