#meteli arc

The next morning, she woke up to Thorgi licking her face. With a laugh, she pushed the dog away and sat up in her bedroll, looking at this little village in a new light after the night before.

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"See that woman there? She's one of our bakers, but she can only work with a certain type of grain. It's a Lord's business to create and maintain a trade route so that those who live under their care may get any legal ingredient we might need." Laurence said, each one of his words enrapturing her.

"You seem to know a lot about this," she noted, smiling q bit to herself as he seemed to flush a little. A new question came to her mind. "What about when it comes to a sudden surge of villagers?"

"Like children being born?" His question had her shifting a little before she nodded with a slightly nervous laugh. "Stipends are given, and I would like to very proudly say Meteli gives the same amount to all, regardless of their class status."

"I see," she murmured, running her hands through Thorgi's thick fur. "Do Lord's tend to be... close to their guards?" She asked, thinking back on all the 'maybe' times Garroth had flirted with her and the rose-gold ring sitting on her finger.

Laurence let out a hum and combed through his hair, looking a bit too thoughtful. "I heard the guards in Neapolitan village don't like their Lord. I wouldn't be surprised if a Shadow Knight spawned from there soon."

Aphmau shuddered a bit at this, which did not go unnoticed. "I've had a run in or two with some," she explained, watching him smirk.

"Don't worry, my love," he purred, making her eyebrows fly up. "I'll protect you to the death from those dastardly villains."

"Please don't," she quipped back.

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The smell of bacon and coffee soon brought her back to the present, and she thankfully took the plate and mug Kenmur was offering. "Why did you not stay in the inn? We could have spoken about current trade routes," He asked, to which she shrugged, grateful that Laurence had explained it last night between his flirting.

"I wasn't originally planning on staying the night." She answered. "But there are things I need to both do and learn here, so perhaps when I return I can spend a little more time here."

When she first came across Meteli and the people within the small town, she hadn’t really thought much of them, but as she set up camp for the night, the red haired guard, Laurence, found her and sat beside her.

“It very beautiful outside tonight,” he said, making her let out a laugh, amber eyes glancing up to see green staring at her. Tilting her head, she noted in amusement as he smirked upon seeing her gaze. He was very handsome… if you could look passed his bright orange hair, that was, but she supposed it gave his tan and green eyed complexion a unique look.

“It is,” she said after a beat, realizing she was staring. “Can I help you?”

“You’re new to being a Lord, aren’t you?” At his question, she felt herself beginning to flush and instead smiled wiry.

“It’s that obvious huh?” she asked, grinning a bit more widely as he nodded, bangs falling across his eyes. “What gave me away? The rambling?”

“As cute as it was, no,” he chuckled, leaning a bit more closer to her. “You have this… air and grace; you carry yourself a certain way. Many people who walk like they are helpful are either Lords or work alongside their Lord.”

“You like to flirt, don’t you?” she shot back, feeling slightly embarrassed at his words. “But how do you know I’m new at being the Lord?”

“You don’t have your village crest on your left shoulder, but yet the only time Phoenix Drop has sent someone to Scaleswind is when their last Lord wanted to pay tribune to Lady Irene.” Aphmau blinked at his words.

“Who’s Lady Irene? Is she like the ruler or something?”

Laurence started laughing loudly at her words, but fell quiet when he realized she wasn’t joking. “You’re a Lord and you don’t know who Irene is? Do you even know how to manage a village? Plan out Guard Rotations? Find a perfect place for a crop farm? Ensure those under your care will not be harmed?”

“I… um…” she trailed off and bit her lip, fiddling with the ring on her finger. “I do my best to help with the farms and keeping everyone safe, but Garroth usually helps me. He’s the Head Guard; has been since before I got there. He’s been trying to show me how to do things, but the last few weeks have been…” memories of find Levin outside on her doorstep and seeing Garroth just outside the village, limp and a puddle of blood under him came to her mind, making her swallow thickly before continuing. “Hectic. I’m going to Scaleswind because a child showed up on my doorstep, and we have reason to believe he was stolen from his mother who resides there.”

Warmer hands gently grabbed hers, and she looked up to see Laurence sitting closer to her, a gentle smile on his face. “Perhaps I might be able to help? I have been told I am quite a good tutor, my lady.”

Ignoring how warm her cheeks felt, she smiled and found herself squeezing his hands in return. “I’d like that Laurence.” she said, and, huh, she… kinda liked how his face lit up.

“Now how about we warm these cold hands, hm?”