58. Kindred spirits

Each of them played their part. They were to support Lord Peter Errama's preparation of the coming demon battles. It was just a normal day of practicing and training the Lord's soldiers for Kiara and Raven. Knight and archer meant their skillset was quite easily found, and they focused on drilling the soldiers, particularly the new recruits on the basics.

It was after the first day, and both Raven and Kiara were done with their own battalion of fresh soldiers. They were young, and malnourished soldiers, Kiara and Raven seen many just like them in the other cities. Despite being clearly stronger and healthier, Kiara had to assert her authority and demonstrate that she had the chops to train these recruits by mock-beating up four of the recruits at the same time.

"Do you think this city can hold a siege?" Raven asked. "Some of them didn't even know how to hold a bow."

Kiara sighed. "If the wall holds, I suppose they could."

"If." Raven said. "If we didn't get those demon knights."

Kiara remembered their foe. "That was a strong one, but I don't think it's that common."

"You sound sure." Raven countered. There was no reason for confidence, but they are blessed by the goddesses. They are stronger and have powers beyond the normal folk.

Kiara shook her head. "I'm not."

"By the way-" Raven asked as they were alone back in the inn. None of the rest of them returned yet. "Are you alright? Did that mass of vines do something to you? When we found you- you looked- you looked kind of flushed and in- Do you feel physically fine?"

Kiara was a little surprised that Raven was the first to ask something deeper beyond. "Are you alright?"

The knight sighed and felt her body burn. The vines themselves didn't do lasting damage, but the tentacles and the Infested Stone Phallus caused her to feel slightly tingly and unusually horny. She looked at the Raven, and strangely, this was the first time she admired how cute and serious the ranger was.

Raven felt the knight's unusual gaze and repeated her question. "It sounds like a no."

The knight nodded and said shyly, subtly looking away. "I'm- I'm not the same. I- Let's just say I have needs. And some days, they drive me wild."

Raven somehow understood the meaning, and it slipped out of her. "Me too. Needs that I am beginning to feel unmet in this party."

Kiara's ears twitched, her eyes widened. She looked back at the ranger. She wasn't sure whether she heard correctly. Did the Ranger say her needs were unmet in the party? Did- did Raven just say what Kiara thought she said?

***

Kiara stewed over Raven's words as the rest of the party returned from their own set of tasks. Nysta looked exhausted as she returned from the barracks. As the only priestess and nun in the group, she was asked to perform prayers and healing on the old soldiers and also bless the young recruits. Blessings usually last for days, but those that lasted longer drained her a bit more.

But then, Wynn approached the knight. "Kiara, can I talk to you for a moment?"

Kiara nodded, and the two ladies walked to a quieter corner away from the main group.

"I- I wanted to thank you for protecting me from the demon knight."

"Oh." Kiara paused, as she mentally upgraded her assessment of Wynn. "It's what I should do."

The dragonling bowed a little. "Thank you."

Kiara watched the dragonmage walk away, and she wondered to herself whether did something happen.

***

The moon hung out over the city of Errama. Lord Peter Errama sat in his room, Edmund on the seat opposite him. Edmund wore a mask, the same trader's mask. "Is there anything else you wish, milord?" Peter said. The power of the [enthrall] was strong, but Edmund wasn't sure of it's limits. He didn't even know if Peter Errama would remember anything if his hold on Peter failed or was somehow dispelled by the priest.

The trader nodded. "That would be all. Keep them occupied, try to split them up where it feels normal or natural to do so, but do so normally. If they insist on sticking together let them. We will have our chances."

"As you wish, milord." Peter nodded.

Edmund vanished and then checked on the receptionist. Riley seemed perfectly normal, working in the guild. There were all sorts of adventurers, but they usually left the town once the threat of demons became serious. Most of them, except those that called Errama home. He wanted to see whether he could hire some of them to cause trouble for the hero's party.