Chapter Six
The Bastianville alarm bells began to ring out through the air, and everyone scrambled away from the buffeting wings of the griffon. Screams of terror filled my ears, and my flying steed tossed his head as he glared at the humans running away from him.
Weak mortals, the griffon scoffed. They are fortunate to have such a brave leader.
“Thanks.” It had to be the highest compliment the griffon had given me, and my chest puffed out in pride. “But I expect you to honor our agreement. No harm comes to any of my followers by your hand.”
You insinuate I am dishonorable? The griffon hissed, and his neck feathers ruffled out, which caused the people of Bastianville to freak out even more.
“I meant no offense,” I assured the hybrid.
“We should dismount so they know there is nothing to fear,” Mahini suggested as she craned her head around to shout into my ear.
“Good idea,” I said as I slid backward away from the beast’s wings. I flipped my leg over and slid down in a fluid motion, but then I reached up to help Mahini get off the griffon as well. Then we ducked beneath the flapping feathers to stand by the hybrid’s head. “It’s okay! It’s just me and Mahini!”
“Bash?”
“Great One!”
“The Archduke has returned!”
The gathered people all realized who I was at the same moment, and their cries turned to sounds of relief once they discovered there was no threat in their midst. They stopped their mad scramble away from the mythical creature standing in the town square, but the tense expressions didn’t leave their faces.
Then I spotted my wives and lover among the faces, and the next thing I knew, Elissa was throwing herself into my arms. Her emerald eyes were bright with joy as she leaned back to plant a kiss upon my lips, and her fiery red locks waved around my head like a privacy screen while our tongues intertwined.
“I missed you so much!” the tiny goddess gushed as she squeezed her arms around my neck.
“My turn,” Eva said from behind the petite redhead in my arms.
I deposited Elissa safely on the ground, and I turned to greet the blonde bombshell. She tilted her head back to allow my lips to graze across hers, and she smirked as she shoved Caelia forward.
“Hi, Caels,” I chuckled, but then I pulled the dark-skinned goddess into my arms to greet her properly. She shivered in my arms, but I didn’t think it was from the cold since the sun was burning brightly in the clear blue sky. “I missed you, too.”
“I’m glad you’re home,” the shopkeeper breathed in my ear before she released me.
Then I turned back to the griffon to give him a respectful bow of my head.
“Thank you for returning me to my home safely,” I said. “I release you back to your mate and your hatchlings.”
I bid you farewell, God of Time, the griffon said with an incline of his bird head. Remember my words of wisdom. Fresh meat.
“I’ll keep that in mind,” I chuckled, and I stepped back to give the giant hybrid room to take off.
The powerful creature pumped his wings and kicked up huge gusts of wind, but he jumped into the air with a massive kick of his hindlegs. Then he was off into the sky, and he disappeared from view a moment later.
I shook my head in awe as I remembered the exhilarating sensation of flight from a few moments prior. It was something I wouldn’t soon forget, that was for sure.
“You really flew on the back of the griffon?” Eva asked with wide gray eyes full of amazement.
“Yep,” I laughed. “It was incredible, Eva! Flying through the sky just like a bird…”
“It sounds wonderful,” she breathed.
“Oh, Bash, you’re so brave!” Elissa shook her head, and her curly red locks danced. “I would be terrified to be up so high, but it does sound like fun.”
“I would have held onto you tightly,” I assured my red-haired wife.
“You certainly did an excellent job keeping me safely in place,” Mahini complimented with a sideways smile.
“Trust me,” I chuckled. “I enjoyed myself immensely.”
“How was your sickness on your journey?” Caelia asked in a concerned tone as she took the desert goddess’ hands and squeezed them. “We wondered how you were feeling after getting so much exercise.”
“The exercise I am accustomed to,” Mahini chuckled. “The vomiting multiple times a day, not so much.”
“Did you get the treasures you were seeking?” Eva asked as curiosity burned in her smoky gaze. “I can only imagine the kinds of things you would find in a griffon’s nest.”
“What do you think?” Mahini held up the large sack full of feathers and talons we’d gathered on the summit of the mountain.
“What are you going to do with all that stuff?” Elissa asked, but my tiny wife took my hand and began to lead me down the street to our house. The other women instantly fell into pace at our sides, and my little family walked home in high spirits while we discussed my plans for my newest prizes.
We made it to my house, and Mahini and I took long baths before we rejoined the others downstairs. The desert goddess’ face was flushed and happy, and she planted a kiss on my cheek before she took a seat beside Elissa.
“How are you feeling, Lissy?” I asked as my brow furrowed in concern.
“Oh, fine,” Elissa giggled with a dismissive wave of her hand. “I didn’t have the sickness this morning, so I think I might be past that stage now. I’m ready to hold our baby in my arms, but there’s still so much to do…”
“I know the feeling,” I laughed. “At least the additional rooms will be ready soon, and I can empty the nursery of all my loot.”
“Yes, an Archduke needs a proper treasury,” Eva agreed.
“The new workshop and armory will have to work as a treasury for a while,” I pointed out. “But it’s a start. Someday, I’ll have a palace as grand as the king’s.”
We proceeded to go about the rest of our day in happy marital bliss, and my women went about the various tasks of their day. We reconvened later to eat, but as we were enjoying the meal, I remembered my offer to host a dinner, and I swallowed down the mouthful of food I’d been chewing before I cleared my throat.
“So, I’ve invited a couple of people over for dinner since we’ve been back in B-ville,” I began. “Maybe it’s time the Archduke starts hosting more events.”
“It would be a wise way to maintain your power,” Eva pointed out with an approving nod. “Plus, it would give us a chance to share the luxuries we’ve acquired with those we love here in Bastianville without it looking like you’re giving out free stuff.”
“Party favors!” I grinned. “A way to reward my most loyal followers, and to show the rest of the people what happens when you get into my good graces.”
“Who have you invited so far?” Elissa asked.
“The enchanter, Abrin,” I said as I counted the names on my fingers. “Jaxtom, your father…”
“Why don’t we have a group dinner at first?” Caelia suggested. “Make it an intimate affair, but knock out multiple birds with one meal.”
“Who else should we invite?” Mahini questioned. “Riondale? He’s been working awfully hard to prepare the army for any scenario. I feel his efforts deserve a reward.”
“Let’s add him to the list.” I grinned. “Who else has been going above and beyond around here?”
“Torya,” Caelia offered immediately. “She feeds the men in the army who haven’t settled into homes of their own yet. Her inn has been overflowing with patrons ever since you came to Bastianville, my love, and while it has been a massive workload for the innkeeper, she’s always maintained a positive attitude throughout it all.”
“I didn’t realize she’s been so put out.” I frowned. “Maybe she needs some assistance, or perhaps we need a second inn here.”
“Bastianville is growing swiftly,” Mahini agreed. “Another tavern with sleeping rooms or another inn to accommodate the increase in travelers would be a good idea.”
“Plus, adding more business owners to the area will only help the economy,” Caelia added with a sweet smile directed straight at me.
“How’s your shop doing, by the way?” I asked as I was struck with sudden curiosity.
“I’ve stepped away from the day to day running of things,” Caelia informed me in a proud tone. “I’ve hired Celeste and Adelina to help me work the counter.”
“Good.” I rubbed my hands together. “That frees you up to spend all your time with me.”
“My exact intentions,” Caelia said with a rare bubbly giggle.
“We were hoping to add Caelia to another night of group enjoyment,” Eva mentioned casually, but my cock instantly hardened against the restraint of my pants at her words.
Images of all four of my women naked together sent fire through my veins, but I took a deep, steadying breath and met my wife’s smoky-gray gaze. She winked knowingly, and I smirked.
“Yeah, that sounds doable.” I nodded.
“Totally doable,” Elissa teased as she looked Caelia up and down suggestively.
“When should we have this dinner?” Mahini asked as she brought the topic back to the matter at hand. “Surely, we want at least a day or so to prepare?”
“And to make sure our guests are even available,” I pointed out.
“Oh, hush,” Elissa giggled. “You’re the God of Time. Who wouldn’t drop everything and run straight here the instant you invited them over?”
“I suppose you make a valid point.” I chuckled. “We’ll do it tonight, then, if possible.”
A short while later, we had all the details planned out, and we went about the task of preparing for a fancy dinner party with some of my most respected companions. Eva and Elissa created formal invitations, Caelia brought over some porcelain dinnerware, and Mahini went hunting for pheasants.
It was my job to hand-deliver the notes requesting the guests’ presence at our home, so I slipped on a nice but comfortable outfit, and I went on a stroll through town in search of the select few I’d chosen. I went to Elrin’s first, and the mayor gladly accepted the letter from my hand after we exchanged hellos, but I didn’t stay to visit for very long before I headed out to find the other folks.
Riondale blushed, Theodora smirked, and Torya almost had a heart attack she was so overjoyed, but Jax’s eyebrows rose so high in surprise it almost looked like he’d sprouted a small head of hair. Finally, I went to the enchanter’s shop to extend the invitation to him as well, and I knocked on the door with one hand while I clasped the letter in my other.
Master Abrin opened the door with a broad smile, and he immediately gestured for me to join him inside his shop. I stepped into the dimly-lit room, and I pressed the rolled-up parchment toward him.
“This is for you,” I said as a shit-eating grin spread across my face.
“For me?” Abrin’s eyebrows rose as he accepted the invitation, but his eyes widened even further when he unrolled it to read the words inside. “A dinner party?”
“We’d love it if you came over to my house for an evening of good food, friends, and fun.” I clapped the shorter man on the shoulder. “My little way of saying welcome to town.”
“Why, Your Grace, this is an honor beyond compare!” The enchanter shook his head in speechless awe as he reread the invitation again. “I couldn’t possibly. There’s no reason to make a fuss over me… No, no, please, do not burden yourself with such a task, Great One.”
“You’re rejecting it?” I arched one eyebrow in confusion. That I hadn’t expected. “I don’t think you understand. You’re not the only one coming. We’re having the party whether you come or not…”
“Oh!” Realization dawned on the enchanter's face, and then it flushed with embarrassment. “My mistake.”
“Even if it was just for you,” I said with a sympathetic smile. “You should really have more faith and confidence in yourself. There’s no reason to reject special treatment, even if you feel like you don’t deserve it.”
“Well, I shall work on that,” Abrin chuckled in a self-conscious manner. “In the meantime, is there any way I can show you my appreciation?”
“You could let me use your workshop,” I said with an eager grin. “I recently acquired some ingredients I’d like to experiment with.”
“Anything for the God of Time,” Abrin assured me, and he brandished his hands around him at his shop. “My home is your home.”
“While I won’t move in,” I replied, “I appreciate it very much. I’ll go grab my items and return shortly.”
“Feel free to come right in,” Abrin said. “I’ll be expecting you.”
“Will do.” I grinned again. “Thanks, Abrin. It sure is nice to have an enchanter in town.”
I trotted back across Bastianville to my house, and my feet were swift as I mounted the steps to the porch, but the door was hanging open when I approached. Inside, the downstairs was a bustle of activity as the four women worked together to prepare for our formal dinner tonight. I found Elissa and Caelia in the kitchen going through the pantry, and I kissed them both on the cheeks in greeting.
“All the invitations have been delivered,” I announced with a broad smile. “I’m going to grab a few feathers and some things to enchant before I head back to Abrin’s shop. I’ll probably be over there for a while.”
“You’ve been eager to enchant things ever since you first got the griffon feathers,” Elissa observed in an amused tone. “By all means, take all the time you wish.”
“Thank you, my love,” I replied, and I gifted her another sweet kiss in reward. “Where’s Mahini and Eva?”
“Working with the recruits,” Caelia informed me. “They wanted to get some exercise and practice before dinner.”
“Does Ri-guy ever give the newbies a break?” I chuckled.
“You’ll want men who can withstand lots of physical exertion,” Elissa pointed out with a twinkle of amusement in her gemstone eyes. “He’s a good general.”
“I completely agree.” I grinned. “Alright, I’m going to grab my things and head out. I’ll be back for dinner, though.”
“We will keep it warm for you,” Caelia promised.
“But don’t use that as a reason to stay away all night,” Elissa warned.
“I won’t,” I assured her, and another couple of kisses later, I was on my way off to where I’d stashed my magical items. With the griffon feathers, one talon, and a few unenchanted items in tow, I trotted away from my house with a wide smile stretched across my face.
The sun was still fairly high in the sky, but it had passed the mid-day point, and the weather was perfect. A few white, fluffy clouds dotted the horizon, but they didn’t look threatening. Besides, I would be spending the majority of my afternoon inside the enchanter’s shop, so I cast one last glance at the sky above me before I crossed the distance to Abrin’s new store.
Even though the enchanter had instructed me to help myself to his shop, I still knocked politely as I entered the space. I waved to Abrin as I crossed the threshold, but the older man quickly launched himself from his chair to come shake my hand.
“Your Grace, you have returned very swiftly!” Abrin’s eyebrows rose.
“I’m pretty eager to get started,” I explained as I held up the sack in my hand. “I’ve been waiting for this moment for a while now.”
“Oh?” Abrin chuckled. “I didn’t realize enchanters were in such rare supply these days. I would have assumed Viceroy in Vallenwood would have taken care of all your needs.”
“Well, the royal mage was poisoned recently.” I shrugged. “Then I needed to take care of some things, so I haven’t really had the opportunity to do any enchanting until now.”
“Do you require any assistance?” Abrin gestured to his workbench, which was spread with all manner of tools and ingredients. “A tour of where everything is, perhaps?”
I made a new save point before I replied since I wanted to impress Abrin with my knowledge of his shop during a later attempt, and I nodded to the enchanter as the familiar tingling sensation faded.
“Sure,” I said.
Abrin proceeded to show me around his shop, and he pointed to where he stored his mortar and pestles with a proud grin.
“I made them myself when I was at Castle Bullard,” he informed me. “There’s a lovely pottery studio there where you can make things with some assistance from the Pottery Master, although mortar and pestles must be specially made with harder materials.”
“I’ve been to that studio,” I said as I remembered my wives and I making dishes for our new house. It seemed like a lifetime ago. “The Potter Master’s name is Trace.”
“Your Grace is well traveled, it seems,” Abrin observed, and his eyes were full of admiration.
Then Abrin gave me a tour of the rest of his workshop, but the most interesting thing to me were the books full of enchantment instructions for various armor and weapon enhancements. It was definitely helpful to have on hand, and I scanned over the titles as I stored the names to memory.
Abrin had barrels full of the most common ingredients, and I cast a cursory glance over the labels before we moved on. I wouldn’t have to memorize much information to get started, and I already knew enough to blow the enchanter’s mind next time.
After the tour was completed, I moved to the chair situated in the open space between the bookshelves and the workbenches, and I began to remove my griffon feather boots. Abrin was immediately curious, but I could tell he was resisting the urge to question me about the enchanted leather shoes.
“Want to take a look at them?” I asked, and I wondered if he could tell what the stats were without having my godly abilities.
“Yes, please!” Abrin’s jaw fell open as he took the leather boots from my hands, and he spun them around slowly in the dim light. “They’re very well-done.”
I’d made the boots during my first journey across Sorreyal, and the resident enchanter of Castle Bullard, Burnyolf, had taught me everything I knew so far. I hoped Abrin would be able to help me stretch my skills some more, but then I would just reset to my save point and amaze him with my knowledge.
Learning new skills with speed and efficiency was one of the better advantages of my ability to turn back time, and I enjoyed it every chance I got.
“What do you think of the durability?” I asked with a coolly arched eyebrow.
“They appear sturdy enough,” Abrin observed as he scratched his beard absently. “How has the enchantment held?”
“Every stomp uses one percent,” I explained knowing I was going to reset over this run through anyway. “Each feather equaled one hundred uses, but it wouldn’t go above a hundred when I tried to revamp the enchantment before it hit zero.”
“Percent?” Abrin shot me a confused glance, and I realized he didn’t understand the technicalities I spoke of.
Oh, well.
One of the burdens of being a god was others often didn’t understand things in the same way I did, and it often seemed impossible to explain it simply enough to communicate the point.
“Well, the feathers filled the enchantment,” I said in a patient voice. “But we don’t have to worry about any of that. I know how to retrace the runes for the speed ability, but I want to try to unlock the other properties of the feathers as well as find out what the talon will do.”
“Am I to assume you acquired these feathers and talons from the griffon that deposited you in town the other day?” Abrin’s eyes twinkled with amusement. “That caused quite the stir.”
“Yes, that very same griffon is the original owner of the feathers and talons.” I nodded.
“I have heard about the wondrous properties of griffon feathers, but I’ve never heard of anyone using their talons.” The enchanter shook his head in awe. “I can only imagine what you had to do to get your hands on it.”
“Well, originally, I made a deal with a pretentious mythical creature,” I informed him. “I had to beat him in a duel in order to win the rights to his fallen treasures.”
“No wonder no one has been able to acquire the items before!” Abrin’s eyes danced with merriment. “And now I get to see one with my very own eyes.”
“Here.” I smirked as I moved to the workbench with my bag. I placed the sack on the counter, and then I pulled out one of the griffon feathers. They were crimson at the tip, but the vibrant color faded to a silver hue near the quill. The edges were seamless and looked razor-sharp, so I was cautious as I removed it from the bag.
Then I pressed a finger against the feather to activate the stat box just to remind myself of the magical properties it held.
Magical Item - Griffon Feather
Weight - .01lbs
Durability - 100%
Magical Aspect - Fleetness, Agility, or Strength
Weakness - Can only choose one aspect.
When I’d broken the feather down and used the powder in a mixture to trace runes onto my leather boots, the result had been fleetness, so I wondered what would happen if I applied it to other items. Typically, in the video games back in my world anyway, modifications like agility or strength were added to armor while things like damage and skill increases were put on weapons. Naturally, I was curious about the possibility of making a weapon stronger with a feather.
Or would the wielder himself grow stronger when he held the hilt?
Maybe it would end up like my feather sword, and the material of the weapon itself would be altered.
Either way, there were endless possibilities, and I planned on finding out every single one. I had a lot of experimenting to get started on, but I wanted to gauge Abrin’s reactions a little first so as to better impress him with my talents later. I held the feather by the tip of the quill, and I twirled it in the dim light of the candles.
“What do you suppose it would do to a sword?” I asked.
“Something delicate such as a feather wouldn’t typically have properties one would use on weapons,” Abrin said with a furrowed brow as he scrutinized the feather in my hand closely. “Unless you know something I do not, Great One?”
“Just testing your knowledge,” I said. “The feather has three aspects: fleetness, agility, and strength. I have some unenchanted pieces I wish to experiment with to see how to take advantage of every aspect.”
“A wise endeavor, Your Grace.” Abrin nodded. “I would recommend a breastplate to apply strength. It is closest to the heart, and the enchantment will work more swiftly with more surface area to apply the spell to.”
“That makes sense.” I hadn’t brought a breastplate, but I did have some shoulder guards with me.
The armor I’d gotten off Lord Lucian, the loser of Castle Bullard, only had enchantments on the gauntlets and the shield, so the rest of it was fair game to play with. In the end, I planned on resetting back to my save point to save the griffon feathers for something really important, but in the meantime, I could do whatever the fuck I wanted to.
First things first, I wanted to check the stats on the talons. I’d been holding off to delay my own gratification, but also because a part of me was worried it would be something lame or useless to me. Now was the time for it, though, so I pulled the curled talon from the bag and laid it on the workbench.
“What is that!” Abrin’s eyes went as wide as saucers as his jaw fell open, and he leaned down to get a better look at the talon. “I have never even heard of someone being able to acquire a shed talon!”
“Thanks.” I flashed the enchanter a cocky grin. “I’m not the average man.”
“Of course not, Your Grace,” Abrin chuckled as he struggled to regain his composure.
The enchanter straightened back up and adjusted his robe, but his gaze continuously flicked between my face and the talon. I could tell he itched to touch it, but I respected him more for keeping control of himself.
I would be the first to thoroughly analyze the talon, so I quickly picked it up and pressed my pointer finger to the tip of the curved point. It took two hands to keep a good grip on the massive claw, so it took me a moment to look up at the translucent text that had just popped into existence in the air before me.
Magical Item - Griffon Talon
Weight - 3 lbs
Durability - 100%
Magical Aspect - Razor’s Edge, Ever Sharp, Strength
Weakness : Can only choose one aspect
That could definitely be applied to weapons, and given the size of the talon, it could supply an army’s worth of swords with a magical aspect. My hand suddenly slid ever so slightly, and the edge of the talon sliced into my palm. Blood poured from the open wound instantly, and the thick red droplets splashed onto the enchanter’s floor a moment later.
“Oh, dear,” Abrin said as his eyebrows rose, but a flicker of doubt entered his gaze. “I suppose accidents happen. Here, allow me to bandage your wound.”
“No need.” I grinned as I reset back to my save point.
Chime.
The familiar tingling sensation faded, and I was standing before the enchanter shortly after entering his shop. Abrin had just offered to give me a tour, but I had yet to reply.
“I actually already know my way around pretty good,” I informed the enchanter with a cocky grin. “I mean, I’ve only just stepped inside the door, but that was all I needed to do in order to know where everything was.”
“Really?” Abrin’s jaw fell open when I nodded. “That’s incredible. Can you show me? I don’t mean to sound disbelieving, I’ve just heard many tales of your abilities, and it would be nice to see for myself.”
“No worries,” I chuckled as I gestured for the enchanter to follow me. Then I proceeded to lead him around his own shop, and I stopped to explain what was in each container and on the shelves.
Abrin was giddy and overwhelmed with joy as he followed behind me, but he tried to put on a serious face when I looked at him.
After the tour of the shop, Abrin and I moved to the workbench once more. I carefully laid a single feather and one of the talons on the surface, and I enjoyed the awed expression on the enchanter’s face all over again. The amber-silver hues of the feather caught the candle light, and like a mirror, it cast reflected glimmers onto the ceiling.
“I’d like to try putting the feather on a dagger to start with,” I informed Abrin casually as I unsheathed the blades Jaxtom had made for me as a wedding present.
“That is an uncommon combination of elements,” Abrin replied, and he furrowed his brow in thought. “Are you sure it will work?”
“Who knows until we try?” I shrugged.
“I assumed you would know,” Abrin pointed out.
“Yeah, well, I will next time,” I said as I raked a hand through my hair and prepared to get started.
Normally, experimenting with new ingredients would require wasting a large quantity of it, but thanks to my abilities, none of mine would be lost in the trial-and-error process.
The enchanter fetched a mortar and pestle, some water, pure white salt, as well as some other things I wasn’t familiar with. I accepted the ceramic bowl, and I tossed the feather inside before I began to break it apart with the matching pestle. The crimson-and-silver-colored blade-like feather started to crumble and split into chunks, but the more I twisted the handle in my grip, the smaller the pieces became until I had a grayish, orangish powder.
Abrin assisted me with the rest of the mixture by adding the ingredients I didn’t know, but I memorized what he grabbed and how much he added so I could do it myself in the next run through. Then we combined the sparkling liquid with the griffon feather powder and mixed it into a goo. This goopy substance was what we used to trace a sigil on the blade of the dagger, and then I trailed the remaining mixture onto the flat of the weapon running up to the tip.
When everything was completed, Abrin brushed his hands clean, and I immediately pressed my pointer finger against the hilt of my dagger.
Magical Item - Griffon Feather Dagger
Durability - 100%
Weight - 0.9 lbs
Quality - Excellent
Magical Aspect - Agile Hands
Magical Ability - Wielder’s agility increased by 10%, 25% for dual wielding
That was pretty cool.
I wasn’t exactly enthused about the result with a dagger, though, so I decided to reset and try again.
Chime.
I heard the chime in my ears the same as always, and then I was back in Abrin’s shop shortly after he offered me a tour. I flipped the script on him again, and his awe and joy were even more enjoyable the second time around.
This time, I worked with the talon first because I was eager to find out what would happen with a talon-enhanced piece of equipment. I broke up the large claw in the mortar, and then Abrin helped me add the sparkling mixture. On this run through, however, I asked for each ingredient by name before he even had a chance to reach for them.
“You didn’t tell me you already knew just as much about enchanting as I do,” the older man gushed with yet another awed shake of his head. “I can’t imagine knowing as much as a god, it must be an incredible burden.”
“I manage,” I chuckled. “Now, what should I try to enchant with the talon?”
“Oh, I couldn’t decide for you,” Abrin said in a hurried tone.
“Please,” I insisted.
“Alright,” the enchanter sighed, and then he scanned the items I’d placed on the workbench. There were the two daggers made by Jaxtom, the shoulder guards from Lucian’s armor, and my thick wool cloak I’d worn over there. Abrin picked up the shoulder guards and turned them over in his hands for a moment before he nodded to me. “I am curious what will happen to armor with something more aggressive placed upon it.”
“Sounds good to me,” I said, and moments later, the armor was enchanted.
Magical Item - Griffon Talon Shoulder Guards
Durability – 100%
Weight – 2.4lbs
Quality – High
Magical Aspect – Strength
Armor Tier – 3
I placed the shoulder guard onto my shoulder, and Abrin quickly stepped forward to help me attach the strap that ran down my back and under my armpit.
“Test it out,” I instructed with a curt nod to the enchanter.
“What does Your Grace mean?” Abrin’s eyes filled with confusion.
“Do you have a weapon of some kind?” Then my eyes landed on the daggers placed upon the counter, and I grabbed one before I offered it hilt first to the enchanter. “Stab me.”
“No, my lord.” Abrin’s face flushed a bright red, and his hand holding the dagger shook. “I am not a violent man.”
“I never thought you were,” I chuckled. “I merely want to test the new strength of the armor. I wore this stuff so much, I know what it feels like when I take a hit to the shoulder. Stab me as hard as you can, I promise I won’t be hurt.”
“You are a god…” Abrin mused, and he peered at the dagger like the weapon might turn on him. It took him a few moments to wrestle with the concept, but then the enchanter pulled the weapon back to hover near his ear, and he yelled as he charged forward. “Arrrgh!”
I braced myself for the impact, and a moment later, the dagger struck against the shoulder guard protecting my flesh. I’d had a slim concern the enchanter would miss, but if that had happened, I would have merely reset to my save point. The blade bounced harmlessly off the metal, but I barely registered the hit.
Then I experimented further by reaching down with the hand on the same side as the shoulder guard, and I lifted up the workbench without hardly any effort. The heavy wooden table felt weightless in my touch, and I flexed my arm a few times as the muscles bulged.
I was definitely stronger.
I considered the shoulder guard experiment a success, and I turned back to the workbench and the residue of the talon mixture remaining in the bowl. The bowl was almost completely full still, so I could do an entire set of armor with it before running out. Then a thought struck me, and I flashed the enchanter a curious look.
“Abrin,” I said. “Can you put more than one enchantment on an object?”
“That is something beyond my knowledge,” Abrin answered in an apologetic tone. “I have heard tales of it being done, but as far as I know, you must perform both enchantments at the same time. Otherwise, it is unlikely for the secondary spell to hold.”
“That’s good to know.” I nodded in understanding, but then I turned to the other dagger yet to be enchanted. I still had some talon mixture I could use on it, and I hadn’t crushed up my feather during this run through yet.
I crossed the room to the shelf full of supplies, and I grabbed a second mortar and pestle. Then I used it to turn the griffon feather into a red-white powder, and I made the sparkling mixture all on my own, to Abrin’s astonishment. When I had two separate elixirs, I lifted both bowls simultaneously and poured the sigil onto the blade.
I made sure to keep them both pouring equally out of the bowls so both enchantments would be evenly placed. When everything was done, I still had some of the talon mix, but the feather-infused liquid was gone. They didn’t go nearly as far as the claws did, and the difference in the two items’ values became increasingly obvious with each experiment.
Then I pressed my finger against the hilt of the weapon to activate the stats.
Magical Item - Griffon Blade
Durability - 100%
Weight - 0.9lbs
Quality - Excellent
Magical Aspect - Razor Sharp Fleet Blade
Magical Ability - Blade flies through the air as fast as a griffon, and it slices through enemies with the ever-keen edge.
“What does ‘ever keen edge’ even mean?” I murmured out loud as I stared at the translucent text.
“Sounds to me as though it would be another way of saying sharp,” Abrin offered with a shrug.
That would be really fucking cool, and I cast my newly enchanted dagger an appreciative glance. The lines I’d traced on with the magical mixtures seemed to glow from an internal light, but that could be a trick of the light with the candles causing shadows to dance around the room. I wanted to make the other dagger have both enchantments on them, and then I could have the enhanced abilities of a griffon every time I fought with the blades.
I’d only brought one griffon feather with me, however, since I was already fairly familiar with the properties. It was the talon I’d been primarily curious about, and I’d experimented with a weapon and a piece of armor, so I was confident I could predict the outcome to a degree.
I was pleased with what I’d learned, so I reset back to my save point.
Chime.
I gave Abrin a tour of his own shop and explained the process of creating the sparkling mixture, but this time I only broke off a small section of the talon. Then I applied the double enchantment to both of my daggers, and the glow was even stronger this time.
Did that mean my spell was stronger?
I checked the stats, but they remained the same as they’d been during my previous attempt, so I called the endeavor a success. Abrin eyed my work with an awed expression, and his fingers twitched as he resisted the urge to pick up one of my blades.
“Go ahead,” I laughed as I clapped him on the shoulder.
“Bash?” a familiar female voice called from the doorway, and I turned to see Torya standing just inside the threshold. “Caelia and your wives have sent me to fetch the two of you.”
Had I allowed so much time to pass during the final run through?
I hurried to the window and glanced at the sky outside, but the sun was still a good distance from the horizon, so we weren’t late yet.
“Is it time for dinner already?” I grinned at Abrin. “Are you hungry?”
“There is supposed to be some kind of entertainment?” Torya shrugged. “All I know is you are both to come with me.”
“Fair,” I chuckled.
It only took me a moment to gather up my things, and I followed the innkeeper outside while Abrin locked his shop door. Then the three of us headed down the streets of Bastianville toward my home, but I had to wonder what the girls had planned. I hadn’t heard any reference to entertainment for our guests, but those women were always full of surprises.
Like when Eva had brought Caelia to me.
I chuckled to myself at my own obscene luck, but that only earned me curious glances from my walking companions.
“It’s, er, nothing,” I said as I raked a hand through my hair.
A short while later, we arrived at my house, and the windows were illuminated from within by oil lamps. The musical sound of laughter poured out the open door, and flower-filled baskets graced the rails of the porch. Delicious aromas wafted toward my nostrils, and I heard Abrin groan as his appetite suddenly kicked in.
“Welcome to the home of the God of Time,” I declared as I wrapped my arms around both of my friends’ shoulders and led them toward the front door.
We stepped inside the open door, and I led the enchanter and the innkeeper down the hallway to our living room. Caelia was the first to greet me, and the timid shopkeeper flashed me a broad smile before she schooled her expression. She wore a soft purple dress which revealed the curves of her cleavage more than any other outfit I’d seen her wear before.
I hoped that meant the other women were influencing her to come out of her shell more, but either way, I was enjoying it.
I kissed her firmly while I pulled her against me, and by the time I’d released her from my grasp, Elissa and Eva stepped forward to receive their own kisses. My red-haired wife wore one of her cornflower-blue sundresses, and the skirt swished around her knees like a spring breeze. Evangeline wore a strapless black dress with a slit up one side, and she’d paired the outfit with a black strip of silk around her throat. With her pixie cut blonde hair and pale shoulders standing in contrast to the darkness of the fabric, she cut an imposing figure.
I greeted them both warmly, and Elissa pressed her tongue past my lips with a devilish twinkle in her eyes. My fiery-tempered wife was unapologetically sexy, and it stirred my blood instantly, but this was not the time to enjoy her in the ways flashing through my mind.
“Our guests are waiting,” came the amused melodic voice of my most recent bride.
Mahini had broken the sexy tension perfectly, though, and the desert goddess stepped forward wearing a leather vest across her otherwise bare chest above a pair of skin-tight leather pants. The warrior woman wore daggers at her sides, and she looked like she could fuck me or kill me based on a whim.
“Mmm,” I groaned at the very sight of her. “Then we best not linger too long in the hallway.”
“Some of your guests have been present in the hallway,” Torya reminded me, and the busty innkeeper blushed. “It is lovely to see such an affectionate family. Your baby is going to be spoiled rotten.”
“Babies,” Elissa corrected as she cocked her hip to one side. “Mahini and I are both expecting.”
“What?” The innkeeper placed a hand over her heart as her eyelashes fluttered in surprise.
“I forgot to tell ye, Torya,” Jax apologized as he walked out of the living room. “But what did ye expect with Bash here?”
“Thanks for coming, Jax.” I clasped the blacksmith’s arm in mine firmly, and I flashed him a broad grin. Then I turned to gesture to the enchanter standing awkwardly behind me. “Me and Abrin have been getting better acquainted.”
“Aye, good.” Jax nodded in approval. “Keep ya busy so yer not buggin’ me all the time.”
“I thought my job was to keep you busy, Jax,” Riondale laughed as he joined us.
“Ri-guy!” I grinned at my general, and he offered me a crisp salute in return.
“I thought the party was in the living room,” came Theodora’s voice, but I couldn’t see the short apothecary through the bodies standing in the hallway.
“Hi, Dora!” I called over the heads of my friends and women.
“Let us adjourn to the sofas,” Elissa suggested with a twinkle of amusement in her eyes. “It will be easier to share Bash’s attention that way.”
“Your Grace.” Elrin nodded at me from his comfortable armchair, and I laughed at the sight of my father-in-law situated with a glass of wine in hand. “I assumed it would be wise to wait for you in here.”
“It did get a little crowded,” I agreed.
Fortunately, the girls had brought in more seating spaces to the room, so there was room for everyone to sit comfortably. The room was full of people I loved and trusted, and I was very pleased the idea had come to fruition. Often, our gatherings were business-related only, or huge town-wide celebrations, so this intimate affair was a nice change of pace.
“Here, Torya,” Jax said as he patted his knee. “Ye can sit here if ye run out of room over there.”
“Oh, Jax, you fox,” the innkeeper giggled like a young girl.
A lightbulb went on over my head as I watched the flirtatious exchange between old friends, and I cast a glance at Mahini to see if she’d caught on to the undertone of Jax’s words. Of course, the desert goddess hadn’t missed a thing, and her icy gaze was narrowed as her eyes flicked between the blacksmith and the innkeeper.
“Mahini,” I said in my most casual tone. “And Elissa, can I see the two of you in the kitchen for a moment?”
“But you only just got here?” Mahini tilted her head to the side.
I flicked my eyes toward the blacksmith and then jerked my chin toward the kitchen. The desert goddess’ eyes widened with understanding, and she nodded.
A moment later, the three of us stood in the kitchen, and I motioned for the two of them to huddle in closer so I could whisper.
“Jax needs a woman,” I said without preamble. “He’s getting too old to go on adventures, but he’s obviously getting bored with the same old same old.”
“Oh, what a good idea,” Elissa gushed. “But who? Not just anyone will do for our most loyal friend.”
“What’s going on?” Eva asked as she and Caelia joined us in the kitchen.
“Couldn’t resist, huh,” I laughed. “Alright, everyone huddle in.”
The other two girls joined the circle, and Caelia’s curious chocolate eyes flicked from me to the other women.
“Like I was saying,” I continued. “Jax needs a woman.”
“Ooh, yes!” Eva giggled.
“Why has he never married?” Caelia asked.
“Torya!” Mahini hissed to the others. “She’s perfect for him!”
“Oh, my, of course!” Caelia covered her thick lips with her hands as her eyes widened. “Why have I never seen it before?”
“You were too busy staring at the gallant God of Time?” Elissa shrugged one shoulder. “At least, that’s my excuse.”
“It is a good one,” Caelia sighed as her eyes locked onto me and filled with desire.
“Alright, so we’re in agreement that we’re going to pull a Parent Trap on Jax and Torya?” I arched an eyebrow as I refocused on the topic at hand. We’d already left our guests alone without a host as it was.
“What’s a Parent Trap?” Elissa tilted her head to the side. “Is it something babies do?”
“It’s a movie,” I explained.
“Not something a cow makes,” Mahini added in a knowing tone. “It’s drawings with sounds mixed together with a special kind of magic.”
Damn. I wasn’t as bad at explaining things from Earth while getting a handjob as I thought I was.
“Thank you.” I flashed the desert goddess a grateful smile. “Now, let’s get back to our dinner party.”
“Go team!” Caelia chanted, and we all burst out laughing.
“What’s goin’ on in there?” Jax’s voice hollered from the living room. “Bring more wine while yer close to it, eh, Bash?”
“Alright!” I called back with an amused shake of my head.
I grabbed another wineskin from the pile we’d stacked on the counter, and then I slung my arms around my women’s shoulders as we returned to the living room. The second I sat down, however, the doorbell rang. I flashed my women a curious look, but they only gave me blank stares.
“I’ll get it,” Elissa offered, and I noticed the corners of her lips twitch upward into the hint of a smile. My tiny wife had no poker face, and excitement instantly flooded my veins.
Whatever surprise was in store, it was going to be good.
While I waited for the revelation, I filled everyone’s glasses with more wine, and I chatted idly with Abrin and Elrin. Then Elissa returned with a troupe of musicians, and I burst out laughing once more.
“We solicited these fine folks for the evening,” my first wife declared with a proud lift of her chin. “They’re going to give us a private concert.”
“That’s awesome!” I stood and shook the hands of each instrument player.
There was a harpist, a lute player, a violinist, and someone carrying a pan flute. It was a perfect quartet for the intimate dinner party, and I gifted my women with a wide smile.
“Please, enjoy, Bash,” Eva urged with a wave of her hand.
I returned to my seat with a chuckle at the polite reprimand, and I watched while the musicians settled in to play for us. I didn’t know any of the songs, but I seemed to be the only one, and I was considering resetting to my save point so I could learn how to play it all myself without redoing the entire party so far.
Everyone was enjoying the music, and several of my guests nodded along in time to the tune. I decided to let time continue until the performance was over, but then I reset back to my save point with a wave of my will power.
Chime.
I was back in Abrin’s shop, and I still hadn’t enchanted the pair of daggers Jax had made for me. Knowing the blacksmith was likely already on his way over to my house, I mixed everything up at a quick pace. The enchanter complimented my talented motions, and I joked about how many times I’d done it already.
Then the enchanted daggers were ready to go, but I didn’t bother checking the stats since I knew they would be the same as they had been before. Things didn’t randomize during various loads in this magical medieval world, but that had to be one of the few downsides to my powers.
“Torya is coming,” I said moments before the innkeeper appeared, and Abrin shot me a confused look, but then I pointed to the door right as she walked up. The enchanter’s jaw dropped, and Torya’s eyes widened, so I flashed her my most charming smile. “Hello, Torya. I’ve been expecting you. It’s time to head over to my house.”
“Y-Y-Yes, Great One!” Torya gasped, and she placed a comforting hand on her ample cleavage. “You are always amazing, Your Grace.”
“Come now, gorgeous, we’ve known each other too long to use such formal titles.” Then I turned to include the enchanter in my grin. “Both of you should call me Bash.”
“Very well, Bash.” Abrin inclined his head. “Shall we?”
We crossed town to my house, but this time, I was expecting the dramatic entrance of my women, which meant I could stand back and watch them walk in right on cue. Before we adjourned to the living room, I pulled my women into the kitchen, and I made sure to include all of them in the request.
I explained my Parent Trap plan, and the women all eagerly agreed to help our friend Jax find happiness. Then we settled into the living room with plenty of wine on hand, and all I had to do was wait for the knock on the door.
“The musicians are here,” I declared as the sound caused everyone to halt their conversations.
“Bash!” Elissa gasped, and she narrowed her eyes at me. “I knew I couldn’t surprise you!”
“When will you learn not to try to pull a fast one on a god?” I chuckled.
I greeted the musicians, and once everyone was situated comfortably, I scooted my chair up close to the lute player. It seemed the coolest out of the quartet, so I would tackle it first. I paid close attention while they played through the first song, and I was about to request direct instruction when a sound I knew well caused my blood to turn to ice. The alarm bells began to toll loudly from the direction of the walls, and a moment later, another knock sounded on the door.
I ran to the door and pulled it open to reveal an exhausted-looking man in soot-covered clothes.
“Are you…” the man gasped as he leaned heavily against the door frame. “Are you the God of Time?”
“I am.” I clenched my jaw tightly.
“Carleone, sir,” the man wheezed. “It’s on fire.”
Bastianville’s neighbor, and one of my new holdings, was in trouble.
This was exactly the kind of thing a god was good for.
Chime.