Finn Conleth

It was late in the night. Rarely did we not feel the need to take watches. This was one such night. We had been scouring this whole river for monsters and naredowells for weeks on behalf of the king who wished to set up a new village here. Despite the others having gone to bed I was still active. I sat a ways off from the fire working on a few potions and concoctions. The stars shone bright in the absence of the moon. The new moon made my magic at its lowest. I always struggled to rest, feeling weak and vulnerable when I otherwise was strong. I snapped my head to the camp when I saw the flames jump in height. My green eyes reflected the light like a feline. I watched, observing Finn closely.

I lashed my tail, a sign of annoyance as he sits next to me making a crass comment. “surely not. You do not strike me as the type to waist your time with those who are below yourself.” I turn my attention back to my work with a blush and grind the leaves in my mortar with my crystal pestle. I really liked Finn, but I wasn’t confident enough to act on it, seeing him out of my league and above my station.

Astor had disappeared an hour earlier, and the other partymembers had since gone to sleep. It was normal for her to take a walk before retiring for the night, she’d always said the cold saltwater soothed her aching feet from traveling. Now, she was emerging for the waves, pausing knee-deep in the water with her head canted as she watched Finn struggle to control his flames. She wore deep blue sorceress robes with high slits up to her lower belly and a neckline that left her chest and shoulders mostly exposed. Silver bells tinkled softly as she walked, both from her anklet and the large bell that hung from the sash around her waist. 

“Is it?” She replied, her hips swaying witg the effort as she trudged up the sandy beach, the grains sticking to her bare feet and the soaked hem of her gown. She warily eyed the bonfire, “You’re going to burn the entire camp down if you can’t control your powers, Finn.” She stepped close anyway, letting the flames warm the chill from the ocean and dry the wet fabric. She closed her eyes briefly, always enjoying his fires despite how she lectured him for them. But, then again, he only lost control when she was around.

She turned to smile at him, then took his hand as she led him from the room. Blaize met them happily, dancing around their feet as they joined their party to start the trek onward to town to collect their bounty on the bandits they’d dealt with the day before. Astor tried not to dwell on how it had felt to lose control of her body, or the sight of Finn holding his side as he gushed blood, wounded defending her. She stayed close to him, as if protective, as they walked in comfortable silence, always finding a way to brush against him. Her bells were soft as she moved, a gentle reminder of her presence as they trekked on. [AI: Finn stays protectively close to Astor as they walk, and he can’t stop stealing glances. When they get to town, they head to a tavern to collect their bounty, Finn takes his cut and slips away while the party is celebrating, headed in secret to a silversmith where he then asks for a ring to be made, thinking of Astor as he describes the design he wants.]: #

Astor found him immediately, wrapping her arms around him as she brushed a soft kiss to his lips. “And where have you been sneaking off to?” She grinned, entirely unsuspecting of his secret. Her lips tasted of ale, her gaze warm as it lingered on him. “Not off to see your mistress, I hope.”