Utter Devotion

Unintentional Runaways

Ciannait rose the next morning feeling reasonably cheerful, her steps light as she moved around her room, preparing for the day.

The moment she stepped outside, a wave of oppressive heat nearly sapped her of all her energy.

Looking around she could almost see the heat as if it was a haze.

Once in the stables, she took one look at her heavy metal armor and shook her head to herself.

"Load this up in the wagon, not a piece of it goes missing." She directed the nearest stable hand before pulling Flip out of his stall and readying him.

By the time she finished it felt even hotter than before, she could feel sweat beading at her temples and the nape of her neck.

Pulling her hair back in a braid,  she tied it with a thin leather thong, she went to pull herself up into the saddle, when a dark figure moving towards her caught her eye.

Loki had spotted her before she had left the manor, her hips swaying slightly as she walked.

The unusual heat nearly, he disliked even the summertime heat in Asgard.

Spying Ciannait, he staggered up to her as she was saddling Flip.

He pulled her hand up to his lips.

"Good morning Lady Ciannait. May I say you look radiant this morning? Last night must have agreed with you, your sleep last night that is."

Her jaw fell open as Loki winked at her.

"Good morning, Prince Loki."

She stammered, Flip snorted and stamped his hoof but otherwise made no protest at Loki's present.

Loki took the reigns out of her hands, smirking down at her, "Here please allow me to assist you."

Holding Flip still Ciannait pulled herself up into up into saddle, reaching down she took the reigns back, and felt Loki trail his fingers down the inside of her wrist, she shivered at how he somehow made the simplest touch sensual, she felt her cheeks redden, remembering how she'd been touched the night before.

She was nearly overcome with the desire to reach down and pull him into a heated kiss, but the sudden drop of a feed bucket brought her back to reality. 

"Be careful of the heat today, you already look flushed darling."

Flip took off at a sedate walk, leaving Loki behind to get his horse.

Waiting outside Njord looked her over critically as she joined him, Freya and Frigga.

"Ciannait where is your armor?"

Loki, Thor, and Ratana joined them as she answered him.

"Father surely even you feel the heat? If I kept it on today I would be cooked alive."

Loki watched as Ciannait kept her gaze cool as Njord glared at her.

"Very well then." Njord practically spit at her, "See that you do not slack on any of your duties today then."

"Of course father."

The sun beat down on them unbearably that day, causing several of the nobles to faint, she lost count of how many of the guards passed out till she finally couldn't stand it and ordered all those not in sight of the King to remove their armor and to take turns rotating thru the Kings guard so no one became ill.

It was near evening when she managed to make it back to the head of the line to find Sagira off of her horse and Njord glaring at her, his face flushed and his normally pristine robes stained with sweat.

The others were all loosely gathered around, some listening in, many were gladly getting drinks and talking amongst themselves.

Sagira bent over checking her horse's hoof carefully, looking over her shoulder Loki could see there was nothing there.

"Rock in his shoe. I'll get it out but I think I should walk him for a few miles to make sure his frog isn't bruised." Sagira called, Njord turned his horse and began to move on, "Fine, be sure to keep up, we don't want anyone getting lost."

Seemingly to keep her company, Ciannait, Ratana,  Thor, and Loki kept their horses at a slow walk.

Most everyone had past them, no doubt becoming eager to get out of the heat and for the up coming meal and celebrations.

Loki could almost feel the silent conversation going on between the three girls, they all seemed to be waiting for some signal for something to happen, Ratana and Sagira grinning at each other, even Ciannait looked amused.

Ciannait shifted her gaze, looking past all of them to the last of the soliders disappearing around the corner and then whispered, "Go!"

Sagira swung up on her horse in one smooth motion, and the other to kicked their horses into motion, and plunged thru the woods on the opposite side of the woods.

Light broke thru the trees quickly, and they splashed thru a small creek.

Loki quickly followed, with Thor behind him as their horses made their
way up the opposite bank away from the direction they had been going.

Urging faster Ambrosio, he quickly passed everyone except Ciannait, he'd nearly caught up with her but the younger horse had youth to his advantage.

Loki looked up in time to see Ciannait look over her shoulder to see the largest smile spread across her face.

They slowed to a stop when they finally reached a large river cutting its way thru the forest just as the sun was setting and the entire scene before them seemed to almost have a golden glow.

Loki watched as Ciannait leaned forward and nearly fell off Flip, grabbing her side with one hand, her face contorted, searching for an injury Loki jumped down and reached for her only to realize she was laughing.

Tears streaming down her face, her laughter bounced of the trees as the others crashed thru the forest.

Stunned Ratana and Sagira jumped off their horses and raced to Ciannait's side.

"Oh, my face hurts," Ciannait reached up massaging her face as her laughter slowed.

"I can't remember the last time you smiled so much or when I last heard you laugh," Sagira said in awe, as she sandwiched Ciannait inbetween her and Ratana in a hug, "I can't believe we did that!" Ratana gave a worried look around before smiling again, "But I won't say that this isn't worth any trouble we get in."

Thor approached Loki, silently they watched the three sisters hugging, the brothers feeling like interloper intruding on the sisters moment of happiness but neither would have interrupted for the world.

************************************
So it's hot as hell where I live, my friend just called me cause she just had to pick up her daughter from school cause she passed out from heat on the playground.

Now I'm worried about my kids, they have a brand new bus driver this year (she literally got her license last week) and she doesn't let them fully lower their windows and she won't turn on the fan in the bus.

So yeah, there is a small peek into my life.

Enjoy! And stay cool 😎🥶

Also if you haven't already, please go give my other book, Betrayed by a God a follow, it is going to be a trilogy, and has soooooooo much that is gonna happen, I think you guys will really like it.

💛🖤💛🖤💛🖤