When he woke up, Ajax was exactly as sore as he’d expected. Basically everything from his bellybutton to his knees hurt, but he was feeling good. Really, he was feeling a lot more like himself. The trauma of what he suffered at Alecto’s hands left him first a crying mess, then completely desperate for protection and touch. Hakon had given him whar needed, and he felt a lot better.
When he woke up Hakon was still snoring - as well he should be after the workout Ajax gave him. Ajax looked at him with more admiration than he usually does to his lovers. The clingy snuggles all night were a bit much but he tolerated it. Hakon was a cut above his usual lovers on account of his heroism, not just his body and his passion.
Feeling awake and alert, Ajax began by locating his clothing and his things. Hakon had neatly washed his
clothes and piled up his effects, including his satchel, some money and small jewels, an iron bowl and spoon, a knife, a razor, some creams and ointments, a good luck charm from home, a letter from his mother, and a mirror. He scanned the room quickly for valuables and didn’t see any. Surely there were some in Hakon’s bag but that wasn’t available until he was ready to leave. And he’d decided to stay until Hakon was walking again. They could have more fun, and Ajax had a lot of questions for the mage.
While Hakon snored on, Ajax set about fixing himself up. He bathed in the stream, which was frigid, used his bowl as a basin to shave, and fixed his hair in the mirror. Once he dressed he was looking quite handsome, and he was immodest enough that he knew it.
His prepararions left him ravenously hungry. He went into the witch’s larder and found it well stocked. There were loaves of bread, cheese, sacks of meal, fresh vegetables, and preserved meats. The meat, Ajax thought queasily, was suspect. He buried it all in the yard, then stoked the fire, toasted some bread, and melted cheese on top. Bacon would have been a nice addition, but not of the two legged variety.
He wasn’t much of a cook. That was women’s work at home, and he was usually living in a tavern and eating on someone else’s coin here in Radenor. But he could build a fire and make cheesy toast. He prepres a whole loaf’s worth, enough for himself and Hakon. Playing house like amused him. It wasn’t very Ajax. He leaned into the joke, though, and woke Hakon with a kiss.
“Good morning my darling,” he said, giggling at the silliness of it all. “Breakfast is up.”
