Otherworld

Part 9

Arnold's recovery was long and slow. It took weeks for his strength to return. Bridged was with him the entire way. It hurt her to see Arnold struggle so much. Arnold never let his inability cause him to be short tempered with Bridged.

Bridged was grateful that Arnold was up and healing. Arnold was able to grab the native's language better than Bridged was. In a matter of weeks, Arnold was able to communicate in simple sentences with the natives. Bridged watched it all and struggled to wrap her head around the language. It helped that Arnold quizzed her on the language daily.

"Agoathos Daimon?" Bridged queried slowly one day as she and Arnold were slowly wandering through the village on their daily walk. "Did I hear that right?"

Arnold bit into a fruit the size of a small melon that tasted remarkably like an apple before he spoke with his mouth full. "That's what every native I've asked so far have named themselves."

"Don't those names sound familiar to you?"

"I knew you would recognize the names."

"Huh," Bridged said as she watched a gaggle of children run past them. "It's rather odd that they bear the same name as the agathos daemons from Ancient Greek religion."

"My thoughts exactly." Arnold took another bite of the fruit. Juice ran down his chin and Bridged had the strong urge to lick it away. Arnold smiled at her as if he could read her mind.

"What does this mean?"

Arnold shrugged. "It could mean nothing. It could be a coincidence."

Bridged gave Arnold a look. "You don't believe in coincidences."

"You're right, but I don't know how else to explain this."

"Could they be the inspiration behind the Greek agathos daemons?"

Arnold took another bite of the fruit before he tossed it to a reptilian looking creature that snapped it up before it hit the ground. "Maybe, but it'd be a far stretch. It'd make more sense for the ancient Celts to have seen these people. They look like elves and there are plenty of stories of elves in Scotland and Ireland."

Bridged was quiet as they continued their walk through the village. They were greeted by many. Arnold shared the traditional greeting with the natives while Bridged gave them distracted smiles. At long last did they arrive back at the small hut that had been put aside for them.

Bridged sat down on a log that stretched between their hut and the hut next to them. Arnold eased slowly down in front of her. He let out a soft groan as he worked on folding his legs so that he sat criss cross. Once he was settled, Bridged laid her hands on his shoulders and began to massage the stiffness out of them. Arnold let his head fall forward and his breathing slowed and deepened as if he was asleep. Bridged knew better. Arnold was simply meditating while Bridged worked on easing tight muscles.

"We haven't heard anything from the General and his men."

"No and that worries me Arnold."

Arnold raised his head and leaned back against Bridged causing her to stop massaging his shoulders. Bridged started playing with Arnold's hair. Arnold shifted slightly to give her better access as he studied the scene in front of them.

"We have to protect these people, love."

"That has been utmost in my mind since they saved us. The General will want to retaliate. This will mean war."

Arnold let out a sigh and rubbed at his face wearily. "I thought that we had left that all behind in Africa."

Bridged dropped a kiss down onto the top of Arnold's head. "We both knew that there would be the possibility of a war if intelligent life was found here."

Arnold grunted before he stood back up. Bridged sat back so that Arnold could stand. Arnold stretched slowly and rubbed at his chest where he had been shot.

"Where are you going?"

Arnold gave his wife a lopsided grin. "I am going to see if I can talk to the Chief about my worries. They must be prepared for what is to come."

"Want me to come along?"

Arnold's answer was to hold his hand out to Bridged. Bridged gladly took it and let Arnold help her to her feet. Arnold wrapped his arm around Bridged's waist as they went in search of the Chief. Bridged snuggled against Arnold's side and raised her face so that she could speak directly in his ear.

"Maybe once we are done, you can come through on your promise to me."

Carnal delight shown briefly in Arnold's eyes before he look away. "I want nothing more than to keep my promise. I'm just not sure that I have the strength and stamina for what I want to do to you."

Bridged pouted at Arnold before a naughty though entered her mind. "Will you let me play sexy nurse maid to you?"

The look on Arnold's face was priceless. He looked around as if he was searching for something. "Let's find the damn Chief so that we can get back to the hut."

Bridged's laughter caused many of the natives to look over at the two with curiosity. One of the older women let out a chuckle. She didn't need to understand the pale ones language to understand what they were talking about. The look the man was giving his woman was all the clues she needed. Those two were in love and it was a beautiful thing to see.