by Eric Vall
“I know,” I replied with a grin.
She smiled too and playfully pushed my shoulder. I feigned defeat and fell back onto her pillows. Her lips faded from a large smile to a small content one as she ran her hand over my chest, stomach, and back up again where it stopped on my collar. Her touch made my skin tingle and hairs stand on end.
“So, will you do it?”
“Are you kidding?” I asked with a smile. I grabbed her hand and pulled her to me. She fell forward and into my arms, and I held her close as she giggled. “Of course I’ll do it! I’d never let my friends down when they need me.”
Her smile was astounding, bright and full of joy. “Good,” she said with a sigh, then she put her hands behind my head and pressed her lips to mine with a force of someone starved for a kiss. We were a tangle of limbs as our hands traveled the lengths of our bodies, and she gasped with pleasure.
“Do you two mind?” Fiona suddenly said to break through the heat of the moment. We both jolted apart, startled. We’d both forgotten that she was there. The roommate was a silent little thing. I would have been embarrassed, but then Layla burst into a fit of laughter that was so contagious that I couldn’t help but join in.
“Sorry, Fi,” she said through a wheeze. Her eyes glistened with tears, so she wiped them with her arms. “I’m so lucky to have a friend like you,” she said to me in a whisper. She kissed me gently then, her lips curled into a smile against mine.
I traced my fingers down her jaw and to her neck. “Same to you, Layla.” I placed my forehead against hers. “Don’t worry, we’ll get through your family drama just fine and then we can forget about it and be here.”
“That sounds good,” she whispered with contentment. Then she nuzzled her face into my neck and wrapped her arm around my waist. “Thanks, Gryffie.”
“I’d say don’t mention it, but feel free to mention it as much as you please.”
She snickered.
Before long, we both drifted off to the realm of dreams. It was one of the most peaceful and comforting nights of sleep I’d had in a long, long time.
Chapter 7
Layla’s letter from her family really made me wonder what Maelor was up to. He wasn’t my father, but he was the only family I had, and I missed the crotchety bastard. I’d spent more than fifteen years with him, with very little time apart until now. I hadn’t realized how much I’d missed him, but now I couldn’t stop thinking of all the memories we had shared together.
During the lunch break the next day, I opted to go to the mailroom. Maelor had taught me to read and write well enough even though I couldn’t remember ever seeing him write anything substantial. He wasn’t the type to write letters, but maybe I only thought that because I’d never seen him do it.
I strode nervously toward my destination though I couldn’t place why. Was I afraid that there would be nothing from Maelor? I didn’t know, and honestly, I didn’t expect there to be anything from him. I took a deep breath and continued on.
The mailroom was located at the top of the southernmost tower that jutted from one of the corners of the main school building. It was a tough climb up the spiral staircase. While it wasn’t nearly as high as the Headmaster’s office, it didn’t have a lift to make things any easier.
The door to the mailroom was ajar when I reached the top, so I pushed it open with a creak and stepped inside. I had to pause to take in the scene before me. The tower was circular, as all of them were, but this one was only half enclosed by stone. The other half was open air and covered in small cages that were half filled with all manner of birds. There were doves, pigeons, ravens, and even a few hawks. They chattered and chirped and made the air vibrate with their loudness. It smelled too though I didn’t expect a sun-drenched open-air room covered in bird shit to smell pleasant in the least.
I wasn’t alone to bask in the aroma of warm bird droppings. At the wide table in the center of the room was a short, pudgy man with a pressed gray uniform. He had a thin beard that bordered his chubby chin. Bent over the table, the man sorted through a pile of envelopes and packages.
He didn’t look up from his task as I came in, but he had to have noticed me, as he asked, “Can I help you?” His voice higher than I anticipated, almost animated amidst the postal drudgery around him.
“No, sir, just checking my mail,” I said nonchalantly, my hands in my pockets. I turned away from them and faced the stone wall of the room where over a hundred locked mailboxes sat along the wall. They were all numbered from one to a hundred and twenty-six. I stared at the wall of secured lock boxes for a bit too long before the mail worker cleared his throat behind me.
“You need any help there, summoner?”
I turned back to him and offered him an embarrassed smile as I scratched my head. “Actually, yes. I’ve never checked my mail before. How do I know which one is mine?”
He shook his head and snorted. He mumbled something along the lines of, “Maker, these damn first years,” before he finally answered. “Did you get a mail key when you first arrived here?”
I furrowed my brows and dug into my pockets for my keys. “I did.”
“Check the number on it.”
I pulled out the key ring and inspected the four keys attached to it. I picked out the mail key and turned it over. The number 95 was etched into it. Well, that was a surprisingly simple solution.
“Ah, I got it, thanks,” I told him with a tentative smile.
He set his lips into a line and puffed out his cheeks. “Mhm,” he sounded as he rolled his eyes in an exaggerated fashion. He went back to sifting through all the mail and grumbling to himself. As I turned back to the lockers, I wondered what he was so aggravated about.
I found my mailbox quickly, located on the right side of the wall. I unlocked it and peered into the dark cubby. A drab and yellowed envelope sat patiently inside, and I anxiously reached in and grabbed it. I recognized Maelor’s messy handwriting immediately. The date was marked two weeks prior and addressed from Tallington. The name sounded familiar though its precise location didn't dawn on me.
Why was I so excited? The letter was probably something innocent, surely as simple as him checking up on me. Calm down, Gryff, I told myself. I closed my eyes and took in a deep breath. This letter was nothing. It didn’t hold the type of news that Layla had gotten, it just couldn’t.
Without an ounce of tact, I tore open the envelope and retrieved the battered letter within. The paper was rough, like the paper mill in the wilds that had made it and very different from the smooth, refined pages we had here at the Academy. There was a coffee stain on the bottom left corner in the shape of a mug and some splotches of ink where Maelor must have spilled some, but they didn’t obscure any words. It made me smile because I could imagine Maelor spilling the ink or realizing his mug had left a stain and him cursing up a storm.
My eyes moved beyond those obvious blemishes and found his words, and they made my heart swell.
Gryff,
Where do I begin? I’m not one for letters and all this sappy nonsense, but ever since you went to the Academy, I’ve missed you dearly. How are things there? You better be working your ass off, boy, because I won’t have you get shown up by those damn Enclavers. But knowing you, I’m sure you’ve already taught your teachers a thing or two.
I’ve raised you as a son for almost two decades, and though I know I don’t always show it, but you mean the world to me. I’m so proud of you, and I know your parents would feel the same way. You’ve grown into such a fine young man, so I doubt there is anything more that I can teach you. You’re bound for great things in this life, I know it, but remember that you’ll always have a home with me.
I don’t know how much free time they afford you at that school, but if you ever find the time, I’d love to see you again so you can tell me all about it properly. I’ll be in Tallington for the next few months. I’m sure that fancy school of yours will have a map to it. Anyway, I wish you the best and hope to hear from you
soon.
Maelor
Tears streamed down my cheeks by the time I got through the letter. I didn’t like to cry, and I certainly didn’t do it in front of other people, especially random mailmen, but I couldn’t help it. I always knew Maelor cared for me. Even if we didn’t express our affection for each other, we still knew they were there. But to see his words and feelings so plainly and so honest that it made my heart ache to see him.
He was all I had, plain and simple, and I loved the old coot.
“You alright over there, kid?” the mailman asked behind me.
I sniffed and wiped at my eyes, frustrated that I’d done this in front of a random stranger, but it couldn’t be helped. “I’m fine, just… just got an emotional letter is all.”
“Ah, yeah I understand the feeling,” the man said with an almost bored inflection. I had to force myself not to roll my eyes. Ignoring him seemed the best strategy, so I stuck with it. I closed and locked my mailbox and turned to leave.
“Thanks for the help,” I said to him without waiting to hear his response. I skirted around the open door and descended the stairs.
I took them two at a time, my mind racing with emotions. I still had class after this, but all I wanted to do right now was to find Maelor, give him a hug, and tell him all about what I had accomplished so far at the Varle Academy. There was so much I wanted to tell him, but I knew it would have to wait. I didn’t know when I would get to see him again, but I would, and that really was something to look forward to.
Later, when we were on our study break, Layla was nowhere to be found, but I knew she must have been thinking about the letter she’d gotten, coping with that in her own way. Hell, I was hardly focused now thinking of my own letter.
“You alright, Gryff?” asked Braden across the table from me. He stopped skimming a finger through his notes.
I nodded with a small smile. “I’m fine. I just got a letter from Maelor. Gave me a lot to think about.”
“Hmm, I understand. He means a lot to you.” His gaze was sympathetic.
“Yeah, he does.” I looked down at my feet and smiled at the memories that ran through my mind. “I can’t wait to see him again.”
He offered me a comforting grin. “He must be one hell of a guy.” He chuckled. “Especially with all those wacky stories you tell us about him. Honestly, I can’t believe half the things you tell us.”
I smirked. “All true, I swear.”
Braden’s chuckles turned to snickers. “I sure hope not, some of the stuff you’ve said is a little too over the top.”
I closed my textbooks with a sigh. “Maelor is over the top. That’s one of the reasons why I love him to death.”
“What are you doing?” he asked, an eyebrow arched inquisitively. “Done studying already?”
“I can’t focus. My mind keeps wandering to Maelor’s words and on my memories, and I need to clear my head.”
“Why don’t you write him a letter back? Maybe that will help.”
I considered that. “Hmm, yeah, I should do that.”
Braden grinned wide. “Glad to help.” Then he buried his face back into his notes like the good student he was and kept on studying. I ripped out a page from my notebook and stared at it for a few seconds, collecting my thoughts and words before I finally began to write.
As soon as I put pen to paper, the words just flowed out of me, all the emotions I had bottled up toward him just let out. For all intents and purposes, he was my father, and I let him know that. We’d never really addressed it, even though we knew it to be true in our hearts. So if there were any doubts on how I much I loved and appreciated him, they would be washed away now. He would know.
The words kept coming, and I kept writing until my hands hurt. I told him everything that had happened, about all my triumphs and embarrassing moments. I detailed my fight in the Shadowscape and my bout with Gawain in Rashni Kae. I told him all about Nia, Layla, and Braden and all about my classes and teachers and how much help they’d been to me.
I wrote down everything, and when I was finally finished, my hands shook, and tears stung at my eyes. I swiped them away. It was good to let that all out, and I chuckled when I realized the letter was ten pages long.
Braden smiled at me. “Feel better, Gryff?”
“Yeah.” I nodded. “Yeah, that really helped. Thanks.”
Later that evening, I once again made the climb up the southwest tower to the mailroom. This time, it was quiet and didn’t quite smell so bad. And it was empty. I left my envelope with the outgoing mail and made my way back so I could get to dinner. I didn’t know how long it would take for my letter to reach Maelor or if it ever would. The postal service in the wilds was inconsistent at best. He might get it a month from now, or maybe the mail carrier will get attacked by bandits or monsters. I couldn’t control that though.
All I could do was hope my words would find their way to Maelor. If he never gets my letter, then I would simply tell him in person.
No matter what, I was looking forward to seeing him, and I now knew part of the reason Layla really wanted me to go with her to address her own family issues.
I was looking forward to helping her, especially if that meant knocking her asshole brother around so that he left her alone.
Chapter 8
Since I spent my entire study period not studying, I needed some tutoring and extra help, and Miss Hamner was always willing to help.
“Again, Gryff,” Arwyn said with a frustrated sigh. “You have to pass your exams before the summer holiday commences.”
“Yes, ma’am,” I replied with a cheeky smile. Truthfully, I was a tad distracted. I laid back on her bed, with her straddling my waist in nothing but lacy black undergarments with her large milky bosom bare. I was naked myself, and it was all I could do to keep my excitement contained. My hands ran the length of her thighs, along her hips, and across her taut stomach before I gently massaged her breasts.
We were in her personal quarters which were attached to her classroom, a common feature for many of the teachers. While many instructors lived in the faculty housing on the southwestern edge of the campus, Arwyn had earned her own space. It was about the size of my dorm though only one full bed sat wedged in the corner. Bookshelves lined two of the walls, and a large desk sat next to the bed.
There was a thin window in between the bookcases, but she had curtains drawn over it so no one could see what we were doing. That was good because we definitely were breaking school rules and didn’t need prying eyes to see us.
“Gryff!” She chuckled. “Answer me.”
“Could... could you repeat the question?” I asked with a quirked eyebrow, and we both smiled wide.
She grunted playfully. “I swear, you’re lucky you’re so handsome and charming.” She shook her head and looked at the page in her hand. “What is the proper protocol when confronting grade A monsters?”
Grade A monsters were the most powerful of all, magically inclined and decently intelligent. Even the best mages like the Headmaster or Nia’s father had to be cautious when combating them. Me, I was merely a first-year summoner. A damn talented one if I do say so myself, but even I had to be smart about it.
I inched myself up and kissed the skin between her breasts. “If possible, retreat and request the aid of an alpha level response squad or equivalent military force.”
Arwyn grinned and planted a kiss on my cheek as the fingers of her free hand snaked through my hair. “Good,” she whispered, “but what if you can’t retreat?”
I laid back down and sighed. “Well, then you must hold out for as long as possible and do all that you can.”
She nodded and unfortunately hopped off me. “Let’s hope that you’re never in that position.”
“Agreed,” I replied as my eyes trailed longingly after her as she paced.
Arwyn put down her quiz sheet on her desk and tied her red hair up into a bun. I smiled at her as she did so. Bun or no bun, she looked incredible. Once she fi
nished, she strode over to me, crawled atop me once more, and pressed her lips against mine, passionate and hungry. She ran her hands all over me as we tumbled around her sheets in a sensual tangle of limbs.
I was as hard as a diamond, but Arwyn liked to take the lead in these encounters, so I’d let her dictate the pace at her own discretion. When our tremors of passion were too much to contain, I filled her eager body with my seed, and she cried out with delight before collapsing against me.
She eventually pulled away. I was on my back with her lying atop me. She propped herself up on her elbows, her chest pressed against my stomach. As we both caught our breath, Arwyn laid her head against my chest and gently ran her fingers along the raised angry flesh of my burnt left side. My muscles tensed under her touch. Not that it hurt, but people rarely caressed that skin for obvious reasons.
“You know,” she began, “there are healers who could repair your burnt skin. It’s beyond my skill, but I have a colleague I studied with in Hartmire that could certainly do it.”
I stared at the ceiling and smiled. “I know, but these scars define me, remind me of the type of world we live in. I won’t wipe them away.”
She nodded in understanding. I knew she would since she had a few jagged scars across her right knee and lower thigh, compliments of one of her own battles with monsters. Her fingers traced the border between my burnt flesh and regular skin. “I think it makes you look… distinguished.” I felt her smile against my chest.
I smirked. “Thank you.”
She lifted her face up to mine and placed a tender kiss on my lips, gentle and soft. It sent a shiver down my spine. She smiled and reached a hand over across my body to the nightstand next to her bed where she’d placed the quiz sheet. Arwyn brought it back close to her face so that I couldn’t read it.
“Let’s continue,” she said as she cleared her throat. “A bit of history. In what year did the Unification Accords get signed?”
I rubbed my hand along her shoulder. “Hm, that would be 4a.e., I believe.”
