Chapter Nine
Eva, Caelia, and I had to ride back through Carleone to access the eastern road toward Vallenwood, and the people were already hard at work building houses and laying clay tiles. The wagon from Ivywood had come through, and the energy in the air was lively and hopeful.
It was good to see my towns working together to make sure the entire territory thrived, and I gave myself a pat on the back for making it all happen. When I’d first arrived in Sorreyal, the Duke of Bullard controlled this area, but he was a lazy overlord and didn’t seem to care very much about his people. The towns were all in bad shape when I got on the scene, but after a few respawns and some quick thinking, I had everyone singing my praises.
The word about my power had spread far and wide, and merchants were beginning to flock to the western corner of the realm to do business with the God of Time and his followers.
While in Carleone we stopped to talk to a trade caravan headed to Bastianville, and the merchants gaped in amazement when I revealed my identity.
“Y-You’re here! Before us!” The head merchant wore a multi-colored robe of fine silks, and he had a wagonful of fabrics from the coast to bring to Bellona Uriel, the seamstress of Bastianville. “I cannot believe my eyes!”
“Nice to meet you, too,” I chuckled. “So, you’re on your way to the west?”
“Yes, Great One.” The merchant nodded emphatically, and his long auburn beard waggled from the motion. “On our way to your famous Bastianville and then back to the coast.”
“We are headed to the coast ourselves,” I informed the man.
I wasn’t too worried about anyone knowing our trajectory since I could handle anything that came our way with all the luck, magic, and respawns on my side.
“What takes you to the east, Great One?” he asked with a look of curiosity.
“An epic quest,” I assured him, but then I made a new save point before I asked him some more questions. “Tell me, what is your name?”
“Andol, Great One, Andol Crevins.” He flourished down into a low bow. “It is truly an incredible honor to even stand before you.”
Since he didn’t question why I didn’t already know his name, I continued on to the next question.
“What lies ahead on the road between Vallenwood and the coast?” I asked with a slight tilt of my head.
“A few small towns within the Mistvale Keep territory,” Andol informed me. “But the keep itself is the most imposing structure in the area.”
“What’s it like?” I pressed.
Caelia shot me a confused sideways glance, and I flapped a dismissive hand in her direction.
“Aren’t you supposed to be all knowing?” Andol frowned. “You’re not exactly what I imagined you’d be like…”
“We’ll get to the all-knowing part soon, don’t worry,” I promised. “Back to the Keep. What’s it like? How many towns are in the area? Are they wealthy?”
The rest of the merchants behind Andol Crevins exchanged glances full of disbelief, but I ignored them. I was going to reset and wow them all in just a few moments, and the looks of disdain would be replaced with awe.
Andol still proceeded to describe Mistvale Keep to me in perfect detail, and then I had him introduce me to the rest of his caravan. I took mental notes of everything pertinent, but once I had all the answers I wanted, I reset back to my save point with a wave of my will.
Chime.
“An epic quest,” I said with a sly smile. “Tell me, Andol, are the windows of Mistvale Keep still decorated with those beautiful stained glasses?”
“You’ve been to the coast before, Great One?” Andol questioned.
“Nope,” I replied with a broad smile. “I’ve yet to travel east of Vallenwood, but I know the Keep smells of salt and seaweed, and the castle cook takes biscuits down to the marketplace every morning.”
The man’s eyebrows rose up in surprise, and his fellow merchants exchanged excited whispers. I turned and greeted each one of them by name, and their jaws dropped as their eyes filled with awe.
“You know me?”
“He knows everything, haven’t you heard?”
“Tell me my future, Great One!”
“Make me rich, Your Greatness!”
Andol Crevins flashed his crew a harsh glare, and they quickly quieted, but I merely chuckled to myself as I turned back to the lead merchant.
“I suppose this is where we part ways,” I said as I gave him a friendly handshake. “I need to stay on the road while there is still light to see the path.”
“A wise god, indeed,” the merchant replied with a sage nod. “It has truly been an honor. I will be singing your praises far and wide.”
“I’m sure you will.” I smirked.
Then I remounted Goliath, and my women and I waved to the merchants before the three of us continued to the east. The route we were taking through the woods would avoid Castle Bullard, but I didn’t really want to waste any time visiting with Eva’s father when there was knowledge to be gained.
I wanted one-hundred percent completion of this fantasy medieval video game world, but in order to do that, I had to know everything about Sorreyal, and that included how to smith dragon armor.
I would get what I wanted, no matter how many lives it took.
Eva and Caelia talked about little things they saw while we traveled, and it made my heart sing with joy whenever they let out some girlish giggles. Caelia’s curls flapped behind her in the breeze, and the tiny spring-shaped tendrils danced about like they had a life of their own. Eva’s gray eyes twinkled with merriment every time she glanced over at me, and her pale face was flushed from the wind.
What was better than exploring this vast world with two of the most beautiful women I’d ever met by my side?
Not much.
“I love the crap out of you both,” I declared with a sideways smirk. “Just watching you exist fills me with joy.”
“I love you, Bash,” Caelia murmured as she fluttered those thick, dark eyelashes at me. “And all your strange ways. Isn’t ‘crap’ something bad?”
“Language is confusing where I come from,” I explained as I winked at the dark-skinned beauty. “It’ll take some getting used to.”
“She knows the important stuff,” Eva informed me in a proud tone. “I’ve been translating some of your diction to her in our free time.”
“You make it sound like a class,” I laughed. “Am I really that confusing?”
“We will eventually take the principles, values, and words you use and turn them into a book praising your name.” Eva grinned wide. “Everyone who goes to the church will be able to read about your godliness and valor for themselves.”
“You’re making a bible about me?” I couldn’t help it. I laughed even harder, so much so that Goliath tossed his head in annoyance.
“What’s a bible?” Caelia asked with a tilt of her head.
“It’s a book about a certain god, or gods, and their disciples, or followers,” I explained. “So, basically what Eva just described to me.”
“We could call it The Bash Bible,” the shy shopkeeper suggested, but then she pulled her thick bottom lip between her teeth. “If that would be okay with you? It seems only appropriate to use a term you’re familiar with as the title.”
“Works for me.” My face was beginning to hurt from smiling and laughing so much.
Being the God of Time was fucking awesome.
The three of us continued onward with idle conversation being exchanged, but after a while, we fell into a comfortable silence. The birds sang in the background, and the wind whistled through the canopy of the trees. It was a perfect day for a journey across the kingdom, and I was enjoying every single moment.
Several days passed without incident, and we traversed the familiar road between Carleone and Vallenwood in high spirits. We were getting closer to Vallenwood, but the capital of Sorreyal still laid a day ahead of us, so we decided to strike camp for the night. We found a small clearing off the road, but there was no water nearby to give the horses or to splash off in, so we made do with what we’d brought with us and what I could produce with my magic.
Eva pitched the tent while Caelia unsaddled the horses, and I made a fire using my magic. It was as simple as gathering the tinder in one spot and murmuring “fur” while I held my palms toward the wood, and then the flames were licking at the kindling like an attentive lover.
The thought had me turning to check on my two gorgeous women, and my wife flashed me a wide smile as she approached. The tent looked perfectly erected, and I complimented her on her skills.
“It was nothing,” the duke’s daughter said with a wave of her hand. “I’ve been traveling with you long enough to know how to pitch a tent.”
“True,” I chuckled. “But you’ve still come a long way from the woman accustomed to life in a castle.”
“The horses are hobbled and finding some good grazing,” Caelia reported as she joined us by the fire, and she stood up on her tiptoes to plant a kiss against my cheek. “The weather is perfect for camping.”
“Also true,” I said, and I tweaked her dainty nose. “It seems like it’s always perfect weather here, though.”
“What else would you expect for late spring?” Eva laughed. “Although, I don’t suppose you’re used to the seasons in Sorreyal, either. It could be vastly different from your world.”
“The seasons certainly seem longer here,” I said, but then I shrugged. “I’m not complaining about the sunshine, though, it could always be worse.”
“The weather is much more temperamental near the coast,” Caelia informed me. “It seemed like it would rain all year long sometimes.”
“What was it like living near Mistvale Keep?” I asked. “Were you treated well?”
“My parents were servants,” the shopkeeper reminded me, “so I wasn’t treated lavishly, but I wasn’t mistreated, either.”
“That is so different from how I was raised,” Eva observed. “I often wished to swap places with the servants. It seemed like they had less expectations placed upon their shoulders than I did.”
“My parents wanted me to be happy,” Caelia said. “But they didn’t have much higher hopes than that. If they could only see me now…”
“Right? You’re a successful business owner,” I agreed.
“And one of the God of Time’s lovers,” Eva added.
“That’s my favorite.” Caelia’s eyes filled with adoration as she took me into her gaze, but then the fire snapped a log in half, and she looked away from me to the blaze.
“I’m glad you’re mine, Caelia,” I told her in a soft voice, and I slipped my hand into both of theirs. “Now, what’s for dinner? Are we going hunting while there’s still daylight or eating travel food?”
“Hunting!” both girls said in unison, and then they erupted into a fit of matching giggles.
“That’s your final decision?” I teased. “You can still change your mind.”
Eva swatted my shoulder and flashed me a devilish smirk. “Come on, Your Grace, let’s go already.”
“You better call me Bash, or you’re getting a spanking,” I growled playfully.
“Is that a promise?” The sly duke’s daughter raised one eyebrow.
“If that is your dream,” I murmured in a husky voice as I pulled her against me. “Then I seek to make them come true.”
“You’ve already made my dreams come true,” Eva breathed, and she tilted her head back to receive my kiss.
“What about you, Caelia?” I asked as I included the timid shopkeeper in my warm embrace. “What are your dreams?”
“When I was a little girl, I used to want to explore the world,” the dark-skinned beauty informed me. “But you’re already making that dream come true right now.”
“What else can I give you, though?” I pressed. “I want to make sure you are happy.”
“After I see what this world has to offer,” Caelia said in a thoughtful tone, “I would love to raise a family with you. Seeing the other women glow with the blessings in their bellies has me anxious to get pregnant myself.”
“Do you wish to get married, too?” I asked, and I couldn’t believe the anxious lump that immediately rose to my throat at the thought of her saying no. “I’m up for it if you are.”
“Of course!” Caelia gasped and then flushed darkly. “But I am in no rush. I have no family to shame me for getting pregnant out of wedlock, and the people of Bastianville won’t bat an eye if you give me a child. Besides, I’m way more eager to hold an adorable baby than I am to walk down an aisle in front of everyone I know.”
“I can relate,” Eva snorted. “I can’t wait to squeeze the cute little cheeks of Bash’s babies! To have one of my own would truly be a precious gift.”
“I’ll make it happen,” I promised, but then I flashed her a devilish grin. “What do you say we get started right now?”
“I think that sounds delightful,” Caelia breathed with a small nod. “But can we still go hunting first? I’d like to return to Bastianville with my archery skills increased. I think Mahini would be very proud and impressed if I managed to catch something.”
“Yes, let’s!” Eva agreed, and she pulled out of my arms to cross the distance to our packs. “The sooner we find some game, the sooner we can eat it.”
“It does always taste better fresh,” I added as I followed in the duke’s daughter’s wake with the shopkeeper’s hand still clutched in mine.
A short while later, we were returning to the campsite with our kills, and each of my women had managed to shoot a rabbit. We had enough for a large stew, and we quickly set about trimming and cleaning the game while we discussed our experience.
“Your aim was near-perfect, Eva,” Caelia complimented. “Where did you learn to shoot like that?”
“I was trained in Castle Bullard,” the duke’s daughter explained. “My brothers were even better than I.”
“That had to be hard to compete with,” the shopkeeper sympathized.
“You made a pretty decent shot yourself, Caels,” Eva said with a glint of pride in her eyes. “We’ll make a hunter out of you yet.”
“Bash is such a good teacher.” Caelia flashed me a demure smile. “I wouldn’t have been nearly as successful if he hadn’t pointed out all the game. It’s like he could predict where they were instantly.”
“Oh, hush,” I laughed. “It’s all just--”
“Part of being a god,” the two women finished for me in unison before erupting into a fit of giggles.
“Spot on,” I snickered.
They were feeling feisty, so after dinner we got some sensual exercise, and by the time I was done with the two beautiful women, they were gasping in ragged pants. We snuggled closer together as we fell into a peaceful slumber, but I awoke early the next morning to the sound of birds chirping.
My two women helped me pack away our campsite and saddle the horses, and then we were on our way down the road once more. We weren’t very far from Vallenwood, but it was almost sunset when the golden-walled city came into view. I was excited to get to the coast, but I wouldn’t turn down a night of kingly hospitality and sleeping in a real bed, so I ushered my women toward the capital at a fast pace.
We paused at the open gates, but none of the guards moved to stop us from entering the capital city of Sorreyal, so I clicked my tongue to urge Goliath forward. The streets were still busy despite the sun’s steady descent, and we had to go slowly so as not to run into anyone.
Then a couple of people glanced up at me, down at Goliath, and at the two women in my company before they cried out in an overjoyed voice. “It’s the Archduke of Bastianville!”
Everyone in the streets instantly began to crowd around our three horses, and the next thing I knew, people were reaching up to touch me. Everyone chanted my titles, applauded when I waved, and peppered us with questions.
“What brings you to Vallenwood?”
“Come by my flower shop to get some bouquets for your lovely ladies!”
“Give me a blessing, Great One!”
“Claim me as your woman, Your Grace!” This last cry came from a very unattractive woman wearing ragged clothes, and her stringy blonde hair covered up most of her face.
“Thank you all!” I called out in a loud voice. “Now, if you don’t mind, we’re headed up to the palace to see the king.”
The people scurried to get out of our way, and the rest of the trip through the maze-like town was uneventful. We had a trail of followers behind us, but I didn’t mind enjoying a little bit of a celebrity status. I’d done a lot for Sorreyal during my tenure as Archduke, and it felt good to be recognized for my efforts.
A few hours later, we’d settled into our rooms at the palace, and a servant had requested our presence at the king’s dinner table. Then we sat around the long, intricately-carved wooden table with King Frederick and the royal mage, Viceroy. King Fred seemed well enough, despite still not having a bride, and I almost felt bad about telling him I had two babies on the way. The king was overjoyed for me, though, so I put my concerns out of my mind.
“It is always a joy to see you, Your Grace,” the king said as he lifted his wine glass. “I wish you nothing but the best on your travels east.”
“Who’s in charge of Mistvale Keep now, by the way?” I asked in a curious tone. “I’m not going to have any issues getting through town to the port, am I?”
“Of course not,” the king assured me. “I appointed Lord Quin Gwain to the Mistvale duchy. He was eager to meet you when I made the decision, so I’m sure he will be nothing but friendly when you arrive.”
“You trust this man?” I pressed. “After the plot against you, I would hope you’d vet anyone you placed into a position of power very thoroughly.”
“Yes, yes, Your Grace.” The king waved a dismissive hand. “All is well in Sorreyal, you can relax now.”
“Good.” I nodded. “I will vet the new duke for myself, though. No offense.”
“None taken,” the king replied. “I’m sure you have ways of fettering out treasonous thoughts from mortal minds, so please alert me if you have any concerns, and I will take immediate action.”
“Thanks.” I grinned, but then I turned to encompass the royal mage in my gaze. “How are you feeling lately, Viceroy? Are you healed from the poisons?”
“I am doing very well, thank you, Your Grace.” The royal mage gently placed his fork on the side of his plate to place his hands together, and he bowed his head respectfully. “You said you’re traveling to the coast, but where do you sail to after reaching Mistvale Keep?”
“The Zaborial Isles,” I informed him. “I seek the Grand Occulta Athenaeum.”
“I have heard grand tales of the mages’ library.” Viceroy’s eyebrows rose in surprise. “But it is a very dangerous journey. I urge you to be cautious on the sea, there’s no telling what monsters lurk within the depths.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” I promised, but I chuckled under my breath.
A few sea monsters weren’t going to stop the God of Time.
“Would you like a platoon of guards to accompany you to Mistvale Keep?” King Frederick offered. “It would set my mind at ease.”
“That’s unnecessary,” I assured the king as I exchanged a knowing smile with my two women. “We can take care of ourselves.”
“No offense, Your Majesty,” Eva said with a twinkle in her gray eyes. “But Bash is a god. I think we’ll be alright on our own.”
“Very well,” the king chuckled, and he stroked his beard thoughtfully. “I just wish I could assist your journey in some way.”
The rest of the evening passed by with lots of laughter, toasts, and scrumptious desserts being shared by all. It was a nice cap to the first leg of our journey, but the king’s words had me curious about the new duke. After the plot to overthrow Frederick was discovered, and his enemies were executed, I was surprised to find him so trusting of his new duke and duchess.
I’d figure out just how trustworthy this new duke was for myself, though, and I’d keep the king safe.
The next day dawned bright and early, but I was hesitant to leave the comfort of the warm bed. There were two gorgeous naked women beside me, so why would I ever want to rise from the pillows?
Caelia woke up first, but Eva wasn’t far behind her, and after a quick romp in the sheets, the three of us sat down for a light breakfast.
“What should we do today?” Eva asked.
“Aren’t we leaving?” Caelia questioned.
“We have time to stay in Vallenwood if we want,” I pointed out. “Is there anything you would want to do while we’re in the capital?”
“Well, if the Zaborial Isles are islands in the ocean,” Eva mused. “What kind of climate should we be prepared for?”
“The coastal weather is temperamental,” Caelia informed us. “It will rain half of the days, so we should be ready for that, but I’ve never been across the waters. Maybe it is warmer?”
Pictures of them in bikinis on a sandy beach flashed through my mind, and my cock twitched against the restraint of my pants. I had to make it happen.
“Let’s go shopping,” I suggested. “We’ll get you both some clothes you can swim in.”
“That sounds delightful,” Eva agreed.
“I wouldn’t want to be a bother,” Caelia argued with a light blush.
“Nonsense,” I said. “You’re getting new clothes, and that’s the end of it.”
The three of us headed toward the marketplace after our meal, but I made sure to stop and ask a servant for directions to a seamstress. A few moments later, we were entering the fabric shop, and my jaw dropped at the richness of the textiles. Colorful silks decorated every surface imaginable, and the brilliant hues were like a veritable rainbow in a box.
The seamstress came out of the back room with a questioning expression. “Can I help you?”
The woman’s gray hair was pulled into a braid, and her pale-blue eyes were friendly and full of warmth. She wore a long dress made of a quilted fabric and gave off kindly grandmother vibes, so I had to resist the urge to give her a hug.
I quickly explained the images in my head instead, and the seamstress frowned in concentration as she sketched out a design. When I was satisfied with the drawing, I nodded my approval, and the older woman got to work. I also had her design me a new vest, and I handed over the coins necessary to pay for the purchases.
After a short while, the two women went behind the screen to change into the first attempt at a bikini, but my entire body responded to the visual when they revealed themselves for my inspection.
Caelia’s bathing suit was a cut out one piece made of a soft, silky blue fabric, and Eva wore a strapless two piece that barely concealed anything other than her nipples and pubic hair.
“Are you sure this is considered clothes?” Eva giggled as she placed her hands on her hips.
“I hope it is warm in the Zaborial Isles,” Caelia mused in a worried tone.
“You’re both hot as hell,” I informed them in a husky voice. “Now, let’s get back to our room. Right now.”
The three of us giggled as we returned to the palace with our new outfits in tow, and we spent the rest of the night naked.
We left the palace the next morning, fetched our horses from the stables, and headed toward the eastern gates of Vallenwood. I’d never been in this direction before, so I made a new save point as we rode through the open gates. There was a steady stream of traffic headed in the same direction, and we flowed along with them for a while. Then the people around me realized who I was, and everyone crowded even closer to me.
“Alright, alright!” Eva called out in a commanding voice. “The Great One is on an important mission. Do not harry our travels anymore!”
My wife’s words seemed to cut through the multitude of voices, and my fans got the hint. They gave us a wide berth, but I could feel their eyes on me still. I entertained myself with people watching while we traveled down the road, but then we hit a sleepy little forest town. I didn’t stop to get the name of the village, but the majority of our fellow travelers did not continue with us. I decided to get to know the little hamlet more on the return journey, but right now I was too excited to reach the coast.
We were alone on the road once more, and the wind whistled gently through the trees on either side of the road. The forest was cool, and the sun barely permeated the thick canopy of leaves. It was a pleasant day for a ride, and Goliath seemed to be in his usual high spirits.
The landscape began to slowly shift throughout the day, and by the time we made camp that night, there were no more evergreen trees among the forest. The plant life grew more varied, and I paused often to ask Caelia to identify different things. The timid shopkeeper struggled to remember some of the information since it had been years since she’d been in this part of the kingdom, but she did her best, and for that I was grateful.
After a while of traveling in silence, I began to sing the first thing that came to my mind. It was a little embarrassing I even knew the lyrics, but I knew Eva and Caelia wouldn’t judge me.
“If god had a name, what would it be, and would you call it to his face?” I sang out the words in a loud clear voice, and my two beautiful traveling companions swiveled in their saddles to stare at me in shock. “If you were faced with him, in all his glory, what would you ask, if you had just one question?”
“What is that song?” Eva asked.
“Oh, just a little ditty from my world,” I explained with a self-conscious smile. “It’s silly.”
“I would like to hear the rest of the song,” Caelia said.
“Alright,” I chuckled, and I proceeded to sing to the best of my ability.
I had the two women singing along to the chorus in no time, but I changed the words slightly to be more relevant to my new life in Sorreyal.
“What if Bash was one of us?” we sang, but then we all burst into laughter.
“If Bash had a face, what would it look like, and would you want to see?” I continued, and the two women listened closely before mimicking my words.
“Yeah, yeah, Bash is great,” the two women chanted in unison. “Bash is good.”
“Nobody calls him on the phone, except for the pope, maybe, in Rome!” I belted out with a loud voice.
“What is a pope?” Caelia asked. “And is Rome a place from your world?”
“The pope is like a mage,” was the best way I could explain. “He holds a lot of religious and political power, but they say he is the closest link to god. From what I’ve heard so far, I think the High Priest of the Zaborial Isles will be similar.”
“So, the High Priest is the next most powerful person in our world?” Eva asked. “Since he would be the closest link to you?”
“I’m sure it all works a little differently here,” I said with a shrug.
“I can’t wait to see what the islands look like,” Eva sighed, and her smoky-gray eyes filled with daydreams.
“I’ve heard tales of scenic beaches and strange people,” Caelia supplied. “I’m sure it is even more magical in person, though.”
“It’s going to be a long journey,” I reminded them. “We’ll have to sail across the Eastern Ocean to reach the islands.”
“As long as I’m with you,” Eva said, “I will go to the ends of the world.”
“I feel the same way,” Caelia added. “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity! Thank you for bringing me with you, Bash.”
“There’s no way I would have let you stay behind,” I assured her. “Not with what you’re bringing to my bed every night.”
“Oh, Bash!” The dark-skinned goddess giggled knowingly, and I smirked. “You’re insatiable!”
We traveled for a few more days without incident, but we didn’t come across any other towns along the way, so we camped out every night beneath the stars. I made sure to make a new save point each morning, but I wasn’t too worried about encountering problems along the way. The two women were hard workers, and they did the majority of the tasks each time we made camp, so I made sure to keep us stocked with fresh game. The two women were the best of friends, and they did nearly everything hand in hand, including pleasing me.
I took my time traveling, and we stopped often to roll around in the grass together, or to dip into a passing stream. It wasn’t like there was any deadline on my quest, and I was enjoying every minute of the trip.
Evenings grew cooler as we got closer to the coast, and the trees began to grow less numerous each day. The road was less traveled in this area, so our horses often had to sidestep potholes, and I wondered how often wagons rolled through.
It was an evening much like the many that had come before it, and the three of us were lounging beside a warm fire when I heard a rustling in the bushes. The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end, and I instinctively reached for my sword.
Something wasn’t right.
Then several armed men jumped out of the undergrowth into the firelight, and I scanned over the dirty, scarred faces swiftly. There were around twenty of them, and they all carried weapons. Some had crude-looking swords while others held axe handles, but I even spotted a warhammer gripped tightly in two fists.
“I wasn’t expecting company,” I said in a casual tone as I rose to my feet. “But I will next time.”
“Get him!” one of the men growled, and six men lunged for me at once.
I wasn’t about to let them get the jump on me and my women, though, so I reset back to my save point with a wave of my will.
Chime.