Chapter 144: Calling the cavalry

Irin started with the food as Koth took out the orb to contact his friends.

"Koth, two calls in less than six months. That's not like you," Nenhir said. Irin smiled as she chopped vegetables.

"I'll explain soon. I just need to get Meghart to join as well," Koth grunted.

"Koth, Nenhir? What is this all about?" Meghart asked a moment later.

"I need to tell both of you something and I have already told the story more times lately than I can stomach. So you will have to hear it at the same time," Koth told them.

"Where is Irin? Is she in trouble?" Meghart asked.

"None of your business," Koth said.

"But she is okay?" Nenhir asked. Irin could see Koth's jaw tense. They would never get to the important parts like this.

"Hello boys, I'm just making dinner. I'm fine, and thank you for worrying," she said, leaning over Koth's shoulder as he sat by the kitchen table.

"Don't tell me you are making her cook and clean for you?" Meghart scolded Koth. "Fair Irin, do you need rescue?" Irin rolled her eyes.

"I can rescue myself if needed. I'm perfectly fine, but I need to get back to the food before I burn everything," she told him and kissed Koth's cheek before returning to the food.

"You should not let her do all the work," Nenhir grunted.

"Are you an idiot? Of course I don't let her do all the work!" Koth grumbled. "She is making the dinner so I can call you idiots. I'm starting to doubt my own sanity at this point. Maybe it's better I deal with this on my own."

"Oh, don't be so grumpy. I thought love was supposed to make you happier," Meghart teased him. Irin listened to their bickering with a smile.

"Okay, we will listen. Just tell us already," Nenhir finally said. Koth rubbed his hands over his face and started to tell them what had been going on. This time he skipped all the surrounding tales and focused on the talisman.

"Now we have everything to destroy it, but we need all hands on deck. If something goes wrong, we need as many capable magic users as possible. People we can trust," Koth told them.

"You have been busy, my friend," Nenhir said. There was respect in his voice. "I thought you gave me a bone to chew on, but this... I understand why you didn't take care of the demon on your own."

"How did it go with that?" Irin asked, looking over Koth's shoulder again. Nenhir made a face and she guessed it wasn't good news.

"I will tell you when I see you. I will set off first thing in the morning. I should be with you in two days," he told her. She nodded.

"We will come as well," Meghart said. "Did you hear that whelp?! Don't pretend you haven't been eavesdropping. Go and pack, we leave in the morning," he called out. Irin presumed it was for Melir. There was a loud clang followed by a crash. Meghart closed his eyes and looked to be taking a deep breath. Then he shook his head. "We will be there in three days," he said.

"Is Melir okay?" Irin asked, worried.

"He's fine. He needs to learn how to pace himself and then he will stop tumbling down my stairs," Meghart told them. Koth chuckled.

"An apprentice?" Nenhir asked.

"Yes, a very promising one," Meghart answered.

"We will be expecting you," Koth told them. It signalled the end of the conversation and soon the orb had gone back to its translucent state. "The food smells delicious," he said to her and pulled her down into his lap. She laughed and gave him a kiss.

"I hope so. I promise I will bake some real bread tomorrow," she told him.

"You don't have to, little one. I will help," he said. She smiled and guessed he had taken offence to his friends' teasing.

"Koth! Honey, you do not make me do all the work," she objected.

"How do you know? We just got home," he said, sounding grumpier than usual.

"We lived for months in the little house in the north. We both worked. It wasn't like you spent those months sitting on your cute little arse while I laboured," she pointed out.

"We weren't together back then," he said.

"We weren't, but I know that you won't allow me to do all the work. That is why I need you to set the table while I put the final touches to the food." She kissed him again and got up from his lap. They had a quiet dinner and then checked on the animals as the sun was setting. They took a long bath and ended up in the bed, naked and still a little damp. Irin had opened the window to let the night air in.

"Do we have room for everyone?" Irin asked as she rested her head on Koth's chest.

"Yes. I told you I have two guest rooms," Koth reminded her.

"I know, but there will be three guests," she pointed out. Koth chuckled.

"Melir will sleep in the same room as Meghart, or in the kitchen. I would offer him to sleep in the library, but that is four floors up, I'm afraid he will tumble down the stairs and break his neck," he said. Irin giggled.

"Fine. We need to put clean linen in the beds and air out the rooms."

"Meghart might care a little about such things, but Nenhir is happy as long as the bed isn't filled with bedbugs," Koth told her.

"Oh. Can we expect any bedbugs to remain when he leaves?" Irin asked. Koth laughed.

"No, little one. He is cleaner than you think."

The next morning, after breakfast, they both headed outside. The sun was already up and it looked to be a beautiful day.

"What should we do with a stable?" Koth asked.

"What are our options?" she asked right back.

"We can build a real stable; it will take a while but it will be a good shelter for the horses, and Noodle I guess," he said. "Or we can build a shelter for them. A sloped roof with three covered sides but one open. It will give them a place to get out of wind, rain, and snow, but it won't be as big a project."

"Maybe at least start with a shelter? Maybe fencing in at least a part of the hill so they can roam free? They have got used to being able to do that," Irin said. Koth nodded.

"Next time we're in the city, I will order the timber," he said.

"Is it okay if I sort out your garden?" Irin asked.

"Of course, why wouldn't it be?"

"I don't know. Maybe it's deliberately like this? Or maybe you like it this way?" she said. Koth looked around the overgrown garden where the path was more a suggestion than a path. He laughed.

"No, little one. I have just never taken any notice of it. I think it will be better in every way when you are done with it. Do you need my help?" he asked.

"No. I will do this. I need to start by figuring out what is hiding in this mess. Sorry, didn't mean to offend you. I'm sure it's a lovely garden underneath all of this," she told him. He chuckled and kissed her.

"I'm not offended. I know a mess when I see one. I will take Maximus and go into the woods. I haven't been home in a year, I guess there are some fallen branches and trees from the autumn and winter storms that need clearing out and we can use the firewood," he said.

"You own the woods as well?" she asked.

"Up until the small stream that runs in them. It will keep us supplied with firewood and we can hunt in them. I could cut down some trees to use for a stable, but it's a lot of work. I usually just order the timber I need," he explained.

"You are full of surprises, honey," she said.

"Can't let you get bored with me," he told her, kissed her and walked off to get Maximus.

"Take Noodle with you. You can send him back if something happens," Irin called back to him.