He handed out the bowls to them all as Stacia filled their wine glasses. Once everyone had been served, he smiled at them, “Dig in.” He took a bite himself as he watched them.
Rolland took a moment to breathe in the aroma before he took his first bite. Kim didn’t pause, taking her first as soon as she was told to dig in. Both of them sat back, blinking as they swallowed the first bite. In near unison, they took a sip of wine and smiles bloomed on their faces.
“This is amazing,” Kim said as she took a second bite.
“I’ll have to agree with my better half,” Rolland agreed, following his wife’s example.
Stacia grinned as she took her third bite. “Thank ya both. It be a little behind what me Ma’ can make, but I be getting’ there in time with nay doubt. The spice be a touch weaker than what she can do.”
“It’s still fabulous,” Alburet told her as he patted her knee under the table. He took another bite and sipped his wine. “I think I could get five bites in before I’m forced to eat some bread, but four will suffice I think. No need to see just how far I can push it.”
Rolland nibbled at some bread after his third bite, “How does the bread counter act all the heat so well?”
“Part of the special recipe,” Stacia giggled, sipping her wine.
“You wouldn’t be willing to teach me this, would you?” Kim asked.
“Nay. I be sorry, but I promised me Ma’ tha’ the recipe would stay in the family.” Stacia said with a sad smile, then brightened. “I will make ya some every time I make it for us, though.”
“Deal,” Kim replied, taking a sip of wine and another bite of stew.
“She does so love her food,” Rolland chuckled, which earned him a nudge from Kim. “Oof. I think she would rather I hadn’t said that.” He grinned at his wife.
“You want to sleep on the sofa tonight?” Kim asked with a hint of an edge to her voice.
“Justice forfend, light of my life,” Rolland replied with trembling lips as he held back laughter.
“Keep pushing tonight and see what you get, then,” Kim told him with a sniff. She turned to Stacia, “Husbands can be such a handful, can’t they?”
“Oh, aye,” Stacia agreed. “Sometimes it be all I can do to handle him with both hands,” Her tone was even and she kept her face straight, though her eyes darted to Alburet’s face.
Alburet coughed and covered his mouth at her double meaning. Rolland laughed and Kim grinned at him. “Kitten?”
“Aye, husband?” Stacia grinned, “Did ya wish more wine?”
“We have company. Behave yourself,” Alburet told her with a wry expression.
“Oh, I think she did,” Kim laughed. “I think she has you pegged.”
“Iffin he would only admit tha’ I be right more often,” Stacia told her in a faux whisper.
Alburet rolled his eyes, “Gods save me from embarrassment.”
“It’s one of the things wives do, am I right Alburet?”
“No comment,” Alburet shot back quickly as both women turned their eyes to Rolland.
“Oh, umm, well. This is awkward now,” Rolland faltered.
“Eat your food,” Kim told him firmly. As he lowered his head slightly and began to eat in silence Kim winked at Stacia, who giggled.
“You asked earlier why the nobles were in a frenzy and why Alpha Company has a Royal Charter, Rolland. Let me tell you the story as we eat this wonderful meal.” Alburet said, clearly intending to change the subject. Rolland nodded eagerly, grateful to scramble out of the hole he’d dug for himself.
Alburet gave them an edited version, saying only that he had obtained the book during an adventure, but not mentioning where. He described selling the book to Vladimir and on until he came to the boons he’d asked from Sir Jones, and been granted.
The story and the meal came to an end together, as Alburet finished up with, “So that is the how and why of the hubbub over our guild.”
“Wish I could be a part of it,” Rolland sighed. “Sadly, you haven’t conquered one of the abandoned keeps along the edge of the Dead Lands. If you do that, then you could set up a portal. Keep me in mind for when you get to that point, please.”
“Wait,” Alburet said, having sat up as the other man spoke. “We can take over keeps in the Dead Lands?”
“Yes,” Rolland finished the wine before him. “Not many guilds do. It’s extremely dangerous, and the upkeep is quite high. The adventuring group Kim and I were with had cleared one out, back in our heyday. We eventually sold the rights to the keep to the Portal Guild, they use it as an outpost to gather components needed to keep the portals operating.”
“I am so looking forward to when we get strong enough to do that,” Alburet said, his eyes glazing over a bit as he considered all of what that could mean for the guild.
“Don’t go running off before you’re ready,” Kim added. “A lot of groups suffer permanent fatalities trying to conquer one of those keeps. We lost two of our party to the final death during our last adventure which netted that keep. I wish George and Barbara had survived, but the gods called them home.”
Rolland nodded sadly, “The best duo of healer and tank we’d ever grouped with. May their spirits have found peace with the gods.” Rolland smiled wistfully, “Or maybe they went off to Delta World.”
“Delta World?” Alburet asked.
“Aye, Asthore,” Stacia said, as she cleared the dishes away, “it be rumored tha’ when one dies the final death here, our souls go to reside with the gods for a time. After tha’, we go on to the next world that the gods watch over. We call it Delta World. We do nay know if it be true or just rumor, the gods will nay speak on the matter.”
“Huh,” Alburet said, wondering if that had anything to do with the odd questions Victoria had asked him during the down time, “learn something new every day.”
“Now, about the other story,” Kim asked, accepting coffee Stacia brought out. “Thank you, Stacia.”
“That tale is going to take a bit,” Alburet chuckled as he sipped at his own coffee. “Let me ask you first, what are your feelings about Half-blood Infernals?”
Rolland frowned slightly, “Well, many still look down on them, like they do Summoners and Necromancers. It is rumored that one of the two who led the rebellion against the first Empire was a Half-blooded Infernal. Which one varies, according to who you ask.”
“Neither of us hold them any real ill-will,” Kim added. “Though truthfully, neither of us have known anyone who admitted to being a Half-blood. A lot of children’s stories cast them as the bad guys who torment and terrorize normal folk.”
“Would you knowingly consort with a Half-blood?” Alburet asked, watching them both. “Would you work for one?”
Rolland chewed his lip for a moment, “I guess it would depend on the person, really. If we got to know them and they were okay, I can’t see why we’d have any problem.”
“I’ve worked for people I would like to see turned into goblin food, so I don’t see why a person’s race would influence me. It all comes down to what Rolland said. How a person acts is what I’ll judge them by.”
“Well,” Alburet said as he scratched at his chin for a moment. He nodded, “I have a quest from a rare armor set that I have started acquiring. It is the Demon Lord’s set, only useable by Summoners.”
Rolland’s eyes went wide, “That armor set was thought to have been lost in the Dead Lands.”
“Yeah, not so much it seems,” Alburet replied. “I got the boots from Vladimir in exchange for the book. I picked up the gloves out of a mystery box from a quartermaster. And I recently got the crown from Stewart Demonblood as a wedding gift. He got the crown from killing Experiment 9, out in the Dead Lands.”
Kim sat up straight, “So, your quest is from the armor set?”
“That is correct,” Alburet said, noting their rapt attention. He glanced briefly at Stacia before he continued. “The Dark Lord has extended an invitation for me to start a quest line in the
Dead Lands in a few days. I have been led to believe that it will change my race from Human to Half-blood Infernal.”
“Is that even possible?” Kim asked Rolland, turning to look at him.
“I don’t know,” he admitted as he stared at Alburet. “It has been said that some relics could help change one’s race. I don’t see why it wouldn’t be possible. Are you going to do it?” Rolland asked, his eyes intent.
“Yes,” was the simple reply from Alburet.
“You know that your reputation with the city will drop,” Kim pointed out.
“Yes, but I’m going to do it anyway. Stacia supports me in this decision, and really, her opinion is the one that really matters.”
“As me Asthore, I will nay deny ya what ya wish,” Stacia said, taking his hand and smiling fondly at him.
Rolland and Kim stared at them. It was several seconds before Kim finally was able to speak again. “My boss is going to be a known Half-blood. Nothing will change at work, right?”
“Why would it?” Alburet asked.
“Well, a lot of the old stories tell about Half-bloods secretly draining the souls of those near them,” Rolland told him.
“What would I do with a soul? Turn it into a green cookie?” Alburet asked with a chuckle. “Soul cookies, to regenerate life and give you a warm, fuzzy feeling?”
Kim snorted and shook her head, “You’re right. It’s just, wow…”
“You could have lied to us,” Rolland said suddenly. “Or even not said anything. Why tell us something that you probably should keep hidden?”
Alburet met his eyes, “Because I trust you. Your wife is a life saver for my guild. You, personally, intervened on my behalf outside of the portal guild. Both of you have been kind and understanding during all of our conversations. It seemed right.”
Rolland took a deep breath and looked at Kim, who nodded. “Well, then. I guess we should acknowledge that statement in kind.”
You are now Respected by Kim and Rolland Magiblood
Alburet blinked at the pop-up which appeared before him. He looked at the duo across the table from him and bowed. “I’m touched by the depth of your understanding. I had hoped for your friendship, but to be respected by you both is touching.”
“You are telling us a secret of your family,” Rolland said. “It is only fair that we return such a gift with acknowledgment worthy of it.”
“Are you allowed to take anyone else with you for this quest?” Kim asked suddenly.
Alburet chewed his lip, “I don’t know. I mean, I’ll have my minions with me, but other than that I don’t know. I’m supposed to meet an Infernal sent by the Dark Lord.”
Rolland pursed his lips, “Would you be okay with me going with you? I have a passion, as it were, for anything that deals with bloodlines.”
Alburet considered it, then nodded, “You might not be welcome to go where ever the Infernal takes me, but yes, you can come with me to the Dead Lands.”
Rolland’s eyes glowed briefly, gold and blue, “Another step on the path of understanding.”
Stacia blinked, “Does ya surname have anythin’ to do with tha’ interest?”
Rolland blinked, his eyes shifting back to their normal brown, “Hmm?”
Kim sighed, “You got excited and your eyes shifted, dear.”
“Well, fuck,” Rolland sighed. “Yes, Stacia. My bloodline is thought to be not completely human. We’ve never been able to pin down exactly what else it might be, or who introduced it and when.”
“I’ll still be glad to have you along,” Alburet said. He glanced at Stacia and flicked his eyes at their guests.
She looked away from him, clearly afraid of what he was asking with that look. He stroked her leg gently, “My family has other secrets, as I am sure you do, Magiblood. If one day you wish to exchange more information about uniqueness, then maybe we can both learn something new.”
Rolland nodded, “Maybe at a later time. I’m not sure how I feel about opening up the family closets at this time.”
“Fair enough,” Alburet laughed, “we can let the skeletons rest in piece a bit longer.”
Kim jerked slightly at Alburet’s comment, but Rolland quickly calmed her, “Of course.”
The conversation turned to small talk before Kim and Rolland took their leave for the night. After they were gone, Stacia collapsed onto the sofa.
“I was so scared, master,” she said softly as he sat next to her and pulled her into his lap. “What if they had nay been so understandin’?”
“Then things would have gone differently,” he told her as she curled up against him. “In the end, they understood and we know that they also have a secret they would rather keep close. I’m sure they won’t do anything rash.”
“Aye,” she leaned into him and took deep breaths. “Mayhap in the future we can tell them…” She sat up, her eyes shining, “Oh! When we do the quest and I go with you. We can say tha’ I was changed durin’ the quest, too. Then me family would be safe, even iffin everyone thinks I be a Half-blood. Iffin the quest changed us both, tha’ be.”
Alburet chuckled and pulled her against him again, “Good idea, my little Kitten. Now how about we go to bed, hmm?”
“Aye master,” Stacia said as she stood up. “Mayhap we can take a long bath together first?”
“I can agree to that, Kitten,” he stood up, then picked her up and carried her towards the bed room. “But first, I want a little something to nibble on.”
She purred at him and nibbled his neck as he carried her, “Aye master.”
Chapter Ten
Alburet and Stacia headed over to the guild hall after breakfast the next morning. Kim nodded to them, “Morning. What are your plans today?”
“Probably going to hook up with the others once Gerald gets done with his meeting this morning. This evening I hope to be having dinner with Lady Theron. Any reply on that yet?”
“Not yet, I’ll message you as soon as I hear anything, though,” Kim replied.
“Where is me sister?” Stacia asked.
“She asked to step out, said she needed to go see a tailor about some alterations to a dress she got from your mom last night. Said she would need it if she was going to accompany you all to see the Lady.” Kim grinned, “She is so cute sometimes when she gets nervous.”
Stacia giggled, “Aye. Thank ya for bein’ so understandin’ of her.”
“She’s great to work with, so eager to learn everything I show her. With her trying to land a man, I can cut her a little slack right now. Besides, it’s not like we need two of us here all the time. It doesn’t hurt for one of us to step out for an errand from time to time.” Kim grinned.
“If things get too boring, let me know,” Alburet said with a straight face. “I’ll come up with some way to make them interesting again for you.”
Laughing, Kim shook her head, “I’m sure it’s going to get busier in a few days as it is. Something about some quest that can change the very fiber of ones being? When that comes out the guild is sure to attract more attention.”
Rolling his eyes, Alburet nodded, “Yeah. Let’s hope it’s good attention, though. Well, might as well go check on our recruits and see how they’re coming along.” He turned to the door, then stopped, “Kim, you know you and Rolland are free to go hunting, right? We don’t have restrictions on that.”
“Yes, and thank you. He still gets hit with a major penalty for hunting, though,” Kim replied with a half-smile.
“He could join the guild…” Alburet stopped himself. “He would have to give up portals for a bit, and he has a vested interest in them.”
“Correct,” Kim nodded, “he would love to join the guild, but he needs to power the portals. It’s one of the few ways for him to…” She paused, searching for the right words, “ease the pressure he feels.”
“Blood related?” Alburet asked.
“Yes.”
“Let him know the offer stands. I’ll see what I can do about getting a keep an
d a portal he can power.”
“Have fun with the recruits,” Kim said, switching tracks. “Haven’t seen them since the first day. Then again, it’s not like you hold meetings or anything.”
“We will in the future, I’m sure, but it hasn’t been that long since they joined. No doubt soon they’ll start asking about organized events.”
Alpha Company (Alpha World Book 3) Page 12