Chapter Six

 

Doc woke slowly. Naked flesh pressed against him, keeping him warm under the blankets. He felt a light breeze on his face, and saw the hint of pre-dawn light coming into the teepee. Lifting his head, he found Lia stepping inside. Two pairs of green eyes began to shine from either side of him a moment later.

 

“Good morning to you, too, Doc,” Lia chuckled, letting the blanket that she’d worn over her small clothes fall to the ground. “Nice to know just me coming into the room can make you think enough erotic thoughts to make two dryads light up.”

 

“Any of my wives cause that to happen,” Doc smiled at her. “Had to step out for a moment?”

 

“Woke with a pressing need,” Lia nodded as she took a seat on the blankets. “The camp will start waking up shortly. How are you feeling?”

 

“Relaxed. Not sure when we finally got to sleep, but I feel good. I hope we didn’t cause any problems last night.”

 

Lia smirked. “We did get a bit vocal, but it’s known to happen after that dance… though if we asked around, I’m sure we were the loudest in the camp.”

 

“We don’t need to ask,” Doc said. “I’m not going to mention anything unless one of our neighbors does.”

 

“I doubt they will, but then again, you caused an elven maid in the prime of her life and two dryads to all cry out in ecstasy last night. It should be a point of pride for you if something is said.”

 

“I had been skeptical of Rosa’s claims,” Yucca said softly as she snuggled closer to Doc. “I was a fool. I’ve never known a man who can do what you did.”

 

“His magic helps him, along with his innate stamina from his heritage and gifts from his goddess,” Rosa snickered. “He does manage to keep all of his wives— including me— sated.”

 

Doc tilted his head to look at Rosa. “Shh, Weed. That’s enough.” He kissed her softly. “We need to be good guests.”

 

“Pity. I think I’d rather do what she is thinking and stay in here all day,” Yucca murmured wistfully. “I can’t think of the last time I have felt so invigorated.”

 

“I would have kept more for myself, but I didn’t use much yesterday, and you needed it more than I did,” Rosa said as she sat up.

 

Yucca sat up on the far side, leaving Doc on his back while the two topless dryads were beside him, the blanket no longer covering them. “It feels so good to be this full. I will give some back to Mother later.”

 

“I give her a little every day, as they always make sure I am full each night,” Rosa giggled.

 

“That explains a bit,” Doc murmured. Glowing eyes looked down at him, and Doc shook his head. “Get dressed, please. I’m already struggling to behave.”

 

“Rosa, Yucca, please. Then give us a few minutes alone.”

 

“Yes, mistress,” Rosa sighed as she grabbed her sundress, slipping it on before she left with a still-naked Yucca.

 

Doc exhaled roughly, not bothering to pull the blankets up— the cold air helped quell his libido. “Thank you, Lia.”

 

“I try to help, Doc. You’ll be watching me compete this morning before the elders reconvene.”

 

“Compete?” Doc finally sat up, watching Lia get dressed.

 

“The various competitions for the tribes. It always starts with warriors. I think today is shooting bows and guns to start. After that, it’ll move into another competition. This allows the elders to compete, if they wish. I expect at least Wildflower and Sunshine to join.”

 

“I’ll pass; no need to embarrass myself. It’ll give me time to go over all the gifts I could take from Luck. I noticed two that would make waves— positive waves— for the tribes here. There are a couple of others I’m interested in, too, but I want to go over all of them before I pick. Unless an emergency pops up, of course.”

 

“Just make sure you pay attention enough to cheer,” Lia said. “We’ll sit and watch the other competitions until you are called to attend again. That way, you have several hours to research your choices.”

 

“That’ll work. What does breakfast look like?”

 

“Something you might not have had before. We can get in line for it as soon as you get dressed.”

 

Doc looked around. “Where did my clothes get to?”

 

Lia chuckled, going past him to grab his clothing. “Here.”

 

Doc thanked her and began to dress. As he did, he considered a gift he’d disregarded before. It was possibly a little wasteful, but at the same time, it would make him feel better about wearing the same outfit day in and out. He’d been slowly getting more used to it for the last year, but hadn’t quite accepted it, especially when they’d been in Furden with a laundry maid. Flipping his gift tab open, Doc picked the gift he’d thought about— it was only a few hundred faith.

 

Once he was fully dressed, he stood up and smiled, feeling his clothing shift against him. “There we go.”

 

Lia’s eyes narrowed slightly. “What just happened?”

 

“I spent a little faith to make sure my clothing is always presentable. It’ll always be clean this way. Kind of like the enchantment you have.”

 

“Ahh. Not too expensive, I hope?”

 

“A few hundred. It would’ve been a lot before, but right now, it isn’t terrible.”

 

“I admit it might be a good choice; you look ready for the day. Just that stubble on your face that detracts from it.”

 

“I have my razor with me. I figure I can shave tomorrow morning. I’m sure the tribes will react better to me clean-shaven.”

 

“They will. Get a quick shave in now. I’ll get breakfast and come back here.”

 

“Okay,” Doc said, going to retrieve his shaving kit from his bag.

 

~*~*~

 

Doc was glad he could heal, as he’d nicked himself a few times. Stepping out of the teepee, he gave Lia a smile. “Good morning.”

 

“That looks much better,” Lia smiled back. “Breakfast for you.”

 

Doc took the flat bread and the oddity she handed him. It took him a moment to figure out what he was looking at. Small chunks of meat jerky and berries were stuck together, making the ball. “Pemmican?”

 

“Yes,” Lia said, surprise in her tone. “I didn’t know you’d had it before.”

 

“The Native tribes from Earth had it. The last time I had any, it was mixed with peanut butter instead of tallow. I’m sure this’ll taste different.”

 

“We should head over to the testing grounds,” Lia said before nibbling at her breakfast.

 

“Lead on,” Doc said, then took a bite of the pemmican ball. Humming happily, he chewed as he followed Lia. The fried flatbread was tasty, too, so he traded bites between the two.

 

Reaching the testing grounds, Doc smiled when he saw that Rosa and Yucca had already staked out a piece of ground for them. The pair were chatting with Wildflower and smiling broadly.

 

Glad they’re making friends, Doc thought.

 

“Death Flower, will you be competing?” Red Hawk asked from where he sat with his warrior group.

 

“I no longer use that name,” Lia replied a touch coldly. “Yes, I will be taking part in the competition for my tribe. My name is Lia. Use that, instead.”

 

“I will see you on the grounds,” Red Hawk smirked.

 

“See? Yes. Compete against? No. I use my guns, not a bow, but I wish you well in your event.”

 

Doc had slowed when Lia did, but he finished his meal instead of getting involved. With the conversation done, he continued to follow his wife. That guy is going to be a problem, he thought as he brushed his fingers off on his pants.

 

“All three of you?” Wildflower was asking Rosa and Yucca as they approached.

 

“Oh, yes. Doc can outlast any other man in the world,” Rosa said brightly.

 

Doc sighed, wiping his mouth with one hand. I should’ve known Rosa would be chatting about sex, he thought.

 

“Rosa, did she ask, or are you volunteering information?” Lia asked as they got to the dryads and Wildflower.

 

“She asked if we would be as vigorous tonight, then how Doc was able to go for so long with all of us.”

 

Wildflower gave Doc a once over before smiling. “If a dryad says so, it must be truth from Mother herself. I will endure the late nights, though I might see about some wax to dampen the sounds.”

 

“A good idea,” Dancing Squirrel said, having come up behind Doc. “I was surprised at the length of time things went for. I considered you might miss the lodge today, but you seem refreshed, not wrung dry.”

 

“That is far from the longest he has—”

 

“Rosa. Stop, please,” Doc cut her off. “We will do our best to tone down the volume in the future.”

 

“Do not stop on my account,” Sunshine said as he approached. “My wife took it as a challenge, though we did stop long before you did.” The woman with him wore a tired smile, but bowed her head slightly to Doc.

 

“If you want, I can make sure you are fertile enough to conceive,” Doc told Sunshine’s wife. “I’ve helped the dwarven clans that call me shaman with that already.”

 

Everyone nearby stopped what they were doing to stare at him, even the tribe members who were just walking past.

 

“You didn’t mention that during the meeting yesterday,” Dancing Squirrel said slowly. “What is required for it?”

 

Her tone made it clear to Doc what she expected him to say. He smiled gently as he met her eyes. “Lady Luck, the tribes have long danced to Mother for a fertility blessing. Please use me as your conduit to grant them that blessing.” His hands were covered in the green energy of his healing. “Just take my hand and wait for Luck to work through me to help you. That’s all.”

 

For a couple of seconds, no one moved. Then, in a sudden rush, both Wildflower and Sunshine’s wife grasped his hands.

 

“Easy. Just pray to Lady Luck and give her a moment,” Doc said softly, using his healing gift to help them both. As he did, he removed the pain of a tweaked back from Sunshine’s wife and fixed Wildflower’s broken toe. “All done.”

 

Both women wore expressions of wonder and awe when they stepped back. They’d been whispering their prayers while he worked, and kept doing so as they moved away. Before Doc could stop his gift, another woman lunged forward to grab his hand, and a second later, Dancing Squirrel took the other. Doc went to work on them, realizing that the second woman was Raindrop. It didn’t stop him from helping either of them. It took him longer with Dancing Squirrel, as he was fixing all the various aches and pains that she had.

 

“Done,” Doc said, shutting down the gift before others could come forward. “I will see about helping more people later. I do not want to distract from the events.”

 

The other women who’d been nearby looked disappointed, but bowed their heads to him as they moved away.

 

“It felt… warm,” Raindrop whispered, “as if Mother herself held me.”

 

“I feel good,” Dancing Squirrel whispered as she stretched. “My aches… they’re gone. I feel a few decades younger.” She froze, then stared at Doc intently. “Can you heal Gray Rabbit?”

 

“I offered yesterday, but he declined until the pau-wau ends. He worried that some might think I used trickery on him. Since I will never force healing on someone, I must wait for him to accept,” Doc explained.

 

“He will accept before the day ends,” Dancing Squirrel said firmly, then left them.

 

“Ever since her husband passed, she has made small advances toward father,” Raindrop said, watching the elder go. “I believe she is going to press him now.” Swallowing, she looked down, then pulled her gaze up to Doc’s. “Thank you, Shaman. Not just for me, but for maybe helping my father find love again. He has been alone since Mother died a year after my birth.”

 

“Doc is who he is,” Lia said, putting a hand on Raindrop’s shoulder. “He helps all around him. Are you going to compete today?”

 

“No. Tomorrow is the spear; I will compete for that, and the horse.”

 

“I will be in both of those, as well. May Mother give you strength.”

 

“Thank you, Lia. I will cheer for you today.”

 

“Since you are not competing, why not sit with Doc? You can explain who is who to him,” Lia suggested.

 

“I… I… Y-yes. Of course,” Raindrop started, stammered, then finished deferentially.

 

Doc felt an itch on his neck. Glancing back idly, he saw Red Hawk staring daggers at him. He sighed, then shook his head. “Shall we sit?”