No sooner had the words left her mouth than a knock came at the door. “I put up a fucking sign,” Alburet snarled before he opened the door to cuss out whoever it was. He stopped himself when he saw Grimgar, Almira and Stewart all standing there. “Hello to you all.”
Stewart chuckled, “Having a lot of company today, are you?”
“Ugh, way too many idiots,” Alburet replied, stepping out of the door and motioning the others in.
“I’ll make some tea,” Stacia said, gliding over to the kitchen.
“Nice dress Stacia, is that the one you wore to the castle?” Almira asked as she came in and took a seat.
“Aye. As soon as I get the tea started I be goin’ to change, though,” Stacia said as she put the kettle on the stove. “Be back in a moment.”
“The tailor ye use did a good job with tha’ dress,” Grimgar commented as Stacia left the room.
“Her dress aside, we came for two reasons apparently,” Stewart said. “I ran into Grimgar and Almira just outside. They brought a decoration for you. I brought a gift of thanks. It seems doubly appropriate as Alistern messaged me about Erin’s new job.”
“She’s going to be training under an experienced receptionist to help keep my guild from drowning in people.”
“He did say that,” Stewart nodded. “I just wanted to make sure you’re not planning on trying to hire the other two also, right?” Stewart asked blandly, a smile on his face but his eyes focused intently on Alburet.
“No plans at all. Hell, I didn’t plan to hire Erin before today.”
“Aye, ye had no idea this was goin’ to blow up did ye?” Grimgar laughed.
“Oh, shh,” Almira added as she tapped Grimgar on the head. “He’s having enough issues today. Besides, I think it’s wonderful that Alistern’s daughters are getting a chance to flourish outside of the Inn.”
Stewart frowned slightly, “Maybe. Anyway, we should go look at what Grimgar brought you first, before I get to my bit.”
Stacia came out of the room, “Unca Grim brought us somethin’?”
“Yes, he brought something for your archway between the doors,” Almira added. “You do recall paying me to procure something I trust?”
“That was some days ago, but yeah,” Alburet said, standing with the others as they headed for the door.
Their visitors all stepped back against the inner wall so Alburet and Stacia could clearly see into the nook. A heater shield, bright and shiny steel with the guild emblem emblazoned on it sat canted in the nook.
“That is amazing,” Alburet exclaimed softly as he stepped forward to get a closer look. He glanced behind it to see that instead of straps there was a rod of metal extending from the shield that disappeared into the wall. “Huh? How the hell?”
“Aich, it be fine lad. We was thinkin’ of doin’ it with our own emblem back in the day, so the wall was ready for this. Now it is considered part of the structure, only the owner can remove it.” Grimgar stood there proudly, “I hope me work is good enough for ye.”
“Of course it is, Unca Grim,” Stacia said, giving the dwarf a hug.
“Then I have completed my quest,” Almira beamed slightly. “I do think it is a perfect fit.”
“Thank you both very much,” Alburet said giving Almira a quick hug and slapping Grimgar on the shoulder.
“We be glad to help out. The signs on the doors be a good idea as well,” Grimgar chuckled. “Me be sure, the first few were nay sure what to do, when the door was nay answered.”
Stacia growled slightly, “They interrupted breakfast.”
Almira laughed, shaking her head she nudged Grimgar, “We should be getting back to our shops. I do hope the next few days don’t see any more interrupted meals.” She tossed Stacia a wink as she left.
Stewart shook his head, “I think I hear the kettle.”
Stacia raced inside, as the kettle was indeed whistling. Alburet ushered Stewart back inside as Stacia got the kettle and cups ready for tea. Once they all had tea and were seated, Stewart spoke up. “It really is a nice decoration. However, it did distract me from the real reason I came today. Seeing as how you have only done right for my goddaughters, I felt it was okay to gift you an item.”
Alburet went to speak but Stewart cut him off, “Wait, let me finish please. The item I am going to give to you has been kept as a reminder of great loss to me. Seeing all the girls finally moving on has nudged me to try moving on myself. It is time to let the past go, for good. Seeing as you already have two pieces of the set it seems fitting to give you this.” Stewart held out a circlet of a strangely hued red metal.
Stacia sat forward, her eyes wide, “Unca Stew, be ya sure about tha’? It be one of the few things ya still have to remind ya of Flora.”
A deep sadness filled Stewart, clearly visible to the others. “I need to move on Stacia, it has been over twenty years now. I still miss her every day and Tabitha has tried to help me, but I wasn’t ready before. Now though, now it might be time. No one before has combined three or more pieces of the set that I know of. Will you take the Crown of the Demon Lord?”
Alburet didn’t reach for it right away. Instead he met Stewart’s eyes. “I am a little overwhelmed and confused Stewart. Why today? I am willing to accept the gift, but I have a feeling that you just came to this decision in the last two days.”
Stewart set the crown on the table, leaning back in his seat and sipping his tea. “You care. Simply put, you have only shown care and compassion to those I care about and love. You are family for all intents and purposes now. You have leveraged a boon from the crown to make Summoners a little more accepted. My days of adventuring are over, long since now, so it is time to pass on the torch. This will hopefully help you, and in turn help Stacia.”
The plain truth of Stewart’s words touched Alburet. “I will accept your gift then. Thank you for this priceless gift.” Alburet bowed in his seat, “I will wear it with honor.”
Standing, Stewart put his cup down, “Good. I will be going now.” He gave Stacia a quick hug, exchanged a handshake with Alburet and was out the door a moment later.
“Mayhap he will be able to find happiness now,” Stacia said from beside Alburet as they had both seen Stewart off.
“That would be grand,” Alburet said as he put his arm around Stacia before they retreated inside.
Chapter Twenty-Three
After retreating back inside the couple cuddled together on the sofa. Alburet eyed the plain circlet wondering if he should put it on or wait until after the patch. Stacia was also looking at the band of metal. Her mind recalled all the times she had seen Unca Stewart gazing at it with sadness in his eyes.
“Could it be cursed?” Stacia whispered out loud without realizing it.
“The crown?” Alburet queried.
“Wha’?”
“You asked if something could be cursed, Kitten. I was wondering if you were talking about the crown.”
“Aye,” she tightened her arms on him slightly. “I was thinkin’ about the sadness in his eyes every time he gazed at it, master. He received it when his lover died. He left it on the sands of the Dead Lands. Unca Grim picked it up and gave it back to him a year later. I was wonderin’ iffin it could be cursed, to take ya loved one from ya.”
Shaking his head Alburet replied, “If that was the case Almira would have died already. It is obvious that Grimgar loves her, from the way his eyes light up when he looks at her.”
“Oh, I had nay thought of tha’. Are ya goin’ to take the gift then master?”
“I was considering whether to put it on now or wait until after I come back from my absence.”
Stacia picked it up off the table, slipping from his lap to kneel by his feet. “May I crown you, me lord and master?”