Flame of War (Binding Words Book 5), page 29
part #5 of Binding Words Series
“Fair,” Ryann nodded. “You ready for the next part?”
“One moment.”
~*~*~
Sean exhaled as he looked at the contraption he’d made and installed. “Are we ready to see if it works?”
“I am,” Ida grinned.
“It will work,” Myna said without hesitation.
“Turn it on, dear heart,” Fiona smiled.
“I’m going to stand back a little, just in case,” Ryann said, easing away from the machine.
Sean reached over, touching the contact and starting the steam rune. “It’ll take it a moment to get moving. How did the rest of it go?”
“No problems,” Myna replied.
“Everything is set like you asked,” Fiona said. “We have the displays set up and both the giant and smaller holding units are ready, as well. Honestly, this was a lot of work in such a short period. If we didn’t have all the extra help, it might have been too much to hope to have it finished already.”
“You do have a tendency to take on every project that can be handled,” Ida said softly.
“I know,” Sean sighed. “I don’t think... I just say we can do it, and if not for all of you, it’d never happen. My wives are what lets me do everything I can.”
“We just want to help you, Master.”
“You do, silly kitty,” Sean said, grabbing Myna and giving her ears a scritch. “Thank you. Thank all of you.”
“You’re welcome, husband,” Fiona smiled as she moved over and joined him in giving Myna attention. “Myna helps me a great deal, too.”
“We are glad to help, Sean,” Ida said softly, moving over to lean against his side. “We know you appreciate us. It’s why we push as hard as we do to help.”
“It’s moving,” Ryann said, drawing their attention to the slowly moving pulley system.
“Okay, let’s add on the first freezer bucket and see if this works like it should,” Sean said. He picked up one of the buckets and attached it to the pulley. “Now, it should take ten minutes for it to come back up.”
“You haven’t heard anything from Lady Sharpeyes yet, have you?” Ryann asked.
“Nothing since tea. Not sure if that’s good or bad, honestly.”
“Maybe she’s having a hard time getting information?” Ida asked.
“That would be bad,” Fiona said. “It means that someone with more power is opposed to her finding out.”
“Truestrike,” Sean said. “What does it mean to be a High Lord?”
Fiona looked down as she took a moment to get her thoughts together. “A High Lord is someone who has the ear of the Queen. They can get an audience when needed and not via petition like the other Lords and Ladies. My tormentor should have been a High Lord honestly, but he never took the position… I’m grateful for that. If he had, it might have been even worse for me.”
“Asshole got what he deserved,” Sean said, shifting to pull Fiona into his arms.
“Yes,” Fiona murmured and leaned into his chest.
“If Truestrike backs Lord Sharpeyes, though, doesn’t that mean we’ll end up in conflict with him?” Ida asked.
“Probably,” Myna said. “It’s also possible that nothing will happen. Maybe Sharpeyes is just a disposable pawn to Truestrike.”
“House Greenlimb will be unhappy,” Fiona said. “He is of their greater house, and him being disgraced and defeated will tarnish their name. They won’t let that go.”
“Is he a Greenlimb?” Sean asked. “Or is he part of that house because of Lady Sharpeyes?”
“I don’t know,” Fiona said. “Maybe Amedee does?”
“We can ask her tonight,” Sean said. “Shouldn’t be long now.”
Ida looked over the edge of the hole. “I see it coming this way.”
“If it worked, we attach the buckets, get things stocked, and call it good,” Sean said. “Maybe another hour or two.”
“Leaves us enough time to get home for sparring,” Myna said. “Speaking of, the staff are all coming along. I was wondering if you’d give the maids Camo, Master? I’m going to teach them how to be silent when they move. If we give them the right concealable weapons, they will be assassins for the house.”
Sean chuckled, “You want to have a cadre of Moonbound assassins, huh?”
“I think they would be best suited for the role,” Myna replied, “especially since they move about the house the most.”
“If that’s what you want, go ahead, Myna.”
“Thank you, Master,” Myna purred happily.
“Maybe we can give the cooks my Talent,” Ryann suggested slowly. “They’re around a lot of blades. The ability to grab and throw them with deadly accuracy would make the kitchen a bastion if we are attacked.”
“I’ll make sure you both get what you want,” Sean chuckled.
“Well, if you are being so kind, Sean, I was thinking hammers for Quinna and Quilla. With their size, they will be able to put them to good use,” Ida smiled at him.
“If you want to pair off the staff for specific Talents or tasks, I support you. Just make sure you’re all understanding who is doing what. The ice will be here shortly. Let’s focus on seeing if this works for a bit?”
~*~*~
Sean was grinning when he entered the private dining room. “How are you all tonight?”
“Very good,” Giralt said with a broad smile. “You look like you know things, Sean.”
“The icehouse is ready to go,” Sean said. “It works flawlessly and is stocked to get it ready to start producing tomorrow.”
Everyone was excited that yet something else was ready to help them in their merchant war with Denmur. Leith Werrick spoke up quickly when it started to quiet again, “Fredrick, I’d like to take that over. With the son apprenticed out and it being just me and the wife in the smithy, I was thinking it might be time to switch. I had been going to wait for a fourth bathhouse, but if this needs a worker, I can do it, and my wife can manage the sales.”
“Any objections?” Fredrick asked. No one objected. “Very well, Leith, the job is yours. Do you have any work to finish up?”
“Avery can handle them for me, right?”
“Sure enough,” Avery grinned. “I knew the forge was losing its fire for you. I’ll shoulder the jobs for you.”
“Very well,” Fredrick said. “Do you own that smithy?”
“It was Joseph’s grandfather’s. I’ve just been renting it.”
“Then you may move in, and rent will be part of your pay,” Fredrick said.
“Well, then,” Joseph chuckled, “Sean, can I get your family to renovate them together like you did for Sam and Brendis?”
“We will,” Fiona told him. “Same rates, as you are as close to family as a friend can be. Everyone here is. Even our newest member, who has taken the Agreement.”
“Thank you,” Eve said, surprised. “If it’s not too much to ask, could I maybe get showers and tubs installed at our house?”
“That would come through the association,” Fredrick said, “though the work is mostly done by Sean or his wives.”
“Might take us a bit to make the channels and get the pipes sunk,” Ryan said.
“I can do it tomorrow after breakfast. If that’s okay, Winston?”
“Yes, yes. In fact, I had a bit of news myself.” When all eyes turned to him, he set his cognac and cigar down. “My wife has told me that we should be expecting our first in nine months.”
Everyone started to congratulate him all at once. Giralt smiled the proud smile of a father-to-be and pulled out a stack of cigars from his belt pouch, handing them around to anyone who wanted one.
“Thank you, thank you!” Giralt smiled broadly. “We’d tried a lot of years ago, but it just never happened. Over the last tenday, though, Clara felt like it was time. She did say one thing that I had to do— Sean, would you consider being the guardfather of our child?”
Sean sat there in shocked silence for a moment. “I… yes.”
“Excellent,” Giralt said. “She will be most pleased. She said any man who has the full love of so many wives is a man that is worthy of being our child’s guardfather.”
“And he’ll be the most powerful figure in the city by then,” Ryan said.
“That’s a bit far,” Sean replied.
“No,” Mageeyes disagreed. “Ryan is correct, Sean. If this goes the way Lady Sharpeyes hopes, you will be. Even she is aware of that.”
All eyes went to Mageeyes, but it was Saret who broke the moment with laughter. “She is willing to abide by that? Oh, I had no idea she was in that narrow a spot, Amedee.”
Mageeyes nodded somberly. “Yes. Truthfully, she’d try to arrange Sean into her family if she thought she had even the slimmest chance. I have dissuaded her from that idea.”
Sean exhaled, his anxiety dropping when she added the last part. “Thank the gods. I was wondering something... Sharpeyes is part of House Greenlimb, but is that because of Lady Sharpeyes?”
“Yes, she is from House Greenlimb,” Mageeyes said.
“Will they be upset if…?” Sean trailed off.
“No. Between him and Evan, they are quickly losing any love they might have had with Greenlimb. Unfortunately, she still has not found out anything about Lord Sharpeyes’ guests yet, either.”
“Damn it... that would be really helpful and avoid the surprise.”
“What will you bring as a gift?” Flamehair asked.
“A cooling unit,” Sean smiled. “Winston patented it, but I’m sure I can bring it as my gift.”
“Of course,” Giralt nodded.
“That means I’ll bring an icebox as the gift from the association,” Fredrick nodded.
“I’ll bring the icebox for the association for Lady Sharpeyes,” Eve said.
“Which leaves that delightful cooling unit from me for her,” Mageeyes smiled.
“Looks like we’ll have the bases covered for the gifts,” Sean said. “I still feel like a trap is waiting for us.”
“Undoubtedly,” Saret said. “Denmur has to be losing his mind. Everything he has tried to stop you and us from growing is failing. He has to be losing favor with Lord Sharpeyes. I would expect drastic measures in the near future.”
“No one has had any problems since we talked about potential problems?” Sean asked.
Everyone said they’d been fine; no one had been watching them as far as they knew.
“Maybe everything will be alright, then,” Sean said. “To tomorrow and another dig into Denmur’s side.”
A cheer went around the table as everyone drank to that toast.
Chapter Thirty-five
Sitting down for breakfast, Sean was thinking about the work ahead of him for the day.
Before the cooks could bring food in, Ven landed in the middle of the table. “Can I have everyone’s attention, please?”
When all eyes went to them, Ven stood up straight. “I would like you all to meet Arla, my first child with Venn.”
Venn and a smaller Fairy landed beside them. Congratulations were given and Sean looked over the much smaller Fairy. Arla was just a half-size version of Ven and Venn, but seemingly fully developed.
“Okay, forgive my question,” Sean said. “A tenday and already fully grown?”
Venn nodded. “That is how we have children, Sean. We find it odd that the rest of you have children as you do. Arla isn’t fully grown, though. They are a child. It will take them at least six months before we can consider them an adult.”
“Six months,” Sean said slowly. “That is a fast childhood.”
“We’d like to have you meet our child, as well,” Onim said as they landed with Omin and another smaller Fairy. “Jutt, say hello.”
“Hello,” Jutt said in a soft tone.
“Hello,” Arla said.
“Welcome to the family, Jutt and Arla. I’m Sean. We’ll all introduce ourselves.”
“Sean,” the two children said, turning to face him, their eyes wide as they stared at him.
“Are you him? The freer of our kind?” Arla asked eagerly.
“The same Sean to have gifted us such gifts?” Jutt asked right behind Arla.
“Uh?”
“Sorry, Sean,” Ven said. “Arla, what did I tell you?”
Arla looked away. “Sorry. I just didn’t expect him to be here.”
“Sorry, parents,” Jutt said.
“It is good to meet you both,” Fiona smiled at the children. “I’m Fiona.”
“First wife of Sean,” Jutt said swiftly.
“Keeper of the Bonded,” Arla nodded.
Myna giggled, “They know you, Fiona. I am Myna.”
“Silent claw, the shadow,” Jutt nodded.
“The stalker in the night,” Arla added.
Ryann snickered. “She doesn’t hunt you. Does she?”
“No,” Myna said, slightly affronted.
“She is the one who is dangerous because she can walk unseen,” Jutt replied. “She is our protector as she is yours.”
“The hidden claw that deals death when needed,” Arla said.
“Arla!” Venn said sharply.
“Sorry.” Arla looked down again.
“They’re not wrong,” Myna said. “For my family, I am as they say.”
“You are Ryann?” Jutt asked Ryann.
“Yeah.”
“Sean’s shield,” Arla said softly. “We thank you.” Arla bowed, as did Jutt.
Ryann blinked. “You’re welcome?”
“They know that if not for you, Sean would be in more danger,” Onim said.
“That is our wife,” Ida smiled proudly.
“Forger of metal,” Arla said. “I want to know more of that Talent.”
“Me, too,” Jutt agreed. “Will you teach us?”
Ida’s eyes shifted to Sean, getting a nod. “Of course, where and when I can. We all have much to do.”
The two children cheered at her.
Sean grinned at the Fairies— they were a strange mix of child and teen. As he watched them greet his wives, it reminded him of teen girls seeing their favorite boy band in person. The introductions continued, each of the wives being singled out by the pair of children. Simple sentences, but a lot of joy in them when they spoke.
When the moment was over, Sean checked with everyone to see what they had planned for the day. Fiona, Myna, and Felora were going to Joseph’s to start on the remodel of his home. Everyone else had normal things to do except for Sean, who was going with Ida and Ryann to the Blackhand house to install the bathroom for them.
~*~*~
Arriving at the estate outside of the city, Sean smiled at the well-maintained yard. The house was a sprawling ranch-style home. “Nice place,” Sean said as he turned and helped Ida and Ryann out of the carriage.
“Didn’t think they’d have a home this big,” Ryann said.
The front door opened and Eve stepped out. “Welcome to Blackhand Ranch. Do you have a moment to see my father?”
“Sure,” Sean said as he moved to the back of the carriage to unstrap the chest there. “Just let me get this.”
“I can get a couple of the workers to get it,” Eve offered.
“Has all the pipes we need,” Sean replied as he hefted it onto his shoulder. “I’d rather just cart it myself.”
“Okay. Please follow me. I’ll show you the room first, then take you to see him.”
“Works,” Sean said as he trailed the women inside.
The walk through the home showed minimal extravagance. The floors were stone with the occasional rug. The walls were hardwood and had a few tapestries and portraits. Most notably on the wall, there were plaques, small chunks of coal, and other minerals.
“Your family has been miners for a long time,” Sean commented.
“Generations. We all live here. It’s the reason the house is so big; we just keep adding onto it.”
“Family is precious,” Ryann said softly, and Ida nodded in agreement with her.
“We believe so, too,” Eve smiled. “Here we are. We’ve cleared this room just for bathing. We have the large copper sheets you asked us to procure, as well.”
