AO 4 Ch 21 (Patreon)

Chapter 21

“This is wonderful wine.” Flour took a long drink from his glass. “Do you know where it’s from?”

“Not a clue,” I shrugged. We were seated. I had Sienna on my left and Flour on my right. Claire was on the other side of Sienna and had finally stopped glaring at Flour for taking that seat.

The hall was rapidly filling with more dinner guests to the point that I was worried that we’d run out of space. Then I saw that many of the anchors were instead taking up posts around the edge of the room chatting among themselves and not taking a seat.

Oh.

It seemed that for most people at least one of their anchors weren’t going to participate, but watch over their mage.

Our table was entirely mages, and I started to see a few patterns in mage tables closest to the speaking platform and anchors further back in the room.

No one explicitly drew a line in the room, but it felt like everyone knew there was one.

“I think this was some of what we brought back from Faylin. Zenovian wine, if I’m correct.” Sienna said.

Hooking a thumb at her, I grinned. “See? It’s better if you ask her. I’m just the muscle. She’s the brains.”

“You signed the contract.” Sienna pointed out.

“I also sign contracts.” I amended my statement. “Very capable.”

Flour laughed and so did the female mages who looked like they were ready to jump into the conversation at a moment’s notice.

“I’m sure it’s not that bad.” Claire interjected.

“It isn’t.” Sienna agreed. “Ard just… ugh.” She made a frustrated noise. “You’ll find he underplays half the things and then completely exaggerates the other.”

“I have to keep you interested. How a poor village boy like me got so lucky to hook you is beyond me.” I kissed Sienna’s shoulder.

The gesture was perhaps a little over the top, but she was all smiles without a hint of jealousy. In the end, making her happy was my top priority tonight. Everyone else were just the actors that played the crowd on stage.

“Flattery will get you everywhere.” Sienna’s hand found my thigh under the table and soft fingers trailed lazy designs along the top and teased down the inside, making my blood heat up and my heart excited.

“I heard you were going to become a mage.” Claire said quickly, diving between our moment. “Are you expecting to be deployed soon then? I too am about to take my test.”

“Oh?” Sienna asked curiously. “Are you thinking you’ll be sent out?”

“Yes, but as a healer. I’ll sit in camp and tend to the wounded, as well as be the first to retreat. Certainly won’t have the same risk as you. Wait, as a Graystone, will you be kept in reserve? Or now that you’ll be an Aldis, will you go out to the front lines?” Claire was clearly trying to find a wedge.

“Ah. If I’m a Graystone then I’ll stay behind, however if I become an Aldis…” She trailed off and made more circles on my thigh, trailing closer to the sleeping monster in my pants. “Then I’ll be staying behind for another reason.”

“House Aldis wouldn’t want their next generation disrupted.” Flour agreed.

“That, and she’ll help with all the business I accidentally built for my family.” I scratched my cheek at the paperwork that had already started piling up as a result of the ships we were retrofitting.

Sienna let out a playful groan. “Twenty new merchant routes.”

“That many?” Flour looked at me in a new light. “Certainly. You just signed the contract, eh?” He teased me.

“Is twenty a lot?” One lady asked.

“It is more than a lot. Twenty routes is enough for a mid-sized noble family’s entire business.” Flour explained.

“Oh. Wow.” The table was suitably impressed.

“I just went into the mountains and hunted pirates. All the ships are pirate ships that the family is modifying.” I explained. “See? Just the muscle.”

The table gave me an odd look.

“I saw the report. It said there was a pirate armada?” One guy spoke up.

“Armada sounds ominous. Not my choice of words.” I said. “Maybe more of a—“

“He’s being modest.” Sienna cut me off. “He and his anchor destroyed multiple pirate crews. There were enough of them that they ransacked the whole city of Faylin. It was Gwen Aldis though that froze the entire Armada, and then Ard went and cleared the ships.”

Many of the mages at the table suddenly searched for my unassuming mother in her wheeled chair and shivered.

Why was everyone so afraid of her?

“Greetings.” My grandfather took the stage again and the doors to the manor boomed closed to get everyone’s attention. “Thank you for coming to our House’s dinner.

“Tonight, we celebrate the recent achievements of many in our house. Be they small or grand, all of them culminate together to raise our house up one step further.

“Heather, congratulations on your completion of your anchor training in The Enclave.” He dipped his head towards a woman I didn’t recognize.

She waved at everyone and tried to restrain her smile as a mage held her arm.

“George, I saw the new trade deals with the Barbaric tribes. Well done.” Anadonis nodded towards a man who looked like he was in his forties, but likely closer to eighty since he was a two sphere mage.

“We have several who have married or bonded since the last one of these.” He unfurled a scroll and held it away from his face as he looked down his nose and read off a list of names.

I turned to Sienna. “He’s not going to put me on the spot, is he?”

“Oh, he most certainly will.” My provisional wife smiled.

“So many wonderful achievements.” He rolled the scroll back up. “However, there were recent actions in Faylin that have really rekindled our family.”

“Fuck me.” I muttered.

“Arden, please stand.” He gestured in my direction.

I felt like the whole room went quiet as my chair scooted on the stone floor. “Hiya gramps.” I waved awkwardly.

He kept his face a polite neutral. “Arden has awakened four spheres, mastered his first adept spell, completed his first assignment hunting a corrupted and last but not least, performed admirably during the battle at Faylin. In doing so, he made an ancient wyrm retreat, laid siege to pirates and captured twenty eight ships that will expand the Aldis Mercantile fleet almost three fold.” He started clapping and so did the rest of the room.

Emlyn let out a loud whistle behind me, and even Cyam nudged my leg and whinnied.

“Thank you.” I performed a polite bow and hurried to retake my seat.

“Not just yet.” Anadonis waited until I stood again. He was enjoying this too much. “Arden has also gotten his first official assignment to join the military and support the war in the east.”

Ah. Letting everyone know that despite being ‘special’ I was still going off to war.

“I look forward to protecting our countrymen.” I said politely without saying what I really felt about the kingdom, or rather those who ruled it.

“Alright, we can let him sit down as we discuss the last person.” He turned his attention to my mother.

“I thought you’d enjoy that.” Sienna glanced at me.

“It’s fun when I get to be the center of attention, not when I’m placed at the center of attention. They are wholly different things.” I crossed my arms and sat down. At least my mother was about to get it even worse.

“During the siege of Faylin, Gwen Aldis performed wonderfully, protecting a swath of the city, including our interests and thousands of civilians. She was the first to alert the city to the incoming danger of the wyrm and when the pirates thought they could get away she showed that the might of House Aldis is anything but diminished. Gwen has not just recovered but is now capable of a grand spell that I think puts her on par with many of the sitting members of the Elder Council.” He gestured to her.

She sat on her wheeled chair, not rising on ice or anything of that nonsense. “Thank you father. I’m only restoring the house to what I remember. That includes our House having two seats on the Elder Council. As many of you are aware, Elder Brimsam has passed away…”

I held back a snort. That was a funny way of saying Carmilla killed him.

“While I lament the loss of an ally of the house, I will use the opportunity presented to take his seat on the Elder Council.” My mother finished strong.

Damn, I reconsidered not preparing a speech. I could have told them about my nose collection and maybe the frozen bodies and severed heads I kept in the basement of the Faylin manor.

I paused, wondering if we had ever removed those heads.

I decided that ultimately if somebody found them, they’d blame Gwen. She’s much more the head collecting type.

“Your mother is going to go for the Elder’s seat?” Claire turned to me.

“That’s practically Carmilla’s by default, isn’t it?” Another interjected.

I scratched my cheek. I was unsure who would win, but I had confidence in my mother and grandfather. They wouldn’t put her in there if they didn’t believe she actually had a shot. “She hides her strength. Even during the pirate fight, after she froze the armada it seemed like she might as well just be sipping tea.”

“Wow.” One guy at the table shook his head. “This must be why they are the big noble families.”

Sienna held my arm to keep me from putting my foot in my mouth.

Anadonis got back up and said some more things about how awesome our family was before he waved his hands.

Servants appeared out of every nook and cranny carrying plates of food and the dinner began in earnest. No one had time for conversation now as a seven course meal of absolutely delicious food and generous portions were laid out in front of each of us.

I dug in. This was a thousand times better than travel rations. Ripping off a leg of the little roast bird, I sucked the meat off the drumstick. After all this running around today I was starving.

Several of my table mates stared at me like I was an animal.

Sienna cleared her throat and put a fork in my hand.

I coughed and carefully used it to eat what I soon learned was a roasted quail. But if they’d asked me, which they didn’t, they were doing it wrong. It was so much easier to eat the bird using your hands.

After cleaning the first two plates, I learned I had made a grievous mistake. More food kept coming and my stomach quickly protested the confines of my outfit, yet each dish was more delicious than the last!

***

I finished up with the sugary pudding thingy and leaned back in my chair with a sigh of relief.

“That good?” Flour asked.

“It was fantastic. I’m just happy they won’t be putting any more delicious food in front of me.” The buttons on my outfit were on their last valiant struggles.

Sienna patted my shoulder and took my arm. “Let’s get you moving a little. How about a walk through the garden?”

“I would love that.” Easing myself out of the chair, I took her arm and glanced back at our tablemates. “It’s been fun. However, I have a lovely lady asking for a walk. Say ‘hi’ if you see me around the city.” I gave them all a wave and waddled out with Sienna.

By the time we got out to the garden, I felt much less bloated and rubbed my stomach. “A walk was just what I needed.” Glancing over my shoulder, our anchors had stuck with us, shadowing from behind. “Are they going to join us?”

Sienna hummed. “Not right now. I think they are giving the two of us some ‘private’ time.”

“As private as mage lives are. Always an anchor close by.” I shook my head.

“You could have more privacy if you didn’t piss off multiple large families.” Sienna pointed out.

“That’s no fun. Brighthavens can shove it, and I hope The Royal Family topples as a result of this war.” I at least had enough intelligence to keep my voice low enough that my statement was just for the two of us.

She patted my hand consolingly. “It’s okay. You just like to stir trouble. It makes you interesting.”

I clicked my tongue. “Interesting. I would like to be a little more than just interesting.”

“You have many lovely qualities.” She stopped and kissed me.

I held her waist in the garden and kissed her for several minutes before we broke with a breathy sigh.

“Like that. You’re a good kisser.” She gave me a parting peck on the lips. “Your anchors say you’re a good lover.”

“I treat my family well.” I meant more than just how I treated them in the bedroom.

“Obviously. Have you seen your manticore tonight? You spent not even an hour with her, it involved no bedroom antics, yet she can’t seem to stop smiling. She hasn’t smiled like that since I joined you and it’s almost unnerving given her tendency towards violence.”

Glancing over my shoulder, I looked at Aurelia. She was indeed still smiling. “Huh. All I did was help her bathe.”

“Sure seems like you must have done something right.” Sienna held my arm tight. “Or like tonight, when you noticed that I needed a little reassurance.”

“Feels like that’s just the basics.” I shook my head. “Noble guys must be idiots.”

“Ard, stop deflecting and let me compliment you.” She smiled and we started walking slowly through the gardens. There wasn’t a specific destination in mind.

We just wandered through the beautiful garden that was always in bloom. Blues and violet flowers dominated the space. House Aldis loved its blue.

Sienna’s warmth leaned against me. “This is nice. Think you’ll have more time for quiet walks?”

“Less than I’d like, but I can do my best to make time. Good news is that this is my garden. So, if you like it, I can take you back anytime.”

“Your garden?” She raised an eyebrow. “I wonder what your grandfather would say to that?”

“The old blowhard?” I asked, holding back a grin.

“His speech was good. The whole point of these dinners is to brag. Don’t call Elder Aldis a blowhard.” Sienna laughed and leaned on my arm.

“There you are!” Claire spotted us and was puffing to catch up.

“What me to blow her off?” I asked quietly before she got too close.

“It’s fine.” Sienna didn’t let go of my arm though.

I could not tell if she meant ‘fine’ or ‘fine-fine’. I hated when women used that word. So, I kissed her shoulder and took a small peek.

“Did you just?” Sienna asked, but we were out of time.

“Hello Claire.” I smiled at the Thorne mage. Sienna wasn’t jealous, but she was a little prickly about the other mage trying to get my attention. At the same time she wanted an excuse to slip away for a moment, and I’d seen enough to know that I would benefit from that as well.

“Well hello Arden.” Claire straightened herself and if I didn’t miss it used a touch of life magic to stop herself from panting. “I was hoping that I could have some of your time.”

“That’s good because Sienna was just going to get ready for tonight.” I squeezed her side and gave her a look. The important part for her was to know that I’d be following her shortly.

She rolled her eyes, but a smile lingered on her lips. “Charmer. I’ll talk to Em on my way out.”

“Who’s Em?” Claire asked and almost giddily took my arm.

“My anchor.” I pointed to one. “She doesn’t know it yet, but one of the first things I do when I officially become a mage is going to be to bond with her. You could say she’s my lead anchor.”

“Oh?” Claire sounded curious and looked over at the group to see Sienna briefly talking with Emlyn. “She’s very pretty. No life magic?”

“Unless it was minor. We grew up together.” I said.

“Ah. In the village? I’ve heard the stories.” She pulled me back into another walk through the garden. “Though, I’d love to hear them from you.” She took my other hand and kissed it while staring up into my eyes through her lashes.

I couldn’t resist and slipped in, trying to understand her motives.

That’s when I understood my previous assertion was both right and so incredibly wrong at the same time.

Her family had pushed her to come seduce me. But her family that had made the maneuver was not her house. She was a bastard child of the current king, and Carmilla had called on her a week ago and informed her of her newest task.

She was to bear my child at all costs.

I blinked out of her soul. Shit. Now that I knew though… I wondered if there was any way I could use this information against Carmilla.

Claire pulled me past a stone archway in the garden, hidden from my anchors for a moment and put a hand on my chest.

Life magic flowed through me.

“What do you think, Arden? Can you share your life with me?” Her breath was hot and suddenly my skin was very sensitive. My heart picked up and it felt like my balls were on fire.

This wasn’t the kind of life magic that I was familiar with, and it made me incredibly curious, feeling it play through my body.

I wanted to touch her, rip off her clothes and make her cry out here in the garden. Instead, I cleared my throat. “You’ll have to teach me how to do that with my life magic.” Rather than do any of the things my body so craved, I sent life magic into her, working to understand what she had done.

Claire moaned and her face went bright red as her eyes unfocused. Hot breath washed over my face as she clung to me, with far less control than I had exhibited.

It seemed there was much more to life magic than I had originally understood.

“Sorry, Claire. But tonight I’m taken.” I pulled her off of me. “That, and I have a grand plan to crush Carmilla that I have to start.”

“Huh?” She barely regained her focus. “Grand plan? Maybe I could help.”

“No. Right now we have fifty-two fox mages all ready for the plan. Adding another at this stage would be too difficult.” I started to spout utter nonsense. “It’s happening tonight.”

“What are you doing?” Emlyn asked, having moved around the archway to see us.

“Just having a little fun.” I let go of Claire. “Sorry. It seems I have other places to be.” Stepping away from Claire, I acted normal for a minute until I pulled at my collar, desperate to give my prickling skin some fresh air.

“You okay?” Zuri asked.

“Yeah. Where’s Sienna? I need her now.” I answered, already on the move.

“Where’s she going?” Emlyn’s gaze pulled my own to the side where Claire was sprinting out of the estate.

“Who knows? She’s not important.” I waved it away.