Building Harem Town 2

by Eric Vall

  “Yeah, so about that…” I trailed off as I tried to think of the right words. “Nicola and Aleia are… worried about you.”

  “Worried about me?” the naiad asked with wide eyes. “Is it because I fell over last night?”

  “Well, yes, that was kind of a big deal, you have to admit,” I replied.

  “I suppose,” the pale blue woman sighed as she put her collection of shells down on the ground. “I didn’t mean to concern them, but it was a strange moment for me. I suppose it was because of the baby, but I’ve never been through anything like this before. So, I really wasn’t sure what to say. Is there anything else they are talking about?”

  “This might sound funny… but I also think it’s because you wouldn’t talk about sex with them the way you usually do,” I explained.

  “Ohhh…” Penelope groaned. “I only wanted a tiny bit of privacy for once. The night before… you know, with all four of us? It was wonderful, but it was a little… what’s the right word?”

  “Intense?” I suggested.

  “Yes, I suppose so,” the naiad agreed, and she looked a little stressed out as she pulled on a strand of her thick blonde hair. “I just felt like last night was special, between you and me, and I didn’t want to-- wait, you aren’t saying this because you want me to talk about it with my sisters, are you?”

  “Penelope, of course not,” I assured the blue woman. “And that makes total sense because it was special. I guess I was more wondering when you were going to tell Nicola and Aleia about the baby.”

  “Well, I’m not sure, I suppose,” Penelope hedged as she twirled the piece of hair around her finger. “I don't want them to treat me any differently than they always do. What if they’re jealous? What if everything changes between us?”

  “Penelope, they love you,” I reassured the naiad. “I think everything is going to be fine. Also, if they want my children, I will give them babies, too.”

  “Just promise me you won’t tell them,” Penelope said with an anxious look in her eyes. “I’m sure they’re bothering you about what’s going on…”

  “Well, Nicola is,” I chuckled. “And of course, I promise. But honestly, they’re only worried about you. I don’t think you should wait too long to tell them, especially if you’re going to have fainting spells.”

  “I’m not going to!” the naiad insisted. “Well, I suppose I’m not sure. I’ll tell them, but in my own time, my lord.”

  “I understand,” I responded. “I don’t want to pressure you. Fuck, Penelope, I wish I could be down there with you so bad right now. I just want to hold you.”

  I loved all the women the same, of course, but the pregnant naiad was really getting to me right now.

  “I know, my lord,” Penelope said with a sad expression. “I want that, too. Well, maybe you can visit me again later… I’m not really sure how that works.”

  “We’ll figure it out,” I promised. “Hey, how many shells do you have, anyway?”

  “Half this container is full, see?” The naiad held out the clay pot with pride, and I saw the big pile of shells inside.

  “Great job,” I praised Penelope. “Now, I hate to leave you, but I need to see how Nicola is doing with the cougar. You’re good out here?”

  “I’m fine.” The blue woman grinned and pointed to her weapon leaning up against a tree. “See, I have my spear.”

  “Okay,” I laughed. “Come back to the garden soon. I’m sure you’re hungry.”

  “Starving,” the naiad giggled. “I’ve heard that about being pregnant before. Well, I’ll talk to you in a little bit.”

  I focused back in on the garden where Nicola had almost completed skinning the mountain lion. The brunette was in the middle of making a long slit down the underside of the beast’s tail, and I decided not to bother her.

  Aleia was even dirtier than before, but the hole she’d been working on was at least a foot wider than it had been earlier.

  “Nice work, Aleia!” I praised the fairy. “Are you tired yet?”

  “You know I’m not,” the strawberry-blonde laughed. “I’m certainly going to need that bath later, though.”

  “Yeah, you are,” I chuckled. “So, I think the pit you just made will be perfect for smoking the meat. The one for the kiln doesn’t have to be as big.”

  “Yes, master,” Aleia agreed. “That sounds right.”

  “Tending the fires is going to be a lot of work,” I warned the fairy. “You’re going to need to keep a bed of coals burning low and slow for several hours for the smoker, and the kiln needs to burn really, really hot.”

  “I’m not worried,” the strawberry-blonde assured me with a smile.

  “Nicola, how are you?” I asked the brunette.

  “I’m okay…” the dark-haired woman said as she chewed on her lower lip. “I need to get the skin off its tail, and I’m going to need to break the bone to do it. I suppose I’ll use the axe again.”

  Nicola grabbed the modern axe in both hands and swung it over the joint in the animal’s tail. She severed the bone in one neat chop, and then she put down the tool and dusted off her hands.

  “Now you can get all the skin off,” I commented. “This is looking so great.”

  “Thanks, Jack,” the brunette said as she peeled the lion’s hide from its tail. “I think there’s only the head left.”

  As Nicola carefully peeled the skin away from the cat’s skull, I admired the animal’s huge teeth and jaw. The beast was truly a killing machine, and my women had managed to take it down.

  When the brunette was finished removing the cougar’s hide, she carried it over to a rock and spread the skin out in the sun.

  “You did it,” I praised Nicola. “Now all you have to do is butcher it. You can let Aleia handle the cooking.”

  “I suppose,” the dark-haired beauty laughed. “I like to be in charge of everything, though, in case you hadn’t noticed.”

  “Nicola, stop being bossy,” the fairy protested. “I want to cook! Anyway, my lord, I believe I have completed digging.”

  “Nice work,” I told the fairy. “Those holes definitely look big enough. Now, you’re going to need some wood. You’ll want hardwood for smoking the meat for sure, and just a lot of firewood in general. Hey, am I working you too hard?”

  “I know I do a lot around here, but it’s fine,” the fairy replied with a tiny smile on her face and a glimmer in her eyes. “I can only hope you’ll… be pleased enough to reward me for it later.”

  Damn, was Aleia actually flirting with me? That was something new. I wanted to reply, but then Nicola cut in.

  “What did you say, Aleia?” the brunette teased the other priestess. “I thought I heard--”

  “What’s going on, sisters?” Penelope interrupted as she walked back into the garden, and Aleia flashed the naiad a grateful look.

  “All of you seem hungry,” I told the women. “I don’t think apples for breakfast were enough.”

  “What he’s saying is hurry up, Nicola,” Aleia joked.

  “I’m going to butcher it now!” the dark-haired woman huffed. “I just need a few minutes, and then we can cook.”

  “I really hope we have enough salt,” the fairy worried.

  “We can work with what we have,” Nicola responded, “or maybe the gnomes have some. I’m hoping we can find something to trade with them.”

  That wasn’t a bad idea. The gnomes down the road had already given the women beautiful bedding and clay pots without asking for anything in return, and it was important to me that my followers reciprocate a gesture like that.

  “Well, meat would be the obvious trade,” Penelope suggested.

  “Good thinking, sister.” Nicola nodded, and then the dark-haired woman bent down and began to cut large strips of meat off the cougar’s body. The brunette started with the beast’s belly, and then she turned the animal over and began to filet the backstrap. Its pink flesh looked a lot like lean pork.

  “You can save some of that fo
r tenderloin,” I told Nicola.

  “Mmm… sounds good,” the brunette said, and she licked her lips. “This isn’t taking me long at all. I’m going to cut the meat for smoking into smaller strips.”

  “I’ll go gather some firewood,” Aleia said as she stretched her arms over her head. “I’ll be happy to do something other than digging, anyway.”

  “I’m going to sit down for a moment,” Penelope sighed. “I’ll help you, Nicola, if you want.”

  “You can help me cut the meat down,” the dark-haired woman offered.

  “Will you give me my knife back?” the naiad giggled as she looked at Nicola with raised eyebrows.

  “Can’t I just borrow it for a fewww more minutes?” the brunette pleaded. “I love using it so much.”

  “Fine,” Penelope huffed, but she had a smile on her face. “Maybe we could trade knives, if you’re really nice to me.”

  “You would trade with me, sister?” Nicola’s eyes lit up. “Here, come sit next to me.”

  The naiad complied, and the two women started to discuss how to best slice the meat.

  “I’ll see you in a few minutes,” Aleia said, and she walked out of the garden toward the woods.

  I really wanted to talk to the fairy, so I was glad she was going off by herself.

  “Hi, Aleia,” I called out as I zoomed in on the petite strawberry-blonde. Penelope had been glowing, but the fairy’s body looked as tight as usual, and the way she was walking was pretty cute, too. After she bounced along for a couple steps, she would flutter up into the air for a moment or two.

  “Master, you startled me,” Aleia giggled as she put her hand over her heart. “I didn’t know you were watching me.”

  “I wasn’t watching you,” I laughed. “I came to speak with you because we haven’t had a chance to be alone together since the other night.”

  “Oh, yeah,” the fairy said as she looked down at the ground, and a pinkish blush spread up her chest and neck and across her cheeks. “Jack, I’m fine. I mean, I’m good.”

  “I’m glad,” I responded. “I feel like you and I don’t get much private time together, and even though being with you alongside Nicola and Penelope was incredible, I’d love to spend time with you alone, too. You’re an amazing woman, Aleia, and I need you to know that I feel just as strongly about you as I do about the others.”

  “Ohhh, master,” Aleia sighed, and I wasn’t sure I’d ever seen someone so red. “I have never done anything like that before, and I really, really liked it, but…”

  “But what?” I urged the fairy on.

  “But I’m feeling bashful,” the strawberry-blonde said in a small voice. “I know I’m not very experienced, and I wasn’t sure I did everything right.”

  “Please don’t be shy,” I implored Aleia. “While I know it was a bit new, everything I did was because I love you.”

  “I love you too, master,” the fairy sighed, “but yes, we should try to spend more time alone together.”

  “Then I’ll make it happen,” I promised Aleia. “I’ll come see you soon.”

  “Thanks, master,” the fairy said as she reached the edge of the forest. The beautiful strawberry-blonde was now hovering a couple feet off the ground, and I wondered if it was because she was anxious. “I’m going to go get a lot of wood. A mix of different types is okay, right?”

  “For smoking, you’ll want a lot of oak and maple,” I told her. “And get a bunch of slim, green wood to make a rack. This will suspend the meat well above the flames.”

  “Yes, I can do that.” Aleia nodded with a thoughtful look on her face. “And for the kiln, anything will do?”

  “Yeah, that doesn’t have to be done in such a specific way,” I replied. “Thanks for doing this, Aleia. We really need to build up Nicola and Penelope so you don’t always have to do all the heavy lifting around here.”

  “We all have our talents, my lord,” the fairy laughed. “And I love to grow stronger and stronger. You should have seen my father. Sometimes when he was mad he would rip trees out of the ground by their roots.”

  “That doesn’t sound too great…” I responded.

  “It was a little scary,” the fairy admitted, and I saw her eyes well up with tears. “It’s strange how much I miss them sometimes.”

  I chose not to comment since I had my own opinion about the fairy’s relatives. Aleia’s family had tried to sell her off to a rich, evil man, but I supposed family bonds were complicated. Still, I wanted to learn as much as possible about the little fairy. Well, if I could find a way to do it that wouldn’t bring up bad memories, but before I could ask her more, I heard unfamiliar voices nearby.

  I was immediately put on edge as I remembered my other two women were alone in the garden, and I zoomed out to the extent of the convent grounds. When I saw the pointed leather hats, though, I realized it was the gnomes heading for the garden.

  “That’s convenient,” I muttered, since the women had just talked about getting salt from the small creatures.

  “What was that, my lord?” Aleia asked as she peered at a fallen log.

  “The gnomes are here,” I told the fairy. “Get ready for your first guests!”

  Chapter 4

  “Oh, wow!” Aleia cried out, but her grin was quickly replaced with a worried frown. “Are we ready? Look how dirty I am, and we still need more wood.”

  “You stay here,” I told the fairy. “I’ll let Penelope and Nicola know.”

  I took a minute to observe the gnomes walking toward the garden, and the biggest of them, who was Wilfrim, the patriarch, couldn’t have even been three feet tall. Although, his pointed leather cap added at least a foot of height. The small clan of visitors included Wilfrim’s wife, Elowise, their grown son and daughter-in law, Balabar and Nissa, and their four children, including a tiny baby.

  The group’s clothing was clean and pressed, and they had big smiles on their faces as they walked in a tidy line down the incline toward the garden. Elowise led the group with a twinkle in her dark eyes, and the small old woman held something big and colorful in her arms as she traipsed through the grass.

  Wilfrim, Balabar, and Nissa’s eyes were wide as they looked around at the ruins for the first time. Nissa had her tiny baby strapped to her chest, and the three older children straggled behind as they stopped from time to time to stare up at the trees or pick a flower.

  Seeing the strange little troop approaching our garden gate made me smile to myself, and I had to appreciate the fact I was getting a chance to take part in a world where I actually got to see magical creatures.

  “Ladies,” I murmured in my priestesses’ ears. “I believe you’re about to have some guests.”

  “Oh, my goodness, Elowise!” Penelope squealed as she flipped around. “You’re the very first friends who have come to visit us. And it looks like everyone is here, including the little ones.”

  “Yes, we all came,” the rosy-cheeked old woman said with a big smile on her wrinkled face. “And look, we brought food from the garden for you.”

  Elowise held out a large pot full of fruits and vegetables. There were different melons, tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers, and that was just the top layer.

  “What do we have here?” Wilfrim, Elowise’s husband, asked in a gruff voice as he examined the pile of meat Nicola had sliced off the cougar.

  “It’s a mountain lion,” the brunette explained as she blinked up at the old gnome. “We’re going to eat soon, and then we’re going to smoke a lot of the meat so it will last us a little longer. I’ve run out of salt, though…”

  “We have salt, dear,” Elowise laughed. “Do you need my grandson to run back to our camp and get it?”

  “That would be wonderful,” Nicola sighed. “I’d really appreciate that.”

  “Morrick, go to our camp and get a big bag of salt for our neighbors,” the old gnomish woman instructed the oldest boy.

  I thought Morrick might be about twelve, though it was hard to tell because he was o
nly about two feet tall. His ears stuck out, and his round cheeks were bright red, but he wore the same type of pointed cap as the other men, and his shoulders were straight.

  “Yes, Grandmother,” the young boy said with a nod, and his voice was so high-pitched I assumed he hadn’t gone through gnome puberty yet, whenever that happened. The gnome boy already wore a golden sword on his belt, though, so I wasn’t too surprised his family was comfortable sending him off on his own.

  Morrick began to jog up toward the road, and the younger two gnome children, a boy and a girl, started to play tag and run around the garden.

  “So, you’re having a meal soon,” Balabar commented as he turned back to the women. Wilfrim and Elowise’s son tended to have a bit of an attitude.

  “Oh, my goodness, where are my manners?” Penelope gasped. “I haven’t officially asked you to sit and eat with us. Of course you are welcome, and I wish I had a better place for you to sit down. You have those nice logs around your fire, but the three of us usually just sit on the ground.”

  “We’re so close to the ground that we don’t mind at all, sweetheart, “ Elowise laughed before she looked around the garden. “So, this is where you live…”

  “We will have to give you a tour of the convent grounds,” Nicola offered with a warm smile. “This is our garden, and we used to camp here until we rebuilt the roof of a building closer to the stream.”

  “And this is the location of our altar, when it isn’t broken, that is,” Penelope added, and she sighed at the sight. “It got destroyed in the storm the other night, but this is where we usually worship our heavenly lord. We prayed to Jack at the altar, and then he blessed us with his holy presence.”

  Elowise pursed her lips in thought, and Balabar arched his eyebrows.

  “Your god helped us in our battle, did he not?” the younger gnome man said as he tugged on his dark brown beard. “And then he arrived… where is he now?”

  “Oh, well, he isn’t here all the time,” Penelope explained. “He only comes down when he sees fit. But yes, our master always helps us. He tells us his wise plans, and he is never wrong.”