Day 10
Bloodstone awoke and heard the voice in his head.
[Hero Level 3]
[Cleric of the nine 1]
[skill summon herald]
[Psion 11]
[skill telepathic control]
[Lord Level 3]
[Visionary Level 4]
Everyone was up at dawn, except for Ke’lara. Ke’lara, had been given a set of clothes, that were a little too tight for her. She lay in bed as the others were getting ready to go downstairs. Everyone else that was in the room left, leaving Bloodstone, alone with her. He was getting changed into a fresh shirt, when she said, “Why?”
Bloodstone turned and looked at her,”Why what?”
“Why did you come rescue me” she sniffled.
Bloodstone sat on the bed next to her, “I couldn’t let my favorite half elf stay in the hands of a couple of idiot mages.”
“I lost my slave papers,” She sniffed.
“Oh you think they will try and come back and say you belong to them?”
She nodded.
“Not a problem, it was in the fat mages belt pouch.” He tossed the two pouches on the bed.
She opened them looking for the parchment, all that was inside were gold coins and a couple of gemstones, as well as a ring. “Where is the parchment?”
“It’s safe, you don’t have to worry about it. We are going to have breakfast and then get you something more suitable to wear. I would insist on a bath, next chance we get.”
It was at that moment that she broke down in tears. Bloodstone gave her a light hug, she however clutched to him sobbing. “You’re the nicest person, I have been such a bitch to you and you still are nice to me, I wanted to know why.” She sobbed softly.
He pushed her away so he could see her face, “I have a thing for elves and half elves. You know damsel in distress sorta thing.” He wiped the tears from her face. “You need to decide what you want to do, I am going to breakfast.” He stood up and walked out of the room, and down to the main in then to common room. The rest of the group were eating something like that looked like scrambled eggs, though they were more red than yellow. There was also a bacon and ham set out. There were several loaves of bread being shared around.
The innkeeper walked over to him, when he came down. “There are a couple of people that want to talk to you.” She pointed to a table off to one side.
An older man was sitting, with a young woman, Bloodstone walked over to the table. “The innkeeper said you wanted to talk to me.” He looked over the man; he was older, perhaps in his sixties, with gray hair a cane leaned against the table. The woman was perhaps twenty, and had brown hair, brown eyes and looked like she didn’t really want to be there. The two of them were dressed in expensive clothes, conservative, but they looked expensive at least comparing them to what they had seen around the capital. One thing he noticed was that the two of them wore gloves. The gloves were thin leather, and matched the clothes they were wearing, the only skin exposed was the face and head.
“I understand you’re a Lord?”
“I have been given that title by the king so yes, is there something I can help you with?”
“I have made some enemies recently, and my daughter is in danger, if you were to look after her, I could compensate you.” He said.
“How does she feel about this?” he looked at the woman with him.
“My father doesn’t listen to me I can take care of myself.” She said looking at her father.
“Seem like you don’t need me, and far be it from me to get involved in a family issue.” Bloodstone turned to leave.
“Please my lord, you haven’t heard the whole of the dilemma,” he pleaded.
“I had arranged for a group to protect her unfortunately, that group took a better offer from the adventuring guild. I have no one to turn too; the local lord does not believe me.”
Bloodstone looked at him, “There are some aspects of this you’re not telling me, so get to the point.”
“I have to leave on a trip to Issrysil, and I do not wish to take my daughter with me. My wife passed this past winter, so I have no one to look after her.”
“She looks to be an attractive and smart young lady again I don’t see how I can help you.” Bloodstone turned to leave again.
“If there was a suitor that had caught her fancy, I would have married her off at the first opportunity, I fell that my holding would suffer if left in her hands. She has no levels in anything.”
“Enough father, I will not be sold off to some lord, so that you can go back to Issrysil and leave me here alone for a half year. I can do as I please.”
“Hold on. sold off? I don’t think I understand now what you were asking.” He kneeled slightly to bring him eye level with the girl. “First off, I don’t know you or your daughter. Second, I do not feel like babysitting. Third even if you could somehow convince me, I don’t have the time to deal with all of this nonsense.” He waited a moment for any objections, stood and walked over to the rest of the group who were still eating. He sat down and ignored them stuffing his face with the red colored eggs and bacon.
He was reaching for a third helping when the old man came and stood by his chair. “I perhaps wasn’t clear, or maybe you don’t know who I am.”
Bloodstone looked up at him, “Not really, unless you want me to read your mind.”
“That won’t be necessary, I am a [merchant], a rather wealthy merchant. My daughter is very head strung and insists on running things while I travel. I would like to ensure her safety while I am gone, a lord such as your self could find it very rewarding.”
“Tell you what, we are heading to the third district, if you have any holdings there, we could use a good contact. That’s the best I can do.”
“Unacceptable, there must be some way I can convince you. Gold, I have gold, magic items, I have things, I have been saving. Name your price. If you were to marry my daughter I could arrange a dowry.”
“I don’t think so, I am already married.” Bloodstone informed him, and then picked up a slice of cooked bacon, and ate it. It was saltier than he was used to, it was still pretty good.
“So, there is no law that prevents multiple marriages, as long as all the partied involved are aware and consent. I also happen to know you have no paperwork to prove you are married.” He said threateningly. “I digress, I happened to know the enterprise you and your associates are planning, I want in. I have many assets I can put towards the endeavor. I am prepared to tie my family with yours.”
Bloodstone laughed, “Ok, I need to talk with your daughter first, and you need to convince my wife this is a good idea.” Bloodstone, turned and said to Amethyst, ”This merchant has a proposal.”
Bloodstone got up and walked across to the room and sat across from the merchant’s daughter.
“My father doesn’t listen, He is also persistent. I apologize.”
“You want him to listen to you. I get that. You’re a strong willed woman, I can’t even read you. Your father just offered to help finance some of my plans. However, there is a way for you to get what you want and me to get what I want.”
Ke’Lara came into the common room; she saw Bloodstone and gave him a weak smile. She then went over to the group to get food. She listened to the conversation going on.
“I don’t see how, he insists that I marry, I don’t have any interest in a family right now. He feels that if he married me off to your group he would not be cut out of the glory” She wrung her hands together and glanced over, her father was talking at the table. There was a commotion at the table, and heads turned and looked over at them, some of them looked upset, others curious.
“Great, now I have more explaining to do.” He looked back at the woman sitting across from him, “You have a chance to get control of your life. Negotiate with your father through me.”
She looked up at him, and there was a flicker of a smile,” Why would you agree to something like that.”
“I am not sure he can convince my wife, and from the angry glances, it’s not going over to well.”
“Then tell my father that these are your terms, see if he agrees. First you will have a manor or home for your retainers, and room to grow. He has several estates that would be suitable. Second a dowry of half of his net worth in gold, items or magic. Third a contract that returns the dowry to me, if I am not with child before a full year is out.”
“I can agree to that, though I have a feeling you’re going to get half of his holdings if he agrees.”
“He would never agree to that.”
“He hasn’t even told you what is going on?” Bloodstone looked over, there was a heated discussion going on.
“No, he’s been secretive this past month, going out early coming home very late or the next day.”
“Well it looks like there’s some kind of consensus,” Her father and Amethyst walked over to the table and pulled up two chairs.
“Is he serious?” Amethyst asked
“Yeah, I think so.”
Amethyst looked over at the woman sitting there, “Well I don’t really like the idea; however, I’m not going to get in the way of whatever you want to do.”
“Good then its settled, you will marry my daughter and I will help finance your projects, in exchange for partial ownership of the technologies.” The older man said smiling.
“No actually it’s not settled, First I think it’s pretty shitty that your attempting to marry off your daughter to someone you don’t even know. Second, you never asked her how she felt about the situation, and you are after the secrets we have. Third, we haven’t even begun to negotiate. Fourth, I don’t have time to really deal with this, and Fifth why did you wait till now to talk with me” Bloodstone said ticking them off on his hand
The older man looked as if he was thinking, “The king, said you were shrewd. The truth is that I do have enemies who would like to humiliate me, or ruin me. I only have one daughter and I want her to be safe. The king said you have some abilities, and did not go into detail. The truth of the matter is that you have little legality in Rhir, or backing. If you married into my house, you would have both. Others will come and negotiate with you, I just happened to be the first.”
“I think understand now, you’re a merchant?”
The man nodded, “Yes, I have made it as far as a I have on being shrewd and not compromising. I have a hundred ships that sail between here and the other continents. I do not have a noble title, at least not here in Rhir. I have holdings all over, the world. I can get pretty much anything I want, and go where I please.”
“Yet you would sell of your own daughter to make a deal.” Bloodstone asked.
“You make it sound sordid when you say it like that, it is a business negotiation. If you don’t want my daughter, I can make other arrangements.”
“I don’t understand why your pushing so much on this, if you are as rich as you say you are, why are you even bothering with me?” Bloodstone asked.
The man leaned in, “I am old, I have a feeling about you, the way you handled the king. I knew the steward was up to something, I just couldn’t prove anything. You swayed the king to my side, no easy task. I also have only one daughter, it works out for both of us.”
“I see, so I marry your daughter you give us access to your financial empire, and we can use it to build Rhir up. I don’t see how this benefits you.”
“I had other children, some were murdered, other had accidents, things I couldn’t prove. I have a lot of enemies, I don’t want to give them the satisfaction of tearing my empire apart, I have only my daughter to leave it to, and she never picked up any classes, to run everything. You change that.”
“How so.” Bloodstone said looking nervous.
“Must I say it, you will take over for me, as a merchant, I have sixty-seven levels. Kings and lords, come to me when they want money. I only know of two others who could rival me in levels or financial power. One of them is a drake, who I am going to go see in Issrysil. I couldn’t marry my daughter to a drake.”
“I still don’t see how I can do that, I am not a merchant. I already don’t like your tactics. I will tell you what, I will agree to this marriage, under some conditions.”
“I’m listening.” The old man said smiling.
Bloodstone, looked over at the woman, “How about some real introductions first”
The old man said, “That’s acceptable, I am Ambrose Sutter, of the house Sutter of Baleros, and where I make most of my profit. I deal in war, it’s true, assassins and warriors are commodities to be purchased, everyone has a price what is yours?” He towards at Amethyst, “Or Yours?”
The woman said, “I am Coreen Sutter, last surviving child of my father.” She wrung her hands as if it was something she was ashamed of.
He was interrupted, by several others who had come over to the small table. Eve and Sarah both came over, “We talked it over, you are not going to marry her, not going to happen.” Sarah said.
“This guy is a jerk according to Hellen and Marie, he steals, ideas and makes them his own. He just wants to know how all of the stuff is done, and then he will be done with you.” Eve said putting her finger across her throat and then resting in on Bloodstones head for a moment messing with his hair.
“According to Marie, he’s a snake. The King tolerates him since he brings in weapons and food to Rhir. He is wealthy and dangerous” Sarah chimed in.
The old man was silent for a long time. “How can I convince you of my sincerity”
“I don’t think you can, unless…” Bloodstone paused for a moment. “You are using some magic items to block me from reading your mind.”
The man nodded, “A standard precaution, against mind control and the like. You haven’t tried using anything like that on me. Just the normal surface scans I would expect from someone like you. Fortunately, I purchased amulets that block that kind of nonsense. So how will you resolve this I will not leave myself open to mind control, nor will I allow my daughter to do the same.”
“What classes do you have, “Bloodstone asked Coreen.
“I… I don’t have any classes.” She said.
Bloodstone looked over at Ambrose, “Then one of you will take off the glove and give me your hand, otherwise we are done here.”
There was a tension in the air, as everyone watched as Coreen removed a glove, her hands were delicate, and slender. She offered her right-hand palm up to Bloodstone. “I don’t see how this is going to help.”
Bloodstone put his right hand over hers. Her hand was cooler than his, and then he activated his class transfer. Nothing happened. “I think we are done here, no more games.”
“From just a touch, you would throw my proposal away.” He looked confused.
“She is either not alive, has no classes or cannot accept classes. Meaning that she’s not real or is undead.”
Ambrose smiled, “The body is of my daughter, one of my most trusted assassins a Selphid. My daughter never had any classes, it’s what got her killed in the end. Fitting that she serves me better in death than she ever did in life. I see your power does not work on dead flesh, that’s good to know.”
Bloodstone glared at him,” What are you really after?”
“My proposal is sincere, to a point. I do want this technology you have offered the king. Tent, I think you called it. I could make a fortune, selling it in Beleros.”
Bloodstone, opened his mouth to say something, and stopped. Coreens other hand held a dagger and the point was very close to his throat.
“We can do this the easy way or the hard way” Ambrose said amused, watching the others.
“You think killing me will get what you want?” He laughed.
“Perhaps, so here is what will happen, you will agree to my terms, or I will have Coreen kill everyone here. Starting with you.”
“You’re making a very big mistake.” Bloodstone said as the dagger scratched his skin.
“Let’s be reasonable, all I want is the formula. I am sure we can work out an arrangement, where no one has to die.” Ambrose gave him a grin.
“So what was the plan? Have me marry this thing and then what?”
“Gain your confidence and find out about the formula’s.” Coreen said squeezing his hand.
“Ow!” Bloodstone said, and there was a sickening popping sound. “Urgh.”
Coreen grinned, “Scream for me.” She said as she crushed down on his hand and removed the dagger from his throat.
“I …don’t … play … well …. with …assholes…” Bloodstone said through the pain.
Eve who was standing behind Bloodstone, “Told you he was jerk.”
Coreen release her grip, “I was truthful, when I told you he wouldn’t agree to the requests.”
“I always get what I want, it’s just a matter of time. Now you will tell me how to make the tent, and what DeLorean is and how to acquire it “
Bloodstone started laughing, “That list is bogus. It’s all fake, oh some of the things on it are needed for projects, just not the one you think.”
“Then enlighten me before I have someone killed”
“I will, you have two choices, surrender or die.”
“I have all the control here, you have nothing, “Ambrose said.
“That’s where your wrong, you see Coreen and I have had a long conversation, your pet assassin has made an agreement with me.”
“Lies, Coreen is loyal to me.” There was a sliver of doubt that flashed across his eyes.
“Really, you have built up a persona that your daughter didn’t die, when she actually did. Poison was it, because she plotted against you. You lose.”
There was a flash of rage across his face, and he leaped across the table. He made a grab for Coreen with his cane in the other hand, “I will teach you to betray me.” Bloodstone intercepted him with his good hand and pushed him back down. Sarah and Eve grabbed his arm with the cane.
He looked at Coreen, you know about his cane, he was ready to use it on you. “You can get your freedom, it’s your choice. He came here intent on bring us to the manor across town, and we would all be put to death, including you. He hates her face, it reminds him of the betrayal”
Coreen hesitated, “You lie, we never made a deal.”
“You know him, better than us, you know what he is capable of, choose. We can make a deal now.” Bloodstone took the cane carefully from his hand and threatened him with it.
There was a look of fear, and anger in his eyes, as well as defiance. “You can’t win here”
“I already won, you just don’t know it yet.” He looked at Coreen, “You can have your freedom, no more games, no more doing his dirty work.”
“You don’t know what I am, you think I am just this body, you humans find our kind disgusting. Don’t deny it.” Coreen said.
“Now is not the place, I am asking you to stand down, trust me or be a good slave and attack us.”
Coreen threw the dagger at the table. It embedder itself halfway up the blade, “I threatened to kill you and yet you say you know what I am.”
Bloodstone opened Ambrose’s coat, and found a necklaced, and pulled it off his head. He placed it on the table. Much better, now let’s see what we need to do. He stared at Ambrose intently, ”Wonderful, this is going to be so much easier than I thought. Hon, would you do the honors.”
Amethyst cast a spell and Ambrose relaxed, “Mistress?” He said to Amethyst.
“Do whatever my husband tells you to do” She said., “You can let him go.” She said to Eve and Sarah.
“Yes, Mistress.” Ambrose replied.
“Seems weird him saying that,” Bloodstone said.
“What are you going to do with me,” Coreen asked.
“That’s up to you, if you help me I will help you, you took a chance.”
“Looks like there is going to be a marriage after all, though not what he intended.” He gestured to Ambrose, the cane and amulet he put into the bag of holding.
Bloodstone touched his head and used the skill.
[sub class Merchant 67]
[sub class Slaver 3]
“Ick!” He put the class back.
[sub class Slaver removed]
He waited for the skills to hit, and after they did he was breathing heavily.
[Skill appraise item] –> [Skill improved appraisal item]
[Skill appraise person] –> [ Skill improved appraise person]
[skill lucky break]
[skill glib tongue]
[skill land appraisal]
[skill art appraisal]
[skill art appraisal] –> [skill Improved art appraisal]
[skill contract creation]
[skill eye for detail] –> [Skill merchants eye]
[skill Active listener] –> [Skill improved active listener]
[skill lucky break] —> [skill lucky limit break]
[skill glib tongue] —>[skill deal with the devil]
“Hey listen up, we are going to be heading out, so get your shit together and get the horses and lets go. There is a carriage out front, we are leaving in twenty minutes.” He said to the others.
Being quieter, “So it will be me, him, you and my wife.” He said to Coreen. “Follow me,”
The rest of them gathered their things up, Bloodstone picked up the wooden box and nodded as the black cat followed him. He then talked to Xach and got his bag of holding back.
The four of them walked out of the inn. A carriage was off to one side of the inn. The driver nodded when they came out. As they got closer, “Sir, is everything all right?” He asked.
“Yes, yes, I am taking these two to the residence, we have come to an agreement. “ He said.
“Where is your cane.” The driver asked.
“Oh, how forgetful, can you go get it” He asked Bloodstone.
Bloodstone nodded and reentered the inn, and came back out holding the cane.
The driver looked suspicious, as Bloodstone walked over with the cane. “You sure everything is all right sir?”
“Yes Davies, he’s a shrewd negotiator. We will wait while his companions get their gear together.”
“Yes sir,” He sat back.
The cat jumped into Bloodstones lap, as they all got settled in the carriage. The rest of the group took a little longer than a half hour to get ready, and with the extra horses, they fell in behind the carriage. They left the inn and traveled down the cobblestone road, not going faster than the horses could travel. They turned off onto a well manicure lawn and stopped at a large mansion. They got out and the front door was opened for them. Bloodstone straightened the bones in his hand and drank half a healing potion.
The cane had again been put in a bag of holding. Ambrose leaned on bloodstone to climb the three steps Several men and servants were in attendance, “Master, a letter from the captain” the butler said holding the letter out to him on a silver platter. He picked it up and glanced at it and put it back down.
“Tell the captain I will be leaving tomorrow, after we get this business sorted.”
“Very well.” Davies the butler left.
The four of them stood at the entrance, waiting for the rest of the group. “Please see to their horses and assign them to rooms, on the second floor.”
“The second-floor sir?” Davies asked.
“Yes, come along.” Ambrose said to them, they followed. Until they arrived in a large ornate study.
Bloodstone closed the doors once they were inside.
“You seem to have a plan,” Coreen said.
“I do, you have two choices to make, the first, is will you go along with this for the next day or so, and the second is will you stay in this body or take a new host body?”
“What are you proposing?” Coreen asked.
“When you put it that way, yes. We are going to take everything from him and send him on his way.”
“How did you know I wouldn’t kill you.” Coreen asked.
“I took a chance, that you wanted to be free. I also know your danger sense was screaming when you attacked me earlier.”
“Why was that?” Coreen asked.
“I was going to burn you, your defenses, wouldn’t have been able to stand the intense flames. You wouldn’t have survived the encounter.”
Coreen stared at him, “how do you want to do this.”
“Just get the documents together, we will have a ceremony tonight, send him on his way and then get out of the first district.” Bloodstone looked over at Ambrose, “You brought this on yourself, when we are done we will have everything you own on Rhir, I think a confession to the king will make it worthwhile. Now you will draft up the letter to turn over all your property in Rhir to me and my wife. Interesting, it’s too bad that it’s a half world away, you would have to decide to go there and get the magic items or come back here. I wouldn’t come back here.”
Ambrose sat at his desk and began writing, “What else did you want done?” He asked.
“The marriage papers, that’s going to be a problem,” He looked at Coreen,”You take over the body of a dead being, but you have no blood?”
“We as a species inhabit corpses, typically. We can inhabit a living host however they die once we leave the body. We convert the blood and organs, most humans can’t stand the sight of our true bodies. We can’t survive without a host body, at least not long term, we dry out to quickly.”
“That’s a problem, the blood binding things they use, for marriage certificates, at least amongst rich and powerful, require blood. Would it work with your kind?”
Coreen shook her head, “No, it’s one reason we can’t be made slaves. It shouldn’t be a problem.”
“Think, think, think…” Bloodstone said to himself.
“It really shouldn’t be a problem, we don’t need a certificate.” Coreen said.
“Actually, I think we will, come with me I will explain.” He lead her to the door, “Hon, keep an eye on him.” he gestured to Ambrose.
“Sure,” She sat down in a soft chair.
Bloodstone sat in a room with Coreen, neither had said much since they had come in here.
“She wasn’t dead when I took over her body.” Coreen said.
“What!?” Bloodstone said surprised.
“This host body wasn’t completely dead, we can bond with a living host as well as a dead one, if we leave the host died or returns to being a corpse.”
“That must be horrifying for the host, why can I still not read you or your host?”
“I wear a similar amulet as Ambrose.” She lifted the amulet from under her blouse.
“Can you let her speak?” He asked.
“Yes,” There was a slight change in Coreens demeanor; she took a deep breath as if she was drowning. “I.. the being that has my body doesn’t let me speak much, at least not when my father was around. He was the one who poisoned me and then put Naquaree in me. That’s the name of the Selphid, who inhabits my body.”
“I have an idea, not sure if it will work, how would you both feel if I could separate you.”
“That’s not possible, I am dead, and even if Naquaree left my body I would still be dead.”
“I am the master of the impossible, if I could separate you and restore you to life and yet keep Naquaree in your body, what would that be worth?”
“What your suggesting is impossible. If I were to leave this body, it would decay in mere minutes. I know of no such power, or magic that could restore a body used my kind.”
“That’s not what I asked, what would it be worth?”
Coreen sat and appeared to be communicating, thinking. “The worth of such a thing would me immeasurable, I do not see how you could accomplish what your suggesting.”
“I am not positive myself, it never hurts to ask. Is there a place I can get some sun, and be alone for a few minutes?”
“The arboretum, is a quiet place, I will show you.” Coreen stood and lead him through the mansion to a sun lit room, with very clear glass. There were plants that were growing in raised beds as well as pots.
“Come back in a half hour or so, if I can do this, we will need to plan. Both of you will need to think about what you would want to do.”
Coreen nodded and left closing the door.
Bloodstone sat on the tiles in the sunlight in the middle of the arboretum.
“Here goes nothing.” He took a deep breath and shouted, “I summon a herald of the nine”
A glowing transparent figure appeared, it appeared as a winged woman, glowing in the sunlight. “I have heard your call, why have you summoned me.”
“I would like you to take a message and a response if there is one to Finder, I would like to borrow his mirror, or a replica. To be specific, the mirror he made from the chains of pain and torture, that took him two days to make, to right a wrong, for a woman who would never be able to be with him. If that’s not enough, tell him, I understand it’s a longshot to ask, and I respect his actions for making it.”
The winged woman nodded and faded into the light. After a few minutes, a bright light flared, and a voice said, “Heed my words, I give this, so that you may spread the word of our power. You have started the journey, I expect it to be returned.” A key ornately crafted and covered in gemstones and familiar symbols appeared in the air for just a moment then fell to tiles. It made a metallic ringing as it struck the tiles.
He looked it over, there were symbols on it he recognized, they would match the shrine if someone looked closely enough. The symbols were finely crafted, and inset with various gemstones, giving the key a rainbow quality. Bloodstone picked up the key it was heavy and had a tingling sensation to it. “No way!” he said under his breath.
Holding the key out he turned it there was some resistance and the sound of a lock unlocking, A plain looking door appeared around the key.
He pressed the latch on the handle and pushed the door open. It was silent as it opened, into a room, twenty feet by twenty feet it was brightly illuminated from lights along the walls. On the opposite side from the door was a simple desk and a chair. Next to it was a full-length mirror, the mirror was set into a wooden frame, and had elaborate carvings of animals, monsters, and other scenes around the mirror itself. Carved into the top and bottom of the frame, were the words.
ere’ ie’ noon will amin suyolla y’ talant er
ere’ ie’ midnight will amin suyolla y’ talant er
There were no other items in the room. Bloodstone went to lift the mirror frame, it was stuck to the floor of the room, with some amber looking material. “I see, no walking off with it. Let’s see if it works I guess. It’s a replica not the original or something else.”
He left the room and closed the door, he turned the key and as he removed it from the lock the door vanished.
It wasn’t too long after that Coreen returned. “It’s been half a span of an hour do you have a plan?”
“I do, and it’s a dozy. So here’s what I need done, before noon time. Matching clothes, that you can wear, bring them here. I also need to talk to everyone else.”
She led him through the large house, to the second floor. “I have to ask, Naquaree what are your goals.”
“I do not understand what you mean.”
“Well I believe I can make it so that you can leave that body any time, and take another. The choice is yours, I want to know what you want, and who you are.”
“I am an assassin, and have been killing for a very long time, we are a long-lived species. I don’t know to be honest, I just don’t like to be used.”
“I can understand that, it’s why I am asking, if you want to leave Rhir, you could do that as well.”
“I do not know, I have always had to live in the now or look for the next target, I have always been told what to do, it’s a new way of thinking for me.”
The two of them entered a large room, there was a table with dining ware arranged around, off to one side with glass doors to let in the light. The group were talking around soft couches and when Bloodstone entered the conversation stopped.
“We are in the lion’s den, and for the moment, he is tamed. I have a plan, and it requires, some of you to decide, I am going to enter a marriage with Coreen here, and we will take over all the assets here on Rhir from her father. However, I can’t do this alone, on that note, I have decided to open this to all of you, you can decide to be a retainer, a body guard, or a wife. The last option has more dangers than the rest, since we are going to literally take everything he owns here on Rhir. We are also going to make a legal contract to protect the assets, from him and the crown. You have till this evening to decide.”
There was silence as they listened. Marie said, ”Do you know who’s estate this is, even the king will not cross him.”
“Yes, and I am still going to do this.”
Bloodstone turned and left, Coreen followed. He returned to the study. Amethyst was talking with the butler. “Your back, how did it go?” She asked
“About as expected, I need to fill you in.” He turned to Coreen,” Let’s get thing started oh and see if you can find your poor father a cane that’s not so nasty.” Coreen nodded and left him standing there.
He walked into the study, Ambrose was writing and looked up, “Do you want ships in the ports as well?”
Bloodstone smiled, “Yes, have the ships deeds brought here, if they are available.”
“Very well. Here is a list of all my assets on Rhir. All of the of the deeds for Rhir are in the vault.”
“Thank you, this will be most helpful. Now where are those blood binding papers, for the certificates, you have. There is a Vault?”
“I will have to have them sent for, and yes the vault is in the basement” He said.
“I see, let us get this started, have them bring extra blood binding papers, say a dozen.”
He wrote out a quick note, “Davies!” he shouted.
The butler entered, “Sir?”
“Take this to the magistrate, have him come as soon as he is able.”
“Should I send the coach sir?”
“Yes, that’s a good idea.”
“Is everything all right sir?”
“It’s great Davies, I am getting a son in law.”
“I see,” He looked at Bloodstone, took the note and left.
Bloodstone looked over the fine written list in his hands. “Is there a more detailed list of the content at each of these locations?”
“My memory isn’t what it used to be, and several of those places I haven’t been to in years.”
“You worked mainly here and in the capital?”
“Yes”
“What is this used for?” He asked pointing to one of the assets listed on the sheet.
“It’s a workshop, I keep slaves, who have talent, and use them to make potions, weapons, and other goods and ship them off to other places, the cost of shipping them ups the value.”
“This is going to be a loss for you.” He looked over at Amethyst. “Why not go upstairs and get something to eat and drink.”
She nodded, and walked out one of the maids showed her the way.
“The people here, how many are slaves and how many are paid well?” He asked.
“I have sixteen maids on staff, five cooks, my butler and two drivers, two tailors, four gardeners, and a number of runners. Most are paid, the rest well are loyal to me. You know your plan won’t work, as soon as the magistrate sees she doesn’t have any blood, your whole plan falls apart.”
“Oh, I am just going along with the deal you made with me in the inn. Marriage to your daughter, in exchange for control of all your assets here on Rhir. Your leaving tonight, since you don’t want to wait till tomorrow.”
Bloodstone could sense the growing frustration, from Ambrose, he couldn’t break the spell, that had been cast on him. “Is there anything else I can do for you?”
Bloodstone smiled, and pulled out his cell phone, “Yes, I want you to tell me how you have been screwing over the king.”
“The king, he’s a moron, when it comes to money, doesn’t even know the cost of things, at least when I have dealt with him. He wanted to bring in slaves to build his wall, I made the prices so high he decided not to. Every plan he has made, he has had to deal with me. I have been getting richer and richer, from him.”
“I understand you are going to be leaving Rhir, is there a reason for that?” Bloodstone asked.
“I don’t want to be here when the whole kingdom is over run, by monsters or demons.”
“So why are you undermining the king, and his plans?”
“So I can charge thousands of gold or make slaves out of anyone who wants to leave. Then I will retire to one of the Issalian Islands. Rhir can burn for all I care.”
Bloodstone turned off the recording. “I would advise that when you get back in control, that you don’t come back. Your funeral if you do. Sign and seal these documents for this evening, turning over all these assets. have lunch and prepared and get yourself ready to leave. Have your trunk brought like you usually do, on your trips.”
Bloodstone left and heard him call Davies to get lunch ready for the guests and a meal for this evening and to have his trunk brought from his room.
Coreen returned with an old walking cane, and took it into him. She returned from the room, while Bloodstone waited. “Now what?”
“It’s almost noon, do you have the clothes I asked about.” He said.
“Yes they are in the arboretum. I don’t see how you are going to pull this off.” Coreen said.
Bloodstone went back to the arboretum Two sets of identical clothes were on a bench. He looked and considered the sun and removed the key and turned it. “I need a single mirror, if possible a stand or chair.”
She left and returned with a single mirror. “I do not see how a mirror will help.”
“What I am about to show you must remain a secret, I will trust you with this secret, since only Naquaree will likely remember, what happens here. Do you agree to keep it a secret?”
“A weird mirror, sure not sure how a mirror will help.”
Bloodstone took the key and opened the door, the key he returned to his pocket once the door was locked again. He then adjusted the mirror for sunlight to strike the mirror in the room.
“Stand in front of that mirror inside, it will either work or it won’t” Bloodstone watched the reflection, there was a pulse of light along the frame, and the reflection of Coreen distorted, and then fell out of the mirror. She was naked, and would have fallen if Bloodstone hadn’t been ready to catch her.
“What did I just witness?” Naquaree asked.
Bloodstone lifted her gently and walked through the doorway. “Follow me and close the door behind you.” She followed and closed the door, it vanished once the lock clicked.
“What kind of magic is that? I have never seen magic like that.” Naquaree asked.
“Something I borrowed, it’s an artifact of incredible power. This is Coreen, she will probably not remember most of what has transpired. We will have to get her up to speed. Now you need to get changed and help me get her changed.”
She was still asleep, when she was put on the bench. After gently waking her, she awoke with a start. “I had the strangest dream, that I…” and she saw herself. “It wasn’t a dream. How is this possible.”
“I will tell you, later. You have a choice to make, your father killed you and I brought you back, your old body is host to Naquaree. You two have to decide who leaves the room with me, you can’t be seen together.”
“I will leave, I know where I can go and not be seen. Thank you.” Naquaree went to the back of the arboretum and slipped through a door.
“How is this possible? I was poisoned, I remember dying and the rest is a dream, being trapped in my dead body.” She shuttered. “You’re like a Hero of legends, raising the dead, rescuing the maiden, and yet it’s not over is it.”
“No, it’s not. You need to do me a favor, and not confront your father, not now at least. Pretend you are Naquaree, can you do that?”
“I think so.” She was unsteady as she got up from the bench, “I’m so light headed”
“Resurrection sickness, once we get some food in you, you should be fine” He helped her out and to the stairs.
He had her lean on him until they arrived on the second floor, the rest of the group were a little confuse when he came in with her, as she was leaning on him.
He sat her down and she started light, and after a few minutes, began to dig into the meal that had been prepared.
“What is this all about?” Newton asked.
“Well, we just took over the richest man on Rhir’s home, and are about to legally take it over. Thanks to Coreen here. She looked over at Newton, smiled weakly, and continued to eat.
“I meant what was that about earlier, about marriage and retainers, body guards and wives. I hope you were not thinking of taking me as a wife.” He deadpanned.
“Uhhh, sorry Newton, I meant that more to the ladies, it’s me acting on impulse, If you are to weirded out by that, a retainer or a body guard. The wife thing was mainly for Eve, Hellen, Sarah, Marie, Isabel and Ke’Lara, the one caveat is that Amethyst is the first wife.”
“What are you doing Harem Anime,” Kuya teased.
“No, that’s not my intent, it’s to give them a chance to decide their own futures. If they not up for that retainers or body guards are still available.”
“I also want you to be my first and second heirs and I will have Abagail and Kiki adopted. I realize its sudden, this isn’t me forcing something. The amounts of holdings in Rhir are too much for all of us to manage as it is. Having a voice that has the authority, to make choices for the group, well it’s not a bad thing. “
“I’m full can you let me rest for a bit” Coreen asked and then went to a couch off to one side and lay down.
Coreen is second. If anyone else wants in as a direct heir, let Amethyst know. I need to take care of some other things that really irritate me in this house. He stormed off, looking for the butler.
“Davies” He called.
“Sir?” Davies said walking over to him.
“Show me the basement.” He said forcefully.
“The basement sir? I don’t think you have permission to go there.”
“Davies, you don’t understand I am not asking, I am telling you. Your boss, Mr. Ambrose is leaving and leaving me and Coreen to deal with the day to day here on Rhir. You either get with it or find another place of employment. Choose.”
“I hope that you do not hold me responsible for what is found in the basement. I only followed Mr. Ambrose’s orders. “
“Lead on.” He gestured.
The butler looked him over, he got to his eyes and frowned, “Very well sir. May I ask how you found out about the basement”
“Does it matter?”
The butler led him to a locked door, he had the key and unlocked it. “Who else has a key?”
“The master of the house.” He started down the stairs.
At the bottom of the stairs a large amount of wine bottles where on one side. The other side had a large metal door set into the middle of the right-hand wall, and other door, looked more elaborate was farther back.
“These are the wine, stocks sir.” He turned to return up the stairs.
“That door there, where does it go?” Bloodstone asked about the farthest door.
The butler sighed, “That is the Master of the houses private vault.”
“And this one here?” pointing to the right-hand wall
“That is the Masters private stock.”
“Open it.”
“I really do not think the master would approve of you pilfering his prized stock”
“I can’t read your mind, I can tell when someone is stalling, last chance, open it.”
“Very well.” He fished out a larger key and opened the lock, with a definite click.
Inside were twelve cells, only two were occupied. One near the front of the entrance, a nearly naked elven woman was shivering in the cold air. She appeared to be emaciated. The elven woman who looked up when the door opened, looked confused. “Please master, water…” She rasped. Bloodstone kneeled near the cell and pulled out a water skin, from the bag of holding.
“Drink,” He handed her the skin. He glanced at the butler, “I find it barbaric to torture a young woman, and keep her underfed and not giving her water.”
The elven woman drank from the water skin and coughed.
“I doubt the master approved you being down here, I shall go ask him.” Davies backed up.
There was movement in the sixth cell on the left-hand side, a voice barely a whisper, could be heard.
Bloodstone looked between the cell and the butler, “You do that, and when I get back upstairs, I will see to it you occupy one of these cells.” He turned and walked to the back of the cells and knelt, a dirty orange shaded four fingered hand reached out, weakly, from between the bars “Please, master may I have water as well. “
The face that looked up at him was not human, it had a large eye with four eyes arranged above the central eye. There was a pain those eyes, starvation, thirst, or something more primal. It touched him and woman reacted, “Please master” shielding her face and eyes.
“I’m not angry at you.” He turned to yell at Davies, who was no longer standing in the doorway. He retrieved a second water skin and handed it to her. She said some words in a language he didn’t understand. He stood up to figure out where Davies had gone and the door closed and he heard a locking sound.
“Davies open this door now you asshole.” His voice boomed. His request was met with silence. There was a key ring out of reach and by the door that he didn’t see when he first came in. He retrieved the keys, and unlocked the two cells, and the chains binding them. They were both weak “I am sorry my lord, I am too weak to stand.” The creature said to Bloodstone.
Bloodstone retrieved two potions one a healing potion another an endurance potion. He had them each drink half of the small bottles. The half-elf drank it,” Who are you?” He had them rest on a small bench, turned and stood staring at the door. The two of them were dressed in what amounted to dirty rags, that barely covered them.
He then pulled out a mana potion, “Davies, open this door now or I will burn it open it myself.” A flame flickered into existence in his right hand, and then he drank the mana potion. The flame was a deep red, and then it changed, from a red to a blue flame. Using it like a cutting torch he cut off the lock and the hinges that were on the inside of the room. With a foot braced on the door and one on the floor, the door fell into the wine area, with a loud crash.
“DAVIES!” Bloodstone yelled.
He headed up the steps the door stood open. The two women looked out from the doorway, following him. He peered around the corner and saw Davies with a large crossbow pointed in his direction. Ducking back around a nasty looking bolt hit the open door.
“Davies,” Bloodstone said softer, he drew one of his blades. “I know what kind of scum you are.” Using the blade as a mirror, he looked around the corner. Davies had already reloaded, or had more than one crossbow, he wasn’t sure. He was pointing it at the door. Bloodstone stepped out sword in hand.
“What did you do to my master, no one is allowed down there, no one!” he seemed agitated.
“I made him see reason, drop the crossbow. “
“Rather see you die.”
In that moment, the two women had reached the top of the steps, and the strange eyed woman stepped in front of Bloodstone and took the bolt through her chest. Davies dropped the crossbow and reached for another one that was loaded. Bloodstone covered the short distance, in that time and punched him with the pommel of the blade, dropping him to the ground.
Bloodstone turned and saw the strange woman holding the bolt in one hand lying on the ground the half-elf curled up at the top of the steps.
The blood coming from the wound was bright orange. She gasped for breath, trying to talk. He held her close so he could hear her. “You didn’t need to do that.”
The orange blood oozed from the wound her eyes were locked onto his face. “You are a hero, and a lord.” She gasped, trying to get her breath. “Thank you” she whispered and then her eyes all lost that sparkle and luster of being alive.
He set her body down gently, it was almost weightless. There was a wildness behind his eyes. He dragged the butler through the far door, where he had gotten the crossbows. Without hesitating he stripped him down, retrieving another amulet some rings, and a bundle of keys. The room was a store room of sorts, once Davies was stripped down to his undergarments, he dragged him back into the room with the cells, and dropped him in one and locked him in chains and then the door.
The half-elf girl watched him silently, as he used a key and opened a door that wasn’t there before. He set the woman’s body in front of the mirror. He pulled out his phone, took a picture of the body. He then locked the door and retrieved the key from the lock and closed the door. The door vanished once the lock clicked.
He pulled out his phone, and set an alarm. Leaving it on he took a picture of the half-elf woman and then the cells.
He then lead the half-elf woman to the second floor, where the others were still talking. “Can someone get her cleaned up, and dressed properly. Hon and Coreen can you come with me, I need to talk to you about something.”
Amethyst and Coreen followed him. “What’s going on?” Amethyst asked.
He showed them the basement and cells, “Why is the butler in there?”
“Because he pissed me off, and I don’t feel like chasing him later. Coreen, here something you will need.” He touched her and gave her the merchant levels.
[sub class Merchant removed]
She staggered and looked wide eyed at him, “How?”
“I can take classes, and any class I take all the levels associated with it come as well.”
“What did you give her?” Amethyst asked.
“He gave me an insane amount of merchant levels, where did you get so many merchant levels?” She asked.
“I took them from your father, he will still have his skills but the levels are gone. I could load him up with junk classes and that would slow him down even more.”
“Speaking of classes,” He reached through the bars and took all of Davies classes.
[sub class butler 33]
[sub class assassin 14]
[sub class runner 3]
[sub class burglar 4]
“Huh, weird set of classes he had, Butler, assassin, runner and burglar. Wonder why it’s not thief.”
Bloodstone said. “ok now what skills”
[skill identify wine]
[skill detect poison]
[skill immaculate clothes]
[skill silent footsteps]
[skill detect social standing]
[skill vital anatomy]
[skill Mask presence acquired] –> [skill invisible presence]
[skill quick hands]
[skill improved endurance]
[skill sense residence]
“Whoa! Those are some strange skills.” He looked out into the wine room and looked over the bottles. “Want some really good wine?” He picked up two bottles and handed one to Amethyst and the other to Coreen.
“Since Coreen here is just been resurrected, let me share some secrets.” He winked at Amethyst.
“First, I picked up a Cleric level this morning, and that means I can talk to a specific deity or deities”
Amethyst looked at him, “What, like the Christian god, Jesus or something else?”
“Something else.”
“I don’t think it works that way.”
“Sure, it does, are you saying you don’t believe in my gods?”
“What is he talking about, the gods are dead.” Coreen asked, clearly confused.
“Well tonight we are going to do a special ceremony, it will depend on who else decides to join you two.” He said picking another bottle of wine and putting it in his bag.
The dumb ass butler, had two slaves locked up, down here and were dying of thirst, the one you saw and another who stepped in front of a crossbow bolt to protect me. I don’t know what she is, however, she will be back with us later tonight.
“This room over here is a vault, I think I have all the keys, and we can see what’s in it later.” He showed them the the large metal door; it appeared to need two keys to open it.
He looked at Coreen,”If you don’t want to do this, now would be the time to say so.”
“It’s all happening so fast, you rescuing me, bringing me back from the dead. I am grateful for what you have done, I just don’t know if this is the right thing to do.”
“Bringing her back from the dead?” Amethyst asked.
“Uh yea, I got a little help from someone,” he held up the ornate key.
“What is that for?” Amethyst asked.
“I’ll show you,” He opened the door, and walked into the room. The body of the orange woman was still where he had left it. A pool of bright orange fluid had leaked onto the floor.
“Is it dead?” Amethyst asked
“Yeah only for a while though, the mirror is special.”
“That looks like a half gazer, they are rare, extremely rare here on Rhir, she may have been the only gazer on the continent. “Coreen said looking at the bolt, and the body.” You should get something for this mess”
“Sure let us do that” They left the room and he locked the door, and closed it retrieving the key. The door vanished when the lock clicked.
They returned to the room on the first floor, were the crossbows had come from and found a cot. He opened the strange door again and placed the body on the cot. He stripped her down and used the rags to clean up the blood. He then locked to door and it vanished.
Amethyst gave him a look, “Really?” she asked.
“What?” He looked around in the storage room, there were mostly weapons and ammo as well as chests full of what looked like armor, and other combat gear. A whole crate was filled with arrows and quivers.
They returned to check in on Ambrose, he was still writing. A stack of papers were on one side of the desk.
“So how does one open the vault?” He asked.
“You need my cane and a key, I could show you if you want”
“No finish up, we have a lot of things to do and so little time.” Coreen stared at him from the doorway.
He never once looked up from the documents.
“The Magistrate should be here shortly,” Bloodstone said as he led them back upstairs to grab something to eat. I also need to see those tailors Mr Sutter mentioned.
When the Magistrate arrived, he was greeted by Bloodstone.
“Your new here?” the magistrate asked.
“Just filling in for today, I want everything to go smoothly.”
“Master Sutter sent word to bring blood contracts, is he available?” The magistrate asked.
“He’s still working, on some important paper work. I a room set aside. I am the one who needs to speak with you about the contracts. I have several contracts that need to be written up.”
“What kind of contracts,” he looked at Bloodstone dubiously.
“There will need to be five marriage ones and two contracts of employment, and two adoption contracts.”
“Whom are these for? I don’t see Master Sutter getting married” He asked,
“They are for me, I am going to marry Coreen, and I need to get a contract with my current wife, since there is nothing documented in Rhir, and getting the existing document would be problematic.”
“We could use a mage to get the document validated, from where it is.” The Magistrate suggested.
Bloodstone laughed, “If that were possible, the place its located there are no mages.”
“I see, and what about these other three?”
“I will have them all come down shortly to get this sorted, how many witnesses do you need?”
“Well, four is best, preferably that are not a party to any of the contracts.”
“I think we can manage that.” He led him to a larger room where there was a desk and furniture had been moved to clear the center of the room.
“There are a few provisions I want in the marriage contacts, is that a problem?”
“No, if they are I will tell you.” The magistrate said setting up
“Well first off it’s going to read as wife on each document, with no mention of the others. The wife is entitled to all holdings, gold and assets that I have. If they however wish to annul the contract before a year is out they will receive a home, and a thousand gold. They also at my discretion forfeit any class or levels they have.”
“I don’t know if that would be enforceable”
“How would you word it then?”
“We can just label it and if you can’t enforce it then it can be ignored.”
“Ok, any assets given to the wife shall be considered their property and cannot be taken. If there is a child or expected child, the disposition of the child shall be decided before the separation. If the wife deems she will care for the child on her own, a sufficient allotment for the child shall be made.”
“That’s generous, most just abandon the child or take custody. That should be fine, anything else?”
“If there has been no contact between husband and wife for a period of a year, the assets will revert to the current occupying spouse or the spouse who hold the deed to said asset.”
“Seems fair, how many of these should I draft?”
“Make two extra, just in case someone changes their mind, or messes up”
The magistrate began writing out the documents. “This will take a bit of time to complete”
“I will return shortly” Bloodstone told him and walked out
Bloodstone returned to the second floor where everyone was relaxing. “Ok so I need four of you to be witnesses. Then all of you follow me.”
The group of them walked into the room that had been set aside, and rearranged.
Amethyst has been fitted with an elegant gown of deep purple shimmery cloth. The maids had spent the past two hours getting her fitted for it along with two tailors. Coreen followed she was wearing a deep green dress of similar material, since her resurrection her eyes had changed to a deep emerald green. She stood next to Amethyst.
The magistrate waited while the rest filed in. Marcus, Xach, Miguel and Newton stood off to one side. Marie, Kuya, Eve, Beth and Sarah the other side of the room.
The next one to enter was Isabel, who was dressing in white, and was led by Hellen who to was also dressed in white. The two of them had matching dresses and stood next to Coreen. Violet came in wearing a deep red dress, she came in and curtsied and held it for a good four or five seconds and stood. She had makeup on and had helped the others applying makeup.
The Magistrate waited as the rest walked in, Ke’lara and the other half-elf stood next to Sarah. Behind them Abigail and Kiki came in, it pink frilly dresses. The two of them stood next to Violet.
The magistrate looked over the large gathering. “Coreen, you’re looking well.”
“Thank you, my father is rather busy, but he should be here shortly.”
Ambrose walked into the room and two servants followed him with two large stacks of paper. “Magistrate Rease, thank you for coming at such short notice,” The half elf from the dungeon whom he had not found out her name looked terrified when Ambrose came into the room. She hid behind Sarah.
“Not a problem, Master Sutter, what is all this?” He asked as the two stacks were set onto the desk.
“All the assets I am turning over to my daughter, and her soon to be husband once this is completed.”
The magistrate looked at a couple of the sheets, “I’m surprised, I thought your daughter wasn’t interested in marriage.”
“This man has caught her fancy, we have some caveats to the union. We can get started whenever you are ready.”
The magistrate looked over at Bloodstone, “Ready when you are, do you have a small sharp knife?”
One of the maids set several knives on the desk, there were twelve in all. Two potion bottles were also set next to the knives. Another maid brought in several red colored hand towels and set them off to one side.
“I think we can get started, the first thing is to take care of my first wife.” He stepped over to Amethyst and put an arm around her waist and brought her to the desk. Taking a sheet that had been drying, and had visible squares as well a writing. A quill was placed where it could be used.
The magistrate handed Bloodstone one of the knives and a hand towel. “You are going to be the one who bleeds the most, what is your full name and age for the record.”
“Blood Stone, forty-six” he replied. The magistrate wrote the name and number under the square.
“hummm, well you will need a cut and bleed into this square. You can use a thumb and press it into the paper.” Bloodstone followed the instructions by slicing into his thumb to draw blood. He then left a bloody thumb print on the sheet.
“And you my dear, your name and age.” He asked.
“Amethyst Stone forty-two” She replied as he handed her one of the knives and a small hand towel.
She followed the same instructions, no looking very happy about it and left a bloody thumb print on the sheet next to his. The magistrate wrote more on the page and then sprinkled some silver dust on the ink and blood, sealing the paper. He handed Amethyst one of the potion bottles, and explained to get a small amount to seal the small cut on her thumb. She opened the bottle and use the hand towel to dab the potion on the cut.
The magistrate set the first sheet aside and placed a fresh sheet. Bloodstone took her back to the lineup and escorted Coreen to the desk. Bloodstone left another bloody thumb print on the paper.
The magistrate handed her one of the blades. Ambrose was watching her closely. She sliced into her thumb and left a red bloody thumb print next to the first one. Ambrose choked, and looked like he was going to have a fit. Coreen said to him, “It’s all right father, we can have eldaris tea after.” She turned to the Magistrate, “I am Coreen Sutter, and I am twenty three, and I give my consent for this with all my heart. I owe my husband to be my very life and all that I own I share freely with him”
It took a bit of time to go through each of the brides, Isabel needed help to place the print in the proper place, and the magistrate was surprised that she was blind. He looked over at Bloodstone, “You are a kind man, most people would not marry a blind woman. No offense Miss Isabel? I would like to know if you make this choice with consent, considering your age I have to ask.”
“He is very kind, I give my consent, I am under no duress or coercion to do this, and I make if of my own free will” She said giving Bloodstone a playful hug.
“We will help her if needed, as we are sisters now.” Coreen said.
“Careful, I don’t want to get blood on the dress.” He said holding his thumb in the cloth.
He walked her back and escorted Hellen, to the desk. The magistrate asked her the question of her name and age.
“Hellen, I am nineteen”
Bloodstone left his bloody thumb print on the page, as did Hellen, she said to everyone there. “My lord, I willingly give myself to you and your cause, I will defend you and my sisters and our children to the death.” She then pulled him close and kissed him. “I have wanted to do that since I met you” She said.
Bloodstone looked a bit shocked and escorted her back to the line, and then put his arm around Violet. She leaned into him and snuggled against his chest. Bloodstone turned a shade of red, and removed her other hand from his rear. “Not now.”
She looked a little hurt by his words. The magistrate asked her. “Now miss your name and age, and do you consent to this marriage.”
She looked at the Magistrate, “I am Violet of the city Jedamar, I am twenty-nine summers. I do consent, without reservations. I hope to be of assistance to my new sisters.”
She looked at the knife carefully and cut a small nick in her thumb and placed a perfect bloody thumb print next to his. She placed the knife back down.
The magistrate sealed it with the silver dust after writing several lines. “Is that all of the wife’s” he asked.
“I… that’s that that’s plenty. What’s next?” He asked.
“Adoptions, I would guess it’s these two young ladies.”
“Yes, I have this paper for this one.” Bloodstone handed the slavers paper to the Magistrate.
The magistrate looked it over, “You are taking this young lady, as an adopted child?” He looked at Bloodstone.
“Yes, as she has no one else to look after her, we will do so.” He said.
The magistrate nodded and held the paper close to Kiki, the single thumb print on the page glowed with a silver light. “It seems to be in order. Do you take this child as one of your own, to protect from harm, to raise as a member of your house hold?”
“I do, so consent.” Bloodstone placed another bloody print on a new sheet, that had different writing.
“You will have to do this part, you need to put her thumb print over yours and yours over this sheet you gave me.” Kiki saw the knife and backed up, it took three of them to get her to co-operate. And eventually the prints were where they needed to go.
The cleaned up the cut with the potion and Kiki was pouting.
Abagail went through the whole thing without any help, and they were done with the sealing shortly afterwards.
Ambrose was looking at the other people, his face was slightly red, and he was both confused and very angry. His anger was directed at the elven woman who was trying to stay out of his line of sight.
Bloodstone smiled, ”It appears that there is one thing I need to attend to can I have a moment.”
“Sure, I still have a few things to do with these certificates.”
Bloodstone walked over and escorted the half-elf girl out of the room. Ambrose followed him out, his face red.
The half elf squeaked, as if in terror, and would have run had Bloodstone not held her. “Shhhh, he’s not going to touch you.”
They retreated to a room across the way and Ambrose entered. Bloodstone smiled at him.
“I will kill you!” His anger was genuine, as Bloodstone had relaxed some control over him.
“You are in no position to threaten me or her, I want her paper now.”
Ambrose left the room.
The half-elf was shaking, in terror, He held her close, “Listen, I can make him never be able to hurt you again.” He stepped back from her and looked her in the eyes, “I am sorry that he has hurt you so badly”, he lightly touched her chin, with his thumb, and left a bloody print there, seeing the blood he wiped if off with the hand towel.
Ambrose returned his anger, was visible. The half elf stiffened and clutched at Bloodstone. Ambrose held a sheet of parchment like the others. He held it out.
Bloodstone looked at it, it was a slave paper. “Take it.”
She reached out to take the paper, Ambrose glared at her, and she took it from his hands. Bloodstone looked at him and he turned and left the room.
“You can do what you want, I will make sure you never have to deal with him again.”
“What class are you,” she asked softly.
“I have a lot of classes, [pyromancer] and [psion] are my highest classes.”
“I never heard of [psion]” She looked up at him, tears in her eyes “You rescued me, gave me my freedom. What did you do with Ranathil”
“Who is Ranathil?” He asked
“The half-gazer,” She sniffed. “She’s dead”
“Yes, she’s dead, I am sorry.”
She collapsed and would have fallen if he hadn’t held her up. The tears started flowing.
“I have to go back, you’re welcome to stay here.” He said.
“No,” She looked up at him, “I will do whatever you ask of me, I am a [Mage]”
“You have to decide what you want to do,” He wiped the tears from her face with his uncut thumb.
He let her go, and she stood up. He started walking back to the room where everyone was.
Bloodstone returned to the desk, and the magistrate nodded, “And the contracts?”
“Oh right, retainer contracts.”
“Marcus and Ke’Lara, are former slaves, I would like them to be free to take a contract of employment.”
“I see, do you have the papers?” He asked.
Bloodstone handed them over, and the magistrate checked them by going up to each of them and seeing if the print glowed. He returned them to him and then had him put his thumb print on two of the sheets. The two of them stepped forward and put bloody prints next to his. The Magistrate then asked,”What are the terms of the employment?”
“I will give them room and board, any equipment necessary to perform their roles and two hundred gold coins as a retainer.”
“Do you both accept these terms?” He asked them
Marcus and Ke’Lara both said, “I accept the terms”
He had them sign the papers and noted a few things as well.
“Now for the witnesses. I would need four of you to come and sign these documents that are not part of the contracts.”
“Wait”, a voice said from the door. Everyone looked, the half-elf stood in the doorway.
“What’s the problem?” The magistrate asked.
She came up and stood next to Violet, “I will be number six”
The magistrate looked over at Bloodstone, “I have an extra sheet if you agree”
“Sure why not, what’s one more”, He came and led her to the desk and put his thumb print on the page.
“Your name and age miss, and are you consenting to this marriage?” The magistrate asked,
“Xyrdiane Sylthana of the house Arandia, I am ninety three. I consent to this marriage to Blood Stone, with all of my being.” She turned and stared at Ambrose while she said it, without any hesitation she cut her right thumb and pressed it into the parchment. She then stepped back and hugged Bloodstone.
She then stood back in line, one of the house maids came and whispered something to her, she looked at the other brides, and replied, in a whisper. The maid nodded and left the room.
“Now unless anyone else, has something to say, can those witnesses step forward?” The magistrate asked.
Newton, Beth, Eve and Miguel walked up to the desk, and began signing papers, the magistrate took each sheet and stamped it with a large seal and then put it in a stack. He then went through each separate paper and checked to see if they glowed, they did in the presence of the correct owner.
“That should take care of that, and my fee?” he asked.
A small ornate box was brought in and left on the desk. The magistrate opened it and looked at the coins arranged in rows picked it up and put it in his satchel. Bloodstone handed him a bottle of wine.
“There is one more thing before, we convene to dinner. I have something I would like to say. We have been here on Rhir for about ten days now, it’s been rough. There are no gods here, however I have my own so we will follow a ceremony.” He stepped up to Amethyst and removed the Purple ribbon from her hair and wrapped it once around his arm and tied it. He tied the other end to Amethyst left arm. He stepped over one step and took the green ribbon from Coreens hair and tied it to his arm and then to hers, leaving the length near hanging the floor. He then took the white ribbon from Isabel’s hair and tied them together. He then took Hellen’s white ribbon and then Violets red ribbon.
The maid rushed back in and placed a blue ribbon in Xyrdianes hand. She handed one end to Bloodstone and tied the ribbon to her arm. “The ribbons symbolize our new bonds, even if they should be cut, they will remain. Let no arrow, sickness, blade or death itself diminish what we have here, it is a scary first step for some of you, and we shall go together to explore that. He started walking out of the room and they followed. There was a large ball room where food had been set out.
He motioned for Marcus to follow, “Ambrose Sutter will be leaving shortly to get on a ship, and there is someone else who will join him, find a chest or crate that will fit the man in the basement.” He handed over several keys. “If he resists feel free to wrap him up and gag him. Make sure he makes it into his luggage. You and Ke’Lara should make sure that they don’t miss the ship.”
Marcus nodded and went back and spoke with Ke’Lara.
The magistrate left shortly after eating and they waited for the cartridge to return, cases and crates of clothes for Ambrose were packed and placed by the front door. The butler, whom no one had seen since this morning, seemed to have vanished.
When the carriage returned several crates were loaded on the top and into special storage area in the back. Marcus and Ke’lara joined Ambrose in the carriage, just before they left Coreen entered as well.
“It’s time to see you off, just so we are clear Mr. Sutter I still have the body you so graciously forced me into.” Sutter’s eyes went wide, “How did you find blood that would work?”
Coreen smiled, “Bloodstone is the master of the impossible. Good bye Mr. Sutter for your sake I hope we do meet again.”
They saw him off and onto the ship; it sailed shortly after his crates were loaded onto the ship..
The three of them rode back to the manor, whispering secrets.
Most of the group had gone to the second floor, and turned in. The house servants were being talked to.
“While I am gone, you will obey Coreen, until I return.”
“How long do we have to have these ribbons on?” Amethyst asked.
“Till after midnight, I don’t want any of you wandering off. There is one more thing you will need to know.”
There were a grumblings, mainly from Isabel and Hellen.
The seven of them ended up in the basement, looking at the cages, “Coreen make sure that metal gets saved, we can use it for something better. Let’s unlock the vault.”
They opened the vault, using the cane and a key the steward had held.
The vault itself was huge and filled with money, jewels, and items in cases, there were spell books, armor, weapons. There was also a book that had the current contents and locations. Someone had catalogued it all. “Ok, tomorrow we will have to see if we can’t outfit everyone.”
There was a beeping and bloodstone took out the ornate key, and opened the door. Everyone crowded into the room and saw that there was an orange skinned woman who had been laid out on a small cot; there was a bolt still in her chest.
“Who is that” Hellene asked.
“Someone who deserves a second chance, this place is special it’s not in the world. Watch the mirror.”
For a few minutes nothing happened, and then there was the image of the orange skinned woman in the mirror got up and stepped through the mirror. She staggered forward, Bloodstone caught her. She was still very light. He threw a white robe around her and placed her on the cot.
Xyrdianes looked at the cot, the body that had been there was gone, it had faded in moments. The crossbow bolt was all that remained.
“This is a mirror of resurrection, at noon and midnight it can restore the dead if they are willing to return, and if there is a reflection of the one to be resurrected. This is a gift, on loan from my gods. There is one more secret to it. if you write your true name and it is reflected in the mirror it will be able to restore you.”
“This mirror’s value is immeasurable.” Coreen said.
“The magic required to make something, is at least tier eight or nine, or higher”, Xyrdianes said in awe.
“This key has a secret as well.” He held out the key for them to see.
“It’s a key so what is the secret.” Amethyst asked.
“Watch” He said holding the key.
The key suddenly shifted its shape, and nine symbols on a gold chains in his hand.
He took one of the symbols and handed it to Amethyst. It was a circle with a nine pointed star.
He handed the strip of gold in with a half twist in it to Isabel
The small golden bee he gave to Coreen.
The golden bow and arrow symbol he gave to Xyrdianes.
The small fist symbol he gave to Hellen.
The tiny golden anvil he gave to Violet
The two dragons intertwined, he put around his own neck
A gold triangle with small swords touching the edges and a skull, he put away, saying “These will be held by Kuya and Xach.”
Do not use this place lightly, only in dire need. Each of you has a piece of the key.
He picked up the half gazer and carried her out.