ANNOUNCEMENT!

  SO! As everyone noticed, there has beeeeen some pauses between releases.

  And one of the many reasons was that we've collected and edited and woven this story into a digital release that can be purchased both to keep forever and also also support my silly works! Will even have an audiobook version in the future for those interested!!!

  CW:

  Um... Hetaera talks and worbs of fucking in woops ways and mostly clean but smutt is sammisching things these days ssooooo.... yup yup! Aprologies on the delayed releases!

  “I very much doubt that.” Are the first words we hear echoing through the house from this Hetaera that’s apparently come to see me. “Tending to what seems to be a household of loved ones probably takes most of the skills many Hetaera hope to gain.”

  Yrelia giggles unsteadily at that.

  So… Very obviously nervous. Aceso murmurs, settling to rest after such an exhausting but… really really productive few hours of work helping our Jevita. Satisfied though. Ready and kinda rumbling with protective excitement after warding our lover from the strike and abuse of her Maktaba.

  But then Zigdara came and told us a guest had arrived. A Hetaera, here on official greeting business from the Guild.

  How she’d seen Yrelia’s stolen rings.

  “Sorry, sorry.” My first lover sputters after recovering from her titters. “Just… We take care of each other. I do my part but… Kque does the ‘tending’. If not for my safety and whatnot training I’d probably be the girl who’d hurt herself trying weird and wild things in bed.”

  We grin at that. How… Endlessly she doesn’t seem to understand how her dedication to that means so much to us all. Me especially because like… I got stuff like that at the Temple. All the fucking time. But it wasn’t because anyone cared about me. It was so I wouldn’t break and become less able to breed.

  But with her? It’s because she wants us all the have the best fucking time in bed together. With or without her.

  “Oh? Do you think they’d get along well if you parted ways?” Latrig asks, actually very seriously.

  We slow, hold up a hand to request the duenna at our back do the same.

  Curious and so… fucking much already liking this Lady if she’s about to give little compliments to my first lover. Wouldn’t want to interrupt this for anything.

  “Not at all. At least… not now. Maybe if we hadn't walked so far together.” Yrelia replies, and I can hear the easy shrug beneath those words.

  “Even with their Sun Spoken present?” This Hetaera presses.

  And… that’s when I can’t help but pull us forward and offer my own, “Especially with me.” From the doorway to the dining space they sit in.

  Lady Latrig is dressed much like how Yrelia taught me to wrap myself when we traveled as Hetaera and student. Simple but comfy. This woman has done this with a really nice dark coat and long curly reddish hair. Sapphire eyes too that seem to glow against pretty sparkly skin.

  Yrelia… is dressed as Zigdara and is. But even in sleepy and lazy day attire my first lover is easily gorgeous.

  We glide forward to slip into the chair beside her and across from our guest. Wriggling arm through Yrelia’s while adding. “The Paths were such a new and terrifying life I needed help with. I… Was a mess. Totally and utterly. ”

  “Was?” Yrelia murmurs and gives my arm a good squeeze in return, tilting her head over to lean against my shoulder. Nudging one of the warm mugs of fudgebrew over to steam before me.

  “Hush you.” Aceso bubbles up to playfully scold her before placing a really sweet kiss on the top of her head. Then I look up to our guest and offer. “I’m Inamatorii, in case you hadn’t guessed. Lady Latrig. Although, please, just call me Ina. It’s a delight to meet you.”

  “Likewise, and that’s easy to agree to due to it being such an inspired name. Although… Well, I often refer to my fellow Hetaera as Sister, as your lover can attest to.” Latrig replies, “But I’d hate to cause discomfort if the word carries too many familial aspects.”

  Yrelia goes a bit stiff. Enough for us to know that she’s… probably more than a little worried as she shrugs and murmurs. “Not especially.”

  So… Honesty? I ask Aceso.

  Not too much, but yes. She agrees easily. You all had well-laid plans for if Guild Hetaera came sniffing after your work at the Academy. You never took clients there, and needed a cover to perform your tasks. Lady Ophrit and Delphian can attest to this in earnest if they need more witnesses.

  So I don’t even worry about hiding my wince as I begin speaking. “Hetaera Latrig. You seem incredibly kind. So… I’d like to be fairly honest, if I may? Avoid giving you the wrong impressions.”

  The lady tilts her head in curiosity, but leans forward with nothing but concern in her eyes. Would probably have taken one of my hands if I’d laid it far enough forward on the table. “Of course.”

  Stolen story; please report.

  “Okay. I never… Like… actually finished my Hetaera training. Was exploring the options along the Paths before Sun Spoken things came up and then we traveled to the Academy and… Well, now I have the unending support of two very wealthy Arudian women and goals we have to devote all our time and travels to. Might try to finish after but…”

  Trail off though as… a really fucking amused grin spreads across Latrig’s face. Eyes dance to Yrelia for a second, but otherwise remain on us.

  “Ina… Sister, You are Sun Spoken.” The woman presses gently but firmly. “Chosen and Claimed as Consort to the Weaver. All that is required for you to gain the title and privileges is to prove that. Either by showing a touch of your magic, or letting a guild member feel you taste her Amwella.”

  Aceso goes so quiet. Thoughts not hidden. But… totally silent as she tries to like… absorb that.

  Searching for any memories she might have as to when and why and how this big guild of passionate women would… like… do this. Hold a sweeping welcome to all Her chosen.

  “Wait. Really!?!” I sputter, look to Yrelia to find her just as shocked and confused. Then back to Latrig. Run a hand through our hair. “I… Fuck. There isn't enough Sun spoken around for that to be common knowledge. Is there?”

  “Well… I’ve only met a single Hetaera who remembers meeting a gerl who wore Sun Spoken Hetaera rings.” Latrig grins and takes a polite sip of her drink as we try to recover. “But I can’t speak for the Guild’s closer to the sea. They tended to have more Sun Spoken about that might have sought to join.”

  Can’t help but spit a couple silent angry cursing thoughts as a stupid Sun Spoken’s face flashes in our mind’s eye. How… her hunting and purging our kind led to more… just… really unnecessary mistakes.

  Memories and songs lost.

  “Wait. There is like… a special ring just for Sun Spoken?” Yrelia leans forward to rest forehead on splayed fingers. “I… My mentor never even… like… and my mothers knew a Sun Spoken Hetaera. Never mentioned these. Or the idea of her getting her rings so… Well not easily. From what we understand about becoming a Sun Spoken. But… Without a hassle.”

  Hetaera Latrig nods as… as if…

  “Not just a single additional ring.” She replies, still super excited but also… letting that smile turn gentle. “They can be a full set, actually, but… many were lost. And if a Sun Spoken is claimed after already gaining her rings… little changes. Many probably wanted to keep the rings they trained to gain and their nature hidden.”

  Kinda… slump backwards a bit. Let out a huffed, “Fuck.”

  Aceso pulls away before rousing a waking nightmare. Nuzzling into these words and my thoughts. Settling. A little annoyed at being so uninformed. But also…

  She brims with curiosity. As to the hows and whys and history of this.

  “Would Ina need one of those sets to be recognized?” Zigdara asks while placing a supportive hand at our back.

  “Oh, not at all. Lacking any available she can simply request a normal trio, quartet, or quintet of earrings.” Latrig assures us, “In fact… If you don’t have an original Guild hall to establish this… mine would adore the opportunity to supply you all the official things. Could even reach out and around to see if there are Sun Spoken Rings stored anywhere close that can be delivered. Or, along your Paths, claimed.”

  “That… I mean…” I flail, look to my first lover.

  Suddenly so worried Yrelia might be more than a little… upset. Annoyed even. Angry that I’m able to claim this.

  “Yes. Totally.” Yrelia grins immediately. “She’d love to. No question. Our girl may be able to get this without needing a test of her skills, but let me tell you… She doesn’t need the Amwella tasting to fuck a girl silly in ways even an old Hetaera would be inspired to feel.”

  It’s… like another part of me should break at that. Fall to shatter loudly and messily across the table between us. Because… I will never not feel tears bubbling and heart melt as my lovers endlessly embrace and push me forward. Walk Paths with me but never lash out with jealousy when good things come to one of us.

  Latrig lets out her own snort at that, tittering happily as I can’t help but lean over and take my first lover’s face in my hands. Kiss her deeply. Both to hide a bit of the blush I feel. But… also at the rising mess of conflicted things that might otherwise tear at me a bit.

  The idea of my teacher and mentor and first lover not getting recognized, while I get freely accepted due to things I never really chose.

  But… She’d tell me that I’ve more than earned this. And the kiss she returns screams that my first lover knows how much I’d love to someday just… walk gentler Paths. Gathering Amwella and spreading the love shown to me. How wonderful it would feel to not feel a fake. Even in this little thing.

  Decide then and there that we’re going to do everything we can to help her gain recognition and rings that she feels were earned, instead of stolen.

  Soon we’re pulling away to simply leave me breathless and nuzzled uncomfortably in each other's embrace. Grinning happily at Hetaera Latrig. Yrelia offering. “So, we’ve not quite settled on a carriage for our journey to the next town, which means we can pretty easily make time for this. What days and times are available to our Ina to choose from?”

  ** ** **

  It’s fully into the evening by the time Latrig has left, sun fully set and sky a mess of starlight occasionally shrouded by sporadic clouds dribbling gentle snowfall, when Yrelia lets out such a huff of a satisfied sigh.

  “You… are amazing.” We grin while settling chin on our palm, just… taking in the sight of our first lover.

  A touch exhausted, but long kept talking past our plans being agreed and settled upon. Opening up more and more to Lady Latrig about her time training and years along the Paths. Her… lack of finished training still left unspoken. Covered easily by her love of the Art itself.

  Endless shared stories of nameless clients and the messy stories that come with tending to their needs and desires. Most good, some less so, but all so fucking… fascinating.

  Lovemaking, sure, but more pointedly… how to weave yourself around others. Read them like I might a book. Not just the words spoken but… like… the things written between the letters and sounds. Even kinda discovering more and more why Tasii and Yrelia were always a perfect pairing.

  One so observant and able to read people well, the other trying endlessly to wear a mask carved for those around.

  “I know.” She smirks, flopping to join us on the couch we’ve settled into. “But that… wow. I thought I was fucked, that I fucked all of us, and… not in the fun ways I’m good at.”

  “We… had our concerns.” I offer, but shrug. “Nothing so salaciously entwined, though.”

  “Was just the flavor of my day so far.” My first lover chuckles as Zigdara moves to join us, eyes glimmering as she takes in the duenna.

  And how the World Song wriggles at the echoes of her morning with our duenna, and even sparking melodies of hungers she still bubbles with.

  “Jevita seems well. Told me to share that the two gemstone creatures nuzzling close will keep watch over her.” Zigdara replies.

  “And… Kque, Rahdian, and Tasii are still out and about.” Yrelia adds, shifting to pull us into her arms. Cuddling us like one might a really soft stuffed toy. “I’m… guessing our lover also declined to come join us?”

  Zigdara nods. “Gently, but without hesitation. Promised to come find us if she wants company.”

  “Did… she seem like she wanted us to come back? We… kinda got tugged away just after a good breakthrough.” We ask, not resisting Yrelia’s embrace but not allowing ourselves to fall into it too fully.

  “I don’t believe she’d oppose the idea, but… Jevita did mention that she was working on something opposite to your skills and songs. Is happy to let a quiet solitary evening envelope her.”

  Consider that for a few seconds, then glance back to Yrelia. “We…”

  Are about to try and explain that we promised her our day and feel more than a little guilty at leaving her. But…

  Our first love pulls us into such a long and soft kiss, but also loosens her grip on us. Murmurs gently as our lips part. “Go, give her half that kiss. Okay?”

  Giggle and stand while fingers dance through her wonderful mane of messy curls. “Of course. Keep Zigdara from trouble.”

  Our first lover grins past me to the duenna I can no doubt hear sputtering a little behind us. "No, I don't think I will. Trouble sounds like too much fun."

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