“She hit everything regardless of what she was using,” Myna stated without preamble.
“I don’t understand— why am I gifted with this now?” Ryann muttered as she took her boots off. “I could have done something, if I’d known before. I might have at least used it to win games of chance at the inns.”
“That isn’t the way fate has laid out your life,” Fiona said. “Myna, hand me the brazier. I’ll get a new coal for it.”
“Hmm,” Sean murmured as he considered what they were saying. “Ryann, if I said you could leave right now, are you inclined to go?”
“If I stay for the night, are you going to give me to the magistrate in Holden?”
“I’m not,” Sean said. “If either of them thought you needed to be held accountable, they would have told me. I don’t hold anything against you for doing what you were forced to do.”
“Ryann,” Myna said softly, “what are you going to do once you reach Holden?”
“Offer my services to someone who might have use of them,” Ryann shrugged. “A one year Bond, with pay and boarding. If the person is trustworthy, it will be okay.”
“Who might have need of your services?” Sean asked.
“I can work as a guard. Since I can hit everything I aim for within a hand’s span, I should be worth the coin.”
Fiona stepped into the tent with a smile. “What would you ask for?
“A bed of my own, two solid meals a day, and fifty bronze for the year,” Ryann said with a questioning tone.
“If a Holder offered you a silver, and your own bedding, plus two meals a day, would you take it?” Myna asked, blank faced.
Sean felt a yawning pit opening under him as the women slowly closed the trap on Ryann. “Ladies…”
“A silver to be a guard?” Ryann asked, looking at Myna with a frown. “No one offers that kind of pay, unless they expect trouble, or are less than honest.”
“Would you take it if the person offering was not on the outside of the law, and the money was guaranteed?” Fiona asked.
Ryann looked from Fiona to Myna before her eyes settled on Sean, who was eyeing Fiona and Myna with a worried expression. “Why do you need a guard?” she asked.
Sean started to answer, but Myna cut him off, “He’s a merchant, and about to start selling a new item. We expect some push back when we start to sell them. Fiona and I are good, but having someone who is skilled at long distance combat will be a good thing.”
Sean glowered at Myna and again went to speak, but Fiona cut him off, “See the items before him? Those are the new things he’ll be selling—let me show you how they work.” Fiona set the brazier down and picked up a hair clip, which cut Sean’s line of sight to Ryann. “Pull your hair around to the front, please.”
Finding himself cut off from the conversation, and feeling like Fiona and Myna were together in the scheme to wrangle Ryann into his employ, Sean sighed. Standing up, he went over to the flap and got his boots on. “I’ll go get dinner ready,” he grumbled as he left the tent.
“I’ll help, Master,” Myna said as she hurriedly put on her boots and followed him out.
Sean went to the wagon, grabbing the pot and some food. When he stood back up with items in hand, he turned to find Myna standing there looking at him timidly. “Why?” Sean asked softly, so it wouldn’t carry to the tent.
Myna answered just as softly. “Selling these will likely bring attention to us. People like Oriv, or someone with actual power, might try to push you out of making them so they can. I know Fiona and I can handle ourselves in close combat, but it makes sense to have someone who can hit everything she aims at. Let me show you her targets,” Myna said, holding out her hand.
Seeing her honesty and certainty, Sean felt like an ass for questioning them like he did. “First, let’s get dinner on the fire,” Sean said, holding out the bag of food to her. “Pick the ingredients.”
Myna smiled at him, seeing him soften his stance. “Thank you.”
Once the soup was over the fire, Sean went with Myna to the area where bullseyes had been set into five different trees at different distances. Each one had marks in the center, or a few inches outside of center, plus one or two outside the targets altogether. Myna showed him where they had Ryann shooting from—the furthest target was only sixty feet away, but there wasn’t a clear shot to it.
“She hit them all?” Sean asked.
“Yes, but only with the bolts. She could get knives to the first tree, but she didn’t have enough strength in her arm to hit the second. I used Mage Sight while she was hitting targets. Every time she lined up a shot, a pulse of energy would go from her eyes down to her shooting or throwing hand. After ten shots, her aim was no longer solid; those are the marks outside the rings.”
Sean considered what that would mean if they did take Ryann on. “If she had more energy to use…”
“She would hit even more targets,” Myna finished for him when he trailed off.
“You’re sure we’re going to have trouble?”
“No, but it is likely, even if we sell and move on,” Myna said softly. “Sean, I feel as if trouble will always follow us. I find that it doesn’t bother me, because we’ll all be together.”
Rubbing at his face, Sean had a gut feeling she was right. “Fucking Morrigan. She knew I wouldn’t be able to lead a quiet life.”
“I would curse her, too, but it’s because of her that you are here now, and that means I should be praising her,” Myna said as she stepped to him, her arms circling his waist.
Looking at the top of her head, Sean smiled gently. “Maybe you’re right. Okay, I’ll stop fighting your efforts.”
“Promise?” Myna asked softly.
“I’ll stop fighting your efforts to recruit Ryann,” Sean clarified, realizing that open-ended wording was a bad idea.
With a deep sigh, Myna nodded. “Damn…”
Sean laughed and kissed one of her ears. “Silly cat.” He hugged her, happy to be there in that moment.
“I will wait, Master,” Myna murmured as he held her.
They finally separated and went to retrieve the soup, then headed back to the tent. Fiona was sitting next to the teapot, frowning at it. “Is there a problem?”
“I can’t summon water,” Fiona grumbled.
With a chuckle, he handed her the pot of soup. “Sorry, I forgot all about tea.”
Singing the song, Sean summoned steaming water for the tea before taking his seat. “What brought the attempt on?”
“We were thirsty,” Fiona told him as she ladled out bowls of soup.
“Ahh, yeah, sorry,” Sean muttered apologetically. “I’ll try not to forget next time.”
“You really are quite strange,” Ryann said. “Your Bonded basically just called you inept and... you apologized?”
Sean locked eyes with Ryann, who looked away after only a few seconds. “I’m not the average Holder. I don’t mind if those with me correct me. Besides, I think that was intended more to highlight my differences than to chastise me.”
Fiona bowed her head. “Yes. Seeing is believing, Sean. Ryann needed proof that my claims of how different you are were true.”
Shaking his head, Sean sighed, “I’m not used to this world, and even if I was, I wouldn’t be like Oriv or most of the others I’ve seen that have Bonded. I love Fiona and Myna. They are my friends and valued compatriots.”
Ryann blinked at him as if he had grown a second head. “Would you swear to that?”
“On the names of those that brought me here and on my life, what I said of the two who are my Life Bonded, and how I see them, is true,” Sean said simply.
Ryann stared at him for a long moment, then shook her head. “I have to accept what I have seen and heard.” Taking a deep breath, she met Sean’s eyes. “If I Bond for the year, what will your demands be?”
Sean pursed his lips, then looked at Fiona. “What are my demands?”
Fiona snickered and faced Ryann. “That she prote
cts you and us. Her task will be to always be with you in public, or as often as possible. If we settle down, she will be given one day in ten off. You will grant her a bed of her own, or bedding when we are traveling. She will get food equal to what we eat, and a silver for the year, to be paid in full by the end of the year—but at least a tenth of it up front. If she fails to uphold the contract, she will pay you back three times the price. If she betrays you, then you will seek the worst Punishment you can enact. Would that be acceptable?”
“What if I wish to buy out my Bond?” Ryann asked. “I might find my tenure unpleasant at some point. I also want it stated that I won’t be sexually servicing him or either of you, and that my meals will not be withheld as a form of coercion.”
“We will require double what has been paid to you up to the point that you wish to break the Bond. If you do it because another has convinced you to leave our employ, you must tell us at least a day in advance, otherwise it will be viewed as treachery.”
Ryann looked at her bowl. “Let me think on it.”
“Take your time,” Myna said softly. “There are other things the Bond will grant you, if you allow them to happen. I would also suggest you ask about a full exchange of Talents and energy for the year.”
Ryann glanced at Myna as she ate, nodding before turning her attention back to her food with a furrowed brow.
Fiona and Sean’s appreciative comments on Myna’s cooking was the extent of the conversation. After dinner, Myna washed the dishes while Fiona gave the hair clips Sean had made a bit more flair, adding intricate designs on the wood.
Ryann went to the back corner of the tent and curled up. “I’ll give you my answer in the morning, if that’s all right.”
Sean nodded. “That’s fine. Get your sleep, Ryann. We’ll wake you in the morning.”
They didn’t speak much for the rest of the evening, even after Ryann started to snore lightly. Finally calling it a night, they got into the bedding together and slept like they had the night before. Sean smiled a little at how quickly he was accepting something he had basically balked at the day before, but it just felt right tonight.
“Goodnight to you both,” Sean said, kissing Myna’s head and Fiona’s lips.
“Goodnight, Master,” Myna purred.
“She’ll accept in the morning,” Fiona said as she snuggled against him. “Sleep well, Sean.”
Chapter Twenty-six
A rumbling purr and soft kisses along his jawline brought Sean awake groggily. “Hmm?”
“The sun is about to rise, Master,” Myna whispered as she planted another kiss on his jaw. “Hmm. You’ve not needed to shave at all. Is that normal for you?”
Sean touched his smooth face. “No. I used to be able to grow hair. I guess this would be a byproduct of my other differences.”
“It is nice,” Fiona murmured from his other side. “No need to worry about whiskers leaving patches of irritated skin.”
Sean snorted, “Why am I being kissed awake?”
“I thought of waking you differently, but it wouldn’t be fair to Myna, and we do still have another in the tent with us,” Fiona whispered before kissing his neck.
Shivering, Sean let out a shuddering breath. “Yeah, that wouldn’t have been great.”
Myna’s purring stopped, and she inched away from him. “I’ll go see about the horses,” she said, a hint of sadness in her voice.
Sean caught her wrist and pulled her back to him, “Myna… don’t go. I didn’t mean it in a hurtful way. I’m not ready for that, but… look, I’m not good at these things. It’s not you. I think you’re gorgeous, really. So please, don’t think that.”
Myna stiffened in his arms. “You mean that?”
“Yes,” Sean said. “I am starting to accept the idea that the three of us can be something more. Considering the dreams I keep having, it probably won’t be long before that comes to pass. Just give me a little more time to accept the idea.”
Myna purred softly as she snuggled up to him again. “I will wait.”
Fiona reached over him to stroke Myna’s head. “Patience. We will share him before too much longer.”
Myna’s purr grew stronger. “It's odd to think that you find me attractive as well.”
“I never thought about it before my Bonding to Sean. Every day since then, I’ve felt a growing attraction to you, Myna.”
“I’ve always envied you in small ways—like how you move like a dancer, or your long, flowing hair, which would have hindered my hunting.”
“We can work on your grace and you can let your hair grow,” Fiona said with a giggle. “I think you’d look amazing with flowing black locks.”
“Ladies,” Sean whispered, looking uncomfortable. His mind had taken a side road once they started complimenting each other. “Maybe we should get up.”
“Someone already is,” Fiona whispered as she let her hand graze across him.
“Stop that,” Sean said with a hitch to his voice.
“For now, Master,” Fiona snickered.
Sean let out a deep breath, then squeaked as another hand copied what Fiona had just done. “Myna…”
“I was curious, Master,” Myna said with a giggle, rolling away from him and to her feet. “I’ll check on the horses.”
“I’ll see about breakfast,” Fiona said, following behind Myna.
Suddenly bereft of flesh pressed against him, Sean took a few deep breaths to force the thoughts of either of them, or both, from his mind. After a minute, he was able to think clearly and the blood was going back to his brain. “How does any guy survive that?”
“I always thought most men wanted to be in that position,” came Ryann’s voice from the corner of the tent where she had slept.
“Maybe they do and I’m just slow,” Sean sighed. “Sorry to have woken you.”
“I’ve been awake for a bit. While I didn’t catch most of what was said, it seemed you were declining their offers because I was here,” Ryann stated.
“Pretty much,” Sean said and sat up. “I would be a bad host if I carried on in that manner with you in the same tent. At this point, you are free to go your own way or to come with us to Holden.”
“I’ve thought about the offer that was put before me,” Ryann said slowly. “I’m inclined to accept, if it still stands, but I would ask about what Myna mentioned, a full exchange of Talents and energy.”
“They have access to mine and each other’s Talents from me, and I share my energy with both of them,” Sean said, climbing out of the bedding and beginning to pack it away. “I would need a longer Agreement regarding that, and completely outside of the one year Bond. What I would want is an oath that what you would learn never leaves your care.”
Ryann stared at his dark shape across the tent. “You make it sound like you’re much more than just a merchant.”
“That’s open for debate,” Sean chuckled. “It would be an Agreement of its own, regardless of the Bond, if you do wish to enter into a Bond.”
“What would you want from me for that Agreement?” Ryann asked, puzzled.
“Your life,” Fiona said, sticking her head into the tent, the light of dawn casting illuminating the dim interior. “Before you interrupt,” she went on quickly when Ryann started to speak “it is a fair trade—I’d set my own life on that.”
Ryann sat back with a frown, muttering softly to herself, “That would put him at a level rivaling nobles.”
“Breakfast is cooking,” Fiona said. “Master, if you would break the tent down, it should be ready by the time you’re done.”
“Sure,” Sean said, grabbing gear to haul out to the wagon. “Ryann, give it a thought. I need you to pack up so I can tear down the tent.”
“Sure.” Ryann was clearly deep in thought over the offers Sean had made.
Sean got everything out of the tent, got it taken down, packed away, and was at the fire by the time Fiona declared breakfast done. Myna was already there, having gotten the horses hitched after
feeding them.
“The small trough was a good idea,” Myna said, “as was the barrel. Master can fill it, so we won’t ever run out of water.”
“It made more sense that way,” Fiona said. “Master, can you make the tea?”
Sean filled the kettle, noting the leaves already in the pot. “Berry?”
“It will go with breakfast,” Fiona said, handing him a bowl of frumenty. “It’s berry flavored today.”
Life Bonds Page 20
