“I’m trying,” Saret pouted.
All the men in the room shifted slightly, trying to ignore what her voice did to them. All of them but Sean, who had surrounded himself in energy when she walked in the door, were affected.
“Amedee is certain joining your association will help repay Lord Sharpeyes for his insults and injuries, so I’m following her,” Flamehair said. “I hope to see what you are doing that gives credence to her faith.”
“If you get me some copper, amber, and a piece of quartz, I can show you,” Sean said. “I also have an idea or two for you regarding how to make the city even cleaner, Charie.”
An arched eyebrow was her first response. “I’ll be happy to listen once I’ve seen what you can do.”
Myna stirred a little on the far side of Ryann, but before she could speak, Sean did, “Fair enough.”
“Pura, make arrangements for the items Sean needs,” Mageeyes said as she sipped her wine.
“Right away, mistress,” Pura replied before zipping off again.
“Lila, once we understand what Sean needs, arrange for the materials to be gathered at the Den,” Saret said. A silver blur shot around her head once before vanishing into the rafters. “Oh, I see Amedee had them bring out the mousse. It’s one of my favorites.”
Most of them had finished at least one dessert by the time there was a knock on the door. Lilly bowed to Mageeyes, “The items have been taken to the bathing room and it has been marked as off limits for now, mistress.”
“Very good. Thank you, Lilly. Sean, if you are ready to show us three what you can do? The rest can stay and continue to enjoy the hospitality. We’ll be back shortly.”
“Thank you, Amedee,” Fredrick said when Sean waved him off. “We’ll wait here for your return.”
Amedee led Sean to the bathing room, where a stack of copper pipes and a small pile of gems were waiting for him. “I see. You want all of my work done today, do you?”
“I can’t have it down for too long,” Mageeyes smiled. “I’ll be having Italice and Ryan in tomorrow for the new drains you’ve worked out. I’ve heard another Shaper is trying to get a different Watercaller to work with them so they can replicate it.”
“How did they find out?” Sean asked as he picked up the first pipe.
“Ryan had to spread the word. The idea of pipes engraved with the rune being sunk into the earth instead of digging a channel is new. His family has already begun to spread the word to other cities, because he went and registered the idea when he found out you hadn’t.”
“Well, his family is the one who has to deal with the runes,” Sean said slowly as he began to Shape the copper. “It’s not like others can do it.”
“True... it is a family secret, they say,” Mageeyes replied.
Sean had the first set of pipes completed in a minute and attached it to one of the tubs. “There’s the test. Amber is hot water and quartz is cold water. Just turn the knobs to let water out, then adjust the knobs so the water is the temperature you want.”
Stepping away, he picked up a longer pipe and went to work on the first shower. Amedee, Saret, and Charie gathered around the bath to test the system. By the time they finished, Sean had set the first shower in place.
“Same idea, but this is a shower, used for cleaning before the tub. I’ll start in on the rest if you want to try it out.” Sean gathered the other items and went to the side of the room to work on the next shower. Focused on his task, he was not paying attention to the women.
When he set aside the last faucet for the tenth tub, Sean stretched. He looked up and swallowed hard. Saret was stepping out of the one tub that he had attached a faucet to already. His body reacted without thought. Clamping down on the images cascading through his mind, he looked down quickly.
“Sean, if you’re done, feel free to install the items. Saret will get dressed and stop distracting you. She was just so excited to try out the new shower and tub,” Mageeyes said from a few feet away. “I can honestly say this is even better than I had imagined. I’m going to have you install them in my servants’ bathing room and my personal one, too.”
Saret looked over her shoulder at Sean, a sensual heat radiating off her. “Mine, as well.”
Sean brought up Mage Sight in both his eyes so he would not see Saret’s actual body. Blinking as he did so, Sean sighed, “That will all have to be arranged through the association.”
“I’d like to have at least one in my home,” Flamehair added. “I’m willing to listen to your ideas about making my job easier. If you’ve managed this and the new drain system, you obviously have ideas, Outsider.”
“Knew that wasn’t going to last,” Sean sighed. “How long?”
“Since our first talk,” Mageeyes smiled. “It was obvious to each of us, as it would be to any who deal with nobility. The ideas you have make it doubly obvious.”
“I would like to know who sent you,” Saret purred from the tub. Her words slid around the energy Sean had wrapped around himself, caressing it as if trying to find a way in before slipping away.
“Nope,” Sean replied. “Not saying.”
There was a long pause. Mageeyes spoke into the silence, “Interesting. I’ve never known anyone to fail to answer you, Saret.”
“Few do,” Saret replied. “Please forgive my lack of decorum, Sean, for asking the question.”
“Are you dressed yet?” Sean asked.
“Yes,” Saret replied.
Dropping Mage Sight, he saw she was telling the truth. “Are we done here?” Sean asked bluntly.
Saret’s eyes widened when she realized she had no influence on him at all. “I’m done, yes.”
Mageeyes and Flamehair exchanged a look, before Mageeyes spoke, “We are ready.”
“Good. Let’s go back to the room and talk to the others.”
They left the bathroom, with Sean in the lead. He could hear that the three ladies were having a whispered conversation behind him, but he could not make out the words.
Chapter Twenty-nine
Soft kisses woke Sean from his sleep. Wrapping his arms around the body above him, Sean kissed her deeply. When the kiss finally ended, Sean opened his eyes to see Ryann leaning over him.
“Morning, Ry.”
“Morning to you, too, Sean,” Ryann smiled. “Breakfast will be ready shortly. There’s a lot of work to be done today.”
“Yeah, more pipes for the Den and for Flamehair. Looks like we’re going to aim for Threeday to open the bathhouse. Amedee and Charie were going to get towels and the like sent over today.”
“You know Chastity shared the Shaping talent with Marjorie, right?” Ryann asked Sean.
“Wood Shaping works on plant-based items, and will let her change the towels to be iconic to our new bathhouse. Fredrick said he had an emblem made for it. Fiona is going over to get it placed above the door today.”
“Things are moving forward faster than you thought.”
“Yeah, didn’t expect two Dames and Saret to throw in with us last night. They have their reasons, but at the same time, I’m a little uncomfortable with it. I also need to see if I can change more of Fiona tonight.”
“She’s looking forward to it, even more so than Myna prancing around with her new tail.”
“She’s so damned cute,” Sean chuckled. “Terrifying killing machine on one hand, and a soft adorable purr machine on the other.”
“It’s good that you make them happy,” Ryann said, but her voice held an undertone that Sean managed to catch.
“Ry, what is it?”
Ryann blinked in surprise, “It’s nothing.”
“Don’t lie to me, please. What’s bothering you?”
“I’m a little jealous, is all,” Ryann sighed. She sat down as Sean got out of bed. “You’re changing them in ways they yearn for. I just feel a bit forgotten in those moments. It’s stupid and silly, but… I can’t help it.”
Kneeling beside her chair, Sean met her eyes, “Remember when I to
ok your scars away?”
A small smile came to her as she recalled their first night together. “Yes.”
“This is the same for them. Don’t be jealous of them for that. If you want more, tell me and I’ll do what I can.”
Ryann’s smile slipped and she grabbed him, hugging him tightly. “You damned idiot. I’m sorry for saying anything. I know you’re right, but emotions don’t care, do they?”
“They really don’t,” Sean agreed as he stood up, pulling her with him as she held on. “I just want all of us to be happy together. We’re going to have these moments, but don’t hide them. Instead, tell me.”
“Or Fiona,” Ryann said softly. “I will, Sean.”
“Good. Can’t have my shield distracted, now can we?”
“No, I need to be focused,” Ryann said as she let him go, kissing him once more. “Get dressed, we’ll be waiting for you.”
“I’ll be along.”
At the breakfast table, he found Myna patting Ryann’s hand. “We understand. We all felt similar when it wasn’t us. We can talk to each other; there is no shame in having feelings.”
“Morning, husband,” Fiona said, seeing him first. “Andrea, you can serve us now.”
Sean had barely taken his seat when Andrea came into the room, carrying a small cauldron. The scent of sausage and pepper wafted out of it. Placing the small cauldron on the table, Andrea quickly vanished into the kitchen again to bring out a plate piled with biscuits. She made one more trip to get the kettle before she took her seat.
“Biscuits and gravy,” Sean smiled. “This will keep me going.”
“Fiona told me you’ll be going out after Shaping,” Andrea replied as she poured a cup of tea, passing it down to Sean. “I figured you might want the extra fortitude since the weather today is less than pleasant.”
“Oh?”
“Sleet,” Chastity told him. “It’s coming down on and off. Lots of people will just stay in today.”
“I’ll still get the sign up at the bathhouse,” Fiona said to forestall Sean. “I’m going to Shape it here, then take it over and put it up. I’ll take an umbrella with me to keep the worst of it off.”
“Umbrella? Didn’t know those were a thing here,” Sean said as he finished serving himself.
“They’ve been around for a while, but aren’t widely used,” Myna said. “Spending good coin on an item you might use a handful of times a cycle is seen as a waste to most.”
“Fair enough,” Sean said. “I take it most people just try to stay inside when the weather gets bad.”
“Yes,” Ryann said. “Maybe we should see about a carriage today for us. It’d make transporting everything easier and get us out of the weather if it gets worse.”
“Maybe Agatha won’t come in today,” Sean mused. “Chastity, if she does, give her a discount.”
“As you wish, sir.”
“Fiona, how are our finances?” Sean asked, realizing he had not been keeping track of them.
“We’re doing better than I would have expected,” Fiona replied. “The kettles have made us more than we thought they would, the latest batch especially. I made sure the healer was paid off already, I’ve set aside the estimated taxes that’ll have to be paid, and I’ve paid Chastity, Andrea, Ven, Venn, Omin, and Onim for the year. We have a gold above and beyond all the money set aside.”
“Thank you again,” Chastity said, looking down. “I used a good portion of my pay to get my mother set up.”
“Thank you,” Andrea added. “I wasn’t expecting to be paid in advance, but it was very welcome.”
“We haven’t decided what to do with it yet,” Ven said. “We’ve never had so much coin all at once before, nor have we been so secure where we live. Would it be possible to use it to buy food for the other Messenger Fairies in town who aren’t associated with us?”
“I don’t see why not,” Sean said. “We’ll even match what you put up. Your people shouldn’t have to live hand to mouth. In fact, can we arrange for a small contingent to live in the bathhouse? They can run the messages for the staff there, and maybe notify people when their reservations are coming up as a reminder?”
“Oh, I know at least a dozen pairs that would be happy to do that,” Omin said.
“I’ll bring it up tonight,” Sean said as he waited for the others to finish serving themselves. “The idea that everyone can stay informed all the time is a good one. I need to hunt Angus down and ask if he wants a job there, as well. Maybe his wife could team up with Marjorie to work the counter.”
“Always thinking of others,” Ida smiled.
“That’s one of the reasons we love him,” Ryann smiled softly.
Seeing Sean blush, Fiona came to his rescue. “Let’s eat, we all have work today,” Fiona said as she watched Omin serve themself last.
~*~*~
After breakfast, Sean got the pipes packed in a chest for transport. “That’s all of them. Thank you, Ida, Ryann. It went much faster with your help.”
“Can I come with you when you install them?” Ida asked.
“Sure,” Sean replied. “I’ll have you install a few for the practice.”
“Ryann, the carriage is out front,” a Messenger Fairy said, flashing away almost as fast as they had zipped into the room.
“I guess Fiona was okay with the cost,” Sean chuckled. Picking up the chest, he headed for the door. “Let’s get this done.”
The ride to Dame Flamehair’s manor was shorter than the trip to the Den. Dame Flamehair’s manor turned out to be outside the city gate, surrounded by its own protective walls. The guards stationed at the manor gate questioned the driver before letting them in.
When the carriage came to a halt again, Sean startled when the door was opened for them, because the hired vehicle did not have a footman. “Welcome to Flamehair manor,” a familiar voice said, followed by a sniff.
Sean stepped out to see the butler he had dealt with before waiting for them, along with a younger man wearing livery. “We have a delivery for the Dame.”
“I know,” the butler sniffed. “If you and your helpers will follow me?”
“My wives,” Sean said with a hint of edge.
The butler raised a single eyebrow before he bowed his head a fraction. “My apologies. If you and your wives will follow me?”
“We’ll be behind you,” Sean said, hoisting the chest onto his shoulder.
“I can take that, sir,” the young man said.
“No, you can’t,” Sean replied, not unkindly. “I have it.”
“Yes, sir,” the servant said, stepping back.
The butler waited at the door of the manor, giving Sean, Ryann, and Ida an impatient look. Sean motioned Ryann and Ida before him, then followed them. The butler let them in and closed the door after them.
“The room you need is back this way.” Sniffing at his handkerchief, the butler led them down the entry hall.
It was a long walk to the small stone tiled room. A pair of tubs stood in the middle of the room, and a large stove took up one entire wall. The stove was cold, and the kettles usually used with it were all moved off to one side. A single kettle of the sort Sean was selling sat on a shelf next to a hand pump.
“Okay, we’ll get these installed,” Sean said. “If you’ll give us some room, please?”
“I’m to wait until you are done,” the butler said.
“Okay. Back up, then. You’ll be in our way,” Sean said as the butler stood next to the tubs. “Oh, can you point out where the Dame usually washes off before the tub?”
Sniffing at his scented handkerchief, the butler pointed to one of the walls where a bucket sat empty. “That is where the Dame and her husband usually bathe.”
“Verterm, are you interfering with MacDougal?” Dame Charie Flamehair asked from the doorway.
“No, mistress. I was merely showing them where you would wish them to install the…” the butler paused, at a loss.
“We’ll have this done in a bit. V
erterm hasn’t been a bad guy,” Sean said.
“Very well. Once you are done, if you’ll come to the parlor for a few minutes,” Flamehair smiled.
“Sure, be there shortly,” Sean said, turning his back on her and opening the chest. “Ryann, Ida, set up the faucets. I’ll deal with the showers.”
Verterm almost had a fit at Sean’s words and attitude, but Flamehair just shook her head. “Verterm, arrange for tea and snacks,” Flamehair said as she walked away.
Forged Bonds (Binding Words Book 4) Page 29