“Excuse me,” another person said. “Might I have a moment?”
“Kuhns,” Fredrick gave the short, thick man a nod. “What can we do for you?”
“I didn’t mean to overhear, but your association is open to accepting new members?”
“You never contacted Sean when I asked you to,” Eva said, her old cold demeanor coming to the forefront.
Kuhns stiffened before sighing, “You know as well as I do why. I’d like to make amends for that now.”
“No disrespect, but who are you?” Sean asked.
“Nick Kuhns,” the man replied, bowing his head slightly. “I deal in gems, though not to the scale of the bigger dealers.”
“Oh, so you’re one of the guys who left me out in the cold,” Sean said. “Flamehair mentioned you’d see me.”
Kuhns sighed, “I won’t apologize for worrying about my own first. Sorry to have—”
“Wait,” Sean said, holding up a hand. “I can’t fault a man who was just protecting his family. Sit, please.” Everyone made room at the table, and Kuhns dragged a chair over to join them. “Why do you want to join us now when you were afraid to help me before?” Sean asked once Kuhns was settled.
“Because you have backing,” Kuhns replied. “I’d have considered it with just Silvertouch and Gertihs beside you, but you have Dames Mageeyes and Flamehair backing you, and that means this is serious. I’ve heard you’re in need of gems. I can get those for the association much cheaper than would otherwise be the case.”
“He’s good people,” Italice added. “I was surprised when he didn’t move to help you earlier.”
“I had my reasons,” Kuhns said softly. “My wife told me to approach you, to be the man I should be.”
“A man should always listen to his wives,” Sean said, getting nods from the women at the table. “Fredrick is the leader of this association. If you’re serious, I’m fine with you joining us. Having access to gems will make the bathhouses easier, and it will let me do more.”
“More?” Joseph asked, suddenly interested. “What trick do you have up your sleeve now, Sean?”
Sean looked at Joseph with a grin, “It depends on if any of them work, but I have ideas.”
“Come by tomorrow and we’ll talk,” Fredrick told Kuhns. “Oh, and get used to hearing your given name; it’s part of being in the association.”
“I was wondering about that,” Kuhns said. “Very well, I’ll stop by tomorrow.” Standing up, he held a hand out to Sean, “And my apologies for not seeing you sooner.”
Sean took the hand, matching the firmness of the handshake. “Water under the bridge. What matters now is going forward, Nick.”
“I’m glad to hear that, Mac… Sean.”
Chapter Thirty-four
Days passed by without incident. Sean secluded himself in the smithy, working on a few different ideas. The others focused on kettles, hair clips, and getting the rest of the showers and faucets ready for MacLenn and the two new bathhouses that they were setting up.
“It’s time for dinner, Sean,” Ida said, walking into the smithy.
“Understood,” Sean said, standing up and stretching. “Did you invite Felora over again?”
“Not tonight,” Ida replied. “You don’t mind, do you?”
“Not really, and Ryann seems to be relaxing a bit around her, which is good. I’m just glad she’s mellowed on the whole trying to seduce me bit.”
“Fiona talked with her,” Ida replied.
“That would explain it,” Sean nodded. “She’ll likely be busy soon, anyway. Saret is going to supply people to work the newest bathhouse.”
“There was one thing I wanted to discuss with you,” Ida said hesitantly.
“What’s up?” Sean asked, finally through putting his tools away.
“Would you mind if I Bonded my parents for a year?”
Sean considered it, “Just metal Shaping, or more?”
“All the Shaping, but none of the rest of it,” Ida replied.
“Should be fine. Go ahead, though I’m not sure why you asked me.”
“It’s your Talents I’d be passing along. It just seemed like the right thing to do.”
Putting his arms around her, Sean smiled, “Go ahead. I would only be worried if you gave them so much that it makes them bigger targets. Limit how much you give them, and umm… the first few times… well, it’ll be weird.”
Ida giggled, “I’m going to Bond my mother, and she will Bond father.”
“That’ll make it less awkward,” Sean chuckled.
“Thank you,” Ida murmured as she leaned against him.
“I find it hard to deny you anything,” Sean admitted.
“Is that so?” Ida murmured as her hands crept down his back.
“I see someone is learning from Felora,” Sean chuckled when she grabbed his ass.
“Is that such a bad thing?” Ida asked, looking up at him through her lashes.
“Going to make working a lot harder.”
“Working harder can be good,” Ida smiled. “Unfortunately, I was sent to get you for dinner. Maybe later tonight we can talk about hard work.”
“Won’t say no to that,” Sean replied, leaning down to kiss her.
When the two of them entered the dining room a few minutes later, everyone else was already seated and dinner was on the table.
“Sorry, had to get my experiments put away,” Sean apologized as he took his seat.
“We’ll just have to nudge you earlier,” Ryann replied.
“I made a casserole tonight,” Andrea told him. “Fowl, vegetables, and rice.”
“I’m sure it’ll be great. All your meals are,” Sean said as he served himself. “How was work for everyone today?”
“We’re moving along with the Shaping on the second bathhouse,” Fiona said. “Myna and I did a lot of work on it today.”
“It is going nicely,” Myna agreed.
“I Shaped kettles, showers, and faucets with Ida,” Ryann told him.
“Andrea and I did the hair clips,” Chastity added. “The fervor for them has died down, but they’re still doing good.”
“How about you, husband?” Fiona asked. “Any progress?”
“Actually, yes. I got the pistons to work the way I remembered them working. I’m going to need permission from Magus Giralt to use his rune, though. I’ll talk with Amedee tonight about it.”
“What will it do?” Fiona pressed him. “You haven’t given us any information to work with.”
“It’ll be a new way to power things, and the size can be adjusted so it can even be used for mills. It’s called a steam engine,” Sean smiled. “I’ll have the basic prototype done in another couple of days. This will push me into the light. What I’m doing is going to spread, even more than the showers have.”
“Steam power is used in the Quaditals,” Fiona said.
“Used how?” Sean asked, feeling a little let down that his surprise was not the big one he hoped for.
“For businesses that need a lot of power,” Fiona replied.
“Have they been used for smaller projects or for vehicles?” Sean asked.
“No, that wouldn’t work. Steam power requires large machines.”
Sean chuckled, “Okay, then I can still do this.”
“You want to make a steam powered wagon?” Ryann asked incredulously.
“Yup. If it was an internal combustion engine, it’d be easier for me, but steam engines are something I’ve at least studied in the past.”
“Oh,” Fiona said, understanding coming to her, “you want to use water summoning, plus a heating enchantment, to get steam.”
“That’s my idea. It removes the need for a water reservoir,” Sean said between bites of food. “Helps slim down the entire thing.”
“But a wagon? How would you steer it?”
Sean chuckled, “On my world, I worked on vehicles that moved without horses. I know how to make the rest of it work. It’s complicated, but
you can help when we get to that stage.”
Everyone looked eager at his words. When they finished their meal, Fiona touched Sean’s hand.
“Will we be finishing tonight?”
“Going to have to do it in sections like your arms and legs,” Sean told her. “Top down or bottom up, which way do you want to go?” Fiona gave him a bright smile, but the snickering around the table got Sean blushing. “Okay, yeah, I say things badly at times.”
“Maybe we should start at the bottom and work our way up,” Fiona replied, holding her laughter back. “It’ll be interesting to have real flesh there again.”
Sean went even redder and the laughter at his expense continued. “I never—” he began before Fiona touched his lips with a single finger.
“I know, forgive me husband, but we all enjoy seeing you flustered. I thank you for all the care and concern you’ve shown me,” Fiona said softly.
“I forgive you. I always will.”
“I would love to finish this change, but we’ll do it in patches as we have been.”
“Seeing you with shorter sleeves and skirts has been different,” Ryann said. “Leave it to Sean to undo even a small bit of Winter’s work. I would have thought it impossible before.”
“I should be heading off to the inn,” Sean said.
“I’ll come with you tonight, Master.”
“Sure, Myna. I’d be glad to have you with me.”
“I’ll get the rest of the showers that we’re taking,” Ida said. “I’ll be right back.”
“Hang on, I’ll help,” Ryann said, following her.
~*~*~
Walking into the inn, Sean gave his friends a wave. They had moved to the largest table available, and had it almost filled. He gave Ida a kiss before she went over to the apprentice table and wondered if she should still be at that table, but he left that up to her.
“Evening, all,” Sean greeted them as he took his seat.
“Sean, how have you been?” Fredrick asked.
“Same as I have been. How about everyone here?”
“More idiots,” Jeffrey shrugged. “Normal day.”
“I’ll have those gems for you tomorrow,” Nick said. “My wife, Jess, will be bringing them by. She wants to get a few hair clips while she’s there.”
“No problem,” Sean smiled. “Chastity can do the work easily.”
“You’re very lucky to have so many talented people with such large pools of energy with you,” the newcomer to their group, Justin Perritte, said.
“Luck is what you make of it,” Sean replied. He had not yet taken to the broad Half-Orc. Sean smiled at Lilly when she came over to the table. “Something tame tonight, please?”
“Of course, sir. I’ll pick out something special for you. A hot cider for you, Ryann?”
“Please.”
“Another round for the rest of you?” Lilly asked the table.
Everyone agreed, and Perritte handed over the coin. “I’d like a piece of whatever pie the cooks have on hand.”
“Of course, sir,” Lilly said.
“If we add anyone else, we’ll have to see about getting a new table,” Joseph commented. “Never thought we’d be taking over the biggest table in the inn.”
“MacDougal, Dame Mageeyes would like to see you,” Bemin said, approaching the table as Lilly walked away.
“Odd, but okay,” Sean said. “I’ll be right back.”
As Sean followed Bemin, he heard Perritte commenting behind him: “He has had many private meetings with the Dame. Do you think…”
Sean did not hear the rest of it, but the explosion of laughter from the table made him smile. Bemin glanced back, puzzled, but kept moving.
After being shown into Mageeyes’ office, Sean greeted her before sitting down. “What can I do for you tonight, Amedee?”
Mageeyes was not smiling; she looked concerned. “I have been told to inform you that you are required to attend Lady Sharpeyes’ party tomorrow night.”
Both eyebrows went up. “Hadn’t thought I’d done enough to be called forward yet.”
“Neither had I,” Mageeyes replied. “That doesn’t change anything, though. You need to attend.”
“Fancy, I take it?”
“Without saying.”
“Gift for her or him?”
“Lord Sharpeyes receives gifts from the men attending.”
“Fun.”
“Can you be appropriately attired with a gift in hand tomorrow night?”
“If I do just that tomorrow, sure. I’ll have to see about a carriage.”
“I’ll arrange one.”
“Do I bring one of my wives, too?”
“You may bring a single guest.”
“Fine. Well, this kind of kills the night for me.”
“I found out an hour ago,” Mageeyes sighed. “They don’t wish for you to be comfortable or prepared.”
“I’ll make him something.”
“I can have my tailor see you tomorrow, but it will be tough to have something that would be perfect.”
“I’ll accept it,” Sean said. “It’s to make sure I don’t embarrass the association any more than I would otherwise, isn’t it?”
“You are so perceptive at times, and so dense at others. I don’t know how your wives survive it.”
Sean frowned. “Anyway, was there anything else?”
“Isn’t that enough?” Mageeyes asked.
“Yeah, it sure the fuck is. Thanks, and see you tomorrow. I’m sure you’ll be there.”
“As will Charie, Fredrick, Eva, Italice, Ryan, and Justin.”
“Some friends, at least,” Sean said, getting to his feet. “Goodnight.”
Making his way back out to the group, his face must have given away his mood. “I’m sorry, but it looks like I need to call it an early night.”
“What happened?” Joseph asked.
“I have to attend a party tomorrow night,” Sean said, with all the joy of a man on death row.
“What?” Fredrick, Eva, Italice, and Ryan all asked together, clearly surprised.
“Seems I’m required to attend. Amedee just told me. She was ordered to inform me.”
“Denmur,” Fredrick grumbled. “His hands are on this, but why?”
“To show Sean up as someone not in their circle,” Ryan said.
“Don’t want to be,” Sean muttered. “But I can do this. I’ll be calm, cool, and won’t punch the toad in his face.”
Eva snickered before she shook her head, “It won’t be him. No, the game is played through others.”
“Be polite, and stay as far away from the limelight as you can,” Italice suggested. “Any errors you make will also be counted against all of us.”
Sean nodded, picked up the drink that had been left for him, and downed it. “Great. I’ll see you all tomorrow.”
“What about clothing?” Perritte asked. “I’ve never seen you in anything but work clothes—”
“It’ll be handled,” Sean said bluntly. “They want to test my mettle? Fine, they’ll get to see what I’m really made of.”
Ryann got to her feet, “They’ll learn.”
“Goodnight. I’m sorry for dampening the mood,” Sean said before striding for the door.
Ida shot to her feet and hurried after them when she saw them leaving. “Sean, what’s happening?”
“Long story. Wait until we get home so I can just explain it once, please.”
“Okay,” Ida agreed.
Chapter Thirty-five
Sean woke to soft kisses on his cheeks and forehead. Opening his eyes, he saw Ida, Ryann, and Myna leaning over him. “Morning,” he smiled.
“Time for you to wake up, Master.”
“Andrea will be done with breakfast shortly,” Ida added.
“Fiona is already getting the present into rough shape for you to make things easier,” Ryann said.
“Sorry, Ry,” Sean said.
“It’s fine. We’ll be making my dress today while
you’re at the tailor.”
“I know you’re unhappy about the lack of weapons.”
Forged Bonds (Binding Words Book 4) Page 34
