by Logan Jacobs
We all thanked the king again, and then we followed behind the soldier who led us through the winding hallways of the palace. Elissa was right, it was beautiful. Domed ceilings with intricate paintings graced the corridors, and multi-story windows let in plenty of sunshine to see where we were going. We entered a foyer of sorts, with several arches leading to other hallways and short benches around a large statue of the king. A spiral staircase circled around the sculpture, and then it led up to other levels.
It was breathtaking, and I gaped at the art and decor around me.
One day, I vowed to live in a palace as grand as this one.
The soldier led us through a doorway to my left, and we walked down another long pathway. This one was decorated in a blue color scheme, and paintings lined the walls in between entrances to rooms.
Several doors stood open, and when I peered inside with curiosity, I saw lavish bedrooms, luxurious living rooms, and a regal library. There were no people inside except for the occasional servant, and they smiled at us in a friendly manner as we passed by.
I wondered who lived here and why all the rooms were empty, but then the soldier stopped at the end of the hallway.
I stepped past him into the doorway he indicated, and my jaw nearly hit the floor at what laid in the room beyond. There was a full kitchen, a dining room, a sitting area, and another hallway full of doors.
“This is all for us?” I asked. It was like a small apartment complex with a communal living space, and I’d never seen anything so extravagant before.
“Yes, sir,” the soldier replied. “This is the west wing. Everything west of the library is included, but you’ll find this section to be the most comfortable.”
“Thanks.” I grinned and looked around. “It’s pretty incredible.”
“Yes, sir,” the soldier said with a curt nod. “Are you in need of service? I can send for one of the servants.”
“Um, sure.” I shrugged. “I’m sure my men will need to eat soon.”
“Thank you, sir,” Riondale said with a small bow of his head. “A change from our deer rations will be nice.”
“Don’t mention it,” I replied. “I know how hard we all traveled, and how long it’s been since we ate. Gotta keep my men's strength up.”
“Very good, sir,” the king’s man said, and he nodded again before he turned and left the wing.
“We get an entire wing of the palace all to ourselves?” Elissa breathed as she ogled the finely decorated living room. “This is even better than our honeymoon.”
“The duke’s castle pales in comparison,” Mahini agreed, and then she cast an apologetic glance at Evangeline. “No offense intended.”
“None taken,” the duke’s daughter laughed, and the melodic sound filled up the empty space in the room. “This is the king’s palace after all, and my father is just one of many dukes.”
“Everyone claim a room,” I directed my team, and I included the guards who’d been traveling with me in my gaze.
“We all get to stay in the palace?” Jorgen asked with raised eyebrows. “Thank you, sir.”
The other men had similar expressions of shock on their faces, and I resisted the urge to laugh. I supposed the leaders they were accustomed to were not as generous as I was, but I was happy to be an exception to the asshole rule.
“We’re a team,” I explained. “We fight together, we eat together, we might as well sleep in the same wing of the palace. It only seems fair.”
“Do you not wish for company at night?” Mahini asked with a disappointed expression on her beautiful face.
“Of course, we are still going to sleep with him, silly,” Elissa giggled as she bumped her hip against the desert goddess. “When else are we going to get a chance to have our own room in a palace, though? I say we should enjoy it while we can!”
“She’s right,” I said in a loving voice. “You are always welcome in my bed, you know that.”
“Very well,” Mahini replied with a tilt of her head that caused her obsidian hair to slide across her face. “As long as we can cuddle tonight, I will be willing to put my stuff into a separate room.”
“We will cuddle every single night for the rest of our lives if you want,” I assured her.
Mahini smiled softly and planted a quick kiss on my cheek, and then the three girls meandered down the hallway to investigate the available rooms. The guards followed behind the women, and when the ladies had picked their rooms, the men followed suit with the remaining spaces. Once everyone found a room to their liking, I went off in search of one for myself.
I found a room at the end of the hallway with a large bed, and it was covered with a soft green duvet. The ambiance was warm and inviting, and it felt good to me, so I kicked off my boots, unstrapped my weapons, and went in search of a bath.
The bathrooms were just as luxurious as the rest of the suite, and the huge clawfoot tub was the main attraction. It was rimmed with gold paint, and the faucets had ornate designs carved into the metalwork.
The water came out boiling hot, and containers of various soaps sat on a small shelf along one side of the tub. I poured them in generously, and suds soon threatened the edge. Once the bath was full, I settled in with a sigh of contentment. The warm water washed away my aches and pains and soothed my tired muscles, and it was a welcome relief after the hard work of the day.
I’d accomplished a lot since I’d left Castle Bullard, but my favorite completed quest was finding Bella in the silver mine. While I enjoyed being a badass who took on griffons and dragons, helping out the little people always warmed my heart in a way that couldn’t be replicated by winning a battle.
Now, I was in the lap of luxury, and my women and I could spend some time recuperating from the long journey before we headed back to Bastianville. It turned out the king didn’t need anyone to tell him about the dragon’s presence, so my mission in Vallenwood was essentially finished already.
Then my thoughts turned to the dragon, and I furrowed my brow.
What could be done about the winged terrorist?
I knew I could kill him if I could get close enough, but his ability to fly was a thorn in my side. Arrows only did so much damage, and I once again thought about the spear I’d lost in the dragon’s eye.
Where had it ended up?
I shook my head to dispel thoughts of things I couldn’t change, and then I finished my bath, cleaned up, toweled myself dry, and put on clean clothes. The west wing was empty when I returned to the main rooms, and I looked around everywhere for my crew.
When I found no one, I decided to take a moment to clean my armor and gear. I used my towel to wipe the soot and ashes off the metal plates, and then I checked the stats on my griffon feather boots.
Magical Item: Griffon Feather Boots
Weight : .01lbs
Durability: 70%
Magical Aspect: Fleetness
Weakness: -1% Durability with each use of fleetness
I’d used my boots’ speed abilities thirty times, but it was hard to keep track of how many times I’d reset and activated them again. I would have to find an enchanter and repair them soon. I still had two griffon feathers left, and I was confident I could make them last a long time, but I didn’t know when I would encounter another expert in the field again. Still, if Castle Bullard had an enchanter, then Vallenwood must have one, as well.
After I finished cleaning my gear, I went looking for the members of my group again. I still didn’t find anyone, but I noticed our personal possessions had been moved to the empty rooms. I spotted Elissa’s mace leaned against an end table in a room decorated with pink hues, Mahini’s armor stacked neatly at the end of another bed, and Evangeline’s clothes strewn all over a different room.
Finally, I found one of the guards who’d traveled with me from Bullard. It took me a second to remember his name, but I’d been introduced to him during my first encounter with the dragon. His name was Kylor, and he had red hair that hung around his wide ears and a bu
lbous nose that overshadowed his thin lips, but it was hard to judge his age. He had the attitude of an old man, but there were no age lines on his face.
“Where did everyone go?” I asked in a curious tone.
“They went into the city to drink,” the guardsman answered me. “I was left behind to wait for you.”
“Well, I’m glad someone is still here,” I laughed. “Do you want to join them? Because I certainly do.”
“Let’s do it, sir.” Kylor nodded enthusiastically.
The two of us ventured out into the city in search of the tavern where the rest of the men had ended up. I stopped and questioned the guard outside the palace, and he informed me my friends had gone to The Winking Wench, so we traveled through the smoldering, scarred city toward the tavern the guard directed us to. A short while later, we’d found our party, and everyone greeted me with cheers and applause.
“Sir Sebastian, sir,” Riondale greeted as he inclined his head respectfully.
“Can I still call you Bash?” Jorgen asked as he clapped me on the shoulder.
“Of course,” I laughed and gave the hunter a broad smile.
“The dragon is scared of you,” Eva pointed out in a pleased tone. “It flew off as soon as it laid eyes on you.”
“You have excellent eyesight if you were able to see all of that from the palace steps,” I said in a stern voice. “Where were you really watching from?”
“I may have snuck down the street a couple of blocks,” Evangeline replied as a blush colored her cheeks. She looked like she was trying not to smile, and the resulting expression was adorable.
“Well, it’s hard for me to be mad now,” I said, and my smile never faltered. “I suppose I should expect as much from Sorreyal’s greatest escape master.”
“Ooh, does Eva get a cute nickname, too?” Elissa giggled as she stepped inside my arms.
“Hello, my love,” I greeted my wife as I wrapped her up in a tight embrace. “Do you think she’s ready for one?”
“I’m not so sure about that,” Mahini murmured as she sidled up against me.
“Hey, there,” I said, and I opened my arm to include my bonded sword maiden. “I missed you.”
“I missed you, too,” the desert goddess replied with a smile shining in her piercing blue eyes. “Did you enjoy your bath?”
“I enjoyed it immensely,” I answered easily. “I feel like I washed away years of my life.”
“Perhaps that is how you maintain your godly youthfulness,” Eva mused as she tapped her finger against her chin. “I will figure out the secret to your power eventually.”
“Don’t hurt yourself trying,” I laughed, and then I changed the subject back to baths. “Didn’t any of you bathe? I had to wash off the soot and ashes, plus the road dirt I accumulated between my toes.”
“We cleaned up quickly,” Mahini said with a shrug. “But we were more interested in drinking away the dragon fear than in cleaning up.”
“Aye, that’s what I’ve been waiting for,” Kylor interjected. “Where can I find a drink?”
“Over here, my friend,” Riondale laughed, and he led us all over to the bar.
We got mugs of beer, and then we all crowded around two of the tables. There were only five tables in the whole establishment, and the rest of them were full of soldiers who’d fought against the fiery blaze before we even showed up.
I paused before sitting down, and I cleared my throat loudly. Once everyone’s eyes were on me, I lifted my mug and looked directly at the soldiers who sat nearby.
“Today, a hard battle was fought. A battle against fire itself. The element destroyed homes, businesses, and lives in one fell swoop, and the brave men here tonight were the city’s main line of defense against the terror of the dragon.” I nodded to emphasize my words, and I lifted my drink up even higher. “Tonight, let us drink away our worries, our fears, and the memory of the blaze itself.”
“Hear, hear!” the men all shouted, and they stomped their feet in a chorus of joy.
The vibrations shook the entire room, and some of my beer sloshed out of my mug. I laughed with abandon, and then I took a long swig of my drink.
Finally, I sat down with the men while the women slipped into the crowd and disappeared, and we quickly went through a round of drinks while we laughed about our journey so far. I got to know the men I’d been traveling with a little better, and I learned little details about why Riondale had picked them specifically.
Jorgen was obviously a talented hunter and tracker, and Corvis was dedicated to the horses’ care, but three of the men were Riondale’s cousins. Bryn, Thanor, and Ian all had the same grandmother as the young lieutenant, and they’d grown up practicing their fighting skills together. Then there were the twins Isak and Asher, and they both shared the same wheat-colored blond hair and blue eyes.
Kylor seemed to be the odd man out since he’d been picked on his performance during their basic training. He’d moved to Bullard as a young man and had only begun learning how to fight, but he quickly rose through the ranks of the guardsmen to earn Riondale’s respect.
After getting to know the men a bit more, my opinion of the young lieutenant was even higher than it had been originally. He had a keen eye for potential, regardless of his familial bias toward his cousins. Bryn was skilled with a two-handed sword, while Thanor preferred to wield two short axes, and Ian hefted a large broad sword.
“Spar with us one day, Great One,” Isak insisted after he described his prized possession, a spear handed down from his grandfather. “I saw the way you used that spear to gouge out the beast’s eye. I’d like to learn a thing or two about your techniques.”
“Aye, that would be a good time,” Corvis added in a hopeful tone. “Do you have any experience with a warhammer?”
“I have experience with all things.” I shrugged.
“Shall we order another round?” Riondale interjected with a grin. “My cup’s gone dry for some reason.”
“Do it to it,” I quipped as I mirrored his expression of joy. “Make mine a double.”
“A double what?” he asked as he furrowed his eyebrows in confusion.
“Never mind,” I laughed. “Just get me two, please.”
“Of course, Great One,” the young lieutenant said before he nodded curtly and then turned on his heels and headed to the bar.
“So, as we were saying,” Asher continued the conversation in a cheerful voice. “You were agreeing to spar later?”
“You guys really want to pit yourselves against me?” I scratched my growing beard and pretended to think it over. “Alright, I think I can manage that. Tomorrow, I will test your battle skills.”
“Then where will we go?” Eva asked as she took Riondale’s place beside me.
Elissa and Mahini followed behind her, and I wondered where the three women had run off to. I’d enjoyed talking to the men, but I’d missed the three ladies.
“Yes, Great One,” Mahini added in a curious tone. “Are we going back to Bullard? Or home to Bastianville?”
“Or somewhere else?” Elissa gasped as she clasped her hands together. “Ooh! We could go on another adventure!”
“Is that what you would want?” I countered with a lift of one eyebrow, and the corners of my lips twitched up into a smile at her lust for adventure. The small-town girl had broadened her horizons, and she already craved more.
“I believe that’s what we all want,” Riondale said, and the young lieutenant held several mugs in each hand. “To follow you through all your adventures, to help wherever and however we can, and to give our lives to serving the God of Time.”
“My sentiments exactly,” Jorgen agreed in a decisive tone. “I say we all swear fealty to the Great One, and him alone, until death.”
“Technically, you are still the duke’s men,” I pointed out with furrowed eyebrows. “I wouldn’t want to get on the duke’s bad side any more than I already have.”
“If you want to discuss technicalities,” Eva
countered with a sly smile, “then you are a god, and that makes you technically above my father in power. I say if someone wants to swear loyalty to you, then you should let them, but that’s just my opinion.”
“Hear, hear!” Corvis chanted, and he placed his fist over his heart.
Riondale, Jorgen, Kylor, the twins, and the rest of the men copied the motion, and they looked toward me with solemn faces and determined eyes.
I didn’t know exactly what to say or how to respond, but I figured I could reset if I said the wrong thing, so I couldn’t go wrong. I made a new savepoint just in case, and I took a moment to think up some good oath words for my new followers.
“I think they want you to give them a vow,” Mahini murmured in my ear, and her icy-blue gaze was full of love.
“Alright.” I cleared my throat. “Repeat after me. I do solemnly swear to follow the commands of the Great One…”
The guardsmen copied my words in unison, and then they paused expectantly, but I noticed Evangeline had joined in with them.
“I will serve the God of Time, body, mind, and soul, until the end of time,” I continued, and Eva and the men repeated the words perfectly. “You are now sworn brethren of the God of Time. What shall we call you?”
“What about Bastians?” Elissa suggested.
“I like that.” I grinned and hugged her around the shoulder with one arm.
“Bastians it is,” Mahini confirmed with a sideways smile, and she folded her arms over her chest and cocked one hip to the side. “It’s kind of like the Golden Sword oath.”
“Sort of, but different.” I shrugged.
“I like that our oath to each other was special,” Mahini said in a soft voice, and her eyelashes fluttered as desire flooded her piercing blue eyes. Then she stripped me naked in her mind if the tongue dancing across her lower lips was any indication.
“You two are practically married,” Elissa pointed out in a happy tone as she twirled a strand of her fiery tendrils around one finger.
“That’s true.” I grinned, and then I shot a subtle glance at Eva. There was a conflicted expression in her smoky-gray eyes, and I could tell she was thinking about my promise for more to come.