daily between shifts with the new recruits and rounds in the infirmary. That morning, after returning from the Opal Order, Blaze had gone on his rounds—a bit later than usual— then decided to slip in some training before his session with the apprentices.
Lock's big, booted feet stopped a short distance from Blaze who continued with his routine until the last count. Pushing himself to his knees, he brushed sweaty tendrils of auburn hair from his
eyes and glanced at his friend.
"So, how was it yesterday at the Opal Order?" Lock grinned, taking a bite from the apple in his hand.
"You haven't heard?" Crag approached.
Lock raised a curious eyebrow and continued munching on the apple.
"We're planning an autumn joining," Blaze stated, trying to ignore two spirits arguing on both sides of him about when the wedding should truly take place. At times he wished his spirits would leave at his command, as Tara so often seemed to do when Melody ordered it.
"Autumn?" Lock scowled. "You're going to wait that long to bed her down? You've got more willpower than I do."
"No." Blaze raised his eyes to heaven. "The nuptials will be in autumn."
Lock began choking on the apple, spitting chunks of it into the grass as both Crag and Blaze rushed to his aid. He shoved them away and sputtered, "What are you talking about? You just met the woman yesterday!"
"You are the one who agreed that I required companionship." Blaze wondered if Lock would detect his sarcasm. Apparently that was too much to hope for from the ex-pirate.
"I told you to have fun, not marry the first woman who grabs your attention! Crag, talk him out of it."
"It's not my business," Crag stated. "And it's certainly not yours. So they're in love. What's wrong with that?"
"How the hell can they be in love after two days?"
"Just because you were too thick skulled to know luck when it struck you doesn't mean I will take as long to accept my good fortune," Blaze stated.
"I know I was stubborn when it came to admitting Sparrow was the woman for me, but you're rushing in blind!"
"Hardly." Blaze walked to a tree and extended his leg against the trunk so that his foot was level with his head. Breathing deeply, he leaned forward, lengthening the stretch. "The celebration with Mahir, Torn, and my faction is at the week's end. You and Little Bird are invited."
"Sparrow and I will be there, if you're sure you want to go through with it." Lock shook his head and turned away. "I need to get back to the ship. I almost wish I hadn't left it today. It seems you're crazy after all, Blaze."
"Ignore him." Crag shrugged. "At times I wonder how his wife puts up with him."
"Mate of the Key has a loyal heart."
"And a shallow brain," Crag muttered.
"Aim that venom where it will do the most good." Blaze removed his leg from the tree trunk and stepped closer to Crag, his fists raised. A sparring match would be helpful to both of them. Since meeting Sweet Music, Blaze's energy seemed boundless. He knew nighttime would be the worst.
Lying alone while thinking of her soft, sweet body wrapped around him, he doubted he would be able to sleep without indulging in self pleasure.
He shifted his stance slightly as Crag's foot nearly exploded across his face. Before he got killed, Blaze focused on the fight, though it was difficult when thoughts of Melody floated like a velvet mist in the back of his mind.
* * *
Blaze enjoyed the rhythmic thud of his chestnut gelding's hooves cantering over the sunny hillside halfway between Rubyshire and Femmeglen. It had been four days since he and Melody had seen
each other. He'd managed a free afternoon that week and ridden to Femmeglen to help her at the infirmary. There had been little time for anything but work. Still, just being with her was enough to keep him smiling until the week's end.
Upon reaching the crest of the hill, he caught sight of Melody astride her mare. She called to him and waved as he and his mount galloped closer.
"I could hardly
Lock's big, booted feet stopped a short distance from Blaze who continued with his routine until the last count. Pushing himself to his knees, he brushed sweaty tendrils of auburn hair from his
eyes and glanced at his friend.
"So, how was it yesterday at the Opal Order?" Lock grinned, taking a bite from the apple in his hand.
"You haven't heard?" Crag approached.
Lock raised a curious eyebrow and continued munching on the apple.
"We're planning an autumn joining," Blaze stated, trying to ignore two spirits arguing on both sides of him about when the wedding should truly take place. At times he wished his spirits would leave at his command, as Tara so often seemed to do when Melody ordered it.
"Autumn?" Lock scowled. "You're going to wait that long to bed her down? You've got more willpower than I do."
"No." Blaze raised his eyes to heaven. "The nuptials will be in autumn."
Lock began choking on the apple, spitting chunks of it into the grass as both Crag and Blaze rushed to his aid. He shoved them away and sputtered, "What are you talking about? You just met the woman yesterday!"
"You are the one who agreed that I required companionship." Blaze wondered if Lock would detect his sarcasm. Apparently that was too much to hope for from the ex-pirate.
"I told you to have fun, not marry the first woman who grabs your attention! Crag, talk him out of it."
"It's not my business," Crag stated. "And it's certainly not yours. So they're in love. What's wrong with that?"
"How the hell can they be in love after two days?"
"Just because you were too thick skulled to know luck when it struck you doesn't mean I will take as long to accept my good fortune," Blaze stated.
"I know I was stubborn when it came to admitting Sparrow was the woman for me, but you're rushing in blind!"
"Hardly." Blaze walked to a tree and extended his leg against the trunk so that his foot was level with his head. Breathing deeply, he leaned forward, lengthening the stretch. "The celebration with Mahir, Torn, and my faction is at the week's end. You and Little Bird are invited."
"Sparrow and I will be there, if you're sure you want to go through with it." Lock shook his head and turned away. "I need to get back to the ship. I almost wish I hadn't left it today. It seems you're crazy after all, Blaze."
"Ignore him." Crag shrugged. "At times I wonder how his wife puts up with him."
"Mate of the Key has a loyal heart."
"And a shallow brain," Crag muttered.
"Aim that venom where it will do the most good." Blaze removed his leg from the tree trunk and stepped closer to Crag, his fists raised. A sparring match would be helpful to both of them. Since meeting Sweet Music, Blaze's energy seemed boundless. He knew nighttime would be the worst.
Lying alone while thinking of her soft, sweet body wrapped around him, he doubted he would be able to sleep without indulging in self pleasure.
He shifted his stance slightly as Crag's foot nearly exploded across his face. Before he got killed, Blaze focused on the fight, though it was difficult when thoughts of Melody floated like a velvet mist in the back of his mind.
* * *
Blaze enjoyed the rhythmic thud of his chestnut gelding's hooves cantering over the sunny hillside halfway between Rubyshire and Femmeglen. It had been four days since he and Melody had seen
each other. He'd managed a free afternoon that week and ridden to Femmeglen to help her at the infirmary. There had been little time for anything but work. Still, just being with her was enough to keep him smiling until the week's end.
Upon reaching the crest of the hill, he caught sight of Melody astride her mare. She called to him and waved as he and his mount galloped closer.
"I could hardly
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