Dungeon Walkers 2, page 34
When it was only the five of them left, Vulk looked at Trish. “Where is he, and who did he invite that’s late, too?”
Trish gave Vulk a knowing smile. “I believe he’ll be here in a second. He probably wanted the maximum impact.”
Cammie frowned, wondering at Trish’s words, but there was a knock on the door before Stern opened it. “Sorry for the delay. I brought a gift for my friends.” Stepping aside, Stern turned and motioned to the room. “Ma’am, they’re waiting.”
Vulk had to turn to see the door, but when he saw who was there, he froze. Tears came to him unbidden as he stared at his mother. Cammie was just as frozen— she forgot to breathe as she stared, wondering if this was all a dream.
Urika began to cry again as she rushed forward to grab her son. “Oh, my precious little boy!”
Vulk had barely managed to stand up when she hit him, hugging him tightly. “Momma?” Vulk asked as his tears wet her hair.
Cammie pushed herself up. “Is it… is it really…?”
Urika opened one of her arms. “Come here, my sweet, innocent Mie.”
Cammie ran around the table, hugging Urika and her brother as the trio cried.
They weren’t alone, though, as everyone else in the room was crying, too. Cyra and Trish were smiling and crying, holding hands on the table as they watched the reunion. Emma had gotten to her feet, choking back her own tears as she fidgeted, feeling awkward. Stern was leaning against the wall, silently sobbing. He’d thought he’d been prepared for the emotions, but it was far more intense than he was ready for.
It took some time, but Urika finally separated herself from her children and stepped back. “Let me look at you...” Her lips trembled as she stared at her children. “I missed so much… so very much.”
“How?” Vulk croaked, tears still streaming down his face.
Urika turned to look at Stern, who was crying on his knees. “It was… goodness…”
Cyra and Trish hurried over to Stern, their concern and love helping him once they were beside him.
“He’ll be fine,” Trish said as she knelt beside Stern, her dress getting dangerously shorter when she did. “Just give him another minute.”
“Stern?” Cammie whispered. “You?”
Stern took a shuddering breath. “When… we got… Vulk back. Family helped.”
“A powerful crew recovered me,” Urika said softly. “His family paid them. For me.”
Vulk swallowed hard as he stared at Stern. “Why?”
Stern was helped to his feet by his lovers as he finally got control again. “Because family is precious, and every Walker should choose when their path ends.”
Vulk inhaled sharply as he took a step back. His eyes darted toward Emma, then at his mother.
Urika turned to Emma. “Are you the one who my son loves?”
Emma brushed at her cheeks. “Ma’am… I…”
“She is,” Cammie said. “Emma, this is our mother, Urika. Emma was just as worried for Vulk as we were.”
“Worried for him?” Urika asked.
Cammie froze, looking back at Stern. “Uh…”
“We can discuss it after dinner?” Stern suggested.
Vulk went to Emma’s side and brought her to stand before Urika. “Momma, this is the woman I love.”
Urika took Emma’s hands in hers. “If you love my son as he loves you, then I would welcome you, Emma.”
Emma started to cry again, her smile brilliant. “Thank you…!”
The door opened on the far side of the room and the chef entered, but paused. “Do you need more time, sir?”
Stern shook his head. “No. We’ll seat ourselves. Urika, this seat is for you.” Stern pulled out the chair at the head of the table. “So you can sit beside both of your children.”
Urika kissed Emma’s cheek. “We’ll talk. Let us celebrate the love you have for my son.”
“And you being here,” Cyra said.
“Yes, and that,” Urika smiled softly. “As well as the friends who let me see my babies again.”
Chapter Forty-two
Waking slowly, Stern’s memory of the night before came back to him slowly. Dinner had been a huge success. Trish and Cyra had experienced a multi-course dinner once before, but the others never had. Their awe and delight kept Stern grinning all throughout dinner.
By the time it ended, Vulk and Cammie had explained what they’d done when Urika had fractured in the dungeon. Emma leaned over to whisper “thank you” to Stern at least a dozen times, as well.
When it was finally time to leave, Stern sent the family and Emma off back home. He’d used having to pay for the meal as his excuse to get them out ahead of him and his lovers. Trish and Cyra kissed him, praising him for being who he was. They stayed for another half-hour sipping at the last of the wine, giving the family time to be alone.
Finally home, they heard the family chatting in one of the parlors and snuck past to their room. Both Trish and Cyra made sure Stern was pampered and cared for all night, and he’d returned the favor to them before they all passed out.
Blinking slowly, he heard the soft breathing from either side of him, causing him to smile. Cyra, with her head on his chest and her ears just short of his mouth, was holding him across the chest. Trish was using his left arm as a pillow and had a leg draped over his thigh, her breath just missing his neck.
Cyra stirred, kissed his chest, then looked up. “Good morning.”
“Good morning, fluffy bunny,” Stern murmured, then kissed the tip of an ear.
“I love you, Stern,” Cyra whispered. “The more I’m with you, the deeper that love grows.”
“I know. I can feel it, and I feel the same for you, Cyra. And for Trish,” Stern said, having felt her shift.
“Glad you included me there,” Trish whispered before kissing his neck, causing him to shiver. “And I love you and Cyra just as much.”
Cyra pressed into Stern, offering a kiss to Trish, who was happy to accept.
Stern coughed after a few seconds. “Ladies…”
“Yeah, I can feel it tapping my leg,” Trish snickered. “Knock, knock… who’s there? Wood. Wood who? Hardwood for you.”
Cyra giggled. “That’s terrible, Trish.”
“Agreed,” Stern sighed.
“Who’s knocking?” Trish smirked. “Did you want to come inside?”
Stern and Cyra both flushed at her comment, causing her to giggle.
“Okay, let’s get u….” Stern coughed. “Out of bed. We can see about breakfast before they wake up.”
“That sounds good,” Cyra said, kissing him briefly before getting up.
“Aww, but I was hoping for a bit of fun first,” Trish sighed.
“I’ll go, but don’t take too long,” Cyra said.
“Oh, fluffy bunny, I’ll pay you back later,” Trish purred as her hand went down to find Stern’s hard problem. “And you, our dear lover, I’m going to take control. That’s okay, right?”
“Umm, yes,” Stern said huskily, as her hand had already found her target.
“Good.”
~*~*~
Making it to the kitchen, Stern and Trish found Cyra and Cammie, cooking side-by-side.
“Good morning, Cammie,” Stern greeted her.
“Good morning, Stern. Thank you again. I never thought you meant you’d get her reborn for us when you asked before.”
“I wasn’t positive it could be done, but I wanted to try.”
“You know that things will change now?”
“I think Vulk will stop, which will make him and Emma happier,” Stern said slowly. “I’m not sure what you’ll do, though.”
“You want me to stay with you all?” Cammie asked, not turning to face him.
“We all do, like we’ve told you for at least the last two weeks,” Trish said. “You’re skilled, intelligent, and a damned good friend. However, we also understand if you want to stop.”
Cyra touched Cammie’s shoulder. “She’s right, though I’d be sad if you did stop.”
Pawly yowled softly from beside Cammie.
“She’s agreeing with Cyra. Something about her bed…” Stern said with a straight face.
Cammie giggled. “Oh, well, we can’t disappoint her majesty, can we?”
Pawly chuffed and bumped her leg.
“But even Pawly will understand if you want to stop,” Stern said softly. “We’ll all have to make that choice in time.”
Cammie swallowed as her emotions churned and spun. “What about you, Stern?”
“I agree with Trish and Cyra. If I was the one to decide, I’d keep you beside us forever.”
Cammie’s emotions spiked hard. Stern swayed in place, and Trish grabbed him.
“Easy... I got you,” Trish whispered.
Cammie looked back at them and her emotions spiked again, but differently.
Cyra saw Cammie’s face at that moment and pursed her lips.
A second later, Cammie had smothered her emotions enough that Stern could shake free. “Sorry.”
“It’s fine. Just my curse doing what it does,” Stern sighed. “I couldn’t untangle what just happened. Did I upset you?”
“No,” Cammie said, having gone back to the food. “Since you all want me to stay, I can. For a bit, at least.”
“Thank you, Goddess,” Stern said, “for sending me these amazing people who call me a friend and show me that life can be good, even when cursed.”
“You mean being irregular?” Urika asked from behind them, causing everyone to startle.
“No. My curse is emotional, empathic,” Stern said. “Good morning. Was the room good enough?”
Urika eyed him, then laughed. “Better than any room I’ve ever slept in.”
“Sorry,” Stern said apologetically.
“Son, you have no—” Urika began.
Cammie dropped the spatula, making it clang off the pan before she snagged it. “Sorry!”
“Be careful, please, Daughter,” Urika said. “As I was saying, Stern, you have no reason to apologize. I should be thanking you forever... for helping my children, for bringing me out and getting me here to see my son and his soon-to-be-wife get married.”
“Married?!” Cyra gasped, spinning to face Urika with wide eyes. “He asked?”
“Awkwardly, but yes,” Urika smiled fondly.
“I wasn’t as prepared as I wanted to be,” Vulk said as he led Emma into the kitchen area, “but it was the right time.”
“I, of course, said yes,” Emma smiled broadly. “Can we convince you to stay for another week or two so you can be here for the wedding?”
“Yes,” Stern said simply. “We’ll stay.”
“Good,” Trish snorted. “I’d have had to hurt you, otherwise.”
“Oh, we have to plan it all out!” Cyra said excitedly.
“Breakfast will be ready in a moment. Let’s eat and discuss,” Cammie said.
“Urika, can I seat you?” Stern asked, moving to the table.
“A gentleman and a savior? My goodness, your girlfriends are blessed,” Urika smiled as she sat in the chair he’d pulled out for her.
Stern blushed lightly as he turned to seat Trish.
“We are, indeed,” Trish replied.
“I’m the blessed one,” Stern said. “I’m me, and yet they both love me and are willing to share that love.”
“Love takes many forms,” Urika said. “Sometimes even falsely, but I don’t think you’ll ever have that problem.”
“No, not with Cyra and Trish beside me,” Stern smiled. He stayed standing, waiting to seat Cyra and Cammie when they finished plating the food.
~*~*~
Stern was surprised at how quickly the women started planning for the wedding, and how efficient they were at it. Vulk and him were politely— yet firmly— told to stay out of the way. With that being stated, Stern took Vulk with him to run some errands.
Vulk’s steps slowed when they entered Garton’s, his eyes darting from outfit to outfit, his face heating. Stern, wearing his best suit, went directly to Garton.
“Garton, a pleasure,” Stern said before the merchant could greet him. “I need that property for another two weeks. Can you arrange for that?”
“Of course, sir,” Garton beamed, thinking of the money he was about to make.
“Vulk, any of these work for Emma?” Stern asked with a slight smirk, turning back to see the dwarf barely a dozen paces into the building.
Face going bright red, Vulk coughed. “Uhm…”
“Well, she’s going to be your bride soon. If you want to grab one to surprise her with, I can arrange it.”
“Would this be one of the four ladies my wife assisted a few weeks ago?” Garton asked.
“Yes,” Stern said. “The half-dwarfess.”
“Ahh. Sir, if I may?” Garton asked, sweeping to Vulk. “This way. I have an ensemble that is demure, yet gets increasingly provocative depending on how much she takes off.”
Vulk trailed Garton on reflex, and Stern watched them go with a smile. Good luck, my friend. My parents say marriage is a blessing, and you’ll find out before me, Stern thought.
~*~*~
It took them an hour with having to wait for Garton to go talk to the owner of the manor. Once he was back with the assurance that things were fine for their stay, Stern paid him for the manor and Vulk’s surprise for Emma.
“Stern, I’m sorry,” Vulk said as they walked.
“For?” Stern asked.
“Stopping.”
“No,” Stern said simply. “This is your point. We all have them. Some just find theirs sooner.”
“You’ll keep her safe, right?”
“As safe as I can. As safe as any other member of my crew, Vulk.”
“The only other members of your crew are your lovers,” Vulk countered.
Stern slowed for a moment. “I guess that’s true, with you stopping. Don’t worry. Just because she isn’t my lover doesn’t mean I will protect or care for her less.”
Vulk gave Stern the side-eye for a moment. “Hmm... Okay. Not planning on pulling her into your circle?”
“No. Trish and Cyra are special. I didn’t pull them in so much as they showered me with their love.”
Vulk snorted. “Trish is that kind.”
“Is she ever,” Stern laughed.
“But Cyra?”
“She isn’t, but her unwavering affection was something I couldn’t ignore.”
“Okay. That makes it easier to stop.”
“You were afraid I was going to try coercing her?” Stern asked, shocked.
“No. I just wondered if you would try to bring her into your circle. I’ve known you long enough to know that you wouldn’t force a woman to do anything.”
“Thank the Goddess. I don’t want to be one of those guys.”
“Where are we going?” Vulk finally asked, as they’d been walking farther away from the manor instead of toward it.
“A tailor,” Stern said. “You’re getting married. We need a suitable suit for you, and I want to see about getting a newer one for me.”
“Stern, you don’t have to—”
“I want to,” Stern cut him off firmly, but gently.
“Okay,” Vulk sighed. “Feel like I’m taking advantage of you, though.”
“Not at all. You can’t take advantage when it’s forced upon you.”
Vulk snorted. “And here we just said you weren’t that kind of guy.”
Stern opened his mouth, then closed it before shrugging. “Well, apparently I am for you.”
Laughing, Vulk slapped him on the back. “I’m not that kind of guy.”
“Good thing for the women we love, huh?”
Chapter Forty-three
Time flew by as they planned the wedding and sent out invitations. Some crews delayed moving on just to be able to attend. Emma’s parents closed down the tavern for a few days so they could help get everything in order, causing news of the wedding to spread throughout most of the city.
The night before the wedding, Stern took Vulk back to the inn. They had a small celebration with some fellow Walkers, then retired to the rooms upstairs for the night. The women had their own party, and would meet them at the venue for the wedding.
