Moonlight Discourse

“I thank you for forgiving my manners, just the same, I should not have been so gruff. Comes from being a soldier, you know, you just want to call it as you see it, no diddling around with lies and other such nonsense.”

Her green eyes glittering with affection at his words, Kalena leaned forward and touched his arm. “I actually find plainspoken soldiers far more comfortable to be around than stuffy nobles with all their refined speech and pretentious manners. I was not born into wealth and privilege, and even though I've taken to it like a duck to water, inside I secretly have more in common with those rowdy men of yours than the Dalen aristocrats I've rubbed shoulders with lo this past year; men and women who haven't done one honest day's work in their whole lives. And my own mouth has got me into trouble more times than I can tell you, so I can hardly fault you for your gruff tone. Suffice it to say, you and your men are very welcome in my home. I'll be glad for them livening the place up a bit.

"And honestly, Captain,” Kalena chuckled with mirth at his hopeful talk of a bath, “what kind of poor host would I be if I failed to provide you with the most basic of civilized comforts? You shall find that my villa has a sizable guest bathhouse, with a marble pool that will be filled with hot perfumed water large enough for you and your men to swim laps in, as well as an attentive staff to wait on you all like kings. If you're not too shy about it, a few slave girls will be made available to sluice and scrub you all. After you're washed, you may enjoy a soothing massage before dinner. I have a few skilled in the art, and some that will expertly clean and mend your travel-worn garments in the meantime, as well as a barber to shave you all. When you're ready, you can join me for a hearty, sumptuous repast in the dining hall. Not to brag, but I have the most wonderful cook that can whip up whatever you may like. He used to work for a very demanding nobleman who he could never quite satisfy no matter how hard he tried, and over the years he learned to quickly make just about anything from scratch. His pasta dishes are divine, and his mouth-watering pastries can only be described as sheer works of art. If I weren't so disciplined in keeping in trim fighting shape I could have easily put on some weight the last year since I took him on, his cooking is so good.”

Kalena's laugh was rich and warm when Kline inquired about a possible husband or lover she might have. “Unless it's entirely slipped my memory, I am presently unmarried and single —yes, it's hard to believe, I know,” she said, with a boastful shrug. “What about you, Captain? Do you, perchance, have a wife and children waiting for you back home? If so, I'm happy to have preserved your life for them. But again, really, I assure you that you owe me nothing.” She smiled at his punching arm gesture, that reminded her of times long ago when she enjoyed being treated like just one of the guys, especially by her male warrior companions. “Fighting men and women like ourselves look out for each other. I'm certain that you would not hesitate to do the same for me, and are the type of man who lives by such a simple, honest code. I personally think that those men are the best kind in the world. I wish them all the luck in this great lottery called life.”