Life Bonds

by Daniel Schinhofen

  Myna shook her head. “Even if that knife had hit, it wouldn’t kill our Master.”

  Ryann glared at Myna. “It was aimed for his chest.”

  Sean sighed and drew his belt knife, “Ryann, come over here and take a seat. It's time to explain some things to you.”

  Ryann came over slowly, wondering how they could all be so calm, and crouched down across from them. Myna began to set out the bread, honey, butter, and jam that the innkeeper had delivered to them. Fiona poured the tea and set a cup near Ryann.

  Sean held out his arm, pulled his sleeve up, and slashed him forearm with his knife, hissing in pain. “Gods that hurts.” Ryann went to grab his arm, but Sean caught her hand. “Watch,” he said firmly. Silvery red blood dripped from the wound for a moment.

  Ryann’s eyes grew steadily larger as she watched the wound heal up. Once the blood stopped flowing, the skin repaired itself, and it soon looked as if no cut had ever been there. “How?”

  “It’s not a Talent, not as such, but it does seem to transfer to those Bonded to me,” Sean said, glancing at Fiona and remembering how he had discovered the ability.

  Fiona patted his arm. “Not the best way of finding out.”

  “I can heal like that?” Ryann asked incredulously.

  “Yes and no,” Sean said. “Maybe? It all comes down to energy. Your reservoir is still so small, so I’m not sure it would work well for you.”

  “That’s how you survived the poison…” Ryann trailed off as the thought struck her.

  “Very probably,” Sean shrugged. “Since you’ve Bonded with me, I thought it might be okay to share some of what I can do with you so you can be better prepared for eventualities.”

  “We should eat while we talk,” Myna said, pushing a helping of buttered bread to Ryann. “Honey or preserves, your choice.”

  Ryann took the bread without really noticing it, her eyes focused on something that wasn’t there. “You’re as powerful as a Noble, aren’t you?”

  “I don’t actually know, and I’d like to not find out for a long time,” Sean said as he sipped at the tea Fiona had given him. “Let’s talk for a bit about things that I can do, and that you might be able to do in the future.”

  Chapter Thirty-four

  Waking to a soft purr and the feeling of lips against his, Sean opened his eyes to see Myna draped across his chest. “Morning, Master,” Myna said when she saw his eyes open.

  Giving her a sleepy smile, he kissed her again. “Morning, Myna.”

  Myna shifted to the side and Fiona filled his vision and claimed his lips. When the kiss broke, they exchanged the same words. Sean chuckled, “Both of you decided you needed morning kisses, huh?”

  “Hoping it will help you accept us both easier,” Fiona said as the two women lay against him.

  “Shouldn’t we be getting up and getting things ready to go?” Sean asked, even as his hands gently rubbed their backs.

  “Maybe,” Fiona murmured.

  “Probably,” Myna purred.

  Sean laughed when neither of them moved away from him. “You both make it hard to get things done.”

  Fiona’s hand crept toward his waist. “Do we?”

  “Fiona… not yet, please,” Sean said as his breath hitched in his throat.

  “If that is your wish, Master,” Fiona said wistfully as she rolled away from him.

  “We’ll wait,” Myna said, slipping out of bed as well.

  Sean watched the two nearly nude women reach for their clothes before he shook his head. “Ladies?” When they both looked back at him, he tossed the blankets off him. “I’m sorry for being an idiot. Please come back to bed.”

  Both of them smiled brightly as they rejoined him on the bed and manhandled him, much to Sean’s amusement and pleasure. Letting them take the lead made things easier for him, as it seemed the women had already discussed this moment.

  While Fiona kissed her way down his body, Myna stroked his hair and exchanged deeply passionate kisses with him. Gasping when Fiona reached his stiff cock and took it into her eager mouth, Sean was surprised when Myna moved, hitching her leg over his shoulder and presenting herself to his mouth.

  Sean didn’t pause, and immediately began to lick and love Myna’s sex with his tongue. His occasional deep moan caused by Fiona only seemed to excite Myna more. A growl of disappointment came from him when Fiona’s mouth came free of his cock.

  “Myna, you haven’t done this yet. Come here so I can give you pointers,” Fiona said, her voice full of passion.

  Myna shifted away from Sean, joining Fiona lower on the bed. Sean’s breathing paused as he watched Fiona explain how to properly suck him. Exhaling with a moan, Sean let his eyes close as Myna took him into her mouth for the first time. Sean was on the edge of orgasmic bliss for many long minutes as Fiona kept her hand on his balls while she taught Myna. Anytime Sean started to get too close, Fiona would have Myna stop, which helped prolong the entire lesson.

  “Okay, Myna. This time, don’t stop, and be ready for him to finish,” Fiona said as she took her hand away from Sean’s balls. “Show him everything you’ve learned.”

  Myna hummed and began eagerly bobbing her head up and down his shaft. Sean moaned, grasping the bedding as his breathing became erratic, having been kept on edge for far too long. When Fiona’s tongue began to gently lap at his balls at the same time, it was too much for him. With a loud moan, he felt his body tighten up as his hips left the bed, pushing him all the way into Myna’s mouth as the first spurts left his body. Myna did the best she could to swallow his cum, but she couldn’t keep up with it. Some spilled from her down to Fiona, who was more than happy to help clean it up.

  By the time Sean stopped twitching, he felt lightheaded. His breathing was ragged as he blinked, trying to get his eyes to focus. When he could think straight and looked down, he found the two women engaged in a passionate kiss. Jaw dropping, Sean watched them intently, and his flagging manhood started to come back to life.

  “It seems that the two of us being intimate excites him,” Fiona murmured as she winked up at Sean. “Which is good, as I find myself wanting to explore you as much as I do him.”

  Myna’s face was flushed as she nodded, and she nuzzled Fiona’s neck. “I am interested in you too, Fiona. I’m happy that you agreed to my idea and Life Bonded with him.”

  Sean reached down, gently stroking both of their heads. “Ladies, I wish to return what you just gave me. Fiona, would you like to help me explore Myna’s body first?”

  “Oh yes,” Fiona whispered as she kissed Myna again and rolled the Moonbound onto her back. “I’m very willing to help.”

  “But—” Myna began before her breath caught in her throat as Fiona nipped at a taut nipple.

  “You’ll get to explore her in turn,” Sean whispered into Myna’s ear and kissed it. “Just relax, and let us pleasure you.”

  “Yes, Master,” Myna purred in pleasure.

  Sean didn't know how long they spent playing with each other, but by the time they were sated, each of them had been the sole focus of the other two at least once. He came to the realization that Myna and Fiona loved each other as much as they did him.

  “Is it because of the Life Bonds?” Sean finally managed to ask.

  “To a degree, yes,” Fiona said. “We’ve talked, and we’ve both agreed that as long as you didn’t object, we would like to explore the connection.”

  “I don’t object,” Sean chuckled.

  “We noticed,” Myna whispered. “Encouraged us quite vocally, as I recall.”

  A heavy knock came on the door. “Sean, the innkeeper would like us to leave soon,” Ryann said from the other side of the wood.

  “Well, it’s a late start to the day,” Sean laughed as he rolled out of bed. “We’ll be out in a bit,” he called back as he pulled the basin over to him. “Let’s get a quick wash before we dress.”

  When they exited the room, Ryann was standing there with a bag by her feet. “The stable master
said that all of our stuff has been placed into our wagon.” Her whole demeanor seemed stiff, as if she was hiding something.

  “Okay, let’s grab a late breakfast and we’ll go,” Sean said.

  Myna picked up the bag by Ryann’s feet. “I wonder if he’ll claim that the kitchen isn’t serving right now.”

  “He packed a bundle of food for us,” Ryann said. “It’s inside the bag.”

  “Ahh,” Sean said, getting it finally. “They’ve been waiting for us to leave all morning. Why didn’t you eat while you waited, though?”

  Ryann’s lips thinned. “We should go.”

  “Yes, we should,” Fiona said. “Myna, take Master down to the wagon. Ryann and I need to talk for a moment.”

  Ryann met Fiona’s gaze, then nodded. “Yeah, we should.”

  Sean started to turn to stop whatever the issue was, but Myna gave his arm a tug. “This way, Master.”

  Sean let her guide him away from the other two. “Myna, why?”

  “It was part of my arrangement with Fiona,” Myna said simply as they went down the stairs. “She is in charge of all the other Bonded that you employ.”

  “Wait, you’re telling me that Fiona is squaring up to Ryann?” Sean asked.

  “Broadly, Master,” Myna nodded. “Fiona is a proud woman, as you know. She wants to make sure everything is just as she thinks it should be for you.”

  Sean came to a stop. “I’m going to put an end to this,” Sean said, turning and starting back up the stairs.

  “Master, wait, don’t,” Myna pleaded. “You said trust was one of the pillars. You should trust her here.”

  Pausing, Sean frowned. “I did, but you two are keeping secrets from me, like Fiona wanting to be in charge of all my Bonded. I need to know these things.”

  “Yes, Master,” Myna said softly. “I will make sure she knows. Until you do talk to her, though, please don’t undercut her where Ryann is concerned.”

  Shaking his head, he started back down the stairs.

  The bartender refused to look at him as Sean went past with Myna close behind him. The stable master had his wagon hitched and waiting as Sean stepped into the yard. “I see the wagon is all ready to go.”

  “My brother said you’re leaving today,” the old man said.

  “We are indeed,” Sean said as he went to check the wagon. “Myna, did we get the horses looked at?”

  “No, Master. I was going to ask him today, but we’re leaving,” Myna said, lowering her head.

  “Next town, then,” Sean shrugged. “You’re driving us out of here, so get on up there.”

  “Yes, Master,” Myna said, climbing onto the driver's bench.

  “Sorry for the delay, Master,” Fiona said as she came out of the inn with Ryann trailing behind her.

  Sean eyed the two of them. Fiona was all smiles and Ryann had a thoughtful expression on her face. “Everything taken care of?”

  “Yes, Master, we have everything taken care of,” Fiona said as she climbed into the back of the wagon.

  “Ryann?” Sean queried.

  “Everything is fine, Sean,” Ryann said, climbing up onto the bench beside Myna.

  Shaking his head again, Sean climbed into the wagon. “Everyone’s here. Myna, get us rolling.”

  A light snap of the reins got the horses moving. As soon as they were on the road, Fiona handed Sean the kettle and asked him to start some tea, then she opened the bag of food Myna had set in the back.

  By the time he had the tea brewing, she had handed out food to everyone. The meal was silent, and the guards on the gate did not stop or question them as they rolled through. The green tea after the meal was perfect for the almost meditative state they all seemed to be in as the wagon rolled down the road and toward their next destination.

  Chapter Thirty-five

  Two very uneventful days passed as they traveled toward the village of Merits, for which Sean had been grateful. Fiona and Myna cuddled with him each evening, but because they were sharing the tent with Ryann, they didn’t press anything.

  Sean kept a close eye on Fiona and Ryann, but the two women seemed to be getting along fine. Occasionally, he would catch Ryann watching him with a pensive expression, but every time he asked her if something was wrong, she just shook her head.

  When they stopped the first night, Fiona suggested they spar, which turned out to be an eye opener. Myna’s penchant for going into Camo right away in a fight gave Ryann problems, though she was able to hit Fiona with her wooden throwing knives easily.

  Fiona took her loss with a smile, allowing Sean the chance to face off with Ryann. She ran into problems again, as Sean found the world slowing down for him when the fight started. Even so, he had to dodge fast, her knives coming faster than he would have thought possible. Once Ryann was out of knives, however, Sean was able to advance and dispatch her.

  Ryann grilled Sean on how he had done what he had. It had taken most of the rest of the first night for him to explain how time seemed to slow for him. Fiona and Myna both admitted that they had started being able to do so to some extent as well once they had Life Bonded with him.

  The second night, they worked on the wooden hair clips, with Ryann trying to help. Sean kept the slowest trickle of energy going to her as she worked. Her work was crude and slow, but the wonder on her face as she Shaped brought smiles to the other three.

  On the morning of the third day, Ryann seemed even more withdrawn than she had previously. Sean wondered if he should talk with her, but held back, not wanting to seem pushy.

  As they rode toward the village of Merits, Ryann asked to change places with Fiona in the back. Fiona gave Ryann a smile and did as asked, leaving Sean and Ryann in the wagon bed. Settling into a spot, Ryann seemed to be gathering her thoughts.

  “Sean,” Ryann said slowly, “might I ask you some questions?”

  “Of course,” Sean said, wondering what she could be wanting to know.

  “I’ve seen the way you treat Fiona and Myna,” Ryann said, picking her words carefully. “Does the one’s blood and the other’s Shame mean nothing to you?”

  “No,” Sean replied. “If you haven’t figured out that I’m an Outsider by now, Ryann, I don’t know what else to say.”

  “I’ve met one other Outsider before, but he was quick to adopt the world’s attitudes,” Ryann said “You seem to resist them, and even openly flaunt your disregard for them.”

  “I am what I am,” Sean shrugged.

  Brow scrunching, Ryann stared at him. “Why did you Life Bond them?”

  Chewing his lip for a moment, Sean tried to put his thoughts together. “When I healed Myna, something happened. I don’t know what, but she was at death’s door. When she woke up, she was Life Bonded to me,” Sean said finally, skirting the truth. “It wasn’t planned. Fiona, though... she asked me to, and I loved her before she asked, so it felt like the right thing to do.”

  “Then it wasn’t because they had Talents that you wanted?”

  “Nope. I wouldn’t Life Bond someone just because they had a Talent,” Sean replied with a frown. “The thought of taking away someone’s whole life just to acquire a Talent makes me feel unclean.”

  “What if they offered their Talents to you in exchange for a Life Bond?” Ryann asked, looking away from him.

  “I’d probably refuse,” Sean replied. “I don’t see why someone would even want to. To give up your entire life to someone else, that has to be…” Sean trailed off, not able to explain how he felt about the concept.

  Ryann’s face fell a little at his words, but she was back to looking unconcerned by the time he looked back at her. “I see. What are your plans exactly?”

  “What I would like to do is find a place to settle down for a bit, and maybe open up a shop for Shaped goods,” Sean said. “On the other side of Merits, Fiona said we’ll pass the town of Flento and then reach the city of Hearthglen. I’m hoping we can settle down in Hearthglen.”

  “Are we likely to head straigh
t there, instead of spending days at each of the others?”

  “I’m considering it,” Sean replied. “We can’t sell the hair clips in either of them, but Fiona did rake in a nice haul for us during the betting, so it’s a definite option. However, I’ve had a few too many things just happen on this trip to get too caught up in the idea that things will go that smoothly.”

  “That’s a fair point,” Ryann chuckled, considering that she had been in a group that had ambushed him. “Do you think you’ll need me to be on retainer after the year?”