Forged Bonds (Binding Words Book 4)

by Daniel Schinhofen

  “Aye, have to keep them all happy,” Angus laughed, winking at Ryann who looked away from the large man.

  “That’s all any husband wants, isn’t it?” Sean asked.

  “Aye.” Angus looked from Sean to the cart as he carried some of the pipes. “Need to thank you, too. For not having a problem when… you know…”

  Sean’s brow furrowed, his sluggish mind not helping him. “Huh?”

  Angus gritted his teeth, “When my wife had a problem here.”

  “Oh,” Sean said, mentally kicking himself. “No, it was fine. We can’t help our conditions. I was happy she seemed to recover from it so quickly. I would have gotten her home regardless, though.”

  Angus shook his head, “You are a strange one, MacDougal. Good, but strange. I started talking back against the people who’ve been saying lies about you. They have no idea and just repeat any filth they’ve heard, but I won’t have a man who’d be concerned for my wife being lied about.”

  “What this time?” Ryann asked.

  “Vile ones, lass,” Angus said, lifting the last set of pipes. “Rumor is he forced Bronzeshield and you into Life Bonds so he could make you his wives. Fools,” Angus spat. “Anyone who’s dealt with you know that’s lies.”

  “Character assassination,” Sean muttered. “Not surprised by that.”

  “Aye, first stop of the coward,” Angus spat again. “No balls to challenge you to your face, so they spew lies.”

  “Thank you for stepping forward,” Sean said, “but you don’t need to. I would hate for any of my troubles to cause you grief.”

  “No one will give me grief,” Angus laughed. “All the haulers need me. Crafters, too. Easier to pay me than a full crew.”

  “I’m ready, sir,” Andrea said, coming out the back door.

  “I’ll lock up then head over to work,” Myna said. “Ida will meet me there; she and Fiona are showing our guest out. Chastity is covering the shop again.”

  “Thank you,” Sean said, giving her a kiss. “Okay. Angus, you know the way?”

  “Can’t miss the newest building in this section,” Angus laughed, grabbing the pull bar and getting the cart moving.

  The trip was quick, and Sean gave Marjorie a smile as she opened the gate for them. “Morning. We have pipes for the building. We’ll handle it from here, so go enjoy your breakfast,” Sean told Marjorie.

  “I was hoping to speak with you,” Marjorie said softly.

  “I’ll be there once we get the pipes unloaded.”

  “Thank you, sir,” Marjorie bowed deeply to him before hurrying away.

  Sean covered his face, “Going to have ask her not to do that.”

  Angus chuckled as he picked up the first few pipes. “Not many would ask a woman like that not to bow and thank them. Now, where do these go?”

  “Right next to the back door,” Sean said. “I’d have you put them inside, but the inside is a secret.”

  “That’s alright with me,” Angus replied, carting off the first load.

  It only took about five minutes for Angus to get the cart emptied. Sean paid him, thanked him, and showed him out before locking the gate behind him.

  “Sean, I’m going to help the others while you talk to Marjorie if that’s okay?”

  “Sure, Ry.”

  “See you soon, then,” Ryann smiled, giving him a kiss.

  “Sir,” Andrea called to him when he entered the building, “Marjorie is upstairs. I wanted to walk back with you, so do you mind if I help out until then?”

  “Not at all, go for it,” Sean replied. “It’s nice to see everyone wanting to get this done.”

  Andrea gave him a bright smile before she went to find the others. Sean walked upstairs and found Marjorie in her small dining room. He was not expecting her to jump to her feet and bow to him again.

  “Err, can you not do that? It makes me really uncomfortable.”

  “Oh... yes, of course,” Marjorie said, taking her seat again. “I’m sorry, Chas said you were humble. It’s just hard to keep in mind with everything you’ve done and what she’s told me.”

  “I’m just me,” Sean said. “I wanted to check in and make sure you were okay. I was afraid of how you’d react to having your memories stripped.”

  “It’s odd,” Marjorie said, sipping her drink. “I know that he abused me, and that it went on for tendays, but I count it a blessing to not recall exactly what happened. I do remember the terror when you came around the other day. I should thank you... I don’t know how I’m ever going to repay having another chance at life, much less the extra that you did for me.”

  Sean’s lips thinned as he pressed on with the other topic he wanted to talk with her about. “Your son. I’m—”

  “No,” she said, cutting him off and raising a hand. “No, that isn’t your fault. He should have known better, I raised him better than that. Chastity told me what happened, after I could think again. Please, don’t blame yourself.”

  Exhaling, Sean looked at the table between them. “I’m still sorry.”

  “Excuse me, Master, but there is a Sergeant here who wants to talk with Marjorie.”

  “Huh? What? Why?”

  “In connection to a mysterious death,” the Sergeant said when he entered the room, walking past Myna. “Paul Weaver has been found dead and we are investigating.”

  “Sergeant Carmady,” Sean said. “Aren’t you looking into who attacked me?”

  The Sergeant stopped, looking at Sean with confusion, before he sighed in consternation. “That would be my twin, who is also Sergeant Carmady.”

  “You are both Sergeants? How do the men tell you apart?” Sean asked.

  “By our given names,” the Sergeant grimaced. “He is Eugene Michael Carmady, and I’m Ernest Michael Carmady.”

  “I apologize for interrupting,” Sean said. “Please, sit.”

  “I’m going to ask you to leave, sir.”

  “I want him to stay. He is my benefactor,” Marjorie said.

  “Very well,” the Sergeant said, taking one of the empty seats.

  “Please have some food if you’d like, sir,” Marjorie said. “I can’t eat all that I have.”

  “Thank you, but no. I need to ascertain your whereabouts on Fourday.”

  “I was here all day, sir.”

  “Can anyone verify that?”

  “My daughter was with me all day, and I had visitors after the sun went down.”

  “Where can I find your daughter, and who were your visitors?” Ernest asked as he pulled out some paper and a charcoal pencil.

  “Her daughter works for me,” Sean said. “I’m Sean MacDougal.”

  “Oh, the Shaper who was ambushed? That was bad business,” Ernest said. “I know where your shop is. I’ll be along to speak with her daughter after this.”

  “Okay.”

  “Now, who were the visitors?”

  “MacDougal, his maid Andrea Brandt, and Felora Somnia.”

  Ernest looked up at the last name. “You had one of the women of the Den here? Why?”

  “I can’t say, sir,” Marjorie said. “I’m bound on that.”

  “Hmm, very well. I’ll be checking to see if anyone else can verify that they were here.”

  “I can,” Sean said.

  “I’ll be asking the neighbors, sir.”

  “And Felora, right?”

  Ernest looked away, “We normally don’t bother the Den.”

  “Ven,” Sean said, “find Felora and ask her to speak with Sergeant Ernest Carmady. We need her to answer a few questions from him, please.”

  “Yes, sir,” Ven said, appearing and zipping off as soon as they had the message.

  “A Messenger Fairy? Hadn’t expected that,” Ernest said. “Looks like I might be speaking to her after all, then. Is there anything else you wish to tell me?” Ernest asked Marjorie.

  “I don’t have anything else to say, sir. I was here all Threeday, Fourday, and Fiveday.”

  “Very well,” the S
ergeant put his notes away. “That is all for now. MacDougal, if you don’t mind taking me to speak with her daughter?”

  “Not at all, sir.” Looking past him, Sean looked at Marjorie, “Have a good day. Someone will be working downstairs if you have any questions.”

  “Thank you, sir.”

  “Sean. Just call me, Sean, please.”

  “Okay, Sean.”

  “If you’ll follow me, Sergeant.”

  “I’m ready.”

  Everyone but Chastity was there when Sean and the Sergeant got downstairs. “The Sergeant needs to speak with Chastity about Marjorie’s whereabouts on Fourday, because Paul Weaver died. Andrea, can you answer his questions while we walk home?”

  “Of course,” Andrea said. “I’m Andrea Brandt, sir. I was here on Fourday night with Sean. We were delivering food to Chastity and Marjorie.”

  “Is everything okay, Sean?” Fiona asked.

  “Should be fine for us. We all know Marjorie couldn’t have had anything to do with Weaver’s death. I’m taking him to speak with Chastity, then I’ll be taking a nap.”

  “We’ll work here and head home when we’re finished,” Fiona said.

  “I’m ready,” Ryann said from the doorway.

  “Sergeant, if you don’t mind?” Sean asked.

  “Of course,” Ernest replied. “Now, Miss Brandt, what can you tell me about the night of Fourday?”

  Chapter Twenty-three

  Waking up, Sean smiled to find all four of his wives in bed with him. “Time to wake up, is it?”

  “Yes. We’ve already bathed and dinner isn’t far away,” Fiona replied. “None of us had the heart to wake you.”

  “Not true. I would have,” Myna replied.

  “That’s fair,” Ryann admitted. “She was going to, but we talked her out of it.”

  “I wanted scritches,” Myna pouted.

  Sean laughed and scratched Myna’s ears, “Silly kitty.”

  “I find it odd that she likes that nickname,” Ida said.

  “Sean is allowed, and you are too, since we are equals,” Myna replied as she pressed her head into his hand, purring.

  “I’ll go get my shower in,” Sean said after a minute. “Don’t want to keep dinner waiting. Did I miss anything?”

  “Felora returned to speak to the Sergeant,” Fiona said. “He was very respectful to her. I don’t think the guard will be looking at Marjorie anymore.”

  “They have a lot more sway than I would have thought,” Sean said as he climbed out of bed. “Glad we made friends with them.”

  “She said she’ll expect the favor to be returned later,” Ryann complained.

  “If it helped Marjorie, it’ll be paid, as long as it’s reasonable,” Sean said. “Sorry I missed sparring. I’ll see you all in a few.” Getting kisses from all of them, Sean went to the bathroom.

  ~*~*~

  “How is everyone tonight?” Sean asked when he took his seat at the table.

  “We’re better than Weaver,” Joseph said. “You’ve heard, haven’t you?”

  “The guard was looking into his death,” Sean said. “They talked with Marjorie today, along with Chastity, Ida, and myself.”

  “They think it might have been murder?” Fredrick asked.

  “No idea. He said death, not murder.”

  “What I heard was that they found him hanging from the ceiling by a makeshift rope of dresses,” Knox said.

  “I heard it was a rope made of his last tapestry,” Ryan said.

  “Did they tell you anything, Sean?” Italice asked.

  “They think he died on Fourday, from what it sounded like.”

  “My brother heard from one of the guards that they found him on Fiveday,” Callon said. “Someone was concerned when he didn’t open as usual.”

  “Can I take your orders?” Lilly asked the table.

  Everyone put in their orders, but Lilly did not leave right away. Instead, she turned to Sean. “Dame Mageeyes would like to speak with you.”

  Sean sighed as he got to his feet, “Of course. I’ll be back shortly.”

  Following Lilly, Sean wondered what the Dame wanted from him tonight. He made sure to dampen his energy levels before they reached the doors, though he did not have to do as much as usual.

  When the door opened to Dame Mageeyes’ office, Sean’s eyebrows shot up. Putting a smile on his face, he entered and gave the three women inside a small bow. “You wished to see me, Dame?”

  “On his feet... it seems Felora is right. He is more than he lets on,” Saret laughed lightly. “Have a seat, Sean. We just wanted to chat for a bit.”

  “Of course, but I haven’t been introduced to the last of you. I’m Sean MacDougal. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

  “I’m Dame Flamehair,” the regal redhead replied. “You made me a wonderful kettle. My butler was quite effuse with his praise, which is highly unusual.”

  Sean took the only seat remaining, putting him back from the desk with the women facing him. “What can I do for you tonight?”

  “Same low energy,” Mageeyes said. “Curious... you said Felora had her fill of him.”

  “Oh, she did. She’s still sleeping it off,” Saret said. “She was late getting home because she had to stop and speak with a Sergeant about Weaver’s death.”

  “How is he upright, then?” Flamehair asked.

  “That is what I’m most interested in,” Saret said. “Amedee, you say his energy is white?”

  “Pure white. I’ve never seen anything like it before,” Mageeyes replied.

  Sean stood up, “Ladies, it doesn’t seem like you need me here.”

  “I’m sorry,” Mageeyes said. “Please, have some wine.”

  Saret poured from the open bottle and slid the glass toward him. “You’re a riddle, Sean, and the three of us love riddles.”

  “The best riddles remain unsolved,” Sean said, taking the glass and resuming his seat.

  “You’ve handed off the patent on your kettles and hair clips to Gertihs and Silvertouch. I’m curious as to why. You could have used them to leverage yourself into the higher circles of society,” Flamehair asked as she sipped from her glass.

  “No offense intended,” Sean said, drinking his wine, “but I’d rather never have to deal with ‘society.’” The wine was sweet, and it hit his system like a train. Eye twitching, he felt his body go to work on the wine, so his sudden shift toward tipsy vanished instantly. “Too sweet for my tastes,” Sean said, putting the glass back on the desk.

  All three women raised their eyebrows. Dame Mageeyes asked, “You don’t like my private reserve?”

  “Honestly, I feel anyone not used to it would get drunk nearly instantly,” Sean replied. “I don’t think being drunk with you three would be… wise.”

  “I like him,” Saret giggled. “Sean, we know you have started your own following. Gertihs is inserting himself back into society, and Silvertouch has openly declared herself at odds with Denmur. You have shifted the power of the city in just a few tendays. You’ve also got our attention.”

  “Hmm,” Sean grunted, “which means I’ve probably got the attention of some others.”

  “Denmur’s, certainly,” Flamehair said. “His child and Sharpeyes’ child even met you a few days ago. From what I’ve heard, you became a topic of conversation.”

  “Fuck,” Sean sighed.

  “Yes, you are likely to find yourself coming under even more scrutiny,” Mageeyes agreed. “I feel like your problems might only grow from here.”

  Standing up, Sean frowned, “Thank you for the warning.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Mageeyes smiled. “I only asked you to meet a friend of mine.”

  “Of course,” Sean said, bowing. “Ladies, it was a pleasure to speak with you all. If there is nothing else, I have people waiting for my return.”

  “We wouldn’t want to keep you—” Mageeyes started.

  “I might,” Saret smirked.

  “
Please, Saret,” Mageeyes sighed, “you promised to behave.”

  “I’m doing my best, Amedee, but he all but begs for me to find out why he is so different.”

  “Saret, Amedee has a point,” Flamehair said.