“It be two-edged,” Stacia murmured as she sipped her coffee. “Ya also know when ya cause the person you love harm. I caused me lovin’ husband angst and emotional distress last night. It cut me, to know tha’ it be me fault, even iffin it was to help him.” A tear slipped down her cheek.
Alburet whisked the tear away. “It’s okay. I know you didn’t mean for me to hurt like that. I didn’t have a nightmare last night, which is good. I also feel a bit lighter now, like some stress is gone.” He gave her a quick kiss. “It did hurt, but sometimes we have to hurt people a little to help them heal.”
“Like resetting a broken bone,” Karen nodded.
Fluff leaned over, kissing Stacia’s cheek, “We love you, too. Crying makes Alburet sad, so no more crying today.”
Stacia’s lips trembled as she put on a slight smile. “As ya wish.”
“I’m a little curious as to how this whole multiple marriage thing works,” Karen said, changing the topic as they ate the eggs and bacon that Stacia had brought them. “How does it work?”
“There be nay any one way. It all depends on the people involved. Some choose to be simply sister-wives. Others just refer to each other as wives. Some of the unions set down roles, for instance ya would be warrior-wife, I would be house-wife, and Fluff could be cuddle-wife,” Stacia grinned at Fluff as she said the last.
“Nothing wrong with cuddles,” Fluff replied as she finished her last bite of breakfast.
“So, it’s really up to us,” Karen mused. “I like us all being equal. But the idea of clearly defined roles is also kind of appealing. It would let us know who should be in charge of any given part of the relationship.”
Fluff spoke up, “I want us all to be equal, with Al in charge. We can defer to someone who has more experience in a given area, but we should be equal in all other ways. I like the idea of being equal to you two in some way.”
Stacia gave her a kiss on the cheek. “Why do we nay go take a quick rinse off? We can discuss it in there.”
Karen put her empty plate aside, “I can get behind that.”
Alburet sipped his coffee, mulling over last night’s revelation and the memories it stirred up. “I’ll be along in a bit, you three go ahead.”
The trio looked at him, clearly concerned. “Iffin tha’ be ya wish,” Stacia finally said as she climbed out of bed.
The other two slipped out of bed as well, following her into the bathroom. Alburet’s eyes followed them as they went. His lips tugged up, momentarily distracted by the differences between their posteriors. Shaking his head, he lapsed back into his memories.
When the three of them came out of the bathing room, clean and puzzled, they found Alburet still sitting where he had been. His brow was wrinkled as he recalled various memories of his mother. He missed them coming out, or even over to the bed, until Stacia caressed his face.
“Ya should go bathe,” Stacia told him when he looked at her. “A good bath mayhap help to wash away some of the melancholy.”
A small snort came from him, “If only everything were that simple.”
“We can always go back in and wash you down, to help distract you,” Karen added.
His lips ticked up as he glanced over at her, “Knowing you, it wouldn’t stop at washing.”
“It would at the moment,” Karen told him solemnly. “I love being with you, but right now you need time. I won’t turn you down, but I won’t press you today, either. I just want to see you get back to normal.”
Her honesty touched him, so he leaned over and kissed her. Pulling back before it could turn into more than a simple kiss, he rested his forehead against hers. “Thanks, Karen. I’m sorry for being like this right now. I just keep thinking of her. We never talked after I went to prison. It weighs on me, that the last words my mother spoke to me weren’t of love.”
Fluff hugged him, “She still loved you, though. Stacia told us about the letter your father left you. She wouldn’t have gone into your old room to cry if she didn’t love you.”
Tears formed in his eyes. He rubbed them away before they could fall. “Thanks, Fluff. I’ll go take that bath.”
He didn’t seem to feel their gazes as he went into the bathroom, lost in his own head again. Stacia sighed softly as the door closed behind him. “He is doin’ okay, but his sense of loss is still high. I do nay know what to do for tha’.”
“Maybe we can hold a wake for her?” Fluff suggested.
Lips pursed, Karen nodded. “It might work. He’ll be in there for a bit, so we can get everything ready. When he comes out we can drag him out to the main room and hold the wake. If we can get him talking about her, maybe it’ll help break the wall of grief.”
“It be a plan,” Stacia agreed. “He will deal with it better iffin we be dressed. First step be to dress well, so he knows we be takin’ this seriously.”
Fluff bounced over to where her clothing was, “I have the dress we used for Gremin’s wake. Is that okay?”
“Yeah, he would associate those dresses with a wake,” Karen agreed as she joined Fluff. “Let’s do this.”
When Alburet finally emerged from the bath two hours later, the bedroom was empty. A set of clothing was laid out on the bed. Puzzled, he started to go find the others. A note was pinned to the door, which he read.
He was confused by the instructions in the note, but followed them, getting dressed in the clothes laid out for him. Once he was dressed he went out to the main room. He paused as he stepped out of the hall, taking in the room. His breath caught in his throat as he looked over the scene.
Roses had been laid out around a hand-drawn sign, declaring a wake for his mother. He found the trio of women on the sofa, sipping wine. “For me?” he asked, his voice breaking.
“Aye,” Stacia said, getting to her feet. She glided towards him, “We thought ya mayhap want to share stories of ya mother with us. We would like to know more of the woman who gave us the joy tha’be ya.”
Tears started to fall again. “Damn it, I feel like a faucet today.” He scrubbed at his eyes again as he looked at the other two, who had also stood up. “All of you?”
“Yes,” Karen told him. “We all want to know more. About both of your parents, if you’re willing to share with us.”
“Karen’s right. I want to know all about them too,” Fluff added, her lips turning downwards. “I would like to know what it was like to have two loving parents, please.”
Stacia took his hand, leading him over to a chair. Easing him into it, she presented a glass of wine. “We all wish to know, master. Tell us everything or nothing, the choice be up to ya. All of us will listen to as much as ya be willin’ to tell.”
He looked at the wine in his hand, which smelled of peaches, before he raised the glass. “To my mother, Odilia Masterson, and her late husband William Masterson. Two parents who gave their son nothing but love.” His voice cracked again as he finished the toast and took a drink.
The women drank the toast and settled on the sofa, attentive to his words. As he lowered the glass he met their loving gazes, one by one. He wiped at his tears again before he started telling them of his mother.
“She always loved to bake cookies…”
Chapter Nine
The wake came to an end many hours later. Alburet felt better after talking about his mother. He had broken into sobs a few times, each time one of the women would come over and hug him until he could regain his composure. He looked at his wives with a more profound sense of love. They had listened, asking leading questions to keep him talking, each of them intent on his words.
“Thank you,” he finally said as he got to his feet. “This has helped me feel a bit lighter. It was almost as if I got to say goodbye.”
Stacia, Karen and Fluffball all got to their feet as well, each coming over to hug him. Surrounded by the people who loved him, Alburet allowed their warmth to sink in. He gave each a quick kiss, once again marveling that he could have such love. He was about to say something when hi
s message icon started flashing at him.
Message from Vanessa:
The carriage to take you four to the banquet will be here in an hour.
“Ladies, our carriage to the banquet will be here in an hour. We should get ready,” Alburet informed them.
“Aye. Do we go in our gear or in our best clothin’?” Stacia asked.
“Gear,” Karen said.
“Best clothing,” Fluff suggested a fraction after Karen.
“Most of the guild will probably be in their gear,” Alburet said. “Knowing Gerald and Marysue, they will come in their best clothing. We should do the same, though we could each bring a pouch with your gear in it just in case.”
Frowning, Karen shrugged. “Fine.”
“I think you’ll look good in a dress,” Fluff told Karen as she took her arm. “Let’s go see what I have that will fit you.”
Lips ticking up, Karen shook her head, “I don’t like dresses, but for you, Fluff, I’ll manage.”
A beatific smile in place, Fluff nodded, “Thank you.”
Alburet watched them go down the hall, a small smile of his own on his lips. Stacia hugged him from behind. “We should be seein’ about getting’ into ours as well.”
Pulling her around in front of him, Alburet met her eyes. “We should. But first,” he ducked his head, kissing her with all the love he felt. The kiss stretched out as the love each felt mingled and grew. Eventually the kiss came to an end and Alburet turned her towards the bedroom, saying, “Ladies first.”
Stacia giggled softly as she began to sway her way towards their room. “We only have a little bit of time,” she reminded him as she looked back over her shoulder at him.
“Insatiable sex demon,” Alburet replied. “Not now. Maybe later though.”
“As ya wish, me master,” Stacia’s voice grew smoky as she said the words.
Twenty minutes later the quartet were dressed and ready to go. They went over to the guild hall, where Vanessa sat behind the desk. “I’m surprised the place is empty,” Alburet said in greeting.
“Everyone has been informed where the banquet is being held. It’s been the talk of the guild all day,” Vanessa replied.
“Been a bit busy,” Alburet told her, his smile fading away for a moment. Shaking his head, he put a smile back on his face. “You’re coming, right?”
“I will be locking up and heading over right after your carriage arrives,” Vanessa informed him. She stood up, showing off her purple dress. The modest cut of it was very different from her normal attire. “What do you think?”
Karen eyed her briefly, “I think I like your normal style better.”
“Ya be tryin’ to be a bit more subdued due to who be showin’ up at the banquet?” Stacia asked.
Vanessa coughed slightly, but nodded. “I heard that a few of the higher-ranked nobles are going to be there, and I didn’t want to damage the guild’s reputation.”
“That was very thoughtful,” Alburet said in way of thanks, “but you shouldn’t change who you are.”
“I will remember that for the next time,” Vanessa said.
“It is a very pretty dress,” Fluff added. “It really brings out your eyes.”
Vanessa perked up slightly at the compliment, “You think so?”
Fluff’s smile grew a touch wider, “Of course.”
They spent a few minutes exchanging small talk while waiting. When the carriage finally arrived, Alburet led the women out of the hall. As he handed each one into the carriage, Vanessa locked up the guild hall behind him. He turned to her. “Care for a ride?”
Vanessa hesitated before shaking her head. “I was thinking I might go home and change outfits before heading over.”
“You don’t need to, you look beautiful just as you are. I would hate for you to miss any of the event. So, please, allow us to extend an offer of a ride.” Alburet held out his hand to her as he finished talking.
Smile widening, Vanessa bowed her head as she took his hand. “I thank you.”
He got her inside, seeing that it would be crowded with him inside as well. “Ladies, enjoy the ride,” he told them as he shut the door. He stepped around the carriage and used the handholds to climb up next to the driver. “Hope you don’t mind a little company.”
“As you will,” the driver chuckled as he got the vehicle moving. “That is a lot of beautiful women with you.”
“I am acutely aware of that fact every day,” Alburet laughed.
“The last one doesn’t seem to be used to being in your group yet?” the driver half asked.
“She’s the receptionist for the guild, she isn’t one of my wives.”
“I figured you for a Dark Lord follower,” the driver nodded. “One of the perks of following him, eh?”
Snorting, Alburet shook his head, “Are you married?”
“Five years of bliss, and ten of frustration,” the driver chuckled wryly.
“Now imagine three wives instead of one,” Alburet said.
The driver shook his head, “Well, that does take some of the fantasy out of it.”
“No, I feel like the luckiest man on the planet, truthfully. I wonder, though. If a single partner is hard, how tough is it to keep more than one happy?”
“I don’t envy you in the least, even with the amazing beauties that they are.”
The driver and Alburet rode the rest of the way in silence. It wasn’t long before they came to a stop outside of a beautiful two-story building done in black stone. Hopping down from the seat, Alburet opened the door for the women, helping each down in turn. “Ladies, welcome to the venue of tonight’s gala.” He took Stacia’s arm, as she was the last one out of the carriage.
Fluff was on Karen’s arm while Vanessa stood a little off by herself. “I would offer you my arm,” Karen said, “but rumors about us are already a little wild.”
Vanessa’s lips quirked up, “So I’ve heard. I’m not into multiple partners myself, but thank you for the thought.”
Stifling a chuckle, Alburet took the lead towards the double doors. As he approached, the doors were opened by a pair of men in formal attire. The one on the right spoke up. “Welcome to Alpha Company’s celebration. Sir, Gerald wished to inform you that he would like a word in the first room on your right.”
“Thank you,” Alburet replied. “Vanessa, it seems Gerald wants to talk with us, so if you will excuse us?”
“Of course,” Vanessa said, walking down the hall towards the sounds of merriment.
Entering the room the doorman had indicated, they found Gerald, Marysue, Vladimir, Renful and Ioaniss. “You needed me, Gerald?” Alburet asked as he came in with his wives behind him.
“We have had a disagreement between guests,” Gerald informed them. “Sir Jones, if you would.”
Ioaniss put down the wine glass he had been holding. “Alburet, as you requested I was taking an inventory of the Keep along with Renful. During the course of the inventory I noted that Renful was being fair with his estimates of the items he thought had value. However, an hour before we returned to the city, he tried to pocket a book without noting it on the inventory.”
Renful’s lips curled up, “Lies.”
Vladimir sighed, “I told you to remain quiet, Renful.” Renful leaned back in the chair he was in, his head bowing in obvious deference to Vladimir. “If I might speak?” Vladimir asked.
Gerald nodded, “Go ahead.”
“Renful made a simple mistake of forgetting to document the book. There was no harm done until Sir Jones assaulted Renful and took the book by force.” Vladimir sat back in his chair. “We have had many dealings, Alburet. Surely you can see this for the small oversight it is.”
“What book was it?” Alburet asked.
Gerald held up a thick tome. “It details the lineage of the noble houses from before Gwain’s Keep was built.”
“It is worth a fortune to most of the nobles. Our records are almost nonexistent from that time period,” Ioaniss informed them.
“That book could be of similar or even greater worth than the history of the Forgotten Prison.”
“Sir Dracon,” Alburet said turning to the noble. “Why was it so important for you to get the book without others knowing?”
Vladimir seemed like he was going to object, but instead he sighed. “It might contain information about House Dracon. That information could be damaging to my current position. I was not planning on selling or gifting it. I was going to make sure that if what might be in that book is indeed there, that the book would vanish.”
Fractured Spirit (Alpha World Book 5) Page 8