“In her sleep, did she?” Bryn would tell him if he asked, but he only shook his head. “I’m thinking that I won’t want to upset you much. You have a streak in you that might make me live a lot longer and healthier should I not.”
“You’ll be fine, Jacob, I promise you. I love you.” He nodded, but looked skeptical. “I tell you what…when the time comes that we’re going to have to fight, I will do so with my hands tied behind my back. That should give you an advantage, don’t you think?”
“I don’t know about that. I’ve seen your army. They’d cut me to ribbons.” She laughed with him. “I know what you can do for me. You have me an armload or two of grandchildren. That would make me the happiest man on earth, at least in my little corner of it, anyway.”
“Deal.” He looked like he didn’t believe her, and she leaned to him and kissed his weathered cheek. “I’ve already started on one for you.”
He was still standing there with his mouth open when she walked away. She was going to have a child, one so much like her that she could no longer call herself the last of the warrior faeries. She didn’t fear for this child, knowing that living here, growing up here, would keep her safe from being called upon, but she would be someone to reckon with. Forever.
Later that night she was near the water when her mates joined her. Dinner had been long finished, and the rest of the people had gone to their homes. The castle was well guarded, and everyone inside was as safe as they had been in their mothers’ wombs. Leaning back on Akassa, she looked up at the moon that had been bright enough for her to see by for hours.
“I’ve had a long conversation with Caroline about your pregnancy. I had no idea that you would breed for so short a time.” Bryn nodded, feeling the babe moving around a little. “In four months, we’ll be parents. I just can’t believe it.”
“I can only have a child every fifth year. She told you that?” Simeon nodded. “Also, I will only have one son. He will be born second. All faerie warriors have a single male child. I’m not sure why, but that’s the way it works.”
“She said that there are a great many children out there after today that have no parent. I was thinking that we’d try and help them out.” She looked up at Akassa as he smiled down at her. “There are also a lot of parents that have no children, and this would help them as well. I think it would do us good to match them up to some of those families. What do you think?”
“I think that’s a wonderful idea, but not just any family can have one of these special children. They must be checked out. We do not want monsters taking children and harming them.” He told her that he’d have it no other way. “Good, then I agree.”
“The fight today, you and Tinsel, you had it worked out so that few died, didn’t you?” She said that the list that they’d found in Wilson’s head had helped. “But you were ready for anything. I’m very proud of you, Bryn. Very proud indeed. What can we do to help out the other families? Your army lost some as well, didn’t they?”
“Tinsel is taking the names of the dead. There will be a faerie circle made in their honor. They shouldn’t have been made to fight in such a war.” They both agreed with her. “Also, the men who joined our group today, they will be trained to fight like our army, and their families will be taken care of. It’s the way we do things. They will be paid too; some of them only took this job with Wilson because they needed the income. He didn’t tell them that they may well die. It’s sad really, that so many people will do just about anything for a meal, don’t you think?”
She didn’t say anything else, but let them talk. Bryn had a lot on her mind. Like what was she going to do now that she had no one to claim her? She looked up at Akassa when he said her name. Bryn smiled when he did.
“What would you think of seeing the world with us?” Bryn asked him what he meant. “We could travel, the three of us. And see what is out there and how much it’s changed. Also, I would like to take a cruise. I’ve never done that. Not even with Simeon.”
“You mean on a boat?” He said that was usually the mode of transportation on a cruise. “What I meant was, leaving our fate to others? I mean, I don’t know about you, but my faith in humankind is a little off. Have you seen what they do to each other?”
Simeon laughed, and she asked him what was so funny. “You. I mean, you’re an immortal and you’re worried about a ship out to sea? Come on, it’ll be fun. And maybe while we’re gone we can get an early start on baby items, and Christmas is only a few short eight months away. We would be able to get some really great gifts for everyone. Besides, I promise you, if the ship sinks, I’ll take you to safety first and go back for Akassa.”
It was settled, sort of. They would leave next week after closing up the house and packing. Asher knew, of course, as did the rest of the family, but she was the one that would have to tell Tinsel.
Bryn knew that he’d be pleased for her, to be going on such a grand adventure, but she had to also tell him that he was going as well. There was no way she was going to leave him behind again. Bryn had missed her companion and wouldn’t leave him again.
That night, while sleeping between the men in her life, she felt the presence of someone powerful. She didn’t wake, but waited for the being to appear before her. For some reason, seeing Eve there didn’t surprise her as much as she thought it would have.
Hello, my child. How are you enjoying being in love? She told her that it was perfect. Yes, I know that feeling quite well. I have come to talk to you about a few things, if you do not mind.
Never for you, my lady. Never. The place where she was standing changed. It was the castle of old, the throne room from so many centuries ago. Sitting in the seat across from the queen, Bryn had a chance to look around. This room is a perfect match to the one that they’re living in now. I’m sure you had a hand in that. I’m betting that should we walk the halls and the levels, it would be a perfect match for it.
I only left them the tools. What they did with them was entirely up to them. She nodded. I have made some changes for you. Being as magical as I am, it was my pleasure to do so. They are for you, for the most part, but the family as well. You will have as many children as you wish, Brynhilde. And as many sons as you can carry too. The one you carry now is a girl, as you have figured out, but the next ones will be whatever they wish to be. You are free in your sword; there is no reason that you should be dictated to on the number of children you have nor what they are. What do you think?
Thank you. I don’t know what to say. I think that is a wonderful gift that you’ve bestowed upon me. Eve said that she’d done enough for them all. Speaking of the others…Asher, he came to me today. He said that the book I brought him is nonsense. You did that as well?
Her laughter sounded like bells in a long tower, birds singing in the early spring, and water falling over a mountain all at the same time. When she took her hand in hers, it was as if she’d never died. The warmth that she gave her was felt through her body.
It was my diary as a child. I cannot imagine what Asher might think of some of the things I put to paper. And my handwriting was so poor that there were times when even I could not read it. But I needed a reason to bring you here, and that was the only thing we could think of. I do hope you’ll tell him, and that you’ll forgive me for such a falsehood. You were such a stubborn child, we had to give you something to do. Bryn had figured that out as well. Are you happy, Bryn? I mean, really happy?
Yes, as happy as I have ever been. I thank you for that, my lady. Eve nodded. You said that you wouldn’t be able to stay here, with us. Is that not true?
Nay, it is true to a point. We cannot allow you to see us, not like before, but we shall be around. Someone needs to watch over the babes, do they not? She nodded and put her hand on her own flat belly. You will have a dragon, Brynhilde. The only full blooded one born to this family. And he will go far in life, with the help of all the others. I’m proud to say that I never expected it, but am glad that it will be you that carries
him.
And this dragon, will he be safe? The queen nodded at her and told her that he would be very safe. I suppose that we’ll have to name him for Anthony, won’t we?
He would like that, but I have a better name for him. She nodded and asked her what it would be. After she was told, Eve started to fade. I have to go, child. This meeting with you, it will not happen often, but there will be times when I should like to speak to someone besides the dead, and Anthony. I love him dearly, but he can be somewhat of a pain at times.
When she woke the next morning, Bryn felt refreshed. She decided not to tell the men that she’d spoken to the queen, nor would she tell them of the children that would be born to them. There was time enough for that. They were going sailing or whatever it was called, and she was looking forward to it. But soon, she knew, she’d tell them. Maybe. To have as many children as they wished, it would be a wonderful thing to them all.
Chapter 10
Huston waited for his boss to come back and talk to him for hours. Roger was supposed to meet him here, then take him to a meeting, but he’d already decided that he wasn’t going to do this. Dragons had flames. And as much as he wanted—no, needed—the money, there wasn’t enough money in the world to bring him back from being a crispy critter from a dragon.
The dishes were all done; even the pots and pans were finished up and put away. But here he sat, with his thumb up his ass like he was waiting for some sort of magic to tell him what was going on. If he was honest, he didn’t want to go home. Not ever again. Lately he’d been staying in the alley behind this place, trying his best to be warm and not think about his dad. The fucking bastard had hit him for the last time.
Huston was ready to call it quits when a woman appeared in front of him suddenly and he staggered back from her. She was beautiful, yeah, but she looked deadly too. There was a memory there, about her, but he tugged at it too hard and he lost it.
“Hello.” He nodded. “You know me, Huston. You tried to claim me once not long ago. I’m the warrior that you thought to have all kinds of sex with. And you wanted me to kill the dragons. I told you I couldn’t, remember?”
“No. I didn’t want to have sex with you.” His face heated up when she only looked at him. “What are you doing here anyway? I thought that you’d be out killing dragons or something. Ain’t that what you were hired to do? Roger said that he was going to hire you out or something. Even that guy he told me about…Basketball or something was his name.”
“His name was Wilson, and he and Roger are both dead. I told them it would happen, but they didn’t want to listen. I’ve come to talk to you about a few things.” Huston had thought that was what might have happened, but only sat down when she asked him to. “So are a great many other people that decided to end all dragons. They thought to rule the dragons too, as you and your father did, but that didn’t work out so well for them.”
“My dad, he’s got a burr up his ass about a lot of things lately. Like the money that I had. He took most of it, and now I’m waiting on some more.” He had a thought. “If what you’re saying is true, there won’t be any more money for me, will there? Not that I was going to take much more of it, just enough to get away. But I wasn’t going to be a part of their group. I had enough of doing stupid shit and people making fun of me.”
“No, that ship has sailed, as they say.” He nodded, mourning the loss of it as if it were his leg. “But you need a job and I’m here to offer you one. If you can promise me a few things first. Things that I’ll be watching over about you, making sure that you uphold your end of it. And if you fuck up, I’ll dispatch you to hell.”
She said it calmly and without threat. Her voice was all soft and stuff, but he believed her. It was there, like a bow on top of a present that you knew you wanted. He wanted a job. One that paid well and didn’t have strings attached to it. Like that other thing, with Roger. He’d figured out that being around a bunch of pissed off dragons wasn’t going to be healthy. To him or a lot of other people, like she’d told him.
“What kind of job?” She nodded and told him that he had one here. “Yeah, in case you didn’t notice, I have that one. Washing dishes every day for some other people ain’t really all that glamorous, nor does it pay well. Besides, if Roger ain’t here, who the hell is going to pay me anyway? Money just don’t fall in my lap. And I’m not going to steal it.”
“I meant that you’d own this place, run it as you see fit. Hire people to do this job as well as others.” He looked around at the place and shook his head. It was a dump. “You want something else?”
“No, I like this place well enough, but it ain’t really the Ritz, now is it? I’m not saying I want to run that place either, but I think that this one is going to catch fire one night and burn to the ground without much in the way of the fire department coming out to blow it out.” She looked around when he did. “I want a job. And I sort of like the idea of having a restaurant, but not here. This place isn’t going nowhere. I want to be able to have money for food and a place to stay. A car in the winter months so I don’t have to walk. I’m not asking for a great deal here, just some things that I’ve been without. I’m not asking you to give me those things, but I was just sitting here thinking about how much I’d like to be my own man and not have my dad hanging around my neck like a chain. Okay?”
“Yes, I see what you mean. There isn’t much in the way of style about the place. And I don’t blame you for looking out for yourself, Huston. I think you can do whatever you set your mind to.” She looked at him. “I can do all kinds of things for you, Huston. Make this place nicer and cleaner, but I will expect something in return.”
“Ain’t that always the way? I don’t have nothing for you to take. My name is worthless. I have a prison record, and no education to speak of. I can read all right, and I can figure things well when I need to. But if you tell me what you want, I’ll try and do it for you. I need…I was going to say I need money, but it ain’t that. I need a life.” She nodded at him again. “What do you want in return for letting me running this little place? I’ll have to think on it real hard, but I’d do almost anything you want within reason. I’m not going to kill anybody either. You got rules about it? Well, so do I.”
“I need for you to hire some people that need a job, as you did when you started here. Give them a chance, like the one you never got by working here. Treat them better than your dad did you when you got home. Give other people, other convicts, a hand up. And a handshake.” He nodded. Roger had given him a break when nobody else would, but he still turned out to be something of a dick. “And I need for you to quit your father. Let him hang himself, so to speak. Mostly, I’ll take care of him if you would allow it.”
“He’s pissed off with me about the money. I had me a thousand dollars that I was keeping, and he found it and spent it all before I got a chance to use it to find myself a place to live. Now we’re stealing again, and I just.... It’s not what I want to do now. Understand?” She said that she understood more than he could know. “I can do what you want, lady, but you have to know I don’t have the funds nor the knowhow to make it work. I’m not too stupid, but I don’t know anything about this shit.”
The little person appeared before he could stand. Huston was going to leave, make things happen for himself, even if it meant going back to prison. At least there he got three meals a day and a warm blanket. His dad even took that from him.
“This is Gardena. She will help you find your way, and keep you from making big mistakes. Her former master was a professor at the college, and he taught all kinds of classes that she learned from. She is a faerie, like me.” The little woman bowed before him. “She now belongs to you, if you think you can make this work. And I have to warn you, Huston, not listening to her will be painful for you.”
She stuck him in the hand with a tiny little sword. He cried out and stuck his finger in his mouth to suck the blood off it. When she sat down, he looked at her and wondered why she’d done that
to him.
“We can speak now.” He told her they were talking just fine before. No, I mean in secret. Others will not always be accepting to having me at your ear. This way we can talk when we need to. And I shall do you more harm if you do not heed my words. You can make this work, Huston. I know this.
Huston understood now and thought that with help, he might be able to make himself a living. But there was still the restaurant and how bad it was. Almost as soon as the thought entered his head, he looked around as magic—he knew that was what it was—started to make the place not just cleaner, but bigger too.
When it was done, he stood up. Careful of where he stepped, fearful that it would all go away, he turned and looked at the warrior. She told him her name and he nodded before speaking.
The appliances were brand new, and not stained or taped together. The grease in the fryer was clean; he could see himself in it. Dishes that had been chipped in so many places it was difficult to carry food in them, or to put them away, were brand new, with a large H in the middle of them. Silverware shone in the containers. There was even supplies, napkins and toilet paper, with cleaning shit too.
“You did this for me. I know you want me to hire some people like me, but there’s more to it than that, huh? You need something else from me. I told you before, I don’t have shit. And I don’t know that I ever will.” She told him he’d have whatever he wished now, but he had to work at it. “Just like that?”
“Yes, just like that. You’re your own man, Huston. Don’t fuck this up.” He nodded. “There will be money in your account, with your name on it, only once a month. That is for you. The restaurant will also have an account with money in it, so long as you do as you’ve promised me. You’ll see that you’ll need it less and less as you succeed, but it will still be there, for you to help anyone you wish.”
Simeon Page 14
