“That was very good, Andrea,” Sean said when he finished the large helping he had taken. “The wine was a good choice to go with it.”
“I couldn’t have made enough for everyone, but since it was just a few of us, I figured it would work for tonight.” Andrea smiled broadly, “I’m glad you enjoyed it. I wanted to apologize for earlier, too. I don’t know why I was so upset.”
“It’s fine,” Sean said. “Sometimes, we react strongly to things we don’t expect to. One time, me and my friend, James, fought for a tenday. He’d made a joke, and I took it the wrong way. When he finally pressed me on it, I explained why I was pissed, and he apologized and explained what he really meant. I took his words the wrong way, and once he explained it, I felt like an idiot.”
“I just feel like I’m the least useful person in the household.”
“Are you kidding?” Sean chuckled. “You keep the rest of us going. You doing what you do gives us the time and energy to do other things. You’re an integral part of our family. It wouldn’t be the same without you.”
Andrea smiled, “You mean it?”
“Of course I do. You’re contracted for the year, but if you want to extend that, I’m more than willing to do it.”
“I should get stuff ready,” Andrea said suddenly, rushing away from the table with her cheeks a brilliant shade of red.
Sean blinked, watching her dash into the kitchen. “I’m missing something, aren’t I?”
Ven and Venn exchanged a look, but kept their mouths shut. They had been around long enough to know how much trouble Sean had figuring out the women around him.
“Guess I’ll go use the outhouse,” Sean sighed. “Tell her I’ll be right back if she finishes up before I do, please?”
“Of course,” Ven replied.
A short time later, the two of them were walking down the street with Ven and Venn on his shoulders. Sean was still chuckling about their decision to ride instead of fly. He did not mind; they only weighed a few pounds each, so he barely noticed until one of their wings would touch him.
When they were a door away from the bathhouse, a light snow began to fall. “Seems like normal weather, at least,” Sean muttered.
Andrea pulled the shawl around her shoulders tighter. “Thankfully. That blizzard a few tendays ago was horrible.”
“Tell me about it,” Sean snorted.
“Oh, that’s right. You were caught in it,” Andrea said apologetically.
“Haven’t seen anything as bad since, so maybe the Queen is okay now.”
“One hopes so.”
He knocked lightly on the door, hoping Chastity would not keep them waiting long when Andrea’s teeth began to chatter. The door cracked open, and a single eye stared at them for a moment before Chastity threw the door open and slammed into Sean, hugging him tightly.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you!” Tears began spilling from her eyes as she squeezed him. “I’ll do anything, everything... thank you so much, Sean.”
Sean had to take a step back or be knocked off the stairs, his arms going around her instinctively. “Whoa, whoa, hang on, Chastity.”
Andrea started to rub Chastity’s back, “She is good now?”
Still crying, Chastity let go of Sean and grabbed Andrea, “She is… She’s back to being my mother.”
Sean stepped around them and walked into the home, only to stop when he found Felora slumped in a chair. “You okay, Felora?”
“I’m good,” Felora purred, her eyes lighting up a visible red as she stared at him. “Very good. Thank you for your concern.” Her words were slightly slurred as she spoke.
“Energy drunk?” Sean asked.
“So many memories to be eaten,” Felora murmured with a small, secretive smile. “I haven’t had such a meal in years. I should thank you.” Licking her lips, she got to her feet, swaying a little.
“Sean, there’s a carriage down here,” Andrea called from outside.
Felora tsked, “Fine, I shall wait for tomorrow. Do make our dream interesting for us, won’t you?” Felora said. She walked to the door, her steps a little unsteady.
“Goodnight, Felora. Thank you,” Sean said as he stepped out of her way.
“Let me help you,” Chastity said when Felora came out.
“Is she okay?” Andrea asked, stepping inside.
“Too much energy. Makes me wonder what she’s going to be like tomorrow night.”
“The others will be there, right?” Andrea asked, as she stared at the doorway worriedly.
“Yes, I’ll be fine.”
Exhaling slowly, Andrea nodded. “I’m going to take Marjorie her food.”
“I’ll stay up here,” Sean said, “just in case.”
“Okay.”
Sean took a seat as Andrea went down the hall. Chastity came back inside a minute later, wiping at her eyes.
“You okay?” Sean asked.
“Yes. I’m sorry for grabbing you like that, but she’s okay again,” Chastity replied, her lip quivering. “You made this happen. I owe you so much.”
“Shh, it’s fine,” Sean soothed her. “Andrea took dinner back to her. If she’s good, I’d like you to come home tomorrow night. Help her settle in here tomorrow, okay?”
“I’ve already taken so much time off,” Chastity said.
“We can figure out how that affects things later, okay? Take care of your mother first.”
Shaking her head, Chastity took a step toward him before stopping, backing up two steps, and bowing to him. “Thank you, sir. I’ll be home tomorrow as you command.” Without waiting for him to speak, she hurried down the hall.
“It wasn’t a command,” Sean called after her.
Soon after, Andrea came back to the front room. “I’m ready to go home, if you are.”
“How is Marjorie?”
“Lucid and thankful,” Andrea said as she opened the door and waited for him. “She knows that something bad happened, but the memories themselves are missing. She knows they are missing and wanted them gone. Felora left her a memory of the first day, so she would know that abuse did take place. The first day was just verbal and a single slap, but it lets Marjorie know that the missing memories were much worse.”
“That was our deal,” Sean nodded. “I’m glad it worked.”
“So am I,” Andrea said. “Marjorie was asking who she should thank. You might want to stop by to speak with her in the next day or two.”
“I’ll be coming back on Sixday,” Sean said. “I’ll make sure to say hello to her then.”
Chapter Twenty
Sean had a busy day ahead of him. Breakfast was a celebratory affair; everyone was happy to hear about Marjorie and that Chastity was coming home tonight. Andrea had gone all out, making huge amounts of pancakes, eggs, and bacon. Everyone had two or more helpings and Andrea packed a basket to take to Chastity and her mother before they split up to go about their duties for the day.
Sean went down to the smithy with Ida and Ryann to make three dozen more pipes, setting them aside for Angus to cart over to the bathhouse tomorrow. After that, Ida and Myna went over to the bathhouse to get more work done while Sean got ready to pay a visit to Eva’s shop.
Sean made sure he had the copper figures he had Shaped in his bag. Giving Fiona a quick kiss on the way out, Sean paused when he saw the one customer in the shop.
“Morning. Your day off today?”
The Fox Moonbound bowed her head to him, “Yes, sir. I hoped to purchase a hair clip, and I have a list of things that the others wanted, too, since I was coming today.”
“Sean, you know her?”
Ryann answered first, sounding angry, “She was the Moonbound who took our boots at the Den.”
“I’m sorry. Maybe I should go,” the fox said hesitantly, backing toward the door.
“No,” Fiona said softly but firmly. “Ryann is just overprotective of our husband. You are welcome in this shop.”
“Ten percent off,” Sean said. “We apologize.�
�� Nudging Ryann’s side, he raised an eyebrow.
“Sorry for my tone,” Ryann mumbled.
The fox woman stepped back up to the counter, but refused to look up from the wooden surface. “Thank you. I’ve heard that Moonbound are treated well here.”
“One of our wives is Feline Moonbound,” Fiona said warmly. “Now come, tell me what you want.”
“Heading out. Sorry for interrupting,” Sean said, giving Fiona another kiss on the cheek. “Miss, I hope you find everything you want.”
Ryann followed Sean out, walking beside him as they started down the street. “Sorry, Sean. I’m just not really ready to share you, I guess.”
“I’m fine with that sentiment,” Sean told her, putting his arm around her waist. “I’m not going to go inviting everyone in, so you can calm down a little. I’m perfectly happy with the family we have.”
“I know,” Ryann said, bumping his hip with hers. “I don’t even blame them for trying, really. I understand why they do it. I got wound up by Lilly before we Bonded, too. I guess I haven’t gotten over that yet.”
“It’s okay, Ry, just do your best,” Sean said. “Besides, we want allies, and getting Dame Mageeyes or Saret mad at us would be bad.”
“I know. I’ll try.”
A dozen very well dressed people were in the front room of Eva’s shop. Sean closed the door and they stepped off to the side, waiting for the chance to let Eva know they were there.
“A gold? You can’t be serious,” the man at the counter scoffed at Derrin Werrick, Eva’s apprentice.
“That is the price the Shaper has set, sir. It goes up if you want any engraving added.”
“I see you don’t understand what it means to deal with your betters, boy.”
“Sir, I am carrying out the instructions I have been given. If you insist that I disturb the Shaper while she works, I can promise the price will only go up.”
“I very much doubt that. Silvertouch knows me,” the man said haughtily. “I will get a discount once I speak with her.”
“Lobi, will you let Silvertouch know that another person wishes to see her?” Derrin asked.
“Right away,” the Messenger Fairy said, zipping off.
“If you wouldn’t mind stepping aside so I can help the other customers while you wait, sir?”
“Of course I mind,” the man snapped. “I shall wait here as—”
Derrin shrugged and stepped to the other end of the counter, “Who’s next?”
“Now see here!” the man snarled at Derrin. “This is lunacy! You don’t just ignore—”
“Oh, for fucks sake, put a sock in it,” Sean said. “We’re all tired of you running your mouth. Eva will be out to deal with you when she can. The rest of us would like to get on with business.”
Every customer in the room stared at Sean. He looked back at them blandly. The man who had been accosting Derrin gaped at Sean, his face turning an alarming shade of blue. The best dressed man in the shop just chuckled.
“MacDougal? Surprised to see you here.”
Sean gave Dame Flamehair’s butler a grin. “Guess the boss wanted silver after all, huh?”
Sean heard his name whispered by some of the people in the shop and he knew he was being sized up. He ignored the murmurs, keeping his gaze on the butler.
“Indeed, for her kettle and hair clips. It was foolish of you to sell the patent on them,” the butler added, again sniffing at his scented handkerchief. “Why would you need to see Silvertouch?”
“Business, of course, what else?” Sean laughed.
“Now look here, you. This—”
“Be quiet,” the butler said simply, “I’m speaking to MacDougal. Your grievance can wait until I have finished.” The man snapped his mouth shut. He was seething, but clearly not willing to go against the butler. “Very good.”
“Thought that pompous peacock wouldn’t ever shut his mouth,” Sean said. “You have my thanks, and probably the thanks of everyone here.”
“Are you going to be working on a project with Silvertouch?” the butler pressed, ignoring the other man when he puffed up at the insult.
“Collecting debts,” Sean shrugged.
The door behind Derrin opened and Eva entered the room, her brows drawn and her lips a tight line. “Who is interrupting me this time, Derrin?”
“That guy,” the apprentice indicated the angry man still standing by the counter. “MacDougal is here, too.”
Eva glowered at the pompous man, then turned to Sean with a sigh, “Sean, are you causing problems in my shop?”
“Not me. That asshat was the one doing all the yelling. I just told him that his idiocy was a problem for the rest of us.”
“Get out of my shop. If I’m in a better mood tomorrow, I’ll deal with you then,” she told the man. “If you’re not out before I can count to ten, you’ll be barred permanently.”
Sean’s eyebrows shot up and he moved farther away from the door. He got a good look at Eva, noticing the dark circles under her eyes. Considering her short temper, Sean was guessing it had been a bad day for her so far.
“Silvertouch, that is no way—”
“One,” Eva snapped, cutting him off, “two…”
“You wouldn’t dare alienate me as—”
“Four… five… six…”
“To the wilds with you, then. I’ll go to Denmur; he sells better quality—”
“OUT!” Eva yelled at the top of her lungs when the man mentioned Denmur. “Out and stay out! You are barred for life, as is your family!”
The shop went still; a pin dropping could have been heard as the speaker went white. “I’ll see you ruined for—!”
He did not get any farther before Sean’s hand closed on his arm. “Lady said leave,” he said and frog-marched the guy to the door.
“Get your hands off me! I’ll call the guard!”
“Go ahead. You were banned, dumbass. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out,” Sean said. He barely pushed the man out before he slammed the door, hitting the man with it and sending him sprawling. “I warned him,” Sean said, turning back to the stunned room.
Eva covered her face and exhaled deeply, then cleared her throat. “I’m done. Denmur is not an ally of mine, nor of my friends. Now if you wish to do business, my apprentice can take your commission. It will be delayed because I’m busy, as you can see. If anyone insists on disturbing me, I will double the price at the very least. Understood? Good. MacDougal, come to my office, please. Everyone else, good day.”
Sean slipped through the crowd to the counter gate, which Derrin lifted for him. “Have fun, Derrin,” Sean chuckled as he stepped past the former smith.
Sean could feel the tiredness from Eva when he reached out a little with his energy. “Long night?”
“Dame Mageeyes added to the order last night after the party,” Eva said as she led him into her work room. “I didn’t get much sleep.”
“I can tell,” Sean said. “I’m sure we can knock it out in quick order.”
“I would try to turn you down, but at this point, I need the help,” Eva sighed. “With the rush on hair clips and kettles now that it’s public knowledge that I am able to make them, it’s been hectic.”
“Derrin not helping?”
“He’s doing the best he can, but he doesn’t have really fine control yet, even if he does have a lot of energy to spare. He’s helped a lot in making the roughs… speaking of kettles, I want you to check my first one to see if I’ve got the enchantment right. Please?”
“No problem,” Sean said as he took the seat she offered him. “Let me see it before we move onto Mageeyes’ presents.”
Eva nodded, “Of course. Lobee, please have the maid bring some tea.”
“Of course,” the Messenger Fairy replied before vanishing through the ceiling.
“You’ve had the right idea with them,” Eva sighed and picked up a silver kettle. “They do make things easier, and are very attentive. I’m glad to have Lobi an
d Lobee living here.”
“We’re happy to be here too, Silvertouch,” Lobee said, returning quickly. “She will bring a tray down shortly.”
Setting a silver kettle on the table in front of Sean, Eva took a seat with a deep sigh. Sean touched the kettle and focused on it; the Shaping was good, with only two small flaws near the lid. The enchantment itself looked good, so Sean closed the lid and heard the sound of water. Unlocking the lid, he checked everything again before sitting back.
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