Aliandra: nymph: Book 1 The Nymph chronicles (9 page)

They finally understood the request and put their heads together to design something drab, baggy and unfeminine. Ali immediately thought something akin to her baggy western clothes would emphasize her outpost background and make a suitably ghastly impression. She drew up designs for long aged raggedy skirts and baggy patched working pants with loose overhanging shirts. When they were ready a few days later Ali announced they made just the right impact she wanted.

Ali made another list of topics for Amirael to download. She found the more answers she received, the more questions were raised. Ali absorbed vast amounts of knowledge over the next weeks. Once she had  finished a virtual mountain of disks, Ali once again escaped for weeks to her ancient planet escape to relax and prepare herself for more hard work at the forge.

Chapter 18

Gramma sent word she would return the week after Ali's start with Hephaestus. She and Agenor had steadily worked through the entire town of Eureka to thoroughly remove all memory and trace of Ali.

Amirael reminded Ali that Donny was due the next day to visit and asked to help prepare her for his visit. Ali advised Amirael that his visit was casual, not formal, so there was little required by way of preparation. Amirael produced a list of things that Ali could tick off in regards to required preparations. Ali handed back the list without any ticks on it.

"He takes me as I am, Amirael. I think we may explore the village and the campus. He can show me around here better because he is an ex-student. We will probably want to eat out somewhere" explained Ali. "It will look strange if I begin to provide him food that is professionally cooked. Unfortunately I must keep secrets from him too. I will wear one of my tribal dresses. Tonight I will sleep in my cottage bedroom."

Ali woke before dawn and dressed. Nervously she began to rearrange cushions in the lounge. Amirael arrived with her breakfast tray and Ali asked her to put it in her room Ali was half-way through eating her breakfast when she heard the knock at the door. She hastily wiped her mouth, slammed the door behind her and ran down the stairs. She flung the door open and threw herself into his waiting arms. Donny lifted her up and stepped inside, closing the door behind him. Then he proceeded to kiss Ali thoroughly as she clung helplessly to his neck.

"Nice welcome there, Ali" smirked Donny.

"I was saving it up for you. I am so glad you are here. Can you tell?" grinned Ali.

"Do I need to knock on the door again to get a repeat of that?" he chuckled.

"No, you have to sit me on your lap because my knees have gone all weak. The lounge chair is that-a-way" she pointed.

They made it to the lounge and collapsed together. Donny pulled Ali onto his lap and they exchanged a long deep kiss before they relaxed and cuddled.

"Feel my heart, Ali. I was so nervous getting here and now my heart is pounding like a drum. I can't stop thinking of you. I think I dropped your flowers on the doorstep" whispered Donny.

"I really did want you here so bad. I have done tons of work already I promise. We will spend the next two days together and I will let you know my schedule with Hephaestus. I want to work hard, learn fast and impress him. I have been going through lots of information disks and I feel I am so far behind and have to catch up to the level everyone else is at" explained Ali.

"I understand. That is why you are here and you want to do a good job" he replied. "Just relax with me and pretend we are cuddling in the forest again."

Eventually Donny asked Ali what she wanted to do for the day. She asked if he could show her around the campus and the village.

"You haven't explored that yourself yet?" he asked with surprise.

"No, I have not even left the cottage since I arrived. I have been studying hard and staying out of trouble, like I promised you. You know how hard that is for me" she grinned unrepentantly. "I need to find the entrance to Hephaestus' forge so I know where I am going."

"Ali's private tour of campus, village and surrounds coming right up" he stood up and bowed.

"Do we bring Rom?" asked Ali.

"Maybe leave him this time so you can look around properly without worrying who he is chasing" he chuckled.

"I guess you are right" she admitted.

"No truer words were ever said, now keep that in mind for our next disagreement, woman!" teased Donny.

"Naughty man!" she responded.

"I can get a whole lot naughtier. Just say the word, Ali" he chuckled. "I am so happy we are together again."

As they left the cottage hand in hand, Donny swept up the bunch of flowers that had fallen at the doorstep and handed them to Ali. Ali hugged the flowers to her breast as they walked along chatting happily. They wandered around the village before they stopped at a cafe to sip coffee and eat cake. They wandered around the campus and Donny pointed out sites of his pranks and other exploits. As they wandered down the main quad an elder approached.

"Donovan?"

"Yes, sir" replied Donny.

"How are you, lad?"

"I am doing very well, sir. Busy with managing businesses and making a decent profit" he replied.

"Who is this young lady?" he asked.

"Sir, this is my girlfriend Aliandra. She is now attending at this campus" he replied. "Ali, may I introduce to you Professor Prometheus."

"Attending this campus now? Outstanding! Donovan was one of our top students. Very bright young man. Yes, Aliandra you must come to one of our little gatherings. We hold little seminars with guest speakers during the terms. I have a schedule of the speakers right here. Ah, yes. Here it is. Please do come, it is worth hearing some of the top academics talking about their field of expertise. Very interesting. Between you and me, just call me Prometheus, I was over the formalities centuries ago. Feel free to visit my office any time if you need anything at all Aliandra" he said sincerely.

Ali took the schedule and said "I would love to hear these guest speakers. You will see me there if my schedule allows it, no doubt. Thankyou."

"Must hurry along to a meeting, can't be late" said Prometheus as he continued along.

"Interesting!" said Donny.

"What?" asked Ali.

"Prometheus is a well know seer. Very little he ever does is accidental including meeting us. Be careful Ali" said Donny.

"Donny, you have no idea how careful I have to be already" responded Ali. "Is there a place around here that serves lunch? I am famished."

They sat at a small campus eatery eating their lunch and then sat under a large shady tree sipping ambrosia. Donny told her he wanted to run to the campus bookshop quickly to see if they had some books he had been having difficulty finding. Ali bade him to go and she would be waiting for him under the tree when he got back. Donny raced off. Ali closed her eyes and began to doze.

A niggling sensation that someone was watching her made her look around. As she looked around she noticed the usual collection of students half-heartedly writing or checking their schedules. She could see some special interest groups were setting up in the main quad to attract interest for students to join their groups. A lecturer was walking along chatting with a student. Ali looked to the shadows where she saw a tall dark man, dressed in black, leaning his hand against a wall and talking to a flustered woman who was positioned with her back against the wall. He kept glancing across to Ali as he continued speaking. As he stood back from the woman she leaned into him and stroked his face. He pushed her hand aside roughly and set her away from him. Ali couldn't hear the words but it looked like a lover's quarrel. The man's face was dark and scowling as he turned and furiously stalked away. The woman sunk back into the shadows.

Donny returned  "Ali, they had one of the texts in stock and have ordered the other for me. I can pick it up on my next visit."

"That's great, Donny. I just want us to go over to a lady and see if she is alright. I saw her having a quarrel with a man, he has left now but I just want to check on her. She is over there" Ali pointed out the direction.

"Sure" answered Donny as he took her arm and they headed towards the woman. She was in the shadows, facing the wall and still crying.

"Ma'am, do you need any help?" asked Ali gently.

She looked up nervously "Please leave. I am unsightly."

"Donny, got a handkerchief?" asked Ali. Donny produced a large white handkerchief out of thin air and handed it to Ali.

Ali handed the handkerchief to the lady. "I saw your quarrel with the guy. Were you planning a picnic?" asked Ali as she noticed the overturned basket.

"I had hoped to please my mate" she sobbed. "I shamed myself by arriving uninvited."

"He didn't appreciate all your efforts? He sounds like an ass" said Ali.

"My mate is honorable and powerful. He deigned to take us in when we were cast out by our husbands" she insisted in a broken whisper.

"Us?" questioned Ali.

"I am Tana, his senior companion."

"You are obviously lovely and caring. I have never seen hair so dark red or skin so pale. Why would your husband abandon you?" asked Ali.

"We are all barren women. Unworthy and forsaken when our lord took us in."

"It sounds like he got the better end of the deal. A harem, the dude has a harem! At this point, I am unsure whether he deserves a pat on the back or a kick in the nuts. Are you expected anywhere soon?" asked Ali.

"No" Tana answered meekly.

"Then I insist you join with us. I am Ali and this is Donny. You haven't eaten yet so we will find a nice cafe and buy you lunch. Donny, get the basket."

"You order your man?" Tana asked in a shocked whisper.

"Yeah, he loves it" she laughed. "The last argument we had he called me bossy and wilful among other things."

"Stubborn, don't forget stubborn" chimed in Donny.

"All that. It's true and he loves me anyway. I guess Donny loves a challenge" beamed Ali.

"Yep" he grinned and the basket disappeared. "I have stored your basket and will return it to you when you want."

"You are both very kind" Tana said through a watery smile.

"Nonsense. It is nothing" replied Ali. "Let's go and have a lovely afternoon together."

Donny offered his arms to Ali and Tana and led them through the campus as he acted the charming host. Tana ate her lunch while Ali and Donny sipped their coffee. Soon Tana and Ali were chatting about the village shops and the best places to buy goods and services.

"Aphrodite's! That is the absolute best place for hair, beauty and fashion purchases. Customers spend the entire day there and it is exquisite" espoused Tana.

"Have you been there?" asked Ali.

"No, not yet. It is very expensive and my mate has many other bed-mates. We cannot expect such favor" Tana replied.

"How long have you been married to him?" asked Ali.

"We are not married to our lord. We serve him and care for him as wives but there has been no ceremonies in the six hundred years I have lived with him" answered Tana.

"Explain to me about this harem. Do you all get along?" asked Ali.

Tana explained that the women of the harem were all weak demi-goddesses. Tana was the strongest among them and was in charge of keeping order and scheduling tasks, including the bed roster. Ali shook her head and asked why anyone would want to stand in line for sexual favors. Ali then asked if any women wanted to leave and marry elsewhere.

"We dare not encourage other males and anger my lord. We accept we are fortunate to have any position since we are barren and unacceptable to most men" answered Tana.

"It sounds like a double standard to me if he can take plenty of lovers but you must remain faithful and not even browse around for something better" insisted Ali.

"We know we are fortunate to have any man in our situation. We are very privileged to have such a strong and respected mate" Tana replied.

"He is the lucky one Tana" insisted Ali warmly. "Don't let his tantrums get you down. He should appreciate every minute any woman wants his company. I reckon he has been spoiled for choice and has become blasé. Donny surrounded himself with women before he met me and he has stopped all that because he chose me. I would not have accepted him if he continued seeing any other woman. Our fidelity shows that I am special to him and he is special to me." Donny moved in for a hug and kissed Ali's temple lovingly. "Every woman deserves a loving relationship and to feel special" finished Ali.