Divine Agreements, page 10
“You’d brace for any hit that could send you flying,” Ida said slowly. “Why not set the runes to work when you plant to brace?”
Sean considered it, then stood up and went through a mock fight in the middle of the room. Ida was right; when he set to accept a hit, he firmly planted his feet. Maybe that would work for him?
“Let’s give it a try,” Sean said.
Ten minutes later, Sean had a rune that worked the way he wanted. If either of his boots were planted, he might get knocked over, but he wouldn’t go flying. Helga had come down to tackle him as hard as she could to test it. It wouldn’t work in the air, but he honestly never expected to have something that would work in the air.
Everyone was happy, but then Helga asked, “Sean, why the always-on function?”
“What?”
“You have it set to always trigger if you put enough pressure on your heel. Why not just have it trigger when you push energy into it?”
Ida, Ryann, and Sean stared at her, then began to laugh. “We never even thought of it,” Ryann snickered.
“This is why having others helps,” Ida grinned.
“Redesign time,” Sean said as he worked on a new iteration. When he did, he wondered if it would work in the air then, too. If he didn’t have to exert pressure, he might be able to become immovable anywhere.
~*~*~
Fiona came down to get them for bathing before dinner, finding all four of them grinning at Sean, who was standing mid-air. “What in the world?”
“Spatial locks,” Sean grinned down at her. “A little trickle of energy and they’ll keep your boots locked in place, even in the air, as you can see.”
“We can add them to everyone’s armor on Oneday,” Ida said.
“The only thing is if you try to walk on air, it takes a lot of balance to pull it off,” Sean chuckled, then did just that. “But man, it’s a rush.”
“If I can coax you down, my love, it’s time to bathe,” Fiona said, marveling at her husband. “I think you’ve created enough for today.”
“Yeah, okay,” Sean said, dropping down, but grabbing Helga to kiss her.
“She had the last part of the idea that made it possible for him to lock in the air,” Ryann told Fiona as she walked with Ida toward the door. “He would have been ground bound, otherwise.”
“A well-deserved kiss, then,” Fiona smiled. “I’ll make sure he doesn’t dally.”
When Sean stepped back, Helga was red-faced. “Thank you, Helga.”
“Anytime, My Lord.”
“Sean, while I don’t expect you to kiss Xenta that way,” Fiona said with an amused smirk, “maybe you should give her some extra praise tonight?”
“Oh, right. Xenta did give me the original idea.”
“She deserves the praise, too,” Helga agreed, kissing Sean’s cheek before walking away from him.
Sean nodded as he went to Fiona, taking her hand. “I’ll make sure she gets a thank you. I don’t want the others to stress over it; if they see that they get a reward every time they help me with something like that, they might overwork themselves trying to help.”
“Hmm… that is a concern. Whatever you feel comfortable with is fine with all of us, Sean.”
Sean considered that as they walked up the stairs and through the kitchen where the cooks were getting things prepared. He gave them smiles as he went by, but he wondered about it. The only thing stopping him from doing more with the staff were his own rules. Fiona had just said his wives would be okay with whatever he deemed appropriate. Maybe chaste kisses were okay for them at this point? In three more tendays, Myna would have their first child, and then the others would swiftly follow.
“Don’t overthink it, beloved,” Fiona said, stopping them just short of the bathroom.
“Maybe a chaste kiss?” Sean asked.
Fiona giggled, then gave him just that. “Those would be fine, but maybe tell them after this first one? This will shock all of them and set their hearts aflutter with hope.”
Sean looked into her heterochromatic eyes for a long moment. “It’s okay?”
Fiona gently touched his cheek. “My dear, shy husband. Chaste kisses before the children are fine. We all care for them just as much as you do. None of them will push, knowing how that would negatively affect all of them. Xenta will be beside herself to be the first, and they’ll know why she was. Later tonight, before bed, I’ll make sure they understand the hows and whys.”
Sean nodded, then gave her a deeper, slower, loving kiss. Fiona pressed into him, returning his love to him. That love radiated to their wives in the bathroom, and then rebounded back to the pair kissing. Laughter came from the bathroom when Myna made a comment that Sean didn’t catch through the door.
When he entered with Fiona a moment later, everyone was smirking at them. Fiona laughed as she began to strip her clothing off. Sean flushed; while it wasn’t too deep a shade of red, he was still blushing a little.
Washing up was done quickly, and Sean and Fiona were soon in the tub, the last two in. The moment he took his seat, Fiona went to Xenta, taking her hand and leading her over to Sean. Xenta’s eyes were wide as she was gently placed in Sean’s lap. Sean was just as shocked to have Xenta there, and turned deep red as his body reacted to her being in that position. He was glad she was more on his thigh, so nothing unintended happened.
“Sir?” Xenta whispered, staring into his eyes with hope.
“I’m going to show a little more affection to all of you,” Sean said softly, but loudly enough that everyone in the room could hear him. “But you’re the one who gets this first. Chaste.”
Xenta’s heart stopped when his lips met hers. She fought her desire to press into him, to just straddle him and kiss him hotly. A small whimper escaped her as she kissed Sean back as lightly as he kissed her. When Sean leaned back, she nearly kissed him again, but managed to catch herself, leaning back to make sure she didn’t try again.
“Thank you, Xenta. I can work on portals on Oneday; you and Helga gave me the answers to my problem. I’ll kiss you and the others chastely starting today, but it won’t be every day, and they’ll be brief. The children come first, and then we’ll see.”
“Yes, sir. As Alpha wishes.”
Sean’s face went crimson, and then Xenta’s did when she realized what she’d said. Laughter came from the rest of the staff, some of his wives joining in. They all knew she hadn’t meant to say it, that it had just slipped out in the moment. Xenta swallowed, but Sean didn’t rebuke her; he just looked awkward.
“After we marry, Xenta?” Sean finally asked.
“Yes, sir. Sorry, sir.”
Sean stroked her cheek for a moment, then gently disengaged her from his lap before he accidentally poked her. “It’s okay, but you should go back to Cali for now.”
“Yes, sir…” Xenta whispered.
The moment she swam away, Myna was in his lap, just missing impaling herself on him. She took a spot that had him pressing against her, but not into her. “I’ll take this seat now, Master.”
That got laughter from everyone except Sean, who just shook his head. He held her in place to make sure she didn’t do more, but was fine with her sitting with him.
Chapter Fourteen
The entire house was excited about their day in the garden. Breakfast had been lively as everyone discussed their favorite parts; Sean’s happiness was high as he watched his family. That happiness went to his wives, then came back to him, redoubled from their empathic bonds.
An hour before it was time to leave, Sean took a seat at the desk with the book that the Fairies had chosen for the day. “Good morning to all of you,” he greeted them.
The chorus from the younger Fairies was enthusiastic, and Arla spoke up after that, “Only three more tendays, Sean.”
“For the children to be born,” Sean nodded.
“And for us to be adults,” Jutt said.
“Right,” Sean nodded. “Funny how that worked out.”
“It’s fate,” Jott said.
“Funny thing, fate and me,” Sean chuckled. “How about we don’t read today, but I tell you a story, instead?”
Cheers and agreement came from all of the children, and Sean looked over at the newest members of the group. “Have you heard my story?”
“Yes. Our parents told us— everyone in the clan is told— but to hear it directly from you would be even better,” the youngest said.
Sean still couldn’t get over how the children were just half-sized and acted like children-teens. He wondered if that was a good or bad thing. He wasn’t looking forward to the ‘terrible twos’ with his children, but he didn’t want to miss them, either. That was something he’d felt bad about for the fictional character sponsored by Luck; the poor bastard missed years out of his children’s lives because of his mission.
“Sean?” Arla asked, pulling him from his thoughts.
“Sorry. Just thinking of how different my children will be from you.”
“For the first year, they’re basically helpless,” Jott said. “We’ll be watching over them to make sure they’re safe. When they get older, they’ll be mobile, which will mean new hazards.”
“Those of us who won’t quite be adults will have an adult with us until we come of age,” another of the Fairy children said. “This way, an adult is always with them. We’ll have our younger peers help us so they can learn what they’ll be doing when they grow up, too.”
“Huh… that makes sense. Onim’s a smart one.”
“They are,” Jutt nodded. “They deeply miss Omin, but love that they can make the clan stronger until they’re reunited.”
That made the moment more somber for Sean, as it reminded him of a day when death had taken two of his wives from him, too. Clearing his throat, he tried to focus on what he was here for. “I’ll start at the very beginning: I was asked by a friend to meet him at a tavern…”
~*~*~
When he got to his death at Thor’s hands— or foot, to be accurate— Arla asked, “This is the god you made the new enchantments to fight against?”
Sean blinked, thrown off-kilter by the question. “Technically, yes. I hope not to see him again, but I’m not going to let him hurt my family by killing me. If he finds me during my planar travels, I won’t be the one dying this time.”
“We believe in you, Sean,” Jott said. The others all chimed in, adding more belief to that sentiment.
Sean felt the pulse from the younger Fairies and smiled at them. “Thank you. I’ll hope first to avoid him, though, as nothing good will come from fighting him.”
“I didn’t mean to disrupt your story. Sorry, Sean,” Arla apologized.
“It’s fine. You had a question, and questions are a way to learn. Now, after he broke my sternum and I died…”
~*~*~
The Fairies were listening raptly when Aria came into the room. She waited for him to finish his last bit of story, the part where he set out of Oakwood with Fiona and Myna, before telling him, “Sean, it’s time.”
“I hope you all have a good day,” Sean said, standing up.
“We will!” Arla beamed.
Aria gave his cheek a kiss as they left the room. “You know we all love the fact that you read to them, right?”
“It’s been mentioned,” Sean grinned.
“Everyone will be joining us today,” Aria went on as they headed for the stairs.
“That’ll be nice. Did we send word to Minerva?”
“Yes. Everyone who knows who you are, plus the closest allies who don’t.”
“Should be a good day,” Sean said, exhaling slowly. “Tomorrow starts my push on making portals.”
“Tomorrow, not today,” Aria said firmly. “Fiona told me to stop you if you started.”
Sean laughed as he put his arm around her waist. “I love all of you.”
“As we love you and each other. That second part is what still amazes me… all the love we have for each other. I was a little hesitant when we married. I was worried that I’d be the least wife, but Fiona, Myna, all of them helped me see that wasn’t the case… even if my wedding night was put on hold for a while.”
“I felt like such an ass for that,” Sean murmured. “I remember you reminding me.”
“You had reasons, Sean. It just let me know that you’ll love all of us as deeply as any other. Lilly hadn’t been a wife long, but you mourned her just as deeply as Chastity. Giving you time to grieve them wasn’t anything I begrudge. But for now, let’s move past the sadness.”
“As you wish, my dear lovebird.”
Aria laughed, slapping his arm. “Terrible.”
“You’re anything but terrible,” Sean grinned.
“You’re learning from Felora.”
“A little.”
~*~*~
When Sean stepped off the bus, all of his friends were chatting with his wives and staff. He greeted everyone as the group slowly funneled along the walkways of the garden. As they walked, he made time to catch up with Vasu Flamehair.
“How has the changeover of streetlamps gone?”
“Good. Casey Roads has been a delight to work with. Her team has mostly stayed the same, but a few have had others step in for a day here or there. The Advisor signed off on all of the lamps being switched.”
“That’s wonderful to hear.”
“Yes, but it came about because someone said they thought it would produce gas from the sewers. The Advisor had a Bear Moonbound go around to all of the installed lamps; what he found was that there was more gas in the areas where the lamps weren’t yet changed than where they had been.”
“Truestrike ally?”
“It was before the duel, so perhaps.”
“Moot point,” Sean shrugged.
“Charie was given a letter of accomplishment from the Advisor for it. There was even a suggestion that Charie inform other cities to follow suit if they have a sewer system.”
“Giving your family some needed recognition for their hard work.”
“Yes,” Vasu patted Sean’s back. “Thank you.”
“Always glad to help a friend.”
“Isn’t that the truth?” Jefferson chuckled, coming over to join them. The former leatherworker was smiling broadly. “Life has been nothing short of wondrous since Sean appeared. Sure, I left Hearthglen, but I have a devoted wife, a wonderful manservant, and a child on the way.”
“You did all that. I might have inadvertently introduced you and Michelle, but you two did the rest,” Sean laughed.
“True, but we’d never have met if not for you,” Jefferson said.
“To say nothing of my child who will be born shortly before all of his,” Giralt added, having joined the conversation. “And my departure from always smoking, which Clara has been very appreciative of. Well, she’s appreciative of both of them, but she mentions my not smoking most days. If I had known how much it had bothered her, I would have quit so much sooner. That brings up a point I wanted to address with you, Sean.”
“Sounds serious. Is something wrong?”
“Not wrong, but… Clara suggested it, and I agree with her. If we have a boy, we’d like to name him after you. Is that okay?”
“I’m flattered, but there’s no need to do that.”
“She was very firm on the name, but said she would choose differently if it upset you.”
“No, that’s fine,” Sean said. “Just thought maybe naming them after one of your parents would be a better choice.”
“If we have a girl, she’s being named after Clara’s grandmother, Clarabell.”
Sean chuckled. “You’re hoping for a son.”
“Purely selfishly. I want to see the family line go on.”
“Something most men want,” Vasu nodded.
“Especially if they’re nobility,” Toivo Mageheart said, joining them. “We’re hoping to see the Mageheart line become as well-known and respected as our former families.”
“How could the Mageheart line not?” Vasu laughed. “I’ve met the founders. With them there to guide it, it will be a wonderful family.”
Some of their wives looked back, smiling as they did— they were glad their husbands got along so well together. Husbands needed good male friends around them to help keep them balanced in life.
“Excuse us. Do you mind if we join your group?” Minerva asked as she came their way, her son in tow.
“Commander, High Lady, we’d be honored,” Sean grinned. “Let me introduce you around, as you might not have met most of those with us today, Commander.”
