The chill of the midday breeze brought home it was going to be cool very soon. Between stacking the heavy barrels and sacks, I got a cheek kiss from Pipi and Velia.
“Ladies I can lift these no problem. I am craving a nice warm stew, I would appreciate it if you three would be so kind as to prepare one for me please.” I said between heaves, stacking the barrels of wine.
“We got a good grape and neutba harvest this year my lord. It will make for a good wine winter. A lady needs something besides her husband to keep her warm!” Velia said as she smacked my ass lightly. I was expecting a ladies rule from Pipi but she smirked.
“Ladies rule,” Calia said and the three giggled.
“Come Pipi, you too Calia. The Earl has spoken. We shall retreat to the warm kitchens while he stacks our newest supplies.” Velia ordered and departed. I watched my wives' fine curves as they left. The last three weeks had all the Fernlan residents returning to normal weights. Velia was very proud her bust was returning. While Pipi complained of back pain and asked for money for specialty bra wraps, which I approved.
I had signed myself up for another long work session but it would provide little excuse to disturb me. At least that was what I told myself and quickly found out how wrong I was.
“Is there no servants to assist?” An unknown scruffy voice said.
I hefted the next wine cask up to stack on top of a third barrel. It was heavy and I felt my aura drain slightly. That was something I had been able to focus on. Every morning I trained with trainer Baldwic. I had been hesitant to let myself be scolded and remolded. Seeing Una die gave me the strength to endure the training the man had to offer. One of the many things I was learning was how to summon my aura to increase my abilities. The cask wobbled until I seated it firmly.
“I am Earl Gryff… greetings, unknown voice asking questions most here would not bother with. They know my work ethic is that of a servant.” I said and turned to face an energetic short man with his hands on his hips. This must be Earl Fwar. He was short and stocky, almost like a dwarf. A long beard certainly did not help dissuade me of his affinity to be labeled as a creature of legend. He had a twirled mustache, brown hair, brown eyes, and wore a fancy robe with green embroidery. There was a large smile over his face at seeing me, the man had a charismatic charm. Not from good looks, but in a gentle, and friendly way. “Welcome to Fernlan Earl Fwar. I have long awaited a fated combat healer.”
“Well, they did not lie when they said you were a tall one. And the way you lifted that wine keg that high up, you didn’t even struggle. Rumors must be true, we are indeed graced by the gods with another purple champion.” Fwar shoved his hand out and we clasped. His face went from smiles to a focused determination. He squeezed with everything he had and I stopped myself from hurting him. “Come on now, I am a healer. Show me what you… Oh! SEVEN HELLS! YOU BROKE MY HAND!”
I did indeed crush his hand. The little man danced around in agony until Bella rushed over and healed him. The wives had watched our exchange in dismay. Fwar’s wives shot angry glares at me but he calmed them.
“By the gods! Gryff I am so excited to battle with you. We will crush our foes and adorn our halls with trophies. Our grandchildren will sing of our glories when we are but a memory. You indeed are the hero we need. I got blood on my robe.” Fwar’s hand was fixed. I had shattered it so thoroughly his bones had pierced the skin and stained his robe. He tried to brush the red mess off and only spread it more. A wife finally raced over with a cloth and led him to Dais. “Tomorrow morning, we train, and then hopefully find something to kill. Nice to meet you, Earl!”
The man was ecstatic, chatting quickly to his wives. They beamed at his happiness as they worked their way to the tunnel entrance. With their departure, I went back to work stacking our provisions for the winter.
Bella came to my side and clasped me in a hug. She pulled in tight and I paused. I wrapped her up in a hug and she melted into me.
“I check with Jak every morning. The baby is fine, I am fine, and I still fret endlessly. Next rain day, can we snuggle in bed and you read me a story. I would love that…” Bella said as she locked her blue eyes to mine. I brushed her hair back, tilted her chin up, and planted a soft kiss on her lips. She wanted more but I pulled away. “We will continue this later husband, it is my night after all. The princesses ask me endlessly when you will bring them into your home. Do you have an answer yet?”
“Next rain day I will do you one better. I will tell you a story of my home, of space ships and fancy balls. I promise it will be warm, cozy, and interrupted by many kisses. Bella, I am not from Vin, and I really am content with my wives. Bear my children, warm my bed, and run my house. Do not let other women dictate how your life should be, be happy with how your life is.”
Bella turned her head sideways and crushed herself to me. I felt her boobs squishing into my stomach and enjoyed the moment.
“Hurry up my lord. Dinner soon, I look forward to spending our evening together. Thank you for being you.” Bella said and I got another tender kiss, this time in goodbye.
I stacked, hauled, and tossed supplies inside the building we had set up beside the landing pad for the griffins. After hours of hard back breaking labor, I dusted my hands off and headed to the Inn. I found a random open seat filled with workers, villagers, and family. I was another hungry mouth greedily eating a delicious soup. I ate four helpings and I had to loosen my belt a notch.
A goodbye was said and I retired to my underground bedroom. Bella was at the table here approving paperwork while snacking on some carrots. I tried to slide by her when she rushed to me. We spun our way to our bed while locking lips. Clothes flew and I swelled with desire. The night lasted a few rounds… and it was amazing. We were still two love birds regardless of the tension at times. Bella was my sweetie and I loved her for exactly who she was. When I started to drift off, she peeled herself back to the table to complete her work. I fell asleep shortly after.
CHAPTER 2
I awoke early in the morning and slid out of the bed. Our room was illuminated by the soft light of a golem torch, one of the one sixteenth versions. I rummaged through a trunk at the side of the wall and grabbed myself a workout outfit. With fresh clothes on, I sat on the chest to lace up my boots. I was ready for my exercise and I left our room. I glanced back to see Bella sleeping softly in our large bed and waved by to her. I knew she never saw, but it was a habit of mine.
My running partner for the last three days was waiting for me by the bulletin board. Princess Addilyn was combing over the lists posted. I saw her peel a few off to read over and set them back. The woman was a gifted manager, Bella mentioned it non stop. I think of the three daughters this was the one she wanted to add to our family the most. While I saw an appeal to the women and could utilize her skills, I was not wanting a fourth wife.
Addilyn noticed my approach, she was the only woman I knew who liked to run early in the morning. It was not something she was doing to impress me, more of a continuation of her exercise from Tent Crossing to Fernlan. We exited the Inn together and a light jog commenced.
“Good morning my lord,” Addilyn said she gave her hips an extra bounce ahead of me. Her tight runner shorts did wonders for her booty.
“Good morning my lady… It looks like rain today. Uh… What is that smell?”
“Indeed a stink, fertilizer I believe. Poor girls tending the fields spent all night spreading it. When I was looking over the board this morning I noticed the inventory sheets were off. I was hoping to do a full count of items in stock, but will probably wait for the snows before I pull things out. How many laps today?” She asked as we finished the ramp and entered Dais. “I was wanting to shoot the bow while you trained today if my lord would permit it.”
There she goes again. I liked Princess Addilyn. She was short, fit, dashing, and easy to get along with. Her black hair and brown eyes worked with her soft features. I also liked I could bounce coins off her ass. H
er tits were a handful like Velia, and she filled out nicely in a dress. Addilyn was a widow of the war, as were two of my wives. Her husband had died valiantly without having a chance at a child. It was explained as a rushed marriage to affirm their love before he went off to war. The anti widow thing on Vin was silly to put it nicely. Who cared if a woman was not a virgin on your wedding night? Apparently, a lot of important men, which was what brought Addilyn to stay in hopes of joining our family.
As we trotted she tried to stay ahead of me to give me a view but I rarely let her outpace me. This lady would have been a trophy wife back on Swan. Here, she was on par with Pipi in prettiness, but far less curvy and more toned. For the family, she would be a fantastic addition. She knew it, Bella knew it, I knew, yet I still fought it.
“I can help with the inventory. That kind of work brings me joy, I think you know that though.” I said as we made it into Dais. On the outside of the cavern was a gap between all buildings and the walls. I left it that way for moving goods. It also made a great track for running. “I need to shed a few pounds from the endless sitting in meetings, so I was thinking of running until Baldwic shows up. You able to keep up?”
“This is easy, I do enjoy the running in the cavern. After the peace accords, I was forced to run only the palace estate. Running the city was too risky and hard to secure my safety. It is funny, you never travel with guards and yet are more influential than my father.” Addilyn said without huffing. I apparently was not setting a fast enough pace. I stepped it up. “Why I want to learn the bow, you never answered… Will my lord… permit it?”
The woman was a natural. I was using my extended frame to take us into a full run and she was still talking while keeping up. I really had zero reason not to let my stubbornness fade and accept this woman. I slowed to a walk and she tilted her head at my pause. When I went into stretches she joined me.
“Addilyn… you are smart, pretty, and my type of gal. You most certainly can learn self defense and the bow. I will make you a deal. You spend the next month with Velia and Pipi.” I said gaining her full attention. “I don’t love based on noble status. I love my family and want a home that is drama free. Adding more to that may only make things worse. Here is my offer. Fix the rift between my wives and get approval from Velia as well as Pipi. Then I will marry you. Oh… send your sisters home too. Nice girls but let’s be honest, they got nothing compared to you. Here we go again keep up.”
My arm was snatched before I got a few steps. I was not expecting this from her. I was spun to face Addilyn. She leaped into my arms, clasped each cheek of my face with her palms, and planted a hungry kiss to my lips. We locked lips for a few minutes and when I broke it she hugged me. I laughed. The woman was thrilled to be a fourth wife and burdened with endless work. I knew I picked right. When she was set down she skipped into a run. Leaving me behind. Her firm ass in those tight shorts bounding away.
It was at that moment I knew she had been holding back. I sprinted to catch her, but whenever I neared she added more speed. I let her win, I needed to save my aura for training and to be fair. I didn’t like to cheat in a competition. We ran for an hour plus. I got a kiss on the goodbye. Pipi was holding a breakfast plate for me when we finished.
“Morning love, oh you did eggs with runtlet! You’re the best.” I said accepting the food and eating while I stood. Addilyn went off to the bathhouse to change. I noticed Vern in his mother’s shadow. I went to a knee to address him. “Hey little man, what has brought you out of the smithy?”
“Morning Sir, may I watch training today?” Vern timidly asked in a whispered tone. It was an improvement. Things had been beyond hard on him, but he was finally coming around.
“I will get permission, but you must stay with your momma while you watch on the wall. No funny business.” I said and he nodded in understanding.
“Thanks Gryff, I saw Addilyn grinning fiercely when she left. Something happen?” Pipi said with a smile. She was awesome, nothing really got her down. Always the optimist and genuine person. I swallowed the bits of food and slid her into my chest. Her hazel eye bore into mine.
“I love you Pipi. Fate fights my stubbornness to no end. I gave Addilyn a deal, she must bond with you and Velia. Then remove her sisters, and after a month we will marry. Let me know how it goes… And Pipi be honest with me about it. I want to fix the rifts. I know you never complain and are the most stunning, dutiful wife a man could ask for. With that said, I value your opinion. If she is not a fit for our family I will not marry her. I want to go to Streb after training and see what trouble I can get into. If I don’t bump into Velia you are to update her.”
Pipi never looked away or showed remorse at my decision. She truly loved me. A soft kiss landed on my lips. “As my lord commands.” She said and left my embrace to grab Vern’s hands. “We will be watching from the training ground’s wall.”
I waved to them as they left then picked up my plate to finish it clean. I tried to keep breakfast a light meal and my stomach was always angry with me for that. It was my only real option though. Training was rigorous and exhausting. If I ate too much I would throw it up. Baldwic was not a man who cared if you overate. Excuses for lighter or easier training simply were not an option.
Training had started with the basics an individual foot soldier needed to know. Techniques for sword and shield had been the focus the entire time. There were no other weapons allowed on the field. I mentioned my greataxe once and it rejected soundly. The rational precise. We had to fight as a unit. No more random heroics, which was why we trained together for hours in the morning. We went over stances and balance at the beginning of every training session and today was no different. Stand on a log with one leg for five minutes while Baldwic would meander through the students with a stick. Fast slashes were countered with wooden short sword, shield, and on occasion completely dodged. If you did not manage to evade the painful stick it would mean a visit to the healer later. This section of the training was painful but required lots of focus. The class consisted of thirty mercenaries, mages, and villagers wanting the experience. I used the five minutes of balance to reflect on my combat changes.
The two teams of Nate and Una had shifted into one. The main team always had a few backups ready to go but for the main part, the roster was locked in. The dozen consisted of me, Nate, Lazra, Brad, Brad, Donnie, and Markus. We were the melee fighters. The mages consisted of Fwar was our healer, Victor our fire mage, Tammy our air mage, Winst our earth mage, and Janice our water mage. When we called out across the Empire for students and teachers to join our new academy the response was massive. It had to be explained to me then. Mages generally were more financially stable than regular humans. They also were more desired. As humanity retreated during the losing war into the sectioned off safe zones. It was evident that mages escaped death at a higher rate. Hence every city having more mages than ever before. Which changed a lot of factors for our species on Vin as a whole. The end result for me in Fernlan was our secondary mages academy to Deltan was a major success. I decided to immediately fill a mage for each slot into my rotation, and combat healers were finally here. There were a few I wanted to take on that waited in backup now. The issue was Fwar was recommended by King Horus and he stressed I utilize the man in my team. I acquiesced his request and now had a complete team.
We swapped to shield wall formation next. It consisted of Baldwic screaming at us to move as one. Every command he gave was standard English to start, eventually, we would swap to code words. The basics were the focus for now. The entire time he yelled he poked holes into our formation. If he saw an opening he would slam into the wall to break it. You may think standing in a line holding up a shield easy work, but it was not. Especially when we had to turn, split, or turtle. Repetition was the key. The mages complained a lot less than I thought they would. I was expecting them to be more about standing in the back and letting us protect them. Then again my battles were taught now in nightly lessons among ma
ny others from Horde experience. It made sense for them to not be like a troll. If closed in on they could kill with a lethality still. It made me proud of them and the entire team.
As one we shifted formations for a half hour, we were constantly on the move. Next was advance and retreat with timed thrusts. The goal was simple. Move the formation while inflicting damage. All my fights so far had been melee scrums minus the cavalry charge. Even that wasn’t a proper formation. It exposed how much luck, strength, and raw talent had gone into our victories. I mention raw talent because my hand eye combined with my purple aura made me near impossible to defeat even with training. After formations, we shifted to one vs one sparring matches in two rows. It normally was a lot of wood smacking shield. Baldwic always teamed up against me.
Today was no different than any other training session, he was going to come at me with a fierceness. I had no problem timing his moves and blocking his attacks. I also had no luck in landing blows on him. We would dance in our limited space desperate to get through the other’s guard. This was the only thing I was ever given praise for. Baldwic would mutter if he was still young he would be fast enough, but the man was viper quick.
It did highlight my consumption of purple aura. I went from not realizing I had super strength, dexterity, and speed to understanding the basics of it. It really was only the tiniest bit that I understood. The concept of pulling from my inner circle came from Krix explaining how to throw a fireball on that plateau in Malvia. For me, I would find my center and shift my aura. I was limited to what I could do without natural instincts. Most of my purple aura was still burned by reacting without calling on my magic. To say this flustered Baldwic would be an understatement, but I was working on mastering my power as much as he was trying to smash me with a stick.
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