Tusk Love

Soft Nights & Dusty Trails

The dusty trail turned cold as they travelled north and Oskar slept in the back of the pack cart with his bags. His sleep was restful for the most part and when he woke he watched Genevieve working on a rough dough. She met his eye and smiled through her vail. Her green eyes daring him to seek her out. He saw her hands work the dough and thought how her hands might feel against his skin.

Oh how he wanted to play with fire. He looked about the cart and they were alone.

"Genevieve?" He said and she looked up at him surprised.

"Oh you are up Oskar" she said with a smile, her eyelids low as she watched him stretch.

"Have I been asleep long?" He asked

"We arnt due to make camp for another hour or so. We heard word that there is a caravan up the road going the oposit direction. We might stop and train with them. If they are amenable."

"Ah, tell me something?" He asked

"What would you wish to know." She asked with a half smile as she turned her attention back to the dough.

"What do you do with all your time on the road? How do you entertain yourself?"

"I cook, clean, read, sometimes I walk along the cart and watch for passers by. But father likes to keep me inside."

"His Jewel he said" Oskar frowned but his eyes were watching her with intensity.

"Yes." She said and looked out across the road as it rolled away from them.

"It must be awefully dull"

She smiled ruefully "I can make it fun." Her eyes danced as she looked at him with meaning.

"What do you read?" He asked looking away from her. Not sure he could handle her intensity.

She frowned and then brushed it off before saying "anything I can get my hands on"

"What is your favorite then."

"Hmmm, something I can learn from. Something with hidden knowledge."

"Your an academic then?" He asked

"Of the sort" she said off handedly.

Oskar watched her wanting to know more, she smiled at him and said "why don't I show you?" She placed the dough to rise in a bowl and threw a cloth over it to keep the dirt and dust out before getting up and just as if the moving cart dud not bother her she moved to the back and shifted though a small box.

"What is that?" He asked watching her and she shelded the box from his view.

"Just some things I've collected. Now wait." She said and pulling a book from the box she sat down with it on her lap facing him.

She tapped her chin a moment before smiling and slipping the pages until she found what she was looking for.

Casting a simple light spell Oskars eyes went wide as he watched her glowing with magic. She focused on the cantrip and then looking up at him. It faltered and fizzled out as her heart beat quickly in her chest and she blushed. Had any man ever looked at her like that before? Full of wonder as if she hung the stars and moon.

...

When they made camp for the night Oskar was ready to help the family with whatever was needed he rolled up his sleeves walking towards the cooking pot.

"No, no let Mutter work," said Genevieve holding a wooden spoon out at Oskar "she doesn't like help in the kitchen."

"Not even yours?" Oskar asked