Chapter 15

Fifteen

Ara gaveme the day off, and I was grateful because I’d overused my voice. I wasn’t used to singing aloud, having not even tried in years, aside from humming along to the radio.

Since I had a free day, my mind went to only one place: Flirt with Theon Plan. Priorities, am I right?

Yes, I was still adapting to this new world and culture, but Theon was an amazing support system. His reassurance to me yesterday had been both sweet and an absolute turn-on. I felt far more confident and grounded because of him and I was absolutely capitalizing on my proximity to him. That man was damn fine. I did not pass up opportunities when they were practically served to me on a silver platter.

From what I’d been told, Theon spent at least part of his morning training. It was probably to stay in shape and get the blood pumping before he was stuck in his office for the afternoon. At least, that was why I always hit up the gym in the morning.

I tried the training grounds first, and sure enough, there he was.

Hot damn, me coming to see him here was the best idea I’d ever had.

Theon was training, all right. He had stripped off his shirt and was wearing only boots and pants, his black hair tied back. He’d been out here for a while, as his skin had a sheen of sweat. Every muscle flexed as he spun, swinging at his opponent, practice swords meeting in a clatter. Sunlight highlighted every muscle, and the speed with which he moved, my god. My eyes could barely track it.

I knew with absolute certainty that I needed to help him dry off after he finished sparring. With my tongue. At the very least, my hands and a thin towel so I could feel every bit of that—hnng, dammit, he was flexible too. He’d win at any limbo party, I could tell you that right now.

Universe, you unfairly make a man that sexy and then give him a nice personality to boot. I am only so strong, you know? Why must you tempt me like this? I left my willpower back on Earth. I have nothing to work with here.

Oh. Luk was sparring with Theon. That took me an embarrassingly long moment to notice. Despite being a good head taller than Theon, Luk was the one being overpowered. I’d heard the Fae were naturally stronger than most of the other races, but damn, Theon was even giving an Orc a hard time. That was some ridiculous strength right there.

Theon went limbo flat again, spun on one heel, and swept Luk’s legs right out from underneath him. Luk went sideways and hit the yard with a solid thud. Ooooh, that had to hurt. The other knights were either taking a water break or sparring themselves, but I heard a few people laugh and saw some coins exchange hands. Had they bet on this match?

Luk groaned but sat up a second later. “Dammit, you always sweep my feet out like that.”

“I will continue to do so until you learn to block it,” Theon said, all while offering Luk a hand up.

Man had a fair point. Not that I was on Theon’s side or anything, just saying.

I jogged over, as it was safe to approach just then, and tried to spare some attention for Luk instead of ogling Theon. Although I really wanted to ogle Theon. “Luk, you good?”

“Bruised is what I am.” He rubbed his abused posterior. “I’m getting some water.”

Theon waved him on, most of his attention on me. “Back here for more training?”

I’m here to flirt with you, my dude, but… “Sure.”

“Hmm. Let’s try you on the sword.”

Uh. I much preferred bows and arrows. Not that me being a sword wielder wasn’t cool, but I knew it took serious muscles to swing those things around. Not to mention I was kind of leery about accidentally chopping off something I wasn’t supposed to. Like my own foot.

“Here.” Theon grabbed me around the waist and pulled me in closer. “Try to take the stance.”

Oh, this was a hands-on lesson? That changed things. Absolutely willing to try the sword, yes sirree.

Theon maneuvered me into standing in front of him, one hand on my hip, and wow his hands were nice. Big and warm, blunt-tipped, and very masculine hands. Even covered in sweat, he smelled nice too, like skin and sun.

“All right, take the sword up in two hands, like this. Don’t lock your wrists.”

He just said something. I know he did. Focus, me.

Dammit, stop focusing on his hands. Focus on what he’s saying.

“Good, good. Now keep your back straight.”

That part wasn’t hard. He had his chest against my back. I felt genuinely sheltered, tucked against him like this, and safe in a way I’d never experienced before. I’d always liked it when my partner was taller than I was, and damn if Theon didn’t fit the bill.

“Make your stance firmer than that.”

Stance? What was this word of which he spoke?

Oh right, I was supposed to be learning a swordsman’s stance.

What did he say again?

Theon impossibly wrapped himself around me a bit more, his mouth against my ear, both hands on my hips. “Jake?”

God, his voice was like liquid sex. Universe, you’re giving this man too many advantages. I’mma jump him at this rate, and it’ll be your fault.

Somehow, mouth managed a response without brain’s involvement. “Yeah?”

“Are you paying attention?”

“I’m trying.” It was just my brain was latching on to all the wrong things.

Those long fingers splayed, pulling me in closer, and wow, you couldn’t slip air between us right now.

“You are?” Theon sounded wickedly amused.

He was teasing. This man was teasing me and I was not even upset about it. He was flirting back! No problems here, Houston. Plan is working!

“THEON!”

We both jolted as the voice rang out over the yard. Dammit, I’d forgotten we had lots of people nearby. Theon had sucked me right into his own little world. Audience was bah humbug.

Sighing, Theon let go of me and called back, “What, Ara?”

“Got a problem!” She waved from the side of the yard. “Stop playing with Jake and c’mere.”

“Sorry,” Theon took the practice sword from me. “We’ll try again later.”

“Sure.” I watched him go. I had a sad. My flirting time had been sadly cut short.

I was not sure if the sword was for me, but that man’s hands definitely were.

Well, with Theon no longer available to play, what was I supposed to do with myself?

Mina came in closer, waving a hand to get my attention. Why she did that I did not know as Mina was a head taller than most of the crowd. She’d told me she was part giant, and if she was this tall as only part giant, I couldn’t wait to see how freakin’ tall a full-blooded giant was.

“Hey, Jake?”

“Yeah?”

“How about you and I go get some lunch? I can take you to the best tavern here, introduce you to the farmers.”

I hadn’t had a ton of interaction with Mina outside eating or training, but she struck me as a cool person. Also, she was obviously trying to make friends, and I could use more of those.

“Lunch sounds good. But by best tavern, do you mean?—”

“Only tavern, yup.”

Ah. Sorta figured. Town wasn’t big enough for more than one tavern.

Still, meeting more people and making friends was always a good idea. Also, lunch.

I followed Mina out of the training yard, and once we were in the main courtyard, she acted strangely nervous. She was plaiting and unplaiting her brown hair over one shoulder, seemingly a little…shy? At least, she wasn’t meeting my eyes.

“We’re all really happy you’re here, Jake.” Mina’s voice softened, meant for a conversation just between the two of us. “Not just because of the miasma issue, either. Our lord—well, it hasn’t been easy on him. He’s put up a strong front, to reassure us I guess, but I know it wears on him. Sometimes, you can see the stress and fatigue on his face, but he doesn’t confide in anyone.”

That fit what I knew of Theon to a tee. He was the ultra-responsible type.

“But with you, he opens up. He laughs and teases. I haven’t seen him laugh in nearly a decade, and I’m closer to him than most.”

I risked tripping over something to look at her sharply. “Seriously? Ten years since he laughed?”

“That I’ve seen. Granted, there’s been precious little to laugh about, but still…” Mina trailed off on a long sigh. “I think with you coming, he saw hope again. Then you batted those green eyes of yours at him and whatever resistance he had went up in smoke.”

Oh-hoooo. “That obvious I’m flirting, eh?”

“Can’t miss it,” Mina said, then grinned at me. “And I’m thankful for it. Lord Theon needs someone like you. Are you flirting just because he’s a beautiful man?”

“I’m not that shallow. Okay, when drunk, I am that shallow?—”

She busted out laughing.

“Stop laughing, I was regrettably horny as a newly minted twenty-year-old, my experimental phase is not to be held against me. Anyway.” I cleared my throat and tried for dignity. Mostly failed, but the important thing was I tried. “I’m older, wiser, and more mature. And that man is so much more than a quick hookup.”

“Is that your Earthian term for a quick lay?”

“That it is.”

“Hmm.” Mina fell back a pace so I could go through the small side door first, then came back into step with me. “Well, I’m glad you think of him as such. Lord Theon has a tender heart, and I didn’t want it broken.”

That was a subtle warning, but I took it to heart because realistically speaking, Mina could break me over her knee.

She was nice enough to change the subject at that point. “So I’ve heard you met Izzy.”

“Oh! Sure have. She’s really a good kid. Ah, speaking of, I’d love to make her maybe my guide? Or assistant?”

Mina shot me a look like she knew full well why I said this. “You’re wanting to help her.”

“Well, yeah, but I do need a guide. I have no idea where anything is, or who everyone is for that matter, and she’s got the time to help me.”

“I’m not trying to dissuade you, mind. We’ll swing by her house on the way back from lunch, talk to her parents about it.”

“Cool, thanks.” I was not kidding about needing an assistant, so the talk should go well enough. Even if modern me didn’t like the idea of child labor, at least I wouldn’t be working her hard, and she’d have enough to eat.

The tavern wasn’t far, being on the main strip—if you could call it that—and it was open for business. I didn’t get farther than the porch before realizing that basically everyone came here for lunch. Made sense. Most people who worked full-time jobs ate out for lunch. It was a matter of time, really, and not wanting to cook. I saw farmhands with sleeves rolled up and business owners with aprons still on.

Mina was, of course, known in this town, and she waved back to general hellos.

One man who looked halfway to ancient, his white beard down past his chest, actually turned in his chair. “Mina, who’s this young’un with ya?”

If you stacked this man’s accent up in a chair, it could sit upright without support. That’s how thick it was.

“This is Jake.” Mina encouraged me to join the man at the table. “Jake, this is my grandfather, Hawes.”

Ohhh, got it, she normally had lunch with her grandfather. Now that was sweet. I’d never had a good relationship with my grandparents. I gave him a proper hello before sitting down. “Nice to meet you.”

He returned the greeting, looking me over. “Jake, eh? The one who came in as a holy…maiden? Well, that don’t seem the right term.”

“It’s really not, but no one seems willing to give me an alternative. Regardless, yes, that’s me.”

His eyes narrowed into a beady stare. “You after my granddaughter?”

Mina spluttered, staring aghast at the man.

I wasn’t even offended. Amused, sure, but it was cute he was looking out for his little girl. “Sir. Frankly put, I’ve never seen a boob before, and I don’t intend to start now.”

He blinked, thought on that for a second, then slapped his hand against his knee. “Ha! A manly holy maiden who likes men. Now don’t that beat all?”

“What can I say? It’s all in my background.”

He laughed some more and Mina stopped blushing and settled, assured I could take the man’s humor in stride.

“Jake, I’ll buy you lunch,” Grandpa Hawes declared. “Two more at my table!” he bellowed.

“Ai-yo!” came the return call from…well I assumed there were kitchens lurking behind a wall back that way somewhere.

“Grandpa Hawes, what’s your expertise?”

“Farmer, although I don’t plant as much as I used to.” Hawes held up his hands. “Too arthritic to work for long stretches, see.”

Considering his age, that wasn’t unexpected. Still sad, though.

“Came with Mina, here, when his lordship called for us to move into this land. Helped as much as I could, but he forced me to retire. Said it was too physically hard for me. Now, I just help the young’uns with planting by giving advice.”

This man probably had eighty years of farming under his belt, and that was information and experience I needed. I just didn’t know enough to even guess what the right questions might be.

“Grandpa Hawes, tell me about gardening up here. What grows, what doesn’t? What’s your growing period? I want to start up a business, but I also want more agriculture here, as the more we grow the better.”

He lit up as I laid out my questions. “You going to make things grow up here, holy maiden?”

“I am indeed.” One way or another.

“Then take good notes. Here’s your startin’ lesson.”

You know, in hindsight, I really should have been carrying around a pad of paper or something to take notes with. Well, if I did forget something, I knew where to find Hawes. Man was clearly not going anywhere fast.

For now, I opened my ears and paid attention.

Two hours later, I was still in the tavern. Someone really should have warned me that if you got Grandpa Hawes going, he didn’t stop. Then other elderly farmers trying to avoid the hot afternoon sun joined our table, and information was going to leak out of my ears at this rate.

Coin muttered in my pocket, “It’d be easier for me to get you guidebooks on planting from Earth than you trying to remember what all these old fogies are saying.”

Shit, Coin could do that? Well, of course it could, stupid me. If it could carry a whole person to another world, a few books wouldn’t be hard.

While the farmers argued over the best week to plant seedlings, I muttered to Coin, “I want not only gardening books, but books on indoor plumbing. Oh, and the basics of electricity, like if I want to create a wind turbine or water wheel or something.”

“What’s it worth to you?”

Of course Coin would be stubborn. “I won’t call you asshole for a full day.”

“A week, and you have to buff me to a shine. I’m icky.”

“Deal.”

“Books will be here as soon as I can locate the ones you need. Also, brace yourself. Alcohol is coming.”

Uh…no, it was too early for drinks?—

Several tankards were plopped down on the table. Smelled like beer? There was froth on the top, too.

“You, uh, start drinking at this time of day?” It was only midafternoon!

“It’s an afternoon pick-me-up,” Hawes explained while shoving a tankard at me. “Just one, to get you through the day.”

I believed that about as much as I believed pigs could fly, but I felt like this was a rite of passage or something. Like it was their way of saying welcome to the group. So I took the tankard, downed a healthy swallow, and was surprised by how good it was. I was not a huge fan of beer, but this was mellow, kind of sweet on the tongue.

Since most of the table seemed to be anxious for my response, I said, “It’s really good.”

“See? Let’s get some cheese and crackers over here. Can’t drink and not snack.”

I had this terrible premonition that I was either going to stagger out of here drunk, or someone would have to roll me out the door.

Any takers on which way it’ll go?