#ondarion

Episode 16

After Noxee helped Saiwa wash up and put him in some of her clothes, she took him, the Little Goat and Tyalindo on the ferry southward, to Ondarion where she lived. Somewhere along the long passage, Saiwa started to compute and sort through the happenings. He remembered Noxee mentioning she was good friends with Glen from the Exhibit. Which meant she must probably also know Francine - and Jeb. So Sai asked her about it. And yes, she even was best friends with Francine, which was the reason Noxee immediately took a plane to Innisgreen after she learned what had happened. But why help him then after all the trouble he caused? Noxee claimed that in hindsight, it was easy to say what could have been done better, but at that point in time, with everything Sai knew, he'd done the best he could. And, with a bit of a distance, it was a proper plan and it had turned out very well. If Saiwa had told Francine what he had in mind, she would have interfered - totally - and that would have put her - and Jeb - in danger. Thanks to Saiwa, Jeffrey was gone for good and they found the source of power in the basement of the house, so there would be no future incidences of that kind anymore. Scully was a conscious and very powerful being who decided by himself whom he lend his powers. So Noxee reassured Sai everything would be fine and Jeb would see that too one day. . .

They arrived late at night. Saiwa still wasn't able to hide his Incubus form. Noxee stated Ondarion was a place where everyone was free to be how they wanted to be and no one would even care about the way he looked, but Saiwa didn't want people to judge him or get the wrong impression. In the end she hid Sai's horns under a huge hat and his hooves beneath striped bell-bottom trousers. There. After the ferry left, the harbor was deserted anyway. Noxee praised Tyalindo for doing so well during the long passage. He looked a bit worn and tired. Noxee: "You will like the new place. Come, it isn't far from here."

Noxee sadly couldn't take Saiwa home with her due to her 'difficult life circumstances', but she owned a little hut at the harbor, 'for my little escapes, you know?', where Saiwa would stay for the time being. It was a tiny old fishing hut that didn't match the surrounding noble buildings. Saiwa wasn't sure he could afford it, this town looked insanely expensive. But Noxee reassured him, she told him she was 'a kind of performer' and made good money with it here, and with his computer knowlegde, he'd be able to earn a pretty penny too to afford this place. Glen had already offered to also pay Saiwa since he wouldn't stay at the Exhibit and now he could rent the room to tourists as pretty as it was after the makeover. Sai's heart hurt when he heard about Glen's plan. Jeb had built this room for him with so much love - too much love. It was good they had a lot of distance between them. A whole ocean of a distance.

After looking around a bit nervously, Noxee dragged Sai out of his gloomy thoughts and toward the house: "Let's show Tyalindo his stable and go inside." The view was stunning and Sai couldn't believe his luck: "Thank you so much, I'm going to work really hard." Noxee: "I already have another task for you after you finished the Exhibit website. You'll be quite busy here. But also remember to take your time to calm down and enjoy life, hm?" Saiwa sighed: "I still think don't deserve this, I caused so much trouble." Noxee: "You did what you did to help your friends and it turned out well in the end. You do deserve this." After they made sure Tyalindo and the Little One were cared for, Noxee looked nervously around again and ushered Saiwa inside.

Noxee: "Now I'll quickly show you the house and then I have to leave you. I didn't tell anyone I even left and I've already been away too long, taking the ferry instead of the plane." Saiwa winced, he caused even more troubles: "I'm so sorry." Noxee: "Ah, don't be. It was my choice to take care of you, I'll deal with it, don't worry. So, how about changing you into a more human-like form and hide your horns and hooves before I leave?" Saiwa: "I tried and tried, I still can't change." Noxee: "Let me help? I have my own kind of magic. Will you trust me?" Saiwa: "Of course."

Noxee stepped away as far as the little house allowed and cast her spell. And it worked. What a relief!

Saiwa accompanied Noxee outside and said goodbye. She was just a few meters away from the house, when a werewolf chased after her! Noxee yelled back to Saiwa: "He just wants to play! He's sweet and tame!" The Werewolf: "The hell I am! Where have you been?"

Saiwa wasn't sure what to do. He was too afraid to run after Noxee. Saiwa: "Shall I call the Police? The Nightwatch? The Guards?" Tyalindo: "I'm sure she's fine, I sense no fear. Rather - anticipation and . . . arousal?" Saiwa: "Ehm . . ."

The Werewolf didn't mangle Noxee, she just ran and laughed and squealed. So Saiwa hoped Tyalindo was right and eventually he went inside. The house was really pretty and contained everything he needed despite it's tiny size. (This is a makeover of the preplaced house)

Saiwa loved the cute little kitchen and started to cook with what he found in the fridge. They've had some measly sandwiches at the ferry, but Sai couldn't remember when he'd had his last warm meal (if he tried, he probably could, but he didn't want to think about anything related to Jeb).

He didn't even have to eat alone, he sat at the patio while Tyalindo was happily exploring the surroundings.

Time to go to sleep, his days would be filled with work. Sai just hoped he wouldn't dream of Jeb. Sai: "Good night, Ty." Tyalindo: "Good night. Sai, I like it here and I really like Noxee. We're going to heal, won't we?" With 'we', Tyalindo meant Sai, but Sai played along anyway: "We will."

But of course he couldn't sleep because he was afraid to meet Jeb in his dreams. He already noticed the book stacks all over the house and was curious what kind of books Noxee read.

He picked the one from the top of the stack and sat outside in the cool breeze. Oh, these were steamy MM romance books. At first Sai was worried they'd also remind him painfully of Jeb, but soon he was immersed in the story about a hot lumberjack and his cute arch nemesis in a pickle-obsessed Vermont town. . .

When his eyes started to burn from tiredness and exhaustion, Sai eventually went to bed. And the wind wafted a song over from the tavern on the other side of the bay.

'You said some winds blow forever and I didn't understand But you saw my eyes were asking and smiling you took my hand

So we walked along the seaside where trees grow just one way Pointing out the one direction that the wind blows day after day One way wind, one way wind Are you trying to blow my mind? One way wind, one way wind Is she her that I hoped to find? Why you blow the cold every day Tell me what are you trying to say

No I don't know all about you and maybe I never will But I do know every word of our talking upon the hill

And whenever I will see you, for maybe one more time I'm sure I'll get the answer, that the wind has still in mind' 😭

One way wind - The Cats

Next morning, Sai started his work day, with a beautiful view. Until he noticed Noxee approaching - with that werewolf by her side! Saiwa froze. Sure, he was in his human form now, but it was unmistakingly him. Would he come inside? Cold sweat covered Sai's skin and he shivered. Still in mind when Jack chased after him that faithful night. . . The way these two looked at each other should have told Sai there was no need to be afraid. But what did his subconscious know about logic. . .

Noxee brought groceries fresh from the market and, to Saiwa's relieve, the werewolf didn't enter the house. Noxee: "Mr Lunvik - Greg - is my . . . let's say he's kind of my manager and bodyguard. It's . . . complicated." Noxee sighed. Saiwa could relate. What wasn't. . .

Behind the Scenes

It's raining again 🌦️

Aouwww

That goat shirt from the Life and Death pack is so awesome

Noxee and Greg <3

I love the way eating this soup is animated <3 It was fingerlickin' good :3

The moon behind the clouds looks intimidating ö.ö'

TMI: The book linked/mentioned above was the first book I've read from May Archer. And in the following months, I've read almost all of her other books and no other author in between, so much did I like them <3 Clear recommendation. If you have kindle unlimited, they are all included (except one iIrc). But: I didn't like the 3 Lickin' Thicket novellas (The Night, The Castle and The Light, rest of that series is great, dunno what happened they are so bad), and the Horn of Glory Trilogy (even though the overall plot is very right up my alley, with computers, games and adventure. Very, very strange.