Royal Crown Commision: On the Road

[Jim Roberts]

[Jan 30 PM – Between Sibley & Ft. Lucas]

> Again, she snuggled back against the huge knight. “Mmmm,” she purred.
> “Anticipation, leading I hope, to delayed gratification. Something
> that’s kinda new to me.”

The two rode for several moments in companionable silence. The bard had
clearly been chewing on a thought, and after some minutes, once again
spoke up. “Not,” Tramma mused dreamily, “that there is anything WRONG
with preferring one’s own gender.”

“No indeed,” Tregarth agreed solemnly. “It is not just how I myself
happen to be.”

“Mmm…” Tramma repeated. A moment later, however, her voice took on a
somewhat more worried tone. “I’m starting to wonder about *me*, though.
Lately I’m starting to wonder if *I’m* not preferring my own kind.”

“Would that be a bad thing?” Tregarth asked gently.

“Not at all, no,” Tramma agreed. “But it’s not at ALL how I see myself.
Especially growing up, once I learned what all the parts are for. I’ve
batted for both sides from the beginning, but lately the girl’s team is
running away with the game.”

Once again, the knight gently stroked her cheek, glad that he had chosen
to leave the armoured gauntlets behind with the rest of his kit. “Is
this something you’d like to talk about?” he asked solicitously. “We
have time, and Max and I *are* good listeners.”

Tramma chuckled. “Well, if you don’t mind hearing steamy stories. I’m
*supposed* to be careful not to, quote unquote, frighten the horses. But
*you’re* a brave steed who wouldn’t frighten easily, aren’t you, Max?”

The Divine Steed carrying them both gave an amused snort, and Tregarth
found no need to provide a translation.

“I guess I’ve been hanging around Majali so much that I’ve picked up
some of their habits,” Tramma began. “Or maybe the apocryphal sage
Flashman is right. So I’ll be *trying* to not tell any stories that are
not MINE to tell, and fill you in on only MY part of the action. You’ll
be able to figure out who some of the other actors – and actresses – in
this little saga are, but please indulge my tender sensibilities and
don’t give any of them names.”

“I would not dream of intruding upon a Lady’s privacy,” Tregarth promised.

“But what about a Tramp,” Tramma asked playfully. And so the next goodly
while was spent as the silver haired bard relayed *all* that had been
keeping her busy for the last several days. She spared absolutely NO
detail regarding her own parts of the story, and there were enough
details for Tregarth to identify in his own mind the identity of the
sole man and at least ONE of the lady partners involved. Though the
identity of one other was a matter of conjecture, and a third was a
complete mystery. But the knight stuck to his word, and did not pursue
the matter, and simply enjoyed hearing the *most* steamy stories.

The temperature was considerably warmer under the cloak when her lengthy
narration finally wound to its close.

“That is indeed *most* impressive,” Tregarth mused. “And, if I may say
so, sounding positively magical.” A whicker from Maximus suggested the
Divine Steed’s emphatic agreement.

“But you can see why I’m wondering if *I’m* gay,” Tramma lamented. “All
but one of these wonderful recent lovers have been *women*. That’s been
true for a good long while now.”

Tregarth considered for a moment. “May I surmise that this may be
influenced as much by a lack of opportunity than any lack of desire?” he
pondered aloud. “Without attempting to identify the man in question, I
will note that among at least the local members of your expedition, you
do have a noted lack of male company. And it is unlikely that I am
violating any confidentialities were I to doubt very much that our
revered Abbot is one of your lovers, so that does rather only leave two
choices.”

Tramma pretended to shudder. “Yeah, let’s agree without giving anything
away that I’ve no problem considering hizzoner the Abbot off limits.
He’s a dear, but I would not respect him if he violated his vows. And
yeah, of the other two hunks, I reminded one of his Ex too much, so that
never really worked out.”

“You do not *look* like either Huntress Gil or Galdis Laurelin,”
Tregarth observed, “so I believe I know the man in question, but will
not speculate further.”

Tramma nodded. “Thanks. You’re letting me keep at least some shreds of
pretending I’m not kissing and telling.”

“And you’re not,” Tregarth affirmed.

“So yeah, you’ve figured it out. And he IS a *whole* lot of fun, and a
dear. And it helps that I simply *adore* his truelove, and the three of
us have a LOT of fun together.”

An encouraging whicker from Maximus suggested that the Divine Steed
would not have minded hearing more details, but Tregarth declined to
translate, and instead observed, “So it really and truly may BE just a
relative lack of opportunity.”

“I guess,” Tramma sighed. “Though maybe it's just me, but is it kinda
weird that I seem to keep falling for High Priestesses? *And* a Norse
Church Knight, to be honest about it. And… if I’m being REALLY honest,
for another lady who for as long as I can remember *really* makes my
head – and body – fizz, though she’s not *yet* a High Priestess, and
only a revered Huntress.”

Tramma sat up for a moment and looked back imploringly at Tregarth.
“Please keep *that* part a secret above all else, Sweetie. You are just
too easy to talk to and a good listener, that is something I have never
said aloud even to her because I know... well, it’s complicated.”

“Your secret is absolutely safe with me,” Tregarth vowed, and a whinny
from Maximus added his assent as well.

“And as for weird,” Tregarth continued, “I would say no, not at all.”
Once again, he let a hand gently stroke Tramma’s cheek as he continued
sincerely, “You have a lovely soul, Tramma Silverhair. It does not seem
weird to me in the least that you have an attraction to those with a
Divine calling.” He chuckled as he added, “*Especially* those who, from
what I gather, happen also to be MOST attractive and talented ladies.”

“You say the *nicest* things,” the bard purred, once again snuggling
back against the knight. “Now, tell me all that has been happening in
Tregarth’s world.” It was clear to the Seneschal that she was not just
making conversation; she seemed to really value being able to *talk* to
someone. Perhaps someone whose sole interest was not simply discovering
the colour of her current day’s selection of underwear. Which, Tregarth
had to admit to himself, was a matter of some interest to him as well…
but not his *sole* interest.

And so the Fort Resolute Seneschal relayed all that was recent in his
life in the frontier town of Fort Resolute. At one point in his story,
Tramma sat upright. “Wait, Sully is a WOMAN,” Tramma exclaimed in
delight. “I always assumed a guy from the Pussycats bickering about
their boss. Silly me, she must really be something.”

“I do rather get the sense there is more to her than meets the eye,”
Tregarth agreed. “Just *what*, I do not know, but for more reasons than
just strategic security and alliances, I am glad to be able to consider
her a friend.”

“From what I’ve gathered,” Tramma noted, “Sully is a MOST important
person among the Flying Tigers. Though getting straight answers out of
even my friends and lovers among them can be exasperating sometimes.”

“Fascinating,” the knight mused. “But I would say that the MOST
important event in my recent life,” Tregarth concluded, “was when a
certain lady I very much fancied found a way to prove to me that she was
NOT in my chain of command, allowing us to act as two interested adults
can.”

“Mmmm…” Tramma mumbled happily. “She sounds like a very lucky lady to
have your attention.”

“All the more as I am very much hoping that we might share another night
together now,” the knight concluded affectionately.

“Oh, well, if you are meeting HER,” Tramma pretended to pout. “I can
probably hook up with somebody in the common room. And here I was
planning to…” Her voice trailed off suggestively.

Maximus gave a whinny that sounded almost exactly like a chuckle. For
his part, Tregath softly conceded, “Touche.” Allowing Max to ignore the
reins, he gently took Tramma in his arms. “I would MOST like to learn
firsthand of your plans. Mine are to delight the lovely bard in my arms
to the limits of my ability…”

“I’d say that is a *fine* plan,” Tramma sighed happily. And the two rode
the remaining distance in companionable silence, enjoying the starlight,
Maximus’ gentle gait… and above all, the fond anticipation of what was
probably before them later that night.

There was, perhaps, just the slightest of detours once they rode into
Fort Lucas. The gate had been closed for the night, but the Watch had no
objections at allowing *this* particular Rider in past closing. The
detour was a quick excursion out to the modest house where Tramma’s
parents and younger brother were in residence. Her parents were often
used to their daughter showing up at all hours, frequently bringing
along a boyfriend for them to meet. More than one jaw dropped at the
identity of *this* particular boyfriend, however. But with an easy
grace, they made Tregarth feel quite comfortable while they poured
everyone a nightcap. Which in this case was a serving of fine recently
imported coffee, the two parents correctly figuring that their daughter
and date having plans to remain awake for a good while yet.

The visit was entirely congenial, Tregarth learning that the two parents
were still in the process of landing on their feet after their recent
Wagon Train immigration from Yeltanar. In their Home Country, the two
had been minor government officials of some sort, having something to do
with Imperial Customs, and taught at a local college in their spare
time. There was no such employment here, of course, but they were
managing to get by with contract work. Both did seem quite happy to
consider any work that might come their way in the future from the Fort
Resolute Seneschal.

Somewhat later on the way to the Triton Windwalker Guesthouse, Tramma
quietly stated, “Thank you for spending some time with my parents.”

“You are very welcome,” Tregarth mused. “They seem like good people. I
quite like your young brother, too.”

“Chendach seemed very impressed by you,” the bard observed.

“He seems like a good kid,” the knight replied. “Though perhaps a bit
troubled?”

“Yeah,” Tramma sighed. “Life here in the country just doesn’t compare
with city life where he was following in my folks’ footsteps and was
even starting to come along on some customs inspection tours.” Her eyes
gleamed as she added, “So that talk of employment…”

“Too early to say yet,” Tregarth agreed. “But if things continue to
develop, do you think they would be interested in the possibility?”

“They really might,” Tramma agreed. “And Chendach too, if that can work.”

“We can but see,” Tregarth noted.

“Mom and Dad always intended to establish a land claim out on Fort
Resolute land in the spring,” Tramma noted. “They looked around a bit
and liked what they saw when the wagon train was passing through.
Chendach, of course, was horrified, and all the available ‘civilized’
housing is here in Fort Lucas.”

“This is where the bright city lights can be found,” and the two shared
a chuckle at the irony.

“Quite literally,” the chanteuse chuckled, but her expression was a
little pensive. “There are large parts of the cities in Yeltanar that
are not this nice; or this safe, for that matter. Not what an 11 year
old boy going on wannabe all grown up is looking for, of course.”

As bright and modern as Fort Lucas was, it *was* still the size of a
small frontier town, for all that it had the civic amenities that were
the envy of many a city. As a result, they were soon outside Bede
Heller’s guesthouse.

Deftly, Tregarth swung down from Maximus’ saddle. Reaching upwards, he
carefully lifted Tramma down from her tall perch so that she too was
safely on the ground.

“Mmmmm,” Tramma mused appreciatively. “I hope you’ll be handling me like
that again, and soon.”

“You have given me a LOT to consider,” Tregarth happily agreed. Some of
their earlier conversation had been rather explicit about just what they
might enjoy sharing together. All to Maximus’ quiet amusement.

Recalling the Divine Steed who had so patiently carried them this far,
Tramma stated firmly, “But first we must tuck Max away for the night in
the stables here before *we* get to play.”

Max gave an amused snort, and Tregarth cheerfully translated, based more
on experience, but his hunch confirmed by another most emphatic empathic
image.

“I believe Max has *entirely* different plans back in Asgard tonight,”
Tregarth predicted, and Maximus nodded his huge head emphatically.
“Plans that I believe start with a fine rubdown by Asgardian
shieldmaids, and then… well… we’ll let Max tell us as many of those
stories later, if he so wishes.”

Intuiting what the little bard before him wanted, Maximus leaned his
great head forward and down, letting Tramma ever so lightly give him a
kiss. “Have *fun* tonight, Max,” she encouraged the Divine Steed. “Your
Boss is in good hands.”

The holy mount gave an affirmative whicker, agreeing with all that the
bard had just said.

“See you in the early morning, old man,” Tregarth genially stated. “And
what she said; have fun.”

A final empathic impression affirmed Max’s wish that his Rider enjoy the
same, along with an impression suggesting the feeling, if not the exact
topology, of just what the steed predicted his Rider would soon be doing.

Tregarth chanted a few words in a language that Tramma suspected was Old
Norse. There was a flash of rainbow coloured light, and Maximus was away
on his return over the Rainbow Bridge to far away Asgard.

Solicitously, Tregarth picked up Tramma’s bag in one hand, and opened
the door to the guesthouse with the other.

“After you?” he asked.

“My pleasure,” Tramma agreed. “And hopefully, ours.”

Her prediction became absolutely true soon afterwards.