Hearthglen

by Daniel Schinhofen

  “It doesn’t seem real,” Ryann murmured. “I believe you can do it, but the very idea just seems so unreal.”

  “He can do it,” Ida said with conviction. “He’s proven he can do anything he puts his mind to.”

  Sean snorted and blushed slightly. “Even if it did take me days to figure out how to enchant a kettle.”

  Ida looked at him with a pure smile, “I’ve found my faith because of you. I’ll never doubt you, sir.”

  Sean looked away from her. The power of her conviction was too much for him to take. “You should, at least occasionally. I’m not infallible, Ida.”

  “Of course, sir.”

  Shaking his head, Sean didn’t know what to say to her. Ryann watched both of them with narrow eyes, staying silent.

  Chapter Thirty-six

  Myna smiled as Sean put his arm around her waist while they walked. Ryann and Ida had walked a good bit ahead of them, having a whispered conversation the entire way. Sean could catch just enough to know that they were arguing, but he didn’t catch enough to know what about.

  “Myna, do you know what the issue is?”

  “Master, I love you, but sometimes…” Trailing off, Myna let her exasperation show. “Ida is trying to get Ryann to move forward on getting closer to you. I’m not positive, but that would be the best guess.”

  “Because Ida thinks she needs to wait for Ryann?”

  “Since you aren’t making the move forward yourself, Ida feels that it is only proper to wait and give the one who was Bonded before her the chance to become next.”

  “Oh,” Sean said. Maybe it’s time to make a move myself. Ida is attractive, and she’s obviously got a huge crush me. I understand why Ryann isn’t interested, just don’t know why she doesn’t just tell Ida that. I’ll talk to her tomorrow during the training hour, broach the subject and see what she says. I’m sure she’ll back away once she realizes it means a Life Bond. With that thought in mind, Sean felt a little anxious, but good about what tomorrow could be. I might have lied earlier, James. I might end up with a real harem.

  Ryann and Ida cut their conversation off when they reached the inn. Ryann’s brow was furrowed, clearly deep in thought. Ida patted Ryann on the shoulder as she entered before the others, heading straight for the apprentice table.

  “Everything okay?” Sean asked, coming to a stop behind Ryann, who hadn’t entered the inn yet.

  Blinking, Ryann looked uncertainly at Sean, then forcefully changed her expression back to neutral. “Of course. I’m your shield, that is all that matters.” Not waiting for him to reply, she entered the inn.

  “Master,” Myna sighed, following Ryann.

  Dropping his head, Sean exhaled deeply. Okay, so I have a long way to go with understanding women. Taking a calming breath, he walked inside. Waving to the smiths that greeted him, he made it over to the table a few moments after Lilly did.

  “Hot cider for me tonight,” Sean said as he took his seat.

  Lilly gave him a smile before she walked away, having already gotten the other drink orders. Ryann’s eyes were narrow as she muttered under her breath, “Fucking bitch... he isn’t interested, get a clue already.”

  Myna sighed quietly at Ryann’s inability to take steps forward, mirroring Sean to an uncanny degree. She took Sean’s hand and, smiling at the others who welcomed her to the table, greeted them in return. “Thank you, it’s always nice to see you all.”

  “Knox has been wearing this shit-eating grin since he got here,” Joseph said. “All he’s said is we have to wait for you to get here.”

  Sean chuckled, “Okay. This morning I had a small breakthrough on the enchanting.” Pausing as everyone sat forward to hear, he waited while Lilly came back to drop off their drinks.

  Placing Sean’s on the table last, Lilly gave him a smile, which faded as her Bonded mark caught his eye. Leaving the table, she failed to hear Ryann muttering under her breath, “He isn’t interested, you trollop.” Sean and Myna both heard what she said, though no one else did.

  Sean was momentarily distracted by Ryann’s growing contempt for Lilly when Myna nudged him to get his attention. “You were going to tell them about this morning.”

  “Oh, right,” Sean said. Explaining his breakthrough quietly, he watched the others all take in what he had done.

  “I want one,” Joseph said quickly.

  “Me too,” Avery piped up.

  “Hang on,” Sean said before anyone else could speak up. “It’s a prototype at the moment. If I can’t get my final goal in two tendays, I’ll sell some to you all, but I want to know how long they last first. If I can get it to work the way I want, then those I will gladly sell to you all.”

  “Works for me,” Sam smiled. “We are allowed to come over tomorrow to use your bathhouse, right?”

  “Of course,” Myna said. “We’ll have everything ready for you. Did you plan to come over before or after dinner?”

  “We’ll come by an hour before normal closing time,” Sam replied.

  “We have room for everyone, even your maid,” Myna reminded Sam.

  “We’re all quite eager to see the bathhouse. I’m even more excited to see the prototype that Sean has described.”

  “Would you mind if I stopped by to see it in the morning?” Fredrick asked. “Maybe it’ll give me an idea for you.”

  “You’re all welcome to stop by and see it,” Sean said.

  “Excuse me,” a finely dressed man said, coming the last few feet toward the table. “I’m looking for a Sean MacDougal.”

  “What is your business with him?” Ryann asked, her eyes sharp.

  “I wished to speak to him about some new kettles I’ve heard about today.”

  “I’m MacDougal,” Sean said. “The kettles are going to be available in a few days. I need to make sure I have a proper selection first.”

  “I see,” the man smiled. “Where is your shop located?”

  Sean gave the man directions, then wished him a good night. As the mystery man left, Eva watched him with a frown. “Problem, Eva?”

  “I thought I recognized him, but I can’t place him... so it’s probably nothing.”

  The rest of the night went by as usual. Eventually the smiths took their leave, followed by the Shapers. Sean wished Fredrick a good night and motioned to Ida that they were going.

  When they left the inn, the streets were empty except for Fredrick and Hans, who were heading the other way. Ryann and Ida walked ahead of Sean and Myna again, but didn’t speak. Watching them, Sean briefly reconsidered his idea about talking with Ida about what she wanted tomorrow.

  Leaning his head down, he whispered to Myna, “I’m going to ask Ida tomorrow what she really wants. If she asks, I’ll accept her.”

  Myna’s smile grew, “I’m very glad to hear that. We’ll make sure you’re alone with her, so it’s not awkward for you.”

  “Thank you.”

  The only sound was their soft breathing and footfalls as they walked home. Myna’s nostrils suddenly flared, and she spun away from Sean as she activated Camouflage. Sean blinked in surprise, then heard the faint scrape of metal ahead of them, bringing his attention to the four men stepping out of an alley.

  Time seemed to slow for Sean as he caught sight of the weapons they carried. Pulling his sword, Sean started forward as Ida and Ryann were still ahead of him. Ryann’s hands dipped to her throwing knives, and flung them at the men. Ida took a few steps back when she saw the attackers, as she was unarmed.

  The sound of crossbows firing made Sean slow a step, because it had come from behind him. Ida cried out when she went down, her legs no longer supporting her. The bolt in the center of her back heralded a spine injury, while another was lodged in her hip. Worse than that was Ryann, who staggered to the side, falling to her knees and clutching at her neck. One bolt could be seen sticking out of her armor, stopped from having done more than injure her. The other had torn clean through the side of her neck, the spurting blood undeterred by her f
eeble attempts to stop it.

  Sean went to rush to their sides when the two remaining men that had come out ahead of them started running at him. Shaping his sword into a hammer and charging forward, Sean brought it around, letting his anger lead him. The shield the man tried to block with splintered apart like kindling, the arm behind it snapping like a dry twig. His hammer carried on and crushed the assailant’s ribcage, sending fragments of bone through his heart and lungs.

  The second man didn’t have time to realize what had happened to his friend as his attack was stopped dead by Sean grabbing his arm in mid swing. Dark Cutter morphed into a spike, which Sean shoved into the man’s chest, slipping through the leather armor as if it were wet tissue. When he pierced the man’s heart, Sean felt the surge of energy as Dark Cutter greedily sucked the life essence from the would-be attacker.

  Spinning, Sean found Myna next to the alley two houses back. The four men who had used their crossbows were little more than pieces scattered around Myna’s feet. Snarling as she scanned the night for more danger, Myna looked every inch the predator as blood dripped from her blades and from her splattered clothing.

  Seeing the men dealt with, Sean turned back to Ida, who was screaming. She dragged herself toward Ryann, screaming her friend’s name brokenly. Ryann didn’t respond, lying motionless in a spreading pool of crimson. Whistles began to shrilly sound out, coming toward them as Sean went to the two women on the ground.

  Save the living first. He pulled the bolt out from between Ida’s shoulder blades, letting his new flesh Shaping ability show him the damage. Her spine was severed where the bolt had caught her. Pushing energy into her to get her to start healing, he focused on her spine as he willed it to reconnect.

  Ida’s screams cut off when she passed out. Her spine reconnected as the whistles grew ever closer. Certain that she was safe for now, Sean reached out for Ryann, tears falling from his eyes at the realization that another friend he cared for had died while he was nearby.

  Myna was beside him in the moment he touched Ryann’s lifeless hand. “Bring her back, Master... just as you did me.”

  Sean hesitated. He had Life Bonded Myna when he had, and he was loath to do so to Ryann, as well.

  “She will not hate you,” Myna said quickly. “Hurry, before the guards arrive and you can’t do anything without it being seen.”

  Nodding, not wanting his friend to be taken away from them, Sean gathered all of his remaining energy and shoved it into Ryann’s body. The depthless chasm Sean had felt before when he had attempted to bring Myna back was all too willing to take his energy.

  Come back Ry, please come back. You’re my shield, my friend, and I want you beside me. I don’t care what it takes, I would rather you be with us than anything else. The thoughts churned in his mind as he poured his energy into her lifeless body.

  Myna’s hand rested on his shoulder while he knelt there, holding Ryann’s hand. “Use mine, too, Master. It took you and Fiona to bring me back.”

  The surge of energy from Myna gave him renewed hope as he felt the abyss recoil from the energy. A feral smile came to him as the endlessness seemed to vanish. The flesh on Ryann’s neck was knitting together as their energy began to fill her.

  Yes, that’s it, Ry. I promise you whatever you want, just please come back. The silent cry in his mind found a light-blue spark drifting in the filling chasm.

  I shall be yours, equal to your wives. All I ask is that you treat me as I always wished to be treated. The faint voice of Ryann seemed to fill his mind.

  Agreed, Ry. Just come home.

  Ryann’s body shuddered and her lungs heaved as they drew air into them again. Her hand closed around his as if he was the anchor to bring her back. Her lifeless eyes regained their luster as thick black bands appeared around her wrists and neck.

  The whistles came from a dozen yards away, along with the voices of guards yelling in astonishment as they got close enough to see the carnage that covered the street.

  “Agreed, Sean,” Ryann managed to rasp out of her barely healed throat.

  Character Information

  Sean Aragorn MacDougal

  Human?

  Age: 33

  Gifts:

  Metal Bones, Viney Muscles, Mithril Blood, Magic Bond, Mending Body, Death Ward, Linguist, Hunter’s Blood, Infinite Possibilities

  Spells:

  Summon Water

  Talents:

  Shaper- (Wood, Metal, Flesh)

  Mage Sight

  Camouflage

  Targeter

  Elemental Manipulation (Water, Earth)

  Enchanting

  Bonded:

  Fiona Mithrilsoul- Life Bonded

  Myna Mooncaller- Life Bonded

  Ryann Cullin- Life Bonded

  Ida Bronzeshield- One-year Bond

  Chastity Bisset- One-year Bond

  Andrea Brandt- One-year Bond

  Ven- Ten-year Bond

  Venn- Ten-year Bond

  Oscar Blackhammer- Four Tenday Bond

  Hob Callon- Four Tenday Bond

  Author’s Note

  Please consider leaving a review for the book, feedback is imperative for an indie author. If you don’t want to review it then think about leaving a comment or even just a quick message. Remember, positive feedback is always welcome.

  If you want to keep up on the latest updates, or the one stop shop for all the links, my website is the best place for that. Remember to subscribe to the mailing list to know when I publish a new book, and you get an exclusive short when you sign up.

  http://schinhofenbooks.com/

  Other places you can keep up to date on me and my works:

  https://www.patreon.com/DJSchinhofen

  https://twitter.com/DJSchinhofen

  Fan group on Facebook for Daniel Schinhofen

  https://schinhofenbooks.blogspot.com/

  If you LOVE LitRPG, then check out these pages full of awesome LITRPG goodness. You can interact with authors like me and many more. Find banter, good times and a lot of likeminded people.

  https://www.facebook.com/groups/LitRPGsociety/

  https://www.facebook.com/groups/haremlit/

  A big thank you to my editors, Jennifer York and Samantha Bishop. Also props to Geno Ferrarini, and Sean Hickinbotham for being my Alpha Readers. I’d be remiss if I didn’t include my beta readers, in no particular order: Zee-*-Ian McAdams-*-Arthur Cuelho-*-Scott Brown-*-A. J. Bishop-*-Tarcha Saleeba-*-Alec Young-*-Jay Taylor-*-Justin Johanson, Josh Holmes-*-Rob Bunting-*-Christina Norton-*-Sawyer Aubrey-*-Aoife Grimm-*-Shane Bird-*-Steve Robles.

  The cover for Hearthglen is brought to you by Anthony Bishop, a very talented artist. You can find him at https://grimmhelm.artstation.com/

  A big thanks to my Patreon supporters who have gone above and beyond in their support:

  Timithy Klesick~*~Robert Shofner~*~Spencer Jefferson~*~J. Patrick Walker~*~Terry Wood-Davies~*~Kevin McKinney~*~Kyle Gravelle~*~Jack Ling~*~Derek Morgan~*~Anthony Olson~*~Kori Prins~*~Chanh Pham~*~Christopher B. ~*~Grimmhelm~*~Alexander Rodriguez~*~Chace Corso~*~James Domec~*~Jason Broderick~*~Susanne Lofbom~*~Stephan Juba~*~Alexis K. ~*~Jim Carmon~*~Sawyer Aubrey~*~Blake Cawthon~*~Jacob Tackett~*~Kevin Kollman~*~George Ueland Jr. ~*~Michael Moneymaker~*~Kevin Harris~*~Brian O. ~*~Adrian Sinclair~*~David Florish~*~Charles Groark~*~Korbin Wilson~*~William Merrick~*~Cody Carter~*~Logan Cochrane~*~MrNyxt~*~Aztoroth~*~Travis Hilliard~*~Damien Osborne~*~ J.G. Patton~*~Jeffrey Buchanan~*~Kenneth Steinagel~*~Fynnius Szubart~*~John Flenady~*~Karl Poff.

  Other Books written by Daniel Schinhofen:

  Last Horizon: (Completed.)

  Last Horizon Omnibus

  Binding Words:

  Morrigan's Bidding

  Life Bonds

  Alpha World:

  Gamer for Life

  Forming the Company

  Alpha Company

  Playing for Keeps

  Fractured Spirit

  The Path to Peace

  Darkhand

 
Apocalypse Gates Author’s Cut:

  Rapture

  Valley of Death

  Gearing Up

  Elven Accord

  I would like to point you all towards some fellow authors whose works I enjoy:

  William Arand: Author of the complex interconnected series in the genre which all starts with Otherlife Dreams.

  https://www.amazon.com/William-D.-Arand/e/B01AY7PSG4

  Blaise Corvin: Author of Delvers LLC, which is an amazing GameLit series.

  https://www.amazon.com/Blaise-Corvin/e/B01LYK8VG5

  Scottie Futch: Is a prolific author who can be found on Royal Road and Amazon.

  https://www.amazon.com/Scottie-Futch/e/B00NCSEN28

  Eden Redd: She might be mentioned last but she is definitely not least, and she is very worth the read, more so if you like some adult content. Her Lewd Saga series combines erotica and LITRPG.