After the rations, Flynn complained that he was still hungry.

"Alright, let's make a temporary camp and get some proper food," Edos decided.

Samantha was in charge of food and Flynn was eager to help so the two of them were huddled around the fire leaving Edos and Aldric to the side on their own.

Aldric was pretending to watch the hounds play but in reality his entire mind and being was filled with Edos. Still despite this unique awareness he still jumped a mile when Edos softly called his name.

"Aldric."

"Eh! Y-Yes General," Aldric stammered.

"I think we can talk now, Samantha will take around twenty minutes," Edos said, "We can at least lay the groundwork."

Aldric was super nervous but he nodded.

They walked a little farther away, standing under a dead and barren tree.

"I'm polyamorous," Edos started, "I have two steady lovers at the moment. Kamphire you know, and Rafimir you might not know. I am however still in a search for a primary. Someone who is in the military with me for the long term to have foals with, raise a family. I have one child so far who was a dungeon born I adopted as a foal, and I want more. You can tell me what your goals are from a relationship in general or just the one who has been dreaming, which seems to be me."

The more Edos spoke the wider Aldric's eyes got. His heart was racing in his chest and he wondered if he was really dreaming right this second. What a straightforward statement Edos was making; he was laying all of his cards on the table!

"My goal is to become an Under General and your mate," Aldric said bravely, he was proud of him because his voice was not shaking, "I would love to have foals with you and raise them together. I don't mind if you have other lovers, but you would be the only one for me."

Edos gave him a look of surprise and then stepped closer together and whispered something into his ear that made Aldric's knees almost buckle. He felt absolutely hot all over.

"I'm willing to do it if it makes you happy," Aldric admitted, "Pleasing you, would make me automatically happy."

Edos sighed softly.

"I don't want to take advantage of you..."

"No you wouldn't be, you would be giving me what I want..." Aldric contended, "It's the way I am. Without self knowledge how could I decide to pursue you when there is such disparity between our levels, ranks and roles - and you also already have lovers? Would I not have needed to be settled?"

"I can concede that point but many people only think they know what they want until they are faced with it," Edos told him earnestly, "And if you are only doing it for me then you may regret it when you're in the thick of things and not enjoying it."

Aldric considered what Edos had just said again and felt hot and bothered all over.

"I won't regret it. I will like it," he said the last bit at a whisper but Edos heard him.

His eyes lit up.

"Then we can begin," Edos said.

"Uh.. just like that?" Aldric asked in surprise.

"Yes, we are together and I will treat you as my primary. I prefer to start as I intend to continue and if I am wrong or if this doesn't work out for both of us at least we won't have any regrets," Edos explained.

Aldric was happy from his heart and soul.

"Alright, ah... can I call you darling in private?" Aldric whispered, pressing close to Edos.

"Yes," Edos said simply.

Aldric whinnied with happiness and did a little dance that made Edos laugh.

When they returned to the camp, Edos announced that they were dating directly.

"Oh! So that is why you volunteered to dig the graves with him!" Flynn said with a chuckle, "Flynn was so confused!"

"I thought he was kissing ass but I think I had the wrong metaphor there," Samantha said with a chuckle.

Aldric was blushing but happy, none of them seemed to be against it which surprised him for some reason.

After eating, he helped Samantha clean up and she spoke to him about it.

"Congrats on landing my brother. It's not as easy as the rumors say it is, he has never dated someone from the guild or the militia before, maybe fooled around but definitely never introduced them to me or the boys on the strike team," she said to him.

Aldric realized she was trying to reassure him and speaking up for her brother. Edos did have a terrible reputation but Aldric didn't mind. Just that brief conversation with Edos had contained some explosive information about the carnal side of his new boyfriend and he felt that it couldn't possibly get any more spicy.

"I know, he's been very honest with me," Aldric said.

"He must be serious about you," Samantha noted, "I wish you both well."

"Thank you!" Aldric said, "My only concern is it being a bit awkward with Kamphire but I'm not too worried about it either."

"Just follow Edos' lead, it's his responsibility to ethically and properly handle his multiple relationships," Samantha pointed out.

"You give good advice, how come you are single?" Aldric asked. He regretted it instantly but the words were already out of his mouth.

Samantha chuckled...

"You think I am single?" she asked with a grin, "My man is just travelling. You'll meet him soon enough."

Aldric's eyes widened. He was looking forward to seeing who had landed this powerful courser!

***

Flynn and Edos were ahead of the pack with the hounds between them and Aldric and Samantha who were lagging behind them as they headed back into the prison building.

"You and Aldric huh?" Flynn said, "You mating this time?"

"How could you tell?" Edos asked him. It was a genuine question.

"He's the only one that is a militia member and you introduced him before you all even had a proper date," Flynn explained his reasoning, "Flynn is happy for you. I'll be a good Uncle just as I was with Ian."

Edos laughed and nipped Flynn lovingly on the neck, sharing a moment of closeness.

Once they had climbed the stairs, they found themselves in front of a barred door.

Opening it was easy but what they found inside was anything but.

"ANOTHER SKULL!?" Samantha cried out, "What the heck!"

She was shouting as she dashed to the side to avoid a blast of flame.

"What in the world?!" Aldric was stunned. He had heard Erin recount his tale of fighting the skull but he never expected to face one himself. It was much larger and more dangerous than the story had let on.

Edos was barking out orders and Aldric was following them on auto pilot.

This was his real first battle and he was wired enough to shit bricks.