by Eric Vall
I wished we had the whole night to be together, but there was still the unfortunately pragmatic matter of the fire to tend to. A nap fuck was still better than no fuck at all, though, and I was pleased to have a release for some of my ever-present arousal.
Nicola had been exhausted, though, so I gently but firmly instructed her to actually get a few minutes of sleep once she was sated. I zoomed back out to gaze at the dark-haired priestess’ flushed cheeks and parted, rosebud lips, and a phantom, below-the-waist throbbing immediately began to torture me again. Then I checked on the other two women while Nicola rested, and they were both happily dozing in their beds, so I expanded my God Vision out across my land to make sure everything else looked safe.
I really hoped it was going to be a peaceful night, but so far, nothing seemed to be lurking around, and I took a moment to place a silent request for a pair of tongs the women could use tomorrow morning.
After another few minutes, the coals appeared to be dwindling, and I decided I needed to rouse Nicola because the brunette needed to check the fire.
“Nicola,” I whispered in a sing-songy voice. “Nicola, it’s time to wake up.”
“What?” the dark-haired woman asked as she squirmed around on the grass. “I don’t want to get up.”
“It’s time to check on the fire,” I reminded her, and the brunette pushed herself upward and rubbed her eyes.
“Shit… I mean… darn,” Nicola stumbled over her words. “Sorry, Jack. I didn’t mean for that to slip out.”
“I think you know I don’t care what words you say,” I laughed. “The only reason I try to keep it clean is because of you three.”
“I hear you say dirty things all the time, remember?” The dark-haired beauty batted her eyelashes as a tiny smile flashed across her lips.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I joked. “I’m never, ever dirty. Especially not with you…”
“Of course you’re not, especially not just a few minutes ago,” the brunette purred.
Then she crawled to the firepit like a coy cat, and I knew she was purposely giving me a delicious view of her almost bare ass. Her breasts bobbed low under her gauze while the embers illuminated her shape perfectly, and even though I’d been with her only a short while before, I couldn’t help imagining taking her in this position.
I’d only ever gotten to give Penelope that kind of treatment, but if memory served, Nicola loved watching. Possibly on account of the light choking action.
“Do you think this looks good?” Nicola murmured, and even though she seemed to be talking about the coals, her words almost did me in. “I’m still sooo sleepy, Jack.”
“It’s almost Aleia’s turn,” I managed while my gaze traced her outline once more. “Aren’t I good company?”
“Always, but I miss you anytime you’re not here with me to touch my body,” the brunette sighed. “I wish I could take another nap.”
“I do, too,” I admitted.
“Oh, well, there’s always later,” the dark-haired woman sighed.
Nicola fell silent, and I started to space out. I watched over the entire convent for a while, but there was no motion other than the wind. I almost wished I could go to sleep, but I was always conscious in my god form.
“Hey, Nicola, I think it’s been long enough,” I told the brunette. It had to be close to midnight by my estimation. “Why don’t I wake Aleia now?”
“Oh, okay,” Nicola said as she blinked like she was coming out of a fog.
I wondered what she was thinking about, and if it had to do with our time together, marrying me, or her apology.
“Go lie down,” I laughed. “Your eyes are all glazed over.”
“I will, thank you, Jack,” the dark-haired woman murmured, and she stood up and began to stumble toward the garden gate.
“Aleia,” I whispered into the fairy’s ear, and she started to toss around in her sleep. “It’s time to watch the fire.”
“Nooo…” the strawberry-blonde muttered, but then the fairy sat up and rubbed her weary green eyes. “Yes, my lord, I understand. I’m ready.”
“Thank you, Aleia,” I said in an appreciative tone. The fairy was always enthusiastic and ready to chip in when needed.
Aleia yawned, pushed her tangled, reddish hair out of her eyes, and stood up just as Nicola walked into the living quarters. The two priestesses gave each other drowsy hugs and kissed each other on the cheek, and then the gorgeous strawberry-blonde began her slow walk up to the garden.
The fairy seemed too tired to talk as she climbed the hill, so I let her carry on with her own thoughts as she tripped through the long grass. When the winged beauty reached the smoker, though, she seemed to wake up a little, and she inspected the fire with her hands on her little hips.
“It’s looking good,” Aleia said as she picked up a stick and poked the coals. “The meat is definitely cooking. Oh, Jack, I wish you could be down here. It smells so yummy!”
“I bet it does,” I chuckled. “Just a few more hours to go.”
“A few more hours,” Aleia yawned. The fairy looked up at the sky and examined the position of the moon and stars, and then she nodded. “I’ll stay awake with your assistance, master.”
“What do you want to talk about?” I chuckled as the strawberry-blonde sat down cross-legged on the ground and leaned back on her arms.
“Oh, nothing in particular,” Aleia said with a tired smile on her face. “I just like spending time with you.”
“I like spending time with you, too,” I told the fairy. “You look pretty in the firelight.”
“Thank you,” Aleia giggled as she put a shy hand to her lips.
The fairy and I chatted on and off over the next few hours, and I was gratified to see a contented smile remained on her perfect lips the entire time we spent together. When she spaced out and gazed up at the sky, I took the opportunity to admire the curves of her face and the twisted waves that spilled down over her pale violet wings.
Eventually, the sky began to lighten the slightest bit, and when Aleia examined the meat again, she smiled and nodded.
“What do you think?” I asked.
“It actually looks really good,” the fairy replied. “I wasn’t sure about cougar meat, I have to admit, but it’s worked out well so far. I know you said a day on the fire, but from the looks of it, I’m not sure it needs to cook much longer, if at all.”
“It does look pretty dry,” I agreed. “I just hope you like the taste after all this.”
“It will be good!,” Aleia giggled. “Should I leave it in the smoking pit for the time being?”
“Yeah, I think so, since you don’t have anywhere else to store it,” I agreed. “Once the gnomes come back and bring you that pot with a cover, you can keep it in there. It will get a little drier tonight, but at least we’ll know it’s extra well done.”
“Then I suppose I’ll go back to the living quarters and wait for my sisters to wake up,” Aleia yawned. “I’m going to head down the hill now.”
The strawberry-blonde turned back to look at the smoker one last time, and then she slowly walked toward the living quarters. She laid back on her bed and stared up at the ceiling with a blissful smile, and the smile was still there when her eyelids fluttered shut.
Once the sun was above the horizon, Nicola began to stir, and she sat up and took a drink of water from her canteen. Then she headed outside, and she stretched her arms high above her head as she strolled up the dewy hillside.
“Good morning,” I told the brunette. “I’m surprised you’re up so early.”
“I couldn’t sleep,” the dark-haired woman laughed as she rubbed her eyes. “It was that dream. I got too excited.”
“Are you excited about the meat?” Aleia asked as she stumbled out behind Nicola with droopy eyes.
“I am!” Nicola explained. “I want to see how it turned out when you were watching it. Did your watch go alright, sister?”
“It did, and the meat e
nded up looking great!” Aleia chirped. “I want to see it again. Can we go to the garden? I’m pretty hungry, actually. Can we eat some now?”
“Yes, please!” the brunette giggled.
The two priestesses held hands and skipped down to the garden, and they sampled the smoked meat for the first time.
“It’s good,” Aleia said with her mouth full. “It’s not very juicy, but it has a good flavor.”
“You need spices,” Nicola said in an imitation of Balabar, and both priestesses burst out laughing.
The sun rose higher and higher in the sky, and I had the two women make more cordage while we waited for Penelope to get up, but there was still no sign of the naiad.
“I’m going to go wake up Penelope,” Aleia declared. “I’m getting too worried about her.”
“I’m coming with you,” Nicola agreed. “If something’s really wrong, we can’t leave her wallowing like this.”
When the human and the fairy got down to the living quarters, Penelope was just starting to stir. She rolled over and blinked in the bright, mid-morning sunshine, and then she pulled her blanket over her head again as if to go back to sleep.
“Penelope, it’s time to get up,” Aleia cooed. “It’s really late.”
“Nooooo, too… tired,” was the only response from under Penelope’s silk blanket.
“Penelope, you should be rested after so much sleep,” Nicola tried. “We’re getting worried about you.”
“Penelope, you’ve let this go on long enough,” I said to the naiad. “Your sisters love you, and they’re worried about you. I won’t have all my women worked up when this should be good news.”
“Okay,” Penelope whispered. “I think I’m ready. I’ll tell them now.”
Chapter 5
Penelope sat up, and her silk blanket fell away from her body. The naiad’s eyes were bleary, but after she rubbed them a few times, they were their usual clear blue again.
“Come, sit down, sisters,” the blue woman said as she patted the space next to her on her quilt. “There’s something I need to tell you.”
“I knew something strange was going on with you.” Nicola’s frown deepened. “I hope nothing’s wrong, Penelope?”
“Nothing’s wrong,” Penelope assured the brunette. “Far from it, but come and sit with me.”
The human and the fairy settled down opposite the naiad on her bedding and looked at her expectantly, but the blue woman sat there for a long moment while she gathered her thoughts. Then a cute little smile began to curl on her lips, and Aleia giggled a little while she leaned closer.
“Well, what is it?” the fairy urged.
“I’m sure you remember the other night,” the naiad began slowly, “when Jack came down here…”
“How could we forget?” Nicola said with a seductive grin.
“Well, after our encounter with our master, it appears… what I mean to say is I am… well, I-I-I’m pregnant.” Penelope smiled hesitantly at the two other priestesses. “I have been blessed by our lord’s divine seed, and I-I’m going to be a mother.”
“I knew it!” Nicola gushed in a triumphant tone, and she immediately clutched the naiad’s hands in her own. “I guessed this might be the case, but I wanted you to be the one to tell us. Only, isn’t it a little soon for you to be having symptoms?”
“I have no idea,” Penelope confessed with a nervous frown. “I didn’t have a mother to tell me anything, you know. Legends say naiads are born from fresh water, and so that’s what I’ve always thought, but no one at the orphanage ever told me where I came from. I have never known another naiad in my life.”
“So, you don’t even know what your pregnancy will be like,” Nicola realized, and she stroked the woman’s hands soothingly. “Goodness, a naiad and a god…”
“Oh, sister,” Aleia breathed as she looked at the cerulean beauty with glittering eyes. “I’m so, so happy for you! And for Jack! Certainly, he must know about this?”
“Yes, I confided in him first thing,” Penelope assured the women. “He’s so happy to be the father of my daughter.”
“Your daughter?” Nicola gasped. “How could you possibly know it’s a girl?”
“I just do,” Penelope sniffled, and I realized the naiad had started to cry. “Sister, I want so badly for you to believe me, but I don’t know how to prove it to you.”
“You’re certainly experiencing some symptoms,” the dark-haired woman laughed. “Come here, Penelope.”
Nicola grabbed the naiad and the fairy for a group hug, and when they pulled apart, Penelope was still crying.
“Are you okay?” I asked the naiad, whose golden hair was wild and tangled around her head from being in bed. Her eyes were bright red, and she looked absolutely frazzled.
“I’m so happy,” Penelope sobbed, and I almost had to laugh.
“Are you sure?” I questioned. “You don’t really look okay.”
“She’s fine.” Aleia patted Penelope on the shoulder. “You should expect more of this. My mother was pregnant many times after she had me, and I got used to what it was like.”
“I’m alright,” the naiad whimpered. “I’m sorry, my lord. I really am just so ecstatic.”
“And you know I am, too,” I said to the women. “Even though I apparently don’t know what to expect.”
“You don’t know anything about naiad pregnancy either, Jack?” Nicola asked.
“Well, um… naiads are so rare…” I hedged. I hoped this was the truth, but I was basing my assumption on the fact that even Penelope had never met another of her kind.
“We are,” Penelope sniffled. “So, I don’t know what to expect, either. It makes it kind of scary.”
“Whatever happens, I will always protect you and our daughter,” I promised. “We’re in this together.”
“And we will be right by your side the whole time, sister,” Nicola said as she reached out and squeezed Penelope’s hand. “But I have to ask again, how do you know it’s a girl?”
“I had a vision,” the naiad explained while she wiped her eyes. “It was like the vision I had to come to the altar, but even stronger. It’s like I can see her shining from inside me with a bright blue light.”
“Wow,” Aleia breathed. “Penelope, that sounds so wonderful.”
“But I don’t know if all naiads feel this way or not,” the blue woman fretted.
“And like Nicola said, she’ll be the baby of a naiad and a god,” the fairy gasped. “What will this mean for her? Jack, do you have any idea?”
“I don’t,” I said in a regretful tone. I didn’t think this was a situation I could BS my way out of. “I don’t know what the baby will be like.”
“Well, she’s blue,” Penelope proclaimed. “I already know this, too.”
“Do you know what you’re going to call her?” Nicola questioned.
“I don’t.” The naiad shook her head. “Perhaps that will come to me in a vision as well. Or, we’ll call her whatever our master wants. But, oh, goodness, I have no idea when she’ll be born, either.”
“I’m sure we’ll be able to figure it out when the time comes,” the brunette said as she patted Penelope on the leg. “Penelope, this is really exciting. We’re all going to have to take good care of you.”
“I don’t want to be taken care of,” the naiad yawned. “I’m only a little sleepy all the time.”
“I don’t mind if you go back to bed,” Aleia responded. “Jack, would you care?”
“If someone else wants to take over building the altar, that’s fine with me,” I told the women, but Penelope shook her head.
“No, this is my special project,” the blue woman said in a firm voice. “I’m getting up, I promise.”
“Perhaps you should go to the stream again,” Aleia suggested.
“I may be spending even more time there than normal,” Penelope laughed. “But I’m fine for now, if we have enough shells, that is.”
“I can’t believe you’re going to be
having a baby,” the fairy interjected, and her face split into a wide grin as her purple wings fluttered behind her. “This is so exciting!”
“I know!” Penelope squealed as she pushed herself upward and held out a hand to both Nicola and Aleia. Once all three priestesses were on their feet, the naiad pulled them in for a second hug. “I’m so glad to have the two of you in my life.”
“I love you, sister,” Nicola said as she squeezed Penelope around the waist. “Do you need anything special? Some kind of food? A drink of water?”
“No, I don’t need anything,” the naiad replied. “Maybe a little understanding if I’m tired.”
“You’re not going to fall over again, are you?” the brunette asked as her brow knitted together. “Was that because of the baby?”
“I suppose,” the blue woman said with a crinkled nose. “That was embarrassing. I really thought it was because I didn’t eat enough, so who knows?”
“Don’t be embarrassed,” Aleia said as she grabbed each of the other two women’s hands and began to pull them out of the room. “I was just concerned.”
“I don’t want to be treated any differently,” Penelope insisted. “I still want to do all the things we do together, like fighting, and exploring, and building amazing things! I don’t want everything to change because I’m pregnant, or because I have a baby.”
“I think things are going to change a little,” Aleia responded in a gentle voice. “But you’re always going to be super tough! And there’s no reason you have to do anything differently if you’re feeling up to it, as far as I’m concerned.”
I decided to let the women take the lead on this one for the time being because I had no good advice to give on the topic. They seemed to be taking to it naturally, too, and I was relieved to see how supportive and considerate the priestesses were with the mother of my future child. It warmed my heart to know she was in good hands, even if I couldn’t be beside her in person for all of this.
“So, master, how do we make the mortar for the altar?” Penelope asked as the women walked up the hill toward the garden.
“We have to fire the shells in the kiln first,” I explained. “That will turn them into quicklime. It reacts when you mix it with water, eventually turns into slaked lime, and then you can make a paste out of it called cement. Then you mix the cement with sand and just a bit of water, and you have mortar.”
