by Logan Jacobs
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Chapter One
“Another round, Great One?” Adorno, the Mayor of Wyndvale, asked me with one arched eyebrow. He was a tall, lean figured man with dirty-blond hair hanging to his shoulders, and we’d been partying for hours already. “My treat.”
“Sure.” I grinned. “Then I’ll get the next one.”
“I won’t argue.” Adorno grinned back as he pushed himself out of his chair and headed toward the bar where Elizabeth Surly, the tavern owner, wiped the counter down with a towel.
The girls and I were back in Wyndvale, the windy little mountain town between Bastianville and Arginold, and we’d taken a couple of days off from our traveling to rest and relax. It would be the last hot bath I could get before we arrived back home in Bastianville, and I wanted to make it count.
I stole a glance around the crowded tavern dining room, and I saw nothing but happy, drunk faces. Dom Surly, who owned the tavern with his wife, wiped off tables and collected empty mugs. Mrs. Worthy played her lute in the corner, and the sweet sounds of the music combined with the laughter and voices that filled the entire space. The merchant, Gryse Yavaro was still in town, and he danced drunkenly to the tune of the music on the far side of the room.
It was a happy scene, and a lot more wholesome than the one we arrived at the last time we visited Wyndvale.
The Duke of Arginold had sent mercenaries to the little village in search of me, and the assholes had already killed several townspeople by the time I’d arrived on the scene.
But I killed those bastards off, and the entire town had been nothing but grateful to me ever since.
I couldn’t help but care for these people, and I considered them my followers even though the holding belonged to the late Duke of Arginold. I knew my lovers felt the same way, though, since they’d shown their affection for Wyndvale in their own little ways.
Mahini had taken some time to discuss fortifications with the leader of the windy little town, and Elissa picked a bouquet of flowers for everyone in town, while Eva stuck to my side like glue and offered her assistance to everyone we met.
I made sure we all took some time to relax, though, since I knew there had been a few tense moments recently we all needed to process. We practiced with our weapons, cleaned all our gear and horse tack thoroughly, and let the horses roam free-range while we explored the area around the town.
It was like a mini-vacation, and I was enjoying every moment of it.
Hell, I’d enjoyed every minute I’d spent in this world so far.
I’d been working a dead-end tech support job at a call center when I’d laid my head down on my desk for a moment of shut-eye, but when my alarm went off with a loud chime, I woke up in a medieval fantasy world instead of at work. That was when I saw Raijin Thornheart and his troop of goons, and I soon learned they intended to kill me in order to steal my power. I had no idea what they were talking about at the time, but after I died a few times and popped up in the same spot as when I’d first woken up, I started to figure it out.
I couldn’t die.
Then I killed the evil sorcerer and his fourteen assholes before I’d made my way out of the catacombs where the bastard had summoned me. An inscription on the wall informed me I was the Great One of Legend, and I’d been summoned to return hope to the land.
I didn’t fully know what that meant yet, but I was taking advantage of some of the abilities I’d acquired. Not only could I never die, but I could also make save points and respawn back to them later. It was like I was in a real-life video game, and I held the controller.
Soon after I left the catacombs, I’d encountered a small town in need of my assistance. I’d helped them clear the goblins out from their copper mine, and I’d defeated Lord Lucian and his small army single-handedly. After my interventions and efforts, the town of Addington dedicated itself to me, and it was renamed Bastianville in my honor.
Then I’d traveled across the kingdom of Sorreyal to the Duke of Bullard’s castle, and I went even further to the palace in Vallenwood to meet the king. I’d fought against kobolds, goblins, a griffon, and a dragon, but I’d come out on top every time.
Sorreyal was my playground, and I could do literally anything I wanted to.
I was Sir Sebastian, Archduke of Bastianville, Slayer of Dragons, and the God of Time.
Or the God of Winning. Or the God of Death.
Whatever I was, I enjoyed it immensely, and this night in Wyndvale was no different.
“Cheers, Great One.” Mayor Adorno returned with two mugs brimming with a fermented beverage, and we clinked our glasses together before we both took heavy pulls from the rims.
“How long are we going to stay in Wyndvale?” Mahini asked in a casual tone as she sipped on her own drink.
The former mercenary could have an air of calm about her and then kill a man in five seconds flat, so her casual tone made me chuckle. Her shoulder-length obsidian hair was as straight as a blade’s edge, and her ice-blue eyes could pierce armor like barbed-tipped arrows.
I’d won her favor, though, so her pale-blue gaze was more often filled with love and adoration when directed toward me. The beautiful desert goddess was my blood-bonded shield maiden, and I’d sworn myself to her in return, so I’d gotten to know her very well since I’d been summoned to this world.
“How long do you want to stay?” I arched one eyebrow at my desert goddess. “We can stay as long as you like.”
“I am anxious to get our cargo back to Bastianville,” the obsidian-haired beauty explained. “This town is lovely, but it doesn’t hold a candle to our home.”
“Don’t worry about our cargo,” I said in a reassuring tone. “Evangeline’s turn is almost over, and she can give you a full report of anything that happened around the wagon.”
“That will mean my turn is next,” my wife sighed from beside me. “I hate to leave such a nice party… The people of Wyndvale have been so very kind to us.”
The petite red-haired goddess flashed me one of her brilliant smiles, and her jewel-like emerald-green eyes glittered in the dim light of the candles. Elissa was the daughter of Elrin, the Mayor of Bastianville, and I’d won her hand in marriage by defeating a bunch of goblins that had occupied the local copper mine. She’d been more than relieved when she’d walked down the aisle toward me instead of the man her father had originally promised her to, the Lord of Loserville himself, Lucian.
I was happy to have her by my side, and with her fiery temperament and enthusiasm for life, I was never short on entertainment and fun.
“It won’t be a long watch shift,” I promised my wife with a wink. “It will be my turn next, and I’m sure I’ll miss you too much to wait for my turn.”
“I will enjoy every minute with you until it is my turn to watch our… wagon,” Elissa said. “Who needs sleep when you’re married to a god?”
My wife had almost slipped out the word ‘treasure’, but I’d urged my women to keep our loot on the down low until we got back to Bastianville. The last thing we needed was to get robbed right after we rode away with our hard-earned gold.
I’d just left the city of Arginold where I’d pitted the duke against his own court wizard in a battle to the de
ath, but the assholes deserved it after sending mercenaries and werewolves after me.
I’d killed every man who stood in my way, and I’d certainly taught the duke and his wizard a lesson, but the best part was getting away with the duke’s treasure. I’d emptied his treasury into a wagon and rode away from town with flames in the background and my women at my sides.
I was still riding the high from the epic fallout of my scheme, and the party in Wyndvale was like icing on the cake.
“Why are you so protective of your wagon, Great One?” Adorno asked in a curious tone.
“I have some precious cargo on board that is intended for my hometown,” I explained in a vague tone. “The contents are sensitive, so the utmost care is required.”
“I see,” Adorno replied with an expression that said he absolutely did not understand.
“What’s your main economy around here, Adorno?” I asked in an effort to change the subject. “Is there a local mine?”
“Our main trade is timber,” Wyndvale’s mayor explained, and his eyes brightened as he talked about his quaint little town. “There is a rare species of tree that grows on the slopes of the mountain. It is difficult to extract them, so they are valuable, but we’ve adapted to the area over the years, and we’re perfectly capable of felling even the most challenging of timber.”
“How much would a few logs of your special trees go for?” I asked as my interest was piqued. I could make a nice table, or some shelves, or anything else my imagination could conjure up. I wasn’t lacking in sources of timber in Bastianville, but having a rare wood would be cool.
“Fifty gold a log,” the mayor announced in a proud tone.
“I’d like to grab a couple before I leave town,” I said.
“We’d be more than happy to accommodate you, Great One,” the mayor replied as he inclined his head.
I’d succeeded in switching his focus off my wagon, and I let out a small breath of relief. I didn’t want to offend the mayor by not sharing my loot with his small town, but I wanted to save it all for Bastianville and the other holdings inside my territory, and buying a few pieces of his timber was the least I could do.
Then Evangeline walked into the tavern with her head held high, and her gray eyes lit up with joy when she spotted me from across the room. Her short, jagged blonde hair left her elegant neck and throat exposed, and her skin-tight leather armor left little to the imagination. Eva was the daughter of the Duke of Bullard, but she’d joined my party while I was battling Smiguel, the crimson dragon. The noble bred blonde was loyal and eager to please, and I knew I couldn’t live without her.
“My turn,” Elissa sighed as she pushed herself up from the table, and the redhead planted a quick kiss on my cheek before she turned to leave. “I’ll see you soon, husband.”
“I will come relieve you soon enough,” I said in a sympathetic tone.
My wife blew me a kiss and shot me a wink before she crossed the room to the entrance and disappeared from view.
“Want a drink?” I asked Evangeline as she took Elissa’s vacated spot at my side.
“I would love one.” Eva grinned, and she wrapped her hand around my arm. “But do not trouble yourself, Great One, I can get it.”
“Allow me,” Mrs. Surly said as she flourished a mug before the duke’s daughter.
“Perfect timing, Mrs. Surly,” I laughed. “Thank you.”
“Please, Great One, call me Elizabeth,” the tavern owner giggled, and she smoothed out the wrinkles of her apron in a self-conscious manner.
“Then you must call me Bash,” I insisted. “It’s only fair.”
“Very well, Bash.” Elizabeth Surly blushed like a young girl, and the effect was adorable. “I will do my best.”
“That’s all I can ask.” I grinned. “Thank you for the wonderful service, Elizabeth.”
“I’m glad you enjoy our humble little town,” she replied, and then she swung the empty mugs from the table. She strode away without another word, and I chuckled to myself as I watched her depart.
“I should probably catch up,” Evangeline said with a mischievous twinkle in her gray eyes. “I fell behind during my watch.”
“Thank you for not drinking before then,” I laughed. “A good watchman, er, woman, is always vigilant.”
“I wasn’t about to let anything happen to our precious cargo.” Eva winked. “But I was eager to return to your side. You told stories of your adventures last time we visited Wyndvale, and I didn’t want to miss out on any of them this time, either.”
“If you’re telling stories,” Adorno interjected. “Then we need to silence the music.”
“But I’ve really enjoyed listening to Chaz’s wife play,” I argued. “She’s gotten so much better since the last time we heard her lute.”
“I will have to pass on your compliments, Great One.” Adorno grinned proudly. “But we only have you with us for a short time, so I’d love to hear more tales of your adventures.”
“Yes, Great One,” another voice clamored, and I turned to see Chaz Worthy, the innkeeper, grinning broadly at me. “Tell us a tale.”
“Hmm.” I scratched my chin as I thought about what story to tell. There were so many good tales I could share, but the girls and I had covered a lot of my experiences during our last visit. Then I had an idea, and a grin spread across my face. “So, it was a full moon…”
The residents of Wyndvale crowded closer around my table, and silence fell over the room. Mrs. Worthy tucked her lute into the corner, and she snuggled onto her husband’s lap as he wrapped his arms around her. All around me were wide eyes staring in rapt fascination, and everyone held their breaths as I started my story.
I told the tale of my encounter with the werewolves the wizard Racine had sent to kill me, and I elicited a few shocked gasps from my dramatic rendition of the event. I paused at all the right moments to build up suspense, and I had everyone at the edges of their seats.
If only the townspeople knew how many respawns it had taken me to defeat the horde without getting a scratch on me.
When I mentioned how Eva, Elissa, and Mahini had helped me, the townspeople gasped even more. While it wasn’t unheard of for women to fight in this world, it still seemed to be uncommon enough to cause a strong reaction.
I drank while I talked, and by the end of the tale I was feeling a strong buzz. I mimed the final slash of my blade to a soundtrack of oohs and aahs, and then the room burst into a round of applause.
“Thank you, Great One!”
“You are so brave!”
“I can’t believe I met you in person!”
“Another story!”
“Yes, another story, Great One!”
I grinned sheepishly beneath their adoration, but my chest swelled with pride at the same time. I stood to make a bow, but I stumbled a little in my inebriated state.
Mahini was by my side in an instant, and the desert goddess slid my arm around her shoulders in one swift, smooth motion.
“Tanks,” I murmured drunkenly into her ear, but the wide grin never left my face. “You smell nice.”
Mahini smelled like oiled leather and flint, like sand and tropical flowers. She was a combination of rough and smooth that excited my senses.
“I think it’s time to get the Great One to bed,” Mahini informed the crowd to a chorus of boos and disappointed expressions.
“You heard the woman,” Evangeline said in a loud voice as she stepped forward and took my other arm.
“Alright, alright,” I mumbled while I nuzzled my nose into Mahini’s jet-black locks. “I’ll go, but only because you two are coming with me.”
I was drunker than I’d first guessed, but I’d been so caught up in my own story I hadn’t noticed my mug being constantly refilled to the point that it seemed truly bottomless. Mrs. Surly had treated me right, that was for sure.
“You’re in no state to go anywhere else,” Eva teased.
The crowd parted and allowed us to make our way to th
e door, but I couldn’t help waving and saying goodbye to all the townspeople as we left. The two girls escorted me across the muddy path to the inn, and they helped me make the way up the stairs to our king bed suite. There was an attached bathroom with a tub big enough for me to actually stretch out in, so I was looking forward to sinking into the hot water.
The girls helped me run the tub full of water, and then they began to strip off my clothes. Mahini massaged my shoulders after she removed my shirt, and I melted into her touch. Eva slipped off my pants, and then she stood to plant a soft kiss upon my lips.
The combination of their two unique but delicious scents mixed with the soap they’d poured into the running water and created a heady aroma that left me feeling even more drunk.
“Thank you, ladies.” I slipped into the tub with a contented sigh, and I closed my eyes as I leaned my head against the rim.
“Enjoy your bath,” Mahini murmured.
“Call for us if you need anything,” Eva added.
Then the two girls left me alone in the bathroom to relax. It was one of my favorite things to do in this world since showers hadn’t been invented yet and running water was rare. I wondered if Wyndvale had a hot spring nearby or some other natural source of hot water since it seemed quite extravagant for a small mountain town to have.
I reminded myself to ask Adorno about it later, and I settled into my bath with my head clear of thoughts. I sat for a while, but I had no way of knowing how long, so I just pushed myself out of the tub when the water grew chilly.
My fingers and toes were all pruney, but I didn’t care. My buzz had abated enough for me to function on my own, so I quickly dried off with a towel left nearby and wrapped the fabric around my waist. Then I joined the girls in our room in search of some comfortable clothes.
It would be my turn to watch our treasure soon, and I wanted to be prepared.
“Thanks for sobering me up before my watch,” I said to the two women lounging on the king-sized bed.
Eva and Mahini had been whispering about something together, but they both looked up when I entered the room. Mahini’s eyes widened as her piercing blue eyes scanned over my exposed chest and shoulders, and then her gaze lowered southward. Eva licked her lips, and her smoky-gray eyes twinkled with desire, but neither of them said a word.
