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The OPMC 10 Chapter 2
🕑 Added 2021-12-02 02:54:04 +0000 UTCA hush fell over the waiting audience, and I could feel every eye in the new stadium locked onto General Riondale. The young man had been a lieutenant when we first met during my quest to defeat the dragon, but he’d proven himself a loyal and dedicated soldier ever since, and his talent for leadership quickly caught my attention.
Riondale’s short brown hair was slicked back, and his face was clean shaven, so he certainly looked his age. The young general wore a black formal uniform complete with tassels stretching from the neck to the shoulders, and my personal crest adorned the chest.
I’d made a good choice for my general, that much was clear already.
I took a moment to scan over the faces in the audience, and I was surprised by how many people were visiting Bastianville, but then I remembered the guard saying it was Mid-Winter Market day.
Riondale had perfect timing.
The show of military prowess would be witnessed by travelers who would spread word of our might far and wide, and it hopefully deter any future enemies from attacking my holdings while I was away on adventures.
“Soldiers!” Riondale shouted in a crisp, authoritative tone. “March out!”
A line of soldiers in clean formals marched out from behind the stands, and they stood in groups of ten by ten. Five groups marched out in this formation until the field in front of the stadium was filled with their shoulder-to-shoulder ranks, and then Riondale marched to a position directly in front of the parade.
“Army!” the general shouted. “About face!”
Every man swiveled on his heel in unison to face in the opposite direction, and the sound of their movements thudded across the field. Just the sheer act of getting five hundred men to move as one was incredible, so I was eager to see what else Riondale had in store.
This performance was as much a surprise to me as it was to everyone else, but I considered myself to be an all knowing god, so I decided to make a new save point while people were still getting in their seats.
Once Riondale completed his performance, I could reset and show everyone watching exactly what being the God of Time meant. Then I’d just have to wait for the word of my awesomeness to spread, but I knew it would move across the land like wildfire.
“March,” Riondale commanded, and the entire procession moved as one several paces forward. “Halt.”
The army came to a brisk stop, and every soldier rested his hand on his sword hilt. The movement caused a wave-like motion through the crowd of soldiers, and it reminded me of a school of fish.
Riondale continued to bark out orders that had the men moving about the field in synchronicity, and they flowed into complicated formations that spanned the length of the new stadium. The sides broke off, and the army moved like water across the tall grass. Then they straightened into the shape of a five pointed star before merging back into their ranks, and the general marched along beside them every step of the way.
I committed every moment to memory as I watched the display of military perfection, but I had a feeling it was going to take me more than one attempt to master the steps. It was like a complicated dance with hundreds of other partners, and I gained a new found respect for marching bands since they carried massive instruments while having to step in line.
“This is amazing,” Mahini breathed with her icy blue eyes trailing the soldiers’ movements.
“So, this is what Riondale’s been up to,” Elissa observed.
“He’s done a fine job so far,” Eva said.
“I’ve never seen anything like it!” Caelia shook her head of chocolate colored curls in awe.
“Is this not a regular practice?” Zenda frowned in confusion. “They are so smooth… You would think they’ve been doing such things for years.”
“This is the first time I’ve even had an army to train,” I explained. “Let alone enough peaceful time to teach them awesome tricks, but Ri-Guy really came through. I’ll have to buy him a drink later for his efforts.”
The army split into another geometric shape, and the men formed multiple concentric circles that flowed across the field. The general commanded a presentation of arms, and every soldier withdrew his sword in unison. Then Riondale ordered a slope of arms, and they all relaxed their blade across their chests.
Riondale continued to lead his army through a parade of movements, but the young general had no trouble keeping up, and at times, he even had to trot beside the marching groups.
“Color me impressed,” I murmured under my breath.
I noted the patterns and proceeded to plan my first attempt, but a part of me wanted to join the performance in my awesome new dragonscale armor. Maybe I would have time to change before the main part of the parade began.
Riondale had the army end with their faces directed toward the audience, and they all carried their swords by their sides. Then the general bowed before the watching people, and he cleared his throat before speaking to the spectators.
“Next, I will have my strongest champions duel for the title of Honor Guard for the Archduke’s household.” Riondale’s eyes glittered with amusement when he caught my eye.
I didn’t need anyone guarding me personally, but I had to admit I liked the idea of there being a permanent guardian over my family. Soon, I’d have a group of rugrats running around, and it would take the entire village’s help to look after them.
I just had a feeling that the children of a god would be a handful.
“I need no such protection,” Mahini scoffed.
“I’m sure it’s mostly for the babies,” I said in a reassuring tone, and the warrior woman’s stiff shoulders relaxed slightly.
“I suppose that is acceptable,” the desert goddess sighed.
“We’ll need more than a soldier to help look after the children,” Elissa said. “We’ll need a nursemaid and nanny, oh, and a midwife as well!”
“I’ll make it happen,” I promised, but I swallowed hard.
My heart thudded in my ears as I thought about everything I needed to accomplish before the babies were born, but I knew I had the help of the entire town, so I tried to release my worries as I turned my attention back to the show.
The majority of the soldiers moved into lines on the far side of the field from the newly built bleachers, but a handful of the men remained in the middle of the field. I eyed them closely, but it was difficult to see anything that made them stand out. They looked just like all the other soldiers, and they all wore crisp black uniforms emblazoned with my crest, but their hair was in a variety of colors from blond to black. None of them were bearded, so it took me a while to recognize Corvis among the select few.
The horseman had traveled with me a few times before, and I trusted him not only with my life but the lives of my loved ones as well. He’d had a rough life, and he’d learned from an early age not to trust humans, so he was an avid animal lover. He whispered to the horses like they were long lost lovers, and the beasts responded with the same gentleness toward him. Corvis would make a perfect guardian for my offspring, but I’d wait to see how he performed in the duels.
Among the other contestants, I also noticed Niconor, and the young miner waved subtly to his father who sat in the stands. Willihard had long since retired from mining, but his son had managed to multitask his trade with his new duties as one of my soldiers. Niconor had accompanied my family before, and I knew the quality of his character like a book I’d read multiple times.
The other men were people who’d migrated to Bastianville after I’d taken over control of the region, so I was less familiar with their names and faces, but they came to me bit by bit as the soldiers stretched their arms and legs.
There was Hillon, a young man who’d brought his aging parents to Bastianville as a peaceful place to end their lives. He’d been providing everything for the old couple, and I knew there was nothing he wouldn’t do for the family. He had longer, sandy brown hair and matching eyes, and despite his muscular build, he was soft at heart.
Then I spotted Wret and Gaines, and the two brothers talked amicably with each other while they exercised in preparation for the duels. Their matching black heads of hair seemed to absorb the light, but their eyes were bright blue like a clear sky. Wret was the older of the two, and he stood a few inches taller than Gaines. I found it hard to imagine separating the pair, but they seemed perfect as a package deal.
“This is going to be good,” I predicted to my wives and lovers. “Corvis doesn’t usually play by the rules, but we’ll see how he adapts to the environment.”
“Not to mention the amount of training they must have already put in,” Mahini added with a nod. “I imagine the soldiers knew about the performance in advance.”
“I don’t know all the men competing,” Caelia said as she scanned over the men’s faces. “I’ve spent so much time away from home recently, I don’t know all the newcomers.”
Plus, the shopkeeper didn’t have the ability to go back in time when a name was forgotten, so it wasn’t as easy for her as it was for me. I spent the next few moments comparing and contrasting the strengths and weaknesses of the competitors, and I shared all my knowledge about each contestant. My women and the members of the Elder Counsel oohed and ahhed over each tidbit, but after a while, the bets began to be placed.
“I’d make a good sports broadcaster,” I mused as the conversation delved into what was considered a fair payment for victory.
Everyone chose their favorites, and it was just in time. Riondale marched into the center of the field and clapped his hands together twice, but immediately afterward, the entire group of soldiers repeated the gesture. The sound of their collective claps was deafening, and shivers ran up my spine as the hairs on my arms stood on end.
“Warriors, choose your steel.” Riondale gestured to a tarp laid in the center of the field covered in a variety of weapons. There was everything from swords and daggers to spears and halberds, but I spotted some axes and maces as well.
Corvis picked a crossbow, and a sword, but Niconor chose a mace and a shield. Hillon grabbed a massive double headed axe, and the brothers waited until everyone else was done before they distributed the remnants among themselves.
I wasn’t sure if it was going to be a free for all or a pair-off competition, but then Riondale whistled, and the men all charged each other in a swirl of blades and shields. Corvis hung back to pick off his targets with the blunted and dyed bolts from his crossbow, and the projectiles pinged off Niconor’s shield but left angry red streaks across the wood.
“Holy shit,” I gasped. “They’re just going at it.”
The gladiator-like fight moved so quickly, it was difficult to track everyone’s movements, but it seemed like they were all holding their own. After several blocked attacks and stunted movements, the competitors all retreated to opposite corners of the field. The grass was trampled by the hundreds of feet from the army, so there wasn’t anywhere to hide, but it looked like they were just taking a moment to catch their breath.
Then I spotted Corvis darting through the only available cover: the other soldiers lined up on the edge of the field. The horseman rushed back into view on the far side of the field right next to the brothers, and he blasted them both with his blunt bolts in a rain of red powder.
“What do they dye the weapons with?” I wondered out loud.
“Perhaps dried red berries,” Mahini suggested.
I glanced sideways at the usually stoic warrior woman, but her face was lit up with joy. Her ice blue eyes glistened with delight and fascination as she watched the fight, and her thin pink lips were slightly parted. I loved watching her enjoyment, and I sealed the image into my memory bank.
“Private Wret and Private Gaines are out of play this round,” Riondale announced from where he stood at the bottom of the bleachers. He held a board with a piece of parchment on it covered in tally marks, and his gaze scanned constantly over the field of battle to review his men’s positions.
Niconor was copying Corvis’ strategy as the two men both flanked Hillon, but the young brown-haired man didn’t seem to notice his imminent danger. He stood with his back to the other competitors, and it seemed like he was staring at nothing.
I tensed in my seat as the suspense grew, but the two men stalked steadily closer to their target. Corvis and Niconor caught sight of each other as they drew near to Hillon, and instead of attacking their original goal, the pair began to circle each other.
Hillon dashed down the field and out of reach an instant later, and I realized he was playing a long game. He wanted to narrow down the competitors until he could face them one-on-one, but he needed the other players’ help doing so.
“Smart kid,” I laughed as I pointed out Hillon’s antics to my companions.
“I knew he could do it!” Hillon was Elissa’s choice for champion, so she wiggled on the bench in delight.
“We had the right idea, my dear,” Theodora agreed since she’d also picked Hillon out of the group of competitors.
“Bah,” Jax grumbled. “Corvis’ll pull his head out of his ass soon enough. Just watch. That horse-boy will have everyone chasing their own tails before the game is over.”
“There, there, dear,” Torya soothed the blacksmith in a sweet voice. “It’s only ten gold coins.”
I’d refused to place a bet, and I’d claimed my all-knowing godhood as my reasoning, but I couldn’t help being fascinated with everyone else’s reactions.
Corvis dispatched Niconor as efficiently as if he was mucking a stall, and then he immediately scanned the field for his last remaining opponent. The horsemaster spotted Hillon across the field, but he didn’t rush toward him. His long black hair hid his face from me, but it seemed like he was just watching to see what the final competitor would do. Hillon seemed to sense his situation had changed, and he crouched down in the grass to make himself a smaller target for Corvis’ crossbow. The horsemaster took a couple of shots at Hillon anyway, but the projectiles went over the brown-haired man’s head.
I leaned forward in my seat, and I was eager to see who would win the competition, but I had to admit, Ri-Guy certainly knew how to put on a good show. My companions were just as ready to see the results of their wagers, and a hushed silence fell over the entire audience.
Then Hillon tumbled through the grass until he was within arm’s length of the horsemaster, but Corvis was quick to jump back out of his reach. The two men each drew a sword, and the ding of metal striking metal soon filled the air. They spun and twisted so fast, it was difficult to tell who was winning, but it seemed like they were still neck-to-neck.
The next thing I knew, Hillon was on his back, and Corvis straddled the brown-haired man across the chest to keep his arms pinned to his sides.
“Corvis is the winner of the first round!” Riondale announced, and the entire army joined together to applaud their comrades.
“How many rounds will there be in the duels?” Mahini asked.
“I’ll know next time,” I promised.
“Next time?” My pregnant wife flashed me a quizzical look.
I only waggled my eyebrows in response, and the desert goddess chuckled.
“Always the mysterious god,” Elissa teased. “Why can’t you just tell me I’m going to win the bet already?”
“That wouldn’t be fair, my love,” I said, and I wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “You have to find out fair and square just like everyone else.”
“Hmmph.” Elissa gave me a mock pouty face, but the expression quickly melted back into her customary smile. Ever since she’d found out she was carrying my baby in her womb, nothing could dampen her spirits.
“The next round will be more traditional warfare,” Riondale announced in a loud voice, and we all returned our attention to the field below. “Each man will face off against every opponent until there is only one champion.”
Gaines and Wert returned to the field with Niconor following closely behind, and Corvis helped Hillon to his feet. The contestants all shook hands and discussed amongst themselves while the general had people bring out another tarp full of weapons. I was surprised to see five lances on the fabric, but then the horses were brought out already saddled.
“Jousting!” I rubbed my hands together excitedly. “It’s about time I got my A Knight’s Tale experience.”
“Is this going to be similar to how you defeated Smiguel with King Frederick’s lance?” Elissa tilted her head to the side.
“Maybe.” I shrugged mysteriously, and my redheaded wife playfully punched my shoulder.
“I forgot about that story,” Caelia said. “The one about how the king gifted you the perfect weapon to defeat the beast.”
At the time of the great firebreather’s defeat, Caelia had remained in Bastianville to run her general store, so she hadn’t been among my companions when the dragon met his end. The shopkeeper had to rely on stories of the adventures from others who were there.
“That he did,” I chuckled. “I love that lance.”
I was even more eager to reset and show off my own skills in comparison to the army’s, but I bid my time a little longer. I wanted to experience the entire presentation before I intentionally interrupted it.
After the five soldiers had pulled on their armor, they each mounted a horse with a lance in hand, and then they once more divided themselves onto opposite sides of the field. The grass would be little more than mud before the end of the day, but we could always make more farmland outside of town. With word spreading about my power, I could only expect more migrations over time.
The two brothers nudged their horses forward first, and they moved into positions directly in front of each other with roughly two hundred feet between them. The two men shut the visors of their helmets with metallic thuds that echoed across the field, and then they readied their lances.
The sound of my heart thudding in my ears matched the thunder of the horses’ footsteps as they galloped across the field toward each other, but they crashed with a loud crack an instant later.
Wert was flung backward as his lance shattered against his younger brother’s shield, but Gaines’ lance had struck hard against his big sibling’s helmet. The man had meant business, and it paid off.
“Two points Gaines, one point to Wert,” Riondale explained to the crowd, but it matched my assumptions. “Three points to win.”
The two men circled back to their edges of the field, and a couple of soldiers brought them each a new lance before they turned back toward the center. My breath caught in my throat as they galloped forward a second time, but I was expecting the loud crash this go around.
Gaines hit his older brother square in the chest so hard that his lance evaporated into shreds, but Wert’s weapon merely glanced off his younger sibling’s shoulder.
The younger of the two was the winner.
“Gaines proceeds to the final round!” Riondale declared. “Wert is out of the competition until final points are tallied.”
The disappointment on Wert’s face was painful, but the young soldier took a deep breath and regained his composure. He trotted over to shake his brother’s hand, and then he stood up in his stirrups to salute Riondale and me.
I stood tall and saluted him back, and a grin split his face from ear-to-ear, so I started a round of applause as I took my seat once more. Everyone clapped until Wert dismounted his horse at the edge of the field, but then we all turned our attention to the next pair of competitors.
Next, Niconor faced off against Hillon, and I realized that since Corvis won the first round he would likely be jousting against the winner of the second competition. That was the perfect way to eliminate the contestants fairly, and I inhaled eagerly as I waited for the next lancers to get into their ready positions.
I was excited to see how the horsemaster handled himself in this riding challenge, but I had no doubt he would come through with flying colors. In any case, it was going to be a good show. First, though, I watched the next round in anticipation, but a moment later, Niconor and Hillon stood at opposite ends of the field with lances in hand.
Once again, the two men’s horses raced forward until they collided with a loud crash, but in the aftermath, only Niconor remained seated on his mount. Hillon struggled to his feet in the middle of the field while his horse took off without him, but one of the other soldiers standing on the side rushed forward to grab the stray stead.
“Niconor wins!” Riondale declared, and the audience cheered with wild enthusiasm.
“What a display!” Eva shouted in my ear over the din of the crowd. “The power that young man must have in his arms!”
“His whole body has to be strong and disciplined,” I pointed out. “The legs and hips are the main body parts used to control the direction and speed of the horse.”
“That makes sense,” my blonde wife agreed. “He must have been training really hard for this.”
“Looks like Corvis has some competition on his hands,” Caelia observed. “Niconor made that look easy.”
“We’ll see how it plays out from here,” I allowed.
I was hesitant to dismiss any of the remaining contestants, but I had to admit, Niconor’s display of skill and strength had surprised me. There was something to be said about the hard work of copper mining.
There was a brief recess before Niconor faced off against Gaines, but vendors moved through the crowd to sell snacks and drinks. I tried to purchase food for all my companions, but the salesman quickly dismissed my offer of gold, and he insisted it was free for the God of Time and his family.
We munched on jerky and fruit while we sipped some wine, but my pregnant wives opted for water instead of the alcoholic beverage. It was a nice intermission, but I couldn’t help scanning over the crowd to gauge everyone’s reaction to the event.
I saw excited expressions and eager conversations going on in various pockets, but the majority of the people watched the field with anticipation for the next joust. This was definitely something I’d have to make an annual occurrence. The crowds we could draw with some proper advertising would increase the town’s coffers dramatically, but Bastianville was already a trading hub for the western part of Sorreyal.
The two soldiers remounted their steads and took their positions, and a hush fell over the crowd as the audience realized the next match was about to begin. Gaines shut the visor of his helmet with a resounding thud, but Niconor flashed his father a cocky smirk before he closed his own headgear.
Then they were off, and I couldn’t help holding my breath as I anticipated the violent clash of lances against armor, but I didn’t have to wait very long. The crash of metal against wood echoed through the air, and splinters from both lances sprayed like fireworks.
“One point to each contestant,” Riondale announced in his general’s boom. “Fresh lances at the ready.”
The pair circled, grabbed fresh weapons, and then returned to their ready positions. A moment later, their horses took off at a full gallop, and both men leaned forward with a deadly grip on his lance. The sticks protruded several feet in front of their steads’ noses, but they angled to the side just enough to cross the horses’ muzzles.
Then the lances smashed into their targets, and Gaines flew off his horse with his feet over his head. The young man landed hard on the ground, and a gasp erupted from the audience. Several soldiers rushed over to see if he was okay, but Niconor was the first to return to the scene of impact. The contestant jumped from his horse to give his opponent a helping hand to his feet, and the crowd cheered as Gaines stood up.
“Niconor wins!” Riondale shouted over the din of the crowd.
Corvis approached the pair of competitors as Gaines limped to the sidelines, and the horsemaster whispered something in Niconor’s ear.
“A promise,” Jax guessed.
“A threat,” Elissa countered, and all of my companions burst out laughing.
“Whatever he said,” I interjected over the sounds of their laughter. “I’m sure the final round is going to be a show stopper.”
“You’re just saying that because it will most likely signal the end of the show,” Zenda said in a matter of fact tone, but that only made the laughter among my companions begin fresh.
I was eager for the end of the show because I was already scheming different ways I could show off my abilities as the God of Time, but I reminded myself to be patient so I could predict every result.
Just because I knew everything didn’t mean I couldn’t cash in on a different run through.
A few moments later, Niconor and Corvis mounted their steads and approached their ready positions. The two horses tossed their heads and stamped the ground, but this was the first time Corvis’s mount had performed in the joust. It would truly be a test of the horsemaster’s skill, but Niconor had more than proven himself to be a worthy adversary.
The two men were off in my next breath, and I ripped a chunk of jerky free with the side of my mouth as I trailed their movements with my eyes. They stampeded across the field toward each other in a blur of motion, but then the lances collided with metal, and the spray of wood clouded the air.
Corvis and Niconor had each broken a lance against their target’s chest, but neither had been unhorsed, so a point went to each man. They circled back to their starting spots, grabbed another weapon, and then charged forward with fresh lances.
Crash.
A collective “ooh” shot through the crowd as the horsemaster’s helmet flew through the air, and it rocketed across the sky toward the audience. A group of people leapt to their feet in an attempt to catch the rogue headgear, and a cheer erupted as it landed in the hands of a woman.
Corvis had still managed to break his lance against Niconor’s chest, but the head shot was worth two points.
“Niconor wins!” Riondale announced, and the audience burst into loud applause and stomped their feet.
The two contestants trotted across the field to shake hands, and Corvis lifted Niconor’s arm into the air to signal his victory. It was an awesome display of sportsmanship, and I was honestly proud of all the competitors. They’d given it their all, and they’d left it all out on the field of battle.
I couldn’t be happier with the condition of the army I’d placed in Riondale’s hands. The young general had done a tremendous job of training and leading the men, but now it was time to play around.
“This concludes the military portion of today’s events,” Riondale said in his loud voice.
It was the perfect time to reset to my save point.
Chime.
“I’ll be right back,” I said as I launched from my seat.
I didn’t bother to wait for a reply, but my armor was still in my house a short jog away from the field where the performance was taking place. I wanted to show off my new gear, and maybe disguise my appearance for a while to create a surprise entrance. Adrenaline coursed through my veins at the prospect of pulling a mild prank on my own army, but what else would the God of Time do with his free time?
I rushed back to my house, and I couldn’t remember ever putting on my armor faster, but a few moments later, I was dashing back out the door once more. I returned to the field, but instead of going to the seats, I angled around to the back of the wooden bleachers to where the army waited for orders.
The men immediately stood at attention when they saw me, and I noticed more than one hand move to the handle of a weapon, so I quickly lifted the visor of my dragon bone helmet and showed them my face.
Relief washed over their faces, and they stood at ease, so I flashed them a cheeky grin and moved down the line. I took up a position deep in the heart of their formation, and I waited patiently for Riondale to announce the beginning of the march.
“Soldiers!” Riondale shouted from the other side of the bleachers. “March out!”
I followed in line with the men around me as we marched out from behind the stands, but I heard curious whispers from the people in the crowd closest to me as we passed by the audience. In my horned helmet and spiked armor, I stood out like a sore thumb, but that would only work to my advantage.
I wanted to be the center of attention.
Once we were halted in a proper formation, I waved enthusiastically to the crowd, and laughter rippled through the audience. Everyone accepted my presence as part of the performance, but the confused look on Riondale’s face was priceless. The young general kept glancing in my direction as though trying to determine if I was a threat to his orderly performance, so I flashed him a thumbs up.
While the general shouted his commands, I did my best to keep up with the other soldiers, but the steps quickly grew more complicated than I anticipated. There were a few instances where I nearly tripped the men closest to me, but I caught myself and quickly did a little jig to the delight of the crowd.
I didn’t want to completely embarrass Riondale, though, and he’d put a lot of effort into training the men to march in the precise formations, so I reset to my save point to spend a little bit more time learning the movements.
Chime.
I dashed out of my seat without an explanation, and I ran back to my house to put on my armor. Once I was geared up, I returned to the line of soldiers at the back of the stadium seats. This time, I raked my memory for the order of steps, and I paid close attention to the commands given out by the shouting general. My army and I moved as one for much longer than I had the first time, but I still made several mistakes.
Chime.
I turned left instead of right at the beginning of the fan shape, and the entire wing moved in the wrong direction as a result.
Chime.
I walked backward instead of forward, and inadvertently caused a domino effect of soldiers behind me toppling over.
Chime.
I blended in with the formation with effortless grace, but I made sure to lighten the mood at every opportunity.
Chime.
After marching in perfect synchronicity for the majority of the performance, I waited until I stood at the center of the star shape, and then I began to dance the YMCA. The crowd laughed, but only I understood the full scope of my joke, and I couldn’t help but chuckle as I rejoined the formation.
Every antic received roars of approval from the audience, and I even caught Riondale shaking his head in amusement. The typically all-business general had a sideways smile on his face, and he watched my movements closely.
When the procession came to a final halt, I marched forward through the ranks to stand before the general, and I gave my friend a crisp salute.
“Soldier!” Riondale barked. “Reveal your identity.”
I removed my helmet and flashed the crowd a cocky grin, and the audience leapt to their feet as their hands slapped together joyously.
“It’s just me,” I said in a voice loud enough to be heard over all the noise from the audience. “Your friendly neighborhood God of Time.”
“I figured as much,” Riondale said, but only loud enough for my ears to hear. “No one else could learn all my army’s movements instantaneously.”
“Oh, it took me a few tries,” I said honestly, but the general’s head twitched to the side with a confused look, so I clapped him on the shoulder and lifted my helm in the air. “Now, on to the competition portion of today’s events!”
“I was just about to announce that,” Riondale chuckled and shook his head.
“You know me.” I smirked. “All knowing, etcetera. I’ll go sit down for the next portion, but keep your eye on our miner friend, Nic. Kid’s going places today.”
“Think so?” Riondale’s lips tucked sideways as he mulled it over. “He’s put in the hours.”
“Just watch,” I said, and I winked before I headed into the stands to join my wives.
“What was that all about?” Mahini asked, but there was laughter dancing in her ice blue eyes.
“Bash showing the world who he is, of course,” Eva said with a proud smile.
“And showin’ off yer armor,” Jax pointed out, and he reached out a hand to shake mine. The blacksmith’s grip was firm, but I was used to his strong show of affection, so I responded in kind. “It’s lookin’ just as good as I remembered.”
“All our hard work is finally starting to pay off,” I said, and I sighed contentedly as I took my seat. “Growing family, growing town, growing army, and the best set of armor in existence.”
If anyone was overpowered, it was the God of Winning after he’d spent some time exploring the world.
“We’re all proud of what you’ve done for Bastianville,” Elrin spoke up.
“Thanks, Pops.” I turned to glance over my shoulder at my father-in-law, and I returned the warm smile on his face. “Only up from here. Did you hear about the plans for stone walls and roads?”
“Eva is quite persistent,” Elrin confirmed. “We’ll have a city to rival any holding before the end of the year.”
“As long as the stone supply is maintained,” Eva interjected.
“Enough shop talk,” I chuckled. “Let’s watch the duels! I can’t wait till you all see how it turns out.”
“Of course you already know,” Zenda laughed. “I suppose there’s no point in trying to get you to tell me?”
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” I said. “How would I win any bets that way?”
“Who would bet against a god?” Jaxtom snorted, and Torya shot him a reprimanding look.
We argued back and forth over bets, but I eventually convinced the blacksmith and the mayor to both put money on Corvis becoming the champion, but my women all refused to participate once I was playing. Torya and Theodora picked their own champions, though, so I was overseeing an interesting rivalry between husband and wife.
I tried to act surprised when Niconor won, but there was more than one annoyed look among my companions as they forked over their gold. I’d managed to convince them all I was rooting for the underdog, and it had paid off in a big way.
“Shoulda known better,” Jax grumbled, but he wore a good natured smile as he handed me his money. “Consider it one of them baby gifts.”
“Oh, hush, dear,” Torya tittered. “We’re still giving all the babies wonderful gifts.”
Her and Eva bumped shoulders, and I realized the innkeeper had known about my wife’s pregnancy already. Eva must have confided her in, and it warmed my heart to know my wife trusted the people of Bastianville in times of need. The duke’s daughter had to have been both nervous and excited about the news, so I flashed Torya a grateful smile.
I didn’t even think about what would happen after the championship duel and joust, but then a parade of bards marched onto the field, and everyone began to file out of the stands. Then my companions and I followed behind the rest of the townsfolk and visitors to Bastianville as the procession moved behind the bards.
The musicians played a lively tune as they led the way through town, but they made a circuit of every shop, and my jaw nearly fell when I saw my homebase all decorated for the Mid-Winter Market day.
Evergreen garlands and wreaths decorated every stoop, and clumps of bright red berries brought a splash of color to the display. Some stores even had strings of white fur or feathers, but the booths in the market square were covered in colorful ribbons. The paths were freshly shoveled of snow, and gravel had been laid down over slippery spots, but the crowd quickly left a trail of mud behind us.
The bards played their final notes in the town square where vendors were waiting to sell their wares, and I realized how genius the segue was. The crowds were directed to where their money needed to go quickly, and in an entertaining fashion.
“Everything looks lovely,” Zenda said as her sapphire eyes took in the scene.
“Not as lovely as you,” I murmured. “But let’s try to find something that compares.”
“Good luck,” Elissa snorted. “Zenda’s gorgeous.”
“I sometimes wish I had hair like fire instead of seaweed,” Zenda confessed as a purple hue tinted her cheeks. “Your words mean a lot to me.”
“You’re one of us now, Zen,” Eva said as she wrapped an arm around the Zaborian. “You’ll find us quite encouraging.”
“Your vernacular is always so flawless,” Zenda replied, but the blush on her cheeks continued to darken.
“I have to help run my booth,” Caelia said, and she stood on her tip-toes to press a kiss against my cheek. “Come say hi to me later?”
“Absolutely.” I kissed her back. “Have fun, babe.”
“I have no baby yet,” Caelia countered with a mischievous wink. “But soon enough. It can only take so long with a seed as strong as yours.”
Her comment earned us more than one pair of lifted eyebrows from nearby eavesdroppers, but I wasn’t embarrassed about my ability to procreate, so I made eye contact with each of the people who reacted until they smiled.
We spent the rest of the afternoon roaming between the stalls, and I spent all the money I’d earned from the wager on my wives and lovers. There was plenty more where that came from, though, so I spent freely. I wanted to spoil the fuck out of the gorgeous women I called family, and there was still so many baby items we still needed.
The women made sure to purchase a lot of the items on our to-buy list, and we made arrangements for our parcels to be delivered to our house before we continued on to the food portion of the market day.
It wasn’t until we were all shoving snacks in our face that I realized Mahini was missing, but I grabbed Elissa and pulled her to the side.
“Where did Mahini go?” I asked.
“She went home.” Elissa frowned. “She seemed upset.”
My heart thudded in my chest as I imagined the level of emergency it would take to upset the stoic warrior woman, and I shoved the rest of my food into my wife’s hands.
“I have to go make sure she’s okay,” I said, and I pressed a quick kiss against my red-haired wife’s lips. “It’s not like Mahini to leave without saying something.”
“I hope she’s okay,” Elissa fretted as she rubbed her stomach. It was her new way of showing she was worried about something, and I placed a comforting hand over hers.
“Everything will be fine,” I promised. “I’ll make sure of it.”
“Go, Bash,” Eva said.
“We will finish up here,” Zenda added.
“Thanks,” I said, and I gave my women a grateful smile before I trotted away.
I pushed and shoved my way through the crowd as patiently as I could, but I sped up into a dead run as soon as the way cleared. I was only a few blocks away from my house, so it didn’t take me more than a few minutes to reach the front door.
I darted up the steps and inside, but then I heard the sobs. They were coming from upstairs, so I raced up the steps to the second level and knocked gently on the closed door. She had to be really upset to be crying that loudly, but I was still hesitant.
Pregnancy hormones could make a woman act crazy, and becoming a dad was a dangerous quest in and of itself.
But there was nothing the God of Time couldn’t handle.
I just had to get inside.
