Life Bonds

by Daniel Schinhofen

  “His women don’t think they can do it,” someone whispered, and the odds shifted more in Lionel’s favor.

  Sean got to his feet and went to the trio of women. Lowering his voice, he spoke as softly as he could, “Play it close. I can milk even more from the puffy bastard if you do. Myna, throw first and keep it a couple points behind them. Fiona, take the lead by a point or two. Ryann, finish them off. You’ll know what you need to win.” He looked at the darts they held. They weren’t like the ones he knew from modern bars with aerodynamic fins, but were tipped with small fluffy balls at the ends. Glancing at the board, he found it to be unlike what he was used to. It had concentric circles and not pie wedges, and the rings were not uniform. The higher scores were smaller rings than the lower scores. Each ring had two areas that were segmented off, denoting double and triple scoring.

  “If they need that much encouragement, perhaps we should pick a different wager,” Lionel said. The crowd booed him roundly and Lionel sighed with a weak shrug. “I guess that isn’t an option now after all, though.”

  Sean went back to his seat, putting his feet up on the table. “I have faith.”

  “Richard, don’t lose,” Lionel said as one of his men stepped up to throw. One of the other men holding a dart nodded.

  After a long moment looking at the board, the first man up turned his head away and tossed. The dart hit the twenty ring. Myna stepped to the line, looking at the dart in her hand, then to the board. Her dart hit the double nine, just inside the line from the single.

  “You’re going to lose, and I’ll spend your coin with pleasure,” Cedran smirked as he moved toward Sean, the guard trailing him.

  “Want to double the bet and odds?” Sean asked, leaning his chair back to balance on two legs. A certain warmth filled him at the idea of soaking the pompous ass for more money.

  “Done,” Cedran laughed, and both of them felt the increased weight settle on them.

  The second guard took a bit longer studying the board before he turned his head away and threw. The dart landed in the triple area on the fifteen ring, which prompted even more comments. Stepping aside, the guard winked at Fiona as she stepped to the line, her brow furrowed. The conversation dropped to a hush as she glared at the board. Closing her eyes, Fiona turned her head and threw her dart. A gasp rose up when it landed just inside the triple score for the sixteen, next to the four ring.

  “Sixty-five to sixty-six,” Lionel muttered. “Lucky she managed to hit the triple, or you would be far behind.”

  Sean grimaced. “Entirely too close.”

  Cedran looked a little worried, but wiped it off his face when he found Sean looking at him. “It seems you got lucky.”

  “Luck is what you make of it,” Sean shrugged. “Who can say they didn’t have some luck when they’re successful in their endeavors?”

  “Good point,” Lionel nodded.

  The crowd hushed and looked to where Richard was staring at the board, his arm already poised to throw. With an indrawn breath, Richard looked away and threw his dart. It buried itself in the very center of the board, all but occluding the entire of the bullseye.

  The crowd exploded into conversation as the lead had shifted to a hundred-fifteen to sixty-six. Cedran was laughing, “A forty-nine point difference, and the bullseye all but blocked? Oh, your coin shall be extra sweet to me.”

  Anger burned in Sean at Cedran’s ridicule. “You think so?”

  “Just lose with dignity,” Cedran sneered.

  Sean looked to Ryann, meeting her eyes with his own. “My wealth, and name, are in your hands, Ryann.”

  Nodding, Ryann turned back to the board. Taking a deep breath, she stared at it. Turning her eyes from it, Ryann smiled at Richard as her throw went right past his. As the onlookers gasped, the blue puff ball that marked Richard’s dart fell from the board, leaving the yellow of Ryann’s the only one in the middle.

  Everyone went silent as they stared at what had just transpired, before the inn filled with loud conversations. Ryann clearly won, but people were debating if Richard’s dart counted anymore since it was now on the ground and not still in the board.

  Staring at Cedran, Sean smiled. “Four silver at forty-to-one I believe was the final wager. Would you like to pay me in silver or gold?”

  Lionel chuckled, then laughed outright. “Oh, you’re a sharp one. I felt bad for approaching you, but now I know better.”

  Cedran’s face was as white as a ghost when he met Sean’s gaze. “I don’t have that amount of coin on me.”

  “I’m sorry, what was that?” Sean asked pointedly. “Are you failing to honor our wager?”

  Cedran paled more, his eyes going to the single guard who was with him. “Fetch me coin to pay the debt.”

  “You don’t have the coin, sir. The funds to cover your bet are House Greenlimb’s.”

  “I shall pay it back by the time we return to Hearthglen,” Cedran snapped, acutely aware of all eyes on him. “Now do as I say.”

  Staring into Cedran’s eyes for a long moment, the guard bowed his head. “If that is your command.”

  Money exchanged hands around the room, a few people wealthier than they had been a few minutes ago and the rest of the inn much poorer. Sean could feel a number of hostile gazes on him and his companions from people who had lost money. “Dinner and two drinks for everyone here on me,” Sean called to the innkeeper. “Well, technically on Cedran.”

  The last line got a round of laughter, and the innkeeper got busy refilling drinks for people. Lionel shook his head as he held out a silver coin to Sean. “I’m not going to press matters on the hair clip. I should have known better than to believe you were as simple as you appeared.”

  “I’ve been known to fool a few people,” Sean smiled.

  “The coin, sir,” the guard, said handing a pouch to Cedran.

  Cedran snatched it from the guard and thrust it at Sean. “Here’s your money, you conniving cheat.”

  Sean took the pouch and bounced it in his hand, senses he hadn’t realized he had telling him that the pouch held the correct amount of coins. Looking at the guard, Sean bowed his head. “I thank you. If he had retrieved this, I’d be forced to count it. Since you are obviously in the employ of House Greenlimb, I know that it’s correct.”

  The guard bowed his head fractionally while Cedran stormed towards the stairs. Sean held up a large silver, catching the innkeeper’s gaze. Sean snapped the coin off his thumb, spinning it in the air into the innkeeper’s hand. “For the food and drinks. Add whatever is left to my tab.”

  Lionel started to move back to his table, where his men sat, looking ashamed. “Lionel, please don’t go. Join us, you and your men. It was a fair wager, no need to feel otherwise. I’d like to hear more about what's been happening in Hearthglen for the last two months.”

  Lionel eyed Sean for a long moment and he smiled. “It’s always a good idea to make friends. Come on over, boys.”

  Chapter Forty-two

  The mood was festive after the drinks started to flow. A number of other guests stopped by to congratulate the three winners, and were more than happy to buy the table another round of drinks. Ryann was challenged to a few rounds of darts, losing two of the three rounds with a chagrined expression.

  Hours later, Sean was laughing with Lionel as he relayed a story of Richard getting tossed from an inn over a year ago. He had mistakenly thought that the innkeeper’s wife was one of the pleasure wenches on staff. Richard sat stone-faced during the story, while the other two guards were chuckling into their ale. Fiona, Myna, and Ryann shook their heads in agreement about the follies of men, but didn’t make any comment.

  As the story ended and Sean was wiping at his eyes, the stable master came to their table. “Sir, I didn’t mean to bother, but thought you should know that we clipped your horses last night.”

  Sean was at a loss for a moment, but an instinct made him nod. Something about needing to cool them off after sweating, Sean thought. “Unders
tood. Please make sure to give them a good going over since we’re going to be here for another day at least.”

  “I will,” the stable master said. “Sorry for interrupting.”

  “It’s fine. Those horses have done us a world of good by getting us here,” Sean smiled. “Make sure you and the lads have an extra jot of whiskey tonight, on me. I’ll let the innkeeper know.”

  Brows rising, the stable master bowed his head. “I will, sir. Thank you.”

  “You really don’t care about coin much, do you?” Lionel asked.

  “It’s useful,” Sean shrugged, “but I’ve never been big on chasing money.”

  “An unusual way to look at life for a crafter,” Lionel chuckled.

  “You’re probably right,” Sean said before draining his mug. “I’m going to retire to my room for a while. If the storm continues, I’m sure we’ll see you again.”

  “Doubtlessly you are correct,” Lionel nodded. “A pleasant evening to you.”

  Fiona, Myna, and Ryann all stood when Sean did and followed him toward the stairs. A couple of the patrons called out and asked them to stay, but Sean shook his head, promising to come back down for dinner.

  Finally making it back to their room, Sean plopped himself down on the bed. “Fucking hell, that was not what I expected to happen today.”

  “We made a lot of money,” Fiona said as she sat next to him.

  “You trusted us to win,” Ryann said softly, clearly lost in a train of thought.

  “He trusts us as we trust him,” Myna said primly. “It is odd, but sweet.”

  “You were fine gambling so much on us being able to use my Talent?” Ryann asked, her eyes going to Sean.

  “Yes,” Sean nodded. “And, I wanted to thank you for losing two of those three extra matches. Losing by a couple of points each time gave more credence to us being able to claim good fortune.”

  Ryann sighed. “I finally have a Talent and can use it at my discretion. It was hard to not run roughshod over them, but I thought what it would look like if I did that, and how it would make matters difficult for us. That helped me reach the decision.”

  “Double portions tonight,” Sean said. “I need to thank you for thinking ahead.”

  “I didn’t do it for that,” Ryann said.

  “I’m sure you didn’t,” Sean smiled. “I still think you deserve something in thanks. So, please, let me give you something.”

  Ryann looked away from him. “Fine.”

  “Master cares for all of us,” Myna said, sitting on the other side of him.

  “Fiona, I’d been told that Shapers could make four silver a year on average if not Bonded. Is that incorrect?” Sean asked.

  “Yes, though considering the source, it’s not surprising.” Fiona’s smile came and went quickly as she thought of Darragh. “Shapers can easily make ten times that amount if they’re talented and apply themselves.”

  “That’s good to know,” Sean said. He hadn’t understood why the pompous ass had thought to even offer twenty-to-one odds, but now it made sense.

  “What shall we do to pass the time?” Fiona asked, shifting the topic when she saw Sean lost in thought.

  “Can I work on Shaping some?” Ryann asked.

  “I’ll help guide you,” Fiona said. “Let’s work with some of the copper.”

  “Sean,” Myna said as the other two moved away with pieces of metal in their hands. “Can I ask for something?”

  “What is it?” Sean asked, curious why she seemed a little nervous.

  “Can I get a back rub... maybe some ear rubs, too?” Myna asked, her eyes meeting his with hope.

  His heart warmed as he looked deeply into her brown eyes and he smiled. “Yes, my silly kitty, you can.”

  Pulling the chair over to the bed, Sean took a seat while Myna lay face down on the bed. When he started to rub her head and back, Myna purred and wiggled slightly, obviously enjoying the attention. Soft giggles drew his attention to the others; Fiona was smiling and Ryann looked conflicted.

  I wonder what she’s having issues with? Maybe it’s the Shaping? Sean thought. Unless she’s still coming to terms with Myna and I loving each other. That’s possible; maybe the old disgust for the Moonbound still lingers for her. Pushing the thoughts aside, he gave his now undivided attention to Myna.

  After some time, Sean sat back. “Okay Myna, that’s enough.”

  “If you say so, Sean,” Myna murmured, a blissful smile on her face.

  “How about a few tosses of Knuckles?” Ryann asked. “I think we still have an hour before dinner is ready.”

  “Works,” Sean said, joining Fiona and Ryann.

  As they played, Sean gave some thought to what Lionel had told them of Hearthglen: Alexander Sharpeye, a lesser noble of House Greenlimb, was the current sitting Lord of the city. Sharpeye had taken over three months ago when House Greenlimb had been appointed by the Summer Queen to lead the city, displacing House Brightlight.

  In the last three months, Sharpeye had completely changed how the city was run. Taxes on previously favored merchants tripled while others had been slashed to near nothing. The well-known but never verified rumor was that Greenlimb had given some bandits backing, letting them run rampant in the area as long as they left Greenlimb’s people alone.

  “I have a bad feeling about what we’re going to encounter in the city,” Sean said as he passed the dice to Ryann.

  “It doesn’t sound good,” Fiona nodded. “I’m surprise that House Greenlimb hasn’t replaced Sharpeye. If it continues, it will reflect badly on the House overall.”

  “Maybe he’s been cutting off communications to Northpoint,” Ryann suggested. “If House Greenlimb hasn’t heard of the black eye Sharpeye is giving them…”

  “We’ll deal with it when we get there, I guess,” Sean sighed. “Everything seems to point to the regular citizens being left alone, so maybe I’m just overthinking things.”

  “We can hope,” Myna murmured. “No matter what, we will be there with you.”

  “I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Sean smiled.

  ~ * ~ * ~

  When they made their way downstairs for dinner, Sean was surprised to see the taproom half empty. He spotted Lionel giving instructions to his guards and made his way over. “Lionel, what’s going on?”

  “The storm is breaking… we think. It’s stopped snowing and a few patches of sky can be seen, so we’re moving on. A number of others have already left.”

  “It’s only a couple of hours until nightfall, though,” Sean said.

  “We’re going to push through the night a bit. We’re already running behind for this trip,” Lionel shrugged. “Sometimes, you have to push through the bad spots.”

  “I wish you a good journey,” Sean said.

  “I hope it stays clear and you can move on tomorrow,” Lionel smiled, then followed his men to the stable yard.

  Taking a table to one side of the room, they watched a few more people leaving as they waited for the maid to bring their drinks. Sean gave the few people who greeted them a polite smile. “Do you think the weather is going to hold?” he asked.

  “It might,” Fiona murmured. “That was a very intense storm. But I wouldn’t be surprised whether it broke completely or came back with renewed strength.”

  “I hope it breaks,” Myna said. “If we can reach Hearthglen, it would make things easier.”

  “More opportunities to make coin, and maybe settle in,” Sean nodded.

  “Here you are,” the barmaid said as she set their drinks out. Myna and Fiona had gone with mulled wine, Ryann had opted for hot buttered hard cider, and Sean had ordered dark ale.

  Picking up the ale, Sean examined it. I never used to be a drinker, so why is it that I’m now drinking wines, ales, and the like with such frequency?

  Seeing his thoughtful expression, Fiona touched his knee. “Master, is something wrong?”

  “Just thinking about how much I’ve been drinking since…I never used to d
rink before Oakwood.”

  “Maybe your body craves something in the ale?” Myna suggested. “My grandfather has a need for ranga weed. Grandmother makes tea with it just for him.”

  “Ranga weed?” Sean asked, sipping the heavy ale.

  Myna took a few minutes describing the plant to Sean, and he smiled. “Chrysanthemums,” he murmured. “I know of a very similar plant,” he said a little louder. “That is a compelling theory,” Sean added as he took a healthy drink. “Just never thought I’d be a drinker.”

  “Does the alcohol affect you?” Fiona asked.