Forged Bonds (Binding Words Book 4) Read online

  Sean picked up his drink. When Ryann followed suit, Sean put a hand on her shoulder. “Stay and talk. We trust the Dame to keep me safe while I’m inside her walls.”

  Ryann tensed briefly, but relaxed. “As you wish, husband.”

  Bemin’s eyebrows shot up, and she took notice of the Life Bonding marks. Trying to hide her surprise, she turned to Sean. “This way, sir.”

  Sean walked into Mageeyes’ office, careful to keep his energy dampened. He smiled as he greeted her, “Thank you for your time, Dame Mageeyes.”

  “You have never failed to bring me entertainment, MacDougal. I’m curious why you have asked to see me tonight.”

  Settling into the chair across from her, Sean decided to be blunt. “One of my Bonded’s mother is suffering from traumatic events, severely enough that she can’t cope with the world. I hope you might know of some way to help her.”

  Mageeyes sat back in her chair, staring at him. “Hmm, you would entreat with me, not for aid to one of your Bonded, but their mother? It isn’t Bronzeshield, obviously… maybe your new Life Bonded, the one you call Ryann?”

  Sean sat there with a blank expression, not giving her an inch. “Do you know of something that will help?”

  “What are you offering me in return?”

  “That would depend on what you can do to help me.”

  Mageeyes smiled, a warm smile full of hidden laughter. “Ah, you are learning, MacDougal. I was wondering when you’d start dipping your toes in that pond.”

  “I do have one thing I could give to you, something that won’t be seen for over a tenday, at least. It’s a working prototype for a new kind of kettle, but I’d need a solid lead, or even an introduction.”

  “I think I can get you an introduction with someone who can help and put in a good word for you. In return, I’d need more.”

  Taking a long drink of the light ale he had brought with him, Sean let the lingering flavor of pears distract him for a moment. “What more did you have in mind, Dame?”

  “I know you are working on a bathhouse with the smiths and Shapers. From what I can put together, it isn’t a normal bathhouse and the kettles are a stepping stone along that path.” Sean’s eye twitched, and Mageeyes’ smile widened. “I would want access to whatever you have planned so it can be duplicated at my inn.”

  “I can’t agree to that. It would require a majority of the others to agree.”

  Mageeyes looked displeased, “You didn’t try to deny it.”

  “It would be stupid to deny what you know.”

  “That isn’t how the game is played,” Mageeyes sighed. “You deny, I explain how I know, then you begrudgingly admit that it is the truth.”

  “I ruined your moment,” Sean said, finally understanding. “I apologize. As you know, this isn’t something I am used to.”

  “I will accept your apology. What will you counter with?”

  “I could give you the prototype I mentioned first. As you said before, you wanted new things brought to your attention. I will ask the others about upgrading your bathing room once the bathhouse is done. If a majority agree, then I’ll let you know, but you’ll still need to cover the costs of it.”

  “MacDougal, did you truly throw Denmur out of your shop yesterday?” Mageeyes asked the question innocently, not seeming to be aware of shifting topics.

  “That is an interesting question,” Sean said as he tried to think of who might have told her. Taking another long pull from the mug, he tried to buy time. “Why would you think Denmur was in my shop?”

  Mageeyes’ eyes glittered with happiness, “A friend of mine mentioned he saw Denmur storm out of your shop. A few discreet inquiries have brought me word that while Denmur was unhappy with you before, now, he is furious.”

  Sean smiled, “Must have been something he ate.”

  “Bit off more than he could chew?” Mageeyes asked with soft laughter.

  “That might have been me,” Sean said a little ruefully. “We’ve ranged away from my reason for speaking with you.”

  “Yes. I will take a prototype of your new kettle, and I await to hear about what the others say regarding upgrading my bathing room. A friend of mine sent someone to your shop yesterday, one of her trusted subordinates. She mentioned that you agreed to deliver several kettles to her in a few days. I will let her know that your meeting with her should also touch upon your request.”

  Sean suppressed the shiver at her words. “Your friend is the one in charge of the Den?”

  “A lovely woman. We met some years ago, and as neither of us are held in the highest regard in the city, we struck up a friendship. She learned of you from me. You are welcome for the increase in business.”

  Bowing his head, Sean smiled, “My thanks, Dame Mageeyes.”

  “Congratulations on your new marriages, as well. Lilly will be sad to hear that she missed out on seeing you. She was concerned when she heard of the attack.”

  “Lilly seems quite friendly,” Sean said neutrally. “I might have reached my limit of wives, though.”

  Mageeyes’ eyes sparkled, “If you say so, MacDougal.”

  “I’ll bring the kettle tomorrow. If you’d like, I can make a new one for you instead of my first prototype.”

  “No, bring me the first one,” Mageeyes said. “One can learn the most from the first iteration.”

  Sean bowed his head to her, “Agreed.”

  “Agreed,” Mageeyes smiled as the weight settled on both of them. “I look forward to our next conversation, MacDougal.”

  “I will always worry about them,” Sean replied.

  Light happy laughter filled the room. “You are a treasure, MacDougal. Have a pleasant evening.”

  Bemin took his empty mug as Sean made his way back to the table. “I’ll bring you another.”

  “Thanks,” Sean said as they entered the main room.

  “Sean,” Joseph called to him.

  Sean looked over to see Eva and Fredrick at the table. “Eva, Fredrick, what are you both doing here?”

  “I don’t have to visit the bathhouse, and Fredrick used mine earlier today,” Eva replied. “You were meeting with Dame Mageeyes?”

  “Favors to ask,” Sean grimaced.

  Everyone at the table looked at him like he was a fool. Fredrick was the one to broach the topic, “You asked the Dame for a favor? She’s nobility— they ask for a lot in return.”

  “She wants my prototype kettle and to have her bathing room here upgraded to match our project. I told her the first was fine, but the second would have to be approved by a majority of you and she’d have to pay for it.”

  “What did you ask in return… if it’s okay to ask?” Joseph asked, hurriedly adding the second part.

  “A friend of mine needs special help. She is making an introduction for me.”

  Ryann sat up straighter, “When?”

  “Threeday.”

  “Can I tell—” Ryann cut off before she said the name.

  “Yes. It’s an introduction, so I have no idea if it will help. Won’t know until I talk to them.”

  The door opening drew their attention. Italice and Ryan were coming in, followed by their apprentices. Both of them looked angry as they crossed the room.

  “Didn’t expect to see you two,” Joseph said hesitantly.

  “We didn’t expect to be here. Sean, we need pipes made and set,” Italice growled as she took her seat. Her skin had a slight gray sheen, and her fingernails looked more claw-like than normal.

  “Italice, calm down,” Ryan said softly, touching her shoulder. “These are our friends, and Sean will help us.”

  “Of course I will, but what happened?”

  Italice seethed, her nails digging into the wood of the table and leaving deep gouges. “We were banned from the bathhouse we have always used. They will no longer hold the rooms for us. No reason given, but I did see Carver heading in as we left. He was laughing.”

  “Denmur,” Fredrick grimaced. “He’s growing bol
der.”

  “Maybe because he’s gotten a crest,” Sean said. Heads turned to him with questioning gazes, so he told them the story of Denmur coming into his shop.

  “Would you care for another round?” Bemin asked, approaching the table as the story came to an end.

  “Yes,” Fredrick said and flipped her a large bronze. “For us and our apprentices.”

  When she walked away, Ryan sighed. “Denmur getting a crest is going to be a problem.”

  “Why?” Sean asked.

  A couple of people looked at him oddly, and others just nodded. “Because he’s now above us. It’s status more than anything, but it puts him in the running to be taken into a noble house.”

  “You know who he’s angling to be taken in by,” Eva said. “If his son had been a daughter, he might have made it happen already.”

  “I never cared for him, but now... now I hate him,” Italice growled almost ferally. “Barring us… I want this done. I want to see his supposed power swing away from him.”

  “There is another party being held on Nineday by Sharpeyes. Dame Mageeyes has already commissioned me to make a unique item for the party,” Eva said.

  “Get me some silver and some sapphires,” Sean smiled evilly. “I’ll make you a unique gift on Fiveday. An exquisite kettle that anyone can use, and it’ll have her favorite flower on it. It’ll be her gift before they can even be purchased. Tomorrow, I’m going to include both of you in the patents for both types of kettles. I might still have to do the enchanting part, but if you’ve done the work and I can just finish them with the enchantment, I’ll do it for the same deal we have on the clips.”

  “Deal,” Eva and Fredrick said together, before sharing a laugh with the others.

  “I think I’ll have to attend that party,” Fredrick said when the drinks came to the table. Pausing while Bemin finished serving them, he waited for her to go before he continued, “Can you finish a piece I start on Fiveday? I’ll gladly pay you for the work.”

  Sean’s brow furrowed as he took a long pull from his mug. “What did you have in mind?”

  “A statue of Lord Sharpeyes—”

  “It’s been done,” Sean said, cutting him off.

  Fredrick grimaced, then chuckled, “Fine. How about completing it with falcons and hounds? Can you make animals that would complement the statue?”

  “Shouldn’t be hard,” Sean replied. “If you can get me a look at his favorite hounds and birds, I can make them lifelike.”

  “Possibly. Let me look into it,” Fredrick replied. “If I can’t, can you make them anyway?”

  “Yes.”

  “Good. To our first steps in confounding the fool who is trying to hurt all of us,” Fredrick said, raising his mug fractionally.

  The others lifted their mugs in solidarity before drinking.

  Chapter Thirteen

  As Sean was walking down the street with Ryann at his side, he thought back to the small impromptu party at the Oaken Glen the previous night, and the show of support for him and his two new wives. He had spent the evening with Fiona afterward, with Myna joining them later.

  “Sean?” Ryann asked. “What’s with the smile?”

  “Huh?”

  “You suddenly started grinning like you’d found some lost treasure.”

  “Sorry, just thinking,” Sean said. “At least we’re done with registering the patents for Eva and Fredrick. Now I can move on with trying to improve on what I want for the pipes.”

  “I thought Jackson’s head was going to pop when you told him about extending the patents,” Ryann snickered. “He isn’t as calm and collected as Fredrick.”

  “I think he normally is,” Sean disagreed. “It’s more that he keeps realizing he was on the wrong path, and is shocked at how generous I’m being to his family. He’s a good man— not what I thought originally, but he’s proving it now.”

  “It could be you rubbing off on him,” Ryann said, her stare latching onto a roughly dressed man walking toward them. “You have a habit of changing those around you.”

  “A changer and unraveler,” Sean muttered, remembering what Morrigan had said.

  “Unraveler?” Ryann asked, breathing easier when the man crossed the street.

  “Something Morrigan said. I still don’t know what it all means, though. One of these days, she might talk to me again. Once we get home, I’m going to be in the bath working. Are you going to join the others over at the bathhouse?”

  “I was thinking of joining Fiona at the counter, if that’s okay? I want to learn how to help in every way.”

  “That’s fine, Ry. Myna and Ida are over there working, so they can do it, but I know Ida prefers you to check her work.”

  “Ida… she is… I might love her, Sean. I don’t understand it, but I smile every time I think of her. I didn’t think about it before you Life Bonded her, but now that she’s one of our wives...” Ryann smiled softly, brushing her hair back behind her ear. “I thought maybe it wouldn’t be so odd to be with you and her, like you were with Myna and Fiona last night.”

  Sean blushed, coughing to clear the sudden images appearing in his mind’s eye. “That’s a bit more forward than what you said the other day. I’m sure it will happen if you both are comfortable with it. We have years together now, more than any of us are ready for, I’m sure, so don’t rush.”

  “I won’t,” Ryann assured him. “It didn’t bother you when Fiona and Myna had time without you?”

  “Not at all. Shared pain is divided. Shared love is multiplied. I’m fine with them finding happiness with each other.”

  They went into the shop through the front door. There were a few people waiting inside, but nothing like the day before. He gave Fiona a kiss on his way through, while Ryann stayed behind.

  Heading to the bathroom, Sean wondered about the Bonds again, and how and when it shaped a person’s feelings. They’ve been friends the whole time. It isn’t too odd for Ryann to have a little crush on Ida, and Ida clearly likes Ryann. If Ryann had been thinking that she’d be okay with Myna, it’s not really surprising she’d be even more interested in Ida in the same way. I can’t even think of not loving Myna now. I guess the real question is; does it matter? If you’re going to be with them for the rest of your life, which is going to be many times the length it should be, is there a problem with loving them all? Lost in his thoughts, he took some stock from the smithy before entering the bathroom to try to work out the next set of improvements he had in mind.

  ~*~*~

  “Sean?” Andrea asked when she stepped into the room.

  “Huh?” Sean blinked and looked up from his work. “Sorry, I didn’t hear you come in.”

  “I asked if you’d be the one to train with me today?”

  “Sparring? Is it noon already?”

  “Yes.”

  “Sure, let’s step into the yard,” Sean said, putting aside his failed attempts.

  Shaping a wooden blade to fit over Dark Cutter, Sean took up position as Andrea readied her knives. He summoned Mage Sight in one eye and nodded. “Armor your clothes, Shape the weapons, use Camo. I want you going full out. I’ll keep you going.” Funneling some energy to her, he felt her soak it up like a sponge. “Ready when you are.”

  Sean watched energy flow into her clothing as the underlying leather and linen became stiffer and more dense. Andrea vanished from Sean’s normal vision, but a slight shimmer gave away her position, so his other eye could track her glowing body with ease.

  “Good,” Sean said, though he did his best to not obviously watch her, trying to lure her in.

  Andrea came forward from his left, slowly, as if waiting for him to turn on her. When she got closer, she rushed the last few feet to attack. Sean spun away, Dark Cutter swinging in a tight arc to catch her blade and push it away from him.

  “Good attempt,” Sean said. “You still have a slight flicker over your Camo. Try to pull it tighter.” He watched her back away and pull her energy around her more tight
ly, and the shimmer stopped. He nodded, “That’s it. Focus on holding that when you come after me next.” Sean attacked the place where she had been, but he knew it would miss her by a couple of feet. “Keep moving when Camoed. If they don’t have Mage Sight, they won’t know for certain where you are. Keep them uncertain and make them reach to find you, but breathing too loud or scuffing your feet might give you away.”

  Andrea nodded firmly and started to the right, watching him closely. Her foot scraped the ground and Sean lunged for the spot. Andrea hissed, barely managing to deflect his blow. Attacking again, following the sound of her hiss, Sean pushed her back.