This is an automated archive made by the Lemmit Bot.
The original was posted on /r/hfy by /u/Coyote_Havoc on 2025-11-27 02:12:28+00:00.
It began with the singing of cardinals, a chorus all too familiar to Tym. Any other day it would have heralded the coming of a new day, but the symphony was melancholy as the birds announced his departure. Tym opened his eyes slowly, savoring the moments of pure sensual rapture he shared with Aliah in her bed as well as his dreams.
Aliah had yet to wake, and he allowed himself the guilty pleasure of watching her sleep, chest rising and falling with each breath, imagining what dream she might be having. Tempting fate, he brushed her hair away from her face and drawing the back of his fingers along her cheek gently. Her soft skin against his rough hand, a memory to lead him back to her when this madness was finally at an end. Her eyes fluttered but did not open, sheets falling across her form hiding everything but exposing so much more.
"Did I wake you my love?" Tym breathed.
"Mmhmm," she purred in reply, "I would rather be awake with you here than long gone."
Tym pulled her closer to himself, gently kissing her shoulder, neck and lips. Aliah let her hands roam over his chest yo his back and lower. Their hunger for each other in the night was rekindled in the first rays of dawn in the east, ignored by the lovers as was the cold, the stone walls, the bed and the sheets, even the Gods be damned in this last coupling. Their time together had run its course and what little left they could borrow they would use to its fullest.
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As the sun rose higher the party departed, one long last goodbye held in secret between Tym and Aliah bound with the promise to return and sealed with a kiss. Aliah would look after Nathan and Sadee, each recovering from their wounds. Clothes that could be mended had been over the last few weeks, and what what gear had been lost and left behind in the Savage Lands was replaced with whatever they could make, win or were gifted.
Tym's copper hoe was replaced and a small copper sickle kept safe in a hand crafted scabbard hung securely from his bew belt. Maeve had raised an eyebrow at the addition to his agriculture arsenal, Baugh snickered outright and Dalen grinned wide but no words were spoken. Maeve crafted a bow from a fallen branch of hazel wood and arrows from ash suckers collected during her curing of an infested tree. Joffery's precious violin could not be replaced in Sommerthly, but he managed to win a mandolin in a game of chance. The Dwarven retinue, out of boredom more than likely, had taken up with an old Smith covering his orders for repairs and replacements through the new year. In return he allowed them into his stock, of which each had forged a simple broadaxe as their own.
Not much had been said after leaving Sommerthly and the road had been generously free of ice and snow. Tym caught himself daydreaming about Aliah from time to time, only to find Baugh and Dalen sneaking looks in his direction and chuckling under their breath. Maeve Didn't want to talk at all and remained far in front of everyone else, and then there was Joffery's incessant smile. It was not the friendly smile of a companion nearing the end of a journey, but like a wolf bearing its teeth in anticipation of a meal.
By midday they had reached the last hill and the forest wind was replaced by a salty breeze. Not far off they could make out the ocean and where it curved past a high, rocky peninsula into a vast city that claimed near every inch of the coastline.
"The Bay of Golden Stones," Baugh commented, "The Amber here is more plentiful than anywhere else known."
"What is amber used for?"
"The walls in the hall of worship in the Amber Cathedral are covered with it from floor to ceiling and it is a rather attractive stone for jewelry, but most is burned as Incense in prayer to the Gods."
"A rock that burns?"
"Ain't too smart this one." Greytom chuckled. "There be a few o' dem rocks that take ta fire alright. Coal be used by Dwarves since the great forge went cold beck before our Grands and their Grands were just a twinkle in their own Grands eyes. Jet takes to flame in much the same fashion. Them yeller stones be a might different though. Brimstone burns too hot ta use and the smell, like a dragons fart it is."
"Amber is different from all other stones," Dalen explained, "the fragrance is similar to cedar or pine trees, earthy and warm, like a time long-forgotten."
"Stil don't burn worth a shit," Ballrock interjected, "just smell pretty."
"We shouldn't take too much time to rest here," Baugh commented, "eat quick and rest quicker, the sun will be down I five hours and we still have a few leagues to walk."
Tym.chose a place next to a low tree to block the wind. He wasn't hungry, just a little tired and sore from the road, as well as other things. He allowed his mind to wander back to Aliah, the time they spent in the Forrest gathering herbs and learning about each other. He looked at the dried grass and plants nearby, remembering what Aliah had called them. Parsley and onion grass he knew as common crops, but he wasn't familiar with borage or comfrey. Not far from his feet was a small woody shrub she had also taught him about, and he smiled as he remembered how she had taught him to collect it. With his sickle he cut the stems just above the set of lower leaves.
As he worked he wondered, would Atia be praised for.the harvest or Diedre for their presence. He laughed at the thought of the two Godesses fighting over something as ridiculous as him harvesting a plant.
"Fickle Gods."
"Maybe not as Fickle as you believe."
Dalen had come up from the rear and had been watching in Curiosity.
"I know Baugh doesn't approve in their interference, but he owes much to Ioshia and the power she grants him. Azriez might be the God of death, but like a farmer he takes only when necessary like trimming a hedge or harvesting a crop. Diedre planted the world with all wild things, and Atia taught the races how to domesticate of those for food. Maybe they are Fickle sometimes, but you should always give credit where credit is due."
Dalen stood up and dusted his clothes off.
"Baugh wants to move out soon, we should be on our way back to the others."
Tym picked himself up and dusted his clothes off as well, thinking about what Dalen had said. Aliah had Diedre, Dalen and the Red Cloaks had Azriez, Baugh had Ioshia wether he liked it or not, but he had only himself. Maeve seemed to do just fine, but Joffery was still healing and very well might have died. Nathan had only Sadee and both were still recuperating. He still didn't like the idea of the Gods interfering in his life, but he could see how they took care of him.and guided him so far.
Maybe they weren't so bad after all.