Fluffball shook her head, “I need to see Lilith before I log out and I need to get going. Thank you for inviting us over to your home.”
“I should go, too,” Karen said, popping to her feet. “I’ll walk you over to the inn, Fluff, and you can think about that massage. Thanks for showing us the new digs.”
“Wait, let me show you the rest of the place before ya go,” Stacia said sweeping them along to show them the bedroom and bath.
Karen laughed, “A tub that size and he doesn’t want a harem.”
Stacia giggled as Alburet rolled his eyes at Karen. “Maybe I’ll be able to sway him in the future.”
Face palming while shaking his head, Alburet mumbled, “Thank you for coming, ladies.”
Karen snorted as she started walking for the door, “You say that every time I’m in your room.”
Groaning, Alburet walked them out, “Almost as bad as Bob.”
“Your imp is fun as shit,” Karen replied. “At least he likes the idea of a harem.”
“Be gone, foul temptress, and darken my door no more this day,” Alburet intoned as he gave her and Fluff a quick hug.
“A temptress, am I?” Karen chuckled evilly. “Means you like what I bring, doesn’t it? See you later,” Karen waved as she took Fluff’s arm and began to walk with her.
Alburet closed the door to find Stacia smirking at him, “Temptress, be she? Mayhap I need to speak with her about lessons then.”
Alburet groaned, “Gods, no. You do not need any help in that area at all. Hell, you could teach advanced classes on that subject, Kitten.”
“Ah, tha’ always be nice to hear,” Stacia said, pressing him against the door as she leaned into him. “How about we have some dinner and then we see what this bed and bath can do for us?”
“Sold,” Alburet murmured as he kissed her.
Chapter Sixteen
The next morning Alburet woke to breakfast being cooked, the scents of bacon and coffee pulling him from the bedroom. He found Stacia in her leathers with an apron on over the top of them at the stove. He paused taking in the sight of his wife cooking breakfast for him, a dopey smile filling his face.
“Now that is something I will not get tired of seeing,” he remarked.
“Ya be sayin’ tha’ now,” Stacia smirked at him over her shoulder. “It will be a few minutes until the eggs be done. Ya could get a quick wash in and dress for the day. I do nay doubt the others will want to go huntin’ at some point.”
“That does make sense. Be back in a few, Kitten,” Alburet replied as he headed for the washroom. He recalled that he needed to inform Ioaniss that they now had a guild building set up as well, completing both requirements for the boons he’d asked for. He grabbed his Mindstone and sent a quick message before going heading into the bathing room. By the time he finished, he had a reply.
Message from Ioaniss Jones:
You need to register the building at the city hall as your guild headquarters. I will have the proclamations drawn up once that is done.
Making his way back to the front room after he’d dressed, he found Stacia setting the table. “It be ready for ya, me husband and master,” Stacia told him, stealing a kiss and sitting down with him at the table.
“It smells good, Kitten. Is this the first meal you’ve made for me?” Alburet asked, unsure who had been doing all the cooking at the inn.
“Aye,” Stacia said as she chewed her lower lip nervously while he took his first bite.
Alburet let the flavor of cheese melted into the egg with a hint of garlic fill his mouth before he swallowed. “Delicious, Kitten,” he complimented her, to ease her worried expression. “Did your mother teach you all how to cook?”
“Grandma’ did tha’ mostly, though ma’ did say to stop by soon to learn how to make her stew.”
“We need to make sure that happens soon, then,” Alburet quickly replied, “her stew is very good.”
Nodding as she ate, Stacia agreed with him. They lapsed into silence as they focused on the meal. Once they were done, Alburet helped carry everything over to the washtub in the kitchen. Stacia seemed a little puzzled and bemused when Alburet helped her wash the dishes. Mostly because Alburet looked shocked as each dish, when dipped into the washtub, came out perfectly clean without having to be scrubbed. “It be part of the magic of the tub, master,” Stacia told him when he asked. “Just as the camp stones be used to fully contain a campsite.”
Shaking his head Alburet chuckled, “Well, some things in this world are much easier. It is going to take me some time to adjust to it all.”
“Aye, master,” Stacia said as she dried the dishes. “Ya will always have me with ya to help ya adjust.”
Once the dishes were clean and put away, Alburet informed Stacia about having to go to city hall this morning. They made a tentative itinerary for the errands they needed to run before going hunting. The sky was overcast when they exited the house, causing both of them to glance up at the grey sky. “First time I’ve seen it so cloudy,” Alburet commented as they started for city hall.
“It has been a bit since there been a good rain,” Stacia replied as she glanced up again. “It may rain for a day or two. Tha’ be the normal way it be.”
“That will be interesting,” Alburet muttered. “Does the rain cause sickness to people out in it, or damage to equipment?” he asked, thinking about catching a cold or his leathers having issues.
Shaking her head, Stacia seemed a little puzzled, “Nay, why would it?”
Alburet tried to tell her about colds and how they could be caught by standing out in a cold rain. He also tried to explain how a lot of wet could damage leather. They reached city hall as he talked.
Stacia seemed puzzled over what he was saying, not understanding it. “Ya other world seems to have a lot of issues.”
“Ain’t that the truth,” he snorted. “Well, let’s see how long this will take then head out to sell our loot from yesterday.”
It didn’t take long, as it turned out, a simple form in triplicate was all that was required besides a fee of ten gold. They left city hall heading for Grimgar’s. The bell on the door jangled to announce them as they entered.
Grimgar looked up with a smile in place, “Ah, the newlyweds. What is it ye be needin’ today?”
“Just some junk to sell,” Alburet told him as he began to unload weapons onto the counter.
“No new weapons for ye today, then?”
“Not yet, the axe I have is working for me right now.”
“Well, when ye be ready lad, I be havin’ what ye be needin’, do nay doubt.”
“I’m sure you will, Grimgar,” Alburet chuckled.
“Aich, ye be family now, lad. Ye be callin’ me Grim,” Grimgar told Alburet.
“If that’s what you want, Grim. I don’t want to upset you, after all.”
“Ya will nay upset Unca Grim unless ya hurt me,” Stacia softly giggled.
“Guess that means I’m safe, then.”
“Here be ye coin, lad,” Grimgar handed over a handful of gold.
“Thanks, Grim,” Alburet put the coins away, then paused. “Would you like to become the weapon outfitter for my guild?”
“What are ye promisin’, an’ what do ye want?” Grimgar asked, his tone becoming more businesslike.
“I’m thinking the guild would make your shop the one we send our recruits to and use ourselves for any weapons we buy, and in return you give us a ten percent discount.”
“Does nay sound bad to me, but iffin it doesn’t work out well then I be reservin’ the right to cancel the deal.”
“Fair enough,” Alburet held out his hand.
Grin forming, Grimgar shook his hand, “Deal then, lad. Will ye be offerin’ the same to Almira?”