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Tranquil Waters: The Lead Crown Ch 5-2, A Call to Arms

Even with the bustling rumble of the covered carriage's wheels passing over the cobblestone streets Joshew could still clearly hear the sound of Roland rummaging around in his pack. "Forget something back at the room?"

The Wolf-Dog's tail beat out a pleasant rhythm on the seat but he didn't bother responding. The answer came in the form of an "ah ha!" followed by the distinct sound of a stopper being removed. It only took a split second for the Human to recognize the scent of an herbal oil of his own creation.

It was a very SPECIFIC kind of oil, and encountering it caught him off guard, "Where did you get that, Rolly?"

His companion chuckled and the Human followed along with his ears as he heard Roland undo the cord holding his trousers up. The lewd sound of oil being applied to flesh was at first a little disconcerting, until the Wolf-Dog calmly announced, "It'll be almost a half hour before we get to the Widow's Bridge."

The aroma grew stronger when Roland transitioned within the carriage to Joshew's side and the Human's head swam in the mixed scent of oil and canine excitement. He opened his mouth to object, but ended up sucking in a breath the moment the wolf-dog's paws went to his slacks; he was already aroused. Regardless, the more reasonable part of his mind was still hesitant, "Shouldn't we be spending this time getting ready?"

There was just long enough of a pause to add obvious humor to his lover's next comment, "Foreplay?"

Joshew rolled his eyes, more for his own benefit than his companion's as he began to wriggle out of his clothes, "If I didn't want this so much you would have got a face full of a random alchemical reagent."

Roland's response came from deep in his chest, hinting at a lusty growl, "I'm glad you do, because I like knowing what's going in my face."

The Human had a comeback ready, but the opportunity for it passed as he found a muzzle pressed to his lips, eager tongue searching Joshew's mouth before pulling both back into Roland's. Both scholars were breathing one another in by the time they were laying across the carriage's bench, the lower half of the Human's body bare once the Wolf-Dog tossed his slacks onto the floor. He arched his back when he felt warm paws caress his groin.

Above him, Roland shift his weight and Joshew took the opportunity to slide his hands up his lover's body, gripping his shirt and pulling it open so his fingers could delve inside, feeling the soft caress of the Wolf-Dog's chest fur. He felt Roland's strong, rapid heart-beat through his hand even as the sound of it echoed in his ears. He'd spent most of the previous twenty four hours obsessing over his lack of sight but, in that moment he realized that none of it mattered; Roland filled all of his four senses.

He wasn't so blind as to ignore the fact that they were both in very real danger but, for at least a short while he could put that out of his mind. With no clothing separating them, Roland's next move banished any thought of the world outside of the carriage, leaving Joshew with only one more thing he could say: a quiet, breathless, "Ooooooooohhhhhhh...."

* * * * * *

Alvis sat, silently fretting on what should have been a comfortable carriage bench... he just didn't feel very comforted. The Mutt was mindful of each and every intersection they passed on their way to their drop-off point. The shades were drawn over the windows, providing them privacy but the cloth was airy enough to allow him to watch the scenery as they left it behind. Alarice's plan seemed like a sound one and, by any measure he should have felt reassured that they were safe but, considering everything he'd been through, 'safe' was one thing he didn't think he COULD manage to feel.

"You look tired."

Brother Jessen's comment pulled him from his own inner turmoil. Changing his focus from the window to his traveling companion, Alvis let out a sigh, "It's just early, I guess... I'm not normally up for a little while yet."

The Coyote leveled a calm gaze at the Mutt, "I did not mean physical fatigue."

Alvis paused, sitting up as he focused his ears on Brother Jessen, "Then... uh... I'm not sure what you mean."

His companion reached out and took one of the scholar's paws in his, "Alvis... if you had to run for hours on end it would not be unreasonable to think that you would need time to rest afterward. The same can be said for your mind, however it has been working ever since last night and I have yet to see you give it a moment's rest."

Despite the fact that Brother Jessen's touch against his fingers sent little sparks up his body, Alvis very nearly pulled away, "I'm just... worried... this kind of thing doesn't happen to me... this kind of thing is meant for other kinds of people... the kind that... that-- I don't know... just... other people."

The Coyote's large, triangular ears flicked as he leaned forward, "What kind of people does this happen to, if not whatever kind of a person you are?"

Feeling near tears at his inability to convey his thoughts and emotions, Alvis simply lowered his head, paws falling to his sides as he let out an exasperated sigh, "I... I don't know... just... other people... not me."

Brother Jessen slid closer on the seat, taking hold of Alvis' paw again, "Would you hate me if I said I was glad this happened to you?"

The Mutt glanced toward the Coyote, completely dumbfounded, "Why would you be glad that something like this happened to ANYONE?"

His traveling companion smiled, just a little, "For the purely selfish reason of knowing that, if it hadn't, I may not have ever met you."

Alvis felt a mix of emotions flow through him, but, surprisingly, most of them were good. One lingering thought hounded him and he couldn't stop it from exiting his muzzle, "If this hadn't happened then your temple might not have been sacked."

The scholar watched the impact the statement made on Brother Jessen, causing the Coyote's ears to fall as his eyes lowered, but it was only for a moment before he returned with renewed conviction, "It's possible... or maybe it would have anyway and I would not have met you."

The Mutt shook his head, "Meeting me isn't worth losing all of that."

Brother Jessen added his other paw to Alvis', "You're right... but I didn't lose it-- it was taken from me. I had no control over that, Alvis, and I have no idea if things would have gone differently if there was someone else here with me other than you. What I CAN say for certain is, out of everyone who MIGHT have been here with me, I'm glad it's you." The Coyote slowly disengaged, letting go of the scholar's paw, but not before bringing it to his muzzle for a gentle kiss.

Alvis wasn't sure if it was the confusion of the situation, the mixed feelings over the trip, or the simple logic with which Brother Jessen approached it, but, somehow, Alvis' mind finally had a chance to relax. At that point it was idling along thinking of the feel of his calming companion's lips on the back of his paw... and that, in and of itself, was... his tired mind searched for a moment, seeking out the right words. It settled on 'really nice'.

* * * * * *

Weisen's experience with the minutae of clockwork mechanisms was invaluable as he worked on his project aboard the moving carriage. Despite the rumbling vibrations and swaying movements he managed to continue his task unabated, much to the apparent surprise of his traveling companion. After a time, Sada even voiced her awe, "I have no idea how you can work on such small things, especially while we're moving."

The Dragon looked up from his work, moving the segmented arm of the headset he wore to the side so he could get the several magnifying lenses out of his field of view before addressing the Otter, "I have had many years of practice, my Lady... I am certain you are capable of many feats aboard a moving carriage in your occupation that others might find difficult without the kind of training you have had."

Sada's expression took on a playful hint as her tiny ears perked, "My word... did you just tell a joke at my expense?"

Weisen blinked, and set down his screwdriver as he skillfully dead-panned, "I am afraid I have no idea what you mean, my lady. I was merely pointing out that--"

She pressed the issue, "My dear Templar, we both know you're very well aware of what my training entails... and to suggest that I could do things on a carriage that others might find difficult..."

The Dragon sighed, "That was truly not the direction I meant for my comment to go, and you are very well aware of it."

Apparently content with the amount of humor she got at HIS expense, the Otter sat back in her seat and simply smiled in his direction. Her next comment was much more benign, "That looks a little like an eyeball."

Weisen smirked, eyes returning to his work. He moved the lenses back into place and picked up his miniature screwdriver, "That is because, my Lady, this is an eyeball."

He didn't pay any attention to her at that point, barely registering that she had moved to a kneeling position in front of him until she spoke up, "Who would you be making a metal eye ball, Sir Weisen?"

The Dragon snorted, "Just Weisen... no sir."

She pressed the issue, "It looks very complicated for just being a way to pass the time... surely there must be some grand plan for such an intricate piece of machinery."

The Techlar put down his tool and moved the lenses aside once again before looking up at the Otter, "It is an experiment, my Lady."

Sada raised an eyebrow, "Ah... so now you're a scientist as well?"

Weisen frowned, "I have worked with clockwork mechanisms for a very long time, Ms. De'Ahm, and it has been many years since someone has asked me a question I did not feel that I could answer effectively."

She looked from him to the mechanism, then back to him, "So... what is that?"

The Dragon picked the sperical piece of metal up and pointedly stowed it in his tool case, "Right now? Nothing... but, given time, it may become an answer."