I leaned between Diana and Tina so I could whisper, “You’re going to be meeting the King of Eredwynn, so you might want to change. I enjoy your tight uniforms, but I don’t want my father distracted by the nice groove that shows in the crotch area. I’d like it if you’d change back when they leave, though. Or maybe you could take Anne and Feyna and get some made for them, too. Feyna’s going to need a pink robe. If they do get uniforms, tell the tailor, ‘Snug in the chest, seat and crotch.’ She’ll know what I want.”
Both girls turned beet red at the idea of a king seeing them dressed with so much of themselves showing. They jumped up and scooted quickly out the door to change.
Tabitha laughed softly. “I was going to suggest they change, but I didn’t know how to do it without embarrassing them.”
“I didn’t either, but I think they look cute when they blush.”
She winked. “You think all pretty girls look cute when they blush.”
“I’ve been missing making you blush, so when my parents leave, we need to work on getting my magic back. If you happen to blush, that would be a bonus!”
There was a light tap on the door and two people let themselves in. My brain bounced off of my skull as one was loudly identified by Tamia. “Grandma!” She ran from the table and almost tackled my mother. I guess it had become a game over the last two weeks, because Mother was expecting it.
Everyone in the room cringed and Karly materialized to quiet Tamia. My vision blurred with uninvited tears and Father shook his head. “You shouldn’t even be out of bed yet, Son. This could have waited a few more days until you’d recovered.”
“I’ll be fine, Father. I was up teasing the girls, so figured I could let you know that I was doing better. So, is this just a well-being call or is there another reason for the visit? I detect that there is something you want to talk about.”
“First and foremost, I want to know who had the gall to abduct my son while he’s on a picnic with the family. We’ll discuss other things after that.”
“’A woman scorned’, Father. That is what that whole thing was about. But from what I overheard, there were some that are in the medical field who wanted to see my insides. I heard they were going to cut me up to see what made me tick.”
Father nodded. “Now about a more delicate subject. When we were all looking for you, we were all over town and the surrounding area. We noticed a compound south of town that looked almost self-sufficient. Everyone was dressed in different color robes and it looked very ‘cult-like’. That wouldn’t have anything to do with you, would it? These people aren’t worshiping your magic or giving gifts they can’t afford?”
I smiled and shook my head, then steadied it a bit. “No, it’s not a cult. The robes are just like uniforms worn in other places. Your wizard girls wear their cute uniforms and the guards their not so cute uniforms. Here, the guards wear black, city elders wear yellow, and so on. I heal the sick here and that should be considered a good thing. But that’s all I do and I don’t take gifts or sacrifices. I knew it would look cultish to some, but the way I understand cults to act, it isn’t anything like that. No altars or dropping distraught parents on pyramids.”
He spoke softly, “That’s what I was hoping to hear. I didn’t think that you’d turned into a remake of Calla. If you think the people wouldn’t mind, I have a spare pump that I could hook up to the well down there. I can tell either you or Celina built it. A pump would save a lot of work on that windlass for the girls in light blue who haul water.”
I smiled for two reasons. One reason was Father’s obsession with water pumps, windmills and plumbing. The other was the happy mistake that the girls in light blue were water bearers and not my stand-by sex offerings! “Father, I am sure that the girls would be thrilled. You could hook it up or leave the pump and pipe so I could do it later. The total depth is only a hundred feet and it takes in water at seventy-five, so there shouldn’t be a water shortage.”
It was quiet for a moment, so Mother stepped in. “My turn; what’s going on between that guard and your sister? He seems to be everywhere that she is!”
“Since she’s standing right there and now blushing, you must be asking my opinion. I think that Celina and Warin are head over heels in love with each other. They enjoy each other’s company and I leave them alone. I’m sure if they decide to marry, they’ll let us know about it.”
Warin cleared his throat quietly. “I guess this is the perfect time to say this.” He took a knee in front of Celina. “You know how I feel about you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you, if you’ll have me. Celina, will you marry me?”
Her hand was shaking so hard he could barely fit the ring on her finger. She hugged him, whispering, “Yes, yes, yes.”
Mother looked at me with a huge grin. “Now I have two sons that I can have do chores for me.” She went over to congratulate Celina and welcome Warin to the family.
Anne, Feyna, Tina, and Diana slipped back in and came to stand by me. They were all dressed in pretty, simple dresses. I introduced Tina and Diana to the King of Eredwynn and they curtsied beautifully.
Feyna tugged at my sleeve and whispered, “Why’s them all huggin’?”
I gathered the girls. “No squealing or loud noises, please, but Warin just proposed to Celina and she accepted.” I braced, but Feyna stifled the squeal that leaked to way below Ivy levels. The girls then rushed to join the hugging frenzy that had overtaken my room.
“Father, I know I don’t see you often, but I have to lie back down. I just wanted to meet my newest consort on my feet.”
“I understand, son. I’ve been there, too, and have seen it way too many times. I’m glad you got the message to Davie and that he understood it. I’ll get your mother out of here soon, so you can get some rest. Snuggling with that new consort might just be what the doctor ordered.”
Father and Mother left, with Father promising he’d be back to work on the well later that evening. Warin and Celina wandered off to wherever they went, leaving my concubines, wife, daughter and governess.
“Tabitha, would you ask the adorable Karly, who disappeared after our kissing session, to take Tam out to play.”
Karly blushed. “A kiss on the cheek isn’t a ‘kissing session’.” I winked and she rounded up the bundle of energy I called my daughter.
“Now, if you’ll think of someplace the other girls really need to be, I have something over here I’d really like to show you.” That caused all the girls to blush and everyone but Tabitha made a quick exit.
She came to the bed. “Sir, do I need clothes to see whatever you want to show me?”
“Oh, absolutely not. Clothes might cloud your view. I want you to take a long, hard look at this for me.”
She undressed and joined me for a welcome home party in her… honor.
Chapter Sixteen
Three days passed with a lot of time spent intertwined with my wife and concubines. Often they were all there at the same time and Diana taught them the joys of a woman’s touch. She said that a woman could bring another woman to ecstasy much faster than a man. I didn’t want the kick to the ego, so I declined the challenge.
On the morning of the fourth day, I was raring to see my people. There had been no reports of illness or injury that had gotten to me, but I assumed that Celina would have handled anything that came along. I’d become bedridden because I was sick of being in my house. I think that the word irony would actually fit this situation.
After breakfast, I announced that I was going to go to the compound. There was a flurry of activity as house clothes were exchanged for robes. Even Tamia was in a charmingly tiny, red robe of her own.
I saw our governess standing shyly in the corner. “Karly, I am sure that we have a red or pink robe laying around, if you’d like one.”
She blushed almost purple. “I have a robe of my own.” She picked up the ever present bag that I figured were things for Tamia. She pulled out a light blue robe and turned to go to Tamia�
��s room.
Tabitha intercepted her. “Why didn’t you tell us you wanted to be in the family? You know I love you and that Seth has a soft spot for you already. That’s obvious to anyone that knows him. That’s why he teases you all the time.”
“I did hint to him on the day that you left that I was interested. He didn’t say anything about it, so I thought I’d just wait.”
“You hinted to a man, you silly girl! You have to hit them in the head for them to get any message at all. I’d love for you to accept a pink robe as a concubine and I’m sure Seth will agree.”
I grinned. “Of course I’ll agree! I’ve liked you from the day I met you, Karly. If your hint would have been more aggressive, I might have caught on. I’m sorry if you felt slighted. Since my wife and concubines are often… busy at the same time, we can look for another governess for Tamia.”
She shook her head vehemently. “As much as I’d love to be a concubine in the family, I don’t want to give up my duties as governess. If I have to choose one or the other, then I’ll sadly decline the concubine position.”
Tabitha hugged her. “There is no reason that you can’t be with Seth after Tamia is in bed for the night. Seth has more than enough willing young ladies, me included, who can keep him keep him occupied. Please, put on the pink robe and make us all happy.”
Karly smiled joyfully and nodded. She picked up the spare pink robe that Diana had already fetched for her and slid it over her head. There was happy applause from everyone, even Tamia, and we went out the door, one big, happy family.
“Noam, it’s time for me to make a visit to the compound. Since the entire family is going, I expect you’ll be your normal, over-zealous self. I want you to know that there was nothing you could have done to stop the people that attacked me, and that was my fault. I shouldn’t have sent you and the others away without me, like that.”
“Thank you for saying that, My Lord. I’d been reliving that day over and over in my head to see what I could have done differently. I’ve been talking to Tina a lot; she said the same thing that you did and I should have listened.”
“Let’s head out. I’m sure we’ll pick up a few more guards on the way. I just miss being around the people.”
I was on full alert as we left the yard and strolled toward the southern compound. Something that I’d heard during my capture that I hadn’t let on to was the fact that all of my personal business was leaking out, somehow. Things were known by my captors that they couldn’t have known, such as, keeping the ‘hot ball’ ammo close to me would drain magic. The only time I could remember mentioning that was to Celina and Warin, and I knew they wouldn’t tell another warm body. Joshua and Michelle had been close, but the same went for them. If I couldn’t figure it out on my own in the next few days, I’d put Noam on the case with me.
By the time I’d made it half-way through town, I had picked up half a dozen armed guards in black robes. They all looked happy to see me out and about, but they were also very alert for anyone they didn’t know getting too close. I had to stop a few times to help pilgrims that had wandered in from miles away to get aid. The guards made trying to heal a bit of a problem until I had Noam take control of them. Then I could get down to my real job of curing ills and not jumping at my own shadow.
When I’d heal someone, an Elder or a friend in blue would take them aside and talk to them. That’s how our ranks grew and how we had people to do the jobs we needed done to live the lifestyle we did. The worse the injury or illness, the greater the chance they’d join us. If there was a sick or injured child, we were almost guaranteed a new family.
We were almost to the compound and I was watching the crowd build behind us when I saw something odd. In a crowd of guards, Elders, faithful and pilgrims it might have been difficult to notice had I not been watching so intently. Mixing in with the crowd easily because of her size was a petite maid, dressed in my kitchen staff’s uniform. The uniform, and the fact that my house staff didn’t follow me around, gave her away. She would have had the perfect position to blend in and learn things. She must even have a way to see into my bedchamber, judging from some of the rumors that had gotten out. I couldn’t prove anything yet, so I watched her and waited.
As we turned into the compound, which was now completely fenced, I stopped and let the crowd form behind us. I pulled Tabitha close and kissed her. I held her and whispered, “I’m about to say something and it isn’t true. I’m testing something and want to see what happens. I just didn’t want you to think it was really what I was planning and get upset.”
Without an outward sign, my darling wife nodded her understanding. I stepped away from her so I could let her know my new ‘plan’. “Tabitha,” I spoke loudly enough to be heard several feet away, “I think that since I’ve been ill, I know how to fix it. I’m going to go over to the healing room and deflower every white robe there that wants to be with me.”
The concubines were all shocked to hear Tabitha say, “If you think that it will help you feel better, do as you’d like, my love.”
I started walking toward the healing room and watched our maid as she took off at a run toward a group of white robes that were beside the field with a bucket of water. She chatted with them for a moment, then went around to every other girl in a white robe she could find. By the time we made it to our destination, there were a half dozen girls there waiting for me.
I sighed and amplified my voice, “My beautiful, virginal ladies, I’m afraid that I’ve intentionally misled you. It wasn’t to hurt your feelings, but rather to catch someone misbehaving. Every secret, story and even sexual position that I’ve told or tried in the last couple months has made it to the streets. If I enjoy my partner on her knees or my face between her thighs, it’s no one’s business but ours.”
The girls in white blushed and squirmed uncomfortably, and I continued. I believe that I’ve found the leak and it’s time to do something before it actually gets me killed. It was because of this leak that the kidnappers knew how to take me, but I don’t want the informant injured. I want to question her myself, if the guards will bring me… this pretty, young maid near the front.”
To her credit, she was quick. She avoided the first two guards that grabbed for her and almost made it to open ground. She wasn’t fast enough to avoid Noam’s long, healthy legs, however. He scooped her up, kicking and screaming, and carried her to me.
I addressed her quietly, “Young lady, if you’ll calm down and be quiet, I won’t stun you. I have some questions for you that I want you to answer, but we’ll do it back at the house. It would be in your best interest to tell me the truth, because I have ways of finding things out. You’ve been watching long enough to know that.”
She began sobbing. “Yes, My Lord, I ‘ave been watchin’ an I do know. I dinna mean to get you ‘urt, in fact that’s the last thing I’d want to ‘appen. I love you, Seth, and never meant for my sharing of gossip to cause trouble.”
Tabitha stepped up. “Seth, may I talk to her inside?”
I nodded. “Take Noam with you. I don’t want to have to chase her down again.”
Joshua sauntered over. “I have to say, there’s never a dull moment when you visit the compound. I’m very glad that you pulled through your ordeal and are back with us. Have you learned who took you and why?”
“It seems that a pretty virgin didn’t like it that I wouldn’t accept her offer. She was working with some men and they intended to sell me to some medical people in Ashqia. The men there had planned on cutting me up to see how I could do magic. Now that I’ve recovered, I want to go back to Ashqia and see if I can find these men. I haven’t decided if banishment or death would be my best choice, so I may leave that to the Elders. We might be able to get more recruits for the family and eliminate enemies as well.”
Joshua looked thoughtful. “May I address the crowd? I don’t speak as loudly, but perhaps I’ll be heard.”
I nodded, putting my hand on his arm and amplifying his voice.
He spoke, jumped, and then continued with a grin, “Brothers and sisters, I now know the origin of the abductors of our savior. Some don’t like that word, but it is in the notice that was put out by the King himself. Seth wants his enemies captured and brought to justice. They are in the town of Ashqia, two days’ march to the west. I know there are many men that will be willing to go and many of the young ladies in light blue and white. I will want the ladies to bring up the rear and that should be where Seth and any red or pink robes that go should be too. Every man and woman that can fight should check in with the Captain, to find out our final marching orders. I’m an organizer, not a warrior, so he will be in charge.”
He nodded and I let go. “Seth, it’s a strange feeling when your own voice scares you. Is there anything that I left out?”
“It sounds like you covered it better than I could have. Is there anything new in our world to report?”
“There had been prideful whispers that you’d taken three concubines. It had dampened the hopes of some of the young ladies that were showing their willingness for the position, until today. When you showed up with five, they knew that you weren’t going to be held by the old tradition of the Lords of the land. It gave them a new hope.”
I chuckled. “If you need to give them hope in that department, tell them my father has thirteen of his own. To us, it isn’t the number that matters, just the amount of love we have to give.”
He beamed. “That is good news indeed, and they know your father. He put a fantastic pump on the well that saves the ladies a lot of time and aching muscles. He’s already one of their favorite people and knowing he has thirteen concubines might make them flirt with him when he comes by. Can the man even afford any more ladies?”
I laughed. “I know for a fact and have seen with my own eyes that he has over a half billion in coin in his personal vault. He can afford anything he wants.”
Joshua was astounded, but chuckled. “For a half billion gold coins, I might be a concubine!”
Seth, A Naiad's Son (Generations of Eredwynn Book 3) Page 16
