I let out a deep breath before I crossed the distance to where Evangeline and Caelia stood with the rest of our followers, and I grinned as my wife handed my newly acquired guns to me.
“Here you go, my love,” Eva said as she flashed me a wink. “Your new toys.”
“Thanks,” I chuckled, and then I squatted down to lay the guns out on the ground before me.
There were four pistols altogether, each with a revolving chamber that held six rounds, but only a few bullets remained in each. The larger pair were the ones the pirate king had worn on his hips, and the opal handles glimmered in the light of the flames burning all around us. The smell of gunpowder clung to the weapons, and they had a solid feeling in my hands. The smaller set were unadorned except for some swirls carved into the barrels, but the interesting part about them was the mechanism that would allow me to strap them to my forearms. I’d have to replace the leather thongs I’d sliced to remove them from the pirate king, but they were in good condition otherwise.
I pressed my pointer finger against the tip of the barrel of one of the gemstone-handled guns, and the holographic text box hovered in the air in front of me.
Durability - 82%
Weight - 7 lbs
Quality - High
Capacity - Six
Magical Ability - None
I wasn’t sure how I could repair the gun to return it to one hundred percent durability, but I was sure Jaxtom would be able to help me out with the project once I returned to Bastianville.
I’d also have to figure out how to make more bullets, but first I’d have to find a source for the ingredients needed.
I certainly had my work cut out for me, but it was worth it to have gained a new toy. I was excited to experiment with the new weapons more, but I wanted to check the stats on the smaller guns.
Durability - 42%
Weight - 3 lbs
Quality - Good
Capacity - Six
Magical Ability - None
They weren’t the most amazing guns, but they were the first I’d seen since being summoned to this magical fantasy world, so I was glad they were in my hands now. I was satisfied with my findings, so I used one of the broken leather straps of the forearm mechanisms to bind the four guns together, and I tucked them under my arm.
Then I watched closely as the pirates continued to either lay down their arms or make a run for it, but it soon became clear that my people had the situation under control.
The Arajians were becoming quite proficient at killing pirates, that was for sure.
Sarosh ran up the street from the direction of The Quest where she’d been during the battle, and her lip was swollen and bloodied, but she looked otherwise unharmed.
“Is he…?” Her tone made it clear she already knew the answer.
I nodded. “Dead as dead can be.”
“Good.” Sarosh clasped her hands calmly in front of her. “King Risthan will be pleased to hear it.”
“Miss him already, huh?” I teased, and I flashed her a mischievous wink. “Don’t worry, we’ll head back in a few days with the Arajians we freed from slavery.”
“It seems your army has grown,” Sarosh said as her eyes trailed over the pirates surrendering to my people. “What are you going to do with them?”
“Put them to work.” I put my hands on my hips. “Sweat the evil out of them.”
Sarosh’s laughter bubbled out of her almost against her will, and I couldn’t resist the urge to chuckle in response. We stood over the corpse of the pirate king and laughed until we drew the eyes of those around us, but then a thought struck me.
“How many ships are salvageable?” I asked.
“Most of them,” the priestess reported. “Black-eye knows his trade, and he extinguished blazes before they had a chance to grow.”
“Then I have a navy, too,” I observed. “A gift for Risthan.”
“You’ll start a new terror on the Eastern Ocean,” Sarosh mused. “Fed up Arajians seeking vengeance.”
“I hope so,” I said. “It’s about time.”
“Aptly said by the God of Time,” Sarosh teased, but then she inclined her head. “I will minister to your new recruits.”
“Appreciate it.” I grinned.
Caelia and Eva leaned against the wall of the keep as they watched the Arajians and the sailors organize the pirates into groups, and they whispered to each other behind their hands.
“What secrets are you sharing without me?” I asked once I was within hearing distance.
“Just thinking out loud that we can go home now,” Eva confessed with a bashful smile. “I’d like to get home before I start to show.”
My grin split my face until my cheeks hurt, and both women giggled.
“We need to finish what we started here on Esther Island first,” I said. “I want the streets smelling like Pine-Sol before we leave. Then we’re headed back to Arajah with the people we rescued.”
“Then back to the Zaborial Isles,” Caelia guessed.
“You got it.” I motioned finger guns at my bride-to-be.
Eva rolled her eyes, but Caelia clapped with delight, and that was good enough for me considering how cheesy the move was.
“Can we leave the rest to them?” Eva asked as she jerked her chin toward the sailors and Arajians. “I’m ready to finish my dinner.”
“I think that’s a brilliant idea,” I agreed.
I made a few quick comments to some of my followers and gave others instructions for the next day, and then I wrapped my arms around the shoulders of my two beautiful babes and headed inside the keep. The servants had reheated our food, so we stuffed ourselves to bursting before we retired for the night in the most opulent chamber in the keep. I fell asleep moments after my head hit the pillow, but my dreams were filled with the blue-skinned beauty from the Zaborial Isles.
Zenda.
I woke with her twinkling sapphire eyes locked in my thoughts, and excitement coursed through my veins when I realized I’d be seeing her again soon. Then I remembered it would only be for a short time, and my excitement slackened.
I had to make her mine.
We spent the next three days supervising the clean-up of my new Island, but the pirates leapt at the chance to redeem themselves. Occasionally, they would talk while they worked, and many told stories of years of trauma that lead to them joining Raiz’s crew. Others were orphans, or ran away from home, and the whole thing ended up reminding me of Captain Hook from Peter Pan.
I stood on the ramparts of the outer wall and gazed absently at The Quest anchored in the harbor, but my thoughts roamed all over the Eastern Ocean and beyond to Sorreyal. I missed Mahini and Elissa, and I longed to rub their growing bellies.
“Bash?” Caelia tugged on my sleeve and pulled me out of my thoughts.
“Sorry,” I said with an apologetic smile. “I was back in Bastianville.”
“That’s what I came to speak with you about,” the shopkeeper explained. “In a manner of speaking.”
“We’re going to head home soon,” I promised, and I turned my gaze to the horizon as I wrapped my arm around the dark-skinned goddess. “We just have a few more things to take care of first.”
A couple of days later, I declared the newly renamed Bastian Island renewed, and we held a feast in the audience chamber. The former pirates held themselves awkwardly tense as they attempted casual interactions with people they’d once enslaved, but for their part, the Arajians were gracious and forgiving.
Things would be okay in this part of the world.
We sailed back to Arajah the next morning, and we had a total of seven ships in our fleet as we angled our prows toward Sarosh’s homeland one last time. The time we spent traveling was filled with drinking, laughter, and sexy shenanigans galore, but there was a general atmosphere of merriment across every vessel. The pirate king was dead, and the Arajians were practically dancing in celebration.
Captain Black-eye took a liking to one of the prettier former slaves, and it was obviously reciprocated. I waited for days to hear they’d made their relationship official, but I was pleasantly surprised when they came to me for permission first.
“You want me to give you the okay to sleep together?” I resisted the urge to laugh out loud.
“She was a sacrifice…” Black-eye fidgeted from foot to foot in an anxious manner, and my eyebrows rose into my hairline in surprise. I’d never seen the stoic man so out of his element before, and I realized he wanted more than a release of his lusts.
He loved the Arajian woman.
“What’s your name, dear?” I asked the former slave.
The woman blushed and tucked her copper hair behind one ear. “I was named Arajah after my homeland.”
“That’s neat.” I gave her an encouraging smile. “How do you feel about Captain Black-eye?”
“I saw his ship fighting against the pirate king’s fleet,” Arajah said, and her eyes twinkled with the memory. “The captain stood at the prow and faced the enemy without fear. I wish to be like him.”
I waited for her to say more about the more adult nature of their relationship, but the longer the silence stretched on, the brighter red Arajah’s cheeks became.
“Do you wish to marry Captain Black-eye?” I asked bluntly.
“Oh, yes!” Arajah’s golden eyes glimmered with emotion as she nodded emphatically. “More than anything.”
“What will your family think of you marrying a foreigner?” I pressed.
I didn’t want Black-eye to face retribution later when he ended up isolating the girl from her entire family just for love, but Arajah was already shaking her head.
“They were sacrifices, too, Great One,” she explained, and her bottom lip quivered. “They did not survive long. They were old and couldn’t carry the workload the way they used to.”
“I’m sorry.” I pressed my lips together in a tight line.
Regardless of how many lives we’d saved, there were many we hadn’t arrived in time for, but that would be a burden I’d have to carry. At least it was unlikely to ever happen again now that the Arajians were willing to defend themselves, and I envisioned an ocean teeming with commerce in the days to come.
“It’s alright.” Arajah gave me a tight-lipped smile in return.
Black-eye placed a hand on her shoulder and gently squeezed, and the young Arajian woman leaned into the touch. I smiled and clapped my hands together in a decisive manner, and they both jumped.
“It’s fine with me if you both want to be together,” I said. “Go, be happy, and make some cute babies.”
Arajah blushed again, but Black-eye smirked, and I shook my head in amusement as I watched the new couple depart. I was proud to have played a role in the captain finding happiness with another person, but the sight of their departing backs reminded me once more of home.
I kept myself busy for the remainder of the trip back to Arajah, but we were anchored off the coast of the island before I knew it. We dropped the small rowboats into the water, and by the time we were rowing to the shore, a sizable group of Arajians had gathered to greet us.
I immediately spotted the silver-haired middle-aged man in the fine silk robes, and I grinned from ear to ear. King Risthan had come down to the beach to greet us personally, and the sight bade well for the future of Arajah. The newly crowned king waved his arm over his head like a youngster seeing his dad return home from war, and he splashed into the waves without concern for his fine clothes to help us pull the boat ashore.
“You’re already turning out to be a fine king,” I complimented after we embraced like brothers. “I can tell.”
“It is good to hear you say so.” Risthan gestured to the road. “I’ve arranged a feast for your arrival.”
“How did you know we were coming so fast?” I asked as I glanced around. “Did you plant spies among my men?”
“Never!” Risthan laughed, and the unfamiliar sound stuck in my ears long after he’d stopped. “My ships spotted your standards from a distance. They’ve learned to see without being seen.”
“Good job,” I said. “I barely noticed them.”
Risthan narrowed his eyes ever so slightly like he was trying to tell if I was lying or not, but then he smiled.
“I haven’t told you the best news yet, either.” The silver-haired king led the way down the road toward the city as the rest of the sailors began to come ashore.
Some people stuck around to take the boats back to the ships, but I knew everyone would make it onto the island soon enough.
“What’s the best news?” I pressed when Risthan didn’t continue.
The king shot me a sideways smirk. “I’m tempted to make you wait until it’s finished to reveal it to you.”
“Not if it’s going to be a while,” I said. “I have to get back to my other quests.”
“A day or two, at most,” Risthan assured me.
“We can wait that long,” Eva interjected as she nudged me in the ribs with an elbow. “It sounds exciting, Your Majesty.”
“Please, for my friends I will always remain simply Risthan,” the King of Arajah said.
“Alright, Risthan,” Eva giggled. “That feels less awkward, anyway.”
“I agree.” The king turned to Caelia. “How do you feel about waiting a couple of days to see the surprise?”
“As long as I’m with Bash,” the shopkeeper said. “I am content.”
My mind raced with possibilities of what the surprise could be, but I was willing to wait a couple of days to confirm my theories. Risthan seemed almost giddy over the idea of us staying for a while, so I felt bad about my eagerness to return home.
The city was bustling and alive when we arrived, and there was music and dancing in the streets. Colorful streamers decorated every doorway, and candles burned in every window. The Arajians smiled in a friendlier way than they ever had before, and I marveled at the complete change in the citizens.
We stayed up late partying with the townsfolk, and I slept in late the next day. Then we spent time helping Risthan troubleshoot some issues that had come up for the new king, and finally, he announced my surprise was ready.
A parade waited outside the palace doors to take us to the destination, and I rode in the lead carriage beside the king. The procession rolled forward, and a moment later, we were riding out of the courtyard and into the city. Already there were people in large clumps craning their necks to get a glimpse at the Heroes of the Eastern Ocean, and then they began to chant my name.
“Sebastian! Sebastian!”
I even heard a few of The Quest’s crew members’ names being shouted from the crowd, and I watched as those mentioned squared their shoulders ever so slightly.
I was glad I wasn’t the only hero being recognized since so many people had made the victory possible.
We rode through Custanov at a slow crawl, but Risthan and I discussed some of the changes he’d enacted in my absence. I gave him the best advice I could, and we waved at the people lining the streets as we passed by.
Then the procession ground to a halt, and I was the one craning my neck in an effort to catch a glimpse at what laid ahead. A huge tarp-like canvas had been thrown over something in the middle of the market square, and my grin widened as I realized what it was.
“Sir Sebastian, Archduke of Sorreyal,” King Risthan intoned loudly, and the buzz of the crowd dimmed. “You came from distant shores with good intentions and showed us the error of our archaic ways. There is no amount of words, gold, or gifts I could give that could express my gratitude in full, but please accept this as a token of Arajah’s esteem for you.”
Risthan gestured to a couple of guardsmen who stood at the base of the tarp, and the two men yanked on lengths of rope to remove the fabric. The gray-hued lump fell away and revealed a marble statue, and it looked just like me. They’d placed me on top of a table, and I gestured as though in mid-speech.
“It’s about my speech in this very spot,” I guessed, and the king nodded.
“You changed many people’s lives that day,” he said.
“Thank you, Risthan,” I said, but I had to struggle to keep the intense emotions I was feeling out of my voice. I was deeply touched by the honor, and I bowed my head for lack of better words to say.
The newly crowned king chuckled knowingly and patted me on the back, but then he strode toward the statue, and silence fell across the watching Arajians.
“My people!” King Risthan said in a booming voice. “For as long as our histories have noted, we have been pacifists. We have been bound by duty and honor to an ancient system that no longer serves us! With the arrival of Sir Sebastian, the God of Time, a new way of living has been opened up before us. We can answer the call or hide in the past, but there is no glory in stories already told. We must protect what we treasure with our very lives, and stand guard against tyranny. I swear now before the likeness of our savior that I will do everything within my power to ensure a brighter future for all of Arajah!”
The crowd went wild, and I shook my head in awe. Risthan was quite the king, and Arajah would soon be a force to be reckoned with.
Early the next morning, I woke up Eva, Caelia, and Sarosh before heading to the throne room to see Risthan. I’d had dreams of Arajah’s secret all night, and I decided it was time for the mystery to be solved.
Risthan wasn’t in the throne room, but a servant waited outside the corridor to the king’s personal apartments, and he ran to wake up his liege as soon as he saw me enter the audience chamber. The silver-haired middle-aged man emerged a few moments later, but he was still rubbing sleep from his eyes with the back of his hands.
“Are you leaving me again?” the king asked.
“Almost,” I said. “There’s one more thing I need from you first.”
“Anything,” Risthan said without any signs of hesitation.
I paused, and I watched his and Sarosh’s expressions very closely as I made my request.
“I want to know the island’s secret,” I said with a calmer voice than I felt.
My two Arajian friends exchanged a loaded glance, but then the king subtly nodded, and the priestess slumped her shoulders in acceptance.
“I will take you to it,” Risthan agreed.
“Really?” I grinned. “That was easier than I thought.”
“You’ve done so much for Arajah,” the king countered. “If anyone is willing to protect our secret, it is you.”
Risthan left vague instructions with his household staff to excuse him from his normal duties for a few hours, and then we saddled horses before riding out of Custanov. The king and Sarosh took the lead, and both of them seemed confident that they knew where we were going, so I contented myself to follow along behind them.
Eva and Caelia speculated broadly over what the secret could be, but we were all pretty convinced it was some kind of powerful magic.
And soon it would be mine.
The forest grew denser the further we got away from the city, and the path became more treacherous until we had to abandon the horses altogether. We left them hitched to low-hanging branches, and then we began the ascent up to the peak of the mountain that overshadowed Custanov.
We paused to rehydrate after we’d been walking for a while, and I gazed down the hill at the way we’d come. Custanov was spread out far below us, and the people moving about the streets looked like ants from this distance.
“How much further?” Caelia asked as she placed a hand across her lower stomach.
“The secret lies at the peak of the mountain,” Risthan explained. “We are halfway there now.”
“Good,” Eva sighed. “I know mountain climbing makes the body stronger, but I could do without it.”
“It will be worth it,” Sarosh said in a mysterious tone.
“Now, I’m excited,” I said as my grin split my face.
We continued onward with renewed vigor the rest of the way, but soon our pace had to slow once more to remove branches and brush from the path. I helped Risthan haul giant fallen trees out of the way, but some we just climbed over.
“My people have done our best to mask the path,” the king said. “Few visit regularly so as not to draw attention to the area.”
“It doesn’t look like anyone’s ever been this way before,” I said. “Good job.”
As we circled the summit and crested the ridge, the ground leveled out slightly. Densely-packed trees prevented me from seeing very far ahead, but I followed Risthan as he slipped between the trunks. We maneuvered through the forest until we emerged in a clearing, and the sound of running water combined with birdsong met my ears.
A humongous boulder resembling a giant triangle stood in the center of the clearing, and water trickled down from the very tip to flow over every edge. The sunlight struck the water and cast a rainbow glow over the entire area, and butterflies fluttered from leaf to leaf.
It was like a hidden paradise.
“This is the Heart of Arajah,” Risthan declared as he gestured to the pool of water surrounding the triangular boulder.
I let out a low appreciative whistle as I stepped forward to get a better look, but I resisted the urge to show my confusion. I didn’t want to offend the proud Arajians, but it wasn’t the magical weapon or medieval version of a nuclear bomb like I’d been expecting.
Sarosh and Risthan both moved to the edge of the pool, went down on their hands and knees, and then pressed their foreheads to the dirt.
“Oh, holy gift of the earth, we are grateful for your existence, and we swear to protect you from all threats.” The two spoke in monotone unison, like it was something they’d said a million times before.
Then they cupped their hands, dipped them into the water, and sipped the liquid from their palms. Both Arajians finished by touching their pointer fingers to the middle of their foreheads before they rose to their feet once more.
I made a new save point as they returned to my side.
“What was that all about?” I asked. “Is the pool the center of a religion or something?”
“It is the Heart of Arajah,” Risthan repeated in a patient voice. “It is what unites my people as one.”
“It’s pretty…” I allowed as I raked a hand through my hair. “But I guess I was expecting something magical.”
“The waters of the pool heals, Bash,” Sarosh laughed. “A small sip will banish the effects of age for many months, but even a fatal wound can be healed if one is completely submerged in the liquid.”
“Oh!” I grinned. “That makes more sense. Can it really heal fatal wounds? I thought healing magic didn’t exist in this world.”
“Hence the need to keep it a secret,” Risthan pointed out. “Otherwise the entire world would show up on our island, and the pool would become tainted. It is our solemn duty to keep the waters clean and safe. In return, the island grants us prolonged lifespans and the ability to heal our sick.”
I wasn’t one to ever be satisfied with seeming like I didn’t know something, so I reset to my save point with a wave of my will.
“The Heart of Arajah is beautiful,” I said. “With the healing properties of the water, it’s no wonder your people have such long lifespans.”
“Indeed,” Risthan said, and he raised his eyebrows in surprise at my knowledge. “Sarosh and I were looking forward to explaining it to you, but it seems there is no need.”
“Thank you for trusting me with this secret,” I said in a hushed voice full of awe. “I will not betray Arajah.”
“We know,” Sarosh said. “Because of the honor you have shown us, Risthan and I agreed to allow you to fill three vials with the waters from the pool. That way you can take the Heart of Arajah with you wherever you go.”
“Deal!” I grinned.
Sarosh produced the small jars from a pocket inside her robes, and the priestess carefully dipped them into the pool until they were full. She placed a cork in each of their openings and pushed them sealed, and then she handed the vials full of magical healing water to me.
“Can I come back to get more if I use this all?” I asked, and my gaze flicked to Risthan in a questioning manner.
“Of course,” the king replied. “You are one of us, Bash, as we are one of you.”
“Getting a crown made you more poetic,” I teased.
“It’s efficient, what can I say?” the king laughed. “Now, we should return to the palace before I am terribly missed.”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” I said with a wink.
We set sail once more the following day, and this time we aimed our prows toward the Zaborial Isles, but I left the unnamed ship with the king of Arajah to add to his naval fleet. Several Arajians insisted on coming with us, and they argued that they’d grown addicted to riding the waves with the crew of the Sorreyalian vessel. I continued to spend my days working with my new sailors and my women as they learned the finer techniques of sailing, but we also spent a lot of our time training the former pacifists in swordsmanship and self-defense.
Nanau came into view on a cloudy afternoon, and I sighed with relief. While I enjoyed sailing, and I had amazing friends and lovers to keep me company, I was still eager for my journey to come to an end. We harbored The Quest and clambered down the gangplank to the docks with energetic steps, and I turned toward the Grand Occulta Athenaeum.
“In a rush to see a certain historian?” Eva teased as she trotted to match my pace.
“Maybe.” I flashed her a sheepish smile. “But I also need to talk to the High Priest about borrowing some books for a while so we can head back to Bastianville sooner rather than later.”
“I believe you.” Eva winked.
“It would be so lovely if Zenda could come with us,” Caelia mused. “She is such a sweet person, and so smart!”
“That would be awesome,” I agreed. “But I can’t just ask her to leave her life in Nanau behind. She has the library, and her father…”
The two women rubbed my shoulders in a comforting manner, and I gave them grateful smiles, but we went the rest of the way in comfortable silence. Bertram’s eyes widened when we entered the main doors, but the rude Zaborian priest didn’t hinder us in any way as we headed toward the High Priest’s office.
I rounded the corner and spied Zenda at her desk, and my breath caught in my throat. Her hair had grown an inch or so since I’d last seen her, and the fuzzy green tendrils created a colorful halo around her face. Then she looked up and caught me staring, and her sweet lips fell open in surprise.
“Great One!” the historian gasped, and she shoved away from the desk to fling herself toward me. “You’ve returned!”
It took me a moment to process the shock of suddenly holding the beautiful Zaborian in my arms, but I recovered quickly and squeezed her tightly against me.
“I take it you missed me?” I chuckled as I nuzzled my nose into her new green growth. “I like your hair.”
“Thank you.” Zenda seemed to remember herself, and she pushed herself away from me as a purple hue tinged her cheeks. “And yes, terribly. I’m glad you’re back now, though, and we can resume our study sessions.”
My cock throbbed at the mere thought of our “study sessions,” but I took a calming breath and flashed the blue-skinned goddess an apologetic smile.
“I can’t stay long this time, either,” I said. “I’ve been away from my home for too long already. I have babies on the way, and I need to get back before they’re born.”
“Oh, I see.” Zenda’s eyebrows knitted together, but then, like waking from a dream, the Zaborian pulled on a controlled expression and smoothed her robes with a few quick strokes. “I shall alert my father to your presence.”
I’d hurt her.
The realization struck deep, but there wasn’t much I could do about it besides lie to the poor woman, so I swallowed down my feelings and gave her a polite nod.
“Lead the way,” I said.
Eva and Caelia exchanged a look, and I knew they could sense the tension between Zenda and I.
High Priest Zeydon let us in as soon as Zenda announced my presence, and the elder man rose from his desk as we entered his office. He hadn’t changed at all, but this time, the room was empty of other priests or scribes.
“Great One!” the High Priest greeted. “I wasn’t expecting you for some time. Did you end up giving up on the notion that you could eliminate every pirate in the Eastern Ocean?”
“No,” I laughed. “I’ve finished that already.”
“Oh!” His green eyebrows rose into his hairline. “Congratulations, and thank you. The Zaborial Isles will also reap the benefits of what you have sown.”
“That was the plan,” I said. “I care about you guys, and I want to make sure everyone in this world has good lives.”
“You honor us,” the High Priest said. “I take it you intend to resume your use of the library?”
“That’s why I came to talk to you, actually,” I said. “I am ready to head back to Sorreyal, but I wanted to ask if I could borrow some books for a while. With the fast travel amulet, I’ll be visiting more often, so I’ll be able to return them eventually.”
“Take anything you wish,” the High Priest said without hesitation. “You have done so much for my people, the Zaborial Isles, and the Eastern Ocean altogether. The least we can do is allow you to continue to learn and grow your power. That reminds me! We have commissioned a temple to be built in your honor with a statue of your likeness to guard the entrance.”
“That’s amazing!” I guffawed as I envisioned the blue-robed priests constructing a temple to anything other than magic and knowledge.
“Your influence will live on for many years to come,” Zeydon said, and the corners of his lips lifted into a smile.
“I’m glad we are in agreement.” I grinned. “I’ll grab the volumes I want now, so this will have to be goodbye.”
“Farewell, and safe travels,” High Priest Zeydon said as he clasped my hand warmly.
“Bash, wait!” Zenda burst into the room with a desperate look on her face. “I want to come with you!”
My breath caught in my throat as we all froze in place, but I couldn’t help glancing at the historian’s father to gauge his reaction. A patient smile stretched across his lips, and he didn’t seem surprised in the slightest, but he flashed me a questioning look.
“Zenda…” I said in a cautious tone. “I would be out of this world happy if I could take you with me, but you have a life here.”
“Father,” Zenda said as she turned away from me and gave the High Priest a stiff bow. “I hereby tender my resignation effective immediately. I have been training a couple of the younger girls for years, and I believe one of them will make an acceptable replacement.”
“If that is what you wish,” her father said as he spread his hands. “I grant you my blessing. May the two of you have a lifetime of happiness together.”
“You’re serious?” My jaw nearly hit the floor as I looked back and forth between the father and daughter.
“It’s all been arranged.” Zenda’s sapphire eyes twinkled triumphantly.
“Fuck, yes!” I whooped, and I crossed the distance to Zenda in two quick strides before I pulled her into my arms and crushed my lips against hers.
“I have one caveat,” Zeydon interjected, and we reluctantly pulled apart. “You are the daughter of knowledge. Swear on the Grand Occulta Athenaeum that you will use this opportunity to learn all about the outside world. Return with new knowledge to add to our collection, and you will have fulfilled your role as Head Historian.”
“Done!” Zenda said in a bright voice.
“Thanks, Zeydon,” I breathed. “This is… unexpected, to say the least.”
“You were unaware of my daughter’s affections for you?” Zeydon asked in a teasing tone. “They were quite clear to anyone else with clear vision.”
“Ouch,” I laughed. “I was trying to spare your feelings.”
The High Priest waved a dismissive hand, and his eyes twinkled happily.
“Take care of my daughter, and yourself.” The High Priest inclined his head as he tucked his hands into the sleeves of his robes. “Return someday with my grandchildren.”
“I swear.” My cheeks hurt from smiling so much, but I didn’t care.
Zenda was coming home with me.
The Zaborian historian brought her possessions with her to the dock the following morning, and I helped her carry her handful of luggage on board The Quest. Her intelligent sapphire eyes scanned over the ship like she was taking notes, and I made a mental note to pick her brain about her observations later.
The rest of the voyage would be very entertaining.
While I knew a lot about the blue-skinned goddess, there was still so much more I could learn, and I was excited for the opportunity.
With a heave and a ho, the crew of The Quest pushed us away from the port of Nanau and into the open waters of the Eastern Ocean. Then I stood with Zenda, Caelia, Eva, and Sarosh at the back of the boat as we watched the Zaborial Isles slide out from our views.
“This is the furthest I’ve ever been from home,” Zenda said in a quiet voice as she stared at the horizon where her homeland had been a moment prior.
“You’ve got quite a ways to go still,” Eva informed her. “Bastianville is on the other side of Sorreyal from the coast. You’ll get to see a lot of the kingdom, though, and probably meet a lot of Bash’s followers before we even arrive back home.”
“I can’t wait to see your shop!” Zenda told Caelia. “And everything in Bastianville. This is honestly a childhood dream of mine… To travel the world…”
“You picked the right god to fall in love with, then,” Caelia giggled.
“He’s my only god,” Zenda said as she batted her eyelashes at me.
“Damn straight,” I growled, and the girls all laughed.
While we sailed back to Sorreyal, Zenda met the Arajians and the other crew members, and she began to compile a history of me from their tales of my exploits. Everyone loved her, but I wouldn’t have expected anything else. The blue-skinned goddess was quick to smile, kind-hearted, and always had a snappy comeback to the sailor’s crude jokes.
I fell in love with her over and over again during the journey to Sorreyal, but I was hesitant to claim her body completely just yet. I wanted to really take my time experiencing her, so I planned on waiting until we reached my own bed. The boat had begun to feel claustrophobic to me after so much time spent at sea, and I stayed on the upper decks more and more.
Plus, I got hard every time I even glanced at Zenda, so I tried to keep myself distracted.
Once we reached Mistvale Keep, the sailors of The Quest let out a loud cheer and tossed their hats into the air. The sight of Sorreyalian shores nearly brought tears to my eyes, but I noticed similar emotions on everyone’s faces. We’d been gone for so long, home almost seemed like a dream. We partied with the crew one last time, and I gave a full report of my travels to the Duke of Mistvale Keep before we rode out of town. I rode Goliath, but the other women’s horses pulled a cart laden with our share of the pirate loot we’d scavenged, so I kept my guard up and my head held high.
Bastianville was just around the bend.
The God of Time was headed home, at last.
As we traveled across Sorreyal, Caelia and Evangeline got to know Zenda, and my two lovers explained all about Mahini, Elissa, and everyone else in Bastianville. The blue-skinned goddess paled as she heard the list of unfamiliar names, and her sapphire eyes glazed over, so I subtly signaled for the girls to slow down.
Still, it was adorable to see the knowledgeable historian flustered with an influx of information, and I stuck the image into my long-term memory.
Eventually, we passed through Carleone, and Mayor Carlisle offered to send a runner ahead to Bastianville, so I took him up on it. It would only take us one more day to reach home, and I was eager to be with Mahini and Elissa again. I’d fast travel right to them if I could.
Then an idea struck me like a lightbulb illuminating above my head, and a broad grin stretched across my face.
“What’s that look about?” Eva asked.
“I have a surprise in mind for our family and friends in Bastianville,” I said as I flashed her a mischievous wink. “I’m going to send you three ahead with the cart and one of my fast travel amulets.”
“Send us ahead?” Caelia asked. “You’re not going home with us?”
“I’ll spend the rest of the day catching up with the people of Carleone,” I said as I gestured at the town around us. “When you get to Bastianville, I’ll fast travel to your side. I’m sure you and Eva can watch Zenda’s back the rest of the way there, right?”
The girls all exchanged a glance, but then they nodded.
It was weird to watch them ride away from me, but I made a new save point just in case, and then I turned my attention back to my holding for the rest of the day. I waited patiently until plenty of time had passed, and once I was confident the three women had arrived safely in Bastianville, I pulled out my fast travel amulet. Then I performed the ritual motions that activated the spell, and I began to dematerialize in a blue glow of magic.
I blinked, and the next thing I knew, I stood in the middle of all my women.
I’d done it.
I’d just fast traveled across a day’s ride.
Mahini’s ice-blue eyes tore into me as though I was a mirage she could see through, but Elissa didn’t hesitate for a single second before she threw herself into my arms, and I wrapped her in the tightest embrace I dared. The rest of the town stood in shocked silence as they stared at me, and I gave them all a friendly wave.
The God of Time was home again.
End of Book 8