Back to Yonder for Publication, page 3
It was one of her love languages—the other being less suitable for public display. I wasn’t complaining, though—I surely loved her coffee and bacon.
I took a sip from my mug while bouncing my son, Robbie, on my knee. If I didn’t know better, I would have sworn he was over a year old now, instead of the few months that I knew it to be. I simply chalked it up as another magical aspect of Olimero.
Nimeera stood close to the fire, sipping some coffee and looking unsure about where she should be. Her color had started to return. Now, while she still didn’t look like she was one hundred percent yet, she was clearly feeling better. It had been more than two weeks since her ordeal, but Lina had kept close tabs on her.
Josie, true to my order that she get to know the tawny haired catkin as punishment for her earlier jealousy, had spent more time with the catkin than she wanted to. Things were still tense between the two women, but I wasn’t about to relent. Those two would just have to learn how to get along.
“It’s awkward for you to stand over there, Nimeera,” I called out. “Come sit down and eat with the rest of us. I want to hear what you have to say about the missing guard.”
Robbie was squeezing my finger, but I still felt Josie bristle beside me at my invitation. At least she knew better than to say anything.
Rava slid over on her side of the table to make room on the other bench for the catkin. Nimeera looked around at everyone, as though to make sure no one was going to protest, before eventually coming over to sit across from me.
“See?” I gave the nervous woman a smile. “Isn’t that better? My deal with your god requires that you be included as one of my clerks, or deputies, or something like that—in all ways.”
I nudged Josie’s thigh with mine to get her to stop growling under her breath.
“I’m not naïve. This could all be some long con that the god of shadows has ordered you to perform.” I held out the platter of bacon to her. “I am willing to extend you some trust… and some bacon.”
She smirked as she daintily took a piece.
“You haven’t once tried to use your emotion mana around me,” I continued, “so I’ll give you some trust.”
Nimeera nodded. “I could make promises and give you assurances, but actions speak louder than words.”
“Probably wise, sister,” my elven wife agreed. “Your nickname, Heart of Shadow, doesn’t exactly inspire confidence.” Her red lips turned up at the corners. “But Rob already has one wife who was a former handmaiden of Korkanis… so why not another?”
Josie shook her head and bristled at my side, but didn’t say anything.
I was just going to let it go, but Rava turned to the redhead. “You have something to say, second wife?”
“I’ve already made my position clear.” Josie pursed her lips. “We all know that she is powerful and her skills could be useful, but my job as Mistress of the Wall is to be a barrier between Rob and harm. So, don’t expect me to come around anytime soon.”
“Actually, the Mistress of the Wall is meant to protect the entire family. How will you do that if Rob makes Nimeera part of our family? In fact, by agreeing to allow her to become a clerk with full access, rights, and responsibilities… didn’t you essentially already agree to make her part of the family?”
I don’t know if it was intentional or not, but Josie was softly growling again.
“You know how our husband is,” Rava continued. “He doesn’t take sleeping with a woman lightly. It’s something which I suspect our bunnykin sister-wife is hoping to take advantage of.”
Lina giggled from over where she was flipping pancakes on a griddle suspended over the fire, but didn’t comment.
“Rob said he wouldn’t take any more wives without our unanimous consent,” Josie sniffed. “Most men that would say that, I wouldn’t believe them. But our husband is a man of his word, and actually treats us as equals.”
“He is also quick to forgive and treats people based upon the merits of their actions, rather than their past,” Rava gently reminded her.
For the most part, I had been content to enjoy Robbie’s reactions as I bounced him on my knee, but their conversation finally got the better of me. “You know how I hate it when you talk about me when I’m right here. I’ve already said my piece, now let’s eat and then afterward, we can hear what Nimeera knows about this missing guard before we make a plan. For now, though, no more work—let’s just enjoy Lina’s cooking.”
Thankfully, there were no protests, although it was clear that Josie wanted to. We made small talk and ate the delicious food that Lina had prepared. She eventually joined us at the table, sitting on my left side and taking Robbie, so I could eat without him pawing at my food. She pulled up her blouse and started to feed our son his meal right there at the table. Back home, I would have been shocked by a woman so readily exposing herself, but this was Olimero.
When I’d finished off my third pancake and second pile of bacon I regretfully pushed my plate away. “I need to stop. It isn’t really necessary for me to eat, so I’m doing this simply because it all tastes so damn good. I don’t wanna develop bad habits of excess.”
Lina winked at me while clearing the dishes, with Robbie clinging to her hip. “But I like it when you fill me to excess.”
Both Rava and Josie snickered, while Nimeera looked glum. I didn’t want us to get lost down that particular rabbit hole, though the goddess knew how much I enjoyed the time I’d lost in there already.
“So,” I coughed into my hand and changed the topic, “what can you tell us about this missing scout, Nimeera?”
“Not a lot. Captain Jasper wouldn’t let me go into the woods.”
“You must be losing your touch if he was able to stop you,” Josie said.
I sighed. “Quit baiting her. We all know what Nimeera is capable of, but she has restrained herself and been on her best behavior.”
Rava chimed in, “You don’t know how seductive the pull of the shadow is, or how easy it can be to put the interests of a deity above those of your own people.”
Josie blushed at this comment.
Rava sat back with an odd expression on her face. She likely didn’t understand why Josie had responded like that, rather than making some pointed remark about that being exactly her point—but I knew why.
Josie was struggling with some of those same concerns, given how Sativa was trying to use her as an agent to gain a modicum of control over me.
I shook my head. “We need to focus, here, and let Nimeera tell us the little that she was able to notice.”
The catgirl understood my interest in changing the subject, apparently, because she spoke right up. “There were signs that Stan, the guard, had been walking his regular patrol. Then, from the tracks I followed, it looked like he headed down towards the copse of trees. That wouldn’t really be out of place, as he might simply have needed to relieve himself.”
She shrugged. “The Captain ordered me back before I could see much else. Only other thing that stuck out, was that the mana in the area felt a bit odd, but I don’t know what to make about that.”
“Might Korkanis have had something to do with it?” I asked.
“No, he wouldn’t be able to hide his touch from me. I know it too well. This could have been another of the gods, but it might just as easily have been a monster which I’m not familiar with, or even some oddity of the area.”
“Hmm…, how far did you go into the woods,” Josie asked.
“First off, it is more like a glorified copse of trees than a patch of forest—really less than an acre of woods, with a small stream running through it. That was likely why this campsite was picked, for the fresh water, although you’d have to check with Vemilla about that.”
I nodded. “Okay. How far did you go in?”
“Only half a dozen paces or so before Captain Jasper insisted on yanking me back to camp with him. He said he felt something odd.” The catgirl frowned. “You might want to ask him about what it was. I… I hesitate to say this, but I did feel a tingle of Emotion Mana, though it definitely wasn’t mine.”
I stared at her for a moment before replying, “You’re telling the truth and I believe you. But does that mean that there is another mage out here with Emotion Mana?”
Rava shook her head. “That’s highly unlikely. Emotion Mana is extremely rare. I’ve only ever heard of two mages with it, and one of them is Nimeera.”
Given the age, wisdom, and vast experience of my elven wife, I deferred to her judgment in that regard. “Okay, so I guess I need to speak to Jasper?”
Josie grumbled, “Or you could just turn this all over to me. It is my duty to see to your… no, to our family’s safety.”
I nodded. “And normally I’d want you with me—but Lina and Robbie are here, along with Rava. And none of them are combatants.”
I saw both aforementioned wives arch their eyebrows at me. “Okay, both of them are capable in a multitude of ways, but Robbie is barely more than a babe. If something can lure a guard away from the caravan without any signs of struggle and make them disappear, how much easier would it be to do so for a toddler who is simply trying to play?”
Lina gasped, holding Robbie tight, but Rava had an ‘ah-ha’ expression on her face.
“Lured away?”
I nodded. “Doesn’t that seem like what happened to you?”
“It does now,” the purple haired beauty admitted, “although, I hadn’t considered it before. That does open things up to include other potential dangers. We aren’t near a deep body of water, so it wouldn’t be sirens… but, maybe fairies?"
Josie slapped her hand down on the table. “That settles it. Rob, you aren’t having anything to do with this.”
I arched my eyebrow at her and both Lina and Rava chuckled.
Josie glared at her sister wives, but they knew that wasn’t going to happen.
“I am happy to give you leeway in protecting me and the family, but my son is out here with us. If there is something out there which could harm Robbie, then I will most definitely be involved.”
Lina walked straight up to me from where she’d been packing up the dishes. As she did, she handed Robbie off to Auntie Rava and reached across the table to grab the front of my armored vest. There was a strange intensity in her eyes as she yanked me forward.
Sure, I could have resisted, but it was kinda cute. She must really have been working on increasing her stats because she was quite a bit stronger. She pulled my lips to hers before cupping my face between her hands while moaning into my mouth, mid-kiss. With our lips still locked, she crawled over the table to sit in my lap, straddling my thigh. I could feel her warmth through my leather breeches as she ground herself against me. It went on long enough to become awkward, making me wish the tent was still up so that I could drag her back to bed.
Suddenly, she released me and stood back up, straightening her skirt. “Oh goddess, a man who protects his children is so damn sexy. If I didn’t already have my hands full, I’d ask you to pump your seed into me right here in front of everyone.”
The three other women stared at one another, before slowly nodding.
I knew there were plenty of men in Olimero who cared about their children, but it was definitely not a cultural standard. Here, men worked to provide for their families and themselves—and not always in that order. Their wives handled rearing and caring for the children.
What just seemed perfectly natural to me was a big turn on for them. I got a crooked grin on my face and simply shrugged. Nothing like being rewarded for being myself.
“Breath stealing kisses aside, I’m serious. I’m the head of this family, and if anything threatens my children OR my wives, that makes it my business.” I held up my hands. “Not that I’ll be stupid about it, though, I have Josie to help keep me from sticking my foot in a bear trap.”
“And me,” Rava said. Lina nodded in agreement, while Nimeera mumbled, “Me, too”—though her words were spoken very softly.
I nodded to the catgirl. “Show me where this happened, and while we’re walking there, Josie or Rava can give me a run down on what to look out for regarding fairies.”
Chapter 3 – Getting to It
Rava shook her head. “I have a bunch of work to do today—hammering out negotiations with some of the merchants. Unless you require my presence, husband, I won’t be coming with you.”
I grinned. “As if I could make you do anything you didn’t want to.”
She winked at me, but then said, “You underestimate just how smitten I am with you, my love. But before I make your head grow any larger, I’ll leave and get to it. I’m sure that Lina has plenty to do here, but I trust Josie and Nimeera to keep you out of trouble.”
The two named women looked at each other. A grimace passed between them, but they both ended up nodding. They might not like each other—although, I think that was more Josie not liking Nimeera than the other way around—but they respected one another’s competence.
I held out my arm for Josie. As much as I would honor my agreement with the god of shadows, Josie was my wife and Nimeera wasn’t… not yet.
“Nimeera,” I waved her ahead of us, “please lead the way, and someone educate me on fairies.”
Josie frowned. “Truthfully, I know very little about fairies. Every young woman is warned never to let their husband stray near rings of mushrooms because they might end up ensnared by the fae. It is also one of the reasons for a mother’s advice.”
I arched an eyebrow, not understanding the last part.
Nimeera looked back over her shoulder at me and then burst out laughing. “I keep forgetting you really aren’t from Olimero. A mother’s advice could, of course, refer to many things, but when said like that it means only one thing. Every girl is told that if she wants to get a husband, she has to make sure to satisfy him in bed or to expect him to wander. All women expect to share their husbands, as even poor men generally end up with at least two wives—while powerful or rich men end up with a dozen or more.”
“If I need to set the record straight on that count, let me assure you that my wives more than excel at satisfying me. I have no need to add another wife to our family, but I have pledged to be guided by the standards of Olimero.”
Nimeera slowed to brush up against Josie, who didn’t bristle for once. “He really is so cute about that, isn’t he? Like he’ll hurt your feelings if he doesn’t proclaim his faithfulness earnestly and often.”
Josie rolled her eyes at the other woman. “He can be clueless at times, but it’s part of his charm.”
Then she looked up at me. “I’m not Lina, pushing you to bed every clerk she can hire, but please remember that the stronger you are, the better it is for us. And to paraphrase our dear blacksmith’s words, a man with many wives brings honor to all of them.”
She bumped me with her hip. “So, keep finding powerful women to grow our family, Rob. You don’t seem to be having any trouble keeping up with our needs.” Her gaze flickered over to the other woman with us. “Just make sure you can trust them.”
That last comment was an obvious dig at the catkin. But Nimeera let it go, so I didn’t comment, either.
“What about you, Nimeera, do you know anything more about fairies?”
“I know they were one of the races originally shaped by Sativa and the other gods. She had her impact on all the races, but each of the others provided some influence, as well. Sirens, fairies, and a couple others were the ones primarily influenced by Mensor, though.” She shrugged. “It stands to reason that they will be more brutal and monstrous. Beyond that, I can only tell you about the stories that we’ve all heard.”
I shook my head. “You all may have heard these stories, but I’m not from here… remember?”
“Ah… right. Well, as a race they have almost died out. The legends say that they loved war, but unlike the orcs, they were cruel—often torturing or even eating their prisoners. Most races united to hunt them down. Their last male was supposedly killed a couple of hundred years ago, and Sativa cursed them so that while they can still have children with males of other races, all the children they have are female.”
Josie’s eyes got wide. “Do you think that Rob could break that curse? Maybe that’s what this is all about?”
“That’s…” Nimeera stopped mid-stride. “I… I don’t know. You’ve only told me a little bit about the peculiarities of humans. I’ve seen his son and daughter, though, and they are both very uh… different.”
She glanced quickly at me and added, “They’re both gorgeous children, I just mean that neither of them, Robbie especially, is what one might have expected them to be like.”
