Forged Bonds (Binding Words Book 4)

by Daniel Schinhofen

  “On my power, I’m not of the nobility,” Sean replied. “I’ve only met two I even like, and I’m sure you know them both.”

  Getting to her feet slowly, the Moonbound looked to Ida and Ryann, who nodded at her. “He’s not with them,” Ryann said.

  “He’s much too kind to be a noble,” Ida smiled.

  The other Moonbound all stood up from their bows, looking confused. “But he—” one of them began.

  “You’ll not mention it to anyone else, no matter who they are. It stays here, amongst only those present and the mistress,” Felora cut her off gently but firmly. “Now that he has finished this task, he has others to do for the mistress. Continue with your duties and use the faucet as needed.” Turning to Sean, she motioned him and the others toward the door, “Come. We’ll only cause them trouble by staying.”

  Sean was deep in thought as he followed Felora and the other two with the chest up on his shoulder. They eventually came to a set of double doors, and Sean shook his head to clear it.

  The tiled room was large— there was a giant tub held aloft on pillars of stone, and a rune inscribed under it on the floor. The rune gleamed with a dim red light, reflecting off the single copper tube that ran through the middle of the rune. One wall of the room was dominated by a long line of stoves, but none of them had a door for wood to be added. Twin hand pumps sat in another corner, and a series of stone benches took up the wall between the pumps and stoves. Two doors were positioned on the last wall, both opened to show smaller chambers that mirrored this one on a reduced scale.

  “Damn, that’s extravagant,” Sean said. “Roman style tub, too, instead of the smaller tubs.”

  “We do host a number of events in here,” Felora purred as she swayed across the room toward the stone benches. “Now, can you set those lovely showers here? I’ve heard about them from the mistress, and I’m really looking forward to trying them out.”

  Sean set the chest down, opening it up. “Now I understand why she asked for so few. I thought she’d need more. The rune under the tub, what does it do?”

  “Keeps the water warm so the party can continue,” Felora said, her breathing starting to deepen. “Would you like me to show you?”

  Sean felt the danger and shook his head, “No, not right now, thanks. I’ll just ask Saret later.”

  Felora seemed to deflate as she went toward the stoves. “Of course.”

  “What you deserve,” Ryann muttered under her breath.

  “Ry, take the two shower sets and a faucet for each small room, please. Ida, start on the showers in this room, please. I’ll handle the large tub, then help you finish. We’ll check Ryann’s work when we’re done and call it a day.”

  Ida and Ryann came over to get the items they needed. Sean grabbed the four faucets left in the chest and headed for the large tub, taking a seat on the waist-high stone that held the copper tub. Smiling at the metal brackets that had been affixed to the stone, clearly meant for him, Sean began Shaping the first faucet into place.

  “If I promise to behave and show you the rune in action, would you do me a small favor, Sean?” Felora’s breath tickled his neck as she asked the question softly.

  A sharp intake of breath was all the sound he made as his heart rate skyrocketed. Exhaling raggedly, Sean looked over his shoulder to find Felora a foot away, staring at him with needy eyes.

  “No, not sex, though I’d gladly welcome that with or without your wives,” Felora huskily whispered, keeping her voice down to not disrupt Ida from her work. “I just want another taste of you.”

  “Sorry, I think that would be a bad idea,” Sean said. “Please back away. You’re stopping me from working.”

  Felora’s eyes glowed red and her hands shook, but with ragged breaths, she backed away from him. Her fixed gaze made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. Ida looked over with a puzzled expression, but could not see Felora’s eyes. Shrugging, she went back to work.

  “Have you considered the idea that Saret gave you this assignment to see if you could resist?” Sean asked quietly before he went back to work.

  Felora swallowed hard, tearing her eyes away from Sean with effort. “That is a thought I hadn’t considered. She would do that; it is like her to make us grow through temptation.” Felora walked over to Ida, resisting the urge to look back at Sean though her hands were twitching.

  Is my energy like cocaine to her? What does Saret know about it? Sean thought as he finished Shaping the first faucet into position. I need to keep my guard up around her... she might not be stable. Reminds me too much of an addict craving that next fix.

  Sean finished the four faucets and moved over to help Ida with the showers. Felora did not look at him, instead going toward the smaller bathrooms. Watching her go, Sean waited a moment before he picked up one of the showers and stepped in to help finish the job.

  When Ida and Sean finished with the showers, they went to find Ryann. Ryann was in the second bathroom, attaching the second shower pipe for the room. “Help her finish. I’ll be right there, okay?”

  “Of course, Sean,” Ida smiled before going into the room with Ryann and Felora.

  Sean checked the work Ryann had done, nodding and only touching up the faucet on the single wide tub in the room. Good work, Ry. I’ll have to praise you later, Sean thought as he headed for the other room.

  “No, all of us have to agree,” Ryann was saying when Sean headed for the second room. “I don’t see why we’d allow it.”

  “I could be useful,” Felora said softly. “You’re still holding my innate nature against me, even though I’ve been nothing but courteous and apologetic.”

  “Ryann—” Ida began but cut off when she saw Sean. “Sean, I think we’re done.”

  “I’ll give it a look,” Sean said, a spike of fear hitting him when he thought about what he had overheard. “Why don’t you check my work over, and then we can go home.”

  “Good,” Ryann said, leaving the room.

  Ida sighed and followed her, with Felora trailing along behind them. Watching them go, Sean had the sudden mental image of a hopeful puppy following two kids home. No, no, no, Sean, just fucking no. Stop it. Mentally berating himself, Sean went about checking the Shaping Ryann and Ida had done.

  Stepping out of the room when he was done, Sean paused as Felora was kneeling next to the rune by the tub. “I’m done. What’s this?”

  “Felora said she’d show you how the rune works, and promised to behave,” Ida said. “I thought you’d like to see it in action, considering…” Ida trailed off, hoping he understood.

  “Oh… yeah, that sounds good.” Sean said, catching onto her meaning, as it had been the reason he had asked originally.

  “The rune was made by the best flame mage in the city, Magus Giralt,” Felora said, pointedly not looking at Sean. “It was laid down with ruby dust, and the edges, as you can see, are mithril. For use, all one needs to do is empower it. I could do it, but I thought you’d like to try it, Sean.”

  “I would,” Sean said. Moving around the tub to a point across from Felora, Sean knelt down and touched the mithril band. “Just push energy into it?”

  “Yes. The more you give it, the hotter the rune will get. Let me add some water so the tub can dissipate the heat,” Felora said, getting to her feet.

  “I’ll help,” Ida said, moving over to turn on one of the faucets.

  “Oh, I need to close the drain,” Felora said. She pulled off her slippers and climbed into the tub. Deftly closing the drain, she moved back to the edge and turned on the faucet next to her. “Ida, can you toss me that towel, please?”

  Ryann snatched it and threw it at Felora, but Felora managed to snag it from the air and began to dry her feet.

  “Thank you, Ryann,” Felora smiled.

  “Yeah, sure,” Ryann muttered.

  Sean frowned, but decided not to get involved in the byplay. “We good?”

  “We should be,” Felora said. “We can turn them off now.”


  Sean, being very careful, willed the smallest trickle of energy into the ring of the rune. The ruby dust in the rune lit up, and a breath of warmth rose up from the rune. Streaks of red light began to radiate from the stone columns holding the tub aloft.

  “The pillars have cores of ruby dust and mithril,” Felora said. “Even at its hottest, the tub won’t boil, though it can get painfully hot.” Her smile faltered and she touched one of her legs absently. “We hope to have the Magus set a limit on the temperature soon.”

  “That’s a good idea,” Sean said, examining the rune with Mage Sight and feeling the energy the rune was producing. Heat pushed back at him, but it was not a lot— it felt like standing a dozen feet from a campfire. After a few minutes, he nodded as he began to understand how the enchantment worked.

  “Could the Magus do something similar, but with enough heat to smith?” Sean asked.

  Felora looked pensive, her hands gripping the tub tightly. “Maybe. I don’t know if he’s tried.”

  “No problem. It was just a passing thought.”

  “I’ll just stop this rune.” Ducking down, she slapped the rune and pulled the energy from it. A look of disappointment crossed her face as she stood up. “We’re done, I guess. Shall I escort you out, or would you care to stay for a meal?”

  “Show us out,” Ryann said stiffly.

  “Ry,” Sean said softly, touching her shoulder, “she’s just being hospitable. Felora, we have other things to do today. Please accept our apologies that we must go.”

  Felora bowed her head, “Yes, of course, Sean. If any of you would like to come by later, I’d be more than willing to entertain you—”

  “Of course you would,” Ryann snorted.

  “In whatever manner you’d like,” Felora continued. “We could have tea and simply chat. It’s been a long time since anyone other than Lilly has come by just for tea.”

  Ida spoke up, “Not today, but maybe in the future.”

  “I’ll look forward to it,” Felora smiled brightly. “Please, follow me.”

  Sean picked up the chest and followed them. He was slightly worried, but he had other things to get done today and pushed it aside.

  Chapter Thirty-one

  Only three other people were in the shop when Dame Flamehair’s carriage dropped them off. Chastity was behind the counter chatting with Agatha, while Angus waited off to one side.

  “Sorry for the delay, Angus.”

  “Happens,” Angus shrugged. “What can I do for you?”

  “Ven, have Andrea bring some strong drink to the sitting room, please,” Sean said.

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Follow me please, Angus.”

  “Sean,” Agatha said before he was out of the room, “thank you for the discount. I’ve heard you’re part of the new association Fredrick Gertihs is heading up. I’m happy to hear that. It means you’ll likely be around for a long time.”

  “Enjoy the kettle, and I’m not going anywhere soon,” Sean smiled. “The hail has let up, so if you’re planning on getting anywhere else, now might be the time.”

  “Thank you. Chastity, I’ll speak with you again,” Agatha said, taking the kettle and walking out the door.

  “Venn, can you ask Fiona and Myna to join us in the sitting room, please?” Sean asked as he raised the counter flap. “Ida, Ry, you’re coming, right?”

  “Right away, sir.”

  “Yes,” Ida said.

  “Can’t guard you if I’m not there,” Ryann added, but her voice held humor.

  “Must be serious if you’re bringing all your wives,” Angus said.

  “That will depend on you,” Sean replied as he led the way to the sitting room.

  Angus took the largest chair when Sean motioned him to it. It creaked a little, but held up to the weight of the large man. Myna, Fiona, and Andrea came in together. Chairs were Shaped so everyone had a place to sit. Angus went wide-eyed as he watched them do it while chatting amiably with each other.

  “This is the only hard drink we had, sir,” Andrea said, setting a bottle and six cups in front of him. “I can bring a small keg of ale if you’d like?”

  “This will be fine,” Sean replied. “Thank you, Andrea.”

  Bowing her head, Andrea left the room with a long look behind her before the doors shut.

  “Angus,” Sean said, deciding to make this quick and easy, “we’d like to offer you the position of guard at the new bathhouse.”

  Angus blinked, “What?”

  “We’re opening our bathhouse tomorrow. You’ve seen it from the outside. It’s likely that a few people will take offense to it opening, and we need someone who can dissuade trouble from being there. After talking it over with those who have a stake in it, I suggested you.”

  Angus frowned as he thought over what Sean was telling him. “You want me to be the muscle at your new bathhouse?”

  “Pretty much,” Sean agreed, chuckling as he opened the bottle. “Denmur and his friends are going to hate what we’re doing. Our bathhouse will cater to anyone, from the lowest to the highest. Further, we’re thinking that your wife could work the front, greeting and collecting fees, if you’re both willing.”

  Angus had started to nod along, but when his wife was mentioned, he went still. “Funny you should mention her, MacDougal. She hasn’t had an attack since her visit... if anything, she’s become stronger.” Angus sat forward, the chair creaking ominously under his weight as he stared fixedly at Sean.

  Sean grimaced, “If— and I’m only saying if, Angus— I did something, would it be a bad thing? You said she was healthy and singing last we spoke. Did something happen?” Sean’s worry was obvious to everyone as he asked.

  “No,” Angus said, sitting back, “she’s been happy and healthy. Been keeping me home most nights, too.” The last few words came with a warm smile. “I need to know if a debt is owed.”

  “Would you be willing to have an Agreement of silence?” Myna asked before anyone else could speak.

  Angus gave Myna a hard look before replying, “On one condition; if Rebecca is hurt because of it, it doesn’t stop me from going to a magistrate.”

  “Deal,” Sean said softly. “I accept an Agreement of silence regarding what transpired, as long as Rebecca isn’t physically injured by it.”

  “Agreed,” Angus rumbled.

  “I healed her,” Sean said earnestly. “Using some of my Talents, I helped fix the problem she was having that was causing her to be weak.”

  “How?”

  “Flesh Shaping, plus knowledge from the world I’m from,” Sean said, staring at Angus. “The human body and how it works isn’t a mystery on my old world. She isn’t just human. I’m not sure what her other heritage is, but it was suppressed in a way that was stopping her from producing the blood she needs to be healthy.”

  “I don’t understand,” Angus said. “We’ve seen a healer before. They said it couldn’t be helped, and that her body was just too weak.”

  “The healers in this city don’t understand how the body works,” Sean said bluntly. “The two parts of her heritage are no longer fighting each other. Without knowing what the other half of her bloodline is, it’d be tough to know what might come of her being healthy.”

  “She sings beautifully,” Angus said, his eyes going distant as he thought about it. “She did when we first met, but as she got weaker, she stopped.”

  “Songs…” Sean trailed off as he thought about different races that sang. “Sirens?”

  “Siren? You think she might be one of that ilk?” Angus asked, his brow drawing down into a thunderous frown.

  “Hang on, hang on. In my world, Sirens are singers who can enchant any man who hears them. What are they here?”

  “Bird-women who try to lure men to their deaths,” Angus replied with suppressed anger.

  “Hmm, they were always connected to the ocean on my world.”

  “Mermaids sing and take men to their deaths in the water,” Fiona said.r />
  “Maybe one of them, maybe neither,” Sean said quickly. “We don’t know and unless Rebecca knows something, it will likely forever be a mystery. If she starts to have problems, I’m happy to help try and make things better.”

  “The jobs... are they because you feel guilty?” Angus asked.

  “No. They are because you can both do them, and it’d be better money for both of you,” Sean replied. “I try to help those who help me.”

  Angus looked at the open bottle in Sean’s hand, which had been forgotten about the entire time they had been speaking. “We’d be working for your association, ‘Forged Bonds?’”