Yes, yes, Lavitz will show up eventually. Next two or three chapters, I forget. Have patience :).
Hurray Niira's turn to narrate. Man it's hard to write her without either giving stuff away or not saying enough. I tried.
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Niira was one of the few feliforms who actually enjoyed being in water. Perhaps that was due to her human parentage. Or perhaps not. She had never given it much thought.
Since Coen would be busy with his duties for a while, she had decided to take the time and have a bath. A hot bath. Something she had not been able to do for several months. Streams and lakes got the job done, but there was just nothing like warm water to make one feel better.
Alakyl waited on the other side of the door, as she felt it was her duty to protect her 'sister' from the perceived male threat of this Coen person. Nothing Niira said could change her mind as to what intentions Coen, or any other man, had. Alakyl trusted people in her own terms and in her own time.
Sighing softly, Niira settled in the warm water with a grateful purr, although her human throat made it sound more like a growl. She leaned back against the side of the bath, slowly sliding down until the water was over her head, making her hair fan out as if it was alive.
After a few moments, she surfaced, blinking the water from her eyes. Was this really such a good idea? What if...no one remembers...or no one cares? He'll just find me again anyway. She closed her eyes. He always does.
She was just getting out and searching for a towel when she heard Alakyl growl. Wrapping herself in the towel, she sat on the edge of the bath to listen.
"Wuff! Grrr..."
"What...? Oh, shut up." It was Coen.
"Grrr."
"What makes you think I'd want to go in there?"
"Grrr."
"I'm just getting--oh, forget it. I'm leaving now, happy?"
"Grrr." Alakyl continued her growling until the front door clicked shut again. Satisfied the male threat was gone, she fell silent once more.
Niira smiled and quickly dried herself off. Those two are getting along great already. Minutes later, she stepped out of the room, dressed in one of her few changes of clothes. She had left her home with as little as she thought she could get away with--clothes, a day's worth of food, and her weapons. Not like she had much more to begin with.
Alakyl jumped up as soon as the bath door opened, her tail wagging. She grinned at Niira.
"Oh really? You think you're so tough to defend me like that?"
"Wuff!"
"Take it easy on him. He's an old friend."
The wolf gave her a suspicious look.
"Not that kind of friend! Good grief."
Alakyl looked away haughtily.
"Oh, shut up."
"Rrrff." Alakyl followed her out of the house.
The night's bright moon gave off plenty of light for Niira to see her way around the town. She retraced the earlier path she had taken, from the barracks to the house, and was surprised to see that Coen was sitting with the other knight--Radulf, was that his name?--they had passed earlier. "I thought you'd still be busy."
"No. Thank gods." Coen was leaning back against the building tiredly. "Not until later. It's just my luck to get night watch on the night before we leave."
"Which starts soon, don't forget," the older knight put in.
"I know."
"Just making sure."
Niira sat on the ground in front of Coen; Alakyl promptly lay down between them. "I'm sorry Alakyl got mad at you earlier. She does that sometimes."
"I see."
"Wuff."
"Just so you know, we'll be leaving about two hours after sunrise, possibly earlier. Depends on how eager the men are to get home." Coen said it in an almost off-handed manner.
"All right." Niira was used to waking up shortly after sunrise; she would be ready to go. She chewed on her lower lip. No...stop thinking so much. Just do it before you talk yourself out of going.
"You can sleep in my bed, if you want," Coen offered.
Instantly, Alakyl was growling again.
Niira looked at the ground. "Alakyl, please!"
Coen looked equally embarrassed. "For the love of..."
The other knight was chuckling softly, but he quickly coughed a few times to try to stop himself.
Trying to compose herself, Niira ignored the wolf's further remarks. "Don't be ridiculous, Coen."
"Niira, I've slept in that bed for the past six months. One short night in the barracks after watch is not going to kill me."
"Grrr."
"Why does your dog think I'm some sort of pervert?" Coen said, rather forcefully.
Yup...he's still too modest for his own good. Niira smiled slightly. Then again, who am I to talk? This is a rather awkward situation. Thanks a lot, Alakyl. "She dislikes males in general. She acts this way to my cousin too."
"You have a cousin?"
"Mother's sister's son."
"I didn't know you had any extended family."
"Well, I didn't either, until I got to the Northlands." Yes, that place opened my eyes to quite a few things.
"You'll have to tell me about it some time."
"Maybe." I'd rather not speak of it ever again.
"Well...tomorrow, then. I have to go now." Coen stood stiffly. Niira watched him walk away in the dim moonlight.
How on earth did he ever get put in charge of the Third Knighthood? And why? His father wouldn't be old enough to retire from active duty yet. I wonder what happened, why he had to step down. She would try to remember to ask Coen tomorrow.
Pushing herself to her feet, Niira spoke to the older knight who still sat nearby. She vaguely recognized his face from her childhood, although she would have never remembered his name if she hadn't heard it from Coen. "I should be going too."
He nodded politely. "G'night then. Hope you're ready to do some seriously traveling tomorrow."
"I will be." She left him, heading back to Coen's house. As she neared the front door, Alakyl growled from behind her.
Niira sighed, frustrated. "Will you shut up already? He's not going to try to get in bed with me. He's not stupid." Think about it, sister. I could beat him up as a little girl, and I sure can now. And even if I didn't, my father would.
The wolf snuffled, indicating her disagreement.
Heck, I'm sure my father would even if I did beat up Coen beforehand. He always was overprotective like that.
Oh god, how am I going to face him again?