Chapter Three
“You are my husband, now.” Mahini’s ice-blue eyes were overflowing with joy, and she tilted her head up to allow me to plant a tender kiss upon her lips.
“And you are mine.” I grinned. “Come on, wife, let’s go home.”
Mahini and I walked with our bound hands swinging in between us, and I was surprised to see the girlish blush upon her cheeks. The desert goddess had always been hard-edged and stoic, and I wondered if her pregnancy hormones had anything to do with her change in behavior. Either way, I was just happy to finally be her husband.
At least she wasn’t sobbing.
The five of us returned home, but the other ladies gave Mahini and I the evening to ourselves to celebrate our joining. I fucked the desert goddess til she was begging me to come, and then I poured into her.
Once my other lovers joined us, I passed out in a tangle of limbs and naked bodies, just as a god should. My dreams were similar to the reality of my life, and I found myself anxious to wake up and get back to the real thing.
If you could call a medieval fantasy realm real, anyway.
I blinked sleep away from my eyes as I carefully extracted myself from beneath the flesh of my lovers, but I stood and gazed at them for a long blissful moment. Mahini had her arm flung across Eva’s bare chest while Caelia and Elissa laid with their heads pressed together like they were sharing secrets. The contrast between the two darker women and the pale beauties was striking, and the multiple hues of hair were like a living painting before my eyes. A fierce protective instinct swept through me at the sight of them asleep and vulnerable, and I swore to myself that no harm would ever come to the babes in my bed.
My thoughts turned to the rest of my empire, and I had to admit I’d gained a lot of power recently. Besides being the Archduke of Bastianville, I’d earned the trust and respect of the King of Sorreyal when I’d uncovered the treasonous plot against him, but the king’s favor wasn’t the extent of my ambitions.
First and foremost, I wanted to make sure my territory within Sorreyal was well taken care of, and ensure that all my people prospered. My family were my number one priority, but they weren’t the only ones I was responsible for. With an army, I could protect my followers and loved ones from a variety of threats even across the multiple towns in my territory.
I made a decision to tour my holdings soon to check on the living conditions of my people as I pulled clean clothes over my naked body, but then I glanced down at my torso as I tugged on a shirt, and I admired the six-pack lining my abdomen. My form had improved considerably since I’d been summoned to this world, and I did look godly.
No wonder the women were throwing themselves on me.
I smirked as I slipped out the door and across the threshold into the hallway, but my steps were careful as I tiptoed down the stairs. I’d woken up to the smells of breakfast being made by one of my women every day recently, so I decided it was time for me to surprise them with a meal of my own creation, but I glanced around the kitchen as realization dawned on me.
I had no idea what I was doing.
This called for a save point, so I made a new one with a wave of my willpower, and I set about my first attempt at making my four women a delicious breakfast in bed. This way, no matter how much I messed up, I could always go back to the beginning and try again. There would be no chance of having only burnt toast to offer the beauties in my bed, and I couldn’t wait to see the shock and awe on their faces as I presented a dish made by a god.
“Alright, Bash,” I muttered to myself. “First things first. Find the food.”
My powers certainly came in handy in a variety of situations, but they weren’t all combat or sex related. I’d learned countless skills and spells since coming to this world by spamming respawns until I was a veritable master during what appeared to be my first attempt. I loved surprising people with my vast knowledge and talent with things I’d never encountered before, but little did they know, it was all part of being the Great One of Legend.
My women were no exception, and I was eager to see the expressions of worshipful adoration upon their gorgeous faces, so I got busy making breakfast.
I found the eggs, the ceramic jug of milk, and the freshly baked bread which was set upon our porch every morning by the townsfolk. Deena was the owner of the chicken coop, Gerulf sent over some of his cows’ offerings for the day, and the new baker had been sending me samples ever since the day we’d met.
I had some good people among my followers, that was for sure.
Once I’d picked everything up, I turned and was about to begin my first of what I knew would be many attempts to make pancakes, eggs, and bacon, but I stumbled over the stoop going in the door, and one of the fragile shelled delicacies tumbled from the basket to hit the floor with a smash.
I shook my head in dismay
Good thing I had a save point ready.
Chime.
I gathered my ingredients, and this time I was careful as I brought them inside. Then I laid everything on the counter with a grin before I pulled the bacon from the larder. The flour, salt, and other things I needed were in the pantry, but a moment later, I had everything I needed in one spot.
First, I built a fire in the ancient-looking wood stove. It was made from cast iron, and I could only imagine how heavy it was. After I sparked a flame onto some small tinder, I began to add small logs until the blaze burned brightly in the grate.
Then I whipped together the dry ingredients with the eggs and milk until a creamy batter formed, and I began to fry them in a skillet on the stove. Once I had a few pancakes completed, I grabbed another pan for the bacon and eggs, but just as I was turning back to my flapjacks, the smell of burnt food assaulted my nostrils.
“Fuck,” I sighed as I reset back to my save point.
Chime.
I started the fire first this time to give it more time to come to a stable heat before I began cooking, and then I gathered the ingredients from the stoop. I whipped up the batter, warmed the pans, and poured the flapjack batter onto the hot skillet.
With a little practice, and a few respawns, I managed to make a fairly decent breakfast for my women, but I wasn’t about to settle for fairly decent, so I reset once more to add a little more pizazz to my cooking. This time, I dug around in the pantry a little while the fire started to burn, and I found some vanilla beans I would split lengthwise and scoop out the insides. I knew they were a rarity in this world, but I had no idea there were some in my cabinet the entire time.
I also grabbed a cinnamon stick I planned to ground and some sugar to add to the pancakes, and I knew without a shadow of a doubt they would be the best flapjacks this side of the Eastern Ocean.
It took me two more attempts to master the additions to my recipe, and with each taste testing, the flavors grew richer and more complex. Finally, I scooped up the tester bite, and my eyes rolled into the back of my head when the flapjack caressed my tongue.
It was perfect.
With my pancakes mastered, I returned to the stove to unlock the secrets of bacon and eggs. The task was simpler than the flapjacks, so it only took me a couple of resets to have some of the best damn food I’d ever tasted ready to go.
I piled the table with the delicacies I’d prepared, arranged plates in a circle before each chair, and then stood back with my hands on my hips to survey the scene.
All I needed now was a bouquet of freshly picked flowers for my lover and wives.
“Well, shit,” I chuckled as I reset once more.
Chime.
I trotted out the door and down the street at a brisk pace, but I knew exactly where to go to find a few colorful blossoms. There was a garden in the center of the small mountain village where everyone in town had contributed, but I was sure no one would mind if their god helped himself to a few flowers.
I snagged a handful and was on my way back to my house a few moments later, but I paused to scoop up my ingredients from the stoop before I entered the house. Then I placed everything carefully on the counter, found a vase for the flowers, and started the fire.
My speed and efficiency increased with each attempt, so this time, I managed to whip up the full spread in a matter of moments. The house was soon filled with the delicious aroma, and I was surprised the women could sleep through the smell wafting up the stairs.
I placed a pot of water on the stove to boil, and then I trotted up the stairs to rouse the ladies. By the time I returned to the kitchen, the water would be ready to pour over some coffee grounds, and I was already looking forward to the combination of odors the roasted beans would add to the mix.
“Good morning!” I called out in a sing-song voice as I entered the room, and my red-haired wife immediately pulled a pillow over her closed eyes, but Mahini’s ice-blue gaze snapped wide open. “Rise and shine, beautiful babes. It’s a beautiful day, and your husband has made you breakfast.”
“What?” Eva’s smoky-gray eyes blinked sleepily as she yawned. “What’s happening?”
“Bash made breakfast.” Mahini’s voice was unaffected, but her eyebrows rose into her hairline.
“Really?” came Elissa’s muffled voice from beneath the pillow.
Caelia sat up and stretched her arms over her head, but then her nose began to wiggle as she sniffed the air. “Oh, my, what is that amazing smell?”
“Bash made breakfast,” Mahini repeated in an awed tone.
“Don’t act so surprised,” I chuckled. “I’m more than capable of cooking.”
“Oh, no!” Mahini gasped, and her eyes widened. “I didn’t mean to imply that… I am merely surprised you would do such a thing for us since you are our god, and we are your humble serv--”
Her face contorted before she got the last word out, and the desert goddess lunged from the bed before she bounded out of the room with both hands held across her lips. The other women and I exchanged a look, and Elissa sighed as she swung her legs off the bed.
“I’ll go look after her,” the tiny goddess said. “I might as well since I’ll probably be joining her in a moment. My sickness usually comes after my feet hit the floor.”
The red-haired beauty trailed her fingers across my chest as she passed, and I snagged her digits to place them against my lips before she slipped out the door, but then I turned to flash the other two ladies a wide smile.
“So, breakfast?” I chuckled.
“For sure,” Eva said, but then she yawned again. “But does it have to be so early?”
“It smells amazing,” Caelia complimented as she climbed out of the bed. “I can’t wait. Thank you, Bash.”
“You’re completely welcome,” I said. “Shall we?”
I’d wanted to give them breakfast in bed, but the women insisted on getting up and facing the day. So, all five of us were downstairs around the table a short while later, but the food was still steaming hot, and the coffee was perfectly brewed. My women eyed the spread with amazement, and their awed faces filled me with delight.
“You did all this?” Elissa asked. “For us?”
“Sure did.” I grinned. “After everything you four have done for me, it’s the least I could do. Besides, with our family growing so fast, we won’t have many mornings with just the five of us.”
“It’s perfect,” Caelia breathed as love saturated her chocolate gaze. “A man who can cook, it’s beyond my wildest dreams.”
“Bash is no mere man,” Eva reminded the shopkeeper with a knowing smile.
We ate happily until all of our bellies were engorged, and we joked about how far into our food-pregnancies we all were. I appeared to be roughly three moons into my breakfast baby, if the observations of my wives were to be taken seriously. Then, once we were full, we worked together to clear the dishes and clean up after the meal.
The five of us fell into a fluid dance as we maneuvered around the kitchen, and I stole kisses from all of them any time we passed close enough to each other. By the time the kitchen was sparkling clean, we were all giggling and horny.
Just the way it should be.
“So, what are you and Mahini going to do for your honeymoon?” Eva asked as we lounged in the living room with another round of coffee.
“I’m not sure,” I said with a frown, and I sipped my beverage slowly while I thought it over. “What do you think, Mahini?”
“Honeymoons are not a part of my culture,” the desert goddess informed us. “After the mating ritual, the newly bound couple retreats to their home for a full day, but then they rejoin the tribe once their binds are untied.”
“That’s kind of like a honeymoon,” I observed. “Just not a very long one.”
“You should do something,” Elissa urged as she rubbed a hand softly across her lower belly. “Once the babies come, it will be hard to get any privacy around here.”
“She makes a good point,” I said, and I raked my hands through my hair.
“So, what do you want to do?” Mahini asked as she snuggled closer against me. “We should make a decision about it soon.”
“Today is the perfect day for lounging around and talking about our plans for the future,” I said as I thought about what other responsibilities I had that day.
I wanted to do a training session with the new recruits, but Riondale could easily cover the task without me for a short while. I was hesitant to start my normal morning routine while the women were in such high spirits, but I should have expected as much after the delicious spread I’d provided.
“Do you really think we’ll never get alone time once the babies come?” Mahini asked in a thoughtful voice.
“It’s likely,” I sighed. “You’ll probably need to stay close to home for a while, but once they are big enough, you can come with me on quests and missions again.”
“That is what I will miss the most,” Mahini informed me with a bittersweet smile. “I do love going on adventures with you so much.”
“That’s what you two should do!” Eva gasped. “A small mission with just the two of you. So romantic!”
“I like the sound of that,” Mahini murmured, and her ice-blue gaze flicked to my face. “Do you have any quests you would like to go on, Bash?”
“There are a few things I need to take care of.” I frowned in thought.
I still needed to catch up with Jax about the results of his mission to find a dragon armor smith, but I also needed to go get more griffon feathers and talons from the creatures’ nest high in the mountains. It looked like our first step would be to speak with the blacksmith, and I could also take my gear to his workshop for repair.
“Anything I can do to help?” Caelia asked in a timid voice. “I don’t mean to be in the way…”
“Nonsense, Caels,” Mahini quickly said, and she patted the empty place beside her on the couch. “When are you going to realize we are a family now? You’re just as much a part of it as I am, and your voice is important to us.”
The way the strong stoic warrior woman was guiding the shy shopkeeper melted my heart and made my cock twitch at the same time, and I was pleased to see the curly-haired beauty grace the couch with her presence.
“So, how can I help?” Caelia asked with a giggle.
“You’re one of the Elder Council,” I pointed out. “You’ll hold an even more important role in the leadership of the town now that you’re one of my women. I think all you ladies should attend meetings when you’re in town so you know what’s going on around Bastianville since you know me better than anyone. That way, when you make a decision, your voice carries the weight of my position behind it.”
“You’re right, Bash,” Elissa said as a pleased smile stretched her lips. “With our babies on the way, us mothers will need to stay in town to take care of the children. We can’t exactly be gallivanting all over the kingdom when we’re pregnant or nursing.”
“Crying babies would alert our enemies in stealth operations,” Mahini agreed, and her obsidian hair shivered as she nodded. “But does that mean I can never leave Bastianville again?”
“No!” Eva shook her head vehemently. “That’s the beauty of there being four of us. I would gladly play aunty to your babies, and once they are no longer nursing, I am willing to stay behind to care for the young. Besides, it won’t be too long before I am also with child. Bash has been filling me with his seed for a while now.”
“I feel conflicted as Mahini does,” Caelia said with a frown. “I would like children of my own someday, but the idea of exploring the world with a god is too good to pass up.”
“The irresistible manhood doesn’t hurt, either,” Mahini chuckled.
“They’re right, you know.” I squeezed my arm around Mahini’s shoulders. “Everyone will take turns coming with me on missions.”
“I’m positive we will miss you terribly,” Elissa pouted. “I wish there was a way for you to be in both places at one time.”
“Now, that sounds like some incredible magic,” Eva snorted.
My thoughts immediately began to race, and the image of fast travel mechanics flashed through my mind. It would truly be incredible if I could do such a thing in this medieval fantasy land, but I could summon a sentient vine with a few gestures and grunts, so anything was possible.
Right?
I made a new save point before I asked the question burning in my brain, and the familiar tingling sensation washed over me.
“Is it possible?” I asked as my gaze moved from woman to woman. “A way to travel magically between two locations?”
“I am not sure.” Eva frowned.
“I have never heard of such a thing,” Elissa added.
“Perhaps a mage would know?” Caelia suggested.
“Or Master Ako!” Mahini pointed out.
“Hmm.” I scratched my stubble as I thought it over. “I’ll definitely have to keep my ears open for anything like that. With our family growing, there could be plenty of situations where I am needed at home, and it could be really useful to travel instantaneously.”
I’d learned what I could, but I didn’t want my women to think I wasn’t all knowing, so I reset back to my save point with a wave of my will.
Chime.
I skipped the question about fast traveling magic, and I stroked the backs of Mahini and Elissa as they snuggled against me. Eva lounged with her legs thrown over the arms of the cushioned chair, and Caelia graced the seat on Mahini’s other side. It was just pleasant to have us all together, but I knew it wouldn’t last forever.
I was a busy god and soon-to-be father.
“What are your plans for this honeymoon of ours?” Mahini arched one eyebrow as if she could read my mind, and her blue eyes cut right into the heart of the matter. “What quest shall we complete?”
“Do you remember when I fought the griffon?” I smirked. “What do you say you and I go after more feathers and talons? We’d have to climb to the top of the mountain peak to fetch them, but it could be fun.”
“That sounds perfect.” Mahini nodded in approval. “A hike will be perfect exercise for my shifting body. I don’t want to lose my form and muscle structure just because I’m pregnant.”
“We need to take care of some things before we can leave,” I said with an apologetic smile. “I need to take that new gear over to Jax’s forge to see if we can repair it without the help of an enchanter.”
“What did he find out on his mission?” Mahini asked in a curious voice with a tilt of her head.
“I don’t know yet.” I shrugged. “He said we should discuss it later, but with you being pregnant, and us tying our knot, there just hasn’t been time to get together with him yet.”
“Today is the perfect day to do so.” Mahini’s lips stretched into the familiar wry smirk that usually graced her face. “We will leave on our quest at dawn.”
“Awesome.” I grinned, but then I leaned forward so I could see the other women’s reactions. “What do you ladies think? Any objection to Mahini and I going on a hike up into the mountains for a few days?”
“We can run the ship while you are gone,” Eva assured me.
“It will give me a chance to introduce Evangeline to more of the townspeople,” Caelia said, and her eyelashes fluttered over her chocolate eyes. “Enjoy your quest, my love.”
It was the closest she had come to outright saying she was in love with me, but I could tell she was crazy about me by every action and mannerism, and I smirked as I eyed her up and down. I couldn’t wait to have more sexy adventures with the dark-skinned goddess, but for now, I was grateful for the chance to spend some quality time with Mahini.
It wasn’t as hard to balance the love of multiple women as I thought it would be, but the fact they all loved each other just as much as they loved me certainly helped.
Mahini helped me gather up the new gear I’d acquired during our last mission, and we crossed the town to the blacksmith’s forge. The sun was shining brightly, and it was getting close to mid-day at this point, but there was still plenty of light remaining to accomplish everything we needed to do.
The town was bustling as usual, and everyone parted to allow me and the desert goddess to pass through. I waved to my followers with my most charming smile plastered on my face, but Mahini merely inclined her head respectfully to each person who made eye contact with her.
Finally, we reached the forge, and the heat of the day was nothing compared to the furnace that was the interior of the shop. The sound of hammer hitting anvil rang out through the air like the familiar trill of a bird, and I inhaled the leathery, sweaty aroma greedily.
I hadn’t realized how much I’d missed working with my hands, but ever since I’d become an Archduke, I’d had to fight to do anything for myself. I was surprised I managed to sneak out of bed and make the ladies breakfast this morning before they’d done it for me.
“Ahoy, there,” I hailed Jaxtom as we approached, and the burly blacksmith halted his hammering.
“Aye, Bash, I didn’t hear ye come in,” Jax greeted as he clasped my forearm with his free hand. “How’s the married life treatin’ ya?”
His gaze flicked to Mahini to include her in his question, and the desert goddess cocked her hip to one side as she crossed her arms.
“I’m pregnant.” Mahini’s ice-blue eyes dared the blacksmith to comment, but his face split into an ear-to-ear grin.
“Holy bear shit in a handbasket!” Jax tossed back his head and let out a big belly laugh. “That’s downright fantastic!”
“Thanks,” I chuckled. “We decided to go on one last quest before the babies come, so I need to make sure my armor is repaired and ready to go.”
“I will get ye fixed up right away,” Jax assured me as he hurried to inspect the gear I’d piled near the workbench on my way in.
“Well, that’s the thing,” I said. “This is new stuff I got while I was headed toward Edinburg Manor. It has enchantments on it, and I’m not sure if I need to do anything special to repair them. How do you tell if it’s charged?”
“Charged?” Jax lifted one eyebrow as he crossed his arms over his muscular chest. “Is that some god word?”
“Maybe.” I frowned. “I need to go see the enchanter, huh?”
“I suppose so.” Jax nodded sagely. “He’s a good fellow, yer gonna like ‘em.”
“I’m sure.” I grinned. “You’re sure you won’t look at it first?”
“I’ll look,” the blacksmith agreed, and he lifted the chest plate onto the workbench.
I wanted to remind myself about the stats of the breastplate, so I quickly pressed my pointer finger to the metal. No one else could see the slightly translucent text bubble that popped up to hover in the air before me, so it was my personal secret.
Durability – 75%
Weight – 5lbs
Quality – Legendary
Magical Aspect – 10% Fire Resistance
Armor Tier – 10
“Well, it needs a bit of work,” Jax observed as he analyzed the straps and surface of the metal. “But I’m not sure about chargin’ no enchantments. That’s something else. I can fix it up for ye, though.”
“Please.” I clapped the blacksmith on the shoulder. “But before you get started on this stuff, can you tell me anything about your last mission?”
“Aye.” Jax’s face lit up. “Now’s perfect timin’.”
“Awesome.” I leaned up against the wall where nothing was hanging, and I nodded for him to continue.
“So, I found that apprentice I was lookin’ fer,” Jax explained as he scratched the stubble on his chin. “But he didn’t know nothin’ ‘bout dragon smithing. He said the master did know, but didn’t teach ‘em.”
“Shit,” I sighed. “Well, at least we tried. What else can we do?”
“Well, the old man did tell me somethin’,” Jax added with a coolly arched eyebrow, and he waited until I nodded for him to go on before he continued. “The knowledge can be found still.”
“Where?” I pressed, and my heart began to race.
“In a place called the Grand Occulta Athenaeum.” The blacksmith shook his head. “You have no idea how hard that was to remember, Bash. I’m so glad I can forget it now.”
“I’m happy for you,” I chuckled. “It’s certainly a mouthful. I don’t even know what it means. Where is this place at?”
“That’s just the thing.” Jax let out a disappointed sigh. “No one knows. It’s a place far away across the sea, but other than that, the exact location is unknown.”
“Are you serious?” I let out my breath as the tension escaped my shoulders.
There went my ideas for forging dragon armor any time soon. I supposed I’d just have to wait a little while longer, but I knew it would be worth it. I would have a one-of-a-kind suit of armor with any number of magical properties. First, though, I would do my best to figure out what step to take next in the search for the knowledge of dragon armor smithing.
In the meantime, I decided to keep my focus on the side quest Mahini and I were about to embark upon, so I raked a hand through my hair as I flashed the blacksmith a grateful smile.
“Thank you for taking the time to hunt down the apprentice,” I said. “It really means a lot to me.”
“Ah, shut it,” Jax growled, and he waved a dismissive hand. “It was nothin’.”
“Seriously, Jaxtom,” I insisted. “I’d love to repay you in some fashion. What do you say you join me and the ladies for dinner some night once Mahini and I get back from our quest?”
“Aye.” Jax grinned. “Where are you two headed, anyway?”
“Off to climb the mountain.” Mahini smirked. “To get griffon feathers.”
“And talons,” I added. “I’m sure he’s shed one or two since I’ve seen him.”
“The… griffon?” Jax asked slowly with a confused tilt of his head.
“Yep,” I chuckled. “We were able to communicate. All part of being a god.”
“I suppose so,” the blacksmith said. “But I wouldn’t know nothin’ ‘bout that.”
We continued to go over the rest of the armor I’d brought, and Jax said he would do his best to repair them despite the enchantments. Then I headed down the street to the new enchanter’s shop to meet the man I’d heard so much, and yet knew so little, about.
The building was one of the structures which had been left abandoned prior to my arrival in Bastianville, and it had recently been painted a light gray color that refracted the light. The windows were illuminated from within by candles, and the door was a dark-blue hue. No sign hung to advertise the business, but I knew the town well enough to know I was in the right place.
I knocked on the door, and an elder man pulled the portal open. He had a long gray beard hanging almost to his waist, but the top of his head was bald. A circle of hair went from ear to ear, and the long silver strands hung to his shoulders. His nose was pointy, and the overall impression had me envisioning gnomes. The robe draped across his frame exhibited his lean form, but his blue eyes were bright and full of life. He was exactly what I would want for the resident enchanter of Bastianville.
“Hello, I’m Ba--” I started to say.
“The G-G-God of T-Time!” the enchanter gasped. “On my doorstep!”
“I take it you’ve heard of me,” I chuckled as I made a new save point. “What’s your name?”
I could have predicted the confused head tilt Mahini flashed my way, but I ignored it as I maintained eye contact with the enchanter.
“Abrin, sir, Abrin Shelton.” His eyebrows rose up toward his bare head. “I’m surprised you didn’t already know… I have heard rumors of your greatness.”
“Yeah, yeah, we’re getting to the great part.” I waved a dismissive hand. “Give me a minute.”
Chime.
The familiar bell tolled in my ears, and I was standing before the enchanter, except time had gone backward to the moment right after he’d pulled open the door.
“Hello, Abrin,” I said with a knowing smile. “It’s nice to finally meet you in person.”
“I-I have heard rumors of your power,” Abrin said again, but this time his face was full of awe instead of confusion. “What can I do for the Great One of Legend today?”
“I’ve been meaning to come say hi,” I said. “But I do have some business to discuss with you as well.”
“Please, please, come inside.” The enchanter stepped away from the door to usher us inside. “I wasn’t expecting company, so the shop is a bit untidy, but I am honored by your presence.”
The two of us stepped inside the dimly-lit interior, and I gazed around with curiosity. Shelves filled with jars and other containers lined one wall, but big wooden tables took up the majority of the space. Candles covered every surface, but they’d melted down to nubs, so they didn’t cast much light. The stench of decay and death permeated the air, but it was paired with a sweet herbal odor, and I wasn’t sure if I enjoyed the combination or not.
I’d brought my last griffon feather with me even though I knew how to do the enchantment on my boots, but I still wanted to get the enchanter’s opinion about the magical item. This man had relocated to Bastianville permanently, so after a little vetting, I intended to trust him with sensitive information most were not privy to.
“May I offer you some tea?” Abrin asked with one arched eyebrow. “My apologies, I don’t have much in the way of food right now.”
“Tea would be lovely.” I nodded.
“Are you faring well in Bastianville?” Mahini asked with a polite smile.
“Oh, yes,” Abrin said in a hurry. “I just haven’t had time to go to the market for food items in a few days. That general fellow came by with a pile of swords for me to enchant with an ‘always sharp’ spell, and I’ve been quite busy filling the order.”
“Was the man’s name Riondale by chance?” I smirked.
“Your Greatness is all knowing,” the enchanter said as he inclined his head. “It was indeed a man by that name.”
“He works for Bash,” Mahini explained. “He is the general of our army.”
“So, the order is really for you?” The enchanter’s eyes widened. “Oh, dear, now I really must make sure it is my best work ever.”
We continued to talk for a while, and I informed him about the enchantments on my new armor. Abrin promised to check it out, and then I showed him my feather. The enchanter was awed, and he gushed about the rarity of such an item, but he didn’t know any more spells for it than I did.
The enchanter promised to pick up my armor from Jax as soon as the blacksmith was finished with it, and he would retrace the runes holding the spellwork. I was pleased with the results of the conversation, so my newest wife and I bade him goodnight.
The sun was close to the horizon by the time Mahini and I headed back to our house, and we intertwined our fingers as we walked down the street. I’d have to stop by Jax’s shop to pick up the armor in the morning, but the blacksmith had assured me it would be ready before we left for our quest. The desert goddess desired an early start, and I was eager to please the obsidian-haired beauty.
The other girls were getting ready for bed when we arrived, and I caught everyone up about the information from Jax’s mission. I made a new save point, and then I asked for ideas.
“We could send out runners to search for the answers we seek,” Eva suggested.
“Some members of our entourage would be trustworthy enough to give them such an important task,” Elissa added.
“We can make all the arrangements for you,” Caelia offered.
I cupped her cheeks in both hands and kissed her firmly on those delicious, juicy lips.
“Thank you,” I breathed, and the curly-haired beauty nodded with her eyes still closed.
“Looks like everything is arranged,” Mahini pointed out with a pleased smile.
“Ready to have the best quest ever?” I chuckled.
“I have been ready for this moment all day,” Mahini replied in a serious voice, and everyone burst out laughing. The desert goddess looked around at the expressions of merriment with a confused head tilt, but the corners of her lips twitched upward in amusement. “What?”
“I hope you two have a great time.” Elissa’s emerald eyes were full of joy. “I’ll hold down the fort while you’re gone.”
“Don’t kill too many things,” Eva added with a mischievous wink.
“And come back in one piece!” Caelia insisted.
Mahini and I planned to leave before dawn the next day, and after we’d retrieved my gear from Jaxtom’s shop, we headed toward the western entrance of Bastianville on foot. While it would have been easier to ride my horse into the mountains, Goliath couldn’t hike all the way up to the summit, so the desert goddess and I were hoofing it. The pair of us had packed our bags with everything we’d need for several days of hard travel, and I was ready for any weather conditions that could pop up.
Then there wasn’t anything else to do besides leave.
The sun was beginning to peek over the eastern horizon behind us, and the birds had only just begun to sing.
It was the perfect time to go on an adventure.