Noble Solutions

by Schinhofen, Daniel

  “Tell me,” Sean told Amerut, “or you’ll join him.”

  “Commander Lomar...” Amerut whispered. “He came to me and said they were arranging for you to be arrested. When your Bonded was arrested, I was told to get her case and kill her.”

  Sean inhaled slowly. “Who?”

  “Fokler. He said it came from Lomar,” Amerut shuddered. “When you were brought in, too, he told me to take your case before a high magistrate could.” Amerut began to shake and anger appeared in his eyes. “That dickless bastard Jasper took you from me, but then you were there...” Amerut shuddered again. “Fokler sent me word that you’d be with her, so we were to accelerate the plan. Even if it meant faking you attacking us, we were to kill you.”

  “And now, you’re here,” Sean said grimly. “You tried to take my Bonded from me twice.”

  “I was told to,” Amerut whined. “Carver told me the first time— it came from Denmur. You already killed him. Please… mercy.”

  Sean laughed a dark laugh that held no humor. “No. I’ll give you what you tried to give me. Take him under.”

  Amerut screamed once before the roots pulled him into the peat.

  “Winter’s tits!” Venim cried. “No…!”

  Sean looked at Venim. “How many of the guards are corrupt?”

  “Only Wolen’s squad. That was all that survived the purge. Lomar consolidated them and put Fokler in charge. He was using them to do what he was ordered to,” Venim sobbed.

  “That’s all?” Sean asked.

  “All that I know of,” Venim whined. “Please…”

  “Helga, take this soul,” Sean said.

  Venim’s eyes shot open and, just as he started to speak, he flashed into black-white flame and was gone. Sean exhaled slowly and stood up. Turning slowly, he looked over the other captured souls.

  “You’re all here because you opposed me and died doing so,” Sean intoned into the silence. “You’ll have a chance to leave this hell— your souls will be released from the bog and used to further my own ends. This is where your choices led you, by following Denmur. I’m leaving for now, but I will give you a chance to leave this place soon.” Sean walked back to his wives, worried about what they would think of him.

  The moment he stepped off the peat, Myna hugged him, then Fiona. The rest were only heartbeats behind them until he was encircled and held by his wives. Sean shuddered as he surrendered to their love and acceptance of him.

  The others watched them with a mix of emotions, ranging from fear to worship. None of them spoke, unwilling to intrude on the moment.

  “Felora,” Sean whispered, “the manor, please? Let’s show them what the other side is.”

  “As you wish...” Felora whispered and closed her eyes. “Home, where the soul resides. The resting place for the loyal.”

  Sean exhaled when he blinked and found himself in the main room of the manor. He was opening the door just as Felora knocked on it. “Welcome home,” he said, stepping aside.

  As they entered, Chastity came down the stairs, her eyes wide. “Tell me you’re just visiting, please?”

  Andrea rushed to her. “We are. A brief visit at that, Chas.”

  Chastity exhaled a shuddering breath. “I get worried every time...”

  “It looks identical,” Tiska said, going up to the urns on the wall.

  “It is, except there’s nothing to clean,” Lilly said. “Let’s go back outside and you’ll see the major difference.”

  All of the staff followed her back outside, and Sean took a seat on a sofa. “We’ll leave in a half hour. Let them have time to look around,” he told Fiona.

  “As you wish, husband,” Fiona said, sitting beside him.

  The others came to sit and stand near him, trying to comfort him.

  ~*~*~

  Sean looked up as he stepped out of the carriage. Thick, fat flakes of snow drifted lazily in the still air. Is the Queen upset or is this just normal weather? Sean wondered briefly before shaking his head to clear it of the idle thought.

  Following Helga into the Oaken Glen, Sean looked over the crowded room. People averted their eyes from him, not willing to meet his gaze. “The hallway to the right of the bar,” Sean told Helga.

  Whispered conversations reached his ear as he traversed the room.

  “Murdered a magistrate! Can’t bel—”

  “Vowed to clear the guard of corr—”

  “Sharpeyes is going to be pis—”

  “MacDougal!” the loud voice cut across the whispers, cutting them all off.

  Sean stopped, looking toward the person who called out to him.

  Angus Angusson stood up, towering over everyone in the room. “Glad you’re still alive. You’ve only done right by those of us on the lowest rung of society. If you need me, I’ll be there.”

  Sean felt his eyes sting as the honesty hit him hard. “Angusson, I appreciate it. I’d never ask you nor anyone else to stand in the way of my troubles.” His eyes drifted across the room again. “Many of you have heard rumors, slander, and probably outright lies. I ask that you take a moment and consider what my actions have been. The actions you know, not only what you’ve heard from others.”

  “Is it true that the Lord wants you dead?” a soft voice drifted from somewhere in the crowd.

  “I’m sure he does. His son died to my blade, but only because he tried to kill my family and I. I’d rather craft and love my wives. Sadly, those in power want to use me and kill me. I won’t let them hurt my family any more than they already have.” Sean exhaled slowly, closing his eyes for a moment. “I’ll do my best to keep this conflict from hurting you. I’d rather face him in single combat, but I think we all know he’d never accept that. My friends are waiting for me, so please excuse me.”

  Helga nodded, then led him to the hall. The room stayed silent behind them as they left.

  Helga knocked, then opened the door, stepping in before him. She went to the side and nodded. “It is your friends only, sir.”

  Sean gave the association a strained smile. “Evening. Sorry for being late again.”

  “You’ve had good reason,” Joseph Tackett said, standing up and slapping him on the shoulder. “We’re just glad you’re alive.”

  The others all got up and greeted him one by one. Sean eventually took his seat, surprised to find a hot cider in front of him and Helga. He took a deep drink before setting the mug down. When he looked up, he saw all of them watching him.

  “This is what I know…” Sean began.

  ~*~*~

  When he finished, the room was silent. Amedee Mageeyes was the first one to speak, “The fact that Carver was using Denmur to act is surprising. I had no idea he was so ambitious.”

  “He was always looking to move up,” Ryan Watercaller said, “but I had no idea he was that eager, either.”

  “It makes me wonder if Denmur even knew,” Eva Silverhand suggested.

  “I’m not sure he did before, but Carver surely told him after the fact,” Italice Stoneeyes said. “It does no good to act if the one you seek to please is unaware.”

  “He was always an odious little toad...” Fredrick Gertihs growled. “This means he was the one who got my brother killed, him and Wolen. If only you’d killed Wolen, as well, Sean.”

  “He’s on my list,” Sean said flatly. “Wolen, Lomar, Carver, and Sharpeyes. Amedee, I need to speak with her. She has to know a way to push him into a trap for me.”

  Mageeyes nodded. “I will inform her, but she might need some time, Sean. Her family is in flux and she might be in a worse spot because of it.”

  “If she wants him gone, she’ll find the time,” Sean said tightly. Holding up a hand, he exhaled slowly. “Sorry. I’ll be better tomorrow.”

  “Felora will help,” Saret Somnia said.

  “She will, tonight,” Sean said, turning his focus to her. “The chief magistrate?”

  “He’s an old acquaintance,” Saret replied softly. “He’s had a long-standing request
of me, and I promised him I would grant it if he gave you a chance to prove yourself. I didn’t ask for more to shield him as much as I could.”

  Everyone looked at her with surprise except for Mageeyes. “You will wait until after this trouble is over, I hope?”

  “Yes, Amedee. We both know Lord Sharpeyes would twist it to his gain, otherwise. Lady Sharpeyes will push Jasper higher, which would be for the best of the city.”

  “I don’t think I want to know more,” Chester Knox said hesitantly.

  “That conversation is done,” Saret said gently. “I won’t say more on it.”

  “Sean, can we hold back on the lightbulbs?” Fredrick asked. “I think the others will speak to me in earnest now.”

  Sean shrugged as he finished his mug. “Sure. I’m sorry, I need to go. I only came so I could tell you all what was going on.”

  “The people you healed got to a healer and lived,” Augustus MacLenn said as Sean rose. “You saved their lives.”

  Sean shivered as the words flowed over him. “I hope it was the right choice... Excuse me.”

  They wished him good night, watching him with concern as Helga led him out.

  Chapter Three

  Soft lips on his woke Sean. Without opening his eyes, he kissed Fiona back. He knew it was her even without seeing her, as her soul radiated to him.

  “Good morning,” Fiona whispered when the kiss ended. “Do you feel better now?”

  “Yeah,” Sean replied. He looked up at her. “Felora helped settle my mind. She also helped with all the past deaths, too.”

  “Good,” Fiona sighed in relief. “We’d like you to stay home and do as little as you can today. Please?”

  “I feel fine, but okay. Ven?”

  “I’ll let Winston know, Sean. Also, our thanks for saving Mak and Onim.”

  “I only managed it because of Helga,” Sean said. “It’s much easier when the soul is still there.”

  “Breakfast is waiting, dear one,” Fiona said, kissing his cheek. “Come on.”

  “I’ll be right down,” Sean told her.

  “Okay,” she kissed him again before leaving the room.

  Sitting up, Sean exhaled slowly as he pushed the blankets off and stood up. What am I going to do today, then? Maybe if I ask, she’ll let me make lightbulbs for home, at least? Or I could work on the bows and maybe tinker with the crossbows for the Fairies? I’d rather go gut Sharpeyes to end this, but I need a way to do it without dropping us into more trouble... What does it take to go from Aspirant to Knight? Hmm...

  Lost in thought, Sean started to get dressed. Reaching for a shirt absently, he knocked something off the shelf. He snagged the falling item out of reflex, then looked at it— a simple braided bronze bracelet lay in his palm. Memory of Fiona making it for him came back to him and a soft smile touched his lips. Fastening it onto his left wrist, he touched it gently. It was a reminder of happy days, and also a reminder that he still owed Truestrike for Oakwood.

  When he entered the dining room, he smiled. “Good morning. Sorry for the delay.”

  “We just set everything out, sir,” Glorina replied.

  Taking his seat, he served himself so the others could. “Fiona,” Sean said, pulling back his sleeve to show her the bracelet, “I didn’t know we still had this.”

  “It’s been on your shelf, dear. We had it with us when we…”

  “I’m going to wear it every day, now,” Sean told her. “It’s a reminder of our budding start, but it will also help remind me that even after Sharpeyes, we have Truestrike to deal with.”

  “It does remind me of when you opened my eyes to being able to Shape metal,” Fiona said softly, touching the bracelet on his wrist. “I kept it because it was my first repayment to you.”

  “I want to make lightbulbs,” Sean said, “but I also don’t want you all to worry. So, if I can’t do that, I’ll work on researching enchanting bows and crossbows... oh, and I was wondering, what does it take to move from Aspirant to Knight?”

  “Even as a Knight, you couldn’t go after Lord Sharpeyes,” Felora said.

  “But he could get Solanice,” Myna said. “That’s what you’re thinking, isn’t it, Master?”

  Sean gave her a soft smile. “You know me too well, my loving kitty.”

  “You’d need a Lord or Lady to grant your family the title,” Fiona said slowly, clearly trying to recall the information. “It’s more than just the five who spoke for you before Lady Sharpeyes. I don’t know all the details, but Amedee or Charie might. Besides, if you go after Sharpeyes, I’m sure he’ll use Solanice to thwart you, which means you don’t need to get the title.”

  “I guess that’s true,” Sean said, turning his attention to his food. Eggs, bacon, and skillet potatoes filled his plate.

  “If you want to make one or two, we’d be fine with that,” Fiona told him, going back to the early part of the conversation, “but please do as little as you can. We know Helga gave you energy back yesterday, but we don’t want you near empty again.”

  Sean nodded, waiting to swallow before replying, “Okay. I’ll just play with the weapons, then. I can work on enchanting them without doing more than a lightbulb or two.”

  “Okay,” Fiona nodded.

  “What about you all?”

  “We’ll be staying in and making things for the shop,” Fiona said.

  “It’s a nasty day outside, sir,” Rumia said. “It’s been snowing since yesterday.”

  “The Queen?” Sean asked.

  “We don’t know,” Ryann said. “It’s not like the blizzard was, but it doesn’t show any signs of stopping, either. She should be getting close to Westpoint now, which could be why… upset, but not raging.”

  “That is likely,” Rosa nodded. “She’s done long, slow storms in the past. The last one I can think of was the year after Rumia was born.”

  “Sir,” Rumia said hesitantly, “about the bog... Can we go back there?”

  Sean gave her a questioning look. “Why?”

  Rosa gave her daughter a stern look, but Rumia didn’t stop, “I… want to do more, sir. When we saw it, I felt something in me stir. It’s a stark beauty, and I want to tend to it.”

  “I don’t even know if you could,” Sean said slowly. “When I took Saret there, her shoe got coated in peat.”

  “She tried to follow you and her foot sank into the bog,” Helga said. “I caught her and pulled her back to the solid ground.”

  “Nothing lives there,” Quinna shuddered. “It felt unnatural.”

  “No,” Rumia said, her eyes wide. “It was beautiful. Stark, yes, but wonderful.”

  Sean watched her— Rumia’s eyes sparkled with feeling as she spoke. “Rumia, set it aside for now. You’d need Felora to take you there. Fel, if and when you want to, it’s okay. Just be careful.”

  Felora nodded and looked at Rumia. “Not soon. We have a lot going on, but I will take you.”

  Rumia bowed her head. “Thank you, Felora. Thank you, sir. I will be respectful and careful.”

  Rosa shifted in her seat. “I was wondering on a different, but similar, topic, sir. The night sky that surrounded the manor, will it always be that way?”

  “I don’t know,” Sean shrugged. “This is all new. Supposedly, in time, the space will grow to be more than just the manor. Whether that means the sky will stay as it is is unknown.”

  “If… the worst happened…?” Rosa asked slowly, not looking his way. “Would we be allowed to tend the garden while we are there? I saw plants I didn’t know growing there.”

  Sean frowned. “Plants you didn’t know? I thought it was a replica of this place.”

  “It is and isn’t,” Rosa said. “There are a couple of spots where we’re letting the ground recover before we plant something again. There… different plants were growing.”

  “Huh. Something from my old world, maybe?” Sean murmured.

  “Could we?” Rosa asked again after a moment.

  “Huh? Oh, yes, but I’
ll do my best to never let that happen.”

  “We understand, sir,” Rosa said. “I enjoy new plants. I asked Lilly, but she didn’t know if I’d see even more new plants if I was there.”

  “She did tell us of the library,” Prita said, “and about the books from your old world. I wanted to read the one about the magus god. She was telling us about it.”