Hearthglen

by Daniel Schinhofen

  Frowning, Sean watched the energy just swirl around the stump as if lacking a direction. What do I do? I want the arm to regrow, but how does one regrow an arm? Reducing the swelling and bleeding in Ida’s brain was easy in comparison because there were things that were obviously wrong. His arm is missing at the joint, like it was sheared off there. Maybe the first order then is to rebuild the skeleton?

  Brendis gasped, teeth clenching as his arm began to twitch. “Winter’s frozen tits, that hurts.”

  “Sam, unpin his sleeve and get it out of the way, please,” Sean struggled to say. He was holding his energy back; it had wanted to start regrowing the bone, but Brendis’ pinned up sleeve blocked the growth.

  Sam did as Sean asked, even though she was clearly worried for her husband. Ida went to her father’s side, helping her mother get the sleeve out of the way before placing her hand on his shoulder.

  As soon as the scarred stump was visible, Sean let his energy go to work again. The scar tissue on Brendis’ arm parted and a clean white bone began to form, growing longer and thicker as they watched. Gasps from all around the room almost took Sean’s concentration away from what he was doing. Even he was amazed, more so by the lack of blood as the bone expanded.

  “He truly is god-touched,” Ryann whispered as she watched the arm regrowing.

  As soon as the bone was complete, Sean focused on muscles, tendons, and blood vessels. Chastity let out a gagging sound from where she had been quietly watching in the corner and bolted from the room.

  Feeling his energy spooling out fast— but not as fast as when he brought Myna back— he briefly wondered if he’d be able to finish. Have to finish. Can’t leave him with a fully formed but useless arm, dumbass.

  “It’s okay, it’s okay,” Brendis gritted through clenched teeth as he felt strange movement from his arm.

  “Oh, Queens’ mercy,” Sam sobbed.

  Ida’s eyes were wide and full of wonder as she watched her father’s arm regrowing. “Oh father, I love you so much.”

  The emotions of the two women bookending Brendis spurred Sean on as the muscles finished forming. Should be nerves next, but I’ll do skin first, then finish with the nerves. Gods only know what skin growing would feel like otherwise.

  “Take from me, love,” Fiona whispered as she placed her hand on his knee.

  “And from me, Master,” Myna murmured as she stroked his hair gently.

  Feeling their energy waiting for him, Sean accepted it and started to get the skin to reform on Brendis’ new arm. The ruined flesh became fresh and pale as it started to creep down over the new muscle.

  “Can I give to him, as well?” Ryann asked, having been just close enough to hear Myna’s murmur.

  “Yes,” Myna said, reaching out to catch Ryann’s hand.

  Sean felt the new energy and pulled gently from it, knowing Ryann didn’t have a lot. Okay, the skin is almost done... and the nails. Make sure to give him fingernails, or he’ll look odd.

  Ida stopped holding her father when she heard Ryann’s question. Kneeling before Sean, she placed her hands on his thighs. “Me too, sir. Drain me if you must, but please don’t stop.”

  Ida’s energy spiked into him as she pushed it at him. Accepting it, he clamped down on her energy so it would come in slowly. Feeling all the energy from his Bonded rushing into him, Sean focused on the nerves next.

  “This might hurt even more, Brendis, but we’re almost done.”

  “I can take it,” Brendis hissed, his eyes screwed tightly shut.

  A moment later, Brendis’ mouth opened to scream but no sound came out. Body shaking, Sam leaned over and held him, tears falling from her eyes. “Almost finished love, almost. Hang on for me,” she said, her voice breaking as she sobbed.

  Brendis’ new hand clenched and unclenched as the new nerves fired spasmodically, connecting to the older nerves in the bicep. Brendis managed a gasp as his own energy rushed into his new arm, leaving him feeling partly drained.

  Feeling his energy stop and swirl around the arm, Sean waited a moment before he withdrew it. Sean dropped Mage Sight, and when he blinked, he saw Brendis passed out across from him. “It’s done,” Sean managed before he slumped in his seat, too. “It takes a lot to regrow an arm.”

  “Dear husband, are you okay?” Sam was asking, kissing Brendis’ face. He blinked up at her, dazed for a moment as he regained consciousness.

  Blinking the tears from his eyes, Brendis stroked her hair. “I’m fine, Samele, I’m fine. Shh. It hurt like nothing I’ve felt before, but I’m fine now.”

  “Father,” Ida cried as she sprang up. Grabbing his hand that had been stroking her mother’s hair, she brought it into his field of view. “Your arm.”

  Brendis’ mouth gaped open as his eyes widened, “Summer’s golden buttocks…”

  Sam glanced at Ida, her own eyes glittering as she took the slowly flexing hand in hers and kissed it. “You’re healed, even though they said it was impossible.”

  “Um, huh?” Sean asked.

  “We had a healer see him the day he lost his arm,” Sam sniffled, tears of happiness leaking from her eyes. “The healer said it was impossible to regrow an arm... they can fix injury, but not regrow limbs.”

  “Oh… err… you’re welcome. Good thing I don’t know any better,” Sean managed wryly.

  “Just as no one can bring back the dead,” Myna said, bending down to kiss Sean’s head. “Master can do anything he puts his mind to.”

  Looking from his new hand to Sam and Ida, Brendis pushed himself to his feet. “I… I can never repay this…” Trailing off, Brendis bowed at the waist deeply to Sean. “Anything you need I will give to you, for this priceless gift.”

  “Sure, but I didn’t do it for payment,” Sean said tiredly. “I did it because your daughter is my apprentice, and I help family and friends.”

  “Still,” Sam said, holding her husband’s new hand, “we’ll repay you even if it takes our entire lifetime to do so.”

  “Dinner,” Andrea said, poking her head out of the dining room, not knowing what had been happening.

  Chapter Twenty-nine

  Dinner was a little awkward, in part because Brendis was getting used to having an arm again. He wasn’t having any trouble with it, but he would pause every few bites just to stare at his hand. Ida’s eyes were shining brightly as she watched her father, and Sam kept surreptitiously wiping tears away.

  Sean was very happy to have Andrea, who had managed to make up a three-course meal on very short notice. The salad was light, with a zesty vinaigrette. The main course was a savory chicken soup, the vegetables in the broth with just a bit of firmness to them. The dessert was fruit and honey spread on fresh bread.

  “Dinner was very good,” Sam told Andrea as she finished her last bite of dessert.

  “Thank you, Mrs. Bronzeshield,” Andrea said as she started collecting the plates.

  “You’re unusual in so many ways,” Brendis said to Sean. “Having your maid sit at dinner, never seen that done with guests over. Two Fairies at the table. I know one of them is who got you to save my Ida, though, so I will never begrudge them their place.”

  “If Denmur and his lot saw this table, they would go into an apoplectic fit,” Sam chuckled. “It’s too bad they’ll never be invited over, because I think I’d pay to see it happen.”

  “None of them would be welcome in the shop, much less our home,” Sean snorted.

  “What are you going to tell people about your arm?” Fiona asked into the lull as the others finished up their meal.

  “I haven’t figured that out,” Brendis said as he flexed the elbow. “It’s an impossibility, there’s no way to explain it. If I just stay home and we get another to mind the counter, it might never come to light.”

  “We can’t…” Sam said before she trailed off. “But we could afford it with you back in the forge with me.”

  “Yes,” Brendis nodded. “The trick will be finding someone to run the counter.”
/>
  “I know a person for you,” Fiona smiled. “I’d ask you let her go to the market for us on Tenday, but other than that, I think she’d work out once you give her a day or two to learn the pricing you want to use.”

  “Maridis?” Sean asked.

  “She’s done the job for us,” Fiona replied. “I can have her stop by your place tomorrow after she goes to the market for us.”

  “Please do,” Sam said. “If you’re vouching for her, I will give her the chance.”

  “We should head to the inn. The others will be wondering what’s keeping us otherwise,” Sean said.

  “I’m sure they’ll all ask about Ida, too, since it was well known that she was going to work for the Dominguez family today,” Sam nodded.

  “I’ll draft a letter for you to sign when you get back, Sean,” Fiona said. “I’ll have it sent over to the Dominguez family tomorrow.”

  “Okay. You coming tonight, Myna?”

  “I’m going to stay home tonight,” Myna replied.

  “Have a good night,” Ida said as she went around the table to give her mother and father a hug. “I told you I made the right choice.”

  Brendis snorted as he hugged his daughter tightly. “Scared me half to death with that Agreement. I find it hard to argue with now, though, with him going for you and giving me my arm back.”

  “I agree with your father, dear,” Sam said, kissing Ida’s head. “Sean has shown time and again that he is a good man, beyond his Talents and power... or maybe I should say, in spite of.”

  “I just have different standards,” Sean said.

  Brendis shook Sean’s hand as they parted. The smith’s grip was strong, but Sean just smiled. Leaving the Dwarf behind, Ryann, Sam, and Sean continued toward the inn.

  “I can’t begin to thank you,” Sam said.

  “Leave it alone, Sam,” Sean said. “I’m glad I could help. Remember when I upset him when we first met? It was because I was thinking of my healing Talent and wondering if that might help him regrow his arm. I changed what I was thinking when I upset him.”

  “Oh… I see,” Sam replied, thinking back to that day. “That was why you were hesitant. You weren’t sure your Talent would have been enough, and didn’t want to hurt him by trying and failing.”

  “Pretty much,” Sean nodded. “Consider it payment for digging up the hurt on that day.”

  “Did Ida tell you about it?”

  “No. I’ve never asked, either.”

  “It was an accident, a nearly fatal accident, ten years ago,” Sam said. “If you want to know, tell Ida I said it was okay.”

  “Sure,” Sean said, not planning on ever asking.

  “Sean,” Ryann said after she was certain they were done talking, “the armor should be ready tomorrow.”

  “Oh good, we’ll go pick it up,” Sean said. “Myna’s should be done, as well. It’ll be a busy day, with that and training. I’ll also need to speak with Watercaller and Stoneeyes and see when they’re going to come over.”

  “Won’t be a long wait,” Ryann chuckled, as they started to cross the square to the inn.

  “Fair enough, Ry, fair enough.”

  Joseph waved at Sean as he and Ryann went inside the inn. I swear, one day I’m going to walk in here and it’s going to be a Cheers moment where everyone turns and calls out my name.

  “You seem eager to see us,” Sean said as they got closer to the table.

  “We’re all just curious how Ida’s day went?” Joseph said. “Rumor has it someone went running through the city earlier, and was then seen carrying a short and stout woman through the streets.”

  “Both of those were me,” Sean admitted.

  “Welcome back. Drinks?” Lilly asked, having come over to the table.

  “Hot cider,” Ryann ordered.

  “Serumtrutous,” Sam said, which raised a few eyebrows at the table.

  “Forge with a Dark Delight to back it,” Sean said.

  “Oh, thinking you can withstand the heat this time?” Avery chuckled.

  “I’ll bring them right out. Do the rest of you want another round?”

  “Bring them on out,” Sam said, flipping a bronze to Lilly.

  “It wasn’t your turn, Sam,” Werrick frowned.

  “I want to,” Sam shrugged.

  “Did Sean propose to Ida then?” Joseph chuckled.

  Sean went red. Sam rolled her eyes, and the rest of the table laughed except Ryann, who went blank faced, clearly not liking the joke. “No,” Sean said.

  “I just wanted something different tonight,” Sam said.

  “Sam, we’ve known you too long for that to work,” Joseph replied. “You only drink Serumtrutous when you’re celebrating.”

  “It can be a bit costly for drinking all the time,” Sam said, brushing off Joseph’s comment.

  “When did you have any last?” Joseph said, pushing the issue.

  “When Ida was apprenticed…” Sam admitted with a twist to her lips.

  “And before that?” Joseph asked with a shit-eating grin.

  “When my youngest was born,” Sam admitted with a frown.

  “Now that we’ve established the pattern, spill,” Joseph said, leaning forward.

  Sam looked away, “I can’t. I’ve Agreed.”

  The others sat back with pensive expressions. “I’m sorry to press, Sam. I didn’t know,” Joseph apologized.

  “You had no way of knowing,” Sam sighed. “I’m celebrating, but I can’t say why. Breaking the Agreement would be much too costly.”

  “It’s fine,” Joseph said quickly. “Sean,” he said, trying to change the topic, “what happened with Ida?”

  “Well…” Sean paused as the drinks arrived. Served last by Lilly, Sean waited while the maid was leaning into him.

  “Some of us will be stopping by tomorrow for more clips. That won’t be a problem, will it, sir?”

  “I might not be there, but my staff is good at her job. She’ll take good care of you.”

  “Very well, sir. If you need anything, just call for me.” Lilly smiled as she swayed away from the table.

  “He isn’t interested,” Ryann muttered too softly for anyone but Sean to hear.

  Sean gave Ryann a look and a nod before he shrugged. “Anyway, as I was saying,” he launched into the story of Ida’s service and injury, pausing when Stoneeyes and Watercaller arrived. Once they were seated and had drinks, he continued, only pausing again when Gertihs showed up.

  By the time he finished, everyone at the table was shaking their heads. “Your wife is right,” Gertihs said. “They should be the ones to pay for the healer. They might try to argue since you did take her from them early, and the magistrate might object, too…” Gertihs trailed off as he sucked at his teeth in thought.

  “At most, he’d have to pay a small fine for her not completing her entire sentence. There were mitigating reasons.” Watercaller tapped his lips with a finger, then shook his head. “Then again, you had the strictest magistrate.”

  “I’ll deal with it one way or another,” Sean shrugged. “I might move some of my plans forward to pay the healer, if need be.”

  “Speaking of... Sean,” Stoneeyes said, segueing them to a new topic, “we’ll be over tomorrow to work on the bathhouse.”

  “The pipes are ready,” Sean told her. “I might need to step away for a little bit to take care of an errand or two, but I should be back by the time you finish preparing the channel.”

  “You’re moving forward on that too?” Gertihs asked.

  “Yeah. Anyone know where Silvertouch is?” Sean asked.

  “She had a rush Shaping to do for tomorrow,” Gertihs replied. “She sends her regrets for not making it, but we all know how it goes. If it’s okay with you, I’ll pass along the story. I know she’ll be interested.”

  “That’s fine,” Sean assured him.

  “The bathhouses are going to be a real thing?” Avery asked with interest.

  “From our small sample so far
, it looks promising,” Watercaller said. “Once we get MacDougal’s in and give them a few tendays, it will help solidify our theories.”

  “They will be expensive, but I think we might see a sudden upsurge in bathhouses, both public and private,” Stoneeyes smiled. “If we can make it less expensive to maintain them, I’m thinking smaller bathhouses are likely to start up.”