by D. R. Rosier
Wait, what? Fuck no. My mouth opened, and visions of being hanged danced before my eyes, and I closed it in shock. Adding a mate in an arranged marriage was one thing, but I wasn’t going to sow my wild oats liberally among the population. That way lay decadence and meaningless pleasure, it was psychologically harmful for all involved, including my mates. No, I’d stick to women I loved, Oceana was the only exception to that, but she wasn’t human and all the women I loved slept with her too.
I needed to buy myself some time, but my mind was kind of frozen in panic.
I blurted the first thing that came to mind, “Flesh sculptors aren’t the only endangered magical group.”
Sianna looked at me in shock, and the queen tilted her head.
“Explain, and you’d better not just be wasting my time.”
I nodded, “Please watch my magic flow, your majesty.”
The queen didn’t argue, and I activated the ring on my pinky with a wish to see if I was a mage. The intent worked, even if I already knew I wasn’t one.
The queen frowned, “You’re flow almost looks like a mage’s, except your aura isn’t gathering it.”
I nodded, “I was temporarily suppressing my ability with this ring I made. What you just saw was how humans without abilities, long ago, circulated magic through their bodies. Our magical abilities suppress that circulation. Haven’t you ever wondered why the mage population is dwindling? It’s being bred out, by the very magical abilities created eons ago. The mages are still out there, but their magical potential is being strangled out by their abilities.”
The ring came off my finger, and I held it out to Sianna.
I said, “Hold it, and desire to find out if you’re truly a mage, as your mother is. You can trust me, but even if you couldn’t the queen just saw me use it on myself.”
Sianna’s eyes widened, and she took the ring at her mother’s cautious nod.
It took a couple of seconds, but just like for Saria, it started to glow.
“So, you see, Sianna has the potential to be a mage as the glow denotes, but her ability has suppressed it since birth.”
I turned back to Sianna, “If you wish to be a mage, simply wish for your ability to be gone.”
The suggestion must have been enough to make her do it, because she froze, and then said, “Is this real?”
I nodded, and took the ring from her hand.
“I assume you’d rather be a mage?”
She giggled a little hysterically, and then nodded at me like I was an idiot.
Well, I’d have chosen to stay a flesh sculptor, maybe I was an idiot.
I turned back to the queen and explained what I’d discovered, that flesh sculptors can modify all life, and that I’d created this by coding the spells into a simple organism. I didn’t tell her everything I could do down to the details, but only because I thought she was busy and would run out of patience. I did explain the armor, and it’s healing ability and how I survived that attack, among a few other things and spells I’d coded with the help of a partial mage education and my magic.
Really, that’s how it worked. I didn’t need to learn the words like a mage, but Karana taught me the concepts a mage needed to know and learn to cast a spell. Those concepts and spell forms is what I passed to my flesh sculptor magic, which in turn was the one that came up with the DNA coding solution. My magic could do anything with organics, including grant it any magic, but only if I understood the principles and concepts of what I wanted.
Some stuff was simpler, like gifts I just copied with the power, a very simple concept.
I held the ring up to the queen, “A gift. This will work for anyone that holds or wears it, and identify the mages and let them suppress their own ability to release their potential. If they change their mind for any reason, it will even undo a permanent disablement of their ability if they wish. It’s also the only creation I made that isn’t limited, if you cut it in half, both sides will regrow. You could split it seven times, or fourteen, and send one or two rings to each city to find and release the mage population. I imagine when it’s done, you’ll have one to two percent of the population needing a master to teach them.”
The queen laughed, “And in return for this… trinket?” she was obviously being sarcastic.
I asked, “A little time to consider possibly alternatives to your requests, though I wouldn’t dream of refusing Sianna’s hand, the rest of it would be rather damaging to the sanctity of my marriages and my relationship with my mates.”
Sera didn’t look happy with what I said, but her eyes told me she understood. She probably did, as she had multiple mates herself, consorts. What kind of man could face the women that love him, after diving into debauchery and spreading his children around.
I said, “Of course, if I can’t find an alternative solution you find more attractive…” I trailed off.
The queen finally nodded, “Your… gift,” she shook her head in frank amazement, “Has bought you a few days of consideration, but I will have the answer from you before you leave this castle, and it at least gives you an opportunity to explain things to your mates before accepting. My daughter’s bonding to you isn’t up for renegotiation however, only the rest.”
“I understand.”
The queen frowned at her daughter speculatively, “This is unexpected, but quite welcome my daughter. Escort James back to his rooms, and return to me for basic instruction in control before turning in. We will see if Karana is willing to train you, otherwise I will send another master mage to tutor you when you leave for Eastguard.”
Sianna bowed her head, “Yes, your majesty.”
She looked at me, and then back to her daughter, “You may address me familiarly in front of James, in privacy of course, he is to be family.”
Sianna nodded, “Yes, mother.”
She took my arm again as we stood up. She didn’t move yet, so I stayed still. I wondered how many mistakes I would have made without her here.
Sera said, “You may go.”
She led me out of the door, and then seemed to relax a little.
“So, that’s why you were upset?”
She smirked, “You sound surprised, that arrogant?”
I laughed, and shook my head, “You’re royalty, I just assumed you’d be used to the idea of a political motivated marriage and arrangement.”
She frowned, “We hardly know each other, but I already know you’re far from what I’d feared. No, what had me angry was the embarrassment of it. Being married to a man that would then fuck his way through the palace planting babies?”
She blushed hard at her blunt speech, and said in a calmer honeyed tone, “I admit, your truthful seeming reluctance has eased my worries a great deal, and I’m doubly sorry for my attitude toward you earlier this night. This way.”
Her offense at the idea also verified in my mind how angry the mates who loved me would be by this idea. Sianna feared embarrassment, my mates would face both that and betrayal. I had to figure out a way around this, and one that the queen wouldn’t turn down. I just had no idea what yet.
She took us to another familiar stairwell, that I remembered went all the way down to the sublevel where the healing area was. In all the craziness of the queen’s announcement, the wounded soldiers had completely slipped my mind.
She said, “There are sixty-three wounded for you to see to, I already have the six gold and two silvers ready for you.”
I laughed, “Can I be frank?”
Sianna’s eyes twinkled, “Please do. I think I’m going to like being mated to a man that says what’s on his mind, and only what’s on his mind.”
“I don’t think you or the queen are aware of it yet, but I’m mated to Karana as well, it happened between Dulcier and here. There’s every chance she’ll be teaching you mage craft. I also find you extremely attractive, but I am… intimidated by the idea of mating a woman I don’t really know, much less love yet.”
She tilted her head, “Good to know
.”
“Which part?”
She smirked, “A girl needs her secrets.”
I snickered.
She relented, “That you find me attractive, and that you’re as nervous about this as I am. Especially that second part.”
I frowned, “Why especially?”
She replied, “Because that means you see me as a whole person, who might mess up your family dynamic, instead of just one more piece of sexy arm candy you can make babies with. That’s very good to know, and a relief. You’re very attractive too by the way, but I feel much the same way you do, except I’m worried about four people I don’t know.”
“Good.”
She asked, “Good?” in a half amused honeyed tone, and half exasperated and confused.
“I’m hoping that means that you won’t mind spending a lot of time with us?”
She smirked, “I think that can be arranged, I’m almost positive I’m under orders to do just that. Why do you think I met you at the door tonight?”
I laughed. It was bizarre, and the last thing I expected, but I wasn’t hating the idea as much as I’d thought I would when the queen hit me with it just ten minutes ago. I was also almost positive that the thought was more than just the suspect opinion of my cock. Yes, she was beautiful, stunningly so, and the delicate beauty of her face made me feel protective of her already, but no more beautiful than the rest of my mates who I was quite satisfied with.
I just had to convince my mates that she could fit in with us all, they still hadn’t seen this version of Sianna, only the resentful one full of false arrogance that met us at the door. She was funny, saw humor even in our circumstances, but was also obviously feeling very vulnerable and defensive. The four of us, me and my three mates, would be going back to our home and dreams with one extra unexpected mate, but Sianna would be going into the completely unknown and leaving everything she knew and loved behind, with four strangers. How could I blame her for being conflicted about that?
It didn’t take long to heal the wounded and earn that gold.
The princess was turning into good company, maybe she determined I wasn’t a creep or asshole from that intense studying earlier. I honestly didn’t think I was being played, by an act, but at the same time I was well aware as a princess and young beautiful woman she definitely had the capacity and political acumen to pull it off, without me even seeing it. Maybe it was stupid, but I didn’t believe she was. If anything, it seemed like she wanted to get out of the viper pit of politics surrounding her mother, she was just afraid of becoming a fourth mate and getting along with three other women plus me. I was worried about the same thing, but I had to admit I could see it from her point of view.
At least, that’s what I saw in her back then, and what I believed at the time. Time would tell if I’d been right. It would take time to learn all the facets of my soon to be mate. I was sure she was just as complicated as my other mates. All women were a mystery, but I’d figure it out. At least, partly, enough even.
Sianna also wasn’t the only thing I had to speak to my mates about. The whole spreading my seed idea was disturbing to me, I didn’t want to do that. As it was, four mates and Oceana were too much. After Sianna I’d have to put my foot down about the whole thing. Of course, I thought of a better alternative, and one that was much faster as well, and would almost immediately solve the problem.
I could choose to simply give my ability to someone else, just like I could change someone’s ability to fire or earth, I could make someone a flesh sculptor. I didn’t like that idea at all either, wouldn’t that make me responsible for all the harm and good they did after that with the ability? It was better than a device that could be used by anyone, for good or evil, at least a human flesh sculptor would have their own morality. It was going to take some thought to figure things out.
“So, what are your dreams?” I asked casually as we started on the way back to my guest suite.
She gave me a questioning look.
“Regina’s ambition is to run our estate, and raise babies, take care of me, organize the servants. Saria will be doing scout training for elves on the edge of the forest, and Karana plans to open a mage school of sorts, to mentor and teach some few out of all the new mages about to flood Gritor and Laya. I’m a healer, flesh sculptor, and creator of organically organized spells. In other words, we all love and support each other, and are complete in that aspect of our lives as bonded mates, but a healthy life includes more than that. What are your ambitions, past our arranged bonding?”
She sighed, and sniffed airily, “Oh James, I’m a spoiled princess, I don’t do anything but wear gowns and look pretty.”
I snorted, “Nice try, but I know you’re not just a beautiful face. Whole person, remember,” I bumped her side with my hip gently.
She laughed, “Damn. I guess there will be good and bad sides to this more than arm candy thing. Truthfully, I don’t know, I’ve been raised to rule, should the worst happen, and my mother and three oldest sisters die. I don’t have ambition, I have duty. I do what my mother tells me.”
I said, “Soon you’ll be doing what I say, so… figure out your ambitions.”
She arched an eyebrow in challenge, but there was a smile in her eyes.
I shrugged, “Just saying, you’ll be bored if you wait for your mom’s orders, in our house five hundred miles away. It could be a long wait. You don’t want to be my only bored wife when I’m not around, do you? There’s more to a balanced life, there’s home, family, husband, co-mates, and children, but also work and a need to feel productive and useful.”
She giggled.
“I thought I’d just be following your whims and demands,” she asked teasingly, but I knew there was real worry there as well.
“Oh, I am in charge of the family, when it comes to our home and family, though as you’ll learn I always listen to my mate’s advice first. I’m not in charge of your dreams, ambitions, or the work you want to accomplish. You probably have plenty of time to figure it out though, since I imagine the first year or two you’ll be in mage classes with Karana and Saria. I know at least that much excites you, being a mage I mean, maybe you’ll find your calling in life through that.”
She nodded, “I understand, and as I said I just never thought about it. Chances are I’ll never inherit, I don’t want to, because that means my sisters and mother will be dead. I’ll figure something out while I concentrate on mage training.”
I nodded, and gave her a teasing smile, “Or, if you want, you can be my arm candy.”
She giggled, and then rolled her eyes at me. Good, at least she knew me well enough to know I didn’t mean that, and never would.
“Your probably right,” I said mock sadly, “You’re far too overqualified for the position.”
Chapter Eighteen
When I got in the room, after saying goodnight to Princess Sianna, I had a lot to share with my mates, and get their advice on. Hopefully they wouldn’t freak out about Sianna. I hoped I could wiggle out of the whole spreading my seed idea, but I was pretty sure I had no choice in marrying Sianna at all. Best to just put our best foot forward on that one, and work to make it work.
Of course, none of them were there, they were probably still trying to calm and help the elven women who had probably fallen apart in self-disgust, horror, guilt, and self-loathing. I might be on my own for a while, I knew it would’ve been a horrible idea to go interrupt them or go bumbling in there.
That meant I was alone with my thoughts for quite a while. They kind of went in circles. Maybe I was taking on too much responsibility that really wasn’t mine. The devices were hard enough to create with built-in safeties, so they couldn’t be abused if they fell in the wrong hands. Other sentient beings would have their own morality to go by, or the lack thereof. It was that second part that worried me.
Still, giving others my ability was a far better personal path for me to take, rather than knocking up a good percentage of the castle. Eventually, that
second one would amount to the same thing happening anyway. I just wished there was a way to ensure there wouldn’t be another Hanson. The mages should be able to keep any sculptors that go rogue in check, as long as they weren’t kings they could be hunted down right?
The queen was right about one thing, I couldn’t maintain the health of the whole continent. One city perhaps. Then what happens when I die, and over millennia my creations are lost or purposefully destroyed. Given magical talents, the problems with mages, birth defects, and congenital diseases, the flesh sculptors were really needed on this world, where magic and not science was the path taken.
In other words, I thought I had two evils to choose from, and had to make a choice. Allowing myself to be the last flesh sculptor until I died, would lead to more suffering in the long run than the rare flesh sculptor losing it and needing to be hunted down. Not to mention the queen would end my life for disobeying her, but that truly wasn’t why I’d do it. Creating more with my talent was truly the lesser of two evils.
Then again, if I said no she’d probably have me chained to a bed, raped until hundreds of women were pregnant, then executed. Yeah, not an option.
Yet… there had to be a way to hedge our bets, to lower those risks. That thought was the beginning of the circle as my thoughts kept going around the same paths.
The princess, I was trying hard not to even think about her. I’d discarded my initial impression, which had been stupid. The queen already had spies around me, and wouldn’t give up one of her heirs just to put one directly in my house. The clue of her true purpose was in her final words to Sianna, she wanted to bind me into her family, and gain my loyalty in that way. There was no getting out of it, and I wasn’t sure I even wanted to, though I did worry that was my dick thinking. She was… breathtaking, soft and delicate in beauty, and had a charming honeyed voice. Well, when she wasn’t being a bitch, but she’d had a good excuse for that.
