Chapter Fourteen
So far, Euclid had slept five days. Given that he hadn't slept properly for years, and had just fought a fucking ogre, breaking a leg in the process, and then bonded Dipak immediately after… Well, if he slept for less than two weeks, Dipak would be astonished.
Being mated to a dragon was…strange, but not unpleasant. He'd cut himself preparing fish the other day, and the wound had healed all on its own. He could feel Euclid's presence in his mind, a soft awareness at the back of his thoughts, ebbing and flowing as Euclid occasionally dreamed.
He was stronger, faster, all his senses were improved. He was hungrier and ate a great deal more, which might be a problem long term as he definitely had not built his winter stores with that in mind, but it also might ease again as the changes fully settled.
Best of all, perhaps, he could see colors better. Still not as brightly as before he'd changed his eyes, but definitely brighter. It was easy to forget, most of the time, just how vivid and beautiful the world could be.
Across the forest, everyone had settled back into their day-to-day lives, the entire nightmare barely more than a few days of being scared and disrupted, the best possible outcome for such a problem.
He'd received a note from Abhishek that all was well and people were still yammering at him incessantly, but it seemed as though the forest would indeed be left alone from now on.
So all that remained were the ordinary matters and odd problems of the forest. He divided his time between cleaning up the old mill place for Abhishek, hunting for whatever people needed, and managing all the trading as best he could.
Thankfully, most people were content to wait for anything not urgent until Euclid was awake.
It would take Dipak a long time to learn all the nuances of his system.
He also fielded many, many curious questions about how he'd become Euclid's lover when he had always been rather clear about preferring his solitude. Dipak wasn't remotely surprised that Pitambar wasn't the only one to have tried for a deeper relationship.
All he could offer was the truth: he was more surprised than anyone that Euclid would settle for him.
When he wasn't working at nearly all hours, he was resting. Sometimes with Euclid, but often he stayed in the front room, buried in a pile of pillows and blankets in front of the large stove.
On the sixth day, Euclid muttered in his sleep, the only sound he'd made in all that time. Maybe he'd wake sooner than the two week mark after all. Stubborn dragon.
Dipak retrieved and delivered various goods, then had lunch with Minali. "I think we'll have snow before the day is out."
"I agree," she said, setting a bowl of rabbit stew and a large mug of spiced wine in front of him before taking her seat with the same.
"I'm glad we don't have to worry about rebuilding homes or anything, because I think it will be a long, especially bitter winter.
The last few have been mild, and autumn passed by rather quickly. "
"Yes, I think you have the right of it. Truly fortunate that the problem was resolved quickly, if not easily, though more easily honestly than I ever dared hope. Despite everything, we seem even better off than when we started."
"Better than ever with you here," she said quietly. "I never felt as though we were lacking, our strange little scattered family of the forest, but then you arrived, and suddenly many things improved. The forest definitely wants you here."
Dipak lifted one shoulder. "I'm glad to hear it, though I don't think I do anything terribly remarkable. Hunting is no small skill, I've learned that over the years, though I was cavalier about it growing up, but I wouldn't say it's terribly remarkable either."
"It's more than that, though. Yes, I enjoy that I can now have rabbit or deer or whatever else I want just by asking," Minali said with a smile.
"Euclid is different with you here, in all the best ways.
Also you've somehow got all of us communicating more, when before we were perfectly content to speak almost exclusively with and through Euclid.
But I've exchanged multiple letters lately, and I'm looking forward to spring when you and Euclid set to work devising easier ways for all of us to safely travel.
I'm not sure any of us would have thought of that before you came along.
The forest is dangerous, we stay where we are, with rare exception for the meetups. Yet now we talk of walking all about."
"I think that's circumstance more than me, but if everyone thinks my presence is a good thing, then I'm content. Thank you for lunch. It's nice to sit down to something I didn't have to make first. This stew is delicious."
Minali laughed, looking pleased. "Always nice to have someone else enjoy my cooking. I stopped being impressed by it a long time ago."
They lapsed into more idle conversation about the forest and trading, and he was just helping tidy up after lunch when the snow began to fall. A gentle, almost lazy fall, thankfully. "You're good on firewood?"
"Oh, yes, I take care of that the very second everything thaws out, so I get it done all the sooner each spring, give it plenty of time to dry out.
Been chopping my own wood since my father thought I was old enough to manage it safely," Minali replied.
"He would have loved this forest, and my mother too. Died in the plague, unfortunately."
"I'm sorry."
Minali smiled softly. "Thank you. Anything you need from me, before you get on with your day, Hunter? Food for the hunt? I've plenty of stew left over."
Dipak hesitated, then made himself ask before he lost his nerve. "Actually, I have an unusual and…rather personal request, or at least question."
Her brows rose. "Intriguing."
"Your piercings, did you do those yourself?"
"I did! Some of the ones in my ears were a right bitch. Some of the more personal ones you will never see were even more difficult, but I didn't want to leave the forest to get someone else to do it, and back in my homeland such things are done by family anyway. What piercings were you hoping for?"
"My nipples," Dipak said, and sighed as she giggled, his face burning.
Minali grinned as her laughter faded. "Come back in an hour or so hunter, and I'll have everything ready. You'll have to trade for the jewelry, as I'm assuming you don't have that."
"I assumed I'd have to acquire it before getting the work done. I just wanted information."
"I have the jewelry, I'm a bit of a magpie that way, wholly apart from what I need as a witch. One hour and you'll get your wish."
Dipak smiled. "Thank you, truly. Let me know what you want in trade."
"I'm getting old. Come spring you can help me with the chopping."
"Old, please. You're the spryest thing in this forest. Deal, though, of course."
"Get along with you, then, hunter. I'm sure you've lots and lots to do. See you again soon."
"Count on it."
He went to see Pitambar next, handing over a pheasant in exchange for several repaired articles of clothing that he returned to an elf who lived all the way at the western edge of the forest, his house built right up a large rock wall that would seem out of place if Dipak wasn't well aware of the caves that littered the forest, the remnants perhaps of mountains that no longer existed.
When about an hour had passed, judging by the shifting daylight, he returned to Minali's house.
"Sit on the table, so I can better reach'em," she said with a smirk.
"I knew you'd be merciless with the teasing," he said with a sigh as he stripped off all the necessary layers, carefully piling everything by the door so no stray dirt or whatnot would make a mess of her floors.
He sat on the edge of the table and spread his legs so she could get close.
To say the situation felt strange was putting it mildly.
No doubt there was many a person who would love to be in his position for more amorous reasons, but though he'd bedded plenty of women, this just felt like having a particularly bratty older sister entirely too much in his space.
Laughing, Minali said, "Who could resist? Our fierce, stoic hunter wanting something a little bit naughty. I'm guessing to please Euclid, hmm?"
"Maybe," Dipak muttered, face hot.
She giggled and pinched his cheek. "All right, here we go.
A potion to numb the area, then I'll do the work, and give you a tincture that will speed healing.
Should be completely fine and ready in a few days.
Don't want it to heal instantly because otherwise the holes could close up wrong and just cause problems. A bit of the tincture in the morning and evening. "
"Understood."
It didn't really take any time at all, she worked so quickly and deftly. The numbing lingered, so he didn't really feel them yet, could only stare in wonder at the gleaming gold hoops in a place he'd never expected to see such a thing.
After she'd cleaned up, and he'd dressed again, she walked him to the door. Where, of course, she smirked again, eyes sparkling with mischief. "Some people like to string a small chain between them, can be lots of fun when it's pulled on."
"I dislike you immensely, you brat," Dipak said, which just made her giggle like a little girl again, sweet and charming. He had the sense she hadn't been allowed to do such things, where she'd lived before life had led her to the Forbidden Forest.
She pinched both his cheeks, then kissed one. "Get on with you, little hunter. Enjoy your new jewelry when your lover wakes."
"Thank you, Minali. It's good to have a real friend. Call my name if you need me. Stay warm." He kissed her cheek, waited until she'd closed her door, and then headed out to continue with his day.