Helga quickly handed them over. “As you decree, sir.”
Shaking his head, he took them in hand and focused his will. He poured his heart into them bending to his will, wanting to make sure his Bonded were protected anytime, anywhere.
There were gasps a heartbeat before he felt the weapons in his hands vanish.
Opening his eyes, he saw two mithril rings decorating his fingers. “Okay, now to see if they really work.” Taking them off, he handed them to Helga. “Put them on and will them to you.”
Helga inhaled deeply and slowly as she reverently slid the rings onto her fingers. Looking at Sean, she exhaled and both weapons were suddenly in her hands. The movement was almost too quick to see, but for those watching, the swirl of metal and sudden growth was visible.
“Trigger the spear,” Sean whispered.
A wash of fire burst forth from the spear and Sean laughed. “Yes!” Pumping a fist, he grinned. “Now, back to rings.”
The weapons vanished, becoming rings again. Helga’s face was a study of awe.
Sean grabbed her right hand, studying the ring with pursed lips. The jewels of the spear were sunken into the metal, but smaller than they’d been. He raised her hand up, pointing it at the sky. “Fire.”
Helga inhaled sharply as fire bloomed a foot from her clenched fist. She hissed in pain and Sean pulled her hand down. Blisters covered her knuckles, and he nodded before healing them.
“Okay, so you can do it, but it’ll hurt like hell,” Sean grinned. “Not surprising that the fire is a little less intense than it could be. I’m going to upgrade that sword tomorrow to use electricity.”
Helga swallowed and knelt before him. “Sean… please… this is too much. I am only—!”
Sean touched her head gently and she stopped talking. “My Chooser,” Sean said softly. “You’re the one to guard the souls of my wives. All of this is for that purpose, Helga Oathsworn. Does that help?”
Helga’s head barely moved under his hand, but she nodded. “As My Lord wills it.”
“Also,” Sean added, “I did it because you’re a part of our family— an important part. Even my wives agree on this.”
All seven of them agreed with Sean.
“You guard our souls, but also Sean’s life,” Fiona said. “There’s nothing more important.”
“As you decree, mistress,” Helga swallowed. “My soul has heard the words and engraved them.”
“Good,” Myna said. “Now stand up.”
Helga rose and Sean chuckled. “Time to lead the sparring. And wives, bring me your weapons. We’ll do this now.”
Sean sat to one side, watching them spar as he enchanted their weapons to become rings.
Mizuki stood near him, just staring at this man her daughter loved. Her frame of what was possible and how powerful he was kept being broken, and she was afraid to ask anything. When Helga asked if she cared to join in helping teach the staff, Mizuki blinked slowly, then accepted.
Myna watched her mother with triumph in her eyes. Her heart soared that Sean had proven time and again that he was more than worthy of being her husband.
As sparring started to slow, Rumia approached Sean. “Sir, might you do the same to my shears?”
Sean frowned, then held out his hand. “Let’s try it.”
Their fights came to a sudden halt as everyone turned to watch. All of the other staff were shocked that she had so brazenly asked him. Sean’s wives took stock of Rumia, reappraising her in their rankings of the staff.
When the shears became a ring, he handed it to her. “Go ahead.”
Rumia slipped it on with eager eyes and then stared at it. Seconds ticked by as Rumia’s happy eyes became fearful. Head jerking up, she stared at Sean in horror. “Sir?”
Sean covered her hand with his. “I was afraid of that. Theirs works because of their Soul Bond— the ring needs resonance with the wearer. That’s good… it’s what I wanted.” He looked at everyone watching them. “This way, if your ring gets stolen, it’s just a pretty bauble to anyone but us.” Taking a deep breath, he met Rumia’s eyes. “I’m sorry for testing it on you. Please calm yourself? Focus on the ring and push your energy into it. Focus on binding it to your soul.”
Rumia’s eyes closed and her forehead creased. She poured her soul into doing what Sean had told her to do. Sean felt her energy surround the ring and then he guided it, mixing it with his own. He felt the moment the ring became hers and took his hand away.
“Go ahead,” Sean said gently.
Rumia breathed a little quickly, afraid she’d failed again, but a second later, she was holding her shears. Eyes wide as her smile came back three-fold, Rumia held the shears up. “Thank you, sir.”
“Hang on, let’s make sure it works,” Sean said. “Make it a ring, then hand it to your mother.”
Rosa took the ring, but it never became shears. Sean then had her pass the ring to Fiona. Fiona had the shears in her hand seconds later.
“Me, my Soul Bonded, or you alone can make it work,” Sean nodded. “This is what I wanted.” Exhaling, he felt relief. “It’ll work the same with the armor.”
Fiona nodded slowly as she handed the shears back to Rumia. “That’s good. This will cause a lot of turmoil if it becomes widely known.”
“As long as we use it sparingly, it won’t be, and I doubt anyone else can do it,” Sean smiled. “Let me finish everyone’s weapons. I can explain why it’ll be nearly impossible for others over dinner, okay?”
Fiona stared at him, then smiled. “Okay, husband. You broke something again, didn’t you?”
“Yes,” Sean admitted. “Ladies, line up and be ready to push your energy into your weapons.” His eyes went to Mizuki. “I’ll do yours now, Mom.”
Mizuki blinked at him. Bowing her head, she moved to stand in front of him. “Very well… Son.”
“Master, can you make her armor, too?” Myna asked with a smile.
“I can. Tomorrow is going to be busy, but on Sevenday, I plan on working on armor and other things,” Sean said.
“Now, Mother, what do you think of my family?” Myna asked.
“It frightens me,” Mizuki whispered, “but I am happy that you have grown powerful and have such power and love around you, Myna.”
Myna beamed proudly.
~*~*~
Sean was a little uncomfortable having his mother-in-law bathe with them. He kept his eyes well away from her, and when she asked Myna about it, Sean felt his face nearly combust. It was worse when Mizuki began to laugh— she found great joy that Sean had a weakness.
“It’s not a weakness,” Sean muttered, finally getting out of the tub after everyone else had left. “Seeing your mother-in-law naked is just… weird, and definitely not for me.”
Making it to the dining room, he was able to look at Mizuki and not blush. A few seconds after he had sat down, Glorina led the cooks into the room with dinner. She gave Sean a bright smile— she’d been surprised when he’d stopped in the kitchen before bathing to enchant their weapons into rings.
Probably not helping the whole them-loving-me thing by continuing to give them stuff, Sean thought. I’ll just have to accept it when it comes… I should’ve thought about it when they asked to Life Bond. How could I have forgotten what that means when I’m involved?
Sean served himself some of the chicken and dumpling soup, took a couple pieces of buttered bread, and then looked down the table. “Okay, Fiona asked me earlier about how the armor and rings are possible. The answer is based on a couple of things— books and games from my old world always said it was possible, like my fireball spell, so that made it really easy for me. A few of my favorite books had armor that did what Helga’s and mine can do, and what yours will do. The rings are just another offshoot of that.”
“But what was it about the books and games that let it happen?” Fiona asked.
“There are always items in those mediums that can break space, like bags of infinite capacity and such. I managed that.�
�� He touched the belt pouch he wore. “This belt pouch can hold a full suit of armor.”
Blank stares met his gaze before Fiona started to laugh, and his other wives soon joined her. “That’s our husband.”
“So if space can be folded in such a way, then it can work for the armor and weapons,” Sean explained. “If we used just normal Shaping, the rings would weigh as much as your weapons— that’d be uncomfortable as hell. It’d be the same with the armor pieces.”
“But the armor flows like Shaping,” Ida said.
“I took the idea of folding space and Shaping and combined them,” Sean grinned. “Combo for the win.”
“You aren’t going to share the infinite bags, are you?” Felora asked.
“No. That would really break this world. All commerce gets so easy to move and to steal that it would get ugly quickly. All of our pouches will get upgraded. Yes, all, Mom. That includes you. We will all have armor, weapons, and bags and be ready for anything that comes our way... Something will break soon. I’m not being reactive again, I promise. I’m just trying to do something that won’t give them an easy way to drag us before the magistrates again.”
Myna nodded. “I figured that was why, Master.”
Felora licked her lips. “Sean, would you be willing to do a single bag for my mother?”
“If she promised not to tell anyone about it,” Sean said. “Family is precious. I’d honestly love to give one to our friends, too, but it’s too much. Ida, if your parents agree, I’ll give them one.”
“I’ll have an answer for you tomorrow, Sean,” Ida said.
“As will I,” Felora added.
“He makes it sound so simple,” Ryann snorted, “just bending space.”
“In this case, yes. In another case… I’m afraid to try. The horror stories of that magic… make me afraid.”
“Don’t,” Fiona said, seeing the fear in his eyes. “Safety first, please, Sean?”
“I won’t. I don’t want to end up inside out. I doubt my healing would work for it.”
Everyone looked a little uneasy.
“Sorry to delay dinner,” Sean said, grabbing his spoon. “Let’s eat.”
~*~*~
Sean sat across from Helga in the carriage. She was studiously not looking his way, and Sean could feel her emotional turmoil. The burgeoning sense of empathy he was starting to feel with her was a little disconcerting to him.
“Helga, talk to me, please? I can feel your emotions… not clearly, but your unease is obvious.”
Helga went still and she exhaled slowly. “It is nothing.”
“Don’t lie to me,” Sean said softly. “Do you fear I’ll rebuke you?”
“Yes.” The word was even softer than a bare whisper.
“Why?”
Helga looked at the floor. Sean knew she was just trying to arrange her words and not ignoring him, so he waited. He was unsure of how he was so certain of that knowledge.
Breathing out roughly, Helga took another slow, deep breath and lifted her bright blue eyes to meet his. “I do not know what to be with you or how to interact with you. At first, I was your better in combat, which should have been impossible. You proved differently and have now gone on to be the one to win most often. As a god, you should be cold, aloof, and disdainful… but you are nothing like that. You are the opposite. You go so far as to heal a hound that was in distress, a hound that was not even yours. Even Hel does not show that much affection for her faithful hound, Garmr.”
Sean frowned, as he had a faint recollection of Garmr being the guardian of Hel’s gates.
“Where the Æsir would make their chosen fight for the right to the gifts you have given me, they would make us prove ourselves… in various ways… you do not. You have given me arms and armor that rival what the Æsir would have coveted for themselves alone. Your wives hated me, deeply hated me, and now… now they welcome me with open arms. They have entrusted me with your being, and their souls, as if I am worthy of them without question.”
When Helga stopped talking, Sean just stared into her eyes and nodded. “I’m sorry, Helga. I can’t or won’t change any of it. You’re given the weapons and armor to do your job better. My wives are right to trust you to do as you said. I know you’ll not fail us, not as long as you survive. Because of you, we know that their souls will always be safe. Even if you aren’t able to hold them, they’ll make it safely to the manor. That helps me breathe easier.”
“You treat me as a friend, not as a tool,” Helga said, almost accusingly.
“Because you are a friend. You’re family, even, not a mere tool. The idea of you being a tool bothers me. You’re irreplaceable, not a game piece to be traded away on a whim. That idea upsets me.”
“Which is why I am in turmoil. I should be a tool, disposable to further your goals, not… treasured.” The last word hitched and her face went hot.
“I don’t know about treasured,” Sean said slowly. “Valued, yes. Wanted, also yes. You’re family to me, my wives, and even the staff. The staff looks to you to help make them stronger, my wives trust you to guard us all, and I have faith that you’ll keep them safe for me. I know where your heart is leading you and that you’re fighting it.”
Helga’s face burned brighter. She looked down, closing her eyes. “I am sorry, My Lord. I should not have these thoughts and feelings for you.”
Sean exhaled. “You’ve heard what’s happening with the staff. Do you think you’re unworthy, too?”
Helga’s emotions tangled more. “Yes... no... I…”
“Talk with Fiona,” Sean told her gently. “Dream with Felora. Listen to the others. We have all the time we need. So breathe, calm yourself, and if things go the way they are, well… if they agree, I will, too.”
Helga stopped breathing and looked back up at him. Sean swallowed as, for a moment, the emotion she felt was as clear as a bell. That vanished and her emotions tangled once more.
“Hope is good,” Sean said. “It’s what sustains us while we struggle.”
Helga snorted, but it turned into a chuckle before becoming a full laugh. Her laughter had Sean chuckling along with her. Her emotions calmed and all he felt from her was hope.
Well, you signed on for this when you Life Bonded everyone, Sean told himself. Helga will end up being the next one... Even I can see that. Funny that I don’t need a clue-by-four hitting me this time.
Chapter Thirteen
Helga was all business when they reached the Oaken Glen. Sean stepped out of the carriage once she told him it was safe. “Not sure we’ll stay long tonight, Arliat,” he said.
“Understood, sir,” Arliat replied. “I’ll let the stablemaster know.” She shrugged some of the slowly falling snow from her shoulders.
Sean gave her a nod, then followed Helga inside the inn.
The association was at the table in the main room, and Joseph called out his name the moment Sean walked in. Sean waved back and crossed the room, surprised to see a few people at the table.
“Bloodheart, it’s good to see you,” Sean greeted the Knight.
“Toivo,” Bloodheart said. “Call me as you do your other friends.”
“Okay, Toivo,” Sean said as he took a seat. He looked at the other new face. “Henry, you joined us, have you?”
“He has a minor stake in the association,” Fredrick said. “He’ll not be included in the private discussions, much as Bloodhe… Toivo is now.”
“Glad to have you both with us,” Sean said.
“Sean,” MacLenn said, “I’ve started things rolling for Carver. It’ll likely take a tenday or so, but you’ll have a clear path.”
“What did you do?” Sean asked.
“He’ll be a fair target for you,” MacLenn grinned. “Let it be at that for now.”
“Okay,” Sean said. “That does remind me, though...” Sean turned to Flamehair, but paused when Tabitha came to the table. “Still snowing, so a mulled wine, please.”
“Hot cider,” Helga added
.
The others ordered their refills, and all eyes went back to Sean.
“What does it take to become a Knight?” Sean asked.
Mageeyes, Flamehair, and Bloodheart looked pensive. Bloodheart was the one who answered, “It’s complicated. The easiest way is to have a Lord or Lady take you into their family. Once you are, they can elevate you from Aspirant to Knight without difficulty. If you do not join an established family, it gets tricky. Either Queen can elevate your status, obviously— they have pushed Aspirants straight to Lords before. As that is unlikely for you, that leaves the longest of the three ways... You’d need to prove to a score or more of Knights or Dames that you deserve to stand beside them, and then you’d have to have a City Lord or Lady accept you as equal to those who spoke. That would get sent off as an announcement to the Quaditals and Accord.”
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