Forged Bonds (Binding Words Book 4)

by Daniel Schinhofen

  “Fiona told me that women are permitted to carry a small blade. Myna and I will make sure I have one that won’t stand out, but will still be serviceable if needed.”

  “Okay. Guess we’re doing this, then.”

  “If you don’t, you’ll be forced to leave, as Fiona explained last night,” Myna added.

  “Which means I go and wait for the noose to drop,” Sean sighed and tossed the covers off. “Let’s get the day started. The sooner it’s over, the better.”

  Breakfast was quiet, and both Chastity and Andrea kept glancing at Sean throughout the meal. When he was done, Sean went to stand, but Fiona touched his hand before he could.

  “The items for your gift are laid out in the sitting room. I think you can finish it before you have to leave.”

  “Which will leave the tailor and altering clothing for later,” Sean nodded.

  “Sir,” Chastity said, “are you sure everything will be okay?”

  Looking at the table, Sean shook his head, “No, I’m not, but I’ll do my best to make sure it works out.”

  “Can we do anything to help, sir?” Andrea asked.

  “Your normal tasks,” Sean said. “Knowing you two are keeping things going here will make it easier for me. If you want to do more, help with Ryann’s dress.”

  “Yes, sir,” they said in tandem.

  “I’ll be the only Messenger Fairy allowed in with you, sir,” Ven said. “The others will follow us to the manor and wait outside.”

  “Venn can’t go with Ryann?” Sean asked.

  “Not inside,” Ven replied. “One per guest is the rule. Ryann isn’t a guest, but your companion, so she doesn’t get the same privileges.”

  “We’ll manage.”

  “Go ahead, husband. We’ll let you know when Amedee tells us which tailor to see.”

  “Okay.”

  Taking a seat in the sitting room, Sean looked at the silver figurines on the table. They depicted animals that were hunted by the nobles, plus a Canine Moonbound on his back. Finish these up and that won’t leave anything else for the set of figurines for Sharpeyes, Sean snorted. I should make him one of his son being killed by a Rabbit Moonbound. Chuckling, Sean picked up the figurines and began to give them definition.

  The smaller animals were finished quickly, even with the amount of detail Sean put into them. The Moonbound was intended to be placed under the muzzle of the hound Sean had made last time. Setting the figurine aside, Sean smiled at his work when the door opened.

  “Sean?” Fiona called and smiled at him. “Ah, you’re done already.”

  “Just finished. Did we get an answer?”

  “Along with a carriage to take you to the tailor,” Fiona told him. “I’ll be coming with you. If this tailor handles orders for Amedee, then I want to see about putting in a few orders for dresses.”

  “Everyone else is okay?”

  “Working on the things they need to handle. Ryann knows and is okay as long as I’m with you. Even though she’s also your wife, she still takes her duty of being your shield seriously.”

  “She’s a good person,” Sean smiled. “I’m glad we gave her the chance.”

  “We are as well, dear.” Fiona kissed his cheek before changing the topic, “We’ll need to speak to Fredrick about a box suitable for the figurines,” Fiona told him as they walked down the hall. “Presentation matters almost as much as the gift.”

  “Useless frippery,” Sean muttered.

  Fiona smiled, “It really is, but that is the way things are done.”

  “Add another thing to the list,” Sean grumbled. “Onim?”

  “Yes, sir?” Onim said from above him.

  “Can you pass the request along to Fredrick for me, please?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “They make things easier,” Fiona commented.

  “Part of the family,” Sean said.

  “And we are honored to be a part of it, sir,” Ven said from above them.

  “You’re my shadow, aren’t you?”

  “I’m the one who follows you the most, yes.”

  “Thanks, buddy.”

  “No need to thank me, sir. I follow you because it is the most important task.”

  “Any problems?” Sean asked Chastity when they entered the shop.

  “No, sir,” Chastity replied, not looking up from the copper hair clip she was adding a design to.

  “We’ll be back,” Sean told her.

  “Yes, sir.”

  ~*~*~

  Mageeyes’ carriage was the most comfortable vehicle he had encountered since coming to this world. The seats were thickly padded and covered in leather, with another layer of crushed velvet over that. The matched four horse team, uniformed driver, and footman all screamed wealth and station, much like the interior of the carriage.

  “We’re here, sir,” the footman said when he opened the door.

  Sean got out and discovered they were not far away from Sharpeyes’ manor. The building the carriage had stopped outside was understated, but perfectly maintained. Only the small, discreet sign pointed to it being a tailor’s shop.

  “‘Silkenhands,’” Sean murmured as Fiona was helped out of the carriage by the footman.

  “We’ll be waiting for you, sir,” the footman said.

  “Thanks,” Sean said.

  The front room looked more like a sitting room in a private home than a tailor’s shop. A handful of very well-padded chairs were arranged in small groups, with side tables flanking them. The far side of the room had a single door in it, but there was no counter like most of the shops Sean had seen.

  The door opened, admitting an older gentleman with a stiff bearing. “You must be MacDougal.”

  Sean’s eyebrow went up on its own at the man’s better-than-thou tone. “Sean MacDougal and my wife, Fiona.”

  “She wasn’t lying. I have my work cut out for me,” the tailor sighed. “I’ll do the best I can, but with scant hours to get you in something suitable, it will be a challenge.”

  “I am hoping to see about dresses once you finish with him,” Fiona said.

  “I’m sure you would, but I doubt you can afford my prices.”

  Sean’s teeth ground together. “Let’s get this over with.”

  “Wait, husband,” Fiona said softly, touching his arm. She turned back to the tailor, “Your prices are likely to be about five gold for each dress, correct?”

  “To start with,” the tailor rebuffed her. “I use only the finest materials, and each dress is made to best accentuate the wearer.”

  “Of course they are, as one would expect from the Silkenhands family. I’m also sure that some dresses are never paid for, and sit in your back room collecting dust.”

  Eyes narrowing, the tailor looked unhappy, “As happens to everyone who produces custom goods.”

  “I wish to purchase those dresses,” Fiona said, touching the pouch on her hip, clinking the coins inside, “unless you’d rather hold onto them.”

  “They won’t be fitted to you,” he said quickly.

  “I’ll have them fitted, and by someone else, so you won’t be held accountable for the results.”

  “Far be it from me to try explaining how that won’t work for the party your husband is attending, but I will bring two dresses out of the back. Five gold for both of them.”

  “If they’re your standard quality, I’ll take them,” Fiona smiled.

  Sean had stood back during the exchange, wondering what Fiona had in mind. When he heard the cost, he almost interjected, but kept silent. Once they were done, he cleared his throat, “If it’s going to be so hard for you to finish, maybe we should get started.”

  “Yes,” the tailor smirked. “Come with me, sir. Your wife can relax here until we finish. My staff will bring her refreshments.”

  “Fiona?”

  “Go ahead, dear,” Fiona smiled brightly. “I’ll be fine.”

  Sean was led to a workshop. “Strip to the skin and step onto the stool,” t
he tailor said brusquely.

  Sean was unhappy with the tailor, but did as he was told. “What’s your name?”

  “Edwin Silkenhands,” the tailor replied as he readied a measuring string. “Now hold still so we can get this over with quickly.”

  It took a few minutes for Silkenhands to finish measuring him. The whole ordeal reminded him of being fitted for a suit on his old world. One of the last things dad and I did together, Sean thought.

  “Good; you’re not abnormal in most regards,” Silkenhands said. “I might be able to pull this together easier than I had hoped. Your inseam and rise are the only real problems.”

  “We done, then?” Sean asked, still standing on the stool.

  “Yes, get dressed. One of my staff will take you to the front room. Relax until I need you again.”

  Shaking his head, Sean got dressed. The moment he finished, the door opened and a young woman stepped inside.

  “If you’ll follow me, sir,” she said to Sean.

  “Sure thing.”

  In the front room, Sean found Fiona sitting with a cup of tea in hand. “I get to sit and wait for him to need me,” Sean told her as he took the chair next to her.

  “Would you care for some tea, sir?” the servant asked, keeping her eyes lowered.

  “I’ll have what Fiona is having.”

  “I’ll bring another setting,” she replied before leaving with measured steps.

  “That’s how tailors are, Sean,” Fiona said with suppressed laughter. “Once he gets things ready, he’ll want you to try them on. Silkenhands are able to Shape all kinds of clothing, which is why they are so expensive.”

  “But if they—”

  “No, they’ve all tried,” Fiona cut him off. “It’s a specialty of their family.”

  “Huh,” Sean grunted, “that seems weird.”

  “The rumor is they can do a little bit of Shaping on plants and flesh, but not enough to do either well. However, it’s apparently enough to help them with tailoring.”

  “That would make some sense, at least,” Sean said.

  The servant brought back a second setting, along with the tea cart. Once she had made his and refilled Fiona’s tea, she bowed and left the room.

  “Gah, that’s just wrong,” Sean muttered. “She’s more like a doll than a person. She has no personality.”

  “You’ll see more of that at the party,” Fiona said softly. “Just deal with it as best you can, husband.”

  “I’ll do my best,” Sean said, sipping at the tea.

  It took about three hours and a few trips into the back room before Silkenhands was even remotely happy with the suit he made for Sean. It took another hour for him to refine it to the point where he would let it leave the shop.

  “It’s been paid for by Dame Mageeyes,” Silkenhands told Sean.

  “Great, we’ll be going then,” Sean said, taking the bag the suit had been put in.

  Fiona, with her own bag in hand, smiled at Silkenhands, “Good day, sir.”

  “Good day.”

  “How are the dresses?” Sean asked as the carriage began to roll.

  “Good. One of them will be perfect for tonight,” Fiona smiled.

  “Huh? But Ryann is going with me.”

  “Yes. We needed a good dress to start from. The rest were busy making jewelry for her. They should be done by now.”

  “Oh.”

  “They would have worked on a dress, but I had Onim let them know that I have one we just need to modify instead.”

  “Always thinking ahead,” Sean murmured, leaning over to kiss her cheek. “You’re too good for me.”

  “We all think the same about you, dearest.”

  “We need to stop by Fredrick’s for a box, don’t we?”

  “He had one delivered to the shop,” Fiona told him. “I already had Chastity pack the figures into it.”

  “Do you think I’ll be okay?” Sean asked her.

  “It will depend on what Denmur has planned for you, dear. Don’t rise to their provocations; they will try to goad you into at least an unseemly display. It’s why I suggested Ryann instead of Myna as your companion tonight.”

  “Because they would be likely to bring up her heritage.”

  “Of course. It’s been proven to get a rise out of you.”

  “Assholes,” Sean sighed. “I’ll do my best.”

  “We know you will, husband. It’s not just us, but your friends who are going to be counting on your ability to navigate the party. We all trust in you, and even if it all goes pear shaped, we’ll be there for you.”

  “I know,” Sean murmured, kissing her gently.

  ~*~*~

  When they got home, the women all went to the master bedroom. Sean went down to shower. He knew they had dinner in an hour, and then it would be time for the party. Stepping into the bathroom, Sean paused in the doorway and looked around as an idea that had been forming took shape.

  I can keep water in a big tub clean and heated, and I want to do it for the fancy bathhouse, anyway. Might as well give it a test, Sean chuckled to himself as he ducked back into the house to collect the things he needed.

  Stretching, Sean looked at the finished product and smiled. “Now, that’s nice. If I just had a rune to make water move instead of making more of it...”

  “We only have… what did you do this time, husband?” Fiona said as she stepped into the room.

  “Made a soaking tub that we can all use,” Sean chuckled. “We have time before dinner?”

  “Oooh, I want to try that,” Ryann said, coming into the room with the others behind her.

  “We’ll have to rinse quickly,” Fiona said. “I’ll put your dress and his suit out of the way.”

  “Have to apologize to Andrea for leaving the clothes later,” Ida said, beginning to strip.

  “I’ll make it up to her,” Chastity smiled.

  Six of the seven showers were soon in use, with everyone doing their best to hurry. Myna was the first one done and into the roman tub. She let out a loud purr and sigh as she slid into it. Ida was only a couple steps behind her, a soft sigh coming from her when she lowered herself into the water.

  “This is wonderful, Sean,” Ida said, spurring the others to move faster.

  It was less than a minute later before everyone else was in the tub. Sean was the last one in, sighing gratefully as the hot water washed over him. “Almost perfect,” he said. “Need to modify things a bit, but at least I know it works.”

  “I don’t see a drain,” Myna commented.

  “Not supposed to get drained,” Sean replied. “There are a dozen purification runes on the inside of the tub.”

  “You mean the heating rune to stay on all the time?” Chastity asked in awe.

  “That was my thought, yeah. It’ll deplete a little faster, but the tub will always be ready for use this way. I want to test it for the pricier bathhouse.”

  “Why not the others?” Ryann asked.

  “Cost. Unless the rune can keep going for a long time, it won’t be worth it.”

  “What about only using the rune when the bathhouse is open?” Ida suggested. “Fill and heat before opening, empty when the bathhouse closes.”

  “Maybe,” Sean smiled. “I’ll be keeping my eye on this one to see how long it lasts. Still need Amedee to get us the approval to use the heating rune from Magus Giralt.”

  “He’ll likely be at the party tonight,” Fiona commented.

  “Hope I make a good impression,” Sean said.

  “We believe in you,” Myna purred.

  “Yes, you can do anything,” Chastity said, blushing.

  “If you start getting too warm, get out,” Sean told her with concern. “You might pass out otherwise.”

  “Andrea says you have ten minutes,” a Messenger Fairy told them before it zipped off.

  “Guess we should be getting out,” Sean sighed. “I’ll go grab the towels.”

  He dried off quickly and tied a towel around his wais
t. When he came back toward the roman tub, his pace slowed when he saw all five women waiting for him. Mouth going dry, he handed out the towels, absently noting the different features of each woman.

  “Close your mouth, dear, though we thank you for the compliments,” Fiona giggled as she took the last towel.