"Let's pack up the at and head back," I shout out, coming up behind Geta. "Vanya, are you sure there are only the four we killed around?"
"Yes. Two sets of mates," Vanya assures.
"Alright, then we can head back to the city tomorrow. I want to know how you got two of them to chase you back to the camp. I'm guessing this one was the mate of the one we killed on the way here," I say.
"Most likely. I can share the story on the way back," Vanya agrees.
There isn't much work to be done packing up the at. My storage ring will keep the at fresh till we can get it to a butcher to finish preparing it. A few girls go poking around to see if the griffins grabbed anything useful to take back, and then we head back to the camp.
The sun fully set behind us, leaving us in the dark. Shimr gave us so light as we made the trek back to our camp.
Vanya starts her story, but the rest of the group doesn't seem that interested in it, so I'm guessing I missed it while I was passed out earlier.
"We made good ti getting to the nest. It took a little under two hours. Had Sextia cover us in darkness, and we started snooping about. It was empty when we started, and we were able to find what looked like four spots that were used to sleep, each being paired up. Everything else seed to follow that pattern, four distinct places that seed to be paired together. With nothing else to search for we planned on waiting a bit to see if any ca back and acted all lovey-dovey with each other. While in the middle of the camp, we had two love birds co by right as Sextia's skill ended. One dove down, and the other sent a gust of wind at us. I dodge the dive, taking Sextia with but her arm got caught up in the wind gust. From there it was just using all my movent skills and mana to sprint back to camp."
"You made it back to camp carrying Sextia with two birds chasing you?"
"They ca back from a long hunt, it looks like. Got them while tired. I'm more surprised they followed all the way out back. I was sure they would turn back."
"I'll have her wait to get her arm back till Alzi can heal it. She needs to learn to communicate limits to her partners. You're lucky she didn't get you killed."
"Oh, she knows that. Chi gave her a good ear full. Then Ioelena gave her a good yelling. Chi was only able to clean the wound and heal it. Alzi will have a lot to learn to rebuild an arm."
"If I'm right about her, it'll help push Alzi to learn faster. Thank you for getting both of you back safe. We'll have to drill into everyone how to handle the field. Can't have soone lose an arm over sothing as easy to avoid as that."
"Yes, I should've guessed she didn't know it. I'm sure a few more maids don't know how to handle this work as well. You always get a bit of 'protect the noble's feelings' in tis of peace," she says with a sigh. A few heads bob around us as they're forced to listen to our conversation.
"Yes, it's just hard to think of soone not knowing the basics of speaking up about low mana."
"I doubt she was checking. But she's given us all a great resource to force all the maids to learn the lesson well when we get back."
"I suppose so."
The rest of the way was quiet. Everyone was tired from the travel and constant fights, wishing to get under their covers and sleep. Hopefully, the ride back tomorrow is simple.
We can get back, drop the at off, get so real sleep in a bed, and then have a feast before taking a scenic route ho. We're down two fighters, Inanos and Sextia. So getting back and paying a visit to Rosemary to help Inanos is very much needed.
Getting back into camp, Syro pushes into my tent and forces to bed. I'm too tired to fight her, so I let them figure out the night watch.
...
"Up you go, Princess. We all want to get back to the city before lunch and have so real food," Syro says, shaking awake.
"Wouldn't mind that. I just need to get into my armor and..."
"Nope, you're riding in the carriage. I'll be taking your place with Shimr. The two of us will be able to handle anything. Chi still wants you to rest for a bit," She says, standing up already in her leather armor.
"Are you all in agreent with this?"
"Yes, Geta's willing to chain you up if needed."
"Ok, then I'll be out in a second."
I put on a simple dress and put away the small bedding. I don't have anything else in the tent to store, so I walk out and let the maids take the tent down. Outside, the rest of the tents have been put away except for Chi's.
Curious, I walk inside and find Sextia inside, with Chi inspecting what is left of her right arm.
"Can it be healed?" I ask.
"Yes, I don't have the mana to do it right now. Give a month and I could, but I don't think you have the ti to waste in this corner of the world. You'll have to find soone in the capital or one with more mana than on your way back ho," She says releasing the arm.
"That we don't, but thank you for the offer," I say, turning to the injured maid. Her face turned to the far side of the tent. "Sextia, I've heard you've gotten yelled at plenty. So I won't pile on too much. You got lucky; you don't normally outrun Griffins. But, you also showed a weakness my house may have, and I will be fixing it. You need to get more classes, so don't slack off."
"Yes, your Highness," Sextia says, her head bowed.
"Thank you for watching over us, Chi," I say to the healer.
"Happy to help get rid of that beast, and you two gave plenty of work yesterday. Don't wrestle with Griffins in the future, Princess," she says back with a smile.
"I'll keep that in mind," I say, walking out. My tent is gone now, leaving just the healer's tent up. Syro flags down and pushes into a carriage.
"We'll take care of everything. Just relax on the way back," she says, closing in.
"You all are getting a little pushy now. I'm not so Grandma that needs to be babied. Hell Elves are often almost in their pri when they're a grandmother. So stop acting like I have a foot in the grave!" I yell out.
"Dear, yesterday you had a foot in the grave, and Alzi will have no problem completing the first step for you becoming a grandmother and letting you step into your pri," Syro says, cracking the door open so I can see her stupid smile.
"The Goddess of Death wasn't watching yesterday. But fine. I'll be babied by my wives for a day. Tomorrow, I'm not going to take this!"
"Yes, my dear Princess. Go enjoy the maids," she says, closing the door again.
Yes, they gave the carriage with all four maids we brought with us. They continued to bully . They pushed down so my head was in one of their laps. Her hands combed my hair as another fed grapes. The last two massaged my thighs on the journey. It was a quiet, comfortable journey.
...
"Princess, are you ready to get out?" startles as I take another bite.
"What?" I ask after chewing my food.
"We are back at the castle. Are you ready to get out?" A maid asked .
"Oh, yes, I should get out, I suppose," I say, getting out of the soft lap. The maid runs her hand through my hair one last ti.
Soone opens the door from the outside, and a hand darts out to help , which I need after the strange rest the maids gave on my way back.
"Finally ready to face the world, dear?" Syro asks, walking up from behind the carriage.
"Yes. The maids were just seeing to my needs," I say back. "You did give them all to ."
"While we were out here being vigilant, you were playing with the maids. Do you need a few of us to join you tonight? I hate to have a rumor spread that we aren't treating our wife right so early in the marriage," she teases.
"Food and relaxation. But you have earned a spot in the bed bent over now, harpy."
"Oh no. The Princess is going to have her way with ," she says with a twirl. "We should get going now. Geta is gathering the butchers to prepare for a feast. I'm guessing you want to help so of the poor that lost their fields to the beast, right?"
"Yes. We'll need to let the butchers prepare all four beasts. Hate to make them them into mana food and ruin most of the taste, but we need to feed as many as possible. They need to see more benefits before they can work again. Many of those fields are ruined for this season."
"I know cities have a lot of mouths to feed," She says, turning on her heels and leading to the Geta and the Butchers.
I guess the Baroness called them into the castle while the maids were tending to , as they had a small section of the castle grounds marked off for them to work in. A few girls already working on a few smaller beasts to add to the pile of at. It looks like it may be a family-run ordeal as a man is cleaning so tools off to the side.
I plop the beast down on a clear section, and we head back to the castle to let them prepare for tomorrow.
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