(Featuring Rhos, on loan from @kimbles [who also did the beautiful art!] and the @bitchesofbagrule podcast campaign!)
He was, without a doubt, the biggest Half-Orc she had ever seen. It was made even more apparent by the fact that he was doing his genuine best to make himself as small and unobtrusive as possible. Broad-shouldered and at least a head taller than the rest of the gathered crowd, he kept his arms tightly at his sides and his feet pressed together, nearly losing his balance when a pair of excited children shoved past him to get to the front. He was also completely, utterly enraptured.
Lux was in rare form that day. She had chosen her most dazzling clothes, an embroidered surcoat and obi in vivid blues and greens, every edge and hem sparkling with tiny stones. Her horns glittered like amethysts, her eyelids like kohl-rimmed emeralds and her lips like deep, shimmering iolites. She had even woven tiny yellow flowers into her violet hair, the last buttercups from her mother’s window box. Every inch of her reflected the afternoon light, and as she moved in time with her music, she appeared far more like a woodland fey than a misplaced demon. It was not until her swaying exposed her tail that the children in the front of the crowd froze in momentary fear; with a wink at the younger of the two, her eyes flashed a shocking blue before returning to their natural gold. The children gasped. Those who noticed the trick clapped appreciatively. The Half-Orc was one of them.
As she lifted her bow from the strings, the little crowd broke into delighted applause. Lux bowed dramatically, inching the basket at her feet toward the edge of the low wooden stage. She tucked the violin back beneath her chin, scanning the crowd for a brief moment to ensure they were producing their coin pouches; as her eyes travelled, she found herself stopping on the Half-Orc. He met her gaze and appeared to consider something, then his bearded features widened into a grin and he stuck a thumb over his shoulder, indicating the lute she had not previously noticed was strapped to his back. One scarred brow rose in question, the grin unwavering. He wanted to play.
With a slight shrug, Lux pointed to the edge of the stage with her bow, taking a half-step backward to make room. His grin somehow broadening even further, the Half-Orc sidled through the press and unslung his lute. An excited murmur spread through the crowd. The giant seated himself with crossed legs and settled the instrument in his lap, reaching up to secure the cord holding his dark hair in place before giving Lux a thumbs-up. With the quirk of a brow and a slight smirk, the Tiefling turned her attention to the crowd and lifted her bow. Hopefully he could keep up.
At first the Half-Orc merely listened, his long, Elf-like ears twitching ever so slightly. Once he had found the thread of Lux’s melody, he set his lute to work. A soft harmony began to form, building in confidence as the two strangers decoded one another, communicating in their secret common language. Gradually Lux increased the tempo, the lute keeping pace without missing a note. Wherever she led, he followed. Faster they reeled, interchanging bow and fingers, finally spiralling into a beautiful, ecstatic finish.
The little crowd roared. The Half-Orc’s shoulders hunched as he beamed up at Lux, and she was almost certain she heard him squeal with glee. Suppressing a laugh, she nodded approvingly. “Not bad, big guy. Round two?”
Harvest Guardian 