"Interesting, so if there are twelve islands, that means there are twelve major races?" I asked, and Eliza nodded.
"When we all eat and drink together, I will introduce you to them all. I am sure there are many you would like to enjoy a night with," Eliza teased, and I nodded, and she bit me.
"Ow! Hey! You asked me, small fry!" I growled, and she giggled at me, grabbing my arm back that I had pulled away.
The women had all mounted up, but none of them looked very chatty at the moment. One thing they all had in common was a direct line of sight to look at me out of the corners of their eyes.
I wasn't really sure how I was supposed to feel about this, but they were probably either curious about me or concerned for their Countess's safety. I am sure that they all would trust me in time, but that was half the fun!
"Let me pick you up," I said as I bent down, and Eliza wrapped her arms around my neck.
I could see all the women now intently watching me as I lifted Eliza up with one arm, turning to her horse. I grabbed the horn, stepped in the stirrup just like before, swung my leg over, and the Eliza's to sit in my lap.
Cheers and applause broke out.
"You owe me fifty silver, Kalli!" Senna cheered, and the tall Amazon growled at her like a tiger, but Senna didn't back down, saying, "Don't you be like that, you cheapskate! I told you he could do it!"
"That man thing is small! He shouldn't be able to do that!" Kalli growled from the back of a massive horse that I would have looked like a child on the back of.
"It's not always about the size of your boat! You have to remember the motion in the ocean as well!" I laughed, and the big woman looked at me funny.
"You are a strange woman, man. I will see how you drink tonight!" Kalli growled at me, and I was sure that was a challenge.
"You are one, big woman! You might be bigger than me, but I think I know how to knock back a pint or two! I probably do! Pretty sure!" I said, not sure of myself at all because I was pretty sure body weight and metabolism played a big part.
"You are funny; I might have to let you come to bed with me if you are not careful!" Kalli threatened, or at least coming from her, it sounded like a threat.
"You can't have her until I have!" Eliza shouted from my lap, and Kalli nodded her head.
"Of course not! I don't want to break your new toy before you have a turn with it!" Kalli boomed a laugh, but I was not impressed.
"What do you think I am? Just a big slab of meat?" I asked, looking around at all the hungry-looking eyes.
"Not that big," Kalli snorted, and all the women laughed, and I suddenly knew what it felt like to be a woman surrounded by men, but this was still great!
I was hiding it, but I was so excited to drink with these women! There was an elf, a dwarf, a fairy princess, Amazon, a Dragon girl, Angel, a Cat girl, a Dog girl, an Orc woman, a Golem, and what I assumed to be a vampire girl.
Wonderful! Amazing!
I must have died and gone to Heaven!
"Are you alright? Why are you crying?" Eliza asked me as I looked up into the sky.
"Because this world is so darn great!" I exclaimed and grabbed the reins, letting out a yip.
The horse took off, and everyone followed me as we all headed back to the gate. I hated for the girls to see me tear up like this, but this place was really great!
I kind of hoped that they threw something bad my way soon, or I was going to die of happiness overload! Still, I had to remember what I was doing, and there was a girl that I was supposed to bring back to the village.
I had also said I would help them out with what I could, but I didn't understand how they could remain out there without the worry of being attacked? I would have to figure out the rest of this when we got to wherever Eliza was taking me to.
"Where are we going now?" I asked Eliza as we approached a big red gate that was open.
"To my manor at the center of town. You can meet Lady Katarina there and see what you think of her," Eliza said, sounding braver about confronting this Lady than she had before.
"Sounds good; I will just smile and wave for now. I want to soak up some of the scenery," I said, looking down at the four human guardswomen.
"Countess Eliza, you have returned safely! Where is the rest of your guard?" a blonde-haired woman asked.
"They are helping at the village until I return," was all Eliza said, and the woman moved out on the way without any further question.
Once we entered the city, it was far more than I had expected with the state of the first village I entered. This place was thriving, and there were two-story buildings everywhere, with shops, restaurants, and even bars, but that was only at first glance.
"Wow, this place is much better than I expected,'' I said quietly, and Eliza rested her head on my chest.
"I am glad that you like it," Eliza whispered back to me.
"Is that Countess Eliza with a Partner? Could it really be true?" I heard a woman say, and then other women started to chatter until every woman on the streets was abuzz with chatter.
It was almost like sticking your head in a beehive.
"I told you they would be happy," Eliza giggled up to me, and I pulled her in closer.
I kissed the top of her head, making a significant number of women gush with "awe."