Chapter 58: Social bonding

Koth was in bed, naked, with Irin resting her head on his chest. He could relax again for the first time since they had set foot in the temple the day before.

"Feeling better?" Irin asked as she traced the pattern of one of his tattoos. It was a habit of hers when she was relaxed. Koth smiled and ran his hand up and down her naked back. She had porcelain skin, without a blemish or scar.

"Much. That thing really did the trick," he told her. He listened to her giggle as she buried her face against his chest.

"Why do you keep talking about it?" she asked. It was his turn to laugh.

"Because I really like it when you do it. I need to let you know," he told her.

"I'm happy that you've relaxed, and I'm sorry I stressed you out," she said.

"It's okay, little one. You were right. It doesn't mean I like it any more, but I can admit it," he offered. She placed a kiss in the middle of his chest.

"You are a big man."

"I know," he agreed. "Bigger than most where it counts." It earned him a slap from Irin.

"Well, that too," she admitted. Koth liked this: the casual banter, the relaxed state they were in, having Irin close.

"Let's stick to our main goal from now on. No more favours for the locals," he said.

"Wouldn't it be rude to turn them down if they ask?" Irin asked.

"Maybe, but I would rather you be alive and rude, than dead and loved by all." He could feel her roll her eyes. "Don't roll your eyes at me, little one."

"I'm not rolling my eyes at you," she lied. He huffed. "Fine, maybe I did, a little, like a tiny eye roll." She looked at him and they both laughed. "Okay. We will take it easy until the boat leaves. We have what we need, so we can stay in the room and hide."

"It's a ship, Irin, not a boat. And I prefer to say that we are socially bonding, rather than hiding." She hummed. Koth enjoyed the relaxed mood for a while longer. He knew he needed to get food into Irin, especially as he planned to keep her in this room for the coming days. She needed energy, and he did as well. Eventually, he picked up her hand and kissed her palm.

"I'm going to get some food for us. In the spirit of social bonding, I think we should eat in our room."

"I like the idea. Could you ask for a tub with warm water as well? I'm a little sticky and need a bath," Irin told him. He laughed as her words filled him with pride.

"I'll ask for the tub. I will fill it for you," he told her as he got out of bed. "Stay," he then added, bending down to kiss her stomach before putting on his trousers and robe. He got back to the room as soon as he possibly could and was followed by a stableman carrying the tub. Koth made sure Irin was dressed before letting the man in.

"Food first," Koth said, pulling the chair out for Irin.

"Thank you. You really take good care of me," she told him, kissing his cheek. Koth didn't know what to say; he just mumbled something as he sat down and handed her food. Taking care of her was easy, especially as he now didn't need to hide how he felt. Irin put half of the meat from her plate onto his. Koth frowned.

"I can't eat this much; you need it more than I do," she told him, without him having said a word.

"Thank you." As they ate, they talked about the best strategy for when they arrived in the capital.

"I still think the temple is our best bet. We don't need to tell them about the thing. As a cleric, they will provide food and shelter for me and anyone travelling with me. I also can withdraw money from my account from any temple," Irin said. Koth felt a little uneasy about the idea. It would be nice to have some money. They could use it to book passage on another ship to take them the rest of the way. But he didn't feel trusting when it came to relying on anyone else with Irin's safety, not even the priests and other clerics of the Alesseja temple. Koth didn't think Irin would see things as he did.

"We could just blend in, and no one would know we are in the capital," he offered.

"How would we do that? Even if we don't go to the temple but to an inn, people will see us," she asked. He smiled at her. In some ways, she was so innocent.

"Don't ever change, little one," he said, standing up and kissing her head.

"I don't think that answered my question," she pointed out, sounding confused.

"Don't think too much about it. I'll fill the tub for you,"he said. He knew ways to meld into the fabric of any big city. There were those in a city no one saw or cared about. It wasn't a comfortable way to live, not even for a short while, but it did offer anonymity. It would be his plan B. He used his magic to fill the tub with water and then heat it. "All done," he said. He looked at Irin, and she looked back at him. "Are you too tired?" he asked.

"For a bath? No. You just looked at me like you were expecting me to do something, but I don't know what," she said.

"The drapes," he explained. "If you are feeling too tired, I can give it a go, but I don't have a spell for curtains," he told her. To his surprise, she started laughing.

"Koth, honey, have you forgotten you have seen me naked already? More than once. I don't think we need the curtains. In fact, I was hoping you would join me in the tub," she told him, stepping out of her dress. She was stark naked, and as always, it took Koth's brain a moment to recover at the sight. He was out of his clothes in record time and was picking her up in his arms.

"You have the most interesting ideas," he told her as he got in the tub with her.

Two hours later, they were back in bed. Koth was relaxed and happy and was starting to doze off, despite the early hour. A knock on the door ruined it all for him.

"We'll pretend we aren't home," he whispered to Irin.

"It might be important," she replied.

"Can't be that important."

"What if it's the captain wanting to tell us about a changed time to set sail?" Koth grunted.

"You stay here. I will check," he said. He hated getting out of bed, hated pulling on his trousers and, most of all, he hated opening the door. He opened it a small crack and saw Lokhue.

"Evening, Koth. My father wishes to speak to you and Irin," he said.

"No." Koth was about to close the door when Irin stood beside him, fully dressed. That was enough to make him even more grumpy. She pushed the door to open further, instead of closing it.

"Evening, Lokhue. You have to excuse my husband. We have just eaten, so he is grumpy."

"I thought you got grumpy from not eating," Lokhue pointed out. Irin shrugged.

"Grumpiness is his natural state; it will be brought on by anything," she said. They both laughed. Koth didn't laugh. He and Irin were both dressed and were being talked about by someone who wasn't them. He didn't see the funny side.

"My father would like to speak with you," Lokhue repeated himself. Koth was about to say no again.

"Of course. Just give us five minutes and we will be ready," Irin said. Koth glared at her. She didn't seem to care but pulled him inside and closed the door.