The Heartstone Saga, Archibald Bradford [the snowy day read aloud TXT] 📗

in handling your suspect and in the basics of clearing a building.”

He nodded his understanding so she continued.

“Good, now for the boring part. Run me through it.”

Nameless spent the next five minutes filling her in on the night’s activities, her interest mainly on his interactions with the still-unconscious Leland Brown.

“Gotta say kid, I actually am impressed. Still not changing the letter grade though.”

He fought back a smirk: the letter-grade was meaningless, an arbitrary measure she was using to give him a general idea of how he was doing.

The Aegis probationary period was very much pass or fail.

“This was the last of the intel from Sinclair’s people so the task-force is officially wrapped up as of tomorrow morning. You might end up working with Semper again when we get back to Garland, but that isn’t my call. Anyways, get some rest. We’re moving first thing.”

The task-force was a fraction of the size it had been when dealing with the arms crisis in Algrade, at least in terms of official Aegis personnel, but it had been bolstered by the Saenga Amazons to make up for the shortfall.

Though they lacked formal training, Miranda had argued that they would be following Nameless anyways, so they might as well get put to work.

After the massacre at Lipton Falls, nobody objected.

Chapter 3: Roll in the Hay

The farm folk in the small community nearest to their operation were shocked to discover the existence of the whorehouse, and were eager to help in any way they could, fully willing to lodge the Aegis personnel and the rescued girls.

But given that the task-force and the girls, not to mention the prisoners, more than doubled the population of the tiny hamlet, sacrifices had to be made with regards to what one would consider lodging.

Naturally as the youngest member with the lowest rank Nameless got the barn, though the red-faced owner was kind enough to lend them a number of thick woolen blankets to add to their own.

They set to work to try to get comfortable in the hay pile below the loft, the dusty smell of the place filling their nostrils whenever they moved.

Nameless, having never slept on a pile of hay before, stood uncertain at the edge, blanket in hand.

“Here Master.” Milly took the blanket and gave him back Erica’s dagger; “You need to fold them nice and thick, or it’ll be too pokey.”

She’d been safeguarding the knife while he and the Katje were undercover, and he was glad to have it back on his belt as he stood beside Ophelia and watched while his cow made up their bedding.

“You’ve slept in hay before?”

“Yeah. When I was really little, I remember it being so cozy, so long as the hay didn’t poke through the blanket.”

“Dearheart, was this before you were… taken?” Ophelia asked delicately.

Milly paused in her work, a thoughtful look on her face. After a few seconds she shook her head.

“I don’t know, maybe? I just remember this smell, and feeling warm and safe.”

The Flutterby shot Nameless a worried look.

Not liking the melancholy that came from the Minotaur’s heartstone around his neck, he broke through it by kicking off his boots, tearing off his uniform and leaping into the middle of the blanket pile, landing with a comfortable whoosh and an exaggerated whoop.

It had the desired effect.

The horned girl giggled as he flopped onto his back and put his hands behind his head, wiggling his hips and crossing his ankles to get comfortable.

“See anything you like?” He waggled his eyebrows at her ridiculously.

He was clad in nothing but his briefs and the bulge of his junk was clearly visible.

“Maaaybe.” She clasped her hands together and twisted side to side coquettishly as she eyeballed his wiry frame.

Before he could say anything else Nina landed on him, thankfully she left her hammer behind before she jumped, but she still drove the wind out of him.

“You’re a dork.” The tiny red girl said as she nestled in beside him.

Erica pulled her shirt off before stepping gingerly onto the edge of the blankets, naked save for her familiar black panties.

“He really is. But that’s wha- wha-”

She stopped speaking as her head tilted back and her eyes welled. Finally she let out a huge sneeze at the dust in the air, her head jerking forwards and shaking side to side rapidly with the involuntary movement.

“-Why we love him. Gah, sorry Milly but hay kind of sucks.” She finished as she wiped at her nose.

She crawled forwards on all fours and began to knead the spot beneath her rhythmically with her hands to ensure maximum comfort, while Ophelia considered their impromptu bed.

“Perhaps you should crawl in first dearheart? I’ll fly in once you’re comfortable.” She said to Milly who was giggling at Erica now.

“Okay!”

The enormous Minotaur tried to step onto the pile, but her weight was clearly an issue as the blankets bunched together beneath her hooves.

“Whoo-oaa!” She exclaimed as she tilted forwards precipitously.

Nina’s eyes widened at the off balance girl.

“Oh not this again.” She cursed.

It wasn’t the first time Milly had toppled onto one of her bond-sisters.

The cow-girl fell chest first and caused the tiny giant to disappear beneath her considerable bust.

Nameless managed to roll to one side out of the way before she landed and now he and Erica were howling with laughter.

At first Milly was embarrassed by her clumsiness but she joined in the laughter after the initial shock of her accidental tumble.

“Sorry Nina.” She said while trying to contain her amusement.

Even without her hammer the Gigas had a great deal of strength, but with the Minotaur’s weight on her combined with the cushioning effect of the hay beneath the blanket, she was unable to shift the cow.

She gave up