“Really?” Mona asked with wide eyes.
“Yes. Did you expect me to not care about what you like?” Sean asked.
“A little,” Lona admitted, looking ashamed. “Just the idea that you want to get to know us…” She swallowed. “It’s a little hard to accept.”
“It is?” Sean asked as he dropped his clothing into the washtub.
“You’re a Lord or more in power and can do more than an entire house of nobles,” Glorina explained as she turned on the shower. “We were happy enough that you’d let us love you. To know that you not only will love us back, but want to know about us, too…?” She shook her head. “We know you’re different, but you keep showing us how much time and again.”
“Oh... You thought I’d just accept you and not care?”
“So many others would,” Mona said softly as she turned on her own shower.
“Thank you,” Lona sniffled and looked at him. “There isn’t a lot for us to tell, but I’ll tell you anything you want to know. Desserts have always been my passion…”
Chapter Thirty-one
“Nice throw, Quinna. Anyone else would have broken bones from that.” Sean rolled his neck as he got up, dusting himself off.
“Thank you, sir,” Quinna grinned.
“Might we cross blades, Sean?” Hallie asked.
“Sure. Last fight— wrap up your matches and head on in,” Sean said. Drawing Dark Cutter, he made sure the metal was covered with a wooden blade. Dark Cutter pulsed at him when he did.
“Sean?” Hallie asked when he paused to stare at his sword.
“Sorry, I’m good.”
“I’m curious why your weapon doesn’t become a ring like theirs.”
Taking up a ready stance, Sean shook his head. “I’m working on it. Dark Cutter is special, so I don’t want to screw anything up. I think I’ll be doing it soon, though. I’ll want it with me for the party.”
Hallie took an attack posture across from him. “Being just an Aspirant will be a problem. He can do and say much, and you attempting to defend against it will work against you.”
“This society is broken,” Sean sighed. “Ready?”
“Yes,” Hallie said, her face stilling. “En garde.”
She came at him hard and fast, her wooden blade clacking against his as he defended. Sean focused on her as movement and voices flowed around him. Good training, he thought as he parried her lunge and riposted, only to be parried in turn.
Without thought, Sean sidestepped and brought down Dark Cutter hard, slapping Rumia’s attack aside. Grimacing, he backed away from the two attackers— he hadn’t been expecting the fight to become two-versus-one, but he was still able to defend. When Quilla joined in, Sean leapt backward, using his full ability. He cleared dozens of feet to give himself space.
“What the hell?”
“Training for the party,” Fiona said. “Get him, ladies.”
Sean inhaled sharply as all the staff drew their weapons. Eyes narrowing, he vanished from view and Mage Sight. “Fine.”
The staff drew together with Hallie at their center. “He’ll try to pick us off,” Hallie said. “Can any of you break his Camo?”
“Yes,” Rumia said. She dipped her hand into her belt pouch and took out a larger bag. “Big breaths,” she said before she yanked the bag open and flung it out from her.
Quinna and Quilla sucked in deep breaths and now, they exhaled hard. The leaf clippings went far and wide between the throw and their breaths.
Sean grimaced. He saw the trap coming and let a flash of fire burn the clippings from the air. That gave his position away, and wooden throwing knives came zipping at him. He hadn’t stayed still, but he got clipped by two of them when he dashed from where he’d been.
“He’s out of it,” Rumia complained. “We didn’t throw fast enough.”
“This is about to be bad,” Tiska said. “Remember what Myna has told us: wounds are fine, just not deaths. We have a larger number of us. We can still win.”
Sean nodded— they were right. If he used his real knives, he could drop them all one by one, as his knives would come back to him. Of course, if they were smart, they could find a way to find him, too. Sean frowned when he saw Rosa kneel in the middle with Hallie. When the pulse of magic touched the ground, Sean summoned his wings and launched himself into the air.
His flight was short-lived as another barrage of knives came after him. He batted two down, but the others caught him, one in the groin adding insult to the injury. Dropping Camo, he held up his hand as he landed.
“Done,” he winced. “How did you know?”
“Sean, your wings pulse with energy. You need to tighten your control if you summon them. They were invisible to sight, but with Mage Sight, they were clearly visible,” Fiona told him.
“Good to know,” Sean sighed as the pain faded. “I wasn’t expecting that. Good job, everyone. Rosa, the ground pulse was a smart move.”
“Andrea told us about it before,” Rosa said. “If you’re on the ground, it’ll find you. I wasn’t sure if you were, but it was a good idea to check.”
“Which let us see you when you summoned your wings,” Cali grinned.
“Sorry that my throw was low,” Xenta said apologetically. “I was trying to cut off your escape.”
“It was a good idea. I got nicked by two of the earlier throws, too. Besides, I’m fine now.”
“Okay, ladies, time to bathe,” Fiona said, clapping her hands.
They all headed inside, except for Fiona, who went over to Sean.
“You planned that?” Sean asked.
“During the party, you might be attacked when focused on a single person,” Fiona said softly. “They can’t do everything we can, but I thought it best to push you a little now.”
Pulling her into his arms, he held her lightly. “Thank you, my darling wife,” Sean murmured before kissing her.
Fiona leaned into him during the kiss, but once it ended, she didn’t move away. “Sean, Hallie is right about you being an Aspirant. I have an idea to help, but… do you trust me?”
“Always and forever,” Sean said softly.
“Tomorrow, you’ll marry Helga,” Fiona said.
Blinking at her declaration, Sean nodded. “If you’ve all agreed and are okay with it. I knew she would join us, I just thought it’d be later.”
“It’s sooner than we originally thought,” Fiona admitted softly. “Come on, let’s go bathe.”
Sean didn’t let her go. “Fiona, what is it?”
Sighing, she leaned her head against his chest. “We’ll be adding another after Helga.”
“Not one of the staff?” Sean asked.
“No. We’ve talked with all of them and they understand.”
“Hallie?” Sean asked.
Fiona blinked, surprised that he knew. She looked at him in shock.
“Heh, that look there,” Sean chuckled. “I’m not completely dense. I’ve grown. She’s been over a lot since I healed her, and she was there helping you this morning. Just tell me why, please?”
“Because marrying her will mean that you can become a Knight,” Fiona said. “She talked with her father and he agreed. You’ll be made a Knight of their family, and then have a branch family in your name.”
“Being a Knight is going to mean that much?” Sean asked.
“It’ll make it easier for us when Sharpeyes tries to use the laws against you,” Fiona said. “Your recourse as a Knight is broader.”
“We need this?” Sean asked.
“I think it’s for the best now, and for Truestrike. The Bloodheart family is respected across the Quaditals. Being a branch family will temper Truestrike and allow us to entrench ourselves into Accord. Sharpeyes won’t be deterred, but you being a Knight means he can’t try to strip your title easily.”
“Because if I’m not a noble, the rules change a great deal,” Sean said, thinking back to Lady Sharpeyes giving him a title before he faced Evan.
“Yes. He can order his guards to kill you with impunity if you fall from the noble ranks. You’d kill him for trying, but then you’d be brought before the chief magistrate, and I don’t think Saret can help to that degree.”
Sean held her as the night grew darker around them. “I don’t love her.”
“Not yet,” Fiona said softly, “but you like her.”
“She’s earnest, and a fighter,” Sean replied.
“Once you Bond her, the feelings will grow,” Fiona said.
“Soul Bonded...” Sean murmured. “Rumia told me that it’s not a Life Bond now, but a Soul Bond to marry.”
“We want to make sure that we’re all caught if the worst comes,” Fiona whispered. “None of us want the pain of losing another.”
“I never wanted all of this,” Sean whispered.
“We know.”
“If you’re all in agreement,” Sean exhaled slowly. “Helga I’ll agree to without a problem. Hallie, though… I need to spend some time with her.”
“I heard from some of the staff that you were trying to get to know them better,” Fiona smiled softly, stepping back and taking his hand in hers. “That’s the man we all love. The day after tomorrow, we’ll have Hallie come over so you can have time to speak with her.”
Sean nodded, “Okay, but if I find that I don’t like her, it’s off.”
“Of course. None of us would ask you to marry someone you don’t like.”
“Does Helga know yet?” Sean asked.
“She only knows that we’ve approved,” Fiona smiled.
“Okay. I’ll announce it at dinner.”
“That will make her happy, and Hallie.”
“Oh?”
“We told Hallie that Helga had to be before her.”
Sean shook his head, a soft smile on his lips. “And she was okay with that?”
“Yes. She agreed, and even asked if she should wait for the staff to be first.”
Blinking in surprise, Sean walked beside Fiona into the house. “Yeah... I’m glad the staff accepted letting her go first. I’m not ready for a dozen wives all at once.”
“We know,” Fiona giggled. “It’s why things are being done the way they are.”
“Tomorrow, I’ll have Helga with me,” Sean said. “I want to get to know her more, too.”
“As you wish, husband,” Fiona said, opening the bathroom door.
Sean entered the bathroom and smiled as he watched all the women he cared for— from friendship to love— wash each other’s backs, chat, and just get along. His gaze stopped on Helga. She was scrubbing Hallie’s back while Aria washed hers. Helga was telling a story of some kind, but with the other noise and the distance between them, Sean couldn’t make out what it was about.
“I’ll get your back,” Fiona said from behind him.
“As you wish, my dear wife,” Sean replied, going to take his boots off first.
~*~*~
Once the food was on the table, Sean cleared his throat. “Ladies, a moment, please?” When everyone looked his way, Sean noticed someone new at the table. “Jott, your parents agreed?”
“Yes, sir. Thank you, again.”
“Welcome to the family. Everyone, let’s welcome Jott.”
Each person at the table, even Hallie, congratulated Jott on joining them.
“Sir, can we work on their armor and weapon tomorrow?” Onim asked.
“First thing,” Sean said.
“Thank you, sir,” Jott said, bowing low.
“Family is cared for,” Sean said, “and you’re family now.” He cleared his throat and looked at Helga. “In that same vein, Helga Oathsworn, Chooser, I offer you this addendum to our Bond. You can become a wife, equal to our other wives. You will be loved and cherished. The rest of your Soul Bond will remain the same.”
Helga eyes flared with black-white fire. “Will I remain your Chooser, My Lord?”
“Always. You shall be my lead Chooser, guiding any others who might come after you.”
“I, Helga Oathsworn, Chooser of Sean MacDougal, do accept this addendum. I shall be your wife and guardian of your wives. I ask for one more thing, My Lord. May I take those who wish it under my wing to raise them as Choosers, if you agree?”
“Agreed,” Sean said.
“Agreed,” Helga said, then stiffened.
Sean inhaled sharply as he felt his own soul thrum with power. The room faded from his sight for a moment, and all he saw were the souls of his wives, the staff, and Hallie. That vision faded and was replaced with one he knew well.
Standing on a bluff as a dragon flew overhead, a vast, untouched, green valley spread out before him. When he looked over his shoulder, dozens of people were cheering, smiling, and waving weapons as they proclaimed their support for him. He caught sight of Aria flying above the others with a bow in her tattooed hand, smiling down at him. Above her, Helga floated, her Soul Bonds clear in the light of the day. She had her own bow in her hand, and that hand also bore a tattooed finger, like Aria’s. On the ground, Fiona, Myna, Ryann, Ida, Felora, Andrea, and Hallie stood, holding their hands out to him— tattooed bands circled their ring fingers. Just behind them were the staff, all of them beaming at him with their Life Bond marks visible. He thought for a moment that he recognized a couple of the others behind them, but the figures’ faces were blurred enough to make him doubt that he could name them.
Blinking rapidly, the room came back into focus and he saw everyone staring at him. “Sorry. Fiona, you are truly the one to help guide our family. I will not argue or fight your choices.” Swallowing, he looked at Helga again. “Chooser, my wife, tomorrow, I would like you beside me all day. I want to know you more than I have been able to at this point. Tomorrow night, we will have your wedding feast.”
“Yes, Sean,” Helga said with love.
“Ladies,” he added, looking at each of the staff in turn, “in time, it will be your turns, as well. Thank you for being understanding of what might be in the next few days.”
“We wish for your safety first,” Rumia said.
“She’s right,” Tiska nodded.
“Your life is paramount,” Glorina added. “We’ll wait, sir.”
All of the others nodded in agreement.
Taking a deep breath, Sean looked at Hallie. “The day after tomorrow, I’d like you to come by so we can talk.”
“As you wish, Sean,” Hallie agreed, the hope in her eyes shining.
“Speak with your father again and make sure that everything’s okay, please?”
“I will.”
Sean gave her a smile, then reached for the serving spoon. “Let’s eat.”
“Oh, she has a ring now,” Aria said, grabbing Helga’s hand and turning it over. “Let me see.” After a moment, she pointed to a spot on the back of Helga’s finger. “A helm with wings behind them. It has a sword etched into the brow.”
“A symbol that I always thought represented Valkyries,” Sean said. “It’s perfect for my Chooser.”
“I am honored,” Helga said.
“Why does she still have the other markings?” Rumia asked.
“Because I am his Chooser,” Helga said. “I wanted to keep them. They would have left, otherwise. I want to be known as his Chooser first and foremost.”
“Can I hear more of this? Being a Chooser, I mean?” Hallie asked.
“She has to go with him,” Felora said, “but I know what she was before Sean claimed her. I can explain what I know and she can fill you in on more later.”
“Please,” Hallie said.
“I can help explain some, too,” Aria said. “Helga and I have talked a lot.”
Sean smiled as he listened to his family chat, warmth and happiness suffusing his chest.
~*~*~
Sean grinned when Joseph boomed out his name as he crossed the room. He made sure to say hello to the people who greeted him on his way to the association table.
“Good evening to you all,” Sean chuckled as he took his seat.
<
br /> “You have news,” Joseph said. “I can see it.”
“Not association news,” Sean said with a smile. “Wait, please?” He turned toward Tabitha, who was coming their way. “I want to have a different drink tonight— Serumtrutous.”
Eyebrows went up around the table at his request, and they stayed up when he spoke again.
Noble Solutions Page 28
