Second Skin Omnibus

by M Damon Baker

  I could feel her, still wriggling in frustration next to me. She was right—I had stopped too soon, but there was no way I could have continued any longer.

  “I know Tási,” I tried to explain. “But this time, it was affecting me too strongly. I’m sorry, I just can’t do any more safely.”

  “Uhhhh,” Tási moaned in frustration. “Then get out—get out now. If you won’t finish what you started, I need a few minutes.”

  I thought she was angry at me and was about to argue with her when I suddenly realized the true meaning of her words. With a flash of embarrassment of my own, I hurried outside to allow her some privacy.

  Stel was still on watch, and I pretended to stretch for a few moments. As I waited, I listened carefully for any sounds coming from our tent, but there was only silence. I hadn’t intended to intrude, but I did want to make sure that Tási’s Spell was working as she had intended.

  I waited outside for far longer than I thought was necessary before returning to the tent. Tási lay still, now completely under her covers, barely glancing at me as I entered. I didn’t want to make things any more awkward than they were, but I felt the need to apologize.

  “I’m sorry Tási,” I tried to explain again. “I had trouble controlling my own emotions this time. I didn’t mean for it to get that intense or to… leave you like that.”

  “Why not?” She whispered.

  “I don’t understand,” I replied, not comprehending her question.

  “Why not finish? Why not let it happen?”

  “Tási,” I replied testily. “That is not why I agreed to this. I agreed to do this to help you so that you wouldn’t suffer like you were—not to provide you with services.”

  She winced at my emphasis on that last word.

  “But if it helps you gain control…” She trailed off weakly.

  “I don’t know what it will take for me to gain the control I need,” I replied. “But if it requires me to use you in that fashion, I don’t want it.”

  “Dreya,” she pled again. “I don’t care! It feels so good.”

  “And how does it feel later, when it’s been too long?”

  She looked away from me, refusing to answer.

  “Tási,” I said, softy. “We need to free you from this, not get you tangled up in it more tightly. It’s going to be difficult—for both of us. Tonight was bad for me as well, and I’m certain that this will not be the only difficult night we are going to have, but we need to keep focused on our goal, Tási. We can’t let these sensations, as powerful as they are, turn us away from that.”

  “I will try, Dreya,” she whispered. “But I’ll ask you to consider one thing for me.”

  “What’s that Tási?”

  “If you will ever allow it, I want to feel what it is like for you to finish me,” Tási said softly. “I won’t ask you again, but if you change your mind, even if it’s just once, please let it happen.”

  “I can’t promise that will happen, Tási,” I whispered back. “But I will remember your words.”

  Neither of us spoke again, and we both lay in an awkward silence for a while. Then I felt Tási stir and she cuddled up beside me as she normally did at night.

  “Goodnight, Dreya.”

  “Goodnight, Tási.”

  17

  We encountered no threats during our travels, and the rest of the trip back to Oróna passed uneventfully—whether it was the rumors of the plague or some other circumstance that was responsible, we did not care. We reached the caravan road without incident as well and were fortunate enough to have an escort for the remainder of the way.

  As we traveled, Venna continued Tási’s tutelage during the day, while I held her suffering at bay during the evenings. Tási still needed my attention every other night or her jitteriness would return, and even though the frequency of our sessions did not decrease, I was able to shorten their duration by a little bit.

  I tried my hand at identifying Stel’s new backpack but failed. Fortunately, Tási was able to figure out its properties, and he was glad to discover that it was indeed safe for him to use. The pack still had only fifty inventory slots but increased its weight reduction to eighty percent, a clear benefit over his previous backpack.

  Unfortunately, my various obligations kept me from spending much time with Venna. While I was scouting ahead with Khorim, she spent her days in the wagon watching over the precious icon and instructing Tási. The time we had left to us at the end of each day’s travel was short, and the brief period was mostly taken up by setting up our camp for the night and eating a quick dinner as a group before going to bed. We had little opportunity to talk like we used to, and I was looking forward to our time in Oróna to correct that. Once the city gates were in sight, I dropped back from where I had been walking alongside the caravan and climbed into the wagon.

  “Oróna’s just ahead Venna, care to walk with me for the last little while?”

  “No, thank you,” she replied curtly. “I still have a few lessons to complete with my acolyte.”

  I interpreted her terse response as I always had the last few days—that she was in ‘Teacher’ mode and wanted to maintain a certain sense of decorum while around her young pupil, Tási. Respecting her wishes, I dropped back down to the ground and resumed my usual place as we strode the last few miles into Oróna.

  It was late in the day when we finally passed through the great gates of the city, too late for Venna to make her report to the Abbott, so instead of going directly to the monastery, we headed for the familiar confines of The Wayward Bard.

  Stel ran ahead to secure our lodgings for the night as well as a place for the wagon. As we trundled through the city’s wide streets, I once again marveled at the artistry of the great fortress. The fine lines and graceful arches made it feel so much more open and airier than any other city I had been to yet.

  “Wake up,” Broda nudged me as we pulled up to the front of the Bard.

  “Just admiring the view,” I replied.

  “Eh,” she grumbled. “It’s alright. Not like a proper underground city though.”

  I didn’t know that I would agree with that statement, but having never been to such a place, I kept my opinion to myself.

  Khorim and I grabbed the chest and hauled it inside. As we entered, Stel passed Khorim a room key and we lugged the heavy container upstairs. Venna watched over us like a hawk, so I did my best to let the chest down lightly, lest we incur her wrath once more. Thankfully, the weight of the box came down softy, and she had nothing to complain about. With a haughty sniff, Venna simply turned around and went downstairs to the common room.

  “A little touchy about her precious icon, no?” I said to Khorim as she departed.

  “Noticed that, did you?” He laughed.

  We followed her downstairs and joined the rest of our companions as we ordered a celebratory meal and a round of drinks; toasting ourselves on our successful return before spending the next several hours reveling in our accomplishments. Tási offered a somber salute to Otney, reminding us that our success had come with a very steep price tag attached. She didn’t let the dark mood linger, however, quickly offering a second toast to better times ahead. Otney’s loss had hit her hard at first, but I had to admire her apparent resiliency. She was clearly made of far stronger stuff than her small stature might imply.

  As we celebrated, a runner arrived from the monastery. Though it had been too late to meet with the Abbott, Venna had sent word to him of our arrival, and the runner had returned with the Abbott’s acknowledgement and a summons for Venna and Tási to make their report to him early the next morning. Although I was not a member of his Order and the Abbott had no authority over me, the command for them to report included a personal request for me to attend as well.

  With such an important meeting ahead of us, we called it an early night. Leaving the others to continue celebrating in our stead, the three of us headed upstairs to retire. I bid Venna a good night, but she was still in her a
pparent ‘Teacher’ mode, and only grumbled something softly under her breath in return.

  I had only just sat down and begun to relax when a knock came at our door. Tási answered it for us and found Stel waiting in the hallway.

  “Dreya,” he asked in a strange tone. “Might I have a word with you alone?”

  “I’ll just go downstairs and fetch us a pitcher of water,” Tási offered helpfully.

  “Thank you,” he replied. “That should allow us more than enough time.”

  Shutting the door behind her as she left, I found myself alone in the room with Stel.

  “Do you think you might talk to Venna for me?” He asked awkwardly.

  “What’s wrong, Stel?”

  They were such a close couple, never seeming to truly fight or argue. I couldn’t imagine what he could possibly want me to say on his behalf.

  “I wish I knew,” he lamented. “She has been distant for days and refuses to explain her troubles to me. She simply denies that anything is wrong when I try to talk to her.”

  “You two are very close,” he continued. “I’m hoping that perhaps she might be willing to open up for you.”

  “She’s been such a good friend to me, I’ve really missed her the last while,” I replied. “This mission of hers has kept us apart, now that it’s over, I can’t wait for things to get back to normal. I’m happy to do whatever I can for both of you. I’ll go talk to her as soon as Tási gets back.”

  “Thank you, Dreya,” he said with relief. “I’ll be downstairs with the others. You two will have all the time you need.”

  Stel left to rejoin Khorim and Broda in the common room and Tási appeared almost immediately.

  “I need to go do something now,” I told her. “I might be a while.”

  “Ok,” Tási replied with a smile. “I won’t wait up for you.”

  Crossing the hall to the room Venna shared with Stel, I knocked on the door softly.

  “Come in,” came Venna’s voice from within.

  I opened the door with a broad smile plastered on my face. It had been so long since we had spent any real time together that even under the circumstances, I was happy to be with my friend once more. Plopping down beside her where she sat on the bed, I tried to start our conversation.

  “Finally!” I exclaimed. “We have a little time together again. I missed you so much, sweet Venna!”

  She returned my joyful look with such venom that I was taken aback.

  “Missed me?” She replied angrily. “Is that what you call your little romps with that halfling slut? Don’t you dare come back to me now after casting me aside for that little whore! You may feel free to hop from bed to bed, but I don’t dole out my affection quite as easily as you seem to. Go back to your plaything and leave me alone!”

  The sheer bitterness spewing from her caught me off guard, and as I regained my composure and pieced together the meaning of what she had said, my confusion yielded to a furious sense of outrage.

  “How dare you presume such horrible things!”

  I could feel the intense sense of outrage rising inside me, burning holes in my heart as I spoke the words. Some portion of those flames must have shone through my eyes because Venna recoiled away from me as I began yelling at her, pinning herself against the wall.

  “That ‘halfling slut’ saved your worthless life, you fucking bitch! The reason I’ve been spending so much time with her is because she’s still suffering from what she had to endure that night. What she endured to save YOU!”

  “Not only did that ‘whore’ save your life, but she’s your student as well. If you thought something was wrong, if there was anything bothering you, you could have asked either of us. Instead, you chose to presume appalling things and make the most despicable assumptions about both of us!”

  “I don’t know what makes you think you have the right to presume these things or to make such vile judgements about me or Tási, but if that’s the kind of person you are, if that’s the real Venna, the ugly person hiding inside your pretty wrapper, I don’t want to know you anymore!”

  Venna remained frozen in fear in the face of my outburst, pressing herself against the wall as far away from me as possible as I finished. Despite the release of my rage, my anger was still boiling over. That fury burned in my eyes as I stared at her before I turned around and left her with those final words.

  My heart was still beating loudly in my chest when I stopped in the hallway outside the door to my room. If that was how things were going to be between Venna and I, Tási would have to know sooner or later, but for now, with an important meeting ahead of us in the morning, I didn’t want her troubled by Venna’s disturbing accusations.

  Calming myself, I opened the door and slid inside quietly. It hadn’t been all that long and Tási was still awake, so I got changed and curled up in the covers next to her. The warmth of her body felt comforting after the unpleasant exchange with Venna and I pulled her closer, cradling her in my arms. Tási let out a little purr of satisfaction as she nestled into me, sharing the closeness.

  “Everything alright, Dreya?” She asked as she snuggled beside me.

  “Probably not, but I don’t want to talk about it now,” I answered.

  “I understand,” she said softly. “You know where to find me when you’re ready.”

  Her little quip made me chuckle, relieving my tensions just a little.

  Tási fell asleep quickly, snoring softly next to me, but my mind was troubled by Venna’s cruel accusations, and it was a long while before I finally drifted off to sleep.

  A runner sent from the monastery woke us in the morning. Tási and I got out of bed and dressed quickly as he waited outside our door, but instead of leading us outside when we entered the common room, he showed us to a table where we were promptly served a hearty breakfast.

  “With the Abbott’s warmest regards,” the runner explained.

  We toasted to the Abbott’s consideration before eating quickly. Once we had finished, the runner started to lead the way back to the monastery.

  “Wait,” Tási said. “There is one more person we need.”

  “The Curate has gone ahead, you will meet her there,” he informed us.

  The spiteful bitch hadn’t even waited for us.

  When we reached the monastery grounds, we were escorted inside to a meeting room. The two of us were the only ones present, and the runner explained the odd circumstances yet again.

  “The Abbott is meeting privately with the Curate, at her request,” he told us. “As soon as their business is concluded, they will join you.”

  Great. I could only imagine what she might want to talk about privately with the Abbott.

  The runner then departed, leaving us to wait for the others to arrive for our meeting. Tási seemed nervous, which was understandable for an acolyte about to meet with a senior official of her Order.

  Fortunately, they did not keep us waiting long. The sound of a door opening echoed through the room, and the Abbott, with Venna in tow, walked in from a side entrance. My anger suddenly rekindled, so I avoided looking at Venna, focusing my attention solely on the Abbott as he slowly crossed the room. When he finally reached his chair and sat down, he began.

  “The Curate has informed me of the success of your mission and the safe return of Lady Thassa’s icon,” the Abbott told us.

  Ding!

  “She has also told me of the unfortunate loss of acolyte Otney. Though he fell in service to The Lady, he will be missed; therefore, I have ordered that tonight’s services be dedicated to his honor.”

  Tási gasped in surprise at the Abbott’s words.

  “Yes, acolyte Letási,” the Abbott responded with her full name. “His sacrifice will be commemorated with the honors reserved for the most revered of our Order.”

  “Thank you, Abbott,” she replied humbly as tears began streaming down her cheeks.

  “It is only his just due, child,” the Abbott kindly answered.

  “Ve
nna has told me all I need to know about your mission,” the Abbott continued. “Including the fact that you, acolyte Letási, with Dreya’s help, saved her life after eliminating the Defiler who caused the plague.”

  “You have studied long and hard, Letási, and have been diligent in your service, but I’m afraid I can no longer allow you to remain an acolyte of the Order,” the Abbott pronounced gravely.

  Tási looked at him, obviously unable to understand why he would reject her. My anger threatened to boil over, and I prepared to launch myself at Venna’s throat, fearing that in her jealousy, she had sabotaged poor Tási’s standing.

  “No, my child,” the Abbott continued after a slight pause. “From this day forward, you be known to the Order as Evoker Letási. Your title is well-deserved.”

  “I am sorry if I caused you a moment of concern,” the Abbott smiled. “Please forgive an old man for his poor sense of humor.”

  Tási’s eyes were filled with tears again, but this time her expression was one of joy, not despair. I gave her a hug and she gripped me back tightly.

  “Congratulations,” I said, letting her go.

  “Thank you,” she replied. “And thank you too, Curate. Thank you for offering me your wisdom these last days. I hope I can continue to rely on your counsel in the future as well.”

  As Tási spoke, I looked over at Venna for the first time. Her eyes were rimmed with red, and she appeared tired and drained, but I had little sympathy for her, and neither would Tási if she had known the cruel words Venna had spoken about her the night before.

  “The honor has been mine,” Venna replied softly, never meeting the gaze of either Tási or me.

  “Dreya,” the Abbott pronounced. “I understand that you will be traveling away from here on a certain errand of your own. Venna has told me she believes this task to be one sent to you by The Lady herself, though I am quite vexed by the fact that she refuses to provide me any additional information on the matter.”

  The Abbott paused and looked sideways at Venna for a moment.