Lilly glanced at all of his wives, Aria, Andrea, and Chastity, before nodding. “Of course. It’s a pleasure to have you all here tonight.”
“Thank you, Lilly,” Fiona said, taking the barmaid’s hand. “You’ve done us a favor by taking good care of Sean when he is here. Next time you visit the shop, I’ll see to your order myself, if you let Chastity know.”
“Oh, thank you,” Lilly beamed. “Follow me, please.”
Ryann’s jaw was tight, but she nodded and was the first one behind Lilly. “Everyone else is already here?”
“Yes. We had to use the bigger room since everyone brought their wives and husbands,” Lilly said.
Walking down the hall, they eventually came to a set of double doors. The room dominated a corner of the building, the centerpiece a table that could easily hold forty people. A chandelier hung from the ceiling, the glowing lights illuminating the room. Most people were looking up at the lights when the door opened, and Sean knew why when he saw the wisp chandelier.
“Sean, glad you… all of your wives and servants? I wasn’t expecting that,” Mageeyes said. “Let’s shift a little so you can all sit together.” She motioned to Kuhns and Perritte to move down the table a bit. When she looked back at the group, her eyes focused on Fiona, a puzzled and uncertain expression marring her usually smooth features.
“Sean, we’re all curious why you wanted all of us here,” Joseph said as Sean was seating his wives.
“We’ll tackle the hard subject first, I guess,” Sean said. “Before we begin, let’s make sure we have drinks and won’t be disturbed unless we ask for it.”
A single knock sounded and the door opened, revealing Bemin and Lilly. The two of them set a number of bottles on the table and poured a full glass for each person. Once that was done, they left the room, the door shutting firmly behind them.
“That’s service,” Sean chuckled, getting laughter from a few around the table. “Okay, this is going to be difficult to get through, so please, give me a few minutes. As you’ve all heard by now, Denmur is going to be gunning for us, and I’ve recently stepped on Sharpeyes’ toes, as well.”
“Understatement,” Perritte snorted.
“Fredrick, why don’t you explain what they tried to do to you first?”
“That would help explain why Sharpeyes is upset,” Fredrick agreed. “I was forced into a duel…” It took Fredrick a while to explain what had happened to those who were not at the party.
“This is Aria Swiftwing,” Sean said when the story ended. “Because of her choice, she’s in this with us now.”
“The Huntress,” Joseph chuckled. “You just keep adding to your collection, Sean.”
“She’s not my wife,” Sean was quick to correct him. “She’s only Life Bonded.”
“That doesn’t explain why you wanted us all here,” Jefferson grunted.
“Before I explain, I need an Agreement from those who really want the truth. Telling you what I’m about to is much more dangerous than having the city’s Lord mad at me. I need an Agreement that you’ll tell no one but those who accept the Agreement what you find out. It could cost me my life, so your lives would have to be the equal measure.”
The room went dead silent as they all stared at him. Fiona stood up, which shifted all the attention to her. “If you wonder how it could possibly be worth that, I will confirm it is. Years ago, I was known as Fiona Treeshaper. You might have heard of me after my Shame, when I became Fiona Silvershame. I would stake my Talent and my life that what Sean would tell you is worth your lives.”
“I was right,” Mageeyes said, the questioning look she had been giving Fiona vanishing. “Last I heard of you, you’d gone into seclusion.”
“I can explain more once the Agreement is reached,” Fiona said, taking her seat.
“Nothing is worth my life,” Perritte snorted as he got to his feet. “I’ll be in the taproom.”
“He has a point,” Kuhns said, getting to his feet and extending a hand to a slight pale woman beside him. “We’ll also be at the taproom table.”
Jefferson eyed Sean for a long moment, “Can’t do it. Not right now.” Getting to his feet, the leatherworker paused, “If the offer is still open in a few tendays, maybe then.”
Flamehair looked pensive, “My life is worth more than many give it credit for. I remember your Shaming, Fiona. Amedee?”
“I’m going to stay. Last night, I saw something that made me eager to hear this,” Mageeyes replied. “If what I think is true, it’ll be worth the price of knowing.”
“If she thinks so, I will stay,” Flamehair said.
“I wish to know which power backs you,” Saret smiled. “It’ll ease my mind where my daughter is concerned.”
“I’m staying,” Sam said, Brendis agreeing with her. “We know more than the others already, but I want to hear the whole truth.”
“Sean’s only ever done right for us,” Joseph said. “I have no reason to stop believing him now.”
One by one, the smiths and their wives all agreed, leaving the Shapers the last ones to speak.
“I hoped to make an announcement of my own tonight,” Eva sighed. “It seems that it’ll be vastly overshadowed, but I’m going to say it anyway: Fredrick and I are going to start courting each other. This would never have happened without Sean nudging us out of our old ways. I will stay.”
“As will I,” Fredrick grinned as he took Eva’s hand, thanking the well-wishers who congratulated the new couple.
Once the table quieted down, Italice spoke slowly, “I have a single question first, Sean: have you ever touched the earth with energy?”
“Yes.”
“Things begin to make sense. My family might well not understand, but I think that this is the right path to tread.”
Ryan looked a little pale as he stared at Italice, “I can’t.”
Everyone in the room deflated. Italice’s face clouded with anger, sadness, and confusion.
“I can’t,” Ryan said softly, “not say this now. Italice Stoneeyes, would you see the way forward to allow me to court you?”
The confusion around the room grew, and Italice blinked, clearly not having expected the question.
“I don’t want to see you with another, and you’ve been watching Sean closely over the last tenday—” Ryan began to babble, his words speeding up and his cheeks heating.
“Stop,” Italice said simply and Ryan cut off instantly. “Fool. I’ve been waiting years, years and years, and you ask me here and now, because you think I’m making mooneyes at Sean? Ugh, we’ll talk after this, but answer the question first. Staying or going?”
Ryan blinked, “Uhh, staying?”
“Ven, clear the room of the other Fairies,” Sean said, feeling the weight of the Agreements settle over him.
A number of silver blurs left the room at speed before Ven landed on the table. “Clear. We’ve driven back the barmaid Lilly, too, who was standing by the door.”
“I’ll talk with her later,” Mageeyes sighed. “I was thinking she should move to helping at the second bathhouse, but maybe I’ll give that spot to Bemin. Regardless, you are free to tell us, Sean.”
Taking a long drink of his wine, Sean looked around the table. “I’m an Outsider, which most of you probably already guessed. I never guessed my life would bring me to this moment, but this path started while I waited in a bar for my only friend.”
Sean told them of his encounter with the gods, his agreement to Morrigan’s plan, and of Darragh’s town. He told them about the subsequent slaughter and their run until they reached the city. By the time he finished, most of the wine was gone and the table was staring at him with a mixture of fascination and horror.
“Now you know how and why I’ve been able to do the things I’ve done. Italice, Ryan, I’m sorry for using your Talents without your knowledge, and I hope you’ll forgive me for that. Amedee, I take it you saw my true power last night?”
“Yes, as did Lady Sharpeyes,” Mage
eyes replied. “She had the monocle on hand because she knew you would be there. I’ve been asked to bring you to tea in the near future.”
Sean’s eye twitched, “The enemy of my enemy is my enemy’s enemy, no more and no less.”
“She would prefer to open friendly relations with you, Sean,” Mageeyes chuckled. “Though your version of that saying is much more accurate than the other one.”
“I wondered why things have been changing as much as they have,” Eva commented. “Is it possible that you being this ‘changer’ Morrigan speaks of is helping all of us move past old blocks?”
“I have no idea,” Sean admitted. “Maybe... you and Fredrick both said you’ve had more energy than you used to.”
“Me, as well,” Ryan added, “ever since that first bathhouse at Eva’s.”
“The same, and now I know why the earth called out that day,” Italice sighed. “Maybe I’ll be able to feel the earth like that in the future.”
“It took a lot of energy,” Sean cautioned her.
“As it should,” Italice snorted. “You can help us with the bathhouses now that you don’t have to hide from us.”
“I’m working on a new project,” Sean admitted. “Another item that will change things, and earn Forged Bonds even more money and prestige.”
“Something from your old world?” Saret asked.
“Yes, but part of the idea has already been used here. I need the okay from Magus Giralt to use his rune for it to work the way I want it to.”
“The rights to use it can be purchased,” Amedee said. “I asked him last night. The cost is a little high, but Forged Bonds has had a recent surge in available funds.”
“I’ll get it signed tomorrow,” Fredrick said.
“What is your idea?” Joseph asked eagerly.
“A cart with a small steam engine, enough to move a loaded wagon without horses. A similar idea, called automobiles, replaced most of the animals used to move people and goods back on my old world. The richest people had custom vehicles made for them to start with, and that’s what I’m looking at here. If I get the first one made up, we can show it to MacLenn. He’ll want them for himself and to sell.”
“That first one needs to go to Lady Sharpeyes,” Mageeyes interjected. “That will prick her husband and son.”
“I’d rather make her one once the idea has been proved. I’d also like to talk with Giralt. If his rune can supply heat, then maybe we can reverse the idea and get a cooling rune, too.” Everyone looked a little perplexed about why he wanted a rune for cooling. Seeing their puzzlement, Sean chuckled. “Other ideas I have. I’ll wait until we can get him to sign on officially with us.”
“That might be after Denmur is dealt with,” Flamehair said. “Magus Giralt is a cautious man. He’s lived long enough to know that caution is usually the best path forward.”
“We’ll get him eventually, then,” Sean smiled. “That’s everything I have.”
“Sean,” Knox said slowly, “why? Why tell us now?”
“Because this is going to get ugly, uglier than some of you are expecting. If you want to step aside now and distance yourselves from me, I wouldn’t blame you. You’ll all catch some of it because of Forged Bonds, but most of this shit is coming for me. You can get away so it doesn’t affect you too much.”
“Fuck that,” Joseph said simply. “My family is better off because of you. I’m not stepping aside when you might need us.”
Everyone in the room agreed with Joseph.
“Looks like the next few tendays will get interesting, then. Hire more guards and put them on the new bathhouses. We’ll get some of the Messenger Fairies to patrol them, too.”
“Denmur wouldn’t attack them, not yet, but I’ll arrange it,” Fredrick said.
“Amedee, I need to talk with you about a new house that can be a business, and see about money. Sam, we’ll likely be moving out soon.”
“I figured you would,” Sam replied.
“If we’re done here, we can retire to my office,” Mageeyes said. Standing, she raised the last of her wine. “To our Bonds: they are tighter now, but still comfortable. This is the start of reshaping our society. Mostly, to friends, old and new.”
The others raised their glasses and drank the last of the wine. Sean felt a strum of energy pulse from his body and was able to open Mage Sight in time to see a wave of energy flood from him and into everyone in the room. Thin strands of his energy drifted back to him, tying him to the others.
All eyes went back to Sean. Those who had never held energy before looked shocked, and those who already did shivered. “I don’t know, but our Bonds have surely been forged tighter tonight.”
Character Information
Sean Aragorn MacDougal
?
Age: 33
Gifts:
Metal Bones, Viney Muscles, Mithril Blood, Magic Bond, Mending Body, Death Ward, Linguist, Hunter’s Blood, Infinite Possibilities
Spells:
Summon Water
Talents:
Shaper- (Wood, Metal, Flesh)
Mage Sight
Camouflage
Targeter
Elemental Manipulation (Water, Earth)
Enchanting
Beast Tamer
Bonded:
Fiona Mithrilsoul- Life Bonded
Myna Mooncaller- Life Bonded
Ryann Cullin- Life Bonded
Ida Bronzeshield- Life Bonded
Chastity Bisset- One-year Bond
Andrea Brandt- One-year Bond
Ven- Ten-year Bond
Venn- Ten-year Bond
Omin- Ten-year Bond
Onim- Ten-year Bond
Aria Swiftwing- Life Bonded
Author’s Note
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A big thank you to my editors, Jennifer York and Samantha Bishop. Also props to Geno Ferrarini, and Sean Hickinbotham for being my Alpha Readers. I’d be remiss if I didn’t include my beta readers, in no particular order: Zee ~*~ Ian McAdams ~*~ Arthur Cuelho ~*~ Scott Brown ~*~ A. J. Bishop ~*~ Alec Young ~*~ Jay Taylor ~*~ Justin Johanson ~*~ Rob Bunting ~*~ Christina Norton ~*~ Sawyer Aubrey ~*~ Aoife Grimm ~*~ Shane Bird ~*~ Steve Robles ~*~ Dame ~*~ Kevin Kollman ~*~ Kenneth Darlin ~*~ Peter LaFemina ~*~ Tanner Lovelace ~*~ Tim? ~*~ Carl Gherardi ~*~ Brian O.
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