Noble Solutions

by Schinhofen, Daniel

  “After Sharpeyes, I still have Truestrike to deal with,” Sean said. “Amedee, I need to know what city he lives in, and I’ll need somewhere to live there. When we go, my home here can be sold.”

  The table went still and Fredrick coughed lightly. “Sean, you’re leaving and not coming back?”

  “There’s a reason for that, too, beyond Truestrike,” Sean said. “Where would be the best place for the association to manufacture and sell what we do?”

  “Accord,” Flamehair said. “That is also where Truestrike has had his home since his daughter gave birth to Darragh’s child.”

  “Maybe it’s fate, then,” Knox said, “like he’s meant to be in the best place for you.”

  Sean considered what Knox said, then chuckled. “Morrigan does touch on fate, so maybe.”

  “Sean, moving would be difficult for some of us,” Joseph said.

  “You have the right idea, Joseph, and I know. I figure some of you might want to go establish the association branch, and those that stay behind will continue what we’ve started here.”

  “I should go,” Flamehair said. “Accord isn’t sought after by my family and, as I will be a Lady soon, it would be a good move for me.”

  “I will go, as long as Toivo agrees,” Mageeyes said.

  “I won’t be leaving, which means we’ll need one of you to take up the mantle of branch head,” Fredrick said.

  “His whole family is here,” Eva added. “I’ll be staying with him.”

  “Let’s make this easy: who wants to go?” Sean said. He laughed as everyone raised their hands. “Okay, who will actually be going?”

  Mageeyes, Flamehair, and Saret raised their hands.

  Knox raised his hand. “Only if my wife is okay with it and someone else can take on the bathhouse. I can help with the production of things.”

  “Sean, can we tell you tomorrow?” Italice asked. “I want to check with my family.”

  “Of course,” Sean said. “This is who knows how long out. I just wanted to start the groundwork now. Amedee, can you start asking about manors, workshops, and the like in Accord?”

  “I will. Even if I do not go, I will get the information. Might I suggest a trade, too? I will find a comparable home in Accord and then we can swap deeds?”

  “Agreed,” Sean said and felt the weight settle on him.

  “I didn’t expect a meeting like this,” Jefferson said. “Count me in. I will go, as well.” He hesitated, then spoke a bit louder, “Sean, I’ve started to pray… to you.” The pause was noticeable, as Jefferson wasn’t sure how Sean would take it.

  Sean swallowed, closing his eyes before nodding and looking at Jefferson. “I don’t know if I can make you a shop of your own on my plane, but I will do my very best if that happens.”

  “Good. I don’t like the idea of fading into nothing,” Jefferson said. “Besides, I think we all have faith in you.”

  A sound of agreement went around the table, and some of the smiths, notably Joseph and Sam, said they too had added Sean to their prayers, so it wasn’t just Morrigan being praised.

  “I’ll do my very best for all of you, but I hope it’s decades before it becomes needed,” Sean said.

  Chapter Twenty-nine

  “Good morning,” Sean greeted the room as he took his seat at the table.

  Everyone greeted him back.

  “I have a little bit of news from last night to share,” Sean said, “but after food gets served.”

  It was only a minute before the cooks brought food in and had it on the table. Sean served himself so everyone else could.

  “Okay, now that we’re all here, let me fill you in,” Sean said. “The association will be splitting up, with some coming with us and others staying behind. I’ll learn about a couple more one way or the other tonight. Anyway, we’ll be heading for Accord.”

  “Accord?” Fiona asked in surprise. “The nobility hates the city outside of when the Queens meet there. It’s hard to influence society if you aren’t near the Queens. Why is Truestrike there?”

  “No idea,” Sean said. “I’m sure we’ll find out in time.”

  “The best Shapers all live there,” Ida said.

  “From a business standpoint, it’s the best place for us to be,” Andrea said. “It’ll be easier to ship to all the other cities from there.”

  “That was mentioned,” Sean nodded. “Anyway, let me continue. Amedee will be looking for a place for us. We’ll be trading her this place for a manor there.”

  “What will that mean for Lilly and the others?” Felora asked.

  “I don’t know,” Sean said. “I think it’ll be fine. The plane might mold itself to resemble our new home once we get there.”

  “We should tell them,” Andrea said.

  “Yes,” Felora agreed. “Sean, is that okay?”

  “Of course,” Sean said, “but hang on. I have a bit more to tell.”

  Everyone paused in eating to give him their full attention.

  “The oddest part last night was that Jefferson and some of the others admitted that they pray… to me.”

  Myna snickered. “That’s not odd, Master. It’s odd that they all don’t.”

  “She isn’t wrong,” Aria said softly. “What will that mean for our family at the manor, then?”

  “Again, it’s unknown,” Sean said. “Let them know that there might be others showing up in time. I hope that before any of our friends go, there’s more than just the manor.”

  “If you believe it’ll be fine, it will be,” Felora said. “The space revolves around you. In fact, will you imagine it being more than the manor? Just believe that there’s a small town outside the walls.”

  Sean nodded slowly. “Yeah, okay. Might as well see what it will do. Anyway, that’s it.” He took his seat and began eating the eggs he’d taken, glad they were still warm.

  “Fel, can we do the dream right after breakfast?” Andrea asked.

  “That means we’ll need someone to fill in at the shop,” Fiona said. “Rumia?”

  “Gladly, Fiona,” Rumia said quickly.

  “Sean, are we going to make cars or buses for the others?” Fiona asked.

  “Umm… we didn’t discuss it,” Sean said between bites.

  “If it’s okay, we’ll start making a car,” Fiona said. “If nothing else, the association can sell it.”

  “Okay. I’ll show you all how to after breakfast,” Sean said. “This will be fun.”

  Felora bit her lip. “We’ll miss it if you do it then.”

  “We can show you anything you miss with the next one,” Fiona said. “Then Andrea can join us for the third one so she’ll know, too.”

  “That works,” Felora said, “except I’ll do the third and Andie can do the second.”

  Andrea gave Felora a soft smile. “Thank you, Fel.”

  “Of course,” Felora said, kissing her cheek.

  “Better idea,” Sean said. “We’ll wait on starting the car until after the dream. That way, Andie will be there for this one, and Fel can join you all for the second when we do it.”

  “That’ll work,” Fiona nodded. “Are we still going to keep the patent on the wooden and lesser metals for the hair clips and kettles? I need to know in case Basil shows up.”

  Sean exhaled slowly. “I want to say yes, but it might be best if we open the patent and take the percentage that the guild will collect. It’ll allow us to be the base crafters for the association in Accord until we start dragging people in.”

  “If you change the patents after breakfast, by the time you get back, we’ll be ready to work.”

  “Sounds like a plan,” Sean nodded.

  ~*~*~

  Agatha was surprised when Sean explained what he wanted. “Really? Why? If it’s okay for me to ask.”

  “A few reasons,” Sean said. “Can I get an Agreement of silence from you, balanced by... say... five years of salary from you?”

  Agatha blinked at him. “That’s a lot to ask, bu
t yes.”

  Sean chuckled as the weight settled on him. “My normal Agreements are balanced by your life,” he explained at her questioning look. “I was trying to go for a lesser balance that would still be painful if broken.”

  “Ah,” Agatha said slowly, “I see.”

  “Since it’s agreed, my family will be leaving the city once Sharpeyes has been handled. A chunk of the association will be going, too. When we arrive at the next place, we’ll be settling in and starting up a branch of the association.”

  Agatha sat forward abruptly. “Fredrick?”

  “He’s staying,” Sean said, seeing her worry. “I think Amedee will be taking up the mantle of head of the branch.”

  “Mageeyes? She’s going, too?”

  “I think about half of us will be going,” Sean said.

  Licking her lips, Agatha sat up straighter. “A skilled secretary would be of use.”

  Sean gave her a soft smile. “Talk to Fredrick and Amedee. I’m just a crafter.”

  Agatha let out a snorting laugh at his claim. She wiped the few tears that escaped her eyes. “That’s the worst understatement I’ve ever heard.”

  “It’s true enough,” Sean shrugged. “I’m not good at being the head of even a branch. I just innovate and let others figure out how best to make the business work. Fiona runs our home because she’s better suited for it.”

  Getting ahold of herself, Agatha nodded. “I see. You don’t mind if I offer, do you?”

  “Not at all,” Sean said, “but if you’re serious, you’ll need to take the tougher Agreement.”

  Agatha nodded. “I understand. I wish to speak with Marna first. We’ve been supporting each other since Jackson’s death.”

  “It’s your call,” Sean said as he stood up. “Either way, I wish you the very best, Agatha.”

  “Thank you.” She stood up. “Make sure Carver bleeds, Sean. Please.”

  “He will.”

  ~*~*~

  Sean grabbed Hallie’s arm, pulling her to him and flipping her over his hip. Following her to the ground, his fist slammed into the dirt beside her neck. “Dead.”

  Hallie panted as she stared up at him. “You are impossible.”

  “You asked for me to give you everything I had,” Sean laughed as he got up. “I only gave you half of what I could.” He offered her a hand. “You good?”

  Taking his hand, Hallie let him pull her to her feet. “You could have beaten my father if you had tried, couldn’t you?”

  “Probably, but it would’ve only been because of my strength and agility that I would have won. He’s a better swordsman than I am. Your brother is, too.”

  “Both of them think you undervalue your prowess,” Hallie said. “I agree with them.”

  “He does,” Helga said. “That is it for sparring,” she called out to everyone else.

  “Surprised you were here today,” Sean said.

  “Oh?”

  “I thought you’d be catching up with everything you wanted to do.”

  Hallie looked away from him as she kept pace with him across the yard. “I am, in my own way. Is it odd that what I want most, I can find here?”

  “You do come from a martial family,” Sean said, looking thoughtful. “Your brothers would spar with you, though, I’m sure.”

  “They aren’t as diverse as your family,” Hallie said. “The variety of weapons, not to mention styles, is much wider here.”

  “That’s fair. I was sure they’d monopolize you. Your father, especially.”

  “Father understands,” Hallie said, brushing some hair away from her face. “He even supports my goal.”

  “Hallie, can I speak with you for a few moments?” Fiona asked as she caught up to them.

  “Of course, Fiona,” Hallie said.

  “I’ll catch up with you all,” Sean said as he turned toward the toilet room.

  “Don’t keep us waiting long, Master,” Myna said when she passed him.

  “Of course not,” Sean said with a soft smile. “I’m not that guy anymore.”

  “Good,” Myna purred.

  Sean split away from the group and went to take care of bodily functions.

  ~*~*~

  Looking out the windows as the bus rolled down the road, Sean wondered about Hallie staying to talk with his wives when he left. Putting the thought from his mind, he thought instead about making the car with his wives.

  They’d all been so eager and ready to Shape. They started from scratch without even a wagon frame to work with, which meant it took them longer. Even with that, they’d gotten a majority of it done, and Fiona was certain they could finish it without him.

  Need to make sure I ask about materials to make more for everyone who’s coming with us, Sean thought as the bus came to a slow stop.

  Helga opened the side door, stepping out to make sure it was safe. “It is fine, Sean.”

  “Okay,” Sean said, getting out and shutting the door.

  “Sean, thank you for letting me Shape with the others,” Helga said.

  “We all know that you’ll be the next wife,” Sean said softly. “Even I can see it.”

  “They have been including me more,” Helga smiled. “My hope grows brighter every day.”

  “Good,” Sean said. “Ready to lead me in, Chooser?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Sean waved to the few who called out to him, but kept following Helga to the private dining room. He was surprised to see Bloodheart in the private room, though he greeted him along with everyone else.

  “We will be going,” Mageeyes said without preamble once Sean had sat down. “Since he knows the story, too, we felt it was okay for him to join us.”

  “He doesn’t know everything,” Sean said. “He doesn’t know about me being prayed to, nor why. I kind of left that off when talking to him, Thomas, Henry, and their families.”

  Bloodheart raised an eyebrow. “Prayed to? Like to the Tuatha?”

  “Yes,” Sean said.

  A knock announced Tabitha, and everyone made their orders.

  “You can fill him in, Amedee,” Sean said. “Something I need to know is who all is going, and do you need a car or bus for the trip?”

  “Ryan and I won’t be going,” Italice said. “There is a reason, but I’d like to wait for the drinks.”

  Joseph looked at them. “Must be big.”

  Ryan chuckled, “It is.”

  Everyone laughed at Joseph’s reaction. Luckily for him, it didn’t take Tabitha long to return with their drinks.

  “My mother is stepping down as the head of the family,” Italice said.

  “And my father is doing the same,” Ryan said. “We’re both being promoted to the heads of the families.”

  “It is better to say our families are both combining into a single family tied together by us, with the two of us leading it,” Italice said.

  “Congratulations!” Joseph boomed.

  “It was that, or children,” Fredrick smiled. “This will infuriate Lord Sharpeyes more. They do know that, right?”

  “I believe that is the point,” Ryan replied. “It was also to tie us here.”

  “I don’t blame them for wanting to keep you both here,” Sean said, “especially considering how powerful your children are likely to be.”

  “Yes, that was mentioned to me,” Italice snorted. “Along with how many she would like to see me have.”

  “Sounds worse than my father,” Ryan chuckled. “Not by much, though.”

  “Chester?” Sean asked.

  “Sorry, Sean,” Knox said. “She’d prefer we stay here.”

  “That’s fine.”

  “Well, there’s a reason for it,” Knox said with a grin. “Looks like we’ll be expecting another child.”

  A round of congratulations went around the table, and Knox pulled out the cigars he’d been hiding.

  “Okay, so just you three?” Sean asked Flamehair, Saret, and Mageeyes.

  “I would have gone to Accord lon
g ago, but Amedee and Charie were here,” Saret said. “I didn’t want to leave my friends.”

  “My family might object to my leaving,” Mageeyes smiled, “but I don’t care. They can come to Accord after me. You will stand beside me, won’t you, Sean?”