Page 86 of The Knucker King

Trewoofe reached around her back and balled his fist, whacking between her shoulder blades several times until she reached to catch his wrist.

“Thank you,” she coughed, trying to catch her breath. “Your question caught me off guard.”

Bramble put his forepaws on the pallet and licked the tears that had trickled down her cheek during her coughing fit. You are alright?

“Yes, yes, I promise.” She scratched his head before he hopped down and wandered to his favourite spot by the hearth.

“Avice, please forgive me, I did not know my question would have that outcome.” Trewoofe rubbed soothing circles on her back, and she relaxed into his touch.

“It is alright. You… you find them appealing?” she asked hoarsely.

“I find yours appealing, yes,” he replied, turning his rubbing circles into gentle kneading. He tilted his chin down so their eyes met. “I find everything about you alluring. The way you think, the way you speak, the way you feel, the way you see the world, and – despite that I am a Knucker, and you are a human – the way you look.”

She said nothing but melted into his massaging hand. Trewoofe took the moment to let his mind wander: their bodies entwined when he was in his human body, her nuzzling his snout when he was in his Knucker shape, him dancing for her, Avice accepting his courtship, him bringing her food from his hunts, and even her belly growing round with his youngling.

Trewoofe purred at the indulgent imaginings. It was early days between them, and he had not even asked her if he could court her yet. Though, when she was here, with only a thin chemise separating her skin from his palm, he felt that it could all come true.

Avice yawned and rubbed her eyes. She dropped her hands to her lap and looked up at him blearily though her eyelashes.

“You are exhausted,” Trewoofe stated. “Sleep. I will do the dishes.”

“Do not be too long,” she murmured as she lowered herself to the bedding. “It is cold, and we need to stay warm.”

Trewoofe chuckled as he stood. It was not cold in the cottage – Ashling had seen to that with his blazing fire in the hearth. The pretence of holding one another due to the Winter temperature was amusing, and he wondered when they would admit that it was because they both enjoyed being in each other’s arms.

The Well King collected their second round of dishes and wandered over to the table where the snow in the cauldrons had melted into usable, clean water. Ashling floated over and landed on his shoulder, supervising the important task of cleaning them, ready for use the next day.

33

Chapter 33

Avice

Avice awoke the following morning to Trewoofe shaking her shoulder.

“Little witch! You are bleeding!”

She smacked her lips together and pushed herself up from the pillow of his bandaged bicep. She shoved her hair from her eyes and looked at him sleepily.

“What is it?” she asked.

The Well King tugged back the furs that covered them and pointed where her rear had been pressed against his groin. “You are bleeding!” he repeated. “What has happened? Did you injure yourself in the night? Do you need me to sew you closed like you have done for me?”

Avice’s exhausted mind struggled to process his torrent of questions. She blinked several times, trying to focus on the source of her Knucker’s panic. Her face fell as she realised exactly where the blood had come from.

“Your expression!” Trewoofe exclaimed. “It hurts! Where are you injured? Can I see?”

She placed a splayed hand on his panting chest. “Lord, take a breath. I am not injured.”

Bramble raised his head. What is this noise? he huffed from his favourite spot by the hearth.

“My courses,” Avice stated. “I have lost track of my rhythm. I have not seen an unobscured Moon in months.” The midwife had always used the Moon to keep track of her natural cycles. “Where is she, Bramble? In her waxing or waning?”

The Grim cocked his head and pricked his ears, as though he could hear the Moon whispering to him through the ward, the snow, and the storm. Waxing, and nearly full. She will be full for Equinox. Which is five days from now.

Avice cast her gaze to the darkened light through the shutters. “I cannot tell when it is day and night anymore.”

I will keep you informed. Bramble assured, before dropping his head to rest on his forepaws.