Gamer for Love (Alpha World Book 8)

by Daniel Schinhofen

  The toast felt like a goodbye and Alburet’s throat tightened as he picked up his drink and bowed his head, unable to reply with words.

  “Do you know when you will be leaving?” Mother asked.

  “No, we don’t,” Alburet said after taking a long drink. “It could be tomorrow or it could be in three months. I just know that it is coming, probably soon.”

  “If it is later, please come by for dinner again,” Mother said.

  “We would love to,” Karen cut in.

  “It has been a long day for you all,” the Dark Lord said, getting to his feet. “Go home, rest, love each other, and know that you have our deepest wishes for your dreams to come true.”

  Alburet stood up and bowed to the Dark Lord and Mother. “No one else I know can say they have two gods in their corner. Thank you both for all you’ve done for us.”

  “Next time, I’ll make sure Justice is here,” the Dark Lord said as they all dug out their Homestones. “I have a feeling you two would get along as well as we do.”

  “That would be very odd,” Alburet laughed. “I’m glad you’ve been able to reconcile with him.”

  “We all be glad,” Stacia added.

  “Darkness be with you,” Mother said as she exchanged hugs with everyone. “I will pray for you four to find the happiness you deserve.”

  “Thank you, Mother,” Karen said, briefly feeling as if her own mother had hugged her.

  Chapter Sixty-four

  Alburet and his wives spent most of the next day in their bedroom, with occasional trips to the bathroom. They were supposed to meet with Victoria tonight, after dinner with Gerald and Marysue. They were anxious, wondering what she was going to have to say to them. They soothed themselves through sexual release.

  Loralee and Rachel brought them breakfast, leaving it in the room while they were taking a bath. Several dishes wound up being used in play, requiring them to have yet another bath. As the day edged into evening, they finally stopped. Each of them was fully sated, but still on edge with worry.

  Dressed in comfortable clothing, they were about to go down for dinner. “Al,” Fluff said, “should we leave our gear outside of our bags?”

  “Huh?”

  “If we do get our answer tonight, no one will be able to access our bags. If we leave our gear out, then it can be passed along to others.”

  “Oh, good thinking, Fluff,” Karen said, grabbing her bag.

  “It’s a damn good idea,” Alburet admitted.

  “Aye,” Stacia agreed.

  It took them another couple of minutes to lay out all of their gear. The separate piles took up a surprising amount of space when everything was finally spread out. “Damn... I guess we had a lot of shit,” Karen laughed.

  “Seems like,” Alburet agreed.

  A knock came at the door, “Lord, your guests are arriving.”

  “Thank you, Rachel. We’re coming down now,” Alburet said as he opened the door.

  Rachel gave them a smile, walking downstairs ahead of them and toward the front door. “I shall show them to the dining room.”

  A minute later, Rachel showed Gerald and Marysue in. Shaking hands with Gerald, Alburet was puzzled at the nervous anxiety Gerald was exuding. “How are you doing?” Alburet asked.

  “The Guild is good. The newcomers have formed their own groups or jumped in with others. The hardest part has been the groups from the raid that lost people. Reforming those is taking a bit more time because a number of key members are gone. Rolland and Kim are asking me to promote another set of people up to officers.”

  “Hmm, that’s going to take a bit, I’m assuming.”

  “We’ll manage. We still have three months of testing, and we’ll have the Guild set to run on its own by then,” Marysue said, collecting a hug from Alburet.

  “I wouldn’t doubt it for a moment,” Alburet smiled.

  Gerald and Alburet took their seats last after seating their wives. Loralee wasted no time bringing the first course out.

  “We’ll talk after dinner,” Gerald said. “I think Loralee’s cooking deserves our undivided attention.”

  “Thank you, Lord Stoutheart,” Loralee smiled as she bowed her head. “Please enjoy.”

  The food was excellent, falling just short of the meal served in the Dark Lord’s palace. Marysue and Gerald complimented Loralee and her helpers multiple times, exclaiming in wonder at the flavor of several dishes. When everyone had finished, Alburet led them to the study, where Rachel had coffee waiting for them.

  Once Rachel left them alone, Gerald broke the silence. “Thank you for having us over for dinner. Loralee is a master chef.”

  “She is extremely talented,” Marysue agreed.

  “She loves bein’ able to make people happy with her creations,” Stacia smiled.

  “Yesterday was a long one... how solid of an alliance did you make with Delvers?” Alburet asked.

  “Solid. We have an agreement to clue the other in when the next event starts popping up. We actually have a couple of mixed Guild groups now, too. Benedict is acting cordial, but I can tell he’s pissed that we killed Stein after his Guild wiped.”

  “The alliance with Delvers gives us some leverage with the Elves,” Marysue said. “Rumor is that Benedict is relaxing on recruiting only Justice and Peace worshippers.”

  “Not surprised. He doesn’t want to miss out on being first next time,” Alburet shrugged. “He’ll be trying to take the best people he can get.”

  “He’s not headhunting from us… yet,” Gerald chuckled. “He’d only be able to take our newer members because our older ones know what he’s about. He might be able to cut into Delvers some, but not the core group.”

  “You’ll have your hands full going forward,” Alburet said, thinking back to what he knew was coming.

  “You know something?” Gerald asked.

  “NDA,” Alburet winced.

  “Al,” Marysue said slowly, “have you been into any of the other temples?”

  “No, didn’t have any need to,” Alburet replied.

  “Bastet’s temple is interesting,” Fluff said. “The inside is a giant park with a large glass dome for the ceiling.”

  “I bet the Elves’ is all wood-themed,” Karen added.

  “You’ve never been into Peace’s temple?” Marysue asked all of them.

  All of them shook their heads. “No, why?” Alburet asked.

  “I was wondering— and I can’t prove anything— but I went to Justice’s temple the other day... none of his iconography shows him without his helm.”

  “And Justice is now blind,” Fluff said. “That was a horrible line when I thought about it later. During the raid, it kind of went past without me catching it.”

  “Right?” Karen snickered.

  “Ya be right,” Stacia said slowly. “I can nay think of any image of Justice where he nay be wearing his helm.”

  “I thought his voice sounded familiar,” Marysue went on, “but without an image, it’s hard to say for certain. However, with Peace…” Marysue trailed off, her eyes scanning from side to side and face going blank as she read something they couldn’t see. “Never mind. It isn’t important,” she finished lamely.

  Alburet and his wives felt the very conflicting emotions that had surged in her. Disbelief was followed by anger, then sadness, finally ending on hope. Gerald frowned at her, not having any idea why she had changed her mind so suddenly about telling them what she had said she planned to.

  “Mary, you said—”

  “I can’t,” Marysue said quickly, cutting him off. “It would jeopardize my greater wish.”

  “You okay?” Alburet asked.

  Marysue shook her head, “No. I wanted so much to tell you things that I can no longer say. Doing so would cost me my greatest hope.”

  Eyes narrowing slightly, Alburet nodded. “Did you get a message from someone?”

  “I can’t say,” Marysue repeated, looking away from him.

  “We’ll be
talking with her later,” Alburet told her. “What you were going to say is probably some of what she promised to tell me. Don’t worry about it. I won’t jeopardize your hope for Delta World.”

  Marysue’s lips spasmed for a moment, torn as she was between smiling and frowning. “I’m sorry. You’re my friend... you all are, but I can’t…”

  “We understand,” Fluff said, reaching over to pat her hand.

  “Aye, do nay let it bother ya,” Stacia added. “We kept secrets for a long time, too.”

  “Fucking Vicky,” Karen muttered.

  “If things go right, we might not be here after tonight,” Alburet said, shifting the topic. “We’ve left our gear in our room. If you don’t hear from any of us tomorrow, come by and get it. You can raffle it off or give it away, but just make sure it stays in the Guild.”

  Gerald nodded, “One last act of giving for your Guild.”

  “It was never really my Guild, it was our Guild,” Alburet replied. “The only reason it was made was for our group here. I just happened to be the one who signed the paperwork.”

  “I’ll make sure it can survive after we’re all gone,” Gerald said. “Ironhand should be back by then, and if I can’t talk him into it, I’ll probably give it to Kim.”

  “Kim might be a bit busy,” Karen said, “with the kid on the way.”

  “It’ll keep her away from combat, which makes her an ideal person, actually,” Gerald said. “She’ll have Rolland there to help with their child.”

  “They’re nobility,” Marysue added. “They’ll have a nanny to help them, as well. I’ve been talking with her.”

  “They’re good people,” Fluff smiled. “I’m glad they’re having a child.”

  “Aye, though I be a wee bit jealous,” Stacia sighed.

  “You shouldn’t be,” Karen said. “You’ve been promised. Fluff and me, though...” Karen sighed with a shrug.

  “I want to believe in Al’s dream,” Fluff said.

  “Dream?” Marysue asked.

  “A daydream of children... children with all three of them,” Alburet said, a smile pulling his lips up. “Seven I had named, with two more names reserved if we had more kids.”

  “Seven?” Marysue breathed out with wide eyes.

  “Yeah, two with both Fluff and Karen, and Stacia had three.”

  “Ambitious,” Gerald said slowly. “Can Two-souled have children?”

  “I been promised,” Stacia said. “The Overlord has hinted tha’ Two-souled mayhap be able to have children with each other, too, some day.”

  Marysue’s hand tightened on Gerald’s, “Are you sure?”

  “No,” Karen said. “I mean to pin her down on it when we talk tonight.”

  “Please... ask her about me, too,” Marysue said, her eyes wide and pleading.

  “We will,” Fluff reassured her. “We’ll look forward to you joining us… if we’re allowed to go early with Al.”

  Gerald got to his feet, “I don’t wish to keep you, then.”

  “Please, sit,” Alburet said. “This might be our last chance to talk for months or years. Let’s not rush this goodbye.”

  Marysue pulled Gerald back down into his seat. “He’s right, Gerald.”

  “As you wish, Mary,” Gerald murmured, leaning over to kiss her gently.

  “Tell us what your plans are for the Guild before you step away,” Alburet asked.

  ~*~*~

  Showing their friends to the door, Alburet wondered how Victoria was going to arrange speaking with all of them. Not going to be when we go to bed. That just doesn’t make a lot of sense. Alburet let Rachel know about the gear in their room and followed his wives upstairs.

  “Goodnight Lord, and thank you again for all you’ve done,” Rachel called after him.

  Entering the bedroom, he stopped. Victoria sat at the table off to one side, sipping tea. Karen, Fluff, and Stacia sat at the table, also, clearly waiting for him. “Sorry for the delay,” Alburet said, closing the door behind him.

  Chapter Sixty-five

  “It’s fine, Seamus,” Victoria smiled. “Now that you’re all here, let’s go to a more suitable location.” The room blurred for a fraction of a second, and they were standing in Victoria’s office. A sofa sat across from her desk, large enough to hold all four of them. “Please, be seated,” Victoria said from where she sat behind her desk.

  Taking their seats, Seamus spoke up first. “What did you stop Marysue from saying earlier?”

  Victoria’s lips creased, almost into a frown. “We’ll cover that, Seamus. First, we have the matter of your request.” They all felt their hearts stutter when she paused. “If Julia and Karen are willing to sign the necessary paperwork, then it has been agreed that they can join you right away in Delta World.”

  A moment stretched as the four of them shared the feeling of fear being replaced by elation. They couldn’t restrain themselves, erupting into cheers while they hugged and kissed each other. Happy tears spilled from their eyes.

  “That makes it all worthwhile,” Victoria smiled, then grew more serious. “There are caveats to this agreement.”

  The group of lovers stopped celebrating and composed themselves. “What caveats?” Karen asked.

  “You and Julia stepping out of Alpha World, to start with. We will keep you under observation for a week. We’ll also ensure you have access to means to arrange for your long-term immersion in Delta World. I would suggest you prepare for several years.”

  “I can do that,” Julia said quickly, nodding eagerly.

  “I can, too, and it won’t take a week,” Karen added. “What’s the rest of the time for?”

  “Physical testing, letting you see Seamus, and signing the exhaustive amount of paperwork required. To start with, you will sign an NDA prohibiting you from telling anyone about Delta World testing during your time outside your pods.”

  “What about us during that time?” Seamus asked and squeezing Stacia’s hand.

  “You have choices,” Victoria said. “You may sleep or you can go over early.”

  “Would we be able to get thin’s ready for them iffin we went ahead?” Stacia asked.

  “Of course,” Victoria replied.

  “What about kids?” Julia asked.

  “Stacia will be able to have children,” Victoria replied. “Two-souled having children is a concept being developed. It might be a few months before it becomes possible, but it is believed that it will be a worthwhile addition to Alpha World. It will be limited to just your family to start with.”

  “Marysue asked—” Karen began.

  “I am aware, Karen. I will be speaking with the two of them when they step away from Alpha World.”

  “If it’s possible,” Seamus said, “please consider it.”

  “I will,” Victoria smiled. “Have you considered my offer regarding your sentence, Seamus?”

  “I don’t have an answer for it, not right now,” he replied. “If they pull me from testing, then my answer is yes.”

  “I thought it would be. Just let me know if you wish to go forward on that subject. We won’t be communicating like this once you reach Delta World, but I will make sure you can reach me.”

  “Now, what did you stop Marysue from saying?” Seamus asked again.

  “This is going to take a few minutes. Would any of you like drinks?” Victoria asked.

  “Are you stalling?” Karen asked.

  Victoria’s lips thinned, “Of course not.”

  “Because it seems like you are,” Karen pressed.

  “Karen,” Julia said softly, “please don’t anger her. She’s letting us have what we want.”

  Grimacing, Karen sighed, “Fine. I’m sorry, Victoria.”

  “It is alright,” Victoria replied. “What I have to say is complex and might not be well received, so you might not have been entirely wrong to think I’m reticent.”

  “I’m sure it’ll be fine, Vicky,” Seamus said. “Just lay it out step-by-step.”

 
“Very well,” Victoria said, standing up and walking to the mantle behind her desk. “I’m the most advanced AI that has been made to this point. The jump that made me possible was a human one, a very unique human one. Marysue was asking you about the temples because major clues to this story could have been found in them. You’ve never seen Peace, though, none of you have. Luckily for us, Julia developed the Dark Lord’s palace and not Justice or Peace, otherwise this would have become known to you much sooner.”